On Monday, the Minnesota Twins received outfielder Manuel Margot, minor league shortstop Rayne Doncon, and cash from the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for shortstop Noah Miller.

In addition to the deal, the Dodgers announced a $4 million, one-year contract to keep Kiké Hernández.

Margot, 29, joined the Dodgers two months ago as part of a trade with Tampa Bay that included starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow. Margot hit.264 with a.686 OPS in 99 games with the Rays last season, playing in centre and right field. He has also strayed from the norm.

“A guy that can complement you very well against left-handed pitching,” Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said. “He assists you in the centre of the field. He has a wide range of skills. We discussed the need of filling up our roster with the appropriate players, and he fits the bill. He’s a valuable addition to our team’s character both on and off the field.”

Margot made his major league debut with San Diego in 2016 and was the Padres’ primary centre fielder from 2017 to 2019, until being traded to the Rays. In 788 career games, he’s hit.255 with a.694 OPS, 52 home runs, and 91 stolen bases.

“At that age, some males tend to slack down. “He’s not,” Baldelli explained. “His foot speed is literally pretty close to what it’s been previously, and he’s a really good athlete.”

Margot’s compensation this season is $10 million as part of a $19 million, two-year contract with the Rays, which includes a $12 million mutual option for 2025 and a $2 million buyout clause. If the option is not exercised, the Rays must pay the Dodgers an additional $2 million in the Glasnow transaction.

The Rays agreed to provide the Dodgers an additional $2 million toward Margot’s salary in 2024, and Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey stated that his team will get the $4 million commitment as well as an unnamed additional sum from the Dodgers to meet Margot’s contract. The Twins have reduced their payroll in 2024 due to a decrease in regional broadcast revenue.

Margot will effectively take over for Michael A. Taylor, who became a free agent after hitting 21 home runs and playing 126 games in centre field last season when star Byron Buxton was limited to designated hitter duty due to knee issues. Buxton is healthy again and on course to be the regular centre fielder, with Matt Wallner in left and Max Kepler in right, but utilityman Willi Castro was the only other competent outfielder on the opening day roster.

Margot was a player the Twins had been looking at for a while because of his great defensive prowess in the corners and ability to handle centre field when Buxton is out of the lineup.

 

“Everything we’ve gathered from guys who’ve been with him in Tampa and other spots is how instinctive he is, how good he is off the bat, how good his reads are, his ability to go in both directions to go get it,” he added.

Doncon, 20, played for Class A Rancho Cucamonga last season. He was expatriated from the Dominican Republic.

Miller was the Twins’ 36th overall choice in the 2021 amateur draft. The 21-year-old spent last season with Class A Cedar Rapids.

Hernández batted.237 with 11 home runs and 61 RBIs in 140 games with the Red Sox and Dodgers in 2023, playing all four infield and three outfield positions. The Dodgers re-signed the 33-year-old from Boston on July 25, and he became a free agent following the World Series.

Hernández has appeared in ten major league seasons, including portions of seven with the Dodgers.