Cody Christie

Image courtesy of William Parmeter As the Minnesota Twins opened camp this spring, a noticeable theme echoed throughout the organization. After a season defined by transition, youth, and growing pains, this group is searching for something that does not show up on a stat sheet. Leadership has become one of the most talked-about needs inside the clubhouse as Minnesota prepares for the 2026 season. Fortunately, that leadership may already be in place. Byron Buxton is coming off arguably the best big-league season of his career and remains the best player on the roster. His impact has long been measured by highlight-reel defense, game-changing speed, and middle-of-the-order production. Now, the Twins are looking for something more from their franchise cornerstone, as a new wave of young talent continues to arrive in the clubhouse. Leadership, according to Buxton, can mean quite a bit. “A lot. Like, we thought quite a bit this offseason, just because we had to. So it's one of those where we know what we're trying to get to," Buxton said. "We know what we're striving to. And it's gonna take us veteran guys, to kinda lead these young guys to get to where we want them. We've been here to know how to play baseball the right way, play the game the right way, put in the effort. It's all about showing them the right way, how to do things.” For a roster that continues to look for young players to take the next step, leadership is about more than just setting the tone during games. It becomes the connective tissue between experience and potential. Veteran players who have endured postseason battles, slumps, injuries, and the daily grind of a 162-game schedule can provide a blueprint for younger teammates still learning how to navigate the league. In Buxton’s case, that blueprint is not going to look dramatically different from years past. “Nope, be myself, go about my business the same way I went," he told reporters in Ft. Myers. "Come in and play ball, that's it. Like, I'm a dad at the end of the day, and I'm a husband. I'm like, this is my job, this is a game. I know what I'm supposed to be doing when I'm here, but when I leave, this is over with. So, enjoy this while I'm here.” That authenticity has stood out immediately to manager Derek Shelton. “The thing that stuck out to me the most was just how mature he is. When I was here before, he was a young player trying to establish himself," Shelton said. And now? "He's a superstar. You don't play center field for Team USA in the WBC if you're not a superstar. You don't do the things that he's done. There's nothing that specifically he said stood out. The way he walks in a room now is different. When you're around great players and they walk in the room, you know it. When he walks in the room, you know it.” Shelton also emphasized that leadership within a clubhouse rarely looks the way fans expect it to from the outside. “Leadership is organic. When Byron—and I saw this from him before in '19—the guys he came through the minor league system with, they gravitate towards him, because they know the expectation he has on himself. “When leaders show the expectation they have of themselves, it doesn't matter how the leadership manifests outwardly, whether it's loud, whether it's quiet," Shelton continued. "I know everyone expects, not just in Buck's case, but in any case, 'This guy has to be loud.' “There's only very few people that know how conversations happen within a room when no one is there. That's leadership. That happens organically, and I think he does it in his own way. The expectation anybody would change how they go about that, I don't think that's fair to that person or to the rest of the group. It will come out organically.” If the Twins are going to take the next step in 2026, they will need production from their young core. Just as importantly, they will need guidance from the players who understand what it takes to succeed at the highest level. Buxton has already established himself as the face of the franchise on the field. This season, his influence away from it could prove just as valuable. Can Buxton’s organic leadership style help the Twins to be successful in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of William Parmeter Monday is supposed to be a day of excitement and hope across Twins Territory. Pitchers and catchers reported last week, and now the remaining position players have joined them. However, there was a noticeable shift in energy at Twins camp on Monday morning. After the first full squad workout of the spring, some concern crept into the clubhouse when Pablo López walked off the mound during a live batting practice session and reported elbow soreness. The right-hander had been scheduled to throw three simulated innings, which represented a heavier workload than most pitchers in camp as he prepares to pitch for Team Venezuela in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. According to the Star Tribune, everything appeared routine until the second pitch of his third inning. That was when López alerted pitching coach Pete Maki to how his elbow felt. Moments later, he walked off the mound, and the session came to an abrupt end. Manager Derek Shelton told reporters that López will undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue. "Obviously, it's February 16," Shelton said. "After he and Pete talked, we decided, out of an abundance of caution, let's get him off the field and make sure he's OK. We'll get some imaging on it, just because of how important it is and he is to us. I think we'll have more information as we go along." If López is forced to shut down from throwing, it would likely take him out of participation in the World Baseball Classic and could put his Opening Day availability in jeopardy. That would be a significant development for Minnesota, given that López has taken the ball on Opening Day in each of the past three seasons and has established himself as the anchor of the rotation. Last week, López spoke on Inside Twins about how excited he was to represent Venezuela on an international stage. He reflected on his youth and the disappointment of being left off All-Star teams earlier in his career and noted how meaningful it would be to pitch for his country alongside a strong roster and coaching staff. On that episode, López was asked about how he felt entering the season. He reiterated that many of the tests he was doing this winter proved that he was “in the best shape of his life.” That can become a cliche during early spring workouts, but it was clear that he felt better than he had in a long time, especially after injuries limited him to 14 starts last season. Shelton recently emphasized just how vital he is to the Twins' pitching