Can This Offseason Be Anything But A Half-Measure For The Twins?

[Eric Blonigen]

Image courtesy of Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Tom Pohlad, in his introductory presser, told the media that he wants fans to “believe [he’s] committed to a championship-caliber investment and team”, that he thinks the Twins are “within reach of winning a division title this year”, and that he’s “not a half-measure guy.”

At the same time, he also acknowledged that the Twins are “laying the foundation for ultimately what [they] hope will be a nucleus that can be a championship-caliber team and that warrants a championship-level investment.”

Those statements are somewhat at odds, and the why behind it makes sense. Based on the status of the current roster and number of top prospects in the upper minors, things are complicated to say the least. How do the Twins continue to add to the roster without blocking the future of the team? Where can they actually make significant upgrades without putting another Carlos Correa-sized impediment in their ability to field a complete roster? Is it even possible to do these things, at this point in time?

Let’s start by looking at the areas of need, and I’ll discuss the challenges with upgrading at the position. I see three.

1. Shortstop, if you aren’t a believer in Brooks Lee.
2. Another big bat, preferably one who hits right-handed, if you can find a position for them.
3. Bullpen. So much bullpen.

Shortstop
Do you believe that some combination of Lee, Ryan Kreidler, and Ryan Fitzgerald can, in the aggregate, be even average both at the plate and in the field? It seems like a stretch. The latter two are fringy guys, at best. Lee has looked overmatched throughout his young career and as it stands, may be better suited to a part-time utility role unless he can make some real adjustments to his approach.

However, in order to justify moving a former top prospect off the spot, the Twins would need a clear upgrade. Signing someone like Isiah Kiner-Falefa could make sense. It would probably take a two-year deal, and I imagine it would take around $15 million deal to sign him. That’s affordable, but it’s tough to imagine the Twins being this quick to relegate Lee to a utility role. And, Kaelen Culpepper could be ready for his first call-up this summer. So, it seems unlikely the Twins would see upgrading shortstop as a good investment.

Big Bat
The Twins need consistent offense, and need it badly. However, finding a spot to play another bat would be easier said than done, at least without sacrificing playing time for someone else that deserves or needs it. All of Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, Royce Lewis, Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach, and Lee will play most days.

Positionally, center field is taken. The corner outfield spots have a veritable logjam already, between Larnach, Alan Roden, James Outman, Austin Martin, and Wallner. Plus, both Walker Jenkins and Emmanuel Rodriguez are basically ready for the majors, with Gabriel Gonzalez on their heels.

First base is taken, now, with the additional of Bell. Wallner’s best position is DH, and playing him as the strong-sided platoon, at the least, seems a no-brainer. Catcher is covered. You probably aren’t moving Lewis off third. Keaschall is at second, unless you move him to the outfield and make that logjam even worse. We covered shortstop already.

So, again, where do you put another big bat? Unless you are trading multiple hitters, including some that are likely part of the future, there just doesn't seem to be room for anything more than a right handed platoon first baseman or DH.

Bullpen
Here we go. Finally. The easiest, most natural spot to upgrade from the current options. As Nick Nelson wrote, aside from Cole Sands, Justin Topa, and Kody Funderburk, there’s a ton of question marks. But, maybe fewer than you would think. The Twins didn’t trade for Eric Orze to not have him on their roster. Pierson Ohl and Travis Adams didn’t look amazing in their limited outings down the stretch last season, but neither figure to be starters for the Twins, and it makes sense to give both another season in the pen to see what they are capable of. That means at least five or six spots, out of eight, are written in at least pencil.

“Great”, you might be thinking. “Sign two stud relievers!” On paper, that makes perfect sense. After all, the Twins have exactly zero current relievers who should get the eighth or ninth innings in close games with any regularity.

