Offseason Status Update: Castellano Aboard, Casting a Net for Trades

During the Winter Meetings in Dallas last week, Derek Falvey confirmed some things that we mostly knew to be true: The Minnesota Twins are prioritizing trades over free agency, and for roster additions, they are targeting a first baseman and a right-handed outfield bat. As I wrote earlier this month, the front office's ability to take action this winter is contingent on making a significant trade – if not to acquire the help they need directly, then to free up spending room for such endeavors. 

From my view, a trade that swaps out quality pitching for an impact hitter feels like almost an inevitability. The Twins have some really conspicuous gaps in their position-player depth, with no experienced options at first base and guys like Austin Martin, DaShawn Keirsey Jr. and Michael Helman lined up for key roles. Meanwhile, their pitching staff is already pretty full up here in mid-December, to the extent that credible candidates like David Festa and Louie Varland are on the outside looking in. 

The projected pitching group became more crowded last week with new addition to the roster.

Twins Select RHP Eiberson Castellano from Philadelphia in Rule 5 Draft
Not since Falvey's first full year at the helm, back in 2017, have the Twins taken a player in the Rule 5 draft. That year, they selected Tyler Kinley out of the Marlins system following a strong showing from Kinley in the Dominican Winter League. The hard-throwing righty ended up making the roster out of spring training, but lasted only four appearances before being designated for assignment in late April. 

This year, with the ninth pick in the Rule 5, Minnesota picked right-hander Eiberson Castellano, the reigning Phillies minor league pitcher of the year. The 23-year-old is coming off an impressive season between High-A and Double-A (103.2 IP, 3.99 ERA, 11 HR, 136-to-29 K/BB). He boasts a mid-90s fastball, a heavily featured breaking ball, and a developing changeup that Minnesota seems to have some belief in.

It's far from a lock that Castellano will make the Opening Day roster, or stay there long if he does, but I don't believe the Twins make this pick unless they're tentatively writing him into their plans. Castellano was primarily a starter in Philadelphia's system this past season, logging 104 innings across 22 appearances, but it sounds like the Twins are envisioning him as a long man out of their bullpen. This could make him a good fit for the team's needs.

Taking a Rule 5 gamble is potentially the kind of crafty, low-cost value add that the front office needs to be pursuing given its constraints. However, the implications of bringing Castellano into the fold are notable. If he ends up with a spot in the Twins bullpen – alongside currently-slated occupants Jhoan Durán, Griffin Jax, Cole Sands, Jorge Alcalá, Brock Stewart, Michael Tonkin and Justin Topa – there is no room for anyone else. But that can't be it. The unit currently lacks a left-hander. Are they really going to send Varland back to Triple-A as a 27-year-old? 

Yes, things can and often do figure themselves out, but still I can't imagine the Twins head into camp with this same relief corps makeup. Something's gotta give.

Griffin Jax Rotation Conversion Unlikely?
One shakeup that would create flexibility in the bullpen would be transitioning Jax back into a starting role, which has become a prevalent talking point this offseason. However, according to Bobby Nightengale's report from the Winter Meetings, "The Twins haven’t closed the door on the idea of using Griffin Jax as a starting pitcher next season, but it appears unlikely."

"There are Twins officials who think he could succeed at it with his pitch mix, even if his velocity slightly declined while throwing more innings," Nightingale writes, "but Jax knows he’s one of the most dominant relievers in the league, too."

This doesn't mean it won't happen. The fact that Twins decision-makers "haven't closed the door on the idea" here in mid-December tells me it's something that's been seriously weighed. I'm of two minds on the subject because while I think there's validity to the stated point about his deep pitch mix, Jax was legitimately one of the two or three most valuable relief pitchers in the league. Tough to mess with that. 

Twins Interested in Re-signing Santana
Nightengale reports also that the Twins have interest in a reunion with Carlos Santana. This comes as no real surprise, given his successful fit in 2024 and Minnesota's lack of a clear replacement for the free agent first baseman. But simply signing Santana to the same deal as they did this year (1 year, $5 million) would require clearing about $10 million of payroll to align with the perceived ownership cap of $130 million.

The problem is that if he has any interest elsewhere, Santana probably doesn't want to wait around until the Twins can find a taker for Christian Vázquez or whomever. The urgency built by this contingency is why I believe the front office will buck its trend of waiting until the late stage of the offseason to make any trades. 

Then again, there are no signs anything is close to materializing right now, and we're coming up on that two-week holiday period where major moves rarely take place. So maybe they are just going to wait, wait, wait.

Front Office Calms Fears of a Correa Trade
The team's unwillingness to rule out a Carlos Correa trade has caused plenty of anxiety with fans this offseason, myself included. While the stance of listening on any player is understandable, some of the quotes from Falvey almost started to sound like he was welcoming offers for the shortstop, who has a full no-trade clause. These rumors and rumblings strike a nerve only because of their viability, in the scope of frustrating spending limitations being imposed from ownership. 

Fortunately, team officials have since taken steps to downplay that possibility. Among them was Rocco Baldelli, who (rightfully) reiterated how critically important Correa is to the team and its outlook. "When you take a guy away who’s one of the top players in the game … you’re really going to be left searching and looking to figure things out," Baldelli said. Uh, yeah. 

Per Nightengale, "The speculation surrounding Correa’s availability was overblown this week, club officials indicated, as they continue to emphasize they are not doing anything more than their normal due diligence when asked about any of their best players. They have no desire to shop Correa despite their own payroll limitations, which they’ve communicated to teams."

My fears of a financially-driven Correa trade won't be put to bed until the Twins make some sort of actual move for payroll relief, but it's reassuring that the organization – not exactly known for its PR prowess of late – was compelled to get the word out and prevent this from becoming the overriding narrative in their barren offseason. The idea that they'd even be open to trading Correa at all in their current state is just sad.

2025 Roster & Payroll Projection
Minnesota's current projected roster, below, is interesting to behold. On the one hand, you've got a pitching staff that looks all but finalized. We might see Varland or a left-hander sneak into the bullpen somehow, but they've got all the personnel they need. On the other hand, you've got an offense with so many clearly troubling uncertainties, and that's before you potentially trade someone like Vázquez or Willi Castro to get clear under the payroll mandate. 

Is José Miranda really going to be your primary starter at first? There's been talk of moving Royce Lewis to second but then what happens at third? Is Brooks Lee going to start in the majors after looking overmatched as a rookie? Keirsey and Martin are the top backup outfielders? Like I said, something's gotta give.