Dman

I guess for those that don't want to protect Klein they must think there is no reason to protect Prielipp? Preilipps WHIP and ERA are both Higher than Kleins and they pitched at the same level AA most of the year. Sure Kleins numbers fell off at the end of a long season as he moved up to tougher level AAA. Cut the guy some slack. Klein is exactly the kind of arm you take a chance on in Rule V. Big Body, Big fastball and looks like he could be a really good pen arm for sure if he can't handle starting. He'd be on my list to protect. We'll see what the Twins do.

Hey just adding to the satire, man. 😁

Excellent article! Loved it! Personally I think it is the other way around. Gleeman gets to steal content from posters on this site who all have amazing insight.

I didn't watch every game he pitched in fact only saw a couple of a starts but the ones I saw there was very little weak contact and whole lot of solid contact that I don't think infielders could do much about. The crazy thing is he gives up a lot of those hits after getting to two strikes. Once they can foul away the slider it seems like contact is coming one way or another. He's been better about being out of the zone but then seems to get stuck in full counts. It seems like pitch sequencing or a better change of pace pitch is needed for him to be better. He's got great velocity to work from so you'd think the results would be better. We'll see how 2026 goes. He's a big part of the future if he can put things together.

Couldn't have asked for much more from Hill transitioning from High school to pro ball. Some control issues to work on, but the pitches are there. I really like Klein's big body and K rate. He can get hit hard at times and is a fly ball pitcher and yet he is also dominant at times. A bit more consistency and he looks ready for the bigs to me. Ohl's changeup is a weapon and he is not afraid to throw strikes. Still he needs to mix a little better at the big league level. It looked like he was starting to get there at the end of the season. Bragg, Hoopes and Paredes all had their moments. Felt like Paredes was used in high leverage situations a lot. Fastball might not be that fast, but he has pitched well at every level. AAA should be the final test. It's a good group of arms. Hoping they can take the next big step.

This is a great writeup! His ceiling really comes down to his bat. I liked his swing path and contact skills at Fort Meyers. Wondering if he was swinging for more power at High A? Thus the drop-off. At any rate just given the swing I think the odds are good he makes it and is a decent hitter. Power is always the last thing to come. He might get there he might end up more like Martin. Will have to wait and see. I still like the profile even without much power. Now he just has to figure out ways to hit that nasty breaking stuff. If he can he should move as fast as Culpepper.

Yeah those guys after the top 7 or 8 are all unlikely to get taken but are on the list because they are eligible and had some level of success to make it at some point. I only updated the upper portion throughout the year the others were there since around last June when I started collecting the data because I like to know what areas the Twins should draft or trade from. Prato was one of my favorite players but after his one exceptional half season he has never really put things together again in a way for him to look MLB ready. He is a heck of a minor league player and anyone getting to AAA has likely proven they technically can play with the big boys, but not well enough to earn a spot. Only so many spots. We'll see if maybe he ends up like Helman and finds a job elsewhere. Given his stats that seems unlikely, but you never know.

Picking this high I'd prefer up the middle players. Finding a Center fielder with plus speed would be ideal as we don't really have much in the system. Maybe Winokur has plus speed, but I think Jenkins and Rodriguez are just above average not elite there. I like the Lebron's profile. Very well rounded with the bat speed the Twins seem to crave. Will be interesting to see how he does this year. If he can get better about not chasing his numbers could be even better. If Strosnider can stick in center and be plus defensively I'll be cheering for him to be the Twins pick if they fall down the board. Here's to hoping he can better about not chasing balls out of the zone. Can't wait to see where the Twins pick and what the board will look like.

Yeah I really like the stuff he has. It was crazy some of the nasty pitches he had that went for hit's after the deadline. Wondering if teams know what pitch he is throwing with two strikes as he really did have some tough luck. The production for cost ratio doesn't get much better for an arm with a fair bit of experience and some good pitches. As noted with a depleted pen he is a must keep IMO. I think he pitches to that 3.5 ERA more often than 4.5 so I'd want to keep him and look for more consistency next season.

I think the Twins will have plenty of suitors for both pitchers. Every playoff team is in need of top level rotation arms. To me if you are getting rid of one of them you might as well get rid of both. Right now the Twins have a good One, Two punch with Pablo and Ryan. Ryan is a unicorn pitcher with his rising fastball and Pablo's sweeper is a tough pitch as well. With both arms they have a chance, but remove one and you are most likely looking at 2028 before being ready to truly compete again. If that's where they are headed just trade both of them and play the young guys and see who shakes out. If Buxton wants to leave so be it. He likely won't be needed on a team that is in heavy rebuild mode anyway. IMO you give up on one you might as well go all the way. No reason to go half way. Pick rebuild or some level of contention, but stripped down as they are right now losing another big piece really pushes things over the edge for me as I think you take any idea of contention out of the equation. If that is the case get what you can for anyone of value and start over. Start with a whole new core and hope things fall your way.

