Chembry

@Nick Nelson One small clarification. Shelby Miller had surgery to repair his UCL and flexor tendon. He will miss all of 2026. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/shelby-miller-undergoes-elbow-surgery.html

I don't think most here listen to MLB reporters like Rosenthall, Pasan, etc... ESPN reported that the Twins were in on Valdez. That's a national outlet. They aren't going to report if the Twins just checked in...Darren Wolfson also said the Twins were "heavily" involved in Framber Valdez. On the Freddy Peralta front, I don't know how deep the Twin/Brewers got in their discussions. I did hear (I can't remember where) that the Twins/Brewers were discussing player packages. That's not just "checking in". Now we may not have wanted to part with what the Brewers were asking for, but there was genuine interest from the Twins.

I agree Lee isn't great defensively, but by both major fielding metrics (DRS/OAA), Lee was better than Correa last year. Now it's a cumulative statistic, so Lee may have been as bad as Correa by the time he reached the same sample size. DRS (Fielding Bible): Lee -8 DRS, Correa -11 DRS OAA (Baseball Savant): Lee -1 OAA, Correa -2 OAA I do also want address Keaschall's defense. The consensus belief is that Keaschall's defense is "terrible", but defensive metrics don't bear that out. Fielding Bible rated his DRS at +1, while Baseball Savant rated OAA at -2. That is closer to average than "terrible". Yes, his arm strength wasn't great coming off of TJ surgery and that was the vast majority of his problem last year. His arm strength is only going to get better. If Keascahll plays average defense, he will be a significant asset to this team for many years.

Theo Tollefson stated on a recent podcast that based on what he is hearing, the Twins still have $10M more in the budget and maybe more for the right move. It’s also stated in this article from a few days ago saying there is still room in the budget and Zoll is still looking to add. https://www.mlb.com/news/jeremy-zoll-still-looking-to-improve-twins-roster

Dasan Hill was named by Baseball America as one who just missed their top 100. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/20-mlb-prospects-who-just-missed-the-2026-top-100/

I was coming here to say the same thing! I am guessing right now that someone will jump the line to get him. I hope the Twins do it. I don't care if he is LH. His ERA+ was 131 over the last two years. Plus, still under control through 2027 at a reasonable rate.

For clarity, I don't view Caratini as blocking any addition of Lowe (or any other FA), I just don't think the Twins will pursue another FA bat. Even though I think we should try to add another bat. Lowe makes sense.

Wallner had a 38% k rate in 2022, which was a very small sample size (18g, 65PA). He since hasn't been that high. That rate decreased significantly in 2025 down to 29%. Wallner has had a higher OBP than Larnach in every year, except 2025. Wallner has historically been a better hitter: Year OBP OPS+ Wallner Larnach Wallner Larnach 2022 0.323 0.306 103 102 2023 0.37 0.311 138 97 2024 0.372 0.338 149 116 2025 0.311 0.323 110 95

Doc- You and I have been on the Nathaniel Lowe train for a while. I like him better than Bell, who should strictly be a DH. Lowe gives you a solid MLB bat (2022 Silver Slugger and career 116 OPS+) and gold glove caliber 1B defense (GG in '23 and GG finalist in '24). I do think adding Lowe makes sense in all the ways you laid out, and I don't think it would even take $7M at this point. MLBTR writers thought a 1y/$5M would get it done. However, I think that ship sailed with the Caratini signing. I also believe Caratini/Clemens will be getting the backup reps at 1B. That doesn't mean the Twins shouldn't be looking to upgrade, because they should. I do think the biggest move the Twins need to make is to trade a LHH OF. Moving Larnach makes the most sense. I will go as far as saying, I really don't care what the return for Larnach is at this point. By removing him, we do lose an average MLB bat, but gain so much more in defense and lineup flexibility. Assume we trade Larnach, here is what I see as the position player roster, without an additional signing: C: Jeffers, Caratini IF: Bell, Keaschall, Lee, Lewis, Kreidler or Gray OF: Buxton, Martin, Wallner, Roden UTIL: Clemens, Wagaman Personally I like Gray over Kreidler. Gray can play every IF position at a league average level (small sample sizes), but is a significant upgrade offensively over Kreidler. OF: I just listened to Bobby Nightengale on a Gleeman and the Geek podcast and the Twins believe Roden can back up Buxton in CF and at least plays a competent CF. Obviously, you don't want Roden there on a daily basis. As much as Martin improved in LF last year, you would hope some of that would also translate to CF, so he could also be a potential back up option. If Buxton gets hurt, you are probably calling up ERod or Jenkins. We need to pay attention in ST to see who is getting reps in CF and when. My guess is Roden and Martin will get a decent share of time in CF at ST. If the Twins feel confident in Roden or Martin as a CF backup, than that leaves Outman off the roster, which would be music to most fans ears. UTIL: Both Clemens and Wagaman can play multiple positions. Clemens can play anywhere in the dirt (minus SS) and COF. Wagaman can play CIF or COF and mashes lefties. According to fielding bible, he was competent (-1 DRS) in 106 innings in LF last year. That is why I believe he is on the roster. If we do upgrade the roster with another hitter, Wagaman is the odd man out.

