tony&rodney

The post created some conversation - so fine. My take is that Miranda looks better at third base than at first base. He is more familiar with third. A first baseman is involved in more plays and Alex Kirilloff has shown himself to be comfortable and competent there. The Twins know that a healthy and fully productive AK is a boost on both sides of the ball and Kirilloff is only average at best in the outfield. The players in position in April may not be there still in July. We will see how Miranda looks at third and how Kirilloff fares at first.

All of the Twins scheduled to play on the infield have enough arm and range to play their positions well. Second baseman on the grass were able to display more range and arm than is needed on the dirt.

This article is right on. Last year was tough for Jorge Polanco. I believe it was his first stint on the IL. He has had a bit of a every other year performance flow, which bodes well for 2023. While Polanco was not a top shortstop and had his weaknesses playing there, he was pretty consistent. I felt he was not given his due when he was selected to be the starting shortstop for the All Star game. The selection is both fan and MLB player based. Polanco has been a steady presence for the Twins, providing power, good base running, solid defense, and clutch hitting.

Varland is the perfect #5 pitcher precisely because he gives a team innings and a competitive outing. An ERA at or just below 4.00 and 5-6 innings per start from the #5 starter will keep the team in most games and almost certainly be a better performance than another team's #5 starter (granted these guys do not match up all the time). Despite several Twins projecting as more accomplished pitchers, I would choose Varland for the last rotation slot because of his consistency.

Excellent article. For younger fans, it can be difficult to understand the game of baseball looking back fifty years or more. I remember that for several years Twins fans could look forward to the days when Goltz was starting as a day the team would have a good chance for victory. Goltz was consistently very good, reliable.

There was an article last October that stated that Cleveland could plug all three of Espino, Williams, and Bibee in to their rotation, but the Guardians tend to want their starters to earn their way ahead of others through demonstrated command and control of their pitches. Cleveland has the best rotation and the most depth with the most upside at this time. I wonder if the Guardians might eventually turn Sam Hentges back to starting. He is a tough at bat for hitters. Right now he is really valuable in the Cleveland bullpen. Hentges compares favorably to Jhoan Duran. Fans of both teams are curious about whether each might be effective starters, but each is needed in their current slots in the pen.

Baldelli has a job and he will need to make the proper decisions. That's all we can hope for. An outfield of Cave, Contreras, and Celestino .... I wanted them to do well ..... but I feel the depth looks better now.

The Twins know what Kepler can do as a baseline. Players like Larnach, Kirilloff, and Wallner all seem like good options but the team has, at minimum, some doubt. The depth is a good. The Twins absolutely do not need to trade Kepler for some guy they release within a year. The flexibility of options will allow Baldelli an opportunity to use the player who is actually performing. There is a difference between the 2022 team and the current Twins roster; depth. Besides, Kepler is still a good player.

Pitching out of the bullpen was a path to the starting rotation for many successful MLB pitchers. Johan Santana. Cleveland has used that formula at times. The arms like Ober, Winder, Henriquez, and Sands have value and I'm hoping the Twins have Ober and Winder on the 26 person roster. The 2023 season should play out quite a bit differently than last year as far as the pitching staff. I expect that a healthy Maeda, Pablo Lopez, Gray, and Ryan are given more innings. Mahle's innings will depend on his shoulder. We have to remember that the Twins were careful with Ryan last year; both Gray and Mahls has some injuries; Bundy and Archer were doing their best on fumes from their former days; and the guys from St. Paul who were given starts were closely monitored. The Twins do not have pitchers who throw 200 innings but a healthy rotation will cover many more innings this year. That will allow for guys like Ober and Winder to be two inning stars out of the pen with occasional starts.

The Twins were never giving Kepler away. What is the worth of a 2 WAR player? If an offer comes that is worthy, the Twins will listen. What is not at all clear to me is the value of guys like Wallner, Gordon, Martin, Larnach, Celestino, and Kirilloff from either the perspective of other organizations or from Falvey's view.

This didn't surprise me. The Twins have some decent arms returning: Duran, Jax, Thielbar, Moran, Alcala, J. Lopez, Henriquez, Megill, and Pagan. They are also likely to move Winder and Sands to the pen. Maeda will get an opportunity to start but may transition to the pen as well. Chafin and Moore might be decent possible additions via free agency but a trade seems more likely if the Twins feel a need to bolster the pen. My expectation is that the biggest improvement to our bullpen should be the increased innings pitched by the starting pitchers. Baldelli didn't have much choice last season between injuries and ineffective aging options.

