Cody Pirkl

Sometimes it’s fun to look back into baseball’s past and consider alternate timelines. Drafts are often a different story, as for every team that hits on a superstar, it feels like four or five teams completely whiff. This was especially true for the Minnesota Twins in the early 2010s.For this painful trip down memory lane, I decided to look at the Twins first round draft picks between 2011-2015. This timeline looks to be a sweet spot of players that would likely still be with the team in the present day. We’ll take a look at the Twins picks, the pick that they should have made, and other top players drafted during that year, all being displayed with their fWAR next to their names just to drive the point home. Brace yourselves Twins fans, this is going to get ugly. 2011: Twins Pick: Levi Michael (0) The Redraft: Mookie Betts (40.2) Other Options: Trevor Story (17.9), Joe Musgrove (8.2), Blake Snell (11.6), Josh Bell (3.5), Mike Clevinger (11.8), Tyler Glasnow (4.0), Marcus Semien (18.6) I told you this would be painful. Michael never made it to the majors and is no longer with the organization. Meanwhile, Mookie Betts just signed a nine-figure extension with the Dodgers and will get MVP votes for years to come. In this case it’s fair to point out that every team whiffed on Mookie multiple times, as he was drafted in the fifth round. Even with the Twins stockpile of outfield talent, I’m pretty sure we could have made room for Mookie Betts. The same can be said for any other name on this list. Terry Ryan and company were one of those teams that flat out missed in the first round in 2011. 2012: Twins Pick: Byron Buxton (8.7) The Redraft: Corey Seager (20.1) Other Options: Max Fried (5.1), David Dahl (2.9), Lucas Giolito (6.8), Corey Seager (20.1), Marcus Stroman (15.8), Joey Gallo (9.5), Lance McCullers (10.9), Edwin Diaz (7.3), Josh Hader (6.3) This one was tough for me, as I wanted to stand by the Twins draft selection here. They took the most athletic player in this draft, and we’ve seen it play out when Buxton has been on the field. The issue is Buxton remaining on the field. He could easily be leading the entirety of the 2012 draft in fWAR if not for injury. That being said, it’s hard not to dream on a franchise shortstop like Corey Seager. He may not be a gold glover, but Seager would be the face of a franchise if not for playing in a lineup full of other stars. That being said, it’s hard to fault the Twins for taking Buxton, who’s been one of their more successful recent draft picks. 2013: Twins Pick: Kohl Stewart (.2) The Redraft: Cody Bellinger (16.7) Other Options: Austin Meadows (4.0), Tim Anderson (9.9), Aaron Judge (18.8), Sean Manaea (7.8), Jeff McNeil (8.4), Luke Voit (5.7) Another yikes here. While Stewart did make it to the majors, what else can you say? He was released last offseason and picked up by the Orioles who also had no role for him. While Judge has been the more valuable player, Bellinger hasn’t had the injuries and is an athletic player who can switch between 1B and OF. For what it’s worth, the Twins were interested in Bellinger in the trade market when dangling Brian Dozier. If only they had shown their interest a bit earlier. 2014: Twins Pick: Nick Gordon (0) The Redraft: Trea Turner (17.1) Other Options: Aaron Nola (19.2), Michael Conforto (16), Matt Chapman (16.7), Alex Verdugo (3.7), Spencer Turnbull (4.7), John Means (3.3) Gordon could still carve a nice career out for himself. Unfortunately that probably won’t play out with the Twins after injuries have buried him in the depth chart. Again we see plenty of options here, but for the sake of the Twins getting a franchise shortstop, it would have worked out nicely to grab the speedy Turner in the first round. Matt Chapman being a slugging all world defensive 3B wouldn’t have hurt either, but he recently had a significant hip surgery that ended his season. You’re starting to see the trend here, nailing a draft pick isn’t an exact science. 2015: Twins Pick: Tyler Jay (0) The Redraft: Walker Buehler (8.4) Other Options: Andrew Benintendi (8.5), Ian Happ (6.7), Mike Soroka (4.9), Triston McKenzie (.6), Brandon Lowe (5.8), Harrison Bader (6.5) Another swing and a miss here, as the Twins gave Tyler Jay away to the Reds for cash considerations a few years back. This is at least a draft where missing wasn’t uncommon, as the list of slam dunk picks after Jay is thinner than a lot of the others we’ve seen. Buehler is in contention for the ace of the Dodgers who just won the world series which makes this choice pretty simple. Buehler is also another player the Dodgers refused to move in Brian Dozier talks a few years ago. So as you can see, not a ton of success from the front office in the first round during these five years. Worth noting however is that Derek Falvey took over shortly thereafter and the early returns have been promising. At the very least the Twins look like they’ll avoid complete whiffs like we saw all too often in the past. There’s not much we can do about past decisions, but it’s interesting to dream on what could have been if the Twins made a few different decisions. Do you agree with the redraft decisions? Would you have chosen anyone else? Let us know below! — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

