3 Pre-Arbitration Players Twins Should Extend Now
By Michael Luciano
Freddy Peralta and Aaron Bummer became guinea pigs for a new movement across MLB war rooms, when they signed long-term contracts with the Brewers and White Sox, respectively, before even entering arbitration.
The Minnesota Twins field a roster built on veteran sluggers, but they have plenty of younger talent yet to hit arbitration that the franchise should be actively seeking to lock up long term.
3. SP Randy Dobnak
The Twins apparently had so much confidence in Dobnak last season that they saw it fit to start him on the road against the Yankees in the playoffs. While it didn't work out great for the undrafted hurler, it's easy to see why they fell for him so quickly. Dobnak walked just five batters and gave up just one home run in 28.1 innings of work last season, pitching to a 1.59 ERA in relief and as a starter. Dobnak will be an interesting chess piece for Rocco Baldelli this season and should be a prime candidate for an extension in the near future.
2. 2B Luis Arraez
Who would have thought that a minor league batting champ would come to the pros and do nothing but rake? Arraez, who became entrenched as the team's starting second baseman, hit .334 with 24 extra base hits in 92 games for the Twins. Arraez struck out just 29 times all season, and his exceedingly rare bat control and plate discipline, especially from a 22-year-old in today's MLB, deserves to be rewarded. The "Bomba Squad" faces an uncertain future, but it looks like they've found their leadoff hitter.
1. C Mitch Garver
Garver had seven career home runs in 125 games before the 2019 season. He played in just 93 games last year, but he managed to hit 31 home runs in his injury-shortened campaign. That sudden spike in power is either the greatest fluke of the year or a sign that Garver, like many other players, has joined the launch angle movement and has in turn become an elite offensive catcher. Even if he never approaches 31 dingers again, the 29-year-old backstop's defense and plate discipline could be enough to convince Minnesota lock down its first great catcher of the post-Joe Mauer era.