Except. Have you looked at their starting pitching depth? As it stands, all of Taj Bradley, Mick Abel, Zebby Matthews, David Festa, Connor Prielipp, Kendry Rojas, and Andrew Morris will be competing for the fifth starter gig; one will be without a rotation spot even in Triple-A. That’s not to mention Marco Raya, who, as of now, is still a starter. It’s not including C.J. Culpepper or Ryan Gallagher, both of whom should be ready for a promotion to Saint Paul at some point in 2026. One also shouldn’t fully write off question marks like Matt Canterino or Cory Lewis.

That’s so, so many pitching prospects. Realistically, four or five of those guys will end up needing to convert to relief. It’s no stretch to think that, say, Prielipp, Festa, and Morris could be converted to start the season, and that a couple of them could be with the Twins sooner rather than later.

As you can see, 2026 is shaping up to be a truly transitional season; one in which it almost makes more sense for the Twins to just see what they have with the myriad prospects in the upper minors. Doing so would allow them to get a better sense for what their true longer-term organizational needs look like, and go into 2027 with sights set on two or three positions that need to be shored up with high-end options.

But, doing little aside from signing Bell is truly a half-measure. You know, the thing Pohlad is against. Really, the only way to square all of his quotes, to compete this year while also building for the future, and to avoid half-measures entirely would be to deliberately block the youth movement for the first part of the season by signing a bopper and three good relievers to one-year deals, then planning to trade all of them as the prospects prove their readiness.

Do you see ownership giving Falvey the green light to do so, if it were to cost another $35 million, or more? Even if it was really more like $15 or 20 million before they are traded away midseason, it’s still more than they are expected to spend, and by a decent margin.

It would certainly be one way to put his money where his mouth is. It would make for some fun ball, too.

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[thelanges5]

They could sign Bregman, Tucker, Bichette, and Bellinger and they’d still lose games if they don’t figure out the bullpen. 

[Reptevia]

In the positions of need, you missed a few. C-Jeffers is league average at best. (But hey, that IS MLB caliber!)

First-  No one on the roster can field it.

2B- Unproven. 
3B- Lewis has been a liability the past 1.5 years. 
SS-  No one on the roster can field or hit. 
LF-Wallner is league average, but you want him to DH/1B?  He’s one of 3 MLB players on the squad, but in LF. 

CF-  Only above average position player on the team- when he’s healthy…

RF-No one here can hit. 
DH-Bell, I guess?

Where is this “Core” they’re supposed to be building around???

[GNess]

i would say to date the BP and Josh Bell additions constitute a quarter measure not a half. But there is still a few months of offseason remaining.

[old nurse]

Tom sold the car dealerships. I guess he went home on that one. So now there is a hyperbole spinner talking to a crowd that is unlikely to see it for what it is.  Given his statements on payroll I would assume going big is taking a risk on a high ceiling player vs a high floor.  I don’t know what he knows about baseball, but if he is going to run the business I would guess he will have to learn something.  Jim, who controlled the money, did not know anything more than what Falvey told him. He and Joe took the fall for that 

[Blyleven2011]

⁹This was a good article to read ...

Can Tom turn the tables with his words , he sure better back up his words ...

I've stated before , get Falvey out of the baseball operations and let him stay in the business operations  , this should be Falvey's last year in the baseball operations ( their mind set at winning the division as of now isn’t worth a hill of beans ) ...

We need exactly what the writer wrote  , hitters , bullpen pitchers and some better defense  , we need run producers and as of now we need to spend or trade for those players,  bullpen could use a veteran if he is already better than what we have , the dumpster arms haven't been better than what we have and after the deadline last year our prospects weren't given a look see and we trotted out the worst bullpen since 2021-22 ...

In conclusion  :

I like that we have a surplus of average arms or better   , let them pitch , it's our strength until proven otherwise ...

But yes we need a couple of bats that can make our lineup stronger , spend the money and keep the prospects or trade some prospects for the hitters we need ...

A nice Christmas present would be nice Tom and Derek  ....

[DocBauer]

IMO, 2026 is a work in progress that will have, roughly, 2 sides. Side 1 is opening day. Side 2 is post June 1st and beyond. And I've stated this before.

