DocBauer

Gonzalez is a RH hitting OF with pop and developing power. Something the Twins really need. And based on his contact profile and previous production, he seems a fairly safe bet to say he'll become a solid ML ballplayer. But he doesn't necessarily beat out Martin. There may be room for a 2nd RH bat. (I'm leaving Buxton out for obvious reasons). But I think the younger...and actually producing...Keaschall does. He's as fast, or faster, than Martin, and appears to be the better SB threat. He currently looks like the better hitter as well. I don't think Martin loses his job tomorrow, but since he has an option available, I'd go along with the idea of some St Paul time. But the Twins OF is going to get really crowded soon, and I'm thinking Martin might not be part of it in 2027.

There's really no reason not to pick one of the top 3 unless the Twins scouting department just really and truly believes in someone else. It's hard to turn away the #1 arm in Flora, but there are enough small question marks that it's a little hard to grab him and not one of the big 3. I've stated before that a year or two from now Lombard might end up being the best player in this draft. That is, if his hit tool works on a professional level. But again, despite his ceiling, when you're presented with a trio at the top of the draft like this, why mess around? Just take the best remaining of the group when you're up. Now, if the Sox or Rays pull a surprise and 2 of the 3 are sitting there when it's the Twins turn, things get very interesting.

No excuses, Ryan probably just had a bad day. It happens. But I have to wonder after being sick, adrenaline kicking in for the Ohtanit matchup, was he just a bit drained for tonight's game? Orze pitching better is a solid I guess. Raya throwing 2 good innings is a silver lining. I really want to see his young arm get opportunities.

So from all the games I've watched, and all the Box Scores I've poured over, I have 2 reactions. 1] STOP looking at the ERA of Prielipp AND Matthews. Yes, I understand the OP is about Prielipp, but I think that is limited thinking. 2] START looking more closely at game by game performances. RIGHT NOW is about the time we expected Prielipp to debut. Instead, he's been up for about 2 months now. The HITS are higher than you'd like, so are the BB. But his K's are solid and he's FLASHED all the potential you'd want to see from him as a rookie so far. Meanwhile, Matthews has really only had 2 poor/mediocre starts so far. Similar to Prielipp's last start, he probably had his best game of the season thus far. Of his 9 games started so far, I believe he's provided a "quality start" in 7 of them. Again, don't just focus on ERA. INSTEAD, just look closer at the development of these 2 arms. ONE, Prielipp, has debuted way before expected and has been solid, and has flashed. TWO, Matthews is starting to become the quality SP we've been waiting for. Silver lining here, we're seeing maturation of a pair of important arms for this team going forward. Now, there is a concern about IP for Prielipp, which I get. But what Shelton and staff have been doing is NOT being worried about how many pitches Prielipp is throwing, but instead pushing his starts back a day or two to allow more recovery time. I think that's really smart! They're slowly building up the number of pitches, but also allowing that in his TOTAL career thus far, he hasn't been used to starting ever 5 days. I think it's a great balance of development while still giving his arm "rest time" as he builds up. CRAZY, but Prielipp's BRAND NEW curveball is already about as good as his slider. Just keep him on his current path. Matthews has either figured out his STUFF actually plays and shouldn't be afraid to throw stikes, or he's finally got the confidence/command to control the edges better, or he's got better comand/control of his breathing stuff. I really don't know. But he's suddenly turned a corner, and that's all I care about.

I agree with you even though I'm not 100% convinced. With a little luck, we get Ober back soon and he continues his "old school" way of pitching that was surprisingly affective before injury. That allows Paredes to slide in to the bullpen as a BULK guy who can go a solid 2-3 IP every 2-3 days. HOPEFULLY he can continue to do that. And I GET keeping Rojas stretched out because the rotation really can't stand ANOTHER injury. But I really, really want to see Rojas as a 1-2 IP option along with Gonez and Morris. I would have liked to see that more with Banda also in the mix, but alas, things just don't seem to be working in the Twins favor these days. (Sigh) All the more reason I want his electric arm to come up and help make a difference in the pen. I care more about the future than I do about this season. The kid is ELECTRIC.