This is an interesting post because it highlights areas of concern unrelated to injury. Health will be a huge question for the Twins in 2023 as it is for most teams, especially for pitching staffs. Ryan has not looked good against teams with experience and/or good hitters. Lay off the high fastball and eventually you get a pitch to hit. Perhaps Ryan improves his offerings and gets better. The stated issues versus teams like Houston are why I wondered if Lewis and Ryan plus a lesser player could return Corbin Burnes, provided Burnes would sign a long term contract (the Twins don't sign pitchers to these deals). Ryan remains very valuable as a #4 pitcher as is, and he can still develop his repertoire to get over the hump versus good hitters/lineups. Ryan can still refine his command and control. Polanco can be under-rated. If he returns to odd year Jorge, the Twins get an All Star infielder whose experience and performance makes a huge difference in the lineup. Polanco is excellent with risp. He is going to be key this year. Gordon did just about everything he could to demonstrate that he is ready for regular playing time. Can he improve upon his performance last year? Gordon seems like the LH bat in a classical platoon. Because of the obstacles facing Gordon, he may have to force his way into the lineup. I would think that a team that needs a left handed bat should be very interested in Nick Gordon. His versatility and athleticism should be noticeable, and he has improved with each year of experience. Miranda receives a lot of love, from Correa (Fellow Puerto Rican) and from Twins fans. If he cannot be an average fielder at third base, Jose may need to be much better at the plate. Royce Lewis will be looking for playing time sometime in July. I didn't think Miranda looked horrible at third, but he was not good at first base. A player with extra base pop who hits for average can improve their play in the field. Miranda should have fielded 500 ground balls per week for at least ten weeks this offseason. It will be interesting to see if he can hold off Lewis (and Lee). Miranda has been given a spot to hold. Moran is a big question mark for the bullpen. Can he be elevated to high leverage situations despite his tendency to put batters on base via the free pass? I'm hoping that we see a full season of Jovani Moran to fill one of the top four spots in the Twins relief corps. The success of Moran would allow for Alcala to be used in situations that favor him, facing the bottom half of a lineup. It seems like Alcala just needs some time in early or mid innings refining his pitches. Spring training should give us a glimpse of how various players prepared over the past several months to improve themselves, both health-wise and in refining skills. I'm curious about whether Matt Wallner worked on his reads, routes, and flexibility taking fly balls. I'm also wondering if Julien has the ability to bring his year at AA and his dominance of the Arizona Fall League to the plate against major league pitching without losing a step. Both of these guys are beyond their "young" years and capable of dramatic improvement in skills.

Pitchers focus so much on health that it is their singular goal. If healthy, the pitchers will be good.

Hopefully, the younger players who look prepared, are healthy, and show they are ready to play get at bats and are rewarded for their performances.

We don't have to worry about giving Joey Gallo a chance. The Twins are paying him $11 million to play and he will be in the lineup most of the time (if healthy) for at least 2 to 3 months. If he cannot hit with anyone on base and is carrying a .160 batting average after 200 at bats, let's hope he is released. I too am hoping for Gallo to have a career year but his bat is often empty when there are runners on base and a weak fly ball or ground ball to advance a runner is often what is needed with less than two outs. Gallo has been at his best with the bases empty (1374 AB) or nobody on base (602 AB). He has done well man on 3rd and less than two outs (112 AB), but has cratered withe bases loaded (only 54 AB) and with RISP and two outs (251 AB). Joey Gallo is a similar gamble on production in some ways (hoping for the best) to pitchers like Bundy and Archer. We should wish Gallo the best, while also hoping that the Twins have an eye on the production.

The depth is pretty good, certainly an improvement over last year. Now the players need to stay healthy and reach their potential. Kepler is worth holding unless a beneficial offer cannot be passed over. When the injured players go to the 60 day IL and the Twins get a few weeks to look at their bullpen arms, the Twins may add a Fulmer of Chafin. I'm good with what is rostered now. Not important in any way, but I thought minimum salaries went to $720k this year.

Max Clark would be fine.