I like Tonkin's confidence in his stuff and ability to attack, but the results seem pretty replaceable. There are a lot of young arms to add for Rule V and the Twins should have enough money to find something better than what Tonkin brings . I just don't see them bringing both Topa and Tonkin back one of them has to go and I think that will be Tonkin. It could go either way with Topa more expensive, but I think Topa's ground ball tendencies make him a safer bet. I'd love Tonkin on a Minor league deal as someone they bring up as long term injuries happen, but other than that I don't see him coming back.

How many more young guys do they need? For the outfield they have Martin establishing himself and they just traded for Roden. Not to mention they have Gonzalez, Rodriguez, and Jenkins who all will need chances to prove themselves with Jenkins and Rodriguez top 100 prospects. They still have Wallner how many more outfielder's do they need to trade for? They have Keacshal at 2nd base now and Culpepper is another top 100 prospect who can play short likely by mid to late next year. While Lee hasn't lit the world on fire he is a former top 100 prospect who can play the infield. They have Lewis at third who is relatively young with Mendez and Houston likely on the way if not next year then the year after. That doesn't even include whoever they get in this years draft. How many more young guys does this team need? As it stands keeping all the arms that are Rule V eligible means the 40 man will have a ton of young arms to work with and there are more coming. So are we gonna just throw prospects away to get more prospects? If they just keep what they have and if the younger position players can improve this team can be a playoff team. Likely not a WS contender but a good team. Take one more piece out and it gets harder to get there. I do get that next year is still young guys needing experience to start a new core especially on the hitting side and even somewhat on the pitching side. You could go all in and make more trades but you need to get top of line prospects or difference making players otherwise just use what you have in the system already and take your comp pick when Pablo and Ryan leave. There is a lot of youth on the way and they will need chances to prove themselves I don't see a great need for more trades unless very high quality deals (i.e. Overpays).

I like the delivery and he can throw hard, but the contact he gives up is not good. There's a lot of good stuff there to build on, but his inability to throw strikes at times is maddening. When he is on he can K guys and look good. I'd like to hang onto him and see if some tweaks make him better but with likely 5 arms to add via Rule V and decision's needed to be made on Lawyerson and maybe Adams is there going to be room for another work in progress arm? It doesn't look like it to me, but we'll see. If the Twins think there is room for him I wouldn't mind one more try next year as lefties that throw hard are hard to come by, but he needs some work just to be a decent reliever right now. He seems like a long shot to make it IMO, but we'll see. I think likely DFA and they'd love to get him back on minor league deal if someone doesn't claim him.

The worst punishment MLB could give the Twins would be giving them the 1st round pick forcing them to spend the most money in the draft. Falling outside the top 5 would be pretty disappointing. Still they will get to pick top 4 the rest of the way. If they are top 3 it is going to be hard not to go with another shortstop as things stand right now the top 4 picks could be shortstops. don't care where they pick as long as they get s difference making type player when they pick. They should be in a good spot to do that.

Yeah I have looked at it and have a spreadsheet for that as well. I think this was my thinking about a month ago. Highlighted in red are guys they might not bring back and guys they might try to take off the 40 man and slip through waivers. In Yellow were players I wasn't sure they would protect, but wanted to see how many they might be able to fit. Also tried to build who else they might need to protect in future years and 2026 looks pretty sparse to me right now though that could change with improved performance. Some of the players that have until 2027 look like they will get added early. They'll need space for some vets especially in the pen so not sure how many rule V players they can really add. We'll find out soon enough. 2025 40 Man 2025 Rule V 2026 Rule V 2027 Rule V Mick Abel Kade Bragg Walker Jenkins Travis Adams Charlee Soto Taj Bradley Brandon Winokur Noah Davis Conner Prielipp Dylan Questad David Festa Kody Funderburk Kalen Culpepper Thomas Hatch Andrew Morris Kyle DeBarge Brooks Kriske C.J. Culpepper Khadim Diaw Pablo Lopez Jacob Kisting Zebby Matthews Cole Peschl Anthony Misiewicz Kendry Rojas Ryan Galagher Baily Ober Pierson Ohl Marco Raya Joe Ryan Cole Sands Michael Tonkin John Klein Justin Topa SWR Ryan Jeffers Jhonny Pereda Christian Vasquez Kody Clemens Ryan Fitsgerald Mickey Gasper Edouard Julien Hendry Mendez Luke Keaschall Brooks Lee Royce Lewis Jose Miranda Noah Cardenes Byron Buxton DaShawn Keirsey Jr. Kalai Rosario Trevor Larnach Gabriel Gonzalez Austin Martin Carson McCusker James Outman Alan Roden Emmanual Rodriguez Matt Wallner

