Should the Twins Consider Adding Another Starting Pitcher Before the Season Begins?

[Linus]

To me the irony is T-3 thinks he has to do this to save some form of fan relationship. I honestly think it will not make any difference at all. The general feeling of the fan base isn’t going to change whether they tear it down or win 82 games. Really, the trying to compete in 26 strategy just delays what will really make a difference to the fans: an exciting up and coming ball club. 

[The Great Hambino]

The Red Sox need starting pitching.  They gave up real prospect capital for damaged goods with a FIP on the wrong side of 4.50 in Johan Oviedo while letting Giolito walk.  Maybe that should tell us something

[RaoulDuke]

The new Pohlad is talking a big game about how things would be different had be involved earlier and how things need to be competitive.

Well you just got the first chance we can fully place on your shoulders.  Go sign Giolito.

Personally I am not sure that is the right move, it was a long shot they would be good with Pablo, but he has talked the game.

[Riverbrian]

The Twins need a Schittler or Yesavage type or two to rise up from the system.

Shane Smith, Cameron, Patrick, Horton, Burrows, Misiorowski, Cantillo, Jobe, McLean, Waldrep, Ashcraft, Burns types. 

If that doesn't happen. 2027 will make 2026 seem like good times. 

[Twins_Fan_in_NJ]

Falvey was the kind of word salads - he said so much without saying anything at all.

Tom P. puffs out his chest and marches around with the false bravado but I have a feeling it will be mostly bluster and empty promises.

Until the leadership changes, the Twins are what they are -  a bad to mediocre baseball team.

[Whitey333]

The Twins reporting that they were in on Peralta or Valdez is a joke.  More Twins bs.  Just trying to save face in my opinion.  Even if it was true their reputation lends one to question it.  It makes no sense to keep a 21 million starting pitcher in Lopez when the payroll is so low.  I hope hes not hurt too badly.  Trade him and Ryan soon while you can still get something good for them.  Ryan had sub par second half each of the past two years.  Jeffers should be traded because free agency is coming soon for him.  I doubt the Twins are going to sign him to an extension.  The should go into a full rebuild.  This team left over from the trade deadline was very poor.  They finished like 70 and 92 .  The roster they are putting out now anyway looks like a AAAA team at best.

[JD-TWINS]

23 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Lopez-Ryan-Ober are locked in.

SWR, Zebby, Festa, Abel, Bradley, and Rojas should also get opportunities. 

Seriously, why is there a bi-weekly "Should we sign a starter?" post?

Probably because Zebby & Festa aren’t real rotation answers and Rojas is a year away…… that leaves Bradley & Abel …… & after Pablo left with Elbow Soreness yesterday…… Abel & Bradley may both be IN the rotation in 6 weeks.

[JD-TWINS]

19 hours ago, Dawgzilla said:

Lopez already hurt.  Trade him already when healthy, sign Giolito to replace him in rotation.  Use Lopez and Larnach to get a shortstop and reliever.  Trade our #1 catcher for a great utility player, capable of playing multiple infield/outfield positions and can hit a decent bit.  There!

…….and oh what a Merry Christmas it would be!

[TheLeviathan]

3 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Probably because Zebby & Festa aren’t real rotation answers and Rojas is a year away…… that leaves Bradley & Abel …… & after Pablo left with Elbow Soreness yesterday…… Abel & Bradley may both be IN the rotation in 6 weeks.

If Zebby and Festa aren't real answers they should be in the bullpen right now.

[Riverbrian]

23 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Pablo getting an MRI. If they're still trying to compete, yes, they should look at bringing in another starting pitcher. No matter what the results of that MRI are. Their rotation has to be lights out. Has to be top 5 in the AL, top 10 in baseball if they're going to compete. They can't rely on Zebby, Festa, Abel, or Bradley being good. Or Ober even at this point. They need another starter if they're trying to contend.

I know you and I mostly agree on the direction they should have gone. 

I also tend to think like you are here. Which... Well... this is the direction they are going. 

However.... I do believe it's not too late. Like Led Zeppelin said. "There's still time to change the road you're on". 

Attempting to replace Lopez with a Littell for example is a slippery slope. OK... you replaced him... what do you do in May when antother key player geos down. 

I think this is an early indication to do what they should have done. It's like the baseball gods are telling Tom Pohlad... OK... how about now?

Trade Ryan and Jeffers get some young infielders in return. 

"Be a Rock and not a Roll".  

[chpettit19]

6 minutes ago, Riverbrian said:

I know you and I mostly agree on the direction they should have gone. 

I also tend to think like you are here. Which... Well... this is the direction they are going. 

However.... I do believe it's not too late. Like Led Zeppelin said. "There's still time to change the road you're on". 

Attempting to replace Lopez with a Littell for example is a slippery slope. OK... you replaced him... what do you do in May when antother key player geos down. 

I think this is an early indication to do what they should have done. It's like the baseball gods are telling Tom Pohlad... OK... how about now?

Trade Ryan and Jeffers get some young infielders in return. 

"Be a Rock and not a Roll".  

I still hope they trade Ryan. I still hope they trade Jeffers. I've never waivered from that. I hope they do it. I also hope they use bulk pitchers on 3 days rest. I hope they do a lot of things. I wanted them to use Varland as that bulk guy last year. I wish they'd do it with Festa no matter what this year. 

Pablo was the exact risk many of us spent all offseason talking about. I don't think it changes the strategies at the top because I don't think their strategies were baseball based. Unfortunately. They're in a bad spot. We'll see where they go from here.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

I still hope they trade Ryan. I still hope they trade Jeffers. I've never waivered from that. I hope they do it. I also hope they use bulk pitchers on 3 days rest. I hope they do a lot of things. I wanted them to use Varland as that bulk guy last year. I wish they'd do it with Festa no matter what this year. 

Pablo was the exact risk many of us spent all offseason talking about. I don't think it changes the strategies at the top because I don't think their strategies were baseball based. Unfortunately. They're in a bad spot. We'll see where they go from here.

There will be plenty of teams interested in Joe Ryan at this late date. 

Even teams that think they have the lions share of work done in roster construction. Some of those teams will receive bad news before February is up. Pablo Lopez won't be the last one in spring training with horrible news. 

When that happens to the Phillies or the Mets or the Mariners or the Astros or anyone that fancies themselves a contender.

There will be less replacement options available to them because the lions share of work has been done.  

If Tom can just get past whatever... non baseball based strategy... that got him to this point. He might realize that Ryan has a different price tag now... a different desperation price tag attached to him. 

He has a choice. He can either take advantage of the desperation of the other teams or have his own desperation taken advantage of attempting to replace Lopez. 

I simply have no reason to believe that a baseball team in contention in 2026 is going to move the financial needle this year. 

I also have no reason to believe that 2027 will be any better... even if they can remain in contention in 2026.

Every year... players are going to age out as we look keeping looking for Josh Bell over and over again.