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!

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.

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.

He did have 500 plus AB’s & he didn’t hit LHP well….,,,I support keeping him and think he has value but it’s definitely only “good” v. RHP. That’s real.

$11.6M of supposed worth in ‘24 - &1.8M of supposed worth in ‘25. “Potential” contract for ‘26 at $4.7M. If he is used more as a strict Platoon bat at DH & OF maybe 20% of the time, it’s reasonable to assume he could/should have a line in this area: ……. .270/.335/.765/.425 ……. nothing inflated there as his career OPS is .768 v. RH pitching. ……..in ‘25 while facing LH (more) somewhere around 20+% of AB’s, his line was the following: ……. .250/.323/.404/.727 with 42 XBH in about a 71% of the potential AB’s for one line-up spot. His strikeout rate was 21.5%. Counter his AB’s v. LH Pitching with Gonzalez or like RH option. Gotta have a clearly better option before just letting him go, IMO…….to me, the $$ saved is a ridiculous argument and if $2M additional spend is that precious to the Organization then our rotation is going to get traded away as well.

Twins make him a compromise offer at $3.2 - $3.5? He’s got a .765 OPS for career v. RH pitching - ……no deep dive here, from what I believe I’ve read. On a Team starved for offense, typically, rolling the dice with Roden/Outman seems ridiculous to me. He had 17HR & 24 doubles ……use as more of a straight platoon and his BA - OBP - OPS all go up considerably in ‘25. - right? I know he plods around in OF but he doesn’t butcher a bunch of plays - I don’t see Wallner making fabulous plays, he’s got a better arm but throws the ball all over the place. I can’t see letting relatively known offense/experience go until guys (Rodriguez - Jenkins - Gonzalez) are actually deemed “ready” in early summer. Could trade Larnach and another body to some team with injuries & a need. Bottom line is, v. RH pitching, he’s a (the most) productive guy in the DH spot unless they go out and sign a star. To me, trying to save $2 -$3M each with 2-3 guys doesn’t make sense IF trying to win. The Club either trades Lopez and sheds real money or they try to compete and budget $125-$140M for the total spend……….saving $7M on 3 guys isn’t going to help any serious $$ concerns.

Lots of good thoughts - I like Keaschall or Jeffers moving to 1B ……. get that “need” behind Team & don’t let it linger. Maybe Gonzalez is focussed at 1B over the Winter and in the Spring. Would prefer moving Lee to 2B if Keaschall vacates. Roll with Culpepper or best young option by end of May at SS. I’d try to have Matthews in the PEN to handle the former Griffin Jax role. Maybe bring Thielbar back home - similar stats to Coulombe in ‘25, I believe? Spend $7-$9M on somebody that can close. Roden - Outman - Fitzgerald ……to me, these guys are gone, at least by June 1. Maybe one of the OF hits there way in the Team but am not holding my breath. I saw Santana & Liriano make the Team as relievers & then evolve……… to me, Prielipp & Rojas should be close to being viable PEN options coming out of Spring Training…… probably Morris as well. Abel & Festa are the “starter depth guys” to start.

I just don’t see anybody trading everyday position player talent (with real value) to Twins nor anybody. The pitching we have may net us a AAA catcher or 1B but again, if the Catcher was of value he wouldn’t be getting traded. A first baseman in an organization could theoretically be blocked & thus traded for pitching. I’m personally done with reaching for more “prospects”. Team needs to move someone internally to 1B or they need to acquire one via FA. Catcher could be covered with what we have, theoretically………I have no problem with Jeffers moving to 1B for 70% of his starts. He could catch 20 games through the year to stay viable (as the 3rd catcher) and DH after catching if he needs the break. Spend $$ on a 1B &/or DH!!!! OF is covered with what’s on roster and, hopefully by June, the other guys, (Gonzalez - Rodriguez - Jenkins) 1 or 2, will be ready. …………….. Obviously, could use 2 FA’s for PEN. Thielbar had a good year …. going forward though??? Devin Williams may have shaken Yankee’s confidence in him ……. he may have lost confidence being in NY? Better small market fit? These 2 guys, or like arms for a total of $10-$11M could be a nice fit. Have Topa - Sands - Funderburk as 3 competent guys returning. Add 3-4 young guys to the mix from organization & the PEN isn’t the mess it seems to be. Seems that current $95M salary total + another $35 - $40M gets them in a very competitive position…….. IMO.

