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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    2026 TWINS: Buxton - CC - Lewis - Keaschall - Jeffers aren’t going anywhere. Larnach - Wallner - Lee are all average to below average but probably remain on roster in ‘26. Sands - Varland - Stewart - Duran SWR - Matthews - Festa - Ober - Ryan - Lopez (5 of these guys to open ‘26) Seriously consider moving Jax for a position player that can play out the last two months of this year in Mpls ………C hopefully or RH hitting OF or 1B. Coulombe, Bader, Paddack & Castro can all go and be mixed and matched to help contenders. Paddack - Jax - Coulombe all as relievers can help contenders through October……Castro & Bader can also provide real stretch value. As a number of people have stated at TD, probably have to combine a couple guys to get player ready value back. Bader & Coulombe or Jax & Castro have to be attractive for a handful of clubs. Quero (C) from Milwaukee, maybe Rushing (C) from LA……….need to fill that void. Maybe Jeffers could go to 1B next year if 2 Catchers were brought in & he could catch 10% of the time to keep him in tune for potential needs & to keep other guys fresh? Bring in one via trade now and one via FA signing this winter. If Team sweeps Red Sox they still need to go 33-21, to get close to a Wildcard spot, from August 1st forward. That’s 36-21 starting tomorrow. Maybe a 10–15% chance of that happening? …… that’s if Keaschall helps a bunch and Ober & Lopez are flawless down the stretch.
  2. JD-TWINS
    “Slow” = Timmy Laudner - Killebrew in last 6/7 years of his career ……….. CC seems to be pumping those arms and running 🏃 under water. He also seems to choose what/where it’s appropriate for him to end up VERY early in the action.
  3. JD-TWINS
    If Castro is gone - Bader is gone - Coulombe is gone - Vazquez is gone, that’s $28M freed up. Am assuming that ownership will allow spending to (at least) go back to 2023 level of $154M in ‘26 ………….that’s plenty of financial flexibility. Wallner - Larnach - Keaschall - Lee - Lewis - Jeffers - CC - Buxton total to about $65M……should be able to easily put the bulk of the Staff together for $45M, with Lopez getting $22M.
  4. JD-TWINS
    I too like the Dodgers trade for Jax …… am not a big proponent of trading either of these two but sometimes one has to be flexible. Cannot see trading both!……. Rushing is a pretty big carrot. I was on the Tristan Casas bandwagon every other day here for about 4 months starting last November……..I don’t know Payton Tolle. I like Duran for Duran with the Red Sox as an option to consider……maybe Twins throw in a young AA starter OR Castro, since Sox are trying to make playoffs……….I think they want arms?………Sox are riding with Aroldis Chapman at age 37. Chapman is having arguably his best year of his 16 year career. Couple him with Duran and games become 7 innings long in playoffs - on paper. The Dodger deal, getting Rushing behind the plate 55-60% of the time with Jeffers potentially being our regular 1B going forward (could extend Ryan?) & catching 10% of the time…………even Vazquez (or like) on an inexpensive $4.5-$6M deal catching 30% of the time. Do both & new line-up: Duran - Buxton - Keaschall (not sure if he can throw in ‘25?) - Lewis - Larnach - Correa - Jeffers - Wallner - Rushing, to finish ‘25 & heading into ‘26. If both relievers go their’s a big void in the back end!
  5. JD-TWINS
    Gotta score runs to win - can’t give up 0-2 count HR’s, ever - Jax absolutely CANNOT WALK the guy they want to get to with cutters/skiders…….and then dot two straight fastballs to Freeman…..who is calling pitches? - no execution! Bader had a chance ……. Betts was out on his checked swing. Tough one!
  6. JD-TWINS
    He looks different at 3B - looks different running the bases - looks better at the plate with 6 hits in his last 13 AB’s ……..5 for XBH over 3.5 games. It’s Wednesday afternoon and on Saturday the headline at TD was “…………..The unending struggles of Royce Lewis are tough to decipher.” What will tomorrow bring?
