Sam Caulder

Image courtesy of © Kyle Ross-Imagn Images The Twins' farm system has quietly become one of the best in baseball. That probably isn't much of a surprise, if you've followed the organization over the past couple of years. Walker Jenkins has established himself as one of the premier prospects in baseball. Kaelen Culpepper has raised his stock since being selected in the first round in 2024. Less than two weeks ago, the Twins selected catcher Vahn Lackey with the third overall pick in the MLB Draft. All three of those guys project to be quality major-leaguers at premium positions, and all three are (at least) fringe-top 50 league-wide prospects. But what really separates this farm system from others is everything behind them. Marek Houston has taken massive strides at the plate this year. In addition to his bat, the Twins’ 2025 first-round pick is widely regarded as the best defensive prospect in the organization. Outfielder Hendry Mendez has quietly put together another excellent season while, in my opinion, still not receiving the recognition he deserves. Emmanuel Rodriguez remains one of the highest-upside players in the organization whenever he's healthy. Eduardo Tait has been hammering baseballs at High-A despite being just 19, and both Dasan Hill and Riley Quick have incredible swing-and-miss stuff on the mound. It's rare to have a core of true high-upside prospects this deep. That's exactly where the Twins find themselves today. What makes this group especially impressive is the variety of talent throughout the system. The Twins aren't relying on one or two players to carry the future of the organization. They have talent spread across the diamond and at different stages of development. Naturally, the first reaction when looking at a group like this is simple: hold onto them. It's an understandable way of thinking. Prospects represent hope; they're the players fans imagine becoming the next core of a winning team. If everything breaks right, there's certainly a path where many of these names spend years contributing in Minnesota. Jenkins has the potential to become the face of the franchise. Culpepper and Houston look capable of becoming long-term pieces in the infield. Lackey, Mendez, Tait, Houston, Hill and Quick have all given the organization legitimate reasons to believe they could eventually become important parts of the next great Twins team. But prospect development rarely follows a straight line. For every top prospect who pans out, another falls short. Development can stall, and some players don't adjust to major-league competition as quickly as expected. Others take unexpected paths and become much better players than anyone originally anticipated. It's one of the realities every front office has to account for, no matter how talented a farm system appears. That's part of what makes a deep farm system so valuable. The goal isn't to collect prospects; it's to build the best possible major-league team. Sometimes, those prospects become stars in your own organization. Other times, they become the centerpiece of a trade that brings an established piece to Minnesota. Neither outcome should be viewed as a failure. This isn't about having "too many" prospects. There's really no such thing. Every organization would love to have more young talent. Instead, the Twins have finally built enough organizational depth to approach those conversations differently than they could a couple of years ago. If an impact arm with multiple years of team control becomes available, the Twins have enough talent to put together a competitive offer without emptying the cupboard. That doesn't mean the Twins need to start shopping their best prospect, but they have the flexibility to look around. Of course, that doesn't mean they should move a top prospect for just anyone. The return would have to be worth it. Trading one of the organization's premier prospects for a short-term rental (a player who only fills a need for a few months) wouldn't make sense and would likely send the fanbase into a frenzy. If they ever decide to move one of their top prospects, it would have to be for the type of player every organization is searching for: someone young, controllable, and capable of making a significant impact for multiple seasons. Pitching help would make the most sense. The Twins' biggest weakness right now is on the mound, especially in the bullpen. Injuries and inconsistency have created questions throughout the pitching staff, and adding another reliable pitcher or two would go a long way. But it wouldn't just be about adding one; it would be about adding the right one. A younger arm who’s still in his pre-arbitration years or with multiple seasons of arbitration remaining would be worth offering a significant prospect package for. Someone who can help the Twins immediately while also remaining a key part of the organization for years to come can change the trajectory of a franchise. Maybe this entire group stays together. If that happens, the Twins could have one of the youngest and most exciting cores in baseball over the next several seasons. It's an outcome every fan should be excited about. But if the right opportunity presents itself, moving one or two prospects shouldn't automatically be viewed as the wrong decision either. The purpose of building a farm system is to improve the major-league club. Sometimes that happens by watching homegrown talent develop into stars. Other times, it happens by using a portion of that talent to acquire proven players who can help you win immediately. The Twins have reached the point where both options, to an extent, are available. For an organization hoping to contend not just this year, but for years to come, that's a fascinating crossroads to come to. View full article

