In 2023, the Minnesota Twins prioritized depth. They signed Donovan Solano and Willi Castro while trading for Kyle Farmer, bolstering their platoon or situational roster with veterans. Each of them had a specific position on the squad. Michael A. Taylor may have been their most significant depth gain from a year ago.
Taylor was acquired by Minnesota from the Kansas City Royals in a trade on January 24. Taylor gives the Twins a right-handed hitting outfielder to platoon with in the corners, as well as a proven centre fielder to replace Byron Buxton. Taylor was Minnesota’s opening-day centre fielder last season, and he appeared in 126 games in that position.
Last season, Taylor had a career year on offence. He batted.220/.278/.442, but Taylor hit a career-high 21 home runs as the No. 9 hitter. His.720 OPS was the second best of his career. Taylor has 13 stolen bases and a 2.3 baserunning average, according to FanGraphs. Taylor’s most significant contribution, however, came in the outfield. The former Gold Glove winner was hardly Buxton, but he still produced an 8 outs above-average clip at one of baseball’s most difficult positions.
The Twins could do worse than reunite with Taylor. They’d have to pay Tayor more than the $3.3 million he earned last year, but most likely on a one-year contract worth less than $10 million. However, re-signing Taylor should not be a priority for Minnesota’s front staff. This is especially true given the franchise’s limited salary resources due to their self-imposed payroll decrease.
Taylor had a resurgence season in Minnesota, but his power may not be sustainable as he approaches age 33. He has only hit double-digit home runs in four of his ten major league seasons. Taylor’s power led to strikeouts. His strikeout rate of 33.5 percent was among the league’s lowest three percent and the second-worst of his career. Taylor’s 6.7 percent walk rate was lower than the league average of 8.4 percent, therefore the walk stats did not improve significantly in 2023.
Taylor’s 96 wRC+ last year was not entirely negative, as his defence and baserunning compensated for his league-average performance. However, Buxton will return to centre field for the Twins, where he had an OAA of 8 in 2022. According to early reports from camp, Buxton is feeling better than he has in years, and he intends to return to centre field full-time in 2024.
Every Twins fan hopes Buxton makes a breakthrough in 2024. Nonetheless, Buxton played only 85 games last season. Minnesota must prioritize a backup plan for Buxton that allows him to play for extended periods of time if necessary.
The Twins lacked major-league depth in centre field a year ago, so they traded for Taylor. Castro has emerged as a versatile player with the speed to play centre field. That, paired with a.750 OPS in 124 games for the Twins last year, demonstrates that he can be a good replacement for Buxton at the plate. Castro was the only runner to have a greater effect on the basepaths than Taylor, with a 28.6 feet/second sprint speed and a team-leading 33 stolen bases last season.
Austin Martin is another candidate that warrants more consideration. Martin, who came over in the José Berríos deal, can bring many of Taylor’s qualities to Minnesota, despite not being a top prospect anymore. Martin can play practically anywhere on the diamond, having played 11 games in centre field for the Triple-A St. Paul Saints last season.
Martin swiped 13 bases for the Saints in 2023, but he has little power. Still, he has a low strikeout rate (17.1 percent), a good walk rate (14.3 percent), and a singles hitter (.263 batting average) who can get on base and help Minnesota’s offence.
Buxton’s backups in centre field are Castro and Martin, who are risky. Bringing Taylor back as a reliable veteran would offer the Twins greater depth, which they cherish. On the other hand, depth is a luxury that the Twins may not be willing to spend for this offseason in the same way they did last year. Castro is also under team control for $3 million per year until 2026, while Martin is a previous top-five choice looking for a chance to play. What’s the purpose of shopping for Taylor when you already have a player in the same mould at home?
Taylor isn’t necessarily a horrible player. He may not be worth adding to the team’s lowered payroll. In a typical offseason, the Twins may sign Taylor and a player similar to Adam Duvall. But they have to make a decision this summer, and Minnesota may be better served focusing on a right-handed slugger who can platoon with Matt Wallner in left field.
Michael A. Taylor was an excellent player for the Twins in 2023. In Buxton’s absence, he was a consistent performer in one of Minnesota’s most vital defensive spots. His power and consistency at the bottom of the order were critical components of a Twins machine that won the AL Central and ended the team’s postseason losing run.
A reunion would not be the worst outcome for either party. Buxton, on the other hand, intends to play centre field again, Austin Martin is on the verge of making the big leagues, and Minnesota wants another slugger to platoon with Wallner in left field. As a result, the Twins may be better off not utilizing what may be the final of this year’s spendable budget.
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