Twins sign former SF Giants fan favorite Donovan Solano to MLB deal
The Minnesota Twins have signed infielder Donovan Solano to a one-year, $2 million contract that includes $250,000 of incentives. The former SF Giants second baseman is slated to be the Twins utility infielder, likely platooning with second baseman Jorge Polanco and first baseman Alex Kirilloff. The agreement was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and terms of the deal were later reported by Jon Heyman of the New York Post.
SF Giants second base Donovan Solano (7) catches a line drive to retire Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner during Game 5 of the 2021 National League Divisional Series.
Neville E. Guard-USA TODAY Sports
Solano was one of the best acquisitions of Giants president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi's tenure. Solano signed a minor-league contract with San Francisco prior to the 2019 season and proved to be the best second baseman in the organization. Nicknamed 'Donnie Barrels' for his knack for squaring up opposing pitching, Solano hit .330/.360/.456 in 81 games with the Giants that season.
In the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign, Solano won a Silver Slugger Award, building off his breakout season. He appeared in 54 of the Giants' 60 games, hitting .326/.365/.463 with 15 doubles, a triple, and three home runs. While the Giants finished the season one victory away from reaching the playoffs, Solano played a pivotal role in their contention.
Solano's performance took a step back in 2021 when the Giants won 107 games, but he still managed an above-average .280/.344/.404 triple-slash in 344 plate appearances. However, by the end of the season, Solano was ceding playing time to Thairo Estrada and Wilmer Flores. So, it was no surprise when he departed in free agency, signing a one-year, $4.5 million contract with the Reds.
The Reds deployed Solano as a utility infielder, primarily against left-handed pitching. While he primarily played second base with the Giants, he actually saw more playing time at first and third base in Cincinnati, showcasing some improved versatility. While his power continued to dip, he still made contact at a solid clip, finishing the season with a .284/.339/.385 line.
At this point in his career, Donovan Solano is likely at his best as a platoon bat against left-handed pitching. Since he joined the SF Giants in 2019, he has a .321/.363/.461 triple-slash against southpaws. With a left-handed hitting first baseman and switch-hitting second baseman, it is easy to see why the Minnesota Twins added Donnie Barrels.
