TopGunn#22

That's an excellent point Finfineman, and of course, the solution would be a salary cap and a minimum floor for salaries as well. But we know the MLB players union will never allow that. They could go on strike for 2 solid years and neither the players or owners would blink. So we're at a standoff. We may have baseball Armageddon on the horizon, but for Twins fans we're already in baseball hell with an ownership family many Twins fans have despised for years and star players (Buxton, Correa, Lewis) who are hurt far more than they are healthy and productive. The manager frustrates a majority of Twins fans as well. Add everything up...A team that is very slow out of the gate and appears listless. Ownership who is despised. A manager who frustrates us consistently and underperformance of star players (Buxton, Correa) or the consistent absence of the younger, cornerstone player (Lewis) and you're looking at a fanbase that is apathetic 11 games into the season. The Pohlad family is going to lose a ton of money this season. I wonder when they wake up and realize their asset isn't worth anywhere near what they think it is especially with the $450 million dollar debt burden. Football season can't come soon enough.

You can only shuffle the deck chairs so many ways on a Twins team that looks very much like the Titanic. FIRST: Baseball is a long season and we're 6 games in. There is time to right this ship. SECOND: While the above may be true, this is a pattern and a symptom of Rocco managed teams. We've seen this before and even just 6 games in, this team looks listless. There is no spark. When teams hit as poorly as the Twins have to start the season, everything looks bad. We could have predicted the inevitable cooling off of Ty France, but the continued lack of progress or consistency from Miranda and Julien and the absence of Lewis and Lee certainly aren't helping. I'm 100% on board with getting Luke Keaschall up ASAP to play 2B. He can't be worse than Julien, Castro or whoever else has played there. I predict the starting pitching will level up. Ober had a bad start. Lopez was like a kid in little league when the Cards had not one, but two guys just bolt for second base and Pablo didn't handle either very well. He followed that up with a solid game. Joe Ryan got stung by a couple long balls, but in general, our "Big 3" should be fine. Rocco will continue to befuddle with bullpen management however and it will be end April at the earliest before Lewis is back. Brooks Lee is anyone's guess. It's time to have Larnach start taking grounders etc...at 1B. His time in LF will be split with Bader already and eventually there will be Emmanuel Rodriguez and Walker Jenkins to compete with. Larnach is one of the few guys who doesn't look bad at the plate despite his .236 average. He's 6:4 and to be honest, as much as the Twins like to stress positional flexibility, with the eventual arrival of E-Rod and Jenkins and the gaping hole at 1B, I can't believe this move hasn't already been made. An eventual lineup that has Keaschall at 2B, E-Rod splitting time in LF with Bader and Larnach at 1B with Lewis at 3B makes a lot of sense to me. It's well past time to spin Miranda and Julien out of here in any kind of trade that makes sense while those guys still have some value. It's up to Rocco to see and anticipate what changes need to be made. Unfortunately, I have had little faith in Rocco since 2021 or so to figure it out. Is Toby Gardenhire our manager in waiting?

