Riverbrian

Concerning the subject Royce Lewis. I'd keep betting on him. He will be back next year. In a nutshell overall... Royce Lewis and everyone. I'd rather they show patience with all players that will be back next year. I'd rather they show less patience with players that won't be back next year. I think it's quite possible that they have been playing it backwards. And I'll say that the Twins are not the only team that seem to play it backwards. However, teams like Milwaukee and Cleveland tend not to. I'd like them to use April, May, June and July to establish who is getting the job done in order to answer the important time sensitive question. What do we need to do at the trade deadline? How do we shore up the weak points? Can Wallner hit left handed pitching for the stretch run or do we need to rent Grichuk for the stretch run? Will Royce come out of this slump or are we going to play Kody Clemens at 3B or do we need to rent Eugenio Suarez for the stretch run.

I can't declare incompetence but the room smells funny from the outside. In my mind... I am concerned that either A. They are betting on the wrong horses and not betting on multiple horses. B. They are simply failing to breed, acquire nor train successful horses. C. Combination of A and B.

My gut says... there is a superstar in there somewhere... he doesn't reach free agency until 2029 so keep investing. My gut also says that selling at a low performance point would probably cause Warren Buffett to post negative comments. To your bigger point. I have a couple of thoughts that I just can't shake. A. If you can miss to the downside... You can also miss to the upside. This point gets lost on many but it shouldn't. If the front office can invest 2859 PA's in Sano. If they can invest 997 PA's in Lewis. 1,023 PA's in Miranda. I'll say it... If they can invest 4,722 in Max Kepler and be wrong... If they can be wrong... this wrong ... miles wrong... to the downside... this same front office would also be capable of investing 234 PA's or 0 PA's in (insert name here) and be wrong on players to the upside. Of course... we would never know about those players unless a Rooker can somehow survive the missed assessment at age 28. B. They will show incredible patience with the chosen ones. They will let Lewis slump for a year straight and keep playing him every day because they believe he will come out of it. They will let Kepler slump for 3 years straight because they believe he will come out of it. They will keep riding a slumping Margot through hell and high water. Sorry... that's all the set up to Point B. Here is Point B: They are willing to ride a slumping player into the ground for extraordinary periods of time. Which means that they are willing to suffer through PERFORMANCE PERCENTAGE DROPS for extended periods of time. Yet, they are unwilling to suffer through the performance percentage drops for sporadic periods of time in regards to platoon matchups or players that are glued to the bench because they might hurt the teams chances. In other words... any potential gains they get for these game by game, ab by ab decisions in the short term... are given back by extended faith in the player in an extended slump. All players slump... some are extended longer to the point of damage. That's the loss of quarters in order to gain nickels. It's like the point I've made before... You want to handcuff Margot to Wallner. OK... You can get a platoon split advantage doing that. The short sided platoon facing more right handers than left handers in the end is just giving back those potential platoon advantage gains and ends up a negative in total the end. In the case of a year long slump with no competition for playing time. All minor gains are swallowed up. There is a lot of room between playing 6 out of 6 games and 0 out of 6 games. All roster spots can be accommodated. Slumping player (extended slumping player) could play 4 out of 6 games until he straightens out. Bench player could be in one of his two week hot stretches while he gets 0 out of 6 games. I see no solution for any of this without honest to god competition for playing time. I also see no solution for any of this unless predetermination (while necessary to degree) is limited to who gets a roster spot. Once given a roster spot... get out of the way and let them earn something.

I don't discount the possibility that Vazquez helped Zebby. It is certainly possible... catchers have a role to play working with them. Catchers are important defensively. But... If Vazquez is gone next year... Maybe he is... Maybe he isn't. Someone has to step into the role if he is. Catchers and Pitchers need to learn to work with each other. Let Pereda learn that maybe I shouldn't call a screwball in that situation. Let Pereda learn that Matthews responds to this instead of responding to that. Nobody places much faith in Catcher ERA... Because the pitcher not locating on a given night can really mess up a Catche ERA despite a solidly called game. If anybody does care about CERA... here are the numbers. Vazquez is the best on the team with a 3.71. Pereda is 2nd with a 4.40 ERA. Jeffers 3rd with a 4.93 ERA. Gasper 4th with a 7.01 ERA Pereda seems to be doing pretty good with SWR. He was behind the plate when he struck out 11 and shut out the Yankees. With Funderburk, Adams and Ohl cleaning up the shut out. If Vazquez is wanted back next year because he is a major cog in keeping ERA down. Fine... sign him... Sign him to a 3 year deal again if you'd like. But he isn't necessary in 2025 and I'm really hopeful that the Twins don't act like they simply can't develop a Vazquez so they don't even try.

