tony&rodney

There has been a fair amount of pressure on the pitchers to be really good for 4-5 innings. I have wondered if a few guys are trying too hard to be perfect on every pitch as opposed to trusting their stuff, which is a delicate differentiation. Fun baseball to watch.

Up the middle? The current players? Offensively Jeffers is ok, Keaschall is still an unknown but shown bright at times last season when he played, Lee is below average, and Buxton is great. None of the current backups provide much at all with a bat. Defensively, Jeffers is below average, Lee is below average, Keaschall is coming back from injuries but below average at this time, and Buxton is ok but scored rated below average in 2025. None of the current backups are close to average. The future? We hope for improvement. This is the way it is at this moment in time. It isn't what I want to say but it is the truth. Change can always happen.

Willi Castro did a good job for the Twins and it was a good run, but his time playing from the first base dugout at Target Field has come to a close. I'm thankful Castro was a Twin.

The 2025 Twins season did not go the way the team or its fans hoped. Neither did the 2024 season. The two together have left a bad taste and resulted in a myriad of ideas to seek an escape from the morass that is now present. The World Series hasn't started yet and we (Twins fans) are searching for answers and guessing at options for the future. At the same time some fans have lost all hope in the leadership of the franchise. While fan can tinker in multiple ways with plans, directions, and suggestions for roster change, it doesn't seem to productive or realistic to expect either a quick ownership or front office change. Wishing is definitely an option, but we don't have any say. We don't have any say on rosters either but it is a normal process for fans to think of various types of lineups and acquisitions. One observation about the players on the 40 person roster is that there is a large number of players whose value has been diminished. The front office must see this trend as well. Will we see some unexpected transactions/trades to stem the decline? I'm hoping the team begins their changes (at least a couple) in November. As such I'm waiting. If 2025 closes without any moves because the Twins front office is "engaged in numerous ongoing conversations/negotiations", I'm going to be very worried. The trend is definitely down. November and December are the time to halt the slide.

The Twins have been quite fortunate to get through the past three years with Jeffers and Vazquez. Vazquez is a FA and Jeffers has one more year before he is a FA. A base decision on Jeffers is totally dependent on whether the team adds catchers. There is bound to be a fair amount of interest from clubs in adding Jeffers via trade because he will not be too costly and is sure to be a quality catcher in 2027. What do the Twins do about Ryan Jeffers? Surely he is offered arbitration. Then the Twins need to look far and wide to add a minimum of one catcher to their roster. After adding a body, the Twins can entertain conversations with teams about Jeffers. A decent return is worth considering. A good return is worth acting on. The Twins will not be AL Central leaders next season and thus it makes sense to seek a good offer. Lacking a solid return, Jeffers is the Twins primary catcher next season and he may boost his stock quite a bit if he starts 110-125 games behind the plate and delivers his normal production. I see Ryan Jeffers as a win-win-win situation. Trade him for value, keep him for major playing time, and Jeffers boosts his FA market through his play.

We have zero idea if West Sacramento will consider trades but that is a team I thought might have interest. My target would be Tyler Soderstrom. It is very easy to say there is no way but at least a text or phone call or email seems in order. There may be others as well within the A's system. You are correct in that it is impossible to know what goes on in the front office. Maybe they think the team is perfect right now.

Let's face it - salaries in many fields are out of control and impossible for f'in old guys (FOG) to relate to even if one was an executive in the 1960s and early 1970s. Oh well, it's just money. Interesting that you mention stuff. I always think of Joe Ryan as more of an old fashioned pitcher who controls most plate appearances with good pitches to the right locations. He doesn't really blow people away. Ryan has such an easy delivery I can see him pitching for nearly another decade. In a few ways Ryan reminds me of Bert Blyleven in terms of delivery and the ease with which they throw the ball. We shall see.

Maybe the Twins should look afar for someone who has worked in the minor leagues and is currently a coach that has a general level of respect. Here is an outside the box name - Mark Hallberg.

Thank you for your explanation. I am familiar with the Mets system and have seen their top pitchers on several occasions. We just will agree to disagree, but others will agree with you. It's no big deal. Good luck for your Mets.

NYCTK, do you think the Twins should trade for pitching? It seems like you are missing my point about the Mets not being a match with the Twins or maybe you disagree. I believe the Twins need to target position players in any deals. I'm not interested in any trades of key personnel for pitching. If the Twins really are desperate for innings they can sign Littell.

Interesting to see Zach Littell among the top FA starting pitchers in WAR and IP. Wonder what type of contract he earns this winter.

Good point. I remember that. Duran, as a setup for Diaz, and the Twins wanted Tong, Benge, and another lower guy I think. Does Ryan have more value than Duran had?