As pointed out earlier this week at TwinsDaily, transaction trees can connect players in unimaginable ways.There’s one transaction in particular however that isn’t often talked about. In a different age of baseball, one series of moves kicked off in 1997 continues to benefit them to this day.The Draft: In 1997, Minnesota had the No. 9 overall pick. Terry Ryan and company had strong interest in a three-sport standout from Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Virginia. Eventually they decided to draft Michael Cuddyer as a shortstop and pitcher in the first round. Looking back, it’s easy to say the Twins got it right on draft day, however their choice teetered on being irrelevant. Cutting the Check: The Twins found themselves at a standoff with their first round draft pick, as Cuddyer committed to playing at Florida State as a result of the Twins coming nowhere near his requested signing bonus. The Twins were well on their way to the peak of their penny pinching at this point and very well could have declined Cuddyer’s request and simply been compensated in the next year’s draft. Instead however, the Twins bridged the tremendous gap in their dollar amounts and increased their offer from $700,000 to $1.3m. The Twins got their man. Peak Performance: As we know, Cuddyer would find his way to the Major League club and eventually became a great everyday player for the Twins. In his 11 years in Minnesota, Cuddyer put up a .272/.343/.451 line, slugging 141 homers and posting a 111 OPS+ along the way. He made the All Star team in 2011, his last season in Minnesota. He was a fan favorite at the time and it was difficult to accept the Twins not signing him back. However, it may have been a good thing that they didn’t pony up as they did when they first drafted Cuddyer. Rather than attaching draft picks to free agents via the qualifying offer like we do currently, 2011 used a “Type A and B” system. For hitters like Cuddyer, the league weighed things like plate appearances, batting average and on base percentage to determine what tier a free agent was. The top 20% were type A and netted a first-round pick for the team losing the player, while the top 21-40% were type B and netted a pick in between the first and second. Cuddyer’s free agency came at the perfect time for all parties involved except the Rockies who would sign him to a three-year $31.5m deal. While the Twins did attempt to re-sign him, Cuddyer’s departure netted them the Rockies 2012 first-round draft pick due to his strong 2011 placing him firmly into the “Type A” pool. Cuddyer would go on to perform admirably in Colorado, even winning a batting title which stung for Twins fans. Minnesota however holds the last laugh in this signing. Full Circle: The Twins picked second overall in 2012 and chose Byron Buxton. They found themselves with Colorado’s first-round compensation pick as well which they used to draft a right handed pitcher out of Puerto Rico by the name of José Berríos. In 1997, the Twins front office made the correct choice on draft day. Try as they may have, they couldn’t bring themselves to shortchange their new draftee and risk another team snatching him up down the road. After a long and fulfilling career in Minnesota, Cuddyer topped it off with an All Star season which ensured a healthy payday. While the Twins attempted to sign the 32 year back, Colorado just wanted him a little bit more. All of these decisions and perfect circumstances tied together to net the Twins their current franchise pitcher in José Berríos. One small change along the way leads to a very different looking Minnesota Twins team despite the fact that this chain of events began nearly a quarter century ago. For many, the Cuddyer/Berríos connection is old news. For others you may be hearing about it for the first time. In any case, I know it’s fun for me to look at a current Twins starting pitcher and be reminded that he’s tied to one of my all time favorites in Michael Cuddyer. For more trips down memory lane, continue to tune into Twins Daily this offseason! — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

