The Hitters Who've Gotten the Twins Here Are, Paradoxically, the Ones Getting in the Way

[Nick Nelson]

Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-Imagn Images

Alan Roden started five games last week after joining the Minnesota Twins roster in place of Byron Buxton. That might be all the time he gets, for now — Buxton is eligible to return from the injured list on Friday. Nearly a year after they acquired him as an ostensibly MLB-ready outfielder, the 26-year-old Roden has made a total of 56 plate appearances with the Twins, spending a vast majority of his time in Triple-A or on the IL.

If we get to the end of this year and that remains the case, it'll feel like a failure in follow-through for this rebuilding (?) team. Roden was a key part of the return for Louis Varland, now the AL's best closer. Not only will the Twins have gotten no value from Roden, but they won't have learned much of anything about him in the span of a season and a half.

Alas, as things stand, the path to regular playing time for a healthy Roden is basically non-existent. Buxton is an All-Star center fielder. Trevor Larnach is just behind Buxton in terms of productivity (.366 wOBA), thriving with a regular routine in left field. Meanwhile, Luke Keaschall has transitioned from infield to outfield and, so far, not looked back. His bat is coming on strong, with a .303/.418/.449 slash line in his past 30 games.

Buxton and Keaschall aren't going anywhere. Larnach could be a different story. There is merit to the idea of trading him, even in a buyer context: sell high, free up payroll (~$2 million), and fall back on ample depth that includes Roden, Matt Wallner, Walker Jenkins, Gabriel Gonzalez, Kody Clemens and eventually Emmanuel Rodriguez. It's a strategically sound concept for a creative front office.

But then you take a step back and say, really? The Twins are competing for a playoff spot and they're going to trade their leadoff hitter, who's been integral to a league-leading scoring offense, for a prospect or middle reliever? All to make room for a guy like Roden who was proven nothing as a big-leaguer? Seems kind of ludicrous when you put it that way.

The same dynamic takes shape elsewhere across the roster. One solution to the outfield logjam — one that I sort of favor, in theory — would be shifting Buxton primarily to DH for the second half in order to preserve his health and keep him in the lineup. In that scenario, you could use Keaschall in center and give Roden some real run in right field. 

The problem is that Josh Bell is now the everyday designated hitter. I guess it's hard to call that a "problem" because Bell has been a dream-come-true at the position, with a .971 OPS in the past month, but his inflexible usage does create certain blockages. 

The argument for shopping Bell at the deadline is similar to Larnach: depth to replace him, salary relief to reinvest, and a lack of future fit. But the contradictory logic is also the same: You're going to trade the cleanup hitter who's been driving your offense to this point? And that's supposed to make your team better?

Ryan Jeffers is another example, and maybe the most pressing. His return from the injured list last week has compelled the Twins to carry three catchers, including Alex Jackson who figures to rarely be used. The sticking point is that Jackson is out of options, and would likely be claimed off waivers if designated for assignment. Jackson has looked good enough to position himself as the team's backup catcher next year behind Victor Caratini. 

If the Twins are out of contention, the path forward is simple: trade the free-agency-bound Jeffers for what you can get, and spend the rest of the year working in your 2027 catching tandem. (You can afford to deal with the wasted roster spot in the meantime, because the games don't matter.)

If the Twins are firmly in contention, and a legit threat in the American League, the path forward is also simple: hold Jeffers past the deadline and don't worry so much about losing Jackson. When you're playing in the now, you can't overly worry about tomorrow.

Where the Twins are, a game below .500 at the All-Star break, is stuck weirdly in the middle. They are legitimately in postseason contention, primarily due to the overall shabbiness of the league, but still long shots to reach October and longer shots to advance. This puts their front office in a fascinating spot as the trade deadline approaches. In the likelihood the team misses the playoffs, you don't want to look back with regret at opportunities missed. At the same time, you also don't want to hinder your chances to capitalize on what's in front of you, especially with an edict seemingly coming down from ownership to push.

