JD-TWINS

Prielipp has had perpetual arm issues until ‘25 ……… I like him in the PEN v. burning good innings in Minors in ‘26………due to his high health risk, I’m not terribly concerned with where he might be relative to team control after 2030. ALL 4 guys on the dirt should be better offensively than what was shown at that position in 2025 (Keaschall will be better than his replacements in ‘25). Martin is on upswing - Larnach should be better in a more strict platoon - Vazquez replacement can’t be worse at the plate - Wallner has to be better. Eliminating Kiersey - Gasper - Vazquez - Julien AB’s has to be helpful to Club in ‘26. Gonzalez - Rodriguez - Jenkins (2 of 3) should ultimate contribute. That said - assuming Team can’t compete in AL Central isn’t clear to me. Sign one or two arms to help solidify PEN & go with youth you point out, amongst another 3-4 candidates from AAA. No reason to not TRY to compete.

Is the “better option” at 1B still an unsigned free agent? I can’t imagine Clemens or Wannaker being better in sum than having Bell at 1B. I think that’s Bell’s spot on paper and that Larnach is a lock v. RH pitching at DH. Would anyone trade for a .202 hitter that’s slow on defense and strikes out 35% of the time with 22 HR’s (41 XBH) and only 40 RBI? Not being nasty or contrary - just wondering who trades anything above an A ball player for those results? The Team needs to get to the May/June call-ups with somebody else in the line-up. Seems Wallner & Larnach are given a last chance “to stick” the first third or more of this season.

Varland had a 4.94 ERA in Toronto as well. Jax had some poor outings and some solid but not great with Tampa. Duran is what left the hole in the PEN as his role and the mental make up needed to close along with high end stuff needed ……. tough to replace. Covering the other 7 guys in the PEN are just committing to transition talent from “starting corps” along with historical relief guys.

Stewart didn’t pitch after less than a handful of outings w/Dodgers …… done for the year. after 3 2/3 innings as a Dodger.

PEN is a solid way to limit Festa & Prielipp’s innings while bringing value to the Big Club. Raya - Klein - Adams - Morris (maybe not Ohl) Matthews as a Closer. ……. all points you made above ……… Topa - Sands - Funderburk back for 6th/7th inning roles. They acquired Orze in trade & that made sense on paper when looking at ‘25 stats. A guy that has experience and upside with track record in FA should be doable as well. To me, it’s just not that desperate of a situation. Unknown, yes - desperate, no.

Agreed. If the rebuild blocks are named Adams and Ohl v. Festa & Prielipp the variance in time could be greatly extended. With Orze - Sands - Topa - Funderburk, half of the initial PEN is in place. I see comments here about spending around $10M plus/minus on FA candidates for PEN. How about signing Zack Littell ($11M/yr for 2 years) as the solid #5 starter (186 innings in ‘25 & 3.81 ERA). He’s a more proven guy and better than SWR & a definite uptick from Bradley. This allows 3-5 young guys to move to relief right now with confidence on having rotation covered. Matthews/Bradley to Closer role ………. Festa & Prielipp to set-up roles …….. Adams - Klein - Lewis whoever for last PEN spot. Littell is evidence of a guy working from the PEN in varying roles to ultimately evolve as a starter later in his career. The other alternative that Littell could bring is the potential flexibility to trade one of the two guys at the Top of the rotation for a proven bat……not a prospect. Littell could ultimately be a consistent bridge to Abel/Rojas/Morris.

As I’ve said here a handful of times, if Varland was from Kenosha, the value of Rojas’ upside and Varland’s ceiling would be viewed much more rationally. Stewart was traded as a flier for Outman just to see if change of scenery would/could propel Outman back to where he once was and to let an oft injured guy bring Team longer term value via trade. He was hurt within 10-20 days of being with LA and didn’t pitch again………..I don’t see either of these guys being traded to help tank to improve draft position.

They came to amicable settlements that avoided arbitration with 6 other guys ……. baseball (pro sports) is a business ……. sometimes guys get paid and sometimes they don’t (as a contrast to Falvey, would people here fire the Houston GM for letting Framber Valdez walk?). The presumption that Ryan should be paid like and considered a #1 starter is premature in my opinion. He’s a competitive guy with a solid/unique fastball. He’s also a guy that threw 171 innings (30 starts) in ‘25 but also missed weeks from each of his first 3 full time seasons with injuries. THIS year, Ryan has the best leverage he’s had to date but I don’t think the Team. or any business, just needs to relent when the player has performed well. We can dramatize either side of the debate I guess. The arbitration process is part of the game and sometimes it has to play out before moving forward. I don’t think this creates any huge rift but all individuals/players are different.

