Previewing Minnesota Twins 2025 Spring Training Battles

[bean5302]

I think Ty France is actually a long-shot to make the roster. I believe he probably accepted the Twins offer for a non-guaranteed MLB deal over what probably other teams offered which were MiLB deals with an invite / opt out. IMHO, there's no real difference between the two. I guess maybe the $240k higher at France's $1MM non-guaranteed (MLB) vs. his $760k non-guaranteed (MiLB).

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

 

If this is the case, then why is the entire TD staff treating Varland like a BP is the only option here?  There has not been one discussion of him as a SP (what we as fans are hoping for is irrelevant).

🤷‍♂️

[Danchat]

26 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

I think Ty France is actually a long-shot to make the roster. I believe he probably accepted the Twins offer for a non-guaranteed MLB deal over what probably other teams offered which were MiLB deals with an invite / opt out. IMHO, there's no real difference between the two. I guess maybe the $240k higher at France's $1MM non-guaranteed (MLB) vs. his $760k non-guaranteed (MiLB).

I don't think they opened a 40 man spot for him just so he could be a long shot. IMO the lowest odds he has of making it is 50-50 but I'd bet on him making the team. 

[Major League Ready]

This might be the most interesting spring training in several years.  It seems like there is going to be legit competition for roster spots everywhere except the outfield.  Wallner / larnach are the corner OFers.  Buxton and Bader are CF and 4th OFer.  The INF and BP are going to be really interesting.  SP gets alot more interesting if Paddack gets traded but that is becoming increasingly less likely to happen.

[Road trip]

4 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

Heyyyyyy . . . c'mon.

That pic is now making me wish I had modified the family Gremlin a few decades back...  and is what I will now forever think of when I think of Tonkin.  

To be fair, Tonkin's tenure in baseball has lasted longer than 98% of the Gremlins that were manufactured.  He's had a very nice career for a 30th round draft pick.  10 years in the majors along with stops at exotic locales such as Tijuana, Hokkaido, Santiago, and of course Beloit.  He's also somehow managed the statistical anomaly of achieving exactly 0 WAR over 243 MLB games.  And he's still out there getting after it and getting paid.. If that isn't winning at capitalism I'm not sure what is.  So, I'm rooting for him, I guess, if I have to.

 

[Jocko87]

2 hours ago, Schmoeman5 said:

No.

Got it. Thanks. 

[Schmoeman5]

19 minutes ago, Jocko87 said:

Got it. Thanks. 

I asked them that very question in November. Now at that time the answer was what I gave you. So maybe it's changed since.

[HerbieFan]

I'd love to see Lee be the everyday 2B.  Let Julien go to AAA to see if he can rediscover something from 2023.  Regardless of who "wins" the 5th spot (it's SWR), Festa likely makes 15-20 starts at least in 2024.  Matthews probably >10 somewhere?  

[DocBauer]

The OF is pretty easy: Larnach, Buxton, Wallner, Bader.

The LEFT SIDE of the INF is set with Lewis and Correa. A healthy Miranda is a good bat, and part of the now and the future. There is no reason he's not the #1 1B unless the Twins pull off a surprise trade. So that's THREE spots set. If Lee is healthy and has a good ST, he opens at 2B. He's the best overall option offensively and defensively and I believe that's who the Twins want there as well. So I'm going to say he IS healthy and has a good spring. 

Castro is the Super Utility 10th man.

Jeffers and Vazquez are the CATCHERS and I don't see anything changing that at this point. 

That's 11 spots that I feel comfortable writing in ink at this time. It's truly the last 2 spots, IMO, where there is a "battle" to be had. 

I think France has a decent shot of sticking as the backup 1B and work in at DH simply because he's in the "done it before and I have some power" whereas Gasper hasn't much power, and very little actual ML experience. I can see different scenarios where BOTH open with the team, but I doubt it. I'm going with France on a rebound season at 30yo.

That leaves 1 spot.

Has Martin improved as a hitter and at ANY position(s) defensively? If so, they wouldn't mind having his speed and another multi-position player on board.

