Seth Stohs

Probably, but the Twins pushed him too before Tommy John surgery last year. He's definitely someone they like.

With more Twins Coaching news (some coming to the Twins, several former Twins coaches heading elsewhere), Bob NIghtengale reported on Tuesday night from the GM Meetings that the Twins have hired Grady Sizemore to their coaching staff. It isn't official, but we have heard that he will be the team's first base coach and also the outfield and base running coach. Ramon Borrego will shift from first base to third base coach in 2026. Sizemore was a big-time prospect in high school, and in 2000, the Montreal Expos made him their third-round draft pick. he became a three-time All-Star centerfielder. He was part of a couple of big trades. He earned two Gold Glove Awards and a Silver Slugger. He was a great all-around player with Cleveland. Unfortunately, he started fighting injuries in 2009, was very limited in 2010 and 2011, and then he missed the entire 2012 and 2013 seasons. He played for three times between 2014 and 2015, but he just was unable to return to his All-Star form. In 2017, he was given a special advisory role in Cleveland but soon after returned home and spent time with his young family. In 2023, he took an internship under the Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen. In 2024, he went to the White Sox and joined their big-league coaching staff. When Pedro Grifol was fired, Sizemore became the interim manager to finish out the season. The White Sox went 13-32 with him leading the way. He remained with the White Sox in 2025 as the team's Offensive Coordinator. As you saw earlier, Pete Maki is returning to the Twins as their pitching coach. We still don't know about Derek Shelton's bench coach or the status of the team's three hitting coaches from 2024. Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves sent out a press release on Tuesday night announcing their 2026 coaching staff. We had heard that former Twins bullpen coach Jeremy Hefner jumped into their pitching coach role and Tommy Watkins will be their third base coach. In addition, former Twins infield and bench coach Tony Diaz has joined the Braves coaching staff. Also, former Cedar Rapids Kernels pitching coach (and assistant minor league pitching coordinator) JP Martinez will be Atlanta's bullpen coach. He has been the Giants hitting coach for the past five or six years. View full rumor

You are correct in that it is something we probably worry about more than we need to. Most years old 15-22 guys get taken in the MLB version. The Twins haven't really lost anyone since Tyler Wells and Akil Baddoo in 2020 coming off of a last season and both of them coming back from Tommy John surgery. That said, it's a great opportunity to talk about minor leaguers and put them in the context of just how close they are and how many skills a player may possess that are "big-league ready", etc. But ultimately, yes, we are talking about guys who an organization deemed the 38th or 39th or 40th best player in the other organizations. That's not really true, of course, because of roster rules and realities and such.

Certainly that is what will happen, but it'll happen over the next 4 months. There'll likely be a player or two not on that list that will come to the organization.

MacLeod tops out around 91, maybe 92. And his control is still working back after his Tommy John. I think he can be a big league pitcher sometime.

The Angels likely have had their eye on Laweryson for a while. I was so happy the Twins called him up before he became a free agent. It was just that final week or two, so it clearly wasn't their plan. But good for him, and now he gets a chance in another organization (just like if they wouldn't have added him). Gonzalez is an easy choice. And Fedko probably should be based on his variety of skills that could be utilized off of the bench. Olivar has developed nicely as he's gotten bigger and stronger. He is still an intriguing catching prospect, and they like his bat well enough to play him elsewhere. Very few catchers are going to be good offensively and defensively in the big leagues. If he becomes a regular backup, that's a win.

I don't recall that ever being the rule for the Rule 5 draft... There's some of that in expansion drafts.

Rooker was born to hit... He's always been an anomaly. For him, it was 100% about opportunity.

I would assume the Twins will pick 2nd (or 3rd) in the Rule 5. I don't know if anyone has as high potential as Festa and Zebby. They both have some really good stuff and velocity when healthy. But Prielipp has upside and Rojas is all about upside at this point. What do the Twins do with more starters than needed? Well, I can't imagine that ever being a problem. Obviously most of these guys have 2 or 3 option years to improve and learn and grow, and there will be injuries and trades. I'll never worry about having too much pitching. I'm not sure how much they're trying to compete in 2026.

