ESPN NEWS: The Twins manager Rocco Baldelli points out one thing still missing from Twins roster in Closed doors Meeting with Front Office

We’re less than a month away from Opening Day, but the Minnesota Twins still need to answer a few crucial questions this spring.

Replacing Sonny Grey with a front-line starter on the market appears to be a lost cause, since Minnesota traded Jorge Polanco for a back-end of the rotation pitcher and a strong middle reliever. That was the currency we all expected to be spent on replacing Grey, but it was a salary dump that resulted in a replacement for Kenta Maeda instead.

To be fair, the Twins received back Gabriel Gonzalez, a Top 100 prospect who may either blossom into a potential star outfielder for Minnesota or be traded later in the season for strong starting pitching. The trade also freed up money to sign Carlos Santana, who, while arriving late in Fort Myers, will be a crucial and key member of the lineup.

So much attention was focused on what the Twins would do to improve pitching depth that the discussion of getting some right-handed hitting outfield help were lost in the shuffle. Manager Rocco Baldelli hopes that everyone recalls this before it’s too late.

Rocco Baldelli highlights one element still missing from the Twins squad.
Rocco provided some insight into where the roster stands before Spring Training begins, stating that he would want to see one specific acquisition made before Opening Day.

“We have some guys that we think are definitely good players and capable out there,” he said. “However, we could acquire a right-handed-hitting outfielder to compliment those players. That is rounding out the group.

It’s not a new concern; many expected the Twins to add right-handed hitting outfielders before the trade deadline last year. Tommy Pham, one of the names they were discussing, has resurfaced in rumours. Former Braves and Red Sox slugger Adam Duvall is also being mentioned, and a reunion with Michael A. Taylor is not out of the question.

However, the Twins may not have to seek far for right-handed aid. Austin Martin is anticipated to make a strong argument for a spot on the 26-man roster this spring, with his role as centerfield backup behind Byron Buxton.

Minnesota does, however, require assistance on the corners, as Matt Wallner and Max Kepler do not have much with which to platoon. That’s where Pham and Duvall come into play, and the market may be settling low enough for the Twins to make another minor splash.

Rocco has expressed his feelings, though, and we’ll see if the front desk hears him and finds a way to accommodate him.