Personally, I'm interested in seeing this season through but I'm mainly setting my sights on 2027 as the opening of a true championship window: a rotation led by Joe Ryan, Pablo López and Taj Bradley along with a more fully-formed bullpen and an emerging lineup bolstered by newly arriving top prospects. That's a team you can really start believing in, especially if Tom Pohlad is prepared to invest as he claims.

Do the Twins want to take further steps now to maximize that window, or are they more inclined to stay focused on the present in pursuit of a postseason berth in this wide-open AL landscape? There are big trade-offs either way, setting up heavy implications for the front office's looming deadline decisions.

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[DJL44]

This is not currently a championship level team. The benefit from reaching the playoffs this season is in allowing the younger players to gain playoff experience. If they trade Jeffers for more talent but finish one game back of the last wild card spot, so be it.

[SarasotaBill]

Don't get distracted by 2026. All decisions should be based on 2027 and after.

Trade Jeffers, Larnach, and Bell.

Keep Ryan and try to extend him.

[Whitey333]

Yes.  Trading Jeffers is a must since we risk losing him in free agency for nothing.  All we here about are these great prospects we have.  It's fast approaching the time to play them or trade them.  Unless of course they aren't as good as all the hype.  But we will never know unless they play.

[mikelink45]

Fascinating conundrum.  Larnach created this problem by turning his career around and looking like the player we dreamed about.  We proved we can survive without Jeffers so he would be the first I would look to trade and with the addition of one of our prospects we should be able to get something back that is more than Roden level. 

Now that extension for Ryan sounds good to me and the fans - I doubt it sounds so good to Ryan and his agent.

[bean5302]

27 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

Fascinating conundrum.  Larnach created this problem by turning his career around and looking like the player we dreamed about.  We proved we can survive without Jeffers so he would be the first I would look to trade and with the addition of one of our prospects we should be able to get something back that is more than Roden level. 

Now that extension for Ryan sounds good to me and the fans - I doubt it sounds so good to Ryan and his agent.

I was thinking he finally figured it out as recent as yesterday. I forgot to look at his splits. Larnach is being utterly shielded against lefties. He's exactly who he was a couple years ago, a platoon DH. As a platoon DH, his value maxes out in the 1.5 WAR range. He's over that atm with a lot of left field positional value (where he's... playable) and some luck floating him. Still a valuable player to somebody, but his 400 PA ceiling limits how much he can really do for us.

[Trov]

The fact that the offense has been good, even with Jeffers on the IL for extended period, gives the team the ability to trade him.  The question is for what?  Do you trade for pen help now, or prospects down the road?  I think if you can flip him for pitching you can control for several years that is the best trade.  

Larnach is one that I have said was a DFA guy, and they kept him and he has been good this year.  If you can trade him for something I say do it.  He is at the peak of his value for the Twins, but he is going to be 30 next year, doubt we sign him, and doubt he gets much more than a 1 year deal, maybe a vest option type thing from someone.  He is not someone we should bank on being a long term option to take away from all our other many options in the system. 

Bell, I had a forum on if his offense outburst could give value to trade him, and most of the poster hear laughed at the notion.  I still think there will be a team willing to take him on, but you are not getting a ton in return.  Could we get a lower end pen guy for him, possibly, but nothing that move the needle either way.  His offense has helped a ton this past month in half, but can you replace that with someone from AAA and use the DH as more rotation? 

I think Jeffers will get moved simply because he has most value and not likely to resign long term.  He can be moved and have least impact, at least that is how the offense has been without him. The other two have guys behind them that can fill in, and might not be a big draw back if you can improve the pen enough. 

[umterp23]

Next 7 games (at Cubs for 3 and at Guardians for 4)really will tell the story as to where they are headed come deadline day. Losing road trip, especially a 2-5 scenario would be death nails lining the coffin. I still think you need to trade Jeffers if he stays where consistent with his performance. Larnach has some value but what are you going to replace him with in the lineup? His value offensively will never be higher, defense is another story, if we stink it up on roadtrip, does ownership group waive the flag again? Team has many flaws top to bottom on the field that this looks like a crap shoot as to what will happen

[chpettit19]

I agree they're in a very interesting spot, and don't have any issue with people wanting to go after the playoffs in a year when the league is so down at this point. But I'd still trade Jeffers and Ryan. The Twins are still below .500. If they go on an absolute heater like 11-5 or something before the deadline, I'd reconsider. But if they're still struggling to get to, and stay above, .500, I'm pointing my efforts straight at 2027 and beyond. 

