stringer bell

Great to hear these reports. Between John's report here and Gleeman and the Geek, there were lots of nuggets of information. Good--Maeda looks pretty good and has recovered virtually all of his velocity, Mahle also has gotten his velocity up. Not good--Balazovic will behind due to the broken jaw, Josh Winder is a ways behind because of off-season shoulder issues and Ronny Henriquez has been set back by pain near his elbow. Neutral--Kirilloff, Buxton and Polanco all seem to be slower ramping up with Kirilloff the furthest from playing in a game.

I’ve said on other threads that I’m not a fan of all the acquisitions, Gallo in particular. However, having experienced and versatile bench players like Farmer and Solano provides the Twins with flexibility and short side platoon ability. I do think having veterans in part-time roles is better than using rookies. I’m not a big fan of the outfield construction, but the best players should get the most time. I hope the younger guys make themselves regulars, but the Twins seem to have a Plan B. What I don’t want to see is fielding AAA player throughout the outfield as they had last year.

Are you referring to Kepler and Gallo? If so, I don't know that calling them "low ceiling vets" is the best term. Neither guy is old (Kepler just turned 30, Gallo is 29) and both have had All-Star worthy seasons, although their last two seasons have been subpar. If you're referring to Solano, I pretty much agree. However, the problem is that Gordon, Gallo, Kepler and (indirectly) Kirilloff are all competing to get the ABs that Larnach could/should get. Is Larnach better than all of those guys, some of those guys or none of those guys? If he isn't better than any, he really should be in St. Paul. Personally, I think Larnach can be as good as Kepler has been in his 26-30 years and also be a more complete player than Gallo. Whether he makes the team out of Spring Training or not, he almost certainly will get a shot to prove himself this year. Like Kirilloff, he needs to be both productive and healthy or others may pass him by.

IIRC, the Twins have said they aren't converting Winder (or Sands) into bullpen arms at this point. Where Winder falls in starting pitcher depth is an interesting question. He might be right after Ober or he might be behind Varland and Woods Richardson. Winder has had persistent impingement issues and I wonder how best to deal with them (bullpen? limited innings?).

There haven't been any exhibition games played yet, but all teams are in Spring Training and there aren't a bunch of free agents left to be signed. The Twins hope to bounce back from consecutive injury-scarred disappointing seasons and make the postseason. Here is my prediction for the 26-man roster that will play Opening Day in Kansas City on March 30th: Starting pitchers (5): Pablo Lopez, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Tyler Mahle, Kenta Maeda. All five acquired by trade from other organizations. All but Ryan have injury concerns. First alternate starter figures is to Bailey Ober, with Louis Varland an Simeon Woods Richardson also waiting in the wings. Bullpen (8): Jorge Alcala, Jhoan Duran, Ronny Henriquez, Griffin Jax, Jorge Lopez, Jovani Moran, Emilio Pagan, Caleb Thielbar. Alcala missed almost all of 2022 and it remains to be seen if he will be ready to contribute. The choices here for the last two spots in the 'pen are Moran (mostly effective last year with the Twins, less so in AAA) and Henriquez, who had a cup of coffee with the Twins after compiling less than dominant numbers in St. Paul. The choice of Henriquez is a pick to provide multiple inning outings from a bullpen member. Moran looks like he could take a step forward and be a late-inning arm, but he's not established. The last two cut (and two most likely to make the club) in my prediction are Trevor Megill and Danny Coulombe. Pitchers with options in the 'pen will most likely be up and down several times--that would include Megill, Henriquez and Moran and perhaps Alcala. Catcher (2): Christian Vazquez, Ryan Jeffers. Really no competition here. The questions going forward are how will playing time be split up and if either Vazquez or Jeffers spends time as a DH. The Twins have three AAA catchers with major league experience--Tony Wolters, Grayson Greiner and Chance Sisco. Infield (6): Alex Kirilloff, Jorge Polanco, Carlos Correa, Jorge Miranda, Kyle Farmer, Donovan Solano. There are injury questions around both Polanco and Kirilloff. If either one is placed on the Injured List, Nick Gordon and perhaps Joey Gallo might get some infield time. Barring injury, it would be huge upset for someone else to make the team at the expense of the six infielders listed. Outfield (5): Byron Buxton, Joey Gallo, Nick Gordon, Max Kepler, Michael A. Taylor. Gallo and Gordon might see some time in the infield. Buxton is coming off knee surgery and may be built up slowly this year. There has been much speculation about Kepler's future with the Twins, but he's still here. Trevor Larnach (also coming off an injury) will probably have the opportunity to play himself onto the team. If there is a disabling position player injury in Spring Training, I would think Larnach makes the club as a DH/corner outfielder. Also in the mix is Matt Wallner, who made his big league debut last year in September. There is a significant amount of change from last year. I am predicting that five players will make their Twins' debut in Kansas City. There will be injuries and many more players will see time with the major league club. As many have commented, there is depth in the rotation and among the position players. There will be injuries and the depth will be tested at some points through the season. A lot of players will get a chance to show their skills before the season is over. There aren't many surprises listed in these predictions. Personally, I think that a nearly set roster is a good thing. I can't wait for the games to start and see what this group of players can do.