puzzle this spring as the club works through multiple moving pieces on the staff. "I don't know if anybody in that room takes care of himself as well as Pablo does, not only during the season, but in the offseason," Shelton said. "The fact he has awareness of his body, and he and Pete have a strong relationship, and they were able to have a conversation that was like, 'Let's hold off, and take a look here.' " Spring training injuries always feel amplified, especially when they involve the arm of a frontline starter. For now, the Twins will wait on imaging results and hope that an early February scare does not turn into a March setback. The organization built its rotation around López’s reliability and presence atop the staff, and any missed time would create a ripple effect throughout camp. The best-case scenario is that Monday becomes a reminder of why caution matters in February rather than the first chapter of a much larger concern for Minnesota’s pitching plans in 2026. Check back at Twins Daily for more updates as they become available. View full article

Image courtesy of William Parmeter When the Minnesota Twins walked out of last year’s trade deadline having dealt away essentially their entire late-inning infrastructure, the message was clear. This bullpen was going to need a complete rebuild. Jhoan Duran was gone. Griffin Jax was gone. Louis Varland was gone. Brock Stewart was gone. Even depth arms who had soaked up meaningful innings were moved as the front office pivoted toward future flexibility. By the time the dust settled, Minnesota was left with a relief corps that resembled more of a tryout list than a functional major league unit. Fast forward to the first official week of spring preparations, and the picture is beginning to sharpen. A handful of additions have quietly transformed what once looked like an organizational weakness into a group with at least some defined roles. Closer: Taylor Rogers It is a familiar face stepping back into the ninth-inning conversation. Rogers returns to Minnesota for the first time since being dealt away four seasons ago and immediately becomes one of the most experienced late-inning options in the room. While he no longer features the upper-tier velocity that earned him All-Star recognition earlier in his career, he still offers steady command from the left side and a track record of handling pressure situations. On a modest one-year commitment, he projects as the bullpen’s primary southpaw and the most logical candidate to handle save opportunities as the season begins. Set Up Options: Cole Sands, Justin Topa, Anthony Banda Sands enters camp looking to rebound from a frustrating follow-up to his breakout 2024 campaign. His swing-and-miss ability dipped noticeably last season (K% dropped 7.7%) while his walk rate trended in the wrong direction (BB% increased by 3.3%), resulting in more traffic and more damage. Even so, his pitch mix and prior success suggest there is still legitimate upside here. Minnesota will likely lean on him in meaningful innings while hoping the sharper version of his arsenal returns. Topa was able to stay on the mound more consistently after injuries derailed the previous year and ultimately logged one of the heavier workloads of his career. He does not overpower hitters but keeps the ball on the ground (47.7 GB%) and limits loud contact when he is right. Asked to take on larger leverage responsibilities late last season, he showed some volatility. With the current roster construction, however, he may again find himself pitching in key spots by necessity. Banda joined the organization shortly after camp opened, following a move that brought him over from the Los Angeles Dodgers. The veteran left-hander has quietly posted strong run prevention numbers over the past two seasons thanks to improved fastball location and a willingness to challenge hitters inside. He is better suited for matchups against left-handed bats but has proven capable of covering multiple innings when needed. He is due to make $1.6 million this season, so he is nearly guaranteed to break camp with the club. Middle Relief Mix: Eric Orze, Travis Adams, Kody Funderburk, Andrew Chafin Acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays earlier in the offseason, Orze brings a mid-90s fastball and a splitter that has generated consistent strikeouts throughout his professional career (31.8 Whiff%). He translated that swing and miss ability into solid results during his first extended big league look last season and could quickly climb the trust ladder if that continues. Adams appears ticketed for bullpen work full-time after Minnesota shifted away from developing him as a starter. Last season, his results in relief were uneven overall, but there were encouraging signs late in the year when his velocity ticked up in shorter appearances. In his final eight appearances (8 1/3 innings), he had a 3.02 FIP and an 8-to-5 strikeout-to-walk rate. The Twins will be watching closely to see if that version of Adams becomes more consistent. Funderburk made perhaps the strongest late-season impression of anyone remaining in house after the deadline teardown. In 24 innings following the trade deadline, he posted a 0.75 ERA with 28 strikeouts. That extended opportunity down the stretch forced his way back into the club’s future plans. Entering spring, he looked like the clear secondary left-handed option, though Banda and Chafin’s arrival adds new competition to that role. Chafin enters his age-35 season, and what would be his 13th year in professional baseball. While the deal does not guarantee him a spot on the Opening Day roster, it immediately throws him into legitimate competition for a role. Last season, the veteran posted a 2.41 ERA across 33 2/3 innings. He struck out 36 hitters against 19 walks and limited left-handed batters to a .136 average. That type of platoon effectiveness remains especially valuable even with other lefties on the roster. The names above leave out Liam Hendriks, whose return to the organization reads like something out of a baseball time capsule. Originally signed by Minnesota as a teenager out of Australia, he later developed into one of the sport’s most dominant closers after departing the system before the Twins gave him a chance to be a reliever. Now nearing 37 and working back from multiple health setbacks, he arrives on a minor league deal as a long-term upside play rather than an immediate solution. Taken together, this group lacks the established star power that defined Minnesota’s bullpen in recent seasons. There is no single arm capable of dominating the ninth inning the way fans had grown accustomed to before last summer’s reset. What it does have is variety, flexibility, and multiple pitchers with something to prove. That reality may ultimately define the Twins' early season. Without a traditional late-inning hierarchy carved in stone, matchups and hot hands are likely to dictate usage patterns as the coaching staff evaluates who can handle higher-leverage moments. It is not the most glamorous approach, but it is often how new bullpen cores are formed. If even two or three of these arms outperform expectations, Minnesota could find itself with legitimate trade chips or a surprisingly stable back end by midseason. For now, the bullpen remains a work in progress, but for the first time since the deadline fire sale, it at least resembles a group with direction rather than one simply filling innings. What will change with this bullpen group before Opening Day? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of ​© Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images With the World Baseball Classic on the horizon, many were wondering whether Byron Buxton or Pete Crow-Armstrong would be Team USA’s starting center fielder. That debate may have just resolved itself. Presumed starting left fielder Corbin Carroll suffered a broken hamate bone in his right hand. While Team USA will replace Carroll on the roster, it is difficult to imagine that replacement being a better overall option than either Buxton or Crow-Armstrong. The most logical alignment now features Crow-Armstrong in center field, Aaron Judge in right, and Buxton sliding over to left. And that possibility should grab the Twins’ attention. Buxton has never played a corner outfield position in the majors. Yet given how well he handles center field, there is little doubt he would be an elite defender in left. In fact, he might immediately become the best defensive left fielder in baseball if he played there full-time. The reads, the closing speed, and the arm strength. Those tools would not disappear simply because the wall is closer and the angles are different. But the numbers suggest this conversation is arriving at the right time. Baseball Prospectus’ Deserved Runs Prevented metric shows a clear month-to-month picture of Buxton’s defensive performance this season. March and April: - 0.1 May: 1.4 June: -1.1 July: -2.4 August: -1.4 September: - 0.9 Even early in the year, there were hints of slippage. As the season progressed, the inconsistency became more pronounced. Buxton still makes spectacular plays, but the day-to-day impact has not been as steady as it once was. He turned 32 in December. Speed is often the first tool to fade as players move into their 30s, and center field is one of the most physically demanding positions on the diamond. The Twins understand that reality. If Minnesota wants to maximize Buxton’s offensive value during one of the most productive stretches of his career, it may soon be time to reduce the defensive burden. The World Baseball Classic could serve as a trial run. If Buxton thrives in left field on an international stage, the optics change. It no longer feels hypothetical. It becomes practical. And then there is Walker Jenkins. Minnesota’s top prospect reached Triple-A as a 20-year-old and appears poised to debut sometime next season. His short-term future is in center field. In the minors this year, Jenkins has logged 443 innings in center and just 43 in right. Emmanuel Rodriguez, another top prospect, also has significant center field experience and could factor into the big league roster soon. The Twins may not want to block that pipeline. Buxton is under team control through 2028. Even if his defense in center remains solid through a modest decline, the organization has to consider roster optimization over the next several seasons. Moving Buxton to left field would allow Jenkins to step into center without forcing an awkward positional shuffle. There is also the matter of health. Buxton’s career has been defined as much by time on the injured list as by highlight reel catches. He has been healthier recently, but reducing the physical demands of his position could help keep his bat in the lineup more consistently. Corner outfield spots typically require less ground to cover and fewer all-out sprints into the gaps. Preserving Buxton’s body has always been a priority. A move to left field could be a proactive step rather than a reactive one. It does not have to be viewed as a demotion. It is a natural progression that helps extend careers. Some of the game’s best center fielders eventually make that move. The bat stays in the lineup. The legs last longer. The value shifts but does not disappear. The World Baseball Classic might only last a few weeks. But for Buxton and the Twins, it could quietly preview the next phase of his career. Should the Twins consider moving Buxton to a corner outfield spot in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

The Minnesota Twins continued reshaping their bullpen on Saturday by signing veteran left-hander Andrew Chafin to a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. As camp opens in Fort Myers, the organization is clearly investing in relief depth and experience. Chafin’s addition may seem modest on paper, but in what figures to be a tightly contested American League Central race, reliable left-handed options could quietly influence the team’s postseason outlook. News of the agreement was first reported by Jon Heyman, who noted that Chafin will report to Minnesota’s big league camp to compete for a bullpen job. According to Darren Wolfson, Chafin would earn $2 million if he makes the active roster, with an additional $1.25 million available through incentives. Chafin enters his age-35 season, and what would be his 13th year in professional baseball. While the deal does not guarantee him a spot on the Opening Day roster, it immediately throws him into legitimate competition for a role. This is less of a speculative flyer and more of a calculated depth play by a front office intent on fortifying the relief corps after last season’s midyear bullpen turnover. The veteran split the 2025 campaign between the Washington Nationals and Los Angeles Angels, posting a 2.41 ERA across 33 2/3 innings. He struck out 36 hitters against 19 walks and limited left-handed batters to a .136 average. That type of platoon effectiveness remains especially valuable when navigating late-inning matchups against division rivals built with left-handed thump throughout the middle of the order. Even with strong run prevention on the surface, some of Chafin’s peripherals told a more complicated story. His elevated walk rate, paired with an 81.9 % strand rate, pushed his SIERA to 4.11, a number that sat well above his actual ERA. Outside of the command concerns, many of his underlying indicators remained encouraging, though