On Thursday, major league teams, including the Minnesota Twins, made a flurry of roster moves to start their offseason roster clean-up. Some players were removed from the 40-man roster, and when they cleared, they elected free agency. The Angels claimed Cody Laweryson. One former top prospect also became a free agent. In addition, the 60-Day Injured List doesn’t exist in the offseason. The Twins' 40-man roster is currently at 33, including 14 pitchers, two catchers, five infielders, eight outfielders, and four utility players. Over the next couple of weeks, there will be more changes. The deadline for non-tendering arbitration-eligible players is in two weeks. Just a few days earlier, on November 18, teams will have to add players to their 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. As of today, the Twins could add seven more players to the 40-man roster without other moves. Most years, two to four players get added, but this offseason, the Twins have quite a few players who likely need to be added. There are just as many, if not more, players one could make a case for protecting. The following several paragraphs discuss some of the rules of the Rule 5 draft regarding eligibility, costs, requirements for a selected player, etc. If you feel you’ve got a good grasp on that information and really just want to see who I think will be added, feel free to scroll down to the subheading: The Givens. Real quick, who is eligible for the 2025 MLB Rule 5 draft? Down below, you can see every single Twins player who is eligible (as of now) for the December event. At a high level, players eligible are: not on the MLB team’s 40-man roster, if they signed after age 19 and have been in the minors for at least four years. if they signed before age 19 and have been in the minor leagues for at least five years. Specifically for next month’s Rule 5, that means: They don’t get added before or on November 18, and Players signed when they were 16-18 years old in 2021. That includes international players and most high school draft picks. Players signed after they turned 19 years old in 2022. Players who were eligible for previous Rule 5 drafts. In other words, a high school player from the 2020 draft who meets the other criteria is still eligible. Also of note, Players drafted or signed in 2019 who are not on the 40-man roster right now became free agents late last week. They are not eligible unless they sign a minor-league contract with a team before the Rule 5 draft. Digging deeper. If a Major League roster has fewer than 40 players on it, it may choose a player in the Rule 5 draft. As of writing this, the Twins have 33 players on their 40-man roster, so in theory, they could draft up to seven players in the Rule 5 draft. They won’t, but they could take one. If they do, they would need to pay $100,000 to the organization from which they selected him. The player must stay on the team’s active roster (on the injured list) for the entire season. If the team wants to send him to the minor leagues, they have to offer him back to the original team for $50,000. There is a strategy to it as well, and that’s where today’s topic becomes essential. If the Twins add seven of their players to the 40-man roster (and make no other moves before the Rule 5), they would be unable to make a selection. In addition, players added to the 40-man roster in November and those taken in the Rule 5 draft must remain on the 40-man roster until spring training. That means that if the Twins want to sign a free agent to an MLB contract between December and February, they would need to remove another player from the 40-man roster. That’s why there are some players still on the Twins' 40-man roster now, and you may wonder about the likelihood of them remaining on the 40-man roster throughout the offseason. Note that just a couple of days after players are added to the 40-man roster is the non-tender day. The Twins entered the offseason with the potential of 10 arbitration-eligible players. Roster transactions following the World Series have removed four of them from being eligible for arbitration. Could the Twins non-tender any of those six, or not tender 2026 contracts to anyone else on the 40-man? We shall see. That is a lot of strategy before even getting to the stuff you’re here to read. But I always feel it is important to understand the above for multiple reasons. First, the $100,000 price tag is not a lot to work with a player in the offseason and spring training before potentially finding a gem, or getting $50,000 back in spring training as the Twins did last year with the Phillies and Eiberson Castellanos. It isn’t ideal to lose players in the Rule 5 draft, so you want to protect the right players. It just takes one team to be interested in an eligible player to potentially lose him. So the most significant factor in that decision is whether that player will be able to stick on a big league roster for the entire 2026 season. How close is that player to being able to help a team in some capacity, even if for a year, that’s defense and base running, or enough “stuff” and experience to be a late-inning reliever who comes into low-leverage situations? That’s the role Johan Santana started in when the Twins acquired him in a Rule 5 trade. Does the player have much experience in the upper levels of the minors to hold a spot? Last year’s first overall pick in the Rule 5 draft was the White Sox, and they selected Shane Smith from the Brewers organization. Smith went to the All-Star game. That is rare. OK, with all that, you are here to read my thoughts on which players the Twins will (or should) add to their 40-man roster to protect them from being a potential loss in the Rule 5 draft. The Givens There are six players that the Twins have to add to the 40-man roster. If any of the six are not added, another team may select them. Let’s start with those. Right-Handed Corner Outfielder: Gabriel Gonzalez Twins Daily #9 Ranked Prospect When the Twins acquired outfielder Gabriel Gonzalez from Seattle in the Jorge Polanco trade early in 2024, he was ranked No. 79 overall by MLB Pipeline. His first year in the organization was rocky. He battled a back injury that sidelined him for half the season and posted a modest .255 average at