3 Bold Predictions for Minnesota Twins’ Offseason

[Vanimal46]

I don't believe the Twins will do this... But the author asked for bold predictions...

- Adrian Morejon signs for $20+ million AAV and is converted to a starter
- The Twins trade for Hunter Goodman
- Walker Jenkins signs an 8 year up to $100 million extension

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, Jack Pine said:

I thought the column was for predictions and not advice.

So we are boldly predicting that Jeremy Zoll will mismanage the team?

[killercarewoliva]

15 hours ago, Nashvilletwin said:

Two very unbold suggestions (#1 and #2) and one (#3) ridiculously stupid.
 

Signing a single reliever to a multi year contract is bold?  Probably over half the league does that every year.

Trading a decidedly and proven mediocre at best Lewis is not bold; instead, keeping him to take innings and ABs from any player who potentially could be our 1B of the future would be the bold (and stupid) decision.

We should not trade any young, controllable asset who is likely or probable to play an important role on this team starting in ‘28.  To do so would be boldly idiotic.

You want three bold moves the Twins should/could make this off-season.

1. Sign Jeffers to a four year deal to play catcher and ultimately 1B and DH.

2, Sign Arraez to a two year deal to play 1B and DH with an option for year three.

3. Given the off season may last until June, trade Ryan before the season starts and re-sign Lopez to a three year hometown deal.

Here’s a fourth: fire JZ and hire a GM who knows how to build a young team.

 

 

Nice to read such a message from Nashville twin. thank you. I am advocating bringing back Arraez also but the only thing I partially don't agree with here is trading. Joe Ryan. he and the new pitching coach are familiar with each other. let's see what we can work out to make his arm not die off after the All-Star. this is really a good message however for the twins team to pay attention to.

[Heiny]

My bold "suggestions".  Not predictions.

1.  There is not a free agent 1b that thrills me, so move Clemens to first on a full time basis and look at 2b for your free agency.  Plenty of above average 2b on the market.  Sign Jazz Chisholm -gonna cost a bundle,  backup plan - Brandon Lowe, Gleyber Torres, Luis Arraez.  Great place to look to add payroll.

2.  Sign two high leverage relievers - two to three year contracts.  Like I said, suggestions, not predictions.  I'm talking guys like Bednar, Morejon, Whitlock.  Not cheap, but hey they say they are willing to spend some money.  This is a need of high level.

3.  Do not trade Joe Ryan, and sign another top SP.  I like Gausman even though he is getting up there in age.  2 year contract.  Bold?  Maybe.  Likely?  Not. How about Peralta, Boyd, Pivetta or Alcantara, or Trevor Rogers(a Rogers who can actually pitch).

I like Larnach as a bench bat, and Martin as a bench outfielder, but I "predict" they will both be gone.  Oh, and as much as I didn't like the idea at first, I would offer Jeffers the QO.

[Major League Ready]

17 hours ago, Cody Christie said:

Bold Prediction 3: The Twins Will Trade Multiple Top-30 Prospects

The Twins have spent years assembling one of baseball's more interesting farm systems. Jenkins, Rodríguez, and Culpepper headline a group that gives the organization legitimate hope for the future. There are also other prospects who could eventually become valuable contributors in Minnesota. But a strong farm system is most useful when the front office knows when to turn its potential into major league production.

If the Twins are serious about returning to the playoffs, they cannot rely exclusively on free agency to address every weakness. Even with an increased payroll, the best available free agents might not fit Minnesota's needs, and competition for proven talent could push prices beyond what the organization is comfortable paying.

That is where Zoll should consider the trade market. Minnesota has the prospect depth to pursue established players who can make an immediate impact. A veteran starting pitcher, an established middle-of-the-order bat, or another proven player at a position of need could help the Twins become more competitive while their young core develops.

The key is identifying the right targets. Trading prospects merely to acquire recognizable names would accomplish very little. Zoll needs to focus on players who offer dependable production, fit the roster, and can contribute throughout a meaningful portion of the team's competitive window.

That could require packaging multiple prospects from the organization's top 30. One prospect might not be enough to acquire the type of established player Minnesota wants, but a package of two or three players could make a deal more appealing to a rebuilding club.

This prediction does not mean the Twins should make Jenkins or Culpepper available without considerable thought. Those players could become foundational pieces for the next successful Minnesota team. Instead, the organization should recognize that prospects outside its very top tier can still have considerable trade value.

