Twins working to recruit Ohtani, Darvish

As the Minnesota Twins weigh their options in free agency, general manager Thad Levine says the club is actively recruiting both two-way Japanese star Shohei Ohtani and free-agent pitcher Yu Darvish.

"(Ohtani) is very exciting for a club like Minnesota, because we feel as if we've got an opportunity to recruit him," Levine told MLB Network Radio on Sunday.

"We, like every other club out there, are diligently putting together materials as to why we think our situation could be conducive to a player like Ohtani ... That is a top priority."

Ohtani's agent sent a memo to every MLB team asking interested clubs to explain how the two-way superstar would fit on their respective rosters. The memo also asked teams to evaluate Ohtani as both a pitcher and a hitter, and describe the organization's philosophies and facilities, among other requests.

As for Darvish, Levine said his relationship with the pitcher was "forged over many years" dating back to his time as an executive with the Texas Rangers.

"He and I have been in contact, despite my departure from Texas," Levine said. "I'm not sure how much that will ultimately weigh in ... but we're actively having conversations as well with his agent."

The Twins have historically veered clear of spending on top free agents. However, as Levine enters his second full season at the helm, he may be looking to buck that trend. The Twins surprisingly followed up a last-place finish in 2016 by making the American League wild-card game.