Image courtesy of © Ken Blaze-Imagn Images Box Score SP: Taj Bradley - 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 3 BB, 5 K (109 pitches, 68 strikes (62% strikes)) Home Runs: None Top 3 WPA: Taylor Rogers (0.31), Tommy Nance (0.31), Taj Bradley (0.20) Win Probability Chart The Twins entered Thursday afternoon's series finale against the Guardians looking to finagle a split after dropping the first two games of the four-game set. Behind another outstanding outing from Taj Bradley and some late-inning heroics, they did exactly that. Minnesota was left off the scoreboard for the first seven innings against Gavin Williams, but rallied to tie the game in the eighth before breaking through to win it in the 12th. Jack Anderson then slammed the door, giving the Twins a 3-1 victory and an important boost in the standings before heading home. TAJ BRADLEY CARVES UP GUARDIANS Two weeks after both starters dominated when these teams first met, Taj Bradley and Gavin Williams put together another pitching duel. Bradley didn't have his sharpest command early, needing 21 pitches to work through the first inning after issuing a leadoff walk to Steven Kwan. However, he settled in quickly. The right-hander retired 18 of the next 20 hitters he faced, allowing just one hit over the next five innings while consistently overpowering Cleveland's lineup with a fastball that frequently touched triple digits. His only mistake came in the fifth. Patrick Bailey got a 2-0 fastball over the heart of the plate and launched it over the wall in right field for his fifth home run of the season, giving Cleveland a 1-0 lead. That was all the Guardians could manage against Bradley. He finished his afternoon with seven innings of one-run baseball, striking out five while throwing 109 pitches. His final pitch was perhaps his best, reaching back for a 99-MPH fastball that Kyle Manzardo swung through to end the seventh. Bradley was tagged with a no-decision, but you can’t really ask for much more out of him than what the Twins got today. GAVIN WILLIAMS DOMINATES... AGAIN Unfortunately for Minnesota, Williams was every bit as dominant on the other side. The Cleveland right-hander carved through the Twins' lineup from the opening inning, striking out the side in the first before needing just seven pitches to breeze through the second. In the fourth, he threw an immaculate inning, retiring Byron Buxton, Ryan Jeffers and Josh Bell on just nine pitches while recording three strikeouts. Across seven innings, the Twins managed just two hits and never advanced a runner past second base. Williams piled up 11 strikeouts, marking his third consecutive double-digit strikeout performance and his second against Minnesota in just over two weeks. However, the Twins finally showed signs of life in the eighth, once they got into Cleveland's bullpen. Royce Lewis worked a leadoff walk against Hunter Gaddis. Luke Keaschall also reached, prompting Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt to call upon All-Star closer Cade Smith for a five-out save. Instead, Alan Roden spoiled those plans. He jumped on the first pitch he saw from Smith and lined it into left field, bringing Lewis home to tie the game at 1-1. Minnesota threatened for even more after Brooks Lee beat out a fielder's choice and advanced into scoring position, but Smith struck out Buxton to keep the game tied heading into the bottom half of the inning. TWINS BULLPEN KEEPS THEM ALIVE After Bradley departed, Minnesota's bullpen came through with five scoreless innings to keep the game alive. Andrew Morris worked around a Kwan single in the eighth. Yoendrys Gómez worked around a pair of walks in the ninth, striking out Manzardo to force extra innings. Tommy Nance followed with a scoreless 10th, stranding the automatic runner at third base. Taylor Rogers worked around an intentional walk in the 11th by striking out Chase DeLauter and retiring the next two hitters. Every reliever delivered exactly what the Twins needed, setting the stage for the offense to finally break through. LARNACH DELIVERS THE BIG HIT After both teams failed to score in the 10th and 11th innings, Minnesota finally broke through in the 12th. With Ryan Jeffers serving as the automatic runner, Josh Bell and Kody Clemens were retired to quickly put the inning in jeopardy. Cleveland intentionally walked Royce Lewis to create a left-on-left matchup with Trevor Larnach. That decision backfired. Larnach lined a single into left field, scoring Jeffers and giving the Twins their first lead of the afternoon. Keaschall followed with another clutch hit, ripping a single through the left side to score Lewis and extend the lead to 3-1. That proved to be all the insurance Minnesota would need. Jack Anderson took over for the bottom of the 12th and retired two of the first three hitters. Patrick Bailey drew a walk to keep Cleveland's hopes alive. Pinch-hitter Daniel Schneemann then lifted a fly ball to left field, where Larnach caught the final out to complete the 3-1 victory. It wasn't the cleanest offensive performance by any means, but Minnesota's pitching staff carried the club all afternoon before the lineup finally came through in extras. The Twins finish the road trip at 51-53 after salvaging a split in Cleveland. Despite an ugly start to the series, they leave with some much-needed momentum heading into the weekend. What’s Next? The Twins return to Target Field tomorrow to begin a weekend series against the Athletics. Zebby Matthews is the probable starter for the Twins, and he’s set to face off against left-hander Jacob Lopez. First pitch is set for 7:10 PM. Postgame Interviews Coming Soon! Bullpen Availability Chart View full article

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Over the next two weeks, the MLB trade deadline is going to dominate the baseball world. Rumors are about to pick up; contenders will start getting aggressive; and sellers will begin weighing whether it's time to cash in on their most valuable assets. The Twins have no shortage of players who should generate interest, with most of the speculation centered around their lineup. But there's one pitcher whose name has been making the rounds, as well. Not just any pitcher, either: it's their top dog, Joe Ryan. Fellow Twins Daily writer Cody Christie recently wrote a piece about the four options the Twins have surrounding Ryan. They can trade him now, trade him this winter, reevaluate at next year’s deadline, or keep him until he hits free agency. I've shared my belief that trading Ryan ahead of this year's deadline is the right move. If you're going to do it, now is the time. Waiting until the offseason or next summer only lowers his value. Ryan is set to enter his contract year in 2027, meaning any team acquiring him before this deadline would be getting multiple postseason runs with him instead of just one. He's far more than a rental, and that extra year of team control is incredibly valuable in today's market. The earlier you move him, the more you should expect to receive in return. That timing also happens to coincide with Ryan playing the best baseball of his career. Despite a blowup start on Monday that pushed his ERA up by over a full run, his numbers remain very strong. Through 114 1/3 innings this season, he's posted