Nashvilletwin

In terms of getting any significant value in return, the Joe Ryan ship has sailed and is already far out to sea. A mixture of delusions, fan/press induced pressure, and short-termism is a dangerous and deleterious combination when tying to build a true contender. Sad.

Let’s hope so, but it’s the AFL……

Why I’m a fan of re-signing Jeffers: 1. We could 100% use him to be our primary catcher for the next two years. Diaw is probably closest to being ready. But there should be no expectation that Lackey, Tinney, Tait or DeBarge will be ready by opening day 2028. 2. We still have 1B issues and our pipeline to fill the position is basically zippo. Jeffers 100% could be an above average fielding and hitting 1B in ‘29 and into ‘30. He could also platoon at DH. 3. The Twins are going to need some solid vets as we start bringing on the next core of youngsters. Buxton is gone after ‘28 and who knows about Lopez after this year. Jeffers would be an invaluable veteran presence particularly to the young catchers and pitching staff. For a team that struggles to transition players into successful major leaguers, that presence is worth real money. No one on this site should pretend it’s not. 4/$65MM or 3/$50MM with a mutual option for $10-15MM in year 4. We have the money, the positional need and the need to invest in our youngsters. Get it done TTT and JZ!

What happens next? He refuses it and we start negotiating a long term deal with him along with several teams. If he signs with us - super. If not, we’re hedged.

A haunting failure by Falvey not to trade Ryan for Arias and Tolle. 100% deserved to be fired just for that. It’s hard to imagine the impact those two players could’ve had for nearly a 3/4 of a decade on the Twins. Might end up being one of the biggest screw ups in Twins history (ok, outside of Big Papi).

The question is not if the Twins can trust these three rookies; rather, the real question is will they stick with them and invest in them through the entire year. They are rookies - they will stink from time to time and possibly over some relatively long stretches. But will the coaching staff and front office go delusional again and mess up their continual development or will they stay with the plan to build for the future? The single biggest issue/failure with the Twins organization over the past decade has been transitioning young proven minor league talent into every day average or above major leaguers. These three players - and you can throw Houston and eventually Lackey (and Lee and Keaschall to a certain extent as they are not out of the woods yet) in there as well - are the future of this team as a contender over the next five years. They can’t afford to take a short term point of view in what will likely be a truncated season anyway.

1. Jeffers would catch for ‘27and ‘28. DH and 1B for ‘29 and ‘30. 2. Arraez can play 2B or 1B along with Clemens until Houston comes up and Culpepper moves to 2B. Then Clemens and Arraez play 1B and DH (along with our fourth OF - Buxton) and Clemens is also super utility. 3. I can’t get over how stupid Falvey was to turn down that Boston offer for Ryan. Tolleson is already better than Ryan and can you even imagine an infield of Arias, Houston, Culpepper and Lee (1B)? What a huge mistake that was.

If the Twins don’t at least make a QO to Jeffers, then they are bigger idiots than many of us have thought. Wasn’t the QO the saving aspect of not trading him? Isn’t “We’ll keep him through the rest of the year because we will at least get a top drafty pick for his QO” the bs we all were fed at the deadline? Now we might not only have given up a good return trade asset (Eyason from the Orioles for example), but also a draft pick? Holy cow. If there is to be no QO, then ONLY reason for not trading Jeffers at the deadline was to increase the chances of re-signing him. The rationale of “going for it” is complete hogwash only to be held on to by the most delusional fools, especially with no QO. But to not re-sign him AND give up the draft pick would be incredibly stupid - or just keeping with the Twins MO.

Precisely why Arraez should be one of our top targets. He and Clemens both (individually and together) have the positional flexibility to cover 1B and 2B (plus DH and Clemens also in OF) thereby not blocking Houston at all. A pure 2B FA would not bring that flexibility and, if Houston is promotable, could create more of an impasse with Culpepper.

Why do we need a 2B this year? Clemens plays 2B until Houston arrives, then it’s Culpepper. Given the projected lockout, that may happen early in the “season”. It would be so Twins like to sign an expensive 2B that gives the team a reason not to bring up Houston,….

Position players: Jeffers or Kelly at catcher. Bauers or Arraez at 1B. That’s it for position players.

No one is advocating for Larnach, Wallner or Bell to be on the ‘28 Twins. Defense does matter. But so does offense. Jeffers provides us with probably the best combination at C over the next two years until our young guys show up. And if he still produces at the plate in ‘29 and ‘30 as a 1B/DH, that would be great. Arraez we could live without, of course. But, hey, when heathy he is a great option to play 1B while providing flexibility at DH and 2B for at least the next two years. Clements is a really good baseball player and should be a Twin for a while playing a super utility role and likely being in the lineup more days than not. Do we have better options at C and 1B than Jeffers and Arraez? If so, the list of possibilities cannot be long.

Lackey and Tunney do not arrive to open the ‘28 season. That’s not happening. Here is an alternative for the opening day ‘28 offense that is wishful thinking, but creates both a contender as early as ‘28 as well as positions the team for success in ‘29-‘30. This proposal requires two significant signing this off season: Jeffers and Arraez. Jeffers is critical: Arraez is more of a luxury. LF Keaschall. CF Jenkins. RF Rodriguez. 3B Lee. SS Houston. 2B Culpepper. 1B Arraez. C Jeffers. DH Buxton C2 Diaw. Super Utility 1 Clemens. Roden/Gonzalez/Ross/Winokur/et al fight it out for the other utility roles. Buxton, Clemens, Culpepper and Arraez provide positional flexibility to cover the OF and both sides of the infield, Jeffers moves to 1B/DH in ‘29 making room for Lackey at C. Tinney and Diaw also make the ‘29 club providing C/1B/OF flexibility. Buxton and Arraez are more than likely gone for ‘29. Agree that Lopez has a chance to sign an extension and be a part of the rotation in ‘28-‘30.

Priority extension list: 1.A. Bradley 1.B. Keaschall 2. Jenkins 3. Culpepper 4. Houston 5. Abel 6. Prielipp 7. ERod 8. Lackey The top three - Bradley, Keaschall, and Jenkins - make sense to do this off season. Culpepper not quite, but if it happened - ok. The rest not yet.

Two very unbold suggestions (#1 and #2) and one (#3) ridiculously stupid. Signing a single reliever to a multi year contract is bold? Probably over half the league does that every year. Trading a decidedly and proven mediocre at best Lewis is not bold; instead, keeping him to take innings and ABs from any player who potentially could be our 1B of the future would be the bold (and stupid) decision. We should not trade any young, controllable asset who is likely or probable to play an important role on this team starting in ‘28. To do so would be boldly idiotic. You want three bold moves the Twins should/could make this off-season. 1. Sign Jeffers to a four year deal to play catcher and ultimately 1B and DH. 2, Sign Arraez to a two year deal to play 1B and DH with an option for year three. 3. Given the off season may last until June, trade Ryan before the season starts and re-sign Lopez to a three year hometown deal. Here’s a fourth: fire JZ and hire a GM who knows how to build a young team.