Cody Christie

Minnesota’s bullpen has needed an upgrade for most of the season. Can any current starters help add depth to the bullpen for the stretch run? Image courtesy of Nick Wosika-USA TODAY Sports Minnesota’s starting pitching has carried the team through much of the regular season. In the playoffs, the Twins will need fewer starters for the postseason, so the team may have players shift to relief roles. Here are four starting pitchers the Twins might consider for a bullpen shift in the coming weeks. Kenta Maeda, RHP Last season, there was talk about Maeda shifting to a bullpen role when he returned from Tommy John surgery. Unfortunately, the Twins fell out of the playoff race, and there was no reason to rush him back. One of the main reasons there was discussion about Maeda in a bullpen role was his previous success as a dominant postseason reliever during his Dodgers tenure. In 25 postseason appearances, he has a 2.87 ERA with a 1.17 WHIP and 10.5 K/9. He has not made a relief appearance since being traded to the Twins before the 2020 season. Maeda has been the team’s best starter in the second half, so the club might be hesitant about him shifting to a different role. Since returning from an early season IL stint, Maeda has posted a 2.36 ERA with a 62-to-14 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 49 2/3 innings. Opponents are hitting .190/.251/.333 (.585) during this stretch. If the playoffs started today, the Twins would have to put Maeda into the starting rotation, but a lot can happen in the coming weeks to change that narrative. Dallas Keuchel, LHP Keuchel’s Twins tenure started well by pitching five innings and allowing one run on eight hits. Many fans called for him to join the rotation after he posted a 1.12 ERA across six starts with the Saints. His minor-league totals were acceptable, but some peripheral numbers pointed to his recent struggles from recent seasons. Keuchel struggles to strike out batters and gives up a lot of contact, which can lead to runs. Those aren’t exactly traits that a team desires from a bullpen option in critical late-season games. In his first start, his velocity increased on every pitch type compared to last season. Most of his pitches top out in the high-80s without missing many bats. As a left-handed pitcher, there might be a bullpen opportunity if Caleb Thielbar struggles with his return from the IL. Keuchel’s second start with the Twins was disastrous, so his only chance to impact the Twins late in the season is likely in the bullpen. Would the team want a soft-throwing lefty as a reliever? Louie Varland, RHP Varland dominated in his most recent Triple-A start on the same night Keuchel struggled with the Twins. He is part of the team’s long-term plans and is the back-to-back winner of the organization’s Minor League Player of the Year. Three bad starts in June pushed Varland out of the rotation when Maeda returned from the IL. Before that stretch, he had a 3.51 ERA with 39 strikeouts and eight walks in 41 innings. He seems likely to rejoin the Twins rotation shortly, especially if the team feels the Keuchel experiment was a failure. The Twins won’t need five starters in the playoffs, and that’s why an eventual bullpen move for Varland makes sense. Last season, he pitched a career-high 152 1/3 innings, and he’s about 30 innings behind that total in 2023. Minnesota can help monitor Varland’s innings down the stretch while still finding him a useful role for the big-league club in October. Chris Paddack, RHP Paddack is the dark horse in this group. Similar to Maeda in 2022, Paddack is returning from Tommy John surgery and might be able to join the team in September. It’s his second time recovering from this procedure, so he is very familiar with the process, and he’s about 14 months removed from the surgery. Paddack is scheduled to face live hitters in mid-August, which puts him on track to rejoin the Twins sometime in September. It seems natural for Paddack to want to return to the mound and help his team. However, there is no reason to rush him back to make a handful of appearances with the club. It seems more likely for the team to give him the entire off-season to recover and be full strength for spring training next season. Will the Twins move any of these starters into relief roles? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Prospect lists can be flawed in the fact that there are players that have lost prospect eligibility but are still young. Let's explore the Twins' top players in their age-25 season or younger. Image courtesy of Jesse 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. 10. Austin Martin, IF/OF Age: 24 Martin was considered the top prospect the Twins received as part of the Jose Berrios trade, but he's struggled since the trade. During the 2022 season, he posted a .683 OPS at Double-A. During spring training, Martin sustained a sprained ligament in his right elbow. Thankfully, he has been able to avoid surgery. In 26 Triple-A games, he has hit .261/.374/.364 (.737) with six doubles and one home run. It will be interesting to see if his performance improves with an entire off-season to recover from his elbow injury. 9. Jose Miranda, 3B/1B Age: 25 Miranda would have easily been in the top-5 of this list at the season's start, but his performance has struggled in 2023. He suffered a shoulder injury during spring training and tried to play through the injury. In 40 big-league games, he posted a 56 OPS+ with seven extra-base hits and 24 strikeouts. Miranda is currently on the IL because of his shoulder issue. When healthy, Miranda is an elite hitter, and the Twins hope this version of Miranda returns for the 2024 campaign. 8. Simeon Woods Richardson, RHP Age: 22 It's easy to forget that Woods Richardson is this young, especially after making his big-league debut during the 2022 campaign. He's pitched at Triple-A for nearly the entire 2023 season, where he is over five years younger than the average age of the competition. In 18 appearances, he has a 5.56 ERA with a 1.61 WHIP and 7.4 K/9. Luckily, he still has plenty of time to improve his performance and will be in the conversation for the Twins' 2024 starting rotation. 