tony&rodney

At some point the Twins will need to make decisions. If the choice is to roll it back with the current roster in a similar fashion to the past two years as some people propose (third time is the charm ads), I will be worried. It is impossible to know. Brock has put out the roster build ideas the past few years but last year there was less enthusiasm and much cynicism toward various proposals. I believe it is important to remember we are just goofing around with our opinions and should avoid getting too exasperated by whatever is suggested or what plays out in the end. The four innings from Will Klein (a player the Dodgers picked up in a minor league trade after Klein was DFA'ed by Seattle) to shut down Toronto last night reminds us of how to fill out a Bingo card. Who had Will Klein? My guess is that Larnach remains if Wallner is traded because I don't believe Larnach has demand at his salary. Maybe someone offers a minor league relief pitcher. I have no ideas there. There should be some interest and demand from the other players you mentioned. Ober might be on Arizona's list. Wallner might have a fan in Pittsburgh or even Kansas City. Maybe Seattle would wonder about Lewis. I have no idea about who would have an interest in Lee. The Twins will need to balance their plans, needs, wants, and what some other teams thinks is doable. I think these things are a few weeks off. I do believe the club should act quicker this year than in the past.

Larnach's fate is tied to Wallner's. What is the plan Mr. Falvey?

There are bound to be a spectrum of suggestions and guesses about the 2026 player roster and payroll. One thing that is almost certain or what I believe is that none of us will successfully name the final product. Who feels like they have an idea of what Falvey plans? I have no idea what the POBO values. My best guess for payroll ranges from $100-110M. I won't be surprised by a number higher, stretching as high as $120M. I also will not be surprised by a lower number, diving as low as $70M. My guess includes one free agent at $25M and another at around $5M. The final roster composition is much more important than the dollars. We won't be reaching the spending levels of Seattle much less Toronto. We will be looking towards Cleveland and Milwaukee territories or lower.

Runner forgot to run on 3-2 pitch with 2 out. Don't see that every day. Kershaw in. Hoping for a broken bat base hit here.

Ok. Can't say I wasn't warned about New York fans Carry on.

That was a poor send considering Guerrero Jr. is coming up. Also that play reminded me of Gary Sanchez being called for blocking home on less of a block of the plate. FWIW, it would be egregious to call blocking there.

Consider using, "I believe ...." or words to that effect.

You are consistently an excellent Met fan, promoting and lauding their team and prospects. I think that is wonderful. However, you have made a statement that is actually impossible to know. MLB teams don't share resources on how they evaluate or feel about players. There isn't any way to know if any team would do this trade or that. In fact, the history of baseball includes many surprises. In any event, the Twins should targeting position players. I would not be shocked if a trade between the Mets and Twins was completed. I would be surprised. Having watched many of their players at least a few times I am less enthused than you or even others about their guys. That is an opinion and I can easily accept the excitement anyone might have about specific players.

Why do I worry when I read all of these optimistic articles and comments about currently rostered players? Am I too worried the Twins will put the same roster back in the dugout for 2026? Will the 2024 and 2025 Twins become the 2026 Twins and win the AL Central as I am reading? I'm such a super optimistic person seeing so many opportunities for change and I read we should roll it back for another encore. Things could improve. The third time is a charm. Well, I'm hopeful, but wondering why I'm worried too.

Would Wallner be on the 26 person rosters of any of the teams that were among the final four playoff teams this year? That just popped into my head and is admittedly not real pertinent to the current discussion. Nick, the comparison using OPS+ of Wallner to Allison, Hrbek, and Oliva says much more about OPS+ than their relative value ... to me. But, maybe this is how people view players. I'm curious whether any of the other 29 clubs see OPS+ value as a key figure and are going to pinpoint Matt Wallner in discussions with theTwins.

My deepest concern is a replay of the past two off seasons, where a belief in the players currently rostered means the status quo plays out. Front office people will always make generic comments that the players in house are plenty good enough to win, but the repeated statements from Falvey in the past were followed by inaction. The purge of the bullpen in late July was a surprise and went largely unexplained. Is there a change in thinking about the rostered position side? My position is that the current roster is potentially a 55-75 win squad. Change is needed. If Wallner is restricted to DH there may be possibilities for him as a Twin.

From about mid August through the close of the season there was an abrupt change in how the Twins played the games. That was a surprise to me, if not to anyone else. Previous to the change the Twins were one of the least interesting or exciting teams in MLB. While the roster certainly may need and hopefully receives several changes before the 2026 season, I will be curious to see what type of baseball they play.

