The Twins Are Building an Offensive Foundation That Could Last for Years

[MikeNC]

37 minutes ago, clone52 said:

Let's just dream about the 2028 Roster with every falling right.

C: Lackey
1B: Lewis
2B: Culpeper
3B: Lee
SS: Houston
LF: Rodriguez
CF: Buxton
RF: Jenkins
DH: Kaeschall

Bench:
Veteran Catcher
Clemens
Kriedler
Roden

This lineup is young and crazy cheap.  Probably less than $50M. 

Re-sign Ryan (6/210) and Lopez (2/35)

Rotation

Ryan
Bradley
Prielipp
Lopez
Abel

That's about $60M for the rotation.

Bullpen (Dream that Morris and Gomez are for real and they piece together a bunch of young arms)

Gomez
Morris
Quick
Raya
Culpepper
Renfrow
Burns
W.S. Go (now jersey #2 for the defending World Series Champions)

$10M Bullpen

$20M to fill out forty man roster

Total Salary $140M (hopefully below salary floor so they have to go spend more)

 

 

 

I love this thinking!  This is the only way for the Twins to have a shot at a WS run.  Aside from the obvious challanges of that many young guys all excelling to champ callibre at once is the $140MM which is quite a hike from the current $100MM targeted run rate.

[LeatherAntenna]

A foundation for the future, until the next trade deadline get in the way.

[Hubie29]

Building an offensive foundation won't matter if you can't keep your good pitchers. 

[um_stevenel]

1 hour ago, HarmonK03 said:

What has Roden done that says he should replace someone hitting .289 with a .830 OPS.  I get everyone wants Larnach traded but Roden has done nothing in nearly 200 AB's in the major leagues.  Why is he being treated like a can't miss prospect.  The eye test says he is a fourth outfielder at best. Fedko's numbers in the minors are similar to Roden's and he is the same age.  Everyone says Fedko is a bust after 16 AB's but Roden needs to be in the starting lineup.  I really don't see much difference between the two.   If you are going to replace Larnach, it should be with Jenkins, who has more upside than either Larnach or Roden.  Let's stop rearranging the chairs on the Titantic.

And as an FYI, I am not advocating for Fedko to be up here, I am pointing out what I think is flawed logic from comments I am seeing on here in the various threads.

I’m not saying Roden’s a can’t miss prospect. I’m more saying that they have five guys who have probably earned a shot or are very close to that point, and with at most two spots that might have an opening. Jenkins, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, and Mendez are the other four. Roden’s merely the first in line for me given the time he’s already spent in AAA and that he’s on the 40 man roster already. Give him half a season of regular playing time to show what he can do in the majors and see if you have a potential ML contributor. I assume he’ll be a step down from Larnach’s offense, but a step up in defense. And I mainly don’t want him to get squeezed and leave for no return if he’s an MLB-caliber player (thinking of adding Brent Rooker as a trade throw-in as an example).

[Wedman13]

1 hour ago, HarmonK03 said:

What has Roden done that says he should replace someone hitting .289 with a .830 OPS.  I get everyone wants Larnach traded but Roden has done nothing in nearly 200 AB's in the major leagues.  Why is he being treated like a can't miss prospect.  The eye test says he is a fourth outfielder at best. Fedko's numbers in the minors are similar to Roden's and he is the same age.  Everyone says Fedko is a bust after 16 AB's but Roden needs to be in the starting lineup.  I really don't see much difference between the two.   If you are going to replace Larnach, it should be with Jenkins, who has more upside than either Larnach or Roden.  Let's stop rearranging the chairs on the Titantic.

And as an FYI, I am not advocating for Fedko to be up here, I am pointing out what I think is flawed logic from comments I am seeing on here in the various threads.

I admire your Fedko loyalty.  Makes me smile.  (Not in a derogative way)

I don't know that he will be around (the Twins that is) after 2026, but it would be a fabulous story if he makes it, and ur proven right.  There is quite the logjam in the Twins OF but possibly theres a better situation elsewhere.

its what makes baseball and the minors fun, attaching to a player and hoping it works.  Personally im ride or die for Billy Amick.  We'll see how that goes :)

[Rod Carews Birthday]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

That's quite the logjam.  Better work on some trades this week or next.  😀

True.  It's amazing that people don't realize that EVERY. SINGLE. PLAYER. in the major and minor leagues was a star at their previous level. Then they all continue to be stars. . . until they don't, and then we are disappointed.  For some it happens immediately.  For some it takes a year or two of teasing us.  Some make it all the way to the majors before we find out that they aren't quite who we anticipated them to be. 