Again, I understand people wanting to play for this year, but I'm just not interested in being a "playoff contender" simply because the league is down so far. To me, that just means most of the AL (11 teams?) are going to be focused on this year and not doing more to build for the future. If Anaheim, KC, and Vegas/Sacramento are the only clear "sellers" in the AL, I sell Jeffers and Ryan and give myself more of a boost heading into 2027 while the other 11 squads are standing still on that front. I want true contenders, not just a below .500 team that is in the fight because the rest of the league has also struggled.

[JD-TWINS]

Larnach was a first round pick! ………. as high or higher than the guys we hope may succeed, currently in AAA.

He’s been at MLB level since he was 24……..up & down due to injuries for the first 3 years of his 6 total years of MLB play. His OPS has been building upward for 6 years.

In ‘24, while being in a fairly strict platoon situation, his slash line was .259/.338/.439 with a .771 OPS & 116 OPS+. Pretty good production! A “keeper” at age 27.

In ‘25, he wasn’t platooned nearly as much and had 118 AB’s (nearly 25%) v. LH pitching. His overall numbers went down from good to mediocre…,,,.102 OPS+.

In ‘26, he’s hitting .179 v. LH pitching (in a very small sample but consistent with his hit profile) ………. he’s hitting .304 v. RH pitching (also consistent with his hit profile). His defense isn’t great but he’s improved and certainly as viable or considerably better than Bell, if played in the field. His current slash line is .289/.379/.459 with an .830 OPS & 131 OPS+. Very good production.

Comparison here …… .254/.345/.421 with a .771 OPS and 114 OPS+ ……… admittedly, no comparison defensively! He doesn’t platoon. But, All-Star, Cody Bellinger, at age 31, makes $32.5M/year…….v. Larnach at $4.5M.

I’m not an expert, but it seems to me that a player’s prime years are from age 27-32……close? Larnach is 29. Why in the world would the Twins trade a guy that’s home grown & excelling at a high level? Trade, only to make room for guys that the fans hope hit as well as Trevor Larnach does, someday. To me, he’s the obvious LH hitting platoon DH & PH in 2027. At DH he’s not “blocking” anyone. The fact that he doesn’t make “the minimum” as would all the guys currently in AAA would in ‘27, isn’t a valid reason to trade him. The fans shouldn’t think like Calvin Griffith ……. or the Pohlad’s, at times. Somebody on the roster is going to make $$ over “the minimum”. He may make $7M next year (?) if he finishes strong.

The Twins, outside of Correa $ to Houston & Lopez $, are spending $73M on the players on the field daily in ‘26……$105M total…….to me this is embarrassing & should be discussed much more here v. figuring out ways to spend less than they currently do!! They spent $155M in ‘23. Supporting “zero spending” & rationalizing bringing guys up from AAA because of hype or just curiosity isn’t sound thinking, from a fan standpoint, to me.

Jeffers is gone - Bell will be gone …….. ($12 M freed up for ‘27) Clemens may be arbitration eligible & could make a few million $ (that’s certainly fine) ……… he’s 30 btw. Current catchers got Team through 60 games of solid win % baseball - no more spending needed there. Ryan makes another $6-$7M in ‘27. Lewis may make $2M more if he continues his ascent. Essentially, everyone else is at minimum $$. There’s ZERO NEED to trade Trevor Larnach to save $$ in ‘27!

[Dman]

Been thinking about these same scenarios myself.  This team needs to perform out of the break against a good hitting Cubs team and a really tough Cleveland team.  If they manage to stay around .500 after that they play the A's and KC to try and make up some ground.

After the deadline they face a gauntlet in August.  With Seattle, Brewers, Phillies, Atlanta and finishing the month against the White Sox.  There are some easier teams mixed in, but it's gonna be hard to stay around .500.  I don't know how good or bad Detroit is gonna be, but they are on a hot streak right now so they could be tough down the stretch if they don't sell at the deadline.