durability remained his biggest hurdle. A right hamstring strain and later inflammation in his left triceps each led to injured-list stints that cost him more than five weeks of the season. This also marks the second consecutive offseason in which Chafin has signed a non-guaranteed contract. He followed a similar path last year after agreeing to a minor league deal with the Detroit Tigers in February. Chafin exercised an opt-out near the end of April and soon secured a major league opportunity with the Washington Nationals, making 26 appearances before being dealt to the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline. Minnesota has now added three left-handed relievers in the past month. Taylor Rogers signed earlier in free agency, and Anthony Banda arrived via trade. Minnesota also already had Kody Funderburk on the 40-man roster. Chafin’s presence intensifies competition while expanding the Twins’ flexibility against left-handed heavy lineups within the division. Across 12 major league seasons, Chafin owns a 3.35 career ERA while pitching for eight different organizations. If he can replicate anything close to last season’s surface-level results, this minor league deal could evolve into meaningful in-season value rather quickly. The message from Minnesota’s front office is straightforward. The Twins are stockpiling experienced arms in an effort to stabilize the late innings and create internal competition before Opening Day decisions are finalized. With multiple non-roster invitees and recent acquisitions now in camp, the bullpen battle is shaping up to be one of Spring Training’s defining storylines. View full rumor

Fort Myers felt a little more official on Thursday. Pitchers and catchers reported to the Lee Health Sports Complex, the Florida sun was beating down on the back fields, and a new chapter began as Derek Shelton officially started his first spring training as Twins manager. Bullpens popped, catchers dropped into their stances, and optimism was easy to find. One notable arm, however, was not firing away. Twins pitching prospect Cory Lewis has been shut down from throwing after being diagnosed with a moderate subscapularis strain in his right shoulder. Lewis reported discomfort following a bullpen session on Saturday after arriving at camp early. Shelton told reporters that Lewis will be reevaluated in two weeks. For a player trying to force his way into the big-league conversation, it is far from an ideal start. Lewis, 25, entered camp as a non-roster invitee after spending last season at Triple-A. The numbers were not kind. In 73 innings with the Saints, he posted a 7.27 ERA while striking out 87 and walking 68. The uneven command and high traffic outings made for a frustrating campaign. He also missed time with a right shoulder issue last season, though it is not yet clear whether this strain is connected to that prior injury. The disappointment of 2025 stands in sharp contrast to the trajectory Lewis was on before reaching Triple-A. When the Twins selected him in the ninth round of the 2022 MLB Draft out of UC Santa Barbara, he was viewed more as an intriguing project than a fast-moving arm. What set him apart was not overpowering velocity but creativity. Lewis featured an unorthodox delivery and a deep mix of pitches, highlighted by a knuckleball that has become increasingly central to his identity. In 2023, he split his professional debut between Low- and High-A. Across 22 starts, Lewis posted a 2.49 ERA with a 28.6% strikeout rate and an 8.0% walk rate. His poise and command stood out as much as the knuckleball itself. By the end of 2024, he had reached Triple-A and continued to miss bats, posting a nearly 28% strikeout rate, a 2.51 ERA, and a 1.31 WHIP. In many farm systems, that type of rise would have generated louder buzz. In Minnesota, he was somewhat overshadowed by Zebby Matthews and a wave of pitching prospects who grabbed headlines. Still, evaluators appreciated Lewis for what he was becoming. Not a traditional power arm, but a different look. A pitcher capable of disrupting timing in a sport increasingly built around velocity. That is what makes this spring important. With Shelton taking over and the Twins once again leaning on pitching depth as an organizational strength, camp reps matter. Lewis was unlikely to break north with the club, but a healthy and productive spring could have reestablished him as a depth option and potential call-up candidate during the season. Instead, the focus shifts to recovery. Shoulder injuries are always delicate, and a subscapularis strain impacts one of the key stabilizing muscles in the shoulder. For a pitcher who relies heavily on feel and touch, especially with a knuckleball, any interruption to throwing progression can complicate timing and command. The Twins will reevaluate Lewis in two weeks, and the hope is that this is merely a short-term pause rather than a lingering issue. Minnesota has seen how quickly pitching depth can evaporate over a long season. They will need arms at St Paul ready to contribute. For Lewis, the path forward remains the same even if the timeline shifts. Embrace the uniqueness. Refine the knuckleball. Regain the command that fueled his rise. The Twins believed enough in the profile to invite him to big league camp. Now the challenge is getting back on the mound and proving that last season was a detour, not a destination. Spring training is about fresh starts. For Lewis, that fresh start may just have to wait a few weeks. View full rumor

Image courtesy of © Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Last July, the Twins and Dodgers linked up on a deadline deal that raised eyebrows the moment it crossed the wire. Minnesota sent reliever Brock Stewart to Los Angeles in exchange for outfielder James Outman, a move that felt odd on its face given how well Stewart had been pitching for the Twins at the time. Stewart was one of the more effective bullpen arms Minnesota had, missing bats and handling leverage despite a long, well-documented injury history. That history loomed large in how the trade was interpreted. The assumption was that the Twins would be able to get value for Stewart, especially from a contending team. However, a one-for-one deal for Outman seemed underwhelming. Stewart’s medicals likely raised some red flags, and that forced the teams to find a deal that worked for both sides. That reading of his medicals proved prescient. Stewart made just four appearances for the Dodgers before landing on the injured list. In September, he underwent a debridement procedure on his shoulder, ending his season and keeping him sidelined during Los Angeles’ run to a World Series title. He is not expected to be ready for Opening Day, and there are