I don't think either would really be part time. If Kirilloff is up I think he's the everyday left fielder. Rooker may not be quite full time but Id bet he gets at least 4 starts per week. He's also 26 and looks like he can hit in the big leagues. If they won't work to make a role for him now, they might as well trade him. I don't agree that Eddie was the lineups 2nd best hitter at all. If that were the case he wouldn't be discussed as a non tender candidate. He was our 5th best regular by wRC+ in 2020 and our 9th best in 2019. I don't think its a lock that Kirilloff can emulate that right away but its not out of the question.

Rooker is by all accounts a bad outfielder, and I'd expect a good amount of his ABs to come at 1B/DH. Thats why Kirilloffs future is tied more closely to Cave and Wade. If he's playing, one of those two need to go.I also don't think Kirilloff will be the second best hitter in the lineup, just that its very possible that he can be better than Eddie.

Actually yes, I've heard the Twins are quite impressed with Kirilloffs abilities at 1B. The issue right now which you've alluded to is Sano. Kirilloff could get some innings there when Sano DHs but I assume he mans LF primarily. I don't blame you for talking about trading him. I love Sano but if a team will give up some valuable pieces, I say do it and use that money elsewhere. I feel good about the guys we have to take his place. Rooker may play there a bit as well, but for whatever reason the Twins really didn't play him there during his last minor league season.

I don't think it will (or rather should) come down to Kirilloff vs Rooker. I don't think the Twins need 2 starting OFs to be LH as well as their 2 bench bats. As we saw last year, teams will just stack lefties to close out games and a majority of the lineup and bench will be helpless. I think its time to stop letting Cave and Wade hang around and just pick one. Both can play a role on another team and while they won't net some huge return, I think the Twins could at least get something. Roll into 2021 with Rooker and Kirilloff in my opinion.

I think Rosario being non tendered is a formality at this point. Strictly speaking statistics, its not hard to imagine Kirilloff besting what we've seen from Eddie the last 2 seasons. Its no sure thing, but its possible. I also don't believe Rooker and Cruz are intertwined, but rather Rooker and Cave or Wade.

I certainly agree, Rooker should be up. It sounds like he's a bit challenged in the OF though and may fit more as an occasional fill in with a lot of ABs coming from 1B/DH. Wouldnt be surprised to see them go this route though!

Perhaps you’ve heard, but MLB teams have a funny way of manipulating service time when it comes to their most coveted prospects. They’ll openly field an inferior team and strain relationships with their future cornerstones for one extra season of control before free agency. With Alex Kirilloff on the horizon, the Twins need to look to deviate from this practice.With a likely opening in LF for 2021, the front office has a decision to make. They have no shortage of options at the position, and in a payroll crunching year across baseball, a full time free agent just may not make sense. The way I see it, there are a few different options we’ll see them choose from: The Bench Platoon: Jake Cave, Brent Rooker, and LaMonte Wade Jr. all look to be Major League caliber LF options, but the Twins showed their hand in 2020 whether they admit it or not. In an elimination game, Alex Kirilloff became the first player in MLB history to debut by starting a playoff game. While Rooker was injured, Wade could have been added to the roster in Buxton’s absence or Cave could have simply come off the bench. Instead they showed confidence in one of their best prospects, whose minor league track record clearly outweighed the MLB experience of the alternative options when it mattered most. Pandora’s Box is open. Kirilloff is the best OF option in the eyes of the Twins. It’ll be hard to dismiss claims of service time manipulation if they try to claim otherwise on Opening Day, and their team may be worse off. Don’t do it Twins. Save Money, Just Bring Him Up: Maybe the Twins don’t want to spend any more money than necessary this winter. Kirilloff on a league minimum salary leaves a lot of value to be had with a ton of payroll flexibility. It also won’t tie him to the Major Leagues if he struggles and needs to get sent down. In this scenario, Kirilloff gets the full share of LF from day one, Brent Rooker’s big bat can often still be in the lineup at 1B or DH, and Cave/Wade remain as bench depth where they’re better suited. While this sounds ideal, it’s worth noting that front offices rarely follow this thought process when it comes to top prospects as it costs them a year of team control. Extend Kirilloff: This is a tactic we’ve seen a few times lately, most recently with the White Sox. Before 2020, they extended Luis Robert for 6 years, $50 million, ensuring 6 years of control of their #1 prospect for a price that already looks to be a steal. While this move takes a lot of confidence, the Twins already showed a great deal of it by bringing Kirilloff up for an elimination game. In this scenario, Kirilloff is happy and starting in left field on opening day for relatively low risk. It eliminates the ugly arbitration process and likely even buys out a year or two of free agency for a player who looks to be a cornerstone in the very near future. Even in a year of reduced payrolls, this is a gamble that won’t break the bank. Alex Kirilloff represents a lot of unknown, but by now Twins fans should have come around to the idea that this front office knows their stuff. The confidence they showed in him in 2020 should have Twins territory excited and looking to have him playing at Target Field ASAP and for as long as possible in my opinion. That being said, 2021 is going to be a weird year and things may not be so cut and dry. Which scenario would you like to see the Twins pursue for Opening Day? Is there one you’d like to see that isn’t listed here? Let us know below. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

