The Twins picked up team options on the contracts of their two longest-tenured players, Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco, on Thursday.
Twins exercise options on their longest-tenured players, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler
Polanco is under contract through 2025, and Kepler will be a free agent after next season.
November 3, 2023 at 3:12AM
The options were almost identical. Kepler had a $10 million club option with a $1 million buyout. Polanco had a $10.5 million team option with a $1 million buyout.
The two players roomed together in spring training in 2010 after they were signed as teenagers, Kepler from Germany and Polanco from the Dominican Republic.
A strong second half from both players solidified the decision.
Polanco, a switch hitter who batted .255 with 14 homers and 48 RBI in 80 games, has a $12.5 million club option for 2025.
Kepler bounced back in a big way, hitting .260 with 24 homers, 22 doubles and 66 RBI in 130 games while playing strong defense in right field. He will be a free agent after next season.
Both players are 30 years old.
His worst month as a big-leaguer coincided with, or helped cause, the Twins’ epic September collapse — but now he’s better for it.
