Cody Christie

Yesterday, the Twins missed out on multiple reliever options on the waiver wire, so now the team's focus turns to internal options. Minnesota hopes these three arms will be able to return from injury and bolster the bullpen for the stretch run. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports The Twins have relied heavily on specific relievers throughout the 2023 campaign, including Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Emilio Pagan, and Caleb Thielbar. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli has different levels of trust in these players, which makes it tough to employ a bullpen strategy from one close game to another. For most of the season, the Twins have needed this group to be flawless, which is a tall task for any bullpen. Minnesota had an opportunity to add to the bullpen group at the trade deadline. However, the club's only move was to ship Jorge Lopez to the Marlins for Dylan Floro. Floro's Twins tenure has gone imperfectly, as he has allowed seven earned runs in ten innings with a 2.00 WHIP and 13.5 H/9. The Twins front office might have been a little gun-shy when pulling the trigger on another reliever trade after trading multiple prospects for Lopez at last year's trade deadline. Instead, the team hopes these three players can effectively return from injury and join the bullpen picture. Brock Stewart, RHP Stewart was a revelation in the Twins bullpen earlier this season. In 25 2/3 innings, he posted a 0.70 ERA with a 1.01 WHIP and 12.3 K/9. It was his first taste of the big leagues since 2019 after multiple arm issues, including Tommy John surgery and a second procedure to remove a bone spur. Stewart initially landed on the injured list on June 27th with soreness in his right forearm. At the time, the Twins hoped he'd be able to return shortly, but there have been setbacks throughout his ramp-up process. Stewart threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on August 25th and reported feeling good the following day. He threw all fastballs during the session and sat between 88-91 mph. His next bullpen session was on Monday, August 28th, and he will likely need another bullpen session after that. Stewart told reporters that his target return date is September 10th as a best-case scenario. Returning then would give him a couple of weeks to prove he can be effective for the team's postseason roster. Chris Paddack, RHP Last season, Kenta Maeda was returning from Tommy John surgery, and the Twins talked about adding him to the bullpen for the stretch run. Unfortunately, Minnesota fell apart in September, and there was no reason to rush Maeda back to the big leagues. Paddack is 15 months removed from Tommy John surgery and has been ramping up his workload in Fort Myers. According to reports, he has been hitting 95 mph, which is a good sign for his progression. Paddack told reporters he expects to begin a rehab assignment with Single-A Fort Myers on September 6th and he hopes to be ready for big-league action on September 22nd. Minnesota signed Paddack to a three-year extension in January, so he is part of the team's long-term plans as a starter. He likely hasn't built up to a starter's workload at this point in his recovery, so switching to the bullpen is intriguing. His pitch mix has traditionally included a four-seam fastball, a changeup, and a curveball. For his career, he has held left-handed batters to a .686 OPS, while righties have posted a .735 OPS. It would be interesting to see if he can add more velocity to his pitching arsenal if he is being used in a relief role. Jorge Alcala, RHP The Twins hoped Alcala would take the next step and become an integral part of the bullpen picture. He was placed on the IL back in the middle of May with a stress fracture to the radius bone in his right forearm. It is an uncommon injury for pitchers, making his timeline tough to predict. He's also been limited to 12 appearances over the last two seasons, so he seems the least likely contributor among this trio of pitchers. Alcala told reporters last Friday that he has thrown five bullpen sessions and is lined up to pitch another one later this week. One of those sessions included throwing live BP to Byron Buxton and Alex Kirilloff before they headed to St. Paul on a rehab assignment. "I'm hoping he'll be available towards the end of the season," president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. "We're not ruling that out, but we don't have a timeline yet." Which pitcher can be most helpful to the Twins bullpen? What are the chances any of these injured players impact the team's postseason chances? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Cleveland sits in second place in the AL Central with a little over a month left in the season. So, how will their waiver wire additions impact the division race? Image courtesy of Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports On Thursday, the Cleveland Guardians claimed a trio of pitchers, one starter and two relievers, off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels. Right-handed starter Lucas Giolito will join the top of a starting rotation that includes rookie pitchers Gavin Williams and Tanner Bibee. Cleveland's bullpen has also struggled at times, so adding RHP Reynaldo Lopez and LHP Matt Moore should provide a boost for the stretch run. With fewer than 30 games left, how much can these players impact Cleveland's chances to repeat as AL Central Champions? Lucas Giolito, RH SP Giolito last pitched on Monday for the Angels, so he can jump into the Guardians' rotation over the weekend. He would likely be able to make six starts for Cleveland before the season's end. During the 2023 season, Giolito has posted a 4.45 ERA with a 1.28 WHIP and 9.7 K/9 in 153 2/3 innings. His numbers were even worse after being traded to the Angels, as he allowed 25 earned runs in 32 2/3 innings. He is having a disappointing season and is heading to free agency for the first time. Potential Value: In his best six-game stretch this season, Giolito accumulated 0.43 WPA while holding batters to a .617 OPS. If he has a great September, he has the potential to provide more than 0.50 WPA. Reynaldo Lopez, RH RP Twins fans will be very familiar with Lopez from his time with the White Sox. He is considered a solid set-up man, and his numbers improved following the trade deadline. Before the trade, he posted a 4.29 ERA with a 1.31 WHIP and 11.1 K/9 across 43 appearances with the White Sox. He allowed four earned runs over 13 innings in LA while striking out 19 batters. There is some element of small sample size involved with any reliever, but Cleveland's bullpen has gone through