Cody Christie

The Twins had a trio of terrific rookie debuts in 2023, and other top prospects are getting closer to the big-league level. Here’s a timeline of when to expect the team’s top prospects to debut. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Austin Martin) Baseball player development is a non-linear path, with players facing different obstacles on their way to the big-league level. Organizations can be aggressive with some top prospects and move them through the farm system quicker than expected. Other prospects might suffer injuries or poor play and be forced to repeat a level for multiple years. Every prospect follows a different journey, making it intriguing for fans to follow. Below is a look at the top 10 prospects in the Twins organization according to Twins Daily’s end-of-the-season voting. Not every outlet updates its ranking multiple times per year, but Twins Daily updates the player rankings and scouting reports monthly so there is a live view of each prospect's progress. Multiple names below are on pace to impact the Twins roster next season. 1. Walker Jenkins, OF ETA: 2026 The Twins took Jenkins with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft. He was promoted relatively aggressively during his professional debut by ending the year at Low-A. In 26 games, he hit .362/.417/.571 (.989) with five doubles, four triples, and three home runs. It’s expected that he will start the year in Fort Myers with a chance to play in Cedar Rapids at the end of 2024. That should put him on pace to reach the big leagues in the second half of 2026, at which point he'll be 21 years old. 2. Brooks Lee, SS/3B ETA: 2024 The 2023 campaign was Lee’s first full season as a professional after the Twins took him with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He started the year at Double-A, posting an .841 OPS in 87 games. Minnesota promoted him to St. Paul in the season’s second half, and his OPS dipped to .731 at a level where he was over four years younger than the average age of the competition. Lee will start the year in St. Paul and be one injury away from making his big-league debut. 3. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF ETA: 2025 Rodriguez will have an advantage over other names on this list due to being added to the 40-man roster this winter. These roster spots are valuable, and it gives him a better chance at making his debut because the team might need to dig into their depth if there are multiple big-league injuries. Rodriguez played the 2023 season at High-A, hitting .240/.400/.463 (.863) with 38 extra-base hits in 99 games. The Twins will plan for him to spend the 2024 campaign at Double-A, which puts him on pace to debut in 2025. 4. Marco Raya, SP ETA: 2025 The Twins have taken a unique development path with Raya by aggressively promoting him while limiting his innings pitched. He ended last season at Double-A in his age-20 season. Between two levels, Raya posted a 4.02 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP in 62 2/3 innings spread across 22 starts. He never pitched more than four innings in an appearance and never threw more than 54 pitches. It seems likely for Raya to spend all of 2024 at Double-A unless the team continues to be aggressive with him. 5. David Festa, SP ETA: 2024 Festa emerged as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects last season after being taken in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He pitched at Double-A and Triple-A with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He posted an 11.6 K/9 in 92 1/3 innings across 24 appearances (22 starts). Minnesota faces a self-imposed payroll crunch next season, which may leave the team relying on internal options for added depth. Festa will be at Triple-A, waiting for his opportunity to join the Twins’ rotation at some point next season. 6. Charlee Soto, SP ETA: 2027 Soto has yet to make his professional debut after being drafted by the Twins with the 34th overall selection last June. He didn’t turn 18 until after the draft, so he has a lot of time to develop in the organization’s farm system. He will likely be the last player on this list to debut, but he has an exciting future with his pitching profile. 7. Austin Martin, 2B/OF ETA: 2024 Martin was the top-ranked prospect included in the Jose Berrios trade with Toronto, and he’s seen some ups and downs during his time with the Twins organization. He struggled during the 2022 season with a .683 OPS at Double-A before heading to the AFL and being one of the league’s best hitters. Last season, he injured his elbow during spring training, and there was some discussion that he’d need surgery. Martin rehabbed the elbow and posted a .791 OPS in 59 Triple-A games. The Twins have an opening in center field, and Martin might be able to take over that role at some point in 2024. 8. Brandon Winokur, OF ETA: 2027 Minnesota went well over-slot to sign Winokur for $1.5 million as a third-round pick. Winokur played 17 games during his professional debut and hit .288/.338/.546 (.884) with five doubles and four home runs. He has shown flashes of being a potential five-tool outfielder, but he is far from Target Field. Like Soto, he won’t debut for multiple seasons, and many things can go wrong with development along the way. 9. Luke Keaschall, 2B ETA: 2026 The Twins love to draft college bats, so the club targeted Keaschall with their second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Minnesota was aggressive after signing him by having him play at three different levels and finishing the year with Cedar Rapids. In 31 games, he hit .288/.414/.478 (.892) with 14 extra-base hits. The Twins will likely have him return to High-A to begin 2024, which puts him on pace to debut during his age-23 season. 10. Tanner Schobel, 2B/3B ETA: 2025 Schobel was selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft, so his development path shows what the Twins might follow with Keaschall. He split time in 2023 between High- and Double-A while posting a .776 OPS in 126 games. Minnesota continues to play him at second and third base, and this defensive flexibility might help him reach the big leagues even sooner. Do you agree with the ETAs listed for each prospect? Which player will have the most significant impact on the Twins next season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Defense has been a hallmark of the Twins organization throughout the franchise’s history. Twins prospect Noah Miller added to that legacy by taking home a Minor League Gold Glove on Tuesday. Image courtesy of Fort Myers Mighty Mussels The Cedar Rapids Kernels had a tremendous 2023 season, including winning the team’s first Midwest League title since 1994. Awards have been pouring in for the Kernels based on their terrific season. Cedar Rapids manager Brian Dinkelman was named Midwest League Manager of the Year, and outfielder Kala’i Rosario was selected