Cody Pirkl

I think this is more of a testament to the point about minor leaguers being deemed untouchable. As Kirilloff ascended through the system, some people did in fact feel he was untouchable. Now he's made it to the majors and has major injury concerns and has yet to have sustained success, and there's question of whether he could be sold at his peak before it's too established that he's not the caliber of player many people hoped. Royce on the other hand struggled in the minors in addition to having significant injury issues, but has been a flat out dominant MLB caliber player since his debut. I think the latter scenario is the more likely scenario where a player would be considered off the table. Both are former top prospects but now that they're both in the MLB, their minor league production is irrelevant. The one proving they can produce at an elite level in the MLB is the one the team is going to want to build around.

In my opinion, the difference between Lopez being untouchable for the Twins and Gilbert being attainable from Seattle is the team context. If Seattle trades Gilbert, they have George Kirby and Luis Castillo to lead their rotation along with several other high upside young arms with years of team control like Brian Woo and Bryce Miller. They also need offensive help if they want to contend, making their depth at SP an obvious place to deal from. If the Twins traded Pablo Lopez, there isn't much they could realistically get in return that make the trade worth it. They just lost Sonny Gray, and while guys like Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober are nice pieces, the rotation is going to wind up in a much worse place. They don't need a monster bat back in a Pablo Lopez trade, and they aren't trading their front line starting pitcher for another front line starting pitcher. He's arguably the most important piece of the pitching staff, whereas Logan Gilbert is just one Seattle's impressive starting pitchers. Both players likely have similar value on the trade market, but what they could bring back in return is much more useful to Seattle's roster than Minnesota's.

He was doing quite a bit better defensively down the stretch last year at 2B, and his bat plays at 1B/DH as well. I don't think he's untouchable, but his bat may turn out to be elite.

