Twins acquire veteran outfielder Michael A. Taylor from Royals
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins acquired veteran Michael A. Taylor from the Kansas City Royals on Monday evening, including depth and protection to their outfield in alternate for 2 aid pitching prospects.
The 31-year-old Taylor batted .254 with 9 residence runs and 43 RBIs in 414 at-bats final season for the Royals, his second 12 months with the membership after spending his first seven main league seasons with the Washington Nationals.
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The Twins despatched 23-year-old right-hander Steven Cruz and 25-year-old left-hander Evan Sisk to the Royals.
Taylor’s finest offensive season got here in 2017 with the Nationals, when he hit .271 with 19 homers, 53 RBIs and an .806 OPS in 118 video games. His best worth is within the grass, although. Taylor was a Gold Glove winner in his Royals debut in 2021 and provides the Twins a 3rd outfielder on their roster who has received the award, becoming a member of Byron Buxton (2017) and newcomer Joey Gallo (2020 and 2021).
Taylor is a pure centre fielder who will give the Twins a strong backup plan behind Buxton, whose accidents have stored him from enjoying greater than 92 video games in a season all however as soon as in eight years within the main leagues.
Gallo can play all three outfield spots, with most of his 2022 expertise in left discipline the place Trevor Larnach may also be within the combine. Gallo received his Gold Glove awards without any consideration fielder. Max Kepler, one other robust defender, has been the common proper fielder for the final seven seasons. With the latest departure by way of commerce of AL batting champion Luis Arraez, Alex Kirilloff is in line to take the lead at first base with Gallo additionally probably within the combine.
The Twins have had an aggressive begin to the brand new 12 months, highlighted by the shock re-signing of shortstop Carlos Correa after offers fell by means of for him with two different groups. They despatched Arraez to Miami for beginning pitcher Pablo Lopez.
The center preliminary “A” in Taylor’s identify stands for Anthony. The native of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, who was drafted by the Nationals within the sixth spherical in 2009, had the preliminary added to his identify to differentiate him from one other Michael Taylor who performed outfield within the main leagues from 2011-14.
Cruz, a 6-foot-6 native of the Dominican Republic, went 1-4 with a 5.14 ERA, 35 walks and 72 strikeouts in 56 innings final season for Double-A Wichita. In 120 profession minor league appearances, Cruz has 259 strikeouts in 192 1/3 innings.
Sisk, who was initially drafted by St. Louis within the sixteenth spherical in 2018 out of the College of Charleston, break up final season between Wichita and Triple-A St. Paul. He went 5-1 with a 1.57 ERA, 29 walks and 76 strikeouts in 63 innings between the groups. Sisk was acquired by the Twins in a 2021 commerce that despatched beginning pitcher J.A. Happ to the Cardinals.
