Minnesota Twins Are Finally Planning on Playing the Young Guys. Why is Everyone So Upset?

[Mike Sixel]

29 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Apparently, you are defining of counting on in 2026 requires that they are on the opening day roster?   I suppose that's one definition.  It makes sense if you think they are going to contend.  If they are rebuilding, the opening day roster is MUCH less important than the end of season roster.  When any team rebuilds, it's a transition over a couple of years.  The Twins will be looking to transition a significant portion of their team.

It is highly likely that Walker Jenkins, Rodriguez, and Culpepper are part of 2026.  Gabriel Gonzalez has a a good shot and someone like Mendez, Fedko or even Roden could end up at 1B.  Almost the entire BP and Mick Abel.  Can we count Andrew Morris?  nearly the entire BP will be "young / inexperienced guys.  Of course, there is a very good chance there are trades made for other "young guys". 

If you look beyond opening day, this team will likely go through a massive turnover in the roster.  It will be fun to look back in October and see how much the team has changed.  

I'm not sure this is true. They've refused to do it in past years. We'll find out, but I'm afraid they are trying to win in 26.

[mluebker]

I'm not upset. I'd rather watch guys on the way up than a team of low-cost cast-offs. Even if the young guys stumble, there's room for optimism.

[RpR]

44 minutes ago, old nurse said:

That was Rumsfeld in response to being questioned on why the military sent the soldiers off to war to be maimed and killed in Humvees with little armor to protect the soldiers.  The callousness of the response  was astounding. 

War is a calloused .

But the other posters reason for that quote was a good one.

[RpR]

2 minutes ago, mluebker said:

I'm not upset. I'd rather watch guys on the way up than a team of low-cost cast-offs. Even if the young guys stumble, there's room for optimism.

Optimism, like empty stands, because the team stinks.

If the newbies stink, then they can become the new crop of players this site dumps on, also.

[Riverbrian]

28 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Sonny Gray to the Red Sox .. does that impact Ryan going there? Probably not.

It could. 

One less starter to pursue but it could also make the Ryan a more perfect fit for them. 

Ryan's arb number is affordable and shouldn't disrupt other free agent pursuits.

When Joe's arb number doubles next year... Gray will be coming off the books. Although... I'm sure that the Cards are going to pay down that contract significantly. They'd have to... because you wouldn't get someone like Clarke back if you didn't. 

I'd say the Red Sox are still in on Ryan (and others)... if the Twins are listening to offers for Ryan. 

 

[Cris E]

I'm done clicking on Cody S.   This is more crap. 

[Major League Ready]

27 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm not sure this is true. They've refused to do it in past years. We'll find out, but I'm afraid they are trying to win in 26.

That's a good point.  I also am not sure which is why I framed this with "if they continue the rebuild".  You are absolutely right that they have not been aggressive with young players.  They also have not been aggressive in rebuilding, choosing instead to get into contention by signing mediocre veterans.   If they embrace a rebuild, it seems reasonable they would also embrace a more aggressive approach with young players.  I guess we will find out next season.

[Patzky]

21 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

It could. 

One less starter to pursue but it could also make the Ryan a more perfect fit for them. 

Ryan's arb number is affordable and shouldn't disrupt other free agent pursuits.

When Joe's arb number doubles next year... Gray will be coming off the books. Although... I'm sure that the Cards are going to pay down that contract significantly. They'd have to... because you wouldn't get someone like Clarke back if you didn't. 

I'd say the Red Sox are still in on Ryan (and others)... if the Twins are listening to offers for Ryan. 

 

Ryan and Gray were pretty close, if that matters, weren't they?

[The Great Hambino]

27 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

It could. 

One less starter to pursue but it could also make the Ryan a more perfect fit for them. 

Ryan's arb number is affordable and shouldn't disrupt other free agent pursuits.

When Joe's arb number doubles next year... Gray will be coming off the books. Although... I'm sure that the Cards are going to pay down that contract significantly. They'd have to... because you wouldn't get someone like Clarke back if you didn't. 

I'd say the Red Sox are still in on Ryan (and others)... if the Twins are listening to offers for Ryan. 

 

Per the Athletic, STL is covering $20MM of his salary this year

The contract is also getting re-worked so that this year's base goes down from $35MM to $31MM, but next year's $30MM club option becomes a mutual option with a $10MM buyout.

