Riverbrian

I think the Twins are counting on off-season work to get Outman flying right. They probably didn't want to start with major adjustments immediately after walking into the clubhouse. With the roster... they got time to sort things out. We still don't know who will be healthy coming out of spring training. I'm looking at the roster right now and trying to make moves in my head and that is probably pre-mature. Julien has a clearer path to playing time. Outman... not so much but if Outman doesn't get playing time. We will never know if he fixed things and if we never know... there isn't much point to his existence at all.

Not always but trades tend to be Prospect for Vet or Vet for Prospect. Every once in awhile you find a match on a Vet for Vet or Prospect for Prospect. So... If you are trading a prospect that limits your options to the team collecting them. There seems to be a low number of those teams this off-season according to the rumors. The Twins may not actually be looking for prospects if you believe the rumors. In the American League... The White Sox may be the only team looking for youth. In the National League... It may only be the Nats and Rockies with rumors of the Pirates being aggressive in the free agent market looking for hitting and the Marlins trying to move pitching for hitters.

With Decent Health... They will need at least 8 starters to get through the season. With health issues... They will need double figures. Some of the starters will need to be converted to the pen because the pen needs help from somewhere. Choose wisely.

Outman and Julien are really in the same boat. Really impressive first years followed by really not impressive years leading to being out of options. If Outman is going to get a 26 man spot. Julien probably should get one as well. If that's the case... I'd give them both until June to show major league hitting ability. If they don't show by June you gotta move on. That gives both players the off-season and spring training to find it and two months to prove they might have found it. That will require playing time for both. If Outman and Julien are just going to sit for two months before being eventually cut. You might as well move on now. I know that many are hoping they move on now but... the trade of Stewart for Outman would make absolutely no sense if they move on from Outman now. If the Twins pick up a 1B. They will have to choose between Clemens and Julien... both out of options. Clemens has more position flexibility. Julien has the higher ceiling? The Twins have work to do.

It's hard enough for me to try and run the Twins. Hard enough that I'm reluctant to try and run the Giants at the same time. With that said... those Giants sure could use starters. I'd be all over Ryan and I'd be bidding heavy for Framber.

Good news. I agree 100%. We do need relievers and a power bat. Before I get to excited. The definition of power would probably need to be established and I'll be curious to watch how they get one. I'm not sure there are reasonably priced sources of power in the free agent pile. I like O' Hearn as a hitter. However... O' Hearn has spent a career being heavily platooned. The Padres put a stop to that platoon stuff so he has been hitting left handers for a couple of months. Is two months of work enough or do we need a 25% compliment? I really hope not but the search for power statement could be a Clemens handcuff so I'll await definition. They could trade for a power bat. However... if they are keeping Ryan, Lopez and Buxton... who do they trade for that power bat? Once you eliminate those three... they will have to dip into that prospect pool for decent trade value. Should they trade or acquire prospects? What will Erod fetch?

IFA's should count. If they ain't drafting them... they got to sign them. If they do neither... they have to buy one of those fancy 30 plus guys.

Thanks for counting... but... there has to be more. 102 catchers caught at least one inning in 2025 alone. That isn't even considering prior years.

You have to bite your nose off... umm... some place... umm... on your body... somewhere. I understand... it's hard to look at this catcher grand canyon and say make it worse and just leave it. But... Yeah... off goes the nose. They can't fix all of their needs with their limited resources... if they try to address everything... it would require serious dilution of the talent needed to just cover everything paper thin. No more paper thin... please. We've done paper thin... it's how we got here... I want my ham sliced thick. The Twins will have to choose where they place resources. Some things will be left behind. If they have to choose and they do. This is the position to just grab some catchers cheaply that can catch, throw and call a good game. Any offense at all is just a bonus. And think about that... we've haven't even produced the major leaguer equivalent to what I am currently asking for... just to punt the position.

Maybe... if a catcher is instrumental in the growth of young pitchers and those young pitchers actually develop due to a seasoned catcher. He would be worth more than a few FV40 prospects. However... If his experience offer's value in developing pitchers... he can't be the only one. If that part can be replaced with an Alex Jackson... we are back to simply considering a player with trade value that will be gone next year. Spending the last year with the a 2026 club that has a lot of holes that need filling.

