stringer bell

Finding power works for some. Brian Dozier comes to mind. Changing approach sometimes is something that needs to be done. It obviously didn’t work for Austin Martin but it might help for other guys. Some might think Buxton should change his approach—he strikes out a lot and pulls almost everything, but it seems his approach works for him. One size doesn’t fit all and insisting on one plan seems certain to stop development for a number of players.

Darren McCaughan, who pitched a few innings for the ‘25 Twins, signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati.

I agree that Ryan would bring a far greater return. His salary will increase dramatically in ‘27. It is of note that Joe and Pablo are only three months apart in age and that each player’s most significant injury for the Twins was a teres major strain. Lopez has said he wants to lead the staff and mentor. I’d like for him to stay for the duration of his contract. Getting value for Ryan and perhaps Jeffers might be a good move and might not hurt the Twins’ prospects for success in 2026.

Gulp. Royce Lewis?

I disagree with one paragraph Nick. The Twins were in position to make postseason in '24 until August and through half of June they were relevant in 2025. It is not like they were perceived as hopeless in either season. Wallner went from facing lefties 16% of the time to 25% in 2025. Larnach went from facing lefties from 6% in 2024 to 21% in 2025. When the Twins made the playoffs in '23, they protected Kirilloff, Julien and Larnach/Wallner, but two of the three alternates (Solano and Farmer) were okay to very good. Not so much Margot.

Thanks for the research @Riverbrian. There's a lot to chew on and big numbers tend to take out anomalies. We can say that in general, left handed hitters have more severe platoon splits than right handers, so the best matchup is LHH vs. RHP and the worst is LHH vs. LHP. How to avoid the latter and maximize the former is what a manager gets paid to do. If you have a team of Shohei Ohtanis or Freddie Freemans you don't worry about it. You'd rather see Freeman or Ohtani up against any lefty than see Ryan Kreidler. So get the best hitters and play them as much as you can. It's the Matt Wallners and Trevor Larnachs that need to be paired with a different handed alternative, especially Larnach (.151 OPS difference last year, .174 lifetime) without being lashed to that player. Having alternates that can rest more than one guy (Kody Clemens, Victor Caratini) gives much more flexibility in getting good matchups. Also, switch hitters always have the platoon advantage, but it is really worthless if they are lousy from one side. Last year Bell was dreadful against LHP, but his career OPS is a solid .751. Caratini had pretty neutral splits last year, but lifetime he's a better against RHP. Finally, hitting isn't everything. A player who is a superior defender and base runner can make up for hitting deficiency. Austin Martin's play after the big selloff is an example. My hope is that he can save a run or two with his glove and add some value on the bases. I can't say that about Larnach or Wallner or several other players on the roster.

I'm too cheap to subscribe to a source that would provide the information, but it is my belief that in general right handed hitters are far less vulnerable to same-side pitching than left handed hitters. Putting together a roster with a number of right handed regulars and a couple of switch hitters really shouldn't be bad the majority of time against right handers and would be decent vs. lefties. That is what the Twins have with as many as five "regular" right handed hitters and three switch hitters. Having a lefty hitter or two who could rest one of several of the regulars against RH starters would be ideal. The Twins could definitely use Clemens in that role if he hits like he did last year and Caratini could cover three positions as well. Back of the napkin estimates for playing time--Clemens 30 starts at first vs. RH pitching (Bell mostly to DH), 30 starts at second (Keaschall to bench), twenty assorted starts in outfield corners and third base. Caratini 60 starts behind the plate, Jeffers to DH vs. lefties, 30 starts at first base and perhaps a few DH starts. Roden 40 starts in left vs. RH pitching, 30 starts in center for Buxton rest days. Add in injuries and these guys would play even more. I've said it before, but barring injury I don't see a roster spot for Julien, Outman or Jackson despite all three being out of options and not much role for Larnach either.

Everybody has their favorite teacher from high school or college right? I bet if you compare notes it isn't always the same one for each person. Having a second guy who has been there is fine, but if Rogers is cooked he probably won't last much more than 27 days. It does seem that big leaguers do think reaching ten years service time is noteworthy, more than I would have thought. Big picture, Taylor Rogers is quite a success story for the Twins previous FO, A mid-round draft choice out of college who will almost certainly have a 10+ year career and make several million dollars, an All-Star nod and good career stats.