a 3.86 ERA while striking out more than five batters for every walk he allows. His ERA+ sits at an outstanding 126, and that number was up at 151 before Monday's outing. He's under team control beyond this season, he's pitching at a very high level, and he's exactly the type of arm contending teams dream about adding at the deadline. The return would likely never be higher. But here's the bigger question. Even if trading Ryan now makes sense, would Tom Pohlad actually be willing to pull the trigger? The Pohlad family has taken their fair share of criticism over the years, and that's putting it mildly. Since taking over as the club's primary owner, though, Tom Pohlad has been vocal about wanting to do things differently. He (supposedly) understands the frustration from the fan base, and he knows they want to see ownership fully commit to building a sustainable winner. Trading away your ace probably isn't the message those fans are hoping to hear. Whether it's the correct baseball decision or not, perception matters. The Twins have already dealt with historically low attendance numbers at Target Field throughout the 2026 season, and while wins and losses are ultimately what matter most, running a baseball organization involves much more than simply fielding the most efficient roster possible. You also have to give people a reason to come to the stadium. Last month provided a perfect example. When Joe Ryan took the mound against Shohei Ohtani and the Dodgers, Target Field was packed. Now, obviously, those fans weren't showing up solely because Ryan was pitching; Ohtani and the Dodgers are one of the biggest attractions in professional sports. But games like that are a reminder that your roster matters. Who you put on the field absolutely influences whether fans feel excited enough to come to the ballpark, and Ryan has become one of the Twins' biggest stars. Removing him from the roster would have consequences that go well beyond the rotation. There's another factor working against a Ryan trade, as well. The Twins are only 12 months removed from last summer's fire sale. That deadline dramatically changed the direction of the franchise and left a pretty sour taste throughout Twins Territory. Fans watched several important players leave while the organization signaled it was taking a step backward. Another deadline selloff—especially one that includes Ryan–would almost certainly be met with similar frustration, if not more. Even if the long-term return eventually proves worthwhile, convincing fans to be patient all over again would be no easy task. From purely a baseball standpoint, the argument for trading Ryan is a strong one. His value may never be higher than it is today, and if the Twins don't truly believe they're positioned to make a serious run over the next two seasons, maximizing that value is a logical strategy. But baseball decisions don't happen in a vacuum. There are business considerations, fan relations, clubhouse dynamics, and real consequences that come with moving one of the faces of your franchise. Trading Joe Ryan wouldn't just reshape the Twins' rotation. It would send a message about where this organization believes they stand, and where they’re headed. I'm still standing firm on my belief that trading Ryan now is the right baseball move, but it also comes with an enormous amount of risk. Not just from a performance standpoint, but from an engagement and morale standpoint as well. And if Tom Pohlad truly wants to show that this era of Twins baseball will be different, shipping off Joe Ryan would certainly be a bold first step. View full article

Image courtesy of © Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images Kendry Rojas has become one of the biggest wild cards on the Twins' roster. There have been outings where he looks dominant, carving through hitters with overpowering stuff for three or four innings at a time. Then there have been appearances like his last two in the majors, where he walked three hitters across just two innings and struggled to consistently throw competitive pitches. At this point, it's incredibly difficult to predict which version of Rojas is going to show up on any given day. That's also what makes him so fascinating, because underneath the inconsistency is a pitcher with an incredibly encouraging foundation. The raw ingredients are there for a very good major-league arm. If Rojas can find a little more consistency—particularly with his control—the Twins could have something special. His arsenal lays the groundwork for success. Rojas's fastball sits around 96 MPH, giving him the kind of velocity that's difficult to teach. Pair that with his relatively high 44° arm angle, and the pitch generates more ride through the top of the strike zone than the average fastball. It's the kind of fastball that naturally sets up everything else. His slider and changeup have both flashed as legitimate swing-and-miss offerings. Neither pitch has an eye-popping movement profile compared to other breaking balls around the league, but they've consistently generated an absurd number of whiffs when Rojas actually lands them in competitive locations. But that's where the biggest issue begins. Control has been Rojas's biggest obstacle this season, and the numbers paint a pretty clear picture. Just 42% of all the pitches he's thrown this year have actually landed inside the strike zone. There are certainly pitchers who can live outside the zone and still dominate. A lot of them intentionally work off the plate, because they generate so many chase swings from hitters. Rojas hasn't been able to do that. His chase rate sits at just 25%, which isn't nearly high enough to make up for throwing so few strikes. Hitters aren't expanding the zone; they just wait him out. That's been the frustrating part, because in many cases, Rojas is actually doing the hard part first. He's getting ahead of hitters more than two-thirds of the time. That's usually where pitchers gain complete control of an at-bat. Instead, it often feels like Rojas starts trying to be too cute. Rather than attacking hitters with his excellent stuff, he'll nibble around the edges, looking for the perfect pitch instead of the competitive one. Too often, those favorable counts turn into long at-bats, walks, or situations where hitters are suddenly back in control. That’s a problem for any pitcher, but Rojas especially, because hitters really haven't been squaring him up all that often. The quality of contact he’s allowed has been encouraging. His hard-hit rate sits