The timing matters, too. The Twins have an opportunity to surround their emerging young talent with established players rather than waiting for every prospect to reach the majors before addressing the team's weaknesses. That strategy would give Minnesota a better chance to capitalize on the development of its young core.

Pohlad's payroll commitment should give Zoll more flexibility, but financial investment and prospect trades should complement each other. The Twins can spend money on the right free agents while using their farm system to pursue players who might not be available through free agency.

 

How many players from the Brewers / Rays were acquired by trading meaningful prospects?  These teams rarely trade meaningful prospects.  Their success has come from doing exactly the opposite.  It does happen, they traded 4 guys who have done nothing at the ML level for Yehlich but that was a long time ago.  He is there now by virtue of an extension and he was replacement level this year.  

[mickster]

11 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

E-Rod has no options remaining so he would have to pass through waivers to be sent down. Another team would claim him in a New York minute.

He should be the centerpiece of a trade for a solid 1B or C if they mistakenly let Jeffers out of the building.    

[MeleMouth]

5 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

You are exactly right. 

You can't jettison Lewis at a low point and you can't give him 162 games at a low point.

Sounds like someone who needs to prove himself... earn his job back.

You can keep him... but you can't declare him the man. He has to declare himself the man.

Like Bauers did. 

 

The issue is that it's not just Bauers vs. Lewis. It's whatever Milwaukee does to unlock hitters like Bauers and Vaughn vs. whatever Minnesota fails to do to unlock hitters like Lewis.

Three suggestions to start:

1. Learn to take outside pitches to right field. (Maybe the biggest change he could make, because once pitchers learn they can no longer easily take advantage of him, he'll get more pitches in his wheelhouse.)

2. Focus on getting the barrel on the ball instead of optimizing your swing for home runs.

3. Stop complimenting yourself publicly and adopt a humble "this is what I need to do to get better" self-dialogue.

Milwaukee and Tampa would probably work with Lewis on these changes. Will the Twins?

[Riverbrian]

4 hours ago, MeleMouth said:

The issue is that it's not just Bauers vs. Lewis. It's whatever Milwaukee does to unlock hitters like Bauers and Vaughn vs. whatever Minnesota fails to do to unlock hitters like Lewis.

Three suggestions to start:

1. Learn to take outside pitches to right field. (Maybe the biggest change he could make, because once pitchers learn they can no longer easily take advantage of him, he'll get more pitches in his wheelhouse.)

2. Focus on getting the barrel on the ball instead of optimizing your swing for home runs.

3. Stop complimenting yourself publicly and adopt a humble "this is what I need to do to get better" self-dialogue.

Milwaukee and Tampa would probably work with Lewis on these changes. Will the Twins?

I agree that the answer is most likely found somewhere on the shelf marked development.

Development isn't just the kids. Sometimes you get to develop an old guy like Clemens... help them find the light switch and sometimes it's just plain ole' opportunity to show it.

We have to assume that coaches do something because we got a lot of them and I imagine that a coaches jobs is to make players better and I also imagine that coaching isn't just reserved for players below a certain age. If development isn't linear and it really isn't. Light switches can be found later on in life.

Jake Bauers found it at age 29 and 30. No guarantees that the room won't go dark on him after we sign him to a 3 year deal.   

As for your specific suggestions.

Could be. I won't argue them. 

[DannySD]

Bold 2027 predictions:
The season starts on time
The Twins non-tender Lewis 
(and he is DFA'd by the Angels in July, then signs with The Padres and wins the World Series)
Keashall moves full time to 1B and wins a Gold Glove
The Twins acquire a 2B/DH on a large-ish multi-year contract via sign or trade
Lackey debuts in June
Jenkins wins AL ROY
Abel makes a playoff start

[Whammy]

1 hour ago, Heiny said:

My bold "suggestions".  Not predictions.

1.  There is not a free agent 1b that thrills me, so move Clemens to first on a full time basis and look at 2b for your free agency.  Plenty of above average 2b on the market.  Sign Jazz Chisholm -gonna cost a bundle,  backup plan - Brandon Lowe, Gleyber Torres, Luis Arraez.  Great place to look to add payroll.

 

Sort of related, I'd wait out the Alec Bohm market.

He's not going to excite anyone, but he'd be a good platoon pair with Clemens at 1B and some pinch hitability. Clemens could slide to 2B on days you wanted to play both.

Bohm could also spell Lee occasionally at 3B. 

