The Twins Are Building an Offensive Foundation That Could Last for Years

10 hours ago, MikeNC said:

I love this thinking!  This is the only way for the Twins to have a shot at a WS run.  Aside from the obvious challanges of that many young guys all excelling to champ callibre at once is the $140MM which is quite a hike from the current $100MM targeted run rate.

Selling Ryan this offseason or Lopez a year from now will bring the $ 140M down alot! 2 years out 7/28, I would expect both Ryan and Lopez will be gone but I sure hope they are still here! 

5 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

That is not a good thing to me if he is.  He knows nothing about evaluating players or what is needed to run the day to day operations.  But it also doesn't mean the previous executive owners were this way, especially Jim.  I know Tom P. has said he is trying to learn about the business but he needs to hire people who know what they are doing and let them do their job. 

Agreed! As long as the right guys are making the right decisions, the organization can/will flourish!  The past few drafts have been very good and hiring Shelty seems like it’s working.  Hopefully player development takes a leap and gets these kids to shine in MLB!

2 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

Perhaps you are not aware that the Twins spent more money on player's salaries during the entirety (add it all up) of Derek Falvey's tenure than any of the other teams in their division. 

Perhaps you have been a victim of the full-on anti-ownership writing since the budget was cut after the 2023 season. Perhaps you think that ownership scouts and signs players. 

Perhaps you believe that teams like the Twins (might include Milwaukee, Kansas City, Cleveland, and more) have the ability to run payrolls just below the Dodgers, Yankees, and a few others.

I do not know the Pohlads. I find it useless to laud (as they were in 1987) or condemn them (current time period). The front office has a budget and builds the team. Milwaukee, Tampa Bay, Cleveland and all others do the same. Perhaps you feel there is secret money somewhere being hoarded. I can't know what you beliefs are regarding the Twins.

The current front office is busy attempting to build a competitive team. The success of their efforts will be know in a decade. Winning a World Series is always the goal but If winning a World Series is the only barometer of success, then every team but the Los Angeles Dodgers were horrible failures and losers.

I'm enjoying the current team and a number of the prospects in the minor leagues. Ownership is not my concern.

Found the Pohlad burner account...

15 hours ago, LyleCole said:

IT isn't an opinion, it is fact.

In the past 15 years the Twins have had a total payroll above the median payroll 2 times,  peaking at 12th place in 2000 ****ing 12.  They were 15th in payroll in 2023.

In the past 15 years the Twins have only spent more than the league average once, in 2012, by $3 million.   Even with that outlier year, they have underspent the average MLB payroll by $24.8 million annually.  

Please, signing Puckett and Mauer are anecdotal and not even close to an argument.  

And here is what it meant:  in the last 15 seasons we have gone to the playoffs 4 times.  We have one single playoff win to show for it, with a playoff record in that stretch of 1-9.

If the owners spend the money to just the league average adding 1-2 quality players to the roster, they could have been contenders, not pretenders.  

If they want to spend money now to make this team competitive, then do it and acquire some players at the deadline and make the contract offers to Jeffers and Ryan needed to retain them, along with other high end players. 

If they do not, then dump everything that moves to build up the prospect bank so that in a handful of years we can become competitive.  

So, what you should do,  "IN MY OPINION",  is to use your vast knowledge of the FACTS, to build a portfolio large enough to buy the Twins, appoint yourself as the GM and President of baseball operations, and build a winner.  Because it's obvious that you have all the facts and the expertise.  My point is, that none of us really knows what the business requires to happen, and I doubt that any of us knows as much as the scouting dept. and front office knows about the players and which ones can actually be had for the price we are willing to pay.  This started as a response to all the negativity about Zoll, and I'm just saying that maybe we should give him a chance to build a team before we beat him with a bat.

@LyleCole The Twins have the prospect assets to field a long time competitive team as soon as next season. It may be the best long term strategy to sell Jeffery, Ryan, Bell and Larnach to go even younger and deeper. No idea what Zoll has cooking and what budget constraints he has to work with so it is a wait and see. It would not be a huge surprise to see the organization hoard more prospects and go thru another no post season now and look for a fresh start under the new collective bargaining agreement. 

23 hours ago, mikelink45 said:

The enthusiasm is great, but I am on hold.  Lackey has not even hit a minor league pitch, and he seems to be anointed the catcher of the future, but Tait, Diaw, and Tinney have something to say about that.  For all I know he will be a Levi Michaels.  What I am interested in will be the promotion of Jenkins and Houston - those two look like they could become stars.  

One of the catchers better pan out since the rube base seems convinced we need to move Jeffers cuz we'd get a return the size of Mount Everest. 

4 hours ago, Heiny said:

So, what you should do,  "IN MY OPINION",  is to use your vast knowledge of the FACTS, to build a portfolio large enough to buy the Twins, appoint yourself as the GM and President of baseball operations, and build a winner.  Because it's obvious that you have all the facts and the expertise.  My point is, that none of us really knows what the business requires to happen, and I doubt that any of us knows as much as the scouting dept. and front office knows about the players and which ones can actually be had for the price we are willing to pay.  This started as a response to all the negativity about Zoll, and I'm just saying that maybe we should give him a chance to build a team before we beat him with a bat.

