Nashvilletwin

Sano absolutely raked in the Dominican league this winter….lol

Hmmm, which one of these will surely make us legitimate contenders? It’s so hard to tell since any of them could be the difference for us in ‘26. I know, why not just sign all of them? Sheesh…what a list. Can’t wait for opening day to watch any of those retreads. The anticipation is unbearable….

The question is only worth asking if the returns for Buxton, Lopez and Ryan are not very exciting (i.e. no top near-term projectable prospects and/or controllable proven with upside major leaguers are being offered). Otherwise the question is essentially ludicrous if not for our sweet talking but delusional GM and the naive Nephew. This team has exactly ONE above average major league position player and he will be lucky to play 100 games. Jeffers is around average, but the rest of the entire position player lineup is decidedly, unambiguously below average. There is no money nor trade assets (unless Falvey reaches into our cadre of top prospects - which would be a firable offense) to change that scenario. All the retread vets Falvey can muster up signing for peanuts are not going to change that. It’s a real Hail Mary to think Falvey can somehow recreate his biggest FA victory (Santana) despite all his other failures or that somehow many, if not most, of Lewis, Wallner, Clemens, Martin, Lee, Julien, Larnach, etc are going to suddenly start producing at much higher levels. Let’s turn to the mound. We have exactly TWO above average pitchers on the ENTIRE staff, including the bullpen. Lopez and Ryan can theoretically keep games close for 5-6 innings; however, a lack of run support and what is arguably on paper one of the weakest bullpens in the league will not result in many victories from their starts. Sure, SWR and Ober are decent #4 types; but, the run support and bullpen issues are only magnified when they take mound. The HOPE is that several young converted prospect starters, a couple of holdovers, and a few bottom of the barrel newcomers can somehow be cobbled together to form an effective bullpen. But an “effective” bullpen is not enough to consistently win if the run support is atrocious. To further darken the outlook, the elation once realized upon Rocco’s dismissal quickly turned to despair with the hiring of the “already proven unsuccessful managing a low spending team” Shelton. The hiring of Shelton feels a bit like the Falvey equivalent of signing retreads like Gallo, Margot, France, etc. etc. That may be more than a bit harsh, but Shelton’s arrival is not being taken by anyone as a likely game changing manoeuvre. This all is a decidedly dark (and long, for which I apologize) take. Understood. But there is no data, precedent, or any other solid reason to come to any more likely conclusion. However, going back to the opening premise: if the market for Lopez, Ryan or Buxton just isn’t there right now, than there may not be much choice than to make a few small additions to see if the Hail Mary might work and the team somehow catches lightning in a bottle. We can only hope. But if not, we can also only hope that Ryan, Lopez, and Buxton remain healthy and productive, their market opens up as the year progresses and Falvey can actually be smart and flexible enough to pivot to building for ‘28.

Agree. I just can’t believe the Nephew is so stupid as to subscribe to this strategy.

Well, we could’ve had Polanco at 1B/DH, but the Mets signed him to a 2/$40 to fill that role.

You’re hired.

Just talking too much sense.

You make a really good case - but only up to a certain point. IMHO, Rocco et al had so many of these kids completely nuts between different positions, platooning, different spots in the order, and getting in his doghouse when they made bad plays. It’s no wonder they couldn’t become decent full-timers. They just had too much to worry about. Try them at a new position, they make a few errors, then they start putting pressure on themselves at the plate to make up for it so they won’t get sent down, soon they are in a slump, their confidence is shot and they are back in St Paul. It’s not like this isn’t a common pattern among many of our prospects under Rocco going back years. If you want the kids to develop, pick a position (or two), put them in the lineup every day in about the same spot in the order, and let them clear their heads and play ball.

Let’s take another young talent and move him around the diamond and screw with his head just like Rocco has done for years with so many of our prospects. It’s just so stupid.

The clown is already admitting that he can’t and won’t. Why even hire him? Can’t this organization see that the ONLY way they can even attempt to compete is to be better at developing their cheap, in house, controllable young talent. It’s not rocket science - the Twins do not have the resources to buy the established quality players on the open market. Duh. What a horrible article to wake up to this morning. The new head coach is already making excuses why he won’t succeed at his most important role and giving cover to Falvey on his run it back with vet retreads strategy.

Because Falvey and Rocco were trying to save their jobs and subscribe to the same retread vet bullcrap strategy that Shelton has utilized and is setting the groundwork to employ with us.

What a complete joke Shelton is as a hire. Why? 1. He is already making excuses as to why he won’t succeed. Hey, if the young players don’t work out, it’s not his fault. It’s just the way things are. 2, He is already giving Falvey cover for his “no reason to trade our diminishing return assets because we can win with a few more retreads” strategy that has been proven to be an abject failure, especially for smallish revenue franchises in general and our franchise in particular. 3. He’s laying the groundwork for not committing to younger players. Nope, we won’t invest in getting those players the committed ABs. If they come up at all and don’t rake immediately, they are going back down. Keaschall better watch out. Don’t expect to see much of Jenkins, ERod, Gonzalez or Culpepper at all this season. TDers get ready. This season is going to be a disaster on three fronts: 1) we are not going to compete; 2) we are going to lose most of the value on not trading Lopez, Ryan, Buxton, and Jeffers; and 3) our young players are not going to get the investment they need so that this franchise can compete in ‘28. All of this so Falvey and Shelton can attempt to save their jobs. Honestly, if the Nephew can’t see through this baloney, he is more of an idiot than most of us already think. Shelton’s #1 job requirement - and how his performance should be primarily judged - is to develop our young talent over the next several years. And he’s already making excuses as to why he won’t succeed. He sounds just like another Falvey stooge. What a complete joke.

