Twins Sign Outfielder To Avoid Arbitration

The Minnesota Twins have avoided arbitration for 2023 with 30-year-old outfielder Kyle Garlick. They've signed him to a one-year deal.

The #MNTwins are avoiding arbitration with outfielder Kyle Garlick and signing him to a one-year deal for 2023. It’s worth $750,000, per source.

— Do-Hyoung Park (@dohyoungpark) November 14, 2022

The contract is worth $750,000 according to Twins reporter Do-Hyoung Park. It's only slightly above the major league minimum. 

Garlick has had trouble staying healthy in his two seasons with the Twins, but as a right-handed hitting platoon player he's done well against southpaws, hitting .256 with an .837 OPS, with 10 homers in just 145 plate appearances. He posted an .878 OPS against lefties in 2021.

This always seemed like the logical move to me for the whole "add a RHH corner OF" discussion for the offseason. Keep the cheaper option you already have to mash lefties and spend the money elsewhere for a SS/top SP/C/maybe a reliever.

— Sean Maertens (@SeanMaertens) November 15, 2022

The Twins have an abundance of left-handed hitters among their corner outfielders, so this move assures the Twins some affordable right-handed depth.

Injuries last season piled up on Garlick, suffering from a hamstring strain, a rib-cage contusion and a wrist sprain. 

Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports