Cody Schoenmann

From the Twins' perspective, the most important story of this past postseason was the heavy reliance on left-handed relievers capable of throwing multiple innings. Milwaukee’s Aaron Ashby’s epitomizes this trend, as he put up a 0.00 ERA, 1.38 FIP, and 33.3% strikeout rate over 18 innings pitched. Of his nine games, Ashby threw more than one inning in eight, twice tossing three innings in separate NLDS and NLCS appearances. The 28-year-old often threw multiple innings in the regular season, too, pitching more than one frame in 24 of his 75 outings. Milwaukee’s NLDS opponent (San Diego) deployed a similar approach, having star southpaw Adrián Morejón pitch two innings once against the Chicago Cubs in the NL Wild Card round and once against Milwaukee. San Diego often had Morejón operate in a multi-inning role during the regular season, too, alongside fellow plus lefty relievers Yuki Matsui and Wandy Peralta. The Los Angeles Dodgers used the same approach in both the postseason and the regular season with left-handed relievers Kris Bubic, Jack Dreyer, and Justin Wrobleski. The Chicago White Sox did the same with Hagen Smith and Sean Newcomb. The list goes on and on. Baseball’s smartest and most successful organizations all utilized their top left-handed relievers and swing men in multi-inning roles during the regular season and postseason. Why is that? The best lineups in baseball have a lot of left-handed hitters. Naturally, the best way to combat that is by rostering multiple left-handed pitchers who can pitch multiple innings—fighting platoon fire with platoon fire. As you know, one of Minnesota’s many areas of need this offseason will be its bullpen, which was a bottom-10 unit in the sport, according to Wins Above Replacement at FanGraphs (fWAR). As constructed, the Twins have one left-handed reliever who can throw multiple innings: Kody Funderburk. Funderburk is a serviceable major-league reliever who can toss multiple innings—don’t get me wrong—but he isn’t the headlining lefty reliever of a postseason-contending club. Perhaps Connor Prielipp could transition into the Ashby role and find much success. However, club decision-makers are highly incentivized to continue stretching the young southpaw out as a starter. That being the case, Minnesota would be wise to address this roster inefficiency via free agency this November, before the lockout begins on December 2. At first glance, the most obvious option would be re-signing A.J. Minter. The 33-year-old southpaw excelled with Minnesota after being acquired from the New York Mets on July 31, posting a 2.78 ERA, 4.91 FIP, and 22.3% strikeout rate over 22 2/3 innings pitched. The club could probably retain him on a one-year deal for around $8 million. Even if Minter returned, though, he would probably operate exclusively in a one-inning role. While he'd be a fine addition, he's no facsimile of Ashby. Aforementioned southpaws Morejón, Bubic, and Newcomb are free agents. Morejón was offered the $23.2 million qualifying offer from San Diego, which he could accept. Bubic, Newcomb, and other free-agent lefties like JoJo Romero, Brent Suter, or (to a lesser extent) Dietrich Enns could pitch multiple innings, however. There are plenty of options. To address this role meaningfully, the Twins would need to target a high-upside candidate such as Bubic, Newcomb, or Romero. Again, given how most of the offseason will be condensed into one month, Twins decision-makers will need to decide which multi-inning southpaw to invest in. The specific pitcher takes a back seat to the necessity for team decision-makers to proactively seek out and acquire a lefty reliever of this mold, capitalizing on one of the sport’s most understated advantages. It won't be easy, but it's necessary. Image courtesy of Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images View full article

