Cody Pirkl

I agree with the point that these good young hitters should get a chance to sink or swim against same handed pitching certainly. I think it needs to be looked at with a bit of nuance and on a case by case basis when it comes to pinch hitting. I think at times the Twins got carried away with their platooning when they were pulling players in the 2nd or 3rd inning to get that platoon matchup, only to not have an option to adjust back in the later innings when another pitching change was made. The opposite side of this argument is that there will be times in the late innings where everyone would agree that Kyle Farmer should pinch hit for Julien against Aroldis Chapman for example. There's plenty of space in between these two scenarios to get these guys at least some exposure which I believe is your point. I also think it's worth noting that the Twins may be more open to letting a lefty or two stay in the lineup against a southpaw if guys like Buxton and Correa are taking care of business. There were times last season where the lineup needed every percentage point of an advantage that they could possibly get

People have a lot of opinions on this one I guess! I remember an article of mine from way back in the day regarding the likelihood of the Twins non-tendering Eddie Rosario the following offseason that really blew up. Sometimes you get to writing about a topic and more people have strong thoughts on it than expected. It's fun to see people so involved with such little news to react to to be honest. The views on articles and where those views come from i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Google etc. are tracked privately. Not sure if there's a grand total on the amount of comments individual writers draw in!

It's all dependent on the market and many teams are on the same boat. Consider this though: The Twins last year traded Luis Arraez for Pablo Lopez and two prospects, extended Lopez for below market value, and then he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. We can't count on that every time, but if they can make a similar deal for a pitcher they think they can improve, it's a much more effective route to take than doing something like bringing Sonny Gray back on the deal he got based on the healthiest and most effective season he's had since 2019. It all comes down to making the best addition and not necessarily how much money is being spent. A lot of times those two factors don't line up.

I think every team sees Polanco as a startable 2B with the ability to fill in at 3B and a bat worthy of DH on occasion, I just think we overrate how much that profile is worth in trade. I do think adding Festa or even ERod would significantly increase the return. Probably depends on the team and what they think of the other player.

FWIW, Ken Griffey Jr. was 11% below league average in his career vs LHP. Just something to keep in mind regarding the possibility that Julien is a legitimate impact hitter that will likely struggle vs LHP for his entire career to at least some degree.

And I didn't agree with Julien's platooning at all times last season either. The day he started at 2B against an opener and was pulled before he got an AB was downright ridiculous. I will say part of the reason they platooned him as aggressively as they did was because they had a bench with players like Solano and Farmer who gave them a significant upgrade in those matchups. Would it be better to let him take most of those at bats for his development's sake? Probably, but those bench players were on the team for those specific spots. The 48 PAs he had vs LHP may not be a strong enough sample size to say he needs to be platooned for the rest of his career, but he did struggle exceptionally in those spots, and it is a mark against him especially because that's typically the way those lefty on lefty matchups play out. I'm not saying ship him out because he may not hit lefties, but if they view Julien and Lee in a similar light, the switch hitter may have the tie breaker.

Strongly agree. He made a few horrible plays that really stick in our minds. He also made some incredible plays down the stretch at the end of the season, and became more reliable overall. The fact that the Twins have insisted on keeping him there should be enough for fans to trust that he's capable of playing an acceptable 2B.

Yup, and that's certainly a consideration as well, but the way they're already platooning Julien tells me they don't expect him to overcome that issue. It's also just a better bet to expect the guy capable of hitting right-handed to be able to develop vs LHP than the left-handed hitter. I'm just playing devil's advocate here and trying to consider how the FO might weigh things. I'll be forthcoming and say I would strongly prefer to keep Julien over Lee if one had to be traded. The success he's shown in the MLB is hard to beat.

I'm not saying he's doomed to be platooned forever, but his platoon split history is absolutely a consideration the front office will have and is a strike against him when comparing him to a switch hitter. FWIW I'd continue to play him against LHP whenever possible in 2025 and I believe he's still a game changer even if he has to occasionally take a day off with a lefty on the mound.

He also has an OPS of around .700 vs LHP in the minors between 2022 and 2023. It's not a knock on him, there are very few LHHs who hit LHP consistently well in baseball history. It's a consideration with Brooks Lee being a switch hitter.