Honestly, I have some misgivings about Keaschall moving to the OF at this point. I'm certainly baffled by some of the plays he's made, or haven't made, at 2B. I'm certainly not blind. Despite his athleticism, he's looked either "robotic" at 2B, or seemed to be thinking too much and not reacting. But Julien got over 200 games at 2B, and Keaschall isn't close to that. Have they given up on him too soon there? Or is this Zole flexing opinion muscle different than Falvey would have? However, the answer to Keaschall being a better OF is a pretty easy YES as an answer. If he can simply track balls well enough, his speed can make him a solid, if not very good OF. But I don't understand him being in RF to keep Larnach comfortable in LF, where he has improved some. Larnach has the better arm, RF has less area to cover, and he's also played quite a lot in RF at Target Field previously. I really don't see where moving him to RF should suddenly make him uncomfortable and affect his bat. But I'm not in charge of these things. BUT, once again, Keaschall might have a very hard time carving out a full time roll in the OF going forward. Fedko SHOULD have broke with the Twins, and still might be the first OF promoted. We can also argue Rodriguez should have broke camp with the Twins, but HE might have been first in line for promotion before he got hurt. (SLIDING DOORS philosophy, do either Roden or Rodriguez get hurt had they made the opening day roster)? Jenkins was really heating up before his injury. He's off to a solid start now that he's back. Right now, he and Roden both might be ahead of Wallner for various reasons. Beyond those guys, Gonzalez has been swinging a pretty good bat since an awful April. And he provides a RH OF this team really lacks. And while Mendez is still really young, and didn't start the season at AAA, he's looking like a hitting MACHINE with at least SOME budding power. The Twins should CONTINUE with BOTH Gonzalez and Mendez working at 1B. Even if they are best at DH, and occasional corner OF play, and even IF Lewis keeps improving with the glove and bat, depth and lineup versatility are important. IDK that Keaschall's move to the OF is permanent at this point. But let's play a small version of Fantasy Baseball for a moment. Lee is looking solid and comfortable at 3B. And while I still think there's room for his bat to improve, he's on pace for 20+ HR and 80+ RBI. Lewis is taking to 1B like a quality handmade glove to hand. And the offense has absolutely improved. By this time next year, we MIGHT be viewing Houston much in the same way we looked at Keaschall coming in to 2025, and having the same hopeful expectations we have for K-Pepper right now, and how we felt about him coming in to the season. If Houston takes a little longer, that's OK. The point is the same. K-Pepper should be up really soon to take over SS, at least for a while. But Houston is the best GLOVE SS that we've had in the system...with legitimate ML ability...since when/who? Guzman 20 years ago? So SOME combination of Lee, Houston, Culpepper...swap Lee and Houston if you wish...and Lewis at 1B makes a HELL of a good INF. So it's possible Keaschall gets moved eventually regardless. I like Keaschall's HIT and OB ability and his baserunning and speed. He DOESN'T have to be a HR power hitter, even though HR are nice. But the ability to lace gapers for Dbls is something he DOES need to work on power wise. While I'm not expecting ALL of our OF to "turn out" there is a TON of potential there. But I remain concerned of a lack of balance with Gonzalez being the only RH bat besides Buxton. And while Kreidler simply might have turned a corner with his bat at 28yo, I still like him in an INF role who CAN play the OF. But I'm starting to believe that Keaschall is going to be a utility player. And like Marwin Gonzalez and Castro, he might be an almost daily player. I think he's a better version of Martin. He'll end up as a LF and CF...which he's played before and seems to have some aptitude...as well as playing 2B, and some 1B...which he's also played...and an occasional DH. I don't know if SUPER UTILITY fits if he can't play SS, but that's not only semantics, but Kreidler, and possibly Ross at some point, have SS and the "verbage" of Super Utility covered. Betting/banking on a 13 man roster for 2027...IMMEDIATE FUTURE EXPECTED...Caratini and Jackson are the catchers. ASSUMING Clemens is not traded, and I don't think he will be for various reasons, he fits POSSIBLY as a sorta primary 2B, but he will continue to move around. Lee is at 3B. Lewis is at 1B. K-Pepper at least BEGINS 2027 at SS. Kreidler is the SU to begin the season. (Again, this waiting on Houston for NOW). While the OF is a CLUSTER right NOW, we still know how this is probably going to turn out. Buxton in CF, and Rodriguez and Jenkins in the corners. Simple math, that's 10 with 3 to go. Keaschall will be a 2B/1B/DH/OF because his offense offers something the team NEEDS. He's a solid HITTER with a great OB ability, and good speed and quality base running. In fact, with just a little more pop/power, he's probably the IDEAL #1 hitter going forward. Something we haven't had in a while. Yes I'm rambling. But a move to the OF for Keaschall is much more than just a better spot for him. It's also VERY MUCH impacted by the OF talent sitting currently at AAA, injuries and slower than hoped for promotions be damned. Kreidler is the SU. Keaschall is also a SU player if you ignore SS. THAT'S his role going forward. It's where he best "fits". Again, simple math. Keaschall makes 11 of 13. * Gonzalez, Mendez, Roden, and Martin are the final 2 with a healthy roster. All of Gonzalez, Mendez and Roden POTENTIALLY can back up Lewis at 1B, play both corner OF spots, and bring a varied collection of power and speed. Roden can also help cover CF, though it's not necessarily needed with Rodriguez, Jenkins, and even Keaschall playing there, which he has done at the MILB level. So where does Martin fit in unless someone is injured, or just has a bad ST? Or MAYBE, the Twins hold Gonzalez or Mendez back to begin 2027 simply for depth, and because they are still very young, and maybe they want them to work on better defense. But you can see how Keaschall either FITS, or mixes up the young OF, or just ADDS to the depth and versatility of the team and the lineup. It wasn't my intention to hijack the OP in any way. But there ARE ramifications of any move of him to the OF that HAVE to be considered.