as the league MVP. Rosario was joined on the MWL All-Star team by Tanner Schobel, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Miguel Rodriguez. Another player added to the decorated team’s awards on Tuesday. Minor League Baseball and Rawlings Sporting Goods announced nine recipients of the 2023 Rawlings Gold Glove Award for defensive excellence. The winners at each position were selected from players across the 11 full-season leagues in the minors. Twins shortstop Noah Miller was selected as the best defensive shortstop. He will receive his own Rawlings Gold Glove, modeled after the iconic award given to Major League Baseball’s top defensive players. “We’re thankful for our long-standing partnership with Minor League Baseball that enables us to recognize the deserving 2023 recipients of the Rawlings Gold Glove Award for their incomparable defensive ability,” said Mike Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer for Rawlings. “We congratulate this year’s Rawlings Gold Glove Award class of Minor League players and look forward to seeing their future baseball careers develop.” The Twins selected Miller in the Competitive Balance Round A (36th overall) of the 2021 MLB Draft out of high school in Wisconsin. Last season, he handled 446 total chances, helped turn 54 double plays, and finished with 295 assists in 107 games for High-A Cedar Rapids, posting a .984 fielding percentage. For the second consecutive season, he logged over 800 innings at shortstop and has a .978 fielding percentage for his career. The Twins were drawn to Miller’s solid defensive tool and athletic ability in the 2021 MLB Draft. His baseball IQ is tremendous, and his instincts will help him to stick at a premium defensive position for a long time. His strong, accurate arm helps him make plays that other shortstops can’t complete. Miller should continue to move up the organizational ladder because he continues to be a plus defender. Offensively, Miller continues to make gradual improvements as a switch-hitter. In 120 games, he hit .223/.309/.340 (.648) with 20 doubles, five triples, and eight home runs. His OPS improved by over 20 points compared to his first year of full-season action in 2022. He knows the strike zone well and can work counts in his favor, which helps him to draw walks. Miller, 20, will continue to add strength, which can help his power numbers improve as he gets closer to Target Field. Congratulations to Miller and the other Gold Glove winners! View full article

Contending teams must have a solid baseline to their roster entering the offseason. Usually, this includes a solid group of veterans with young, up-and-coming players ready to take on a more critical role. How does the Twins roster rank compared to the rest of baseball? Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Last season, there were strong teams in both leagues, with three teams winning 100 games or more. The Twins finished at 87-75, enough to win the AL Central by nine games, but it was the lowest win total of any division winner. Before free agency starts, clubs must evaluate their own roster and decide on their individual needs. FanGraphs and MLB.com combined resources to compile a list of the best rosters entering the offseason. As part of these rankings, Mike Petriello used FanGraphs’ depth charts and projects to find each team’s highest needs while ranking the clubs based on their current roster. Here’s a look at how the Twins ranked and some other questions facing the club this winter. How High Do the Twins Rank? Honestly, I clicked on the article and thought the Twins would rank in the middle of the pack. So I was surprised to see that MLB.com ranked the Twins as the sixth-best roster (41.3 WAR) entering the offseason. The teams ranking higher than the Twins are the Braves (51.4), Astros (46.6), Rays (45.9), Blue Jays (42.2), and Dodgers (41.5). It’s an interesting list of teams ahead of the Twins, with three teams winning 99+ games last season and the other two being Minnesota’s playoff opponents from last season. Also, the Twins are less than 1.0 WAR from moving into fourth place. Overall, it is an exciting place to start the winter, but there are other questions to answer. How Will the Twins Replace Sonny Gray? The Twins aren’t re-signing Gray, so the club must look into other options to fill his pivotal role at the top of the rotation. Internal options exist to recoup some of Gray’s lost value, including Chris Paddack and Louie Varland. However, neither of these pitchers is expected to perform at a Cy Young caliber level, and the Twins will want at least one more playoff-caliber starter. Last winter, the club traded for Pablo Lopez and developed him into one of the league’s best pitchers. The front office is expected to attempt to trade from the club's position player depth to improve the rotation. How Can the Twins Fill Holes in Center Field and First Base? According to FanGraphs ' depth chart and projections, center field and first base are the club’s other needs. Byron Buxton didn’t log a single inning in center field last season, and Michael A. Taylor is heading to free agency. The Twins have been rumored to be interested in Kevin Kiermaier, an elite defensive player, but he comes with his own injury history. There is a chance the Twins could turn center field over to a prospect like Austin Martin or DaShawn Keirsey, which likely wouldn’t happen until later in the season. The Twins received positive news regarding Alex Kirilloff’s shoulder surgery, giving hope that he can fully recover and produce at the big-league level. He’s missed significant time in recent seasons with various injuries, so his inclusion in the line-up is not guaranteed. Minnesota can try to work Jose Miranda back into the mix at first base after he missed time with his own shoulder injury. Another option is to give Edouard Julien more time at first base, which seems like an appropriate adjustment for his sophomore season. Where Do the Other AL Central Teams Rank? Based on current rosters and projections, the Twins are the odds-on-favorites to win the AL Central. Cleveland, 15th overall, is the closest team to Minnesota in the rankings and sits 4.4 WAR behind the Twins. Detroit finished ahead of Cleveland last season, but the Tigers rank 23rd with a 31.7 WAR. The Royals (26th) and the White Sox (29th) rank among the baseball’s bottom five teams, with the Rockies being the lone team with a worse WAR than Chicago. The Twins should easily win a second consecutive division title in MLB’s worst division. How Does Payroll Dropping Impact These Projections? Last week, reports surfaced from the GM meetings that the Twins payroll is expected to be $15-30 million below last season’s $155 million total. The team’s current revenue tied to its TV deal is in flux for next season, which is the biggest reason for the decrease in spending. Minnesota will likely trade away veteran players like Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler, and Kyle Farmer to clear some money off the books. With less veteran depth, the Twins will likely see their projected WAR drop unless they improve their starting pitching. What are your thoughts on these rankings? Do the Twins have a top-10 roster entering the offseason? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins had three Gold Glove Finalists, but the trio failed to win the top honors. Here are the highs and lows for the team in the final SDI rankings. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Defensive metrics have come a long way over the last decade. With Statcast tracking every batted ball, the amount of information available to fans is at an all-time high. One metric the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) developed is the SABR Defensive Index (SDI). According to SABR's website, the SDI "draws on and aggregates two types of existing defensive metrics: those derived from batted ball location-based data and those collected from play-by-play accounts." Since 2013, SDI has been used as part of the process for selecting Gold Glove winners. The rankings below are the final totals for the 2023 season. Pitcher (AL Ranking): Pablo Lopez 3.2 SDI (2nd), Sonny Gray 3.0 SDI (3rd) Lopez and Gray were Gold Glove finalists and finished in the top three in the final SDI rankings. Gray made a tremendous jump in the season’s second half to move from the bottom half to the top five. Lopez ranked well for a large portion of the season and might have put himself in contention for a Gold Glove in future years. Former Twins pitcher Jose Berrios won his first Gold Glove and ranked as the top pitcher in the AL, according to SDI. He has been a tremendous defender throughout his career, so it was long overdue for him to take home the hardware. Catcher (AL Ranking): Christian Vazquez 3.5 SDI (4th), Ryan Jeffers -0.3 SDI (10th) Vazquez saw his offense suffer during the 2023 season, but his defense continued to rank near the top of the league. He more than doubled his SDI total from August 13th to the season’s end, which can be challenging for catchers at the end of a long season. Jeffers had a positive SDI earlier in the season but saw his total drop in the second half. He still finished in the top 10, and the Twins had enough confidence in him to start every playoff game behind the plate. It will be interesting to monitor how this duo continues to rank in future years as they work together. First Base (AL Ranking): Joey Gallo -0.2 SDI (5th) For most of the season, the Twins had no one qualified for the SDI leaderboard at first base. Alex Kirilloff’s injury forced the Twins to use other options at first, including Gallo. The Twins had confidence in Gallo playing first base when they signed him last winter because bench coach Jayce Tingler worked with Gallo in Texas. Gallo’s defense wasn’t outstanding, but he did enough to finish among the top five AL first basemen in SDI. Second Base (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualify The Twins used Edouard Julien and Jorge Polanco at second base during the 2023 campaign, with both struggling defensively at the position. Polanco posted a -9 OAA during the 2022 season, and he was worth -7 OAA during the current season. Julien entered the season with a reputation as a poor second base defender, but he worked hard and saw improved results. He had a -2 OAA in the middle of August and ended the season with a 0 OAA. Minnesota will need to decide on their defensive alignment for the 2024 campaign, and Julien might get more time at first base. Third Base (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualify Minnesota used a variety of players at third base this season, including Jose Miranda, Kyle Farmer, and Royce Lewis. Miranda’s defense was poor (-6 OAA), but a shoulder injury impacted him throughout the season. Lewis was learning a new position after playing shortstop for most of his professional career. He moved from a negative OAA in August to a positive OAA by the season’s end. With a full offseason, one can expect Lewis to be even better at the hot corner in 2024. Shortstop (AL Ranking): Carlos Correa -2.7 SDI (9th) Correa was a surprise inclusion on the list of Gold Glove Finalists, but that speaks to how much the players and managers respect him in the voting process. He didn’t rank well by many defensive metrics, including a negative SDI and 1 OAA. His plantar fasciitis likely impacted his defensive ability during the season, which was one of the reasons for fluctuations in his metrics. Twins saw what he could mean defensively in the playoffs, with Correa making multiple game-changing plays. Following the season, the Twins named Correa the team's best defensive player as part of the Diamond Awards. Left Field (AL Ranking): Willi Castro 1.5 SDI (4th) Castro didn’t have a strong defensive reputation when he joined the Twins, but he put together solid numbers at multiple positions. He played six defensive positions and posted a positive OAA at second base, third base, and shortstop. Left field was the lone outfield position where he didn’t have a negative OAA (0 OAA in LF). Joey Gallo ranked among the AL’s top 10 in August, but he played more first base down the stretch (see above). Center Field (AL Ranking): Michael A. Taylor 6.3 SDI (5th) Taylor looked like a potential Gold Glove finalist at mid-season before stalling out. He dropped from a tie for third in SDI to fifth overall in the final rankings. His OAA ranks in the 95th percentile, seven points higher than last season, and his arm strength ranks in the 90th percentile. Taylor was everything the Twins could hope for and more in center field, and the team will need to re-sign him or find a replacement this winter. Right Field (AL Ranking): Max Kepler 2.5 SDI (5th) Like Kepler’s bat, his defense made considerable strides in the second half. In August’s SDI update, he ranked 9th among AL right fielders, and he finished the year in the top-5. The Twins have always thought highly of Kepler’s defensive value, and he finished the year with an OAA in the 86th percentile. Kepler’s slow start( some due to injury) likely cost him a chance to be a Gold Glove finalist for the second consecutive season. Are you surprised by any of these defensive rankings? Who would you rank as the team's top defender? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

MLB Network's Jon Morosi thinks there is a "very strong chance" the Twins will trade Jorge Polanco this winter (Video clip below). He said there is industry speculation that Polanco is very much on the market and that he will be traded before next season. Eduoard Julien and Royce Lewis have emerged as infield options for the Twins and that makes Polanco more expendable. What is Polanco's value with two years of control at team-friendly prices? Who is more likely to be traded Kepler or Polanco?