For Lee or Julien it would absolutely have to be for a high end starter to part with them. I think we need to be realistic on Jorge Polanco's trade value. Eugenio Suarez was traded earlier this offseason for a backup catcher and lottery ticket minor league reliever. Suarez has a similar contract to Polanco with team control for 2024 and a team option in 2025 for $3m more. He was basically exactly as valuable as Polanco on a per game basis, except he played all 162 games in 2024, whereas Polanco's injury concerns continue to pop up and he only played in 80. I think Suarez is going to be the closest trade comp to Polanco we'll see this offseason in terms of an aging infielder with a 2025 team option, and the return he brought was miles away from anywhere close to a high end starting pitcher. It was basically a salary dump by Seattle, and they're likely a worse team for trading him.

Right now they have Julien and Polanco locked and loaded at 2B to begin 2024. Brooks Lee is in Triple-A, and I'd bet he's putting up numbers that warrant a promotion pretty early into the season. Austin Martin already put up such numbers in St. Paul last season (though he can play the OF). That's four legitimate options for second base, plus Kyle Farmer who can mix in, all either at the MLB level or knocking on the door. If you're looking to trade anyone, that group is the most obvious. It also costs something to get something. They're not getting an ace for a package of low level guys. If a team is trading a high end starter, it's to get something of significance in return. A trade calculator and say Brent Headrick, Yasser Mercedes, Jose Miranda, and Connor Prielipp gets you close in value to trading one top prospect, but why would a team have any interest in that return for what is probably one of their best starting pitchers?

That's the preferred route, but much like calling for a $200m payroll, just because they should do it, doesn't mean they will. I just don't see them spending that kind of money and this is an alternative.

The Twins have a perfect storm of factors this winter that could lead to a young position player being shipped out. Two players look like viable options, but which makes the most sense? Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports The Twins have payroll limitations, starting pitching needs, and a logjam at second base. With Jorge Polanco's proximity to free agency limiting his trade value somewhat, trading one of Brooks Lee or Edouard Julien could be something the front office will consider before Opening Day. Each player has plenty of arguments for and against trading them. Keeping Brooks Lee The Twins were fortunate that Lee fell to them at 8th overall in the 2022 draft. Before Walker Jenkins, Lee was the undisputed top prospect in the system, and is still a top-20 global prospect by many rankings. Lee is a versatile and well-rounded prospect who is likely to become at least a solid everyday MLB player. He’s also near-MLB-ready, after making it to Triple A in 2023 and should be a contributor at some point in 2024. With such a well-regarded prospect who isn’t far from making an MLB impact, it’s hard to blame anyone who wants to hold onto Lee and let his career play out in a Twins uniform. Trading Brooks Lee For a player with such a high floor. Lee lacks elite tools that jump off the page. That’s not to say that he can’t have an incredible baseball career, but many would argue that he lacks the ceiling of becoming an elite MLB player. There’s nothing wrong with a solid all-around regular, but if another team sees Lee’s ceiling as higher than the Twins front office thinks it is, they may look to cash in. Lee also doesn’t have a track record of success at the MLB level. After dominating Double A for most of 2023, he was promoted to St. Paul, where he posted a .732 OPS. He also struggled against left-handed pitching for much of 2023, and if that trend continues, it might downgrade his ceiling a bit. Lee is still a fantastic prospect and one worth betting on, but there is a world where cashing in on his current value pays off, if it brings in a legitimate rotation piece and clears up the logjam at second base. Keeping Edouard Julien Julien’s elite eye at the plate and ability to crush mistakes resulted in a .263/.381/.459 slash line in his rookie season, 36 percent better than a league-average hitter. He slumped in August, but was a key contributor at the top of the Twins lineup through October, when he hit his first postseason home run. Julien looks like he can be one of the best leadoff hitters in all of baseball, and he’s under team control through 2029. The main complaint against Edouard Julien is his defense, which was a significant problem when he debuted. He did improve as the season went on, even while moving to first base occasionally. He finished with -3 Outs Above Average at second base. If this sounds unmanageable, consider that Jorge Polanco had an identical mark in, and measures like Universal Zone Rating also have the two very close. Julien may not be the butcher in the field many consider him to be. Trading Edouard Julien Julien has been shielded from left-handed pitching for good reason. In 48 plate appearances against southpaws, he owns a .447 OPS in his young career. His walk rate of 17.2% against right-handed pitching drops to 4.2% against lefties. He may improve as he matures, but if he doesn’t, he'll go from stud leadoff man to needing to be platooned. This isn’t unmanageable, since he’d still be able to play almost every day, but it will tighten the roster if the Twins also plan to platoon Alex Kirilloff and Matt Wallner, assuming all three remain on the roster. There’s also the Luis Arraez concern, as the bar to clear offensively becomes higher if Julien moves to first base. We can hope he’s made strides at second and will continue to do so, but if his defense becomes untenable, he only has first base and designated hitter on which to fall back. His rookie season output would slot in just fine at either spot, but his overall value would take a hit, and the Twins could look to capitalize on it before that value drop-off happens. Prospects who haven’t debuted often get credit for what they may become. While pedigree is a worthwhile consideration, there’s little substitute for actual performance at the MLB level. The Twins have to weigh the performance of Julien in MLB against what they think Lee will be able to do when he makes his debut. For two players with such different styles, it’s a difficult task. Can Lee approach the value provided by Julien’s offense alone? If not, how good must he be in other aspects of the game to bridge the gap? These are the questions the Twins would face if they dip into their infield logjam to acquire a high-end starting pitcher in trade. There may be other pieces they could move to acquire a significant addition to the rotation, but choosing between Lee and Julien is the most obvious. Should the Twins prefer to trade Brooks Lee for pitching, or Edouard Julien? Should they be open to trading either player this winter? Let us know below! View full article

