The Twins announced the acquisition of veteran outfielder , infield prospect and cash from the Dodgers in exchange for minor league shortstop . Los Angeles is reportedly covering $6MM of Margots $10MM salary for the upcoming season. The Dodgers originally received $4MM from the Rays when acquiring Margot alongside earlier this winter; Tampa Bay also remains on the hook for a $2MM buyout on a $12MM club option for 2025. The Twins placed right-hander on the 60-day injured list to open a roster spot for Margot, announcing that Winder has a scapular stre s fracture. His exact timeline in unclear but hell be ineligible to rejoin the club until late May at the earliest. Minnesota has been on the lookout for a right-handed-hitting outfielder who could cover all three spots for much of the offseason. Theyd previously been tied to free agents like and , and theyd also maintained an interest in re-signing , who belted 21 home runs as a Twin in 2023. However, it seems theyve found a deal to their liking on the trade front, presumably ending those free agent pursuits. In Margot, the Twins are acquiring that righty bat theyve been seeking but are also buying low on a player whos been hampered by knee troubles dating back to the 2022 season. Margot mi sed roughly half of the 22 campaign with a significant strain of the patellar tendon in his right knee. He was limited to just 363 plate appearances and turned in a solid, if unspectacular .274/.325/.375 slash (101 wRC+). He followed that up with a .264/.310/.376 line in 336 plate appearances this past season. Had Margot enjoyed a season of his typical defensive excellence in 23, that offensive output wouldve made him an above-average all-around contributor. But in the wake of that knee injury, his once-elite defensive grades slipped closer to average. Statcast noted that Margots range and sprint speed both declined in 2023. Defensive Runs Saved pegged him at -3 on the season, while Statcasts Outs Above Average credited him at +3. Either way, its a notable drop for a player who posted 13 DRS and 16 OAA as recently as 2021. The Twins, presumably, are confident that as Margot distances himself from that knee injury, he can rebound in the Javy Guerra Jersey field if not back to peak form than at least to a clearly above-average defender at all three spots. In Minnesota, Margot will provide the Twins with some insurance in the event of another injury to rarely-healthy center fielder . Beyond that, hell give the Twins a righty bat that can spell lefty-swingers and in the corners. Margot is a career .281/.341/.420 hitter (109 wRC+) against left-handed pitching, so hell likely see his fair share of pinch-hitting opportunities for a Twins club that tends to play matchups throughout the game. Margot can also serve as a late-game defensive upgrade in left over Wallner or a late-game pinch runner. Even with a downturn in his sprint speed, he still ranked in the 75th percentile of MLB players last year, per Statcast. The Twins will also pick up Doncon, a 20-year-old infielder who signed with the Dodgers for just under $500K as an international amateur during the 2021-22 signing period. among Los Angeles prospects as recently as last season, touting potentially plus raw power and an above-average hit tool as his best tools. The Athletics Keith Law among L.A. farmhands just last week. Doncon has played shortstop, second base and third base in the Dodgers system and climbed as high as A-ball during 2023 his age-19 season. He spent the entire year at that level and posted underwhelming numbers (.216/.283/.368) but did so against much older competition. Scouting reports suggest hell have to move to either third base, second base or the outfield as he fills out his projectable 62, 176-pound frame. Doncon po se ses significant power potential but questions about his pitch recognition and eventual defensive home. Hes a couple years off from being a potential big league factor, but at this point hes a more highly regarded prospect than Miller. Doncons inclusion in the deal aligns with the Twins general M.O. in deals of this nature; Minnesota tends to push trade partners to include prospects of varying quality even when theyre the team acquiring the established player (e.g. in the trade, in the deal, in the swap, in the trade, in the trade, etc.). As for the Dodgers end of things, theyll add a former supplemental first-rounder in the deal. Miller, 21, was the No. 36 overall pick by the Twins in 2021 but hasnt lived up to that billing at the plate thus far. Hes regarded as a solid defender at shortstop but has posted only a .220/.326/.318 batting line in the minor leagues, including a .223/.309/.340 slash in High-A last year. Miller gives the Dodgers a glove-first shortstop option who can begin the 2024 season either with a second run at High-A or in Double-A. Even if his bat never comes around, theres utility upside for Miller within the next few years based on the quality of his defense. Like Doncon, it should be noted Millers pedestrian production in 2023 came against much older and more advanced competition. Both players were more than two years younger than the average player at their respective minor league levels. Neither needs to be protected from the Rule 5 Draft until after the 2025 season. As with the Twins getting Doncon included in this deal, the Dodgers acquisition of Miller fits a recent pattern. Los Angeles has bought low on recent high-profile draftees that neednt be added to their 40-man roster this winter while performing maintenance to make room for new acquisitions. In addition to Miller, the Dodgers picked up former Yankees first-rounder in their swap and former Cubs second-rounder in trading away . Perhaps most importantly for the Dodgers, the trade of Margot frees up a roster space. In that sense, this trade has largely facilitated the teams of utilityman to a one-year contract. The Twins had been in the mix to sign Hernandez and were reportedly one of four finalists. Instead theyll go with a hitter whos been more productive over the past few seasons and can capably fill the same role in the outfield, but lacks the infield versatility. Taking on $4MM of Margots deal makes the transactions cash-neutral for the Dodgers, who subsequently guaranteed Hernandez the same amount in free agency. Juan Toribio of MLB.com that Margot had been traded to Minnesota. Jon Heyman of the New York Post that Miller was going back to Los Angeles. Daniel Alvarez Montes of El Extra Base Doncons inclusion in the deal. Jeff Pa san of ESPN that the Dodgers were sending cash to the Twins as well. first reported the Twins were taking on $4MM. Jordan Weems Jersey