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LA Vikes Fan

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  1. LA Vikes Fan
    I think you may overrate Brock, as we all do with our own players. I live in LA and the word here was that the Dodgers gave up way too much by trading a perfectly good 4th OF to acquire an oft injured reliever who can only go 30-40 innings a year. And then, right on cue, Stewart goes 37 innings, leterally 4 innings with the Dodgers with a 4.91 ERA, goes on the Il, has a shoulder injury, and goes into surgery. They hope to have him back for the second half of 2026 but at 31, the end may be near. Actually half a season may work out great since the 37 innings he pitched in 2025 was the most of his career, and 30% more than he'd ever pitched. We all know Stewart's profile - pitch well for half a season and then his arm falls off. There is no way he was or is worth any team's top 10 prospect.
  2. LA Vikes Fan
    Agreed. I'm ok with trading Jeffers, but not for High A or even AA prospects. It would have to be for guys who have at least mastered AAA, even better someone who just made the fringes of the MLB roster and who just needs the opportunity a contending team has a very hard time finding. Jeffers is the MN C for now. A trade for prospects can be had at the deadline. No need to lower ourselves to that level now.
  3. LA Vikes Fan
    Love the concept, less excited about the FAs you cited. I would shop Ober, and I like the idea of trading him for Mountcastle plus a solid AA type prospect or a AAA starter we can convert to the MLB bullpen. Trade of 2 guys coming off down years who have been better before and we get the kicker because starting pitching is worth more than a 1B. Do not use the money for any of Hoskins (short term very risky, long term cooked), or IKF (mediocre at best). Andujar might be worth it IF he can play at least an average 1B, otherwise has no place on this team. If the move is to trade from our "surplus" of young starters, to me Matthews, Abel, and Festa are off the table unless the return is pretty significant. I think the floor for both Matthews and Abel is #4 type starer, and both have top of the rotation ceilings. I would want a high end SS prospect who's already shown well at AAA plus another 45 or better prospect before I would move either of them. That may be more than they're worth so I most likely keep both. Festa is off the table for 2 reasons - his value is down now because of the injury and I think he could be one of the serious back end relievers that we desperately need. For the right return I would consider moving SWR, Bradley, or Rojas. Having said that, I think SWR and Bradley may be better traded mid-season if they have a good first half. Good post and good concepts. I know its hard to come up with good content right now given the lack of activity by the team and the overall outlook, so I appreciate the effort.
  4. LA Vikes Fan
    I think the question is how proficient he is at 1B. That's where the opening is on the team. I couldn't find any stats on how good he is at 1B so I just don't know. In the OF, Andujar is a poor OF with a strong arm, just like Wallner. The other alternative is to have Andujar, Clemens and Wallner essentially form a three headed entry at RF/1B/DH/bench bat. I don't like that much because I want RF and LF to be young er guys learning their way in 2026, with Martin the LF. Bottom line for me is that I like Andujar as a hitter and as a signing IF he can play a competent 1B. If not we really have no place for him.
  5. LA Vikes Fan
    Given that Toronto picked up Dylan Cease and Cody Ponce already this off season, I think it's very unlikely Varland will back into the rotation. At this point Toronto doesn't have room for Barrios in the rotation any more, much less a failed starter like Varland. Louie is a late inning non-closer reliever in MLB. That's what he is. It's a valuable role, less valuable than a starter or closer, but still valuable and in his case, it's even more valuable because it's likely he can fill that role for 5-6 years. If you want to evaluate the trade, that's what we gave up. If Roden and Rojas are both average or better MLB players for several years, we win. If one is a very good or better player and one washes out, we win. If one is a back end of the 26 man roster guy and the other washes out or if both wash out, we lose. If they are both averagish guys for 2-3 years, it's a wash. Way too early to know the answer.
