3 Twins Players It's Time to Move On From This Offseason

[Linus]

2 minutes ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I think this is the right approach, but I would add 4 names to the guaranteed list - Culpepper, Hoffman, Morris, Lopez - plus 3 guys in the probable category - Caratini, Funderburk, Prielipp. That’s it. Basically 5 position players, 3 starting pitchers, 3 relievers guaranteed, 1 more of each in the probably group. Lot of work to do here. 
 

 

I agree with your list except Fundy. No way he gets written in. 

[mluebker]

17 hours ago, S Bart said:

Half [of the Twins’ MLB caliber starting pitchers] will probably be injured by May…

Whose turn is it for the Tommy John surgery this year?

[LA Vikes Fan]

51 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

As things stand now Buxton is here for two more years, might as well accept it until he publicly says something or they make a trade.  I doubt there will be any announcement if anything changes.  If you want to discuss what his role should be, that is a fair discussion.  But they still consider him the face of the organization so he is going have more say in his role than many would probably agree with on here.

Lewis is blocking no one right now, we have no other options at 1B currently.  In the offseason they could move somebody like Keaschall or bring somebody new in, but for this year he is blocking no one.

 

You’re right about Buxton. The fact that Lewis isn’t blocking anyone is a problem. We need  better 1B option.

I don’t understand why people want to trade Keaschall. He is our best hitter, full stop, and part of the foundation for the next competitive team. 

[mluebker]

17 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

You are correct and I think they should give [Lewis] another year unless it's a clear upgrade and that doesn't mean Clemens. 

Yet it says something that Mr High Ceiling’s actual performance has been compared to Clemens all season. That’s pretty much the level he’s been operating at without the defensive versatility as an upside.

[JD-TWINS]

20 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

Here's why my own biases kick in: I'd rather have Ober than Kremer. That could be a stupid take, but Ober still seems serviceable as a #5-6 starter. I think he's a smart pitcher, but I think his best days are long gone.

Larnach joins Rooker, Kirilloff and possibly Martin as highly-touted OFs who, for whatever reason, couldn't put it all together here. That's a lot of misses on can't-miss prospects.

The Royce Lewis story breaks my heart. I really like him as a ballplayer. I wish the Twins hadn't put him in CF after his first recovery. I think he needs to be somewhere else at this point. I hope he has a few great years yet, Someday I think he'll be a coach. The Twins will get nothing in return for him - another first-round pick transformed into zero pennants and zero recycled value.

Every team has promising players who fizzle out. But for the Twins, these situations seem to happen too often.

Larnach in ‘26:

.350 OBP ….. .265 BA …….. 11 HR with 420 PA’s ……. assuming Jeffers is gone, he has the 2nd highest OPS+ on the Team going into ‘27. Only Buxton is higher in ‘26 and he’s played 93 games & likely won’t play again.

He made $4.5M this year and may make $7.5M (tops) in ‘27. He’s perfect platoon LH bat for DH (73% of pitchers are RH) and “can play corner OF if needed”……….LH Pinch-hitter off the bench as well…………$7.5M is nothing once Bell & Jeffers are gone………the Team needs to spend $135-$140M in ‘27 if Tom is serious about “being competitive”.

Putting Roden ahead of Larnach is some twisted fantasy …….. anointing Emma is nuts (he’s averaged 60 games/year for 6 seasons) & if organization was sold on him he’d be on the roster right now!

Keaschall - 114 OPS+

Clemens - 115 OPS+

Larnach - 116 OPS+

Buxton - 129 OPS+

Jeffers - 143 OPS+
 

Larnach & Keaschall/Buxton in platoon DH role in ‘27. As they say, you play to win the game, not to see what prospects might be able to do………..prove yourself at AAA and when called on force your way on to the roster. Getting a spot because the fans don’t think paying the 3rd or 4th best hitter on the roster $7M is a good idea, makes no sense.

Keaschall - Buxton - Jenkins - Rodriguez - Gonzalez in OF for ‘27 with Larnach at DH.
 

[mluebker]

17 hours ago, MeleMouth said:

If they replace Shelton or anyone on their coaching staff, it could benefit everyone to get an old school coach who will give Royce tough love and hard messages instead of the constant boomer parent affirmation and glass half full excuses he's used to.

Boomer hate? Boo! But you’re right about needing a little more assertive coaching for guys like Mr. Creative Face Paint. Billy Martin is long gone, but Doug Mientkiewicz is still out there someplace.

[mluebker]

15 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

I'll start with an out of the box one -- put Erod at 1B.  He's much more athletic than Lewis at this point and miles more athletic than most of the team.  He's an excellent defensive outfielder, but I'd bet he could pull it off.  AND he could be a slugging first baseman.  We could use that.