With the Winter Meetings underway, the Twins are focused on the trade market. That means several players at all levels of the system are at risk of being dealt. Should any of them be considered “untouchable”? Image courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports Generally, only a few players in a given MLB organization can be considered entirely off the table. The concept of an “untouchable” player may differ from person to person, and from circumstance to circumstance. Still, it’s essential to consider how the Twins may consider this definition and who fits it within the organization. Untouchable status deals with factors from both the trading and receiving team. What does this player mean to the Twins and how they plan to operate going forward? How much risk does the player carry for the acquiring team, and how much does that weigh into how much they're willing to pay? In some situations, questions such as these just won't line up to create a realistic deal that each team is willing to agree to. Not every GM is Jerry Dipoto willing to take on considerable risk. Regarding an MLB-ready player, being considered untouchable often has more to do with what they could bring back in a realistic trade and whether it would outweigh the value the player is already providing to the team. Julio Rodriguez is likely an untouchable asset for the Seattle Mariners as a young, perennial MVP candidate center fielder. They could surely get a haul if they made him available in trade. Still, his value as an already-established MLB player will likely outweigh the value of just about any realistic combination of prospects who have yet to prove it in The Show. He’s also become the face of the franchise and a fan favorite, so it’s almost impossible to imagine him on the move anytime soon. It should be even more challenging to consider prospects untouchable. This classification would be based entirely on how much value a team thinks they could have in the future. It’s a complex determination, given how often even top prospects flame out due to either performance or injury. So, which Twins are most likely to be considered untouchable? *Note: Players with no-trade clauses, such as Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton, are not considered* Pablo Lopez The Twins had been searching for a front-line starter for years, and they found it when they acquired López. Still just 29 years old, the team's ace is under team control at a below-market rate for four more years. The only way the Twins would even consider moving López in a competitive window would be for another impact starting pitcher, plus some significant sweeteners. It’s probably not a realistic package a team would offer. Royce Lewis Lewis has a lot going for him on and off the field. He’s tied to this front office as the first draft pick they made--No. 1 overall in 2017. His path to the majors has been winding, but he played a significant role in ending the dreaded postseason losing streak with his two homers against Toronto in Game 1. He appears to be the kind of player around whom you can build a championship team, and the Twins are likely to do just that. It may not be long until an extension is in place. Royce is sticking around. Walker Jenkins As the team’s top prospect, Jenkins was considered a candidate for the first overall selection if drafted in a different year. After utterly dominating the minors with a near-1.000 OPS across three levels in 2023, Jenkins has the upside of a legitimate superstar. At only 18 years of age, he carries plenty of risk. Still, it’s hard to imagine the type of return it would take for the Twins to ship him out without seeing more of what he can do in the minor leagues. Brooks Lee The Twins' top prospect before Jenkins was picked, Lee is thought of highly in the organization and within the fan base. As he nears the MLB level, he doesn’t currently have a place to play, with second and third base covered several times over. The Twins would love to see how his career plays out in Minnesota. Still, it’s fair to wonder whether his lack of an immediate position and less dominant 2023 season makes him a candidate to be included in a trade for an impact acquisition. Edouard Julien The Twins will undoubtedly receive calls on Julien this winter as they try to deal with their infield log jam. He’s shown an elite eye at the plate, and can hit for power out of the leadoff spot. His defense is a work in progress, but he improved down the stretch in 2023. Julien should be another core piece across the diamond from Lewis in the future, but the organization’s history of dealing elite hitters with defensive concerns is worth considering (See Luis Arraez). Joe Ryan Ryan would be firmly in the untouchable category if he had finished 2023 anywhere near the way he started it. He was a legitimate front-end starter with team control through 2027 before his second half went completely off the rails following injury. Still, the whole body of work was solid, and it’s hard to envision the Twins parting ways with a controllable starting pitcher who has sometimes flashed elite skills when they already need a Sonny Gray replacement. Jhoan Duran It takes a lot for a reliever to be considered untouchable, and Durán could be one of the few in the game in that conversation. The Twins bullpen would drop from (arguably) an above-average unit to firmly below-average without the fireballer. That being said, as important as Duran is to the team, it's hard to imagine this regime in particular holding him out of trade talks if a reliever-desperate team was dangling a starting pitcher. Emmanuel Rodriguez The ceiling remains sky-high for E-Rod, with an OPS over .850 in High-A in 2023, and he’ll likely start 2024 in Wichita. Strikeouts remain a huge concern, and the bust potential attached to that weakness makes it worth wondering whether the Twins would dangle him in a deal with a team that thinks highly of him. If they think he can stick in center field and iron out the strikeouts, they may have him off the table in trade talks. In all reality, there are likely somewhere between one and three names on this list who are genuinely untouchable in the Twins' eyes. Serious teams don’t take more players than that off the table in trade talks. There are likely some shocking moves on the way, as we’ve seen from the last few offseasons under this regime, and we should expect to see a couple of beloved players sent packing. Which players in the organization are genuinely untouchable? Are there any? View full article