comfortably better than the league average. The same goes for his average exit velocity allowed. He's generating ground balls at an above-average clip, another indicator that hitters aren't consistently making authoritative contact. Those are all signs of a pitcher whose raw stuff is working. Add in the number of swings and misses he generates when pitching in the zone, and it's easy to see the blueprint of a quality major-league pitcher. The foundation is absolutely there. But unfortunately, none of that matters if hitters aren't uncomfortable. Walking nearly one out of every five hitters you face is incredibly difficult to overcome, no matter how electric your arsenal might be. Rojas currently owns a 19.5% walk rate, which puts a ceiling on what he can accomplish right now. That's not to say he needs to completely reinvent himself, however. Rojas has never been a pitcher who lives in the strike zone. Throughout his development, he's succeeded while working around it and using his stuff to entice hitters into chasing pitches. That approach can absolutely work. The problem is that major-league hitters are a completely different challenge. They're more disciplined, they're more selective, and they're much more comfortable taking borderline pitches until you prove you're willing to consistently throw strikes. At this level, you have to earn those chase swings. Rojas simply hasn't done that often enough. If anything, the adjustment feels relatively straightforward. He doesn't need to suddenly become a command artist or start filling up the strike zone on every pitch. He just needs to trust his stuff a little more. His fastball has enough life to miss barrels. His slider and changeup already generate plenty of empty swings. The contact he's allowing is generally weak, and he keeps the ball on the ground better than a lot of pitchers do. Those are all traits that should encourage him to attack hitters more aggressively, instead of trying to paint the corners with every two-strike pitch. Right now, it feels like Rojas is giving hitters opportunities to work themselves back into at-bats that he should be in control of. That's been the frustrating part of watching his development. The upside is obvious, but it’s getting overshadowed by self-inflicted mistakes. The good news is that Rojas is still just 23 years old. There's plenty of time for the consistency to come. Whether that ultimately happens in the rotation or out of the bullpen remains to be seen. His arsenal certainly gives him the ceiling of a quality major-league starter, but it could also make him a dominant late-inning reliever if that's the path the Twins eventually choose. Either way, the raw talent is undeniable. The Twins don't need Rojas to become a different pitcher. They need him to give himself a chance to succeed. It starts with trusting your stuff and throwing more competitive pitches in the strike zone. If he can do that, the foundation of an impact major-league arm is already there. View full article

If the Twins decide to buy at the trade deadline, improving the bullpen should be the top priority. Kenley Jansen, Brock Burke, and Keaton Winn all stand out as intriguing options to strengthen Minnesota's late-inning pitching. View full video

Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images There's been a lot of speculation surrounding what the Minnesota Twins are going to do at this year's trade deadline. In most seasons, the answer would feel pretty straightforward. A team that's below .500 and sitting in third place in its own division at the All-Star break is usually preparing to sell. Expiring contracts get moved, veterans become trade chips, and the focus shifts toward the future. But this year feels different. Despite sitting a game below .500, the Twins are only three games behind both the White Sox and Guardians in the AL Central. They're also firmly in the wide-open Wild Card race if they don't end up winning the division. This isn't a team that's buried in the standings; they're very much in the mix. That makes the next few weeks especially interesting. I've talked recently about why it could make sense for the Twins to trade certain players, like Trevor Larnach or Kody Clemens. Both have short-term value, and moving one or both could help clear future roster logjams while bringing back pieces that fit the organization's long-term plans. But what if Tom Pohlad throws all of that out the window? What if instead of selling, the Twins decide to buy? As strange as that might have sounded a month or two ago, it's becoming a much more realistic possibility. This is a Twins team that feels surprisingly close to putting everything together. The record doesn't necessarily reflect it, but there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Minnesota has scored more runs than any other team in the American League this season. That's impressive enough on its own, but it becomes even more encouraging when you consider they've done it while dealing with injuries to key offensive contributors like Byron Buxton and Ryan Jeffers. The lineup has proven it can produce. If those players return healthy and perform anywhere near their usual levels, the offense can become even more dangerous over the final two months of the season. The top of the rotation is another reason to believe. Joe Ryan has continued to establish himself as one of the best pitchers in the American League, and Taj Bradley has looked like a quality number two option. Having a true one-two punch in a postseason race changes the outlook of an entire team. When those two are on the mound, the Twins have a chance to beat anyone. Now, that doesn't mean the roster is perfect. The back end of the rotation has been inconsistent for much of the year, and the bullpen has been the team's biggest weakness. Late leads have slipped away too often, and reliable relief pitching remains an obvious need. The good news is that this is exactly the time of year when pitching becomes available. Every trade deadline sees teams move veteran starters and relievers, and Minnesota has already shown it's willing to make additions. Just last week, the Twins acquired reliever Tommy Nance. It's not exactly the type of blockbuster move that's going to dominate national headlines, but it could be telling. I'm not sure that trade happens unless Tom Pohlad and the Twins' front office believe this team has a legitimate shot at reaching the postseason. If they thought selling was inevitable, there wouldn't be much reason to start adding bullpen