I’ve heard worse ideas, some of them mine. But I’d rather see Rodriguez in the outfield where he belongs, and Keaschall (who doesn’t) at first.

[Rod Carews Birthday]

2 minutes ago, mluebker said:

I’ve heard worse ideas, some of them mine. But I’d rather see Rodriguez in the outfield where he belongs, and Keaschall (who doesn’t) at first.

That’s a reasonable take, but is Keaschall more easily hidden in LF or at 1B?  Plus, and I’m WAY out over my skis now, I think ERod could be a monster defensive first baseman. I think Keaschall will get better at LF to the point where he won’t be a liability and his offensive profile doesn’t really fit at first base.  

 

[umterp23]

17 hours ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

We have 9,  count em 9 MLB caliber starting pitchers.  We don't have enough innings for all of them.  

Lopez, Ryan, Bradley, Abel, Kremer, Ober, Matthews, Priellip, Rojas and #10 is Paredes who acquitted himself quite well.  

We had 8 starting guys this year and lost half of them. Never have enough “starters” but the way front office runs we don’t have above avg quality starters. Roster mgmt across the boards blows with this mgmt team. Need a front office overhaul and salary level commitment for about $50MM more than what we doing dumpster diving.

[HarmonK03]

There are probably four players that should be included in next years plans to begin; Keaschall, Culpepper, Buxton and Jenkins.

But this organization needs to come up with a plan and figure out an identity.  Do they value defense and athleticism or home runs more.  Then look at your roster and see who fits into that plan.  Identify positions for players and let them play there.  Fill the holes where you can, it may take a couple of years as you can't completely turn the roster over but at some point they need a plan that is going to build a sustainable competitive team.  This team has one playoff win in the last 10 years with this front office and is 38 games under .500 as of today for the last six years.  If there was a plan it sure ain't working.  And there may be players that have to go that are favorites of TD posters.  But at some point results have to start being the criteria not the process as it has been under this front office.

Tom P. needs to sit down with ARod and Lore across the street and get tips on how to identify a leader for your organization and then let him do his job.  Don't think small, think big just like the Wolves did.  Connelly has made three earth shaking moves in attempts to continue to make the Wolves competitive and you can see a plan and they explain at a high level.  This is what the Twins, you may have a down year or two but give the fans hope that their is something coming.

If this front office is still in place it will be more of the same, they will sign a league average veteran at best to fill any holes they see and bring in AAAA types for depth.  There will be no upside.  And no excitement around the team.

[Vanimal46]

26 minutes ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

That’s a reasonable take, but is Keaschall more easily hidden in LF or at 1B?  Plus, and I’m WAY out over my skis now, I think ERod could be a monster defensive first baseman. I think Keaschall will get better at LF to the point where he won’t be a liability and his offensive profile doesn’t really fit at first base.  

 

Catching the ball is pretty important at 1B, and catching the ball is a consistent challenge for Keaschall. Do we think he'll be able to scoop throws made to him after watching him botch more than his fair share of ground balls at 2B? I have my doubts. 

[Hunter4848]

16 hours ago, DJL44 said:

This is true. Boomer parents are noted for benign neglect.

Don't forget the destruction of the country to add to their resume!

[David Maro]

Its nice to see that so many of you believe the season will start on time. I said weeks ago that the roster needed a complete tear down next year. The 3 name mentioned should be only the start of the many changes needed. And for everyone saying bring this player up now and that player up have you been watching Jenkins AB. You can see a big difference in his AB compared to Culpepper's. Unless you put players on the bench for the last few games this year is riding the bench useful. If there's a ST that's the time to give players the opportunity to show their ready. 

As far as SP goes changes have to be made. I believe Ryan needs to be traded and with Ober in the BP or traded as well that opens up 2 spots in the rotation. Hopefully Lopez and Abel are back from injury. The BP needs to be addressed this off season not in season. I see at least 4 holes there with Rogers and Minter being gone. And 2 more upgrades to Sands who should be non tendered and not moving players back and forth week after week from St Paul.

[Patzky]

9 minutes ago, Hunter4848 said:

Don't forget the destruction of the country to add to their resume!

Oh snap. Deficitus Maximus has entered the room.

[HarmonK03]

14 minutes ago, David Maro said:

If there's a ST that's the time to give players the opportunity to show their ready. 

ERod did that this past spring and he was passed over for Outman, so no it is not always the time if there is a preconceived outcome.

[JD-TWINS]

39 minutes ago, David Maro said:

Its nice to see that so many of you believe the season will start on time. I said weeks ago that the roster needed a complete tear down next year. The 3 name mentioned should be only the start of the many changes needed. And for everyone saying bring this player up now and that player up have you been watching Jenkins AB. You can see a big difference in his AB compared to Culpepper's. Unless you put players on the bench for the last few games this year is riding the bench useful. If there's a ST that's the time to give players the opportunity to show their ready. 