With Emilio Pagán leaving for Cincinnati, the Twins still have a strong returning relief corps in 2024. In years past, they’ve spent very little on the bullpen. This winter, they may be justified in doing so again. Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports This Twins front office has taken a few big swings on relief additions in their tenure and often whiffed. From Addison Reed to Jorge Lopez, it’s easy to see why the Twins may have developed a belief that bullpens aren’t worth majorly investing in. With a decline in payroll headed into 2024, we should expect them to show a good bit of restraint again. They would certainly be justified in doing so. Many believed the Twins could have benefitted from one more high-leverage reliever headed in 2023. It never hurts, after all. The Twins had reason to believe the top end of their bullpen was a strength between Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Lopez. Of course, Griffin Jax piled up blown leads early, and Lopez was eventually DFAed. Luckily, Brock Stewart emerged from Triple-A, and Jax righted the ship down the stretch to still have a formidable top of the bullpen by season’s end. This trio will return in 2024, assuming good health. Duran is likely the undisputed closer at this point. A case can be made to slot Stewart in as the setup man after he struck out nearly 36% of the hitters he faced, and Jax had a down season by his standards. Either way, this group combined for just over 155 innings in 2023 with a cumulative 3.1 Wins Above Replacement. It’s a back end of a bullpen many competitive teams would envy on paper. Caleb Thielbar should be back as a high-leverage, left-handed reliever capable of facing both righties and lefties. The question, of course, is health with the 36-year-old after repeated oblique issues limited him to just over 30 innings. He still struck out over 36% of opposing hitters and posted a 3.23 ERA on the season. Emilio Pagán’s departure will be noteworthy, though it’s important to remember that while his numbers were great, he pitched almost solely in low leverage. The problem at times last season was the middle relief group. The Twins cycled in several arms, hoping a few would stick, and it cost them some wins. Jovani Moran looked to build on a solid 2022 season and couldn’t do so. He’s now undergoing Tommy John surgery and is expected to miss all of 2024. Jorge Alcala has never really put it all together, and he has health questions of his own. Players like Cole Sands just never did enough to stick around. Luckily, down the stretch, the Twins finally gave Kody Funderburk a shot. In 12 innings, he allowed one run and stuck out over 40% of the hitters he faced. It’s a small sample, but the lefty has a history of retiring hitters from both sides of the plate while picking up a healthy amount of strikeouts. There’s at least a tiny hope that a few other internal options emerge to fill the middle innings. Jordan Balazovic’s MLB debut was unsuccessful, but if he is fully prepared as a traditional one-inning reliever, he may rediscover the talent that once made him a top prospect. Josh Winder began throwing a two-seam fastball down the stretch that would hopefully solve the fastball woes that have held him back despite a solid secondary pitch mix. The Twins are in a better spot with the bullpen than in recent years. There are plenty of red flags, both health and performance-wise, but that’s to be expected on any roster. We may see them add a reliever this winter; it’s never a bad idea. It may be likelier that whoever they bring in is more of a flier for a few million dollars or even a waiver claim. The odds of the Twins bringing in a big-time arm for the back innings, at least at market price, are extremely low. With the foundation they have in place and the payroll space they’re working with, we may see them more or less stand pat. Unlike in some recent years, doing so would be more justified. Do you agree? View full article

The Twins have to decide how to navigate a reduced payroll, and Jorge Polanco is an option to ship out and save some money. They also could use some reinforcements at first base. Could these two issues solve each other? Image courtesy of Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports Jorge Polanco has cemented himself as a piece of the Twins' core. First, an All-Star caliber shortstop, then more recently, the everyday starting second baseman. Could Jorge Polanco make another change in position to address a roster need and remain in Minnesota? Edouard Julien is a core piece of the Twins lineup for years to come. Although his defense at second base remains suspect, he seemed to improve as the year went on, and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Twins completely trusted him to cover the position to begin 2024. Brooks Lee also looms in Triple-A, with second base among the positions he could fill when he’s ready to debut. With Polanco still in the mix, his contract makes him a candidate to be shipped out due to the redundancy of his position. Switching him to first base could completely change the situation. Polanco isn’t the typical first base player archetype, but the Twins are no strangers to filling the position with nontraditional players. Luis Arraez played there in 2022 plenty, and even Alex Kirilloff is far from the prototypical slugging corner bat. The fact is that Polanco is a switch-hitter capable of putting up an offensive line that’s 15-20% better than league average. That should play just about anywhere. For as much of a question as Julien’s defense is, Polanco has been far from a Gold Glove second baseman since he transitioned from shortstop. 2023 was his best season by Defensive Runs Saved with a +1 mark. His range continues to decline, as noted by his -7 Outs Above Average measured by Statcast. Despite Polanco's solid defensive rep, going from him to Julien at second base might not be the drop-off someone would suspect. It’s hard to say Polanco would be a net positive defensively at first base, but with range being his main limiting factor, it could be worth a shot. It’s also possible that moving to a position where he doesn’t have to cover as much ground could help him stay on the field more. His hamstring issues in 2023 resulted from running out of the batters' box, but it’s fair to say that playing first base could take some pressure off his ankle, which has been an issue for years now. Should Polanco be a trustworthy first baseman, the Twins will have solved multiple problems. He can be the right-handed platoon with Kirilloff (if he's healthy) while still moving around DH and other infield positions. If Kirilloff’s injury woes persist, Polanco’s ability to switch hit would make him an everyday option if needed. The Twins could keep a franchise player on the roster and not have to go out looking for additional help at first base. Even at $10.5m in 2024 and $12m in 2025, Polanco’s contract with first base in his repertoire would be worth it. First base seems to be a priority this winter, and Jorge Polanco’s salary looks extraneous. Rather than dumping Polanco for what would likely be a disappointing return, the Twins should get creative and see if he can make yet another defensive transition. Do you agree? View full article

