LA Vikes Fan

For all of its faults, I do think one thing the FO has done well this year is transition the roster to the next generation while keeping the team competitive. Yes, the crummy division helps, injuries have forced some of the decisions, and none of us can explain why Joey Gallo is still on the roster or even worse why he plays, but there has been a major transition these last two years. They say the prime years for pitchers are ages 26-32, and the prime for position players 25-31. Look at the roster members in the age 28 or under seasons: Lopez (27), Ryan (27), and Ober (28) in the rotation, with Varland (25) having gotten 10 starts so far in 2023, Padack is 27 and may be in the rotation next year. Duran (25), Jax (28) - the 2 highest leverage guys - in the bullpen, with Blazovic (24), Sands (26), and Winder (26) getting a look, Julien (24), Lewis (24), Wallner (25), Jeffers (26), and Kirilloff (25) are all regulars, with Castro (26), a super utility. Correa turns 29 in September, Buxton 30 in January, Kepler 31 in February, Polanco 31 next July. That's 60% of the rotation and more than half of the regular lineup 28 or under, meaning they should all have at least 2-4 years of their prime in front of them. The bullpen needs a refresh and there isn't much in the system that we've seen so far, so there is a real area of need. Having said that, many bullpens are made up of guys in their early 30s moving from team to team and that's one area where you can pick up guys on the fly. The point is that this team has really embraced a youth movement and ITS WORKING. This group should be able to stay together for at least 2-3 years maybe more like 4-5, and be competitive through that window. Injuries could of course change that as could some regression. On the other hand, add in Lee (22), Miranda (25), Martin (24), Prato (25) at the AAA or MLB level already, with guys like Raya, Festa, Severino, and Rodriguez not far behind, and Jenkins, Winokur, and even Soto interesting pieces from this year's draft, and we could be some solid or better reinforcements on the way. And we shouldn't forget about Larnach (27 in February). I think he could be a solid or better regular if he got 5 days a week playing time, or at least a solid trade chip for a youngish pitcher that we could repurpose as a late inning reliever. I would love to see a lineup by mid-2024 that started Lewis, Julien, Kiriloff, Wallner, Jeffers, Martin, Miranda, and maybe even Lee. That's probably a bridge too far - 8 of the 9 spots when you have to think Correa and Buxton have 2 of them - but that doesn't stop my optimism. This team is doing the right thing this year in embracing youth at the expense of older average(ish) regulars. Let's keep doing that and this team will be fun to watch for the next few years.

One more thought. Let's not get too tied up with getting every player a set position where they will play "every day". That's not the way modern baseball works. The twins need 6 infielders for the 2024 roster, at least 2 of whom can play SS. Those 6 will play in various combinations during the course of the season and their performance, injuries, etc. will determine who plays how much. We have a clear 5 for next year in my mind - Correa, Lewis, Kirilloff, Julien, and Polanco. Since Lewis can play SS, we don't really need Farmer. That last spot can be Farmer or Solano initially, tough choice between bat or glove, If Lee is ready, it can be Lee, same for Miranda. Both have a ways to go to prove they belong, though. My guess is that Miranda starts the season as the RH IB, part time 3B, with Lee in AAA, and Farmer and Solano somewhere else, but that's just a guess. In short, there is not "logjam" that forces Polanco off the roster. In fact, I would argue that his versatility is exactly what we need. Keep Polanco. There is absolutely no reason to trade him unless you can get a big return.