some ups and downs, so he will be a welcomed addition. Potential Value: Lopez actually provided a -0.10 WPA with the Angels, even though his overall numbers were strong. In his last two appearances, he took a loss and got a blown save. Twins fans can hope that version of Lopez arrives in Cleveland. Matt Moore, LH RP Matt was a top prospect as a starting pitcher with the Rays but has added years to his career by shifting to a left-handed relief role. In 41 appearances (44 IP), he has posted a 2.66 ERA with a 1.02 WHIP and 10.0 K/9. He has reverse splits this season, with righties posting a .545 OPS and lefties combining for a .924 OPS. The Guardians are 21-25 in one-run games and have a 5-12 record this season when tied after seven innings. Moore and Lopez can change that equation for the stretch run. Potential Value: Moore had a sub-2.00 ERA in April and May, but his ERA has been over two runs higher since an IL stint in June. Over the last month, he had a slightly below-zero WPA while allowing multiple runs in two of his last four appearances. Cleveland traded players away at the deadline despite being in striking distance of the Twins. Now, they prevented Minnesota from making any waiver claims despite being multiple games back in the standings. Cleveland's manager, Terry Francona, is in his final month of a Hall of Fame career. The Guardians may be hoping for some late-season magic to surpass the Twins, but these three players are limited in how much value they can provide in a small sample size. The Guardians improved on Thursday, while the Twins couldn't make any additions because of their waiver position. Cleveland can likely cut into Minnesota's division lead over the next month because of this weird waiver quirk. Next week's three-game series between the two AL Central foes will take on even more meaning, with these three waiver claims possibly playing a vital role. How much will these three players impact the AL Central race? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Max Kepler's second-half resurgence has helped keep the Twins at the top of the AL Central. Winning can help build confidence in a clubhouse, but there haven't been all positive vibes in recent Twins history. Image courtesy of Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Clubhouse culture can be complex for fans to gauge from the outside. If the club wins, many of the team's players will report that everything is going great, even if clubhouse issues are under the surface. On the other hand, a clubhouse can devolve into disarray when a club is in the middle of a long losing streak. Fans will point to the team's coaching staff or the veteran players for building a toxic work environment, but things are not always that simple. Max Kepler looked lost at different points in the first half of the season. He provided little offensive value, and his excellent defense seemed to erode. In 64 first-half games, he hit .207/.279/.409 (.688) with five doubles and 12 home runs. Many fans called for him to be replaced on the roster by a younger left-handed corner outfielder like Matt Wallner or Trevor Larnach. Minnesota's front office may have overvalued Kepler in the past, but their faith in him is being rewarded in the stretch run. Instead of dropping him, the team stuck with Kepler, and he has been one of the team's best hitters. In 39 second-half games, he has hit .319/.383/.609 (.992) with 13 doubles and nine home runs. He told Ken Rosenthal that it wasn't any specific adjustment that he made. "I can't just credit me as an individual," Kepler said. "It has to do with how the whole clubhouse chemistry kind of changed in the second half." He went on to say, "Teammates were rooting more for each other. You could really feel that. There is so much individuality that comes with this sport, especially when you hear, 'it's a business.' Players switch up (teams) a lot. Sometimes clubhouses feel disconnected. But in the second half, we all got off on the right page." Kepler has been on other Twins teams that have tried to build a solid clubhouse culture. During Kepler's rookie season, he joined a Twins roster that included Torii Hunter in his final big-league season. Hunter brought a different attitude to the Twins, including dance parties after wins with lights and smoke machines. The Twins finished above .500, an accomplishment for a team that had lost 92 games or more in four consecutive seasons. During the current season, the Twins have revitalized the clubhouse dance parties, which could be one reason for the team's success. Not everything has been sunshine and roses in the Twins clubhouse in recent seasons. Minnesota's front office made an unconventional move by bringing in Josh Donaldson with a four-year deal worth $92 million guaranteed leading into the 2020 season. At the time, it was the richest free-agent deal in franchise history and the second-largest MLB contract for a player 33 or older. The Twins were coming off a season when the club set a big-league record with 307 home runs, and Donaldson was seen as a veteran piece that could help the club win. However, he had a reputation for rubbing some people the wrong way, which might have impacted the team's clubhouse culture. The Twins won the AL Central during Donaldson's first season with the club, but injuries limited him to 28 games. He also wasn't available for the playoffs when Houston swept Minnesota. Donaldson bounced back in 2021 to play 135 games while posting a 127 OPS+. However, the Twins were a mess for a large portion of the season and finished with a 73-89 record, which was 20 games out of first place. Following the season, the Twins traded Donaldson to the Yankees while wiping the last two years of his contract off the books. Last week, Jeff Passan appeared on the Michael Kay Show and was asked about Donaldson and the trade that brought him to New York. He said, "Especially because the Yankees knew just how poorly he was getting along with people in Minnesota," continued Passan. "There was some toxicity going on there in Minnesota. I don't think you can look at the Donaldson trade in a positive way." As Parker pointed out on X, there are many ways to view the term toxic. It's usually associated with poor clubhouse culture, but there was also an edge to Donaldson that the front office felt was needed on the team. In hindsight, the Twins were lucky to find a trade partner for Donaldson because he has been a below-average hitter during his Yankees tenure. New York is currently in last place in the AL East, while the Twins sit at the top of the AL Central and the Yankees released Donaldson on Tuesday. Did culture play a role in both teams' performance? It probably depends on who you ask, but Kepler clearly thinks the Twins' culture is helping the team win. How vital is clubhouse culture? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

