The Twins generally have been a successful team since Derek Falvey and Thad Levine arrived before the 2017 season.
They’ve reached the postseason in four of the seven “Falvine” seasons. They have won three of the last five AL Central titles. Even if inferior competition has helped fuel that success in some part, we should also give credit to the team’s brain trust for putting the Twins on a strong path with several good draft picks, signings and trades.
But if the Twins under Falvey have a blind spot, it is this: A strange affinity for right-handed pitchers who arrive as or soon become damaged goods.
The latest: Projected fifth starter Anthony DeSclafani, who the Twins acquired this offseason in the Jorge Polanco trade even though DeSclafani missed the last two months of 2023 with elbow problems, will likely miss this entire season.
It was part of a troubling day of injury news after a largely positive spring for the Twins, as I talked about on Tuesday’s Daily Delivery podcast.
If this was a one-off, the Twins and Falvey could be forgiven. But this isn’t even a “fool me twice” scenario. This is the fourth time this has happened since 2019.
The unfortunate trend started in 2019, when the Twins tried to bolster their bullpen at the trade deadline by acquiring Sam Dyson. He appeared in 12 games, posting a bloated 7.15 ERA before a shoulder injury ended his season and Twins career. The Twins were suspicious that the Giants knew he was hurt at the time of the trade.
On the eve of the 2022 season, the Twins acquired righty Chris Paddack. He was only able to make five starts before needing Tommy John surgery, though at least he was able to return in late 2023 and is on track to figure prominently into the 2024 rotation.
