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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    Maybe the 6th time in last 5 weeks I’ve stated this, the $425M infusion that garnered 20+% of the ownership stake wasn’t a charitable donation. Cannot make that move w/o an expectation that the Team will be made marketable by acquiring some talent. Can’t invest those $$ and know the fan base hates the current product, as is, without some positive changes on the near-term horizon. I don’t expect Big Name signings but 4-5 FA’s can blend with the current core and make a run at the Division Title. C - 1B - PEN (2-3). Rotation is in decent shape, talent wise. There are 2-3 guys back in the PEN ……. another 2-3 to consider ……… 2-3 young arms that can be blended into Relief role …… 2-3 FA’s and the PEN is more than adequate. To me, if $$ are the chief issue, you don’t trade the $5.8M guy and keep the $22M guy when both have ”like effectiveness”. Lopez on the trade block would have Team’s salivating at a known cost for a couple more years. I don’t trade either - spend up to $130M and win the Division.
  2. JD-TWINS
    Would you like to compare 2024 stats between Bo & Luis? In 2025 for Twins: Lewis had 52 RBI and hit .237 with 89 hits & 376 AB’s Clemens had 52 RBI and hit .216 with 74 hits & 342 AB’s Arraez had 181 hits ……… v. their 163 hits. RBI are created by a player batting in runs by getting HITS and putting the ball in play if making an out. Arraez struck out 21 times in ‘25 & lead the N.L. in hits.
  3. JD-TWINS
    Because he’s lead-off or batted 2nd for most of his career - if Bichette didn’t hit in the 4 spot for Toronto this year he wouldn’t have had 94 RBI. My arguement isn’t that Arraez “is Bo Bichette”, my arguement is that a “contact guy” can thrive when coming to the plate with base runners……. i.e. Bichette in ‘25! Bichette: .294/.337/.469 for his 7 year career Arraez: .317/.363/.413 for his 7 year career If Arraez hits 5th every day for the Twins for 145-150 games, his ability to reach 80 RBI is almost guaranteed…….if he hits 5th in Toronto he might have a 100 RBI………Matt Wallner is proof that HR’s don’t directly lead to RBI totals being high. My other point is “productivity per $$ spent” …….. Arraez at $11-$12M is a great value for a guy that’s played 144 - 147 - 150 - 154 games over past 4 seasons……….again, Bichette is expecting $25M for 3-4 more years & he’s only a year younger.
  4. JD-TWINS
    I looked at Bo Bichette’s stats & in 2025 he has 628 PA’s over 139 games, with 63 XBH (18 HR’s) and hit .311 with a .357 OBP (.337 OBP career) along with 94 RBI………..in ‘24 he had 336 PA’s over 81 games, with 21 XBH (4 HR’s) and hit .225 with a OBP of .277. He plays a premium defensive spot at SS for the Jays - he’s assumed to be signed for $25M/yr for 7 years and he’s an oft injured 27 year old. Goldschmidt has retired from MLB. Luis Arraez in 2025 has 675 PA’s over 154 games, with 42 XBH (8 HR) and hit .292 with a .327 OBP (.363 OBP career) along with 61 RBI…………in ‘24 he had 672 PA’s over 150 games, with 39 XBH (4 HR’s) and hit .314 with a OBP of .346. He has averaged 149 games per year over last 4 seasons. If he hits 5th every day for MN he collects 180-195 hits and 80 plus RBI with 7 HR’s. First base is handled for 3 years at $11M/yr. His defense is adequate, not great and he’s 28………btw, he hit .265 v. LH pitching in ‘25 & .311 v. RH pitching …….. no big platoon need! For 48% of Bo Bichette’s salary, offensively he’s 90% of the output offensively. That’s if Bichette has a good year and stays healthy. Bichette wants 7 years and is 27 ……… Arraez would sign for 3-4 years and is 28. I don’t understand the hate for Luis here at TD? He’s not perfect - sure. He’s a hell of a lot of a better risk/signing than Rhys Hoskins!!!
  5. JD-TWINS
    As others have pointed out and my eye test would agree with, the fact that he looked pretty good at 3B from mid-summer forward AND he stole 11 of 12 times over last (roughly) 35 games. To me, the legs, and confidence to use them, is back. He needs to sort himself, with coaching input, at the plate.
  6. JD-TWINS
    I have more hope with Martin than Lewis. 😉 Seriously, the first round picks that Team is leaning on for ‘26 (expectations), obviously, Buxton……. but it may be Martin - Lewis - Lee in descending order …….. that’s a lot different than everyone thought at beginning of ‘24. Lee too, is nearly unplayable for big stretches of time………as you state, at least Lewis has seemed to recapture a bunch of his athleticism. Not sure how much there ever was for Lee?
  7. JD-TWINS
    Sign a LH guy at 1B is the sentiment from you & I agree! ……..Clemens is not the answer with regular playing time. Clemens may be the 13th guy, until youth is ready, because he can play 4 positions. Maybe? Per you, won’t be able to compete for Naylor. O’Hearn at around $8-$10M will be tough for organization to pull the trigger on, but it’s needed. Probably other clubs in the mix for him as well. Wallner - Larnach - Clemens - etc. as a 1B solution are all bad ideas if trying to actually be competitive. Don’t see the OF guys magically becoming competent at 1B ……. Wallner has plenty of issues just focusing on struggles at the plate. 2 position signings needed (C & 1B) with 2 reliever signings needed. Can get these done for $35M - right? Takes them to $130M total (less than 2022 spend) with current roster guys. LH free agent at 1B with Jeffers being the platoon RH guy at 1B (40 games). Hopefully, LH guy at C from free agency and Jeffers catches 30 games & is DH 70 games, with Parades (?) on the Roster for 50 games.
  8. JD-TWINS
    So, Popkins got fired as hitting coach after ‘24. Everyone here bitching about approach and poor results from players for big chunks of time due to “poor coaching.” Immediately, Toronto hired Popkins. Blue Jays, with essentially same core that didn’t perform to expectations in ‘24, took off! 4 guys at .300 or better - 7 guys at .265 or better. How does this happen?…….Popkins is clueless, it couldn't have anything to do with his input - right? Players play & execute, on their own, in the box. Coaches tweak - suggest - encourage - build good habits - instill confidence………. players play!! Blaming coaches for poor play from players is nuts, IMO. Baldelli hit .290 over first 3 full seasons in MLB - he knows something about approach both mentally and physically. Earl Weaver had a .583 winning % in Baltimore. Don’t see Earl in or around the cage coaching up Frank or Brooks or Boog. He managed good pitchers and good position players and THAT is what generates W’s!
  9. JD-TWINS
    League average or slightly better (L/R) hitter that can play all 3 OF spots if necessary and provides depth as needed at 2B & 3B certainly has value. I’d at least make him an offer for 1 year at $5M or 2 years at $8.5M……..don’t know how that snakes out with his “perceived value” via his metrics? Gut feel, not a bad signing, not exciting. I’d much rather have Castro at the plate & live with his OF defense (utilize his IF flexibility) than Roden!!! I have zero faith in Roden at the plate and very, very little faith in Outman. Keaschall “ready to take a step forward” ……can you take a bigger step than starting essentially every day one is healthy enough to play?
  10. JD-TWINS
    I like trying to sign Vazquez (or Vazquez like) or another FA to catch 80 games. Paredes catches 60 games. Jeffers stays competent and adds roster flexibility while catching 22 games (3-4 per month). He can DH after he catches to keep his bat in the line-up as MGR chooses. He’s the principal at 1B, playing 100 games there. I think with lighter defensive load and a bit of tweaking his HR power returns. Gotta be realistic on the HR comments, he “averaged” 17 per year previous two seasons and fell back to 8 or 9. He was out with injury a bit which, I assume, reduced his AB’s in ‘25? Didn’t fall off a cliff! I like his size/strength & general durability! His strikeout % being under 20% is a good sign as well. 10% walks - good rate! Gotta sign him & IF there’s a 3 year deal to be made, go for it from TWINS perspective.
  11. JD-TWINS
    Well, if you’re named as one of only two Captains in Team History then Twins HOF seems to be nearly a given - right? I don’t know that Byron wants to be thought of as a guy on any other level than the rest of his teammates? He leads by example and does the right thing nearly always. I think he’s good with that. Guy above said, he imagined Team was begging him to wave his no trade clause ….. why would they do that? He costs $15M plus another 10% in bonuses for hitting some productivity goals. He played to about a $35M (guessing) level in ‘25. He’s 31 and as healthy as he’s ever been. Trading him for hopeful youth is nuts at his salary level. I don’t think youth respects a “title” like Captain nearly as much as they respect the Captainlike behavior!
  12. JD-TWINS
    Judge hit .179 in 84 AB’s at age 24 in MLB …….. Winokur has plenty of time. If he HITS he can play wherever there’s a fit. Until he shows he can HIT, his defensive position is a moot point. 3B - OF - 1B possibly?
  13. JD-TWINS
    His offense is his upside with the Club. He’s fine at the plate - always up & down, but that just seems to be common across most rosters. His strike out & walk rates are pretty good! I keep promoting the idea that could get him 550 AB’s. Play him behind the plate 18 starts per year - 3 times per month……. just enough to stay sharp & viable. He’s the 3rd Catcher that provides depth & flexibility. He gets 100 plus starts at 1B and 18 at Catcher and 18 as DH. They sign a FA Catcher and have Pereda catch 50-60 games.