Great points Nashvilletwin. The entire economic landscape of Major League Baseball is changing and with all this uncertainty the Pohlad's are acting like they are in a position to overinflate the value of their team to solve all the financial issues of the Pohlad empire. I will allow this: It is THEIR team and they are under no obligation to sell it. However, last off season with the payroll reduction and lack of any significant moves to keep pace with their division rivals coupled with the end of season collapse seems to have been a breaking point between the fanbase and the Pohlad family ownership group. The 0-4 start doesn't help, but I think the fanbase is just at a point that even if the Twins won 17 of their next 20 games they just don't want to put another nickel into the Pohlad family hands. That could change as the weather warms up, but I don't see it. This is going to be a VERY DIFFICULT year for the Pohlad family. Without $50 million dollars of regional sports network money as a cushion they are going to lose some serious money. Their position as "sellers" is going to deteriorate. I heard a rumor that a local group offered $1.5 billion for the team (market value according to Forbes) but the Pohlad's said "NO." The want their $1.7 to $1.75 billion, above market value price. The problem the Pohlad's have is that they squandered their chance to be back-to-back division champs and the "Baseball Gods" refuse to let their star players, most notably Royce Lewis, remain healthy and productive. Compare the situations of the Twins and T-Wolves as each sale unfolds. The Twins can't keep their star players healthy and on the field, while the T-Wolves have Anthony Edwards, a young, rising star who is eminently marketable. And the Wolves were coming off a successful playoff run all the way to the Western Conference Finals. Glenn Taylor did a "Whoops! I undervalued my team!! I've got to find a way to raise the agreed upon sale price or renege on the sale!!" Taylor lost in arbitration and he's on the way out. The Pohlad's insist on over valuing their team while staring down the barrel of a very lackluster attendance revenue projection. A LOSE-LOSE-LOSE situation if I've ever seen one. The 3 possible outcomes are succinctly listed. But the eventual outcome is etched in stone. Selling a portion of the team only to leave Joe Pohlad in charge is DOA. Keeping the team is DOA. Only a complete sale and banishment of the Pohlad's from our collective consciousness is the likely outcome. How much money can the Pohlad's afford to lose this summer. The other very interesting aspect of this sale/non sale is the complete media silence on who some of the ownership candidates are or could be. The Ishbia brothers emerged immediately but in hindsight that was by design only to leverage a better opportunity with the White Sox. It's shocking that other prospective ownership candidates have had such a tight lid on any rumor or speculation. It may very well be that there really aren't "multiple suitors" for the Twins. At least not until the Pohlad family lowers the price to the level of the $1.5 billion dollar market valuation.

An excellent April Fools laugh that hurts my ribs a little so I'll stop laughing... As Twins fans, we ALL know that a baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. There are still 158 games to play. Plenty of runway to get things under control. The problem is the listless way this team has come out of the chute. They are hitting like zombies. They are pitching like zombies and they are fielding like designated hitters. With the fan base openly ticked off that the Pohlad family still owns the team, I don't see good crowds when the Twins play a home game...and this might include a lower than normal Opening Day crowd. I just don't see the fan base willing to spend a nickel that could benefit the Pohlad's. There's a certain kind of feeling when the fan base is already agitated and the season starts with a thud in St. Louis. That feeling is exacerbated when the team rolls into Chicago to play the historically worst team in baseball history only to be no-hit for much of the game while their veteran "hanger-on" of a SP gives up 9 runs in the first 3 innings. You really can't get a more sour taste in your mouth as a Twins fan than that.

Linus, I think beckmt and I enjoyed your story (probably a lot of other people too). But Koufax was done after the 1966 season and Drysdale didn't finish the 1969 season with a shoulder injury and his Dodger career ended then. I've been a Dodger fan since Sandy Koufax beat our Twins in game #7 in 1965. Twins are my fav. But Dodgers are #2.

Linus, that would have been the 1965 Dodgers (you wrote 1969). Well, we're TWO games in and already Rocco is driving me nuts. Why no pinch hit for Vasquez in the 8th inning? He's arguably the worst hitter on our team in a late game situation. Jeffers is just sitting on the bench. And once again, despite tons of empirical evidence that Duran is not good in non save situations, Rocco brings him in down 3 in the bottom of the 8th. The result, Duran predictably struggles (because the data suggests he will) and Rocco effectively BURNS Duran from being used in a save situation for today. It's going to be a LONG season.

I agree with the sentiment that the Dodgers could very well break the all time season wins record. They are GOOD and they are DEEP. I also predict the Dodgers will win back to back World Series Championships for the first time in their franchise history. I pick the Twins to win 87 games and eek out the division championship over the Tigers and Royals. I pick the defending division champs, Cleveland, to finish 4th as their talented bullpen regresses to just being "good" (as opposed to "epically great") and their rotation comes up short. The Guardian-Indians will have trouble scoring runs. The Twins, Tigers and Royals will all out hit them by a comfortable margin. Bobby Witt Jr. A.L. MVP. Shohei Ohtani N.L. MVP. It's hard to pick against either. It could be a Dodgers vs. Red Sox World Series, which would have Fox doing cartwheels !! Especially if the Dodgers win in 7 games. I've got my MLB Network Twins package, and I'm ready to watch some BASEBALL !!!

