Cory Engelhardt

I don't think it's a going nowhere team. And I think his bat and his influence in the clubhouse will be really good for many of the younger hitters.

Crap, I forgot about David Festa. IF he is healthy, then he is firmly in the bullpen. I'd take out probably Travis Adams for now and keep the free agent and trade additions.

1) Give Brooks Lee a 1B mitt. Push Kaelen Culpepper fast after a good spring hopefully. 2) Trade Joe Ryan to Seattle for 4 prospects, 3 in the top 100. Catcher Harry Ford, pitcher Ryan Sloan, OF Jonny Farmelo and OF Korbyn Dickerson. Harry Ford will be a co-catcher opening day. Jeffers will dh plenty against lefties and will be good to have him for another year with the younger pitching staff we will start 2026 with. 3) Trade a young DSL level player to Cleveland for relief pitcher Sam Hentges. He should be healthy this offseason after having surgery September 2024. 4) Trade Matt Wallner to Toronto for prospect pitcher Johnny King. Push Walker Jenkins. 5) Sign Jorge Polanco, 1 year 10 million, 1b/2b/dh. 6) Sign Michael Kopech, 1 year 4 million 7) Sign Jordan Romano, 1 year 5 million 8) Use the rule 5 draft to try an arm they like in that realm. 9) That total comes in about 98 million. C: Harry Ford ($0.80M) 1B: Brooks Lee ($0.8M) 2B: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M) 3B: Royce Lewis ($3.00M) SS: Kaelen Culpepper ($0.80M) LF: Alan Roden ($0.80M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Walker Jenkins ($0.80M) DH: Jorge Polanco ($10.00M) 4th OF: Austin Martin ($0.80M) Utility: Kody Clemens ($0.80M) Utility: Ryan Kreidler ($0.80M) Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($6.60M) POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.75M) SP2: Zebby Matthews ($0.80M) SP3: Bailey Ober ($4.60M) SP4: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M) SP5: Taj Bradley ($0.80M) RP: Justin Topa ($2.00M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M) RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M) RP: Rule 5 pick ($0.80M) RP: Travis Adams ($0.80M) RP: Sam Hentges ($3.00M) RP: Michael Kopech ($4.00M) RP: Jordan Romano ($5.00M) POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) Payroll is 19.77% under budget

Awesome! Can’t wait for the college season to start. Thank you for your awesome writeups

Agreed. I’d prefer to be optimistic too. I think the optimistic 2026 is in the realm of possibility, and that’s even if they get a good return for Joe Ryan. For example, let’s say they get James Rowson in as bench coach. That’s possible. I think getting the young hitters on track is truly the best path forward for this team regardless. I also think their rotation can be good enough IF the lineup does their job. At least good enough to make noise in the central and be interesting in August/september

I do think they have a chance in the al central if the moves they make are smart: I am an optimist, but I do think there is enough talent that can get on the right track to be more competitive than that. No one is competing with the Dodgers again in 2026. Or even about 5 teams in the nl along with how Toronto looked. But if a few things do break right (Lewis gets back to early 2024 form, Wallner isn’t Joey Gallo, a few other players take a step forward and Jenkins is the real deal to a certain extent) then I think they can be ok. I keep coming back to, their record when they scored at least 4 runs in a game the last 3-4 years has been really good. I’m hopeful the offense will be able to pull its weight

If Lewis is traded I can’t see it this offseason. And he was really pretty good defensively at 3b. I guess this is me kind of talking myself into giving Lee a 1b mitt. I’m hopeful he can also take a step forward with his bat

Just coming in here; why Lewis at 1b and not Lee in this scenario?

If they do have the 3rd or 4th or 5th pick (I can’t bring myself to think of going any lower) I would hope some of these guys had good years and would be in the conversation. The twins were set to take Yesavage right? Bring it on. Jamie, if you had to choose one of these today, and all were available, who would you go with? I feel like I would pick Flukey, but I’d love to hear your thoughts on that. Thanks!

This could work by May though. Barring health it would be interesting

I keep Klein in the given side. But fun to read through.