How many burner accounts do the Pohlads have!?

10 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Jeffers won’t be a Twin next year unless they pay him more than any other team is willing to pay him.

pay him

On 7/19/2026 at 11:22 PM, DocBauer said:

Look, the truth is AA is when prospects start to show they have actual ML potential. And it's a tough adjustment. Sometimes it takes a whole season, or a season and a half to make that adjustment. And that's just NOT a worry point. Only a few 21-22yo are special enough to blow by AA. But the TOP Twins prospects are pretty much already at AAA, with a couple at AA.

Rodriguez is a special talent who just needs to stay healthy. IMO, either Larnach or Wallner should have been gone to make room for him. He should have been used the way the Brewers used Chourio, let him develop at the ML level and live with some struggles. MAYBE he doesn't have another silly thumb injury. Sliding doors scenario. 

The Twins SHOULD have been smart enough to just dump Outman and keep Roden. At least, by this point, you have an idea of what he could be. Just RIDICULOUS roster construction because you STILL don't know what you traded for almost a year ago! But ego or paranoia you were so scared about DEPTH you yet again IGNORED TALENT vs obscure depth.

Zoll should be embarrassed how this was handled.

In a good way, the Twins are in competition for a WC, maybe even a chance to win the ALC outright. But it does question the future of the team going forward. 

I seriously doubt Larnach and Bell are back next season. That means it's FINALLY TIME to promote.

Rodriguez MIGHT get another option season. But he's also ML ready based on talent and projection. Personally, I'm beyond ready to just live with growth and projection and see how he turns out.

I understand the Jenkins love and anticipation of his debut. He's got all the talent in the world. And he's doing really well as a 21yo at AAA. But can we pause for a moment to realize he's still figuring things out as a 21yo? Most guys his age are in A ball. I think he's really close, and I'd love to see him debut this season, but I'm OK if he needs a little more time to work on his power stroke. But he's damn close to arriving. 

K-Pepper is going to be up soon. He's got everything you want from an INF, including the ability to play SS. But there's a real chance a year or so from now where we are debating who is best at 3B and 2B with Houston taking over SS and being the best defender we've had in ages, even though he's continued to look like a solid bat as well.

So yeah, I'm fully on board for what I see as a really good lineup over the next couple of seasons.

Rodriguez and Jenkins in the corners as early as opening day, allowing for slight delays. Buxton remains in CF, of course, and Keaschall can play all over.

The STARTING 2027 INF will be Lee, K-Pepper,  Clemens, and Lewis. Houston MIGHT be ready at some point in 2027, but if it's late 2027, or 2028, I'm still OK. Clemens is still a part of depth. And Kreidler has established himself this season, but MIGHT see a challenge Ross at some point.

And let's not forget Lackey at catcher. Or did we forget the OP is about the near future? 

Sorry to fans with wishes, but he's not going to be ready until 2028 at the earliest.  He only recently turned 21yo. And while he's regarded as an outstanding backstop, there's still stuff to learn. 

But the OP is correct. Not everyone will turn out. Some prospects will fail. Some will meet their potential. Some will be OK. A few prospects will be traded.

But it's really hard to not to be excited with an OF of Rodriguez, Buxton...potentially resigned for a couple more seasons as an OF and DH...and Jenkins, with Keaschall as a utility OF/INF.

And an INF of Lee, K-Pepper, Clemens, and Lewis.  And then Houston moves K-Pepper to 2B. KC could move Lee to 2B, but I really like Lee at 3B and KC becoming one of the best 2B in MLB. The only question might be Lewis at 1B 2yrs from now. Is he a FA, or a Twin. Time will tell.

But as the OP states, there is the potential for a hell of a good lineup with offense and defense starting as early as 2027.

I understand that MOST kids Jenkins' age are in the low minors.  I was hoping Jenkins wasn't MOST kids.  But some are.  Kevin McGonigle was an all-star.  Mike Trout, Eddie Matthews, Ted Williams, Bryce Harper were.  Do we want MOST kids or do we want those guys?

On 7/18/2026 at 7:30 AM, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Keashall is finding himself and allowing his natural athleticism to be aggressive I. The outfield. Suddenly the confidence allows his bat to take again. 
 

You have 5 high fielding players Lackey, Jenkins Rodriguez, Culpepper and Houston. All of those at their development or skill level are fairly projectable. 
 

After that you have guys with one or more question marks- Mendez good bat what’s his defensive position- Tait, Winokur, Young and Tinney- can the hit tools be good enough. There is also defensive questions on these 4 as well and what their ultimate position is. 
 

in either case we appear to have a core to build around offensively. Continuing to find elite to good starters will continue to be the question mark. We can supplement this team with minimal investment. Tait and Rodriguez have enough questions I would be fine flipping for more long term help to the team. Beyond that- it’s trying to get pitching healthy- and get the pitchers at the correct levels to continue to develop. We have minimal hits for pitching in the 23/24 classes so 25 and 26 will have to hit on some. 

I am personally high on Young.  If he continues to refine his hit tool and power (which he is doing in earnest), he could become the next Nelson Cruz.  He has a long way to go and may not get there, but it is up to the Twins to develop his hitting skills.  He has enormous power for a 19 year old.  He might lead the next wave in 3-4 years.