7. Louie Varland, RHP Age: 25 Varland might seem like the organization's forgotten starting pitching prospect, but he's won back-to-back Minor League Pitcher of the Year. He split time between the Triple-A and MLB levels in 2023 with results that don't match his previous performance. In 12 Triple-A starts, he has a 4.53 ERA with a 1.41 WHIP and 10.6 K/9. The Twins might still need Varland during the 2023 season, but his performance has yet to warrant the team promoting him. He is still part of the team's long-term plans and projects to be in the Twins' rotation for 2024 and beyond. 6. Alex Kirilloff, 1B/OF Age: 25 Kirilloff would rank higher on this list for many teams, but he has struggled to stay healthy for multiple seasons. His wrist impacted his performance over the last two seasons, so the Twins ramped him up slowly to start the 2023 campaign. He looked like one of the team's best hitters for a stretch, including winning the AL Player of the Week. However, a shoulder injury has him back in the IL. An argument can be made for Kirilloff to be in the top-5, but he needs to prove he can stay healthy and productive at the big-league level. How would you rank these players? Which player will have the most significant long-term impact on the club? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins can hope the injury bug avoids the team in the season's final weeks, but that seems unlikely. Here are seven St. Paul Saints players who can be helpful pieces as the calendar creeps closer to September. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints In a perfect world, the Twins would glide through the season's final months while increasing their lead in the AL Central. Minnesota sports fans know better than to expect that to occur. It seems more likely that the team needs to dig into their accumulated depth at Triple-A to find a player who can help the club. Some players are on the 40-man roster, while others are not, adding another layer to the conversation. Trevor Larnach, OF 40-Man Roster: Yes Larnach has played 180 games for the Twins over the last three seasons and has yet to establish himself at the big-league level. He's seen other corner outfielders pass like Matt Wallner pass him on the team's depth chart. This season at Triple-A, he's posted a .917 OPS with 18 extra-base hits in 43 games. Larnach is the most likely option for the team to add to the roster for the stretch run. Ronny Henriquez, RHP 40-Man Roster: Yes Henriquez made his big-league debut with the Twins last season and allowed three earned runs in 11 2/3 innings with a 0.94 WHIP and nine strikeouts. Last season, he shifted roles between starter and reliever, so this has been his first full season in the bullpen. Over his last ten appearances, he has posted a 4.40 ERA with a 10-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Henriquez has been getting hit hard this season, but he's on the 40-man roster, giving him a chance to be a call-up. Louie Varland, RHP 40-Man Roster: Yes The Twins could have selected Varland over Dallas Keuchel when Joe Ryan recently went on the IL. However, that would have meant giving up on Keuchel and taking away some of the organization's depth. Varland struggled in his ten big-league starts this year by allowing 33 earned runs in 56 innings. The Twins demoted him in mid-June, and he's posted a 4.63 ERA in nine starts while opponents have accumulated a .797 OPS. Varland is the most apparent option with the Saints if a starter gets injured. Gilberto Celestino, OF 40-Man Roster: Yes Celestino didn't follow a linear development path with the Twins. The team rushed him to the big leagues, and he played 145 games with little experience at the Triple-A level. During spring training, he ruptured the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, which required surgery. Following rehab, the Twins sent him to Triple-A, where he has a .743 OPS with ten extra-base hits in 32 games. He's a right-handed bat that can play all three outfield positions which might be helpful if there is an outfield injury. Brooks Lee, SS 40-Man Roster: No Many fans will be clamoring for Lee, the team's top prospect, to make his big-league debut, especially if the team falters down the stretch. He's the first player from the 2022 MLB Draft to play at the Triple-A level, so the Twins are already aggressive with his promotions. He posted an .841 OPS with 31 doubles and 11 home runs across 87 games at Double-A. If the Twins need Lee, it likely means an injury to a key player in the lineup. Kody Funderburk, LHP 40-Man Roster: No Surprisingly, the Twins have yet to turn to Funderburk while the team attempts to find reliable relief options. Minnesota has relied on Caleb Thielbar and Jovani Moran as the team's primary left-handed relievers, while Funderburk has posted solid numbers at Triple-A. In 31 appearances, he has posted a 2.68 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP and 13.4 K/9. He's been one of the organization's top relievers for multiple seasons and deserves a chance at the big-league level. Anthony Prato, UTL 40-Man Roster: No Prato can play multiple defensive positions in the infield and outfield, making him an intriguing option for the stretch run. He's also destroyed the ball since being promoted to Triple-A near the beginning of June. In 44 games, he has hit .324/.476/.613 (1.089) with 20 doubles and seven home runs. He's also drawn more walks (37) than strikeouts (36). Prato has been one of St. Paul's best hitters, and the Twins might want to reward his performance. Which player or players will help the Twins down the stretch? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins have started to build a cushion in the AL Central, and the division is there for the taking. Here are three players who are X-factors for the club in the stretch run. Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports Fans were frustrated when the Twins didn’t make any moves at the trade deadline. However, the front office had three succinct messages to reporters, including Minnesota’s performance was tied to the players already in the locker room. There is some truth to that message, but there are players that can push the team to even greater success in the season’s final weeks. MLB.com identified seven X-factors on playoff-contending teams that were quieter at the trade deadline. Some contending teams made deadline moves and have gone into a tailspin since the deadline. Other teams, like the Twins, didn’t make significant moves and will rely on internal improvements. Here are three Twins players that are X-factors for the stretch run. Carlos Correa, SS X-Factor: Can he replicate last season’s hot finish? Preseason projections placed Correa among the AL’s best in WAR with players like Aaron Judge and Jose Ramirez. His first half was so poor that Jayson Stark put Correa in the conversation for the AL’s least-valuable player. The Twins have tried moving Correa to different spots in the line-up, but it hasn’t led to consistent offensive performance. According to FanGraphs, Correa ranks 11th on the Twins in WAR for position players, which is a far cry from the top of the American League. Last season, Correa had some ups and downs during his first year with the Twins before finding his swing late in the season. In September, he hit .355/.412/.589 (1.001) with eight doubles and seven home runs. Unfortunately, the rest of the Twins’ roster was imploding around him, and the team lost the division title. Correa expressed some frustration over the weekend when talking to reporters about his poor performance. The Twins need him to perform closer to his career totals, especially if the team makes the playoffs. Max Kepler, OF X-Factor: Can he continue to surpass his offensive expectations? During the offseason, it seemed likely for the Twins to trade Kepler, especially after the club signed Joey Gallo. The team’s depth chart was filled with younger options than Kepler that were left-handed hitting corner outfielders. Minnesota valued Kepler more than the offers they received, so they kept him on the roster, hoping he lived up to their expectations. Fans grew frustrated while Trevor Larnach and Matt Wallner spent much of the season producing at a high level at Triple-A. Over his last 30 games, Kepler seems to have put it together at the plate. He’s hit .300/.345/.573 (.917) with six doubles and eight home runs while taking over the team lead in home runs. He’s come up with some big hits in important games while posting a 1.08 WPA during his recent hot streak. Minnesota never expected Kepler to carry the team’s offense, but he can be a threat in the back half of the line-up that helps the team down the stretch. Caleb Thielbar, RP X-Factor: Can he regain his dominant set-up form? The Twins didn’t acquire any relief help at the trade deadline, which will put even more pressure on the arms in the room. Thielbar has missed a large chunk of the season with an oblique injury. He tried to return from the injury in early June, but he might have rushed back too soon because he quickly reinjured himself. Over the last three seasons, Thielbar has posted a 3.10 ERA with a 1.13 WHIP and 11.1 K/9 in 157 innings. It’s clear that he has been one of the team’s top relief options, especially in late-inning situations. Teams rarely use every arm in the bullpen in the playoffs, making the late-inning options even more important. The Twins also don’t have many left-handed relief options outside of Thielbar. Jovani Moran struggled mightily in recent weeks before being demoted to Triple-A in favor of Brent Headrick. Minnesota will need Thielbar to get some critical outs versus left-handed batters that might decide whether or not the Twins win the division. Which X-factor is most important to the team’s success? Are there other X-factors on the roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins entered the 2023 season hoping for better health after an injury-filled 2022 campaign. Byron Buxton’s usage was part of that plan, but the results have been disastrous. Image courtesy of Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports Entering the 2023 season, the Twins hired Nick Paparesta as the team’s head athletic trainer, hoping he could help the club with some of their injury woes. Injuries were one of the team’s unfortunate storylines during the 2022 season, and it was a primary reason the club finished in third place in the AL Central. The club ranked second in the big leagues with 2,363 player-days lost to the injured list, including 19 players on the IL to finish the season. One of the players on the injured list to end the year was Byron Buxton, and injuries have impacted his performance throughout his professional career. In September, Buxton underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to clean up the joint that caused him lingering issues throughout the 2022 season. The team hoped he’d be ready by spring training at the time of the surgery, but things didn’t play out that way. Buxton entered spring training needing to be ramped up slowly to avoid any potential setbacks. His first appearance in a minor league game came just two weeks before Opening Day, and it was becoming more apparent that the Twins needed a different plan for 2023. On March 21st, the Twins announced Buxton would open the season as the team’s everyday designated hitter. Multiple reasons existed for the team to make this decision, including he was continuing to build up from his off-season knee surgery, and colder weather in the season’s early weeks can impact players. Twins manager Rocco Baldelli told reporters that Buxton was “doing great” physically, but the club viewed this as a plan to keep Buxton in the line-up as much as possible. For the most part, Buxton has been regularly available, but there are many more layers to the team’s plan at this point in the season. He has yet to play a defensive inning in center field, and the team has repeatedly said that Buxton is no closer to playing in the outfield. In the middle of July, Thad Levine mentioned that Buxton was doing a lot of defensive work “behind the scenes” to help ramp up before returning to the field. It seemed like a light might be at the end of the tunnel, but the light has started to fade. The Twins placed Buxton on the injured list on August 4th with a strained right hamstring. Minnesota plans to