Nashvilletwin

Yeah, the offseason has been a huge disappointment. Jackson is the only addition that on the margin could be considered a decent move. The rest are - collectively and individually- a joke. Not a single player added thus far brings any real value to the future upside of this franchise or will sell an additional ticket. Zippo on both fronts. Tough Talkin’ Tom has been the biggest disappointment. He’s been a bag of wind thus far. Falvey is Falvey and will continue to be until he’s fired. Shelton’s hiring is less than inspiring to be kind. But T-Cubed came in all full of piss and vinegar and has turned out to be all hat and no cattle. He almost makes me nostalgic for the Nephew…..

either ride him to a championship run Seriously……..?

So, the Twins just can’t say “Ok, because you’ve done such great work here and we love you so much, we will give you your arbitration ask” and call it a day?

Tough Talkin’ Tom strikes again. What a complete joke…..

If there were any hope of signing him to an extension - and I mean any sliver of hope - the Twins would not be arguing over $500k with their #1 starter. That’s just not how you build good will with the all-star you theoretically want to lead the team when the next window opens. Think about how Ryan must feel. The orginazation frets over a well deserved $500k for arguably their most important player while paying Josh Bell $7MM. Seriously? Ryan can’t wait to get out of Dodge. And you can’t blame him. So much for Tough Talking Tom. What a bag of wind. The first thing he should’ve done after taking over from the Nephew was to make nice with Ryan. Want to show the fans what a great new sheriff you are? Then sign Ryan to an extension, even if it costs a bit more. The fact that they are now haggling over $500k just show how irreparable the relationship with Ryan has become. It’s just a matter of time before he is dealt. Be patient. It will happen.

Ok, so the Twins have managed to turn a few lower draft picks into about average major league pitchers (#3-5 starter types). They haven’t developed a similar (or any, for that matter) positions player since Jeffers. I guess having a good minor league system is a prerequisite for developing internal talent into viable major leaguers. But if none of them ever make it, then does it really matter? I’d much rather have a dismal minor league system that at least produces a true major leaguer every year or two. The point is that getting results at Target Field is what counts. I’m glad that Twins executives can slap themselves on the back about how great their minor league system is while the major league club never sees the results. Listen - it’s either the minor league system has actually been overrated or the Twins under Rocco just plain stunk developing the talent handed over to them. It’s one or the other. The lack of accountability and responsibility in this franchise is a joke.

Exactly - especially if the chances of extending him are practically zero. Why? 1. We can’t afford him. 2. If there’s a strike (as predicted), his value will be even higher than if there is not a strike (one less year if wear and tear). 3. He doesn’t want to be here anyway. Btw, he’s the only Twin who’s going to arbitration this year. 4. Boras. Agree, he should be dealt by opening day.

I can’t confirm your question about becoming free agents, but it’s hard to imagine it being any other way. Therefore, your hypothesis about declining values makes complete sense and it makes the holding on to Ryan, Lopez and Buxton that much riskier (and the risks - performance and injury for each - are already big). The SP market seems to be thawing a bit. I’d be really surprised if we broke camp with all three. Again, they need to pull a Canucks’ Quinn Hughes deal for each of them at some point. To get nothing or very little for them would be a huge dereliction of duty if the Twins don’t (as expected ) compete. They are playing with fire, but I’m staying patient for the time being.

You are right on the money. Other than the overall randomness of professional baseball and long shot wagers on resurgent/emerging talents, the doom and gloom expectations are merited. There has been nothing done to-date to even minimally change that narrative for the positive. And, btw, that’s both on and off the field as T-Cubed and Shelton cannot yet be projected to be significant updgrades over the Nephew and Rocco, respectively, and the architect of the current mess, Falvey, seems to still be pulling (his usual) strings. Having said that, there are a few things I’m actually very interested in seeing/monitoring this season and these things will be the basis on which success or failure should ultimately be based (given W-L success is unlikely gravy at this point). 1. How do our current crop of young major leaguers, many of whom arguably have had their developments mismanaged by Rocco, et al, respond to a new manager? These players include Lewis, Wallner, Martin, Lee and, yes, even Julien (I’m leaving Larnach out at this point). If just one or two of them (and ideally Lewis is one of those) can demonstrably become part of the next core, that would be a huge success. 2. Do we give our top position player prospects a real opportunity this season (and not just a cup of coffee)? This list includes Keaschall (who 100% should), Jenkins, ERod, Gonzalez, and Culpepper. Maybe Roden too. Ideally, one or two at least prove that they belong in the every day starting lineup in 2027. 3. Who emerges from our young crop of pitchers as reliable options as either starters or relievers for ‘27 and beyond? This audition may be the most entertaining and interesting of all. Again, ideally a couple of reliable options as SPs and RPs emerge. 4. What can we get for Ryan, Lopez, Buxton and Jeffers at the deadline? We have to assume that these trades will be merited as the first half of the season draws to an end. The FO is wagering their prices will rise as the season unfolds and if the hope and prayer strategy doesn’t pan out. Ideally by the time these trades happen - and they must if we are not contending - we will be able to identify the biggest holes/risks to the next core and look to address those. If somehow T-Cubed, Falvey and Shelton put these four initiatives as their core objectives upon which the success of the season should ultimately be based and ultimately execute on them more or less, the Twins will 100% exit 2026 in a much improved position with a more exciting, talented and entertaining roster for the future.