depth before the deadline window even arrives. Pohlad's comments from last week only added more intrigue. When asked about the trade deadline, he said: Those comments shouldn't be interpreted as Pohlad promising an all-in approach over the next few weeks. No one should expect the Twins to empty the farm system or chase the biggest names on the market just because of one quote. But if he truly means what he says, it does open the door to a different kind of deadline than many fans expected. Maybe the obvious selling moves aren't actually in the organization's plans. If the Twins don't want to take a step back when they're only a few games out of first place, that's certainly not an unreasonable thought. Maybe they believe a couple of bullpen additions and another starting pitcher or two are enough to make a legitimate run over the final two months. The offense is already producing at one of the highest levels in baseball. The top of the rotation is capable of shutting down any lineup on any given night. If the Twins can simply stabilize the late innings and get more consistent production from the back end of the rotation, this could become a much more complete team. Of course, all of this is still speculation. The standings can change quickly, and the Twins will tell us a lot over the next few weeks leading up to the August 3rd trade deadline. A hot stretch could push them firmly into buying territory, while a prolonged slump could make selling unavoidable. But as things stand today, there's a legitimate case for Minnesota to be aggressive. For a team that's been hovering around .500 for much of the season, the Twins feel a lot closer to contention than their record suggests. If the front office believes that too, don't be surprised if the deadline ends up looking very different from what everyone expected. View full article

Walker JenkinsVahn LackeyKaelen CulpepperMarek HoustonEmmanuel RodriguezEduardo TaitHendry MendezRiley QuickKendry RojasDasan HillGabriel GonzalezCharlee SotoBrandon WinokurKhadim DiawJames EllwangerCarson TinneyQuentin YoungRyan GallagherBilly AmickCJ Culpepper

Image courtesy of Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images Alan Roden's first year as a member of the Twins has been anything but ordinary. Since arriving in Minnesota at last summer's trade deadline as part of the return for Louis Varland and Ty France, it feels like just about everything that could have complicated his path has done exactly that. Injuries, roster crunches, and unfortunate timing have all played a role in preventing Roden from ever really getting settled at the major-league level. For a player still trying to establish himself, it's probably been a pretty frustrating stretch. After the trade, Roden appeared in just 12 games for the Twins before suffering a season-ending thumb injury. His numbers certainly weren't impressive, posting just a .463 OPS during that brief stint, but it's hard to take much away from a sample that small. Twelve games simply isn't enough to know what you have in a player. Nevertheless, the opportunity to make a stronger first impression would have to wait until 2026. When spring training rolled around, Roden did everything he could to force the Twins' hand. He was one of the club's best offensive performers throughout camp, hitting .302 while consistently getting on base. The extra-base power wasn't necessarily there, but that's never really been the source of Roden's intrigue. His game has always been built around plate discipline, quality at-bats and reliable defense in the outfield—the traits that made the Twins interested in acquiring him in the first place. Unfortunately for Roden, it still wasn't enough to earn an Opening Day roster spot. Instead, he headed back to Triple-A. But roughly a month into the season, after a good start, Roden tore the labrum in his throwing shoulder, sidelining him for about a month and a half. Another injury, another setback, and another delay in what has already been an unusually difficult first year with the organization. To his credit, though, Roden didn't let it derail his season. Once he returned, he continued producing offensively and eventually got the opportunity he'd been waiting for when Byron Buxton landed on the injured list. And when that opportunity finally arrived, Roden wasted absolutely no time. In his first game back with the Twins, he smoked a walk-off single off the wall in right-center against Cleveland, delivering one of the more memorable moments of the Twins' season. With Buxton eligible to return from the IL any time as the second half gets underway, Roden is at risk of being sent back to the minors, or at least losing any grasp on regular playing time in the outfield. Personally, I'd love to see him carve out a role with this team. He controls the strike zone, he’s shown he's capable of making hard contact and provides quality defense in the outfield. Players with that skill set often find ways to contribute, even if they aren't hitting 30 home runs every season. The problem isn't necessarily Roden's tools. It's the timing. At some point, production has to follow. Roden is already 26 years old and still has just 169 major league plate appearances under his belt. That's hardly enough to draw any meaningful long-term conclusions, but it's also not an insignificant sample anymore. So far, he's slashed .193/.266/.287, good for a .553 OPS. Again, that's not enough to definitively say he can't hit major league pitching. Plenty of players have struggled through their first couple hundred plate appearances before figuring things out. But at the same time, those numbers don't exactly inspire confidence either. Ideally, Roden will receive the remainder of the 2026 season to show the Twins what he can do. The organization could very well have opportunities available. If players like Trevor Larnach and Kody Clemens are moved before the trade deadline or depart in the near future, there will naturally be more at-bats to go around in the outfield corners. That could create the consistent playing time Roden has yet to receive since joining the organization. The bigger problem is the competition lurking in the shadows behind him. The next wave of Twins outfield talent is knocking on the door, and Roden knows that as well as anyone, considering he's spent much of the year playing alongside them in Triple-A. Walker Jenkins, Emmanuel Rodriguez, and Hendry Mendez are all waiting for their opportunity in the majors. Each one represents direct competition for Roden. All