  6. LA Vikes Fan
    I think that you have the analysis right but I slightly disagree with your conclusion because of the contending window context. The Twins traded some win now type players for prospects and payroll savings. My view is that was a realistic, albeit painful, evaluation of the 2025 mid season roster. We weren't going anywhere but likely down and that roster was not going to be a contending roster in 2026 either. We gave up 4 useful players in the short term, including one star in Duran, a very good player in Varland, and 2 solid/good but not very good or elite players. In return, we got basically 11 prospects (I don't count Outman as a prospect), and 1 MLB level player in Bradley. I look at the prospects and think that at least 2-3 of them plus Bradley and Outman will be with the MLB club for a big part of 2026. I count 7 to 8 that are possible MLB contributors by 2027 (if there is a season in 2027), and another 2 that should be contributors by 2028. If we get 4-5 solid or better MLB players out of the 11 plus Outman, it's a big win for the Twins. 3-4 is a slight win, less than that a loss. I think the odds are in favor of a win but one never knows. Much as I hated the selloff, in retrospect some upheaval was the right thing to do. That roster had to be re-set, if not torn down and rebuilt. I personally think Bradley will be a 4/5 starter this year and could be a #3 by 2027. I think Rojas and Abel will be at the #3 starter level or better by 2027/28, and between Tait and Jimenez, we may have our catching tandem by 2028. Mendez and Roden could be players or complete washouts, same for Gallagher and Armstrong but we'll know by 2027 at the latest on all 4. By 2027/28 Correa and Jax will be trending down or retired, so the timelines work pretty well. You're right, the wild card is the money. If the Twins spend on $15-20M on decent free agents for 2026 or 2027, big win for us because those FAs basically replace Correa's salary. If ownership pockets the savings, it's only a win of one of the prospects turns into an All-Star and 3-4 others into solid MLB players.
  7. LA Vikes Fan
    I agree these are realistic signings but it's hard to get excited about any of these guys except possibly Weaver. That's before considering Hawkins public spat with Kahnle and Finnegan being on record saying he wants to go back to Detroit. I do think we need at least one experienced RP but I think it's much more likely to be someone like one of the Rogers twins, Caleb Theilbar, Drew Pomeranz, or Danny Coulombe. Next year is a development year, so why not develop in the BP as well? Start the year with Festa and Prielipp in the MLB bullpen and Raya or John Klein closing in St. Paul. The MLB bullpen starts the year with Sands, Topa, Ohl, Funderburk, Orze, Festa, Prielipp, and one free agent - my vote is Tayler Rogers or Coulombe, but I could live with Theilbar. The idea is to pick up a LH who can pitch high leverage. Try Festa as the closer. He's a high strikeout guy with a good changeup and a high spinning slider. His shoulder may not be able to handle a starting workload and he's been passed by SWR and Bradley, and maybe by Matthews, Rojas, and Abel. That puts guys like Sands and Funderburk in late inning, non-closing roles, and lets Topa, Ohl, Orze, and Prielipp handle middle relief and multi-inning assignments. Pick up a LH FA who can pitch high leverage and you have the outlines of a competent bullpen. Even better is Festa's nickname - "The Slim Reaper" is a great, dare I say perfect, nickname for a closer.
  8. LA Vikes Fan
    I'm one of the people that likes Martin and I agree entirely with you. Martin is not the backup CF, he's not a super UTL guy, he's a corner OF whose path to regular playing time is as a solid average, high OBP guy who is above average in in the corner OF and can play CF for a few innings here or there and not embarrass himself. He was that guy for the last 2 months of the 2025 season, the first time he's really gotten the chance to play every day. His performance last year should give him a shot to continue this year as the every day LF unless and until his bat falls off or his defense badly regresses. If he can hit .280/.375/.365 like he did last year, he's a starter. If he raises that SLG to even around .400 and/or can steal 25-35 bases at an 85% success rate, he's a locked in starter for the next few years. If his hitting stats regress to the .253/.318/352 he hit in 2024, he's a 4th or 5th OF. If they regress more, he's a DFA. My point here is not to "anoint" Martin or even say play him come hell or high water, it's to give him a real chance next year. A real chance means playing him almost every day for at least a couple or months or half a season and sticking with him when he has his inevitable ups and downs. Platooning him with a guy who hit .150 last year is not a real shot. Martin got his chance last hear and he performed. We need to reward that by keeping it going if we can. There are plenty of opportunities in RF and at 1B for all of these "can't miss" prospects we have to come up and perform like Martin did (or better) and earn there own shot. Let's not "anoint" Emma, GG, Roden, or Jenkins. Let's give them a shot too and play the guys who actually perform. So far that's Martin. Start the season with Buxton in CF, Martin in LF, and one or more of Roden, Emma, GG, or Jenkins in RF (or Roden at 1B) and make Wallner the DH playing RF 1-2 days a week. The Twins aren't likely playoff contenders in 2026, let's FIND OUT WHAT WE HAVE.
