stringer bell

I saw today that David Bednar of the Pirates had been optioned after a tough start to his season. Bednar had put together three very good seasons with the Pirates and had 39 saves in 2023 before slumping badly last year. He lost two of the Buccos first three games (both walkoffs) and was optioned. Bednar was also pretty bad in Spring Training this year and even the Twins roughed him up. This is a roundabout prelude to discuss Twins' closer Jhoan Durán. It's very early, but results and metrics are pointing to a guy who isn't elite and might actually be a weak spot in the bullpen as a closer. In 2023, Durán was the hardest thrower in MLB with a majority of the highest velo fastballs recorded that year coming from his right arm. Now, he's averaging a noticeable 4-5 mph slower fastball without elite movement. He still has a very good curve ball and split finger pitch with the splittie among the hardest "off speed" pitches in baseball. Results have been okay, but not great. Durán's ERA and WHIP have increased each of his three years with the Twins and his strikeout percentage has fallen. It would appear that his fastball isn't elite unless he has elite velocity and 100 mph fastballs have become more and more common. Which brings me to Durán's future. If he still has high value, would the Twins consider moving him? He's still pretty young (27) and under team control for two additional seasons beyond this year. Also, if he struggles ala Bednar, would the Twins consider sending him to the minors? I think there is a sneaky good percentage chance that this will occur because Durán had exactly three years of service prior to the start of the season. If he were to spend two week on option, the Twins or a team that would acquire him would get another full year of service from him. The Twins current front office has been hesitant to pay large dollars for their bullpen. Durán is now in arbitration years and will get more and more money even if his results don't improve. They also have a guy Griffin Jax, who by most measures has passed Durán by as the most effective bullpen arm. I don't think Durán will be a Twin by 2026 unless he regains elite status as a pitcher. I wouldn't be surprised if he is traded, or if he struggles, that he is sent to the minors.

Any update on today's game? It looks like the weather in Chicago will be wet and dreary and I imagine there aren't many tickets sold.

The Twins DFA's Randy Dobnak after he saved the bullpen in their latest loss in St. Louis. Given the rules in place, the move makes sense, despite Dobnak's contribution to the Twins. Dobnak's replacement is another guy who hasn't had much major league success but who is capable of throwing several innings if the call to the bullpen comes early. Welcome to the Twins Darren McCaughan. I hope your stay is short and uneventful unless there is more quality in your arm than you've demonstrated over the years.

Tarp is still on the field. Very light drizzle. Brightening skies.

I’m in St. Loo for the game today. Quite a number of Twins fans around the Arch.

Now for the question I’ve had for two years, why don’t they Twins have a commercial patch on their uniforms? It seems every other team does.

Nice hand for Bader.

Stubby Clapp? Really!!

Whew!! After getting first a blackout message and then another error message on about my fifth try I got to play “guess the Cardinal”. No clueon Ted Simmons, who is eventually going to look like Sam Elliott.

Let’s see—the bench is Julien (L), Keirsey (L), Gasper (S) and Vázquez (R), so Vázquez hits for Larnach in the fifth? Gasper hits for Wallner and sends Willi to the OF?

Bader is a Cardinal product. I pretty much expected he would start on Opening Day against his old team. The Twins get a better defender in left and second while sacrificing Julien’s bat. I’m pretty meh about all that. I hope that by the end of April HB isn’t leading Twins’ OFs in plate appearances.

Too soon to complain about the lineup?

Bill Dailey (1963) may have been the first closer and he burned out after that single season.

$100 for 150+ games seems very fair to me. Have there been added fees with the Twins on cable?

Strikeouts were way down last year and yet the offense didn’t improve. I think that has to do with personnel that changed from ‘23 to ‘24. Every team strikes out a lot compared to years ago. I would hope for better PAs with RISP and in game situations.

Specifically who could be brought up that has upside, and also doesn't create 40-man issues as soon as one of the rostered pitchers is ready? Maybe Funderburk, that's about it. I think it's important that Dobnak is trusted to go multiple innings and can be replaced later by a one-inning guy and still leave that opening on the 40-man when he exits.

They won’t be cutting Dobnak loose. As noted he is both without options, but easy to move between the Twins and Saints. Adding someone to the 40-man who could and would be cut loose as soon as Stewart or Tonkin are ready doesn’t make much sense. Starting the clock on someone or adding service time as the eighth bullpen arm isn’t the most prudent thing to do.

Former Twin Ian Gibault makes the Reds Opening Day roster as a non-roster invitee. He had three appearances with the 2021 Twins. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/reds-select-ian-gibaut.html

No, he is on the 40-man roster and hasn't officially been put on any 60-day IL. The 40-man spot for Dobnak was cleared when Castellano was waived (now returned to the Phillies). The only way the Twins can both maintain team control and get Canterino off the 40-man is to put him on the major league roster and place him on the 60-day IL. This does give him service time, something they were unwilling to do last year. I'm pretty sure the Twins will part ways with Canterino, or at least expose him to be claimed as a DFA, but I'm not sure what the rules are for an injured player who is under contract.

Can the Twins put an injured player on waivers? I know they can promote him to the majors and then place him on the 60-day IL. Is there an injury settlement involved?

Here’s my take: It is a short-term move saving service time and later a 40-man spot. Dobnak is almost certain to go unclaimed when he is DFA’d because of his low upside and relatively lucrative contract. He will be able to provide multiple innings if called upon. He isn’t a guy who will be ruined or wasted if he isn’t used. Congratulations to Dobnak, but I hope he’s back in St. Paul soon.

Canterino is currently on the 40-man and was on the 40-man all last year. There is absolutely no reason to promote guys to the 40-man until it is necessary. I’m still not sure what the process is to take him off the 40-man at this point.

Three 2024 Twins that were cut loose by the team have made Opening Day rosters. Matt Bowman (Orioles), Steven Okert (Astros) and Manuel Margot (Tigers). There may be more ex-Twins on major league active rosters that I haven't noticed. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/montero-okert-will-make-astros-roster-singleton-will-not.html https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/orioles-select-matt-bowman.html https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/tigers-to-sign-manuel-margot.html

To put it another way. There is enough talent there, but it's really hard to see enough going right with both performance and injury avoidance to see the Twins as a legitimate playoff team.

The MLB Trade Rumors report says that both Blewett and Misiewicz have been informed they won't make the Opening Day roster. Of the options available in the organization, no one jumps out IMHO. There are several guys who have been cut loose. Personally, I wanted the Twins to pick up Yarbrough, but the Yankees snapped him up quickly.