I just meant, I think if Lewis can be healthy and hitting closer to what he was in 2023 in to early 2024, he is our #3 hitter. I didn't mean he shouldn't play 3B. He actually was pretty decent there for most of 2025 when he came back. I just wouldn't necessarily put Ryan O'Hearn in the #3 spot ahead of Lewis IF Lewis is right. That's what I meant.

I'd love to see how Kreidler's defense looks at SS. I do think, from everything available online, he can hold down the position defensively fairly well. There is no proof at all that he can hit at the mlb level, but as a 25th/26th man, I could see the idea of having him on the roster over spending dollars on IKF or Miguel Rojas. Also, excited to see Culpepper up at some point. That said, with everything else, if the Twins don't believe that they have a true SS ready, be it Lee or Culpepper, for some point in 2026 or 2027, maybe that is a focus for a trade if they do look to move Ryan as an example.

If I am playing mlb the show, I am signing Josh Naylor and putting him there. I don't see him wanting to sign here, or even the Twins spending enough. Who is this mysterious free agent 1b you speak of? And why is this free agent a better fit than a healthy Royce Lewis?

Perfect world, with everyone healthy and playing at least at their 75th percentile, I'd have Keaschall in the #2 spot, Buxton in the #4 spot and then see who is the best fit between Jenkins and Lewis for the #3 and #5 spots. I'd love it if Lewis could be the #5 hitter and Jenkins #3. Hopefully everyone has good health. As far as leadoff, I'm HOPEFUL that the walk rates that Alan Roden has shown in AAA can translate, but otherwise leadoff will be a separate question after that.

I don’t think that’s enough on its own no. I like both of those players; but I imagine it would be those two along with Rafaela or Casas if it were Boston. As an example

They’ve already said, via Dan Hayes, that the starting conversation will be a top 50 prospect who is close to the majors and another top 50 prospect who could be more of a lottery ticket. Probably more with that. That’s the cost for this level of starting pitcher. Seattle and Milwaukee and the Mets and Dodgers, among a few others, can meet that price. That’s the starting point. If they don’t get those offers he isn’t traded. But I imagine they will get those offers if he is truly available

I wouldn’t want Ryan traded for prospects either. Acquiring players for either of them that might be in the majors in 2028 is an absolute non-starter For players that can actually help in 2026 id very much listen. Even then the bar to trade him is high.

Yes, because one of them is at the height of their trade value and the other isn’t. Lopez being a high character guy isn’t a bad thing.

I am. It’s me. Lopez will be on the team in 2026. Ryan on the other hand.

2nd on. I would be surprised if he is still im the rotation even during spring training

Of the players you mentioned, the only 2 I think can still be on the 40 man are Pareda (they don't have other catchers ready on the mlb roster, and he can be solid depth at St. Paul) and Ryan Kreidler. I think Kreidler sticks as well for a couple of reasons. Those reasons are mostly me reading tea leaves, but... 1) Played in Detroit's system and did make his debut in Pittsburgh this year. Shelton certainly knows him. 2) Riley Greene, Detroit left fielder, is quoted as saying that Kreidler was one of the best ss's Greene had ever played with during his baseball career. His bat has mostly stunk so far, but if he does have the ability to be a backup SS defensively, then I think he has a spot here. Generally, I think they'd work hard to also bring Ryan Fitzgerald back as a minor league free agent.

I agree, and I think there are probably 7 teams at minimum that can realistically offer a much better deal than the Giants can. I just figured I'd throw it out for Bailey specifically as I think he is the type of player that could help the team in 2026 and beyond with his defense. But still, a headliner also being someone not in the top 50 prospects in baseball is a non-starter.

1,000%

Just came back to throw out a concept of an idea. This deal alone is just not enough as listed. It's probably not even halfway there, especially when considering other teams will make offers. Let's say the Giants are ok putting Patrick Bailey on the table. His offense is just not good, but he is among the best defensive catchers in baseball. They certainly could make a play for Realmuto this offseason instead and then have Bailey available for trade. How far apart would the deal be if the offer for Ryan was... 1) Patrick Bailey 2) Josuar Gonzalez 3) Hayden Birdsong I STILL feel like it's not enough. But I will say Bailey would help transform the defense. This kind of idea would intrigue me more than the original offer/naming. Thoughts?