They really couldn't afford to lose him. Since he has control left and won't be overly expensive, I wonder if this means he's kept for 2027? He's sure not going to be traded now. So maybe a small silver lining? (Grasping for a silver lining). I kinda like Laweryson based on his late 2025 appearance...should have been brought up sooner...his ST this season, and some decent performances this season. He's not going to "fix' anything. But I think he's got potential as a 6th or 7th man in the pen. At the very least, he should get some runway to see if he can be PART of a future BP. But he does need to step up the consistency. Frankly, I was a little surprised they didn't bring Rojas back up. I love his stuff and potential, even with some control issues. Are they trying to work a little more on control before his next promotion? Are they trying to stretch him back out a little more considering the time he missed? Both? I just know I'd like to see him again, sooner rather than later. Back to @Linus question, CJ is probably the next man up. Young, talented, having flashed when healthy, and seemingly adapting well to the pen, I think he needs a little more AAA time, but I'm pretty sure we see him up before the season is over. Glad to see Raya wasn't sent down after 40+ pitches. It's been a weird and winding road in regard to his development, but the kid has some really good stuff in his arsenal. Honestly, unless he's a disaster, I almost care about the results of his first few appearances. I'm more interested in how he responds and develops vs immediate results. No more DFA cash considerations to jump to the top of the list unless you REALLY think you got something. It's more important to look to the future. Which also kind of circles back to really wanting Rojas back ASAP.

This a fun list because it is about some really young players lower in the system. I was really intrigued by Sprock when they drafted him. His last season at Elon was outstanding. His bat is ready for A+ I'd think, and am a little surprised he wasn't amongst the most recent promotions. I'm assuming it's to allow him additional time behind the plate. He only started 2 games there in 2025, and it want to say it was the last week of the season. While far from a finished product, Fragoza has been hitting the snot out of the ball. But it's his sudden power that's really interesting. 8 HR already at Ft Myers. I don't know that I can remember the last time an IL signing simply skipped the DSL and went immediately stateside. Granted he's 18yo and not 16yo, but that's still awfully impressive. Ft Myers on down is a ton of IL signings, and a lot of them are having good seasons. Not sure who to give credit to, but might our "luck" with IL signings begining to turn around?

