JD-TWINS

They were ranked 21st and not 17th in a rankings list I saw with that “health comment.” I have no way to gauge where the Twins are relative to others. I assume, based on Top 100 list guys in the system that they are probably around 10-15 and not poor but not that exciting. Translating at the MLB level is all that matters - where the system is ranked is just some generally subjective conversation piece.

Isn’t the deadline “fire sale” overblown, relative to the effect on the 26-man Roster? Correa is about 50% washed, with up & down effectiveness at the plate - inability to play “well” at SS and being hurt routinely…….why, after taking a big swing with his signing (3.5 seasons later), would any reasonable FO not move off $25M/yr ……. assuming “some” of the funds would become available to help replace/rebuild the Roster? Coulombe - Bader - Castro - Paddack were all going to be FA’s & gone in ‘26 OR they would need to negotiate a new deal. Get some returns if at all possible IF Team has decided they aren’t competing in ‘25…….what’s the problem? Dobnack ……. good to get out from under. Stewart ……. in his best year he threw 37 innings for Team (1 inning every 4.4 games) and he threw 3 1/3 innings for Dodgers after July 31, 2025 - out for the year - hurt again! He was not a mainstay - he was very effective in short bursts - no real long-term loss with the continued lack of availability. That’s 7 of the guys that were moved……. Duran, Jax, & Varland are all missed on some level. Tait & Abel for Duran ……. we’ll see. Not terrible thing if EITHER of these guys develops into expectations. Never fun to see a high performer leave. Not long ago, traded Arraez after winning the batting title with fingers crossed. Bradley……big potential to start after JAX has previously washed as a starter ……can always consider Taj in the PEN. Griffin’s stuff was lights out most nights (fun to watch) but he was too often like a “wound too tight spring” with pitch mix issues……at least in ‘25. His ERA in ‘25 was 4.23 & he was 1-7. His 5 year career he has a 4.04 ERA and a record of 23-31. We didn’t trade Nolan Ryan. Varland had a 4.94 ERA for the Blue Jays in last 2 months of the season. He’s a horse & a competitor and he can be lights out some days. …….. I’ve said many times, if Louie was from Kenosha, the trade would be viewed differently………Rojas has a real shot at being a rotation guy after this year - this was the basis for the trade - Roden was another guy that has “a shot” but essentially a throw in guy. I’m sure many will not like this take but I just don’t see the moves being a bad thing for the organization’s future. There was a lot of drama and media buzz and surprise with the concentration of the moves, but not necessarily bad moves, from my viewpoint.

Always such a ray of sunshine for Twin’s fans!

Falvey is like a School Superintendent after the District builds a new school and wins an award ………. then the community quits paying taxes and the School District has to fire the good teachers (highest paid) to meet new budget constraints with no forewarning. Yep, it’s the Superintendent's fault ….”never liked him”! Can anyone see Tommy P. signing KFA with an overpay and maybe another FA to save face? “All part of our commitment to being competitive.” The franchise can obviously afford a $125M payroll if they can generate some interest. I SURE HOPE SO! I saw Dan Hayes state (maybe mis-state) on MlB Network that the Minority ownership bought 30% of the Club (I thought 20% range?) …………. regardless, I still do not believe that there was ZERO stipulation in “their investment terms” that said the Team needs to meet certain goals on spending/marketing/etc. Not having a say in day to day or in specific decisions doesn’t mean they are kept out n MUTE & IGNORED. Organization has to do something else positive with the roster or Falvey may be “The Martyr” be season’s end?

How many “good teams” have a Team Spend of $105M in 2026, with 10% of that total going to a former player???? The “partial blame” laid at the feet of ownership with the principal blame going to Falvey just doesn’t make sense to me. Spending 65-70% of what was spent in ‘23 and 9% of that total is being paid to Correa. It’s “Calvin Griffith Cheap” at Target Field these days!!!

If the media’s, completely subjective, comments have any effect on how your organization is run you need to fire yourself! The Athletic stated (Twins at #21) that if Rodrguez & a couple others had some better health ……”they would be much higher”. Does tga mean they’d be 16th or 6th? Historical health seems to have little sway on what’s happening now & into this summer if people/players are healthy now. It was a cowardly take in the Athletic!

