JADBP

You are right, but I think this was just Toronto again manipulating Falvey. The jammed him up to AAA in advance of the trade deadline to make him appear to be more advanced in this development. Another case of Falvey getting snookered in a trade. The whole Louis Varland trade was a disaster and now we hope that Rojas can recover somewhat and at least become a 3/4 (like SWR) or an above average RP. But, he probably needs at least another full year of development to reach his potential. Or, as Bean5302 said, maybe his stuff doesn't play and he flames out completely. Meanwhile, Varland was the Toronto go-to RP throughout the playoffs and WS. WHEW...that's a lot to live up to!

You literally made me burst out laughing! Thanks!!

You might be right, but I’d say right now if anyone breaks through it would be Emma. But it will probably take an injury or trading Wallner or Larnach to get him on the team. On the other hand, I suspect if Wallner keeps hitting like this he will be sent down to AAA shortly.

1. You are assuming it is Shelton's decision to make. Might not be.... 2. Erod has been playing lights out in ST. And Wallner has been playing LIGHTS OFF. Even if this keeps up, I am not sure he makes the team. I want him to make the team, but they might have to trade Wallner or Larnach. 3. The one thing that the Twins have always done is hang on to their first round draft picks, no matter how bad they are. Can they ever come to grips that there is more downside to holding on to Wallner than there is upside to trading him? Right now, he is blocking at least Emma and maybe Jenkins. The Twins are better off with either one honing their skills on the MLB roster. Both Wallner and Larnach will never be as good as Jenkins or Emma.

...it will be difficult not to further question their decision-making at last year’s trade deadline. BEST SINGLE LINE in the entire article! Falvey "targeting Roden" (or Outman) at the deadline trades was inane, brain-dead thinking. Who in their right mind would target Roden/Outman when thinking about the team's future construction? You have three top OFers in AAA and 2 will certainly be in MLB this year. You are trading away highly desirable, top tier RP talent to get a 1/2 season placeholder? What was the plan? What possible thinking process went on here? The only thought process that makes any sense at all is Falvey got wrapped up in the moment, thinking everyone is on the table (well, almost, not Buxton) and just lost his mind snapping off trades with wild abandon and not thinking it through. I still believe that other teams took advantage of his brain lapse.

At this rate....and I know it is very early....but Wallner is headed for AAAA and Rodriguez could take his spot away...for a very long time! Wallner's stats last year were abysmal...I wouldn't mind the swapout. I'd rather start giving ERod and Jenkins time on the field than keep a .202 hitter in RF!

Years and years...starting out at age 16! He is still 22 years old. There is nothing make or break about this. If he is still learning at the end of the year, the Twins will just lock him in at a low ball salary level. Sure, there is plenty of natural talent, and yeah, more learning to do at age 22. Jeez, give him a break already. Twins traded Julien at nearly age 26.

Geez...we did sign Correa...TWICE!

There is a lot to unpack here. Its a really tough decision and I am sure that Tom will have the final call. But here some added considerations: 1. If they go the Trade Ryan route, then Tom has to stand up in front of the fans and say, clearly and honestly, "I am sorry, the injury has halved our front line pitching and we now find our path to contention severely hampered. So, we are changing our plans accordingly..." That's a tough pill to swallow, but go big might mean going big in a couple of years. 2. This might be a good time to recognize that the damage that was done by years of poor drafting (Kirilloff, Larnach, Cavaco, Sabato) or trades (Steer, the whole Mahle trade, Rogers, Pressley, Polanco, etc) and FA signings (Correa (FA signing), Correa (FA signing again), Correa (traded)...) or even letting them go for nothing (Rooker). I can go on and on but the former management left a massive mess and it will take some time to break out of it. Maybe 2-3 years. No reason to try to contend while you are cleaning the house. 3. Ryan's value will only decline from here on in. If we received, in return, a great 1B or SP prospect and a lotto ticket or two, then we win. This is the long term vision approach--to say that over the next 5-10 years he will bring a certain level of value to the team. That value is maximized with a top 1B prospect, or SS or maybe SP. 4. Ryan has been unhappy since last year. And we just keep making him unhappier (arb futzing). Its highly unlikely that he would sign a long term contract with the Twins because he has a brain--he's gonna go to Free Agency and then the Twins are priced out. So, if they hang on to him, they have him for two years max. I say trade him before his value craters...sadly, like my fave SP, Pablo.