Castellano hasn't earned a spot in the Twins BP. Yes, he's got an intriguing arm, but those kind of pitchers are a dime a dozen in Major League Baseball. Throwing 97 mph as a relief pitcher isn't all that remarkable anymore. The Twins have a LOT of promising young pitchers that have options who could fill that role. And I think getting guys like Matthews, Morris, Raya, Prielipp and others some big league innings is a good idea, even if they come out of the bullpen and not as starters. I'd rather just roll with Funderburk. He throws nearly as hard as Castellano and he's left handed. Absent working out a deal with the Phillies to acquire Castellano and giving him a chance to earn his way onto a major league roster once he progresses out of AA and up to St. Paul, he just hasn't done anything to warrant being a Minnesota Twin yet.

I have no doubts what so ever in Duran's STUFF. Where my confidence wavers is in how Rocco UESES HIM. Rocco likes to use Duran in the 7th inning in a high leverage situation. I'm a big believer in using your closer as a CLOSER. Clase does not come in in the 7th. Nor does Josh Hader, Edwin Diaz, Ryan Helsley etc... Someone on TD wrote last year in an article examining Duran's struggles, that the data clearly shows Duran is lights out when he's closing a game. Not so much when pitching in the 7th inning.

I think Santana should have his #57 retired. But I also think anybody who made the HOF should be a no brainer too. Kaat wore #36 but had to wait DECADES to get in. Joe Nathan, the greatest Twins relief pitcher of all time also wore #36, and he just might be elected sometime as well. This is similar to the Vikings with Paul Krause in the HOF and Harrison Smith being a very qualified candidate who also wore #22. If Harry the Hitman gets in, I'd love to see Paul Krause honored as well. Krause is in the HOF and is the all time interceptions leader, yet he didn't make either the 1960's or 1970's All Decade Team for the NFL. Somehow Larry Wilson made it instead. Good player, but his team never won a playoff game. This also gives a little more credibility to tony&rodney's idea of letting future players wear those numbers and make their own legends. It worked for Harrison Smith wearing #22.

When we first signed Ty France, I kind of groaned because I saw an opportunity for young players the Twins had signed and cultivated throughout their ascension to the major league roster getting squeezed. Rocco spoke like France has already won the position on past reputation alone, and I was frustrated by that. But I have to acknowledge that all Ty France has done since he got to camp is crush the ball. He's not hitting what he is because he's blooping a few in. He's mashing! Now, I fully don't expect anything near a 1.517 OPS in the regular season. And he's unquestionably BAD at 1B. But as a 1B/DH/PH option if he's able to finish with an OPS between .750-.800 is nothing to sneeze at. The Twins still have young options starting with Jose Miranda. I wouldn't give up on Miranda. Luke Keaschall has been mentioned as a 1B option and I still have a strong opinion Trevor Larnach should be taking hundreds of throws and groundballs on a back field somewhere at 1B because if Larnach continues to trend upward with his hitting and E-Rod and Jenkins aren't too far away (and just from a defensive standpoint, Keirsey, if he hits at St. Paul should get a legit opportunity SOMETIME)!! I don't want to be FORCED to trade Larnach if he becomes the hitter he's capable of being. I must salute Ty France for coming to camp and with his bat, loudly and consistently making it clear he's making the team. I hope he has a good year from start to finish. He may only be here one year, but with the young hitting prospects we have that may be all we need him for.

This is a Twins prospect I just can't quit on. We've seen how dominant Brock Stewart can be when he stays healthy. Canterino could be something very similar, maybe even better. But there comes a time in an organization just has to cut bait. The Dodgers did it with Stewart and the Twins will have to give heavy consideration to Canterino as well. I'm aligned with LambChop on this. They may have to put him on waivers and then see if they can bring him back, basically pay him while he rehabs yet again. But like I said, I just can't quit on this guy. I'm still dreaming of him becoming a dominant bullpen piece even if it's just for 3-4 years at the most before he just simply can't overcome all the injuries. That's probably the absolute BEST outcome the Twins could hope for. But every year new players are drafted and begin the process of moving up the ladder. At some point, every players dream has to come to an end.

I think he is. It wouldn't hurt to have another lefty in the pen. I love his stuff but I don't disagree with anybody who says he's got to start throwing strikes more consistently. If he can do that, he's certainly got the stuff to not only make the team, but to be a pretty effective piece of a dominating BP.