It's been clear for some time that the Twins needed a boost to the bullpen in the second half. Enter Kody Funderburk, one of the organization’s top relief pitchers over the last two seasons. According to Darren Wolfson, the Twins will be calling up the former Dallas Baptist slugger! Image courtesy of Seth Stohs, Twins Daily The Twins drafted Kody Funderburk in the 15th round of the 2018 MLB Draft from Dallas Baptist University. He split time in college as a hitter and a pitcher, but Minnesota drafted him to be on the mound. During his final collegiate season, he posted a 6.84 ERA with a 1.72 WHIP and 9.5 K/9. The Twins saw enough in his performance that the club believed he could improve on the mound, especially if he focused solely on pitching. During his professional debut, Minnesota sent Funderburk to Elizabethton, one of the team’s rookie league teams at the time. In ten appearances (nine starts), he had a 4.93 ERA with a 1.73 WHIP. He was surrendering over 11.0 H/9, which is too much contact for a pitcher that was older for the level. There was room for improvement in his performance, and Funderburk would get his first taste of full-season leagues in 2019. Funderburk started the next season with one relief appearance at High-A (Fort Myers). He pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings on two hits with two strikeouts and a walk. The Twins sent him to Low-A for the majority of the next season, where he made 12 appearances (10 starts). In 50 innings, he posted a 4.68 ERA with a 1.42 WHIP and a 55-to-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He lowered his H/9 to 8.1 for the season while increasing his strikeout rate. There were signs of improvement, but now the non-existent 2020 minor league season would become a factor. After the pandemic, Funderburk began the year as a starter at High-A with some positive results. In 45 1/3 innings, he posted a 3.18 ERA with 59 strikeouts and 21 walks. He only allowed one home run and held opponents to a .199/.298/.259 (.557) slash line. The Twins promoted him to Double-A for the stretch run, and he became a dominant multi-inning reliever. Funderburk posted a 1.25 ERA with 9.5 K/9 and held batters to a .286 SLG. His first taste of the bullpen went well and was a sign of things coming for the lefty. Minnesota sent Funderburk to the AFL following the 2021 season, but he was used primarily as a starting pitcher. The AFL is known as a hitter’s league, and Funderburk’s numbers point to some struggles. He allowed 12 earned runs in 17 2/3 innings but posted an 11.2 K/9. He would pitch the entire 2022 season at Double-A with time as a starter and reliever. In 17 starts (70 2/3 innings), he posted a 3.44 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP and 9.8 K/9. He compiled a 1.98 ERA out of the bullpen with a 26-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 36 1/3 innings. Funderburk continued to surrender too many hits in a relief role, which can’t occur to move up the organizational ladder. For the 2023 season, the Twins wanted Funderburk to focus on his relief role. He began the year back at Double-A, where he was over a year older than the average age of the competition. He pitched nine innings across five appearances and limited batters to one earned run on eight hits with 14.0 K/9. Before the end of April, the Twins promoted Funderburk to Triple-A, where he immediately became one of the club’s best left-handed relief options. In 52 innings, he has posted a 2.60 ERA with a 1.06 WHIP and 13.0 K/9. Outside of those totals, his pitching profile points to potential success at the big-league level. Even as a lefty, Funderburk has posted reverse splits throughout the 2023 campaign. Right-handed batters have hit .184/.258/.234 (.492) against him with 52 strikeouts in 141 at-bats. Lefties have slashed .203/.337/.279 (.615) with 37 strikeouts and 15 walks across 95 plate appearances. His cutter is the pitch he throws most regularly, and it typically sits in the low-90s. Funderburk’s left-handed arm action is unique, and it helps his pitches have more east-west movement to keep batters off-balance. He’s looked big-league-ready for quite some time, and now he will get that opportunity. What should the expectations be for Funderburk? What can he provide the Twins in the stretch run? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

If the Twins want to end their playoff losing streak, there will be a lot of pressure put on the starting rotation’s performance. Here’s how the rotation stacks up as the season enters the final month. Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports FanGraphs projects the Twins to have more than a 95% chance to win the AL Central with only weeks remaining in the season. Last year, Minnesota fell apart in September and saw Cleveland take the AL Central title. It seems unlikely that will happen again in 2023, but Minnesota sports fans have suffered enough heartbreak to know anything is possible. The team has suffered a record 18-straight playoff losses, but this team has the frontline starting pitching to help a team win in October. Before laying out the rotation, it’s important to note that a lot can happen in the season’s final weeks. That’s one of the reasons the Twins are considering shifting to a six-man rotation as Joe Ryan returns from the IL. This shift allows the team to give starters more rest during the stretch run and to set up the rotation for better success in the playoffs. If the postseason started today, here’s how the Twins would ideally set up their starting rotation. Game 1 Starter: Pablo Lopez Lopez was the Twins’ Opening Day starter and was a first-time All-Star this season. His performance has had some ups and downs throughout the season, but he’s been one of the team’s best starters since the All-Star break. In his last seven starts (42 IP), he has posted a 2.14 ERA with a 46-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Lopez pitched a career-high 180 innings during the 2022 season, but there were signs of him tiring down the stretch. The Twins will look to avoid that problem this season, with him already approaching 160 innings. Game 2 Starter: Sonny Gray Like Lopez, Gray was an All-Star and the team’s best-starting pitcher in the first half. He posted a 2.89 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP and 101 strikeouts in just under 100 innings pitched before the All-Star break. In July, Gray seemed to tire, with his ERA rising to 4.85 with a 7.9 K/9. He