three hit from the left side, just like Roden does. While Jenkins and Rodriguez have experience playing center field in the minors, it's difficult to envision either becoming the Twins' everyday center fielder as long as Buxton is healthy. Unless an injury changes the equation, or the far less likely possibility of a Buxton trade, their home is probably one of the corner outfield spots. Rodriguez still feels like the most likely of the group to make his major league debut later this season, assuming he returns from injury soon. Jenkins, and especially Mendez, are slightly less likely to arrive before the end of the year, but if the Twins decide they want an extended look at either player before heading into 2027, they won't hesitate to make those calls. That's what makes the next couple of months so important for Roden. He's not simply trying to prove he belongs in the majors. He's trying to convince the Twins he deserves opportunities over three of the organization's best prospects. That's an incredibly difficult task, especially when those prospects are viewed as long-term pieces of the franchise. There just isn't much wiggle room. As I said earlier, I'd love to see Roden succeed in Minnesota. His path hasn't exactly been smooth, and he has enough intriguing traits that it's not difficult to envision him becoming a productive major league outfielder. But baseball isn't always patient. The Twins have elite talent climbing the ladder, and eventually those players are going to need everyday opportunities too. For Roden, it feels like the next few months could determine whether he's part of the Twins' future, or whether his window closes before it ever fully opens. It's starting to feel like now or never for Alan Roden. View full article

Taj Bradley looks like a legitimate number two starter, and Kody Clemens has emerged in the middle of the lineup. But not every Twins storyline has been a positive one in the first half of the season. View full video

Image courtesy of © Eric Hartline-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins are about to return from the All-Star break, and in my eyes, they're set to begin the most important week of their season. They avoided being muscled out of the playoff picture by midseason, but otherwise, nothing has been decided. They've run hot and cold all year, and now find themselves in the mangled middle. Despite the inconsistency, though, the Twins are still very much in the hunt. They're currently tied with Seattle for the final American League Wild Card spot, and they also sit just three games behind both the White Sox and Guardians in the AL Central. As it happens, Cleveland is the team they'll see four times early next week. Before that, however, Minnesota opens the second half with a three-game series against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. Chicago has established itself as one of the better teams in the National League, and they look well on their way to a postseason berth. In short, with the seasonal leverage index already cranked up, the Twins have seven games coming up against two playoff-caliber opponents. That stretch is going to tell us a lot about what this team is made of. More importantly, it could legitimately determine what this roster looks like for the rest of the season. The Twins are still in that awkward position where it's difficult to know exactly how they should approach the trade deadline. They're close enough to the playoff picture that buying makes sense, but they're also inconsistent enough that selling isn't out of the question. The next seven games could go a long way toward answering that question. Let's say the Twins stumble to a 2-5 showing against the Cubs and Guardians. That would leave them at 50-54. Even in the best-case scenario (assuming, among other things, both of those wins came against Cleveland), they'd still be at least three games behind the Guardians. Depending on how the rest of the Wild Card race develops, they'd probably find themselves slipping further behind there as well. At that point, the front office would have to ask itself some difficult questions. On the other hand, imagine the Twins stay hot and go 5-2 over the next week. Suddenly, they're 53-51 and right back in the thick of everything. They'd be firmly alive in the Wild Card race and could find themselves right on the heels of the division leaders, or maybe even sitting atop the AL Central. That would completely change the conversation. Winning is one thing. Winning against high-quality competition is another. If the Twins take care of business against the Cubs and Guardians, what kind of message does that send to the front office? To me, it would be a sign that this team deserves reinforcements, especially if they're able to do it without Byron Buxton in the lineup. If the Twins can beat two playoff-caliber teams while missing their best player, I'd have a hard time sitting on the sidelines at the trade deadline. At that point, I'd be looking for pitching help wherever I could find it. Whether that's another starting pitcher, bullpen help, or both, the goal should be maximizing this team's chances to win the division—or, at the very least, lock down a Wild Card spot. The opportunity is there, but the opposite is also true. If the Twins lose both series and struggle against quality competition, that may be the clearest sign yet that they simply aren't on the same level as the league's contenders. If that's the case, selling becomes a much more realistic option. Maybe you move some of your veteran pieces. Players like Kody Clemens, Josh Bell, Trevor Larnach, Ryan Jeffers, and others could all generate interest from contenders looking to add before the deadline. While none of those players would bring back franchise-altering returns on their own, collectively, they could help Minnesota add future value while opening opportunities for younger players. It's not just about where the Twins stand in the race after seven games. It's about what direction the organization chooses over the next couple of weeks. Another thing I'll be watching closely is how the Twins decide to structure their starting rotation. With seven games over the next week, there's an opportunity for two starters to throw twice. Ideally, those two would be Joe Ryan and Taj Bradley. Those are your two best starters, and if you're trying to maximize your chances of winning the biggest week of the season, it makes sense to have your best arms on the mound as often as possible. The complication, of course, is