tony&rodney

I'm not calling for specific trades. My point is that there needs to be talent evaluation to determine the manner in which to best improve the team. This seems like it is part of the job of a front office. My frustration last offseason was that the Twins had some players who held value to other teams and there seemed like opportunities to acquire needs to improve the roster. Holding all of the players because you believe they will all contribute might work but then again it might not. Last season Julien and Kirilloff were among the players who didn't work out. Nobody is counting on Julien right now. Will there be someone we believe should be a regular falter this year due to holes in their game? I guess I see the Twins as more reactive than proactive and it seems like there are opportunities out there.

Winning usually is the answer to increased attendance. There may be other factors though. Last summer I was at a game in August that somewhat personified the 2024 season. The opponent made all the plays, took the extra base, and put the bat on the ball. The Twins missed several plays, took one base at a time, and came out of their shoes a couple of times where contact was called for. It was actually a good game but the fans left frustrated and one could hear numerous comments walking out of the stadium. Winning is the most important factor but clean fundamental baseball would help too.

The Vikings, Wild, Timberwolves, and Loons sold out every game last season. At least that is what the internet tells me. The Twins averaged just over 24,000 per game at Target Field, capacity 39,504. There is room for improvement.

Of course, we do not know if the Twins are looking to change their current setup at the catching position. Much of the conversation is directed at removing the $10M contract for next season due Christian Vazquez. There has yet to be any quotes or even hints that the Twins must remove payroll or are putting Vazquez out there. At least I have not seen it, which doesn't mean you haven't. Absolutely nothing on MLBTradeRumors. All of the speculation comes from writers disgruntled about the reduction in payroll from 2023 to 2024, which is in the past. Gleeman continues to lead this charade. If the Twins are looking for a catcher, they have an entire assortment of players to trade that I believe other teams would be interested in acquiring for their team. Many of us on Twins Daily have concocted reasonable trades that would ostensibly benefit both teams. Falvey likes his guys right now. That can change too. Gasper replaces Williams.

Yes, this reads like a preview of the White Sox precipitous fall. Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton are here to stay a few more years due to the no trade clause. If the Twins brain trust have any fears whatsoever about Matt Wallner, there are several teams looking for a right fielder. Pittsburgh would probably send over Jared Jones. Somebody in the organization should have a handle on evaluating the talent and from there the team stands pat or makes some deals. The other side of this equation suggests that other teams see little to no value in discussing transactions with Minnesota due to the paucity of talent on their roster. That doesn't seem realistic. I'm guessing that the front office sees a roster that bottomed out in 2024 and there is an expectation of improvement across the roster, which is why we have not seen any moves.

I'm confused why anyone would believe that a utility infielder who has caught some will somehow replace Jair Camargo much less Christian Vazquez. The past two years have taught us that Ryan Jeffers does a decent job when his playing time is managed. Pushing Jeffers has not worked out and a Gasper experiment could be a disaster for Jeffers and the pitching staff. The idea that Falvey is not allowed to make any moves is ridiculous. The only news has been that the team expected to remain at the same payroll level for 2025. There are always options. If a budget has been set at anywhere from $120-140M, the Twins can maneuver around to roster the team that they desire. I will grant that a budget below $110M would necessitate a couple of deals that weaken the team. However, there are still options to exchange minimum or low level salaries to fill positions if that is what the front office desires. Nothing has changed as far as the catching situation. Until the Twins acquire a catcher, they cannot move Vazquez or Jeffers. I think Moran was traded because the Twins didn't care for him. Gasper is AAA depth.

1A. Attendance hinges on factors like access (people can watch games on TV), folks talking (hot starts help), good baseball (hitting, pitching, running, fielding), and weather among other things. 1B. Do the Twins need new players, owners, front office? Need? No. Whatever helps though. I don't expect new owners or front office or many new players for 2025. 2. Falvey has the team he wants. The Twins can win if the players are productive and healthy. These are big ifs. The only established starters are Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton. Jeffers and Vazquez are a capable catching tandem. Willi Castro has shown himself to be versatile but was abused playing regularly as a shortstop or centerfielder. All of the others can be ok. 3. There are rookies who could step forward. The Twins need to keep an open mind in Spring Training. Emmanuel Rodriguez and Payton Eeles are not betting favorites but if the talent is there, let them play. The Twin only won their division in 2023 because some rookies stepped up. 4. All of Miranda, Julien, Martin, Lee, Lewis, Larnach, and Wallner are too close to being rookies to be considered established. There is some talent and it is up to the coaches/manager to put them in the correct position and then up to the players to prove they are worth a spot. 5. There is enough pitching. 6. The Twins haven't pursued a left-handed pitcher, thus it doesn't seem terribly important. Sure, a couple of high quality lefties would be nice, but pitchers just need to get outs. Lastly, despite great frustration at ownership it is past time to for folks, particularly the players, to clear the idea that the Twins are playing short due to budget constraints of any sort. Focus on the positive and complete the play at hand. An excuse extended is a weakness exposed. Recently I read that the Twins aren't expected to add any players this offseason because they can't and the team faces long odds of competing next season. I think this is a lazy comment laying groundwork for a disappointing year. The Twins have the talent to win. The direction and motivation has to be holistic effort. Falvey seems to really like the roster and from the top down perhaps that ideal can be adopted.

Whenever I think of the Metrodome, I remember my days as a beer vendor the first three years along with a few "guest" appearances and the picture below.

One of my all time favorite authors is Mark Harris. I just re-read The Southpaw, Bang The Drum Slowly, and Ticket For A Seamstitch. These are literary masterpieces for any other literature buffs out there. I do totally agree with Nashevilletwin on his comments. Bang The Drum Slowly is a great movie and there is none better than Henry "Author" Wiggen on the mound.