Thanks Matthew. We don't know how Shelton is going to manage this group of position players and the pitching staff. The pitching questions center on how many guys now considered starters are going to be in the bullpen both this year and for their career with the Twins. They've added some minor pieces to the bullpen--Orze and Taylor Rogers--but they are short on back end guys. Could a former starter step in to the back end as Duran and Jax did a few years ago? Maybe. I've projected Prielipp and Festa converting to the 'pen, but it could be Abel, Bradley or Matthews or even Marco Raya. On the position player side, I share your confusion. I do believe Caratini will play quite a bit of first base and that Jeffers will get quite a few days at DH. I think it's possible that the Twins will carry three catchers, but more likely that they try to slip Jackson off the roster and to St. Paul. Josh Bell should DH most of the time and first base should go to some combo of Clemens, Caratini and Wagaman. Wagaman has an option remaining, so he could end up starting the season in St. Paul. Second through third should be Keaschall, Lee, and Lewis. I'm not as down on their defense as Matthew. I think Keaschall has been denied a lot of development time due to injuries and with work and reps he'll be fine at second. Lewis was at least okay at third and Lee is sure-handed enough as a shortstop although his lack of range makes him lees than an ideal shortstop. Somebody has to be the backup at shortstop and it would appear to be either Kreidler or Gray, with Kreidler having the better glove, but Gray having some hitting potential. If Bell, Larnach or Wallner is the primary DH, there really isn't room for Julien, unless he supplants Clemens, who I think has a job to lose. I don't see Outman making the team either. Martin and Roden can back up center field (and Kreidler if he wins the utility infield job) and he's not as good a hitter as either Larnach or Wallner. Jackson, Julien and Outman don't have options so if they don't make the team, it is DFA time. I give Austin Martin a decent chance of claiming left field, at least until one of the Twins' top prospects arrives and Roden a decent chance of filling the fourth outfielder role. The Twins really should have another RH hitting OF and don't really need Larnach and Wallner. To fix the position player imbalance, I think a left hitting corner OF needs to be traded.

Oops. My bad.

Great lineups can have platoons in them. It doesn't automatically indicate there is a weakness. The late 50s and early 60s Yankees used a lot of platoons, won championships and managed to carry three good catchers (Yogi, Elston Howard and Johnny Blanchard) by playing one of Berra or Blanchard in the outfield.

Even with the switch hitters, there isn't room to have a time-share at every position. Further, three right handed hitters figure to be in the lineup much more than half the time against right handed pitching--Lewis, Keaschall and Jeffers. Beyond that, Martin might be the best choice for left field most of the time. Adding the switch hitters, it looks like there are six or seven positions with a nominal "regular" and only a spot or two would be more of a platoon. I think only two of Kreidler, Clemens, Wagaman, Roden, Green, Julien and Outman can make the team if no moves are made. It's still pretty much of a jumbled mess with only a few spots nailed down.

The Twins have done a pretty good job of avoiding arbitration in the Falvey era with the only two exceptions I remember being Kyle Gibson and Luis Arraez. Arraez went through arbitration again with the Marlins and after both trips through the process he was traded. There's been quite a bit of speculation that Ryan and the Twins had become adversarial and maybe the settlement will curb that conversation. I suspect that most players under team control aren't fans of their bosses for saving money by using the leverage they have, but I don't think the Twins are better or worse than other teams.

I think there is some value to have players who have experienced just about everything in their time as a big leaguer. It is also about as difficult to measure as any other variable. Rogers was signed to pitch, not serve as a coach or mentor, but having him around probably will help the inexperienced guys in learning how to thrive as a major league pitcher.

Joe Ryan is a very good pitcher and he's gotten better as his career has continued.. Barring serious injury, he's going to get really big money on his one major trip through free agency. I don't blame any mid- to small-market team for not signing guys like Ryan to monster contracts. He is going to be 32 for most of his first free agent year and not a lot of guys are worth the dollars Ryan will command for performing in their mid-30s. With two full years before free agency and a relatively low salary, he is worth far more than the Twins will have to pay him, hence his high trade value. I don't think it is giving up even this year if Ryan is traded for some combination of prospects and major league ready players. Moving four guys up one step in the starter hierarchy isn't the blow it has been in other years. I do think chances for an extension, particularly with the possibility of a work stoppage next year, are remote. I honestly think the Twins should bite the bullet and get a boatload of return for Joe and perhaps deal him to a team that has a better chance to win a World Series.

I didn't see it noted earlier, LaMonte Wade Jr. signed a minor league deal with the White Sox. Wade got away from the Twins for a (bad) lottery ticket Shaun Anderson. I always thought that the Twins could have moved one of Jake Cave or Wade and chose the wrong guy. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/white-sox-lamonte-wade-jr-agree-to-minor-league-deal.html

Anthony Misiewicz signed a minor league deal with the Reds. He had a couple of appearances with the Twins last year. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/reds-sign-davis-daniel-anthony-misiewicz-to-minor-league-deals.html

How many innings will Preliepp be allowed to throw this year? If he is ready to get major league hitters out, but limited to mayble 100 innings, I'd rather he throw them out of the bullpen over the whole year. If he is great, move him next year. I have no problem with three lefties in the 'pen if they are three of the most effective relief pitchers. It appears that there are five legitimate relief options right now, although none would be regarded as a high-leverage guy (Topa, Rogers, Funderburk, Sands, Orze). One position for Green Line Shuttle and the two best arms that don't make the rotation. I'd prefer that it is one rotation candidate to the bullpen, but that would require adding another at least semi-proven arm for the bullpen.