It’s not only Jeffers who’s represented by Boras and is never signing an extension……ahem, Ryan. The Twins will need to pull a Canucks’ Quinn Hughes deal on several Twins this season. We know the four valuable candidates. But the wait and see strategy might actually work; namely, wait and see if we catch fire and can contend, while real contenders emerge and/or suffer injuries. The starting pitcher market has been slow, but already feels as if values are going up a bit, The patience might work. But let’s not get delusional and ultimately get nada for them.

There will be a lot more opportunities for all of these guys when Ryan and Lopez are traded no later than the deadline……

Depending on the strike, he might just get a cup of coffee in ‘27. Otherwise, he ideally debuts in ‘28 as rookie and our primary catcher (90 plus starts). ‘26: Jeffers and Jackson for the first half, then Jackson and Cardenas in the second half after Jeffers gets traded at the deadline. ’27: Jackson and Cardenas with a possible cup of coffee for Tait. ’28: Tait and Cardenas.

Kepler suspended 80 games for violating the drug program. Say it ain’t so, Max. Say it ain’t so.

Could be, but it’s not like there hasn’t been highly publicised and easy to access consensus among the professional evaluators on many Twins prospects, including ERod, which tends to drive much of the hopefulness of Twins fans. At the end of the day, “clear success” for many Twins fans, including me, comes down to meaningful, consistent contributions over some period of time, ideally several years, at the big league level. Earning a top 100 prospect ranking from multiple evaluators means nothing at the end of the day without majors production. So, yes, maybe there is a bit too much over optimism among us fans. On the other hand, maybe we just rightfully expect some actual results in exchange for our hard earned cash and time. Maybe the solution with respect to articles like this one and prospects like ERod et al is we should limit our interest and instead just say call me when the hype becomes reality.

Granted he’s consistently been a top 100 prospect for a while now, but if becoming a significant contributor at the major league level is ultimately the only goal that truly matters, it’s a bit premature to call ERod a “clear success story”. Let’s hope that soon becomes a verifiable statement. However, there remains a lot of room between the cup and the lip on that - especially given our recent track record with prospects like ERod. It’s very possible he becomes just another in a long list of recent top prospects who not only don’t produce in the bigs, but also aren’t traded for contributing assets. Boy, it would be great to see him in RF for years at Target Field. Ideally he gets his chance this summer.

Completely agree. Bell is nothing special and may actually be worse than that. The $7MM would’ve been better spent on relievers who could protect any lead we might have once Ryan and Lopez are taken out.

Thank you for clarifying. I take back my comments. The Twins are in fact extremely adept at transitioning position players into successful major leaguers and Ryan is an exceptional #2 asset for this franchise and would be on most other teams. The Twins top five assets - individually and collectively - truly are both proven and exceptional. We are the envy of the entire league. Seriously, Wallner has been a platoon player who had most of his potential DH ABs just taken away by signing a warmed over vet (who also can’t hit lefties). Very few if any TDers think Lee is anything but a future utility infielder and most are clamouring for Culpepper to replace him as soon as possible. Lewis has, sadly, been a huge disappointment to date. That is pretty much a universal agreed upon statement. If this is our idea of successfully transitioning top position player prospects into successful major leaguers, we are in trouble. Ryan is great. Love the guy. My son played his little league on his field. Probably my favorite Twin. But its sad if our #2 asset won’t be here in two years with almost near certainty and his value is likely tied up in trade consideration which may never realize.