Falvey probably lost his mind one day when Tom asked why ticket sales were down again……..that or he was tired of waking up and wanting to puke every morning because ownership and the fanbase don’t like the Roster, even though Team is spending 65-70% as much as they did in 2023. The fact that spending was cut/has been cut at the severe level we’ve seen & then to bitch about the FO’s inability to have an effective roster is nuts! Reducing spending to match revenues is business and essentially understandable BUT not after OWNERSHIP approves of a long-term signing of One guy at $35M/year. I’m not in love with Falvey or anyone else in the FO but the attacks for franchise current status being anywhere but on Ownership makes no sense to me.

Gonzalez is the organization’s “sleeper”, even after a stellar 2025. As you state, results matter not the rankings. Just hope he keeps it up through ‘26!

Absolutely think that 3 guys will leapfrog him. Of the FOUR depth starters (#5-#8) Festa seems like a very probable guy to be in the PEN, controlled innings coming off injury, prior to Opening Day. If the Top 4 guys are healthy, I think the Team chooses to be competitive and they move Matthews to the Closer role. This leaves Bradley & Abel along with Morris & Rojas for starter depth. I think Prielipp needs innings monitoring for another year with his fragile health…. can monitor his innings and get “production” from the PEN. By adding Raya & Klein to the mix, there are 5 total guys that have a solid chance to be in front of Adams. Then there’s the unknown of additional FA’s and n the PEN?

Not sure why timing on Jackson being waived is so critical/pressing or late? If Team wants him to pass through as to keep him in St Paul if unclaimed, it seems one would want other Team’s rosters to be filled or more “set” as time passes …. - right? Maybe there’s some twist I’m unaware of?

Agree completely with slant in first paragraph. As the writer, isn’t there a shade of not being honest in making Caratini’s Salary of approximately 10-12% more than Jeffers being an issue for playing time? Vazquez made more than 2X - 3X Jeffers for the duration of his contract and never approached a skewed amount of starts. Jeffers catching 70 of first 110 games and then getting traded at Deadline is possible. He may have some success as the Top guy and the Twins may offer an extension by July 1st - doubtful but things happen……probably backs won’t agree with stating? Jackson is. it a sought after catcher for ANY of the 31 other Teams so he’ll pass through after DFA’d and Twin’s will try to keep him at AAA with MiLB deal meeting his $1.8M plus a tiny bonus……..best case for Jackson.

I agree with your first paragraph and that neither is currently worthy of a spot in the Twin’s PEN. Adams has a chance, with refinement.

I’d be surprised if Adams is on the 26 Man past April 30th……he may just slot as the depth, 10th guy and start out in St Paul? IMO, Ohl had 2 pitches and one with real effectiveness, a change-up. Adams can trim his pitch count from 5 to 3 as a reliever. Re Adams: MeGill - Sands - Jax …… none of them were successful starters either - focus and experience in one inning roles may make him serviceable? The PEN was in a shambles after July 31 & Team was just trying to cover innings. Adams cannot throw more than an inning at a time in the SHOW with any expectancy of success. He got guys out last year but, generally, by pitch 35 he was getting knocked all around. One inning at a time with his 3 best pitches - Adams has a chance to be the 8th guy in somebody’s PEN.

Is this supposed to show up in Red Ink with “Sarcasm” in italics? Gotta be! Right?

Thought Eddie was a “find” as well until he lead baseball in backward K’s in ‘24 with the next guy having about 200 AB’s more. Last year was futile. Ohl, “….I know his stuff might not play….”…..that’s the bottom line. Any “upside potential” coming from these two is a win! Hope the kid’s elbow heals so he has a chance.

I don’t see the Orioles, who are not cash strapped, trading a guy they just extended a few months ago (can sign Valdez or others in FA market)………. this extension may make Adley Rutschman available from the O’s perspective, as his offense seems to have leveled off.

How does the 2026 Draft have anything to do with, what I assume you are referring to …… the potential 2027 lockout?