Even in what was a down year for him in 2026, he had over an 800 OPS against lefties. 

I think eventually you could get him for about what Josh Bell got and he obviously provides more flexibility than Bell.

[Heiny]

13 minutes ago, DannySD said:

Bold 2027 predictions:
The season starts on time
The Twins non-tender Lewis 
(and he is DFA'd by the Angels in July, then signs with The Padres and wins the World Series)
Keashall moves full time to 1B and wins a Gold Glove
The Twins acquire a 2B/DH on a large-ish multi-year contract via sign or trade
Lackey debuts in June
Jenkins wins AL ROY
Abel makes a playoff start

Those are definately bold predictions.

[umterp23]

Free Agents ( position / Name / Age. / previous team

SP / Hiromi Itoh / 29 / Japan posting

RP / Adrian Morejon / 28 / padres

RP/ Garret Whitlock / 30 / Red Sox

2B / Brandon Lowe / 32 / Pirates  (move Clemens to 1st Base Utility)

Trades

Royce Lewis to Cubs for Matt Shaw (Shaw is your Utility Guy -Keaschall learns LF/RF only)

if your are serious about the future of your team, Martin isn’t on this club, so Shaw takes his spot. I saw Shaw play at University of Maryland many of games, all infield minus 1st base positional flexibility. Cubs pushed him to OF with their infielders being set with Bregman addition.

I feel like Mgmt will run Caratini and Jackson out there, don’t like it but that looks like what they will do

[Cris E]

35 minutes ago, umterp23 said:

Royce Lewis to Cubs for Matt Shaw (Shaw is your Utility Guy -Keaschall learns LF/RF only)

if your are serious about the future of your team, Martin isn’t on this club, so Shaw takes his spot. I saw Shaw play at University of Maryland many of games, all infield minus 1st base positional flexibility. Cubs pushed him to OF with their infielders being set with Bregman addition.

So Shaw is available because the infield is full and he's without a position, so the person to trade him for is... another infielder? Why would the Cubs do this? 

[sweetmusicviola16]

I'm neither here nor there on the return of Lewis. Though since he will be relatively cheap and has the 1/1 draft pick still on his resume I suspect that he will be back.  And he has low trade value. As a fan I have moved on from him. I have zero expectations. But as a fan my opinion is that this player should need to earn his spot on the team and every inning he plays and at bat that he gets. Enough of 1/1 meriting anything for Lewis. 

[Riverbrian]

4 hours ago, MeleMouth said:

The issue is that it's not just Bauers vs. Lewis.

BTW... I'm an advocate of Bauers and Lewis being both on our 26 man roster in 2027. 

[Cris E]

OK, let's have some fun. I just read Jim Bowden's free agent piece over the The Athletic and I am going to BELIEVE* HIM! 

*  I will also follow this up with a more plausible posting later.

1. Jeffers is only worth 2/$15m, so we do that. Heck, maybe go 3/$25m if I have that second mimosa for breakfast.

2. Bauers is only going to cost 4/$56m, but I assume he'll really want more so 4/$60m. 

3. Sign free agents Jason Adam and Brian Abreu for the pen, come "close" on Morjon.

4. Offer Lewis a lowball deal and trade him if he balks.  ATL might take a flyer on Royce as a replacement for Albies. Sign Larnach and keep him for DH unless you can find a trade out there. 

 

 

[LyleCole]

16 hours ago, AceWrigley said:

E-Rod has no options remaining so he would have to pass through waivers to be sent down. Another team would claim him in a New York minute.

I would not put that past the Twins....

[Cris E]

OK, now that I bothered doing that my real plan only differs in how much those first two would actually cost. 

1. Still sign Jeffers, but probably only to 3/$50m or 4/$60m.   

2. Bauers might go for more than 4/$56m, but stay in for a while. Lowe if you don't like where it ends up. Clemens can cover the other spot. 

3. and 4. are the same.

5.  I think they do need to get comfortable with the idea of trading young talent.  They sent out the widely recognized Hill and the provincially valued Kline for Hoffman, and chances are good that'll never haunt them too badly.  I like watching ERod play, lots of style and flair, but if he comes out cold next spring I'm not sure we have the intestinal fortitude to leave him on the bench with a .117 ahead of Martin, for example.  Not sure what they target, but during this winter I encourage Tinney to find  1B glove. 

 

[Scott51104]

"Not sure what they target, but during this winter I encourage Tinney to find a 1B glove."

Agreed