real questions about how much he can contribute in 2026. Stewart had already pushed his workload to a career high 37 2/3 innings in 2025, and the durability concerns that followed him never really went away. Realistically, Stewart might be a bullpen option for the Dodgers a few months into the season. That might be the best way to get the most value from him in one season. He has shown that he only has so many bullets in his arm. Having Stewart (potentially) available for the playoffs is more valuable than early-season games when the weather is colder, and there is a greater chance of muscles tightening up. The Dodgers will be in the playoffs, and that’s where Stewart can be a difference-maker. From the Twins’ side, the return was Outman, a former top prospect who had fallen out of favor on a Dodgers roster that is loaded with talent. On paper, there was a path to relevance. Minnesota needed outfield depth, particularly behind Byron Buxton, and Outman brings strong defensive chops in center field. The complication is that Alan Roden exists, and the organization appeared to favor him before his hand injury last season. Roden was talked up extensively after being acquired from the Blue Jays, and he can handle center as well, even if Outman is generally viewed as the better defender. Roster mechanics muddy the picture further. Outman is out of options, meaning he either makes the roster or risks being lost. Roden does not carry that same pressure. Someone has to back up Buxton, and while Roden offers flexibility, Outman’s glove might give him the edge in a vacuum. Performance, however, has not helped his case. In 59 major league games last season, Outman posted a .537 OPS and a 47 OPS+. That production is difficult to carry, even for a defense-first reserve. There is some hope to be found in his Triple-A numbers, where he put up a .945 OPS across 92 games. That kind of gap suggests there may still be something to unlock at the big-league level. At the same time, Outman will be 29 years old next season, so this is not a young prospect still finding his way. What you see may largely be what you get. As things stand, this trade is drifting toward an outcome where neither side truly benefits. The Dodgers lost a useful bullpen arm for essentially nothing during a championship run, even if they were protected from further risk down the line. The Twins may not get meaningful value either, especially if Outman struggles in spring training and does not break camp with the team. Deadline deals often look cleaner in hindsight, and this one already feels messy. Minnesota took a calculated risk on Stewart’s health and bet on Outman’s ability to rebound. Los Angeles took the arm and hoped the medical gamble would pay off. Instead, both teams are left with questions, and the trade is shaping up to be one neither side will look back on fondly. Did either team win this trade? Will Outman make it out of spring training on the Twins’ roster? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (photo of Kaelen Culpepper) Projection systems are not in the business of hype. They are cold, calculating, and often conservative. That's what makes it so interesting when one of them plants a flag on a player who has barely cracked the upper minors. FanGraphs’s ZiPS has done exactly that with Kaelen Culpepper. The Twins likely don’t agree with ZiPS's plan to promote him aggressively in 2026. It seems more likely that they'll roll with Brooks Lee at shortstop. But after a dynamite first full professional season, the Twins' 2024 first-rounder has quickly become one of the system’s favorites, and that's no accident. A Massive Step Forward Culpepper took a massive step forward last season, showing he can impact the game with his bat while sticking at shortstop. In 113 games, he posted a 138 wRC+ with 25 steals, flashing both on-base ability and speed. The organization named him its Minor League Player of the Year, and he enters 2026 as a consensus top-100 prospect. ZiPS noticed. He was among MLB’s biggest ZiPS gainers for 2026, a list that includes Aaron Judge and Yordan Alvarez. A year ago, he was projected for just 0.3 fWAR. Now he sits at 1.9 fWAR, were he to get a full year's worth of playing time. That's a substantial jump for a player who has yet to play at Triple-A. To reach that 1.9 fWAR mark, ZiPS projects Culpepper for 510 plate appearances in 2026. Obviously, that's essentially a default number, to give a sense of what a full season would look like from him. He's unlikely to play that much at Target Field this year. If he did, though, the model thinks he'd be perfectly serviceable. The offensive line is modest on the surface. ZiPS projects a 94 wRC+ and a .376 slugging percentage, pointing to a lack of present power. But there is value baked in elsewhere. He's projected for a .305 wOBA, positive defensive value, and enough overall contribution to be an above-average regular. His player comparisons are not superstar names: Bill Spiers. Howard Freigau. Ricky Adams. Those comps speak to versatility and steady value, more than flash. ZiPS isn't projecting stardom right now. It just shows promise, with room to grow. That's where it gets interesting. The Defense Debate The Twins front office believes Culpepper improved his overall outlook with defensive gains last season. That belief is reflected in the positive defensive projection. “His makeup and his leadership on the field, the way he goes about his work, have all been exactly what we’ve been looking for,” Twins GM Jeremy Zoll said. The arm strength is there. The internal reviews are strong. But not everyone is convinced he sticks at shortstop long term. Baseball America’s JJ Cooper has expressed skepticism about Culpepper’s ability to remain at the position. While he has the arm, some evaluators question his range and actions. Many scouts believe he may ultimately slide to third base. That positional uncertainty matters, because the offensive bar changes depending on where he plays. A 90 OPS+ with solid defense is more palatable at shortstop than at third base. ZiPS, at least for now, is betting that the glove will be good enough. A Complicated Shortstop Picture The Twins' shortstop depth chart adds another wrinkle. Lee is expected to open the season as the starter. The team added a veteran backup option, Orlando Arcia, to provide depth and stability. On paper, there is no everyday job available for Culpepper. But depth charts have a way of unraveling. One injury to a significant player could change the equation quickly. If Lee misses time or struggles offensively, Culpepper could force the issue. Whether it's Lee, Royce Lewis or Luke Keaschall, a major injury to any of the injury-prone infielders slated to start could crack the