StiltedGopher

Can a team start playing higher quality ball late in the season? They are mediocre at best because they aren’t sharp enough. They make more mistakes than their opponents. They don’t make the right play, they throw a fat pitch. They take a poor at bat. Perhaps I have a selective memory, but didn’t seem like TK or Gardy put up with as much failure at fundamentals.

Tom, is that you?

Fans should be clamoring to resign Jeffers. It is not just wanting to see him through the rest of 2026. The team is worse in 2027 without him (blah blah Victor Caratini- yeah no). if the Twins want to prove they are here to win - now or 2027, they build around Jeffers as their #1 catcher.

Make best offer possible to Jeffers right now. Jeffers is a high quality catcher and while we can be optimistic about our catcher prospects, realistically they are a couple years out. I realize there is no chance the Twins will sign Jeffers, but this would be the strongest commitment they could show to the team and fans that they are committed to 2027, 2028. Now for reality under the Pohlads, Jeffers is gone after this year. Trade him now get something, hopefully a useful player for 2027/28. Aim to be incrementally better in 2027. It is a fine line between where the Twins are now and being above the playoff line. Hard to fathom how much more enthusiasm there would be if the team was three games over .500 rather where they are at three under. So aiming to be slightly better in 2027, rather not dump Ryan as hard to lose him and improve much (Lopez back - maybe a wash but question marks there). However, remain open to a sweet deal for Ryan but should be an important piece for 27/28. Larnarch, Wallner, Bell, Clemens, - maybe just about anybody but particularly those who are blocking the future stars - not just available to move but go get something for the future even if lottery tickets. Again, want to put pieces in place to be better in 2027, so maybe high upside relief prospects, third base, first base, never say no to a legit good starting pitcher prospect. Make 2027 about being incrementally better and opening door for the next wave of stars (fingers crossed). Signing Jeffers would say 2027 is fully in play. Losing Jeffers suggests 2027 will be like 2026 and hoping the team can be a couple games better.

Trade him, even if only to allow one of the prospects a roster spot. Maybe we can get a new mascot for him - something to replace TC or that target dog.

Why isn’t Keaschall figuring it out in St Paul? I’m not sure his bat is playing enough to have him audition for a spot in the major leagues.

Produce and play. Don’t produce, open a new roster spot. Twins leadership appears to be slowly applying that approach.

Core?

Pray for health for the starting pitching as that group looks okay. Excited to see Keaschall get extended time. Hope Royce gets back on track. Buxton is a true professional. A couple of the bullpen should pan out. But really, a bunch of sadness. Unless they over perform quickly, that roster is not going to sell many tickets or streaming TV packages.

From a distance getting a former first round pick catcher who has MLB experience (Jackson) for a undrafted utility player who hasn’t reached the majors (Eeles) seems like a nice deal. But damn, Eeles is one of those potential marketing home runs. If he can reach the big leagues and do anything at all he will be a fan favorite- the kind of player that keeps you interested in the team when there is no other reason to be interested in the team.

Joe Pohlad, poster child for the estate tax.

Number 1 to 5. 1. Pohlads sell. 2. Pohlads sell. 3. Pohlads sell. 4. Pohlads sell. 5. Pohlads sell.

Is that you, Joe?