turned it back around in August with a 2.81 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP in his first four appearances. For the playoffs, the Twins must monitor how Gray is utilized. He has struggled when facing a line-up for the third time, so the team might need to limit his appearance to five innings or less. Game 3 Starter: Kenta Maeda Entering the season, few would have predicted that Maeda would be lining up to start a playoff game for the Twins. He is in his first full season since undergoing Tommy John surgery and started the season at the back of the team’s rotation. Earlier in the season, Maeda missed time with a right forearm strain, which made his recent performance even more improbable. Over the last 11 games, he has posted a 2.91 ERA while holding opponents to a .654 OPS. His recent performance should stack up nicely compared to other team’s number three starters. Game 4 Starter*: Bailey Ober MLB’s playoff structure means the Twins only need three starters for the opening-round Wild Card series. Things can get a little more intriguing if the Twins win a playoff series for the first time since 2002. Ober has been one of the team’s most consistent starting pitchers, but he has already pitched a career-high in innings. If he tires down the stretch, the Twins will need to move a different starter into the playoff rotation, and there are a few options on the table. Other Options: Joe Ryan, Dallas Keuchel, Louie Varland Joe Ryan was a borderline All-Star in the first half and would have easily made the team’s postseason rotation. He became home run prone while hiding a groin injury, so the Twins hope his performance will improve as he returns from the IL. Twins fans might be slightly scared about the possibility of Keuchel starting a playoff game in October. For him to get a postseason start, there would need to be multiple injuries or poor performance from those ahead of Keuchel on the team’s depth chart. Varland hasn’t started a big-league game since the middle of June, but he still figures into the team’s long-term plans. It’s also possible for some of these starters to move to a bullpen role over the season’s final weeks. What will change with the rotation in the season’s final weeks? How would you line up the team’s starters for October? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Mookie Betts returns to Boston this weekend for the first time since his trade from the Red Sox to the Dodgers. The Twins are eternally connected to his blockbuster trade, even if it took a roundabout way for the deal to transpire. Image courtesy of Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports In February 2020, the Red Sox were actively shopping Mookie Betts and had agreed to the parameters of a three-team deal. The deal initially would have sent Mookie Betts and David Price to LA, Alex Verdugo and Brusdar Graterol to Boston, and Kenta Maeda to Minnesota. Boston developed reservations about Graterol after getting a better look at his medicals. They requested that the Twins include another top prospect to balance the trade. Minnesota scoffed at this request and pulled out of the trade. Graterol's injury history was well known at the time, so it's unclear what Boston saw in his medicals that prompted the position change. He had Tommy John surgery as a prospect and suffered a shoulder impingement during his first season in the big leagues. The Red Sox weren't sending any players to the Twins in the original trade, so there needed to be more reason for Minnesota to include another prospect in the proposed deal. Even after the first trade collapsed, the Dodgers and Red Sox were able to complete a trade for Betts. Los Angeles acquired Betts and Price in exchange for outfielder Alex Verdugo, catcher Connor Wong, and infielder Jeter Downs. Verdugo has posted a 108 OPS+ in his four seasons since the trade, while Wong settled into a backup catcher role. Downs was considered a good prospect at the time of the deal, but he struggled in the minors, and the Nationals claimed him off waivers last December. At the same time, Betts is in the conversation for the NL MVP award and is arguably one of baseball's best overall players. The Twins were able to work out a separate trade with the Dodgers that included the same major piece from both clubs. Los Angeles received Graterol, Luke Raley, and the 67th selection in the 2020 MLB Draft. (Note - MLB draft picks cannot be traded except for the Competitive Balance picks.) Minnesota acquired Kenta Maeda, Jair Camargo, and cash considerations. It's been over three years since the two teams agreed to the trade, so both organizations have a clearer picture of the results. Maeda has made 47 starts in his Twins tenure while posting a 108 ERA+ with 10.2 K/9 and 4.53 K/W. He was the 2020 AL Cy Young runner-up after posting an MLB-leading 0.75 WHIP with a 2.70 ERA. Minnesota's desperately needed help in the starting rotation, and Maeda has exceeded expectations when he has been healthy. He's heading toward free agency for the first time in his career, and how he finishes the 2023 season might change his outlook. There is a possibility the Twins could make him a qualifying offer to keep him under team control for one more season at a high average value (roughly $20 million). Overall, his time in a Twins uniform has been respectable with injuries taking away some of his value. Graterol shifted to the bullpen with the Dodgers and is having arguably his best season with the club. In 55 appearances, he has posted a 1.50 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP and a career-high 1.8 rWAR. For a reliever, his strikeout totals have remained low, with a 7.0 K/9 for his career despite a triple-digit fastball. Los Angeles has trusted him in more late-inning situations over the last two seasons, with 27 games finished and ten saves. He's been a decent middle-of-the-bullpen option on some strong Dodgers teams. The other prospects involved in the trade have found differing success levels. Jair Camargo has hit .251/.316/.502 (.818) with 15 doubles and 18 home runs for the St. Paul Saints while continuing to play catcher. Raley has bounced to multiple organizations before finding a home in Tampa Bay this year. In 100 games, he has posted an .855 OPS with 20 doubles, three triples, and 18 home runs. Los Angeles used the draft pick they acquired from Minnesota to draft Clayton Beeter, a right-handed starting pitcher. Last year, he was traded from the Dodgers to the Yankees for Joey Gallo, and he earned a spot in the 2023 Futures Game. It will be interesting for fans to follow his career because of the multiple Twins connections. Minnesota's direct connection to the Betts trade didn't come to fruition, but it's a move fans can look back on through a specific lens. Would Graterol have performed better for the Red Sox? Who would the Twins have selected with the draft pick the club traded away? There are many unanswered questions even multiple years after this trade. How would you grade this trade in retrospect? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins have talked about a six-man rotation since spring training. In the season's final weeks, the timing might be suitable for the team to execute this strategy and put the team in a better position for the playoffs. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports After an injury-plagued 2022 season, the Twins front office has prioritized depth at multiple positions when building the 2023 roster. That included trading fan favorite Luis Arraez for Pablo Lopez last winter. With the move, the Twins pushed Bailey Ober, an established big-league starter, to the sixth spot on the rotational depth chart behind Lopez, Sonny Gray, Joe Ryan, Tyler Mahle, and Kenta Maeda. Mahle and Maeda were returning from injuries, so there was some question as to whether or not injuries would impact the rotation before the team headed north from Fort Myers. Minnesota stayed healthy this spring and decided against a six-man rotation to begin the year. Ober headed to Triple-A, and Mahle and Maeda occupied the rotation's final two spots. Teams can never have too much pitching, and that adage has shown to be true during the 2023 campaign. Mahle was limited to five starts before needing Tommy John surgery. Maeda headed to the injured list with a right triceps strain and missed 51 games. Minnesota's rotation continued to thrive, but the rigors of a 162-game season might mean the timing is right to revisit the idea of a six-man rotation. Joe Ryan's imminent return from the IL is just one of the reasons the Twins are considering a six-man rotation. Ryan was a borderline All-Star in the first half before becoming home run-prone in the second half. Eventually, he admitted to the team that he was dealing with a groin injury. Dallas Keuchel filled his roster spot and has seen mixed results during his Twins tenure. Keuchel's performance will play a prominent role in the team's plan for a six-man rotation, but more on that later. Other pitchers' performances are pushing the Twins toward considering a six-man rotation. Bailey Ober has already passed his career high in innings pitched and hasn't looked nearly as sharp in recent outings. Over his last five starts (24 IP), he has allowed 16 earned runs in 24 innings pitched with 26 strikeouts and seven walks. Home runs have been one of the most significant issues, as he has surrendered six home runs, and opponents have posted a .953 OPS against him. To manage his workload, the Twins can shift to a six-man rotation, giving him fewer starts during the stretch run. Kenta Maeda has been one of the Twins' best pitchers in the second half, with a 3.46 ERA and a 53-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just under 42 second-half innings pitched. However, he is the oldest pitcher in the rotation and is in his first year back from Tommy John surgery. If the Twins want Maeda to be 100% in October, it might be best to give him time to recuperate between starts the rest of the way. Sonny Gray was an All-Star in the first half and compiled some video game numbers in the process. He hasn't looked as sharp in recent outings, especially in the third time through a line-up. Gray's ERA is 1.7 runs higher in innings 4-6 than innings 1-3 and jumps to a 12.60 ERA in innings 7-9. Batters have a .507 OPS against Gray during their first plate appearance and a .670 OPS in the second and third time facing him. In the playoffs, starters are usually pulled after five innings or fewer, so this might work in Gray's favor down the stretch. So, who is available to fill the sixth rotation spot? The Dallas Keuchel experiment has seen some positive results, with the Twins winning two of his first three starts. He took a perfect game into the seventh inning against a lowly Pirates line-up after getting blown up by the Phillies in his previous start. Minnesota's leash with Keuchel is likely short, but Louie Varland has also performed well at Triple-A. If neither fits into the rotation, they are both options to move to a bullpen role for the stretch run. Will a six-man rotation benefit the Twins? Leave a COMMENT and join the discussion. View full article

There is no question that Byron Buxton's performance has been disappointing during the 2023 season. With fewer than 40 games remaining, the Twins might have one option: a return to center field. Image courtesy of Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Byron Buxton was placed on the IL in early August with a right hamstring strain. Early last week, head athletic trainer Nick Paparesta told reporters that Buxton had resumed baseball activities, and his next step was to begin running progressions. The Twins have avoided sending Buxton on a rehab assignment this season, but it sounds like he won't avoid a St. Paul trip with his current injury. "Byron is getting back into baseball activities at this point in time," Paparesta said. "Obviously, him getting back into baseball activity is a good sign. Throwing, hitting, taking some ground balls and stuff, which is good." Minnesota's plan in spring training was to start Byron Buxton as the team's everyday designated hitter and eventually move him back to center field. Initially, the Twins likely hoped his knee would improve during the season so the club could use him in the outfield. Unfortunately, there has been little improvement with his knee, and he's also dealt with back issues and his current hamstring problem. Injuries have been part of Buxton's entire professional career, which can be frustrating for all parties involved. Buxton's time at DH has allowed him to appear in 85 games in 2023, but his offensive performance is below his recent standard. He has hit .207/.294/.438 (.731) with 17 doubles, one triple, 17 home runs, and a 109-to-35 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His 99 OPS+ is his lowest total since 2018. This OPS+ is low for an everyday DH, but it would be an acceptable total for an everyday centerfielder with elite defensive skills. His below-average performance is pushing the Twins to move him back to the outfield. In mid-July, Thad Levine talked about Buxton's outfield work in an interview with Cory Provus. He said, "Behind the scenes right now, we are doing a lot of defensive work, so when that time comes, we don't say we need three weeks to ramp him