There will be plenty of innings available for youngsters and rookies. Acquiring Rogers or someone like him really was necessary.

If they want to make roster space they move Larnach. If they want talent in return they move Wallner.

For no reason other than I wanted to get my mind off the numbing cold and what is going on in Minneapolis, I decided to put together my projected Opening Day roster with a bonus of predicting the lineup for the first game against Baltimore. I am going with the current 40-,man roster and players in the Twins' system. I expect at least one trade and perhaps a free agent signing, but I'm only going with knowns at this time: Pitchers (13)-- Starting Rotation--Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, Taj Bradley. Bullpen--Taylor Rogers, Justin Topa, Cole Sands, Eric Orze, Kody Funderburk, David Festa, Conner Prielipp, Dan Altavilla.' Catchers (2)--Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini Infielders (6)--Josh Bell, Luke Keaschall, Brooks Lee, Royce Lewis, Tristan Gray, Kody Clemens Outfielders (5)--Byron Buxton, Matt Wallner, Austin Martin, Alan Roden, Kyler Fedko Starting Lineup and Batting Order for Opening Day vs. Baltimore 3/26/26 Luke Keaschall 2B, Byron Buxton CF, Josh Bell DH, Matt Wallner RF, Royce Lewis 3B, Ryan Jeffers C, Kody Clemens 1B, Brooks Lee SS, Austin Martin LF. Starting Pitcher Pablo Lopez. Now for my rationale: I'm viewing Caratini as another options at first base and Jeffers as the second most used DH. It's entirely possible in my mind that the Twins carry three catchers for a while, waiting for an injury to either unload their starter (Jeffers) or the out-of options Alex Jackson. I think Shelton will try to play Bell mostly as the DH, but will start him at first quite often when he has Caratini behind the plate vs. a lefty with Jeffers at DH. I chose Gray for the utility infield spot mostly because he's given glimmers of being a hitter and he's out of options. Mostly on the basis of 2025, Clemens gets a shot at first base and he is the best defender the Twins have there. In the outfield, I have Martin winning a starting role over Roden and James Outman and then Fedko winning a short-side platoon role I can't see Trevor Larnach staying on the team. I hope he nets a big league relief pitcher, but my guess is a mid-level prospect. Based on their resumes, Lopez, Ryan, Ober and Woods Richardson are locks. I think Bradley has the least to benefit by being optioned to the minors so he gets the fifth spot. Zebby Matthews and Mick Abel get optioned to St. Paul preparing for a shot in the rotation caused by either injury or ineffectiveness. The Twins will try to convert Festa to a bullpen role and also Conner Preliepp as both have injury histories which will probably limit their innings anyway. Preliepp might get a chance in high leverage because of his outstanding stuff a la Jhoan Duran. I picked Altavilla as the non-roster guy who earns a spot. He had good numbers last year and at 33, I would presume either he stays with the Twins or is released. In my educated guess, Julien and Outman hit the DFA cycle and as mentioned Larnach is traded. Ryan Kreidler could win the utility role especially since he is a capable outfielder and Orlando Arcia at least temporarily goes to St. Paul.

Thank you TD! In the end baseball is a game, and right now a distraction from the darkest time I have ever seen. The situation in Minneapolis is too big and too important to ignore. I am glad you have made a stand with what is right and proper.

It was hard to pay attention in August and September, but what I saw of Ohl was that he had one plus pitch (changeup) and didn't have enough velocity to get opponents off his out pitch. I don't think he has a future as a major leaguer and actually I don't think Adams will stick either. The catcher shuffle puzzles me, as well. Pereda checks a lot of boxes as a third catcher to be shuttled up and down the Green Line, but he would also hold that appeal to a lot of other teams. I don't think Jackson would go unclaimed if he was DFA'd, so if both are lost prior to Opening Day, the Twins have only the two guys and no one else with any experience. If Pereda is claimed, I presume they'll hold on to Jackson until the last possible moment in the event of an injury to one of the Twins' catchers and waiting to see if a team suddenly has the need for a catcher. I hate to see them move on from a guy who plays above average defense behind the plate, but he's 30, doesn't have options and has a poor record as a hitter.

Fifth outfielder and short-side platoon is a possible role for Fedko and not Jenkins.

Yeah, I think Fedko has a path to make the Opening Day roster. He would need to be good and maybe for an injury to occur, but if he shows he can hit a bit and can play all three outfield positions (or maybe first base), he might open the season with the big club.