Actually, that's two questions: 1) Better than Garlick? Not sure, but certainly he'll be viewed as more than a specialist as Garlick was. Solano has put up respectable numbers against right handers and has positional flexibility (first, second and third). 2) Better for Larnach to play every day? Trevor hasn't put a ton of time in at AAA, but I do believe he is ready to stay in the majors. Given all of the injuries this club has suffered in the past two years, I would expect the 14th best position player would spend a large majority of his time in Minnesota. Incidentally, with the acquisition of Solano, it seems to me that any injury, other than to a catcher would allow the Twins to promote the best player. With all of the positional flexibility they have, they can move people around at the major league level to cover an injury to anyone.

Trade Rumors reported that the move is official, with Paddack on the 60-day IL.

MLB teams don’t put minor leaguers like Canterino on the major league 60-day IL. That would give him big league pay and service time.

Solano has more than seven years of service. He can't be optioned without his consent. While he didn't sign early, he has a big league bat and positional flexibility. Injuries are going to happen, without question. Last year, Gordon didn't have a path to anything resembling regular duty, but ended with over 400 plate appearances. Hopefully, the injuries won't be as extensive this year, but a guy like Solano will most likely stick on the roster as long as he is healthy and reasonably productive.

It’s a major league contract and he can’t be optioned without his consent. He will be on the Opening Day roster, I’m sure. Solano has hit well enough to be a viable option as a platoon DH and he’s played all over the infield.

The position player most likely sent to the minors is Larnach. Of course, a disabling injury would make space for Larnach and Solano.

Either of Paddack or Lewis can go on the 60-day IL. No need for a trade to make 40-man room.

Another RH bat, I guess, is needed. I see he's 5'8", but has played some first base.

Don't give up on Martin having extra base power. Kirby Puckett went homerless as a rookie and only hit four until he was 26. That's a rather severe example, but power often develops later in a career. It seems to me that Martin should have the tools to be a good defender at second, or in the outfield. It doesn't make sense to continue him at short IMHO. However, limiting him to one position just would limit his chances to break through to the majors. If he is strong enough offensively, he will find a place to play and stay there. I think the clearest path to the majors is in the outfield, particularly since the Twins are lacking in right handed corner outfielders at this point. Further, the club can use his on-base skills, no matter what position he plays.

Wow. This is almost beyond what an optimist could predict. If all of those numbers would come true, the Twins should have a great chance.