Yep... I believe you read that correctly. The only major league catcher that has been developed under Derek Falvey's leadership has grown old and is about to reach free agency. The only one over the 8 years since he and Thad Lavine took charge. Jeffers is the only drafted or IFA catcher signed under the Falvey's leadership to reach the major leagues. The only one and he went and got himself eligible for free agency on us and we still have our pants down. Mitch Garver was considered a prospect already in house along with Ben Rortvedt. Both those catchers were traded and NOBODY was developed to replace them after they were traded. Nobody other than Jeffers since 2017! If there is an organization with a worse catching development track record in the past 8 years? I'm not sure who that would be? I'm not even talking about the development of a Williams Contreras type superstar. I'm talking about the lowest bar possible... a major league catcher who hits .200 but can call pitches, frame and just catch a game of baseball... even without a bat. We haven't even produced that guy. You read that correctly... I believe with all my heart... that they should just sleep in the bed that they made. Cash in Jeffers before you get nothing for him and punt the position for 2026 at least. I do not want them to spend any of our limited resources (financial or player capital) trying to fix this perpetual problem that they really haven't paid enough attention to for 8 years. They have a lot of things to fix. If they have to choose which problems to address and what has to wait or addressed with the force of a mouse. Catcher should be what waits. I don't know exactly how many major league catchers were drafted or signed since 2017 that have actually played in the major leagues. Someone would have to count but I'd guess over 100 and I'm probably undershooting by a lot. We have contributed 1 of them. Sleep in the bed you made. Alex Jackson and whoever (Pereda)...it is what it is. Turn your damn attention to Olivar, Cardenas, Tait, Diaw and Jimenez. You punt until you can produce one and they better start producing more than one... and soon.

There ya Go. Joe Ryan to San Francisco... He can go home. Bruce Eldridge back in return and we have a potential aircraft carrier for our future.

They might just do that because they are going to have to make some 40 man adjustments for better 40 man balance and we are OF heavy. I just don't see a lot of options beyond them. Especially if they are keeping Joe Ryan. To me this comes down to cashing in value before you get nothing or less for it. Having a lot of needs to address and the money/trade chip allocation that they have to work with.

Not really. Yes... Anybody can be dealt but in regards to maximum value that returns actual talent it gets quite limited. We can move outfielders but should we be moving Wallner, Erod or GG with years of control left. Larnach doesn't bring back what those guys do. Anybody can be traded but what brings back actual talent is quite limited.

We could use a 45+ prospect infielder. The 45 prospect swimming is primarily happening in the OF and SP lakes.

Not only is money going to be limited to the point that they need to be strategic with it. Trade Capital is also limited. If Jeffers isn't a trade chip. That's less trade capital to work with. You should be hanging on to prospects with both hands so let's less trade capital to work with. If you are keeping Ryan... that's less trade capital to work with. If the Twins think they have a roster to compete right now. They better be right because these type of decisions will determine how long it takes to fix this thing and get competitive.

This is where I am at. Very few are going to be comfortable with this. However, the Twins have to choose and this is the state of our catching as a result of our catching development issues so sleep in the bed youmade and focus on the other positions until they can produce their own Susac making the minimum. Or... Someone Better.

The Twins have nothing immediately behind Jeffers and I mean nothing. The front office needs to sleep in this bed that they made instead of spending limited resources to fix it which will cause a problem spending elsewhere. A lot of people don't agree when I say that we should punt the position. I understand the thought is scary but the Twins are going to pay for this development mistake one way or another. If they spend on C... they won't be able to spend on X. We will have a C or an X problem to choose between even if they trade for that 1B middle of the order player. And yes... I agree with you. We desperately need a 1B middle of the order bat.

Jeffers having a good year would be in his best interest. Will a Jeffers good year bring us a playoff spot? I'm not sure... I can be pretty optimistic but everyone should know that the Twins have a ways to go... even if they hang on to Ryan, Lopez, and Buxton along with Jeffers. If we are talking about 3 years at 60 million. His trade value will be gone at that contract. They won't be able to trade him for anything without eating some money. The Twins will be fine committing to Jeffers for the next three years at the position... It should solidify the spot. However... that will become a serious payroll allocation issue for me because I'm pretty sure our budget has limitations going forward.

I pray that they will. Maybe trade Jeffers for a decent 1B. In the end... the Twins have multiple holes to fill and the question is really... Do you Cash Jeffers in now, later or let him walk for nothing. In consideration of the current team context. I vote to cash in now.