The over/under payroll SEEMS to be about $115M. Based on history, I'm betting slightly over, but that's also a bit of a digression.

For the UPTEENTH TIME, I DON'T dislike Larnach. But he just doesn't fit! He needs to be moved in a package deal for a decent pen arm, or traded alone for a prospect, or just let go. He HAS value. But he doesn't FIT the team going forward! This happens if Falvey FINALLY let's go of his paranoid depth issues/trauma. The same for Outman who had no reason to be on anyone's 40 man right now. LF and backup CF is Martin, Roden, and Rodriguez. So why even consider rostering a NO HIT, average at best CF option? Outman is easily cut the next FA signing.

Bell is a nice addition. He's better as a DH and part time 1B. And while his deal is about $7M, about $2M of that is tied to a 2027 buyout. But if you want to include the entire contract for 2026, without Larnach, post arbitration the payroll still sits about $93M. It's just math. That leaves approximately $22M to add for a $115M payroll. That leaves $22M for at least 2 solid, veteran relievers to help rebuild the pen initially. But it might also allow the opportunity to add another 1yr bat as well.

I go back to the OP:

#1] Lee has a lot to prove. He NEEDS to get his BAT and APPROACH right. But he's got the talent and intelligence to be a solid player. Again for the UPTEENTH time, he entered 2025 barely above rookie status. He's still really young and played better defense once he played there daily. He's just NOT the long term SS. That's K-Pepper come June or July.

#2] BIG BAT. Well Bell IS a BIG BAT. The question is whether not they add another quality 1B to the team via FA or trade. They might trade for a long term young 1B option, or sign a decent RH 1B option. The options have been presented previously and I'm not going to again get in to previous discussions. 

But #3 is really interesting to me. 

Let's think about the FO being smart/accurate and signing 2 or 3 smart choices as BP options. And MAYBE we get one with a Larnach plus prospect trade. And I'm TOTALLY REMOVING another Stewart or Thielbar comparison signing who surprise.

Let us talk about the part 2 of the 2026 season where Festa and Prielipp are ready to help the bullpen. And there is an honest chance Festa and Klein might be ready opening day or in early May. Lewis and Raya might follow soon after. 

You want to discuss HALF MEASURES? I'd counter with a few smart additions to the lineup and the pen and discuss HALF a season where the Twins might look very different post June, July 1st.

 

 

[rv78]

There isn't a position on the Twins field outside of Buxton, when healthy, that isn't worthy of an upgrade. The biggest issue I see is that the Twins are not ready to give up on their core of young players yet. This includes Wallner, Larnach, Lee, Lewis, Martin, and Julien. Jeffers and Keaschall haven't proven that they AREN'T worthy of a roster spot. The others are hanging on by a thread. IF Lewis and/or Lee are trade bait for an established upgrade player that would improve either 3B or SS and you are serious about improving the team NOW, then why wait? Adding players like Bell has been tried for the last 3 years and are a waste of money and a roster spot. If they are serious about competing in 2026 it's time to pick a lane that more closely resembles a highway and not another dirt road. 

[HerbieFan]

In order for this team to ever win, it needs to develop players.  The current regime has shown almost zero ability to do so, so I'm not overly confident.  That said, IMO the path for this year needs to be to play they're young(ish) guys.  If guys like Wallner, Lewis, Lee, etc., don't figure it out there's no way they win this year or next.  Time to find out if we need to move on or not.  Assuming health (a big if), guys like Lewis, Lee, Keaschall, Wallner, Jeffers should be in the lineup nearly every day.

In terms of Tom's comments about them being competitive this year it entirely depends on those guys taking a step forward.  Any financial freedom they might have should be spent on the bullpen.

Bottom line...a year from now we have to know if Lewis, Lee, Wallner, Larnach (if he's not traded), etc. have a future or not.  This year can also be used to sort out the pitching depth - who stays as a starter, who goes to the bullpen.

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[Nashvilletwin]

4 hours ago, Reptevia said:

In the positions of need, you missed a few. C-Jeffers is league average at best. (But hey, that IS MLB caliber!)

