Envisioning the 2027 Twins Starting Lineup

[chpettit19]

48 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I mean, I begged them to deal for Arraez....

Do you feel he isn't a realistic signing? Not trying to be a dick, just trying to see what your thoughts are that lead to "I just don't see a realistic hitter to sign." 

Seiya is likely going to be pretty expensive. No idea what the Rays would want for a year of Yandy. But I'd think Arraez and Arozarena are both gettable at a reasonable number. Fully agree that the FA options are not great, but I think there's an opportunity for an owner who truly wants to compete and is willing to spend (man, I'm full of jokes today) to make a move or 2 to bring in a legitimate hitter for this team.

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

38 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I don't see anyone saying this. Pretty sure just about everyone has moved on to Keaschall, Culpepper, Jenkins, E-Rod and Lackey. I don't want to bring in more low ceiling Josh Bells and Victor Caratinis in just to take roster spots and ABs away.

People have been saying this about Keirsay, Fedko, and others for the last few years.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

If you spend 23 million on Jeffers, he better play first or DH when not catching. Because he's not even going to catch half the games this year....

WHY?

He has that massive 14.3 caught stealing percentage, which other teams are enjoying that the Twins have behind the plate.😨

[MapleGroveTwinsFan]

18 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Do you feel he isn't a realistic signing? Not trying to be a dick, just trying to see what your thoughts are that lead to "I just don't a realistic hitter to sign." 

Seiya is likely going to be pretty expensive. No idea what the Rays would want for a year of Yandy. But I'd think Arraez and Arozarena are both gettable at a reasonable number. Fully agree that the FA options are not great, but I think there's an opportunity for an owner who truly wants to compete and is willing to spend (man, I'm full of jokes today) to make a move or 2 to bring in a legitimate hitter for this team.

Before they sign anybody, they have to figure out what the heck they are doing, if they bring in an outfielder, they have to figure out what to do with Keashall (because if Buxton is healthy, him and Jenkins have to play), does that mean they are getting rid of of Bell, Larnach, Wallner, and everybody else (beside ERod) that doesn't have options left, or do they suck it up with Keashall at 2nd until Houston is ready? 

If I am in charge, I reach out to Arraez and Lowe to see if either are interested, and at the same time I am calling Colorado and seeing if Erod or Tait could be the start of a deal for Goodman, (Maybe they would have interest in Laranch/Wallner/ or Lewis (not sure they have a place for him, but it is the Rockies so you never know), with maybe Festa or even Adams, Winokur or Mercedes or someone in that range and some young, young prospect if needed. I would overpay and maybe a big way if I needed to, you know to win and show the fans you really are taking big swings.  Sign Arozarena for left..

Arozarena (LF), Buxton (CF), Jenkins (RF), Lee (3B), Culpepper (SS), Arraez (2B), Keashall (1B), Goodman(C), Bench: Caranti, Erod, Kreidler, Clemens, GG (or Lewis if nobody wants him)

 

 

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

53 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

Do you feel he isn't a realistic signing? Not trying to be a dick, just trying to see what your thoughts are that lead to "I just don't see a realistic hitter to sign." 

Seiya is likely going to be pretty expensive. No idea what the Rays would want for a year of Yandy. But I'd think Arraez and Arozarena are both gettable at a reasonable number. Fully agree that the FA options are not great, but I think there's an opportunity for an owner who truly wants to compete and is willing to spend (man, I'm full of jokes today) to make a move or 2 to bring in a legitimate hitter for this team.

I forgot about him....😀

[nicksaviking]

2 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Personally I only have them in the mix as placeholders until someone like Marek Houston or another prospect is ready to take their place.  At least with Lewis and Wallner there might be some sliver of hope they can find it again rather than Bell or Caratini.

I'd probably rather find some OF version of Kyle Harrison and buy low, give them playing time, and see if we can get lucky.

I'm in the same boat on Jeffers - I'm locking him up because I can't think of a better way to spend the money and he can hold down the fort until Lackey is ready.  

That's on me for forgetting Houston. 