The Twins struggled to field a full five-man rotation for much of 2020 due to injury and have even fewer options headed into 2021. Lucky for us, more and more pitchers seem to become available by the day. It may be time to take a look at some of the rebound arms the Twins could take fliers on this offseason.Robbie Ray Based on 2020 alone, Ray may be about the lowest any team could buy on. Ray has always struggled with walks (4.28 BB/9 in his career) and entered 2020 with a new delivery to try and curb his strike throwing issues. Well his 7.84 BB/9 as well as 6.62 ERA and 6.50 FIP in 2020 may suggest it didn’t work out. He was at least not a full on disaster in the second half with 4.74 ERA and 5.06 FIP. So why would the Twins want Ray considering his best of 2020 was still pretty mediocre? Ray is super talented and has shown it for long periods throughout his career. His career 4.26 ERA includes seasons like his 2017 where he completed 162 innings with a 2.98 ERA. He has a career 28.6% K rate which is pretty darn good for a starting pitcher. Many have suggested he has ace-like stuff and it’s often been floated that he’s a small tweak away from fully unlocking it. While a long shot given what we saw in 2020, the Twins may find it worth the time and price tag to take a shot on returning the talented 29 year old Robbie Ray to at least a quality starting pitcher. Mike Leake Mike Leake is a stretch when it comes to the “buy low” label. Leake opted out of the 2020 season due to the pandemic and as a result has become a bit of a forgotten man. There’s no trick the Twins can pull to make Leake a more impressive pitcher. What you see is what you get. Leake’s pitching style is that of the early 2000s. He barely strikes out hitters (career 5.80K/9) and keeps his walks to a minimum (1.98 BB/9). He’s also avoided home runs and has been a gold glove caliber pitcher for much of his career. What makes Leake more valuable is his health and durability, averaging over 180 innings per season across his 10-year career. While the Twins may not be able to plan on Leake being quite the same innings eater he was after a year off, I’d bet he can still provide a solid floor. Don’t be surprised if the Twins see a cheap opportunity to pencil in a reliable starting pitcher that many teams have forgotten about after a lost 2020. Chris Archer I advocated for the Twins to trade for Archer around this time last year and got royally burned. It’s time for round two. Archer was downright bad for Pittsburgh after infamously getting traded for Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows. 2020 was the worst year of his career with a 5.19 ERA before going down with Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. As we’ve seen previously with Phil Hughes, this can be a tough injury to return from. That being said, Archer should be on track to be at full strength in 2021 and has fantastic pedigree. He could be toast considering it’s been years since his numbers have reflected his talent. I feel strongly however that the Pirates pitching coaches were to blame for Archer’s dropoff after he reduced the usage on his slider which was the pitch responsible for his success early in his career. The combination of Archer’s 2020 performance as well as injury should not only get him bought out of his $11m contract with the Pirates, but should make him a reasonably cheap gamble to take. The Twins may not be able to return Archer to his low 3s ERA days, but they may be able to find some value left in the 32 year old’s arm. Are they the most exciting names? Certainly not, but the Twins front office is always looking for value on their returns. This offseason Falvey and company will likely be craftier than ever in their pickups as they try to minimize spending on a free agent pool that may be as full as ever. Did any of these buy lows send you into a full on rage? Are there any other buy low starting pitchers you’d like the Twins to look at? Let us know below. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

