How New Pitching Prospect Mick Abel Can Be Minnesota Twins' Next Joe Ryan

[NYCTK]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

SWR has been better than Bradley in the majors.

Arguably, and marginally so. But even so, Bradley has been better in both the high and low minors. And has shown better peripherals and significantly better "stuff". 

That's why there's no virtually no expectation that Woods Richardson will outperform Bradley going forward. 

[bunsen82]

33 minutes ago, gman said:

Will there be room for Prielipp next year, or is he an automatic bullpen move. I f they want him to still be a starter, it may 2027 before he gets here. Currently he is giving up a 307 batting average. I hope that is from pitch selection he is working on.

Festa is another starter or bullpen question.  Between Festa and Prielipp we could start a could back end of the bullpen. Need to figure out where Raya and Morris fit in. I think Raya is probably a bullpen piece also, not sure about Morris and SWR at this point. I think it's more about who the best starters are and the others to the bullpen .

I am just hoping Canterino can magically become healthy and become part of our bullpen.  He could be very good in that role.  

[gman]

1 minute ago, bunsen82 said:

I am just hoping Canterino can magically become healthy and become part of our bullpen.  He could be very good in that role.  

I'm hoping for him also.

[tony&rodney]

Ryan is a pitcher. Abel is a pitcher. That is about the extent of their similarity. Ryan throws a very unique fastball which gets on hitters. He also has good control and has late movement on several pitches. It might be a better (not accurate or fair) comparison to say - Can Mick Abel become a right handed Tarik Skubel? Like Ryan? No.

[TopGunn#22]

As many others have pointed out, we have a LOT of SP depth heading into the remainder of this season and future years.  And even more talent percolating in the lower minors (yes, I'm talking about YOU Dasan Hill).

The FO and Manager/Pitching Coach are going to have to start determining who lines up where after Ryan and Lopez.  And it's VERY possible that one of Ryan or Lopez is traded this winter.  I absolutely agree that guys like Abel and Bradley are fine in the minors as long as specific things are being worked on.  But each of them needs to be up with the Twins SOON so they can continue their evolution at the big league level.

A trade of Ryan or Lopez could bring some truly outstanding positional Major League talent to the Twins at positions they are lacking.  But two of the teams that could benefit the Twins the most for a young catcher, the White Sox and the Brewers, are probably not in the market for a contract like Lopez and a future contract like Ryan.  But they may be interested in a Wallner/Larnach, possibly paired with a younger pitcher like SWR.  If the Twins can acquire Teel or one of the Quero's that would be key to finding a long term solution at catcher.  

Maybe a trade of Bailey Ober, who is steadily building his value back, to the Red Sox for a 1B like Tristan Casas (once he's recovered from his knee injury) could be the 1B that solves our problem there.  Otherwise, Tampa Bay has Yandy Diaz under contract for $8 million for 2026 with an option for 2027.  The Twins could trade Ober or SWR for Yandy Diaz who would give the Twins a solid RH bat at 1B and in the lineup.

The Twins have a surplus of SP and LH hitting corner OF.  Those assets could be used to fill Catcher and 1B and maybe some other lineup holes for 2026.