The Twins need a Sonny Gray replacement and have an upcoming logjam in the infield. The Seattle Mariners have a wealth of starting pitching. Could the two teams match up this offseason in a deal? Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports The Mariners were reportedly willing to discuss trading some of their young pitching last trade deadline, and it’s easy to see why on their depth chart. With several younger arms emerging to complement some quality veteran options, they’re in a position where they may feel comfortable making a big move. The Twins have become surprising candidates for a big move in recent years. Perhaps the two sides could agree on a win-win deal this winter. A few arms in Seattle can likely be ruled out immediately. Luis Castillo just began a five-year, $108m deal that takes him off the table. Robbie Ray was injured last season in year three of a five-year, $115m deal. His eventual return in 2024 may be a factor in the Mariners looking to deal an arm. It can also be assumed that this bunch has no cheap options. If a deal develops, the Twins will be parting with serious capital. It’s worth looking at each potential option and why they may be enticing to the Twins front office. Logan Gilbert With almost 400 innings in the last two seasons with low to mid 3s ERAs, Gilbert has established himself as a front-end starting pitcher at age 26. The only reason the Mariners would even consider parting ways with such an asset is that they have so many other quality pitchers who are even younger. Gilbert is an established workhorse that could bring tremendous value. Controlled through 2028, Gilbert will be in arbitration into his 30s. Whichever organization Gilbert is in will control him for nearly all of his prime, and some believe he's capable of picking up a few more strikeouts, which would bring him to an even higher level. Gilbert would immediately fill Sonny Gray's shoes as the #2 behind Pablo Lopez, and the Twins would feel great penciling him into game two of a playoff series. George Kirby Kirby was more effective than Gilbert in 2023, throwing 190 innings with a 3.35 ERA. He’s certainly lived up to his first-round pedigree, as Kirby attacks the strike zone with a four-pitch mix and threw seven different pitches in 2023 at least once. The Twins have seen firsthand that when Kirby is on, he can make easy work of opposing lineups, and like Gilbert, there may be another level to his game when it comes to strikeouts as he matures. Kirby would also be a legitimate #2 behind Lopez, and his pedigree includes tremendous health and dominance on the mound. At just 25 with team control through 2029, Kirby may cost even more than Gilbert, and it’s possible he’s not on the trade block at all. Bryce Miller Miller is certainly a step down from the top two in Seattle, but there’s a lot to like. His profile resemble's Joe Ryan's fastball-heavy approach, but Miller averages over 95 mph on the heater. His offspeed was a work in progress, but he sometimes dominated despite his decline in the 2nd half as he neared his innings cap. Miller finished the season with just over 130 innings, creating a floor to build off of in 2024. Being less established, Miller should cost less, but his six years of team control still won’t make him cheap. Other Options Seattle’s rotation also consists of younger names such as Bryan Woo and Emerson Hancock, who only briefly debuted but carry pedigree and at least brief periods of success. It’s unlikely the Twins would take on such pitchers, but you never know what they may see that they could improve. Marco Gonzalez is also still in Seattle, and despite his season-ending early due to forearm issues, he’s been a solid pitcher for the entirety of his career. Should the Twins look in that direction, he could be a cheap back end of the rotation option. Cost The Mariners need more exciting options, particularly at second base, for the near future. This makes the Twins a perfect trade match. Edouard Julien has proven he’s a long-term solution at the position, which raises questions regarding players such as Jorge Polanco and top prospect Brooks Lee. With Polanco, as Twins fans know, the Mariners would get an immediate impact player at second base. Even with a reasonable $12m club option for 2025, the Twins would likely have to add significant prospect capital for someone on Gilbert or Kirby’s level. It would likely have to include a name like Emmanuel Rodriguez and other quality names. Brooks Lee could make up a significant part of a return if the Mariners are interested in him. It would be a big gamble on the Twins' part, but it could prove worthwhile if the Twins get a controllable Sonny Gray replacement in return. A trade with Seattle for a controllable starting pitcher would likely be shopping at the high end of the trade market. Sonny Gray’s possible departure can’t be understated, and this is where the Twins have to look. A trade with the Mariners would surely cost several well-known names. Is it worth it to pick up a potential front-of-the-rotation starting pitcher? View full article

