Emmanuel Rodriguez in Winter Ball

[DocBauer]

Rodriguez is a very talented prospect. And also a bit of an enigma. There are questions about AVG and contact and high K numbers. But he's also maintained a high OB% throught his MILB career. He's got real power, good speed, and is a quality defensive OF.

Frequent, frustrating injuries have held him back somewhat. And yet, the 23yo come February still put up solid AAA numbers in 2025 and undoubtedly would have debuted already had he been more healthy this past season.

He's currently been playing in one of the top Winter Leagues. And he's been healthy. While it's still a SSS, he's been impressive. In 18 games played:

.292 AVG/ .417 OB%/ .646 SLG%/ 1.063 OPS. He's produced 3 Dbls, 1 Trip, 4 HR, 11 RBI, and is 3 out of 3 in SB attempts.

While only 23yo when the season begins, he's already used up 2 of his 3 options. I've maintained it's time to give him a starting job...probably RF and Wallner moving to primary DH...and roll with him. Better defense, more speed, and a lot of potential. You live with some growing pains.

I think he's ready, assuming good health. A solid AAA season, despite being limited, and his Winter League production tells me I'm right.

Your thoughts?

[FlyingFinn]

I would really like to start the season with Jenkins, Rodriguez and Buxton in the OF. It's time to give our young guys the chance. We aren't going to the playoffs in 2026 anyway.

[tony&rodney]

He should either be in the lineup every day because the team believes in his potential or he should be dangled for a trade that brings back a catcher or first baseman. Harry Ford plus a low A/R/DSL player for EmRod? Brody Hopkins and Tre' Morgan for EmRod? I raise the trade aspect only if the Twins just plan on sitting him in AAA. While Emmanuel certainly hasn't proven anything he has the type of talent that pushes an organization forward if he hits, runs, fields, and stays on the field. 

[stringer bell]

I’m a sucker for power/speed guys. Hopefully Jenkins or Emma becomes a 30/30 guy. Both guys need to play, especially Rodriguez due to his recent injury history. Give him a month in St. Paul and unleash him on MLB. 

[SteveLV]

I want Gonzalez to be up and hitting at MLB, too.

There are enough at bats to go around as long as Larnach, Kiersey and the like are moved off of.

[Twodogs]

Looking at his winter league stats doesn't tell me anything.  If I remember right Eduard Julien had fantastic stats in winter league.  But I really am pulling for him and Jenkins and the young guys.  It's one of those things.  You just have to have the guts to cut the cord and start over.  Falvey has a tough time with this, I feel that he has a little bit of a superiority complex.  He thinks he is smarter than everyone else and if he cuts the cord and starts over he has to admit that he was wrong.  This causes him to continue to bring back some of the re-treds because if they do somehow win he can say, "see! I told you so"!!  They changed the manager, I think if they got rid of Falvey also, we would see Rodriguez, Jenkins and many of the young kids coming up to prove whether they belong or not.  Hopefully the young guys come along like that young group of kids back in about 1984!

[DocBauer]

On 11/20/2025 at 9:42 PM, FlyingFinn said:

I would really like to start the season with Jenkins, Rodriguez and Buxton in the OF. It's time to give our young guys the chance. We aren't going to the playoffs in 2026 anyway.

Just my opinion, Jenkins, despite his amazing talent and rise through the system, has missed a lot of development time. And again, IMO, that's also why the POWER part of his game is just begining to flash. And while I can't wait to see him debut, he's still only 21yo. And forgetting service time, a little more development time at AAA might serve him well.

And while Rodriguez is only 2 years older, he does have a little more experience. And when you look at the roster, you still have Buxton, Wallner...even though he should be the primary DH soon...and the improved Martin. Honestly, Roden hasn't really had much of a chance to prove himself one way or the other in a SSS to this point. He's really almost a rookie when you look at his ML time.

I just don't see the Twins having BOTH Rodriguez AND Jenkins debuting as rookies at the same time. I see Rodriguez as the RF to begin 2026 because it's almost NOW OR NEVER to get him UP and let him play and just live with some ups and downs.

