DJL44

Deeper in the minors, the clock is ticking on Sam Armstrong (25 years old in AA),

Age, injury history and remaining team control are all factors. Festa, Prielipp and Raya are the most likely candidates. I would like to see them grab some candidates out of other organizations as well.

Looks like the whole coaching staff has been announced. Mark Hallberg is the bench coach (River Falls ties), Mike Rabelo asst bench coach, Toby Gardenhire field coordinator.

I think the kids are likely already better than Outman and I'd rather give them the innings.

I guess nobody was talking about it because nobody trusts ownership that there actually was $425M in debt. Before the season it was $300M, after the season it was $400M, now it's $425M? How are they adding $25M in debt every month? How did they add another $25M to the total when the season is over and they don't have any payroll or operating expenses? I don't believe any of these numbers just like I don't believe MLB claiming they lost billions this season. It doesn't add up.

True, but next year will be more expensive than this year. If teams aren't interested in paying him $4.7M this year, will they be excited to pay him $6.5M next year?

I'd rather cut Larnach, DH Wallner and spend the $5M on someone who already knows how to play 1B.

More like 20% of Louie Varland. That trade was all about Rojas.

I get what you're saying but I dislike paying retail prices for relief pitchers. I would only look for 1-year contracts in the bullpen.

What do you think it would cost to get Joey Bart? The Twins can non-tender Larnach, trade a prospect or two and end up with the same roster I posted above. How much is a 0.5 WAR catcher with 2 years of arbitration control worth? Can they get him for Kyler Fedko? The advantage for the Pirates of picking up potential non-tender candidates is they can't say "no thanks" to the money. Free agents can tell them to go to hell.

Pittsburgh needs offense - they don't have a LF or a DH on their current roster. They have money to spend but aren't going to attract free agents so a trade for a bat helps them quite a bit. I agree that the Twins would need to throw something else into the trade. Add Ricardo Olivar or Danny DeAndrade? Bart is a 0.5 WAR backup catcher with a $2.7M salary. Here's a quote from a random (AI generated?) internet article

If you're going to sell that hard, you need to sell Buxton, Ryan and Ober as well. Even then, I'd pick up a minor league free agent and release Julien.

Arizona is losing Gallen and has a clear need for starting pitching. MN needs a SS. They seem to fit well as trade partners.

One of the things I like best about this roster is you can run it all back again in 2027 if it works out. Plus, there's a ton of cash available to add at the trade deadline.

Is Ober for Lawlar an even trade or would MN need to add a prospect?

Trade OF Trevor Larnach to the Pirates for C Joey Bart. Trade SP Bailey Ober to Arizona for SS Jordan Lawlar Promote Walker Jenkins and put him in RF. Sign Miguel Andujar. 2 years $12M. If not him, then Ryan Mountcastle. Sign two adequate RHRP for $3M each. Move Festa and Prielipp to the bullpen. Mick Abel is the 6th SP and Emmanuel Rodriguez is the 6th OF. Use some of the extra payroll money to extend Jeffers for an additional 2 years $27M and a $14M option / $1M buyout for 2028. C: Ryan Jeffers ($7.2M) 1B: Miguel Andujar ($6M) 2B: Luke Keaschall ($0.80M) 3B: Royce Lewis ($3.00M) SS: Jordan Lawlar ($0.8M) LF: Austin Martin ($0.80M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Walker Jenkins ($0.80M) DH: Matt Wallner ($0.8M) 4th OF: Alan Roden ($0.80M) Utility: Brooks Lee ($0.8M) Utility: Kody Clemens ($0.80M) Backup C: Joey Bart ($2.7M) POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($21.75M) SP2: Joe Ryan ($5.80M) SP3: Taj Bradley ($0.8M) SP4: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.80M) SP5: Zebby Matthews ($0.80M) RP: Justin Topa ($1.75M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.80M) RP: Cole Sands ($1.30M) RP: Free Agent ($3M) RP: Free Agent ($3M) RP: Connor Prielipp ($0.80M) RP: David Festa ($0.80M) RP: Rule 5 Pick ($0.80M) POS: Add Dead Money Here ($0.00M) Payroll is 25.00% under budget

The Reds grabbed Rortvedt on waivers

If I was the owner and I got a vote of no confidence from Byron Buxton, I would fire my POBO.

Why spend $10M on a veteran DH for that going-nowhere team? Are you looking to flip him in July?

Is the player one of the best 5 at his position for his current level in the minors? If not, he probably should stay put.

That's fine. With that perspective you also trade Ryan, Jeffers and Lopez this offseason. It's always hard to determine the context for people's comments. Are they based on trying to win in 2026 or in 2028? "Culpepper or bust" is a plan for competing in 2028. Even then, I'd keep Culpepper in AAA until he earns the promotion. It didn't do the Twins any good to waste a couple seasons of service time developing Aaron Hicks in the majors instead of in the minors. Give playing time to someone younger than Fitzgerald (Chad Stevens looks interesting, for example) and see if you can develop a second player who can help in 2028. If they don't work out, then you can still promote the rookie. The 2012/2013 Twins are relevant here. Terry Ryan wouldn't tear it all the way down after a bad 2012. He kept Morneau, Willingham, Perkins and Duensing and held onto Kevin Correia for the whole season instead of cashing him at the trade deadline. The team wasn't good again until 2015 and all of those guys (except Perkins) were gone. He filled in gaps with Clete Thomas and 39-year-old Jamey Carroll. Perkins got to play in 3 All-Star games but didn't pitch in the postseason in the prime of his career because Terry Ryan wouldn't cash in his all-star lefthanded reliever for more talent.

I would say that should be the expectation for Culpepper. Not terrible, but not as good as you'd hope for. Culpepper has spent half a season at Double-A so there's probably some more growth needed at AAA before you start challenging him with major league pitching. Look at how long it took Byron Buxton to adjust to MLB pitching. I would say betting your season on a rookie with a half-season at Double A with a backup plan of a 32-year-old nobody or whatever you find on the waiver wire is no way to build a team. Powerball has better odds. Did people forget what happened when Terry Ryan traded away Span and Revere and handed the job to Aaron Hicks in 2015? Did you enjoy watching Clete Thomas play CF for a 66-win team? It's the same plan.

People had that expectation for Brooks Lee. He had posted a good batting line at AAA. How did that work out?

If they are willing to pay free agent retail prices for Caratini they should be willing to extend Jeffers’ contract.

Players usually don’t get better on defense in their mid to late 20s. Lee doesn’t have the physical tools to become a plus defensive SS. He is a slow runner and his throwing arm is below average. If he is able to add an extra step on defense and an extra 10 mph on his throws in one offseason you should suspect PED use.