Minnesota Twins agree to contract with former Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners pitcher

MLB Trade Rumors: Minnesota Twins agree to contract with former Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners pitcher

The Minnesota Twins aren't that if the Los Angeles Dodgers, with their ownership group prepared to spend like never before in an attempt to fill the organization with unmatched talent in a singular quest for greatness, are baseball's future.

Minnesota revealed its most recent move as it navigates another quiet offseason. Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune reported on X that the Twins had signed right-yield reliever Erasmo Ramirez to a minor-league contract. Ramirez has been invited to spring training as part of his contract, which will allow him to try out for a seat with the major league team.

The 13-year veteran Ramirez pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2024 season, recording a 4.35 ERA and an ERA+ of 93. In 20.2 innings, he recorded 15 strikeouts at the end of the season. Before becoming a free agent in October, Ramirez was completely cut from the Rays' roster and designated for assignment twice during the previous season. However, in 13 appearances, he produced a 1.065 WHIP. That's something, then.

Last season, the Twins finished fourth in the AL Central. As division rivals the Guardians, Royals, and Tigers all qualified for postseason play, Minnesota missed out on the playoffs despite finishing above.500 with an 82-80 record.

Will the Twins be able to compete in the new era of MLB spending?

Despite sticking to short-term agreements, the Twins did make certain moves to try to enhance the squad for 2025. After a great two years with the Baltimore Orioles, the organization will re-sign reliever Danny Coulombe to a one-year, $3 million contract. Additionally, Minnesota agreed to a one-year, $6.5 million contract with centerfielder Harrison Bader. First baseman Ty France was finally signed by the Twins to a $1 million, one-year contract. And that's it. This summer, Minnesota has no plans to make any more free agent acquisitions.

To compete with baseball's new mega rosters, the Twins are happy to introduce a combination of homegrown talent and under-the-radar additions. In this new era of baseball spending, they are still unwilling to break the bank or even make a small withdrawal from the bank.

The Twins' strategy hasn't resulted in a completely awful performance, to be fair. Three of the previous six years have seen the team win the AL Central. Naturally, despite their relative dominance in the regular season, Minnesota only managed to win one postseason series during that time, defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2023 Wild Card round.

Since defeating the Atlanta Braves in the 1991 World Series, the Twins have only won two postseason games, which is one Wild Card round and one Division round victory in 33 years. Thus, the frugal strategy might not be working in Minnesota.