Brooks Lee, Lewis and Wallner are not yet average or better everyday major league players. I deeply hope they become such players. To go back to Buxton and before is pretty funny. Are you being sarcastic? If not, Arraez and Jeffers are good examples of successfully transitioned position players. My mistake. I should’ve defined the set as position players. So, yes, the franchise has some “recent” position player successes, but none - zippo - in the last half decade. Ok, Ryan might be the #1 on several teams, none likely contenders though. I concede. But his value as an asset will likely deteriorate - most certainly after the trade deadline if we do not extend him (which I wish they would, but it’s doubtful he has any interest). So, yes, it’s sad that our #2 “asset” is a really good #1 or #2 starter who with near certainty will not be with the team after 2026 and an abbreviated 2027. Hope I’m wrong. But, if not, that’s not really a great asset as #2. Btw, how do you think Ryan compares to the #2 asset on the other MLB teams?

So, our five best assets are three unproven prospects (coming from a system that has zero track record of transitioning prospects successfully into major leaguers) and two #2 starting pitchers whose “asset values” to the franchise are likely deteriorating by the day and, given the impending strike, may be close to nil after the trade deadline? Not to be overly cynical, but, sheesh, talk about a bare cupboard. Mother Hubbard has nothing on this franchise.

The #1 overall prospect story line is will ANY Twins’ position player prospect, highly touted or not, actually become a bonafide major leaguer (for the Twins, mind you, so the Rookers of the world are excluded) this season. We have at least five legitimate candidates: Keaschall, Jenkins, ERod, Gonzalez, and Culpepper. Ok, you could add Roden. Six. The odds are not great given that, other than Keaschall, it’s not yet clear that any will even see Target Field this season given the institutional mentality and existing and newly signed clutter blocking their paths. There are a few others who already have extensive major league experience that could be thrown in to be generous and to increase the odds of it actually happening, including Lewis, Lee, Wallner and Martin. Julien is theoretically still possible too. That’s eleven candidates. Twins fans should realistically only hope for one - just one legitimate, every day average or better major leaguer. That’s the real prospect storyline, because, if it happens, it will be the first time in over half a decade. BTW, shouldn’t this basically be Shelton’s #1 job objective and the true basis on which his performance as manager be judged? Yeah, maybe it should be behind winning, but winning is gravy at this point.

If he’s the best defensive SS in the majors, we shouldn’t care if he hits a buck eighty.

I was a three handicap in 2003……not now and highly unlikely ever again. What Arcia did in 2023 is just as relevant. It’s just such a loser’s strategy to sign players on the hope that somehow they can recreate the high water mark of their mediocrity from several seasons past.

Geez, this lineup is really boring and if Buxton goes down it will be virtually unwatchable. What a snore.

So……more or less the same as our current roster, but at a fraction of the cost, a lot more fun to watch and with lots of future, controllable upside. Got it.

Lots of doubt and/or criticism of my post-strike line-up suggestion. The points made are all valid. However, it’s not outside the realm of possibility. Why? Keaschall, Jenkins, Culpepper, ERod, and Gonzalez all are supposed to be contributors THIS year in the majors. So why should we be surprised if all are starters as of July/August 2027? We will be disappointed if they are not. Houston should be more than ready to debut by late summer ‘27. Can he hit? Well, if he is one of the best fielding SS in the league, do we even care all that much? Tait’s call up in late summer of ‘27 would be for investment purposes. So he’s a rookie in ‘28. It’s ok. Besides, it’s not like we are deep at C, particularly at his talent level even as a 21 year old. Lebron might be one of the most MLB ready prospects coming out of college in ‘26. Why not get him a cup of coffee in ‘27 and play him as a rookie in ‘28. We may not draft him, but, who knows, maybe Lewis shows up and he’s starting at 3B in ‘27 and ‘28. Either would be fine. If Buxton doesn’t like the younger player approach, then he can split. But we’d have the cash and the farm talent to get a DH. Who knows, maybe Wallner figures it out. However, Buck may very well like being the “old grizzled” vet in this lineup tutoring the younger guys. He could relish the role and excel in it. Sure, odds are this doesn’t work out this way. Of course. But there are many, many Twins fans that would rather watch this suggested lineup than be burdened with what is being offered this year (or has been the last couple of years as well). It’s an easy sell to Twins fans that this young crop is more exciting to watch and is being groomed for a wide open window. The fans want hope - not warmed over cast offs and continuous mediocrity.