Cody Christie

Six years ago, the Twins had one of their strongest drafts in recent memory. All five of their top picks from that draft have debuted, so let’s look at how this draft unfolded. Major League Baseball’s 2022 Draft is scheduled to start on July 17, 2022. Each team prepares for the draft with a specific plan, and sometimes those plans play out better than others. To prepare fans for the upcoming draft, here is a look at some of the most important drafts in recent Twins history. The 2015 season was a compelling time in Twins Territory as the club finished in second place in the AL Central after four straight 90-loss seasons. An improved record meant Minnesota drafted in the middle of the 2016 MLB Draft instead of near the top. Because the team had the 15th overall pick, it can make it tougher to project which players will be available and how the team can get as much value as possible for their picks. Minnesota selected outfielder Alex Kirilloff out of high school in Pittsburgh, PA. He was known for his advanced hitting approach, which has been his calling card throughout his professional career. Out of players selected in the first round, Kirilloff (0.4 WAR) currently ranks 13th according to Baseball-Reference’s WAR. Eight players selected behind him rank higher in career WAR, including Will Smith (8.1 WAR), Dakota Hudson (4.5 WAR), Gavin Lux (4.3 WAR), and Eric Lauer (3.8 WAR). Many of these names played in college, so they were expected to debut before Kirilloff. Only three high school players taken in the first round have accumulated more WAR than Kirilloff (Lux, Ian Anderson, and Dylan Carlson). During the second round, the Twins had three different picks, and all three have made their debuts over the last two seasons. Minnesota selected Ben Rortvedt with the 56th overall pick, and he has been worth -0.1 WAR in 39 career games. He was included as part of the Josh Donaldson trade and underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in May. Rortvedt may never hit well enough to be an everyday catcher, but he is a solid backup with strong defensive skills. Later in the second round, the Twins had back-to-back picks and took Jose Miranda and Akil Baddoo. Miranda won the team’s minor league player of the year last year after dominating in the minor’s upper levels. His big-league career started slowly, but his bat is showing signs of the hitter he was last season. Over his last 16 games, Miranda has a 1.012 OPS with six doubles and three home runs. The Tigers selected Baddoo in the 2021 Rule 5 Draft, and he posted a 111 OPS+ in 124 games last season. He started the 2022 season by going 7-for-50 (.140 BA), and he is currently in the minors trying to rediscover his swing. Minnesota’s third-round pick was Griffin Jax from the United State Air Force Academy. During his rookie campaign, the Twins used Jax as a starter, and he posted a 6.37 ERA with a 1.35 WHIP. There were some positive signs in his numbers as he did very well the first time through a line-up, so the team moved him to the bullpen for 2022. His transition to reliever has been outstanding as the team has relied on him to get some crucial outs this season. Jordan Balazovic ranks as one of Minnesota’s top pitching prospects, and the team took him with their fifth-round pick. Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus had him in their top-100 prospects entering the 2022 season. His season started late as he dealt with a left knee strain, and he has made six starts at Triple-A this season, and he has a 9.00 ERA with a 2.33 WHIP. If he can put together some more consistent outings, there will be an opportunity for him to debut in 2022. Tyler Wells is developing into a solid late-round pick by the Twins (453rd overall). Unfortunately, the Orioles selected him in the 2021 Rule 5 Draft, so his value has been earned in a Baltimore jersey. His 1.8 WAR is the highest total of any Twins player taken in the 2016 Draft. Last season, he pitched out of the bullpen and posted a 109 ERA+ with a 0.91 WHIP. The Orioles moved him to the rotation this season, and he has a 3.86 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP in 12 starts. Kirilloff still has a long career ahead of him to accumulate value for the Twins, but there were other strong players in the first round that Minnesota passed over. Overall, the Twins found talent that is emerging at the big-league level, and the total value won’t be known for multiple more years. Do you think the Twins made the right decision by taking Kirilloff? Should the team have left Baddoo and Wells unprotected in the Rule 5 Draft? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. OTHER POSTS IN THE SERIES -2012 MLB Draft Retrospective View full article

For better or worse, the Twins moved on from multiple players this past off-season. How have those players done for their new organizations? Let's check in. Minnesota made multiple roster-altering trades over the last year, and those moves are a little easier to analyze because the team received something in return. For the players below, it was easy to see how any of them might fit into the team's plans moving forward. However, each moved on to a different organization, and their production levels have varied considerably. Michael Pineda, SP Michael Pineda made five starts for the Detroit Tigers so far in 2022. In 22 1/3 innings, he posted a 3.22 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and a 12-to-4 strikeout to walk ratio. Currently, Pineda has been on the injured list since mid-May after getting hit by a comebacker to the mound. He suffered a broken finger