As far as SP goes changes have to be made. I believe Ryan needs to be traded and with Ober in the BP or traded as well that opens up 2 spots in the rotation. Hopefully Lopez and Abel are back from injury. The BP needs to be addressed this off season not in season. I see at least 4 holes there with Rogers and Minter being gone. And 2 more upgrades to Sands who should be non tendered and not moving players back and forth week after week from St Paul.

Sands - Banda - Nance - Hoffman - Acton - Morris - Paredes - Guzman - Funderburk - Raya -   ……….this is the starting point for the PEN in ‘27 at the end of September.

Matthews - Ober - Rojas are possibilities for relief ………need to utilize talents at MLB, not at AAA.

Lopez - Ryan - Abel/Kremer - Bradley - Prielipp are the probable top Rotation candidates.

One or two signings (Minter like guys) for the PEN would really help depth & effectiveness. Currently 19 names for 13 roster spots.

[Patzky]

2 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Larnach in ‘26:

.350 OBP ….. .265 BA …….. 11 HR with 420 PA’s ……. assuming Jeffers is gone, he has the 2nd highest OPS+ on the Team going into ‘27. Only Buxton is higher in ‘26 and he’s played 93 games & likely won’t play again.

He made $4.5M this year and may make $7.5M (tops) in ‘27. He’s perfect platoon LH bat for DH (73% of pitchers are RH) and “can play corner OF if needed”……….LH Pinch-hitter off the bench as well…………$7.5M is nothing once Bell & Jeffers are gone………the Team needs to spend $135-$140M in ‘27 if Tom is serious about “being competitive”.

Putting Roden ahead of Larnach is some twisted fantasy …….. anointing Emma is nuts (he’s averaged 60 games/year for 6 seasons) & if organization was sold on him he’d be on the roster right now!

Keaschall - 114 OPS+

Clemens - 115 OPS+

Larnach - 116 OPS+

Buxton - 129 OPS+

Jeffers - 143 OPS+
 

Larnach & Keaschall/Buxton in platoon DH role in ‘27. As they say, you play to win the game, not to see what prospects might be able to do………..prove yourself at AAA and when called on force your way on to the roster. Getting a spot because the fans don’t think paying the 3rd or 4th best hitter on the roster $7M is a good idea, makes no sense.

Keaschall - Buxton - Jenkins - Rodriguez - Gonzalez in OF for ‘27 with Larnach at DH.
 

Starting the year with Larnach as your DH and probably batting seventh isn't a good look.

[MeleMouth]

2 hours ago, mluebker said:

Boomer hate? Boo! But you’re right about needing a little more assertive coaching for guys like Mr. Creative Face Paint. Billy Martin is long gone, but Doug Mientkiewicz is still out there someplace.

Yeah, I guess none of Falvey, Zoll, Baldelli, Shelton, Pohlad, or Pohlad are boomers. Correa wasn't a boomer, either, but it seemed like he was willing to give hard truths to Royce.

I don't think that more assertive coaching is generally a good thing, and that style could be one reason Billy Martin rarely held a job for long, but you need all styles for the range of personalities on a team, and Royce in particular needs someone who can break down his "I'm so awesome" unwillingness to change.

[Linus]

1 hour ago, Patzky said:

Starting the year with Larnach as your DH and probably batting seventh isn't a good look.

Nor is something any team with aspirations would do. 

[Twins GFP]

4 hours ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

I think this is the right approach, but I would add 4 names to the guaranteed list - Culpepper, Hoffman, Morris, Lopez - plus 3 guys in the probable category - Caratini, Funderburk, Prielipp. That’s it. Basically 5 position players, 3 starting pitchers, 3 relievers guaranteed, 1 more of each in the probably group. Lot of work to do here. 
 

 

Only reason held out Lopez is injury... I agree on Hoffman, I didn't realize he was under contract for another year. You can argue Funderburk and Morris as probable, but both could easily be pushed out IMO. Prelipp has done nothing yet to even put him in the probable category...

[Twins GFP]

21 hours ago, HarmonK03 said:

You are correct and I think they should give him another year unless it's a clear upgrade and that doesn't mean Clemens.   But Lewis isn't necessarily a vet yet in my opinion, in another year then it is a different discussion.  But he's not blocking anyone, they have no one else to play first currently.  

If you keep both Kremer and Ober or even one, as things stand Prielipp and or Matthews are in AAA and I think they have pitched well enough to start spring training in the rotation.  Kremer is not a clear upgrade over either one of them.  I think Ober has pitched better this year than others do, so I can go either way with him.  They would still have 8 to 9 starters, you aren't going into the year with 15 starters it's not feasible, injuries happen.

Prelipp has not pitched well enough to start Spring Training in the rotation, he has been pretty brutal. Prelipp is still pitching on prospect bank...