I don’t understand the logic of people here when discussing how talent needs to be “developed” by the Manager? People sight failures of players to blossom and stick at the MLB level under Baldelli. EVERY team I’ve paid attention to in MLB over past 50 years (at age of being able to comprehend the details) PLAYERS COME & GO. How many guys came up in ‘72 or ‘78 or ‘83 or ‘94 or ‘22 that were guys that “had great promise” ……”4 tool guys” ………. “power guys” and only baseball geeks even remember them. This happens in every organization. Do some organizations have better “teachers” at Manager helm? Sure! Do many develop better through their Minor League system? Sure! Do some draft better? Sure! ………… The % of guys that come up with Twins and wash out or do not meet their potential, to me, is the same thing happening in nearly every organization - every year. It’s cyclical, lack of development working out & if no $$ are spent it gets worse & worse from the bottom up.

The “feel”, to me, is like reading a bunch of resumes that are all “what you are looking for” on some level(s) but then when you meet the right candidate in the room it makes sense to hire that one. Baldelli not being at fault but needing a change for the Team is like a congregation needing a new priest or minister, nothing wrong with the present one, but you need a new voice. Hiring a guy that hasn’t coached or managed is a big risk but if a guy like Morneau were available, would many at TD balk? Shouldn’t matter what the guys stats were……..who he played for ………gotta be a rational thought choice, not emotional, can’t be “to draw fans”.

To me, it’s the 4 guys from last year in the rotation (Looez-Ryan-Ober-SWR) along with Bradley. Matthews to the PEN in a Griffin Jax, high leverage role. Can throw hard in short bursts and would only need 2-3 effective pitches & there’s a big hole. He has options if they need to adjust on the fly. Abel, on paper, is the 6th rotation guy…….Festa being next if healthy enough? Matthews - Sands - Funderburk - Topa - Roya - Prielipp - Morris - Adams - Lawyerson & couple FA’s in the PEN mix.

SWR is a solid rotation piece. Martin has settled in at the plate with a better plan and pitch recognition - a real probable contributor! Clemens had maybe 4 games where he stood out - he’s the 13th guy due to position flexibility and his ability to run into one every 20 AB’s. He did have a double & 3 HR’s in one game ………..that’s 11.5% of his XBH in one game. His problem is he’s not clutch as he hit .216 for the year (.284 OBP) - he can be flashy and that gets fans excited. Again, he’s the 13th guy until somebody younger is ready……he’ll be 30 next season and this past one was his best by a considerable piece. Agree, Funderburk has matured and his consistency through a tough final two months proved he deserves a spot.

To me, this year, the difference is the Twins gave up. When Cleveland was 15 1/2 out of first place Minnesota was 14 games out. If the Twins add a guy at the deadline & still move Paddack & Dobnack ……… maybe Stewart if they felt compelled. With same roster and 58 games left, they had a shot to get to 87-88 wins……even with the mediocre results to the end of July.

The “clutch hitting” element is the magic elixir for a “good Manager”, as Players play - defensive capabilities for individuals isn’t Managed into guys (it can be a point of emphasis) as the players need to make the plays (pick up the ball & make good throws - hit cut off man, etc.). Players need to run bases correctly and with enthusiasm and hustle - players need to HIT in the clutch. 90% of Managers speaking on the topic of “their success” will state that “Good Players make Good Managers”!

