3 Free Agents the Twins Must Avoid This Offseason

After their record-setting 2019 season, it's fair to say the Minnesota Twins are heading into the offseason without the thought of addressing their offense in mind.

Come 2020, they can be expected to battle for the AL Central crown once again and make noise in the postseason (so long as they aren't matched up with the Yankees), but they need to avoid making the mistake of signing these three players.

3. Cole Hamels

Hamels might flaunt the postseason experience -- he's a former NLCS and World Series MVP with the Phillies -- that will persuade some clubs to offer him a contract, but he is now 35 years old, and was genuinely woeful down the stretch in 2019 when he returned from his oblique injury. Across 10 starts, Hamels compiled a 5.79 ERA. If that doesn't indicate that father time is beginning to take its toll, we don't know what does. Minny would be wise to stay away.

2. Dallas Keuchel

The Atlanta Braves ended Dallas Keuchel's 2018 free agency saga by bringing in the vet southpaw midseason with the hope that he would personify an imposing force on the bump in October. Well, that plan didn't exactly work out, as Keuchel posted a 4.50 ERA in two starts (just eight innings). The Twins would be wise to pursue arms like Stephen Strasburg, Wade Miley, Zack Wheeler, or even Madison Bumgarner.

1. Rick Porcello

It doesn't take a baseball expert to come to terms with the fact that Rick Porcello was terrible in 2019. Red Sox fans will never forget his Cy Young campaign back in 2016, but he is MILES away from the pitcher he was then. Since, he has logged ERA's of 4.65, 4.28 and 5.58. What more needs to be said? A bounce-back season could be in the works, but there are simply plenty of better hurlers on the market for the Twins to pursue.