3 Twins In "No Man's Land" Headed Into 2025

[DJL44]

31 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

IMO, he’ll need 3 months in St. Paul, at a minimum,  to even think about playing 1B in the show.

I agree with that. I have more hope that 3 months in AAA can get him to be a competent fielder at 1B than I do that any length of time will make him competent at 2B.

[Jeff K]

23 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

I'm confused by how the Twins seem to think of Alcala, who has a ton of talent and now that he's healthy has the tools to be a shut down flamethrower in the back of the bullpen. But there seems to be some attitude or mental discipline things going on there that we sort of hear rumors about the team being unhappy about but it rarely seems to get into specifics. Maybe he's the million dollar arm/5 cent head guy. or maybe they just need to settle him in a role as a late inning, 1 inning reliever and let him cook, instead mucky around with 2 inning stretches.

The August 18 meltdown was pretty bad, but it happened so fast that they probably couldn't get anyone up in time to stop the bleeding when it quickly because obvious that Alcala didn't have it that day, coming off 1 day of rest. but even with that hellacious outing, he still had a very solid season.

he shouldn't be in no-man's land: he should be looked at being right with Sands as the guys right behind Duran and Jax. But maybe some of the other stuff is impacting that in ways we don't really know?

I'm pretty convinced that the Twins used him incorrectly last season with his multiple innings outings.  

[T.O.]

5 hours ago, Whitey333 said:

.... A good manager puts players in a position that best suits the players and then therefore the teams needs.  The Twins don't have such a manager. 

I don't think Baldelli knows how to manage players like these.

[stringer bell]

Looking at today's Twins' roster, Julien and Miranda are the top two options at first base. Risking a season on the production of Julien and Miranda seems pretty foolhardy. Julien has primarily played second base and Miranda has primarily been a third baseman so either can move around to get their bat in the lineup. Both have had runs where they definitely looked like they belonged in the middle of a lineup, but haven't sustained enough to be trusted. Maybe Miranda can sustain his performance and be a good hitter and maybe Julien can get back to where he was in 2023, but it sure looks like there should be somebody who can DH and play an acceptable first base.

The Twins carried Julien on the active roster when he probably would have benefited from going back to St. Paul. They didn't really have anyone else available due to injuries I guess. I think he should go back to St. Paul unless he looks outstanding in the spring. 

Of the remaining free agents, I guess I'd go with Josh Bell. He's pretty bad with the mitt, but his hitting is about what Santana produced and he's a switch hitter. 

[Fred]

On 12/20/2024 at 9:23 PM, Lasorda_This_Out said:

Kepler?

Signed with the Phillies. To paraphrase the last sentence in the article I read, with the Mets signing Soto, the Phillies will have to do a lot more than just signing Kepler.

[Danchat]

I have a lot more faith in Miranda, when he is healthy he can rake and was the team's best hitter for a good two months. He has had stretches like this in his career and I will sign up for his highs and lows over what we got from Julien. I'd start him in AAA and see if they can get his head straight because his 2024 was leaps and bounds worse than Miranda's.

I don't know what is up with Alcala. Relievers can be volatile, but this smells like a different kind of situation.

[RpR]

On 12/20/2024 at 2:04 PM, bean5302 said:

Tough to count on Julien, but even Julien hit better than Brooks Lee. At least one of the two should start the season in St. Paul, but neither is needed on the 26 man if the Twins keep Castro.

I'd like to see Lee and Julien hit well for 200+ PA at AAA before calling their names. Of course, having a young player be healthy for 200 PA for the Twins is a near miracle in and of itself these days...

They should give Julien an dose of Sano medicine, send down to A ball.

[stringer bell]

The Twins don't have enough proven offense by a long shot at this point. They are going to count on some unproven guys like Miranda, and Julien to produce as they have in shorter stretches and how Lee is projected. It seems to me the Twins will either have to clear salary by selling off a high salary (Correa, Buxton or López) or selling off all three of the larger contracts that have been suggested. Just getting out from any one of Castro, Vázquez or Paddack just gets the payroll down the top number, not clearing enough money for even a so-so free agent. Goodness, I hat this self-imposed salary containment.