Klein is a tough one, but if you are protecting Prielipp why not Klein was my logic. They pitched at the same level faced the same teams and Klein's numbers were better. Klein is also a year younger than Prielipp. He just doesn't have the first round pedigree and isn't a lefty. I think Prielipp has better stuff, but I think Klein is too good not to be added. He even came up 2nd in the Twins Daily voting for best starter losing only to Hill. I'm pretty confident he will be an add.

On the fence with Mendez. I have had him in and out. Usually rule V hitters that get taken are up the middle guys (catcher, Short, center). Mendez doesn't have elite defense. The only reason I think they might add him is the contact rate is so good as is the eye at the plate. Those are skills that can lead to an elite bat. He's 50\50 for me to be added.

I don't know where you go to find a complete list, but I am such a prospect nerd I keep my own mainly based on Fangraphs info. :Likely not complete but should give you an idea. I think the top 6 are for sure's and you could argue Cardenas, Rosario and MaCleod belong as well, but that's a lot of names as is. Connor Prielipp Kendry Rojas Andrew Morris CJ Culpepper John Klein Gabriel Gonzalez Hendry Mendez Christian MacLeod Kyler Fedko Kala'I Rosario Jose Olivaros Noah Cardenas Corey Lewis Ricardo Olivar Jaylen Nowlin Anthony Prato Alejandro Hidalgo Cody Lawyeryson Misael Urbina Patrick Winkel

I think it is a long shot that he makes the team out of spring training. He hits the ball on the ground a lot and if he is moving to first they'll want him to get more reps there before moving him to the Twins. Id say St Paul to start and depending on how things go for Mendez and the Twins by June he could be an option. Still a hot hitting spring training could change some minds. It is a nice profile and it looks like more power is coming especially if he can lift the ball more. It's an exciting bat, but I think it will take more time. We'll see I guess.

There's an interesting collection of ten names for that 5th spot. Bradley, Mathews, Abel, Prielipp and Morris all seem pretty close to ready. They need to refine their pitches, but it's a nice starting 5 after the MLB starting 4. (I'm not including Festa because I think with shoulder issues the pen makes more sense.) Even after that you have arms that by mid year could be options in Rojas, Raya, Culpepper, Klein Gallagher and maybe MaCleod if he finds better control and command. After that you have a next wave likely for 2027 of Soto, Hill, Bohorquez, Quick and Oliveros with other interesting arms drafted higher than normal in Ellwanger, Reitz, and Barr, who have tantalizing upside. Add in Horn the lefty they traded for and that's another nice group of arms just a couple of years away. There's also still a chance that Langenberg (who came on strong later in the year), Peschl, Kisting, Doktorcyyk turn into something down the line as they pitched well at times last year. Just need to find more consistency., I would bet at least one or two of those arms turns into something down the line. Even in the DSL they have two top young arms in Castellanos and Villoria who could be in the states soon helping to add more high end arms to the farm. They really strengthened the systems starting pitching at the deadline. Granted they lost all the high leverage arms in the pen to do it. Still given all the names here some of those guys and my hope Festa is one of them ,can help remake the pen. With the trades and this years draft focused on high end arms it feels like the Twins might have the strongest starting pitching throughout all their affiliates that I have ever seen. Granted will it all translate? We know not all of them will, but with the shear number of high end options some of them have to make it.

I liked Baldelli. He never threw his players under the bus and the clubhouse always seemed pretty rosy since he has been here. Still right or wrong a change needed to be made. This team hasn't performed all that well under his leadership. They shook up the roster might as well shake up the leader of the clubhouse. Some new blood seems necessary right now. I wish Rocko well. I think he will land a MLB job again. Hopefully the Twins find someone good to replace him.