That being said, I like this group more than the last group, but there's a long way to go before we know how this will turn out.  

[dxpavelka]

How great is it to know that if / when the time comes to dip into the farm we might be bringing up guys like Jenkins & Culpepper instead of Kyle Garlick & JT Riddle.

 

[mikelink45]

The enthusiasm is great, but I am on hold.  Lackey has not even hit a minor league pitch, and he seems to be anointed the catcher of the future, but Tait, Diaw, and Tinney have something to say about that.  For all I know he will be a Levi Michaels.  What I am interested in will be the promotion of Jenkins and Houston - those two look like they could become stars.  

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Wedman13 said:

This was a fantastic post!

thank you.

[DataNerd]

The top of the system is incredibly strong: I'm not sure another team can match Jenkins/Culpepper/Lackey/Houston (I'm very high on both SS compared to the media).  Really lacking in 2nd tier players though

[LyleCole]

What this best indicates is that we need to trade the veterans on this roster that will not be part of this foundation away for pitching prospects to match the offense in the same timeline.    Someone posted the dream 2028 lineup, and it looks great on paper, but the problem is that the bulk of that roster will be very inexperienced players who will take time and will lose a lot of games because of that inexperience.   The 1987 WS team did and the veterans listed in that group will be that much older. 

In 2028 Byron Buxton will be 34 years old and Joe Ryan 32.   They are in their declining years were injury issues can be even more significant.

Also, it does require that the Twins sign Ryan to that huge contract (I think the guy says $210 over six years) and Buxton would probably require an extension to enter his final year of his deal.   That would be completely out of character for the Twins ownership group, especially investing that contract in Ryan who would be 38 in the final season of his contract.   Plus, the probability of Pablo Lopez being part of that group is very low.

This is the logical approach, with the only caveat being that suddenly the ownership group changes how they finance the team and will be willing to add significant players to that group, especially on the pitching side.  Not the low ball veterans like Josh Bell and Anthony Banda, but players earning $10, $20, or even $30 million per season to fit in the holes in this roster.  

Lets put it this way, to get to "AVERAGE" MLB roster payroll the Twins would have to add $70 million in salary to the 2026 budget.   That is one $30 million per year player and 2 $20 million per year players.  If we had those players on the roster right now they would be true contenders.   But they don't because this ownership group, and I can only say it one way, ****S OVER its fans.  It is in a solid market with a beautiful urban stadium and they run it on a shoe string.

[um_stevenel]

In my version of this, I picture Tait as the LH catcher with Lackey getting most starts. and both of them getting ample time at DH, Keaschall’s probably the fourth outfielder, 

Would love for Mendez to be in the picture and possibly getting time at 1B as a LH bat there, but it seems they already gave up on that?

I’d say you’re missing Rojas from the bullpen.

And for me Quick would still be a starter (at least for most of the season - a late season switch to reliever would work for the stretch run and playoffs).
 

2 hours ago, clone52 said:

Let's just dream about the 2028 Roster with every falling right.

C: Lackey
1B: Lewis
2B: Culpeper
3B: Lee
SS: Houston
LF: Rodriguez
CF: Buxton
RF: Jenkins
DH: Kaeschall

Bench:
Veteran Catcher
Clemens
Kriedler
Roden

This lineup is young and crazy cheap.  Probably less than $50M. 

Re-sign Ryan (6/210) and Lopez (2/35)

Rotation

Ryan
Bradley
Prielipp
Lopez
Abel

That's about $60M for the rotation.

Bullpen (Dream that Morris and Gomez are for real and they piece together a bunch of young arms)

Gomez
Morris
Quick
Raya
Culpepper
Renfrow
Burns
W.S. Go (now jersey #2 for the defending World Series Champions)

$10M Bullpen

$20M to fill out forty man roster

Total Salary $140M (hopefully below salary floor so they have to go spend more)

 

 

 

 

[Heiny]

43 minutes ago, LyleCole said:

What this best indicates is that we need to trade the veterans on this roster that will not be part of this foundation away for pitching prospects to match the offense in the same timeline.    Someone posted the dream 2028 lineup, and it looks great on paper, but the problem is that the bulk of that roster will be very inexperienced players who will take time and will lose a lot of games because of that inexperience.   The 1987 WS team did and the veterans listed in that group will be that much older. 

In 2028 Byron Buxton will be 34 years old and Joe Ryan 32.   They are in their declining years were injury issues can be even more significant.

Also, it does require that the Twins sign Ryan to that huge contract (I think the guy says $210 over six years) and Buxton would probably require an extension to enter his final year of his deal.   That would be completely out of character for the Twins ownership group, especially investing that contract in Ryan who would be 38 in the final season of his contract.   Plus, the probability of Pablo Lopez being part of that group is very low.