There are several scenarios in which Miranda is no longer the Twins’ regular third baseman—1) he is injured 2) he is needed as the everyday first baseman 3) he fails to field the position well enough and 4) someone forces their way into the lineup at third base. If Miranda is not in the conversation long term, it is possible the Twins turn to Gordon at third. Nick would appear to have the skills to be an adequate defender there, despite having very limited experience. There are a bunch of high profile infield prospects (Lee, Lewis and Julien) who have been projected as possible third basemen. None of them would be considered experienced at the hot corner. I expect a short-term absence for Miranda would be covered by Kyle Farmer, with Gordon as the backup.

Nit pick. Very unlikely that the Twins will give Canterino MLB time and salary by putting him on the 60-day IL. They can and will do so for Lewis and Paddack if space is needed on the 40-man and active roster. Danny Coulombe could provide a third lefty and take one of the 40-man spots now held by Paddack/Lewis. Not flashy, but pretty good since the Twins picked him up. I'm not sold on Megill either, but he has a high-velo fastball and a big loopy curve. He seemed to fall in love with one or the other when pitching for the Twins with less than satisfactory results. Coulombe could probably take his place or if the Twins want a multiple inning guy in his place, that makes sense and Henriquez could fill and fit that role. Ober is another possibility, either as the sixth guy in the rotation (only lasted three weeks that way last year) or a swing man waiting for an opportunity in the rotation. I am not in the camp of converting Ober to the bullpen unless it is deemed that he has a better chance of avoiding the IL by converting.

That is exactly what Rocco did last year when the “third catcher” was Jhon Romero. I think having a guy that has caught this decade in MLB as the “break glass in case of emergency” catcher makes it very plausible to start both catchers on occasion. Yes, I’m sure they don’t want Farmer behind the dish, except in a dire emergency, and they’d sacrifice the DH before putting him behind the plate, but the door won’t be closed to keeping the alternate catcher on the bench.

Yes, Farmer did hit into a high number of DPs, but to say he wasn't good with runners on is incorrect IMHO. His OPS with RiSP last season was .818 and he drove in 60 runners in 141 plate appearances, both far better than the Twins in aggregate last season. Gio had three more PAs with RiSP and had 8 less RBI, for example, with a similar number of GDPs.

I don't think he's strictly an outfielder, but he's (at best) third on the depth chart at shortstop and third base. If Polanco suffered an injury, he might even get regular play at second. Both the eye test and metrics indicate he's not a good fielder at second and short, but he got some play at both positions last year. His best defensive position (left field) is way down on the spectrum of importance and he's league average there.

The idea isn't to ever use Farmer at catcher. It is that there is an option in case the catcher gets injured. The Twins probably used Sanchez and Jeffers 15-20 times in the same lineup and never used a non-catcher. Having Farmer available in a crisis is better than putting a relief pitcher behind the plate, as was the scenario part of '22.

We might also see the scenario of Vazquez and Jeffers in the lineup at the same time, particularly with a guy (Farmer) who came to the majors as a catcher.

Gordon proved to me last year that he was a major leaguer. Perhaps this year he will prove he is a regular. I really am not worried about who starts Game One, everybody will get chances. That is the way modern managers do things. Now, to the nuts and bolts of the roster composition--the present roster has Gordon, Gallo, Kepler, Larnach, Taylor and Buxton in the outfield. Add in that Kirilloff also has played more outfield than first in his major league career and there are too many big leaguers for everyone to their share of playing time and that is especially true of the left handed hitting corner outfielders. I honestly don't see Gordon as the first or second choice at any outfield spot and do remember, he's only played a couple of innings in right field. In the infield, Gordon doesn't look like the number one backup at short or third (again he's only played a few innings at third) and it would probably depend on the handedness of the opponent starter if he was the first choice to spell Polanco. The depth chart looked similar in 2022 and Gordon managed to get his chances and succeed. I wonder how 2023 will pan out.

Kyle Farmer and Michael A Taylor replace Celestino and Garlick and add to the payroll. Worth it IMHO.

Yes, really nice article. I'm sure I'm not the only that noticed he at one point was throwing 99 mph fastballs.