Griffin Jax to Move to the Rotation?

Why mess with success? Jax was an unmitigated disaster in the rotation and he was our best reliever last season. The bullpen needs more talent in it, not less. Feels like they might be prepping for trading one of their starters away.

BBRef has an item on this topic:

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/11/twins-rumors-griffin-jax-rotation-starter.html

The article makes quite a bit of sense for a team trying to do more with less money. 

I feel like there are 3 options here, 2 more likely...

1) They truly are going to try him as a starter, as they think he could be a high end starter. If he can transition and his stuff and command stay about the same, theoretically it could work.

2) They are open to trading him, and they are saying this to build up his potential value. There are probably teams out there asking about him thinking they can turn him to a starter ongoing, and the Twins would want starter level value back in trade vs reliever level value coming back.

IF both of these don't happen, obviously he is a high end reliever. But relievers can be so fungible in terms of results year to year.

3 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Jax's value has to be extremely high already, I'm not sure it would improve a ton by dangling the starter angle, but I suppose it doesn't hurt.

I generally have no interest in trading him, particularly if it's just more prospects. But if this talk of him starting is because he's demanding/aggressively asking for it, then I almost think you have to. This team absolutely CANNOT let one player dictate where he wants to play unless they're going to let all the players with leverage to do the same. They're already walking a thin line with Royce Lewis. 

Yeah see, to me I wouldn't trade him for prospects either. I would very much listen to bring back a player or players that can help the 2025 roster. And my value for him would be VERY high.

12 hours ago, Seth Stohs said:

I don't care what Jax did in his first 15 or 18 or however many/few starts as a rookie. He's a completely different pitcher now. But I tend to agree with the "why mess with success?" thinking. I wonder how he would have to change his approach to be able to throw 75-95 pitches in a game. He's so valuable out of the bullpen because he airs it out for 1 innings at a time. He thrives on that adrenaline. You just can't be that hyped for 4-6 innings as a starter. Just can't. So, I think there are challenges and concerns that are fair. 

The second half of your post explains why I care about Jax's first handful of starts - his stuff was far more hittable when he was trying to go multiple innings. I'm sure he has improved and tweaked his pitches in other respects, but the whole concept of "airing it out 1 inning at a time" and "adrenaline" is the reason why so many AAAA starters become good to great relievers. There is some recent precedent to relievers going back to being starters - Lugo and Littell (a guy who looked just like Jax as a starter) come to mind - but it's risky. Especially when we know that this team isn't going to sign a bullpen replacement in free agency.

The BBRef article said that Jax' velo uptick is more than the standard for someone transitioning to the bullpen. It would figure that Jax would maintain most of the increase in velocity he has achieved. He has also added more plus pitches even while converting to a bullpen arm.

There are no certainties, but it is possible Jax could become an elite starting pitcher. The economic realities are that it would be good for both Jax and the Twins if he could become that type of starting pitcher.