Realistically, there's very little chance that Ryan Jeffers remains with the Minnesota Twins in 2027. The team will get to decide, shortly after the end of the World Series, whether to extend him the qualifying offer (worth just over $23 million for one year), but even if they do, he might well reject it and seek a multi-year deal elsewhere. The way the organization values and deploys catchers makes a big expenditure to keep Jeffers unlikely. Watching Jeffers leave will be a somber experience for Twins Territory. The second-round draft pick developed into one of baseball’s best offensive catchers. He has also become a beloved personality for fans and media. These plus traits are why the Twins could be priced out of a reunion with the 29-year-old. Immense optimism surrounds the position for the team in the long term, with top prospect Vahn Lackey succeeding Jeffers as the club’s backstop as soon as next summer. Still, the club will need to bridge the gap between the Jeffers and Lackey Eras early next season, leaving team decision-makers in a bind. Victor Caratini is the most obvious bridge. He's entering the second half of a two-year, $14-million deal signed last offseason. The 33-year-old hit .220/.312/.315 with seven home runs and a 79 wRC+ over 382 plate appearances in 2026. He was also a plus receiver behind the plate, sporting plus blocking and framing metrics, while netting 2.2 Runs Above Average on challenges. However, he was one of the weakest backstops in baseball against the running game, with an abysmal 2.04-second average pop time that led to six fewer runners being caught than expected. Jeffers was similarly atrocious at stopping runners. It often felt like basestealers could run freely against the Twins. (Indeed, only two teams allowed more steals, and no team caught a lower percentage of runners in the attempt.) This was one of Minnesota’s more glaring shortcomings last season, functioning as a significant hindrance to the club’s ability to suppress runs. Caratini has never been able to effectively suppress base-stealing efforts. There’s no reason to believe he will suddenly be able to in 2027. As noted earlier, he’s also an offensive liability, but given his plus receiving skills, knack for reversing balls into strikes, and (arguably most importantly) $7-million price tag, the switch-hitting veteran is all but guaranteed to be the club’s primary catcher next Opening Day. Caratini catching four or five days a week is not ideal, particularly if he hits at a rate like last season's. (But things could be worse. At least they’re not paying J.T. Realmuto $15 million next season, right?) As things stand, Caratini will soon be the only catcher on Minnesota’s 40-man roster. Alex Jackson is still with the organization and under team control next season, but only if they take the proactive step of putting him back on the 40-man by the end of this month. I’d be content with the club entering next season with Jackson as Caratini’s backup. He performed well at the plate in 2026, hitting .304/.342/.406 (good for a 112 wRC+) over 73 plate appearances. The 30-year-old also had one of the best pop times last season, resulting in him being far better at suppressing the run game than Jeffers and Caratini. Caratini is far better at receiving, framing, and challenging than Jackson is. In theory, the tandem could function as counterbalances for one another. The damage of Caratini’s inability to suppress base runners is mitigated by that being Jackson’s strength, and vice versa. Unfortunately, that’s not how the sport works, in practice. Starting Caratini only against teams who don't run isn't realistic, and the Twins don't have enough pitchers who can live with a lesser receiver to lean on Jackson more often. (Nor, in all likelihood, would Jackson hit as well in a more regular, exposed role.) Caratini’s and Jackson’s shortcomings will remain on display until Lackey (an elite all-around catcher) takes over the position full-time. They're a tolerable stopgap, but the team could still aim higher. The only desirable non-Jeffers impending free agent catchers are Carson Kelly and Tyler Stephenson. Kelly is a far better option, but he will likely demand a multi-year contract, similar to what Caratini got last season. Stephenson is a better hitter than Caratini and Jackson and might be available on a one-year deal, or at least a low-risk, high-reward two-year pact. However, he's arguably the worst defender of the four, diminishing the impact of his just-above-average bat. I wouldn’t be against Minnesota pairing Stephenson with Caratini. He or Kelly could come in on a two-year deal and be the bridge's bridge, as it were, working in tandem with Caratini for 2027 and alongside Lackey in 2028, when Caratini's contract is up. Austin Hedges, James McCann, and Kyle Higashioka are also likely to be available, but the Twins might as well roll with Jackson, if they're considering any of those options. Five years after being the No. 1 overall pick in the MLB Draft, Pirates catcher Henry Davis could be available via trade. Of course, he has a Derek Shelton connection, having played under him for three seasons in Pittsburgh. Davis has yet to meet expectations at the plate, generating a career 55 wRC+ over 958 plate appearances. In fact, 2026 was his first positive-fWAR season in the majors, generating 0.6. The driving factor in his progression was that the 27-year-old was one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, being a plus receiver and near-elite run game suppressor. (He was slightly below-average at challenging.) His polished defensive skills make him an interesting target who could benefit from a change of scenery. Under team control until the end of the 2029 season, Davis could also tandem with Lackey, solidifying the position for years to come. The Twins probably wouldn’t have to surrender much prospect capital to acquire Davis, given his lackluster performance at the plate. Pittsburgh appears set at the position long-term, with Rafael Flores Jr. and Endy Rodriguez. Between veteran options in Kelly, Stephenson, Hedges, McCann, and Higashioka or team-controlled trade candidates in Davis, Luis Torrens, Carlos Narváez, or Austin Wells (especially if Jeffers signs with the Yankees), there are plenty of external options Minnesota could acquire. The Twins would be wise to invest in a higher-upside partner for Caratini than Jackson. Twins Territory should prepare for Caratini to make the bulk of starts behind the plate until Lackey’s highly-anticipated arrival. Maybe the wait will make the payoff a bit sweeter. Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images View full article

i fixed it; thanks for letting me know.