  7. JD-TWINS
    Varland’s mental make-up scares me as a closer! He’s, “…….I’m going to throw this through a wall” too often without command. Outing against Dodgers on Tuesday night is evidence of this approach for him. His STUFF is really getting to a high level!! Fastball from 97-99mph - a slider/cutter that’s better & better - knuckle curve has developed into a nice 2nd pitch for him. Those 3 offerings for a reliever are impressive! I have been really impressed with Louie this year - Top 3 or 4 in Team MVP. Personally, with new ownership on the horizon, I keep the electric arms in PEN together. (Lou - Stewart - Jax - Duran) If Team is out of it after Red Sox series next week, Sands & Coulombe - maybe Matthews, even Topa are all guys that could actually help a contender’s Pen - particularly 2 of them together. Ober & Lopez could be a nice add to a contender that’s focussed on being good in September & Playoffs……..don’t promote this as a strategy. Can’t trade Ryan! Hoping they get to .500 by end of Sox series and a couple games closer to them in Wildcard.
  8. JD-TWINS
    You gotta play Bader & Castro if Team is trying to win games…….. Bader in OF pushes Castro into the infield. Can’t make developing players a priority when still in a Playoff race. That scenario may change soon!! Others at TD have called for numerous guys “to get a chance” and having the Manager “stand behind them through tough times while they develop”. The Manager’s primary job is to manage the players to Win games. They are professionals. Kiersey - Camargo - Matthews - Lee(nearly 300 AB’s) - Emma - Alcala - McCusker - Funderburk - Martin …………play your way in to the roster & perform when called on …….. Luke Keaschall was the poster boy for this in a very short stint…….he earned AB’s and will get them the remainder of the season. Varland was sent down numerous times and ultimately, he’s figured it out. “It” being a means to contribute. Not preaching here with above comments, everything has two sides or some rationalization potential. I see other Teams sending guys up and down to AAA routinely - teams in races and teams that are not competitive - it’s part of the deal, looking for guys with talent and mental fortitude to handle the Majors.
  9. JD-TWINS
    Not beating up on you here, just drawing a comparison, Kiersey somehow has a -1.2 WAR in 70 AB’s & for a guy whose role is pinch running and defense, that seems hard to achieve. I get you said to send him down also if he’s not getting AB’s. To me, Lee’s flexibility on defense (3 positions) makes him valuable & maybe his switch hitting “bunt tool” comes into play a few times over last couple months. It’s certainly Lee with big club if they are trying to compete…..(even with -.6 WAR) I’m 60 plus and not in great shape but Brooks Lee, to me, needs to be doing agility drills 3 times a day in between his two a day weight lifting sessions this off season. He just looks like a talented bat to ball guy who has natural abilities (all good) but his physique/strength & mediocre aggressiveness with Bat Speed is woeful! He seems slow & soft and that’s not a great view into the future. Lee has a .251 BA with only a .288 OBP - no team can live with this OBP from a “regular”for any extended period. How’s a free agent catcher signing sound for ‘26……….Lewis - CC - Keaschall - Jeffers(1B) & 25%-30% at Catcher - crazy? Lee - Sands - Youth arm, for a Catcher in trade? Not impressed with Lee for sure BUT in 287 AB’s he’s got 8 HR and he can move around on defense. That potential for 17-20 HR’s in a more full role & his bat to ball skills can’t be ignored. As you’ve said, most of the time, players need time to develop…….hope he shifts gears sometime in the next 12 months!
