Dman

I think the board here predicted most all of these roster moves. Some of us were concerned about Lawyerson getting picked off if dropped and it looks like that happened but the Twins have a ton of young arms on the way up so seemed like a worthy gamble to see if they could get him back to AAA. Miranda still might might make it to AAA. I don't know what happened to him, but I couldn't see him staying on the 40 man. Again lot's of young talent coming up and a lot of those can run better than he does and have more position flexibility. The other guys are pretty replaceable so no reason to keep them on there as they might make it through anyway, I liked Hatch and bet he gets picked up. Other than that none of those guys did much to impress. It will be interesting to see how Rule V shakes out. Still not enough room for all the adds I have on my list so it looks like some arms might have to out there and just hope they don't get taken. Hopefully they protect the right players,

I had Cholowsky and Emerson as 1 and 2 as well. The thing is we don't know where the Twins will pick just yet and I have this feeling it won't be at number one or two, but we'll see. Not sure that I'd be up for a prep arm this high in the draft. Twins need elite hitters in the worst way and finding an up the middle player would be best as once you move down in the draft it's hard to find those types of players as they are the first to go. If the Twins fell out of the top 5 I could see them going arm but more likely college arm We'll see how Lombard looks this year but betting on guys with swing and miss issues this high in the draft is not really appealing to me. Can't afford to miss if top 5. It's a deep draft which means getting that first pick right is going to be really important.

I had no idea DeBarge was that good defensively. If he can get that hit tool going he could be a really valuable weapon all around the field. Congrats on an award that is hard earned and a needed skillset in this system.

The pitchers really seemed to like Vasquez back there calling the game. I could see the Twins bringing him back for a lower salary. I like his saavy and defense back there, but am not sure I care too much one way or the other if they bring him back or not. Still I think they might.

Yeah I get that, but for not having the "stuff" he sure did better than those with supposedly better stuff. I only watched him twice and unfortunately those were not good games for him. He got hit hard and gave up home run type contact to several batters in a row in one of the games I watched him. Still he was very good early in the year and his over all stats as stated had him at the top of Twins prospects this year. Given what I saw in very small sample size I have trouble seeing him as a starter. Still he's been getting K's and keeping runs off the board for the most part. Seems like something has improved. I guess we'll see what the Twins think. They have a lot of young arms maybe they just take the risk. If I were another team I still think he'd be a guy I'd target just like the Twins targeted the Phillies pitcher although I think Klein has better control than Castellano.

I don't completely disagree. There are lot's of guys that throw 94-95 and have good frames. Still I don't think many of them had the season Klein did. For reference just look back at the Twins Daily article for best pitcher in 2025. Klein is number 2 (If not for Dasan HIll he would have been number one). If you are not protecting him why protect Rojas or Morris or Culpepper or Preilipp? He pitched better than all of them. Why would his projection be less than those other arms when he has better stats over all? That's the question I have for those that say he shouldn't be added. He has some warts in his profile as he is primarily a fly ball pitcher and I have noticed the last two seasons when his arms tires later in the year he tends to get pounded. He might not make it as a starter, but could be a good pen arm as a floor. Still there's a lot of potential there. They have developed a guy that wasn't even drafted into one the of the best pitcher's in their system. I don't think they will want to take a chance on Oakland or Tampa turning him into a viable starter via Rule V.

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.