Seven Twins are playing in the WBC: Buxton, Ryan- USA Lopez- Venezuela Taj Bradley- Mexico Matt Bowman- Israel Dan Altavilla- Italy Luis Quinones- Puerto Rico Caratini was going to play for Puerto Rico but didn’t get insurance clearance to play. This also happened to Correa, Lindor, Berrios, Emilio Pagan, and Alexis Diaz

Ownership has indicated there is still more room in the budget to add and Zoll is looking to do so. This article was from Monday, after Falvey’s departure: https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/jeremy-zoll-still-looking-to-improve-twins-roster

Skubal won his arbitration hearing and will make $32M this year. He is definitely worth it, but this decision has ranging impacts beyond him. Boras and Skubal exploited a clause in the CBA that states a player with 5+ years of service time can compare themselves to open market free agents and not prior arbitration precedent. My understanding is that this clause has been present in the CBA for some time, but Skubal is the only person to use it. Given his 2 consecutive Cy Young awards, Boras and Skubal shot for the moon and won. Has long ranging impacts on the likes of Skenes, Hunter Brown, Woo, etc... More than likely means the Pirates trade Skenes before his final year of arbitration. Or any small to mid market team that has a top tier starter in their last year of arbitration for that matter. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/02/tarik-skubal-wins-arbitration-hearing-tigers.html

What if the Twins signed Gallen and traded Ryan? Probably would have to trade Larnach as well...but could be doable. That way most fans get what they want without a huge drop off in performance, even though Gallen had a down 2025.

Jeffers is a Boras client, so the chance for an extension at this point is very low. Boras generally encourages his clients to reach free agency to maximize their value. Personally, I don't think an extension was ever in the cards for Jeffers. That doesn't preclude the Twins from signing him as a free agent, but again the odds will be low of resigning Jeffers. For this year, it's really all speculation as to what they will do if they are or aren't in contention. If they aren't, we all assume they will trade Jeffers at the deadline. If they are, naturally we would assume they keep Jeffers and let him walk. That's a gamble...If we hold on to Jeffers and don't make the playoffs (odds are low), we let him walk for nothing. I don't see the Twins extending a qualifying offer to Jeffers. This year the number was $22M.

Bell can’t be traded until June 15th since he signed as a free agent. I think that can be waived if the player gives consent, but not 100% sure on that.

The plan for Jeffers has been stated many times. First by Falvey, then Shelton and Jeffers himself. I doubt it has changed after Falvey left. The plan is to have Jeffers catch 100+ games this year. Jeffers stated in this link that Shelton and the FO gave him a heads up on the Caratini signing and assured him his role isn’t changing. Jeremy Zoll was on Inside Twins today and essentially said the same thing. Caratini will be a backup catcher and get some time at 1B and DH.