Yes he should stay up. He can be the 8th man who gives you 2-3 innings every 2-3 days. And there will be days we need that. While he hasn't put up great numbers, he's been solid and kept the Twins in games. So far, he's proven to be at least capable. And Prielipp is have himself monitored by bumping a day or two whenever the schedule allows for extra rest. A piggyback is not needed at this time. But some form of an 8 man bullpen that doesn't implode is what's needed. I'd also get Rojas and his electric stuff back up as soon as possible. He has the potential to be a future difference maker. And I'm glad Raya wasn't sent down immediately after throwing 40 pitches in his debut, unless I'm missing something. A talented young arm with potential needs an opportunity to grow and learn. I almost don't care how well he does his first few appearances. The stuff is there to help in time.

I don't necessarily disagree with you. I think I stated they SHOULD resign Ryan, but I'm open to the idea of trading him. I just don't LIKE the idea. I'm TIRED of the idea that "we're not quite there". But of you DON'T once in a while KEEP a TOP player, how do you EVER actually GET THERE? Look, if someone offered another TOP SP like Abel, and a TOP Catcher or 2B and another "Varland type" of arm that's ready for a full BP conversion, I could be IN 100%. Maybe we extend Lopez instead of Ryan as the leader of the staff. I could see that happening. Again, I'm not OPPOSED to trading Ryan. But I'd rather keep him as a Twin for the next 4 years. I think that makes more sense than looking for the next Ryan. But you give us the next Abel...which I really dispute a contending team would do...and a TOP CATCHER or 2B, and throw in a 23-25yo ARM who has real talent but is Varland Jr just converting, or ready to convert, my mind can change in a hurry. That's 2 top 100 prospects ready to debut, and a 3rd who might be the next Varland. Another team offers THAT, I'm on board for a trade.

@trov and @ashbury, I also think mentioning Sabato in the same breath as Cruz IS a stretch to be sure, but not a horrible example along with Rooker. Could we toss Max Muncy in to the comparison as well? Absolutely NOT as direct comparisons, but simply as rough examples of players who somehow didn't figure it out until later in their career. After all, Cruz and Muncy simply weren't Cruz and Muncy until they BECAME Cruz and Muncy. So yeah, recent history makes Rooker a better example with some 20/20 rear vision. Again, I'm not yet sold. And @ashburyis correct to bring up a very high AAA OPS for Cruz at about the same age. And Sabato's K/BB numbers are disproportionately out of whack currently. And that's actually a bit surprising considering his college career and his first couple of MILB seasons where the AVG wasn't good, but he BB enough to always maintain a fairly decent OB%. But his current AVG is the best he's ever had as a pro, but the BB are way down. And the power has definitely been on display. So even though he just recently turned 27yo less than a month ago, he remains a mystery player. As a HITTER, his he turning in to a "Gallo type"? (Is that a new description for players)? Only, in this case, is he sacrificing OB% for a better AVG by just hitting hard line drives instead of taking BB? And then stroking a bunch of Dbls and HR? In truth, his current .933 OPS is nothing to sneeze at. While a TOP prospect ready for his debut might be more in the .950-1.000 OPS range, .933 is something to give a little credence to. Unless he goes on a heater the next couple of months, he's a POSSIBLE September call up when the Twins can add 1 more position player. But I think he's going to be behind a solid list of other possibilities. Can I state for the record YET AGAIN, that I DESPISE the 28 man September roster bump?! If you really and truly believe that the integrity of the games in September are somehow "lessened" because a non playoff team is playing prospects, you're being foolish. Let me say that again, MLB is worried that non playoff teams, many of who might have losing records, will suddenly provide an EASIER path to WINS for playoff teams playing teams who already have losing records down the stretch that could impact the final standings. Read that last paragraph again and convince me that isn't one of the most ridiculous positions MLB has ever taken? While a "losing" team might give a couple of weeks to a "good organizational guy" in September...which I believe to be a REAL WIN for the sport on a PR level...it's also JUST AS POSSIBLE that a handful of prospects come up for September and actually are HOT and make those "losing" teams even tougher to play. Regardless, I digress. Sabato won't be protected this offseason and shouldn't be. The ONE player addition made for September is going to be a higher prospect. But they also aren't going to "dump" him at this point either. They need players and depth at AAAA, so he's probably not going anywhere. But just as a reminder, Sabato wasn't drafted as some kind or BUM. He was drafted at 27 in the 1st round in the crazy 2020 season after his sophomore college season, which amounted to ONLY 19 games. Some college and HS teams didn't play at all. So he was drafted at 27 in a weird and crazy year, and still pretty young, and probably under developed. But there was the PROMISE of not only power, but a good eye that BB a lot. Well, again, he did that early in his MILB career. There's no question he's probably going down as a "wasted" pick that season. But again, I don't think the Twins will cut him. I think he's back at St Paul in 2027. And I'm certainly not going to bet on his future. Who knows, he might have an OPS ABOVE 1.000 early in 2027 and get his shot due to production and/or injury. And he might show something worth keeping around for a few years, similar to Rooker. THAT will be his chance. I just don't see it here in 2026 because I just don't see OPPORTUNITY.