  14. JD-TWINS
    They signed a Free Agent Catcher and paid him $10M/year (3 years) so both he & Jeffers could stay fresh and to minimize injury & performance drops due to fatigue. The FA, Vazquez, failed to HIT to his career norms but he was good/better behind the plate. The Manager manages the players/resources he has in front of him……his limited Catching duties allowed Jeffers to be in the line-up as DH as well.
  15. JD-TWINS
    If you can figure out how to get Diaz - fabulous!! I live in Cincinnati and have watched Andujar carve up LH pitching for the last 2 months - excellent! But that’s it …….DH or PH & 25% or so of pitchers are LH. Kody Clemens can’t be a 70-75% platoon guy at 1B, not on a competitive Club. I guess all this is moot if there’s no idea what the spending plan might be. I don’t get the Arraez hate though? If it’s just the money - I get it. If it’s hitting .262 v. LH pitching and “that sucks” I don’t get it…….his OBP was .327 and he hit .294, so he walks 3 times out of 100……..Wallner has OBP of .311 and he hit .205, so he walks 10.5 times out of 100. Arraez struck out 21 times in 675 PA’s. Wallner struck out 114 times in 392 PA’s. Not being able to advance runners nor drive RISP in is a hole in Twin’s line-up. Arraez had 61 RBI (64 over 162) and 42XBH in ‘25……….Wallner had 40 RBI (62 over 162) and 41 XBH in ‘25. Arraez OBP from ‘22 - ‘25 is .375 - .393 - .346 - .327………….Byron Buxton’s OBP from ‘22 - ‘25 is .306 - .294 - .335 - .327 ………things fluctuate year to year. Arraez, however, plays 93% of games.
  16. JD-TWINS
    Agreed. Gotta have ability for sure but Killebrew played LF at one point before 3B & 1B……..it’s not crazy. Surely, it’s not a good move for everyone & I assume someone in Twin’s organization has had the thought that 6’3” & 6’5” slow outfielders should be considered for a move to 1B, haven’t done it for baseball reasons……..lack of capabilities maybe?!?!?!!
  17. JD-TWINS
    Matt Wallner hit .202 in ‘25 Matt Wallner hit .177 with RISP in ‘25 Matt Wallner hit .195 v. RHP in ‘25 Why would anyone think that Wallner learning how to play 1B is of any benefit to the Club? He hit 22 HR’s and Kody Clemens hit 19 HR’s. Kody can play 1B - 2B - RF - LF. I’m not trying to promote starting nor even keeping Clemens - just pointing out how truly disappointing Wallner’s year was. If he was from Stevens Point instead of Forrest Lake he would be run out of Target Field. ……… Potential, sure! Eddie Julien also has potential …… as well as a dozen other guys that have washed out in past 2-3 years. I thought he’d be a Top 3 hitter on the Club in ‘25………was woefully mistaken! btw - Luis Arraez hit .294 in 2025 ……. .287 with RISP ……. .304 v. RHP ……… ..262 v. LHP …… Lead N.L. in hits last 2 seasons and had 203 hits in 2023. He played in 154 games in ‘25…… 150 games in ‘24. IMO, sign him for 3 years at $40M total ……. & bat him 5th in line-up every day.
  18. JD-TWINS
    Seriously, your argument is based on a half dozen Post Season games? How did Wallner do in ‘23 post season? Oh, he was 0-8 with 5 strikeouts - shocking! The fact that Wallner sucks AND can’t stay healthy speaks volumes. My point is, let Arraez hit in the middle of the line-up v. the Top 2 spots when fewer guys are on base. He would have 80 RBI w/o issue if batting 5th…….also, these would be “real & not projected IF he played”. Matt Wallner was out at least twice this past season, maybe 3 times. Arraez played in 154 games - that’s a knock on Arraez? In ‘24 Wallner was in the minors for 8-10 weeks because he was so bad after his first 19 games they had to send him down. Arraez had 200 hits ……..obviously, Matt’s a better guy to have in the line-up.
  19. JD-TWINS
    Logic - refreshing!! I can’t believe you don’t think that “……they can just practice some grounders this winter & next spring, and then be good to go…..” Yes, there are “baseball people” evaluating guys for years and they are not idiots, regardless of what those here at TD seem to think. ……..Moving Wallner or Larnach to 1B to “maybe” be on a similar level as Eduard Julien, is not the answer.