Like Nick said each piece they would trade seems integral to trying to stay in the race, but each piece either blocks a player the team needs to develop and if not traded gets this team no future value. 

One side of my brain thinks they've got guys coming back and the pen might be bit stronger than it's been all year.  Ober is back and the offense has helped carry the team this far.  They just might be able to do it.

The other side of my brain says even if they eek out a playoff spot this doesn't really look like a playoff team especially the pen.  It feels like a few too many holes to truly make a run in the playoffs.  Trade assets if the price is right on at least Jeffers, Larnach and Bell.  Bring up the young guys and let's get ready for 2027 when we can hopefully strengthen this team especially defensively to be a true contender.

I don't know which way I want to go.  Tom P. seems to want to have a winning season regardless so odds are they keep this team together and go on a run unless of course they go on a losing streak to the deadline and are just too far out of it for that to make sense.  We'll see where things are at in two weeks, but I can't make up my mind with them this close.  

[JD-TWINS]

16 minutes ago, umterp23 said:

Next 7 games (at Cubs for 3 and at Guardians for 4)really will tell the story as to where they are headed come deadline day. Losing road trip, especially a 2-5 scenario would be death nails lining the coffin. I still think you need to trade Jeffers if he stays where consistent with his performance. Larnach has some value but what are you going to replace him with in the lineup? His value offensively will never be higher, defense is another story, if we stink it up on roadtrip, does ownership group waive the flag again? Team has many flaws top to bottom on the field that this looks like a crap shoot as to what will happen

I can’t imagine that after one 7 game road trip the decision “to sell” will be made. 34 of final 65 are v. teams with losing record…….. Guardians & White Sox make up about 15 of the other 31 games v. winning record teams.

At least see where the balance of the League is at and play it out through the home series with the A’s & Royals……,July 30.

IMO, trade Jeffers ASAP to clear up the roster & Team’s focus going forward………I seriously doubt that any contender that would trade FOR Jeffers would part with a reliever off their 26-man.

[The Great Hambino]

29 minutes ago, Trov said:

The fact that the offense has been good, even with Jeffers on the IL for extended period, gives the team the ability to trade him.  The question is for what?  Do you trade for pen help now, or prospects down the road?  I think if you can flip him for pitching you can control for several years that is the best trade.  

I don't think anyone looking to trade for a rental catcher would be interested in giving up pieces that help you win now, whether that's in the bullpen or elsewhere.  But the Twins don't necessarily have to get their pen help directly through one trade. 

If they traded Jeffers for prospects (it's not impossible that someone out there is willing to give up pen pieces for him, but I gotta believe your market will be bigger and your return more valuable if you accept prospects) and also traded prospects for relief help (doesn't have to be the same prospects you received for Jeffers), they've effectively landed where you'd be if you'd have swapped Jeffers for relief help, only you've had more flexibility to find the right relievers.  They could accomplish this in a three-team trade, I suppose, if the third team was supplying the relievers.

I guess my point is I hope they don't shop Jeffers with too narrow a scope regarding the return, since how they net out after all their trades is what really matters

[Linus]

I can understand either path and perhaps their play in the next couple weeks will make it clear. For me, I would sell. Making the wildcard would be great fun but chances are they won’t make it and even if they do it’s just not a club that is going to advance. If they do some shrewd selling at the deadline we could be looking  at an up and coming team that has a window of contention for the next several years. My fear is Tom P will mandate going for it at the expense of adding pieces via trade that could push us over the top. 

[jmlease1]

It is a complicated scenario, made more so by the varying injuries to top position player prospects in AAA. It would be easier to trade someone like Larnach if Roden wasn't coming off injury E-Rod out for a long period and not back any time soon (again), etc. There's a knot of OF prospects (and/or DHs) in AAA but it's not like the guys who are on the 40-man are all healthy and demanding promotion where if one wobbles there's another one for sure ready to take their spot. Larnach is sort of the "sure thing".

Bell is maybe easier to move; he's a streaky player who has been up and down this year and whom you really don't want anywhere other than DH, and he's also got little history/attachment to the franchise. But as a switch hitter with pretty even splits over his career (including this season) he's easy to write in every day.