Nope. At some point, you just have to accept reality that is about to smack you in the face like a 2ft snowfall followed by days of temperatures preceded by a minus sign. I've already checked out this season. Canceled my MLB.tv subscription. Definitely not going to ST. And, I def won't be found at Target Field. By the way, don't expect Lopez to be the last injury of the season. And expect more sell-offs on August 3rd. Its gonna be a long, losing summer at 1 Twins Way. The Twins will be lucky to win 70 games. Sure, some of the young kids It will take some years to turn this around. We can dream about miracles, but then that freezing reality smacks you across the face.

Outman is just about the weakest asset they could have traded Stewart for. Not even a hope of an MLB player. Totally blocked from the MLB roster. At least they could have returned a lottery ticket, not a AAA player that will never advance.

Right on! They are trying to succeed and they are the new Sheriffs so its their turn to fly or die. While I expect an interesting season, I've cancelled my MLB.tv subscription because my team (the Twins) and not likely to surprise anyone. That said, I am giving Tom and Zoll a chance to succeed. I am encouraged by Tom calling everyone. That is a good sign...that he is willing to listen and learn and bounce ideas around to learn how MLB management works. Right off, he is not acting like the smartest guy in the room (like former mgmt did). I think Tom is going to do far better than Joe. But, I'm not sure how much he can learn in just 1 season.

I agree that the 2025 Twins were very, very bad! I am saying that the coaching/management excuse has been removed. Now if we completely fail again, and all of these huge upside players again fail, then yeah, it is the Pohlads. But as I said, it is now up to new coaches and management. No more Rocco, Falvey and Joe in charge. No more excuses now. Put up or shut up, Mr. New Sheriff in Town! LOL I am not sure that I agree that the new sheriff is the same as the old sheriff.

I am a big Molitor fan, but not for TV. Put him on the field as a coach to teach our young players how to field. But, as an announcer, I think he is just too laid back. I've listened to Rocco drone on far too long...just hope that Molly isn't the same. I went back and listened to old Molitor interviews. He is just not exciting on the microphone. He was fantastic in the field and I am sure he sees every tiny thing that an MLB player might do wrong--far more than any of us (especially me). Not sure how that translates to the microphone.

Nothing but EXCUSES! He had higher payrolls but still did worse that other Central div teams. He failed.

Yes, I know. But I don't think Derek is Rocco-like. Rocco was super laid back. I think Derek has more fire in him. A little more Madden-esqe.

Many of you missed the point of this off-season. There are many high ceiling players on the Twins right now and only one position player who has reached his ceiling (Buxton). Maybe Jeffers is close, on offense, but probably not on D. But, look at all of these high ceiling players who are woefully short of reaching that ceiling: Lewis, Lee, Larnach, Wallner, and maybe even Martin and Keaschall. And, the entire bullpen. Imagine if Lewis were hitting 30 dingers a season (he was, at one time, plus at all 5 tools), or Wallner and Larnach hitting 20+ each, and Martin and Lee consistently hitting over .300. Imagine some combination of these playing superb defense. This is what we were promised as we drafted and developed these high ceiling players. But they are all sitting on the floor. Now, THIS IS exactly what I believe Zoll, Tom, Shelton, and the strategists are looking at right now....they are looking at a group of players that need to be retrained, reoriented, restructured, fixed, and coached up far closer to their ceiling. Because if just 3 or 4 of them achieve this, the Twins DO become competitive. Sure, there are still holes, 1B. The bullpen. Maybe a true vacuum cleaner at SS. But we have plenty of highly desirable talent close in AAA. But, if you squint, you could see a breakthrough with this fairly well stacked but largely underachieving talent! So, I credit Tom with cleaning the management and coaching houses and giving the new guys a crack at turning this horde of talent into something respectable, something "competitive." Rocco is gone--along with many of his minions. Falvey is gone, with his inane hole-patching trades. The problem was never that we didn't have talented players, it was that we never saw the talented players we already have reach their potential. We even saw great players come onto this team and regress to their floor (I'm looking at you, CC). There's a new sheriff in town....let's hope that they can turn this around. Tom is gonna give them a chance to do it. This doesn't mean that I am optimistic for a winning 2026....but it is the overarching strategy that Tom has put in place. It clearly explains the lack of off-season moves. It might work, but I expect it will take a culture cleansing in the clubhouse and that will take more than one season. Too much Maur-itis still exists in this clubhouse!

