Minnesota Twins Trade Rumors: Max Kepler & Jorge Polanco Drawing Interest

The Los Angeles Dodgers have significantly improved their roster with the additions of Shohei Ohtani, Tyler Glasnow and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, but they are expected to remain active in the weeks leading up to Spring Training.

The Dodgers still want to acquire another starting pitcher and could possibly sign one of the top remaining free-agent relief pitchers if their markets fail to develop.

It is also believed the Dodgers want to improve in the outfield and potentially upgrade at shortstop.

The Minnesota Twins could be a trade partner as Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco are drawing significant interest from teams, per Bobby Nightengale of the Star Tribune:

Max Kepler and Jorge Polanco are the two Twins players drawing the most interest on the trade market, according to multiple people familiar with trade discussions. The Twins fielded interest in Kepler last winter, who some teams view as a potential fit in center field, and he had a stellar second half.

The Dodgers have previously been linked to Kepler this offseason as they search for a left-handed hitting outfielder. The 31-year-old has spent his entire career with the Twins to this point and is coming off one of his best seasons.

Kepler posted a 124 wRC+ with 22 doubles, 24 home runs, 66 RBI, 72 runs scored and 2.6 fWAR in 130 games. He is entering the final season of a five-year, $35 million contract signed prior to 2019.

Polanco has also played his entire career with the Twins and enjoyed another solid season in 2023 despite being limited by injuries. He hit .255/.335/.454 with 18 doubles, 14 home runs and 48 RBI in just 80 games.

Polanco has primarily played second base in each of the past two seasons but previously served as the Twins’ starting shortstop from 2017-2020. He is entering the final year of his contract but has a $12 million team option ($750,000 buyout) for the 2025 season.

Dodgers confident in Gavin Lux amid trade rumors

While the Dodgers will entertain the idea of finding an upgrade at shortstop, general manager Brandon Gomes said the team has high hopes for Gavin Lux next season.

The 26-year-old is on track to return from knee surgery and play shortstop on a daily basis for the first time in his career.