door for Culpepper. For that matter, Lee is projected for a lousy 84 wRC+ and worse defense than Culpepper, so if you ask ZiPS, the Twins should simply escalate the young player past the incumbent right now. The Twins haven't been shy about promoting prospects who prove ready. Culpepper may not need much Triple-A seasoning. Minnesota saw this in 2025, with Luke Keaschall playing only 28 games at Triple-A before his promotion. The Offensive Ceiling Culpepper is not a finished product offensively. He can be prone to chasing off-speed pitches out of the zone. That approach will be tested at higher levels. But there were encouraging signs, too. He walked 50 times and struck out just 90 times, showing better swing decisions than some evaluators expected. He also reached the 20-home run mark, despite posting the system’s third-highest groundball rate. That's significant. If he can learn to elevate consistently, there's more power in the profile than the current projections imply. That's part of why ZiPS is optimistic. The system sees a player who already produces value and has room to grow if the batted-ball profile improves. Why You Can Love Him, Too Culpepper profiles as an above-average regular with All-Star upside at an infield spot still to be determined. That kind of player doesn't need to be a franchise cornerstone to be immensely valuable. He's played just 139 minor-league games and has yet to face Triple-A pitching. On the surface, it might feel aggressive to expect a big-league debut this season. It's not unrealistic, though. If Culpepper keeps hitting as he did in 2025, the Twins will have no choice but to give him a look at the major-league level. ZiPS already believes he can handle a near-everyday role. Now, it becomes a matter of timing. Projection systems don't often fall in love. When they do, it's worth paying attention. ZiPS loves Culpepper. You probably should, too. Do you believe in the ZiPS projection for Culpepper? If not, what are realistic expectations for him in 2026? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of William Parmeter Joe Ryan did not sound bitter. He did not sound triumphant. Mostly, he sounded tired of the whole thing. “It is what it is — it’s done,” Ryan said after he and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a one-year, $6.2 million contract on January 26 that includes a $13 million mutual option for 2027. The deal came together just hours before Ryan and team officials were scheduled to board flights to Phoenix for an arbitration hearing. In the end, cooler heads and simple math won out. The Twins and Ryan were just $500,000 apart when they filed figures ahead of the Jan. 8 deadline. For a pitcher coming off a 13-10 season with a 3.42 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 171 innings, the gap was relatively minor. But the process is rarely about the gap. It is about the ritual. And the ritual remains as uncomfortable as ever. A Strong Season With Some Late Noise Ryan’s platform year was strong by any reasonable measure. He worked 171 innings, missed bats at an elite clip (28.2 K%), and for much of the season pitched like a steadying force in a rotation that needed one. Through his first 121 1/3 innings, he posted a 2.82 ERA and allowed just 14 home runs. He looked like the type of arm who could anchor a playoff series and was named to his first All-Star team. Then the context changed. Following a rough outing in Toronto on August 25th, Ryan acknowledged that his energy dipped in the weeks after the August 1st trade deadline when the Twins were no longer positioned to chase a postseason spot. Over his final 10 starts, he logged a 4.89 ERA and allowed 2.17 home runs per nine innings across 49 2/3 innings. The sharpness faded. The fastball command wavered. The ball left the yard more frequently. In arbitration, those details matter. The late-season fade becomes an exhibit. The home run rate becomes a bullet point. The human context often gets stripped away. For teams and players, this can create wounds that are hard to heal. Ryan recently switched representation to VC Sports Group, but the figures for the filing had already been exchanged with his previous agency. When talks stalled, the numbers went in. When neither side blinked immediately, the hearing date loomed. Ryan admitted he was not a fan of the system and feels like baseball needs to find a new salary system for young players. “They’re trying to win, and that’s kind of their show,” Ryan said. “That’s their baseball game. … I think at the end of the day that process is pretty antiquated and kind of stupid. No one in the league likes it. No team likes it. No one that works for a team likes it. No players like it. It doesn’t benefit anyone. It’s just a dumb system.” The Skubal Effect If there is any momentum for change, it may come from cases like Tarik Skubal’s. The Tigers ace recently secured a significant arbitration win, as he filed at $32 million and Detroit countered at $19 million. The ruling shattered the previous arbitration salary record of $31 million set by Juan Soto in 2024. More importantly, it represented a raise of $21.85 million, more than double the previous record increase of $9.6 million set by deGrom in 2019. Skubal’s decisions reinforced the fact that frontline starters with elite results are being rewarded aggressively by panels. When a Cy Young caliber arm walks into a hearing with comparable stats and walks out with the number he filed, it shifts the landscape. For pitchers like Ryan, that matters. While Ryan is not coming off a Cy Young season, he is part of a wave of arbitration-eligible starters who combine innings volume with swing-and-miss ability. As salaries for that tier climb through arbitration, teams will have a harder time suppressing numbers by leaning on selective splits or brief downturns. Panels have shown a willingness to reward impact and durability. Skubal’s case strengthens the argument that pitchers with high strikeout totals, strong run prevention, and meaningful innings loads deserve to be paid accordingly. It nudges the system slightly toward the players, even if the framework remains flawed. Business as Usual For the Twins, avoiding the hearing was the priority. Arbitration hearings can strain relationships. They force teams to highlight weaknesses. They require players to sit quietly while their value is dissected in an adversarial fashion. Minnesota has generally tried to avoid that outcome with its core pieces. Getting a deal done at $6.2 million keeps Ryan in the fold on reasonable terms and leaves open the possibility of a $13 million mutual option next season. From a roster-building standpoint, it is tidy. From a player relations standpoint, it avoids unnecessary scars. Still, Ryan’s blunt assessment lingers. The system is antiquated. It benefits no one. Both sides play their roles because the collective bargaining agreement requires it. In the end, the Twins and Ryan did what most teams and players eventually do. They compromised. They shook hands. They moved forward. The process may be dumb, as Ryan put it. But until something replaces it, this is the game within the game. Do you agree with Ryan that something needs to change? What system would be fair for both players and teams in the next CBA? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