This can't be stated enough...I posted a thread in the "other baseball" category about the Dodgers crazy waiver situation. They just DFAd Ibanez, who signed a MLB free agent contract with them a month ago, to claim Siani who they DFAd to make room for Tucker. Here are the details: The Dodgers claimed Michael Siani on December 12th and signed Andy Ibanez to a 1 year $1.2M MLB deal as a free agent on January 13th. Kyle Tucker agreed to his contract with the Dodgers on January 21st. To make room for him, they DFAd Siani. Siani was claimed by the Yankees on January 23rd. The Yankees then DFAd Siani to make room for Angel Chivilli on January 29th. Now February 3rd, the Dodgers reclaimed Siani and DFAd Andy Ibanez who they just signed a $1.2M free agent deal less then a month ago… Crazy to claim the same guy off waivers twice in the same offseason, but equally as crazy to DFA a guy you just signed as a free agent, even if it’s only a $1.2M contract. Why did the Dodgers do that? Trying to get Ibanez through waivers. I know claiming the same guy in the same offseason has happened before, but not very often. Adam Rosales was claimed 4 times (twice by the Rangers and twice by the A’s) in a span of about 10 days in 2013

The hearing is scheduled for today, but we likely won't know what decision is made until a later date.

The Dodgers claimed Michael Siani on December 12th and signed Andy Ibanez to a 1 year $1.2M MLB deal as a free agent on January 13th. Kyle Tucker agreed to his deal with the Dodgers on January 21st. To make room for him they DFAd Siani. Siani was claimed by the Yankeeson January 23rd. The Yankees DFAd Siani to make room for Angel Chivilli on January 29th. Now February 3rd, the Dodgers claimed Siani and DFAd Andy Ibanez who they just signed a $1.2M free agent deal less then a month ago… Crazy to claim the same guy off waivers twice in the same offseason, but equally as crazy to DFA a guy you just signed as a free agent, even if it’s only a $1.2M contract. I know claiming the same guy in the same offseason has happened before, but not very often. Adam Rosales was claimed 4 times (twice by the Rangers and twice by the A’s) in a span of about 10 days.

I would be on board with that move. Houston is also looking for LHH outfielders. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/01/astros-notes-altuve-infield-left-handed-bats.html

That's interesting...I never knew that.

Yes he is a FA. He pitched in 26g for the Nationals last year and wasn't very good (24 ip, 6.57 ERA, 1.297 WHIP, 3.50 FIP which suggests he was a bit unlucky). He was pretty decent in 2024 for both the Cubs and the Mets.

I have seen a few predictions on Kopech. Dodgers nations is ~$6.5M AAV and Just Baseball is thinking ~$7.5M AAV...Those seem way too high for me, but who really knows what is going on behind the scenes. I would be onboard with Kopech at 1yr/$5M. That's less than what he earned last year. I think the others will be between $1.5-3M on 1yr deals.

Cody Laweryson was DFA'd by the Angels today. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/02/angels-designate-cody-laweryson-for-assignment.html

I have been meaning to reply to this thread for a while, but life and Friday's news kind of got in the way. Here are some RHRP still available (in order of decreasing projected WAR): Scott Barlow, Evan Phillips, Dauri Moreta, Ryan Brasier, Liam Hendrichs, Jose Leclerc, Paul Sewald, Jorge Lopez, Luke Jackson, Lou Trivino, Joe Ross, Michael Kopech, Michael Tonkin, Kendall Graveman, Tommy Kahnle, and Scott McGough. Those are all the RHRP still available with a projected WAR ≥ 0. For me, two names stand out. Michael Kopech and Evan Phillips. Both have an injury history but still have significant upside. Kopech is boom or bust. He has the highest upside of any FA RHRP available. Phillips had mostly minor injuries until TJ surgery in May 2025, so he will be out most of the year. He was the closer for the 2023 and 2024 Dodgers. I really like Phillips, however standard timetable puts him back around September 1st, so it's really not worth signing him now. Of those, I would prefer Kopech. Barlow is ok, but his walk rate has increased dramatically over the past couple of years, which has corresponded with a decrease in his FB velocity. Tells me he is trying to dot the corners a bit more instead of relying purely on stuff. His hard hit rate is still pretty low, near the top of MLB though. In reality, I would be ok with most of those guys. But I am not real high on Tonkin, Sewald, Jorge Lopez (obvious reasons). There are a few others that are a bit lower in projected WAR, but may be interesting: Rafael Montero, Hunter Strickland. Shelby Miller would have been interesting, but he is out for 2026.