There have been some significant changes on the South Side of Chicago over the last six months – most recently the decision to part ways with a former franchise fixture in Tim Anderson. Do any of the White Sox’s castoffs fit with the Twins? Image courtesy of Kamil Krzaczynski, USA TODAY Sports The White Sox entered the 2023 season with hopes of fighting with Cleveland and Minnesota for the AL Central title. Instead, the White Sox lost 101 games and finished with the second-worst record in the division. There will be some significant changes this offseason for one of Minnesota’s biggest rivals. Players that have performed well in the past will be available on the free-agent market. Do any of those prominent players fit with Minnesota’s offseason plans? Lucas Giolito, SP The Twins are potentially losing two members from their starting rotation, with Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda being free agents. Giolito is a buy-low candidate based on his performance in the last two seasons. Since the start of 2022, he has posted a 4.89 ERA with a 1.37 WHIP while posting a 9.9 K/9. His Whiff% and K% rank in the 67th percentile or higher, but he hardly had a typical season last year. The White Sox knew Giolito was heading to free agency, so the club traded him to the Angels. Los Angeles fell out of the race and put him on waivers before the Guardians added him for the stretch run. He performed poorly, but that doesn’t mean his career can't be put back on track. The Twins acquired a different pitcher last winter with a strong change-up (Pablo Lopez), which is Giolito’s best pitch. Could the Twins work their magic and adjust Giolito enough to get him back to his previous form? 2024 Twins Roster Fit: The Twins require a playoff-caliber starter, and Giolito should be in their price range. Do they have enough faith in him to make improvements? Liam Hendriks, RP Twins fans might love the idea of Hendriks finishing his career in the place where it began. He made 30 appearances (28 starts) for the Twins from 2011-13 with a 6.06 ERA, a 1.59 WHIP, and 5.8 K/9. The Twins never gave Hendriks a shot in the bullpen, and they designated him for assignment in December 2013 while he still had minor-league options remaining. It was a frustrating end to his Twins tenure, but his outlook completely changed over the next few seasons. Hendriks became one of baseball’s best relievers after finding a home in Oakland. In five seasons, he posted a 3.08 ERA with an 11.4 K/9. The White Sox signed him to a three-year, $54 million, and he continued to pitch well. Hendriks faced some health concerns in 2023 as he battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He returned later in the season but was limited to five appearances before landing on the IL with an elbow issue. He was forced to have Tommy John surgery and is likely out for the entire 2024 season. 2024 Twins Roster Fit: Hendriks won’t fit on any team’s roster for the 2024 season, but many players in his position can still find a home. He will likely need to sign a two-year contract that pays him a little for his rehab year and gives the team control for his first year back from Tommy John. The Twins signed Michael Pineda to a deal when he was recovering in 2018. Tim Anderson, IF Anderson has caused havoc in the AL Central during his career, including winning a batting title and being a two-time All-Star. There were a lot of things that went wrong for the 2023 White Sox, and Anderson was near the top of the list. He posted a 60 OPS+ with a -2.0 rWAR and -17 Defensive Runs Saved. He was one of the AL’s Least Valuable players, but he isn’t far removed from being great. Anderson spent three weeks on the IL with a left knee sprain, and he told reporters that he never felt right for the rest of the season. This injury likely contributed to his poor performance on both sides of the ball, so there is hope he can return to being a leadoff catalyst on a contending team. He posted a 122 OPS+ from 2019-22, which is why teams were interested in him at last year’s trade deadline. Anderson will find a new home, but he might need to move to second base. 2024 Twins Roster Fit: The Twins have multiple options better than Anderson at up-the-middle positions. He’d love to stay in the AL Central to face his old team more regularly, but he doesn’t fit with the Twins. Should the Twins sign any of these players? Which player(s) makes the most sense on next season’s roster? Leave a COMMENT and join the discussion. View full article

Teams must hit on their free agent signings to succeed, especially when their payroll ranks in the middle of the league. How have the Twins done in recent years regarding signing free agent talent? Image courtesy of Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports Baseball’s most successful organizations create rosters through player development, trades, and free agent signings. Historically, the Twins have attempted to build their core around young, homegrown talent while supplementing the roster in other ways. The current front office has tried to be more aggressive on the free agent market, but how have those results played out over the last handful of seasons? 2023 Offseason FA Signings: Carlos Correa (six-years, $200 million), Christian Vázquez (three-years, $30 million), Joey Gallo (one-year, $11 million), Donovan Solano (one-year, $2 million) 2023 spent: $56.3 million Total spent: $243 million Last winter, the Twins had Correa’s pending free agency looming over many of the team’s offseason decisions. His deals with the Mets and Giants didn’t work out due to concerns over an ankle injury from early in his professional career, and he ended up signing back with the Twins. Plantar fasciitis impacted his performance throughout the 2023 season, but he made multiple important plays on both sides of the ball during the playoffs. His contract will be looked at through a different lens because of the length and value. Hopefully, an offseason of rest and recovery will solve his injury issues from this season. Vázquez was a clear target for the Twins last winter, with Ryan Jeffers coming off a rough 2022 season. Minnesota likes to have a two-catcher rotation to keep both players fresh behind the plate. Overall, Vazquez posted a 65 OPS+ but remained a strong defender. Gallo posted a 1.063 OPS in the season’s first month before his performance dropped off significantly. Injuries elsewhere were likely the only reason he stayed on the roster for the entire season. Solano signed late in the offseason and provided a valuable veteran bat (110 OPS+, 1.8 rWAR). He is the most significant positive out of this free agent class. 2023 Grade: C-, the Twins don’t sign players like Correa, so it was nice to see the club make an aggressive move. However, most players didn’t live up to expectations. 