The Twins ended the season as American League Central champions, again, before being swept out of the playoffs, again. A look at who will stay, and who will go:
Twins player-by-player look: Will they stay or will they go?
The Twins ended the season as AL Central champions, again, before being swept out of the playoffs, again.
October 3, 2020 at 3:54AM
POSITION PLAYERS
EHIRE ADRIANZA
InfielderAge: 31
Adrianza is handy all over the field and has the demeanor of a future coach or manager. But he's starting to look and play his age.
Contract: Free agent
2021 outlook: With another team
LUIS ARRAEZ
Second baseAge: 23
Left knee tendinitis nagged him until the very end of the regular season, when he finished with a flourish.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Leadoff hitter
WILLIANS ASTUDILLO
CatcherAge: 28
Season was delayed when he tested positive for COVID-19. The La Tortuga Magic from two years ago was no longer there.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Off the bench
ALEX AVILA
CatcherAge: 33
Classic veteran backup who's solid behind the plate and will occasionally drive a pitch over the fence.
Contract: Free agent
2021 outlook: With another team
TRAVIS BLANKENHORN
Second baseAge: 24
Not a standout, but he can play solidly at second plus some outfield and third base. Takes good at-bats. Is well-liked.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: Minors
BYRON BUXTON
Center fieldAge: 26
Began to tap into his power potential, finishing second on the team in slugging percentage. But a mid-foot sprain during summer camp and shoulder soreness during the season added to his medical file.
Contract: Arbitration-eligible
2021 outlook: Starting center fielder
JAKE CAVE
OutfieldAge: 27
Can play all three outfield positions and will provide occasional pop. But his offense was the worst of his three seasons with Twins.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: With another team
GILBERTO CELESTINO
OutfieldAge: 21
Made the initial 60-man player pool at the start of summer camp but not the wild-card taxi squad. Played mostly at Class A in 2019.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: Class AA, wherever that will be
NELSON CRUZ
Designated hitterAge: 40
Over a 162-game season, Cruz was on pace for another 40-homer season. He did tail off some at the end.
Contract: Free agent
2021 outlook: Re-signs with Twins
JOSH DONALDSON
InfielderAge: 34
He delivered tough at-bats, occasional power, good defense and definitely a fiery attitude. The Twins just didn't see enough of it because of a calf injury.
Contract: $21.75 million a year through 2023
2021 outlook: Lock for third base
MITCH GARVER
CatcherAge: 29
The Silver Slugger winner never gained any traction, getting off to a slow start, then being sidelined because of an intercostal strain.
Contract: Arbitration eligible
2021 outlook: Traded to another team
MARWIN GONZALEZ
InfielderAge: 31
A rash of injuries meant the Twins needed their multi-positional everyday player to step up. And he provided one of the worst offensive years of his career.
Contract: Free agent
2021 outlook: With another team
NICK GORDON
InfielderAge: 24
Gordon was diagnosed with COVID-19 and never made it to summer camp. Another setback for the 2014 first-round pick. The Twins might need his roster spot.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: Minor leaguer
RYAN JEFFERS
CatcherAge: 23
When Garver went down, the Twins turned to Jeffers, and the rookie more than held his own — at the plate and behind it.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Opening Day starter
MAX KEPLER
Right fielderAge: 27
Kepler was part of a group of players who never found a groove at the plate and ended up regressing. Short season a factor?
Contract: Signed through 2023 (will earn $6.5 million in 2021)
2021 outlook: Starting right fielder
ALEX KIRILLOFF
OutfielderAge: 22
The top prospect spent the summer in St. Paul then, surprisingly, was added to the wild-card series roster — and then, surprisingly, started Game 2, got a hit and made a sliding catch.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: Starting left fielder
JORGE POLANCO
ShortstopAge: 27
Polanco had the worst season of his career while playing with a sore right ankle that will likely require surgery for the second consecutive offseason.
Contract: Signed through 2023 (makes $4.3 million next season)
2021 outlook: Starting shortstop
BRENT ROOKER
OutfielderAge: 25
Called up when Kepler landed on the injured list, Rooker was batting .316 in seven games when he was hit with a pitch and suffered a broken arm.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Competes for roster spot
EDDIE ROSARIO
Left fielderAge: 29
Rosario actually raised his walk rate and lowered his strikeout rate, but it didn't translate to more damage at the plate. Is he a $10 million player?
Contract: Arbitration-eligible
2021 outlook: Traded to another team
MIGUEL SANO
First baseAge: 27
The good: Sano led the team with 25 extra-base hits. The bad: Sano led league with 90 strikeouts. The ugly: Career worst .757 OPS.
Contract: Signed through 2022 (makes $12.3 million in 2021)
2021 outlook: Starting first baseman
LAMONTE WADE JR.