  10. JD-TWINS
    Ryan has the highest rated single pitch in the game, relative to success. His fastball is #1 & Skubal’s change-up is #2………how does a Team trade that with 2 years of control left with the pitcher? Ober in a trade - Matthews or Festa in a trade - Lopez in a trade and relieving Team of that salary (don’t propose doing this) all make way more sense than trading Ryan for “prospects”. Martin - Lee - Wallner are all, we’re all budding potential stars or at least solid future contributors on paper in ‘23 & ‘24 & ‘25 ………… sustained results to date???? Team doesn’t need more “potential for the future” from another organization. Would new ownership promote trading a guy like Joe Ryan - does the move attract any new ownership? Ultimately, does it give the Team a better chance to win the next 2 years? Personally, with the upbeat handful of games from Lewis lately, I think we keep the bullpen in tact and assume winning some series and rolling the dice on a 6 game win streak between now and end of August. Paddack to the Pen……..Keaschall for Kiersey in another 7-10 days ……..Lopez back in 3 weeks. Red Sox are in town 28-30th, to me, that Series (& the need to win 3 of next 4) will determine if organization thinks they buy or sell. I agree on Stewart’s health - how could anyone not agree? However, he’s cheap & awfully effective …….. don’t see. much in return. Sands - Topa - Coulombe would all draw some interest & could try to re-sign Coulombe in offseason if choose to try.
  11. JD-TWINS
    There’s a big chasm between not being brought up because you can’t catch/judge a fly ball and becoming a Gold Glove OF, as was the case with Oliva. Oliva wasn’t able to be brought up because his defense was so poor. My point is a guy that Slugs at .522 will get playing time, regardless of how many HRs they hit…….my assumption/hope is for .425 Slug in the Show. Pretty sure you haven’t seen Gonzalez play defense & it takes a big imagination to think Matt Wallner is anywhere near a good RF. He has OK instincts and a very good arm …….. he struggles getting a jump too often though and he throws to wrong base &/or misses cut-off because he wants to just show off his arm. He has some upside, for sure. I don’t know that there has been much progression as a RF from Wallner over his 6 professional seasons & parts of 3 seasons in college. Wallner is 6 years older than Gonzalez. Gonzalez is awfully young to be writing him off as a guy without enough power to play in the Show……..particularly with the .522 Slug% at AA.
  12. JD-TWINS
    If Murphy is a fit as a Twin, why wouldn’t an organization like the Braves keep him for the term they signed him for originally? …… they aren’t planning on tearing anything down in Atlanta. IMO, Twins had the least fragile rotation in recent memory going into ‘25. Supposedly Team had 8 guys that could slot into the rotation & a couple more fringe possibilities. Paddack’s capabilities and sustainability was certainly in question. Ober - Lopez - Matthews all hurt………SWR has done his job ……. Festa is questionable, but with nice upside going forward. 7 guys competing for 5 spots going into the year and by early July, Team was forced to pitch Travis Adams. Buxton & Correa are here for 4 more years ……. need to make the best of this and hope for reasonable performances.
  13. JD-TWINS
    His Slug% is currently .522. When young, Oliva couldn’t play the OF at all, he was 4-9 in his ‘62 cup of coffee ….. went 3-7 in ‘63……couldn’t catch a fly ball or get to a fly ball ………..won a Gold Glove in ‘66. OF skills can be developed - not saying he’s going to be great but could be adequate. Bostock & Mack were pretty good hitting corner OF’s ……… not a bunch of power with either. Seems he’s earning the benefit of the doubt?
  14. JD-TWINS
    He’s 20………RF or LF can be manned by someone that can hit………DH as a supplementary spot in line-up as well. He’s got time to become a near average outfielder. He’s a ‘27 call up at age 22. Needs to put in some serious work on defense w/o losing his offensive focus. He can better his launch angle on pitches over time but don’t want to coach/instruct the line drive hitter out of him. Oliva couldn’t break into the Show because he couldn’t play the OF, at all……….won a Gold Glove eventually. Can’t be chicken little on OF defensive potential, unless he just can’t run. Bunch of doubles suggests to me that he can run at least at an average level. .522 Slug% with only 2 Home Runs is just fine with most folks …….a .425 Slug% would improve the Twins corner OF depth! Not 100% sold in the guy but he sure is trending well for a young kid!