Certainly... I agree it can't be discounted. The Twins have a gaping hole at the position. However... the implication of that is beyond words. If Vazquez returns at what is assumed a much lower price. The Twins will be heading into 4 years of Jeffers/Vazquez behind the plate and running full speed into 2027 with Jeffers and Vazquez both exiting at the same time. Vazquez returning for 2026 is a sensible solution to the problem and at the same time... the worst possible solution to the problem because it's a really a continuation of the problem. Regardless of his pending return or departure this off-season. He doesn't need this last week of play. He's a 74 year old veteran. Letting Pereda try to continue his fairly decent play in the last week is much more necessary... even if his odds are long. This isn't defense of Pereda... it isn't even stating confidence or belief in the future of Pereda but it is stating that... if a player has a nice stretch... let him continue. The most efficient way to kill a hot streak is to bench or kill the player having the hot streak and prevent the establishment of anything positive.

Credit where credit is due, Vazquez had a really nice game in his return from what was probably a scary injury. While I applaud his efforts to get back... I Can't help wonder why he is back. Since he won't be back. Oh Well... Pereda had his demotion coming since he only managed 32 PA's of .870 OPS. If you want to stay in the majors... you gotta have more PA's than that. He needs to go to St. Paul and not come back until he gets more MLB PA's.

Well... you know me. I'm not interested in one year contracts unless its in the bullpen. . At the same time... I don't have a solution for 1B or SS or C or the bullpen,

Maybe... but the Twins front office chose him. Whatever the reason is only known by the front office. Outman on the roster for two months in a lost season is more insane. Full disclosure... I still like his Power and Speed potential. I assume that's the reason. I hope they unlock it. If they can't unlock him.... He will be over run at some point in 2026 by the players closing in on him.

Maybe... It's possible that the Twins think they can pass him through waivers but regardless... the Twins wanted him and they will want him to pass through waivers. However... I can't see any logic in acquiring him without a level of a believe in him from the front office that stretches beyond the belief in him expressed by the fan on Twinsdaily. If the Twins believe in him... others may as well. They are all looking at the same data. Cautionary tale. Last year... 80% of Twinsdaily... Maybe 90% of Twinsdaily were willing to toss Austin Martin on the scrap heap. Certainly a different vibe a year later.

I certainly won't argue your thoughts. And I think the points you make about Stewart's value have value. However... the front office are going to give Outman a run. There was no reason to make the Stewart trade for a 2 month rental this year despite Stewarts value whatever that may be.

Baseball is such a funny game. I find it interesting that last year... The Tigers sold vets at the deadline and went on a historic run with nothing but youth. They started 2025 with youth and continued the historic run. They then added vets and reduced youth at the deadline and collapsed. Not making any claims... just saying it's interesting. Also the rise of Arizona and Cleveland after selling at the deadline. Baseball is such a funny game.

The Twins may have to move Ryan in the off-season. They may not but it sure looks like they may have to. But... if they do... they need to revisit trade packages with everyone. Focusing on the Red Sox deadline discussion whatever it actually was... if it was... is way too narrow a focus. If you are going to narrow the focus. 1B... Need a young 1B stud prospect in return. The hole at 1B is too gaping at the moment.

Outman is Out "Of Options" man. He's back in 2026. They are not giving away Stewart for a two month rental.

Many people are not happy with the Outman acquisition. However... they knew he was out of options when they traded for him. If they knew and they had to know. He's back next year because it would make no sense to trade Brock Stewart for a two month rental on a team that is not going to make the playoffs. They could have traded Stewart for a 19 year old that puts no pressure on the 40 man or 26 roster instead. The only conclusion that can be drawn is that Twins liked Outman and they went and got him. I'll even go as far as to say. It appears that the Twins purposely tried to acquire major league ready or close to major league talent when making the deals they made. Which leads me to the conclusion... they ain't done yet since it all piled up in the starting pitching and outfield categories.

Your roster will need an infielder that can play a decent SS. Brooks Lee won't play 162 games even if they try to play him 162 games. And I'd say that 6 outfielders is too many.