@jmlease1jmlease1 I'm IN on Gonzalez coming back up for another shot. He really proves himself last season, and he's been on fire since early to mid May. BUT, I DON'T want him up as a platoon RH bat. I don't have his splits available at the moment, but with contact and power, I'm sure he can hit RHP at least decently. Rodriguez and Jenkins are, ideally, your corner OF next year. But there's room for Gonzalez at both corner spots once in a while against RHP, as a DH, and as a 1B fill in. Mendez could complicate the roster construction because I'd really like another RH bat besides Gonzalez. But I don't think it's going to be Fedko, and consider how he's been performing, I'm starting to doubt Martin's future. It stinks, but there might not be room for Roden, which is a shame. I think he's a really solid and versatile player who can do a bit of everything and help cover 1B as well. But there's only so many spots on a 13 man roster. Speaking of Mendez, what happen3d to him playing some 1B? Unless he just looks completely lost, keep playing him some there. It would be pretty awesome if he and Gonzalez could both play some 1B for Royce to have a day off, or if he gives Lee a day off, or has an injury.

There will be some who agree with my opinion and some who don't. And that's OK. I would prefer TP put his $ where his mouth is and start to expand the payroll, beginning with his own team. The team is better overall having Jeffers on it. I'd love an extensuon but don't expect one this close to FA. So he's probably traded. If he goes to a larger market team, he's not really a rental as they'd have the $ to just offer him a solid extension. So if they really like him. The payback to the Twins might be decent. Ryan should also be offered a fair extension option. Why wouldn't you at least try to keep a #1 caliber, All Star starter? If he says no, I still don't know if I trade him. He could be very valuable to the 2027 Twins, could still be moved at the 2027 deadline...though the return would be less...or even kept all season and then offered a QO to at least bring back a draft pick. While I understand the opinions of others regarding a nice return for Ryan, I'm not sure that he necessarily brings back what is needed or hoped for in a deal. By that I mean a playoff contender isn't going to offer up players on their ML roster for him. NOBODY is trading a young, talented, controllable SP currently on their roster to acquire Ryan. They still need that arm, and other players on their roster to compete. So we'd be getting prospects back, not immediate, PROVEN help. Now, is it possible 1 or 2 of the returning players are top 100 and sitting at AAA or AA and close to making a difference or debut? Absolutely. That's why I'm not totally out on trading Ryan. But I'd sure like to have him for 2027, if not beyond. And speaking of prospects, or acquiring more, is there something wrong with playing ours first? K-Pepper should be up in a couple of weeks to take over SS and let Kreidler be the SU option on the team. While Rodriguez won't be ready until August, he's out of options after this season, is a top 100 prospect in his own right, and we've seen the type of potential he has. Meanwhile, Rojas is back and raking at St Paul, joined by Jenkins, off to a good start on his return as well. Gonzalez has actually been doing pretty well after a poor April. And Mendez looks to be an absolutely pure hitter. Oh, and Keaschall is really, basically a rookie and we're still not 100% sure where he fits going forward. (Opinions will vary). So where do we put/play everyone? I'm not saying there aren't other good prospects available. But are we certain they would be better than our current prospects? Boy do I like an opening day 2027 rotation of Lopez, Ryan, Bradley, Abel, Prielipp, and Matthews. And that doesn't even include Ober, still under control, as a 7th option if his velocity comes back, or he can continue to be successful throwing "old school". How does an OF or Rodriguez, Buxton, and Jenkins sound? Probably Gonzalez as a corner OF/1B/DH option as well? I don't see room for both of Roden AND Wentz, but what a nice "problem" that would be. Yes, the bullpen still needs to be figured out. But much like the OF, the rest of the season is for the development of Morris, Rojas, CJ Culpepper, and possibly Raya and Klein. Maybe Festa still makes it back at some point? Maybe Cory Lewis gets moved to the Saints bullpen and gets some 2nd half work with the Twins? Plus, there is still FA in the upcoming offseason, and might Jeffers, Larnach, and Bell possibly bring back an interesting pen option or two? I think the team is better keeping Ryan, moving/removing various parts that don't fit long term, and get the prospects as much time as possible to get their feet wet, begin their careers, and get as much experience for 2027 as possible.