but was able to avoid surgery. He threw a bullpen session last week, which points to him being closer to returning. Much like his time in Minnesota, Pineda has been relatively effective when healthy. Detroit sits 11 games under .500 to start the season, so Pineda can provide a boost to the rotation when he can return. Andrelton Simmons, SS There is no question that Andrelton Simmons struggled during his Twins tenure, but his career-track record pointed to him being able to bounce back. His 58 OPS+ was nearly 30 points lower than his career mark, even if his defense continued to be strong. Simmons signed with Chicago this winter, and right shoulder inflammation has limited him to 19 games. Since returning from the IL, Simmons has been gone 8-for-49 (.163 BA) with no extra-base hits. He has a -2 OPS+ and nearly as many strikeouts (7) as hits (8). Now in his age-32 season, one must wonder if Simmons will be able to get back to the player he was earlier in his career. Willian Astudillo, UTL Fans fell in love with Willians Astudillo during his Twins tenure, but his value to the team declined as he couldn't play consistently behind the plate. Astudillo settled for a minor league deal with the Marlins, but the team has already needed to call him up during the 2022 campaign. In 12 games, he has gone 8-for-26 (.308 BA) with a home run. Like the Twins, the Marlins have used him at multiple infield positions and even as a reliever in one game. Astudillo will be a fan favorite wherever he plays, and Miami offered a better chance for him to get regular playing time in 2022. Rob Refsnyder, OF Rob Refsnyder burst onto the scene with the Twins last year as he hit .321/.371/.500 (.871) in his first 18 games with the club. Over his last 33 games, his OPS dropped to .524, and he posted a -1.34 Win Probability Added. His hot start may have convinced some fans that he could fill a fourth outfielder role, but his full-season numbers were closer to his career totals. He signed a minor-league deal with the Boston Red Sox, and they recently called him up. In his first five games, he has gone 3-for-11 (.273 BA), with two of his three hits being doubles. Refsnyder also made a highlight-reel catch that might have Boston fans feeling similar to what Twins fans felt at the beginning of last season. At this point, it seems like the Twins were correct in their assessment of moving on from all of these players. Do you think the team should have kept any of the abovementioned players? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Royce Lewis is heading for season-ending knee surgery for the second consecutive season. So, what shortstop options are the Twins left with for the first half of next season? Royce Lewis made his presence known at the big-league level in his debut. He showcased the offensive and defensive skills that made him one of baseball's top prospects. Lewis' injury sidelines him for 12 months, which can put the team's shortstop plans into question for 2023 and beyond. Here are four options for the team to explore at the shortstop position. Pay Carlos Correa Carlos Correa signed a unique three-year contract with the Twins this winter, allowing him to opt out following each season. Many expect Correa to opt-out and test the free-agent market again. During his Twins tenure, he has spoken highly of the team, which can have fans hope that he will stick around. However, he will likely make $300 million or more as the top-ranked free agent for the second consecutive season. Signing Correa to a long-term deal likely means that Lewis would switch to a different defensive position, but having two potential shortstops can benefit a team. Sign a Bridge Player Before signing Correa, many assumed the Twins would pursue a short-term shortstop solution. By doing this, the organization could bridge the gap to when the organization's shortstop prospects were prepared to take over at the big-league level. It looked like the Twins were going to do this when the team acquired Isiah Kiner-Falefa for Mitch Garver. Every off-season, a handful of glove-first shortstops are available on one-year deals. Minnesota tried this with Andrelton Simmons, but the results were disastrous. There is a chance the team will look to a cheaper option, trying to rebuild value before hitting the free-agent market again. Look to Internal Options Another option for the Twins is to turn to internal options until Lewis returns in the second half of 2023. On the 40-man roster, the other shortstop options are Jermaine Palacios and Nick Gordon. Palacios played eight games so far in 2022 as he went 5-for-24 (.208), but he showcased some strong defensive abilities at shortstop. Gordon has played over 120 big-league games with an 85 OPS+, but the Twins have hesitated to use him at shortstop. Top prospects Austin Martin is another potential shortstop option, but his stock has dropped since the Twins acquired him last summer. He's also struggled defensively at short, and there is a chance the team will want to use him as a trade chip before the deadline. Pursue a Different Big-Name Free Agent Next year's free-agent shortstop class features some strong names outside the potential of Correa opting out of his deal. Trea Turner, Xander Bogaerts, and Dansby Swanson can test free agency for the first time. Turner is one of baseball's best all-around players, and he and Correa will be competing for significant contracts from some of baseball's big market teams. Bogaerts and Swanson are in the next tier of free agent shortstops as both rank in the top-3 at their position, according to FanGraphs WAR. Next season, Bogaerts will turn 30-years-old, but he has averaged a 134 OPS+ since the start of 2018. Swanson, the 2015 first overall pick, is having arguably his best season with a 120 OPS+. Luckily, Minnesota has time to plan what next year will look like at the shortstop position. Many of these options have pros and cons, but Lewis' injury may have shifted the team's focus for 2023. What option do you think the Twins will choose? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Major League Baseball's All-Star Game is a little over a month away, but voting has already started. Who should be the Twins' representative in the Mid-Summer Classic? Earlier this week, voting opened for the 2022 MLB All-Star Game that will take place July 19th at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Voting for the starting line-ups is broken into two phases. Phase 1 started on Wednesday, June 8th, and runs through Thursday, June 30th at 1 PM CT. Phase 2 will include the two vote-getters at each position and the top six outfielders in each league. Before Phase 2 starts, the top vote-getter from each league will get an automatic place in their team's starting line-up. Voting for this phase runs from 11 AM CT on July 5th and ends on July 8th at 2 PM CT. The Twins also announced multiple incentives for fans to vote, including an opportunity to purchase $1 tickets to future games this season. The Twins have candidates on both sides of the ball, including some players in the running to be starters. Here's a look at Minnesota's top-five candidates and their chances to head to LA. 5. Sonny Gray, SP Plenty of Twins have compiled decent numbers in recent weeks, and those players may have an outside shot at making the All-Star team. According to Baseball-Reference, Trevor Larnach is leading the team in WAR, but he's played fewer than 40 games. Pitchers also figure into the final league rosters, with the players and the commissioner's office voting for who makes the team. Sonny Gray has been outstanding during his first season with the Twins, including a 155 ERA+ and 10.4 K/9. His All-Star chances are tied to how quickly he can return from a recent trip to the injured list with a right pectoral strain. 4. Joe Ryan, SP While Gray has been good, Joe Ryan has arguably been Minnesota's best starting pitcher. He has posted a 163 ERA+ with a 0.99 WHIP and a 42-to-14 strikeout to walk ratio. Like Gray, Ryan has missed time recently as he is close to returning from the COVID restricted list. He is scheduled to make a rehab start at Triple-A this weekend before the team reevaluates how close he is to returning. Ryan will likely only have a handful of remaining starts to fortify his All-Star candidacy before rosters are announced next month. 3. Byron Buxton, OF Byron Buxton's tremendous start to the season has him in the running to be one of the six outfield finalists. According to FanGraphs, he ranks seventh in WAR among AL outfielders, and his 13 home runs rank in the top four. He has played fewer games than some of the other top candidates, so this can be a strike against him. Luckily, he seems to have broken out of his recent 0-for-30 slump, but he will need to continue to add to some of the counting stats that casual fans look at when voting. 2. Luis Arraez, 1B MLB.com picked one player on each team that deserves an All-Star vote, and Luis Arraez was that player for the Twins. Obviously, he doesn't fit the mold of a typical All-Star first baseman, as he only has six extra-base hits on the season. However, he is leading all of baseball in batting average and on-base percentage. It also helps that there isn't a strong candidate at first base. Seattle's Ty France leads AL first basemen in fWAR, while Arraez currently sits in fourth place. Arraez's production so far in 2022 is one of the main reasons the Twins sit in first place. 1. Jhoan Duran, RP All-Star Games are meant to be exciting showcases of baseball's top players. No Twins player has been more exciting to watch this season than Jhoan Duran. His pitching outings are must-watch TV, and his dominant pitch mix makes him an ideal candidate for a one-inning showcase. Duran easily leads the Twins in Win Probability Added, and he has accumulated more WAR than multiple positions players that play nearly every day. His biggest challenge may be getting the support he needs from players around the league and/or the commissioner's office. How would you rank these players? Do you think someone else should make the list? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Tampa Bay has an intelligent front office known for identifying players from other organizations that help them “win” almost every trade they complete. So, how have the Twins fared in trades with the Rays? November 28, 2007 Tampa Bay Received: Matt Garza, Jason Bartlett, Eddie Morlan Minnesota Received: Delmon Young, Brendan Harris, Jason Pridie Minnesota’s first trade with Tampa Bay was its biggest as it included vital pieces from both teams’ rosters. The Twins acquired Delmon Young to be a right-handed bat to slide in between Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau. He never lived up to his potential as the number one overall pick, but he played parts of ten big-league seasons. Minnesota was his only stop where he posted an OPS+ over 100, and he finished in the top-10 for the AL MVP in 2010. Pridie only got six plate appearances with the Twins and never recorded a hit. Harris posted a .669 OPS in three years with the Twins before being packaged with JJ Hardy in the infamous trade for Brett Jacobson and Jim Hoey. Tampa ended up getting the two