So effectively a 1 year $41MM deal with STL covering about half of it.  Seems like Ryan could still slot in well there, if they're into that sort of thing

[Riverbrian]

18 minutes ago, Patzky said:

Ryan and Gray were pretty close, if that matters, weren't they?

No idea but they certainly know each other. 

That probably won't matter much to Boston.

I imagine... the trade fit would the biggest hurdle. 

Boston would probably love to trade Duran for a starter because they have outfield depth and the Twins shouldn't move Ryan for an outfielder.  

Unless a third team could be pulled in. 

Philadelphia for example. They don't want to give up pitching but are trying to retool and they really need outfielders. 

Ryan and Jeffers to the Red Sox

Duran to the Phillies

Aiden Miller, Casas and Wong to the Twins

I'd consider that deal... Don't know if the teams involved would consider it. 

[old nurse]

56 minutes ago, RpR said:

Optimism, like empty stands, because the team stinks.

If the newbies stink, then they can become the new crop of players this site dumps on, also.

No one on this site is free from being dumped on. 

[Omardog]

Everyone is upset because the grifting silver spoon Pohlads have not sold the team and left town.

[Thebigalguy]

I agree with your optimism for a few of the players you name but others don't arouse enthusiasm. The July massacre decimated the bullpen, which explains many of the losses suffered in August and September, when the offense, with its base stealing, was more exciting if not more effective. It's going to be a young roster, that's for sure, and might pan out, but only if the team keeps its top-line starters, for starters. and builds up its bullpen again with signings and conversions of starters. New manager, some new coaches. It could be refreshing. The proof, as we say, will be in the pudding. 

[jmlease1]

1 hour ago, The Great Hambino said:

Per the Athletic, STL is covering $20MM of his salary this year

The contract is also getting re-worked so that this year's base goes down from $35MM to $31MM, but next year's $30MM club option becomes a mutual option with a $10MM buyout.

So effectively a 1 year $41MM deal with STL covering about half of it.  Seems like Ryan could still slot in well there, if they're into that sort of thing

LOL. I recall when people were peddling what a "great" deal StL got for Gray and how much the Twins were going to regret "letting" him go. StL is so ready to move him along that they're eating that much salary? Says more than a few things right there.

[nicksaviking]

25 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

LOL. I recall when people were peddling what a "great" deal StL got for Gray and how much the Twins were going to regret "letting" him go. StL is so ready to move him along that they're eating that much salary? Says more than a few things right there.

St. Louis is desperately trying to drop payroll, they're looking to move everyone. Gray has still been really good the past two years.

[Thumbs Down Guy]

Very disappointed in the writer. The article is loaded with “they” and “the fan base”, but never once is there a specific reference to who. The writer reminds me of a fellow who would say, “They say I am the best president ever.” Cody you should do better than assign all statements to the masses.

[ashbury]

45 minutes ago, jmlease1 said:

LOL. I recall when people were peddling what a "great" deal StL got for Gray and how much the Twins were going to regret "letting" him go. StL is so ready to move him along that they're eating that much salary? Says more than a few things right there.

The Cards look like they're receiving a legit starting pitching prospect.  I'm not sure a team can simply buy an arm like that for $20M.  So this isn't like a Josh Donaldson or Carlos Correa situation where there's negative trade value; St Louis opted to add something to the deal to get something better in return than what Gray might have fetched alone.

[Mike Sixel]

31 minutes ago, ashbury said:

The Cards look like they're receiving a legit starting pitching prospect.  I'm not sure a team can simply buy an arm like that for $20M.  So this isn't like a Josh Donaldson or Carlos Correa situation where there's negative trade value; St Louis opted to add something to the deal to get something better in return than what Gray might have fetched alone.

Unlike including more cost, and getting less..... weird. 

[saviking]

21 hours ago, Blyleven2011 said:

I've decided to go younger and I posted it in another thread about raya and Prielipp  this morning ...

And I got a thumbs down  , imagine that ...

Why am I going younger , Because the organization hasn't given us any direction on what direction we are going and I still believe trades are coming ( Lopez , Ryan , jeffers and then buxton if he opts out  , be nice to keep Lopez to pass along his knowledge of pitching  , Hawkins is here to help with that , trade lopez at deadline after half a season of mentoring )  ...

I'm done with the speculating and wasting my time of who we should sign and who we shouldn't at least until we know the direction  , it's out of my hands unless ( riverbrian and me ) go down to twins way and ask someone of authority what direction is the TWINS WAY  ...