CJ looking Ike the next man up in the bullpen these days. Not tomorrow, but soon. I've been a fan for a while, so I'm feeling good he's the next successful bullpen convert. While he's not hitting as well for St Paul as he was at the begining of the season at Wichita, (impossible to maintain that kind of performance), he's doing really well still. Go have a look at his Baseball Reference page and see his total numbers for this season. Pretty impressive. I don't think we can say this is an illusion any longer. He might give Kreidler a run for his money as the Twins Super Utility player in 2027. I'm not exactly sold on Sabato yet, but this is his first FULL season at AAA after about a half season in 2025. Is there a chance he really could just be a late bloomer?? I wouldn't mind seeing him get a look see at some point this season, but he's behind more than a couple of guys on my list. Is Tait trying to prove that a recent article concerning a promotion to AA isn't a silly idea? How good he's been lately isn't really reflected in his season totals. But I'm as concerned about his glove and game calling as I am about his bat. If those are also improving, I could see a promotion by the end of July.

Unalienable is the feeling of getting your (Butt) beat. Just thrashed. The brutal knowledge that your opponent is simply better; and that any success on your end is a fluke, a mirage occasionally fading into sight, just to turn sour eventually. And it will. Thus is the mandate when the Great matches up against the meager Just Fine. Fortunately, not every team is Great, and sometimes, another Just Fine rolls into town just in time for a beleaguered team to lick their wounds and move on. REALLY? That's your opening? The Dodgers are the best team in MLB. And while the Twins simply had almost no choice but to give away game 2, they were RIGHT IN both games 1 and 3. There are NO moral victories in the final W-L totals of a season. But playing the Dodgers so damn close in games 1 and 3 where just one more pitch or one more hit might have allowed at least ONE win, it not TWO shouldn't be ignored. At LEAST we were competitive when we had a decent, solid SP to take the mound. So that's your opener? The Twins WEREN'T BUTT BEAT in games 1 and 3 when they had a legitimate SP on the mound. Nor were they "thrashed" in those 2 games previously mentioned. I'm sorry Matt, I usually enjoy your posts, but that's just poor journalism. But let's play the glass is half full game after tonight's win. And let's start with the "half empty" portion. 1] Bradley had an amazing 7 IP which put him at about 90 pitches thrown. I really don't want to bash Shelton for sending Bradley out for the 8th, but I believe he should have let Bradley rest at that point. The bullpen was rested after a day off. And Bradley hasn't been quite as sharp after his IL stint. With a 7-0 lead after 7 IP, I think he should have been sat down. It would be better for his arm with a big lead. 2] I think Funderburk got a bit snake-bit in his appearance. If he came in for a clean inning, things might have been better. 3] Kinda ditto for Orze. He didn't miss his pitches by much, but he sure wasn't good. Sometimes he looks pretty solid, and sometimes he doesn't. But that's what happens with mediocre BP arms. But let us ALSO recognize the glass half full. 1] Bradley was AGAIN a STUD through 7 IP. 2] Kreidler keeps looking like a keeper based on his defense. The play home to Caratini was OUTSTANDING. 3] Morris really did his job yet again as a reliever and as a fielder working with Lewis at 1B. 4] Lewis has adapted to 1B tremendously well so far. And he delivered the game winning hit tonight. He just LOOKS like a much more confident hitter. I just continue to belive Lewis's problem is mental. He just believes he's SUPPOSED to be so great his head gets messed up. If he's FINALLY realized he doesn't have to be GREAT, but just GOOD he might have turned a corner. This was a BS win, but still a win, So MAYBE some posters will understand there is a reason to pull starters once in a while. LOVE Lewis came through. It just shouldn't have been an extra inning game. 5] Despite an "interesting" game ONE where the Twins won but damned near blew it, can they rebound for missed opportunity and blow the Rockies out of Minnesota?