best players in this trade. Matt Garza pitched over 1700 big-league innings and accumulated a 12.5 WAR. Garza won the 2008 ALCS MVP for Tampa, his first season with the club. Jason Bartlett played three seasons in Tampa, including his lone All-Star season, where he had a 132 OPS+ and a 6.2 WAR. Morlan topped out at Double-A, but it’s clear the Rays ended up with the better package of players. Winner: Tampa Bay July 31, 2015 Tampa Bay Received: Alexis Tapia, Chih-Wei Hu Minnesota Received: Kevin Jepsen At the trade deadline, Minnesota found themselves in contention and wanted to add a late-inning bullpen arm. Kevin Jepsen posted a 1.61 ERA with a 0.89 WHIP in 29 appearances through the rest of the 2015 season. Unfortunately, Minnesota fell short of qualifying for the playoffs, but Jepsen couldn’t have pitched much better in his first season for the Twins. Alexis Tapia never made it out of High-A in the Rays system, while Chih-Wei Hu was limited to 11 big-league appearances. In his second season with the Twins, Jepsen pitched horribly, and the team released him on July 11, 2016. Even with this poor ending, Jepsen provided the 2015 Twins with solid innings for a contending team. Winner: Minnesota June 24, 2016 Tampa Bay Received: Oswaldo Arcia Minnesota Received: Cash Considerations Oswaldo Arcia was supposed to be part of the first wave of prospects that helped turn things around for the Twins. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, as he posted a .732 OPS in over 250 games for the club. In June 2016, the Twins sent Arcia to the Rays for cash considerations. He’d only play in 21 games for Tampa as he appeared in games for four different big-league clubs that season. Minnesota shed Arcia, and Tampa got a player that accumulated negative value while playing for them. Winner: Minnesota February 17, 2018 Tampa Bay Received: Jermaine Palacios Minnesota Received: Jake Odorizzi This trade was a slam dunk win for the Twins. Jake Odorizzi pitched parts of three seasons in Minnesota with a 107 ERA+ and an All-Star appearance in 2019. Jermaine Palacios topped out at Double-A in the Rays organization before resigning with the Twins. His unique prospect journey has come full circle this year as he made his big-league debut for the Twins. Winner: Minnesota July 22, 2021 Tampa Bay Received: Nelson Cruz, Calvin Faucher Minnesota Received: Joe Ryan, Drew Strotman Last summer’s blockbuster trade looks to be working out significantly in favor of the Twins. Nelson Cruz played 55 games for the Rays and posted a .725 OPS. Since rookie ball, Calvin Faucher has yet to post a sub-4.00 ERA at any level. Minnesota received six years of team control over Joe Ryan, an AL Rookie of the Year contender, and Drew Strotman, a solid organizational depth piece. Even if Ryan regresses, the Twins are still getting more value from him than what the Rays got from Cruz. Winner: Minnesota Do you agree with the winners named above? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Even with a recent rough patch, the Twins are in the driver’s seat of the AL Central. Baseball’s upcoming trade deadline can be exciting, especially if the Twins decide to go all-in on the 2022 season. Austin Martin is only two years removed from being the fifth overall pick in the 2020 MLB Draft, and he has already been part of one blockbuster trade. MLB.com identified one trade chip from every MLB team, and the article names Martin as a piece Minnesota may be willing to deal to help the 2022 team. Questions can swirl about a player if they are included in multiple trades before reaching the big-league level. How good can the player be if a team doesn’t want to keep them in the organization? Early returns are mixed when it comes to last summer’s trade that included Jose Berrios sent to Toronto for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods-Richardson. This season, Berrios is off to a rough start, even with his dominating performance against the Twins last weekend. In 11 starts, he has a 74 ERA+ and his lowest K/9 rate since his rookie season. Toronto extended Berrios through the 2028 season, so they hope he can get back on track. Woods-Richardson has been part of two blockbuster deals as he joined the Blue Jays organization from the Mets as part of the Marcus Stroman trade. He is off to a strong start as he repeats the Double-A level. Minnesota wasn’t scared away by a player that had already been part of a big trade, and the team is seeing the benefits. Now, the Twins might be hoping a team is interested in acquiring a different top-100 prospect that has already been traded once. Martin’s stock has declined since being drafted. He was a consensus top-25 prospect entering the 2021 season, and most national outlets dropped him to the second half of their top-100 prospects entering the 2022 season. Now, he has dropped even further as he hasn’t shown the power he showcased as an amateur and has no clear defensive home. There’s still hope for him to improve, especially since he is 23-years-old and has played fewer than 150 professional games. Entering the 2022 season, the Twins took a unique approach to build the team’s rotation. Instead of paying big money for a free agent arm, the team decided to rely on younger pitchers and prospects to complete the rotation. The team has seven pitchers on the injured list, so rotational depth might be something the team wants to address before the trade deadline. One interesting name to consider is a former Twins pitcher having a breakout season for the Rangers. Minnesota’s approach to the upcoming trade deadline will be interesting to follow. Will the front office be willing to go all-in with a team that has evident flaws? There may also be a lack of urgency at the deadline because the AL Central is arguably baseball’s worst division. Minnesota has a chance to coast to a division title, but that can’t be the ultimate goal. The front office is well aware of the team’s losing streak in October, but teams can take on a very different look from now until the start of the playoffs. Do you think that Austin Martin is the team’s best trade chip? Should the team try and add to the rotation before the deadline? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Ten years ago, the Twins had the second overall pick, which had the potential to alter the franchise’s future. Let’s look back at how that draft unfolded and explore if the Twins made the correct decision. Major League Baseball’s 2022 Draft is scheduled to start on July 17, 2022. Each team prepares for the draft with a specific plan, and sometimes those plans play out better than others. To prepare fans for the upcoming draft, here is a look at some of the most important drafts in recent Twins history. The 2012 MLB Draft was an interesting time in Twins franchise history. Minnesota was coming off a very disappointing 2011 season where the team went from first to worst in the division. One benefit of having a poor record is receiving a high draft pick the following year. The Twins received the second overall pick and made five of the first 72 picks. At the top, there was no consensus number one pick, so this left some room for debate. Houston selected first overall and ended up with arguably the draft’s best player. Carlos Correa signed an under-slot value deal to join the Astros, and Houston was able to use that money on other picks later in the draft. Correa has been worth over 35 WAR for his career, which is over 12 WAR higher than any other player taken in that draft. His value also stretched into October, when he became a postseason legend. In retrospect, Houston made the correct pick at the top, but now Minnesota was on the clock. The Twins could go in multiple directions with the second pick, but the team needed to decide if they could be patient with a prep player or look to the college ranks for a more immediate impact. Some of the best college players available included Mike Zunino (10.2 WAR), Kevin Gausman (17.9 WAR), Mark Appel (0.0 WAR), and Kyler Zimmer (0.0 WAR). Minnesota turned their attention to rural Georgia and a dynamic five-tool prospect named Byron Buxton. Buxton was considered by many to be the top prospect in the draft. Minnesota paid him $6 million to sign, which was the biggest signing bonus handed out in that draft. Buxton’s 17.5 WAR ranks as the fifth-highest among 2012 first-round picks behind Correa, Corey Seager, Matt Olson, and Gausman. The Athletic’s Keith Law recently redrafted the 2012 first round, and he believes the Twins made the right choice because Buxton has “the best chance of anyone on this list to put up a 9-WAR season.” Buxton is a dynamic player when healthy, but injuries have been part of his career narrative. Minnesota’s next pick in 2012 was the 32nd overall selection, and the team took Jose Berrios out of high school in Puerto Rico. With supplemental picks, the first round included 60 picks that season and Berrios has accumulated the 11th highest WAR. Minnesota got some tremendous seasons from Berrios as he developed into one of baseball’s most consistent pitchers. Last year, the Twins dealt Berrios to the Blue Jays for two prospects, and the early returns may favor the Twins. Besides the team’s picks at the top, the Twins made multiple picks later in the draft that have developed into solid big-league arms. Outside of Berrios, three other pitchers taken by the Twins have accumulated more than 1.5 WAR in their careers. Taylor Rogers was taken in the 11th round and has accumulated 6.7 WAR in his career. Tyler Duffey (1.7 WAR) and JT Chargois (1.6 WAR) have had ups and downs, but both have been key relievers for playoff teams. The 2012 Draft will be remembered for the players taken at the top, but that doesn’t tell the entire story for Minnesota. The organization’s first two picks are still impacting the team a decade after being drafted. Also, the club was able to identify players later in the draft that have been valuable relievers. Overall, it is one of the most successful drafts in recent memory. Do you think the Twins made the right decision by taking Buxton? What do you remember about this draft? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

As the trade deadline approaches, the separation between the contenders and the pretenders will continue to grow. One former Twins pitcher is having a breakout season, and plenty of teams will be interested in trading for him. The 2019 Minnesota Twins had many things go right for them on their way to 101-wins and a division title. Minnesota’s Bomba Squad didn’t need shutouts from their starting pitchers because the line-up was scoring runs at a record-breaking pace. Only two of the team’s regular starters had sub-4.00 ERAs, and José Berríos was the lone pitcher to toss 200 innings. It wasn’t an overpowering group, and that might have been one of the reasons the team struggled when it reached October (or it was MLB’s fault for switching back to the old baseball). Behind Berríos in 2019, Martín Pérez ranked second on the team in innings pitched as he was one of four pitchers to start 29 games or more. In 165 1/3 innings, Pérez posted a 5.12 ERA with a 1.52 WHIP and a 135-to-67 strikeout to walk ratio. Out of the three organizations