I think the Twins WANT Julien and his LH bat to be fixed and on the roster as a DH/2B/backup 1B. But is he out of his own head? Does a break in the action and then some hard work in the offseason lead to success? Or does he need to spend some time in St Paul to get right?

I think it's 1 of these 2 to finish things off. But there are scenarios where BOTH should start at AAA. That's where a 3rd 1B/DH can take one of those last spots. I'm not ready to pick anyone with confidence at this point for that 13th spot.

The ROTATION is only dramatic if someone is hurt, or Festa outpitches SWR enough in a surprise swap of roles for opening day.

The BULLPEN is largely set if everyone is healthy. Duran, Jax, Stewart, Sands, Coulombe are 5 locks. I'm saying Tonkin makes it to give the pen a rubber/2 IP middle man. That's 6.

The last 2 come down to Varland, Topa, and Alcala. Well...what are the odds all 9 of these guys are 100% healthy to begin the year? So 9 will become 8 organically.

I just don't believe Castellano is going to be in the pen. He's either talented enough and loved enough by the FO that they'll make a deal with the Phillies they won't turn down, or, he's not worth what it would take to make the Phillies happy and he'll be sent back. A team looking to contend...with the largest collection of young arms they've had in decades in their system...doesn't need to mess with a AA pitcher being stashed in their pen for an entire season.

[old nurse]

3 hours ago, mickster said:

unfortunately, I think both Lee and Martin will go "West"

North by Northwest?

[old nurse]

2 hours ago, Danchat said:

I don't think they opened a 40 man spot for him just so he could be a long shot. IMO the lowest odds he has of making it is 50-50 but I'd bet on him making the team. 

If he was a long shot they would have done an Milb deal. The possibility of an MLB deal at this point for France was almost now dependent on spring training injuries had the Twins not signed him. Sportrac has him listed as a 1 mil contract. It is not like the Twins would be eating a lot of money if they DFA him later

[old nurse]

4 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

 

If this is the case, then why is the entire TD staff treating Varland like a BP is the only option here?  There has not been one discussion of him as a SP (what we as fans are hoping for is irrelevant).

Group think. Repeat it enough times and it is accepted as fact. 

[RpR]

45 minutes ago, HerbieFan said:

I'd love to see Lee be the everyday 2B.  Let Julien go to AAA to see if he can rediscover something from 2023.  Regardless of who "wins" the 5th spot (it's SWR), Festa likely makes 15-20 starts at least in 2024.  Matthews probably >10 somewhere?  

Lee is a good Third Baseman and a lousy Second Baseman, play him where he does well, not where wishful thinking puts him.

[stringer bell]

6 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

CF- Buxton

LF- Larnach

RF- Wallner

4th OF- Keirsey

OF Util- Bader

INF UTIL- Castro

SS- Correa

3B- Lewis

2B- Martin

1B- Miranda

C- Vazquez/ Jeffers

DH- France? Larnach

SP- Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR, Paddack

RP- Duran, Jax, Stewart?, Sands, Alcala, Coloumbe, Tonkin, Castellano?. If any of the question marks don't work out my vote goes to Varland because of our need for long relief.

Any injury in the INF Lee is the 1st man up if he's not injured. If Lee is injured then we're cooked. W/O Helman we'll be thin. Julien will not be fit, Keaschal if available should only be so at 1B.

I think Keirsey is destined for the Saints unless someone gets hurt. They have Wallner, Buxton, Larnach, with Bader and Castro and Martin also capable of playing the outfield. That would allow one of Lee or Julien to make the squad and probably start more often than not at second base. Another way to go is to add a hitter (perhaps Ford or Gasper) and send Martin or Julien or Lee down to St. Paul. 

I just can't see Michael Tonkin both making the team and staying on the roster for a long stretch. Anybody with options in the bullpen could be sent down including Alcalá and Topa. BTW, I believe the Twins could option Alcalá, but they can't when he accrues eight more days of major league service time. 