reevaluate Buxton after a two-week shutdown and ramp him up again. It was his second IL stint of the season after being hit in the ribs earlier in the year. He’s played in 85 of the team’s first 114 games, but he’s likely out until the end of August or the beginning of September. His goal last season was to play in 100 games, and he fell eight games short of that mark. Now, he’s in danger of falling short of the century mark again. For the most part, Buxton has lived up to the team’s plan regarding availability, but ongoing knee issues have hampered his performance. In 85 games, he has hit .207/.294/.438 (.731) with 17 doubles, 17 home runs, and a 99 OPS+. Buxton hasn’t posted an OPS+ below 115 since the 2018 season. Strong returns from injury were one of Buxton’s exceptional abilities in previous seasons, which might point to more significant injury issues this season. His health hasn’t improved even without playing in the field, making his injury situation frustrating for everyone involved with the Twins. The Twins faced a no-win situation with Buxton and his health in 2023. Minnesota could have thrown him into the outfield on Opening Day and hoped for the best. However, that likely would have bothered his chronic knee issues and put him on the IL earlier in the season. Some fans will continue to call for the Twins to use Buxton in the outfield even when he returns from his current IL stint. It’s looking more like that won’t be possible in 2023, and the club will need to formulate an alternate plan for 2024 and beyond. Should the Twins have done something different with Buxton this season? What should the team’s plan be for next year? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Joey Gallo is in the middle of his second straight season where he is underperforming. Minnesota has yet to move on from him, and now he might be down to his last opportunity. Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports The Twins brought in Joey Gallo because he was available on a one-year deal and had some bounce-back potential. Minnesota also wanted to add depth at first base, and bench coach Jayce Tingler previously worked with Gallo and knew he could handle the position. Plenty of other left-handed hitters were on the Twins’ roster, but the front office felt like Gallo was a prime candidate to return to his previous form. Gallo’s early season performance pointed to him being back on track. During the season’s first month, he hit .236/.354/.709 (1.063) with three doubles, one triple, and seven home runs. His 22 strikeouts in 65 plate appearances were high, but he was hitting for plenty of power. The Twins were happy to take the good with the bad. Unfortunately, he’s been unable to sustain this early-season success while morphing into one of the league’s worst hitters. Since the calendar turned to May, Gallo has hit .161/.271/.361 (.632) with six doubles and 10 home runs in 65 games. He has struck out in 94 of his 180 at-bats during that stretch while being worth -1.08 WPA. His average exit velocity, hard hit %, and barrel % all rank in the 96th percentile or higher, with his BB% also being in the 90th percentile. The Twins would have gladly signed up for those numbers when agreeing to a deal with Gallo. Conversely, his contact has been few and far between, leading to terrible overall numbers. His xBA, K%, and Whiff% all rank in the 1st percentile. His xBA is 28 points lower than the next closest batter. Gallo has baseball’s worst Whiff%, and he’s among three players with a Whiff% higher than 40% (Jose Siri and Brent Rooker). There have been stretches where he bunched home runs in a week, but there have been long periods where he has been lost at the plate. Minnesota continues to use Gallo regularly, and he might get one final chance to prove he can provide value to the Twins. Gallo began the year as the Twins’ primary first baseman while. Alex Kirilloff was ramping up from off-season wrist surgery. At the end of July, the Twins placed Kirilloff on the 10-day injured list because of a right shoulder strain. It is incredibly disappointing since he was one of the team’s best offensive players last month. Minnesota also had an MRI earlier this week because his shoulder hadn’t improved as expected. The Twins might have wanted to part ways with Gallo, but now he will likely need to serve as the team’s primary first baseman during the season’s most critical games. Other power hitters have followed a similar path to Gallo, especially as baseball has evolved recently. Strikeout numbers continue to rise in the search for more power. Twins fans saw this with Miguel Sano near the end of his Twins tenure. Unfortunately, this all-or-nothing approach can decrease performance if the player isn’t drawing walks or making consistent contact. Gallo has likely been trying to adjust, but the results have failed to improve. After consecutive poor seasons, no team will give Gallo a long-term deal entering the 2024 season. He was likely hoping for a bounce-back year to secure a long-term deal. That contract is likely never going to happen for the 29-year-old. Even with a strong finish, he will likely need to sign a minor-league deal to prove he can be a big-league contributor. Can Gallo be a serviceable replacement for Kirilloff during the season’s final months? Leave a COMMENT and join the discussion. View full article

