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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    Why would any Team “….blow away….” the Twins with an offer for Jeffers? He’s not much at all above average as a hitter and he’s below average as a defensive Catcher. Not saying it’s impossible that he gets traded but it would be for him and another player (pitcher) and am assuming Twins would need to initiate. Can’t imagine Jeffers nets more than some prospect(s) at a lower level. My hope would be to have him be the guy they are looking for at 1B, primarily. He could Catch 3-4 times per month to keep others fresh and to stay sharp behind the plate himself. He could DH some as well. Caratini could be in a similar role between Catcher, 1B, and DH occasionally as needed. He could Catch 70 games and play 1B maybe 40 games? That leaves 60 games for Pereda behind the plate. Caratini at 1B for 35/40 games - Jeffers at 1B 85-90 games - 30-40 games for whatever young guy they want to try there over last 3/4 months of season. Caratini for 2 years and $11M total would/could be a short term solution at 1B & Catcher?
  2. JD-TWINS
    Pretty sure Lee does have the entire season. He can’t/won’t play more than 135 games, IF he stays 100% healthy. Somebody else needs to be viable or your not fielding “a Team”.
  3. JD-TWINS
    Miller: If the guy can’t hit, please don’t pursue him. If he’s not protected, he can’t hit. I do not see any reason to be worried about the age of a placeholder, back-up SS. A transition from Fitzgerald to Culpepper in mid-summer seems to make perfect sense. Defense may not be great but until some young guy (Culpepper) is “ready”, Lee & an available guy they currently know seems to be the answer.
  4. JD-TWINS
    There was much less College time involved historically in a player’s path to big leagues …….. I don’t think guys are necessarily “young” but they are only in Minors for 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 years (fast) and that wasn’t the norm until relatively recently. ….., guys across the board are getting less Professional ball development. Puckett & Mauer are HOF guys and Morneau & Hrbek were pretty special - Knoblauch was ROY. Tony Oliva was ROY at age 25. We can find stats to support an opposing point of view for anything. I can’t think of any teams in baseball that don’t platoon at least 1/3 - 1/2 of their line-up every day……I’m sure there might some line-ups with elite talent that don’t, but none come to mind.
  5. JD-TWINS
    I agree on the article being a real positive take and somewhat eye opening regarding Shelton. “College clutch” and MLB consistent is often world’s apart. I know that Larnach platooned much more rigidly prior to ‘25 …….. those nearly 120 AB’s (that everyone already knew he’s struggled with) from the left side in ‘25 really skew his numbers. Obviously, they are real. If they get reduced to 35AB’s or so, out of necessity, he has a decent year. He’s career .765 OPS v. RH pitching……he was .771 overall OPS in ‘24. He had 17 HR’s (against both sides) in only 385 AB’s v. RH pitching …….. if they can get his AB’s focussed on guys throwing from right side, then he’s a solid bat in the line-up. ………..spend the $$ on him and if Rodriguez &/or Jenkins come around, then trade him in July. To me, he’s a major league bat that’s above average. ………. what if Brooks Lee had Larnach’s stats from the left side? With Martin apparently able to perform at a reasonable to good level, those LHP at bats for Larnach can be minimized (hoping Gonzalez can help there soon as well) and he’s then a solid contributor. There are platoon hitters with specific roles all over baseball and using Larnach this way doesn’t mean he’s some inferior guy on the roster or in the box!
  6. JD-TWINS
    Lee, is my “most frustrating to watch” batter the Team has. He looks like he’s playing Pepper about 25% of the time……just reaching and tapping the ball somewhere. He, to me, has 20HR power ……. very encouraging! He just doesn’t seem strong enough to me. He seems tired, physically, and it appears to affect his ability to hit the ball sharply. Mental fatigue is certainly understood…….his back may not be 100% every day ……. I get that it’s complex. It’s hard for everyone and he needs more time, to be fair. He drives me crazy in about 50% of his AB’s though & I just want him to show some consistency……..he goes into BIG depths for days and days too often! I know, he needs more opportunity. Hoping Shelton and his team of coaches can get more out of Brooks……he’s saying the right things here, however obvious his comments may sound.
