stringer bell

Here is post-fire sale Twinsland, we can only look to the future. There really isn't any hope for 2025 and prospects for 2026 look dim. It's time for the optimists to look at prospects and project players who should (probably) stay with the team for the next few years. Brooks Lee has gotten quite a bit of attention since the trade deadline. He will get his chance to show whether he is a major league shortstop, both offensively and defensively. The results so far are mixed, at best. Lee is a first round draft choice and he has performed at age 24 as a replacement player. He hit .237, with a low OBP of .280 and has 15 homers and 78 RBI. Brooks has accumulated an OPS+ of 76 and a WAR of -.4. As a fielder, Lee rates negatively both defensive runs saved (-7) and zone rating (-8). Those numbers are not encouraging. However, I think there is some hope for the former first round choice. On defense, Lee's numbers are best as a shortstop, where he played almost exclusively as an amateur and minor leaguer. He is only -1 run defensively this year both in DRS and ZR, and that is being compared to the best defensive infielders on the planet. Speaking of comparisons, Lee's defensive metrics at shortstop this year are far better than Carlos Correa. With a bat in his hands, Brooks has (again) been slightly below average, but the power numbers are actually pretty good and as he matures, he should hit for more power. Looking a little deeper at Lee's hitting, he is close to average in a lot of stats--HR%, K%. exit velocity, pull % and most of those numbers have improved from 2024 to 2025. Allowing for some improvement going forward, Lee profiles as a second or third tier shortstop--not a star, but someone who doesn't hurt the team. This is from a guy who doesn't look elite athletically. He is a well below average runner, with average power and slightly below average throwing arm (for a shortstop). Given his tools, the upside seems limited to maybe a 2 WAR player, kind of a disappointment for a guy picked in the top third of the first round. Two more thoughts about Lee-1) Injuries may have hampered him in both of his major league seasons. He had back problems and started his season late in 2024 and started 2025 on the IL as well, perhaps throwing him off even after being activated. 2) Conditioning--on another Lee thread someone (my apologies, I forgot who) suggested that Lee was carrying too much weight and looked dumpy. As a 5-9 guy carrying over 200 I get it, but maybe if he comes to Florida next year a little trimmer and more muscular, he might perform better, maybe with a little more quickness and speed. I am sure he'll always be below average in sprint speed, but maybe a MPH or two better. On to Royce Lewis. The "face of the franchise" has faded in the last 12-13 months. Lewis struggled mightily after the All-Star break last year and has suffered more leg injuries, leading to (justified) doubt about his durability going forward. Lewis suffered a muscle strain in spring training and missed the first month plus of 2025 and then had a second leg injury in June that cost him another two weeks. Coming off the injuries, Royce didn't look like an elite athlete. He didn't sprint on the bases and failed to hit. After a miserable start Lewis lifted his numbers towards respectability, but then suffered his second leg injury this season. Since he has returned, it has been a roller coaster ride with more dips than raises. Lewis' overall numbers are barely above replacement level this year (after posting a 3.4 WAR in his 600 PAs) a .227 average, .657 OPS (79 OPS+) and only six homers and 28 RBI in his 233 plate appearances. That's all pretty bad, especially for the #1 overall draft choice in 2017. But, I would say, all is not lost. In comparison to others, Royce's statcast profile is surprisingly good. He doesn't strike out much, walks at about a league average rate, and hits the ball hard. After being a defensive liability at his new position (third base) Lewis has been above average defensively this year (+2 DRS and +3 ZR). In addition, it would seem that right now Royce is finally both healthy and trusting himself to go all out. His sprint speed has improved to 28.1 MPH this month, which is a dramatic improvement from earlier this year (that is according to Perk on yesterday's TV broadcast). Going forward, there will continue to be doubt about Lewis staying healthy. That goes with two major knee injuries and then at least four leg injuries. The second question would be if he's really good or not. His results this year have been poor and disappointing, but as mentioned, the metrics look very good and it is very encouraging to see his run so much better and field his position well. Given the Twins standing right now, I would think they have no choice but to stick with Lewis as a regular and assume that he can be very good or better than that in the near future. It would be wise to have a backup plan given his injuries and poor performance this year, but it is probably a good bet to give him more runway and hope his first 500 PAs weren't a mirage. In summary, the Twins have two young guys who have elite pedigrees on the left side of their infield right now. They are both controlled for most of the rest of the decade at affordable prices. The luster for both has been tarnished, but I think they are the immediate future for this team and they might be pretty good. I see Lee as an okay defensive SS who switch hits and hits well enough to be a regular and I think Lewis will be a good player, if healthy, for the next few years with a chance that he again hits like a star. The defense would be good enough and there's a chance that the combined offense of Brooks and Royce is far better than league average. After this very long post, I hope TD readers can comment and offer their views. We are now hoping for the best and that's not a way to run a franchise, but it is what we have now.