the count is the most important thing in baseball

Image courtesy of Durham Bulls Last Wednesday, the Minnesota Twins named Brian Reith as their new pitching coach, replacing long-time predecessor Pete Maki. Operating under the same title for the Durham Bulls (Tampa’s Triple-A affiliate) for the past five seasons, Reith draws little fanfare himself. As a minor league pitching coach over the past half-decade, he is not well known among those who primarily follow the majors. Instead, his appeal lies entirely in the parent club he developed pitchers for, with many having a Pavlov’s dog-type positive reaction to seeing “Rays.” Justifiably so. Tampa has been a pioneer in the analytical revolution, often assembling competitive rosters with one of the lowest payrolls in baseball. There is a particular shine around the organization as they just clinched a World Series berth, operating as one of the final three clubs remaining alongside other small-market darlings in Cleveland and Milwaukee. The Rays have been particularly keen on maximizing their pitching talent, deploying the AL’s second-best pitching staff of the 2020s, according to FanGraphs' Wins Above Replacement (fWAR). Despite the stereotype that small-market teams maximize pitching talent through international free agency and the draft, Tampa’s success stems from being hyperactive in the trade market. For example, their best starting pitcher (Drew Rasmussen) was acquired from Milwaukee in 2021. The rest of their four-pitcher starting rotation (Freddy Peralta, Griffin Jax, and Nick Martinez) were also acquired through trade or free agency in the past year-and-a-half. Also, elite closer Bryan Baker was acquired in a trade with Baltimore in July, 2025, with the rest of the bullpen being entirely comprised of external additions, sans 2020 draft selection Ian Seymour. This level of hyperactivity on the trade market is the product of the club’s president of baseball operations, Erik Neander, and the front office. It is impossible to know whether Twins top baseball executive Jeremy Zoll will operate similarly this offseason. If he does, however, his new pitching coach will be equipped to maximize those additions' strengths, having played an integral role in Tampa’s pitching development the past half-season. As I’m sure you’ve heard countless times, Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley worked with Reith in Durham. Again, it is impossible to know what impact he will have on their respective 2027 campaigns. Bradley thrived under Maki’s guidance in 2026, so there’s no guarantee he will take another step forward based on familiarity alone. Yet what Reith will bring to Minnesota was best summed up by another former Durham Bull, Garrett Acton, whom I spoke with in early August when Minnesota was at Rate Field facing the Chicago White Sox. Acton repeatedly referred to the concept of “2K” and “pre-2K,” like in the following quote: “(We prioritized) tightening up the arsenal," Acton noted when discussing what changes Maki and former assistant pitching coach Luis Ramirez made to his arsenal upon joining the Twins last season. "But the emphasis was still the same. Dominate the strike zone pre-2K, be able to expand, and use my best pitch 2K.” So, “Dominate the strike zone pre-2K” means attacking the strike zone before reaching two strikes. Subsequently, “2K” means a pitcher has reached two strikes and is trying to strike out the hitter. Again, Acton noted this was Maki’s and Ramirez’s preferred approach. Yet, he likely first developed this approach when Reith was his pitching coach in 2025. Counts are the most important element of baseball. There is a meaningful advantage to a pitcher starting an at-bat with an 0-1 count rather than a 1-0 count. Attacking the zone pre-two-strike counts and using your best pitch in two-strike counts have been Tampa’s organizational modus operandi for pitching over the past half-decade, and there’s no doubt Reith will bring that philosophy to Minnesota. On the surface, throwing strikes early and often is a simple concept. Every pitcher and pitching coach knows what they should be doing. But the first strike needs to be executed—easier said than done. Again, Twins pitchers knew they needed to throw strikes last season. There’s no doubt Maki communicated that. Yet, the club surrendered the fifth-most walks, playing a primary role in the Maki-led unit being one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball last season. What Reith is expected to be better at than Maki is deciding what arsenal changes need to be implemented and how and when to communicate them effectively. Tampa’s success is largely rooted in encouraging pitchers to take the path of least resistance, opting for simplicity over over-complication. They are transcendentalist pitching developers, inspired by Henry David Thoreau: simplify, simplify. For example, this will look like Bradley leaning heavily on his elite cutter; Ryan trusting his fastball even more; and Jeff Hoffman spamming his slider. Not every pitcher needs to tinker with a fastball variant all the time—Reith knows that. Don't be mistaken. Tampa’s simplicity isn’t rooted in being luddites. They have embraced advanced metrics and cutting-edge pitching technology. However, they communicate their desired results in an exceptionally simple manner and reduce the threat of miscommunication. For example, Tampa catchers place their glove in the middle of the strike zone for every pitch. One can expect Victor Caratini and whichever backstop joins him in 2027 to do the same. Instead of scrambling pitchers' brains with stringent location zones, they are encouraged to throw at the glove, leaning into their strengths. If Reith can effectively bring Tampa’s pitching philosophy, he could immediately drastically improve Minnesota’s pitching staff, potentially unlocking newfound success for the club’s top starters in Ryan, Bradley, and Pablo López while helping young starters Connor Prielipp and Zebby Matthews develop into steady, above-average arms. The same goes for the bullpen, which will again rely heavily on Hoffman, Andrew Morris, and another former Reith prodigee (Yoendrys Gómez) in high-leverage situations. Maximizing these arms could be the most consequential factor in Minnesota’s ability to earn its first postseason berth since 2023. View full article