I see Jenkins June 1st, or July 1st. Ready to roll! 

[DocBauer]

23 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I’m a sucker for power/speed guys. Hopefully Jenkins or Emma becomes a 30/30 guy. Both guys need to play, especially Rodriguez due to his recent injury history. Give him a month in St. Paul and unleash him on MLB. 

Stringer, my only argument is a month at St Paul.

We know his potential. Even with his 2025 season disrupted with injury, he put up good numbers. I'm not going to say he's  Chourio, but like the Brewers, unless Rodriguez just sucks next ST, shouldn't they just give him a starting job and live with hot and cold and let him play? He provides better defense than Wallner, who moves to primary DH, and offers speed and power, and defense, and CF coverage, and actual potential even if he's not great from the outset?

I get the 1 month idea. But I'd just RUN with his talent and let it roll. 

And I'd have Jenkins up another month or two later to really see some changes.

Just my opinion. 

[ToriiRules!!]

Trade Ryan and Lopez… get the prospects that these 2 deserve hopefully hit on a few of them and be ready to contend in 27 after the lockout

[Major League Ready]

On 11/21/2025 at 10:57 PM, DocBauer said:

Stringer, my only argument is a month at St Paul.

We know his potential. Even with his 2025 season disrupted with injury, he put up good numbers. I'm not going to say he's  Chourio, but like the Brewers, unless Rodriguez just sucks next ST, shouldn't they just give him a starting job and live with hot and cold and let him play? He provides better defense than Wallner, who moves to primary DH, and offers speed and power, and defense, and CF coverage, and actual potential even if he's not great from the outset?

I get the 1 month idea. But I'd just RUN with his talent and let it roll. 

And I'd have Jenkins up another month or two later to really see some changes.

Just my opinion. 

I think 2-3 months makes the most sense.  Roden had better AAA numbers than Rodriguez and you can’t start them both.  Someone has to sit on the bench.   Why not give Roden a shot for 2-3 months while simultaneously giving Rodriguez a chance to prove he is ready and should be next in line.   Perhaps GG is tearing the cover off the ball and shows he should be next up.  

It also makes no sense to burn a year of control on a high ceiling prospect that is not fully ready, especially in a year where the chances of contending are exceptionally low.  You would be trading one month of a player who’s readiness is questionable for one year of that player in their prime.   The benefit is far less than the cost.  Of course, that's just my opinion.
 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

On 11/21/2025 at 10:57 PM, DocBauer said:

Stringer, my only argument is a month at St Paul.

We know his potential. Even with his 2025 season disrupted with injury, he put up good numbers. I'm not going to say he's  Chourio, but like the Brewers, unless Rodriguez just sucks next ST, shouldn't they just give him a starting job and live with hot and cold and let him play? He provides better defense than Wallner, who moves to primary DH, and offers speed and power, and defense, and CF coverage, and actual potential even if he's not great from the outset?

I get the 1 month idea. But I'd just RUN with his talent and let it roll. 

And I'd have Jenkins up another month or two later to really see some changes.

Just my opinion. 

From a service time perspective, a month (or whatever that threshold is) can be an extra year on the backside.

if he really is that guy, and this really is the Pohlad Pocket Protectors… you get that extra year

[DocBauer]

5 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

I think 2-3 months makes the most sense.  Roden had better AAA numbers than Rodriguez and you can’t start them both.  Someone has to sit on the bench.   Why not give Roden a shot for 2-3 months while simultaneously giving Rodriguez a chance to prove he is ready and should be next in line.   Perhaps GG is tearing the cover off the ball and shows he should be next up.  

It also makes no sense to burn a year of control on a high ceiling prospect that is not fully ready, especially in a year where the chances of contending are exceptionally low.  You would be trading one month of a player who’s readiness is questionable for one year of that player in their prime.   The benefit is far less than the cost.  Of course, that's just my opinion.
 

Totally respect where you're coming from. But Rodriguez only has a single option remaining. It's time to let him play if he's healthy.