  20. JD-TWINS
    They were going to pay Carlos Correa $35M or close to it, for years, as of 6 months ago. Buxton’s contract was signed in November of 2021. Arraez made $14M in ‘25. Lead N.L. in total hits in both ‘24 & ‘25 ……..he had 203 hits in 2023………then 200 & 181 the last 2 seasons. 42 XBH in ‘25. Played 144 - 147 - 150 - 154 games last 4 seasons…….he’s 28 as of today. I don’t see a “decline”. If they can’t pay something north of $10-$11M for an offensive infusion then the Team & fanbase should punt. Can’t budget $100M for 2026 and be competitive!
  21. JD-TWINS
    First, platooning anyone with Kody Clemens is a bad idea. France/Wallner/Larnach can’t run either. Moving Larnach or Wallner to 1B, if a reality, would have been done by now ……Wallner didn’t grow 5” and lose all his speed in the past 18 months………Larnach, ditto. 2025 XBH ….. Larnach - 42, Wallner - 41, Arraez - 42 ………….. Arraez had more AB’s for sure but he also had 55 & 113 more hits than those two, respectively. I don’t really care how many meaningless walks Matt Wallner draws to inflate his OBP to respectability. A comparable OBP being generated by base hits, with guys on base, has a lot more value than a walk. A ball put in play with guys on base is a lot more valuable than a strikeout! The amount of money is based upon 2026 economics for MLB players salaries. If Twins can’t compete on salary to fill roster holes we should all punt. Maybe the starting offer is $11M? Think the Yankees would rather have had Paul Goldschmidt or Luis Arraez this post-season?
  22. JD-TWINS
    Thanks. Just saw another post with a number of guys listed. I am surprised I had already forgotten about the guy I think can be a Solid RBI guy batting 5th everyday and playing 1B most of the time………a little less $$ than the Top Tier guys. Luis Arraez ($15M?). He lead the NL in hits the past two seasons and the other post said he can’t be played v. LH pitching…….not sure about that? Seems with a guy in that spot that is going to average 175-190 hits the next 3 years…….”producing with RISP”……it makes sense. If they develop someone ant 1B over next year or two, he’s a worthwhile DH. Arraez…….173 - 203 - 200 - 181 hits per year over the past 4 seasons. 42 XBH in ‘25. Another here at TD says “he’s declining” ….. he is currently 28 years old. He’s played in 144 - 147 - 150 - 154 games over the past 4 seasons. He’s traditionally hit toward the top of the line-up and he’s not very quick ……. to me, he would thrive in a spot where he’s coming up with guys on base AND behind someone where he can provide protection. (penciled in at 5th, daily) It’s hard to imagine pitching around someone to get to Arraez and his bat to ball skills!
  23. JD-TWINS
    Any reasonable thoughts that can be shared on potential FA guys at 1B? I’m not in tune with guys other than Alonso & France (big spread there). Have my fingers crossed!
  24. JD-TWINS
    Prior to somewhat of a resurgence at 3B the last 3 months, I loved the idea of Lewis at 1B. I assume he & his management (personal management) would fight this. I think it’s a potentially great landing spot for him. Keeping him healthy needs to be a priority - he’s not a China Doll but he’s not far from that type of fragility. Anyone that can play average defense at 1B and be a positive offensively would be a welcome sight. Santana was a great signing and had nothing to do with Team’s woes, relative to the Playoffs, in ‘24. Lead Team in HR - RBI & won Gold Glove. A great result to a potentially blah signing in hindsight! France, while not a perfect solution at 1B, had a reasonable 4 months in a Twin’s uniform…..need to strive for better than “reasonable”, I agree the bar needs to be higher. Matt Wallner could ………”be better in RF if he was coached better”. I don’t get this, at all? If a guy has been playing baseball for 15 years and he can’t handle the basic fundamentals of playing RF, he should quit. The Team practices regularly and works on fundamentals as a group and as individuals. Playing RF isn’t some deep mystery…….none of baseball is very deep. Executing what you’re coached to do is the tricky part! To me, with just OK skills behind the plate, Jeffers is the guy to move to 1B. He can be the 3rd Catcher on the Roster which provides flexibility and depth. Have him catch 18-20 games through the season to stay sharp. He can DH some after catching to stay fresh - seems like an option. Focus on Catching in free agency or via trade - easier said than done. Larnach, Keaschall, Gonzalez, Wallner, along with Jeffers are alleged internal guys that could make sense at 1B………probably won’t happen.
  25. JD-TWINS
    What I am absolutely sure of about DeShawn is that he can’t bunt………whether it’s bashing or being fair is in the eye of the beholder. To me, if a guy is clearly in the fringe of the roster he needs to be at a minimum, able to execute basics. 3 different times over a 3-4 week span he was called on to help the Team get a run or to advance a runner further into scoring position. Each time he failed - big time. He added very little value in the opportunities he did get which then reduces opportunities going forward.
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