In my mind... It simply means that he should be part of the plans for next year. No guarantees on what he will bring next year but he should be on the 26 man roster and given the opportunity to compete. Right now... I think he should primarily play OF but I believe that infield should remain part of his repertoire because team context will change with injuries and the ability to deploy Martin at 2B or 3B should injuries create the need will be helpful. The ability to deploy Martin in the infield could potentially allow Martin to create extra playing time for the rest of the outfielders on the roster. In my mind... the club has to sort out the players with decision deadlines hanging over them. Who knows what ingredients the front office is going to use this off season or how they use them to prepare this upcoming 2026 dinner. A trade of Ryan can shift the recipe quickly but maybe they don't trade him or any of the pitching. Maybe they decide to simply try and move forward from here. Before they call up Jenkins... they have to make decisions on those whose decisions are immediately due. Don't get me wrong... I can't wait for the arrival of Jenkins and I hope he becomes what we all hope he becomes but you don't want to toss a side potential major league talent to clear the space for him. Even if that potential major league talent turns out to be average major league talent in the end. You don't want to toss it. Martin has earned a 2026 job. He doesn't have to play every day but he deserves to play most days. He needs to be part of a group of players competing with each other for jobs in 2027 and beyond.

I don't have a problem with the Correa deal. Even in hindsight... I still don't. It was nice to see the Twins actually walk into that exclusive door and play in the upper end of the free agent pool... if only for a second. However, if they took this Correa risk because of the potential of Wallner, Kirilloff, Larnach, Miranda and Lewis and Steer. They couldn't have handled this critical group worse nor failed harder. The first three justifications for signing Correa were strip mined for parts, pinch hit for, and handcuffed to Farmers, Garlicks and Luplows. Now we are at the point where the Twins Daily faithful are talking about trading what's left of this trio. Of course trade value for Wallner and Larnach has been severely compromised due in large part to the players being compromised by the club. I'm sure the reason for the compromising was justified into an attempt to raise the odds by raising percentages during this Correa window but in the end... they compromised young rising talent in order to platoon advantage for slight percentage gains on a per AB basis. Maybe the Larnach and Wallner can recover value enough to reach Joc Pederson series of one year contract levels when they reach free agency but right now... it's being openly discussed on this website that we should just toss Larnach now despite having above average success at the plate against the hand he was allowed to face. This was minimizing future value in an attempt to minimally raise current odds. Only Steer had an above average OPS of the right handed group in 2025... the one that is not here. Miranda... we have probably seen the last of. Hopefully Lewis has shaken out of whatever had him but he's in arbitration now and despite an incredibly hot superstar like start. He has been a year long slump surrounded by injury and enough injury that Miranda had enough time to rescue his career as the trio of right handed justifications for acquiring Correa were all tied to the same position. I'm not sure if development could have turned out worse and honestly... I'm not sure that it wasn't partially intentional because they tried to justify the Correa signing with Margot's and Frances. The D-Backs... sold at the deadline... and have pulled themselves back into contention with the kids. Much like Cleveland did. The Twins... not so much. They could not have supported the Correa deal worse.

And today he's doing? He's got a podcast so there's that.

I agree he was probably pushed but he was allowed to tell the world that he left on his own accord.

I agree... For example this off-season... I assume and I don't think it's a reach to assume that Falvey had to go to ownership and get a payroll bump approved just to add Bader to the roster and he got it. Even if we stayed in contention and didn't sell this deadline. We were going to sell in the off-season. They have been acting like a team that hit the max allowed.

Lavine did. Why he left one of 30 major league jobs without another job lined up says something. Was he pushed out or did he just say... Screw This? I don't know both are possible but you just don't leave a well paying high profile job like that without another job lined up unless he was pushed out Or the frustration/pressure level got to the point that he was willing to chuck something that he had spent 26 years cultivating to get to that position. We will never what was happening inside of those offices but what was leaking out of it sure gave the impression of turmoil.

I think your quite possible's are quite possible... because a plausible explanation is needed and it's about the only plausible explanation that I can think of. And it's exactly what weights heavy on my mind. Thinking you are a Carlos Correa at full potential away? OK... maybe for a year, maybe two but certainly not for the length of the contract? Players get more expensive as time moves on. Payroll would need to keep rising. I'm sure they placed some large bets on Kirilloff and others that didn't pay off but a team with limited budget was going to need more than Kirilloff and I don't believe they placed enough bets because Kirilloff by himself was never going to be enough. They had to know that money was going to dry up regardless of the television revenue. TV/Cable... Baseball demographics... all of it was on shaky ground when they took the position. When it hit... it didn't just hit the Twins. It hit multiple teams. Many teams felt the financial hit but not every team felt the hit on the overall product like what occurred in Minnesota. This front office conducted themselves like the money was going to be there and they kept on the same path even when they had to know that the money was no longer there. We all know this but it's worth pointing out. They signed Ty France for an everyday 1B job at nearly the minimum and made him an every day player. The only teams that do this sort of thing are teams that have nowhere else to go. They can't afford better and they didn't grow better... and better was such a tremendously low bar to clear.

