The Twins really like Chris Paddack

 So much of this offseason has been about money, and specifically, how much the Twins aren't spending, and how much, even more specifically, they aren't spending on free agent pitchers. Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda and Tyler Mahle all left, but three lower cost, younger players off of the 2023 rotation are still suiting up in 2024: Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober.

The other name expected to take a big role in the Twins rotation next year is Chris Paddack, who the Twins acquired in the Taylor Rogers trade of a couple years ago. While Emilio Pagan had a couple of years in the Twins' bullpen, it was Paddack who attracted the Twins to the deal in the first place. After nearly two full seasons out with Tommy John surgery, Paddack is ready to go in 2024.

In two seasons as a member of the Twins, Paddack has been worth 1 win above replacement, despite only having only 27 innings of work. Paddack hasn't been dissimilar to the pitcher he was in San Diego, either, and while there would will always be concern about his health, Paddack's biggest issue affecting his numbers with Minnesota has been a high batting average on balls in play. His raw numbers, the ERA, should settle in lower than what it's been if his elbow has properly healed. 

Even while Paddack was on the shelf, the Twins signed him to an extension in anticipation of this season. There has been a lot of consternation about the Twins' lack of an addition to the rotation, and a lot of it was blamed on payroll. Part of it should be blamed on the expectations for Paddack to be a vital part of the rotation. It has been in the works for two years, and even i the fans aren't yet fully on board, the front office believes that Paddack is at least the Maeda replacement, if not the Sonny Gray replacement.

With Lopez and the increasing veteran stature of Ryan and Ober already in the front of the rotation, there is no pressure on Paddack to fulfill that role at the top of the rotation either, at least not externally. At the very least, the Twins already have Paddack penciled in as a very good 4th starter, but I have to believe the expect so much more.