[DJL44]

4 hours ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Really? Maybe you and I are looking for different things. I'm looking for a quality bat that can hit 3, 4, or 5 on a consistent top 10 scoring team. I don't see anyone other than Yandy Diaz or, you guessed it, Josh Bell, and he could only hit 5. I think we can get away with just 1 more if Buxton hits 3 and Jeffers hit 5, with a strong left-handed bat at 4. We got the other guys.

Brandon Lowe has produced more offense than Bell this season and he has a good glove at 2B. Gleyber Torres can still hit, he just missed time with an injury. 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

WHY?

He has that massive 14.3 caught stealing percentage, which other teams are enjoying that the Twins have behind the plate.😨

Jeffers allows less than one stolen base per game.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, chpettit19 said:

Do you feel he isn't a realistic signing? Not trying to be a dick, just trying to see what your thoughts are that lead to "I just don't see a realistic hitter to sign." 

Seiya is likely going to be pretty expensive. No idea what the Rays would want for a year of Yandy. But I'd think Arraez and Arozarena are both gettable at a reasonable number. Fully agree that the FA options are not great, but I think there's an opportunity for an owner who truly wants to compete and is willing to spend (man, I'm full of jokes today) to make a move or 2 to bring in a legitimate hitter for this team.

I'd rather trade for a front line starter, mostly because the franchise has had very good success with that before. But, there is enough prospect equity and not enough roster space, so a high value trade better be in the works.

I do like Arozarena, even if the position may not be the best fit. He does seem like a guy who has a very high floor along with a reasonably high ceiling. So many offensive players crater in Seattle, and he hasn't, so I do like him quite a bit. Maybe because of that he gives me Nelson Cruz-lite vibes.

I'd rather see Houston at SS and Culpepper at 2B but the roster could still work going after one of the better free agent second basement so I get the draw and wouldn't put up a fight.

The problem is that this team has to decide on Jeffers ASAP and commit to Ryan staying very early. If the Twins plan on dumping them to free up money, they have to be certain they can snag a two of the very, very, very few good free agents this year, and if we were ranking teams based on how likely they are to get the free agents I want, the Twins are going to be way down on that list.

But for all my pessimism about this free agent class, I think the price tags are going to be shockingly high. I think the big market teams are going to go all out before the CBA expires and pay these guys significantly more than projected just to get a leg up on the teams that are price conscious and are waiting to see if the CBA will come out more financially favorable to them. If the owners truly are going to try to somewhat level the playing field for all clubs, the big market clubs will surely want to take one more stab at getting an edge. Especially if any kind of cap is 'grandfathered' in. The big spenders will probably give out those long term deferred contracts simply to stretch out how long they have this payroll advantage.

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Jeffers allows less than one stolen base per game.

This team does not value the stolen base from an analytic standpoint and therefore do not work hard at holding runners on.  It is as much on the pitchers as the catchers.

[weitz41]

Hey Ross and Action made the September 1st roster. Congrats to Ross and WB to Action. Per MLB trade rumors.

[RpR]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Jeffers allows less than one stolen base per game.

Yeah, WOW, out of 42 attempts , he has stopped 7, such a good catcher.

[DJL44]

22 minutes ago, RpR said:

Yeah, WOW, out of 42 attempts , he has stopped 7, such a good catcher.

Which has cost the team two runs below an average catcher over the course of an entire season. It’s mostly irrelevant.

[RpR]

2 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Which has cost the team two runs below an average catcher over the course of an entire season. It’s mostly irrelevant.

In your opinion.

[Maybe Next Year]

I still can’t understand the negativity towards Lewis. Contrary to the article writers opinion I believe he is playing a darn good 1st base for the little time he has had a chance to learn it. In addition, two weeks ago we kept hearing that Lewis was the man to put the team on his back yet now he’s a bust. Give the guy a break. Since being called up from the minors his batting average is on par with the rest of the team. Put him between two good hitters so the pitcher has to pitch to him and you will see his average rise. Way too early to give up on him. 

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, RpR said:

In your opinion.

Runs the catcher costs a team on defense from stolen bases is actually one of the easiest, most objective and most accurate things to measure of all the defensive statistics.