OutfielderAge: 26
Called up three times during the season, Wade can play all three outfield positions, played some first as well and takes good at-bats.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: Reserve outfielder
RELIEF PITCHERS
JORGE ALCALA
RighthanderAge: 25
Posted a 2.63 ERA. Still raw, but his fastball averaged 97 mph and his slider is wicked.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Developing late-inning enforcer
TYLER CLIPPARD
RighthanderAge: 35
Had one of the best seasons of his career, and posted a career-low walk rate. Can he do it again?
Contract: Free agent
2021 outlook: With another team
EDWAR COLINA
RighthanderAge: 23
Made a late-season appearance, and it wasn't pretty. But his first major league pitch was 100 miles per hour. Also has a good slider.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: Jorge Alcala development program
TYLER DUFFEY
RighthanderAge: 29
Broke through last season and was the best reliever this season in an early setup role. Twins adverse to locking up relievers, but Duffey would seem to be a candidate.
Contract: Arbitration-eligible
2021 outlook: Key setup man
ZACK LITTELL
RighthanderAge: 24
Limited to 6⅓ innings because of right elbow inflammation as well as ineffectiveness. The Twins removed him from the 40-man roster.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Spring training invite
TREVOR MAY
RighthanderAge: 31
Will generate interest in free agency with strikeout rate of 14.7 per nine innings. The Twins need more hard throwers, not fewer.
Contract: Free agent
2021 outlook: Signs with Twins
TAYLOR ROGERS
LefthanderAge: 29
Rogers had a rocky season in which most of his numbers were the same as a year ago — except hits. Rogers gave up a lot of them.
Contract: Arbitration-eligible
2021 outlook: The closer … until someone is brought in
FERNANDO ROMERO
RighthanderAge: 25
Visa issues kept him out of the country for the entire year. He was a long shot to make the team and now is playing catchup.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: With another team
SERGIO ROMO
RighthanderAge: 37
Twins brought back Romo for his experience and big game history.
Contract: $5 million club option, $275,000 buyout
2021 outlook: With another team
CODY STASHAK
RighthanderAge: 26
Not a flamethrower, but he doesn't walk many batters and increased his strikeout rate from 2019.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Bigger role in bullpen
CALEB THIELBAR
LefthanderAge: 33
Randolph, Minn., native made a stunning return. His slow breaking ball is pure entertainment.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Battle for bullpen spot
LEWIS THORPE
LefthanderAge: 24
Rough season. Gave up too many hits. Walked too many.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: With another team
MATT WISLER
RighthanderAge: 28
Effective slider made him a find.
Contract: Arbitration-eligible
2021 outlook: Back in the bullpen
STARTING PITCHERS
JOSE BERRIOS
RighthanderAge: 26
Two-time All-Star stayed at the top of the rotation but was inconsistent. Headed for second arbitration season and a big payday.
Contract: Arbitration-eligible
2021 outlook: Frontline starter
DAKOTA CHALMERS
RighthanderAge: 23
Veteran Twins hitters marveled at his curveball during summer camp. His main issue is command, but arm talent is worth it to the Twins.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: Minor leagues
RANDY DOBNAK
RighthanderAge: 25
Started out hot but slumped late. He will be dirt cheap and in the rotation if he regains his command.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Rotation filler
JHOAN DURAN
RighthanderAge: 22
Spent the season working out in St. Paul, where hitters tried to get wood on his split-fingered sinker.
Contract: Minor league
2021 outlook: Major league debut
RICH HILL
LefthanderAge: 40
His elbow held up from surgery in 2019, but left shoulder fatigue sidelined him for 17 games.
Contract: Free agent
2021 outlook: With another team
KENTA MAEDA
RighthanderAge: 32
One of the best pitchers in baseball and led the AL in WHIP (walks and hits per innings pitched). Twins got him to throw more breaking balls to lefties, and he took off.
Contract: Three years left on eight-year deal
2021 outlook: Opening Day starter
JAKE ODORIZZI
RighthanderAge: 30
Despite an injury-plagued season that saw him make only four starts, the 2019 All-Star's track record should land him a lucrative deal. He wants to stay.
Contract: Free agent
2021 outlook: With another team
MICHAEL PINEDA
RighthanderAge: 31
Had to serve the remaining 39 games of his PED suspension from 2019 but stepped right into the rotation in September and produced.
Contract: Signed through 2021
2021 outlook: Mid-rotation starter
DEVIN SMELTZER
LefthanderAge: 24
Gave up 12 runs over 16 innings and was on and off the roster during the shortened season. He ended up on the postseason taxi squad.
Contract: Pre-arbitration
2021 outlook: Starter in the minors
Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson, the brash speedster who shattered stolen base records and redefined baseball's leadoff position, has died. He was 65.