  9. LA Vikes Fan
    I could see Martin hitting 9 aka the second leadoff. I just don’t like Buxton leading off. He is the one middle of the order bat we have. He should be hitting 2 or 3.
  10. LA Vikes Fan
    I don't understand why everyone is looking to platoon Martin or reduce him to a #4 OF after his performance last season. The man hit .282/.374/.365, stole 11 bases, and was either 3 or 5 OAA in the field depending on where you get the number. That is a starting OF on pretty much any MLB team outside of LA or NY. His performance was a step up improvement over 2024. In other words, he is progressing the way you like to see a guy up from AAA progress. He should be next year's leadoff hitter with Keaschall hitting 2 and Buxton 3. Now maybe last year was a flash in the pan for Martin but he earned the starting job out of the gate. I just don't get why so many people here want to put him on the bench when he is the second best hitting OF we have and a good fielder in LF. Roden, on the other hand, has conquered AAA but hasn't shown anything yet at the MLB level. He should get a shot given his AAA mastery, but not at the expense of Martin. His shot should be at 1B at the expense of Clemens, as the backup CF, or at the expense of Wallner in RF, with Wallner moving to the primary DH spot IF Roden shows he can hit MLB pitching. Benching a guy like Martin who has shown he can hit MLB pitching so Roden can play is just insane, particularly when the other two spots he plays are manned by a guy who hit .213/.281/.434(.715) in Clemens, and a guy who hit .202 with a 30% plus SO rate who can't field the position in Wallner. Clemens is a utility guy with some power, lousy BA, and big SO rate. Wallner is a power guy whose defense profiles him to the DH spot. No scholarships, hometown favorites, or nice 30 year old stories. Play your best players. Martin was one of our best players for the last 2 months of 2025. Let's see if that continues on 2026. I do think Roden will get a shot next season in RF or at 1B. A day or two a week in LF is fine too. The Twins OF next year should be Buxton in CF and Martin in LF, both pretty much every day. with RF manned by the ST winner between Roden, GG, Emma, and Jenkins, with Wallner DHing 3-4 days a week and in RF 1-2 days a week. Let's not play Wallner every day in RF or Clemens at 1B, let's actually try to get better.
  11. LA Vikes Fan
    Not exactly if these players are who I think they are. Player A can play 1B and was one of the 3 finalists for the Gold Glove award at 1B. Player B is a LH hitting DH only; he is a poor OF and can't hit LH pitching. Player A fits the 2026 Twins and beyond; Player B does not. We should try to trade FOR Player A, and should try to trade AWAY Player B.
  12. LA Vikes Fan
    I don't have any more information than anyone else, but I still have a prediction as to what the Twins will do this offseason based on what we've seen so far. The answer is almost nothing. I predict they will trade Larnach for either (1) another team's arb salary conundrum like Spencer Steer (my hope) or Ryan Mountcastle, maybe even in a 3-way trade where the Reds/Orioles get prospects and a third team gets Larnach, (2) an averageish middle reliever, or (3) prospects at the AA or lower level. They will sign one or two veteran relievers who cost $3m a year or less. That's it. I think we are looking at the 2026 Twins roster with the changes above. Payroll around $100 million. Get ready for a boring off season. Oh, and by the way, unless we're going to spend real money on a younger, quality free agent (seems unlikely), I'm fine with this approach. I think we have enough to be average/competitive IF we keep our current starting pitching, shore up the BP, and see real improvement from 3-4 guys. Let's see if the younger players can play for half the season. Maybe we catch lightning in a bottle, maybe we fall flat on our face. If we are out of it in July, that's the time to trade starting pitching.
  13. LA Vikes Fan
    Agreed. I'd like to see them try to swing a Larnach for Spencer Steer trade with the Reds, as others have mentioned. I'd even be willing to throw in a prospect swap where they get a higher rated one than we do to make that happen. Steer becomes the primary 1B with Clemens as a UTL on the bench. Steer was a gold glove finalist at 1B and hits some.