The other factor is messaging to the fans. Could this team actually manage to sell high on a player like Bell or Larnach, open up roster spots for younger players with more of a future, and convince the fans that they're not just dumping salary and selling off the season (again)? How much of a buy would they need to make to get that message through, and could they do it with relievers? I do think they are concerned about what message they are sending if they're still in contention for a playoff spot...and they should be. Baseball playoff are still a much bigger crapshoot than say, the NBA. A team gets hot for a week and suddenly the best team in the league is going home and wondering what happened.

Going to be an interesting next couple of weeks, if the team keeps winning series. If they drop 8 of the next 10 and fall apart coming out the all-star break (like last season), the decision-making definitely gets easier. Not necessarily better, but at least easier.

[Eris]

Not sure that Roden should be the player to go go when Buxton returns. Based on performance it should be Gray. If needed, Lee could play short for a few games. He won’t do any worse than Gray. At one point there was also a discussion of Roden playing 1B. Also, other than his first day back, Roden has not done that great but he deserves an opportunity. 

[JD-TWINS]

29 minutes ago, Dman said:

Been thinking about these same scenarios myself.  This team needs to perform out of the break against a good hitting Cubs team and a really tough Cleveland team.  If they manage to stay around .500 after that they play the A's and KC to try and make up some ground.

After the deadline they face a gauntlet in August.  With Seattle, Brewers, Phillies, Atlanta and finishing the month against the White Sox.  There are some easier teams mixed in, but it's gonna be hard to stay around .500.  I don't know how good or bad Detroit is gonna be, but they are on a hot streak right now so they could be tough down the stretch if they don't sell at the deadline.

Like Nick said each piece they would trade seems integral to trying to stay in the race, but each piece either blocks a player the team needs to develop and if not traded gets this team no future value. 

One side of my brain thinks they've got guys coming back and the pen might be bit stronger than it's been all year.  Ober is back and the offense has helped carry the team this far.  They just might be able to do it.

The other side of my brain says even if they eek out a playoff spot this doesn't really look like a playoff team especially the pen.  It feels like a few too many holes to truly make a run in the playoffs.  Trade assets if the price is right on at least Jeffers, Larnach and Bell.  Bring up the young guys and let's get ready for 2027 when we can hopefully strengthen this team especially defensively to be a true contender.

I don't know which way I want to go.  Tom P. seems to want to have a winning season regardless so odds are they keep this team together and go on a run unless of course they go on a losing streak to the deadline and are just too far out of it for that to make sense.  We'll see where things are at in two weeks, but I can't make up my mind with them this close.  

Glass half full guy here ……… Rojas settling in with OK success for next 10 weeks - plus Paredes to PEN once Prielipp’s blister issue is resolved ……. maybe 10 more days? Sands is supposed to be back in 10 days or less - don’t expect greatness from him but probably better than the Adams - Lawyerson - etc guys that have been there to date. ……… with those 3 guys, the confidence level goes up a bit.

[offensive_loons_fan]

I've said this elsewhere but I think that either approach of "we need to tear down to the studs and rebuild" or "we have a good core and if we spend some money we can make a truly competitive team" is, at least, a defensible point of view.

What is not defensible is the current approach of "we refuse to do either, and magical thinking will carry us to victory on a budget." The front office's fear of just picking one of those paths and walking it will delay a genuine resurgence for the team by years.

Two addenda to this thought:

• My point only makes sense from the fan standpoint that "winning is the point," and maybe less from the front office's standpoint of "we run a business."
• I don't think everyone is agreeing on what "competitive" means. I see folks talk about competing and they say "we can still make the playoffs!" Playoffs are good, but if this squad does somehow make the playoffs does anyone really think they have the chops to win a title? That leaves us stuck in a place in which maybe making the playoffs is good enough, and prevents us from either rebuilding or beefing up. But at least for me personally, competing has to mean taking that next step and reasonably having a chance to, you know, do that thing Tom Beringer says.

Edited 3 hours ago by offensive_loons_fan
Extra clarity.