They dumped him because he supplied about $12M worth of value on the field and they were going to pay him $33M. “Legendary”…… not sure who thinks that? Obviously, the Twins (and every other organization) need better players…….definitely the Twins! I wasn’t thrilled with the Josh Bell signing. The fact that he had an interesting epiphany at the plate over last 60 days of ‘25 because he switched up his practice regimen - that seems like a positive. Sharing that success, not the detail, but the fact you can always tweak and get better ….. seems like a good message to younger guys. He can share this and a half dozen other things …… they can listen or not. You can presume whatever you like - my opinion - take - presumption, is that it’s sickening (to me) that 85% of the responses here are doom & gloom or some negative, no matter what the subject.

I don’t get the slant……..the article doesn’t say he’s Clark Kent. Would you rather that the “take” on the guy was that he kept to himself and was a prick to his teammates, particularly the young guys? Nowhere was it said that he’s the only potential leader on the Club nor that he aspires to get a C on his chest. Harmon Killebrew played on a bunch of not very good teams - was he a fraud with his leadership? Team record has nothing to do with an individual’s character and attitude. You’re correct, he’s not holding mandatory pep talks for 25 guys - that’s why he said that he needs to figure out who wants to talk and who wants to listen. He’s not Billy Graham either.

I don’t! …… I didn’t say that. My rub is the presumption that it won’t and how this is a ridiculous take by the writer (another washed up veteran with nothing to contribute)…….. Bell states how he noticed Rosario’s success and how he shifted his regimen & it worked …….. he’s not a wizard but sharing this type of stuff (not the details always but the openness to tweak), as a veteran that’s had some success and a bunch of lean times, I think it may have a positive effect. It may not but at least Bell has tried. Similar stuff to what Buxton - Hunter or Morneau would convey, IMO.

Those others have nothing to do with an upbeat write up about how Josh Bell dug himself out of a hole & how he’s willing to pass on info to guys 7-10 years younger - that’s it. I think it’s OK to presume it won’t hurt, and that not every opinion writers share, whether it’s their’s or what they’ve heard, should be met with absolute pessimism. You do you.

If one teacher can turn a kid around or be of substantial help in high school - does the whole school system suck? Nobody is saying he’s the Savior - he’s just a veteran that’s willing to be involved with teammates that are open to talking & listening.

Just another drag of a take ……. if you “don’t know” then why is there a presumption that he’ll be of no benefit? ……… many here state that guys that “aren’t stars” make the best coaches…… he’s open and saying the right things - can’t see that it will hurt for him to try.

I don’t understand the $20M comment? That would net 3 veterans ($3M - $6M - $11M) with decent track record. …….. Orze has a spot I’d think……… Topa - Sands - Funderburk (all familiar, none great but all “capable”)………they have a half dozen young guys that have been starters to supplement. How do we know it wouldn’t be a good PEN?

Points on Duran - Jax - Varland are spot on……I think limiting Festa’s innings coming off this serious shoulder issue makes perfect sense. I’m not sure if it’s better to have him with Abel in St Paul to protect him early, as a starter, or if he should just get moved to a PEN role? Not utilizing good production in the Show & wasting innings at AAA probably is not best scenario for Twins. Controlled innings a couple times per week from the PEN role seems right. I am in the vast minority but I think Matthews should get serious consideration for the Closer role……….if they try this, Festa has to stay in rotation depth. Dominguez is a worthwhile guy along with Coulombe. (agree, with some pairing of FA relievers) Blend in Festa with those two guys. Orze - Funderburk - Topa - Sands………..Morris - Lewis - Raya - Adams - Klein as additional fillers, this seems to be a collection of guys that can get things done, generally, through the year.

I assume they play better between innings games - play better music - have nice summer evening weather - give away some Coors??? Don’t think it has anything to do with quality of baseball.

My opinion/point is that I’m just setting the bar for “average” performances. There’s no serendipity expected in my comments……..it’s all stuff that should be baseline. I’m not suggesting the Team will have 3-4 All Stars. Maybe I wasn’t clear - I do not expect, nor should anyone, think that the Twins are going to have a bunch of great years from players but I do think it’s reasonable to expect guys to revert to their norms. Certainly, not everyone’s performances will be positive. I just think that if they get repeat decent output from a handful of guys and another half dozen revert to their norm, Team can be competitive in the A.L. Central. Not having Kiersey - Gasper - Vazquez - Juilen stepping into the batter’s box should also be a big step in the right direction. Go Twins!