I agree Burt! The last thing I want tobsee is the Twins piching up over the hill players on one year deals to fill out the roster. Why, because they are too cheap to gut them if they don't perform. 

[dxpavelka]

On 11/24/2025 at 6:03 PM, Permanent Twins Fan said:

Everyone is upset because the reason the young guys are going to be playing is because everybody else is gone. The Twins aren't really choosing to play the 'young guys', they are just the players that are left. I think that there is a part of every diehard Twins fan that will really never be satisfied. That is part of the joy of being a fan of a small market team. Half of being a Twins fan is complaining about ownership, the front office, or something else. I know, personally, that if the Twins began winning every year, I wouldn't know what to do.

Outside of Duran, Varland and MAYBE Bader that left who would you REALLY like to see return instead of guys like Jenkins, Rojas, Raya or Culpepper?  I'll wait...

[Permanent Twins Fan]

2 hours ago, dxpavelka said:

Outside of Duran, Varland and MAYBE Bader that left who would you REALLY like to see return instead of guys like Jenkins, Rojas, Raya or Culpepper?  I'll wait...

With the state of the Twins bullpen right now, I would want any of the arms traded away instead of Raya, an unproven arm who has struggled in AAA, and never pitched in the majors. I'm not saying that I would want all of the players traded away back, but most likely, aside from Raya, none of the four that you listed are going to be on the Opening Day Roster. If the Twins were willing to commit to playing Jenkins and Culpepper consistently, that would be a different story, but I don't think that is likely to happen.

[DocBauer]

On 11/24/2025 at 9:16 PM, chpettit19 said:

You're confusing "young" and "inexperienced." The Twins have very few actually young guys on their current roster but have many inexperienced ones. They aren't the same thing. 

Austin Martin is not young, he'll be 27 next season. Allen Roden is not young, he'll be 26 next year. Keaschall is young, and you can argue Brooks Lee is borderline. They are the only "young" position players on the roster. This is why some of us have been complaining. Because the guys you're trying to call young are actually just inexperienced because they weren’t called up until their mid-20s.

The pitching staff is too far from being set to know what that situation will be. But people call Ryan and Ober young when they're essentially the same age as Lopez. The difference is that they were called up so much later they're still in arbitration while Lopez is making over 20 mil a year.

I liked this post, but should have selected the love mark.

I SEE Martin FINALLY starting to figure it out at 27yo and MAYBE being a part of 2026 and beyond. 

And I can easily see Roden getting himself together and having a solid second season where his MILB performance starts to translate as a solid ML player.

The Twins traded for both. They decided to keep Larnach for what reason? To hopefully trade him for something? Then get to it!

I think where we disagree on a very, very small degree is you see what you EXPECT, and what I hope to see what happens.

What really stinks is you're probably more right than I am. And that stinks because I think we're of the same mind, but I like my optimism more than your defeated attitude. LOL

I understand control issues. I can't even argue it when we're talking about a mid market team that suffers under very different financial numbers. But my goodness, why is Outman still on the roster? 

I say yet again, with ONE option remaining, Rodriguez has to be part of 2026, not Larnach, who should be traded for SOMETHING. and be gone. It's TIME to RUN with him and have his one option remaining. 

While not exactly young, I'm of the hope they will allow Martin to continue his upswing. And that they will allow the same for Roden, who remains a near rookie. Either MIGHT turn out to be a solid bench player.

But at least one of them, if not both, are short lived based on Rodriguez, Jenkins, and Gonzalez.  

I defy Falvey's ego to just let Outman go. You took a shot, and it didn't work. Just let it go.

I'm seeing what's coming up SOON and you're concerned about the past. And I get that. I guess I'm just hoping Falvey figures that out sooner than you do. 😀

[mluebker]

19 hours ago, old nurse said:

No one on this site is free from being dumped on. 

Not only that, it’s true in real life when you talk baseball, as well. Doesn’t matter whether you’re talking to your best friend or a guy two stools down the bar that you’ve never seen before. You say what you think and someone always will be ready to explain just how wrong you are, sometimes even why.

And if we’re talking players, back in the early eighties you could get seats near the dugout on the first base line even after the game started. We loved that because we could watch Kent Hrbek in action. But it didn’t stop us from razzing him if he made a mistake (or even if we got bored). Nobody took it seriously. He’d give us an ironic cap-tip if he booted one and we’d stand up and cheer when he made a good play. It’s baseball. That’s part of what makes it fun.