[Jeff K]

Moving Buxton to DH weakens the team defense and that is a no go for me.  Larnach and Bell should both be DH's.  They should move one of them so the other doesn't need to own a glove.  The only way to find out about Jenkiins is to call him up and play him.  Assuming he goes to LF, the defense is improved and we start to find out about this guy.  Is it a gamble?  Of course.  But teams have to make informed decisions and hope they work out.  Of course, they have to trade Jeffers.  Why let him go for nothing?

[HarmonK03]

42 minutes ago, Eris said:

Not sure that Roden should be the player to go go when Buxton returns. Based on performance it should be Gray. If needed, Lee could play short for a few games. He won’t do any worse than Gray. At one point there was also a discussion of Roden playing 1B. Also, other than his first day back, Roden has not done that great but he deserves an opportunity. 

I don't think Gray is going anywhere, the Twins seem to value that he hits LH and that is about it.  But they have favored him over Kreidler all year, I am not sure what is going to change.  His performance has not warranted this kind of support.

I am not sure if Roden deserves an opportunity to get time at 1B over Lewis or RF over Keaschall.  It is a tough spot for him in that they traded for him and he should get a chance as he is now.  But he is 3 for 14 which includes two hits in his first game.  It is a SSS but he is also trending towards what he has done in his two prior stints in the majors. 

[Patzky]

57 minutes ago, Dman said:

Been thinking about these same scenarios myself.  This team needs to perform out of the break against a good hitting Cubs team and a really tough Cleveland team.  If they manage to stay around .500 after that they play the A's and KC to try and make up some ground.

After the deadline they face a gauntlet in August.  With Seattle, Brewers, Phillies, Atlanta and finishing the month against the White Sox.  There are some easier teams mixed in, but it's gonna be hard to stay around .500.  I don't know how good or bad Detroit is gonna be, but they are on a hot streak right now so they could be tough down the stretch if they don't sell at the deadline.

 

This first part of the schedule is brutal but it should be taken as a whole (all four series). That's timeframe will allow more clarity for other teams to figure out their needs as well as better illuminate our own possibilities for the rest of 2026. I'd be a little disappointed if they made a move within the next week unless it's a windfall in return.

[HarmonK03]

I don't want to see any major moves from this team either buying or selling at the deadline.  I get if they move on from Jeffers, I may not necessarily like it but would understand.

But what is the direction of this team, there are all these supposed prospects in the minors, you either have to play them or trade them at some point.  This team feels rudderless at the top and that is where I blame Tom P., he needed to either bring in Falvey's replacement or at least a senior advisor.  Relying on Zoll, who is relatively inexperienced and appears to operate like Falvey is a mistake.  And I don't want to see moves made either by buying or selling that could set this team back further.  And I do not trust Zoll to make the right decisions to help the team today or in the future.  

[JD-TWINS]

7 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

I don't think Gray is going anywhere, the Twins seem to value that he hits LH and that is about it.  But they have favored him over Kreidler all year, I am not sure what is going to change.  His performance has not warranted this kind of support.

I am not sure if Roden deserves an opportunity to get time at 1B over Lewis or RF over Keaschall.  It is a tough spot for him in that they traded for him and he should as he is now.  But he is 3 for 14 which includes two hits in his first game.  It is a SSS but he is also trending towards what he has done in his two prior stints in the majors. 

Agree on Gray - LH bat & limited other options as of today. …….. having Lee back-up Kreidler just has a dual negative effect - Lee’s head getting messed up and no advantage defensively v. Gray……….. who plays 3B w/o a ripple effect that triggers bad results around the IF?

Playing guys “because we need to get value from the trade” is not something that the business side nor the on field side of the TWINS should care about. ROJAS was the main trade piece in the Varland trade.

I do not care if Roden or Rodriguez play ……. ever, for the TWINS. Do what is right for the club………..playing guys to build toward some mythical success “in the future” is not fruitful. Build the current club with guys that CAN play & add around them with youth as Team moves forward

Roden has shown more than once that he handles AAA pitching …….. he deserves a shot but not “just to see what happens” …..the “look see” comes after the season has been given no chance of winning……..end of August through September, if appropriate.