This is a no brainer if the price was $4-6m rather than $10.5m, you absolutely bring him back. He can play a super utility role or even 2B with Julien as more of a DH/1B. Polanco has proven himself to be an above average major player with an an above average bat and at least average D except at SS. He is a much better player than Donovan Solano (who I really like) and absolutely fits on a 26 man roster for a contending team. Yes, he gets hurt more often now that he's older but his 125, 116 and 110 OPS+ the last 3 years including this one isn't easily available, particularly from a guy who can actually provide some defensive value. Lee, etc., even Julien, might be better but that's a crapshoot at least for 2024. The 2024 Twins will be a better team if Polo is on it. So the issue isn't should he be on the 2024 Twins - HE SHOULD - the issue is whether he's worth $10.5m. But should that really be a stumbling block? Next year's Twins have 3 large salaries - Lopez, Correa, and Buxton - and a whole lotta guys still under control and making bupkiss money. Gray is likely gone and Maeda may stay but for relative peanuts for a starting pitcher - maybe $10-12m. They can afford Polanco at $10.5 m, Kepler at $10m and Vasquez at $10m because a big part of the heart of the team next year will be guys making $1m or less - Lewis, Ryan, Ober, Duran, Julien, Kirilloff, Wallner, Castro, Jax, etc. I would try to get Polo to sign for 2 years at a total of around $12-14m but if he won't I would definitely pick up the option and at least keep him through 2024. Polo is a winner. You keep guys like that if you can.

The one guy on your list that I think is intriguing is Austin Martin. The rest are either new to AAA and haven't dominated it yet (Lee, Keirsey, and Severino), a high strikeout guy with limited defense in WIlliams, a high walk reliever in Funderburk, and Stevenson who is an older player who didn't do well in previous MLB experience. Arguably, Steveston is is a speedier version of Jake Cave who is on the Phillies roster and Funderburk may get a shot because we are desperate for bullpen help. Can't see Williams as an upgrade over Solano who he would replace. Still, none of the others really move the needle for me. Why Martin? He's been hot in August and a RH OF with speed would add something to the current team that it doesn't have. The choice would be him or Luplow, who hasn't been pretty good since we got him and has a longer track record. Luplow is controllable through 2024 and has an option left so I could see giving that spot to Martin and hoping to catch lightning in a bottle going forward. If Martin flops in a few game trial, back to Luplow.

With Jax imploding and Winder just not working out, it makes sense to try the best we have at AAA in the majors now before September. The roster spot can be created by sending down Winder and/or putting Jax on the IL (I think he needs a 15 day break). Moran can't throw strikes in AAA either so he's out. With those two spots, I would try Henriquez and either bring back Ortega or try Funderburk if we're trying AAA relievers. I have a different idea. Let's raid the AAA starting rotation for relief help in the short term. I'd bring up Varland to the Twins bullpen as a 1-2 inning short man and consider SWR for a long man role. We need a reliable short man and Varland has the stuff to fill that need. I'm less sure about SWR but I think they are the two most likely to actually provide the Twins bullpen with some help now. Both can go back to starting next year, Varland as the #5 or #6 Twins starter and SWR back at AAA.

Right now Pagan wins hands down. Jax has been very ineffective for about a month. Get him to the IL to rest his tired arm.

Wow, tonight's game was terrible! We only scored in one inning, Correa hit into another double play with the bases loaded, Jeffers needs to lose the piano on his back if he ever expects to hit another double, Duran gave up a run in the 9th, Gallo played (why?). Let's face it, this team is going nowhere! the From Office should have been fired months ago and replaced by people who know merde from shinola! Wait.... wrong thread?

Just saw it. It is Willi C to the Il, Lewis up.

Has it been announced Will C on Il and Lewis up? I was hoping for Keuchel DFA, Lewis up. We don't need a 5th starter until 8/26 with the 3 upcoming off days.

DFA Keuchel. We don't need a 5th starter until 8/26 with the off days. Ryan will be back by hen and Varland creates depth. Keuchel goes through waivers and if he clears (likely?), back to St. Paul for more depth.