[HarmonK03]

5 minutes ago, Twins GFP said:

Prelipp has not pitched well enough to start Spring Training in the rotation, he has been pretty brutal. Prelipp is still pitching on prospect bank...

You are watching different games than me, how many inherited runners has the bullpen allowed to score in his outings.  His numbers would look a lot different.  But averaging just over 5 innings a start and most games keeping his team in the game as a #5 starter is a solid start.  Not every pitcher comes out of the gate as a top of the rotation pitcher.

[Twins GFP]

4 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

You are watching different games than me, how many inherited runners has the bullpen allowed to score in his outings.  His numbers would look a lot different.  But averaging just over 5 innings a start and most games keeping his team in the game as a #5 starter is a solid start.  Not every pitcher comes out of the gate as a top of the rotation pitcher.

I think we are watching different players:
ERA+  80
WHIP  1.36
ERA  5.25

If this was unknown pitcher X instead of Prelipp, he would not be in the rotation. Like I said, prospect bank. They are letting him work through his difficulties hoping that he figures it out. The potential is there, we are not yet seeing results.

[mluebker]

3 hours ago, MeleMouth said:

Royce in particular needs someone who can break down his "I'm so awesome" unwillingness to change.

If he hasn’t figured that out yet, he’s living in a fantasy world. 

[mluebker]

5 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

I think Keaschall will get better at LF to the point where he won’t be a liability and his offensive profile doesn’t really fit at first base.  

You may be right. But I wish the team would be working out stuff like where a guy allegedly can play in the field before they bring him up to the big club. I think part of what’s ailing Royce Lewis is he hasn’t really had a definite defensive role since they brought him up, and dealing with uncertainty—like hitting pitches off the plate—doesn’t seem to be anywhere in his wheelhouse.

[RpR]

8 hours ago, Patzky said:

Nobody knows that they will. But almost everyone agrees that they have to be given the opportunity to try.

They will if professionals whose life is baseball think they deserve it.

Joe Calloway: "Changing just for the sake of changing can be a more dangerous trap than being stuck in complacency."

[David Maro]

The BP for the 27 season has to have arms ready to pitch not on the IL for multiple years. Someone like Sands is at the end of his time in a Twins uniform. The other thing that needs to change is stop with the 4 innings build up in St Paul. That plan is a waste of time,when has this plan been used this year. If the SP can't go 4 or 5 innings he shouldn't be in the rotation and yes there will be a game here or there that something happens. So do you really need a 4 inning guy sitting in the BP like the 12th or 13th player on the bench.

The one thing the manager should be doing is if a starting player looks bad in the box for 2 AB make a change,is it a good idea for them to go 0-4 with 3 or 4 strikeouts.

[HarmonK03]

27 minutes ago, RpR said:

They will if professionals whose life is baseball think they deserve it.

Joe Calloway: "Changing just for the sake of changing can be a more dangerous trap than being stuck in complacency."

These same professionals who called up Gray a second time when it was clear he was not a major league player.  The same professionals who called Jackson back up after no one claimed him and have him sit and play cards.  The same ones who brought Outman north with the team even though he had not earned his spot.  Your blind faith would be admirable if it wasn't so sad.

[HarmonK03]

1 minute ago, David Maro said:

The BP for the 27 season has to have arms ready to pitch not on the IL for multiple years. Someone like Sands is at the end of his time in a Twins uniform. The other thing that needs to change is stop with the 4 innings build up in St Paul. That plan is a waste of time,when has this plan been used this year. If the SP can't go 4 or 5 innings he shouldn't be in the rotation and yes there will be a game here or there that something happens. So do you really need a 4 inning guy sitting in the BP like the 12th or 13th player on the bench.

The one thing the manager should be doing is if a starting player looks bad in the box for 2 AB make a change,is it a good idea for them to go 0-4 with 3 or 4 strikeouts.

Agree with the minor league plan on pitching, develop starters and relievers.

But do not understand the last paragraph, you would seriously pull a batter after 2 AB's just because.  You basically have 3 bench moves and you want to burn one because the player has two bad AB's.

[terrydactyls]

7 hours ago, Rod Carews Birthday said:

That’s a reasonable take, but is Keaschall more easily hidden in LF or at 1B?  Plus, and I’m WAY out over my skis now, I think ERod could be a monster defensive first baseman. I think Keaschall will get better at LF to the point where he won’t be a liability and his offensive profile doesn’t really fit at first base.  

 

I really dislike the "offensive profile" argument.  You would rather have the better fielding OF be at 1B?  And the reasoning is that he fits the "profile" of a 1B.  In my opinion, why?  Both bats will be in the lineup.  If you have two players that are going to be the everyday lineup, I would align these players by who plays each position best.