I'm retired. No way I was commenting much less watching milb baseball when I worked, but I was around baseball in various capacities for many decades. I don't expect (at all) that people can watch the young kids. I can these days, so I do. The statistics are not a reliable replacement for watching, but they serve their purpose. Like I said earlier, you have your thoughts and I'm glad you are high on the Mets young pitchers. It is what fans should do. We just won't agree on any list. As far as Ryan goes, we have already been over that. Of course we have no idea what will happen but if Ryan (or Lopez ... or Ober) is traded, the Twins must get some good position players back. The Twins need C, 1B, 3B, SS, LF, and RF. We can say 3B = Royce, SS = Brooks, and the corners are filled with some combinations of current players and prospects. However, the general consensus amongst most people who have seen the Twins suggest position player upgrades, even if nominal or MLB ready prospects. It is going to be really interesting to see what happens with the Twins roster this winter. One cannot imagine that the Twins stand pat with their current roster. FWIW, if the Twins were to be interested in trading for a pitcher there is talk of Milwaukee floating Peralta. Peralta should be a target (like Ryan or Lopez) for a team trying to win (Mets too) but he would help every team. One of the realities none of us can ever know is how the 30 MLB front offices see each other and how well they communicate with one another. That definitely makes some difference.

Looks great. Having looked over the free agents previously and perusing the position list just now on your site, I see only 2 players for the Twins to call or text: Josh Naylor and Ryan O'Hearn. I doubt very much that the Twins give a thought to Alonso, Bichette, Bregman, Bellinger, and Tucker. The Twins may find the 2 guys I mentioned as too rich for them. The bargain bin should be avoided. Will it? Who did I miss?

One of the most interesting parts about prospects is guessing who has what talent or can develop what skill. The guys on BA, Fangraphs, other sites, and even us are often at odds with each other and the guys who make money on their guesses change their thoughts from year to year. It is why the lists never agree and why we will have different thoughts on guys. McLean, Tong, and Sproat have all appeared in different orders among Mets prospect lists with widely varying numbers attached to their potential pitches and command for both 2024 and 2025. McLean took a step ahead of the other two via his eight game showing at the major league level. I would say all three are good prospects. Tong had a very strong minor league season. I liked what I saw in the few times I watched these guys pitch. In five years time Sproat might even be the best of the trio. There are so many good pitching prospects though and a pile of reasons some look better than others. One of the biggest obstacles for Twins prospects has been their working in front of poor defenders and with sub-par catchers. I see much more of Twins prospects, via milb.com than I do of other teams but I check out names that get highlighted across the minors. The Twins have a pile of good pitching prospects. I'm watching guys pitch and placing little value on statistics for those I see pitch frequently. In one game last summer I watched while four very routine outs (at any level) were turned into baserunners called base hits. That rarely happens in high school and yet the pitcher pays on his score sheet. In any event we wouldn't agree if we made a list. Enjoy your guys. BTW, did you watch many of those three Mets pitchers minor league games last summer?

I have never made any mention of Brandon Winokur as the best prospect. That would be Walker Jenkins. I don't think I would rank Brandon in the Twins top ten but I would say he is their best talent. He has more physical talent and high end potential. In fact, my timeline has been roughly 3-5 years. I'm really hoping the Twins get a surefire Skenes/Witt Jr. type player in the draft next year and that guy takes the field in 2027. Well, Skenes/Witt Jr. light to be fair to whomever is drafted. As it is I'm quite hopeful to see Culpepper and Jenkins next season. Winokur is well down the road and I got off too far on him if people deduced that he would be ready before 2028-9 at the earliest. The Twins have plenty of work to do to rebuild their roster for next season and are surely not thinking at all about their 20 year old at this time.

With all due respect there is not a depth chart when it comes to a player like Winokur. If he gets his bat figured out he starts. Where? Shortstop, centerfield, third base, or the corner outfield. He clearly needs a ton of work with controlling his plate appearances and he has also clearly made slow improvement thus far. Winokur is 20 years old right now and is likely at AA Wichita next season as a 21 year old. He could make quicker gains or totally stall. It is all in the contact profile at this time. Nobody hits the ball harder, he is fast, and he has a rocket arm. In the field his combination of quickness and speed are rare. All players his age needs defensive polishing because they need to learn the nuances of the game. Hitting is how a player gets to MLB. Noah Miller would win the Gold Glove every year if he was in the majors. He is that good with a glove. But he can't hit, so he is still fighting to learn in the minor leagues. Baseball requires many unique skills and players work hard to reach their maximum talent. When a player who is gifted physically figures it out, then a star emerges. Winokur has uncommon athletic talent. We will not know for 2-5 years whether he emerges as a star or disappears from our prospect sites.

The Twins are just as liable to get as good a pitching prospect if they wait two years for an extra draft choice for losing Ryan based on the comments that the very top guys such as Painter (PHILLY) or McLean (Mets) are not available. Why do people propose adding pitching prospects that slot in below the Twins guys already in house? The return for trading Joe Ryan, if dealt at all, must focus on position players. Get those back end rotation prospects out of your mind and begin to guess at position players, preferably not guys similar to Julien, Clemens, etc.