Very well put. I think we tend to obsess on the one day lineup thinking there are starters who play "every day" and then there are bench players. I think there are more like 5-6 guys for the infield, 4-5 outfielders, and two catchers who play in various combinations in modern baseball. With that construct, an infield group of Lewis, Correa, Polanco, Julien, Solano, and Farmer works very well. Add in Kirilloff and lose one of the "part timers" in Solano or Farmer and you really have a very good infield group. Maybe you trade Farmer in the off season to a team that needs a SS and Solano stays until Lee is ready to join that group. The OF group is Buxton, Taylor, Kepler, Wallner, and Castro, with Larnach, Luplow, or any other youngish guy in AAA taking the place of Castro if they deserve it. Works for me and I think it's a contending group. I say improve flexibility this year and next by playing Polanco at 1B now. Also opens up the possibility of a Polanco, Julien, Correa, Lewis playoff infield with Solano and Gallo in the pinch hitter/DH role and Farmer as the late inning defensive replacement.

I think if they go with a 4 man rotation everyone gets at least 4 days rest through the 25th. Ober on the 15th, Maeda the 16th (both on 5 days rest), Lopez the 18th (5 days rest), Gray the 19th (5 days rest), and then, next Sunday the 20th, Ober is back on 4 days rest. Maeda on 5 days rest on Tuesday the 22nd, Lopez and Gray on 4 days rest on the 23rd and 24th, Ober on 4 days rest on the 25th. We really don't need the 5th guy until the 26th. Makes one wonder if a Keuchel DFA as a way to open up a spot for Lewis on Tuesday might make sense. He doesn't get claimed, we outright him to AAA, and he can be depth again. We go with 12 pitchers for the next 10 days. Might make a lot of sense.

Brooks Lee looks like a great prospect but I got $20 he opens 2024 in AAA. He isn't tearing up AAA yet, after taking 3 months to get to tearing up AA. He needs more time; he's not a short term starter for next year. He's not an impediment for next year's Opening Day IF. Two hot takes- 1) Let's make Polanco a part time 1B when Lewis comes back. He can actually play infield, is a veteran who can separate defensive issues from his at bats, has pretty good hands (his arm is the issue), and needs to play. Good experience for his super utility role next year. He's the better choice. 2) Why do people want to trade Julien? The guy can hit. He's struggling in the field in his first year in the bigs. He can learn to be a decent infielder or maybe even a decent LF. Two good examples - Corey Koskie and Justin Morneau. Both were poor fielders when they came up who could hit, Both became good infielders with a lot of work. Maybe it's Canadian thing. Give Julien the same chance. Way to early to give up on the guy or pigeon hole into a DH spot.

This is the key. Work Julien hard on D in the offseason at 2b in the hope he can play there 65% of the time. Work Polanco at 1B so he's the answer when Kirilloff is hurt or sits. Polo becomes a super utility playing 2 days at 2B, a day or two at 3B, a day or 2 at 1B, 2 days at DH, and he's great injury insurance in the IF. 10m is a lot for that guy but the IF next year will have 3 pre-arbitration starters in Kirilloff, Lewis, and Julien so you can afford a higher priced bench guy.

Is Balazovic an option? If not, and I can't believe I'm typing this, Pagan. Jax looks like he needs a 15 day IL stint with a tired arm.

I agree with Craig Arko. Castro will go on the IL on Monday or Tuesday backdated to Saturday to make room for Lewis. Luplow and Gallo will stay with the team. Keuchel is a tough one. I could see them giving him one more shot against a poor team like the Pirates since he's had one good outing and one bad one, unless Ryan is ready to go. I could also see them dropping him for Ryan or for Varland, or making him the long man out of the bullpen. I would prefer they DFA him with Varland up if Ryan isn't ready or Varland in the bullpen if Ryan is ready. I don't think I'm right though; I think Keuchel gets at least one more start. Doesn't make sense to me short term and really no sense long term but I just can see it happening that way.

I think DocBauer is right on. This is exactly what the FO should do. If this works, rotation in 2024 is Lopez, Ryan, Maeda, Ober, Paddack/Varland, with Mahle back in 2025 when or if one of those 6 is hurt or gone. Love it.