High-A, showing little power against older competition. Everything changed in 2025. Gonzalez opened the year by returning to High-A Cedar Rapids, hitting .319 with 12 doubles and five homers in 34 games. Promoted to Double-A Wichita, he dominated with a .344 average, 19 doubles, and four home runs over 55 games. He capped the season in Triple-A St. Paul, batting .316 with seven doubles and six homers in 34 games. Across three levels, Gonzalez recorded 38 doubles, three triples, and 15 home runs. More importantly, he consistently made hard contact and showed the offensive upside the Twins have long sought in a right-handed corner outfielder. Still, Gonzalez isn’t a finished product. He will likely benefit from more Triple-A time to refine his defense, though his strong arm is an asset. Turning 22 early in 2026, his physical frame suggests even greater power potential ahead. If his development continues on this trajectory, Gonzalez could soon become a key piece in Minnesota’s lineup. Left-Handed Pitcher: Connor Prielipp Twins Daily #6 Ranked Prospect When the Twins drafted Tomah, Wisconsin native Connor Prielipp in the second round of the 2022 draft, they were betting on upside. The former Alabama ace had missed most of 2021 and all of 2022 recovering from Tommy John surgery, but before the draft, he was already touching 97 mph. The southpaw was a first-round talent. After two years of limited innings, 2025 marked a breakthrough. Prielipp stayed healthy for 24 appearances (23 starts), logging 82 2/3 innings under a carefully managed workload. Early outings were capped at 50 pitches, but by season’s end, he was surpassing 75 pitches regularly. In his final start, he threw six innings and 84 pitches—a milestone for a pitcher once sidelined for nearly two seasons. Across Double-A and Triple-A, Prielipp showed flashes of dominance while refining his arsenal. His fastball averaged 94 mph and reached 98, complemented by a sharp slider that topped 87 mph and a developing changeup. Though he allowed runs in most outings, he maintained velocity deep into games. He also experimented with grips and pitching sequencing, and will need to continue doing so. Turning 25 in January, Prielipp is trending toward a big-league role sometime in 2026. With health and continued development, his ceiling remains very high, and the Twins won’t risk exposing him to the Rule 5 draft. Right-Handed Pitcher: Andrew Morris Twins Daily #15-Ranked Prospect Andrew Morris is back, and better than ever. After a breakout 2024 season, which saw him rocket through High-A Cedar Rapids, Double-A Wichita, and Triple-A St. Paul, the right-hander hit a speed bump in 2025 with a midseason injury. However, by the end of the year, Morris reminded everyone why he’s one of the Twins’ most intriguing young arms, flashing improved velocity and a pitch mix that screams big-league starter. Early in the season, Morris was already impressive, sitting 94–95 mph with his four-seam fastball and touching 97. He paired it with a heavy sinker in the low 90s, a cutter in the upper 80s, and a mid-80s sweeper, plus a slow curveball that messes with timing. By season’s end, he took things to another level. His four-seamer averaged 95.7 mph and hit 98.5, while his sinker jumped to 95.3 mph. The cutter climbed into the low 90s, and his changeup settled at 86 mph—creating ideal separation from his fastball. His sweeper and curveball added depth, giving him six legitimate pitches. That’s the kind of arsenal that can win games. Morris isn’t just throwing hard. He continues to learn more and more about pitching, refining his grips and sequencing. With health and continued work with coaches, Morris has the stuff to be a starter and make an impact in Minnesota sooner rather than later. That makes him an obvious add. Left-Handed Pitcher: Kendry Rojas Twins Daily #8-Ranked Prospect Twins fans weren’t thrilled when the front office traded hometown flamethrower Louis Varland, but the return offers plenty to like, Alan Roden and especially left-hander Kendry Rojas. The Cuban-born southpaw has electric stuff and, despite injuries slowing his rise, he’s just scratching the surface of his potential. Rojas missed early 2025 with an abdominal strain but quickly climbed the Blue Jays’ system once healthy, striking out 30 batters in 18 ⅔ innings at Double-A before making one Triple-A stint for Buffalo. After joining the Twins, his numbers in St. Paul weren’t pretty; control issues led to 23 walks in 27 1/3 innings, but the raw tools were undeniable. His four-seam fastball now sits 92–96 mph and touched 97 in his final start, a jump from the low-90s just two years ago. He pairs it with a lively sinker at a similar velocity, a sharp slider (84–90 mph), and a changeup in the upper-80s that could become more effective with added velocity separation. His slider flashes plus potential, and his ability to generate movement makes him a nightmare for hitters when he’s in the zone. At just 23, Rojas brings rare upside for a lefty with this kind of velocity and pitch mix. He’s still learning, but if he finds consistent command, he could debut soon, and if the Twins ever shift him to the bullpen, his stuff could play up even more. Simply put: there aren’t many arms like this in the system. Rojas is a name to watch. Left-Handed Outfielder/First Base Hendry Mendez Ranks just outside Twins Daily’s Top 20 Prospect Rankings Mendez’s journey from a 17-year-old international signing from the Dominican Republic to a promising Twins prospect that needs to be added to the 40-man roster has been a bit circuitous. The Brewers inked him for $800,000 in January 2021, and he quickly climbed from the Dominican Summer League to the Arizona Complex League that year. In 2022, at just 18, he impressed in Low-A Carolina with a disciplined approach, 62 walks against 70 strikeouts. Injuries slowed him in 2023, but a trade to the Phillies sparked a resurgence. He hit .284 with a nearly one-to-one walk-to-strikeout ratio and showed flashes of gap power. In 2025, Mendez broke out. Starting in Double-A Reading, he posted an .808 OPS before being dealt to Minnesota for Harrison Bader. With Wichita, he elevated his game, slashing .324/.461/.450 and continuing his elite plate discipline (27 BB, 21 K). At 6’3”, 