First-  No one on the roster can field it.

2B- Unproven. 
3B- Lewis has been a liability the past 1.5 years. 
SS-  No one on the roster can field or hit. 
LF-Wallner is league average, but you want him to DH/1B?  He’s one of 3 MLB players on the squad, but in LF. 

CF-  Only above average position player on the team- when he’s healthy…

RF-No one here can hit. 
DH-Bell, I guess?

Where is this “Core” they’re supposed to be building around???

Thanks for keeping things real.

Why in the world is betting on this position player lineup with the projected BP a good idea?  Sure, lightning can strike, but how can T3 credibly claim that this lineup could compete for the division?

He actually doesn’t understand his market.  Minnesotans are incredibly provincial and noted fair weather fans.  Promoting and investing in their prospects is a strategy that the fans would get behind even with losses.  Adding more one and done retreads and losing is something the fans will despise and reject.  Does anyone honestly think signing Bell sold a single additional ticket?  If any thing, it’s turned me off even more from investing any more emotional fan capital in this team.

 

[PuckettProtector]

I don't know if he had any other choice, but I find the sudden appearance of accountability refreshing. He is acknowledging everything we already know.

I mean, if you want to be cynical, it gives him an out because it pretty much can't get any worse. But acknowledging the fan base is checked out and saying, hypothetically as the Polahds are so notoriously known for, that money will go in when a window was open, is pretty much what 80%+ of us have been saying they need to do for years. 

It's about accountability. Of which we've seen little of from ownership since they took over. It's normal and pretty much to be expected. This, after all, was the reason they and MLB conned us into having taxpayers subsidize their Factory Of Sadness ™️.

This year is undoubtedly a year of course correction. You should expect nothing and celebrate any modicum of success. 

But the moves they make, the philosophy and identity they take on, and how they most likely finish out the year as a team that is eliminated early is going to speak volumes. 

I know this organizations mantra is patience but I think they finally know that they fan base is out of said patience. 

Give it 3 years and well know if they simply just put lipstick on the pig. 

 

 

[tony&rodney]

The article reads like a tongue in cheek comment on how unbalanced the Twins current roster sits. Buxton and a hoard of DH's on the position side and questions behind the four starters on the pitching staff. At least that was what I understood the author to say.

The roster may be effed up now but there are opportunities for change in small and, if interested, larger ways. Doing nearly nothing doesn't seem like an option but it does seem like the plan. Hope, wait, hope.

[LA Vikes Fan]

I'm not sure where all this uncertainty comes from - this off season will be a half measure. Ehy? Because they honestly don't know which way to go and we don't either. Everything we've seen so far tells us we ae still in evaluation mode and that we know the starting lineup for 2026 with one possible exception at 1B. The lineup is Martin (LF), Buxton (CF), Keaschall (2B), Bell (1B), Lewis (3B), Wallner (DH), Jeffers (c), Lee (SS), Roden (RF). The only possible change is to sign or trade for a 1B like O'Hearn (my choice), Mountcastle or Casas - Boston traded for Contreras and Baltimore signed Alonso so those two should be available relatively cheap in prospect cost. That's the lineup guys. Would love to see them spend the money to sign O'Hearn for $10-15M a year, put him in the 4 hole, move Bell to DH and the 5 hole and everyone else down one, put Wallner back in right, and make Roden the 4th OF. More likely, Wallner is the DH, Bell plays first and the cornerr OFf spots start with Martin and Roden. Even if you sign O'Hearn that still should leave you $10M or so to sign 1 higher end guy like Pierce Johnson or Seranthony Dominguez, or two lower end pieces like Coulombe or Rogers. Larnach is traded for prospects because he's not worth MLB talent.   

In other words, a half measure now - not a tear down and rebuild but not a contender either - followed by a full measure in July. The first half of 2026 is all about finding out what we can on Lewis, Lee, Martin, Wallner, Roden, SWR, Bradley, and the guys I think go into the BP right away from Opening Day - Festa and Prielipp. By midseason if we aren't contending for the division, that's when you explore a trade of pretty much everyone and lean into the tear down. If we are, we trade to fill a hole and strengthen the bullpen and go for it.  I don't expect much in the offseason other than above at most. 