up. There are some things being done on a daily basis to help position him to be able to go out there when he is ready." Levine's quote also aligns with Paparesta's plan outlined above, which includes throwing and taking ground balls. The Twins also have better-performing DH options currently on the roster. Royce Lewis' return from the IL has left the team with one more infielder than positions on the field. Jorge Polanco and Edouard Julien can both see time at DH and second base. Carlos Correa has also been fighting plantar fasciitis, and some time away from shortstop might help his performance. Ryan Jeffers has been one of the team's best hitters in the second half and has started to get time at DH on days when he isn't behind the plate. Matt Wallner is another young bat that is tough to keep out of the line-up, and using him at DH helps to improve the roster. Minnesota's best-performing team includes Buxton in center field, playing at a high level. Twins fans saw this from him during his All-Star performance in the first half of 2022. Buxton posted an OPS over 1.060 in April and June on his way to being named the AL's starting center fielder. It's hard to argue what that would mean to the line-up if the Twins could glimpse that player in the season's final month. The Twins' playoff losing streak has stretched to 18 games, so winning in October is the easiest way to stop some negativity surrounding the team. Depending on the playoff match-up, Minnesota's best line-up puts Buxton in center field, but there are other injury concerns to sort out before the postseason. On paper, the positions below seem like the best way for the Twins to end their October woes. C: Ryan Jeffers 1B: Alex Kirilloff 2B: Jorge Polanco SS: Carlos Correa 3B: Royce Lewis LF: Matt Wallner CF: Byron Buxton RF: Max Kepler DH: Edouard Julien If Buxton had performed well at DH, there would be less reason to push him back to center field. Instead, his offensive streakiness will force the Twins to make a decision. For better or worse, Buxton will return to center field before the season ends. Should the Twins keep Buxton at DH? What is the best Twins line-up for October? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins focused on depth at multiple roster spots this winter, and the on-field results speak for themselves. With a month left in the season, which Twins are lining up to be Gold Glove finalists? Image courtesy of Jeff Curry-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 through games played on August 13th, 2023. Pitcher (AL Ranking): Pablo Lopez 2.3 SDI (3rd), Sonny Gray 1.3 SDI (5th), Joe Ryan -0.8 SDI (22nd) Lopez continues to put himself in the conversation as one of the top defenders off the mound. Over the last month, his SDI total rose from 1.5 to 2.3, which ranks him behind Jose Berrios and Dean Kremer in the AL. After a tremendous month, Sonny Gray jumped from the back end of the rankings into the top five. He has a chance to jump into the Gold Glove conversation if he continues at this pace. Ryan's injury has kept him from improving his SDI total for the year. Catcher (AL Ranking): Christian Vazquez 1.6 SDI (5th), Ryan Jeffers -0.4 SDI (10th) Both Twins catchers dropped significantly in their SDI total over the last month. Vazquez saw his SDI total drop from 3.2 to 1.6 but didn't drop in the overall standings. He is 0.8 points out of the top three, so he will need to recoup some of that value in the season's final month, which might be a challenge since the Twins have been giving Jeffers more playing time. Jeffers also struggled by dropping in the rankings from 8th to 10th and losing 2.0 SDI points. It seems unlikely for either catcher to finish as a Gold Glove finalist. First Base (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualify The Twins have used multiple players at first base so far in 2023, which means no one has accumulated enough innings to qualify for the SDI leaderboard. Donovan Solano (-1 OAA), Alex Kirilloff (-5 OAA), and Joey Gallo (0 OAA) have each accumulated over 290 innings at first base. New York's Anthony Rizzo and Texas' Nathaniel Lowe sit atop the AL first base rankings, and the Gold Glove race will likely come down to these two players. Second Base (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualify Edouard Julien and Jorge Polanco have split time at second base for the Twins but neither ranks particularly well defensively. Polanco posted a -9 OAA during the 2022 season, and he's been worth a -6 OAA during the current season. Julien is a poor second-base defender, but he's been worth -2 OAA in close to 100 more defensive innings than Polanco. Injuries have clearly impacted Polanco over the last two seasons, and that's one of the reasons his Twins tenure may be ending. Third Base (AL Ranking): No Twins Players Qualify Third base has been a position in flux for the Twins this season. Jose Miranda started the year at the hot corner and posted a -6 OAA in over 300 innings. Kyle Farmer has played the second-most innings at third, but it's been his worst defensive position in 2023. He's been worth 1 OAA at shortstop and second base while posting a -1 OAA at third. The Twins hope Royce Lewis can handle third base for the remainder of the season, but a new position has a learning curve. Like Farmer, he has been worth a -1 OAA with some strong plays more recently. Shortstop (AL Ranking): Carlos Correa -1.9 SDI (7th) In July's SDI update, Correa jumped from 11th to 7th among AL shortstops and improved by 1.7 SDI. There was hope he could continue moving up the rankings down the stretch. However, it was a rough month, and he dropped by 3.6 SDI points. One has to wonder if his plantar fasciitis impacts his defensive skills, but he's been worth 2 OAA for the entire 2023 season. Wander Franco (11.8 SDI) and Anthony Volpe (9.8 SDI) have more than triple the SDI total of the third-place defender, so Correa wasn't going to be in the Gold Glove conversation. Left Field (AL Ranking): Willi Castro 1.8 SDI (4th), Joey Gallo 0.1 SDI (6th) Willi Castro has made himself irreplaceable on the current Twins roster and has a chance to be a Gold Glove finalist in left field. He wasn't known as a strong defender before this season, but he's posted a positive OAA at shortstop, third base, second base, and left field. Only three qualified players, including Isaiah Kiner-Falefa, Jarred Kelenic, and Andrew Benintendi, rank behind Gallo. Cleveland's Steven Kwan (10 SDI) has lapped the field and should easily walk away with the Gold Glove. Center Field (AL Ranking): Michael A. Taylor 6.3 SDI (3rd-Tie) Taylor had a tremendous defensive month to move from fifth in the AL to tied for the top