 

[old nurse]

10 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I liked this post, but should have selected the love mark.

I SEE Martin FINALLY starting to figure it out at 27yo and MAYBE being a part of 2026 and beyond. 

And I can easily see Roden getting himself together and having a solid second season where his MILB performance starts to translate as a solid ML player.

The Twins traded for both. They decided to keep Larnach for what reason? To hopefully trade him for something? Then get to it!

I think where we disagree on a very, very small degree is you see what you EXPECT, and what I hope to see what happens.

What really stinks is you're probably more right than I am. And that stinks because I think we're of the same mind, but I like my optimism more than your defeated attitude. LOL

I understand control issues. I can't even argue it when we're talking about a mid market team that suffers under very different financial numbers. But my goodness, why is Outman still on the roster? 

I say yet again, with ONE option remaining, Rodriguez has to be part of 2026, not Larnach, who should be traded for SOMETHING. and be gone. It's TIME to RUN with him and have his one option remaining. 

While not exactly young, I'm of the hope they will allow Martin to continue his upswing. And that they will allow the same for Roden, who remains a near rookie. Either MIGHT turn out to be a solid bench player.

But at least one of them, if not both, are short lived based on Rodriguez, Jenkins, and Gonzalez.  

I defy Falvey's ego to just let Outman go. You took a shot, and it didn't work. Just let it go.

I'm seeing what's coming up SOON and you're concerned about the past. And I get that. I guess I'm just hoping Falvey figures that out sooner than you do. 😀

Young versus inexperienced is a semantics argument   The young of nursing was anyone new to the level of skill they were working.  

Larnach was not traded because he is not what either a contending team would add, nor a rebuilding team would add. He would be what was traded with another player if what was coming back was a bat first player. He was kept likely because of the uncertainty of the rest of the outfielders.

Outman is still on the roster because there were other players more needing to be cut when there was a need to cut. 

[old nurse]

48 minutes ago, mluebker said:

Not only that, it’s true in real life when you talk baseball, as well. Doesn’t matter whether you’re talking to your best friend or a guy two stools down the bar that you’ve never seen before. You say what you think and someone always will be ready to explain just how wrong you are, sometimes even why.

And if we’re talking players, back in the early eighties you could get seats near the dugout on the first base line even after the game started. We loved that because we could watch Kent Hrbek in action. But it didn’t stop us from razzing him if he made a mistake (or even if we got bored). Nobody took it seriously. He’d give us an ironic cap-tip if he booted one and we’d stand up and cheer when he made a good play. It’s baseball. That’s part of what makes it fun.

 

Dumped on is not razzing. 

[twinstalker]

The irony is twofold: 

1.  It's not youth, it's $$$.

2.  There is a whole bunch of youth, but hardly any of it has a chance.  Jenkins, Keaschall.  Zebby, sort of.  they have a good chance.  Gabe G. and Culpepper have small chances.  I can't think of any other hitters who could be good.  I'm sure many people can, but they'd be wrong.  The pitching pipeline seemed to break with injuries to nearly all of them and the Morris/Lewis collapse.

[mluebker]

On 11/26/2025 at 8:06 AM, old nurse said:

Dumped on is not razzing

Depends on who’s listening.

 

[old nurse]

5 hours ago, mluebker said:

Depends on who’s listening.

 

Thanks for once again showing that one needs to write a book so somebody will not insist their meaning of the word is what you meant. 

[mluebker]

4 hours ago, old nurse said:

Thanks for once again showing that one needs to write a book so somebody will not insist their meaning of the word is what you meant. 

Actually, the Merriam-Webster dictionary changed from being prescriptive to descriptive in 1962. For more than half a century it’s reflected how words evolve and are used, not what those determined to dictate definitions insist they should mean. Language lives in the mouths of people and the book you sarcastically long for recognizes that.

[stringer bell]

On 11/25/2025 at 3:58 PM, saviking said:

I agree Burt! The last thing I want tobsee is the Twins piching up over the hill players on one year deals to fill out the roster. Why, because they are too cheap to gut them if they don't perform. 

I think the Falvey record on getting veteran players on short-term deals is mixed, certainly not all negative. I would count Bader, Solano, and Michael A Taylor as unqualified successes. Gallo and Margot as failures and Kyle Farmer and Ty France as mixed. You could also consider Gray as a veteran on a short-term deal although he was thought to have a lot more value than they guys I named and the Twins had two years of control.