[Doctor Gast]

8 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

I think Keirsey is destined for the Saints unless someone gets hurt. They have Wallner, Buxton, Larnach, with Bader and Castro and Martin also capable of playing the outfield. That would allow one of Lee or Julien to make the squad and probably start more often than not at second base. Another way to go is to add a hitter (perhaps Ford or Gasper) and send Martin or Julien or Lee down to St. Paul. 

I just can't see Michael Tonkin both making the team and staying on the roster for a long stretch. Anybody with options in the bullpen could be sent down including Alcalá and Topa. BTW, I believe the Twins could option Alcalá, but they can't when he accrues eight more days of major league service time. 

I put together the best roster but rest assured that's not what will happen, which is frustrating.

[Jacksson]

Front Office Bungling !!

If they wanted Castellano so bad, but are worried at the possibility of having to offer him back, then why not trade for his rights outright?  Twinkies just sent out: Helman, Headrick and Henriquez for just pennies.  Couldn't one of those three or another member of the 40 man roster been used to get Castellano free and clear ??

[ashbury]

33 minutes ago, Jacksson said:

Front Office Bungling !!

If they wanted Castellano so bad, but are worried at the possibility of having to offer him back, then why not trade for his rights outright?  Twinkies just sent out: Helman, Headrick and Henriquez for just pennies.  Couldn't one of those three or another member of the 40 man roster been used to get Castellano free and clear ??

Phillies currently have a full 40-man, 23 pitchers and 17 hitters.  They're a strong team and probably have enough arms of a caliber like Headrick/Henriquez to not be interested in DFAing one of their own similar pitchers.  Do they want a utility player like Helman?  Who knows, but I bet Falvey/Zoll asked them before selling him to someone else for cash considerations.  Maybe they were told, "hey, we're set, we've got Buddy Kennedy."  😀

[DocBauer]

1 hour ago, Jacksson said:

Front Office Bungling !!

If they wanted Castellano so bad, but are worried at the possibility of having to offer him back, then why not trade for his rights outright?  Twinkies just sent out: Helman, Headrick and Henriquez for just pennies.  Couldn't one of those three or another member of the 40 man roster been used to get Castellano free and clear ??

In fact, the Twins attempted to trade for Castellano BEFORE the rule 5 draft. What was discussed is not known, but the Phillies said no. The Twins then went ahead and drafted him in the rule 5 so they can take a look at him in ST.

The Phillies now have a full 40 man roster. And remember THEY could have added Castellano to their 40 man but didn't, and exposed him to the rule 5, for whatever reason.

The Twins now get all of ST to evaluate him and make a decision. IF they really like him, they can stash him, OR, they can make another offer to Philadelphia for him and then option him.

[DocBauer]

The VERY LAST thing I want to do is set of a potential hijacking of this thread, but over the course of the day I've been contemplating the 40 man, as well as the non roster invites coming to camp, and I find myself somewhat surprised by various position depth. I think it's worth discussing WITHOUT this turning in to some bashing of Rocco or the FO.

CATCHER is pretty much set with Jeffers and Vazquez. I'd say Camargo, based on tenure and more recent offensive success, is the #3 currently, with Cartaya as a HOPEFUL bounceback/still developing option.

The OF is suddenly 3 starters and Bader. While Castro is also part of the mix, rostered depth is Keirsey, Rodriguez, and Martin, if he's not on the opening day roster. Not necessarily bad depth options, but if an injury happens, things begin to look interesting.

Castro remains the PRIMARY backup at 3 INF spots, and I'm OK with that. I'm not down on him as an occasional SS unless it's long term. But then again, it's hard to replace someone like Correa to begin with. But 1 of Lee or Julien...I'm just not certain they see Martin as a starter...needs to claim 2B so Castro can remain the SU guy. But what IF Castro is pressed in to being a starter? Suddenly the depth is pretty thin. And with 2B not settled, maybe that's why they might still be looking to add 1 more option left on the market. 

