TAMPA — The Twins traded for insurance on Monday, adding the productive and versatile Manuel Margot to an outfield unit that brings Byron Buxton back from injury.
Margot, 29, was acquired from the Dodgers, who acquired him and prominent right-hander Tyler Glasnow from the Rays in December. Margot has a .255/.309/.385 slash line with 52 home runs, 91 steals and 283 RBIs in eight MLB seasons with the Padres and Rays.
Minnesota also received infielder Rayne Doncon as part of the deal. The 20-year-old Doncon, ranked as the Dodgers' No. 23 prospect by MLB Pipeline, transferred from the Dominican Republic for $497,500 in 2021 and spent last season at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, where he hit .215/.283/. 368 in 107 games.
The Twins gave up infield prospect Noah Miller, the No. 36 overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, who was ranked as Minnesota's No. 23 prospect by MLB Pipeline. Miller is the younger brother of Brewers reliever Owen Miller and owns a .644 OPS with 12 home runs and 36 steals in 250 minor league games, finishing first at High-A Cedar Rapids last season.
Margot's two-year, $19 million contract expires at the end of the season, but there is a team option for 2025 worth $12 million.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said he learned of Margot's acquisition during Monday's 9-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field.
“I think it's an addition that can really help us,” Baldelli said. “Margot can complement your lineup very well against left-handers. He can play center, but he can also go to corner and play well in left field.
“I know him pretty well. He's a guy we've been keeping an eye on for a while. You could call it a deliberate move. We always talk about completing our team with the right players. “He’s that kind of player – a great character off the field and in the clubhouse and a guy who can do a lot for the team.”
Baldelli said Buxton, a former Platinum Glove Award winner, will make his Grapefruit League field debut Tuesday against the Phillies in Fort Myers. Buxton, 30, was limited to batting duties in 2023 due to knee problems that led to surgery in October.
Buxton's final outfield game? Just 554 days ago.
“Getting back on the horse in the outfield … that’s real for him,” Baldelli said. “It will take a few games for him to feel comfortable out there again. But once he does [get comfortable]I don't think it will take that long [for Buxton to resume his form].''
Buxton's reemergence, prospect Austin Martin's potential, and Margot's acquisition provide plenty of storylines in the Twins' outfield. Whatever the case, Baldelli said he believes Minnesota improved on Monday.
“I think Austin Martin will help us in different roles in the future and he is also a very valuable player,” Baldelli said. “But the ability to be able to add that depth where we cover things — no matter what’s happening in the outfield or in a lot of different scenarios — I think is great.
“Margot is a guy who, if you ask him to play regularly, is ready and will help you in many ways. It's still running very well. At his age, some guys really slow down. His foot speed is literally pretty close to what it was before. It's difficult to add top-notch athletes to major league rosters. There just aren't many of them in the game to pick and choose from. He's still one of those guys. And if we ask him to play against anyone at times, he’ll be excited about it.”