This is the logical approach, with the only caveat being that suddenly the ownership group changes how they finance the team and will be willing to add significant players to that group, especially on the pitching side.  Not the low ball veterans like Josh Bell and Anthony Banda, but players earning $10, $20, or even $30 million per season to fit in the holes in this roster.  

Lets put it this way, to get to "AVERAGE" MLB roster payroll the Twins would have to add $70 million in salary to the 2026 budget.   That is one $30 million per year player and 2 $20 million per year players.  If we had those players on the roster right now they would be true contenders.   But they don't because this ownership group, and I can only say it one way, ****S OVER its fans.  It is in a solid market with a beautiful urban stadium and they run it on a shoe string.

Opinion, speculation ana B.S.

[LyleCole]

3 minutes ago, Heiny said:

Opinion, speculation ana B.S.

Ummmmmm, sure.    Your response is such a fact based statement it should be sent to law schools to add to their curriculum.  

Do you disagree that the Twins ownership is cheap?  And the ages of the players?   How much salary this team would have to add to even reach the league average?  

I do not see a hybrid keeping the existing veteran players on this roster into the future where the young prospects with potential will be developed into a contending team as a workable solution.   It is better to pull the band aid and chose a route.  The choices are 1.  ownership opens its wallet and adds the veteran free agents now and builds the top prospects into the roster  or 2.  complete rebuild with this group of prospects plus high end prospects we get in trades.

But the most likely path is the Twins will continue to go their same old same old, slowly moving up the prospects and filling the holes in the line up with low budget players.

[Heiny]

2 minutes ago, LyleCole said:

Ummmmmm, sure.    Your response is such a fact based statement it should be sent to law schools to add to their curriculum.  

Do you disagree that the Twins ownership is cheap?  And the ages of the players?   How much salary this team would have to add to even reach the league average?  

I do not see a hybrid keeping the existing veteran players on this roster into the future where the young prospects with potential will be developed into a contending team as a workable solution.   It is better to pull the band aid and chose a route.  The choices are 1.  ownership opens its wallet and adds the veteran free agents now and builds the top prospects into the roster  or 2.  complete rebuild with this group of prospects plus high end prospects we get in trades.

But the most likely path is the Twins will continue to go their same old same old, slowly moving up the prospects and filling the holes in the line up with low budget players.

Sorry, you're right.  Just seeing so many experts writing what looks like 100% fact and it's just not.  We fans think we know more than those paid to spend the majority of their time figuring this stuff out.  So, my opinion is the only correct way to go.  Or at least that is how many of these comments come across.

[LyleCole]

1 hour ago, Heiny said:

Sorry, you're right.  Just seeing so many experts writing what looks like 100% fact and it's just not.  We fans think we know more than those paid to spend the majority of their time figuring this stuff out.  So, my opinion is the only correct way to go.  Or at least that is how many of these comments come across.

Like I said, the real basis of my argument is the fact, the ABSOLUTE fact that cannot be denied, is that the Twins ownership will not spend the money.  That is the one consistent feature of this team across GMs and Managers.

If we were really serious about our prospects and that this is a good team that can be competitive, we would be looking at MAJOR trades at the deadline.  Packaging prospects (prolly not Culpepper or Jenkins) and perhaps one of the younger players already on the roster like Keachall, to bring in a player that will be difference makers, ALONG with a few other minor moves.

Put a trade package of players together for Josh Hader or Reid Detmers.  

How about another for Mason Miller to bring in a true closer.

Put another package together for Brooks Raley.

It might cost the Twins Luke keaschall or Brooks Lee, Eduardo Tait, Gabe Gonzolaes, and a few other players, and down the road a boat load of money to keep them signed, but that is what real contenders with REAL OWNERSHIP does.   

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, LyleCole said:

Like I said, the real basis of my argument is the fact, the ABSOLUTE fact that cannot be denied, is that the Twins ownership will not spend the money.  That is the one consistent feature of this team across GMs and Managers.

That is an opinion, what is the amount that you want them to spend.  They were up to $160m, now should they have right sized the payroll, I get if you disagree with that.  They did pony up money for Mauer and Puckett before them.  Quite honestly I don't think Ryan wanted to spend on free agents, he was more risk averse, and could identify talent better than the current group could.

But we don't know what the conversations were, so to say they won't spend money is an opinion, the only way it becomes close to fact is if you put a number behind it and say you know that the GM or President of Baseball Operations was denied the ability to spend that amount.