Improving the 2025 Minnesota Twins is Simpler Than We're Making It

[tony&rodney]

13 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

A trade for a "final piece" can be a great move but historically teams are not built on trades for impact players.  The top 30 teams (measured by most wins) since 2000 among teams in the bottom half of revenue have not been built this way.  Trades for established players have represented 11% of WAR.  Players acquired as prospects represented 30% of WAR across the best 30 teams constructed since 2000..

There are not too many established players under consideration in my views due to a variety of reasons, primarily financial costs. There are a number of young players who are good now or ready for their opportunity that could be available if the Twins are willing to take a few chances. 

[Mahoning]

The obvious solution at 1B is Royce Lewis, as the Twins seem to have decided he can't play 3B -- why else would they work him out at 2B? Castro at 2B, Lee at 3B, Miranda DH and fill-in. All done. Whether that's any good is a different question. But, is this a good team? Better than the White Sox, for sure. But not in the same universe as, say, the Phillies or the Yankees. 

[saviking]

Great article. We do have a good nucleus. The funny thing about sports is it takes 25% of the season to know how good you will be. Look at the NFL. Look at the Vikings. No one predicted they would do anywhere near as well as they are. 

No reason the Twins can't win their division with the talent on hand next year.

[RpR]

20 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

Profar is the model, at least pre 2024 Profar.

$1m signed in late February, had a great year.  We don't want anything do with paying him this year.  We don't want to pay $12m for Santana either. 

So what to do? Pick the best cheap veteran bat that kinda fits and make the kids beat him out.

Unfortunately, the kids haven't really made Solano or Santana sweat for at bats. 

Nothing really matters if the kids don't forcibly take the playing time.

Tou mean they are as good as the ones they might replace, so no one is forcing or blocking any thing.

[Linus]

I think it’s even simpler than the author is making it. We have a solid club - good rotation, bullpen with potential and a lineup that should be coming into its prime. Whether we are successful next year is going to be largely dependent on Larnach Lewis Wallner Jeffers and Miranda take the next step. If most of them do we are a playoff team. If most of them don’t we will need to make serious changes. If we want to add someone or shake things up trade for an actual good player. For example a youngish right handed hitting outfielder that doesn’t need to be platooned. No more washed up vets for $6 million. As long as I’m offering up my plan I would hang on to Paddack. He could be important depth when we have injuries to our starters. I’m keeping Castro for sure. He is the perfect insurance policy for this injury prone team. I would try to trade Vasquez but it probably wouldn’t work as there just isn’t enough savings there to mess with it. There you have it - the most boring off season ever but the right one. 

[purplesoldier4u]

Well, we know one thing for sure. The White Sox will still be looking up at the Twins.

[RpR]

On 1/3/2025 at 5:26 PM, purplesoldier4u said:

Well, we know one thing for sure. The White Sox will still be looking up at the Twins.

That was said about the Tigers last year.

[TopGunn#22]

I agree a little but disagree a little with Linus.  We do have a pretty good 1-2-3 in our rotation and young guns like Festa, SWR and Zebby Matthews who could take big steps forward.  Griffin Jax is a Wild Card.  I think he could make the transition to starting pitcher and be pretty good, but he's pretty darn good coming out of the bullpen, that's for sure.  I'm not buying Fangraphs #1 bullpen, but I'm hopeful the Twins have a top 5.  

I agree that hitters like Lewis, Wallner, Miranda and Larnach need to take the next step and Linus threw in Jeffers as well.  But for the Twins to challenge for the division or a Wild Card spot, they need Correa and Buxton to be healthy and productive.  Yes, the young bucks need to step up, especially Lewis, because he's the most impactful.  I rank Wallner as the next most impactful young bat because if he gets 475-550 AB's and has an OPS of .800 THAT'S IMPACTFUL.

I think in addition to the self imposed $130 million dollar payroll, this FO and ownership remains very committed to the players on the current roster.  Adding Yandy Diaz or Ryan Mountcastle in a trade would be interesting.  But you could also feel that Miranda could give you similar production at 1B. 

Right now, I view 2B as the Black Hole.  I'm not sure how committed the Twins are to Lewis at 2B, but if it helps him stay healthy, it will be a big plus offensively.  I'm almost more inclined to see Brooks Lee at 3B or 2B which takes either of those off the table for Lewis.  I have little confidence in Julien right now.  His glove is still suspect and his once interesting offensive potential took a big hit last year.  Luke Keaschall probably won't break camp with the team, but the idea of adding him sometime this summer to play 2B, 1B, LF, maybe even a little CF is interesting.  E-Rod will certainly be up at some point as well.  Both of those young guys could inject some "juice" into the Twins lineup.  

Free Agency will simply not happen this year with the current ownership group.  But there is still talent in the minor leagues and major league roster that could be leveraged in a couple trades to improve the "balance" of our talent.  

[Doctor Gast]

On 1/3/2025 at 9:19 AM, Blyleven2011 said:

I'm sure Cleveland traded  Bo Naylor  because he is a free agent at end of 2025 , they pulled a Tampa Bay and got prospects back ...

Signing santana at 12 million was a head scratcher ( 7 million dollar raise roughly ) unless Cleveland  really needed that gold glove ...

I think CLE got a Compensation B draft choice + lotto ticket & got Santana for $12M

Naylor for $14M + Compensation A draft choice

Again I'd prefer by far Naylor.

[purplesoldier4u]

On 1/3/2025 at 6:15 PM, RpR said:

That was said about the Tiger last year.

Dammit!