  14. LA Vikes Fan
    Easy call to do this for the reasons you stated. Prielipp is MLB ready but not as a starter. Raya may not be, but he isn't getting any better as a starter so he has to go to the BP. We have openings, let's give them a shot.
  15. LA Vikes Fan
    Agreed. Absent some substantial change, Martin is the opening day LF and an every day player in that position unless he shows he can’t hit like he did in the second half of last year. We want the outfield to get faster and better on defense. Martin was +5 OAA in LF last year. He needs to work on his base running but the 20 stolen base a year profile is there. Admittedly no power. I’m guessing he leads off or hits in the nine hole next year, a.k.a., the second lead off.
  16. LA Vikes Fan
    I would say a 65-75 win team with 70 as the over/under, but I am the eternal optimist.
  17. LA Vikes Fan
    I think you guys are too itchy on the trigger finger for a trade of Lopez or Ryan. The smart time to trade them is at the 2026 deadline more so than now. There isn't a "need" to trade them given our current payroll. the expert speculation is just that; speculation without really any backing. I think teams are calling and Falvey is listening on both but the required return is sky high. He'll get more at the deadline so why move now? I think the more likely scenario is that you are looking at the 2026 team right now except that I could see us signing 1 or 2 low wattage relief types, a backup catcher (Heim or even Vasquez back?) and maybe a 1B. The rotation is set 1-4 with Bradley and Matthews fighting for #5, Bradley winning. The bullpen is the 3 we still have, three from Festa, Prielipp, Raya, and Ohl, and 2 FAs or 1 plus Adams. The lineup is what we trotted out in September except that Larnach is gone, replaced by Roden, Fedko, or GG, in that order. I know that makes for a boring offseason but I think that's the plan.
  18. LA Vikes Fan
    This makes me think - what is our lineup in 2026 assuming no new guys other than relief pitchers and Larnach traded for a reliever or prospect (fairly likely scenario, IMHO). Here's my view of the likely batting order: Martin (LF), Keaschall (2B), Buxton (CF/DH), Wallner (DH/RF), Lewis (3B), Jeffers (C), Clemens (1B), Lee (SS), Roden/Outman/Fedko (RF/CF/DH) Bench: 2 of Roden/Outman/Fedko, 2nd C (Pereda, Cardenas, or the return of Vasquez), Kreidler/Fitzgerald (UTL that can play SS). I need a drink. Wake me up if something happens.
  19. LA Vikes Fan
    Hard to get excited about Clemens as the everyday 1B. Also hard to get excited about anyone in free agency who is in the Twins price range, especially after Josh Naylor signed for 5 years at between $18 and $20 million a year. There just isn't anybody out there in our price range except uninspiring guys like Ty France, Wilmer Flores, and Carlos Santana. Maybe Miguel Andujar ca be a platoon guy/DH (he can't field a lick), but even that doesn't really move any sort of needle. I'm hopeful they will give Fedko and/or Sabato shot at the weak side of the platoon and see if they can hit but I don't see much else. Maybe a trade of Larnach for Mountcastle or Casas could happen - change of scenery candidate for change of scenery candidate - but that seems doubtful. If Clemens could hit even .230-.260 with a mid to high .700s OPs he's be a real asset, but nothing in his history suggests that's likely. I agree with those who day we need someone to hit in the middle of the order. You're right but we ain't going to get that at 1B unless Pete Alonso will sing for $10m a year (he won't). We have one middle of the order hitter - Byron Buxton - and two potential leadoff/#2 types - Keaschall and Martin, both based on SSS. Unless Jeffers, Wallner, or Lewis steps up, all we got after Buxton is a bunch of guys who should hit 6-9 on a good team. I guess we'll try to steal our way into a decent offense, or hope that GG or Jenkins can hit the ground running. I'm not holding my breath.
  20. LA Vikes Fan
    Agree with your analysis but not your conclusions. I think Martin is your starting LF and they will work with him on his stealing. That's why Grady Sizemore is now a coach - to work with guys on their baserunning. I think Roden has a real shot at a staring OF job or 4th OF position in ST - but it's in RF, not LF. Wallner is likely to be the primary DH, 2 days a week OF guy, with Roden in RF or at 1B.
