Right-hander Chris Paddack has signed an extension as he and the Minnesota Twins have agreed on a three-year deal. The deal is worth $12.5 million, and he will receive $2.5 million in 2023, $2.5 million in 2024, and $7.5 million in 2025. There are incentives up to an additional $2.5 million. This was first reported by Dan Hayes of The Athletic.
Surprise Extension
This extension comes as a surprise to some since Paddack is recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. This one was performed in May 2022, which puts his return target in or around August 2023.
Once he is fully healthy, the Twins believe this to be a win-win deal. However, if Paddack isn’t his old self, the deal only averages just over $4 million per season, a manageable salary hit.
Chris Paddack’s Potential
Chris Paddack will return to the twin cities, and nobody has questioned that he has the potential to be a top tier starter. He was good in 2019 when he made his debut with San Diego Padres. He struggled some with command in 2020, and his ERA was at 4.73, but he looked good again in 2021. However, the issue that has plagued him is the command of his fastball, which leads to home runs.
He showed flashes of his potential with the Twins last season before his injury. In the 22 1/3 innings he pitched, he recorded 20 strikeouts with an ERA of 4.03.
Paddack’s Timetable
At this point, it remains to be seen whether or not he will be able to pitch. Hopefully he can and can pick up where he left off, continuing to build on his promising career. It will take him some innings to get into shape, and to see what he has to offer. Pitching coach Wes Johnson will continue to work with him on his fastball, and to get his command under control. There’s reason to believe that Johnson, who has a track record of getting the best out of pitchers, can make Paddack look like the top prospect he once was.
Rotation Depth
The trade to the Twins last season seemed to revive Paddack’s career. It was a victory for him, even if it was for just a brief time. If he is able to return this season and pitch well, he could provide rotation depth behind Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda (also returning from Tommy John surgery), Tyler Mahle, Bailey Ober, and Joe Ryan. However, it’s ultimately up to Paddack to put the work in, and rediscover his strong look from 2019. If he can make the adjustments needed to pitch to his potential and remain healthy, it will be the win-win deal the Twins hoped for.
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