I think his days as a starter are over mostly due to injury unfortunately.

Josh Winder’s 2021 breakout minor league season seems like a long time ago, as the 27-year-old is still looking for his footing in the MLB. Could a new pitch be his ticket to contributing to the MLB roster in 2024? Image courtesy of Jonathan Dyer, USA TODAY Sports Josh Winder appeared to be a late-round draft success story in 2021 when he posted a sub 2.00 ERA in Double-A while striking out more than a batter per inning. Health has gotten in his way since, as has a fastball that has been crushed when he’s been healthy. Now a reliever, Winder appeared to find a way to adjust in 2023 with a new pitch. Could it make him a legitimate bullpen piece moving forward? Winder has an excellent set of secondary pitches. His slider was his most used pitch, holding hitters to a sub-.200 average and sub .300 slugging percentage. His changeup was more than adequate for holding down left-handed hitters. A mid-90s fastball should be plenty to make him an adequate reliever, if not a dominant one. Unfortunately, that fastball just hasn’t gotten it done. In his two seasons of MLB action, Winder’s fastball has allowed 11 of the 14 homers he’s allowed in his career. The pitch had significant red flags in 2022 before getting hit even harder in 2023. Last season, Winder’s heater allowed an average exit velocity of 95.7 mph. Shohei Ohtani had an average exit velocity of 94.4 in 2023. Finally, in August, Winder and the Twins made a change. Instead of chasing whiffs with a four-seam up in the zone, they opted for less damaging contact. Winder added a sinker and threw it 5.5% of the time in August and 12.5% of the time in September. In an admittedly small sample, it worked. It’s probably safe to assume that Winder will continue to hone his new fastball headed into 2024. The shape makes it a liability, no matter how hard he throws his four-seam. It’s time to try something new, even if it comes at the cost of a few whiffs. Health has likely sapped Winder’s hopes of carving out a rotation spot at this point and leaning on a sinker may limit his upside in the bullpen as his strikeouts likely decrease. Still, the Twins won’t rely on Winder to develop into a high-leverage reliever with Brock Stewart, Griffin Jax, and Jhoan Duran in the fold. Instead, a successful spring could earn Winder a middle relief role, where the Twins came up short plenty of times early on in the 2023 season. Replacing his four-seam fastball with even an average sinker should result in more consistency, and his pitch sequencing will be interesting to watch. His four-seam only had a 6.5% whiff rate, and it’s possible a sinker wouldn’t have much of a drop-off in whiffs, if any. The book still needs to be written on Josh Winder, and while he may not wind up in the rotation as we once hoped, he still has the opportunity to be a valuable pitcher for the Twins moving forward. He has an option remaining, making him flexible for how the Twins cycle the roster. Despite being 27 years old, he won’t be arbitration-eligible until 2026. The Twins have every reason to give Winder a chance to succeed in 2024, and the early results on his sinker say he could be a surprise contributor. Is Josh Winder’s new fastball worth being excited about? Could he find himself pitching in the middle innings in 2024? Let us know below! View full article