Gallo was absolutely one of the worst players in the league. He's a below average fielding outfielder at this point and about average at first base by DRS and Outs Above Average. There may be players with worst offensive stats, but teams will be willing to give just about anybody else a shot to play corner infield over Gallo who will be average at best defensively while posting a below average slash line (his was only positive because of the first two weeks of the season) while approaching a 50% strikeout rate. Not to mention his absolutely brutal baserunning. The Twins probably could have gotten the same production or better down the stretch from Yunior Severino if they'd switched him to first base earlier in the season. Gallo was pretty much the worst case scenario for how a big chunk of salary can be used. He did very little on the field to help the Twins win for the last 5 and a half months of the season.

While I agree, it's kind of like arguing that the Twins should have a $200m payroll. We can say that's what they should do, but it's just not how they operate and therefore isn't worth arguing. If they signed Carlos Santana this winter and he hit .150 while Yunior Severino had a 1.000 OPS in Triple-A, it's probably July before they even consider making a change. Unfortunately that's how they operate.

I agree, the Twins don't necessarily have to sell off contracts, it's just one way they could combat the reduced payroll. Polanco stands out to me because they have a lot of infield depth on it's way and already in the majors. If they had $10m more to spend it may be the difference in signing Lucas Giolito and signing Vince Velazquez. They'll just have to figure out what parts of the roster they want to allocate the most payroll to.

Counter point: Twins sign the next Joey Gallo at $12m this winter and maintain the same payroll. That player is one of the worst players in baseball and gets a guaranteed roster spot all season because they're a veteran making money. Meanwhile 2024's version of Matt Wallner is stuck in St. Paul for half of the season and it's a terrible look when they finally get called up and have clearly been ready for months. We just saw it play out in 2023, just playing devils advocate. It's obviously unacceptable that the payroll appears to be getting cut. Sure these options already existed, but we know the Twins wouldn't have used them until they had no other choice if they signed potentially washed up veterans, regardless of performance on either end. I'd rather the Twins go out and sign Cody Bellinger for CF or Aaron Nola to replace Sonny Gray, but it doesn't appear that's going to happen, so these are the players that likely stand to benefit. Some of them could turn into valuable MLB players. That's worth discussing.

The negatives are obvious and will be discussed ad nauseam. Nobody is celebrating a decline in payroll. There are players that will benefit by getting an opportunity though, that's a fact. Those players are worth talking about. We don't need to spend the winter focusing on the negatives of the situation.

