Cory Engelhardt

Sky is falling articles or comments are hard for me to take. Why not just let the offseason play out?

I'd be fine with trading Wallner for a catcher or a prospect they like. Unless of course they think he can become less 3 outcomes overall, I could see moving him too. I know he is a walking .800 ops, and his power is huge, but if they truly are moving more towards contact and athleticism, I'm not certain where his role is outside of either 1B (which he has never played) or DH. I know he is from here, but if they are changing HOW they play (including on defense) I could see him being moved to. Would not shock me.

Which is why I'm comparing it to what they did with Nick Gordon for Steven Okert. Okert was in his last year of arbitration and couldn't be optioned to the minors. That type of player (and contract) would be my guess as to what they could receive from Larnach from whatever team. If they do know for now there truly isn't a market out there in any way for Larnach, then designating would be appropriate too. I just think there has to be some type of market for him, even if it is 2 or 3 teams that would have interest as a bat to only face righties.

Dumb question probably; couldn't he be traded prior to tendering a contract?

Fedko and Rosario, I'm not certain either will be added to the 40 man. But your point is still valid. Other movement probably happens beyond them too.

He doesn't have zero value. I don't see him on the 2026 team, but some team will give SOMETHING for him to get him for only 2 million or so in 2026.

Could an article be written or amended to have what possible returns would look like and how they would fit into the roster? For example, I don't want this to happen, but I could easily see Ryan traded. He is really the only one that could arguably be described as having the highest potential trade value they will have at any point. If he is traded, I have to think a bat comes back along with like 2-3 other really good prospects. I also think at minimum Larnach will bring back a reliever that is in the similar vein to when they got Steven Okert for Nick Gordon. Beyond that, if these trades are happening, I'd love to see an article with a blueprint/guess for what the roster actually rounds out to look like. Having Cody Lawyerson listed on the opening day roster is something that I can't see the Pohlad's even wanting.

I wish this would have been written out with what returns came back in all of these deals. It’s impossible for me to see a way that all of these players were traded and we didn’t receive anything back for them that makes the mlb roster. That’s almost impossible to do, right? Arguably having Larnach still on the roster almost feels the most unrealistic here. I could be wrong.

And I’d prefer him over an old retread as an example, at least generally

I was thinking going to st Louis. They have a decent number of catchers either that have debuted or in the upper minors that might be interesting. But yeah, a younger guy would be great in this role in my opinion

Naylor or Ryan O'Hearn are both guys I would love to get at 1B. They are both solid enough on defense that it would help the infield, and both have experience hitting in the middle of a lineup. For example, if they bring in Brandon Hyde as their next manager, I could see O'Hearn being an addition that makes sense at 1B. I'd LOVE to dream on Pete Alonso, but I don't see it happening money wise.

I'd be ok with it, but I would hope they turn over all the rocks that are possible prior to going this route. For example, let's say some team really likes Bailey Ober, and we like a catcher they have who has either some mlb experience or at least some upper minors experience. This is purely a hypothetical, but I'd want to look at that TYPE of move first before going back to Vazquez. I also hope, generally, that Vazquez's infection that occured this year makes it so he is ready to be fully healthy in 2026.

I appreciate you laying it out this way. It also points to where they can focus on real/actual improvement. 1) Catcher; I think the focus can be on a strong defender. This could be via free agency, or via trade. It's possible that they have a younger catcher they are eyeing from another organization, so maybe they trade for someone that would be a good pair with Jeffers. Ideally (my opinion) if they can find a starting level catcher who can hit right handed pitching enough to get by, then we don't NEED to have Jeffers catch 100+ games. I say that too because Jeffers isn't an ideal defensive option behind the plate, but he still is good enough to catch when a lefty starts or dh occasionally, especially against lefties. I'm not at all certain that Jeffers will be extended and on the team in 2027, but having him on the team for 2026 is fine by me. 2) 1B is an option to really focus and help the infield defense AND the lineup. I do think (unless they have to cut payroll more) that there is real opportunity here to add a real 1B option instead of a Ty France option. Someone like Ryan O'Hearn would be really good here with the defense and power he provides, and wouldn't break the bank theorhetically with needing a LONG term deal. I'd love Josh Naylor, but I have to think he's getting 3 or even 4 years, and I don't know that they would give that out now. We'll see. 3) Having this lineup, as you listed, is fine and will allow Jenkins and Rodriguez and Culpepper et al to have space to earn their promotions at some point. That's exciting too. Thanks!

I don't at all see Larnach back. It's also possible that both Jeffers and Ober aren't on the team next year, so within just those three the numbers above add up to 19 million. Just throwing this out as another way to get a lower payroll without dealing Lopez or Ryan. Do have to find 2 catchers then at that point, but it's not unheard of. Hopefully the front office is free to make creative and multiple moves this offseason.

This article was awesome Jaime! Thanks! Also, reading the comments, I feel like there should be a list of comments someone can easily go to and cut/paste to be ready to add to any twins related article ever. So many complaint replies that are generic enough here that work to complain on any article. Maybe that can be the focus of a randball Stu article sometime, generic cut/paste comments that work for any twins related article ever

I also caught the reference, and also had to google what a Labubu is.

Of the ones you mentioned, if he is healthy, Festa makes the most sense to try first. I can't get there yet for any of the others, at least not as of today.

Gotta say, I like Wiggins too, but to me he has every bit of chance as ending up as a reliever as any of the pitchers you mentioned that we have too. I am pretty bullish on Zebby for next year to be honest. His fip and k rate and walk rate are all really solid this year. I think Festa can become a good reliever. Barring his shoulder health of course. I can't put him as a rotation option ongoing for a number of reasons. But IF he is healthy (seems like a big if, but the update this morning from Dan Hayes saying that he is in line for a normal offseason is positive.) Bradley, I THINK, can get there to be a solid rotation guy too. But is that back end? Top end? I don't know. Jury still out on Abel. His AAA numbers are very good this year. I want to hope that will translate. All of the others listed are too far away for me right now.

Ok, then what positions, and for what level in the minors, would you target? By that I mean, are you wanting an infielder that may be up in 2028? Or a pitcher that might be up in 2029? What would that be in your mind?

I do agree that this would be the height of his value. I also think that a LOT of the lineup didn't perform to their standards in 2025. I don't know if that means they will in 2026, but I do think it's possible.

No, I meant, why would you not want a player that can help in 2026? One that has any level of a track record? I get wanting prospects. I meant, we already HAVE prospects. I also don't know or think that Ryan will be traded.

Why?

All fair points. I can absolutely see a new manager being a thing. I also didn’t look into players that are making actual salary, but that is another option. Thanks for the replies

What about any of the players plus prospect(s) as a package? For example, let's say the Cubs offered Michael Busch plus a good prospect or two? I more meant that I don't want ONLY prospects back in a deal.

2nd'd. If they got a reliever for Nick Gordon, they'll be able to get a better one for Larnach.