The ownership does seem removed from evaluations of the front office. Now that Falvey is both business and baseball guru, one wonders where any real checks can be. I'm concerned by the tenor of the front office but also deflated in the knowledge we must accept the results. So I just hope for the changes which is all one can do as a fan. No use in crying. I do not believe the owners will proceed with a lengthy lock out. My early prediction is the loss of some games in April. There is a fair amount of discord nationally from small to mid market teams concerning the vast differences in payrolls, which are largely the result of inequitable revenue sharing. However, the owners ultimately vote. It is hard to believe 16 clubs will vote to close down their sources of income. While a few teams may be losing money, the number making money is clearly in the majority. The Twins need to complete somewhere from 3-7 trades this winter to change the nature of their roster. It is simply not a competitive collection at this time. The purge of the bullpen would be very strange if not followed by further deals. At some point and in some fashion the Twins should add a catcher or two. Tait will return to Cedar Rapids in 2026 which puts him on a possible MLB appearance 2028 or later. He may transition to first base if he doesn't make it as a catcher, but he can swing a bat. Hopefully the front office turns every stone and listens and considers ideas on all of their players; anything to improve the team. While I love watching Joe Ryan pitch his value suggests he is moved this winter. His loss will be felt, so the return needs to be worthwhile.

That seems like a job for Falvey and his crew. Sometimes a team needs to take a gamble or two and returning the same roster isn't a sound idea. Who goes and who stays is totally up in the air but opportunities will be available.

I hadn't heard there were any conversations. Who had that idea? Perhaps the Twins and Mets will have some conversations, maybe not at all, but I would be totally shocked by the above suggested deal. Where did you find that one?

Royce Lewis was picked Round 1, Pick 1 in 2017. Since that time he has become a darling to Twins fans, first with his charm and then with those majestic grand slams. He turns 27 next June. In four years Royce has 1008 PA, a .310 OBP, a .762 OPS, a 109 OPS+, and 4.1 WAR among his statistical numbers. Those are not bad. The general consensus based on numerous comments is that Lewis' value is currently at a low point. It's possible but we can't know that. While I don't believe he will be traded, the Twins need to be open to all ideas and in contact with all teams about all of their players. The Twins need to make a minimum of 3 trades and I have no idea who will be on the move. I don't really subscribe to low value on players who are not stars. Julien had high value two years ago. Like Julien, Lewis was a star in 2023. I'm as hopeful as the next person but Buxton is the only sure keeper among Twins position players. Of course, the team isn't turning over the other eight guys, but I'm staying hopeful for some positive changes, which may see some people losing their favorite Twin.

Sadly, this is exactly why the Twins almost certainly need to acquire something good in any deal that includes Ryan .... or Lopez.

Addison Barger mentioned the key contributions of Popkins in a post game interview last night. I tend to think most coaches are delivering similar tools. Some are better at listening and motivating and people generally do tend to improve at their jobs as well. The difference between players is usually quite small, but differences matter. While I would like to see the Twins in the 2026 World Series, the talent level doesn't seem up to the task. For right now, it isn't the coaches or manager but the players. C) Smith, Kirk, Jeffers; 1B) Guerrero Jr., Freeman, Clemens; 2B) Bichette, Edman, Keaschall; 3B) Clement, Muncy, Lewis; SS) Betts, Jimenez, Lee; LF) Hernandez, Lukes, Martin; CF) Buxton, Varsho, Pages; RF) Hernandez, Barger, Wallner; DH) Ohtani, Springer, Larnach. The comparisons are not pretty.

If that is possible - do it. I look at the starting lineups of Toronto and Los Angeles and go back to picking teams position by position like we did as 8 year olds. Buxton is the sole pick from the Twins in that comparison. If you look at Seattle, you take all of their guys before a Twin. When you look at Detroit, you take only Buxton from the Twins. If people are being open minded and fair, the Twins are in need of position players. The purge in late July added prospects of unknown quality but potential nonetheless. I'm afraid the swing continues in a rebuild. The history of the past 40 plus years makes me skeptical of the Twins spending money to upgrade the roster. What people have long since forgotten is that Calvin Griffith lived and died for baseball and he put every dollar he had into the team. He never lived in super fancy homes or spent lavishly on cars or clothes. The guy was a dinosaur. I write that not to defend or approve of Calvin, but to remind us that the current owners of the Twins look at the team as a business to serve their interests. I very much doubt they attended several dozen minor league games last summer familiarizing themselves with their corporate assets. All signs point to a lower payroll and change, which may include a number of trades. Joe Ryan is the Twins most interesting pitcher but he may also make the team better by being the guy going in return for a significant player. I understand there is zero chance I know what value another team places on Ryan or what gambles another team might see as feasible in any trade. Like everyone else, I look around MLB and try to guess. Among a dozen thoughts I wonder if Sacramento is interested. Would the Athletics, looking for stalwart pitchers, consider a trade of Ryan and Roden for Soderstrom? Like all ideas, it is just a thought. I don't want Ryan in a different uniform but it seems like a fate unavoidable.