Not only is Rodriguez a potential asset on offense, but he's a quality defender and his presence allows Wallner to slide in to the full time DH role.

Martin and Roden can fight it out for LF or even share the spot. Other guys need days off once in a while. I can even see Martin playing a little 2B to give Keaschal a day off as well.

[tony&rodney]

Just a wild guess but I can see one of the outcomes from the next CBA giving players a full year if brought up before the All Star Game. This eliminates the shenanigans of toying around with rookies.

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

Totally respect where you're coming from. But Rodriguez only has a single option remaining. It's time to let him play if he's healthy.

Not only is Rodriguez a potential asset on offense, but he's a quality defender and his presence allows Wallner to slide in to the full time DH role.

Martin and Roden can fight it out for LF or even share the spot. Other guys need days off once in a while. I can even see Martin playing a little 2B to give Keaschal a day off as well.

I am not sure I follow.  Wouldn't he be less likely to burn an option if they waited until June 1 to see if he demonstrates he was ready?  What if it was May 1 like Stringer Bell suggested.  Would he be any less likely to burn an option if he were on the opening day roster?  I would not make this decision on something that may or may not have any value when I know for certain we will have traded an entire year in his prime for 1 month when he is probably not entirely ready, in a season where we are not likely to contend.  Just not remotely worth it IMO.

[Mike Sixel]

Zero chance a rookie OF starts in the Twins until they can get another year of service time. Even then, they have 5-6 guys in front of them, and this team refuses to move on from mediocrity (or even bad play) from veterans. 

[DocBauer]

38 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I am not sure I follow.  Wouldn't he be less likely to burn an option if they waited until June 1 to see if he demonstrates he was ready?  What if it was May 1 like Stringer Bell suggested.  Would he be any less likely to burn an option if he were on the opening day roster?  I would not make this decision on something that may or may not have any value when I know for certain we will have traded an entire year in his prime for 1 month when he is probably not entirely ready, in a season where we are not likely to contend.  Just not remotely worth it IMO.

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but whether they send him down in June or July it doesn't matter, he still starts burning his last remaining option, yes?

He starts the season with the Twins and they decide to send him down later, or, he spends a month at AAA, then comes up, and then gets sent down later, he's still on his last option. Correct?

IMO, if he looks ready, you give him the job day one. You potentially add another decent offensive player with power and speed to a lineup that needs it. You also improve the OF defense with Wallner's move to DH earlier vs later. 

Maybe I'm just getting impatient, but I want him up, playing, hopefully contributing, but also growing and getting better by the week at the ML level.

[lecroy24fan]

A player burns an option year when they spend a 20th day on optional assignment. 19 or less days would not burn a year. The 20 days do not have to be consecutive but the standard for a batter is 10 days and a pitcher 15 days before being able to be recalled, unless an injury (or leave) to a player on the active roster.

[Mike Sixel]

38 minutes ago, DocBauer said:

Perhaps I'm mistaken, but whether they send him down in June or July it doesn't matter, he still starts burning his last remaining option, yes?

He starts the season with the Twins and they decide to send him down later, or, he spends a month at AAA, then comes up, and then gets sent down later, he's still on his last option. Correct?

IMO, if he looks ready, you give him the job day one. You potentially add another decent offensive player with power and speed to a lineup that needs it. You also improve the OF defense with Wallner's move to DH earlier vs later. 

Maybe I'm just getting impatient, but I want him up, playing, hopefully contributing, but also growing and getting better by the week at the ML level.

No chance he starts as a Twin. Not with 5-6 guys and Jenkins on the roster. Plus that year of control. No chance. 

Options won't matter. If he's not good enough for it to not matter, it won't matter ....

[tony&rodney]

3 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

No chance he starts as a Twin. Not with 5-6 guys and Jenkins on the roster. Plus that year of control. No chance. 

Options won't matter. If he's not good enough for it to not matter, it won't matter ....