where he has pitched, Minnesota (89 ERA+) is the only time he had an ERA+ under 100. It was an uneventful season, and he became a free agent at the season’s end. Since leaving Minnesota, Pérez spent two years in Boston with a 102 ERA+ and 97 strikeouts in 114 innings. He reached free agency for the second time, and he didn’t have a tremendous market. Texas signed Pérez to a one-year, $4 million deal, which is less than the Twins are paying Dylan Bundy. Pérez is off to the best start of his career, and it looks like the Rangers might have found the offseason’s best deal. In his first 11 starts, Pérez has a 1.56 ERA with a 0.98 WHIP and a 248 ERA+. He leads all of baseball in complete games (1), shutouts (1), and HR/9 (0.1). Baseball Reference’s WAR ranks him as the second overall player, and the number one ranked pitcher. FanGraphs WAR has him as the third highest-ranked pitcher. Since he left Minnesota, one of his most significant changes is an increased use of his sinker, as batters have been limited to a .281 SLG this season when facing that pitch. If the playoffs started today, who would the Twins feel comfortable starting in the series? Sonny Gray and Joe Ryan have been the team’s best starters, but both have missed time in recent weeks due to injury or COVID. Devin Smeltzer has more to prove before the Twins will trust with an October start. There have been some positive signs from Dylan Bundy and Chris Archer, but neither pitcher seems like they will help the team stop their playoff losing streak. Pérez is a clear Cy Young candidate on a Texas team in third place in their division with a below .500 record. However, this season, baseball’s expanded playoffs mean the Rangers are less than two games out of a Wild Card spot. There will also be more contending teams interested in adding pitchers than in previous seasons. Texas spent a ton of money on their roster this winter, so they aren’t going to be in sell-mode until absolutely necessary. Do you think the Twins should target Pérez as a possible rotational upgrade? What do you think it would take to acquire his expiring contract? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

There's no question that Alex Kirilloff struggled to start the 2022 season, but things have changed for the team and the player since mid-May. So, how can Kirilloff fit back in the Twins' line-up? During the 2021 season, Alex Kirilloff showcased some impressive hitting skills that made him one of the organization's top prospects. In 59 games, he posted a .722 OPS while combining for 20 extra-base hits. However, a wrist injury during the season sapped a lot of his power, and he made a tough decision. Minnesota was out of the playoff contention, so it made sense to shut down Kirilloff and get him the surgery he needed to be a more effective player. The Twins hoped the surgery and an offseason of recovery would do wonders for Kirilloff's ailing wrist, but things didn't go as planned to start 2022. In 10 big-league games, he went 5-for-29 with no extra-base hits and a 12-to-1 strikeout to walk ratio. Something wasn't clicking with Kirilloff's swing, and the team decided to option him to St. Paul. He wasn't adding much to Minnesota's line-up with his swing at the time, and this allowed him to rediscover his swing in a less pressure-filled environment. It took time and a demotion, but Kirilloff's swing has returned at Triple-A. In 19 games, he is hitting .387/.477/.693 (1.171) with five doubles and six home runs. Entering play on Monday, he was in the middle of an eight-game hit streak, slugging 1.031 with a 1.570 OPS. He's also only 24-years-old so all but seven of his at-bats have come against older pitchers. Kirilloff is destroying the baseball, and he has multiple assets he can add back to the Twins' roster. Minnesota has been experimenting with multiple parts of the roster this season, including regularly playing Luis Arraez at first base. Arraez has gotten off to the best start to his big-league career, so the Twins continue to find ways to get him in the line-up. However, Minnesota's overall production at first base has been poor. The Twins' WAR production ranks 21st among first basemen, according to FanGraphs. Kirilloff's powerful swing can help improve those numbers, and his defense at first is considered very good. Now the question remains, where does Kirilloff fit into the current team's roster? Minnesota's outfield already has five players seeing regular playing time in Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Trevor Larnach, Kyle Garlick, and Gilberto Celestino. Each of those players brings specific skills that it's hard to imagine Kirilloff taking playing time away from any of them. José Miranda seems to fit a similar skillset to Kirilloff, but he's posted a 1.101 OPS over his last 11 games. Kirilloff and Jose Miranda also bat from different sides of the plate, so that is likely something the team considers before making a move. Roster depth is critical for any contending team, so having Kirilloff mashing the ball at Triple-A is definitely a good sign. He is part of the team's long-term plan, but his place on the current roster is a bit of a puzzle. Minnesota needs more production from first base, but some of Arraez's success this season might be tied to him not changing defensive positions every day. In the end, Kirilloff will be back at some point in 2022, but there isn't a rush to react to a sample size of Triple-A games. How would you fit Kirilloff back into the Twins line-up? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Kepler is going to lose more than $100,000. Wowza.