I could think like chicken little - yes. That’s a drag and essentially what 90% of the TD commenters already have covered. 2 years ago the Team could “trade anyone” but Brooks Lee, according to people here. Thinking he may be able to elevate his offense from OPS+ of 76 up to OPS+ of 91 isn’t a huge ask. Is it guaranteed, he’ll no. In ‘22-‘24 Lopez threw 180 - 194 - 185 innings respectively……….injuries in ‘25…….. am assuming his “normalcy” - not Blue Sky. Ober has thrown 144 - 178 - 146 innings over last 3 seasons ………165 doesn’t seem lofty IMO. Expecting 175 innings from Ryan is what the Twins, or any other organization that would trade for him, should expect. I don’t see the rub? The PEN is a crapshoot, but if there’s an effort to displace Sands, etc. from the back end of the PEN, with a couple OK free agents and some talented youth, it has a good chance of being at least middle if the pack. Not predicting Top 5. Larnach producing in a platoon is historically proven. Wallner IS a flip of the coin but it’s tough to hit .202 in back to back years with his bat speed & prior success. He may hit a buck ninety the way he looked in ‘25? Lewis, who knows? Thinking he should be or has a real shot at just above average, this doesn’t seem to be a view that anyone that watches baseball wouldn’t concur with. Jeffers/Buxton ……. do people, in general, think either will collapse in ‘26? I’m not dreaming about Roden or Outman or Clemens or Julien to contribute at all!!! They are all a serious stretch to make the roster. Or nothing might work out and they win 61 games and everyone boycotts Target Field ……., I could take that point of view and then commit hara-kiri.

I guess the rationale is Martin & Keaschall build on ‘25 performances and play 130 games instead of 40-50. Lopez is healthy and throws 185 innings. Ryan throws 175 innings. Ober throws 165 innings. SWR throws 150 innings………..they commit some upside young arms (3-4) to the PEN - outside guys that are already relievers - Adams & Klein don’t count in this mix……. Morris - Prielipp - Matthews or similar & Orze - Topa - Funderburk - Sands ……. with two affordable FA relievers, the PEN is reasonable. Buxton stays healthy and produces near ‘25 results………same with Jeffers. Lee lifts OPS+ to 90 or better. Lewis & Wallner get back to mildly above average guys…. not stars ……. Larnach quits hitting against LH pitching and his numbers reflect this change. Bell is able to meet expectations of a just above average guy. If these guys elevate, as a group, some more than others, they can get to .500 or a bit better.

Ditto on that last thought regarding Fan Interest.

Varland had more playoff appearances than anyone else in post-season history……… that, and everything said by anyone that was asked in the Toronto organization, it seems they thought he was pretty good. That said, I think the “risk” for the upside Rojas brings, was worthwhile. The results Rojas brings will determine who wins the trade IMO.

Seems to me this set of stats are pretty easily explained away if he’s in the mix as one of the youngest players at these levels. He was 18 to start last summer. Not concerned - not guaranteeing success either. I just don’t see these stats as being very meaningful for his future until the end of ‘26 season.

My pushback is that there are only 13 Roster Spots. Can’t just experiment with the MLB Club like it’s some laboratory or like it’s AAA. Always wanting 4/6 guys to “get a chance” is not a good way to approach running an organization. I understand the “want” & curiosity from a Fan’s perspective. Once a guy comes up some Veteran needs to be traded or released/DFA’d to create space. They are gone. Guys need to be ready or at least they need to have shown signs they are ready, other than some draft perspective from 2-3 years prior or some hot 45 days in MiLB. Martin - Larnach - Buxton - Wallner - Jeffers - Jackson - Lewis - Lee - Keaschall - Bell are 10 LOCKS for the roster omitting injuries……3 other spots open. I don’t love Kriedler/Arcia - Clemens - Gasper - Wagaman - Julien - Roden - Outman……..one could certainly make the case that at least 4 of these 8 guys have already played themselves off of any MLB roster! I DO NOT think these guys, nor any of the 2-3 fringe guys in the 10 listed above, are blocking prospects at AAA. The AAA guys need to force their way on to the roster in the Show with their play……..not because “they deserve a chance”. Culpepper - Rodriguez - Gonzalez - Jenkins are all guys I would expect to see prior to year end. The performance of guys in front of them in the Show, the Big Club’s record, and the AAA individual’s performance will all blend into who gets a look and when. I completely agree that the organization should be able to develop a 1B from current blah to OK defenders at current positions, that have shown the “hit tool”. Gonzalez - Keaschall - Jeffers - Lewis as well as numerous (2-3) others in MiLB are options.

To me, SWR’s stuff doesn’t warrant #2 starter talk. He’ll be age 25 through the ‘26 season, so still young. He’s had steady improvement though and if he can continue to refine his control “in the zone”, he is the #4 starter this year and forward. 2.2 WAR in ‘25 with only 111 innings pitched …….. 2.0 WAR in ‘24 in 133 innings. If the #4 starter can get to 150-160 innings & gives a 2.5 plus WAR it’s a good rotation! Emma “needs to play” at AAA and show he can remain healthy and productive for more than 4-6 weeks at a time! Moving or demoting a currently similar veteran bat to make room for Emma, & then to have him be hurt 15 days later doesn’t work!