stringer bell

Nailed it!!!

Even though he was disappointing last year, I think Caratini isn’t as terrible as most are saying. He’s hit decently in the past and his defense is okay, with the exception of slowing the running game. Perhaps the overuse when Jeffers went down wore him down and he lost his edge. The Twins need somebody to catch a majority of games who can limit the running game. I like Lackey’s game and since he is both a college guy and a Top Five draft pick, he should be ready comparatively quick. Maybe some time in ‘27.

Defensive Runs Saved has Arraez at -4. and Statcast has his speed at 33rd percentile and arm strength at 25th percentile and somehow with 97th percentile range, I assume using the OAA in some way to measure that. Arraez was kept away from second base by three different teams. I just have a hard time believing that he will be a plus fielder at second base going forward with his limited tools. One thing that has changed since leaving Minnesota is that Arraez seldom takes a walk. In his last three years, his BB% has been 3.6, 5.0 and 5.2. He continues to be a net negative on the bases, so the only area where he is certain to be an asset is when he's hitting. With minimal power, he would have to get on a lot. I've called Arraez a unicorn for a long time. He will hit .300, almost never strike out and get plenty of hits. I'm pretty skeptical that he will help in the field or on the bases, so in essence he is a specialist. Can the Twins afford that skill set at what I assume would be a premium price? Finally, Arraez has been surprisingly durable. I have thought he would be plagued by injuries, but he's not been disabled much. Will that continue into his 30s?

If Austin Martin is on the roster, I would hope that he is the platoon alternative for two guys and that he doesn’t replace either when the opposition changes handedness on the mound. Figuring about 45 lefty starts, Martin could/should replace Rodriguez and Jenkins about 12-13 times each. Martin is IMHO both faster and a better outfielder than Roden and is the slightly better alternative vs. LH pitching. If everyone is healthy, that is six OF, but given injury histories, one of the six on the IL most of the time is probable. One of the OFs probably is the DH as well and maybe one of them (Keaschall or Roden) plays some first base. I really want Jenkins and Rodriguez to get full-.time plate appearances.

For the record, both Morejon and David Bednar received QOs, probably lowering their cost to sign, but costing draft picks and/or international money.

RIP Jerry Koosman, an effective pitcher for a lot of years. Born in Appleton (MN), he won 20 for the Twins in 1979 (7.2 WAR) and had over 200 career wins with more than 2000 strikeouts, borderline HOF numbers.

Culpepper is the Opening Day shortstop and there is really no alternative. Lee is a major league hitter, but he doesn't have the range to be a major league shortstop. Kreidler isn't a good enough hitter. Can they find an infielder who could be a Culpepper replacement for injury or ineffectiveness? Otherwise, it is bring back Kreidler or maybe Ross. Jenkins figures to get a starting shot this spring, but if he's terrible in ST, they could send him back to St. Paul for a month or so. Rodriguez is out of options and probably would get the next shot to be a regular. Perhaps both make the team out of ST and flank Buxton, but more likely one is in left and one is in center with Buxton on the IL or the DH. There are legitimate options if either Rodriguez or Jenkins are not up to being regulars and i think that is prudent. Roden. Martin, Mendez and Gonzalez are all on the 40-man roster.

Randy Flores (briefly a Twin in 2010) was named General Manager of the Astros.

I wish them all well. Banda is the only guy I can see the Twins trying to reacquire. Congratulations to Gray for hitting two grand slams and to Sabato for making it to the big leagues.

He's young to be a free agent, so it would figure he is not yet on the downside of his career. I would think that he will be used as a closer with whatever team he signs with. Bringing in a new "best" relief pitcher moves everyone down one slotand really helps the entire 'pen. Color me skeptical that the Twins can get this move done.

Pretty much agree with this take. Rortvedt's "best" season will be three years in the rear view mirror in 2027, and those numbers are at best acceptable for a catcher. I think either he or Jackson would be a decent backup option to be in St. Paul, except for the out-of-options situation. Before the 2026 season, someone did an article on Alex Jackson which highlighted both his defense and a power surge while playing for the Orioles. I have been intrigued since, but apparently Shelton wasn't won over. I do consider both Jackson and Rortvedt about the same, but Jackson would seem to be the superior option if limiting opponents' running game is a top priority. I think Lackey might be closer to the big leagues, but wouldn't want to assume he's on the doorstep until he gets some time in Wichita or St. Paul. It is nice to dream about things going better than expected.

Given the injury histories of Keaschall, Rodriguez, Jenkins and Buxton, I think there will be a place for Martin on the Twins' roster as presently constructed. I'd rather see Martin in the lineup and playing the outfield than Rosario or Gonzalez. He's had a few months of good play (August, September '25 and April '26) so I think a bit run should be given and he's only at about 800 lifetime plate appearances. The low bat speed, exit velocity and hard-hit rate are red flags and he has made more than his share of head scratching mental errors, but with an option remaining, a low salary and the lack of better RH hitting options, I think he should be rostered and probably has at least a partial last chance in 2027.

Martin's statcast profile has quite a bit of red in it, but also way too much subpar stuff. He doesn't hit the ball hard, has a low swing speed and exit velocity. Only Luis Arraez can get away with that and be an above-average hitter. He walks a lot, doesn't chase and has become a good defensive corner outfielder. I don't think the Twins have mishandled him and this season he had a chance to establish himself as an everyday player and he didn't seize the opportunity.

I had visions of Austin Martin becoming the Twins' version of Steven Kwan--good OBP, plus base running and good defense--and despite a really good April, he just wasn't up to it. He has definitely improved as a defender, but he would only be categorized as "above average". He has good, but not elite, speed and that hasn't translated to being an asset on the base paths. The OBP heavy hitting isn't quite average and he really struggled against right handed pitching. Maybe he can add to his game. As mentioned, he has improved dramatically on defense. Maybe he can improve on the bases. He was only successful on 60% of his steal attempts. Royce Lewis has a lower sprint speed, but was successful on 16 of 17 attempts, so he should be fast enough to get over the acceptable 75% success rate. Much has been made of trying to change his swing while he was in the minors. Maybe the Twins were right, they tried to get more power from his swing and if would have average power instead of being in the bottom 20% in slugging, the bar would be lower for him to contribute with the existing defense and base running. Martin has an option remaining which gives him more value to the Twins and anyone who might want to acquire him. The player who was on the team for the entire year needs to be better to secure a spot on the Twins team.

If Bo Naylor didn’t get tohit against the Twins, his stats would be Kreidler-like.