Image courtesy of © Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images Pitchers and catchers report to Twins camp in Ft. Myers Wednesday. With that milestone comes the annual ritual of looking back at what the Twins did (or didn’t do) over the winter. This offseason was not defined by splashy headlines or aggressive spending. Instead, it was marked by modest depth additions and a series of transactions that mostly reshuffled the bottom of the roster. Minnesota thus enters spring training with many of the same questions it had when the season ended—and, perhaps, with a bit more business left to do. Free Agents 1B/DH Josh Bell 1-year, $7 million C Victor Caratini 2-years, $14 million LHP Taylor Rogers 1-year, $2 million The most notable additions came through free agency, starting with Bell. Signing the slugger to a one-year deal worth $7 million was a strong way to open the winter. He provides an immediate offensive upgrade for a lineup that badly needed a reliable veteran bat. Bell’s switch-hitting power lengthens the order and gives the Twins some much-needed stability, regardless of whether he plays first base or DH. The downside is his defense. Bell is a clear liability at first base, which is why he might spend more time as the designated hitter. That creates some roster tension, as Minnesota already has several players who profile best there (including Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach), along with some lineup regulars who will need partial rest days. Caratini’s two-year, $14-million deal raised more eyebrows. The Twins have been open about their desire to give Ryan Jeffers regular time behind the plate, and they also acquired Alex Jackson in a trade with Baltimore. Jackson is out of minor-league options, which complicates the roster math. Carrying three catchers seems unlikely, unless Caratini sees frequent time at first base or designated hitter. (General manager Jeremy Zoll indicated when the signing became official that Caratini could play those spots.) That said, catching depth is rarely a bad thing, and Caratini provides a steady presence with experience handling pitching staffs. Rogers returned on a one-year, $2-million deal, addressing the need for bullpen depth at a reasonable cost. The issue is that this move alone does not come close to replacing what the Twins lost last summer, when five relievers were dealt away at the trade deadline. The bullpen remains inexperienced, and while the front office has spoken openly about adding another arm, the free agent market is essentially dry. That leaves trades or internal conversions as the only realistic paths forward. Trades: Acquired C Alex Jackson from the Orioles for 2B Payton Eeles Acquired 1B Eric Wagaman from the Marlins for LHP Kade Bragg Acquired IF Tristan Gray from the Red Sox for C Nate Baez Acquired cash considerations from Mariners for C Jhonny Pereda Acquired RHP Jace Kaminska and cash from the Rockies for 2B Edouard Julien and RHP Pierson Ohl The trade market brought volume, but little impact. Jackson came over from the Orioles. a move that clearly focused on raising the floor of the catching depth after Christian Vázquez departed in free agency. Wagaman and Gray were acquired as infield depth, but neither significantly changed the outlook of the roster. Pereda was moved shortly after the Caratini signing, making his brief stint in the organization officially forgettable. The most notable transaction sent Julien and Ohl to Colorado for Kaminska and cash considerations, a deal that largely reflected roster management decisions at the fringes of the 40-man roster. None of these trades made the Twins meaningfully better for 2026. They added depth and flexibility, but not wins. When you zoom out, the offseason feels uninspiring. Bell, Caratini, and Rogers are useful players, but none move the needle significantly. The roster looks deeper, but not stronger. That reality was underscored by the unexpected news that longtime baseball head Derek Falvey and the Twins mutually parted ways just as spring training approached, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already underwhelming winter. There is still time for the front office to make a meaningful addition before Opening Day, but as things stand now, this offseason earns a D. It is a passing grade only in the sense that the Twins showed up and turned something in. There is a chance to resubmit the assignment, but it will require more than marginal depth moves to change the final mark. What grade would you give the Twins for this winter? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article

The Minnesota Twins are welcoming one of the franchise’s most beloved figures back into the fold as they approach the 2026 season. Paul Molitor’s connection to the Twins stretches back decades, both as a hometown player and an influential presence in the organization. His return in a new capacity is sure to resonate with long-time fans and offer fresh insight to viewers tuning in this year. This week, the Twins revealed Molitor’s latest role. “Hall of Famer Paul Molitor is joining the Twins' rotation of TV analysts this season, along with Justin Morneau, Trevor Plouffe, Denard Span, and Glen Perkins. Cory Provus returns as the play-by-play voice and Audra Martin is back as the sideline reporter,” reported Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic on Tuesday. Molitor’s addition to the broadcast team brings a respected voice with firsthand experience in nearly every corner of the sport. He has been a superstar player, a veteran leader, a manager, and a special assistant in the front office. There are not many perspectives within baseball that he has not experienced. His playing credentials remain among the most impressive in the game’s history. Over a 21-year career, Molitor compiled 3,319 hits, a .306 batting average, 234 home runs, 1,307 RBIs, and 1,782 runs scored. He also stole 504 bases, making him one of the rare players to pair 3,000 hits with 500 steals. His .817 OPS reflected a balanced offensive profile built on consistency, durability, and intelligence. Those accomplishments secured his induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. Although Molitor built the bulk of his playing legacy with the Milwaukee Brewers and added a World Series title with the Toronto Blue Jays, his time with the Twins holds a special place. A native of St. Paul, he finished his career in Minnesota from 1996 through 1998, batting .312 across those three seasons, earning a Silver Slugger Award, and producing 5.2 bWAR in what were supposed to be his twilight years. For a player in his late thirties, that level of production was remarkable, and it provided a bridge between eras for the franchise. Molitor’s impact in Minnesota extended well beyond his playing days. He managed the Twins from 2015 through 2018 and authored one of the more memorable managerial seasons in team history. In 2017, he guided Minnesota to the postseason one year after a 100-loss campaign, earning American League Manager of the Year honors in the process. Even after being let go from that role, Molitor remained involved as a Special Assistant in Baseball Operations, helping shape player development and instruction throughout the organization. He has also made radio appearances over the years, offering thoughtful and measured analysis. There is a reason Molitor has remained intertwined with the Twins for much of the past decade. His Hall of Fame resume commands respect on its own, but his steady demeanor and deep understanding of the game make him a natural fit in any role. He is not necessarily remembered first as a Twin when it comes to his playing career, yet his post-playing identity has become closely tied to Minnesota. That matters to him, and it matters to the organization. Now, as he joins a television rotation that already includes Morneau, Plouffe, Span, and Perkins, Molitor brings historical context and credibility to the broadcast. He understands what it means to chase 3,000 hits. He understands what it feels like to manage through a 100-loss season and then turn it into a playoff berth. He understands the pressure of expectations in this market. For fans, that means more than just another analyst in the booth. It means hearing the game explained by someone who has lived every angle of it. Even if the Twins encounter bumps along the way in 2026, Molitor’s presence on the broadcast will offer perspective, nostalgia, and a connection to the franchise’s past. That is a win for the organization and a win for viewers tuning in all summer long. View full rumor

Image courtesy of William Parmeter (photo of Marco Raya) Pitchers and catchers report this week, which means optimism is officially back on the menu in Fort Myers. Every organization arrives believing that this will be the year injuries cooperate, prospects take the leap, and depth charts magically sort themselves out. For the Twins, spring training feels especially important because there are real decisions to be made on the mound and not all of them are theoretical. Roles are open. Health matters. And a few arms could reshape how this staff looks by Opening Day. Pitching enters the spring as one of Minnesota’s clear strengths. The Twins have more usable arms than rotation spots, and that is a good problem to have after years of scrambling for innings. Last summer’s trade deadline played a major role in that shift, as the front office targeted pitching help that could impact both the short and long term. With multiple starters capable of handling big league innings and a bullpen that is lacking upside options, spring training will be less about finding warm bodies and more about determining fit. That depth makes the following three pitchers particularly interesting to watch over the next few weeks. RHP Bailey Ober Why To Watch: Can his velocity return? Joe Ryan and Pablo Lopez will be away with their national teams for the World Baseball Classic, which quietly places Ober at the top of the Twins rotation this spring. That alone makes him worth paying attention to, but there is more going on here than spring training optics. The 2025 season was a frustrating one for Ober. A lingering hip injury sapped velocity from a pitcher who already lives on precision rather than raw power. In 2024, his four-seamer averaged 91.7 mph, and that dipped to 90.3 mph last season. It was never about dominance disappearing overnight. It was about margins shrinking. The Twins believed the injury would resolve itself over the winter without surgery, and that belief will be tested immediately once Ober starts stacking outings in camp. RHP Marco Raya Why To Watch: How does he transition to the bullpen? Over the last week, Twins general manager Jeremy Zoll discussed Raya as one of the former starting pitchers in the organization who is transitioning to a bullpen role. It is a notable pivot for a pitcher who has been one of the Twins' top prospects since being drafted out of high school in the shortened 2020 MLB Draft. Raya’s 2025 season at Triple A was rough. A 6.02 ERA and 5.48 FIP came alongside a 22.6 K% and a career-worst 12.6 BB%. That last number is the one that really matters now. Moving to the bullpen can unlock velocity and simplify pitch usage, but free passes become even more damaging in shorter stints. As the old Metrodome video board famously reminded everyone, walks will haunt. LHP Connor Prielipp Why To Watch: Will he be a starter or a reliever for the long term? Prielipp has been one of the most dominant pitching prospects in the system when healthy, and that qualifier has followed him since he turned pro. Drafted in the second round in 2022, Prielipp made just two starts in A ball before undergoing Tommy John surgery that wiped out his 2023 season. He returned in limited fashion in 2024 before finally getting a chance to build momentum last year. The results were encouraging. Across Double- and Triple-A, Prielipp posted a 4.03 ERA with a 3.54 FIP and a 98 to 31 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 82 ⅔ innings. The organization used him almost exclusively as a starter, while carefully monitoring his workload. His stuff and injury history naturally invite bullpen speculation. Spring training may not provide a definitive answer, but how the Twins deploy him will be telling. Spring training is rarely about results, but it is always about information. For the Twins, these three pitchers represent different questions that need answering before the games start to count. Is a veteran starter healthy again? Can a former top prospect reinvent himself in a new role? And where does a talented but injury-tested arm fit best going forward? If pitching is going to carry Minnesota in 2026, the clues will start showing up this spring. What pitchers will you be watching in spring training? Leave a comment and start the discussion. View full article