200 pounds, he is putting in some time at first base before games, a position the Twins have struggled to fill long-term. His revamped swing produced 11 homers this season, matching his total from the previous three years combined. Just 22 years old, Mendez looks like a lock for the 40-man roster. He’s not expected to be the answer in 2026, but his size, athleticism, and improving power make him a name to watch. Right-Handed Pitcher: CJ Culpepper Twins Daily’s #19-Ranked Prospect C.J. Culpepper has quietly become one of the Twins’ most intriguing pitching prospects. Drafted in the 13th round in 2022 out of Cal Baptist, the 6’3” right-hander has shown steady growth despite injuries that slowed him in 2024. His 2025 season was delayed by injury, and his workload was limited throughout the year. However, he posted a 2.43 ERA over 59 innings at Double-A Wichita, striking out 53 while holding opponents to a .223 average. What makes Culpepper stand out is his deep arsenal of pitches. Early in his career, catchers joked that they needed more than two hands to give him signs. He throws at least five pitches—a lively four-seam fastball that sits 94–96 mph and touches 97, a two-seam sinker which can generate ground balls, plus a slider, cutter, curveball, and changeup. Ten years ago, Culpepper would have been deemed a flamethrower. Now his fastball velocity is described as about average. His slider and cutter have the makings of above-average pitches, potentially. He’s also shown improved command, pounding the zone and posting a near 10 K/9 rate in 2024. Why add him to the 40-man roster now? With his combination of velocity, pitch mix, and recent success, Culpepper would undoubtedly be a target for other teams. His ability to sequence with his pitch mix and aggressive approach gives him a legitimate shot to stick as a starter or multi-inning reliever. We don't know what the offseason has in store for current Twins starting pitchers. The organization would not want to lose potential replacements if they can avoid it. Coin Flips (3 Pitchers, 3 Hitters) It’s been a long time since the Minnesota Twins have added six players to their 40-man roster, but I think the six players above have a high likelihood of being lost if they are not protected. I also think they are another half-dozen players that I also think could be drafted. Below are (shorter!) summaries for each of them. Right-Handed Pitcher: John Klein Minnesota native John Klein, 23, signed as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and quickly impressed. In 2025, he split time between Wichita and St. Paul, logging 106 1/3 innings with 128 strikeouts. Klein throws two fastballs at 93–96 mph, a fading mid-80s changeup, and a slow curveball in the upper 70s. At 6-5, 225 pounds, he has room to add velocity. Despite struggles at Triple-A, his size, strikeout ability, and legit stuff make him a strong Rule 5 candidate. Right-Handed Pitcher: Jose Olivares Jose Olivares, 22, brings electric stuff and upside. In 2025, he posted a 4.38 ERA with 107 strikeouts and 57 walks over 90 1/3 innings at High-A Cedar Rapids. His fastball now touches 97 mph, paired with a sharp slider/sweeper, slow curveball, and mid-80s changeup. Command remains a concern, but his velocity and bat-missing ability make him a tempting bullpen stash for a team willing to gamble on raw talent. Right-Handed Pitcher: Cory Lewis Cory Lewis, 25, was the Twins’ Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2023 and was very good in 2024, ending the season with five scoreless innings for St. Paul. 2025 was rough. At St. Paul, he went 4-6 with a 7.27 ERA over 73 innings, striking out 87 but walking 68. Known for his high-velocity knuckleball and full pitch-mix, Lewis still offers intrigue despite control issues in 2025. A team could take a chance on his unique arsenal and past success, hoping to unlock his upside. Outfielder: Kala’i Rosario Kala’i Rosario, 23, rebounded in 2025 after an injury-shortened 2024 season. The former fifth-round pick hit .256/.358/.487 (.844) at Wichita with 30 doubles, five triples, and 25 home runs in 130 games. He also stole 32 bases, far surpassing his previous high of seven, showing improved athleticism. Rosario’s calling card remains his power potential, but the added speed and mobility make him even more intriguing. His combination of pop and versatility could tempt a team looking for an impact bat with upside. Outfielder: Kyler Fedko Kyler Fedko, 26, enjoyed a breakout 2025 season. After posting a .645 OPS in 77 games in 2024 in Wichita, he posted an .868 OPS in 88 games for the Wind Surge in 2025 with 15 doubles and 20 homers, then .829 OPS in St. Paul with 10 doubles and eight homers. Across 130 games, he totaled 25 doubles, 28 home runs, and 38 stolen bases. Fedko offers quality at-bats, gap and home run power, speed, and defensive versatility across all outfield spots plus first base. His well-rounded skill set makes him a sneaky Rule 5 candidate. Catcher/Outfielder: Ricardo Olivar Ricardo Olivar, 24, is a versatile catcher/outfielder who still has some intriguing upside. In 93 games at Wichita, he hit .264/.356/.412 (.768) with 13 doubles, 13 homers, and 13 steals. While unlikely to be a full-time starting catcher, Olivar’s athleticism allows him to catch and play left field, giving him valuable flexibility. His balanced offensive profile and solid defense make him a potential backup catcher who could stick on a big-league roster. Teams seeking depth and versatility behind the plate may take a chance. The Twins have other Rule 5-eligible catchers as well. Patrick Winkel and Noah Cardenas are both potential backup catchers in MLB because of their prowess behind the plate. Andrew Cossetti and Nate Baez are potential MLB backup catchers because of their bats. Also Rule 5 eligible if not protected Catchers: Patrick Winkel, Noah Cardenas, Andrew Cossetti, Nate Baez Fielders: Danny De Andrade, Tanner Schobel, Aaron Sabato, Jake Rucker, Jose Salas, Ben Ross, Jorel Ortega, Andy Lugo, Rayne Doncon, Miguel Briceno Pitchers Left-Handed: Christian MacLeod, Jaylen Nowlin, Aaron Rozek, Cleiber Maldonado Right-Handed: Miguelangel Boadas, John Stankiewicz, Darren Bowen, Mike Paredes, Alejandro Hidalgo, Trent Baker, Kyle Jones. View full article