Agreed but the draft compensation would depend on a QO and at 22 million... that's a high price to pay for a team that has limited funds available to spend in the first place. If you spend 22 million on Jeffers. He probably takes it and now you don't have 22 million to spend elsewhere and we will need funds after this season for elsewhere. Also if he takes it... his trade value is gone immediately afterwards as well. In regards to the Twins catching position. I'd rather the Twins punt the catcher position this year... maybe even next year. Too many holes to fill and limited funds available to fill them all... You'll have to choose where you allocate those limited dollars and the limited trade chips. I don't think we should burn limited resources on a position that requires the rest that catchers require. Now... if a 3 year 30 million dollar deal will get it done. If he would extend at that price. I'd extend him.

Extension is going to come down to the money. The Twins would probably have to offer at least what Jeffers will make as a free agent or what Boras his agent thinks he will make as a free agent. That would make the extension no different than signing Realmuto this year. Can the Twins afford to spend a significantly portion of their payroll on a Catcher position that might play 110-120 games a year. I don't think they can afford to do that at that position. It would be a mis-allocation of limited funds. If you are going to spend money and the money you can spend is limited... spend it on players who play positions that play more games. A 1B will play more than a C will.

Lots of people freaking out over this and they probably have a strong reason to be freaked out... especially if you are Fighting Irish fan. Myself... I don't care if Notre Dame is out and as long as the G5 conferences don't have their own playoff... I'm Ok with James Madison and Tulane both getting in even if they are going to lose by 70 points in the first round. However... It's not a good look for the current format. Here are some suggestions. 1. Create another level for the G5 conferences. Let Boise State, Western Michigan, Tulane, James Madison and their own group of teams have their own playoff. College Football is the have's and have nots. The G5's are the have nots. The FCS has a wonderful tournament every year for their own level. Give them their own title to play for. The current reward for Western Michigan is a MAC title and a bowl game against Kennesaw State. FCS and G5 are just feeder programs for the P4 schools anyway. In the absence of a G5 title game. I have no problem with the current format for the highest 5 rated conferences getting a playoff spot. Just remove the problem with a G5 tournament. 2. Notre Dame needs to join a conference. I understand that Notre Dame probably has financial reasons for not joining a conference but... quit your bitching... The Notre Dame strength of schedule isn't going to match up with the Big Ten or SEC strength of schedule. Their strength of schedule probably matched up with the ACC strength of schedule and the ACC just came inches from not having a representative in the field. If you want to be an independent with that schedule so you can keep the extra income... well you didn't get an invite this year and your schedule was probably a factor. 3. Speaking of the ACC and I will throw the Big 12 in to this group as well. I don't think the Big Ten or SEC has to worry about this but... Fix your tiebreaker system. If the committee is looking at rankings to determine who gets in and who doesn't. Duke simply can't win the tie-breaker. The highest ranked team needs to be the first tie-breaker. Duke winning the title is the reason that both Tulane and James Madison are in. It's a 10 team playoff most likely but I sure hope Tulane or James Madison pulls off an upset or two. Giving the current rules that are in place. I have no problem with Notre Dame on the sidelines. In the end... I think Notre Dame, Alabama and Miami all have legitimate reasons to be out.

Yep... Value at his highest... Risk of getting nothing or less in return. I don't like the trade proposal in the article... but the concept of trading Jeffers is still functional when you open the door to other offers that make more sense. This team needs a young talented SS or 1B. If Jeffers can get that done. I'll drive him to the airport myself. The Twins can punt the position for 2026.

All possibilities. 1. If they could... they probably should. Comes down to what it would take? The Twins don't have extra money to toss around so they need to spend it strategically. If you pay Jeffers... you won't be able to pay others. It may be best to just let Jeffers play the market and let his water find the correct level. 2. If they keep him and he plays the entire year. The QO will be at least 22 million... it typically goes up each year. Yes... you get draft pick compensation that has value but like point #1 but... can the Twins afford to drop 22 million for a catcher if Jeffers takes it? I don't know what Jeffers would get in free agency as perhaps the top free agent catcher but can the Twins afford to drop 22 million. 22 Million is a really good player at other positions. Positions that play more than catchers do. They really need to be strategic with the budget. 3. Who knows and I don't know what a labor disagreement does to the free agency process but my guess is that the doors will eventually open eventually and teams will fill holes. Does it have to happen right now? No and It's hard to predict what his trade value will be at the deadline. It will certainly go down in regards to only being a 2 month rental but it could go back up due to a low number of teams being sellers and the teams in contention hanging on to what they have. And then there is the consideration that the Twins may not be sellers? I know... I laughed when I typed that last sentence. All things considered... I think the time is now.