My kingdom for a right handed bat

Earlier in the offseason, I wrote about the Twins building Target Field, a park that seemed to have been built for righties, then putting together a roster that never seemed to have many right handed thumpers. The two top paid players on the team are right handed, but nobody would ever call Carlos Correa or Byron Buxton "bat first". 

Really, the big right handed thumper in the lineup is Ryan Jeffers, with newly signed Carlos Santana also adding a bit of oomph from the right side of the plate, but none of the depth, nearly anywhere, can provide an alternative. 

The Twins traded Luis Arraez - a lefty - last season in an effort to deal from a strength to support a weakness. This offseason, they traded Jorge Polanco, a switch hitter, primarily to give Edouard Julien - a lefty - more at bats. 

In the last few weeks, ever since the Twins had their awakening and started making moves, the Twins have made it pretty clear where their priorities lie. No, they aren't going to spend a ton of money on a starting pitcher. They are laser focused on making their bench more right handed. Finally, someone is listening to me.

They added to an already strong bullpen by trading sparkplug Nick Gordon - a lefty - to the Marlins, receiving Steven Okert - ironically, another lefty, but out of the bullpen. Gordon was squeezed out by the existing infielders, the outfield depth, and by the fact that the Twins are really looking for a right handed bat to fill out their bench.

Even though a lot of writers and more hangdog fans are focusing on the fact that the Twins have openly said there won't be a large bump to the payroll before the season starts, I am focused on the fact that the Twins clearly aren't done shopping.

Minnesota has been tied to Michael A. Taylor for a reunion after Taylor had a very productive season last year. Taylor has wanted a two year deal, but as time runs out on the offseason, it is more likely that he will be willing to take a 1 year deal to give the left handed corner outfielders a right handed complement.

Even as Gordon was sent to Miami, the Twins were also considering, and are one of the finalists for, veteran utility guy Enrique "Kiké" Hernandez, a veteran who hits on the right side of the plate.

The Twins might not have the same high payroll of last year, but don't be surprised by at least one more late roster move.