What's really surprising is that 1B currently has Miranda, France, Julien, Ford, Gasper, and Severino ALL in the mix to some degree. For the easiest position to find a quality starter to fill a spot, they have the most candidates. That does seem unbalanced to me. Now, I firmly believe the job belongs to Miranda, and the guy behind him is where there's an open spot. And Miranda's ability to play some 3B makes his backup all the more interesting. And this spot also has some DH availability as part of the equation as well. And maybe having a BUNCH of options to roll through and find the best backup option is smart. And Ford and Severino are non roster players at this point. But it does feel to me more attention to 1B alternates might be erasing another INF player option.

The ROTATION is set as of now, with the only drama being Festa possibly down in AAA...where he doesn't belong...similar to Ober a couple of years ago. But that turned out OK in a few weeks. Matthews is the #6 guy to begin the season. Raya would be #7 since he's on the 40 man, but if someone gets hurt, you might see Morris or Lewis before him, potentially. 

The BULLPEN has 9 guys for 8 spots if we accept Funderburk going to St Paul to begin the season. One of Topa, Varland, or Alcala could be optioned to begin the season if everyone...hold your breath...is 100% healthy and ready to roll. It gets "interesting" after that.

Funderburk is the only LHRP available other than Coulombe at the moment with Moran and Headrick now gone. Young Nowlin has the potential to be a quality RP, but he hasn't been officially moved to the pen yet, to my knowledge, and barely threw at AAA last season. Adams is still a SP as of now, but is on the 40 man. So is Canterino, the wild card arm we all want to see healthy for once. And then there are various arms like Duarte...who made the club last year before blowing out his elbow, and Blewett, former Twin and Braves SP Ynoa, rising prospect Bischoff, and a few other wild but hard throwing journeymen who all remain unrostered. That's not to say there aren't arms to call up between the 40 man or arms that could be moved to the 40 man. I'm not saying there aren't arms to look at and promote as needed, I'm just examining what's available.

You ONLY have 40 on the roster. You can't have 4-5 guys EVERYWHERE protected and with options. I'm just looking over EACH spot on the team and potential depth everywhere.

TOTAL invites and options at 1B seem to be an overcorrection in numbers. But i also feel the #1 spot is already settled. It's really the #2 spot that needs to be figured out.

The more I look at the WHOLE of the roster, the more i believe that figuring out 2B is the #1 PRIORITY for ST 2025! We need Lee to be healthy and TAKE the job and BE the top prospect he has been, even if his "game" will continue to "rise" over time. (I'm asking for quality before any sort of greatness/very good is achieved). OR, Julien needs to FIND himself again as a hitter and revert back to the guy who went from poor at 2B defensively to at least average in the second half of 2023.

THAT helps set the rest of the position player roster. SUDDENLY, we're talking about a stable, primary 9 with Castro doing what he does, and the last couple of spots TBD are the "battle" to finish off the 13 man position player roster. I'll be watching EVERYONE of course, but 2B, maybe surprisingly, is the KEY spot to be figured out in ST.

 

 

[Jeff K]

23 hours ago, Road trip said:

Keep whomever performs well among the relievers.  Fretting about losing a 35 year old Michael Tonkin to waivers is kind of akin to worrying that someone is going to steal your '77 AMC Gremlin.  Just leave the keys in it and if it's gone, it's gone.

I agree and really don't think Tonkin is a sure bet to make the roster.

[thelanges5]

 

[jud6312]

The biggest battle for me is the rational me vs. the me that will buy the Twins.TV subscription thinking 2025 will turn out any differently than every year since 1991.

[stringer bell]

Second base will be interesting, for sure, but I am also interested in the establishment of a pecking order at some positions. For example, after Buxton and then Bader, who is seen as a third CF option? (Castro, Keirsey Jr. or Martin). Does Martin even compete at second base? If all are healthy, where will Castro play? (You know he'll be in the lineup most of the time). Who is the #3 catcher (Camargo or Cartaya)? Does Gasper even compete for a roster spot vs. Ford, France and Miranda? There will be a battle for the final couple of bullpen spots too. Would the Twins dare option guys with major league success (Topa or Alcalá) to keep Castellano?