This is why I'm not terribly worried about the Twins coaching staff. This group has hired so many coaches that have been poached from the minor leagues or from the MLB staff and gone onto successful stints coaching in the big leagues. That goes all the way back to Tanner Swanson, Rowson, Hefner... Popkins, and now Shoman, and then Bove, and several others. Corbin Day is really good. Did a great job in CR.

Image courtesy of Malamut Photography (photos of Kyle DeBarge) Kyle DeBarge had a successful first full season of professional baseball. The 22-year-old was the 33rd overall pick in July 2024 draft out of Louisiana-Lafayette. Recently, Twins Daily named him as the Twins Minor League All Star at second base. On Sunday, he was named a 2025 Rawlings Minor League Gold Glove winner for his work at second base. Drafted as a shortstop approximately a dozen picks after the Twins selected shortstop Kaelen Culpepper, DeBarge smoothly made the transition to the other side of the infield. In 73 games at second base, he had just six errors. From the eye test, he appears capable of making all the plays at second base. He charges the ball well. He's very good on the backhand side. He has a strong arm and knows where to be. No surprise since he has been a shortstop most of his playing days. As impressive, he played 24 games at shortstop without committing an error. He played 17 games in center field without an error. Even while moving around a bit defensively, he remained consistent with the glove. He also filled out a stat line quite well with his bat. In 121 games, he hit .237/.347/.362 (.709) with 23 doubles, five triples and eight home runs. In addition, he led the organization with 66 stolen bases in 74 attempts. The most recent Twins prospect to win a minor-league Gold Glove was 2023 when Kernels shortstop Noah Miller won the award. In 2019, outfielder Mark Contreras won a minor-league Gold Glove. A couple of years earlier, Max Murphy received a Gold Glove as well. View full article