Jax is the clear #1 because of his consistency. No matter the situation, when Jax comes in fires get extinguished and good things flow for the Twins. Duran is #2 only because he's wasn't as consistent as Jax last year. His stuff is electric and if he only hits 101 on a radar gun as opposed to 104 that's not a big deal to me. Better command and a better mix of his pitches is more important than winning the radar gun Olympics. Rocco also needs to keep him in a purely CLOSER role. I don't see Clase, Hadar, Edwin Diaz, Mason Miller or Devin Williams coming into a game in the 7th inning. No matter how high the "leverage" of the situation is. Make your closer the closer Rocco. Sands is #3 because he's earned it. Brock Stewart is #4 based on what he's done and how healthy he can stay. Alcala and Varland are primed to have very effective seasons and are currently at slots #5 & #6. They could move up if Stewart's health betrays him or if Sands slips a bit. But those first 6 guys could be VERY GOOD. I see Coulombe and Funderburk as the lefties slot in at #7 & #8 for me. I think Coulombe will be steady and fine. I still like Funderburk's stuff and potential. That leaves Castellano at #9 if he can cut that walk rate and this is where the questions line up for the guys that would slot in after here. My long love affair with Matt Canterino seems to have finally come to an end. I'll always wonder how good he could have been had he ever been able to get and stay, fully healthy.

I like the roster but agree...where the heck is Eeles?!?!? Is he considered too old to be a part of this group?? Excellent info on Ferrer Doc. If they are considering playing him at catcher and giving him time to develop he would be another very interesting guy to follow. It also would kind of hedge our bet with Cartaya. It would have been even better if Jenkins and E-Rod could have been on that roster. I'd would have liked to see Keirsey there as well. Too old??

I agree Doc. Eeles has achieved at every level he's played at. He's set to begin the season at St. Paul which is AAA and one step from the major leagues. I cannot believe Eeles wasn't invited to spring training. If he was invited, but is injured, somebody who reports on the Twins for a living should have pointed this out 2 weeks ago. Personally, for me, I'm fascinated by Eeles and his story. Having watched Cesar Tovar growing up and Altuve and Pedroia I can't help but see some similarities. Keaschall is the obvious front runner for a call up at some point this season, probably to play 2B. I wouldn't bet against Keaschall, but Peyton Eeles could make that 2B competition interesting if Brooks Lee struggles and Eeles continues his strong play in April, May and June in St. Paul. (Brooks Lee has been swinging the bat pretty darn good so far in camp).

Great article Seth (as always). It's always fun to see how our top minor league prospects are ranked. It's like playing Russian Roulette to try to determine which ones should be held on to and which ones could be leveraged in a trade to improve the big league club. Brandon Warne from Puckett's Pond just wrote about a guy I've been trying to trade for from the Marlins for what seems to be forever. His trade is far too much of an overpay based on Baseball Trade Values. I realize BBTV is not everyone's favorite, and I currently don't pay for the right to post trades or look at player values, but I take notes when I look at proposed trades and my values and very close to current. That player is 2022 Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara. The Marlins are reportedly open to trading him. When we acquired Pablo Lopez there was no question that Alcantara was (and still is) considered the Ace of the Marlins pitching staff. Alcantara's contract is a bargain in the current market based on his pedigree and he's looked VERY GOOD in 3 outings so far in spring training. He appears fully recovered from Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss a portion of 2023 and all of last season. He is due $17.3 million in 2025, $17.3 million in 2026 and has a TEAM option for $21 million for 2027 (with a $2 million dollar buyout). His value on BBTV is 48.3. Brandon Warne feels an overpay would be needed to acquire him. Opinions are split whether the Marlins would trade him right now, before teams break camp, or if the trade would come later at the deadline. After the Marlins ask for Walker Jenkins and we say "No" he says the Marlins will move on to asking for Emmanuel Rodriguez. E-Rod's value is 44.4 so a one for one swap would be possible with the Twins maybe throwing in Gabe Gonzalez at 3.1. But Warne's deal has the Twins also adding Zebby Matthews 16.0 and Jose Miranda 16.2. That would be 4 for 1 with the Twins sending about 79.7 in value for the 48.3 for Alcantara. Even for a healthy Alcantara at 3 years of team control at bargain prices for a pitcher of his talent that's just too rich. My deal would be SWR 19.9 Jose Miranda 16.2 Eddie Julien 16.5 (52.60 value) for Alcantara 48.3. The Marlins have made a lot of deals in recent years for very promising but very young talent that was not close to playing in the major leagues. My deal gives Miami a young SP to replace Alcantara as well as a 1B/3B (Miranda) and 2B/1B (Julien) that have already logged time in the Majors. It is the overpay that Warne claims will be needed to get Alcantara but nearly as one sided as his. Alcantara would be a tremendous acquisition. Yes, we probably need offense more, but for the Twins to not just contend but to make some noise in the playoffs PITCHING is what wins in the post season. Imagine a rotation of Alcantara, Lopez, Ryan, Ober and Festa/Paddack. With a BP lead by Duran & Jax the Twins would be tough to score on. And it would solidify the rotation for 3 years. In that time, Festa could emerge and the cupboard is well stocked with Matthews, Morris, Raya and Prielipp. One other key to the Twins in 2025 and going forward: Correa, Buxton and Lewis, healthy and producing. Throw in Wallner, Larnach and Jeffers and the potential is there for a good offense. At some point, we will see new ownership for the Twins. But Warne wrote that he feels Falvey has the freedom to make a blockbuster like this and add Alcantara's $17.3 million dollar salary. It's possible that Miami would rather have Zebby Matthews in place of Julien or Miranda. To get Alcantara to anchor our rotation at his price for the next 3 years, I'd agree to that because the cupboard is NOT bare with minor league arms available behind Festa to shore up the #5 spot in the rotation. It's pretty clear to me that Rocco looks very predisposed to have Ty France at 1B. And France is swinging a good bat so far in camp. With Keaschall on the way soon and able to play 2B or 1B we can afford to move on from either Miranda or Julien...or both. We could add Alcantara to the top of our rotation without moving E-Rod, Larnach, Wallner or Brooks Lee. We would have to part with 3 of SWR, Matthews, Julien or Miranda. With guys in our minor leagues moving up the ladder I could live with a package of 3 of those guys for Alcantara.