Rumor has it the Twins engaged in trade talks with the Marlins during last year’s winter meetings during the famous Eddie Rosario talks. Almost a year later, the Marlins have shelled out several pieces of their young rotation but still have plenty of overflow. The Twins may very well look to engage in trade talks once again this winter.After trading Zac Gallen and Caleb Smith to Arizona last year, you’d think the young up and coming Marlins would have taken a hit to their rotation depth. The Marlins however have spent the last few years accumulating young talent that appears to be finally emerging all at once. They’ve fielded a competitive 1-5 in their rotation for a few years now, but currently might have a few too many arms at their disposal to not look to cash in on one or two for help elsewhere. For that reason it may be worth considering a few trade options for the Twins. (Note: Sandy Alcántara and Sixto Sanchez are strategically not mentioned. Keep dreaming Twins fans) Pablo López PabLo had a breakout year in 2020 pitching to a 3.61 ERA and 3.09 FIP. He rode a nasty changeup to a 24.6 K rate and managed a .63 HR/9. PabLo has a bit of an injury history but has a few years of moderate success under his belt and is still just 24 years old. Miami would likely look for an impactful return of either MLB or near MLB talent for their assumed number 3 starter. Elieser Hernandez Hernandez full on broke out in 2020 in surprising fashion, managing a 3.16 ERA and 3.89 FIP and 32.1% K rate before succumbing to an oblique strain after 25.1 innings. If he’s anywhere near what he showed in 2019, the Marlins may have one of baseball’s best #4 starters. The Twins had already been linked to Hernandez last winter so there may be something here that Wes Johnson and company are fond of (possibly the near 40% whiff rate on his slider). Given his shorter track record of success, Hernandez may be a bit more attainable than the above arms even though he’s still just 25 years old. José Ureña Ureña is likely best known for plunking Ronald Acuña a few years back but has been a mostly serviceable pitcher at the back end of the rotation for a few years before a miserable 2020. Ureña has a 3 pitch mix headlined by a mid 90s fastball that makes you wonder if the Twins could unlock a few more strikeouts (15.9% K rate in his career). He’s due $4m in 2021 and may be seen as an unnecessary arm in competition for a rotation spot. For that reason the Twins should be able to obtain the 29 year old for cheap if they identify an adjustment they could possibly make. Trevor Rogers/Braxton Garrett These two are grouped together because both are left handed former 1st round picks that the Marlins brought up straight out of AA in the shortened 2020 season. The Marlins surely think highly of these two to take the leap of faith in calling them up. That being said, the mix of depth they have in their rotation and their willingness to trade promising young starting pitching in the past suggests they may not be off the table. Their Major League success is irrelevant at this point, as Garrett threw only 7.2 innings and Rogers 28, but don’t put it past the Twins to check in if they see a young controllable starting pitcher they could mould. Bonus: Jordan Yamamoto I’m not going to lie to you, the 24 year old righty had an 18.26 ERA and 11.93 FIP last season. It was bad, like possibly “get this man out of Miami” bad. In 2019 he actually managed a 4.46 ERA and 4.51 FIP though and he had 3 pitches with a whiff rate over 27.5%. There’s clearly some talent in there and his cost may never be lower. Such a young starter with any Major League success will never come free, but the Twins could look to cash in for as cheap as can be. The fun thing about the Marlins is they’ve shown a history of unpredictability in trading their young arms. At this point that’s about all they have, so there’s not an obvious candidate aside from Ureña that they may actually be looking to trade. The Twins missed out on Zac Gallen in 2019 when that surprising trade was made. I think they should be checking in with Miami this winter and exploring all options to make sure they don’t miss out on another young controllable pitcher being shipped out. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