Brooks Lee broke out in 2026. There’s no debate around that. There is debate about what qualifies as a “breakout campaign,” yes, but Lee’s case is as clear-cut. Over his first 712 plate appearances, Lee manufactured a 71 wRC+, 29 points below league-average. He was similarly dreadful in the field, netting -6 Outs Above Average (OAA) mixing between second base, third base, and short. As a result, the former first-round pick netted 0.0 Wins Above Replacement at FanGraphs (fWAR) over 189 games, performing at a replacement-level rate. Despite being an offensive and defensive liability in his first two seasons in the majors, Lee flashed the raw talent that led to him getting selected eighth overall in the 2022 MLB Amateur Draft and his accelerated progression through the minors, showing plus power and plate discipline. His skill set was realized in 2026, with the 25-year-old hitting .253/.300/.407 with 24 home runs and a 101 wRC+ over 631 plate appearances. The driving factor behind Lee’s offensive turnaround was the switch-hitter’s ability to produce while hitting left-handed, earning a 120 wRC+ over 424 plate appearances in 2026 compared to a combined 69 wRC+ over 482 plate appearances the prior two seasons. He regressed from the right side of the plate (63 wRC+ in 2026 compared to a combined 77 wRC+ the prior two seasons). Yet, his regression is less consequential when he’s netting roughly 200 fewer plate appearances from the right-handed batter’s box. He also significantly improved defensively, transitioning from the primary shortstop to full-time third baseman in late May. Lee went from being one of the worst shortstops in baseball (netting -6 OAA over 167 attempts) to quickly becoming an elite third baseman, netting 6 OAA over 284 attempts. Undergoing a 12-point OAA swing, Lee generated his first positive season at the plate and in the field, netting 2.9 fWAR. Again, he accumulated 2.9 more fWAR in 2026 than his first two seasons in the majors: he underwent one of the more pronounced breakout 2026 campaigns in the sport. Lee generated the second-most fWAR on the Twins, second only to Luke Keaschall, who earned 3.0. If we are to strip all context and analyze Lee’s performance by strictly looking at the metrics, he was the Twins' second-best player. Of course, that doesn’t feel true, and it probably isn’t. Byron Buxton is better than Lee, but he was hurt for a significant portion of the season. The same goes with Ryan Jeffers. Also, Joe Ryan is a better starting pitcher than Lee is a position player. However, injuries and a late-season collapse derailed his fWAR totals, placing him below Lee. Still, Lee was almost Minnesota’s most productive player this season. Yes, the club was bad, but that doesn’t happen by accident. He had to make meaningful improvements to take such a pronounced step forward—and he did defensively. He is actually one of the best defensive third basemen in baseball now. Yet his underlying hitting metrics suggest he was largely the same player as in 2024 and 2025, making his 20-point jump in wRC+ feel unsustainable. He had poor bat speed again. He kept chasing pitches outside the zone. He rarely ever walked, and he made a ton of weak contact, similar to his first two seasons in the majors. So, what changed? Why was he a dramatically better hitter in 2026 than in 2025 and 2024? Despite most of his underlying metrics remaining unimpressive, he made a monumental shift in hitting philosophy in 2026, prioritizing quality of contact over contact itself. He matured into a quality-over-quantity bat, laying off pitches outside the zone less and making better contact on pitches in the zone. He was able to hit strikes in the air far more often in 2026 than the prior two seasons, resulting in him hitting more doubles and home runs (49) in 2026 than 2024 and 2025 combined (40). Maturing his plate approach with elite raw skills, Lee became the hitter Twins Territory had long yearned for him to become. Combining that with an elite defensive profile, there’s no surprise he was almost a 3-WAR player. That said, his underwhelming underlying metrics shouldn’t be ignored. If his approach converts back to his pre-2026 form, he will regress to a sub-replacement-level bat in 2027; that is a reality we must confront. And if that happens, there is a real chance he could hit his way out of being a full-time player. Moving to third and excelling at the position raises his floor, but still—a postseason-contending team can’t play a 69 wRC+ hitter every game. Alternatively, Lee could build off his breakout 2026 campaign, playing at an All-Star-caliber level early next season, solidifying himself as a core member of the next good Twins team. Either outcome is well within reason. And yes, this level of variance is possible for every major league player. We just witnessed Cal Raleigh regress from an MVP-caliber catcher to one of the sport’s worst hitters in one season. Yet, Lee feels like one of the most volatile position players in baseball. Again, I say feel because this is largely a vibes-based analysis, but his underlying metrics make these doubts reasonable. Three seasons in, I don’t know what to make of Lee. He could regress into a bench bat; continue his current slightly above-average pace; or be the AL’s starting third baseman in the 2027 All-Star Game—None of these outcomes would shock me. View full article