It’s way too early, as things are sure to change. However, a 2028 starting infield of Keaschall (1B), Culpepper (2B), Houston (SS) and Lebron (3B) would be really fun to watch. On the other hand, if somehow Lewis (or Lee, I guess) can turn it around, he could be at 3B in that ‘28 infield with Burress (LF), Jenkins (CF) and ERod (RF) out on the grass. Maybe Gonzalez is our fourth outfielder in this scenario. If Tait (C) turns out, come ‘28 we could have a truly exciting young (i.e. cheap) position player core for years to come. Hang in there Twins fans - there’s a lot to look forward to on the horizon, especially if there is a change in ownership as well. It’s just going to take a couple of years to get there. Enjoy the next couple of years as much as possible and be patient.

Here’s hoping that he benefits greatly from the move to Shelton from Rocco. He among several others. Lewis is going to get a long look this season with plenty of patience at being the 3B of the future. But ‘26 is possibly his last chance with the Twins. There are talented prospects on the way to compete with him. Watching Lewis to see how he does this season is one of the things I’m most looking forward to for the ‘26 Twins. Here’s hoping he can find his mojo and some higher performance consistency.

This is a smart move. Jeffers and Jackson are the catchers through the trade deadline. There was zero chance the Twins were going to carry three catchers. And they obviously didn’t have any other Rule 5 options that they liked. So they grab what looks to be a pretty good lottery ticket at a position of long-term institutional weakness (Tait excluded) and lack of depth. They turned their 4th selection into an attractive international signing instead of passing or selecting a player they know would not stick with the team. What’s not to like?

I’m worried he goes at #2. We then go with a 17 year old we won’t see for a half a decade.

#3. Couldn’t hold serve. Really wanted Lebron at #2 at the worst. Looks like a high school SS prospect, oh well. Not bad though. Could’ve been worse.

I agree 100%. Falvey selling a bill of goods. There is a ton of risk not selling now. There is very little likelihood that Buxton and Ryan go up in value. Lopez might given his late season injury. If the trade market were strong, I’d move them all except maybe Jeffers. But that doesn’t appear to be the plan.

What else would you do if you were in Falvey’s shoes? Of course, he’s trying to build a winner in the short-term. Unless you are completely secure in your job (which there is no chance he is), nobody wants to oversee a tear down and a multi year rebuild. Effecting that type of strategy often means bringing in a new broom. So, Falvey convinces the Nephew et al to invest a few more bucks in this year’s team. They then roll the dice on what clearly is a below average lineup buoyed by two strong starters and one oft-injured center fielder. The cost of this is possibly losing peak trade value of the three/four players who have value and will not be here past ‘27. But, hey, if things don’t look good by June/July, they can be moved then. Trade values might be higher, might be less. So, what the heck. Go for it, try hard, and, hopefully be able to be flexible if merited.

Assuming we even would spend what it would take to sign him, why in the world would he consider signing with us if he has any options remotely close to what we might offer?

Hope we at least hold serve today and nab one of the top two picks. Then we select either Cholowsky or Lebron. Both project as 2028 starting middle infielders or 3B with all star potential. Dream infield in ‘28: Houston with the slick glove at SS. Keaschall - now the veteran - at 1B. Culpepper at 2B. Cholowsky/Lebron at 3B. Tait at C. Add in Jenkins, ERod and Gonzalez in the OF. Keaschall (already up), ERod, Jenkins and possibly even Culpepper and Gonzalez see the big leagues in ‘26. The other three get brought up in the 2nd half of the strike shortened ‘27. Seven players on rookie deals plus Keaschall starting in ‘28. All eight have big league experience heading into that season. Plenty of cash to build the bullpen, and add a couple of starters and a vet or two (especially to be a DH or starter if a couple of them don’t pan out). Let that core more or less play together for 3-5 years. That’s the dream. But at the least, as a smallish, cash constrained franchise, we need to somehow figure out how to get at least four or five of them to be above average major leaguers.

1. Yes. More vet retreads ala France, Gallo, Bader, etc., etc. (geez, it’s hard to remember them all). We certainly are looking to contend this year and this is the tried and true formula for success (sarcasm should be noted). However, a placeholder type who can be moved at the deadline to make room for a promotion would be ok I guess. 2. Maybe. If so, ideally the identities indicate promise. But the timing - this week, next week, next month - per se is not that important. 3, Does signing a cheap closer really matter? There is nothing worse than a closer who can’t close. And if the “closer” is cheap…… 4. No. But see #1 if the answer is yes. But Falvey may try to relive his best FA signing ever. You missed the biggest question coming out of the winter meetings: namely, what do the ping pong balls say is our draft position?

Right back to the injuries. There are always excuses for why we never transition a high performing projectable minor leaguer into a decent major leaguer. Oh, and yes, I was for Julien staying up. Rocco ruined that kid. Constantly in his doghouse. I’m looking forward to how he performs this year with a new manager. Same with Lewis and Martin and Lee and Larnach and Wallner for that matter - they all needed new leadership. They probably all won’t make it. But to-date none of them have.

Excellent post

I’m not talking about those three. Just the half dozen or so that came before them. Larnach, Julien, Wallner, Kiriloff, Miranda, Martin, etc, etc. Each of those players struggled under the Twins regime and none have made it (two are out of baseball). Don’t bother with the injury excuses and the oft used “most prospects don’t make it” refrain. The fact is none of those players and none since Jeffers and Arraez have made it. Lewis and Lee are next. So many want Larnach and/or Wallner to be an every day corner OF or DH. Do you think they might be better prepared for that role if they actually had more ABs against lefties? The point remains: if you want your prospects to transition, you have to be able to make the investment in them - even when they are slumping or when the matchup isn’t ideal. You have to build their confidence. The Twins under Rocco never did that. Hopefully that changes when the next crop (the three you referenced) come up. We will see.