If Chief means "who is most likely worse right now in August 2023", I think he's probably right. Love me some Willi C but Castro's current slash of .241/.322/.371 (.693), 91 OPS+, is right in line with his career slash of .244/299/.379(.678), 88 OPS+. The only real difference is a few more walks and a lot more steals because Rocco has let him loose on the basepaths. Yes, that's right, Rocco has developed a base stealer. Who knew that could happen? Anyway, Castro is a nice player as a backup UTL guy, hopefully playing 3-4 times a week. Tops. Not an every day starter. I think Martin could be a lot more than that. You know what I think could be fun? Let's be honest guys, I don't think I'm the only one who gets bored of this 2023 team. Jordan Luplow, Joey Gallo and Dallas Keuchel? Why? Not really helping much now, not back in 2024 if there is a God. Let's use this year to really jump start 2024 even more than they already are. DFA Gallo, Keuchel, and Luplow. Call up Lewis, Martin, and Varland (first to take Keuchel's spot or give Ober a turn off if we go 4 man rotation with the off days coming up, then to the late inning bullpen when Ryan comes back). Option Winder or Sands to AAA when Ryan is ready to come back. Trot out this everyday lineup, and I mean every day hitting the young LH hitters against LH pitching: Julien 2B/1B Lewis 3B Correa SS Kepler RF Polanco 1B/2B (replaced by Kiriloff when he's ready, Polo becomes the INF UTL/part time DH, plays 4-5 days a week) Jeffers C (Vásquez hits 8 when he plays and Wallner and Castro/Taylor move up one) Wallner DH/LF Castro/Taylor CF (Castro starting a little more and Taylor defensive replacement as well as sometime starter) Martin LF Or hit Martin leadoff and move everyone back one. Varland starts until Ryan is back, then move Varland to a 7th/8th inning role out of the BP. Back end of the bullpen is Duran, Jax, Varland, and Pagan. Thielbar is the high leverage fireman. Balazovic and Floro handle the 5th and 6th, Sands, Winder, and Headrick are on the AAA shuttle filling the long man spot. Farmer and Solano play only against LH pitching. When Kirilloff is ready, either end the Martin experiment, send Castro down, or DFA Solano (need Farmer's glove and Solano is 35 and gone next year). Buxton replaces either Castro or Martin with the winner playing LF. Even better in a weird way, if Kirilloff and/or Buxton comes back 9/1 or later no one goes down. Then you have a very flexible group of 15 fielders from which to pick your 13 man playoff roster. What do you think? Looks to me like a much more fun team to watch and cheer for. Also helps you figure out 2024. Can Martin play at this level? Can Castro play CF well enough to be the guy if Taylor isn't back in 2024? Can Lewis and Kirilloff stay healthy for a 6 week run in September and hopefully October? Will the extra speed help us score more runs, particularly against LH pitching? Can Varland hold down a rotation spot and/or is he a real force out of the bullpen? If this works we've found 4 young starters for 2024 - Lewis, Kirilloff, Julien, and Martin - found out if we need a Taylor type as Buxton CF insurance for next year or if Castro can handle that job, found out if Varland can be a high end reliever as well as a starter if Paddack shines when he comes back, eased Polo into the role he's likely to have in 2024 if he's retained, potentially identified replacements for Kepler if he isn't retained, and freed up some payroll for a FA starting pitcher. Let's find all this out and have some fun along the way.

I agree that it's time to get Varland up to the Twins. He can replace Keuchel in the #5 hole if Ryan isn't ready. Or with 3 days off in the next 10 days we could go with a 4 man rotation or use Varland to skip Ober's next start to give him some time. Ober looks like he's hitting a wall. No more starts for Keuchel. I'd really like to see them bring Varland up to pitch out of the bullpen, maybe even in short mid to late inning stints. He's got the fastball to be effective and it might play up from 95 to 97-98 in shorter stints. He walks too many guys so that's a worry but we need back end help. Varland could be that help. Stretch him next year to go back and start.

He Doesn't. What we saw last night is what Kuechel is against a good lineup. He's gone after this year, maybe even before his next start. He only stays the rest of the year if they decide to keep him as a long man in the bullpen.