[LastOnePicked]

If you're convinced that this team has a shot at contending, but if you also accept the payroll limitations in place, then a half-measure offseason is actually the right decision. Make modest free-agent additions while auditioning prospects to supplement your core. See how close or how far you are from winning.

I'm just not convinced that this team has even the most remote change at contending. Slow, injury-prone, terrible in the field, no bullpen - and none of that has changed since the end of the season. If I were a Pohlad, I would have torn this thing down to the studs starting back in October. Sometimes a hopeful half-measure that keeps a team barely afloat is worse than a decisive full measure that restructures and regroups. You get rot out the second you see it - waiting only makes things worse.

[Brandon]

36 minutes ago, LastOnePicked said:

If you're convinced that this team has a shot at contending, but if you also accept the payroll limitations in place, then a half-measure offseason is actually the right decision. Make modest free-agent additions while auditioning prospects to supplement your core. See how close or how far you are from winning.

I'm just not convinced that this team has even the most remote change at contending. Slow, injury-prone, terrible in the field, no bullpen - and none of that has changed since the end of the season. If I were a Pohlad, I would have torn this thing down to the studs starting back in October. Sometimes a hopeful half-measure that keeps a team barely afloat is worse than a decisive full measure that restructures and regroups. You get rot out the second you see it - waiting only makes things worse.

I agree with the first paragraph.  But you need veterans around who can show the rookies the ropes.  This is a team in transition.  I think they are building for 2027.  As this article has stated the Twins have too many holes at this time.  But they do have lots of young talent ready to transition to the majors.  Throughout next season expect many rookies to make their debuts as players go up and down.  I think 2026 is to see what the Twins have and develop as many players as possible to have as many holes in the 2027 roster solidified so next offseason the Twins can take another step forward.  

[Doctor Wu]

10 hours ago, DocBauer said:

#1] Lee has a lot to prove. He NEEDS to get his BAT and APPROACH right. But he's got the talent and intelligence to be a solid player. Again for the UPTEENTH time, he entered 2025 barely above rookie status. He's still really young and played better defense once he played there daily. He's just NOT the long term SS. That's K-Pepper come June or July.

Gotta agree with most of that. Lee is a very puzzling player to me. He SEEMS to have the talent and the baseball IQ to succeed, but something is not clicking. Part of me understands that he is still relatively young and settling into major league baseball, but when I see clips of him playing I am almost always underwhelmed. I just don't see him becoming a star. The fact that people are already talking about him as a utility player speaks volumes about his future. 

[chpettit19]

17 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

They could sign Bregman, Tucker, Bichette, and Bellinger and they’d still lose games if they don’t figure out the bullpen. 

I'd certainly enjoy it if they tested this hypothesis...

[bean5302]

As a go big or go home guy, Tom Pohlad should definitely recognize Falvey is not the right GM for him.

Falvey sits on his hands until late in the season when other teams are done executing their strategy so there aren't any trade partners and there aren't generally any free agents. This means his roster cannot be burned down in a rebuild attempt anymore and it can't be built up for a run at a title.

[jmlease1]

13 hours ago, rv78 said:

There isn't a position on the Twins field outside of Buxton, when healthy, that isn't worthy of an upgrade. The biggest issue I see is that the Twins are not ready to give up on their core of young players yet. This includes Wallner, Larnach, Lee, Lewis, Martin, and Julien. Jeffers and Keaschall haven't proven that they AREN'T worthy of a roster spot. The others are hanging on by a thread. IF Lewis and/or Lee are trade bait for an established upgrade player that would improve either 3B or SS and you are serious about improving the team NOW, then why wait? Adding players like Bell has been tried for the last 3 years and are a waste of money and a roster spot. If they are serious about competing in 2026 it's time to pick a lane that more closely resembles a highway and not another dirt road. 

I mean, you can make the argument that any position that doesn't have an incumbent all-star is worthy of an upgrade. But that's simply unrealistic, even for the unlimited payroll teams.

Jeffers certainly has proven worthy of a roster spot; a catcher who can hit even a little is valuable and Jeffers has shown he can be more than that.

Grouping Wallner, Larnach, Lee, Lewis, Martin, and Julien all together is complicated, because while the Twins could use an upgrade out of all of them, technically, the reasons are different and the degree is different. Wallner has multiple seasons of being not just an ok hitter but a really good one, and we don't know if 2025 was an anomaly or a trend. Larnach has an ok floor but never shown much ceiling. Lee is still a young player. Lewis has battled injuries constantly, including last season. Martin looks to be rising, but is relatively unproven. Julien has fallen apart as a hitter and doesn't seem to fit with the rest other than disappointing last season too.

The bullpen is where the Twins need the greatest immediate investment.

[bean5302]

1 hour ago, jmlease1 said:

...Grouping Wallner, Larnach, Lee, Lewis, Martin, and Julien all together is complicated, because while the Twins could use an upgrade out of all of them, technically, the reasons are different and the degree is different. Wallner has multiple seasons of being not just an ok hitter but a really good one, and we don't know if 2025 was an anomaly or a trend...

Agreed. Wallner is very much on his own. Even though he had a down 2024, he was still a solid enough starter. A 2.0 WAR player is still a good enough player to count on as an every day player.

150 / 76 * 1.6 = 3.2
150/ 75 * 2.0 = 4.0
150 / 104 * 1.4 = 2.0

2.0 WAR = Max Kepler

Royce Lewis is close to the same boat as Wallner. At his worst, Lewis is about a 1.5 WAR.

Larnach has a 1.0-1.5 WAR CEILING. He's not a starter. A playoff team cannot rely on a guy like Larnach to be an every day position player.

Lee looks like a 0.0-0.5 WAR player. He's got a lot of track record now of being unable to hit, and capped defensively by his lack of athleticism.

Martin has a pretty good history of utility guy with a 1.0 WAR ceiling, but we did see the big changes we were hoping to see (high walk rate, better BABIP) last year, but SSSS. He's got so little track record.

[DJL44]

Jared Triolo seems to be unwanted in Pittsburgh. He'd be the starting SS in Minnesota. 

[soyouresayingtheresachance]

For the bullpen, I understand there are a lot of young arms waiting to convert to relief. 1 decent sign or trade for someone to be the closer isn't too much to ask, is it? 

[jmlease1]

52 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Royce Lewis is close to the same boat as Wallner. At his worst, Lewis is about a 1.5 WAR.

Larnach has a 1.0-1.5 WAR CEILING. He's not a starter. A playoff team cannot rely on a guy like Larnach to be an every day position player.

Lee looks like a 0.0-0.5 WAR player. He's got a lot of track record now of being unable to hit, and capped defensively by his lack of athleticism.

Martin has a pretty good history of utility guy with a 1.0 WAR ceiling, but we did see the big changes we were hoping to see (high walk rate, better BABIP) last year, but SSSS. He's got so little track record.

Who knows on Royce? He's shown all-star upside and meh reserve quality. Which is part of the problem with "replacing" him when he's still relatively affordable.

Larnach could be a bit more than that (he was above that in 2024) but I tend to agree: the ceiling is limited.

Lee is another one where it's probably too early; he really doesn't have that much track record (he's well under 1000 PA's and has only had 1 full season in MLB). He's shown improvement as a hitter year over year, but needs substantial improvement both offensively and defensively to be part of any core.

Martin is slightly older, but has even less track record. He was a mess defensively and didn't hit well in his first, limited MLB exposure, but improved markedly in limited time in 2025. He's got fewer PA's than Lee. You could easily give Martin's playing time to a RH bat...but would it be the best idea?

Twins need to give playing time to the prospects in the OF and put money into the bullpen so that it has a baseline of competence while they cycle guys through looking for the next Jax, Duran, etc.

Upgrading at SS would be lovely, but a) is someone like IKF (who can defend but can't hit) going to be that impactful for the money, and b) how close is Culpepper really? Because the twins simply can't pay a guy like IKF $7M to be the defensive replacement/utility guy.

[bean5302]

2 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

...Larnach could be a bit more than that (he was above that in 2024) but I tend to agree: the ceiling is limited...

It feels like he should have been both in regard to memory of the bat and the fan support he had, but he honestly wasn't. It's hard to take a 150 G approach with him because his 2024 value came from being so heavily shielded away from lefties. His performance would certainly have dropped at 150 games just like we saw in 2025. Very little difference between 2024-2025 except Larnach got more PA against lefties. Assuming he could play 150G shielded from lefties like 2024, he still would have capped out at 1.9.

[TNtwins85]

I’d be fine letting the young guys fill the bullpen if they get one more “legit” bat. Preferably someone to anchor the bullpen and a legit bat but if I have to pick one I take the hitter. I hope O’hearn or trade for at least that quality. I’m unimpressed with anyone else not named Tucker or Bichette and that ain’t happening. With the glut of SP’s and LH outfielders something’s gotta give. I don’t think they carry all these guys into camp. At least I hope not anyways.

[JADBP]

15 hours ago, Brandon said:

I agree with the first paragraph.  But you need veterans around who can show the rookies the ropes.  This is a team in transition.  I think they are building for 2027.  As this article has stated the Twins have too many holes at this time.  But they do have lots of young talent ready to transition to the majors.  Throughout next season expect many rookies to make their debuts as players go up and down.  I think 2026 is to see what the Twins have and develop as many players as possible to have as many holes in the 2027 roster solidified so next offseason the Twins can take another step forward.  

Right on!  And more to the point, SHELTON needs that Wiley old pro on the bench to help him too!  It’s not that he’s a rookie.  It’s just that he needs that extra voice to whisper in his ear once in a while. Like “steal some bases…”

Even super coach Joe Torre still had Zimmer and he loved his advice.  

That was Rocco’s key problem:  he thought he was smarter than the other coaches so he didn’t listen.  And he just kept doing the same failing plays over and over, like T3 said! 

[Doc Lenz]

Often read about Lee being overmatched yet he hit .236 with 16 homers. Wallner hit .202 with 21 homers mostly all I hear is hit Matt a 1b glove. Lee is young give him a chance. ( here come the arrows)

[Cris E]

On 12/22/2025 at 9:14 AM, bean5302 said:

Falvey sits on his hands until late in the season when other teams are done executing their strategy so there aren't any trade partners and there aren't generally any free agents. This means his roster cannot be burned down in a rebuild attempt anymore and it can't be built up for a run at a title.

When Falvey has budget he makes moves. He loves moves. He traded Arreaz for Lopez, picked up Correa when no one expected it, dug up late career gems like Taylor and Bader and Coulombe and Stewart. And he has very clearly shown the ability to burn down a roster with little notice. That was almost alarming, really.

You are not watching the Dodger$ here, this franchise has never gone free agent shopping the way you seem to dream of. But he has traded before and he can certainly trade again; there have been a bunch of decent sized trades this week already, and it's Christmas. 

Signing Bell was just filling a hole that no youth was ready to take on, but there are trades that can fill gaps and provide a foundation for the future. I would suggest a challenge trade from our deep pile of good arms (short of Lopez and Ryan) and go get a young 1B or SS. I mean a big one, like Eldridge, from a team like SF that needs pitching. Maybe Ober or SWR plus a kid or two will do it, but this is a move that helps in 2026 and says no half measures.

[Riverbrian]

I don't think any of us should take it literally but if there is any accuracy to the reports that the Twins have about 20 million to spend. 

7 is already spent. 

That will leave around 13 million to acquire a couple of bullpen arms and quite possibly a SS capable infielder. 

Sean Newcomb just signed for 4 million with the White Sox for a reference point.