Report From The Fort: Eight Guys, Three Spots, and Roster Math

[RaoulDuke]

4 hours ago, Tjwalsh65 said:

Lanarch being traded would be my first choice.  We also have 4 guys who could be called up by June. 

Larnach has reached Brian Duensing levels of being included in every trade offer.

At this point you have to assume he would have been gone if a team had offered any fringe MLB reliever.  So now they hope for a good first half to flip him at the deadline or move him for a A ball lotto ticket?

[WarPath1211]

Honestly, the Josh Bell signing doesn't make much sense with the Caratini signing in the fold. Josh Bell is aging and fading, he can still hit a little but is not a good defender, and he isn't part of the future.

I would prefer no Bell and to just go with a Caratini/Clemens/Wagaman timeshare at 1B with some DH sprinkled in for each of them. This allows another one of the younger guys with more upside than Bell to also make the team while probably still getting as good or better performance at 1B, 

[nicksaviking]

21 minutes ago, WarPath1211 said:

Honestly, the Josh Bell signing doesn't make much sense with the Caratini signing in the fold. Josh Bell is aging and fading, he can still hit a little but is not a good defender, and he isn't part of the future.

I would prefer no Bell and to just go with a Caratini/Clemens/Wagaman timeshare at 1B with some DH sprinkled in for each of them. This allows another one of the younger guys with more upside than Bell to also make the team while probably still getting as good or better performance at 1B, 

Welcome!

Not to mention that Cleveland waited and signed the very similar Rhys Hoskins to a minor league deal while the Twins had to commit a roster spot and 7M to Bell.

[Jim H]

If you seriously think Rodriguez, Jenkins, etc will force themselves to the majors fairly quickly this season, why not trade both Larnach and Wallner? Neither one has proven to be much more than serviceable corner outfielders. Start Martin and Roden in the corners. Use Clemens as a corner backup, if you really want him on the roster. It reduces the clutter in the outfield, it sends out a couple of guys who don't appear to have a long-term future with the Twins. Also you might find if Roden and Martin are more than major league backups

[John Bonnes]

1 hour ago, Franz said:

Is there any indication that Keaschall will be evaluated in the outfield this spring? 

Not yet. We've only seen him at 2B and DH. I expect he'll start tomorrow, but I think it'll be at 2B again. 

[TheLeviathan]

[JD-TWINS]

3 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

Agree with all.. unfortunately there are 6+ million reasons that Larnach will be ceded the starting job if he stays. Not saying I like it, but that is the reality 

Larnach will make $4.48M in ‘26. Larnach is the DH and Clemons/Martin ……… maybe Roden will play LF & RF, along with Wallner. Outman may get chosen instead of Roden? Martin, to me, is waaay ahead of Clemens when it comes to being “a lock”!

Starting IF with Bell at 1B - almost exclusively, Larnach at DH (v. righties) - 2 Catchers (1 of them may be DH v. lefties?) - Martin, Clemens, Buxton, Wallner in OF. Roden or Outman or Rodriguez based upon Spring Training.

Gray, at 29, seems to be stable and with .638 OPS (in a small sampling) seems to be the best option to start with as the depth IF guy ……… still can use Clemens in infield as well.

[JD-TWINS]

If Outman should be out of the mix based upon recent 2 years of ugly OPS……….there is absolutely zero reason to think that Kriedler would be chosen with a career sub .400 OPS! Maybe be he hits .450 this Spring? If not, he has no chance.

[Road trip]

Martin is really the only player of this list that I want to see on the roster.  He might still have some upside, but its almost now or never for him.  The other bench options listed in the article are AAAA filler, and that unfortunately may include Clemens.  By 2029 we will struggle to remember that any of them once wore a Twins uniform.

[KirbyDome89]

5 hours ago, DJL44 said:

He's better than all of the other infield options.

The Twins should not care in the slightest if Orlando Arcia or James Outman leave the organization. There will be better players on waivers at the end of March. There is a decent chance one of the final spots goes to a waiver claim instead of these options. If it was my decision, the three spots would go to Martin, Roden and whoever I could get out of a different organization to play SS.

 

What organizations are hoarding so much SS talent they'll be dumping usable players onto the waiver wire at the end of ST? I don't doubt some players will be available, but I'd be surprised if they're not also part of the Kreidler/Arcia/Gray echelon of talent. 

[howeda7]

6 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Alex Jackson hit a homer yesterday, is regarded as a good defensive catcher and seemed to make positive adjustments with his swing in '25. Is it crazy to suggest keeping him and going with a bench of three other versatile guys? Martin, Kreidler and Clemens perhaps? If Larnach isn't in the picture, then Roden could essentially take his role and we would see if he is worthwhile.

All the more reason spending $14 million of limited funds on Bell and Caratini was foolish. Should have been spent on a closer like Kenley Jensen. 

[nicksaviking]

I think you need to give percentages to E-Rod, Culpepper and Jenkins.

Not because it would be prudent, or because they should. Not because the manager or GM wants them, but ownership clearly is trying to bring the fans back and top prospects are always an easy boost for tickets, jersey sales and viewers. No clue to what degree, but exponentially more than Outman, Arcia and Wageman.