[JD-TWINS]

15 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

I don't want to see any major moves from this team either buying or selling at the deadline.  I get if they move on from Jeffers, I may not necessarily like it but would understand.

But what is the direction of this team, there are all these supposed prospects in the minors, you either have to play them or trade them at some point.  This team feels rudderless at the top and that is where I blame Tom P., he needed to either bring in Falvey's replacement or at least a senior advisor.  Relying on Zoll, who is relatively inexperienced and appears to operate like Falvey is a mistake.  And I don't want to see moves made either by buying or selling that could set this team back further.  And I do not trust Zoll to make the right decisions to help the team today or in the future.  

Don’t disagree but placing Zoll in any negative light with Team’s spending at $105M ……… $50M less than 2023……to me, seems like speculation. No idea what he might pursue if there was a commitment to $135M - $145M - $160M over the next 3 years, so a FO has a chance to execute a plan toward real success….no idea?

[HarmonK03]

10 minutes ago, JD-TWINS said:

Don’t disagree but placing Zoll in any negative light with Team’s spending at $105M ……… $50M less than 2023……to me, seems like speculation. No idea what he might pursue if there was a commitment to $135M - $145M - $160M over the next 3 years, so a FO has a chance to execute a plan toward real success….no idea?

I get you want a larger payroll but you still have to operate within the resources given.  Other GM's have been able to do it for other organizations.  Last offseason there was at least $14m available to spend, but there were no dollars spent on the bullpen, an area of obvious need.  The money instead went to Bell to be the starting first baseman and Caratini as the backup catcher after they had signed Jackson for the same role.  At the time those signings were questionable at best.  You have to believe that Zoll was a part of the decision making process and Falvey didn't make these signings in a vacuum. In fact Falvey has talked a lot that Zoll was very involved in and leading a lot of the trade discussions.  I have seen nothing that tells me he is going to operate differently than Falvey and I think we need more experience leading the baseball operations.  Especially to keep Tom P. on track, a good executive knows how to manage upward.

[David Maro]

Love the folks who always say the team needs to increase the payroll. How has that worked so far. Did that work for them signing Donaldson or Correa and with Lopez going down has been a drag on the staff.

With the CBA coming at the end of the season the team needs to at least play the next 10 games and see where they stand. I think the owners have a better idea of where the negotiations are heading then anyone here does.

With the Jeffers situation being what it is he should be traded before the deadline. He has been unavailable for weeks and the team stayed in the mix. With Larnach and Bell,can you really trade 100 RBI away to replace them with a rookie who could look over matched in the box. With Roden being called up over Wallner I would say that is the end of Wallner as a player of the future. So let's move him for whatever he brings.

[Czelgert]

Keep Larnach.  He’s a veteran presence on the team that takes quality ABs more often than not.  I feel like most posters didn’t want Larnach on the team before the season and haven’t changed that attitude regardless of his play on the field.  We need to be realistic about Larnach will fetch which would likely be low level prospects.  In a wide open AL I’d rather keep the steady presence he brings even if it means he walks after the season.  My thoughts might be different if he could bring a haul but that’s not going to happen,  

[MMMordabito]

God forbid these productive veterans get in the way of the shiny prospects.  

The CBA looms large as to what these decisions should really be.

[HrbieFan]

3 hours ago, SarasotaBill said:

Don't get distracted by 2026. All decisions should be based on 2027 and after.

Trade Jeffers, Larnach, and Bell.

Keep Ryan and try to extend him.

Ryan has pretty much said he will not extend and there might not be a season next year. Keeping Ryan is crazy IMO, even though I would love to keep him.

Bell is a guy that I would offer a team friendly extension to. We need more professional hitters like him.

[TL]

Roden, Larnach and Keaschall can make a good platoon threesome in LF/RF the remainder of this year, with Larnach getting subbed out in late innings and all 3 playing when Buxton needs a break from CF. 
 

I think Martin is the odd man out when Buxton is back - maybe even trade bait for a reliever. I’d consider moving Roden as part of a package too and bring up Jenkins to take his spot. 
 

Gray can also be sent down when Culpepper is healthy. Would be better if he was left handed but oh well.