Minnesota traveled to Toronto on Thursday night. Several players were unable to enter Canada because of their vaccination status. So, what players can’t make the trip, and who is expected to join the team? This season, Minnesota only makes one trip to Toronto unless the Twins and Blue Jays meet in the playoffs. Thankfully, Major League Baseball adjusts its roster rules for situations like those facing the Twins this weekend. Players not on the 40-man roster can be added for the Toronto series to take the place of non-vaccinated players. Minnesota placed Max Kepler, Caleb Thielbar, Emilio Pagán, and Trevor Megill on the restricted list ahead of this series against the Blue Jays. They did not travel to Toronto with the team. Kepler has touted the Twins clubhouse atmosphere this year as being one of the reasons for his offensive reemergence. There was also an easy way for everyone to be together on this trip if he decided to meet Canada's vaccination requirement. Pagán also released a statement in regards to not being with the team. Here is a comment from Caleb Thielbar: Here are the players expected to take their place. Chi Chi Gonzalez, SP Chi Chi Gonzalez is expected to start Friday’s game in Toronto. Minnesota signed him this winter to add organizational depth, and he has pitched at St. Paul this entire season. In eight games (five starts), he has posted a 3.44 ERA with a 1.26 WHIP and a 35-to-14 strikeout to walk ratio. Gonzalez came to the Twins from the Rockies organization, where he pitched over 100 big-league innings last season with a 6.46 ERA and a 1.53 WHIP. Luckily, Toronto’s lineup is full of right-handed hitters as righties have an OPS that is 114 points lower against Gonzalez this season. Ian Hamilton, RP Minnesota claimed Ian Hamilton off of waivers in February of 2021, and he pitched all of last season in St. Paul. During the 2021 season, he posted a 4.12 ERA with a 1.44 WHIP, but his 13.1 K/9 was undoubtedly a bright spot. So far in 2022, Hamilton has been terrific as he has only allowed one earned run in 10 appearances, and he has struck out 17 batters in 12 2/3 innings. Multiple pitchers were part of the unvaccinated group that was ineligible to travel to Toronto, so Hamilton gets an opportunity to prove he belongs back at the big-league level. Mark Contreras, OF Mark Contreras was on the team's taxi squad for this road trip, so he can be an easy addition to the roster. He made his big-league debut with the Twins earlier this season, but he was limited to two games and three plate appearances. Minnesota drafted Contreras in the 9th round of the 2017 MLB Draft from the University of California, Riverside. He spent his first four minor league seasons moving steadily through the Twins system with a .717 OPS and 141 extra-base hits in 411 games. At 27-years old, he has been older than the average age of the competition at each level in the minors. His first taste of the big leagues was very brief, so it is an excellent opportunity for him to step in and get a more extended look. Jharel Cotton, RP The Twins claimed Jharel Cotton off of waivers from the Texas Rangers this winter. He made four big-league appearances in April and allowed one earned run in 6 2/3 innings with a 7-to-6 strikeout to walk ratio. Minnesota designated him for assignment, and he cleared waivers before accepting his outright assignment to Triple-A. For the Saints, he has made ten appearances and allowed four earned runs on ten hits. His walk rate (3.9 BB/9) and strikeout rate (13.9 K/9) have improved in the minors. Cotton hasn't appeared in a game since May 31, so his arm should be fresh enough to make multiple appearances this weekend if he is needed. View full article

The Twins head to Toronto this weekend, and old friend José Berríos is scheduled to take the mound in the series. So, how have the players performed that were involved in the trade? To give some perspective to this trade, it is important to note that Jose Berríos was under team control through the 2022 season. Since acquiring him, Toronto has signed him to a 7-year, $131 million deal that buys out the prime of his career. Minnesota traded 1 1/2 years of Berríos for Austin Martin and Simeon Woods Richardson. José Berríos 2022 Stats: 5.62 ERA, 1.51 WHIP, 69 ERA+, 36 K, 14 BB, 49 2/3 innings Berrios got what he wanted from Toronto. They paid him as if he were one of baseball's most consistent pitchers through the first six years of his career. His new contract ties him to the Blue Jay through the 2028 season when he will be in his mid-30s. There were no signs that Minnesota was willing to give him that kind of contract, which was one of the main reasons the team was willing to trade him last season. Unfortunately, Berríos is in the middle of his worst start to a season since his rookie campaign. He has allowed three runs or more in six of his ten starts while averaging less than five innings per outing. Two of his most significant issues have been home runs and a steep decline in strikeout rate. He's allowed at least one home run in all but two appearances this year. Entering the season, he averaged more than one strikeout per inning, but he has a 6.5 K/9 so far in 2022. Pitching in the AL East is an entirely different beast from seeing the AL Central's bottom feeders. That being said, Berríos still has time to figure it out this season. Austin Martin 2022 Stats: .258/.377/.333 (.710), 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 25 K, 22 BB, 40 G Austin Martin