Larnach, Ober, and Salas (or Martin) would be a pile to trade for Reynolds, but Pittsburgh says no. The phone call and discussion should have taken place already and Reynolds would fit in left field. No harm in asking questions of Pittsburgh. I would also wonder what the Pirates require for Endy Rodriguez. Chafin seems like a guy who should already have been signed by someone. I wonder if the Twins feel the money Chafin requires is a little too rich and they are feeling good about their relievers already on the roster. Fulmer .... same mol. Max Kepler still has value and I don't see any reason to send him away for a poor return. If the Yankees want to send Loaisiga .... interesting.. The Twins might like Maeda going forward with similar price to the current deal. Gray and Mahle will want to explore their value as free agents. Neither projects as a player to offer a big contract (above $15M) and years may be an issue as well. I'm not sure if the Twins will put a qualifying tag on either but that seems quite possible. Pablo Lopez is a different case and the Twins will want to discuss what he has in mind for a four or five year contract. Remember that Dobnak and Paddack are the Falvey pitching contracts handed out thus far for three or more years. The Twins are projected by any number of pundits to win 78-86 games this summer. The variables are greater than normal because the team has so many players who have question marks due to injuries. The Twins depth looks far stronger to me. A significant trade or two is quite plausible in July, for more more than was acquired last summer. The ability to complete trades at this time are hindered by the hopes that all teams have entering the year. By mid July there should be better clarity on the direction of clubs, including the Twins, which opens up trade possibilities.

Or second base? Have the Twins (or someone closely tied to the team with some specific knowledge of players) put out any statements or concrete hints about Austin Martin?

This is the ticket to sustained good baseball where the Twins, or any team actually, competes in the playoffs. Gordon, Kirilloff, Miranda, Martin, Lewis, Lee, Salas, Julien, Larnach, Wallner, Rodriguez, and surprises to come are all short of 1,000 at bats at the major league level. The performance on the field using talent and skills will eventually determine who gets the playing time. Right now it looks like all of the Twins young guys are competing for nine spots with two catchers, Buxton, and Correa being roster fixtures for the next half decade. The post concerned Jose Salas and he has some baseball to play before I place him in the top ten for the Twins.

Lewis had a cup of coffee last season before he was injured. Brooks Lee and Salas are still prospects. Lee projects to be excellent both at the plate and in the field. Salas has physical tools which still need to be shown at a higher level. All three will get an opportunity to prove they belong in MLB. If Lee is a better third baseman than Lewis or others, he should be the guy there. Using an athletic player like Lewis in LF is a good problem if someone like Lee or another proves to be better at 3B. The Twins, like many teams, have some exciting young players and prospects pushing for an opportunity to become stars. This season should reveal some guys for the Twins.

Like most everyone has stated - Celestino needs a season of playing AAA to work on all phases of the game. He is still young and I expect he will make some good money in his career; he'll be back in the majors at some point.

I drove downtown and parked, a little later than I had wanted. The day was cold and really ******. It was misty/raining/ sleeting and around 32 degrees F if I remember, and the scalpers who had any tickets left were unhappy because they were so cold. . One guy wanted $100, another $50, and after haggling for 20 minutes between several people a guy walked up looking miserable and sold me two tickets for $20 each. We had to watch the anthem before walking down to our seats just in time for the start of the game. The seats were in Row 3 just above the Tigers dugout. It was a phenomenal game. The atmosphere was electric and yes the ball did graze Inge's jersey. What a game.

Can Spring Training be useful in answering this question? I want Gordon to start in LF, but the Twins may go with Gallo and Kepler unless Kirilloff is not ready. If Kirilloff is not ready, there is an opportunity for a player to make a big impression before the season starts. If Julien can be that player, and he is somewhat of a long shot because the Twins seem to look towards their veterans, then a line drive machine with power who draws walks and can run could look mighty fine in the leadoff spot. Make someone earn a spot.

The Twins may add a pitcher to the bullpen during Spring Training if they determine that staff could use another player. A trade is always possible too if another team finds a need to acquire a corner outfielder. The Twins have corner outfielders available for a price. I doubt the Yankees offer Loaisiga for Kepler, for example, but it is possible I can't think of any right handed bats to add and believe Royce Lewis will be the addition when he is ready. The front office has not been free with contracts to extend pitchers. Only Dobnak and Paddack have received extensions. Thus I would not expect any of Gray, Mahle, or Maeda to be extended and don't see these three as values beyond their current price. Each would be worth extending for two years for similar contracts but they will be wanting to explore free agency in hopes of obtaining much more money. Lopez is an outside possibility to extend at the end of the year. The Twins need to anticipate the possibility of a trade in July if the season proceeds successfully for them and brings disappointment to another franchise, because there may be an opportunity to add a significant player or two at that time. The emergence of young players and prospects along with a potential trade or two in July seems like the most likely course of action. The team has some talent and depth right now and when the snow melts we will have our answers.