timing. Ryan and Bradley both pitched against the Angels last weekend, with Ryan throwing on Saturday and Bradley following on Sunday. Ryan also made an appearance in Tuesday night's All-Star Game, even if it was only for one inning. That could make it difficult to line everything up exactly the way you'd like. So how do the Twins approach it? In deference to some of those concerns, they elected to start Bailey Ober to open the second half. Bradley will follow him, and Zebby Matthews gets the ball Sunday. Ryan will, presumably, open the Cleveland series; Bradley is positioned to close it. The priority right now should be putting your team in the best position to win. They've done that, while also giving Ryan a bit of time to recover from the whirlwind of All-Star Week and an intense between-starts appearance in the cauldron of Philadelphia's Citizens Bank Park. No matter how the rotation shakes out, though, one thing feels certain. This next week of baseball is going to tell us a lot about who the 2026 Minnesota Twins really are. And depending on how it unfolds, it could have a major impact on what this team looks like for the rest of the season. View full article

That's a bold statement my friend

Image courtesy of © Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins are just one game below .500 and only three games back of the White Sox and Guardians in the AL Central. For most of the season, they've been viewed as deadline sellers, but that might not end up being the case. Their offense has been the best in the AL this season, and a few additions to the pitching staff might get them over the hump. The bullpen, in particular, has been extremely shaky. So, who are some relief pitchers the Twins could target over the next couple of weeks? Here are three names that make a lot of sense. Kenley Jansen On paper, the Tigers probably have the best roster in the AL Central. But in fact, they're eight games below .500, and Jansen is a 38-year-old reliever. There have been injuries. There have been blowups. There have even been way too many walks, which is a bit uncharacteristic. Jansen is one of the best closers of his generation, but he's very much in the later stages of his career. He's no longer the guy who carved out a plausibly Hall of Fame-caliber career shutting the door in the ninth inning. But that's also exactly why he feels like such an intriguing buy-low candidate, should Detroit be willing to move him to a division rival. The underlying metrics offer a lot more encouragement than the ERA does. Jansen owns a 3.82 expected ERA and continues to limit hard contact at a very impressive rate. While the cutter isn't the 98-MPH weapon it once was, he's still throwing it over 80% of the time, and hitters aren't doing much with it. He can still be one of the most uncomfortable at-bats in baseball when he's commanding that pitch. He can't be the relief ace that every contender is chasing at the deadline, which could work in Minnesota's favor. If the Twins are looking for an experienced late-inning arm without paying a premium prospect cost, Jansen feels like someone who could really stabilize this bullpen. Brock Burke Burke profiles similarly to Jansen, in the sense that both have struggled with command this season, but both are also excellent at limiting hard contact. Burke's hard-hit rate sits in the 90th percentile of all pitchers, and until this season, he consistently generated a ton of ground balls. That's been one of the biggest differences in 2026. Formerly a reliable ground-ball arm with solid command, Burke and the Reds made a few adjustments to both his delivery and pitch mix entering the season. Neither has really worked. He's lost the strike zone far more often than in previous years, and his ground-ball rate has dropped roughly 13 percentage points from where it was a year ago. Even with those issues, though, Burke has still managed to post a 3.02 ERA. The Twins wouldn't necessarily be acquiring him for what he's looked like over the last few months. They'd be betting on getting him back to the pitcher he had been for several years before that. As a low-salary rental arm, Burke is exactly the type of reliever teams love taking a chance on at the deadline, hoping a new coaching staff can unlock the version of the pitcher that's been buried underneath ill-conceived adjustments. Minnesota could certainly use another dependable left-handed reliever. Kody Funderburk and Kendry Rojas have both bounced between Triple-A and the major leagues this season, leaving the Twins without much consistency from the left side of the bullpen. Burke could provide exactly that, and since he'll be a free agent after the season, it wouldn't take much to bring him to Minnesota. Keaton Winn Of the three pitchers mentioned here, Winn would almost certainly cost the most to acquire. He's putting together an excellent season with the Giants, posting a 3.09 ERA across 32 innings while striking out 26 batters compared to just 10 walks. Unlike some of the other bullpen options who may become available, command really isn't a concern with Winn. He also comes with something teams always value: club control. Winn still has another year of pre-arbitration remaining on his contract, meaning the Twins would have him under team control well beyond this season. That added value is almost certainly going to increase the asking price, but it's also part of what makes him such an attractive target. Beyond his contract situation, this is an arm that could really benefit the Twins. Winn is one of the best pitchers in baseball at generating weak contact. His average exit velocity allowed and hard-hit rate both rank in at least the 95th percentile among major-league pitchers, while his barrel rate isn't far behind, in the 88th percentile. He throws strikes, he throws hard, and he keeps the ball on the ground. That's exactly the type of profile the Twins could use at the back end of their bullpen. Adding Winn wouldn't just be about fixing a problem for the rest of 2026. It would also strengthen Minnesota's relief corps moving forward, giving them another controllable late-inning option alongside the pieces already in place. Whether the Twins ultimately decide to buy or sell over the next few weeks will depend on how they play leading up to the deadline. But if they continue hovering around a playoff spot, standing pat probably isn't the best option. The offense has already proven it's capable of carrying this team. Now, it's up to the front office to decide whether adding to the bullpen is enough to turn the Twins from a fringe Wild Card contender into a legitimate playoff threat. Kenley Jansen, Brock Burke, and Keaton Winn are three relievers who could help make that happen. Let me know down in the comments what other relief pitchers you'd like to see the Twins go after! View full article

