stringer bell

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.

I agree with your sentiment, but I also understand the frustration of only going for low-wattage players. Every team, even the Yankees and Dodgers, adjusts the bottom of their 40-man roster (roster churn) and sometimes a player comes out of comings and goings (Willi Castro for example). The frustration is when trading for Mickey Gasper is the big move and even more to the point when signing Caratini, Rogers and Bell are the big free agents. The Twins are counting on guys to produce who are unproven and overall that's a poor bet, but it can work out. It happens on occasion (Detroit and Baltimore in this decade) but more often fails. I think there's enough talent if all goes well for the Twins to contend, but I sure wouldn't bet on them.

A lot of topics covered here, I'll weigh in on a few: 1) Funderburk looked very good when given a chance to pitch high leverage innings in August and September. Yes, it's a small sample, but the command was much better. His delivery is funky, and if he hits his spots, he's pretty good. Will he sustain this? You never really know with relief pitchers. 2) Rogers isn't close to what he once was, but he got people out with the Reds, not so much the Cubs. He's now got Danny Coulombe stuff, so he has to pitch totally different from what he was in his first tour with the Twins. He's probably only 50-50 to be tradeable at the deadline if he lasts that long. Interesting that his twin is thriving in his mid-30s, but Tyler never threw hard like Taylor did. 3) The Twins offensive success depends on improvement from homegrown guys who have either flashed or have a good pedigree--Lewis, Lee and Wallner for starters. Having Caratini and Bell adds quite a bit of depth to the lineup, but they aren't going to carry the team. The three guys I mentioned plus Keaschall and Buxton will determine what kind of an offense they have. 4) Team speed might not be as bad as it might look. I am pulling for Martin to get regular duty and help the club with his legs. Add a healthy Keaschall and Buxton and rejuvenated Lewis with the prospect of adding fast guys like Jenkins, Rodriguez and Culpupper and speed might not be a big negative.

Interesting to compare Taylor Rogers with his twin. They aren't much alike in style and Taylor has almost four more years of service time and has made a lot more money in his career, but Tyler has been the more effective reliever since Taylor was traded away from the Twins. Tyler signed a multi-year deal fir over $10M per year, while Taylor is getting a fraction of that salary and only got a one-year deal.

After his DFA, Brujan was traded to the Mets for cash. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/twins-trade-vidal-brujan-to-mets.html

Adding Gray with the reported Rogers and Caratini signings means that two have to come off the 40-man roster. So far, they have cut position players exclusively since adding the minors leaguers to prevent Rule V claims. Could they move a pitcher at this point? I really don't see it TBH. On the position player side, guys without options are Kreidler, Outman, Clemens, Julien and Jackson. It would appear to me that one or both of the DFAs will come from that group. I don't know if whoever they DFA will clear, they haven't had much success getting guys through and then outrighting them.

Not a bad move at all, but it doesn't move the needle much. The bullpen is still a major problem. In checking Rogers out at BBRef, he is only a couple weeks short of ten years of service time, a mark that is surprisingly rare and significant. A statistical oddity--Rogers' ERA and FIP are identical at 3.34.

Nice article Nick. The Twins have several huge question marks and many of them can sink the season with a disappointing answer to the question. The plan, such as it is, revolves around strong starting pitching and an offense blending some acquired veteran pieces with homegrown talent that hasn't yet thrived. There is also hope for a prospect or two to break in like a star. The Twins have had decent success building bullpens with failed starters and low-priced free agent arms. There are eight guys with big league experience competing for five starting spots plus Raya and Prielipp, so they could add three or more from that group to the 'pen. Adding one big arm to move to the closer role or a couple of good relievers would change the picture quite a bit. I think a couple of trades need to be made. There are too many left handed hitting corner OF/DHs and somebody has to go. Trading and getting a proven infielder or a relief pitcher would correct some of the roster imbalance. Trading a starter (including Ryan or Lopez) could bring in both talent ready to contribute and prospects or maybe trading Jeffers could fill a soft spot in the roster plus add a prospect.

100% agree with Gleeman about position player roster construction. The Twins have a whole bunch of lefty hitting corner outfielders or DHs and real weak shortstop and center field backups. Clemens, Outman and Julien would seem to be fighting for one position and all three are out of options. The roster seems to be screaming for a trade. Larnach and Wallner would seem to be available and having both would seem to be redundant. I think trading Jeffers makes sense. Certainly going with Caratini and Jackson would be a downgrade from Jeffers, but Caratini can hit a bit and Jakckson looks like a good defensive catcher who might be satisfactory as a backup catcher. As far as the bullpen goes, the Twins need at least one free agent reliever and I would bet the longer they wait, the more likely it is that they sign an "old friend"--Danny Coulombe, Taylor Rogers, Erasmo Ramirez or Liam Hendriks,

Since 2023, the Twins have had one of two guys behind the plate well over 95% of the time. However, Vazquez left after 2025 and Jeffers will be gone by November 1, 2026. The position had only fringe prospects in-house as of July 15, but that has changed with the acquisition of several minor league catchers including one Top 100 prospect. Now add in a capable major league catcher in Caratini. The Twins have given a lot of limited resources for reshuffling and fortifying the catcher position. While @Riverbrian is as usual correct that catchers are overpaid for their production, I think their value is greater than the WAR produced since they are so involved with pitching as well as offense and defense. I think it is okay to pay that much for a capable or more than capable catching tandem. Beyond that, both Caratini and Jeffers might get playing time at first base and DH respectively, which would mean the $13.7M was spent on more than just the catching position.

Ryan Pressly announced his retirement. A good Rule V selection for the Twins and very good for the Astros. Congratulations on a fine career. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/ryan-pressly-announces-retirement.html

The Twins traded for two minor league catchers in August, a minor league catcher in the Rule V, claimed and then traded for Jackson and now have signed Caratini. Add the five guys named above and that is quite a revamp of the catching position in the organization.