  7. JD-TWINS
    Obviously, high character is always sought after!! I do not think, if money is an issue, that the organization wouldn’t get flooded with interest in Lopez if he was dangled in the market, pretty hard to argue they would not ……. not an easy thing to do & maintain relationship. ………”we are willing to discuss any potential offers, blah blah, blah” is a possibility. Ryan was hurt at the end of the year for 3 straight seasons prior to ‘25. Other organizations pay attention and know all the details on injury risks with any potential acquisition. In ‘25, his last 10 starts after the deadline, he threw 49.2 innings ……..15 walks & 50 hits for a 1.32 WHIP. Maybe he was distracted/disinterested after the trades were made? He had 6 good outings and 4 poor outings. …….. I get he was an All-star and he’s a great $$ value in near term! Based on his history, he’s at a career high trade value. If he has his typical good first half, to me, his trade value is maximized at the deadline in ‘26. Again, I don’t want either to be traded. The thought of trading either of them “for prospects” makes me sick to my stomach. If $$ aren’t driving the move, the ability to remain competitive over next 2 years is higher with Ryan remaining with the Club v. any trade acquisition. Does new ownership % (invested $$) deem it’s necessary to be competitive? To me, that’s the question.
  8. JD-TWINS
    I was with you until Canterino came up……..he needs to throw 40-50 innings in St Paul before he gets ANY consideration in the Show. He may not achieve 50 more innings, with reasonable success, until sometime in ‘28. He is a bigger stretch than re-signing Chris Paddack for $4.5M for a middle reliever role.
  9. JD-TWINS
    So, do they keep Lopez just because he’s a high character guy? Both of them are under Team Control for 2 more years……why keep the $22M (x2) guy and trade the maybe $20M to Ryan over next 2 seasons? Pay Ryan a few million in ‘26 & then trade him …… trade Lopez over the Winter……this seems to be the frugal path. Can see how things go and jettison one or both at deadline in ‘26 ….. if things fall apart. I’d like to keep them both and try to reap the benefits, to be clear. If money is a big issue, I do not get why most here think Ryan, for some offensive help in a trade, makes more sense than Lopez? I wonder what you - most - think the budget will be for salaries in ‘26? I still cannot get past the fact that “a group” spent $400M plus for 20+% of the Team, and somehow they do not care if the product on the field is competitive, immediately. $125-$135M gets them to a Division Contender with current roster. Could trade young arm(s) for a bat but FA is more probable.
  10. JD-TWINS
    I agree with the others here. Festa should be a AAA depth guy if not 100% healthy OR better option for Team is to use him in 7th/8th innings, 4 innings per week to help solidify the PEN & minimize his innings & keep him producing on the mound. Lopez - SWR - Ober - Ryan are a solid core ……my assumption is Bradley gets the other spot to start the season. Abel’s pedigree tells me he’s the Top depth guy in St Paul. This leaves Matthews to be moved to back end of bullpen as the anchor…………I am open to trading young arms for a bat that steps in at 1B or Catcher. Trading Lopez or Ryan “……..to restock the system…..” is not at all what’s needed. The Twins currently have the #2 rated farm system. The role of the Farm System is to develop players to help the Parent Club win ball games - that’s the goal. Team isn’t trying to get a gold star for having the best collection of “prospects.” The rotation talent is in place! The C - 2B - 3B - CF & Corner OF spots are generally solid. Need to convert a couple guys into the Pen & sign 2-3 relievers. Need at least ONE FA bat (or via trade of pitching youth) that can positively contribute, not a prospect!
  11. JD-TWINS
    ??? Nobody acquires experienced bullpen arms at the Deadline nor MLB “ready” arms IF they are selling 5 bullpen arms. Thielbar had a nice ‘25. Coulombe had a nice ’25. Stewart is always hurt & hence traded. Stewart on a “Tonkin deal” at $1.1M along with both old lefties………all 3 for $9M? They have a couple young arms that may shift to late inning PEN guys ……… Matthews seems to have upside in that role…….a handful of other “possibilities”. Seems to me Team already knows a couple of lefties - either one of them & maybe one of the right handers shown in the article seems to fill out a competent PEN? Nobody has a crystal ball on who “will work”. That includes nearly every FO in the game. I do think they can lean on LaTroy Hawkins for experience and primarily mental help and day to day regimen thoughts.