This is a little bit contradictory in nature. "No chance" because of who is in front of him? That might be a Twins policy. How is anyone but Buxton ahead of him. "If he's not good enough." That seems like Emmanuel doesn't fit because of skill. The skill level has yet to be tested in MLB.

There may be forces at play due to how the front office views their guys. That would include players like Larnach, Wallner, Martin, Roden, and Outman. However, the Twins front office also signed Rodriguez. He is either good enough to compete for a starting job or he should be traded before his value is all gone.

I stated this in November of 2023 - The Twins need to find a team that sees a fit on their roster for Edouard Julien. The Twins saw Julien as a "cornerstone' piece of the team. Just recently, Falvey restated a belief in Julien. I was never down on Julien as so many have been on Twins Daily but I never saw him as a "core" player and felt he had value in November of 2023 as a player to trade. Of course I was also not seeing the superlative features everyone sees in Royce Lewis, who I admit is a different player with higher value than Julien. The Twins need to trade Emmanuel this winter if they do not just put him in the lineup. He has talent that surpasses those not named Buxton. If he cannot get to that talent on the MLB level in your belief (the Twins), trade him now.

[Major League Ready]

10 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

This is a little bit contradictory in nature. "No chance" because of who is in front of him? That might be a Twins policy. How is anyone but Buxton ahead of him. "If he's not good enough." That seems like Emmanuel doesn't fit because of skill. The skill level has yet to be tested in MLB.

They would have to demote (either to the bench or AAA) Martin or Roden.  We already have a DH and part-time OFer in Wallner.  Martin earned a shot last year.  Roden is further along and has performed better across a larger sample size than Rodriguez.  We can't complain about guys like Rooker and then discard potentially good players.

Their strategy in terms of rebuilding or attempting to contend this year is also a central issue.  If they are trying to win now, putting the best team on the field for opening day should be the goal.  If they continue with the rebuild, waiting 1-2 months to bring up Rodriguez is of no consequence in terms of contending.  It does however provide the team a couple months to evaluate Martin and Roden to determine if they are starters, or bench players.  It also allows them to determine which player among the trio of Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Gonzalez is ready to play at the major league level instead of just rushing someone up.  

If all that is not enough, burning a year of control in a players prime for 1 month when it's questionable if they are ready is incredibly poor asset management.  

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

They would have to demote (either to the bench or AAA) Martin or Roden.  We already have a DH and part-time OFer in Wallner.  Martin earned a shot last year.  Roden is further along and has performed better across a larger sample size than Rodriguez.  We can't complain about guys like Rooker and then discard potentially good players.

Their strategy in terms of rebuilding or attempting to contend this year is also a central issue.  If they are trying to win now, putting the best team on the field for opening day should be the goal.  If they continue with the rebuild, waiting 1-2 months to bring up Rodriguez is of no consequence in terms of contending.  It does however provide the team a couple months to evaluate Martin and Roden to determine if they are starters, or bench players.  It also allows them to determine which player among the trio of Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Gonzalez is ready to play at the major league level instead of just rushing someone up.  

If all that is not enough, burning a year of control in a players prime for 1 month when it's questionable if they are ready is incredibly poor asset management.  

They just need to find new homes for Outman and Larnach, which is something they absolutely need to do anyway. Emmanuel Rodriguez can have RF in that scenario.

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

They would have to demote (either to the bench or AAA) Martin or Roden.  We already have a DH and part-time OFer in Wallner.  Martin earned a shot last year.  Roden is further along and has performed better across a larger sample size than Rodriguez.  We can't complain about guys like Rooker and then discard potentially good players.

Their strategy in terms of rebuilding or attempting to contend this year is also a central issue.  If they are trying to win now, putting the best team on the field for opening day should be the goal.  If they continue with the rebuild, waiting 1-2 months to bring up Rodriguez is of no consequence in terms of contending.  It does however provide the team a couple months to evaluate Martin and Roden to determine if they are starters, or bench players.  It also allows them to determine which player among the trio of Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Gonzalez is ready to play at the major league level instead of just rushing someone up.  

If all that is not enough, burning a year of control in a players prime for 1 month when it's questionable if they are ready is incredibly poor asset management.  