Donovan Solano has made it known that he’d love a reunion with the Minnesota Twins. Is there a fit for the surprise 2023 contributor on the 2024 squad? Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports After being added to the roster just over a month before the season began, Donovan Solano played a surprisingly significant role for the Twins in 2023. He publicly announced that he would like to join the Twins roster again in 2024. Is there a realistic fit? Solano performed exceptionally well in 2023. He appeared in 134 games, slashing .282/.369/.391. He was 16 percent above a league-average hitter in his age-35 season, while mixing in at first, second, and third base. He was also a great counterbalance in the record-settingly strikeout-prone lineup, only whiffing 22.2 percent of the time. For such a versatile complementary player, the Twins could look to bring him back, though it’s far from a straightforward decision. Solano would undoubtedly be returning in the same role he had in 2023. He can be the right-handed platoon option for a (hopefully healthy) Alex Kirilloff at first base, cycling into the DH spot against southpaws and sprinkling in some time across the rest of the infield as needed. The problem is that the Twins may be less in need of such a role than ever. In addition to players such as Edouard Julien and Royce Lewis cementing themselves in the Twins' everyday lineup, we should expect to see more prospects (such as Austin Martin and Brooks Lee) debut in 2024. Despite Jose Miranda’s disastrous 2023, he remains an obvious candidate to fill in as a right-handed platoon partner for Kirilloff or the DH spot. He’ll be cheaper in 2024, and the upside is likely higher for Miranda, if he returns to good health. Making matters even more complicated, the Twins tendered a contract to Kyle Farmer, who can fill in at all the same positions as Solano and then some. If the Twins want to insulate themselves against injuries to the same extent that they did last year when they brought Solano in, they might do it differently. At this point, the most significant injury concern has to be Kirilloff. The former top prospect has suffered from several season-ending injuries, to the point where the Twins may want to consider a backup or platoon mate with him at first base, capable of providing a lot more should Kirilloff continue to miss time. Given the Twins reportedly reducing payroll, it may seem unlikely that they will bring in a big bat at this point. Still, they may be shedding some salary in trade and could view a legitimate option for first base as a priority, behind a starting pitcher. Solano had a great 2023 season, but acquiring a higher-caliber bat may be a wiser investment if someone like Polanco or Kepler is shipped out. Even with all of these considerations, it’s possible to envision a reunion. The roster is far from a finished product. The Twins appear to be waiting for the uncertainty around their expired TV deal and future broadcast rights to be resolved, and for more of the market to develop. When things get rolling, we may see multiple players of all calibers and positions shipped out in trade, opening a door for Donny Barrels. He may have increased risk due to age, but even after his outstanding 2023 season, Solano probably won’t break the bank. It will come down to his fit on the roster, and whether the Twins will look to continue to accumulate as much depth as possible. Are we better off letting Donovan Solano sign elsewhere in 2024? Should the Twins give him a call if a spot opens, or even prioritize a Donny Barrels reunion? Let us know below! View full article

The baseball world, particularly in Twins territory, had frozen over this offseason as little Twins-related news had popped up since the end of the 2023 season. That all changed when Miguel Sano hit the home run that echoed throughout Minnesota. Image courtesy of Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports The former Twins slugger Miguel Sano has taken a hiatus from the MLB since a knee injury ended his 2022 season. After a midseason workout in 2023 failed to draw in more suitors, Sano returned home to the Dominican Republic where he joined the winter league. In what has been an offseason with little to talk about, Sano sent Twins fans into a frenzy. Okay, maybe frenzy is aggressive, but anything constitutes Twins news these days. The former Twins' top prospect and lineup mainstay is attempting a comeback for 2024 and is hoping to draw eyes while playing for the Estrellas Orientales. In just under 30 games thus far, Sano hasn’t lit the world on fire with a sub-.800 OPS. His trademark power hasn’t been displayed very often, but the home run he hit recently had Twins fans reminiscing about the good old days. It’s certainly possible that some team will give Sano a shot in 2024, perhaps on a minor-league deal. Could a reunion be in the cards? To be honest, probably not. The Twins have come a long way from their “Bomba Squad” identity, with a new style overall and an almost wholly reworked core. Not that they couldn’t use another power bat, but Sano isn’t a great fit. Alex Kirilloff is presumed to be the starting first baseman in 2024. While he could use a right-handed platoon option to offset him, Sano isn’t a fit for the role. The Twins also like to rotate players around the DH spot. Sano bouncing back to the degree that warrants at-bats as a designated hitter is a long way, and even if all goes perfectly, the Twins would likely prefer to keep things flexible. It is also a good idea to take a year off from dedicating a lineup spot to a bat guaranteed to strike out 35+% of the time. Even on a minor-league deal without risk, the Twins may be better off giving opportunities to younger players like Chris Williams or Aaron Sabato, even though their ceilings may not be incredibly high. Between the Twins and Sano, one or both parties may prefer to recognize and appreciate the past and turn the page. Hopefully, we see more Miguel Sano highlights this winter, and he can put up numbers to draw some MLB attention. It’s unlikely this will come from the Twins. Will Sano make a big comeback in 2024? Should the Twins be interested at all? Let us know below! View full article