next time you talk about the GOAT fred durst make sure to....

this is a half-measure free agency pool

it's okay man just say you dont get limp

remember when tracy porter picked Favre in the ‘09 nfc championship game? twins haven’t rebounded since

This 2026 Twins team makes me sad. The AL Central was more than winnable this year. But here we are, on track for another sub-.500 season. The vibe is much different, however, with top prospects Kaelen Culpepper, Walker Jenkins, and Emmanuel Rodríguez finally with the parent club, looking to guide them toward sustained postseason contention. Actually, yeah, let’s keep talking about the future. I don’t want to talk about the 2026 Twins anymore. Not even fluoxetine helps with my Twins-induced angst. Let’s get into projections! (Author’s note: Yes, yes, I know. Lockout, and all that. Still, baseball will happen in 2027. As Fred Durst so eloquently said, "You gotta have faith!") Catchers (2): Ryan Jeffers, Victor Caratini At this point, the consensus is that Minnesota will extend the qualifying offer to Jeffers, which will be around $23 million. Many believe he will decline it and pursue a more lucrative, long-term deal in free agency, which I understand. In fact, it’s what I think Jeffers should do. The Yankees could give him soooooooooooo much money. Still, I wouldn’t be shocked if he accepted the one-year qualifying offer, given the unique predicament players face this offseason. Admittedly, it would be a little anticlimactic for the Twins’ most substantial offseason investment to be a player already on the club. But there are worse things than rostering one of the best-hitting catchers in the sport on what is functionally a one-year, $23-million deal. If Jeffers returns, Caratini will again be his backup, completing the second season of a two-year, $14-million deal he signed last offseason. That’s fine. There are much, much worse tandems in the sport. Hey, at least the Twins aren’t paying J.T. Realmuto $15 million next season, right?! Regardless, one more season of Jeffers as the club’s primary catcher would be an ideal segue to Vahn Lackey taking over as the club’s long-term answer at the position. Infielders (6): Kody Clemens, Xavier Edwards, Brooks Lee, Kaelen Culpepper, Ryan Kreidler, Gabriel González The Twins can’t march into a 162-game season with Royce Lewis and Kody Clemens penciled in as the primary starters on the right side of the infield and expect to be serious postseason contenders—particularly Lewis. He’s been a below-average hitter for three seasons and is a defensive liability at every infield position, including first base. That being the case, I predict Minnesota will non-tender Lewis, redirecting the roughly $6 million he would have received in arbitration elsewhere. Minnesota could sign a free-agent first baseman (Jake Bauers, Ty France or Luis Arraez?) or trade for a high-ceiling option in St. Louis’s Alec Burleson. However, I’m predicting the club will acquire switch-hitting, speedy, high-OBP second baseman Xavier Edwards from the Miami Marlins to take over the position full-time, while shifting the power-hitting Clemens back down the defensive spectrum. Lee and Culpepper are the most exciting young left side of the infield since Miguel Sanó and Jorge Polanco in the late 2010s. Lee will be the primary third baseman, with Culpepper at short. Despite struggling at the plate, Kreidler is a plus defensive third baseman and shortstop, who will continue to mix in at second and in the outfield. He will also be out of minor-league options next season, giving him the inside edge over fellow utility infielder Ben Ross. González could mix in as a platoon partner with Clemens at first base, starting against left-handed starting pitchers, while also playing occasionally in the corner outfield spots. He'd probably be the 13th position player, seeing very little action and constantly at risk of being demoted to Triple-A St. Paul—unless the Twins wise up and learn how to use their whole bench, instead of just part of it. Outfielders (5): Byron Buxton, Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodríguez, Luke Keaschall, Austin Martin There has never been a better opportunity to slide Buxton to a corner outfielder/designated hitter role. Both Rodríguez and Jenkins are viable major-league center fielders, with club decision-makers preferring Jenkins over Rodríguez at the position. Both are better defensive center fielders than Buxton at this point in their respective careers. Buxton will be on the other side of hip surgery by then, anyway; his days in the outfield might be numbered. Until (or if) that happens, however, the primary outfield configuration