6 Free Agent Targets the Minnesota Twins Should Consider This Winter

It’s that time of the year again. You can taste the fall in the air. That means the kickoff of the NFL and college football seasons, along with the pennant chases in Major League Baseball. Sorry to say, the Minnesota Twins will not be a part of any pennant chases this year.

What do Twins fans have to look forward to? Next season and free agency. Here are a few names Terry Ryan might look at to improve his club.

Brad Hawpe (34)

The Twins like to gamble on older players. Hawpe seems like the kind of player the Twins would roll the dice on. Hawpe isn’t on a team in 2012, but he was an all-star in 2009 when he was with the Rockies.

Hawpe’s prime was between 2006-2009, but he could still be a serviceable player. A career .276 hitter with a little pop in his bat, Brad Hawpe could be a player that the Twins go after.

Rich Harden (31)

The Twins came into Spring Training with a projected rotation of: Scott Baker, Francisco Liriano, Carl Pavano, Nick Blackburn, and Jason Marquis. Currently, none of them are in the rotation. So it’s easy to say that the Twins need some help.

Terry Ryan has had the tendency of signing older veteran pitchers to bolster the rotation, Rich Harden fills that role. Like Hawpe, Harden is not on a team this season, but his 3.76 lifetime ERA is appealing. His 9.20 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings) ratio would also be a nice addition to the Twins' rotation.

Bobby Jenks (32)

If you look over at the White Sox roster, you’ll see some prominent former Twins: Francisco Liriano, Jesse Crain, AJ Pierzynski. It’s time for the Twins to grab a former White Sox and use them against the rival south-siders.

The Twins' bullpen could use a little strengthening and former White Sox closer Bobby Jenks might fit the bill. He’s sitting out this year due to injury and a complicated bone spur surgery in his back.

Jenks was once one of the best closers around and the Twins may be looking for one, what with the imminent departure of Matt Capps. Even if the Twins go a different route with whom their closer is, Jenks would be a nice middle innings guy

Rick Ankiel (33)

Everybody likes a feel-good story and that’s what Rick Ankiel is.

He got up to the majors in 1999 as a pitcher, but by 2001 he was all the way down in Rookie Ball after losing control of his pitching. He eventually reinvented himself as an outfielder and here we are.

Ankiel has a lifetime average of .244, but he brings with him wonderful outfield defense. He appeared in 68 games with the Nationals this year before being designated for assignment. He had a .228 average, five home runs, and 15 RBIs in 158 at-bats.

Zack Greinke (28)

I know it’s far-fetched, but it is definitely worth a shot. The name speaks for itself. He was the 2009 AL Cy Young Award winner. The man has ten wins between the Brewers and Angels this year.

It’s a long shot, but you might as well try. What’s the worst that could happen? 

Torii Hunter (37)

He’s stated that it’s his last year. He’s stated that he wants to retire as an Angel. He also said that Bill Smith is cold, but miraculously he’s no longer the Twins GM. Terry Ryan just might make a phone call to old pal Torii Hunter.

Hunter really isn’t going to boost the offense and his defense isn’t nearly what it used to be, but bringing back Torii Hunter is a huge PR plus. This one probably won’t happen, but crazier things have happened.