The Twins are cutting and potentially slashing payroll this winter. While this will undoubtedly result in a rightfully negative response, it will create opportunity. Which players stand to benefit from the Twins reducing payroll? Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports If the reports hold that the Twins are attempting to cut payroll from over $150m in 2023 to $125-140, the expectations for activity this offseason can be lowered significantly. The downside of this is obvious. The Twins likely can’t afford to bring in a proven slugger like Rhys Hoskins for first base. Safer Sonny Gray replacements, such as Eduardo Rodriguez or Aaron Nola, can be all but written off. There will be plenty of negativity around this news, and it’s all warranted. However, the payroll reduction will create opportunities for some players within the organization, likely the sole positive of pulling back on spending. Austin Martin With center field as one of the primary needs this offseason, Martin could be part of the solution. It would be great to sign Kevin Kiermaier or bring back Michael A. Taylor, but these names may price themselves out of the Twins' plans due to requiring multiple years or a one-year deal at a premium. Willi Castro became a passable center fielder in 2023, and they still hope that Byron Buxton will return to the field at some point. Austin Martin would be the fallback option, undoubtedly getting a big chance to stick in 2024 if everything stays the same. Martin slashed .263/.386/.405 in St. Paul last season, and the Twins are high on his ability to handle center. He stole 16 bases in 59 games, and his six homers were the most he’s hit in a season in professional ball. Martin’s skill set would be a great complement to the Twins' lineup with his ability to get on base and lack of strikeouts, and he could even become a platoon leadoff hitter against lefties if everything breaks right. Yunior Severino Even after Alex Kirilloff’s shoulder injury proved less significant than initially thought, the Twins likely need more confidence in the former top prospect’s ability to lock down first base for 2024. A right-handed option to platoon is a reasonable ask to insulate the position. Such a role may be less of a priority with limited funds available. Severino has little to prove after leading the minors with 35 homers in 2023. He got off to a rough start in his Triple-A debut but finished with a slash line of .233/.320/.511, and the Twins saw enough to add him to the 40-man roster after the season. Severino is a strikeout-prone light tower power hitter with a defensive profile likely to slot in best at first base. His ability to switch hit makes up for some of his lack of versatility, and he could carve out a career for himself as an all-or-nothing slugger capable of being a legitimate offensive weapon when he’s running hot. At 24 years old, Severino’s time may come in 2024, as the first call-up should Alex Kirilloff miss more time. Jair Camargo To combat the financial limitations, the Twins may not only spend less but look to shed salary from places they can afford to add elsewhere adequately. Should they decide to do so, Christian Vazquez becomes a prime candidate to ship out to another team. After not appearing in a single postseason game, it’s obvious Vazquez is the backup to Ryan Jeffers, and his total collapse offensively in 2023 makes him more replaceable despite his still great defense. Camargo profiles as a perfect backup catcher: He spent all of 2023 in St. Paul, hitting .259/.323/.503 with 21 homers in 90 games, he has received solid reviews on his defense and pitch calling, and his raw power gives him enough of a floor to be an asset to an MLB squad for several years. Camargo would likely debut in 2024 regardless after being added to the 40-man. Trading away an MLB catcher may push him onto the Opening Day roster. The Twins have internal options should they slash payroll, as in addition to the listed names above, they have several other young players on their way. Deshaun Kiersey Jr. may create a strong career for himself in center field. Several pitchers, such as David Festa, could see an earlier debut should the Twins shop in the bargain bin to replace Sonny Gray. At least with the deflating news comes the excitement of young players potentially debuting. Are there any other internal options that stand to benefit from the payroll decrease? Let us know below! View full article

Matt Wallner had a frustrating postseason debut in 2023, and many fans were rightfully disappointed. It’s worth noting that despite a poor stretch of five games, Wallner should have established himself as an exciting part of the 2024 lineup. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson, USA Today Matt Wallner is a great story, being one of several native Minnesotans on the Twins roster in 2023. Many fans have been rooting for him since being drafted by the Twins 39th overall in 2019. His debut in 2022 left a lot of questions about his ability to hold up against MLB-level pitching. 2023 was far from perfect, but headed into 2024, Wallner should have fans feeling a bit better. Fans hate strikeouts. Twins fans especially do after watching the home team strike out a record number of times in 2023. They’ve also been subject to long stretches of hollow at-bats by hitters such as Miguel Sano and Joey Gallo in recent years, which has turned them particularly sour to whiffs. Strikeouts are a part of Matt Wallner’s game; there’s no way around it. Even in Triple-A, he struck out just a shade under 30% of the time in 2023. His 31.5% rate improved from the 38.5% he posted in limited action in 2022. The question with players like Matt Wallner isn’t whether they will strike out. It’s whether they make the strikeouts worth it. In 2023, Matt Wallner showed that he can make the trade-off worthwhile. In 254 plate appearances, Wallner slashed .249/.370/.507, good for 44% above the league average hitter. He walked 11% of the time and was on a 30+ homer pace for an entire season. Max Kepler had the lowest strikeout rate on the Twins, with a minimum of 250 plate appearances, and Wallner outpaced him in OPS .877 to .816. Matt Wallner’s 2023 is a prime example of how a high strikeout rate can be worth it. More encouraging even than Wallner cutting his strikeout rate from 2022 to 2023 is the fact that pitchers seemed to find a hole in his swing midseason, and Wallner was able to adjust back. The strikeouts became a focal point when Wallner went 0-16 with eight strikeouts from September 5-10, causing some to wonder whether we were watching things play out similarly to Trevor Larnach earlier in the season. Wallner took a day off to make some adjustments and finished the season, slashing .354/.456/.646 with a 28% strikeout rate. As a hitter who tries to wait out the pitcher to make a mistake, the strikeouts go hand in hand with the power and walks. Anything close that he doesn’t want to hit, he’ll spit on. Sometimes, he’ll miss pitches in the zone with two strikes, leading to higher strikeout rates. It’s an approach that could become a lot easier to accept if the Twins don’t have such a strikeout-heavy team in 2024. Joey Gallo and his 42.8% strikeout rate will be off the roster next season. Michael A. Taylor and his 33.5% strikeout rate may be as well. With fewer all-or-nothing hitters in the lineup regularly, Wallner should be a better complementary hitter in the Twins lineup, especially when contact specialists such as Brooks Lee and Austin Martin debut. It’s still a limited number of at-bats for Wallner in his career, but the high ceiling he’s shown, along with the ability to adjust, should be very encouraging. He may always be prone to stretches of low points to go along with the highs, but the hope is that as he develops, he becomes more consistent and continues to be able to adjust back to opposing pitchers. Five games in October shouldn’t warp fans' view of Matt Wallner. He had an unbelievable year, and there’s no reason to believe he won’t have a chance at an everyday role in 2024. Is he due for regression? Could he possibly even improve upon his impressive 2023? Let us know below! View full article