After the Twins early exit from the postseason, GM Derek Falvey hinted that some shake ups to the roster's core weren’t out of the question after the regulars disappointed yet again. In what looks to be an unprecedented offseason looming, there are several reasons that may make Miguel Sano the perfect “core” piece to look to trade.Miguel Sano is Good: I love Miguel Sano, and you should too. Trading him should make you nervous if you remember a man named David Ortiz. He’s been an above average hitter according to wRC+ in every season but two and is almost 20% above in his career as a whole. In addition, he’s locked up for about $10m/year with a team option through 2023. As we all know, Sano is incredibly streaky and swings and misses… a lot. That being said, he also set the pace for Major League Baseball when it comes to average exit velocity, hard hit % and barrel rate in 2020. He also shifted to 1B and held his own at a new position this last year and looks to be a viable option to remain there for the near future if it fits a team’s needs. Sano should fetch a good amount of value on the trade market. NL Designated Hitters: The National League will likely adopt the DH moving forward, a position some feel Sano is destined for in the future. Despite Sano’s encouraging debut at 1B, it’s fair to wonder what the future holds for him in the field considering his 6’4 frame and injury history. A team could just cut bait on his transition to 1B and utilize him solely in their lineup to avoid injury. Furthermore, the DH was sort of sprung on the NL this year, and they largely suffered at that position. Competitive teams relied on players like Matt Carpenter (84 wRC+), Ryan Braun (99 wRC+), and Jay Bruce (83 wRC+) for example. There should be no shortage of teams willing to pay handsomely for a controllable slugger to immediately step in as they try and plan more carefully for a full season of designated hitters in the NL. Kirilloff the First Baseman: Alex Kirilloff is hopefully here to stay after impressing in his trial by fire in the playoffs. While he played right field and is assumed by many to be a corner outfielder, Kirilloff actually spent close to half of his time at 1B in 2019. The Twins had the foresight to recognize their inevitable log jam in the outfield and began the switch. Kirilloff’s bat appears to be up to the task when it comes to producing at the level of an MLB corner infielder. Furthermore, reports are fairly high on Kirilloff’s defensive prowess on first base. The Twins did a fantastic job in getting Sano acclimated in a hurry, and Kirilloff already has about 300 innings more at the position than he did. If the Twins believe in Kirilloff’s bat enough to hand the position over to him, trading Sano opens a nice path to keep Rooker on the team as well as give Larnach a chance in the outfield. All of this while shedding payroll and getting a healthy return for Miguel Sano. Do I actively want the Twins to trade Miguel Sano? Not really. The topic of shaking up their core is a bit nerve racking when looking at the regular season success of this squad over the last two years. That being said, if the front office feels they need a change to get over the postseason hump, I’m interested in what they can scheme up. There are too many other core pieces that are valuable and affordable i.e. Kepler, Polanco, Buxton. Sano has ample replacement options and players of his skill set may be at an all time high when it comes to trade value. If a shake up of the Twins core is on the horizon, I think Miguel Sano may be the odd man out. Do you agree? — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

