MLB Rumors: If Stephen Strasburg opts out, where should he sign?

These teams would be very happy if Stephen Strasburg opts out

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - SEPTEMBER 11: Stephen Strasburg #37 of the Washington Nationals delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the interleague game at Target Field on September 11, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

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Mandatory Credit: Hannah Foslien/Getty Images /

3. Minnesota Twins

This isn’t your father’s Twins’ front office, led by Derek Falvey and Thad Levine, with open acknowledgement they made an offer to Yu Darvish a couple offseasons ago before he signed a six-year, $126 million deal with the Chicago Cubs. There were also rumors attaching them to Noah Syndergaard around this year’s trade deadline. In hindsight, if rumors of the Mets’ asking price (outfielder Byron Buxton) being too much are true, that’s a deal they should have done.

Kyle Gibson, Jake Odorizzi and Michael Pineda are set to hit free agency, so the Twins will be in the market for starting pitchers. Looking to next year, they have $38.5 million currently committed to 17 players and even less than that in 2021 before accounting for arbitration raises. That kind of clean balance sheet sets up for a mode of aggression during upcoming offseasons, and it’s safe to say Falvey and Levine will try to supplement the existing core.

The Twins obviously got a close look at the current rendition of Strasburg Wednesday night. It isn’t the guy whose fastball regularly pushes into the high 90’s anymore, but the 31-year old is showing he is (and presumably can be going forward) plenty effective as a top of the rotation innings eater. Creating a 1-2 punch of Strasburg and Jose Berrios leading their rotation should be on Minnesota’s radar this winter.

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