My two cents. I don't see the Twins bringing back Julien or Miranda. They don't have the athletic profile and their bats haven't overcome their defensive deficiencies. Both are running out of options and the Twins have more versatile players that could replace them. They just might bring Vasquez back, unless he gets a big offer somewhere else. The pitchers seem to love him and with a young staff coming up I could see the Twins retaining him if the salary is right. I think they might keep Fitzgerald on the 40 man. He didn't play a ton at the MLB level but his stats indicate he held his own. He was a plus in WAR and WRC+. He's a cheap backup for Lee while they pay off Correa's Salary. Unless something else falls in their lap or they decide to spend I think Fitz is the backup for short. I have Hatch (who I kind of like), Misiewicz and Tonkin all gone in 2026. The Twins have to add a ton of Rule V arms and will need the space. I don't think any of those arms did anything to prove the Twins can't find similar production on the fringes elsewhere if needed. I have them Keeping Ohl as he didn't allow a run the last 7 innings pitched. Not sure if he lasts long term but I think they give him next year to prove he belongs. I don't know. Lawyerson pitched well. I wouldn't have had them adding him, but with how well he did they might have to. Kiersey will be off the 40 man and I think McCusker too if they need the space. I can't see them letting go of Outman as cheap Buxton insurance despite the K rate, but maybe that will change their minds? Their committed to Roden. He's going to get a ton of chances if he stays healthy.

The Twins like versatility in their players and Clemens is a solid defensive player at multiple positions. Jullien just doesn't have the same defensive upside and the difference in their offense is minimal IMO. Especially when you factor in the impact it had on games with Clutch Kody early in the year. The Twins are believers in exit velocity and hard hit rate and Clemens has done well there at times. While he doesn't walk much he doesn't K an obscene amount either. Still as @chpettit19 said it would be nice to find someone with a bit more potential there. He ended up playing to his sub .700 OPS but his hot month moved him up a bit .715. You'd like to see more than that from a 29 year old player. I'm not completely opposed to keeping him on to start the season next year. He's the perfect gamer(battle your tail off) type player Grady used to love. Still to say they don't need an upgrade there would be disingenuous. I don't see Jullien on the 40 man next year. Not enough defensive versatility. Running out of options and other players coming up that look like better options. We'll see what happens in the offseason.

I don't know. You might want to give a bit more context than that when it comes to Detroit and Cleveland. Detroit sold everything they could in 2024 and still made the playoffs and in 2023 Cleveland traded Civale for Manzardo when they weren't really out of the race. I think teams have to pick there spots and personally I think the Twins chose correctly this year. The other thing that needed to happen to make history is the Tigers pretty much collapsed after the deadline as their starting pitchers kept getting hurt and the replacements they picked up didn't pan out. One from the Twins who would have been kept if they didn't sell was so bad they moved him to the pen. Other things to consider. Ryan didn't have a great second half. Pablo never really made it back. Ober regressed and is struggling to reinvent his pitch mix. SWR was out for a while. Even if they kept everybody including Paddack the rotation didn't really have the horses to compete IMO. Other players we got rid of like Castro has been horrible for the Cubs. Coulombe hasn't been as good though not terrible. Varland hasn't been as good with his new team though he seems to be coming around of late. Stewart was injured for a while for the Dodgers. So those players wouldn't have helped the Twins much. They are likely better than some of their replacements but enough to do what the Guard's did? Unlikely IMO. Granted having Bader, Duran and likely Jax would have helped seal some games, but with the starting pitching so damaged it feels like the Twins would have played more like the Tigers in the second half than the Guards IMO. In the end I just don't see that the Twins had the young talent to step up and make a difference for a playoff run. Festa was injured and we've seen good Metthews and bad Matthews and then no one behind him with Morris hurt, Raya and Prielipp not ready you are looking at Ohl or Adams as a 5th starter some days or a retread AAA starter. They needed to sell. Maybe not as much as they sold but selling to create more depth for next year and beyond made the most sense to me.

Really cool to have a High school pitcher come in first year and dominate. I agree the walks are concerning, but Hill exceeded every expectation you could have for a high school pitchers first pro year. With Hill, Soto and Bohorquez coming up together along with a nice group of recently drafted college arms that could be a nice wave of upside arms in the near future. Prielipp managed to get pitcher of the year from the Twins org. I am happy he made it through a whole season healthy and seems to be pitch mix or pitch location away from being even better than he was this year. Fingers crossed he moves into the elite pitcher zone next year. I really like what Klein did this year and was happy to see him voted ahead of Preilipp as he was just a tick better all year. They are close enough to say they are even and you could have given the lefty the edge, but it nice to see Klein get some love. Some good arms in this group and the for the ones in AAA next year should help them figure out what they'll need to work on to get to the Majors. Even if some of these arms end up pen arms they could be really, really good pen arms. It's a nice list and should grow when the college arms added from this years draft hit the Minors next year.