[DJL44]

47 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

What organizations are hoarding so much SS talent they'll be dumping usable players onto the waiver wire at the end of ST? I don't doubt some players will be available, but I'd be surprised if they're not also part of the Kreidler/Arcia/Gray echelon of talent. 

There are a couple teams with rookies who could make the roster.

[KirbyDome89]

15 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

There are a couple teams with rookies who could make the roster.

Ok, but what players, who are a clear upgrade, are getting pushed onto the waiver wire?

[JD-TWINS]

1 hour ago, KirbyDome89 said:

What organizations are hoarding so much SS talent they'll be dumping usable players onto the waiver wire at the end of ST? I don't doubt some players will be available, but I'd be surprised if they're not also part of the Kreidler/Arcia/Gray echelon of talent. 

………AND if better talent, sought after by a dozen other Clubs!

[Major League Ready]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Welcome!

Not to mention that Cleveland waited and signed the very similar Rhys Hoskins to a minor league deal while the Twins had to commit a roster spot and 7M to Bell.

You have to believe teams are questioning Hoskins health.  He was injured until the end of 2025.  He appeared in 8 games at the end of the season but he only had 11 PAs.  You have to believe teams are suspect of his health which would explain the Milb contract.  If this is the case, it would have been a very poor decision for the Twins to put their eggs in the Hoskins basket.  They have traded for more than enough injury ridden players.

[DJL44]

40 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Ok, but what players, who are a clear upgrade, are getting pushed onto the waiver wire?

It doesn't take much to be an upgrade on Orlando Arcia. He was the worst shortstop in MLB last season. Ryan Kreidler has a career WAR of -0.7. 

[miller761]

I thought Roden can play CF also. If that is the case there is absolutely no reason for Outman to be on the team. We have 3 young rookie outfielders of which any of the 3 could hit better than Outman right now. I for one will be watching these 3 last roster spots closely. Outman was Falvey's trade. Zoll should have no reason to keep Outman around.

I think Larnach gets trade at the end of spring training and we pick up a player who makes our team as a back up infielder.

[LA Vikes Fan]

4 hours ago, DJL44 said:

I think you'll see Martin ahead of Buxton in the order but Martin will bat 9th with Buxton batting 1st.

Buxton, Keaschall, Bell, Lewis, Wallner, Jeffers, Larnach, Lee, Martin

I can definitely see that order with Martin in the 9 hole to start the season. I'd still like to see Larnach (or Wallner) traded so that there is an opening in RF/DH spot for one of Roden, Emma or GG. I just think that the improvement in our OF defense in the corners from Wallner and Larnach to Martin and Roden or Emma would be a real boon to the pitching staff without a huge offensive drop off.   

[KirbyDome89]

7 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

It doesn't take much to be an upgrade on Orlando Arcia. He was the worst shortstop in MLB last season. Ryan Kreidler has a career WAR of -0.7. 

Yeah I'm not arguing that the Twins' trio is any good. I'm asking what teams are so flush with talent at probably the most desirable position in baseball, that they're willing to give away even a capable backup for literally nothing? I don't see that happening. 

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

There are a couple teams with rookies who could make the roster.

Sure, like Kaelen Culpepper?

There was only six hitters in free agency I had any interest in this team signing at any price, so I'm more than finished with a waiver add of any kind. Roll with what we have and start cutting the chaff as soon and as often as possible. Don't add more chaff.

[DJL44]

17 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Don't add more chaff.

Can we rearrange the chaff?

[Nshore]

Whatever happens, I hope they ditch the Wheel of Fortune batting order of the previous regime.  Real baseball teams don't seem to do that.  Everything in its proper place.

[UpstateNewYorker]

Nice summmary, thanks. 

An off topic comment: it would be nice if the articles on TD had photo captions. They rarely do. I have no idea who that is in the photo at the start of the article.  Photo captions are kind of Journalism 101.   :)

[Gamblerssoftball]

6 minutes ago, Nshore said:

Whatever happens, I hope they ditch the Wheel of Fortune batting order of the previous regime.  Real baseball teams don't seem to do that.  Everything in its proper place.

I agree. It drove me nuts with Baldelli. 

[stringer bell]

9 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I would say that Gio doesn't have the range to be considered a shortstop. He makes Lee look fast in comparison. Last year his sprint speed was measured at 24.2, two spots behind Victor Caratini. with only seven guys in MLB slower than him.

Speaking of sprint speed, Orlando Arcia is listed as slower than Brooks Lee. However, his defensive range was listed at the 78th percentile and he produced a run value of +2.

[Mike Sixel]

Tendering Larnach still remains mind bogglingly foolish. 

[Mahoning]

Outman has proved that the only thing he can do with a bat is swing and miss.

[Vanimal46]

37 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Tendering Larnach still remains mind bogglingly foolish. 

A $4 million hedge bet to the $7 million DH they signed? That's all I've got. 

[KirbyDome89]

7 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

A $4 million hedge bet to the $7 million DH they signed? That's all I've got. 

We saw Falvey do this with Kyle Farmer a few years ago. Idk if it's a hedge so much as an incredibly poor read on player value. That assumes Larnach was (is?) an actual trade candidate, because based on the mess that is the rest of this roster, he very well may have been in their plans the entire time.