was the top-ranked prospect the Twins got from the Blue Jays. He was a consensus top-55 prospect entering the season. Minnesota sent Martin back to Double-A this season which is where he made his professional debut in 2021. Last season, he posted a .796 OPS, which was tied mainly to his .414 OBP. He was touted for his powerful swing in college, but that power hasn't been evident over the last two seasons. So far in 2022, Martin's OPS has dipped over 85 points even with a return trip through the Texas League. He is still over a year younger than the average age of the competition at that level. The vast majority of his defensive innings have come at shortstop, but he has also played second base and all three outfield positions. Martin's stock has certainly dropped since the Twins acquired him, but he is only 23-years-old, and he can still make adjustments as he gets closer to Target Field. Simeon Woods Richardson 2022 Stats: 3.02 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, 42 K, 14 BB, 41 2/3 innings Baseball America and MLB.com included Woods Richardson on their pre-season top-100 prospects, so it's not like he was just a throw-in player in the trade. During the 2021 season, Woods Richardson struggled to adjust to Double-A, but he was over 4.5 years younger than the average age of the competition at that level. In 15 appearances (53 1/3 innings), he posted a 5.91 ERA with a 1.54 WHIP and a 77-to-34 strikeout to walk ratio. It was a choppy season for him because he was also on Team USA's Olympic team in Beijing. In his second stint at Double-A, Woods Richardson has looked like a completely different pitcher this season. He has only faced older batters in eight plate appearances this year, but he has still been one of the Texas League's best starters. In eight starts (41 2/3 innings), he has posted a 3.02 ERA with a 1.03 WHIP and a 42-to-14 strikeout to walk ratio. His strikeout rate has dropped this season, but he has been more effective at limiting hits and home runs. This season, Woods Richardson's performance has moved him up the TD Top-20 Prospect List. It will likely be multiple years before a winner can be declared in this trade. However, the Twins were able to acquire two highly-regarded prospects for a pitcher they weren't going to keep long-term. What are your thoughts as you look back on the trade? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Minnesota signed Chris Archer late this spring to add veteran depth to the rotation. As the Twins finish the season’s first third, Archer is becoming a liability for a first-place team. Minnesota’s front office knew what they were getting when they signed Chris Archer to fit into the team’s rotation. He was multiple years past his All-Star caliber seasons in Tampa, and injuries and ineffectiveness allowed the team to sign him for a $3.5 million contract. There was no reason to have high expectations, but the Twins hoped Archer could be effective in a back-of-the-rotation role. Archer has been largely ineffective in his nine starts for the Twins. He has posted a 4.19 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP and a 29-to-16 strikeout to walk ratio. Also, Archer is one of two pitchers to make over five starts and have an ERA+ of 90 or lower. For his career, he has a K/9 close to 10.0, but that total has dipped to 7.6 K/9 in 2022. His Statcast numbers are also well below the league average in virtually every category. Archer is being used similarly to a long-reliever that happens to be starting a game, but this might be the only option with his current skill set. Like a reliever, he relies heavily on two pitches as his slider and four-seam fastball are used more than 84% of the time. Unfortunately, batters have produced an .811 slugging percentage when facing his fastball, so he relies more on his secondary pitches. At this point, Minnesota’s coaches have to expect that the bullpen will pitch significant innings when Archer starts. In his Week in Review, Nick alluded that the bullpen has become a revolving door with players being shuffled back and forth from St. Paul. Luckily, the Twins’ bullpen has been relatively effective, but innings are starting to add up at this early juncture of the season. Minnesota ranks third among American League teams with over 200 innings pitched by relievers. According to Win Probability Added, the Twins’ bullpen has generated over two wins for the club, ranking in baseball’s top-5. However, the team’s fWAR is one of two clubs (Arizona) to have a negative value for the entire season. As innings continue to pile up, one has to wonder if the bullpen will be able to continue to carry this kind of load. Archer is hardly Minnesota’s biggest problem at this point in the season, but it’s hard to imagine the team will be able to continue to use him if he can’t pitch deeper into games. There also aren’t prospects knocking down the door to take his place at the big-league level. Top pitching prospects Jordan Balazovic and Cole Sands are at Triple-A, but neither has performed particularly well with the Saints. Simeon Woods-Richardson and Matt Canterino are performing well at Double-A, but neither is on the 40-man roster. For now, it seems likely for the Twins to continue to trot Archer out there, yet he continues to be a liability for the pitching staff. What have been your impressions of Archer so far in 2022? Can the team continue to use him in his current role? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article