entering next season will probably be Jenkins, Buxton, and Keaschall, with Rodríguez mixing in at all three positions. This level of flexibility permits Twins decision-makers to move on from Trevor Larnach, non-tendering him this offseason. Martin could retain a similar platoon role as this season, starting in either corner outfield spot against left-handed pitching. As with Buxton, I’d prefer Keaschall receiving more DH opportunities, potentially taking over as the club’s primary option there with Josh Bell expected to depart. Being able to keep Keaschall’s bat in the lineup without worrying about defense would be a win-win for the player and the team. He will spend significant time in right field. However, it would be wise to give him and Buxton the majority of DH opportunities, thereby allowing Jenkins and Rodríguez to patrol two-thirds of the outfield almost every game. Starting Rotation (5): Pablo López, Joe Ryan, Taj Bradley, Dean Kremer, Mick Abel Much was made of the club’s inept bullpen and sluggish second-half offense. Yet, starting rotation woes were quietly the Twins' Achilles’ heel in 2026. So many games were quickly upended by early implosions from Bailey Ober, Zebby Matthews, Connor Prielipp, Mike Paredes, Kendry Rojas, Dean Kremer, and even frontline starters like Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley. Again, bad starts are a part of the sport. Every starter (not named Jacob Misiorowski) has them. Still, starting pitching needs to improve for Minnesota to return to the postseason in 2027. On paper, López, Ryan, and Bradley are a solid top of the rotation. At the same time, however, each could be viewed as an unknown quantity, with López returning from a torn UCL; Ryan undergoing another pronounced late-season fade; and Bradley having what is only his first above-average season as a major-league starter. Still, I'm confident these three can lead what could be a plus rotation. Abel impressed before undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right elbow in July, and I'm optimistic he could thrive over a full, healthy season, potentially blossoming into a frontline starter. Despite having his worst season in the majors this year, Kremer has been steady since joining the Twins, all but guaranteeing the arb-eligible righty will be a member of Minnesota’s Opening Day 2027 starting rotation. Prielipp will probably be the organization’s sixth starting pitcher who could quickly join the parent club if performance concerns or injuries arise. (That is to say, he'll probably be in the rotation by Opening Day; I'm just not sticking my neck out as to which pitcher is going to get hurt.) Bullpen (8): Jeff Hoffman, Andrew Morris, Joe Jiménez, Yoendrys Gómez, Kody Funderburk, Tommy Nance, Anthony Banda, Zebby Matthews Beyond Jeffers returning and trading for Edwards, the bullpen is where the majority of Minnesota’s offseason activity could occur. Alternatively, it could look almost identical to how it does now. I’m predicting the latter will happen, with a few substantial shakeups. Twins decision-makers will make a splashy reliever addition this offseason, which I predict will be the club signing Joe Jiménez to a one-year deal. To preface, yes, I know Jiménez hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2024. However, his injury was leg-related, with him undergoing left knee articular cartilage surgery in November 2024. He missed this season with the same injury. However, he is now on a rehab assignment with Atlanta’s Triple-A affiliate, meaning he could be ready to pitch this postseason. When Jiménez last pitched, he was one of the best relievers in baseball. He also has the platonic ideal Twins reliever arsenal, throwing his four-seamer and slider a combined 96% of the time. I think Hoffman will enter next season as the club’s closer, given Gómez’s late-season struggles. Morris should continue operating in a high-leverage role, with the aforementioned Gómez also occupying a late-inning role early next season. Funderburk (out of minor-league options) and Banda could serve as a viable left-handed relief tandem, with Nance working in a mid-leverage role. Also, I project Matthews to earn the eighth and final bullpen spot. However, I expect Minnesota will continue to stretch him out as a starter, with him shuttling between Triple-A and the parent club as ever-important starting-pitching depth. Rojas, Paredes, David Festa, and Ryan Gallagher could occupy a similar role, with Travis Adams, Garrett Acton, Marco Raya, and potential offseason additions as priority Triple-A short-relief depth. Image courtesy of Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images View full article