I see what you are saying. And I don't totally disagree. I think there is a MASSIVE problem financially in MLB that is really restricting BALANCE. And it can only be addressed by powers beyond us as fans. But I still have to disagree with the roster situation. Even with the Dodgers, for example, had 2 more spots to fill with quality players, the Twins could also fill those spots. That's a FO issue. Does that make a difference? Maybe. And maybe not. But I hesitate to use the Dodgers or the Yankees, or anyone else as an example. They, and others, are at the TOP of the ML feeding frenzy for talent. And that does need to change for balance of the game. The beauty of MLB is how things change game to game. Despite the Twins losing all 3 games, they were SO CLOSE to winning 2 of those games. But my idea of an expanded roster is simply to allow teams to have more depth than playing shuttle games with their roster. I politely disagree on comparing rosters to other professional leagues. I think an expanded roster allows better depth and balance. And I'm tired of injuries restricting things like brief appearances for players who are DFA the next day. I also despise the NFL for having a 53 man roster but only allowing 45 to play. WTH does that accomplish? It's just ridiculous. But at least they HAVE increased their roster size and have created crazy rules about their PS squads and promotions. And MAYBE the Dodgers would have had ONE more player or pitcher that would have made a difference in this last series. Or MAYBE the Twins would have had ONE more player or pitcher to make a difference. Honestly, I'm not sure i care, especially for ONE series. I just think the the way the game has changed the last few years, I just think it would be better served with an expanded roster. I just think it's time to FINALLY acknowledge that the game isn't the same as it was 20--30yrs ago. Bullpens matter more. Platoons here and there matter more. MAYBE, it's better for a smartly run team to have more options to build the most competitive team possible? But maybe you're right. Maybe subtle changes like an expanded roster only benefits the POWER teams. But I DO LIKE a smart team that might take advantage and build a better, more balanced team. While I'm no longer as big of an NFL than I used to be, the one thing I admire is the balance of payroll that means SMART teams make good things happen. Without major changes in MLB, even smart teams are going to have a hard time competing. I just like an expanded roster for the smaller market teams to have the ability to balance their roster better. Again, I'm just tired of roster restrictions seeing churn and burn. But I respect your opinion and don't disagree that we have different perspectives. 😀