After two TJ surgeries, it appears The Sheriff now has ordinary stuff. If he has his best command, he can succeed, but his margin for error is really small, not unlike the retreads that are currently on the Twins' pitching staff.

I would like to see the Twins be competitive in 2026. They currently have one component—starting pitching—to do so. That is counting on a healthy return for Pablo and no trades. As mentioned, building a bullpen has to be a high priority. Current starters, bargain pickups or trade pieces? On the position player side, it would be great to see some guys step forward. First round draft choices Lewis and Lee are the two guys who have the pedigree to do so and we saw Lewis be a fine hitter for about the first 100 games of his career. Lee hit a grand slam and Lewis also homered today so maybe there’s some hope. I probably was most encouraged by Lewis markedly increasing his sprint speed, maybe he is just now feeling fully healthy. His defense has been pretty good all year.

Noticeable decline in CC’s defense. Good accurate arm, but his range has diminished and he made more misplays this year. I suppose he can be a good third baseman and that has value. 100 OPS+ isn’t good enough for a >$30M salary and. his “clutchness” was absent all of this year and most of his tenure with the Twins. Correa has already had a fine career. He’s done everything he can to perform, but IMHO he’s aged rapidly and would have been a burden with his big contract in future years.

Really good conversation here. It seems to me that Fedko has inserted himself into the conversation for a possible spot on the major league team next barring any major league free agent signings. I think he's a better OF than Martin with more power and enough speed (he's stolen over 30 bases this year). Gonzales has had a fine year as well and he's much younger Rosario is also young, has hit for power and has some speed. I think McCusker is considered less of a prospect than any of the three guys. He's been pretty bad since his first cup of coffee in the majors. He doesn't provide any value besides slugging and he is older.

Seems to me that Outman is a better version of Keirsey. They are the same age, both run and field well, but can’t hit. Outman would appear to have more power, but also more strikeouts. If he could come anywhere close to replicating his 2023 stats, he would be valuable.

Frankly, I expected more games like this after the teardown, especially with three starters on the IL.

Fedko has been raking since he was promoted to St. Paul. Is he a prospect? Also, any news on Jenkins?

Good night all.

This will not end well.

For those of you not watching on TwinsTV, there will be a delay--the tarp is back on the field. Also, Happy Birthday to Luke Keaschall. I wonder if his number (15) has something to do with his birthdate 8/15.

The radar projection I was looking at shows passing storms, pretty much over by game time.

Would they call up Fedko, or would it be Outman or McCusker?

The back end of the bullpen was pretty good too. My on the field complaints about the Twins field staff and front office are almost exclusively about position players.

Honestly, with the cast of characters remaining in the bullpen, they really haven't been that shorthanded that often. There is a dearth of major league talent--five guys over 30 (Hatch, Tonkin, Ramirez, Kriske and Urena) that weren't on major league rosters at some point this year. Two other guys groomed as bulk pitchers and Sands, Funderburk and Topa as traditional relievers. It would appear that within a month SWR, Pablo and Festa could return and there are two trade acquisitions sitting in St. Paul who could/should get major league innings. Lots of possibilities, but really messy. Plus it is obvious that winning games this year isn't the top priority.

I really would like to go back to the system where the starter wasn't considered the "bulk pitcher". Yes, an occasional game where there's a schedule quirk or somebody has to get skipped is acceptable, but 40% of the time is too much.

Well, he's the backup catcher.

I didn't realize that the Braves had purchased León's contract and he had only one PA in three weeks. I guess other teams like third catchers as well. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/08/braves-activate-ronald-acuna-jr-outright-sandy-leon.html

There's a lot of truth to this. The front office has drafted hitters without many other talents as undervalued assets Far too many incomplete players on the position player side of the roster. On the pitching side, they've had some success developing college guys with modest velocity, but not enough to offset their failures with position players.

I remember when Carl Pohlad was a savior for buying the Twins. Of course, he also raised his hand to accept contraction several years later. His heirs haven't done much to enhance the view of ownership in the eyes of the fans. What the family needs is someone who can present a more positive view of ownership and the team and perhaps too much damage has already been done. IMHO, the "silver linings" are the relative stability of ownership and their Minnesota roots. That probably doesn't offset the Mr. Potter image of a banker forclosing on a war widow that has been developed. Fully funding their product is what the fans want. We've been conditioned that we can't compete with the payrolls of the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies and Red Sox. The books reflect that something has gone wrong, so a prudent business would take measures to fit it.

I would think that a guy like this might have a good season in him, but wouldn't amount to much long term.

Escaped without further damage. I wonder if he comes back for the seventh. I doubt it, since he got up and pitched to one batter last night

Fundy doesn't have good enough stuff to pitch from behind.

Just about everyone on the Tigers was better before the All-Star break. Even if they hold on and win the AL Central, I don't see them making much noise in postseason.

According to Provus, the Twins like his defense and speed (maybe compared to Larnach and Wallner) so if he could be about Larnach's equal as a hitter, but a better overall player.