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

[Rod Carews Birthday]

1 minute ago, terrydactyls said:

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.

For me it's because I think the overall picture of both in the defensive lineup is better with Erod at 1B and Keaschall in the OF.  You're correct that if they both are in the game it doesn't matter what position they are playing from a hitting perspective.  I just think that "Defense+" is more likely to be good this way from a team perspective if we're not watching Keaschall flail away on 20 plays per game at first base.   

[Jacksson]

Keaschall is currently a liability for the organization rather than an asset.  Unless/until the Twins find a defensive home for him his roster presence is gumming up the planning for the construction of the roster.  If he couldn't cut it at 2B, it's highly unlikely he has the reaction  time reflexes to handle 1B.  With his weak arm, he's not a fit at CF or RF.  Does the organization want to turn a 23 year old into a DH this early in his career?  So, if he is still with the organization, that leaves LF.  Unfortunately, with the system abundance of both existing OF (Larnach, Wallner, Martin, Buxton, Roden, Jenkins) coupled with the OF who are literally knocking at the MLB door (Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Mendez, Rosario, Winokur); taking an infielder and converting them into an OF just further clogs up the pipeline.

[Mike Sixel]

7 hours ago, umterp23 said:

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.

How many teams have 8 above average starters?

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, mluebker said:

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.

Lewis had mostly been a third baseman for years. He can't hit because he can't hit. 

[DocBauer]

LARNACH: He's not a bad ballplayer in the role of LH DH and part time OF for SOMEONE. The question is, who really needs some LH help and won't blink at him making around $7-7.5 next season in arbitration? He just doesn't fit the roster going forward.

L

WALLNER: I'm adding him to the list. He also doesn't fit any longer. His defense has gotten worse, not better. And he can't catch up to fastballs 95mph or higher any longer. That seems to be the main reason the Twins left him down in AAA. But again, there's probably someone who sees the power, and past production, who could use a LH power bat at DH and part time OF. But not the Twins.

OBER: I'm a huge fan. Before the sudden velocity drop in 2025, I'd argue he was one of the better #3 SP around. Other than 1 or 2 really poor games a year...which everyone has...he threw like a #2 about every third start. He's super smart, and has amazing control. And really, even with poor velocity, his ability to throw "80's style" and get the job done most days has been fun to watch, and largely successful. He might even have value for someone as a #4-5 starter. 

But he's owed around $7M+ in arbitration this season. So is Kremer, who the Twins still control. Ober just isn't going to get his velocity back it appears. Kremer isn't perfect, but he fits as the #5 starter for the Twins and can still sit 94-95. A little more time with Macki, I have to pick him over Ober. Even with an increase in payroll, we just don't have room for both him AND Ober. So I'm going with Kremer.

LEWIS: He's still only 27yo when next season begins. He won't be 28 until June. He should be in his prime, productive age right now. And what's been surprising is his relatively good health each of the past 2 seasons. I just can't help but wonder if 2027 is where good health, hard work, and experience FINALLY takes over and he hits around .265-.270 with 25 HR and 35 DBLS and we all shout out: "FINALLY!"

But I really thought 2026 was the season we'd all rejoice and scream that. Can we wait another season? Have we already waited long enough for a still 27yo to reach that level?

Boy will we be pissed if he goes somewhere else and does it!

I'm generally opposed to a full time DH unless it's someone really special in the way Cruz was. I see a 2027 team that rotates Rodriguez, Keaschall, Buxton, Jenkins, and maybe the 5th OF, through the DH spot daily. The occasional half day off for the INF also takes up a little DH time.

It seems to me the #1 place for the Twins to add a BIG BAT is at 1B. Currently, FA might not offer someone to fill that role. But we also aren't to the offseason yet. Maybe someone becomes available we aren't thinking about. Maybe there's a 1B convert with some experience. Maybe we have to go the trade route. IDK who it might be, and it's crazy that 1 of the 2 easiest positions in a lineup can't seem to be filled by the Twins internally. And there remains a part of me reluctant to just give up on Royce yet and move him. But I also, reluctantly, feel it's time to make 1B the primary add for 2027.

 

[DocBauer]

The OP is about a handful of players that should be gone for the future. But it's also delved in to SP. So I'm going to jump in to that discussion as well.

EVERY TEAM needs at LEAST 8 starters during the season, minimum, due to the occasional double header, as well as injuries. HOPEFULLY you never need more than 10, even though 1 or 2 of those could be due to a double header.

But the truth is, NOBODY EVER has 3 or 4 ML quality SP just SITTING at AAA waiting for a chance. That's just preposterous! Now, a ML quality SP pushed to AAA to begin the season is common. Think about Ober a few years ago when he began the year at St Paul before an injury. And it's also possible a team might actually have a couple good prospects sitting at AAA still developing and getting close to appearing, or coming back up. That would be very similar to the Twins here in 2026 with Prielipp and Matthews sitting at St Paul waiting for their chance.

But to think rotation depth means you can just "collect" arms and keep them is ridiculous. KEEP Ober AND Kremer costs you around $15M and Ober is the only one who might have an option left. Keep ONE of the two and STILL sign a FA means you have a SP option who doesn't have an option that you have to keep, probably at the expense of a more talented, younger, cheaper arm.

CURRENTLY, the projected 2027 rotation has Lopez, Ryan, Bradley, Abel, Prielipp, Kremer, and Matthews. (I've left out Ober as I believe Kremer is the better option).

That's 7 for 5, with Prielipp having options, and I believe Matthews has one left. Matthews might also be a pen option, but his overall improvement this season shouldn't be dismissed. After those 7 are Rojas...who might still end up as a power arm in the bullpen...and Gallagher, getting close to ML ready, and then probably Paredes, who surprised the hell out of everyone with his performance when called on. Quick is NOT ready, but might be by mid season.

Other than being a little smarter, and spending a little $ for the BEST MILB FA possible to add to the St Paul rotation, what else could the Twins do to add to their depth? They're 7 deep to start 2027 with a couple solid prospects targeted for AAA, and HOPEFULLY add 1 more solid journeyman to the Saints roster.

Honestly, that's about the best you can do. Again, teams just don't have 3 or 4 ML quality starters just sitting at AAA ready to debut. IF THE DID, they would have already made some trades to add to the rest of their lineup. 

That the Twins don't have SP depth entering 2027 is incorrect. Beyond 8-10 might be an issue, but it's the same for everyone else as well.