Remember two years ago when the Blue Jays fans wanted their manager fired for removing Jose Berrios from a playoff start against the Twins. Suddenly that same manager has that same team one win from a Worl Series. The Twins had a rough 2024 season offensively and fans wanted the hitting coach gone. The GM did fire that hitting coach. Like, 5 days later, the Blue Jays hired that hitting coach, and he's got the best offense in baseball and is one win from the World Series title. Joe Torre had been hired and fired as a big-league manager 3 times before the Yankees called. He was perfect for that group at that time. Derek Shelton has a ton of baseball experience. He is a baseball lifer and knows the game. Ultimately, like Baldelli, it comes down to the players on the roster and the ownership...

Image courtesy of © John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images Remember the Trade deadline, Twins fans? What a rough day! As the offseason is about to begin, things probably won't get any easier in the near future for Twins fans. That said, it would be absolutely irresponsible for the Twins front office not to see what they can get in trade return for All Star Joe Ryan. You know Ryan's resume. He's been a solid starting pitcher for the Twins since leaving Tokyo after the Olympics where he learned he had been traded to the Twins from Tampa. He was an All Star in 2025, and very deservedly. He arguably earned it in 2024 as well. He came to the organization as basically a one-pitch pitcher. He worked with the pitching staff and in the offseasons to develop a fantastic slider. He has good control of multiple pitches while missing bats consistently with each of his pitches. Having those other plus-plus pitches makes his fastball even better. Joe Ryan will turn 30 years old early next June. He has two years remaining before becoming a free agent. MLB Trade Rumors projected Ryan to make $5.8 million in 2026 and if things go well again, he could make $10-12 million in 2027 before becoming a free agent. So, by rough estimate, a team could count on having an All-Star caliber pitcher for two years and somewhere around $15-18 million. In addition, they can decide at that point if they want to offer him the Qualifying Offer and get draft picks or sign him to a long-term deal. With the moves made at the 2025 deadline, and the idea that the Twins payroll may continue to go down, and we have no idea (Again) what the TV deal might look like in 2026. So, while the Twins could keep him, pay him $15-18 million over the next two years, make a Qualifying Offer, and get a draft pick. In theory, they could also sign him long-term. Does anyone reading this think that is going to happen anytime soon? But because of all that, the Twins need to get a monster haul for Ryan and not trade him just to trade him. Starting Pitching Market On Friday, MLB Trade Rumors posted a preview of the top free agent starting pitchers available this offseason. Tier 1 includes: Dylan Cease (30) coming off of a tough season. Tatsuya Imai (28) coming over from Japan. Lefty Ranger Suarez (32) has been really solid in Philadelphia for half of a decade. And then there is Framber Valdez (30) who easily would have been tops on this list if not for what he did to his catcher late in the season. Tier 2 includes the likes of Shane Bieber, Merrill Kelly, Zac Gallen, Michael King and Brandon Woodruff. Each of them has questions, coming off of injury or performance lower than their standard. It is fair to say that Joe Ryan, if he was a free agent, would be in the first tier. There are also rumblings that the Tigers could make Tarik Skubal available for trade this offseason. He is likely to enter the offseason with back-to-back Cy Young Awards. Skubal has just one more season of team control. Which Teams Need Pitching Every team, right? But there are probably more high-spending teams that need pitching this offseason. And, since it's the offseason, even more teams could make a case to try to acquire Ryan. Boston Red Sox: The Red Sox and Twins clearly had conversations about Ryan as the trade deadline approached. Reports indicate the two sides weren't close, but there wasn't a ton of last-minute competition. Garrett Crochet and Brayan Bello are at the top of the Red Sox rotation. Lucas Giolito and Dustin May will become free agents. Tanner Houck, Hunter Dobbins, Kutter Crawford, and Patrick Sandoval all ended the season on the 60-Day IL. Payton Tolle (2@) and Connelly Early (23) were called up in mid-to-late September and pitched big innings in October. New York Yankees: With Max Fried and Carlos Rodon, the Yankees have two of the top 10-12 starting pitchers in the league. Gerritt Cole and Clarke Schmidt needed Tommy John surgery in 2025 and would seem unlikely to be ready until maybe the second half of the 2026 season. Luis Gil came back from Tommy John surgery late this season and had some ups and downs, but he's got immense talent. Will Warren stepped up and pitched well at the bottom of the rotation. And Cam Schlitter (24) broke out late in the 2025 season. Do they need more starting pitching? Not as much as most teams, but we also know that 1.) there's never enough pitching depth and 2.) the Yankees are going to add some pitching. New York Mets: Kodai Senga, when healthy, has been very good. In addition, Sean Manaea can be quite good, though he's inconsistent. David Peterson has really stepped up the last couple of years and become very reliable. Jonah Tong came up and did well late in the season. But there are nothing but question marks beyond that. Frankly, the Mets should go all-in on Skubal, and even if they get him, they could still go after Ryan too. San Diego Padres: Cease and King will be free agents. Nestor Cortes and Yu Darvish are shells of what they once were. Randy Vasquez is a huge question mark? The Padres ownership situation may be in a stranger situation than even the Twins. They have a lot of offense talent on big contracts. But they traded approximately half of their top 20 prospects at the deadline this year, leaving it difficult to believe that they would present the Twins with a package necessary to acquire Ryan. Arizona Diamondbacks: Gallen and Kelly are free agents. Can Eduardo Rodriguez stay healthy. Can Brandon Pfaadt take a step forward? Presumably Corbin Burnes will miss most of the 2026 season. Arizona quietly spends money. Baltimore Orioles: After two or three seasons of competing in the AL East, the O's dropped to last place in 2025. Do they think they're close enough with some injury returns to make a move? San Francisco Giants: Buster Posey is making moves. #OldFriend JP Martinez is the pitching coach, and they have done well with the likes of Brandon Webb, but they have had a lot of injuries. Justin Verlander is a free agent and should probably retire. Robbie Ray? In addition, this would be sort of a coming home for Ryan. Chicago Cubs: What will happen with Shota Imanaga? How much of 2026 will Justin Steele miss? Can Matthew Boyd do it again? Can they rely on Jaeson Taillon? How many innings can they get from Cade Horton? St. Louis Cardinals: Hey, Ryan would get another season with Sonny Gray. They can use started pitching, and they have some pitching prospects. And Chaim Bloom has taken over the as the Cardinals' President of Baseball Operations after the 2025 season. Bloom held that role for the Rays when they drafted him in the seventh round of the 2018 draft. You could make a case that several other teams might be interested in trading for Ryan during the offseason. The Angels could certainly use Joe Ryan. The important thing here is that there should be a ton of legitimate competition from teams trying to acquire Joe Ryan this offseason. Check back later and we'll take a look at what packages could look like from these teams? View full article