Like any front office, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have seen their share of ups and downs during their tenure. However, fans' trust in this front office might have hit an all-time low after back-to-back poor seasons and a lackluster trade deadline. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports The Twins hired Derek Falvey and Thad Levine to head up their baseball operations department leading into the 2017 season. At the time, Minnesota had lost 90 games or more in five of the previous six seasons. A new direction was needed for a franchise stuck in some antiquated ways. Over the last seven seasons, the Twins have won two division titles, but the team has gone 0-for-6 in postseason games and had disappointing finishes for two consecutive seasons. It seemed like the 2023 campaign might be a make-it-or-break-it season for the front office, but they haven't treated it as such. Only some things have been doom and gloom for the front office in 2023. They have built one of baseball's best starting rotations through multiple trades in recent seasons. Over the last two winters, they have surprised the baseball world by signing Carlos Correa to multiple contracts. Despite these positives, the front office has avoided adding late-inning bullpen arms or a right-handed power bat. Those were the team's needs coming into the season and remain the same following the trade deadline. Falvey met with reporters in the hours following the deadline to discuss Minnesota's lack of moves. There were three clear messages from the front office, but each can be spun in multiple directions. If fans trust the front office, Message 1: Fewer Teams Ended Up Being Sellers This message is valid on a surface level. Teams on the fringes of contention like the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, and San Diego Padres didn't enter full-out seller mode. Some of that can is expected with baseball's expanded playoffs, including three Wild Card teams in each league. According to FanGraphs, six teams in the AL have a 65% chance or higher of making the playoffs entering play on Wednesday. That leaves one playoff spot for a fringe team, and that was enough to stop some from selling. With fewer teams selling, it might have made it harder for the front office to address the team's needs, but other teams traded for relievers and right-handed corner bats. Minnesota's front office knew the teams guaranteed to be sellers, and their conversations could have focused on players from those clubs. Also, the Twins could have made better offers for players they valued with the deadline approaching. The supply of players changed with fewer teams being sellers, and teams, like Minnesota, must adjust to the market. Message 2: Stick with the Veterans For months, the Twins' front office has stressed that the most significant help to the team would come from the players in the clubhouse. Minnesota's highest-paid position players are Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, Joey Gallo, Christian Vazquez, Max Kepler, and Jorge Polanco. All six players have underperformed compared to preseason projections. Correa and Buxton should crush left-handed pitching, but the team continues to struggle, and some of that performance is tied to the streakiness of the team's top right-handed hitters. Gallo has been one of baseball's worst hitters for two consecutive seasons. Kepler and Polanco have spent time on the IL while providing inconsistent performance. Vazquez was considered one of the top catchers on the free agent market, and his OPS+ is the lowest since 2018. There is plenty of blame to go around. Yes, the Twins aren't going to reach their full potential without the team's top players performing better. There were still opportunities to make low-cost additions to supplement the roster. Also, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to future performance. Some of the team's younger players had sat behind veterans on the depth chart even when it seemed apparent the younger player should be in the lineup more regularly. The front office values depth (maybe too much), making it tough to move on from veterans. Message 3: No Room On the 26-Man Roster Like the points above, the front office claimed that a lack of roster spots was another reason not to make a trade. Falvey and Levine felt there wasn't anyone on the 26-man roster that deserved to be passed over when acquiring a new player. In retrospect, this was the biggest falsity made by the front office in the wake of the trade deadline. Clearly, players on the team's roster deserve playing time over Gallo. He would be the most likely position player to move off the roster. Willi Castro also has the team's fifth most plate appearances with a 94 OPS+. It would be easy to add a better right-handed bat to take either of their roster spots. In the bullpen, the Twins carried Cole Sands for most of a week without him making an appearance. Minnesota has rotated through players in the eighth bullpen spot, which would make it easy to add a replacement. Jovani Moran has also struggled, and the team could have optioned him to make room. There are plenty of spots on the 26-man roster. A playoff cameo won't satisfy this fanbase, and it shouldn't satisfy fans. The front office is placing a large bet on the roster they assembled last winter, but that was before the hindsight of playing over 100 games. There are flaws with the Twins, and there was an opportunity to make minor additions to help this club. It might be time to move on from the current leadership group if the front office can't be trusted. Should fans trust the front office and its process? Will the front office survive if the Twins don't win the division? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Minnesota's front office was quiet at the trade deadline, which can frustrate fans. Instead of trading for upgrades, the Twins will rely on the group of already assembled players. Here are five players that must be relied on the most during the season's final two months. Image courtesy of Rhona Wise-USA TODAY Sports The Twins weren't expected to make significant moves before Tuesday's trade deadline. However, many believed the club would add to an overworked bullpen and a line-up that has struggled mightily versus left-handed pitching. Instead, the front office will stick with the roster they assembled, which has the highest payroll in team history. Following the trade deadline, the message from the front office was similar to recent weeks. Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey said. "We've seen stretches of our performance as a team that we think can go do that. I don't think that there were clear opportunities here that we felt were going to be achievable based on the conversations that we were having that would change that significantly, so I feel like we think this is a good roster. We think this is a good team. We believe in it. We believe in the group that's in the clubhouse." For the Twins to win the AL Central, the team must be more consistent in all facets of the game. Here are five players critical to the team's division title hopes. 