Minnesota Twins DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

According to Matthew Leach of MLB.com, Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (foot) has "no issues" entering spring training. Correa missed more than two months of play last season due to plantar fasciitis. However, when on the field, the shortstop was very productive, posting a .310/.388/.517 slash line with 14 home runs. He added 58 RBI and 54 runs. Under the hood, he generated a strong .358 xwOBA and showed a great eye at the plate with a 16.6% strikeout rate and a 10.9% walk rate. Fantasy managers should continue monitoring his status during spring training in case he faces a setback. The 30-year-old should be expected to operate as the everyday shortstop in Minnesota and should be poised for a successful 2025 campaign with this injury behind him.

According to the Reno Aces, right-handed pitcher Josh Winder has signed a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. This deal includes an invitation to spring training. The 28-year-old has spent his entire MLB career with the Minnesota Twins. Last summer, Winder logged nine innings of work in the major leagues and allowed three earned runs while striking out ten batters. During the 2022 and 2023 seasons, Winder carried a 4.51 ERA and a 1.34 WHIP across 101 2/3 innings with the Twins. Through 105 career frames with Triple-A St. Paul, the former seventh-round selection posted a 5.49 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Fantasy managers should expect Winder to compete for a bullpen role during spring training, but given his lack of major league experience, he will likely open the season at the Triple-A level.

According to Dan Hayes and Dennis Lin of The Athletic, the Minnesota Twins and San Diego Padres have engaged in trade discussions around catcher Christian Vazquez. The Padres do not have a proven option behind Luis Campusano on their depth chart. Earlier this offseason, the Twins acquired Diego Cartaya and Mickey Gasper to bolster their catching room. They also have Ryan Jeffers, who is slated to be the No.1 option again this offseason, leaving Vazquez potentially without a spot on the roster. The Twins have also shown interest in acquiring San Deigo right-handed pitcher Dylan Cease but would have to add several assets alongside Vazquez to acquire him. Last summer, Vazquez posted a .221/.248/.327 line with seven home runs and three stolen bases. The veteran backstop would be deployed as a reliable No.2 option behind Campusano but would only carry value in deeper NL-only formats if acquired by San Diego.

Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that right-hander Pablo Lopez will get the nod for the team on Opening Day in 2025 on March 27 at the St. Louis Cardinals. Lopez, who was a first-time All-Star in his first year in Minnesota in 2023, went 15-10 for the Twins last year with a 4.08 ERA (3.65 FIP) and a 1.19 WHIP with 198 strikeouts and 41 walks in 32 starts. On the surface, he took a step back in 2024 and struggled with allowing home runs, but he pitched better down the stretch and posted a career-high 15 wins. The 28-year-old Venezuelan hurler has been durable in his career and has a pretty decent 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings over 889 1/3 career innings over seven major-league seasons. Lopez is by no means a fantasy ace, but he should have a pretty safe floor as an SP2 for fantasy managers to target in upcoming drafts.

According to Aram Leighton of Just BB Media, the Chicago Cubs have signed right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards to a minor-league deal. Richards logged 65 1/3 innings at the major league level across stints with the Toronto Blue Jays and the Minnesota Twins. He posted a 4.55 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP and was deployed primarily out of the bullpen. He struck out batters at a low 22.4% K rate and struggled with his command as he held a hefty 12.6% walk rate. However, he generated a 3.62 xERA and a 2.05 xBA, both above the average marks. During the 2023 season, Richards posted a similar 4.95 ERA and a 1.35 WHIP through 72 2/3 innings. However, that season, he struck out batters at an impressive 33.3% rate. Richards will likely compete for a spot in the bullpen during spring training.