I am pretty sure that Tom Pohlad has said "Shelton....we have all these supposed great players many who we drafted in the first round, on this team...so its up to you to turn this thing around with these players. Get to work!" Meaning that at least Tom believes that there are several players on the team now with excellent potential. I have to agree. Lewis, Lee, Keaschall, Martin, Larnach and Wallner--we always talk about their great potential. And the next wave, Jenkins, Emma, Gabby, and Mendez, to go along with a ton of pitchers--Prielipp, Raya, Morris, Festa, Zebby, and Rojas. Can Shelton and his coaches turn around all of these players to reach their ceiling? Lewis should be popping 30+ homers and hitting .270+ every year. Larnach and Wallner should be bringing in 90 RBI or they should be moved out. Lee should be hitting over .300 consistently. Keaschall needs to learn to excell at one position in the field. All of this falls on Shelton. Its his team to build on. I think about it this way....go back a few years, when these players were in A ball--how lucky would have the Twins felt if they were to trade for all of these huge upside players? But they drafted (almost) every one of them and now they are in or near to the biggs and just fell flat. I think Tom realizes this and he changed everything, coaching staff, GM, etc to clear the way for a whole new coaching/training/management staff to come in and whip these players into star. I think he looked at what David Popkins achieved in TOR and realized that the problem was not Popkins, it was somewhere else on the coaching staff. So he cleaned house. I believe there are some stars in the mix here. I am still very high on Lewis, and still semi-high on Lee and some of the pitchers. I hope the new staff makes a difference. Otherwise, there is only one other variable, and that means the Pohlads have to go.

"As the Twins move forward yet again, I hope Derek Falvey is remembered not for the collapse, but for the progress, the ambition, and the moments that made fans believe again." YEAH,,,,NO! I won't remember the progress or ambition. I will remember all the losses, the bizarre coaching decisions, and the horrible trades. Yeah, he was an abject failure. That's all I will remember. Sorry, Derek!

Love the old truck/new truck analogy. Now, what that says to me is that the Twins have 187,000 on this team. They probably need new brakes, a timing belt and the tranny slips a little when its cold. Yeah...the old girl just surely not as zippy as that shiny new $85,000 truck, and there is a lot of rust that will never be repaired, but as long as the heater still works, I'll drive it to work every day! The beauty of the beater car is that you really don't care about the rust, or getting dinged, or spinning out on a snowy I-694. You just gather her up and continue on home. With a smile on your face thinking of all the money you are saving on car payments, insurance, plates, and worry! You save so much money, its almost like printing money. I guess this is exactly how the Pohlad's feel about the Twins. Plenty of rust and needs plenty of repairs, the engine is staring to go, and the heater is iffy at best. But as long as you hang on to it, you just keep printing money. Eventually it becomes a valuable classic car and you sell it for a boatload of money. I get it now!

soooo boring!

While I agree that the owners have been tough on Falvey, particularly Joe, he has made far more BAD decisions than good decisions. His trades have been strikingly bad overall with a very few good ones sprinkled about. His Free Agent signings have been a disaster. On average, every year, it feels like he makes 8-10 FA signings of which one is credible. But it is his inane stubbornness that is most frustrating. He will run these bad FA signees onto the field for the whole season, over and over, as they consistently fail, over and over. He will stick with failed strategies for years. He will defend his inane moves with misplaced hope and optimism. He grins foolishly while trying to justify yet another failed plan. Glad to see him gone!!!

Strategically, Falvey was on Planet Oz. He was trying some insane moves to succeed as a GM on a low payroll team...and it worked horribly. That's obvious with the poor drafting, signing, and trading. His many failures far outweighed his few successes. And, of course, he was in charge of the entire team...so he had decision control throughout the organization. But, here's the rub. WHY OH WHY did it take NINE years, with so many repeated failures, for the Pohlad's to wake up and DO SOMETHING about Falvey? Falvey's greatest success was in fooling the Pohlad's for so long! That's on the owners, not Falvey. Shame on them! But, I am giving them a chance with a tough talking Tom. If he fails, there is no hiding.

First, we need to give Tom P some time. He deserves a chance. He’s not Carl, not Joe, not any other Pohlad. He really does seem to be his own man. Let’s give him a little time. But yeah, he took his time to assess Falvey. That’s the fair thing to do for Falvey. And when he was able to see that Falvey made far more failed decisions than successful ones, he made his move. I like his approach: “F the calendar” because there really is no perfect time to fire the leader of your organization. It had to be done. Might as well as pull off the Bandaid and get it over with. The sooner you can move on, the sooner you can start to make the necessary strategic and organizational corrections. So far, good work, Tom. and I am not so sure Falvey will pop up as a GM elsewhere….

I agree. While he’s gonna strike out too much, make him a full time DH. He’s just not as good a RFer as others in the organization.