2021 Roster Review: Minnesota Twins

73-89 (5th in Division; 24th in MLB)

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SP Wins: 39 (22nd)

RP Wins: 34 (15th)

Saves: 42 (11th)

1+ Save: 7 (Alex Colomé 17, Hansel Robles 10, Taylor Rogers 9, Tyler Duffey 3, Jorge Alcala, Randy Dobnak, Ralph Garza Jr. 1)

100+ Ks: 2 (José Berríos 126 [total: 204], Kenta Maeda 113)

.260+ AVG (min. 350 PA): 3 (Nelson Cruz .294 in 346 PA [total: .265 in 584 PA], Luis Arraez .294, Jorge Polanco .269)

65+ Runs: 3 (Polanco 97, Josh Donaldson 73, Miguel Sanó 68)

65+ RBI: 3 (Polanco 98, Sano 75, Donaldson 72)

10+ HRs: 8 (Polanco 33, Sano 30, Donaldson 26, Cruz, Max Kepler, Byron Buxton 19, Ryan Jeffers 14, Mitch Garver 13)

5+ SBs: 4 (Polanco 11, Kepler, Nick Gordon 10, Buxton 9)

BEST BUY: Josh Donaldson

Donaldson’s age (36 next year) and robust injury history will keep his price more than reasonable for an easy 25/.240 with his 2019 (.259/37) still a legitimate upside if he can spike another healthy season.

ON THE RISE: Alex Kirilloff

Kirilloff’s rookie season was cut short by a wrist injury that required surgery, but he should be ready for Spring Training. After starting 0-for-15 in the majors, he got hot with a 4-homer week before the wrist injury first popped up. He came back after a couple weeks and played well enough all things considered but his power was compromised so he was done after 59 games (93 wRC+). This will undercut his early draft price, but don’t be surprised if he’s a big spring riser once fantasy managers see him back on a field. He has the ability to go .300-30-100 if he is fully healthy.

OFF THE RADAR: Max Kepler

Kepler will still be drafted, but he is off any kind of breakout/upside radar and won’t cost much at this point. Of course, part of that is because he is an AVG drain (.216 in 686 PA since 2020), but he is still toting a pink-red StatCast profile that says the 2019 upside is still there. I wouldn’t put much stock in the 10-for-10 SB performance and not because he is a poor runner (he is solidly above average) but rather because he was 8-for-18 in 2018-20. Pay for .230-25-5 while realizing there are paths to besting that line.

HOT TAKE: Nick Gordon has a 20-20 season out of nowhere.

He stumbles into 600+ PA and essentially volumes his way there Jonathan Villar-style. Having infield and outfield capability helps with the playing time and if he can bring some of his raw power into games, there is big time fantasy breakout potential. I stress the fantasy impact because it might come with a sub-100 wRC+ total. He came up just short of multi-eligibility for 2022 (OF: 45, 2B: 17, SS: 14), but will likely add it in-season and brings some speed upside at the very least.

ICYMI: Joe Ryan had a 30% K% in 26.7 MLB innings and a 35% mark in 92.7 innings including the minors. If he can keep his home run rate reasonable (~1.1 or lower), he can have a huge rookie year… something like a 3.60 ERA/1.15 WHIP. I’m a huge fan of Ryan so I can’t wait to see what he does in 2022.