three. He gained 2.6 SDI points over the last month, including multiple highlight reel catches (see below). His OAA ranks in the 95th percentile, seven points higher than last season, and his arm strength ranks in the 91st percentile. His previous reputation might help him to be a Gold Glove finalist over some of the other candidates. Other top center-field defenders include Jake Meyers (7.1 SDI), Julio Rodriguez (6.6 SDI), and Kevin Kiermaier (6.3 SDI). Right Field (AL Ranking): Max Kepler 1.2 SDI (9th) Kepler will fall short of being a Gold Glove finalist for the second consecutive season. He's considered a strong defender but a slow start at the beginning of the season has prevented him from ranking higher among AL right fielders. His OAA sat in the 67th percentile at the beginning of June, and he's improved to the 88th percentile. Kepler's improved offensive performance has helped to cover up some of his defensive lapses during the 2023 season. Do any of these defensive rankings surprise you? Which Twins will be Gold Glove finalists? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Minnesota's farm system has ranked in the middle of the pack in recent years because of prospect graduations and trades. Will two budding stars push the Twins back into the conversation for one of the game's best farm systems? Image courtesy of William Parmeter Evaluating prospects has become ingrained in fans' evaluation of a team. It's easy to point at organizations like the Baltimore Orioles or Houston Astros that went into full rebuild mode to restock the farm system with the promise of better long-term outcomes. However, there are plenty of examples of teams who get caught in rebuild mode without ever having sustained success at the big-league level. Dreaming of the future can be fun for fans, but there are no guarantees that prospects will ever pan out. According to MLB.com, the Twins' farm system was moderately helped by jumping up to the fifth overall pick in MLB's first Draft Lottery. The 2023 MLB Draft was widely considered a five-player draft with a quintet of elite players sitting at the top of draft boards. Minnesota's farm system moved up two spots from 19th to 17th overall in MLB Pipeline's reranking of farm systems following the draft. Since 2021, this is the highest the Twins farm system has ranked, with the club's lowest ranking being 23rd (2022 midseason rank). Currently, the Twins have two prospects that rank among baseball's top 30, and an argument can be made for either to be the team's top overall prospect. Brooks Lee has remained at the top of the Twins Daily prospect rankings even after the team drafted Walker Jenkins with the fifth overall pick. Lee was recently promoted to Triple-A and has a chance to debut in the next calendar year, so it's expected for him to graduate from the team's prospect rankings by 2025. Instead, the team's top prospects project to be among baseball's best. Jonathan Mayo, one of MLB.com's prospect writers, believes the Twins will have two of baseball's top five prospects by 2025. Walker Jenkins is only a handful of games into his professional career, but many national outlets already rank him as a top-20 prospect. In his first nine professional games, he went 13-for-38 (.342 BA) with two doubles, one triple, and two home runs. Also, he's gone 3-for-4 in steal attempts and limited himself to six strikeouts. There is certainly a lot of pressure on high draft picks to perform in their first taste of professional baseball, and Jenkins has passed the first test. Emmanuel Rodriguez joins Lee and Jenkins in most national top-100 rankings and can potentially be a top-5 prospect by 2025. He's spent his age-20 season at High-A, where he has hit .228/.391/.443 (.834) with seven doubles, five triples, and 15 home runs in 81 games. After a slow start, Rodriguez has found his power stroke in August with four home runs and a .962 OPS in 12 games to start the month. For the second straight season, he is over two years younger than the average age of the competition at his level. In over 370 plate appearances, he has only faced a younger pitcher in two at-bats. The Twins have other prospects that will be among the team's top prospects by 2025. Marco Raya, one of the team's top pitching prospects, is pitching at Double-A in his age-20 season. Connor Prielipp will miss most of the 2024 season after having his second UCL procedure in three seasons on his left arm. He should be back to full strength by 2025 and working his way back into the team's top prospect conversation. Charlee Soto, the team's 2023 competitive balance pick, has yet to make his professional debut and might be the team's top pitching prospect by 2025. Brandon Winokur has been in the same FCL Twins line-ups with Jenkins and is off to a hot start. It will be interesting to see how these two players push each other as they club the organizational ladder. Few top Twins prospects have had a clear runway at the big-league level because injuries have impacted players, including Royce Lewis, Alex Kirilloff, and Austin Martin. Prospect development only sometimes follows a linear path, and other hiccups can occur with a player's performance from top prospect to MLB contributor. Jenkins and Rodriguez have two of the highest ceilings of any prospects coming through the Twins system in quite some time, and it's exciting to project what the team's farm system can look like in two years. Will the Twins have two of baseball's top five prospects by 2025? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Jorge Polanco has been one of the Twins’ most underrated players throughout his big-league career. It’s looking more like his Twins tenure will end with a looming option, poor performance, and young players ready to replace him. Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Jorge Polanco debuted with the Twins 10 seasons ago, but he only appeared in nine games over his first two seasons. Minnesota had an infield need in 2014, and he was the only option on the 40-man roster. He became a regular for the Twins in the second half of 2016 and played over 100 games for the first time in 2017. Polanco started the 2019 All-Star Game at shortstop, and Twins Daily named him the team’s MVP in 2021. He will play his 800th game with the Twins this season, and the club will likely induct him into the team Hall of Fame following his retirement. Polanco has dealt with mounting injuries in recent seasons that have had a negative impact on his performance. Ankle injuries slowed him down during the 2019 and 2020 seasons, resulting in back-to-back offseasons where he needed surgery. He went on the IL for the first time in his career on June 16, 2022. Injuries limited to 46 games after his IL stint in 2022, and a knee injury delayed his start to the 2023 campaign. He’s played fewer than 50 games for the Twins this season, making his team option a tough decision for the front office. The Twins signed Polanco to a five-year, $25.7 million contract extension before the 2019 campaign, which turned out to be team-friendly. According to FanGraphs, Polanco has provided the Twins with $82.2 million worth of value since he signed his extension. Minnesota has two team options left on his current deal for $10.5 million per season. In 2023, injuries have limited his playing time, and he has been worth .