2022 Offseason FA Signings: Carlos Correa (three-years, $105.3 million), Dylan Bundy (one-year, $5 million), Chris Archer (one-year, $3.5 million), Joe Smith (one-year, $2.5 million) 2022 spent: $46.1 million Total spent: $116.3 million Correa’s signing was unexpected, and the lockout changed the trajectory of the entire offseason. The Twins knew that Correa’s deal was likely for one season, and then he would likely opt out of the contract. Minnesota fell out of contention in the season’s final weeks, but that’s when Correa played at his best. He ended the season with a 138 OPS+, the second-highest total of his career. Minnesota’s other free agent signings couldn’t have gone much worse. Bundy and Archer started 54 games while each posting an ERA+ of 86 or lower. Injuries significantly impacted the team’s roster, and the Twins had to continue to trot out their veteran pitchers even though they were pitching below replacement level. Smith was limited to 34 appearances with a 4.61 ERA and a 1.54 WHIP. None of these three pitchers made a big-league appearance during the 2023 season, which speaks to how bad they were in 2022. 2022 Grade: D, there were other options the Twins could have targeted for the rotation. Correa is the lone factor that saves this grade from being an F. 2021 Offseason FA Signings: Nelson Cruz (one-year, $13 million), Andrelton Simmons (one-year, $10.5 million), J.A. Happ (one-year, $8 million), Alex Colome (one-year, $6.25 million), Matt Shoemaker (one-year, $2 million), Hansel Robles (one-year, $2 million) 2021 spent: $41.5 million Total spent: $41.5 million Minnesota avoided signing any long-term deals leading into the 2021 season, which kept money off the books for future years. Cruz had been the heart and soul of the Twins roster in 2019 and 2020 while the team won back-to-back division titles. However, things didn’t work out for the club after a slow start to the season. At the trade deadline, the Twins traded Cruz’s expiring contract to the Rays in a deal that included Joe Ryan. Cruz posted a 148 OPS+ before the trade and a 101 OPS+ with Tampa. Colome gets a lot of the blame for the Twins' poor start to the season because he posted an 8.31 ERA and blew multiple saves in April. Happ and Shoemaker both had ERA+ totals of 63 or lower, and neither finished the season on the team’s roster. Simmons played 131 games at shortstop while hitting .223/.283/.274 (.558). He played 34 games for the Cubs in 2022 and didn’t appear in a big-league game during the 2023 campaign. Robles posted an ERA of around 5.00 and was sent to Boston at the trade deadline. 2021 Grade: F, the only positive was being able to snag Ryan from the Rays in the Cruz trade. Do you agree with these grades? Is there anything the Twins front office can learn from previous offseasons? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussions. View full article

The World Series has come to a close, which means baseball’s off-season will start heating up. Here are seven potential free-agent fits for the Twins this winter. Image courtesy of Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports National outlets are starting to compile their lists of top free agents available this winter. Shohei Ohtani might receive the largest free-agent contract in baseball history, but there are other names to consider. Over at The Athletic, Jim Bowden ranked his top 40 free agents for the 2023-24 offseason and predicted their potential contracts. Here are seven players who might fit with the Twins. Sonny Gray, SP Free Agent Rank: 10 Contract Prediction: 3-years, $64 million The Twins would love to have Gray back in the rotation, but this front office has tended not to invest a lot of money in free-agent starting pitching. Minnesota is expected to extend a qualifying offer to Gray, which comes with draft pick compensation if he signs with another club. There aren’t a lot of starting pitchers better than Gray on the open market, which will drive up his price higher than Bowden’s prediction. This is especially true with teams like the Cardinals, Orioles, or Braves potentially interested in adding him to their rotation. Twins Prediction: Gray’s cost gets too high, and he signs with another contending team Whit Merrifield, 2B/OF Free Agent Rank: 20 Contract Prediction: 2-years, $16 million Merrifield is a puzzling fit for the Twins because he is tied to two positions the Twins seemed to have covered for the foreseeable future. However, he is a consistent right-handed bat, which is something the Twins have needed to improve in recent seasons. Merrifield might be fine with being a veteran depth piece, but the Twins already have Kyle Farmer, who offers more defensive flexibility. Twins Prediction: The Twins won’t contact him unless he is still on the market at the start of spring training. Justin Turner, 1B/3B/DH Free Agent Rank: 26 Contract Prediction: 1-year, $12 million Turner’s name has been thrown out as a potential fit with the Twins in previous years, so it will be interesting to see if he is tied to the club this winter. He is entering his age-39 season and has averaged a 122 OPS+ since 2019. His ability to play both corner infield spots might be valuable to the Twins, and he can provide some pop from the right side. However, the Twins will have cheaper options, with Alex Kirilloff and Jose Miranda fitting into a similar role to Turner. Twins Prediction: His asking price will be higher than the Twins are comfortable considering some unknowns around their payroll for next season. Tommy Pham, LF/DH Free Agent Rank: 28 Contract Prediction: 1-year, $7 million Pham’s name was tied to the Twins at the trade deadline because the team was looking for a solid right-handed bench bat. The Mets traded him to the Diamondbacks, and he has performed well during their World Series run. Pham fits with the Twins as a potential fourth outfielder, mainly because his cost would be lower than some of the other free-agent options. Twins Prediction: Another club will make him a solid offer based on his postseason performance before the Twins are really in the mix for him. Kenta Maeda, SP Free Agent Rank: 34 Contract Prediction: 1-year, $10 million with incentives The Twins know Maeda well, and he finished the season on a solid note with the club. He returned from Tommy John surgery this season and showed he can continue to be an effective middle-of-the-order starting pitcher. Maeda will turn 36 next season, and some teams will likely stay away from him because of his injury history. Twins Prediction: The Twins decide to go in another direction and target some of the other veteran pitchers on this list. Hyun Jin Ryu, SP Free Agent Rank: 35 Contract Prediction: 1-year, $8 million with incentives Ryu is a sneaky good fit for the Twins because he is a player that fits well with the type of free-agent pitcher this front office targets. He likely can be signed for a short-term deal, and there is plenty of upside potential. In August, Ryu returned from Tommy John surgery and made 11 starts for the Blue Jay while posting a 3.46 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He is not a hard-throwing pitcher, with his fastball topping out in the high 80s, but he offers a variety of offspeed pitches to keep batters off-balance. Twins Prediction: The Twins will target him early to add depth to the starting rotation and are willing to guarantee him more overall money than other teams. James Paxton, SP Free Agent Rank: 39 Contract Prediction: 1-year, $8 million with incentives Paxton made six starts from 2020-2022 before pitching 96 innings for Boston in 2023. He was a borderline All-Star in the first half of last season with a 2.73 ERA before tiring in the second half. Paxton ended the year on the IL, which isn’t surprising for a pitcher who has struggled to stay healthy. Minnesota likes to add depth to their rotation, but Paxton is too much of a question mark at this point in his career. Twins Prediction: The Twins will stay away because of his lengthy injury history. Which player from above should the Twins target? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Aaron Sabato is showcasing his powerful swing in the Arizona Fall League. Will it be enough for the Twins to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft? Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge Aaron Sabato has been a polarizing player since the Twins drafted him with their first-round pick in the 2020 MLB Draft. Like all drafted players that year, the college slugger saw his season cut short due to the pandemic. The Twins front office had a late first-round pick and decided to select the University of North Carolina product. At the time, Minnesota called him a “steal,” and some compared him to Pete Alonso. He was a first baseman or DH, and that player type needs to compile big offensive numbers on the way to the big leagues. Unfortunately, struggles have followed Sabato during his professional career. Sabato made his professional debut during the 2021 season, and the Twins had him spend time at Low- and High-A. In 107 games, he hit .202/.373/.410 (.783) with 18 doubles, 19 home runs, and 149 strikeouts. He was showcasing his powerful swing, but there was a lot of swing and miss for a player who spent most of the season facing younger competition. There was still hope for him to figure it out as he moved up the organizational ladder. In 2022, Sabato spent most of the season at High-A before finishing the year at Double-A. He was over a year younger than the average age of the competition in Wichita. In 103 games, he hit .215/.336/.438 (.774) with 17 doubles and 22 home runs while striking out 142 times. His statistical output was similar to his professional debut, with him making inconsistent contact but showing the ability to draw walks and occasionally hitting for power. The 2023 campaign would be critical to deciding Sabato’s future with the organization since the Twins needed to decide whether or not to add him to the 40-man roster and protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. The Twins sent Sabato back to Double-A for the 2023 season, but injuries limited him to 77 games. He hit .221/.329/.430 (.759) with 19 doubles and 12 home runs with 103 strikeouts in 272 at-bats. Sabato has the second most strikeouts in the Twins organization since debuting in 2021. The Twins decided to send Sabato to the Arizona Fall League since he missed time during the regular season. Would he do enough to warrant the team protecting him from the Rule 5 Draft? The AFL can be a favorable hitting environment because many teams don’t send their best pitchers after completing a season’s worth of innings. Sabato is near the top of the AFL leaderboard in home runs (7 HR in 18 games), and he will represent the Twins in the league’s home run derby this weekend. However, he hasn’t made consistent contact (.215 BA), and he continues to strike out at a high rate (27 Ks in 65 AB). "I think right now I'm pretty locked in," Sabato told MLB Pipeline. "The biggest thing has just been in the cages, just try to take my intent down so that I can control my body a little bit better. And then in the box, really, it's just how long can I stay on the ball while being as quick as possible in order to rotate. I feel like before that, I kind of would get a little big and my movements would get a little bit excited or jumpy. I'm not using the ground as much. And when we use the ground, we can stay on pitches for a longer amount of time. We can see the ball a lot longer. And so that's really been the biggest thing." Despite his AFL performance, the Twins will likely leave Sabato unprotected for the Rule 5 Draft. A rebuilding organization might look at Sabato’s first-round pedigree and prodigious power and select him in the draft. He would need to be used as a right-handed platoon player, and that’s a role that doesn’t currently fit into Minnesota’s plans. Do you think Sabato will be protected from the Rule 5 Draft? What kind of big-league career can he sustain? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Emmanuel Rodriguez has one of the highest ceilings of any prospect to come through the Twins system in quite some time. Two paths are facing the front office regarding Rodriguez, and this winter might go a long way in deciding his fate with the club. Image courtesy of Steve Buhr, Twins Daily The Twins signed Emmanuel Rodriguez to a $2.5 million bonus during the 2019 international signing period. At the time, MLB Pipeline ranked him as the No. 8 prospect in his signing class, but there is a long road to the big leagues for players signed as teenagers. Rodriguez wouldn’t make his professional debut until the 2021 season because of the pandemic. He showcased plenty of skills during his first season in the FCL, including hitting 10 home runs in 37 games. Minnesota moved him to full-season action for his age-19 campaign, and he combined for a 1.044 OPS in 47 games. Unfortunately, a torn meniscus ended his season, but he had already established himself as one of baseball’s best prospects. The 2023 season would be a memorable one for Rodriguez and the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Rodriguez was a fixture in the middle of the lineup while posting an .836 OPS in 105 games. There were some up-and-down moments in the season’s early months, but he turned it on for the team’s stretch run. In August and September, he posted a .959 OPS with 18 extra-base hits in 36 games. He also hit the go-ahead home run in the deciding game of the Midwest League Championship Series. Rodriguez will likely spend most of the 2024 season at Double-A when he will be 21. The Twins can face two different paths with Rodriguez this winter. Path 1: Trade Rodriguez for Frontline Starting Pitching The Twins’ current front office has shown a willingness to trade highly rated prospects for starting pitching. Some of these trades haven’t worked out in the team’s favor (see Tyler Mahle), but most of the team’s 2023 rotation was compiled by trade. The Twins are likely losing Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda to free agency, which puts the club in a position to need more rotational depth, especially playoff-caliber starters. The Twins have two prospects in their system that rank higher than Rodriguez, which could make him a more expendable option. Brooks Lee and Walker Jenkins are consensus top-20 prospects, and they would likely be untouchable in trade talks. Rodriguez has shown some flaws, including strikeouts and time missed due to injury, that might make the Twins willing to part ways with him if it brings back a pitcher that can help the team win in October. The Twins will attempt to add a starter this winter, and Rodriguez is the player I’d be trying to shop. Path 2: Continue to Develop Rodriguez The Twins aren’t going to give Rodriguez away in a trade, so the club might decide