So, Baldelli had some blame with scheme in situations or he just had players that weren’t competent to do much else? He plays percentages - A.J. Hinch, in Detroit manages the same way …….. they bunted 5 times all year and he pinch hit for Riley Greene the other day and he’s got 36 HR and is his leading RBI guy. Hi inch didn’t like the lefty v lefty matchup in the 6th inning - sound familiar? Falvey having “questionable trades” is just baseball as the same general statement can be applied across 30 organizations when generalizing the specific. He’s had some OK trades and some not OK trades - same with FA signings. OWNERSHIP & lack of a clearly communicated $$ approach to the FO is a huge % of the organization’s problems. Teams that spend less than Twins have had success but that’s with a specific approach in mind over many years - extreme spending cuts in payroll can’t be sudden and then have the expectation that the FO will make up for ANY & ALL issues associated with roster. Can’t extend Lopez & sign Correa (combined $56M/yr) and then CUT PAYROLL from $154M in 2023 down $20-$30M and act like it’s an easy work around. If Team spends $135M in ‘26 they’d be back to 2022 spending and they’d have a competitive Club. Can’t trade starting pitching - couple guys need to perform at expected levels.

So I agree that the Players play and if guys like Lewis, expected to be offensive positives, don’t perform…….the Manager can’t get that to change. Players, in many, many comments here at TD have little or no accountability. Toronto had a “down year in ‘24” and then they hired David Popkins after the Twin’s players went into a tailspin in ‘24 that got Popkins fired. Oddly enough, Toronto has 7 guys hitting .265 or higher and 4 guys at .300 or better. Either he’s a miracle worker OR the players in Toronto were able to execute ideas and approaches Popkins via coaching. That said, I don’t see how Baldelli had much of a hand in Buxton’s very successful season. Players play!

He lead the National League in hits the last two years with 200 & 181 respectively……gotta say that I don’t see those as “TWO DOWN YEARS” ……… he made $14M in ‘25. I may be wrong but my assumption is somebody might think he’ll negotiate for more $$ going forward. His OPS wasn’t fantastic but he did play 154 games …….. 144 - 147 -150 games per season from ‘22-‘24 ……… he’s not fast but his knees seem to be holding up just fine………not really knowing the guys value and stats and not thinking the organization should consider plugging him into middle of current line-up doesn’t make sense.🙄 Clemens hit .205 for most of his last 3 months - that constitutes a “down year” and that was his best year. The team needs offense & Arraez can provide a positive - Clemens just takes up space.

There is no argument - just pointing out the reasonable actions of the FO. Again, Duran - Jax - Varland trades can be short sighted and not in Team’s best interests in future (not huge $$ moves)……….the other 8 guys all made sense in any organization.

I left Correa out because moving his salary off the Team for his ‘25 output, & feet issues in ‘23 & ‘24, and prospects going forward, it makes complete sense. He is not sustainable on any payroll (for his performance) at $35M/yr. Certainly a money move for the future - but a good move, not a “fire sale” ……..I agreed that Duran & Jax were moved because they didn’t want to pay them $8-$9M total in ‘26, relative to the younger arms brought back in trade………Varland & Stewart’s contracts are at League minimum so fire sale hardly applies to them…. - right?

Naylor - 28……..50 XBH in ‘25 …… 160 hits O’Hearn - 31…….39 XBH in ‘25 …… 133 hits Arraez - 28……..42 XBH in ‘25 ………181 hits Somewhat affected by AB totals. Naylor is 3-4 years and most $$ ($19-$20M)….. O’Hearn is older and may only get 2 years ($13-$14M) ……. Arraez had 181 hits in a “down year” for him - I take that going forward and offer him 3 years ($15M) I bat Lewis 4th and Arraez behind him 150 games/year.

I don’t understand the depression & overstating “the fire sale”. Who in any FO, wouldn’t have moved Bader-Castro-Dobnack-Paddack-France ($21M x .33 saved) with starting pitching down with injuries & record at couple games under .500????? Those moves were smart! None of these guys would have been back (maybe Bader?). Castro/Bader cost $14M combined in ‘25. An everyday player/offensive contributor, I think, they will pay $16M/yr. in ‘26. The move of Jax & Duran, in theory, got them more starter upside and more years of control. Yes, saved approximately $8-$9M salary in ‘26. Varland move had nothing to do with $$$ whether one likes the trade or not. Stewart was moving a guy who is a constant injury risk for a flyer on an OF bat with decent speed, again, no $$ involved. My impression is that payroll would currently be $95M with existing roster. IMO, the infusion of investment doesn’t happen without an expectation to be competitive (spending reasonably) to get interest stirred and give new investors a reasonable opportunity for ROI.

