Heading into September of the past season, the Minnesota Twins were in control of the final American League Wild Card spot. However, a late-season slump allowed the Detroit Tigers to overtake them, costing the Twins a postseason berth. As they look to rebound from that collapse and secure a spot in the playoffs for 2025, strengthening their offense will be a priority this winter. With Carlos Santana set to become a free agent, replacing his bat and presence in the lineup will be key.
One player the Twins might target is Boston Red Sox slugger Tyler O’Neill, who enjoyed a strong bounce-back season as he heads into free agency. Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report believes O’Neill could ultimately land with Minnesota.
“Tyler O’Neill is so frustrating because he’s an All-Star level player when healthy. But this past season with the Red Sox, he dealt with three separate stints on the injured list,” Kelly wrote.
O’Neill’s injury history will likely impact his free-agent value, but his performance when healthy is hard to overlook. Despite missing nearly 50 games, he still managed to hit 31 home runs, a remarkable feat.
Kelly predicts that O’Neill will sign a two-year, $28 million deal, with an opt-out clause after 2025. In addition to his 31 home runs, O’Neill posted a .241/.336/.511 slash line, 61 RBIs, 53 walks, an .847 OPS, and 2.5 Wins Above Replacement (WAR).
While the Twins are not typically big players in free agency, this deal could make sense for them as they look to compete in 2025. The risk with O’Neill is his health, but if he stays on the field, his power and production would be a significant boost to the Twins’ offense.