If Louie Varland wasn’t from Minnesota nobody would utter the “we have to be wowed to trade Varland” statement. Rojas, was the chip, Roden was along for the ride and since he’s older, he gets more focus than he should. Rojas is the starter (potentially) that Varland wasn’t going to be. A younger, cheaper guy that hasn’t washed out as a starter yet, as Jax had, is what they got in return, as well as cheaper with more control. Jax had just an OK ‘25 - certainly nothing special. Varland can throw a lot of innings with lots of upside. He also gives up a bunch of HR’s. Louie’s ERA in ‘23 was 4.63 and his ERA in ‘24 was 7.61 and his ERA for Twin’s in ‘25 was 2.02 ………in 23 outings in Toronto it was 4.94. He pitched a bunch in the Playoffs but his ERA was still 4.94, with a WHIP of 1.394 for August/September. He’s a decent reliever - because he’s from Minnesota, fans think he’s outstanding.

…….and Team has #3 pick this coming draft.

Agreed - I don’t think the owners, at the height of MLB’s REVENUES, will shut the game down for a season nor a significant portion of a season. They can negotiate salary issues just as well ahead of time (the deadline for contract). Players make too much money to worry about “lockout” ……. they won’t be suffering.

That’s the important part Cory 😉 ……. let’s just stick with the fact that he’s $15M less cost. Both have some injury issues that, if acquiring, need consideration.

Ryan is younger & cheaper with not much less of a performance capability level than Lopez…… seems pretty obvious he’s the most attractive. They are a draw on length of control. Lopez is a high, high quality individual that brings some serious intangible value to the Club. While I’d hate to trade him, he, to me is a big chip for any Club trying to win a Championship! Team probably has $10M left to spend at this point. Could get KFA for SS and another lower level FA relief arm & go for it in ‘26. OR could trade Lopez for Duran from Boston (not sure they would entertain another arm?)……… pick up about $14M more to spend for ‘26. With Duran in LF 85% of the time for 3 years, Rodriguez - Wallner - Larnach are all immediately available for trades (2of3) to add system depth……reliever help may be attainable? Go out and sign Zack Littell (2yrs/$10M per yr) to fill Lopez spot and still have a remaining $14M to get the KFA signing and a better reliever candidate or two, OK guys, like Coulombe. Duran(3yrs) & Littell (2yrs) for Lopez and gain $4-$5M to spend on KFA type guy at SS. I think the gain makes a bunch of sense if trying to compete and not just “dream about the future beyond the lockout.”

Outman as back up CF & guy that’s out of options ……if he hits much in Spring Training, seems he’s in OF mix. 2 Catchers. (no Jackson) Outman - Buxton - Martin - Wallner - Larnach Bell - Keaschall - Lee - Lewis Probably Clemens as alternative in LF & 1B Need a real SS, IMO, so Lee can float between 3 spots on the dirt. Jeffers is DH v. LH pitching often - he hits much better not catching & Team needs that production. (15-20% of games) …….. Caratini some at DH v. lefties …….. Bell hardly at all at DH v. lefties. Larnach as DH 90% of the time v. RH pitching.

Perhaps because any organization doesn’t want to lose 4-6 games in April/May because the bullpen is undermanned. Either compete, from the jump, or bail. Can’t “ease your way” into having a competitive staff. Nobody’s trading anyone for a bullpen candidate! There is no rush in January/February but Team can’t wait until May 15th (in season) to start making moves to be competitive.

I’ve seen a number of times, Kody Clemens at 1B with Josh Bell at DH. This combination, with Larnach in LF really lowers the defensive bar. To me, Bell only played 1B in 38 games in ‘25 because the Nationals had a former GG on the roster at 1B in Nathaniel Lowe. He can’t be significantly different than Clemens at 1B. Play Bell at 1B most of the time v. RH pitching and Larnach at DH. LF can be filled by whoever is rostered (Roden/Outman/Clemens) & the defense can now function with some normalcy. Do we really think Clemens is still the everyday guy at 1B v. RH pitching?