Offseason Options: Candidates to start at DH for 2021 Twins

The Minnesota Twins designated hitter position was in the capable hands of veteran Nelson Cruz from 2019-20. But with Cruz now on the free-agent market, what’s the plan at DH? Will the Twins re-sign Cruz, rely on a platoon of players currently on the roster or sign a different free agent?

Ten different players made an appearance at DH for the Twins last season, although just two started multiple games there — Cruz (52 games) and Brent Rooker (2).

It might be a while before the Twins decide which way to go at the DH position. Spring training starts in less than three weeks, and we’re still not sure if the National League will feature the DH in 2021. The MLBPA reportedly rejected the universal DH and expanded playoffs in a proposal sent by MLB on Monday.

Without further ado, let’s get to it and run through some options to be the club’s primary starter at DH:

40-MAN ROSTER

Alex Kirilloff

Currently slated as the favorite to be the Twins’ opening-day starter in left field, Kirilloff could see a significant amount of time at DH as well. The former first-round pick was the Twins’ 2018 Minor League Player of the Year after batting .362/.393/.550 in 130 games at Low-A Cedar Rapids and High-A Fort Myers. He also logged a .283 batting average with 29 extra-base hits in 94 games with Double-A Pensacola in 2019. And we all know he’s ready for a big-league workload after keeping his composure and going 1 for 4 in his MLB debut Sept. 30 – a playoff elimination game against Houston.

Brent Rooker

Like we mentioned above, Rooker was the only other Twins player to see multiple starts at DH last season with … just two. But it’s something. Not known for having a flashy glove in the outfield, designated hitter could be in Rooker’s near future anyway. Why not start him there in 2021? He never struggled to pound the ball in the minors, clubbing 54 big flies in 259 minor-league contests, including 22 for Double-A Chattanooga in 2018. Rooker kept it rolling into the Show, making his MLB debut for the Twins last season and going 6-for-19 (.316 average) with one homer, two doubles and five RBI in seven contests. His bat would be a plus at the DH spot, even at age 26. An outfield-DH platoon between Kirilloff and Rooker? The Twins could do worse.

FREE AGENTS

Ryan Braun

If MLB doesn’t wind up bringing the DH to the NL in 2021, Braun could make the trip across the St. Croix and finish up his career with the Twins. Hey, Paul Molitor did it! While most of Braun’s offensive numbers have declined over the last few years, his power hasn’t gone anywhere. Braun mashed eight homers last season and logged an ISO (SLG-AVG) of .256, his best mark since 2012. Of course, the former MVP could opt to just retire instead.

Nelson Cruz

There hasn’t been a more important offensive player over the last two campaigns for the Twins than Cruz, who led the team in home runs and OPS+ both seasons. He would fit nicely once again in their 2021 lineup. However, at age 40, Cruz is likely asking teams for at least a two-year deal. Do the Twins want to risk signing Cruz to an expensive two-year deal only to watch him decline? Or does Cruz have another one or two years left in his bat? His production in 2019 and ’20 — a combined .308/.394/.626 slash line with 57 dingers in 173 contests — would suggest he’s still got some gas in the tank. And after the Twins suffered a season-ending 3-1 loss to Houston, Cruz did tell the media he hopes to return to Minnesota in 2021.

Cruz: “Hopefully, I’ll be back next year.”#MNTwins pic.twitter.com/bER8iZSJm1

— FOX Sports North (@fsnorth) September 30, 2020

Shin-Soo Choo

Choo struggled in 2020, as he was limited to 33 contests last season due to injuries and posted a career-low 96 OPS+. If the Twins spend money elsewhere (maybe on a left fielder, reliever or starting pitcher), they could land Choo for cheap. He’s only two seasons removed from an All-Star campaign in 2018 when he clobbered 21 homers and slashed .264/.377/.434.

Adam Duvall

Another veteran with solid power, Duvall slashed .237/.301/.532 in 57 games for Atlanta in 2020 with 16 dingers and 33 RBI. Duvall has posted his two best OPS+ seasons over the last two years — 117 in 2019 and 113 in ’20. And he’s not out of the Twins’ price range.

Mitch Moreland

Moreland, an All-Star for Boston in 2018, averaged 20.2 home runs per season from 2015-19 and added 10 in 42 contests last season. Moreland’s 2020 campaign was off to a great start (.328/.430/.746) before he was traded to San Diego on Aug. 30. Moreland slumped to a .203 batting average with the Padres in 20 regular season games, although he went 4 for 8 (.500) in four playoff games. If the Twins sign Moreland, it’d be an interesting situation. Moreland arguably has a better glove than Miguel Sano, who started 52 contests there for the Twins in 2020. Perhaps a Moreland-Sano platoon at first base and DH would work nicely.

Marcell Ozuna

Ozuna is one of the biggest bats remaining on the free-agent market. He led the NL with 18 homers, 56 RBI and 145 total bases last season and took home his second career Silver Slugger award. Ozuna has been in the NL his entire career — with Miami (2013-17), St. Louis (2018-19) and Atlanta (2020) — but he seemed to enjoy the DH position when it was introduced to the NL last season. He started 39 games at DH for the Braves and 19 in left field. If the Twins don’t re-sign Cruz, Ozuna could fit nicely and perhaps start 75% of the games at DH and the others in the outfield.

Yasiel Puig

Once looked upon as one of the brightest young stars in the game after finishing second in the 2013 NL Rookie of the Year voting behind Jose Fernandez, Puig’s career has taken a tailspin. He was traded by the Los Angeles Dodgers to Cincinnati after the 2018 season, and Puig was dealt to Cleveland at the 2019 trade deadline. He still put up solid numbers in 2019, slashing .267/.327/.458 with 24 homers and 19 stolen bases for the two clubs. But in 2020, Puig wasn’t signed. He was going to join Atlanta in mid-July before testing positive for COVID-19. Teams weren’t interested after that. At this point, the Twins could get him for cheap. But would they want to?

NON-ROSTER/MINOR-LEAGUERS

Trevor Larnach

A corner outfielder his entire minor-league career, there could be some reps open at DH for Larnach if he breaks into the big leagues in 2021. Larnach, the Twins’ first-round pick in 2018, slashed .309/.384/.458 with 13 homers and 66 RBI for High-A Fort Myers and Double-A Pensacola in 2019. He’s ready for the call.