 

[MeleMouth]

Lots of the discussion about Jeffers seems to be assuming he will accept the qualifying offer. That may be an iffy assumption. He is aging, this has been his best year, and the catcher market is pretty weak. This could be his best chance ever to get a big contract and it's foreseeable that several teams with large budgets could be looking for a catcher this winter. If he thinks he can get 3 or 4 years at $20 million, he'll probably leave.

[JCT66]

14 hours ago, mike8791 said:

Without any significant FA addition(s) this is a below average offense.  You need at least three 4 WAR batters  on a true contender and there is no one on this list that seems capable.  Maybe Jenkins in a year or two but who else?  Lee, Lewis, Clemens are all average at best and in an ideal world should be replaced.  Caratini is well below average and as you note, no real cleanup hitters.  And the absence of Bell, Jeffers and even Larnach will hurt, at least in 2027.

Agree that the rotation and pen look stronger on paper than the 2026 squad but that offense will hold them down.  Just too improbable that 3 rooks can mature enough to carry the lineup.  Unless the Pohlads go big on at least one all star FA, this is not a lineup that can be considered true playoff contenders.

What team other than the Dodgers is going to have three 4 WAR batters?  The Brewers, Braves and Rays are all going to have 1 or at most 2 this year.  I would consider them true playoff contenders. 

[DocBauer]

Sorry gang, started to read but I'm home late and late to the OP. So I guess I'm just going to toss in a nickel of an opinion at this point.

1] KEASCHALL: 100%. He's built well, but will never be a 20 HR hitter. But with 9 so far this season...virtually a rookie season...he is starting to look like a double digit HR bat in the future with plenty of DBLs and everything else you want in a leadoff hitter. I'm OK putting him the DH role for the OP conversation of a lineup. I think his OF defense will improve, but LF is his best spot. I can still see him occasionally at 2B and 1B as a quasi-utility player. But he will primarily roll between the corner OF spots and DH, with spot duty at 2B at least, if not some 1B. Jenkins and Rodriguez can both cover CF, so he's only an emergency CF option.

2] CULPEPPER: I know he's only a rookie, but he's got decent bat and zone control, though it needs a little work.  But he's got HIT ability and decent OB% potential and also has 20-20 potential along with a bunch of DBLS potential as well. 

3] JENKINS: He has all the ability in the world to do about everything. He's going to HIT and get OB, and he's going to have a boat load of DBLS. He'll even steal a few bases. While his approach might never lead to being a 30HR hitter, he has the ability to easily be a 20+ HR hitter.

4] BUXTON: 120-130 games in CF if his hip is OK after an offseason is outstanding. But a few more games at DH to prolong his career also makes sense. Imagine his RBI totals with actual OB opportunity from the players hitting before him.

5] I'm OK with Clemens hitting 20+ HR and playing a solid 2B for NOW. And I really like him as part of the roster. 

6] LEWIS: He doesn't have to be the Superman we thought he might be. And despite a recent slump he's been really good since his demotion and promotion. But isn't he also the biggest question mark and enigma the FO has to figure out? He's either starting to figure it out but just having a slump OR he's just never going to figure it out. 

7] RODRIGUEZ: The FO blew this from day one last year. Despite the injury history, the kid has produced at every level. He had a good ST. He's got tremendous talent.  And IF the FO wasn't so damn dense he'd be up September 1st, tomorrow, to get a chance to dive in to rhe deep end for a month. 

And even if he needs some time hitting lower in the lineup, that's OK. But for the FO to not bring him up tomorrow to play in September only proves Zoll doesn't know what he's doing. 

8]LEE: Why does everyone doubt Lee? He began this season with only a year and a less than a half before this season. And not only has he settled in 3B, he's also still growing as a hitter. 

CURRENTLY, I guess CATCHER is as it is. 

My biggest issue remains the same.

Are the 2027 Twins better chasing a Cruz like DH to help rake? Or are they better just better trusting in the talent on hand?

[Brandon]

10 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

People basically want to bring back Jeffers and Bell and everyone else on this roster.... And expect new results....