many are saying Peter Bendix is the next Andy MacPhail

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Acquired from the Miami Marlins for right-handed pitching prospect Logan Whitaker on April 2, Garrett Acton joined the Minnesota Twins' 40-man roster, hoping to pitch more than the one inning he threw for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2025. The 28-year-old accomplished that feat in his first appearance as a Twin, facing eight batters over two innings against the Detroit Tigers on April 9. Acton pitched 4 2/3 more innings that month, netting an impressive 2.70 ERA, 2.20 FIP, and a 32.1% strikeout rate—before being placed on the 15-day IL with a right shoulder strain on April 26. He was later transferred to the 60-day IL, before joining the Triple-A St. Paul Saints' roster on August 1. “The shoulder thing was a hiccup.” Acton said. “[But] I feel like it’s largely been a successful year … I’ve learned a lot from Pete [Maki] and Luis [Ramirez].” Before receiving insight from the Twins pitching coaches, however, Acton had already gotten good advice. He believes his time in Miami played a big role in his success this season. “I guess one of the things that was kind of an emphasis with Miami was expanding the arsenal, right?" he said. "In spring training, I was working on a sweeper, obviously, and a kick change. Coming over here, [Maki and Ramirez] were like, ‘You have two really good pitches in your fastball and slider. Let’s get a third pitch.’ And that ultimately ended up being my old changeup.” Before undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023, Acton threw his four-seamer 69% of the time; his slider 23% of the time; and his changeup 9% of the time with the then-Oakland Athletics. In his one inning pitched for Tampa Bay last season, he threw only his four-seamer (81%) and change (19%). Yet, with Minnesota this season, he has almost exclusively become a fastball-slider pitcher, throwing his four-seamer 54% of the time and his slider 45%. He throws what Baseball Savant categorizes as a splitter 1% of the time; that's the “old changeup” Acton was referring to. “(We prioritized) tightening up the arsenal," the journeyman explained. "But the emphasis was still the same. Dominate the strike zone pre-[two-strike counts], be able to expand, and use my best pitch [once I get to two strikes].” After being recalled from Triple-A when major-league rosters expanded to 28 players on September 1, Acton initially pitched well. with four innings of one-run ball in his first two appearances. He fanned four and allowed just five baserunners in those outings. Things went sour on Sunday against the White Sox, but Acton felt he tapped into something real and valuable. “Ultimately, I’m trying to play the north-south game," he said. "I’m trying to get some killshots up [with my fastball]. I know that’s where I’m going to generate most of my swing-and-miss … But I also need to be able to work below with my slider and change.” The Sunday night shellacking got Acton a ticket back to St. Paul on Labor Day, as the Twins reinstated Joe Ryan from the injured list. He was optioned, but not cut loose from the organization. There's still a chance for him to have an impact next year. Some of the club’s eight-pitcher bullpen is already constructed for 2027. Given good health, Yoendrys Gómez, Jeff Hoffman, Andrew Morris, Kody Funderburk, and Tommy Nance are all but guaranteed their spots. A slew of mid-to-low-leverage candidates presently possess 40-man roster spots alongside Acton: Travis Adams, Jack Anderson, Marco Raya, and Eric Orze, with Cole Sands, Mike Paredes, and Anthony Banda set to return from the injured list before spring training. There's ample room for an affable late bloomer with plus stuff to carve out a role, though, and Acton is closer to doing so now than he was five months ago—even if much of the time between then and now was spent mired in frustrating stasis. View full article