to keep him for the upcoming season. During the winter months, it can be challenging to convince teams to trade a top-tier starting pitcher because every team feels like they have a chance to compete next season. Both World Series teams lost over 100 games two seasons ago, so there is hope for any team to make a quick turnaround. The best time to trade Rodriguez might be next season’s trade deadline when there are clear buyers and sellers, but that also means he will need to play well to start 2024. Double-A can be challenging, especially for a player young for the level. Last season, Rodriguez was over two years younger than the average age of the competition at his level, and that age gap would likely increase next season. There were only two at-bats where he faced a pitcher younger than himself last season. That age gap can make it challenging for prospects to show their true talent level. His plate discipline is among the best in the Twins system, as he accumulated 92 walks in 99 games. However, his strikeout rate decreased (26.0%) after cutting back in this area during the 2022 season (38.2%). He also continues to play nearly all his defensive innings in center field. He may have to move to a corner spot as he continues to add muscle, so his current defensive position would add to his trade value. If he continues trending upward, he might join Lee and Jenkins near the top of baseball’s national prospect rankings. What path will the Twins follow with Rodriguez? Will he make his big-league debut in a Twins uniform? Leave a COMMENT and start the conversation. View full article

Royce Lewis showcased his star potential during his rookie season with the Twins. Some players can struggle during their sophomore season. Here are three areas where he can improve for the 2024 campaign. Image courtesy of Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports It was hard to know what to expect from Royce Lewis during his rookie season. The former number-one overall pick missed parts of two seasons following ACL surgery, and the pandemic took away an entire minor league season. These speed bumps meant Lewis missed significant development time, which can be essential for a prospect to fulfill their full potential. Lewis didn’t seem to miss a beat by hitting .309/.372/.548 (.921) with 15 home runs and seven doubles in 58 games. He became a grand slam machine during the regular season, and his strong performance carried over into October. The Twins won their first playoff series since 2002, and Lewis was at the heart of the victories. He hit four home runs in six playoff games, including critical homers in the series against Toronto. Overall, he went 5-for-22 with four homers and six runs scored. It was an impressive performance from the rookie, but there are still areas where he can improve from 2024 and beyond. Strikeout-to-Walk Rate Lewis’ strikeout-to-walk rate was one area for him to improve after returning to the big-league level. He struck out 28 times and earned three walks in 99 plate appearances before going on the IL at the beginning of July (26 games). Following his return, he saw minor improvements in both areas. In 140 plate appearances (32 games), he struck out 27 times and was awarded 17 walks. He certainly seemed like a more patient hitter, which helped him to get into more favorable counts and improve his overall numbers. Lewis has shown improved power numbers, which typically comes with a higher strikeout rate, so it will be interesting to track if his walk rate improves with more time at the big-league level. Defense The Twins shifted Lewis to third base because the team has Carlos Correa, a Gold Glove finalist, locked into shortstop for the foreseeable future. During his minor league career, he had only made ten starts at third base and played fewer than 80 innings at the position. Everything wasn’t perfect in his transition to the hot corner, and it seems likely for him to improve as he gets more repetitions at his new positions. There is also a chance the Twins have him move to another spot on the diamond, especially with other prospects getting closer to the big leagues, including Brooks Lee and Austin Martin. Lewis is athletic enough to thrive at any defensive position, especially since he isn’t spending this off-season rehabbing a knee injury. Sprint Speed When the Twins drafted Lewis, some evaluators compared his speed tool to some of baseball’s best players. After two knee surgeries, Lewis has lost a step, with his sprint speed ranking in the 73rd percentile. There is potential for him to regain some of that speed as he gets further removed from his knee issues, but he has also added muscle during his rehab process. Minnesota was one of the worst base running teams during the first half of last season, and Lewis can help remedy some of the team’s flaws in this area. One way he can get more stolen base opportunities is if his walk rate continues to improve, so he gets more opportunities to be at first base. He went six-for-seven in stolen base attempts this season, and the Twins might let him run wild next year. Twins fans have already started getting excited about Lewis, and his future can be even brighter if he takes the next step. Where does Lewis need to improve the most? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins saw a trio of rookies emerge as critical cogs in a line-up that struggled in the season’s first half. Here are three rookies who can join the Twins next season and have a similar impact. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints It’s hard to imagine how the Twins’ season would have played out without the team’s trio of rookie players. Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner immediately impacted the roster and helped the club win its third division title in the last five seasons. This trio of rookies all had an OPS+ of 130 or higher while establishing themselves at baseball’s highest level. There have been few times in baseball history where a rookie trio has compiled better totals than Minnesota’s rookies last season. From a team construction standpoint, it would be in the team’s best interest if their prospect pipeline could continue to produce big-league talent, but that can’t always be the case. There are signs of other prospects joining the Twins next season and producing at a high level. Here’s a look at three players who could be Minnesota’s next great rookie trio. Brooks Lee, SS/3B TD Top Prospect Ranking: 2 The Twins have been aggressive with Lee since taking him with the 8th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. In his professional debut, he played at three levels and finished the season at Double-A, where the Wind Surge were on the way to the Texas League Championship Series. In 2023, Lee started the year at Double-A, hitting .292/.365/.476 (.841) with 31 doubles and 11 home runs in 87 games. He was promoted to Triple-A for the stretch run and posted a .731 OPS at a level where he was nearly 4.5 years younger than the average age of the competition. His bat has been his best tool since the Twins drafted him, but there are long-term questions about where he fits on the defensive spectrum. He’s played primarily shortstop in his pro career, but