The Twins have a history of turning former starters into top-tier relievers. Matt Canterino will be back from Tommy John surgery in 2024. Could the Twins make this transition once again? Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge Matt Canterino’s nasty stuff has been advertised to fans since he was drafted in the second round in 2019. The former Rice pitcher threw many collegiate innings, and it’s possible this finally caught up to him in 2022. Could Canterino transition to a bullpen role and impact the 2024 Twins? The concept of taking Canterino out of a starting role is difficult to imagine, given his repertoire and the success it’s brought him in the minor leagues. With a mid-90s fastball and formidable slider and changeup, he has everything he needs to carve through opposing lineups. He’s struck out well over one-third of the hitters he’s faced in the minor leagues and made it as far as Double-A. What sense does it make then to move Canterino out of a starting job? The concern at this point has to be creating an innings floor for Canterino. His career high in innings for a given year was the 37 he threw in 2022 before requiring elbow surgery. While the hope is that this has finally fixed the problems that have kept him off the field, his workload must be managed carefully. It’s hard to say where his innings limit will be, but it’s possibly well under 100 to ensure he’s healthy moving forward. The problem here is that even if the Twins' eyes are on a 2025 debut for Canterino in the rotation, his inning cap – even if all goes well – is likely only over 100 innings. No matter how effective he is, he wouldn’t be available for the entire season. That’s also assuming he stays healthy for an entire season for the first time in his professional career. The Twins could look to play the long game in pursuit of the top-tier starting pitcher Canterino could become, but the issue is that he’ll already be 26 years old in 2024. Next year will mark five years since Canterino was drafted, and it may be time for the Twins to rush him to the majors to help the big league club. We saw this play out most recently with Jhoan Duran. The Twins saw his numbers and raw stuff and determined they were better off letting him impact the MLB club rather than continuing to gamble on everything breaking the right way in the minor leagues. While Canterino doesn’t throw 104 with a 98 mph splitter, he could have a significant impact in a bullpen role. For how dominant he was in the minor leagues as a starting pitcher, it’s easy to see Canterino taking a bullpen role and running with it. More velocity on the fastball and being able to focus on the best possible pitch for each hitter rather than trying to mix things up for another trip through the lineup could make him another bullpen monster. It’s also a role that some scouts thought he would eventually settle into when drafted. Aside from his raw stuff, the funky delivery adds another element that would undoubtedly play up in short stints. It’s unclear what the Twins have in mind with Matt Canterino headed into 2024, but they may have seen enough talent from him that they’re confident he can get MLB hitters out once he shakes off some rust next season. The quickest way for him to be a contributor would be a shift to the bullpen, where the Twins rarely invest in the trade and free-agent market. Could Matt Canterino make the bullpen transition in 2024? View full article

Sonny Gray allowed 8 homers all year. Joe Ryan is never going to suppress the long ball at that rate

That's basically what this article says, not sure who's spoiled for suggesting this?

He had an ERA above 6 in the second half. I'll bet you the Twins and Joe Ryan himself would say he needs to bounce back from that.