Fine, then improve the overall quality of the roster via a trade using EmRod. 

[Major League Ready]

15 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

They just need to find new homes for Outman and Larnach, which is something they absolutely need to do anyway. Emmanuel Rodriguez can have RF in that scenario.

What do you do with Roden and Wallner.  Wallner can DH but Roden is discarded.  

[Major League Ready]

9 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

Fine, then improve the overall quality of the roster via a trade using EmRod. 

I think the primary difference in our approach is that you are looking at what makes the team better immediately and I am looking for the solution that shortens the time required to rebuild and also the overall product produced by the rebuild.  They don't need to trade Erod right now unless they are trying to contend right now.  By that logic we should trade Jenkins and GG as well?  If they think they can win this year, that's a good approach.  Very low probability of success but the actions fit the strategy.  If they are trying to build a contender, burning assets rather than methodically evaluating and protecting those assets is a very bad idea.

If they embrace rebuilding, they can give Martin, Roden, and Wallner a couple months of evaluation at the ML level while simultaneously continue to evaluate the readiness of Jenkins, Erod, and GG.  They can then make a much more informed decision with plenty of time left in the season to transition to other the best combination of these six players.  That would be the most likely way to end the season with the best possible combination of players.  

[tony&rodney]

38 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I think the primary difference in our approach is that you are looking at what makes the team better immediately and I am looking for the solution that shortens the time required to rebuild and also the overall product produced by the rebuild.  They don't need to trade Erod right now unless they are trying to contend right now.  By that logic we should trade Jenkins and GG as well?  If they think they can win this year, that's a good approach.  Very low probability of success but the actions fit the strategy.  If they are trying to build a contender, burning assets rather than methodically evaluating and protecting those assets is a very bad idea.

If they embrace rebuilding, they can give Martin, Roden, and Wallner a couple months of evaluation at the ML level while simultaneously continue to evaluate the readiness of Jenkins, Erod, and GG.  They can then make a much more informed decision with plenty of time left in the season to transition to other the best combination of these six players.  That would be the most likely way to end the season with the best possible combination of players.  

You couldn't be further off. I believe the Twins should embrace a rebuild. Within that rebuild they need to add talent. I'm willing to trade any or all of Lopez, Buxton, Ryan, Jeffers, and Lewis if the return merits the transaction. We don't even know if any other teams value any of the Twins players. I'm also willing to trade players like Wallner, Lee, or prospects (EmRod) who the Twins may or may not believe are going to be MLB regulars. In consideration of the current roster, my strategy would suggest open competition for the two open outfield jobs as well as first base. Wallner is a DH. If we are going to suggest that any of Martin, Roden, or Clemens have earned a starting job based on August and September play, then we are thinking that a .333 winning percentage team is the mark to seek going forward. Frankly the roster construction looks awkward. I have no problem with either Roden (who might work at 1B also) or Martin (who might be used like Castro) starting in the outfield. All of these guys have options. Clemens, Outman, and Kreidler do not have any options remaining. In the past, that has meant they get roster spots. I was not impressed by the 2025 Twins and want change.

Thus, my hopes for the 2026 Twins were based on change to the roster. It doesn't look good right now. The next hope is for open competition. People who look at Twins Daily are Twins fans and hope for the best. There are many paths and thus disagreements about how that can be accomplished. Not a single person that I'm aware of predicted no substantial moves the last two years and it is looking like Alex Jackson might be our leading addition for 2026.

Knowing full well that there was no chance of my suggestions being a  reality or even discussion taking place on this board, I submitted 3 GM 2026 rosters at $100M, $130M, and $50M. Of course, these were not realistic because absolutely nothing any of us ever says is realistic; it is simply our thoughts/wishes/hopes. I'm interested in what others think. Why does Roden have a place in line ahead of anyone else? What do you see, using the GM Tool, as the 2026 roster?

[DJL44]

57 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

What do you do with Roden and Wallner.  Wallner can DH but Roden is discarded.  