Really interesting article. Help explain why teams keep some AAAA players on their AAA teams to help foster a winning culture even if they are highly unlikely to make a meaningful contribution over time at the MLB level. Good Twins examples are Kyle Garlick and Andrew Stevenson. Each of them helps the Saints win but neither is likely to every really help the Twins going forward, especially since Garlick is 30 and Stevenson 29 and each has been below average in their MLB shots. Still, you only want a couple of those guys on the field and in the pitching rotation because they aren't going to feed your big league club. Better to play a Martin, Severino or Keirsey over yet another Garlick even if they initially struggle so you can see if they might have a longer term impact at the MLB level. Bottom line is that it is a balance, but it's balance that is dependent on the needs of the MLB team, not the needs of the AAA or AA team to draw fans. The MLB clubs' needs are paramount. Any AAA or AA owner that prioritizes winning success in the Minors over development for the Majors isn't going to have a very long affiliation with the MLB club. So, the fact that Larnach isn't playing 1B and Garlick and Williams are tells me that the Twins are committed to Kirilloff as their long term 1B, with Julien as Plan B. A bench RH 1B bat is the need that's being developed, not an alternative to Kirilloff and/or Julien.

Hilarious. The 2005 Vikings were one of the epic failures in sports history. The Whizzinator, the Love Boat? Classic. they probably still talk about that in opposing locker rooms - "things are going south, whose got the Whizzinator?". Looking back on it, has to be one of the funniest teams ever. If it wasn't so sad.

Doesn't matter. AAA is to groom guys for the MLB roster. Garlick is unlikely to ever be on the MLB roster again. Larnach might be. He gets the reps at any position of need over Garlick.

Hard to watch. Having said that, it's hard to be consistent on offense when 3 of your top 6 hitters likely in the 3, 4, and 5 spots (Kirilloff, Buxton, Lewis) aren't playing. My view is get Lewis on a plane to Philly and get him in the lineup Friday night. He can DH for a couple of games to lessen the potential for re-injury. This team cannot score enough if we have to rely on Julien, Wallner, Kepler, and Castro to consistently deliver. They are either young and/or complimentary pieces - they can't be the engines. Add to that playing Gallo and Taylor most nights and Vasquez half the games and it's a recipe for stinkers like today. We can't bring back guys that are hurt but we can bring back guys who are playing. Bring back Lewis.

Wallner is showing well enough so that you have to think he is in the Twins plan as a 2024 starter in the OF. I'm pretty sure the FO manipulated things so Larnach still has an option left after this season. Whether or not the team keeps Larnach for at least another year or tries to trade him depends a lot on what they think about guys like Prato, Castro, Keirsey, and Martin (although he's playing IF in St. Paul). In a perfect world, you'd have Wallner or Laranch in one corner OF spot and someone with a more speed/high OBP profile in the other, hopefully hitting RH. That's especially true if CF is going to be manned by a power guy in Buxton who needs a lot of DH ABs, with a defense first CF backup. You can't really carry and start 3 guys in the OF who all have high SO/high power profiles. My bet is that they start 2024 with Wallner and Kepler manning the corner OF spots, with Castro as the primary 4th OF and Taylor has the backup CF. Larnach stays in AAA unless there is a killer deal out there for either a young pitcher or young catcher. Assuming he still has an option year, there might be a way to get real value for a combo of Larnach and a AA or A+ pitcher. By mid-2024 Larnach is either on the Twins due to injury or just great AAA performance (then he replaces Kepler or Wallner if he regresses), or he is traded for younger prospects. No reason to force a decision on him until then. If the FO thinks he's been passed as the best prospect OF by someone else, he gets traded in the off season. That's part of the reason Prato, Keirsey, and Martin are in AAA with Contreras released and Garlick moved to 1B/DH. Now through the end of the season or maybe mid-2024 is the OF evaluation period before the shakeup.