It's not that we definitely want to bring Bell back, but he has performed just enough to deserve it and with 90+ RBI probably 94-98. I think the Twins will bring him back for the extra 8.75 million over the 1.25 million buyout and pay 10 million for another year.  The Twins do want veterans to play with the rookies.  Bell likes it here and if he is a leader in the clubhouse, he has a good shot of being brought back.

[JCT66]

18 hours ago, ewen21 said:

Byron Buxton is a problem.  His spot in the lineup is always an unknown.  Who can figure what will happen with the guy?  He has a hot month or so and then he is has a month where he is as bad as he was good and then we start hearing about a variety of ailments.  I am so over it.  He is not as special as this place has made him out to be.   His lifetime OBP is .309, his lifetime average is .248, in 12 seasons with us he has had more than 100 hits twice.  He has a lifetime average of .192 with 2 ours and RISP with 119 Ks in 338 at bats.  He has a lifetime average of .213 close and late with 183 strikeouts in 478 at bats.  That flat out sucks.  He has had so many horrible at bats in high leverage situations over the years.   He makes managing the CF spot on this roster a headache.  The sooner we can move on from him the better.  He isn't a model player.  You cannot have your model player (and the Twins have tried to put him on that pedestal) be a guy who starts in slightly over 50% in the schedule a year.  It is a fools errand.  In the last five seasons he has played 60, 57, 94, 118 and not this year probably just 72 games in CF.  Does anyone expect this to get better in 2027?  The sooner we can move on from him the better.  He isn't a model player.  We cannot have your model player be a guy who averages slightly over 50 games a year.  End of story.

 

I like what I see from Walker Jenkins, but I am STILL waiting for us to someday....somehow........ draft, raise and produce a starting pitcher that puts fans in the stands.  It is a task that seems impossible for this organization execute and achieve.  WIll someone please name a starting pitcher we drafted, developed and saw on the mound at the major league level giving us something remotely resembling AS material?   The last time there was any actual juice behind a pitcher like that was Matt Garza in 2006.  In fact, we can go back over 30 years and he would be the only SP we actually drafted and raised in our system of any note.  That is beyond pathetic!

I disagree that with the return of Lopez, Festa and Abel that this starting staff will be "extremely deep".  They will need to show me something different.  Lopez is a talent but he is coming off Tommy John and has only begun to throw very recently.  What is his timetable for next year?  We do not even know.  Mick Abel has 59 innings of major league experience and has a 5.46 ERA over that time and he is coming off a season ending injury.  We don't even know what he is.   Ditto with David Festa.

 

This team has been a bore for a very long time.  I won't even prognosticate beyond the history these players have provided for us in the major leagues.  Unless this group magically transforms itself this team is a 76 win team.

I don’t understand the Buxton hate, and I really dont know where you came up with your numbers.  
 

here’s a few different numbers for you. Since 2021 Buxton has averaged 93 games per season. He’s also averaged 3.55 WAR. 
 

In any given year about 4 to 5% of MLB players hit 3.55 WAR or better.  That’s about 60 players a year. The QO for 2026 (which represents the average salary of the top 125 players) was ~$22 million. Buxtons salary since signing his extension has averaged $16 million.  
 

Even hurt as much as he has been Buxton has been a huge bargain for the Twins. To say he is a “problem” is just completely wrong. 

[old nurse]

15 hours ago, MapleGroveTwinsFan said:

The brewers traded Caleb Durbin after is rookie year at age 25, and is the definition of league average hitter, and Andruw Monasterio 29 and is utility player who at his best is a league average hitter and in return got a 24/25 year old Kyle Harrison who has been in and out of the majors since he was 21 and is 10-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 127 K's in 103 innings and David Hamilton who plays good defense but can't hit (but not much than Durbin) 

That is a win in my book, imagine the Twins trading any of the 24/25 year old rookies for a pitcher like that (Lewis, Miranda, Julien, Larnach, Wallner, Martin, am I missing anybody else)

Yup that is a win. The comments were about them maintaining their winning ways was by trading for hauls of prospects as stars neared free agency

[Major League Ready]

11 hours ago, RpR said:

In your opinion.

Are you suggesting that two additional runs over the course of the season are important or are you suggesting the measure of 2 additional runs is a matter of opinion.