Catcher: Noah Cardenas, 26 (Wichita, St. Paul) 69 G, .245/.387/.438 (.824), 10 2B, 10 HR, 33 RBI, 42 BB, 51 K First Base: Aaron Sabato, 26 (Wichita, St. Paul) 109 G, .261/.327/.481 (.809), 18 2B, 1 3B, 23 HR, 68 RBI, 38 BB, 129 K, 1 SB. Second Base: Kyle DeBarge, 22 (Cedar Rapids) 121 G, .237/.347/.362 (.709), 23 2B, 5 3B, 8 HR, 65 RBI, 70 BB, 121 K, 66 SB. Third Base: Danny De Andrade, 21 (Cedar Rapids) 121 G, .229/.317/.387 (.704), 26 2B, 8 3B, 9 HR, 58 RBI, 43 BB, 115 K, 15 SB. Shortstop: Kaelen Culpepper, 22 (Cedar Rapids, Wichita) 113 G, .289/.375/.469 (.844), 16 2B, 3 3B, 20 HR, 64 RBI, 77 R, 50 BB, 90 K, 25 SB Left Field: Kyler Fedko, 26 (Wichita, St. Paul) 130 G, .258/.367/.487 (.855), 25 2B, 28 HR, 82 RBI, 91 R, 79 BB, 120 K, 38 SB Center Field: Walker Jenkins, 20 (Fort Myers, Wichita, St. Paul) 84 G, .286/.399/.451 (.850), 17 2B, 2 3B, 10 HR, 34 RBI, 56 R, 50 BB, 76 K, 17 SB Right Field: Kala’i Rosario, 23 (Wichita) 130 G, .256/.358/.487 (.844), 30 2B, 5 3B, 25 HR, 83 RBI, 92 R, 73 BB, 159 K, 32 SB Designated Hitter: Gabriel Gonzalez, 21 (Cedar Rapids, Wichita, St. Paul) 123 G, .329/.395/.513 (.909), 38 2B, 3 3B, 15 HR, 66 RBI, 75 R, 48 BB, 80 K, 8 SB Utility: Brandon Winokur, 20 (Cedar Rapids) 122 G, .226/.304/.388 (.693), 20 2B, 3 3B, 17 HR, 68 RBI, 26 SB. Lifetime Achievement Award Bat Boy - Jon Jon (Cedar Rapids) And just one more video highlight. Kala'i Rosario provides the walk-off. View full article