The front office was very aggressive in approach and it just stopped for whatever reason. It's easy to assume that the TV deal drying up was the reason. Who knows but since the two deadlines in a row without making a significant deal came after the Diamond/Bally debacle... it's just an easy assumption and it's still the assumption that I have. Bottom line... not doing anything at the deadline was not what this front office was doing prior. The front office was typically aggressive prior. OK... So let's assume that ownership/financials dictated a change in course. They were heading one direction and a roadblock was placed. This assumption raises some questions that I don't have answers to. 1. When they started... Did the ownership give them the impression that payroll wouldn't be an issue? Were they under the impression that they could take payroll to 160 million, 180 million, 200 million (whatever was necessary) in the future? It's an important question because they staffed the roster like they could keep going. They stayed on the same path like they could keep going and clearly they couldn't. Most of us have been Twins fans for a long time and in 2023 we reached 153 million. I understand inflation inflates numbers making math necessary to compare decades but 153 million is a level that none of us ever dreamed of. At least not me. 153 million was well above what teams in similar revenue situations were spending if you just wanted to realistic compare in a single season. Did the ownership lead the front office to believe that payroll could keep rising because... all of sudden after reaching 153 million and the TV deal drying up. The brakes were applied, the course was corrected... the aggressiveness just plain stopped. Did ownership give them the impression that they could continue to keep going with spending because if you are not bringing in significant young talent to fill roster spots... the only way to sustain success is going to be with the pocketbook. Even if given this impression by ownership and the rug was pulled out from under. How could they not see this coming regardless. Yes the media revenue going away was unfortunate but even if the regional TV money stayed intact... there was still going to be a limit. If you are not producing major league talent on your farm you have to pay for every spot. Even the big money teams will run out of money at some point. they will reach a limit and have to take a couple of significant steps backwards in regards to payroll. The Cubs, The Red Sox are just a couple of examples off the top of my head. The Red Sox sold their farm to get to the top and then they had to sell Mookie Betts because there was no money left and nobody on the farm. Why would this front office think they could just keep going? If you are driving on a road with no gas stations ahead. The car will run out of gas and you will be on the side of the road. The next question is this. Did they think they were a Carlos Correa away when they signed him. Did the Carlos Correa signing simply put them in a position where they had to continue to go for it... no matter what. Did it lead to the conclusion that Manual Margot and Ty France additions were necessary to go for it instead of because they dropped a load on Carlos and there was no turning back, because they brought payroll to new heights and there was no turning back. I don't know the answers to these questions... but I have reached one conclusion. This Twins front office approach to staffing the roster is very similar to how the Phillies and Yankees have been staffing their roster. WITH ONE HUGE DIFFERENCE... they don't have the money to spend that the Phillies and Yankees have to spend so the chances of success were going to challenged and even if successful... the window was always going to be short.

Springsteen writes about the Twins a lot. From the album Nebraska "Well now... Everything dies baby that's a fact... but maybe everything that dies someday comes back". And this one from the album "The River" is all Twins. I think he wrote the line after the Rod Carew trade. "Like a river that don't know where it's flowin... I took a wrong turn and I just kept goin".

It is a lot of what if's... but it can come together quicker than most of us imagine it can. Can this front office produce enough major league level talent from their system. I don't want to hear about a lofty farm system ranking anymore. Don't care if they are ranked 1st or 30th. They got to get to the point where they are graduating at least 4, hopefully 5 or 6 players from their system a year in order to work with the budget constraints that there is no escape from. Other teams are able to do it. Can this front office develop? This past trade deadline... they sure seemed to make a concentrated effort toward landing as much close to major league ready or actual major league ready prospects. This suggests that they may not be preparing for another bad year. 6 players acquired will need to be on the 40 man by December. Taj Bradley (Already on 40 and 26) James Outman (Already on 40 and 26) Mick Abel (Already on 40) Alan Roden (Already on 40) Kendry Rojas (Will Require a 40 man spot in December) Henry Mendez (Will Require a 40 man spot in December) Can the front office develop these players further. Can they develop players from the farm to join them. Not just one... Multiple. Players Plural.