2020 was a nightmare season for Lewis Thorpe. The Australian lefty just never got his footing and looked ineffective in what was essentially a lost season. While there wasn’t a single Twins fan who was arguing to keep Thorpe on the Major League roster by mid season, it may also be a mistake to completely give up on him.Even before this season turned into the patented nightmare 2020 we’ve all grown accustomed to, Thorpe was already struggling. He showed up in the spring as the favorite for many to snatch the 5th starting spot. Instead he was sent to the minor league side of camp after taking an absence from the Twins training facility. While it’s easy to say that a 2-3 week absence from Spring Training should likely remove you from the rotation battle, it’s hard not to feel for the guy when he’s so far from home. Then came the mess that was the 2020 baseball season. Spring Training was halted only to be picked back up months later. Thorpe competed in summer camp and received opportunities, but he just never looked right. His fastball had dropped from 91.2 to 89.7, rarely touching 90 on the radar gun. In some outings the fastball was as low as 86-87. The rest of his offspeed pitches dropped a few ticks as well as he just never had an effective pitch to turn to with the life missing from his fastball. There were no indications of injury. Most troubling of all, his walk rate ballooned to 13% (matching his strikeout rate). Unlike his 6+ ERA in 2019, his 6.06 ERA in 2020 was backed up by a 6.99 FIP. He had a career high walk rate as well as a K rate about half of what he put up in any other professional season. Everything matched up to the eye test that was telling us that it just wasn’t working out. Is it a coincidence that this happened in the weirdest season in MLB history though? In addition to a mess of pitching injuries, tons of pitchers began the season with steep declines in fastball velocity including big names like James Paxton, Charlie Morton and Blake Snell. The slow ramp up of Spring Training gave way to a rush to the start of the season in July’s summer camp. Many of them ironed out their velocity issues as they continued making starts. Unfortunately for Thorpe, he was in bullpen duty and didn’t have much of a routine. He was eventually sent down and wasn’t seen throughout September. While Thorpe certainly dropped a few spots in the depth chart as a result of his 2020, it’s fair to mention that he’s only a year removed from being a pitcher the Twins were excited about. There’s no guarantee that Thorpe is going to be back with a vengeance in 2021. His 2020 was nothing short of brutal and we have no minor league numbers to see if he made any improvements after his demotion. That being said, he’s a talented left handed pitcher who fell flat in a season that we’ll likely see many players rebound from in years to come. He’s definitely still a commodity that other teams would give a shot to, and certainly has shown the talent to make the most of it. I don’t think the Twins are going to give up on Lewis Thorpe, and I don’t think that we as fans should want them to. — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email — Follow Cody Pirkl on Twitter here Click here to view the article

This is always so weird to see. People were split on Donaldson between "we need his energy" and "his energy isn't going to fit in with this team". Bauer didn't have any real issues in Cleveland other than throwing that ball over the CF fence and no issues at all in Cincinnati. People worry about chemistry too much. When's the last time in Major League history a successful team brought in a talented player who didn't mech well with the clubhouse and it made them worse?

I mean its 42.6%

I agree that it's not worth trashing the whole team but I don't think the Twins want to do that either. I'm a believer that guys like Kepler and Garver were hugely impacted by the logistics of this season. That being said, the Twins have too much talent waiting for a shot in the minors to continue running it back every year after this core of players has crashed and burned so spectacularly two years in a row now. I don't think the goal is to clean house and replace all of the incumbents with young guys and roll the dice. I think it's more about making the most of the talent they have at their disposal and maximizing value. If they think Kirilloff can be as good or better defensively than Eddie and better on offense, why not shop him or non tender him and use that $10m to improve elsewhere? If some combination of Larnach, Rooker and Kirilloff can play 1B and provide a more well rounded profile than Sano, why not trade him for a pitcher or another piece that fills a hole on the team? In the end I think it'll only be a guy or two from this "core" we've seen the last two years that gets mixed up a bit.

The Twins shopped Eddie at the Winter Meetings last year and the only team interested was the Marlins who were hurting for a left handed power OF bat. Even then they wouldn't give up anything worthwhile for him unfortunately. Now he's a year older and making more money. It's sometimes hard to believe by watching him but according to the metrics that teams use, he has proven himself to be a bad defender with his most athletic years behind him. He also possesses one of the worst plate discipline profiles you can possibly project for a player as they enter their 30s. I think he has a few years left in the tank, but I can't see him having a resurgence or breakout like Hicks had that leaves us wondering what the hell happened. Also I wouldn't be surprised if Eddie is worth $4-5m in the free agent market this winter. If the Twins call a team up offering Eddie, they'll know we're just trying to get Kirilloff into the opening day roster and we'll probably non tender him if we can't find a suitor. Why would they give anything up and pay double what they could pay him if they just wait it out?

Sano whiffed over 40% of the time but Cruz himself whiffed about 35% this year. It doesn't come down to swinging and missing, it's whether or not Sano is walking and hitting mistakes. If Sano can somehow be somewhat consistent with what he did in August this year, he's be a great DH. Unfortunately that month was sandwiched between two months where he was an easy out and did neither of these things.