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Predicting future prospect success can be an exercise in futility. There are far more minor league players that never reach the big leagues than prospects that become big league regulars. One of the main reasons the Twins Prospect Handbook is created is to tell the stories of most players in the organization.

In the last few editions of the Twins Prospect Handbook, the authors have all selected “breakout” prospects. A “breakout” player was defined as a player in our own Top 30 that we think will make a leap into the Top 10.

We changed the definition in the 2019 edition of the book because of the influx of players from outside the organization throughout the year. However, it could still be fun to see how last year’s breakout prospects fared during the 2018 campaign.

If you would like to see this year’s breakout prospects (along with articles from each Twins affiliate, full articles on the Twins Daily Minor League Award winners, over 160 Twins minor league player profiles, prospect rankings and much more), you have a couple of purchase options. If you want the paperbook copy of the book, it is $17.99. The electronic, PDF version is available for immediate download for $12.99. (Be sure to go to Lulu.com to see if there are any promo codes to provide a better price.)

David Schoenfield of ESPN put together a nice breakdown of who’s left on the starting pitching market. He noted that the Twins may gamble on Clay Buchholz and/or Drew Pomeranz. I wrote about Pomeranz in my search for the next Nathan Eovaldi here at Twins Daily a couple weeks ago, but what about Buchholz?

Continue reading for more info on Buchholz plus a number of other news & notes items in this edition of the Rundown.

UPDATE- The 2019 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook is now available!

Paperback versions of the 161 page book will cost $17.99 this year.

Electronic version will be available for $12.99. It is a PDF that will be available to download immediately.

For more information on the handbook,, please read below.

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I think even the Twins’ harshest critics would have to admit that the Twins minor league system is stronger and deeper than it was just two years ago, or even just last year.

Very soon, the 2019 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook will be available. Check back to Twins Daily later this week to find out how you can purchase the book. Below, find out more about what you will be able to find in the 2019 edition.

How about an intimate holiday gathering with … Joe Nathan? LatTroy Hawkins? Scott Erickson? These are just a few of the special guests at Twins Daily’s Winter Meltdown, and this year we’re limiting the size to half of last year’s sellout crowd. Plus, you can buy presale tickets for just $25 (regular $40) through 12/25. We are offering this quietly, to people that visit the site in the dead of winter.

Aaron and John talk about Nelson Cruz and Edwin Encarnacion rumors, the Twins' remaining bullpen and rotation options, Byron Buxton's first public comments since September, Tyler Jay going unpicked in the Rule 5 draft, Lance Lynn getting a three-year deal, and lots of mailbag questions from listeners. You can listen by downloading us from iTunes, Stitcher, iHeartRadio or find it at GleemanAndTheGeek.com. Or just click this link.

Below is an excerpt from the recently-released 2019 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Nate Rowan is the Media Relations Director of the Rochester Red Wings. The Minnesota native was kind enough to write up a history of the Rochester Red Wings. It’s really a remarkable history when you think about it, and when you read the full article. It is full of incredible stories, each one a little crazier than the previous.

Below, I’ll share a few snips from the article. If you would like to read the article in its entirety (along with articles from the other Twins affiliates, full articles on the Twins Daily Minor League Award winners, over 160 Twins minor league player profiles, prospect rankings and much more, you have a couple of purchase options. If you want the paperbook copy of the book, it is $17.99. The electronic, PDF version is available for immediate download for $12.99. (Be sure to go to Lulu.com to see if there are any promo codes to provide a better price.)

The Twins have addressed their two biggest needs on the position-player side, adding C.J. Cron at first base and Jonathan Schoop at second. They are reportedly still monitoring the DH market, and might add another catcher yet, but now the front office is turning its attention to the pitching staff.

It's obvious that Minnesota could stand to add multiple impact arms. But circumstances will make this a more complicated undertaking than it appears.

If you’re feeling a bit underwhelmed at the close of the Winter Meetings in Las Vegas, I’m sure you’re not the only Minnesota Twins fan in that boat. The only free agent acquisitions made thus far include Johnathan Schoop and Ronald Torreyes. While the former has big-time potential, there’s not much here to move the needle. Nelson Cruz rumors have started to become noteworthy, but there’s yet to be a deal in place. As Minnesota practices caution, it’s worth wondering if they’re still waiting on internal sustenance.

The Winter Meetings in Las Vegas have been fairly quiet against in 2018. Certainly there are meetings, but there haven't been a lot of signings or trades. Thursday is the final day of the Winter Meetings.

The highlight of the final day of the Winter Meetings is the Rule 5 draft (11:00 central time). The Twins have stated publicly that it is unlikely that they will make a Rule 5 selection, but could they lose players? What will happen in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 draft. Check back to this article throughout the morning for more updates.

This article will be update throughout the Rule 5 draft.

When the Twins added C.J. Cron and essentially tabbed him as their 2019 first baseman, the move puzzled me. Not because of Cron so much as what his addition seemed to say about the lone incumbent at first base.

Is Tyler Austin being written out of Minnesota's plans already? Or is there still a way his very specific, very potent skills could be optimally put to use?

In coming days, you will see much more information about the 2019 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. Tom Froemming, Cody Christie and I have been putting far too many hours in over the last couple of months to put together a quality product that can recognize the efforts of so many talented young Twins prospects. Below, you will see some excerpts from the soon-to-be-released Twins Prospect Handbook.

Each year, we write feature articles on the three Twins Daily minor league full-season award winners. I had the chance to have phone interviews with the three winners recently. One question that I asked each of them was their thoughts on each other.

FanCred's Jon Heyman reported Monday that the Twins were in the mix for Nelson Cruz. New Twins beat writer for MLB.com Do-Hyoung Park confirmed and added that there was mutual interest between Cruz and the Twins. Darren Wolfson of KSTP also revealed that the Twins were kicking the tires on Joakim Soria, Trevor Cahill and Wilson Ramos.

So that's four names we've got to dissect, let's get into it.