The Twins 2023 season was saved by players who began the year in the minor leagues. With MLB rosters always in flux, which players could fill similar roles for the team in 2024? Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports The Twins needed a spark a few months into the 2023 season, and after a surprising lack of change a few months into the season, a few players found themselves with an opportunity in the big leagues. Who might we see filling these same roles in 2024? 2023 Louie Varland: David Festa Varland was buried on the depth chart to start the season, but was eventually called upon to help fill the rotation. He did reasonably well, but was returned to the minors when other arms got healthy. He was recalled down the stretch as a reliever, playing a valuable role in the bullpen during the final few weeks. He even made the postseason roster. David Festa is similarly buried, but is the Twins’ closest pitching prospect to MLB. Should the injury bug bite the team again, it’s likely we see Festa debut in 2024. It’s hard to count on him being an immediate impact starter, but his high-90s fastball and plus slider would play up in short stints if the Twins need another starter to transition to the bullpen at the end of 2024. It’s easy to see a scenario in which he follows the same path as Varland. 2023 Bailey Ober: Louie Varland Ober was stuck in Triple A to begin this season. It didn’t take long for him to get his shot, though, and there were points after his callup when he was one of the Twin's best starting pitchers. After a while, the Twins decided they couldn’t send him back down to St. Paul. Varland is expected to be stuck in Triple A to begin 2024, assuming the Twins add another starting pitcher. It’s reasonable to think he’ll be their first call when they need a starter, assuming he hasn’t moved to a full-time bullpen role by then. With a proper four-pitch mix, it’s easy to see Varland becoming an asset for the rotation if given another shot. 2023 Matt Wallner: Yunior Severino Wallner was stuck in St. Paul for too long in 2023, largely because of his swing-and-miss issues. It didn’t matter how much he punished opposing pitchers; the Twins refused to allow him to earn a job in MLB until they had no remaining alternative. Wallner, of course, was a huge reason the lineup eventually turned around. Severino plays the corner infield spots, instead of the outfield, and he walks a good bit less than Wallner. Like Wallner, his power is legit, as evidenced by the 35 homers he hit between Wichita and St. Paul in 2023. He struck out over 35 percent of the time in St. Paul, but the Twins protected him from the Rule 5 draft, making it likely he will debut sometime in 2024. While he has a volatile offensive profile, the damage his bat is capable of makes him a candidate to make a significant impact immediately. 2023 Edouard Julien: Brooks Lee Julien may not have had top-100 prospect pedigree, but he was highly thought-of heading into 2023. When the infield injuries piled up, Julien made his debut, and eventually, it became apparent that they couldn’t afford to send him back to St. Paul. He became a top-of-the-lineup hitter and established himself as a special player and a piece of the Twins' core. Lee has been playing shortstop, but can move all around the diamond. It’s likely he’s the first call should there be an opening, and the former No. 8 overall pick can perform at a level that keeps him from ever being sent back down. Lee would profile well as a No. 2 hitter in the order, and watching the first three at-bats of any given game go to Julien, Lee, and Royce Lewis should be an exciting thought. Lee will almost certainly get a chance in 2024, and he may perform too well ever to be demoted again. Are there any minor leaguers who could play the 2024 version of other players who burst onto the scene in 2023? Let us know below! View full article

I've got Julien right on the line of untouchable personally but his defensive questions make me wonder if they wouldn't listen if a team really wanted him. I'd love to keep him because to debut as a leadoff caliber hitter with such elite plate discipline has me dreaming of what he could be if he continues to adjust.