many evaluators feel he will shift to third base as he continues to add muscle to his frame. For the long term, the Twins could employ an infield with Lee at third and shift Lewis over to second base. 2024 Outlook: Lee will start next season in St. Paul, but he projects to make his big-league debut at some point next season. He’s one of the most advanced hitters to come through the Twins’ system in quite some time, and many national outlets will rank him highly on their top-100 lists this winter. Austin Martin, UTL TD Top Prospect Ranking: 7 Martin’s time in the Twins organization has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. Minnesota added Martin as one of the key prospects in the Jose Berrios trade with Toronto. At the time of the trade, he was considered one of baseball’s top 25 prospects. In 2022, he struggled with a .683 OPS at Double-A while dealing with some injuries. The Twins sent him to the Arizona Fall League following the season, and he destroyed the baseball by hitting .374/.454/.482 (.936) with seven extra-base hits in 21 games. Based on this performance, there were high hopes for him entering the 2023 season. Martin suffered a sprained ligament in his right elbow during spring training, and there was a chance he’d need to undergo Tommy John surgery. Instead, he rehabbed the injury and returned to the field in July. In 59 games, he hit .263/.387/.405 (.791) with 11 doubles and six home runs. His days at shortstop are likely behind him, but his athleticism allows him to play center field and second base regularly. 2024 Outlook: The Twins must continue to get Martin back on track so he can make a meaningful impact at the big-league level. Byron Buxton’s future in center field seems like a long shot, so Martin might be able to play a role at an essential up-the-middle defensive position. Yunior Severino, 2B/3B TD Top Prospect Ranking: 12 Severino had a tremendous season on his way to being named the TD Minor League Hitter of the Year. In 120 games, he hit .272/.352/.546 (.898) with 17 doubles and 35 home runs between Double- and Triple-A. The Twins player development team has worked hard with Severino to make more consistent contact, and he seemed to put it all together at the organization’s two highest minor league levels. Next year, he will be 24 and still young to be playing at Triple-A, so there is hope for him to make continued improvements in the years ahead. The Twins will need to add him to the 40-man roster this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, which seems straightforward. Severino has continued to add to his defensive flexibility by playing 125 innings or more at three different infield positions (1B, 2B, 3B). This defensive versatility should help to make him an option when an injury impacts the team’s roster next season. 2024 Outlook: Other prospects will rate higher than Severino on national prospect lists, but he still has an opportunity to be an above-average player at the big-league level. There are other prospects ahead of him on the team’s depth chart, but look for him to debut in the second half of 2024. What kind of impact can these players have on the 2024 roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins have made depth a priority over the last year. Would the club consider a reunion with any of these former Twins for next season? Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports Some players leave an organization with fans hoping to see the player return at some point in their playing careers. Torii Hunter fit that mold for the Twins by playing seven years away from Minnesota before returning for his final season. Other players can leave on a sour note, and fans may hesitate to welcome them back into the fold. Each player below has a different skill set near the end of their career. Health has impacted all three former Twins in recent years, with two players failing to appear in a big-league game last season. Because of those concerns, none of the options would come at a significant cost, and there is potential to sign two of these players to minor league contracts. Here’s a rundown of the former Twins and what they have done in recent years. Jake Odorizzi, SP Odorizzi was last on the mound for the Twins during their playoff series versus the Houston Astros in 2020. In three years with the club, he posted a 107 ERA+ and was selected for the 2019 All-Star Game. Following the 2020 season, he signed a three-year, $29.5 million contract with the Astros. Houston kept him for a season and a half before dealing him to Atlanta. His stop in Atlanta was even shorter, as he was limited to 10 starts in a Braves uniform. Odorizzi spent the 2023 season in the Rangers organization but never appeared in a game. In April, he had an arthroscopic debridement procedure on his throwing shoulder. 2024 Twins Fit: The Twins love depth, especially starting pitching depth to begin the season. Odorizzi can likely be signed on a minor-league deal where he has to prove himself at Triple-A before getting an opportunity at the big-league level. Some of Odorizzi’s best seasons came in a Twins uniform, and he might want the opportunity to prove himself again on a team fighting for a division title. Aaron Hicks, OF Many viewed Hicks as the next great Twins center fielder, following a line from Kirby Puckett to Hunter. In three seasons with the Twins, he posted an 81 OPS+ before Minnesota traded him to the Yankees leading into the 2016 season. Hicks seemed to put it all together in New York with a 120 OPS+ from 2017-20, and the Yankees signed him to a 5-year, $49.43 million extension. His performance dropped off significantly over the last three seasons to the point where the Yankees released him with over $20 million left on his contract. He signed a veteran minimum contract with Baltimore and revitalized his career (127 OPS+ in 65 games) while helping the Orioles win the AL East. 2024 Twins Fit: It seems likely for the Orioles to want Hicks back after helping the team during the second half. He is a free agent, available to any team at age 34. In 2023, he posted a .970 OPS against left-handed pitching, one of the Twins’ biggest struggles. Would he like to continue his redemption story where it all started? Miguel Sano, 1B/DH Sano last played in the big leagues with the Twins in 2022 when he went 5-for-60 (.083 BA) with 25 strikeouts in 20 games. This past season, he held a showcase in February for interested teams, but it wasn’t clear that he was fully healthy. Sano remained unsigned and hasn’t had a professional at-bat since July 2022. He will likely need to sign a minor league deal with a spring training invite and earn a roster spot for next season. 2024 Twins Fit: The Twins currently have a giant question mark at first base for next season. Alex Kirilloff and Jose Miranda are recovering from shoulder injuries, and the club has hesitated to give Edouard Julien an extended look at first base. If healthy, Sano has shown the potential to be a right-handed power threat. However, there are probably too many bridges burned in Minnesota for a reunion to make sense for either side. Which player makes the most sense for next year’s roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article