  15. JD-TWINS
    The premise that Jeffer’s screw up move has anything to do with practice reps or the Front Office or the Manager is ridiculous. If Cory Provus and you at home know it was a screw up then so does Jeffers and the third baseman that should have been screaming to let it roll foul or at least see if it would!!! Everyone viewing the game knew it was a bonehead move - if you are a choke under real game pressure and you pick the bunt up on the chalk and you make a throw on a pitch you almost dropped into centerfield when a guy has the base stolen it’s on YOU - the Catcher! Can’t fix stupid. All teams emphasize same fundamentals and basic approach to defense and situations …… players gotta play and the Twins current group is mediocre when it comes to POISE & EXECUTION. Blaming the management for Jeffer’s poor play is like blaming the coach because Shaq O’Neal couldn’t make a free throw or because DeShawn Kiersey can’t bunt….. players have to execute.
  16. JD-TWINS
    Cannot coach players into being star talent! Players need to adjust and get better with their abilities and with what’s between their ears. Injuries play a big role. Our guys don’t seem to grow much after leaving St Paul….. I see that as just not drafting the right guys. Really hoping Keaschall is healthy enough to get playing time soon - gotta believe that Lewis - Wallner - Keaschall become regular contributors at average or above average level. ……… I have very little confidence in Brooks Lee …… I don’t look at advanced metrics/data but I do see him rolling soft grounders to 2B & fouling out WAAAY too often!
  17. JD-TWINS
    Stewart’s location on the HR - terrible. Matthews location with his fastball, too often middle-middle. Paddack, night before, 2 less mph & middle-middle. All very discouraging! Stewart made a mistake - happens. The other two repeatedly were putting it on a tee. Ober & Lopez down and others in rotation not getting it done, even remotely.
  18. JD-TWINS
    He was good enough for at least 10-12 quality starts …….. he’s got to be good enough for “max effort” approach 1-2 inning stints out of the Pen. He’s not good enough, though, to keep him in the rotation!
  19. JD-TWINS
    Yep - also, remember stating over & over here since last season that he’s a 90-100 inning MAX effort performer and that he’d be much better for the Club coming out of the PEN and “spot starting” a half-dozen times for 3-4 innings. he’s pretty good at Max effort for 2 innings or so at a time every 3-5 days. Preaching to the choir here, he’s 1-4 in last 5 starts and has given up 20 earned in 24 2/3 innings. He’s thrown 105 innings to date and has been poor to terrible (washed) for the past 30 innings ……..used from the PEN & he may have 60-65 nings to date? I realize he was effective for a stretch of probably 10 out of 12 starts but he also has a half-dozen clunkers to mix in and most of them, consecutively since mid-June. Matthews for Mankiewicz today on roster and then Ober for Adams in next few days & then Cowboy to the PEN. ……..Ryan - Ober - Matthews - Festa - SWR all give Team a better chance to be competitive than Paddack - that’s got to be obvious. Middle-middle fastballs on 3-2 counts don’t work in high school, let alone in The Show. ……8 days rest and four XBH to start a game …… can’t keep sending him out to start.
  20. JD-TWINS
    These 3 are hurt too much & you think Baldelli should be fired based on Wallner & Lewis’ performance????
  21. JD-TWINS
    OR the players get healthy……..&/or play to their capabilities going forward Wallner - Lewis - Lopez, etc,
  22. JD-TWINS
    Alonso is only signed through ‘25 - correct?
  23. JD-TWINS
    I have to say that it’s amusing to see all the various comments on “lack of trust” of those in the public eye, i.e. Manfred - Pohlad’s - New Owners……… one print writer v. another …. etc. But somehow the base of knowledge, hunches, opinions, of the contributors here at TD deserve complete trust. OK.
  24. JD-TWINS
    Moved from the state in ‘91 …… are there many Billionaires that have ties to Minnesota? Seriously, have no idea. I think A-Rod would be a natural to partner with a group but that’s a lot of commitment, 2 sports franchises + Lynx!
  25. JD-TWINS
    I really don’t know how (any) fans in general think they know much about who any Team should draft. Teams have scouting departments and data savvy people pouring over players year after year from 15 years old to Jr.’s in college. Hope this year’s draft yields a few helpful options for the Big Club. Nothing really happens, from a potential success standpoint, until a player gets to AA in my opinion.
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