How They Were Acquired: The Minnesota Twins’ ALDS Roster

The 2019 Twins fell one win shy of their franchise record (102), set back in 1965 by a team that included future Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew, as well as Tony Oliva, Mudcat Grant, and Jim Kaat. That season ended with a Game 7 World Series loss to the Dodgers — Cy Young winner and World Series MVP Sandy Koufax pitched a three-hit shutout — and it wasn’t until 22 years later that the Twins finally won their first championship since moving to Minnesota.

Reaching the World Series again will require a roster with limited postseason experience that isn’t quite at full health — it’s easier to name the position players who weren’t injured over the past month or two — to get past the Yankees, who have one of the best lineups in baseball, and either the Rays or Astros, who each have three starting pitchers capable of shutting down any opponent.

Here’s how every member of the Twins’ 2019 ALDS roster was originally acquired. The team’s full RosterResource Depth Chart and Payroll pages are also available as a resource.

Homegrown (13)

• Kyle Gibson, SP: Drafted First Round (22) 2009
• Jorge Polanco, SS: Amateur Free Agent (Dominican Republic) July 2009
• Max Kepler, OF: Amateur Free Agent (Germany) July 2009
• Miguel Sanó, 3B: Amateur Free Agent (Dominican Republic) October 2009
• Eddie Rosario, OF: Drafted Fourth Round 2010
• José Berríos, SP: Drafted First Round (32) 2012
• Tyler Duffey, RP: Drafted Fifth Round 2012
• Taylor Rogers, RP: Drafted 11th Round 2012
• Mitch Garver, C: Drafted Ninth Round 2013
• Luis Arraez, INF/OF: Amateur Free Agent (Venezuela) November 2013
• Brusdar Graterol, RP: Amateur Free Agent (Venezuela) August 2014
• Cody Stashak, RP: Drafted 13th Round 2015
• Randy Dobnak, RP: Undrafted Free Agent August 2017

Total WAR: 30.0

Signed in Free Agency (4)

• Jason Castro, C: November 2016 (HOU) — Signed to three-year, $24.5 million contract.
• Jonathan Schoop, 2B: December 2018 (MIL) — Signed to one-year, $7.5 million contract.
• Nelson Cruz, DH: January 2019 (SEA) — Signed to one-year, $14.3 million contract ($12 million club option in 2020).
• Marwin Gonzalez, INF/OF: February 2019 (HOU) — Signed two-year, $21 million contract.

Total WAR: 8.6

Acquired Via Trade (6)

• Trevor May, RP: December 2012 (PHI) — Acquired in trade that sent Ben Revere to the Phillies.
• Zack Littell, RP: July 2017 (NYY) — Acquired in trade that sent Jaime García to the Yankees.
• Jake Odorizzi, SP: February 2018 (TBR) — Acquired in trade that sent Jermaine Palacios to the Rays.
• Jake Cave, OF: March 2018 (NYY) — Acquired in trade that sent Luis Gil to the Yankees.
• Devin Smeltzer, RP: July 2018 (LAD) — Acquired in trade that sent Brian Dozier to the Dodgers.
• Sergio Romo, RP: July 2019 (MIA) — Acquired in trade that sent Lewin Diaz to the Marlins.

Total WAR: 7.7

Acquired Waivers (2)

• Ehire Adrianza, INF/OF: February 2017 (MIL)
• C.J. Cron, 1B: November 2018 (TBR)

Total WAR: 0.9