It was a helluva fine pitching performance. Honestly, Ober looks like he could throw all day long when he has control of his pitches.

Paddack definitely has value. He fits at the back end of many MLB rotations and could be quite effective as a relief pitcher. If the Twins can carry his contract and ignore how much he gets paid, I would like to see Paddack in the bullpen. He would be a real asset there, but just muck things up as a starter taking away outings from Festa. Still seems like he will get traded when the free agent pitchers have signed. If so we might be surprised by the return (not a top prospect).

You may be correct but Basallo and Mayo is a firm "NO" from me. Basallo might be a decent slugging first baseman after he no longer uses his catcher's glove, but pitching is hard to find. I was willing to go Lopez for Jarren Duran but Boston is smart enough to sign a lesser free agent instead.

Yes, it was the first time and it would be again, but I'm staying hopeful for 2025. Hate is a bad road to walk on.

Good luck and thank you for your work.

Joey Gallo to the rescue.

Might not be allowed now. Do the Twins have a Babe Ruth?

So that could be a trade or he could decide to resign for a corporate job in Connecticut.

Everyone who ever switched jobs has some adjustments to make. Kaelen Culpepper played D1 baseball for Kansas State for three years. He did fine. The change to pro baseball most notably involves switching from an aluminum or composite of some sort to a wood bat. The difference is huge. Minor leagues play six days a week and ride buses. The routines are markedly different. One of the best college players I ever saw quit pro ball after one month because he was homesick and missed his girlfriend. You cannot compare Nick Gordon to KC at this point unless you have seen them each play in person a couple of dozen times. The stats are meaningless for first year players most of the time. For those who peruse the stats, try to watch the players in games. If it isn't practical to see the players live, which is almost never is, watch via milb.com. After about 50-100 at bats one can begin to discern the levels of skill. It is much tougher to gage fielding milb.com. As far as Kaelen Culpepper goes, I have no opinion yet because I have only seen him in about a dozen games thus far. He seems to control the bat though and he make the routine plays in the field. We will all know more after this coming year.

The Twins are for sale according to various reports. We don't know why, despite rumors. Sometimes the stuff your dad or grandpa handed down to you just gets old or it isn't as interesting any more or you want to clear some space in your life. There can be a reason but there doesn't need to be a reason. The Twins broke a streak of losing postseason games in 2023 and there was some excitement around that among baseball fans in Minnesota. The bosses made a decision that the Twins should be able to compete with a payroll larger similar to their division foes, which angered people and that was somewhat understandable. The front office now had to play along with those finances, which wasn't important because they like the guys they have right now anyways. They must or there would have been a few moves. Nobody really needs to hear or know what the Twins may or may not be up to this offseason. Stuff can still happen. Right now mlb.com has four teams listed as having "none" under Notable Transactions: St. Louis, San Diego, Seattle, and Minnesota. So if the Twins send SWR, Castro, Julien, and Vazquez to the Padres for Cease and Hoeing, two teams are left. Maybe the Mariners will ship Ford to us for Miranda and Topa, leaving the Cardinals all alone to bask in their glory. It's a long offseason. Best not to expect anything. Don't wait for the team to sell either because you might go crazy.

Agree with this. No way Detroit just hands off Tork to a divisional foe. There may be a few teams willing to acquire Torkelson and return a useful player to Detroit or the Tigers keep him. The Tigres are looking better and may be adding a decent starting pitcher before long. Some thought Detroit was lucky last year. I actually like a few of their bats and see them improving next season.

Burnes signing will bring interest in Montgomery. The D-backs won't have to send much money if they want to just get rid of him because a few teams are still needing pitching. The Twins are not interested in Monty. Arizona still needs a closer. It is interesting that they are spending for this coming year. They do have nearly $70M coming off the books in one year. I thought the Twins might have been a reasonable trade partner with Arizona if players like Duran, Castro, and a few others were in a conversation but I don't see it now and it seems like there never was any chatter between the two clubs. The Giants must be reeling from this news though. Burnes is now in the division. Aggressive deals are bringing in free agents to clubs intent on competing, leaving other teams to scraps or challenge trades. Baltimore is in a tough spot right now because the Yankees and Red Sox have flexed their cash a little bit, making the division fight a bit tougher for them.

I would not trade Pablo Lopez for Sam Basallo and Coby Mayo, Baltimore has a stacked group of young players who need to play or get traded. I'm a little surprised that the Orioles haven't completed a deal. There is still time but without pitching and considering the competition in the AL East, the Orioles almost need to make a big splash somehow.

Not a sign of support at all. The article is that the team is out to lunch. While i have no ill will towards ownership or front office, a Twins fan is bound to be frustrated by the inaction. The lack of movement may be typical. Some will put it on the Pohlads. Management always has options and chooses their course given the parameters. I reference the AL Central because that is where it starts. What kind of team does Falvey seek? I have no idea at all. The reality tells us that he has his team. Some like/love that. Others (myself) are frustrated. It's just entertainment so it is best to not get too down. Happy New Year.

Signing Gleybar Torres bumps Detroit just over $100M in spending. It is only a one year deal too. Detroit could be a scary team, once they determine which of their younger players is a fit and where they should add via free agency and through trades, because they have less than $30M on the rolls for 2026. Perhaps the Tigers add Flaherty or another pitcher still this year.

The Twins are tops in spending in their division. The first order of business is winning the AL Central where the Twins are currently the Yankees of the division. Of course that will change once Detroit and Chicago get active in a few years. The satire references the apparent malaise of the front office. They are "out of office." Maybe in 2025 is the mantra.