  12. JD-TWINS
    Wouldn’t it be wonderful to find out he can play 1B or is at least working on a transition? 🤞🤞🤞…….to me, Jenkins - Rodriguez - Outman - Roden - Martin - Wallner - Larnach have the Corner OF spots covered!
  13. JD-TWINS
    Topa & Gonzalez were in the Polanco trade as well. Jorge played 104 games in ‘22 & 80 games in ‘23 for the Twins. He’d been hurt, playing through injuries, for his last 4 years with the Twins. In ‘24 he played in 118 games in Seattle and he hit .213. Nobody wanted him & Seattle re-signed him for $8M …….. he had knee surgery….. he felt better and had a solid ‘25. He’s again a free agent. DeSclafani washed out with no value - Topa was hurt essentially all of ‘24 …… he contributed in ‘25. Gonzalez may have been the best hitter in the Twin’s MiLB system this past year……he hit at 3 levels in ‘25 and ended up in St Paul. Gonzalez has a chance to be a contributor by June, if not sooner, in ‘26!
  14. JD-TWINS
    ????? What’s the logic? Anaheim sucks, they grabbed a guy that had marginal success in MLB last year. He might be optioned and claimed 3 more times between now & end of Soring Training? I sure don’t think the actions of the Angels signals any “big mistakes” for the Twins
  15. JD-TWINS
    I have no idea whether the Team will move more of their somewhat established players or not? No crystal ball. I too think that Roden is a 1 in 5 chance of sticking, essentially a throw-in….. Remember that Louie was pitching for Concordia and throwing one pitch in 2019 when he was drafted in 15th round…….he’s now 27 & up until 4-5 months ago, he looked lost in about every other outing for the Twins over previous 3 seasons. Rojas will be 23 in another month. Still a very viable trade, time will tell.
  16. JD-TWINS
    Prielipp - Raya - Matthews - Festa could all be considered for reassignment to the PEN in Spring Training. One or even two of Festa/Matthews/Abel/Bradley need to be a part of the 2026 PEN………I seriously doubt it will be Bradley or Abel. Adams/Sands/Topa/Funderburk are the only really obvious PEN candidates at this point. Cannot imagine Ohl making the Team as of April 1st. 33 spots on 40 man are taken as of this evening………Kreidler - Fitzgerald - Gasper - Ohl - Julien - Clemens - Kiersey - McCusker are 8 more candidates that could be short timers on the Team’s 40 man. Roden & Outman, IMO, are both now ahead of Kiersey. ……. Gonzalez & Jenkins are both probables for 40 man sooner than later.
  17. JD-TWINS
    Lawyerson is 5-6 years older than Rojas ….. probably one of the reasons for the differences in behavior. Rojas, young, left handed, 4 pitches…….needs another 1-2 years of development. Most guys that walk 6 people in 3 innings aren’t having a very pleasant day!!
  18. JD-TWINS
    The organization obviously has a number of guys they value more than Lawyerson that need to be protected on the 40-man. More to come on 40-man additions.