After watching Winokur a ton, I agree with Fangraphs that Brandon Winokur is perhaps the most volatile players in all of the minor leagues. The hit could be near Elly De La Cruz territory, the miss is out of baseball by age 26. Winokur has been improving steadily and the next two years will give anyone interested a good look at his chances. Don't bet on Winokur but, really, don't bet against him.

Winokur might take until he is 25 to become a regular at the highest level, or he might just not have the internal drive (I think/hope he does) to stick with a slow progression. He is not anything like a Walker Jenkins. Winokur is going to take time. First base? He is the best shortstop, centerfielder, and third baseman in the system at this time (imo), so the fielding is not even a discussion. FWIW, there are a pile of shortstops on his Arizona Fall League team and Winokur is mostly the guy they are using so far. Sure, he could play there but those decisions are years away.

I just don't think it is possible to project Brandon Winokur at this time. Look over the number of 6'-6" or taller position players in baseball. Generally these guys take quite a while to develop. Dave Winfield was a total unicorn, jumping right from college to the outfield for San Diego. Most tall players are judged to be awkward and have more than a few holes in their swing. So it takes some time. Aaron Judge had some difficulty at AAA as a 23 year old but figured things out pretty quickly, although many people were quick to call him awkward and see his huge strikeout numbers as a problem. Winokur will almost certainly need a minimum of 2-4 more years playing minor league baseball before we see him get an opportunity at the top level. Can he be disciplined and patient enough to work through all of the small details that need to be refined in his swing. There is a huge variance in his potential outcome, from never making it to superstar. The biggest issue I have seen watching Winokur is very typical of young players. He doesn't control his plate appearances or manage the count as well as he might. These things take a ton of work to iron out the kinks. Does Winokur possess the mind set, work ethic, focus, patience, and discipline to master his talents and massive moving parts? I will be interested to see how his experiences in the Arizona Fall League work forward in his play next year in Wichita.

The numbers at the end of the year are not handsome, no doubt. I can't think of another Twins prospect who hits the ball as hard though. He routinely hits the ball above 100 MPH. Winokur needs refinement. The kid is tooled up to the max. He gets great jumps in the outfield and his speed allows him to cover an immense territory when he plays in the outfield. His quickness eats up ground in the infield like no other. The arm is a rocket and accurate. Winokur has enormous power and is a deer on the bases. So what is the problem? Long levers and a big strike zone are challenging along with the normal processes for all young players in learning to hit, such as identifying breaking balls. Winokur is not close to a finished prospect. If everything goes according to plan he will play AA as a 21 year old, AAA as a 22 year old, and make his MLB debut as a 23 year old. There is extreme risk in his profile but also extreme reward if development proceeds successfully. I watch way too much minor league baseball. I have seen this kid well more than 50 times. Brandon Winokur is the most exciting player I have seen in many years. His power, speed, arm, and fielding are unmatched. Can he develop the hit tool? I'm taking the patient approach on Winokur, fully cognizant that he may never pan out as a MLB player.

Baseball is an international sport. Once upon a time only a few white people played the game. Things have changed. Few people who travel to other countries from the United States speak the language where they are visiting. Some people learn languages easily while others have a difficult time. Some use whatever words they can to communicate at a very basic level while other people are very self-conscious about sounding awkward or unintelligent. English is actually one of the more difficult of all languages to learn because it has roots in many other languages. I'm pretty sure Shohei Ohtani speaks English pretty good, about as well as most people born in the U. S., but his sophistication internally is in Japanese and he can express himself very clearly, even using humor through the use of an expert translator. That is my guess. Or perhaps you were being sarcastic or facetious. Either way, He is crazy great.

When you eliminate the dollars (which is impossible but try) the Dodgers have superior players. Smith, Freeman, and Betts are total superstars but the players who fill in all of the remaining slots are dedicated to winning. The organization has money but they use it well too. The Dodgers are talented but they played really well, doing all of the little things needed to win games. Oh, and that pitching is crazy unfair. I'm not sure how MLB works out some form of sharing. The business minds in the LAD offices introduced a level of defrayed salaries unseen previously. Now how is that genie put back in the battle? I don't know what will happen in the 2026-7 offseason negotiations but the owners have never had much of a plan because most of them make a bunch of money and quite a few of them are on huge ego trips just owning a baseball team. Maybe some expanded punishments for going above certain salary limits. Perhaps additional rewards for teams that invest and win is a possibility. However, we should not expect a real salary cap or floor because the owners want their books closed. Hopefully, there is some discussion and action on real revenue sharing. The Brewers will almost certainly post a profit this year but that number will be nowhere near the profit that the Dodgers attain and LAD will have spent @$550M compared to MIL's roughly $125M. The way the revenue streams are set up and shared needs to be addressed. Look up and read this article: Does the MLB Revenue-Sharing Model Require Adaptation? By Jake McKibbin January 30 As a baseball fan I have to enjoy the game in front of me. That is all I can do. I hope we have a very well played World Series.

You have to give credit to the pitchers. It is similar to facing Tarik Skubal in every game. I don't think the Brewers gave in at all. The talent separation was pretty big.