Image courtesy of Matt Marton-Imagn Images “The first month has gone by kind of quick,” quipped Kaelen Culpepper before Sunday night’s matchup against the Chicago White Sox. The 23-year-old isn’t wrong. On August 7, he walked into the visiting team’s clubhouse in Milwaukee, hours before first pitch. That feels like forever ago, right? I’m sure most of you reading this article remember where you were when he took Brewers starting pitcher Shane Drohan deep in his second major-league plate appearance. Time (as it's known to do) has flown by, however, and 100 plate appearances into his major-league career, Culpepper has become one of Minnesota’s most productive position players. “It was nice, man,” Culpepper said of hitting second in the Twins lineup Saturday, for the first time since his contract was selected early last month. “You know what I mean? I hit leadoff and second a lot in the minors. So being back in the two-hole, it’s kind of, you know, allowed me to reminisce a little bit. But I felt pretty comfortable—felt right at home again.” And right at home he was, going 2-for-5, including an RBI double in the top of the seventh inning that served as an insurance run for the club’s 6-4 comeback win over Chicago. Culpepper’s success extends far beyond Saturday night’s late-inning heroics. Over 100 plate appearances, the rookie has hit .297/.350/.451 with five doubles, three home runs, and a 133 wRC+. His underlying metrics support his strong start at the plate; he's shown great bat speed and some good contact skills. “I just want to be quick in general.” Culpepper said. “I want the main thing that I’m known for is my hands. I feel like word is getting out pretty nice, but yeah, it’s always been a thing for me.” Word is, in fact, getting out, particularly with his past two home runs coming off fastball variants in on his hands. He pulled this homer on a 93-MPH sinker from West Sacramento Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn on August 26: 97491033-236cf8ff-6a8c6c61-csvm-diamondgcp-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4 The bat speed remains unexpectedly eye-popping, averaging out at 73.7 MPH. That's the third-quickest swing on the active roster, sitting behind only Ryan Kreidler (74) and Royce Lewis (75.2). His quick hands have translated at shortstop, too, helping him net 0 Outs Above Average (OAA) over 203 innings played at the position. “I played some really good defense in the minors, and I want that to translate," he said. "I know there have been some hiccups up here, but like, I’m young in my career. So, every day I’m working to make those routine plays: make the hard plays look easy.” On the surface, a 0 OAA isn’t remarkable, but it's a meaningful improvement over what the club was getting from Brooks Lee (-6 OAA) and Tristan Gray (-7 OAA) in the season’s first half. He’s not the defensive shortstop Kreidler is (2 OAA), but there’s reason to believe he could quickly become a plus defender at the position if he can continue expanding his range while leaning on his plus arm. “[I’m] working with Ramon [Borrego] every day, man," said the rookie. "I mean, we’re always grinding, working on something new, working on things that I’ve been working on the last year-and-a-half or so.” Top prospect Marek Houston projects to be a better defensive shortstop than Culpepper. Yet, he isn’t expected to reach the parent club until mid- to late 2027 or early 2028, depending on his ability to hit Triple-A pitching. Culpepper will probably be Minnesota’s full-time starting shortstop next season, making his development at the position vital to the club’s success early next season. Until then, the top prospect wants to finish his 2026 campaign on the field. “I wanna stay healthy. You know what I mean? I want to stay on the field. Continue playing every day—producing well," Culpepper said. "I’m feeling healthy. I haven’t had any issues (with my hip) since I came off the IL, so I’m good, I’m clean. Just trying to grind it out.” View full article

thanks chatGPT

Image courtesy of Dennis Lee-Imagn Images Turn on Twins.TV or the Treasure Island Baseball Network (TIBN) radio feed during a Connor Prielipp-started Minnesota Twins baseball game, and you will quickly hear Cory Provus, Kris Attebery or one of the many talented analysts discuss how well Twins decision-makers are managing Prielipp’s innings this season. On the surface, the assumption that the front office and coaches are carefully monitoring the 25-year-old’s workload makes sense. The University of Alabama product threw only seven innings in his 2021 college campaign before undergoing Tommy John surgery. He then underwent internal brace surgery in 2023, delaying his first extended stint as a starting pitcher in Minnesota’s minor-league system until 2025. Splitting his 2025 campaign between Double- and Triple-A, the hard-throwing southpaw netted 82 2/3 innings pitched over 23 starts, signaling he could soon join the parent club’s starting rotation. That assumption became reality on April 22 of this year, when the former top prospect was recalled from Triple-A, joining the Twins' starting rotation. Despite a brief 15-day IL stint in mid-July, Prielipp has remained a fixture of Minnesota’s rotation since his promotion, starting every fifth or sixth day. You could argue his stint on the IL was more about maintenance than serious injury, and he's twice had his starts pushed back one game, lengthening the rotation. Those are small safeguards for a pitcher with big injury trouble in his recent past, though. Over 19 starts (functionally 20; Andrew Morris opened Prielipp’s last appearance), the lefty has averaged roughly 5 1/3 innings pitched per outing—a rate typical of an unrestricted starting pitcher. In fact, since April 22, Prielipp ranks third among Twins pitchers in innings with 104, trailing only Zebby Matthews (112) and Taj Bradley (126 2/3). Prielipp has thrown more innings than Joe Ryan (98 1/3) and Bailey Ober (87 1/3) during that stretch, though of course he's spent less time on the shelf than they have. Assessing Prielipp’s workload from a league perspective, the hard-throwing lefty ranks 34th in innings pitched among AL starting pitchers, tied with New York’s Gerrit Cole and ranking just ahead of Chicago’s Erick Fedde. Inserting NL starting pitchers, Prielipp ranks 63rd in innings pitched, tied with Cole and Milwaukee’s Dustin May. Does that read as a starting pitcher on an innings limit? Again, I don’t blame Twins broadcasters for assuming that Twins decision-makers were limiting Prielipp’s workload this season. He's had just one campaign resembling a full workload in the past three minor-league seasons. I’m sure they’re monitoring his innings and are in constant communication about how his left arm feels. Yet, to suggest his innings have been limited this season would be incorrect. Going forward, I beg Twins broadcasters (and fans) to resist the urge to suggest Prielipp is pitching under an innings limit. In fact, one could argue it would be more apt to refer to him as one of Minnesota's few workhorses. View full article