$5.1 million. The Twins and the team’s medical staff know Polanco better than anyone, and his injury history might make it difficult for the club to pick up his option. Organizationally, younger players are performing at the big-league level and are prepared to step into Polanco’s role. Edouard Julien has been one of the team’s best hitters this season while regularly playing at second base. Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee are also expected to fit into the team’s infield picture for the foreseeable future. Minnesota’s ideal line-up by midseason next year likely includes Lee and Lewis, along with Carlos Correa and Alex Kirilloff. Health can always influence how the front office constructs the roster, especially with how the team has tended to value depth. If Polanco’s Twins tenure ends, fans should remember him as one of the best infielders in team history. Only three shortstops have accumulated more fWAR than Polanco, including Roy Smalley, Zoilo Versalles, and Greg Gagne. Rod Carew, Chuck Knoblauch, and Brian Dozier are the lone second basemen with more than fWAR than Polanco. All those infielders are among the best in team history, and each accumulated at least 150 more games than Polanco during their Twins tenure. Polanco has given the Twins tremendous value during his career, including being a leader on multiple playoff-contending teams. However, his Twins tenure seems to be coming to an end, with younger and cheaper options ready to step into the infield. There is a possibility that the Twins exercise his $10.5 million team option, but that seems like a fleeting chance at this point. Should the Twins exercise Polanco’s option? Can the team try and work on a restructured deal? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Each player below is well on their way to establishing themselves at the big-league level. Which players rank among the team’s best 25 and under players? Image courtesy of Jordan Johnson - USA TODAY Sports The Twins have developed a solid young core carrying the team’s offense throughout the 2023 season. Each player below is in their age-25 season or younger while playing in the upper level of the minors. Some players no longer qualify for the organization’s top prospect list; others have yet to make their big-league debut. Players not eligible for the list include Ryan Jeffers, Trevor Larnach, and Willi Castro, who are all in their age-26 season. Part 1: 6-10. 5. Matt Wallner, OF Age: 25 Wallner is the organization’s reigning Minor League Player of the Year, and he dominated with a .927 OPS at Triple-A in 2023. Twins’ fans were calling for his promotion throughout the season’s first half, and now he is getting an opportunity in the middle of a pennant race. In 34 games, he has hit .244/.365/.522 (.887) with four doubles and seven home runs. He has a 31-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 107 plate appearances, but strikeouts are part of any power hitter’s profile in the current baseball climate. His outfield arm is also one of baseball’s best. The Twins should have Wallner penciled into a corner outfield spot for the foreseeable future. 4. Edouard Julien, 2B Age: 24 Julien rose swiftly on Twins prospect lists after a breakout 2022 season where he hit .300/.441/.490 (.931) at Double-A. His rookie season is shaping up to be one of the best in recent Twins’ history. Julien hit .286/.377/.491 (.868) with 11 doubles, one triple, and 10 home runs in his first 67 games. His below-average defense at second base is the one knock against him at this point in his career. He likely projects as a first baseman or DH in future years, and that’s why he isn’t higher on this ranking. 3. Jhoan Duran, RHP Age: 25 It’s hard to imagine where the Twins would be over the last two seasons without Duran. His development into one of baseball’s best late-inning weapons has been critical to the team staying in the division race. He’s pitched just over 112 innings over the last two seasons with a 2.24 ERA and a 1.04 WHIP while striking out 12 batters per nine innings. He threw the fastest pitch in MLB this season and collected 20 saves for the first time in his career. His average velocity is up on both fastballs and offspeed pitches this season. Duran ranks in the 92nd percentile or higher in Whiff%, K%, xBA, xSLG, and xERA/xwOBA. 2. Royce Lewis, SS/3B Age: 24 Injuries have limited Lewis to 38 big-league games over the last two seasons, but he’s showcased his dynamic skill set during that time. In 140 plate appearances, he slashed .319/.343/.496 (.839) with six doubles and six home runs. The Twins drafted Lewis as a shortstop, but there have been questions about his ability to stick at that position. The team shifted him to third base in 2023 because Carlos Correa is playing shortstop. In future years, the team’s best defensive line-up might include Lewis at second base or in the outfield. He places second on this list because injuries have impacted a large portion of his career to this point. 1. Brooks Lee, SS Age: 22 The Twins have been aggressive with Lee after taking him with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He was the first player from his draft class to play at the Triple-A level. Minnesota promoted him to St. Paul after he hit .292/.365/.476 (.841) with 31 doubles and 11 home runs in 87 Double-A games. He continues to play shortstop, but third base is likely his eventual defensive home as his body continues to mature. There is a small chance the Twins might need Lee at some point this season, but that seems unlikely unless there are multiple injuries at the big-league level. How would you rank the top five? Should Lewis be ranked number one over an unproven Lee? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Full Rankings (with link to more Twins Daily articles on each player): 10: Austin Martin 9: Jose Miranda 8: Simeon Woods Richardson 7: Louie Varland 6: Alex Kirilloff 5: Matt Wallner 4: Edouard Julien 3: Jhoan Duran 2: Royce Lewis 1: Brooks Lee View full article