DJL44

I like steps one, four and five. Those are going to be essential to winning. Steps two and three: I would rather see them find someone younger for first base. If they have Funderburk and Prielipp in the bullpen then they don't need another lefty reliever. They absolutely have to find another shortstop and another first baseman if they want to contend. I think Jordan Lawlar is the right combination of talented and blocked in his organization and I'd be more than willing to offer Bailey Ober to acquire him. There are lots of available first basemen younger than Goldschmidt. I think Spencer Steer has everything they're looking for at a lower salary, and I think they may be able to get him for Trevor Larnach and a prospect in the 20-30 range. Plus, that frees up the spot in the outfield for Emmanuel Rodriguez (or Gonzalez or Jenkins). There are a few more things to do this offseason 6) Extend Ryan Jeffers contract. They have to either extend him or trade him and if they want to contend that means a contract extension. 7) Spend some money on the bullpen. You'll notice that the only transaction I've outlined above that costs anything is extending Jeffers. The two trades actually lower the payroll to the $85M range. That gives them cash to throw at relief pitching. They need to think bigger than Caleb Thielbar. Kenley Jansen is as proven of a closer as you can get and the estimated contract is one year for $9M. He wants to get to 500 saves and is looking for a team that will let him close games. The Twins are a great fit. OF: Buxton, Wallner, Martin, Roden, Rodriguez IF: Lewis, Lawlar, Keaschall, Steer, Lee, Clemens C: Jeffers, Jackson SP: Lopez, Ryan, Bradley, Woods Richardson, Matthews RP: Jansen, Festa, Prielipp, Sands, Orze, Funderburk, Topa, optionable rookie That's not a World Series contender, but they have a chance at the weak AL Central.

I will also, mainly because I doubt Ryan Jeffers wants to play for the 2026-28 Minnesota Twins. Why would he? I'd rather try to play for a winner if I had the choice.

And that doesn't count Walker Jenkins, who will need a spot next summer. Thank goodness they cut Keirsey. They also have 3 RH hitting OF and two more in the upper minors (Rosario and Fedko). They don't need 14 outfielders. Pereda seems to be able to hit and throw but struggled to actually catch the ball. You didn't even get into the marginal players like Kody Clemens, Austin Jackson and Eric Orze who were recently acquired for nothing or next to nothing.

I agree that he could be a utility infielder but obviously that's not what you want from the #33 pick in the draft. He's also clearly not the 33rd best MLB prospect who was drafted in 2024. Therefore, down arrow.

Or extend Jeffers, grab Susac and put Austin Jackson on waivers.

That's not middle of the pack. 60 catchers will be on Opening Day rosters.

The catcher market doesn't usually go that high. Sean Murphy is getting $15M because he's an All-Star with a gold glove award. Will Smith is making $14M and Cal Raleigh is at $17.5M. I don't think Jeffers is in that performance tier. If they want Sean Murphy, there are rumors that the remaining 3 years and $45M of his contract are available due to ROY Drake Baldwin. I might be tempted to take that contract on and trade Jeffers if he won't sign for less than $36M.

The Twins absolutely have to spend some money extending contracts for the players they've developed. That's the most effective use of their budget.

Last year probably was a better time, they could have negotiated a lower number, but this season works for me too. Jeffers will be the best catcher available as a free agent next season. By Fangraphs he's the 18th best catcher over the last two seasons - almost exactly as valuable as Salvador Perez. Perez just signed an extension for 2 years, $25M. The Twins have Jeffers with one arbitration season remaining at about $6M so a 3yr-$30M contract would be market rate. I would try to get an option/buyout for 2029 at $12M/$1M as well. Jeffers will turn 32 in 2029. Even though Jeffers will be the best free agent catcher next season, I don't think he will get more than a 3 year, $36M contract. If he takes the $30M now he would be potentially giving up $12M. That would be mitigated somewhat by the option year. The big risk for Jeffers is he suffers a major injury this season that keeps him from playing behind the plate in future seasons. He'd be risking $30M to try for an extra $12M.

Eeles may have been a Saints fan favorite but he never played for the Twins. He's freely available talent, just like most AAA players.

Brandon Clarke is a pretty good prospect add for the Cardinals. They will be looking to sell more players. I expect Brendan Donovan, JoJo Romero and Nolan Arenado to end up somewhere else, not sure about Willson Contreras or Lars Nootbaar.

There are at least a dozen major and minor league free agent first basemen with more impressive stats than an 825 OPS in AAA.

Cole Peschl has been okay

I don't know if this makes them more or less likely to trade for Joe Ryan. They filled a spot in the rotation but may want to add even more.

Red Sox are taking on most of the salary and returning a mediocre reliever and minor league pitcher.

Sure, but not for outfielders

If you're looking at a redraft 18 months later, then you would see these grades Culpepper - up DeBarge - down Amick - down Hill - up Diaw - flat Ferrer - down Kendle - down Nick Kurtz might go #1 now instead of #4 and Payton Tolle at #50 looks like a great pick by the Red Sox.

I agree. If you had to do the 2024 draft all over again, there is no way DeBarge goes 33rd overall. His stock is trending down.

"Take the hit" means trade Ryan, Lopez, Ober and Jeffers this winter. They can't compete with what they already have in house.

Larnach, Julien, Clemens and Outman aren't young.

I'd be fine with that, if they can't find a better option.

I think Mountcastle is a decent bet to put up numbers more like his career splits - 724 OPS vs RHP and 813 OPS vs LHP. I also think everyone is expecting that Kody Clemens is unlikely to repeat his best ever offensive performance of 2025. His career splits are 688 OPS vs RHP and 571 OPS vs LHP.

I expect Roden would get plenty of at-bats at Martin's expense due to the platoon advantage. Buxton will get days off (or DH days platooning with Wallner) with Emmanuel Rodriguez shifting to CF which will open up RF on those days. He can easily play 3 days a week even with everyone healthy. I also think there is a >90% chance of an injury in the first six weeks. Martin, Buxton, Castro and Wallner all spent time on the IL before the end of May last season. It's better than even odds that at least two outfielders go on the injured list in the first two months of the season.

First base actually has a lot of free agent options who fit in the budget and would improve the team. SS has two: Ha-Seong Kim and Isaiah Kiner-Falefa. Based on supply and demand, it is harder to find a shortstop.

Roden becomes the 4th OF. Martin LF, Buxton CF, Rodriguez RF, Wallner DH. There's plenty of at-bats for all of them. Players get dinged up all the time.