stringer bell

Thielbar going on the IL with hamstring problems. When it rains, it pours.

DeSclafani also going on the IL. His injury is in his forearm, according to Falvey. I wouldn't be surprised to see TJ in his future. (Pure speculation).

Durán with an oblique strain. Going on the IL. Ugh.

Last year, López was getting ready for the WBC, which probably changed his preparation. This year, it's all about the regular season. I'm glad he got plenty of work in for his last outing and I'm trusting he'll be ready for a big season.

I agree that the Twins were fortunate to go through the season with two catchers and few even minor injuries. I don't think the situation would have been that bad if Jeffers or Vázquez missed ten days or so due to injury. There are lots of René Rivera/Sandy León types out there who can competently defend and bat ninth in the event of an injury.

Avoiding the above scenario, IMHO, is the best and only way to justify cutting payroll in 2024. That is, if the Twins were to have added payroll in this off season, they then would be forced to shed more in the coming seasons, including trading away good players because they can't afford them. I'm not sure it would come to this and if ownership wanted to try to win it all while spending above their budget they could do that. I would hate to see members of the young core of this team tossed aside because they were too expensive.

I don't think there is a position battle--Wallner LF, Larnach and Miranda to St. Paul--but that doesn't mean a change won't happen until the All-Star break or anything like that. I mentioned this on another thread, if Wallner continues to flounder, is it possible that Kirilloff becomes the principal left fielder and Lee is inserted as the 2b, with Julien moving to DH? In other years (IMHO), Martin, Lee, Miranda and Larnach (or at least three of the four) would go north out of Spring Training. For the second year in a row, the Twins added depth pieces that will minimize the need to "throw the young guys in the fire", but it also means the young guys need to wait or force their way to the majors by being too good for Triple A.

I don't think Wallner is guaranteed to be on the squad on May 1, but his performance in 2023 is enough to roll with the bad ST performance at least for a couple of weeks.

What if Lee is judged to be the superior alternative to Wallner? Kirilloff to left field and Julien to DH? If Wallner were to struggle mightily for the first couple of weeks of the regular season, I could see something like that happening, but I don't think it will happen on Opening Day.

I wouldn't say Miranda is one of the best two hitters in the spring. There's a thread about his ST in the Front Page News forum. I don't think Miranda is forcing any difficult decisions at this point.

Funderburk didn't help his cause today with a poor outing in Dunedin. I do believe Alcalá has improved his chances of making the team out of Spring Training and he's solidly ahead of Duarte.

Not too much, but there are different angles and the double play pivot is quite different. The decision to charge or stay back is different too. If the Twins are sure the quickest path for Lee to get to the majors is playing second base and it is soon(ish), he should be getting reps at game speed at second base.

Yes, that is how it works and the opinions of the field staff around Lee hold a lot more importance than his Spring Training stats or his stats from 2023. I think it is significant that he hasn't played an inning of second base in a game and it tells me that he'll be learning second base in St. Paul.

I think the spot will be created by injury. An injury to almost any position player except a catcher could be filled by Lee if the Twins think it’s his time. It would mean he would have moved past Martin, Larnach and Miranda. I’m not sure the Twins are convinced he’s ready.

Lee with a homer and a triple in his first two plate appearances today against the Blue Jays.

Good news that DeSclafani pitched yesterday. I firmly believe he is more than a suspect innings-eater if he is healthy and the Twins need starting pitching beyond the four projected to start the season in the rotation. I'm quite skeptical that his elbow will survive all season since he didn't have surgery, only rest and a PRP injection. Using DeSclafani in a minor league game keeps the Twins' options open. If he has a setback he can be placed on the 15-day IL and presumably Varland would start in his place. If they feel he needs more time before he starts for the fifth game of the season, they could also put him on the IL and he might make one start in the minors (some place warmer--Wichita or Ft. Myers--not sure when those minor league seasons begin or he could just stay in Ft. Myers and work out with the minor leaguers. They also could bypass the fifth starter once due to off days and perhaps have a bullpen game for the first time a fifth starter would be needed (April 8), but that is based on games happening on schedule, which isn't always a thing in Minnesota in April.

The underlying numbers for Duarte don't scream breakthrough, but relievers have relatively small sample sizes, so that might change. He's been pretty healthy, which is a plus (that had/has been Stewart's major issue), but he walk/strikeout numbers aren't promising. So far, Stewart is a partial season wonder. The Twins have had others--I recall Juan Minaya coming out of nowhere and being very good for part of one season, for example. I think Duarte would compare more to him than Stewart.

Good conversation about a trade. I am not convinced that Graterol is elite as a bullpen arm. He's had quite a few injuries and he's not been a closer. The low strikeout rate is eventually going to get him in a season. Circumstances limited Maeda's contribution to the Twins. His "great" year was the COVID year and he missed an entire season due to TJ surgery. He's a quality pitcher in his mid-thirties and now pitching for somebody else. The other guys in the trade may or may not balance out. I am not particularly high on Camargo, but it stands to reason he will debut this season and hopefully provide valu

I agree with both of these opposing views. My guess is that an injury gives Lee a chance this year. When and where is uncertain.

The Twins lost again yesterday and their Spring Training record stands at 6-13 in the Grapefruit League. I know that everyone forgets Spring Training records when the season starts, but are there causes for concern? Several hitters slated for the major league team have struggled so far in the spring. Matt Wallner (.475 OPS), Manuel Margot (.223 OPS) and Max Kepler (.136 BA but .705 OPS) have not hit much at all so far. A few pitchers slated for the staff have struggled, including Justin Topa (7.71 ERA) who was supposed to be a key relief option and the members of the rotation haven't exactly thrived. Reliever Caleb Thielbar and prospective starter Anthony DeSclafani have not performed in games to this point. Presumed regulars Royce Lewis, Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton have played sparingly so far this year and are healthy by all reports, and they project to do well when the real season starts. Most of the rest of the position players are healthy and have performed okay in Florida. Most of the pitchers slated to make the team have been okay, but not great this spring. I'd like to see the Twins start to win games and some of the struggling players show signs of life. I am not quite to the point where I am really concerned, but it will make my anxiety about the team subside with some good performances in the balance of the exhibition season. What is the temperature of the Twins Daily community? Are we still optimistic or thinking this is an indication that the Twins had their chance last year and they are cycling down?

Signed to a minor league contract by the Phillies today. He wasn't unemployed long. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/phillies-jordan-luplow-agree-to-minor-league-contract.html

Thanks Brian I think this scenario is the floor for Kirilloff. If so, he’s not a failure or bust, but not a success. The ceiling is still possible and I think he could be an All-Star. At two years plus of service time, I don’t think options are that important, but the three other knocks on AK need to be addressed if he is to become more than a corner platoon bat. Improved health, improved defense and more success against left handed pitching are all areas which need improvement to take the next step. I don’t expect AK to be available for all 162, have neutral splits and positive defensive metrics in one year, but notable improvement is needed for him to become someone the team is counting on and maybe building around.

Jake Odorizzi goes back to one of his former teams on a minor league deal. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/rays-sign-jake-odorizzi-minor-league-deal.html

So would I, but I'm guessing we are going to see much more of Santana than Castro against right handed pitching.

Jordan Luplow released by the Braves. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/03/braves-release-jordan-luplow.html