It's true Rocco just does not value the stolen base and it's one reason I would not be sorry to see a change at manager if the Twins fail to make the playoffs this season. I'll also point out that Shohei Ohtani stole 59 bases at age 29 last year. Buxton is still in the 97th percentile of sprint speed. If he runs, he WILL steal bases. And I will say again, those that play sports at a highly competitive level who play NOT TO GET HURT...often times get hurt.

I would LOVE to see Buxton run more. He's got the talent and the ability in an environment that makes it more and more likely to be successful. Furthermore, the idea of playing baseball at the highest competitive level, yet dialing back your effort in the hope you do not get injured is just a defeatist attitude and may actually lead to an injury. As my son's high school baseball and legion baseball coach used to say "PLAY THE GAME!!!"

Guys like Tonkin are eminently replaceable. He's got to WIN a spot in the pen in spring training or he will be released, where some other team can sign him to their major league roster despite his poor spring training performance. More likely, Tonkin would find himself in St. Paul to begin the season. I'm still one of those guys still looking for Matt Canterino to earn himself a spot in this BP sometime this season (probably somewhat irrationally). I don't necessarily want to give up on Preilipp being a SP but I wouldn't mind seeing him work some innings out of the pen for the Twins in 2025 either. Alcala is just better than a lot of their options and if used properly I think will be quite good this year. You've got to love the arm Castellano has and if it was a decision between him and a fading Theilbar, I'd take the young arm with potential 100% of the time. Topa has shown he can be a solid, very effective arm. But I think he needs to WIN his spot. He shouldn't just be given the spot because we traded Jorge Polanco for him. I expect Louie Varland to be a very good RP for the Twins in 2025. I think the Twins have some very GOOD options in the minors, especially Canterino starting out at St. Paul. Is this the year Canterino can stay healthy and finally reach the Twins roster?

Seeing a game at Dodger Stadium has always been on my bucket list. Not sure if I'll make it this year but someday I will. Would love to take in the gorgeous setting at Dodger Stadium and check out all the statues of iconic Dodger players from Brooklyn to L.A.