5. Joey Gallo, 1B/OF The Twins announced that Alex Kirilloff's shoulder injury will cause him to miss more time, pushing Gallo into a more regular role at first base. Gallo started the season hot but has been arguably the team's worst hitter for most of the season. Since June 1st, he is hitting .153/.231/.378 (.609) while also providing negative defensive value (-2.1 DEF). Gallo's calling cards for his career have been an ability to get on base, hit for power, and provide strong defense. He's failed to deliver in all areas for the Twins, so does he have anything left in the tank for the stretch run? 4. Jovani Moran, RP Caleb Thielbar recently returned from injury, but there are no guarantees when it comes to the performance of a 36-year-old pitcher. Moran has made the third most appearances in the Twins bullpen behind Griffin Jax and Emilio Pagan. Over his last 21 appearances, he has a 7.64 ERA with a 5.60 BB/9. His walk rate is too high, but there are signs that he might be getting unlucky. His 3.61 FIP and 4.34 xFIP are significantly lower than his ERA, and his .354 BABIP is higher than his career average. Moran can upgrade the bullpen if he pitches closer to some of his peripheral numbers. 3. Jhoan Duran, RP Duran has been a revelation over the last two seasons while shifting from a starting pitching prospect to one of baseball's best late-inning relievers. Unfortunately, the Twins tend not to add to their bullpen mix through free agency, which puts added pressure on Duran. His performance has suffered in recent weeks. Since June 1st, he has a 4.43 ERA with 3.54 BB/9 and 25% HR/FB. Duran must perform at his best for the bullpen to succeed. Minnesota didn't add to the bullpen, which will force Rocco Baldelli to use Duran regularly. He will be responsible for some losses down the stretch without his best stuff. 2. Joe Ryan, SP Minnesota's starting pitchers have struggled in the second half, none more so than Ryan. His first half was tremendous, putting him in the conversation for making his first All-Star team. However, he has posted a 5.90 ERA with an .821 opponent's OPS in his last 11 appearances while surrendering 17 home runs. Ryan is part of the team's long-term plans, and he must make adjustments to succeed in the season's final months. Last season, he pitched around 150 innings, and he's approaching 130 innings during the 2023 campaign. The team needs to monitor his performance as he gets closer to a career-high innings total. 1. Byron Buxton, DH Buxton is arguably the most critical player to Minnesota's success. It's seemingly more unlikely for him to step foot in center field this season, but that doesn't make his performance less valuable. Many expected the Twins to add a right-handed bat at the deadline, but an improved Buxton is the easiest way to increase the team's offensive output. Many of the team's struggles against lefties are tied to his streakiness in the batter's box. There have been signs that Buxton's bat is starting to wake up since he returned from paternity leave, including five doubles in three games. Can Buxton stay hot for the remainder of the season and carry the Twins to the playoffs? How would you rank the players that need to improve the most? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

One year ago, Brooks Lee made his professional debut in the Twins system. On Thursday, the Twins announced the team’s top prospect was being promoted to Triple-A, where he will be on the doorstep of the big leagues. Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports The Twins announced that the organization’s top prospect Brooks Lee was being promoted to Triple-A St. Paul. Lee, 22, is in his first full professional season after being drafted in 2022. He will be the first player from the first round of the 2022 draft to play at Triple-A. It has been a meteoric rise for one of baseball’s best prospects. Minnesota drafted Brooks Lee in the first round of the 2022 MLB Draft with the eighth overall pick, and the team was thrilled he was still on the board. Lee played three years at Cal Poly because his dad was the head coach and improved his draft stock each year. In his junior year, he hit .357/.462/.664 (1.125) with 25 doubles and 15 home runs in 58 games. He was widely considered the best college bat in his draft class, and the Twins haven’t been afraid to be aggressive with his promotions. Lee made his professional debut nearly one year ago to the day on August 4, 2022. He played four games in the rookie leagues to get his feet wet at the professional level while going 6-for-17 with two doubles. Most of his pro debut was spent at High-A, where he hit .289/.395/.454 (.848) with four doubles and four home runs in 25 games. Wichita was headed to the Texas League playoffs, so the Twins promoted Lee to Double-A for the stretch run. In seven postseason games (three with Cedar Rapids and four with Wichita), Lee hit .400, striking out just twice in 30 at-bats. After participating in big-league spring training, the Twins assigned Lee to Double-A to start the 2023 season. Lee hit .292/.365/.476 (.841) with 11 home runs and 31 doubles. He leads all Double-A hitters with 42 extra-base hits and 31 doubles. He began the season with a 10-game hit streak and had hits in 16 of the 19 April games. During July, his bat really started to heat up as he slashed .365/.433/.600 (1.033) with five doubles and five home runs. Before the promotion, he was amid an eight-game hitting streak. Defensively, the Twins drafted Lee as a shortstop, and he has continued to play the position throughout his professional career. Some evaluators believe he will need to move to third base as he continues to add muscle to his frame. The Twins believe his arm, instincts, and hands are good enough to stick at shortstop for the long term. Minnesota has Carlos Correa playing shortstop, so transitioning to another defensive position is still possible. By many national rankings, Lee is the consensus top Twins prospect, with recently-signed Walker Jenkins also in the discussion. MLB Pipeline ranks Lee as baseball’s 18th-best prospect, while Baseball America ranks him 34th in their most recent rankings. The switch-hitter has as good contact skills as anyone in the minor leagues, which makes him such an intriguing prospect. Some fans might want Lee to be promoted to the Twins during the season’s second half. However, it seems more likely for the team to give Lee a chance to adjust to the Triple-A level. Lee can obviously change that plan with a strong performance in St. Paul, but it’s clear the team thinks highly of him with the way they have promoted him over the last year. What are your opinions on Lee’s performance so far in his professional career? Will he make his big-league debut in 2023? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins' front office has been vocal about the team being buyers with the looming trade deadline. Let's review the club's top prospects to see which young players might be included in a deal. Image courtesy of Ed Bailey, Wichita Wind Surge (Photo of Marco Raya) On most national lists, Brooks Lee and Walker Jenkins are the organization's top two prospects, with Emmanuel Rodriguez not far behind. Royce Lewis only recently graduated from prospect status, or he'd also rank near the top of the list. It seems unlikely for the Twins to include any of these young players in a deal unless they are making a blockbuster trade. Jenkins isn't allowed to be traded this soon after the team drafted him. Outside of those players, here's a look at other top Twins prospects that might find themselves in other organizations by the week’s end. Marco Raya, RHP TD Prospect Rank: 4 Raya is arguably the team's top pitching prospect, and he's pitched well up to this point in his professional career. In 2023, he began the season in Cedar Rapids and posted a 2.94 ERA with a 0.92 WHIP and 10.4 K/9. He was over three years younger than the average age of the competition in the Midwest League, making his performance even more impressive. Minnesota continued to be aggressive with him and pushed him to Double-A. In four starts (12 IP), he has allowed 11 earned runs with a 1.33 WHIP. The Twins have been very careful with Raya's innings, and he might only be traded if the team acquires one of the top available trade pieces. Matt Wallner, OF TD Prospect Rank: 5 Wallner destroyed Triple-A pitching in 2023 (.927 OPS) after being the team's Minor League Player of the Year last season. Minnesota kept him in St. Paul even though the club's offense struggled, and he continued to perform well. He's made his way back to the big leagues, but the club has a plethora of left-handed hitting corner outfield options. Minnesota has been fielding calls about their lefties, and it is likely for one of them to be traded from the group that includes Wallner, Trevor Larnach, Joey Gallo, and Max Kepler. David Festa, RHP TD Prospect Rank: 7 Festa was the organization's representative during the 2023 MLB Futures Game after a tremendous 2022 season. Last year, he posted a 2.43 ERA with a 1.09 WHIP and 9.4 K/9 in 103 2/3 innings. In 2023, the Twins sent him to Double-A, and he allowed 37 earned runs over 64 2/3 innings. He is giving up too much contact this season, which is hurting him, but he's posted increased strikeout totals (11.7 K/9). Festa is the type of player this front office might trade since they drafted him late (13th round) and improved his stock over the last three seasons. Austin Martin, IF/OF TD Prospect Rank: 8 Martin is a very intriguing name for the Twins to consider trading. His stock has dropped since the Twins acquired him as part of the Jose Berrios trade, but other teams might continue to see value in his skillset. An elbow injury has limited his 2023 season, and he posted a .576 OPS with the Saints in 18 games. Teams interested in him will want a long look at his medicals before making a deal, so it isn't likely for him to be traded before the deadline. Tanner Schobel, IF TD Prospect Rank: 10 The Twins thought highly of Schobel and drafted him in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft. During his professional debut, he hit .237/.353/.298 (.651) with five extra-base hits and a 26-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Minnesota bumped him up to High-A to begin 2023, and his bat responded. In 77 games, he posted an .859 OPS with ten doubles, one triple, and 14 home runs. He's been a threat on the base paths by going 9-for-10 in stolen base attempts. The Twins promoted him to Double-A earlier in July, so he's getting closer to the big leagues. The Twins might want to include him in a deal similar to last year when the team traded Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand after seeing their stock rise. Will the Twins trade any prospects currently ranking in Twins Daily's top 10? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins signed Dallas Keuchel to add veteran starting pitching depth to the organization for the second half. Now, the club is facing a crossroads with a handful of options on the table. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints Minnesota agreed to a minor league deal with Dallas Keuchel at the end of June. He was coming off of two disastrous seasons where he posted a 6.35 ERA in over 222 innings. Keuchel has never been a flame-throwing lefty, but his average fastball velocity dipped to under 88 mph last season. No teams showed interest in him over the winter, but Keuchel wasn't ready to retire. Instead, he headed to Driveline Baseball and started working on his repertoire. Keuchel added some velocity while also seeing some improvement in his sinker and sweeper during his time at Driveline. With improved results, the Twins hoped that he could show the ability to be a back-of-the-rotation starter or even a bulk-inning reliever. His performance with the Saints has been terrific, and that might leave the Twins with some tough decisions before his opt-out on August 1st. In six starts, Keuchel allowed four earned runs (1.13 ERA) on 28 hits in 32 innings. He posted a 28-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio. His numbers have been terrific, and he is likely done pitching in minor-league games. Either the Twins or another