Gabbing w/ Gamble: Which new Twin are you most excited about?

Hello and welcome back to the first Friday discussion of spring training! Our favorite team is getting back into the swing of things, the weather’s warming up- what more could we ask for? Anyway, the question I bring to you this week is this: Which new Twin are you most excited about?

Focusing on the new acquisitions (rather than possible called-up prospects), these are the choices:

Andrelton Simmons

While Simmons hasn’t yet been able to make it to Twins camp due to travel difficulties, I suspect he’ll be the pick for many of you readers. A wizard with the glove, Simmons will bolster the Twins’ defense and provide them with a bona fide shortstop, the likes of which they haven’t featured in many years.

Alex Colome

Poached from the rival White Sox, Colome has posted excellent numbers throughout his career, including the past two. Colome will provide another elite arm that the Twins can bring out of the bullpen, joining Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey, and whichever new faces make the jump this year (Jorge Alcala? Cody Stashak?). Furthermore, the Twins got him at an excellent value instead of getting locked in an expensive long-term contract with a 32-year-old reliever.

Hansel Robles

Speaking of the bullpen, Robles was something of a bargain-bin pickup by the Twins, but does have great upside. While his 2020 was dreadful, he’s only a year removed from a 2019 season where he posted a 2.48 ERA in 72.2 innings (which would’ve led the Twins bullpen that year).

J.A. Happ

To shore up the rotation, the Twins turned to the big lefty journeyman Happ. Happ hasn’t been a real stud in many years now, but many teams are definitely doing worse at the 4th starter spot. If Happ can stay healthy and post a sub-4.00 ERA, the Twins rotation should be excellent.

Kyle Garlick, Keon Broxton, Shaun Anderson, Matt Shoemaker, Andrew Romine, J.T. Riddle, Ian Hamilton, Ian Gibaut, Glenn Sparkman

I just felt the need to include this bunch of low-key acquisitions. All guys who could possibly make the roster in some capacity, but none who will probably provoke much excitement, unless they’re a personal favorite of yours for one reason or another.

My pick would probably be Alex Colome. He has really been a top-tier reliever over the past few years, and he flew under the radar enough for the Twins to get him on a steal of a deal. I can just close my eyes and picture him closing out a game that eliminates his former team from AL Central contention. How sweet that would be.

Now it’s your turn! What do you think? Did I miss anybody? Who are you most excited about? Let us know in the comments!