This is really important. The Twins DO NOT NEED TO TRADE Joe Ryan. They DO NEED to make some deals to improve the roster. I actually believe it might be possible to complete 2-3 minor trades (well, at least less major) before sinking deep into possibilities that involve Ryan. It would also be good the see the Twins add a reserve FA catcher in early November.

The 2025 MN Twins were not an entertaining club to watch. Joe Ryan is one of the two most interesting players on the roster. Byron Buxton is the other. Why would the Twins trade Joe Ryan? My response is that the decision is actually pretty simple. The Twins must examine the assets of all organization around baseball as well as their own. Falvey and his pals need to comb through the needs of teams and seek mutually beneficial trades. Every player can and should be discussed. Obviously, only a few players would be traded. Joe Ryan fits the needs of a number of teams. Seth mentioned a few. I would add Sacramento and Detroit. Does Ryan push those two rosters or others into the playoffs? The return is important. I would expect a few teams have an interest in playoff baseball and should be willing to pay a fair price in players. It is possible to see a return of an established position player for Ryan but a prospect from AA or AAA may also tip the balance. The Twins need to add athleticism to their roster. There are opportunities. The Twins were among the healthier of MLB clubs in 2025 and still they struggled with their current collection of players. The late July purge of the bullpen would be puzzling if it wasn't followed by more transactions this winter. The current roster is not balanced enough to play consistently good baseball. Joe Ryan is the best chance to return a solid player, but other deals also should be accomplished. Lastly, while the young inexperienced pitchers are unsteady now, there is potential. I can see the Twins receiving a pitcher from a trade or two, but the focus in trading Joe Ryan should be strictly for position players. If all of the young pitchers don't have much of a future that portends a much, much deeper rebuild.

Why do we see low dollars for Josh Naylor? If he will sign for 3/$60M, that is a deal. The guy knows baseball. He has become an average first baseman too.

60 XBH for Rosario. He keeps producing at each level. I don't really subscribe to an idea that players are blocked except where a superstar holds down a position (The Big Dumper). Hopefully some of the Twins prospects force into the lineup in 2026.

Reading the comments on Twins Daily leads me to believe that Lewis is easily the most favored Twins beside Byron Buxton. In post after post there are a myriad of statements offered in defense of Lewis. A common opinion is that he cannot be traded because his value is at its lowest point. The 2025 MN Twins were far from an entertaining baseball club and their record was poor. We can fairly state that the roster as is may be among the five worst in MLB, which may be generous. Changes need to be made. The last two winters the front office stood still more or less and we watched the results. Is that what people think is the plan? When I think of possible rosters, Lewis is on most iterations, but the Twins should absolutely be checking with teams on every player if they can create a better roster, including discussing Royce Lewis. I have heard the low value excuse on Julien, Wallner, Lewis, and others. Julien lost his value in the last two years. Others can easily follow. My mind is open to all changes and I'm certainly not afraid of any player becoming a star with another team. Trades are supposed to be mutually beneficial and I'm hoping that the players who arrive via trade are useful in making the 2026 team more interesting and also more likely to win.

Clarification needed - Is it one season, three seasons, or a minimum of some sort? Leo Cardenas played for some of the best teams in club history and was really good, for 3 years. Several were good for 4-5 years. A few people have stated that Zoilo Versalles had one good year. He was a top 3 shortstop for 7 years and averaged playing 154 games per season in an era where shortstops were counted on to field the ball and get outs more than provide offense. Additionally, the era was largely depressed in offense. We can only hope the Twins get 7 years of steady play from a starting shortstop like Gagne and Versalles. It is key for pitchers to have a guy behind them at shortstop who is in the lineup and makes the plays. I'll add kudos to Polanco for playing hurt in too many games when the team didn't have a guy to replace him.