I don’t know how to trade for worthwhile bats/position players? Nobody is trading an effective starting position player, with control. If they will trade, they make as much or more than a potential FA signing. IMO, paying $46M for Arraez over 3 years is a smart deal. 170-190 hits/yr in the 5th spot in the line-up every day sounds great. He’s a competent 1B and can shift back & forth to DH seamlessly w/o issue of team wants to groom another guy at 1B. His face is next to “Consistent bat” in baseball dictionary. He knows capability of Rotation guys…….,he knows Buxton/Lewis/Jeffers etc……..Keaschall is an obvious talent……..he seems to be a guy that would buy into a near-term, competitive level team. I try to sign Hoskins as well - it’s obvious he’s declined from his best 3 plus seasons ago (injuries have become real). An offer for 2 years at $27M could be reasonable to him. He’s brings defense at 1B - a RH bat with OK pop - can rotate through DH spot as well. Buxton - Keaschall/Houston - Larnach/Jenkins - Lewis - Arraez - Jeffers - Gonzalez/Wallner - Lee/Culpepper The FA’s above stabilized line-up and cost $29M. ……..spend another $11M on PEN…….. total payroll is $135M…. that’s 2022 spending!! With Rodriguez - Jenkins - Gonzalez coming, maybe tendering Larnach & trading him with a young pitcher Nets a PEN veteran?

Yep……. Great stats at AA do not drop into 26-man roster spot. From other comments here it doesn’t sound like he’s fantastic in the OF. See if he can stick defensively at 1B as “options” there are needed. If he continues to hit at AAA and he can adapt to 1B……maybe he’s around in July? Shifting to broad strokes………Aren’t the “upcoming OF spots” essentially taken by Gonzalez - Jenkins - Rodriguez for the foreseeable future? I’d love to see Gonzalez working at 1B as the RH option for Big Club sooner than later.

Not bad thoughts. Guys gotta want to do the job. Neither needs $$ nor headaches. Morneau seems to live a pretty comfortable existence just doing 40-50% of the games broadcast. Not sure Nelson wants the grind and responsibility/headaches? IMO, he probably does not have great interest. Competitors like to compete and that’s a big draw for both guys!!

OldNurse couldn’t more right. Not just you, but the seeming majority here think that the Manager of a club is supposed to individually instruct each player on basic skills. That’s not real…….wasn’t real for Connie Mack - not real for Ralph Houck - not real for Mike Schildt. Managers set a tone - they suggest a path for their coaches to take with players & yes, are ultimately responsible. Managers emphasize things to the group & position coaches, instructors, & players are responsible for individual improvement………do we think Justin Morneau was looking to Ron Gardenhire for help in the batting cage? I quit playing baseball at age 13 but knew how to go to second base on my base hit if the OF threw behind me or missed the cut-off, by the age of 10. I knew how to bunt……,proper form, what not to do, etc. These baseball skills are not high level thought!!! There are many players now that haven’t had basics jammed down their throat like I did in early 70’s - different world. Many uber talented players get by on talent and their lack of basic knowledge/competence isn’t exposed and hasn’t mattered much in their “development years”. Bottom line is guys have played baseball for 12-17 years before getting to MLB. Their Manager, at this level, shouldn’t be expected to individually teach guys how to play……. what is being done/taught in high school - Legion Ball - travel teams & 2-4 years of Minor Leagues???? I’m not suggesting zero input nor communication individually but there isn’t going to be instruction going on between Managers & their players. Mental help/direction/support/criticism, as needed, and leading by example are Manager’s role.