This kid has intrigued me ever since we drafted him. I think the Nick Burdi comp is accurate. Another guy that has a similar comp is former Dodger Brock Stewart. The Dodgers just couldn't wait for Stewart's health to get straightened out and the Twins have been able to reap some quality innings from Stewart as a result. There is no denying the "STUFF" that Canterino has. If he starts at St. Paul and he's healthy and dominant in April, May and into June, I could see the Twins calling him up. Tony&Rodney makes a good point about his lack of options with just one remaining, but if he's good (and stays healthy) in April, May and into June, proving his command is solid his stuff is Major League in every way. I think this is finally the year we will see him in a Twins uniform and again...IF HE CAN STAY HEALTHY...the stuff will keep him on the Twins. If that becomes the case, he will mirror Brock Stewart. If he's healthy, he will be effective. But it's going to be like playing Russian Roulette with both Canterino and Stewart when it comes to the health.

Surprised there is no mention at all of Peyton Eeles. With Eeles already set to open the season at St. Paul, he's far more likely to get a shot than DeBarge and Schobel and I'm not sure how much 2B Martin will be playing as opposed to OF. So the omission of Eeles is glaring to me. It's Lee's job to lose. He's the better glove and and a switch hitter with good minor league splits from either side. Last year, outside of his first 9 or 10 games Lee really fell short of expectations. To me, Julien's 2nd half of 2023 and his entire 2024 have put him in a deep hole. He was so bad last season that despite hitting .300 early in spring training so far, in my opinion, he's got to go to St. Paul and just clobber AAA pitching for April, May and June at a minimum. With all the options at 2B the Twins have, if Julien is even just so-so I would look to package him in a trade. He's getting passed by too many guys on the depth chart to continue with him. The primary competition I see for Lee is Keaschall and Eeles. Playing Castro at 2B extensively limits his overall value. Keaschall and Eeles will both be in St. Paul to begin the season and if one or both continue to build on what they did last year, THEY will be the guys pushing Brooks Lee.

I'm with you on this chpettit19. I'm just READY to move on from the Pohlad's. I started to sour on them in the 2004-2010's era. The Twins had 2 MVP's (Mauer & Morneau) a multiple CY Young winner (Johan Santana). The greatest closer in Twins history (and a guy who should be a future HOF) in Joe Nathan. A CF who actually compared to Kirby Puckett (Tori Hunter) and a host of decent supporting cast players. Yet, throughout those years the Pohlad family and Twins FO never made a big move to put the team over the hump to challenge for a World Series. And this all took place when the A.L. Central was VERY competitive. The Tigers and White Sox had some very good teams in those years. There were some great pennant races. So I'm fully invested in new ownership. We won't be able to fully asses how good that new ownership will be for a couple years, but I'm confident in saying they can't be worse than the Pohlad family. Ishbia was only interesting due to the fact he was the only potential new owner mentioned. I also find it interesting that nobody else has been mentioned since the time the Pohlad's announced the team was for sale. I believe a sale will be consummated sometime around the All Star break. Maybe slightly sooner. Remember, it's early March now, the All Star break isn't until mid July. The question really isn't how much is spent on payroll, but how efficiently that money is spent. We're spending a lot of money on Carlos Correa. But if we didn't have him, who the heck would be playing SS? Paying Lopez what we are as our #1 SP isn't outrageous. But paying Christian Vasquez $10 million per year is NOT efficient. Paying Farmer $6.6 million last year or Margot more than league average is failing grade level for a front office. It's obvious blunders like this that make me yearn for a new owner with a new team for a front office. I appreciate what Falvey has done for the young pitching pipeline. But I'd like a clean sweep when new ownership takes over for 2026. From the FO to the manager and his coaching staff. Unless the Twins put up a 90+ win season, make the playoffs and win a playoff SERIES, I'm ready to move on.

I could certainly see the Twins moving on from Jeffers after this season (it's pretty obvious this is the final season for Vasquez). Is a complete remake of the catching position PROBABLE? Hard to say, but how Jeffers does THIS YEAR will go a long way toward determining that. I don't disagree with Doc Gast that the Twins would be smart to acquire a top shelf, young catcher where there is an All Star catcher blocking them. Contreras and Quero in Milwaukee. Will Smith and Rushing with the Dodgers. Joey Bart and Endy Rodriguez with the Pirates. Cal Raleigh and whoever that young guy tony&rodney always mentions in Seattle. IF and it's an "IF" either Jeffers or Vasquez gets hurt in 2025, it will be very interesting to see how Cartaya and Camargo are doing in St. Paul as well as if either of them does well if given the chance with the Twins.