Image courtesy of © Petre Thomas-Imagn Images The Minnesota Twins' first draft of the Jeremy Zoll era is officially in the books, and they may have landed one of the best catching prospects in recent years. Georgia Tech catcher Vahn Lackey is officially a Twin, and there's a lot to like about his long-term outlook. This season with the Yellow Jackets, Lackey slashed .397/.519/.772 over 61 games. He collected 39 extra-base hits and walked 12 more times than he struck out. He's always been known for his bat-to-ball skills, but his power production shot up this season. As a result, so did his draft stock. It's not just the bat that makes him such an intriguing prospect, either. Lackey projects as a quality defensive catcher. He owns a 60-grade arm and a 55-grade fielding tool, giving scouts plenty of confidence that he'll remain behind the plate for the long haul rather than eventually needing to move to another position. Needless to say, the Twins got a good one. The timing of the pick makes it especially interesting, because Minnesota's catching situation could look dramatically different over the next 12 to 24 months. That raises the question: when could we realistically see Vahn Lackey make his major-league debut? Before getting too far ahead of ourselves, it's important to acknowledge something. No matter how talented Lackey is (or how excited Twins fans are about him), there's no guarantee he'll immediately live up to the hype. Prospects are never sure things. In fact, the last catcher selected this high in the MLB Draft was Henry Davis, who went first overall to the Pirates in 2021. Davis has yet to establish himself in the majors, carrying a career .568 OPS. That's not to suggest Lackey is destined for the same outcome, but it does serve as a reminder that development isn't always linear. Fortunately for the Twins, catcher has been one position where the organization has consistently done a nice job developing talent. Obviously, Joe Mauer is the gold standard. More recently, though, Ryan Jeffers developed into a quality major-league catcher after coming through Minnesota's farm system. They've drafted some guys (Mitch Garver, Ben Rortvedt) who didn't profile as big-leaguers at the time, only to develop them well enough to make them useful catchers—and, in Garver's case, even a short-lived star. Lackey has a chance to be the next success story. It's not impossible that we see him in the majors as soon as 2027. A few things would have to go right for that to happen. First and foremost, Lackey would need to hit the ground running. Players don't reach the majors a year after being drafted unless they're dominating the minor leagues and forcing the organization's hand. If Lackey is flying through the system, the Twins shouldn’t hesitate to reward him. The other factor is the major-league roster itself. Jeffers is very likely to leave via free agency this winter. If something were to happen to Victor Caratini or Alex Jackson—whether it's an injury, a trade, or another roster move—it could create an opportunity for Lackey much sooner than expected. Still, that feels more like the best-case scenario than the most likely one. If I had to project today, I think a debut sometime in 2028 is the more realistic outcome. Caratini has a mutual option for the 2028 season. While it's certainly possible both sides agree to bring him back, mutual options rarely end up being exercised. If Caratini departs after 2027, that creates a cleaner path for Lackey to step into a major-league role. There's also a world where the Twins simply decide to take their time. We've seen Minnesota exercise patience with several of its top prospects over the past few years, and Lackey could very easily be next in line. The organization also has several young catching prospects already in the system, including Eduardo Tait, Khadim Diaw, and Enrique Jimenez. While it's highly unlikely all four players (including Lackey) remain full-time catchers (or Twins prospects) throughout their professional careers, they represent additional competition within the organization. That depth could make the climb to the majors a little slower. If Lackey doesn't debut until 2029, which is the slow-play route, that shouldn't automatically be viewed as a red flag. He'll still be only 23 years old entering the 2029 season. If the Twins believe he needs additional development time, there's nothing wrong with allowing him to fully polish his game before asking him to handle one of the most demanding positions in baseball at the highest level. In many ways, that cautious approach has become part of the organization's philosophy. You could make a strong argument that Walker Jenkins, Kaelen Culpepper, and Emmanuel Rodriguez have all played well enough to deserve major-league opportunities. Injuries have certainly played a role in delaying those promotions, but it also feels like the Twins would rather err on the side of caution than rush one of their top prospects before they're completely ready. There's every reason to believe they'll take a similar approach with Lackey if they feel it's in his best interest. Ultimately, there are too many moving parts to confidently predict an exact debut date. If Lackey tears through the minor leagues and immediately looks capable of helping the big-league club, we may see him sometime during the 2027 season. If his development takes a little longer—or injuries, organizational depth, or other roster decisions get in the way—that timeline could easily shift into 2028 or even 2029. If I had to place a bet today, I'd lean toward the second half of the 2028 season. Of course, the Twins have far more information than any of us do, and they'll make whatever decision they believe gives Lackey the best chance to succeed over the long term. Regardless of exactly when he arrives, one thing feels pretty clear: Lackey is a prospect worth getting excited about. He has all the tools to become the Twins' catcher of the future, and if everything comes together, he could make a lasting impact on this organization. View full article

Vahn Lackey has the talent to move quickly through the Twins' farm system, but several factors will determine when he reaches Minnesota. View full video