Roden becomes the 4th OF. Martin LF, Buxton CF, Rodriguez RF, Wallner DH. There's plenty of at-bats for all of them. Players get dinged up all the time.

[Major League Ready]

43 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Roden becomes the 4th OF. Martin LF, Buxton CF, Rodriguez RF, Wallner DH. There's plenty of at-bats for all of them. Players get dinged up all the time.

We would be relying on someone getting hurt in the first month and the back-up role means 1/3 the ABs of a starter .  If an injury happens in the first 6 weeks in the result is effectively what others are saying about holding Rodriguez back a month or two.   

Putting Roden in a B/U role greatly diminishes the opportunity to evaluate him.  What do we say all the time about good prospects?  It makes no sense to have them up to ride the bench.  If you want to come to the conclusion he is no longer a good prospect after 150ABs, go ahead and replace him but that is very premature IMO.  Many a player has struggled over their first couple hundred ABs and went on to be very good players.

There is a version of scenario you propose that I like.   That would be if Roden gets some time at 1B and handles it well while his bat improves.  However, that scenario also requires a couple months to play out.  It would be ideal of Roden starts hitting and Jenkins or Rodriguez is raking,  Roden moves to the primary 1B/back-up OFer and Jenkins or Rodriguez takes an OF spot.  That would be a major improvement in the team.

[DJL44]

27 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

We would be relying on someone getting hurt in the first month and the back-up role means 1/3 the ABs of a starter .  If an injury happens in the first 6 weeks in the result is effectively what others are saying about holding Rodriguez back a month or two.   

Putting Roden in a B/U role greatly diminishes the opportunity to evaluate him.  What do we say all the time about good prospects?  It makes no sense to have them up to ride the bench.  If you want to come to the conclusion he is no longer a good prospect after 150ABs, go ahead and replace him but that is very premature IMO.  Many a player has struggled over their first couple hundred ABs and went on to be very good players.

I expect Roden would get plenty of at-bats at Martin's expense due to the platoon advantage. Buxton will get days off (or DH days platooning with Wallner) with Emmanuel Rodriguez shifting to CF which will open up RF on those days. He can easily play 3 days a week even with everyone healthy.

I also think there is a >90% chance of an injury in the first six weeks. Martin, Buxton, Castro and Wallner all spent time on the IL before the end of May last season. It's better than even odds that at least two outfielders go on the injured list in the first two months of the season.

[ChangeUp17]

Hi All - Reds fan here.  My Reds are looking to hopefully take another step forward after reaching the postseason with just 83 wins this past season, and their biggest need, by far, is a solid hitting outfielder.

I have been thinking that Rodriguez would be a good trade target.  What would the Twins need to receive in return for EM?  The Reds are deep in young pitching, and I think it would make sense to leverage that in a trade.  Would someone like Nick Lodolo interest the Twins?  He's a high potential young starter who has already proven his swing & miss stuff at the MLB level.  He has had a few weird injuries, but so has EM.

I think just about anyone on the Reds roster or in their system could be made available, except for maybe Elly, Noelvi Marte, and Sal Stewart, since they are probably our best offensive players, and we are needing to add rather subtract offense.

Thoughts?  

[ashbury]

48 minutes ago, ChangeUp17 said:

Hi All - Reds fan here.  My Reds are looking to hopefully take another step forward after reaching the postseason with just 83 wins this past season, and their biggest need, by far, is a solid hitting outfielder.

I have been thinking that Rodriguez would be a good trade target.  What would the Twins need to receive in return for EM?  The Reds are deep in young pitching, and I think it would make sense to leverage that in a trade.  Would someone like Nick Lodolo interest the Twins?  He's a high potential young starter who has already proven his swing & miss stuff at the MLB level.  He has had a few weird injuries, but so has EM.

I think just about anyone on the Reds roster or in their system could be made available, except for maybe Elly, Noelvi Marte, and Sal Stewart, since they are probably our best offensive players, and we are needing to add rather subtract offense.

Thoughts?  

Can I interest you in a slightly used Trevor Larnach model instead?