I think Ohl and Adams have already moved to the bullpen in the eyes of the organization. Prielipp ended the season making all his starts. He got through the program. To me, that's a pretty good sign for him to keep starting, at least for another half season. If he's in AAA dominating and the Twins have five strong starters that they want to keep them all starting or Prielipp still under innings limits, he could come up in the bullpen. Raya spent the last month pitching 1-2 innings out of the bullpen. It's possible they've determined that already, or it was just late in the season and they had new arms they wanted to see up close before the offseason. As noted above, I think Morris is a starter.

It is just really hard to know right now where anyone fits. It has the potential to be a crazy offseason. Will they do anything in free agency? Have they already determined if some of the starters will be moved to the bullpen already next year? Will Pablo, Joe and Bailey still be here? Looking back to 2024, Morris was maybe 6 weeks behind Zebby in terms of promotions and put up nearly equivalent numbers. Look to spring training and Morris was given an extended look, certainly longer than normal for guys who would certainly be starting in AAA. And, he was impressive. But then it was ups and downs with much of that being related to injury. No surgery is always a good thing. He ended the season strong. He doesn't throw as hard as Zebby, Festa, Taj, Abel, but he's got better control and command. He also has multiple plus pitches while still throwing 94-96. I believe he is a starter. I would certainly keep him starting and give him time. He'll certainly be added to the 40-man roster in November. And that gives him lots of wiggle room to keep improving and work on things. Like you, I didn't watch him pitch as much this season as the year before, and when I did, I really tried to remember that he wasn't at 100% That said, the stuff was still good, and he finished the season very good.

Starting Pitchers LHP Dasan Hill, 19 (Fort Myers, Cedar Rapids) 3.19 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, 83 K, 31.3 K%, 40 BB, 15.0 BB%, 62 IP (19 GS) LHP Connor Prielipp, 24 (Wichita, St. Paul) 4.03 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 98 K, 31 BB, 82 2/3 IP (23 GS, 24 G) RHP C.J. Culpepper, 23 (Wichita) 2.43 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 53 K, 21.2 K%, 31 BB, 12.4 BB%, 59 1/3 IP (17 GS) RHP John Klein, 23 (Wichita, St. Paul) 3.98 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, 128 K, 27.6 K%, 37 BB, 8.0 BB%, 106 1/3 IP (15 GS, 31 G) Relief Pitchers RHP Pierson Ohl, 25 (Fort Myers, Wichita, St. Paul) 24 G, 5-3, 2 Saves, 2.40 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, 71 1/3 IP, 58 H, 11 BB, 86 K LHP Kade Bragg, 24 (Fort Myers, Cedar Rapids, Wichita) 42 G, 8-2, 5 Saves, 2.94 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 67 1/3 IP, 45 H, 31 BB, 82 K RHP Hunter Hoopes, 25 (Fort Myers, Cedar Rapids, Wichita) 42 G, 6-5, 2 Saves, 3.27 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, 52 1/3 IP, 25 H, 23 BB, 64 K RHP Mike Paredes, 25 (Wichita, St. Paul) 38 G, 11-0, 7 Saves, 2.38 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 105 2/3 IP, 79 H, 28 BB, 92 K For much more Twins Daily content on these Twins Daily Minor League All Star Pitchers. click their link below: Dasan Hill, Connor Prielipp, CJ Culpepper, John Klein, Pierson Ohl, Kade Bragg, Hunter Hoopes, Mike Paredes. View full article