Twins prevented free agent from leaving with rival unpaid
In 2024, Sonny Gray will pitch elsewhere, but at least the Twins get something in return.
For the Minnesota Twins, the free agent dominoes are beginning to fall. After the Twins lost both Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda in the last 24 hours, two of their best pitchers chose to sign with other teams, leaving them to pick up the pieces.
Gray agreed to a three-year, $75 million contract with the St. Louis Cardinals, while Maeda accepted a two-year contract with the Detroit Tigers. Though neither pitcher was anticipated to make a comeback, there was always hope for a reunion.
With their formal departure, the Twins will need to find a method to replace their output and innings in the starting rotation. It’s difficult to watch Maeda and Gray depart on very cheap contracts without considering how Minnesota cut its payroll at the start of the offseason.
If the Twins’ salary position had been stronger, could they have paid one or both of the pitchers? All we know for sure—and this sounds plausible—is that the team will have to find a way, on a limited budget, to replace a Cy Young finalist and a reliable back-end starter this winter.
Even while it hurts to see Gray go, the Twins won’t be left holding the bag because they at least received something in exchange.
Twins receive draft pick compensation for losing Sonny Gray
Gray’s departure for a lucrative free agent salary this winter was anticipated, and the Twins had previously discussed what they would receive in return. Since Gray was a free agent, the Cardinals were unable to obtain anything from him; nonetheless, Minnesota was compensated with a draft selection as part of the terms of his contract.
The Twins will receive a first round comp pick in this year’s MLB Draft as a result of Gray agreeing to a deal worth more than $60 million.The choice will come in at number 33 overall, according to Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic. All things considered, the original trade for Gray was a good bargain.
Minnesota’s main trade partner in the trade with Cincinnati to get Gray was Chase Petty, who was drafted No. 26 overall in 2021, to the Reds. The Twins acquired a Cy Young finalist in that trade, which helped revitalize the rotation and turn pitching into a strength for the first time in what seems like an eternity.
The Twins only lost eight draft picks in the end, which is a significant victory considering the stories from the previous season about transactions going badly for the front office.
While the Twins will essentially get to replace Petty three years later while getting everything they could out of Gray, we’ll have to wait and see how he develops. Gray’s return on a three-year contract may be ideal, but at the very least the Twins aren’t losing their best pitcher for nothing.
Being selected in the first round for something is a respectable farewell present.
Related Posts
About The Author
