Twins Add Power with Logan Morrison: Fantasy impact

By Bill Pivetz | Feb 26, 2018

ST. PETERSBURG, FL - AUGUST 13: Logan Morrison #7 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts after striking out swinging to pitcher Corey Kluber of the Cleveland Indians during the sixth inning of a game on August 13, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Brian Blanco/Getty Images) /

The Twins added another power bat to their lineup by signing Logan Morrison on Sunday. He should be worth owning in most league formats.

The Minnesota Twins entered this season with an already good-hitting power lineup. The front office couldn’t pass up on adding another bat to the offense, especially at the price they paid. Logan Morrison will be the team’s DH and will be selected at the end of drafts.

Morrison had a career power year last season. In a career-high 149 games, he hit 38 home runs, 85 RBI and a .246 average with the Rays. I would say he sacrificed his average for power but that’s not the case. He has a career .245 average in his first seven seasons.

Along with hitting as the DH, the Twins will look for Morrison to play some first base as the team looks to move on from Joe Mauer. He will have first base eligibility already. I ranked him as my No. 23 first baseman before he signed. I think that’s an appropriate spot based on the players ahead of him and his situation.

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Morrison made a drastic switch to his batted ball profile. He made more of an effort to keep the ball in the air. He posted a 33.3 groundball rate and 46.2 fly ball rate, way above his career 42.9 and 37.5 rates respectively.

While Morrison swung at more strikes, 12.0 percent, he wasn’t swinging at many pitches out of the zone, 27.7 O-Swing rate. As a result, he walked 81 times and posted a .353 on-base percentage, his highest since 2010.

The Twins already had Mauer, Brian Dozier, Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano to carry the offense. Adding Morrison only helps the Twins compete with the Indians and make a push for an AL Central title.

Though, the latter could miss the start of the season as he recovers from leg surgery in November and faces a possible suspension.

Morrison will spend half of his season in a hitter-friendly Target Field. Chicago and Detroit rank right behind Minnesota in home runs, according to ESPN Park Factors. It also helps that the pitching staffs in the division aren’t that great.

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He may not hit another 38 home runs, but I think 30 is a realistic number with a .252 average and .340 OBP. Morrison makes for a nice backup first baseman in standard leagues.

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