  21. LA Vikes Fan
    Interesting article. We'll see how it goes with Beauregard. The most interesting part of the article was the comment "not to mention apparent bench-coach frontrunner James Rowson" Is that true? I'm thrilled if it is. Would love to see Rowson working as the bench coach with Shelton.
  22. LA Vikes Fan
    I agree with all of this with one nit - Wallner is a lousy RF. I wish he could play 1B and hope they try him there or he's going to wind up as a primary DH, RF once or twice a week guy. Even then, we would be stupid to trade him unless we get a serious return and even then I would hesitate. Larnach is ok but he isn't as good as his contract. Hopefully we can get something in trade and don't just have to DFA him, even if it's just an A or AA guy with potential. I'd try to trade him with one of our A or AA guys with potential for a bad contract with upside guy like Tristan Casas or Ryan Mountcastle. Otherwise, get a prospect and move on. We have to sign him first to get that done.
  23. LA Vikes Fan
    They're not trading Martin and probably not Roden. Martin was the clear winner in the last two months of 2025 tryout camp. He is your starting LF on Opening Day, will hit leadoff, 2nd or 9th (classic places for a speedy, high OBP guy with no power), and play pretty much every day until he shows he's not good enough. Don't miss the key defensive stat in the post - he went from -6 OAA in the OF in 2024 to +5 in 2025. Staying out of CF helped that but he showed he can be a plus defender in a corner, maybe even elite. You want a speedier, better defensive OF in 2026? Martin needs to be in it. Roden will get his shot in 2026 but he isn't a guy that would bring back much in a trade. He's more valuable to us a possible 1B or RF. He did tear up AAA last year so he should get a shot and let's see what happens. Trading him for some mediocre vet reliever makes no sense to me. He's only tradable if we could get a younger quality prospect in return or if he gets packaged with someone like Larnach for a real player. That seems pretty unlikely.
  24. LA Vikes Fan
    Agreed. I would have Gonzalez ahead of Emma at this point based on their performance. Emma may have a higher ceiling but he hasn't shown yet that he can handle AAA. He's at least half a season away, maybe more. Gonzalez is ready for his first MLB test now. I would love to see Jenkins and Gonzalez on the MLB roster out of ST, or at least by May 15 if we want to play the service time game. Culpepper up by July 1, earlier if there's an injury. Let's also give Martin, Roden and Fedko their shot at regular playing time this year, with Martin playing basically every day. 2026 is all about developing the next core. Let's not waste ABs on stop gap veterans like Carlos Santana, Rhys Hoskins, etc. Those guys fit fine on a team that's close to contention but let's face it, that ain't your 2026 Minnesota Twins.
  25. LA Vikes Fan
    I see at least 7 guys we want to keep. but it should be relatively easy and leave spots to spare. First, you have to focus on pitching and catching. It's much easier to keep a pitcher stashed in the bullpen pitching low leverage (like we did with Santana) and a backup catcher than it is to keep a position player on the roster all year long. Second, you have to think that the following players will get non-tendered or DFA'd - Fitzgerald, Gasper, Keirsey, Kreidler, and McCusker. All may get a MiLB contract shot with the Twins or simply move on. Julien, Outman and Larnach run the risk of a non-tender as well, and all 3 of them are change of scenery trade candidates. I expect the Twins to have at least 11-14 open 40 man spots by the time they need to make Rule 5 decisions. I think they will leave 2-3 spots open for RP FA acquisitions and a backup Catcher signing, leaving 9-11 spots to add guys and protect them from Rule 5 poaching. Given that you start with pitchers and catchers, and next are guys that are ready for big league debuts, I would keep them in the following order - Prileipp, Rojas, Morris, CJ Culpepper, Gonzalez, Mendez, Olivares followed by 2 or 3 of Klein, Olivar, Fedko, Rosario, Cardenas and Lewis. Whomever of those 6 we don't protect are the ones at risk. I think Rosario and Cardenas squeak though either without being selected or coming back after ST so I would protect Klein, Olivares and maybe Fedko but only if you have plans to give Fedko and Klein a real MLB shot in 2026. Let's cut to the chase. We have a lot of flotsam and jetsam on the 40 man and a lot of good prospects. Let's be sure to keep the prospects and if it costs us guys like Julien, Gasper, Keirsey, Kreidler and McCusker, so be it.
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