  19. JD-TWINS
    Outman placed 3rd in ROY voting in ‘23 for the National League…….he played in 151 games at MLB level and had a 3.4WAR. That’s why he was worth a flier - trading Brock Stewart (mostly injured) who was a no-show for the Dodgers after he arrived there. To me, the trade with Toronto was to get Rojas and Roden was a sweetener in the deal. Roden hit around .320 at AAA previously ……. DeShawn Kiersey hit .300 at AAA previously as well. Miranda tied an MLB record for consecutive hits in mid-‘24 and the next season he couldn’t hit at all. Success can be fleeting!! ….. ask Royce Lewis
  20. JD-TWINS
    Good one - you got me! Was going to point out that Arraez is a FA & team can just sign him ……. but you knew that.😉
  21. JD-TWINS
    I like Arraez a lot for 1B! ……many here pick at his “inability to hit LH pitching”, he hit .265 against them in 2025. He hit .311 against RH pitching in 2025. I think the Twins need is to eliminate holes in the line-up…….spots where guys are not coming through with RISP. A guy that struck out 21 times this past season and collects 180-200 hits per year (lacking foot speed), should hit 5th everyday!! He protects whoever is in the 4 slot …… he hits everyone and putting him in a slot that he can create RBI from makes more sense than batting him first. He’s “Bo Bichette light”. Bichette had 94 RBI with 18 HRs…….batting 4th. I believe that Arraez is a lock for 80 RBI batting 5th in Twin’s line-up…….(38 doubles & 8 HR’s) and doing nothing outside of what he’s done for the past 5 years. To me, the Google evaluation of his defense is somewhat meaningless - he’s just OK, not good. 3 year signing and if there’s a 1B developed internally in that span, he is more than reasonable at DH.
  22. JD-TWINS
    Exactly, enough discussion of how the Team might pair someone with Kody at 1B. He has an outside chance of making the Club as a Utility guy, playing some corner OF, 2B, & 1B………he shouldn’t have more than a 25% chance to make the Team, IMO. Andujar - hits left handed pitching (25% of MLB arms), big time. Played 13 innings at 1B. So, if looking for a guy that can help the Team the “least potential amount” as a FA signing, he’s the guy! Agree that the options listed have been underwhelming. I have to think that some internal option, via position change to 1B, or taking a flier on an existing guy like Fedko, are better options than the dregs of Free Agency. We’ve heard Larnach & Wallner here ad nauseam…….extremely unlikely or would have been done by now. Gonzalez or Jeffers shifted there are other internal options with reasonable offensive upside…Fingers crossed!
  23. JD-TWINS
    Sounds like you’re just angry, period. No problem with that. “Shelton won’t change anything…..” None of the other potential hires have any more clout to “change things”. Sounds like there was no “good or acceptable hire”. I agree, no reason to HATE anyone. Can’t be any more disappointed in Ownership!! Pretty easy to fix if they take budget back to $130-$135M ………. then it falls on FO.
  24. JD-TWINS
    Thanks so much for the breath of fresh air! Using logic and reality to describe the role of a Manager in MLB is missed here most of the time. Players play. Position coaches tweak, motivate a bit, try to build confidence, try to improve tendencies, point out bad habits here or there as appropriate. Managers set a time/culture/feel. Baldelli, as you pointed out, has been the “face” of the organization’s approach. I get that the FO may, in reality or perception, be calling the shots in general. I do think the FO gets too much static as well with the complete lack of support from Ownership over past 2 years. Can’t sign 2 guys for $57M per year and then cut back $25M per year in spending. The “hope” for this year is Team spends at 2021 levels of $135M & 90% here don’t think it will get anywhere near that total. The ownership is pulling down the effectiveness anyone might have in FO, IMO.
  25. JD-TWINS
    “It’s not that we have bad owners,” ??? We don’t???? The ownership allowed an extension of Lopez at $21-$22M …… they allowed a 2nd signing of Correa at $35M. Then, the past 2 years they have cut payroll. A bit of a ripple effect relative to how to spend on the other 23 guys on the roster. There’s no cohesive plan from ownership on spending so the FO’s job is nearly impossible. The salary budget in 2021 was $135M. Fans here at TD are hoping for $125-$130M in 2026. 5 years later, a lesser total spend, who does that???? I just don’t understand the unbelievable amount of blame that goes to Falvey while the Pohlad’s essentially get a pass. Their actions have stunted what the FO & Club were able to bring to the table in 2023. They pulled the rug out from under the FO and 2 years later the FO gets 90% of the blame. I don’t think the FO is perfect - don’t love Falvey. His successes & failures with personnel are mixed…….just like every other organization. To me, the ownership backing up on $$ committed to player’s salaries has driven organization to its recent depths. Can’t sign up for $57M going to two guys from a $155M total (‘23) and then keep those 2 guys and reduce spend by $25M!
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