big-league team will want Keuchel pitching innings for them in the season's final months. Following his final start, Keuchel said, "I know my opt-out is on Tuesday. Derek (Falvey) and the organization have been very transparent with me. A lot of teams that need help still are figuring out moves in the big leagues. This is a place that I want to be, and I'd still like to be up with Minnesota. I have provided what I needed to do, and shown myself what I am still capable of doing." So, what are the Twins' options with Keuchel before his opt-out deadline? Option 1: Add Keuchel to the Twins' 26-man roster According to reports, the Twins considered trading Kenta Maeda to make room for Keuchel in the team's starting rotation. However, Maeda has recently been the team's best starter, so he forced the team to readjust their plans. Minnesota has two scheduled off days in less than a week, so the club has dropped down to 12 pitchers on the active roster. The Twins can add Keuchel to the 26-man roster following Monday's off-day before the St. Louis series. Keuchel can be added as another long-man in the bullpen, or the club can temporarily switch to a six-man starting rotation, a strategy the front office has considered in 2023. Option 2: Trade Keuchel Another option is to trade Keuchel if the Twins get an appropriate offer or if the team can't find room for him on the 26-man roster. His Triple-A performance indicates that he can be a capable back-of-the-rotation option, and plenty of teams need depth to make it through the second half. Keuchel likely won't bring back a significant return, but he might garner a lower-level minor-league player with potential upside. The Twins are expected to make multiple trades before the deadline so that the club can include Keuchel in a deal. There is also a possibility the club trades another starter, opening a spot for Keuchel at the big-league level. Option 3: Allow Keuchel to Exercise His Opt-Out Allowing Keuchel to leave for nothing is the least likely option for the Twins at this point. Minnesota would only do this if Keuchel drew no trade interest or if they wanted to allow Keuchel to select his next destination. His opt-out aligns nicely with the trade deadline's conclusion, letting him know which contending teams need rotation help. Besides losing him for nothing, the Twins likely want to avoid seeing him jump to a team like the Guardians, which are in direct competition with Minnesota for the AL Central title. Which option is the most likely for the Twins and Keuchel? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

MLB’s trade deadline can be a fast and furious 48-hour period. Some teams have already started making moves, so here are three bold predictions about what the Twins will do before the deadline. Image courtesy of Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports The Twins made a minor trade over the last week by dealing Jorge Lopez to the Marlins for Dylan Floro. Lopez was one of the front office’s key acquisitions at last year’s deadline, but he struggled with the Twins. For both relievers, it is a chance to reestablish themselves with a new club. One reliever-for-reliever swap hardly moves the needle for the Twins, so here are three bold predictions that have a chance to play out in the coming days. The Twins Trade One Young Left-Handed Bat Rumors have swirled that teams have contacted the Twins about their plethora of big-league caliber left-handed bats, and there are a few directions the club can go regarding a trade. Veterans Joey Gallo and Max Kepler have been regulars in the Twins line-up, but their offensive performance has been up and down throughout the season. Minnesota has overvalued Kepler in recent seasons, so I expect the team to look in a different direction. Matt Wallner and Trevor Larnach have seen sporadic playing time at the big-league level in recent seasons, and both would likely bring back more on the trade market compared to the veteran lefty bats. Trading one of the younger bats might allow the Twins to acquire a player that can help the Twins for multiple seasons instead of dealing with a rental player. The Twins Acquire Josh Hader Minnesota’s front office has mentioned the club is searching for bullpen help, which is a need for every contending club. Hader was dealt at last year’s deadline to the Padres and struggled with a 7.31 ERA and a 1.63 WHIP in 19 appearances after the trade. He’s returned to form this season in Southern California. In 38 innings, he has posted a 0.95 ERA with a 0.95 WHIP and a 58-to-20 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Hader is one of baseball’s best relievers, and the Padres are on the borderline between being buyers and sellers. Acquiring him from San Diego will take a lot, even though he is a two-month rental. FanGraphs predicted the Twins would need to surrender two young pitchers, Marco Raya and Brent Headrick. Is that too steep of a cost? The Twins Trade a Starting Pitcher Minnesota’s starting rotation has carried the team for much of the 2023 season, and other teams have contacted the Twins about some of their starting pitching options. According to the Athletic, the Twins initially considered trading Kenta Maeda to make room for Dallas Keuchel in the rotation. Maeda has been the team’s best starter since the All-Star Break, so their plans have likely shifted to keeping him. Keuchel bypassed his first opt-out with the Twins and has a second opt-out on the same day as the trade deadline. He has a 0.69 ERA in five Triple-A starts with 20 strikeouts and 11 walks. Minnesota could deal either pitcher before the deadline. There has also been plenty of talk about the Twins trading Sonny Gray, but that seems like it would take quite the offer from another contending team. Gray was one of the AL’s best starters in the first half, and the team has a chance to get draft pick compensation through the qualifying offer system if Gray leaves via free agency. The Twins will need Gray in October if they want to end their playoff losing streak, so it seems unlikely for him to be traded in the coming days. Which bold predictions will come true? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article