I agree on Rojas working on a build up. Of course, he's also a work in progress in regards to control as well. For NOW, I think they want and need him to fill the role that they were using him, which is long relief or opening starter. And it makes sense. For now. It's possible Rojas follows a Santana/Liriano path and grows and develops and moves back to the rotation. But IMO, his future is as a late inning arm that might even have closer potential one day. With a little luck, we might start to see him transition to a later inning role before the season is done. Of course, that means Ober is back not too long from now, and HOPEFULLY Abel can throw in August, or September at the latest. Despite being older, but considering his MILB track record, and what he's done SO FAR to save the Twins azz, has Paredes thrown his hat in to the ring to be the 8th man in the bullpen? I don't fully buy in to the Twins 4 every 4 days philosophy, even though I see SOME merit in regard to coverage and development. But it would be nice to have a reliable arm that could throw 2-3 IP every 2-3 days as the #8 man in the pen. Funderburk really shined the last 2 months or so in 2025. And he didn't start out poorly here in 2026. My "hunch" is he was distracted by his wife's condition and the birth of his child and his focus went out the window. I'm not ready to give up on him yet. I still think there's something there. I sure hope he proves me right with his recent promotion. I'm excited as hell to see Raya really cranking it up to a new found level at St Paul and getting his first ML shot. And I'm fully prepared to see some bad games. But I'd rather see him struggle, gain experience, and get better than watching another 30+yo has been giving up massive runs. I'm just hoping the Twins and Twins fans cut him a little slack. Orze is nothing great. But he's had solid moments. I think he might have a future as a middle man. I'm not sure if he qualified as a "rookie" for 2026, but he's pretty close. I think he's an easy replacement for someone better, but he's been relatively solid so far. I know he didn't pitch much before being injured, but I kinda liked what I saw of Acton initially. But like Orze, he's probably easily replaceable. But depth doesn't stink. I am SO bummed that Festa has been hurt because I think most of us saw him as a potential late inning STUD that might even be a future closer. Look, I know I'm rambling, but I'm doing so for a couple of reasons. A] We HAVE seen a few victories in the pen with Gomez and the conversion of Morris. And we can all see the potential of Rojas. B] We also have to accept the fact that PART of building a better pen got screwed up from some injuries. Most importantly, Festa. But who is actually NEXT...beyond giving Raya some time, and hoping Funderburk FINALLY takes hold of a job? Well, the obvious is CJ Culpepper. He's always thrown fairly hard, but I've heard he doesn't always maintain velocity as a SP. That's not a problem as a RP. He has, I believe, 6 pitches that he mixes and matches between RH and LH batters. I've also heard that while none of those pitches are necessarily devastating, they're at least solid. So does he need to tone down his usage of some of them? Or tweak his offerings? Or do they work just fine for 1-2 IP? I really don't know. That's not my job. But his transition to the bullpen is going well. Solid 94-97 velocity and a bag of breaking offerings to frustrate batters. I think he's got real potential. Next on my list is Klein. He really frustrates me. He throws 95-97 and would probably throw a little harder if he only threw 1-2 innings. And he's got a couple solid secondary offerings that lead to high K numbers. When I read MILB reports and box scores, usually, I always see him 1-2 IP that are pretty clean. And THEN he offers up a HR or XB hit that allows runs. Honestly, he reminds me a lot of early Varland. The velocity and pure STUFF appears to be there. But I think he's really a 1-2 IP option, and NOT a SP, OR, a successful 4 & 4 guy. Much like Raya and his debut, and Morris fitting in, I'd really like to see Klein get a shot as a high velocity arm, with solid secondary stuff, and previous high K results, who might be good for 1-2 IP. A really good bullpen SHOULD HAVE a couple of guys who have arms capable of 2 IP every few days, plus the usual 1 IP back of the pen arms. And it would be awesome to have at least ONE GUY who could throw 2-3 IP every 2-3 days. Since Funderburk and Raya are now both up, it's CJ and Klein up next. And I'd really like to see that at some point. We NEED to be looking at 2027 and beyond. GUILTY PLEASURE: I still have a hunch that Cory Lewis, currently healthy again and pitching for AA Wichita, could really surprise. Maybe not this season, since he's missed so much time, but he was the Twins MILB pitcher of the year a couple seasons ago before he just "lost it" at AAA and then got hurt. But throwing as hard as he can, mixing in some decent breaking or off speed stuff here and there, and then throwing his CRAZY high velocity knuckleball NOONE has seen before, I REALLY think he has a chance to surprise. I just don't know if there's enough time here in this season for him to debut. He's still ramping up. But late this season or sometime in 2027, I think he might debut as a middle guy unicorn that just baffles batters for a couple of innings.

While this news is a MAJOR bummer and immediate blow to the rotation, the most important thing is Abel's overall health and future. The fact that two different experts have seen the same thing...no ligament damage...is a silver lining despite the overcast skies currently. While ANY surgery is never good, most arthoscopic procedures are usually relatively minor issues. Look, I'm by no means an expert here, but as the OP has pointed out, it could be a bone spur or a piece of loose material providing discomfort. Remember, he WAS dealing and feeling good initially before waking up with irritation. So until/unless his surgery offers up something bad that the MRI didn't pick up, I'm going with anything from a spur to a nerve or muscle a little out of place, or something similar that is not a "big deal" but just needs to be addressed. If that's true, we can probably still bank on seeing him in August, or September at the latest, to at least finish the season healthy and strong. But it really makes me hope that Ober is ready to go before too long. His velocity may never come back. But his smarts and pitching intelligence had him performing really well...most games...right up until the last appearance or two before he ended up on the IL. I'm betting he was "gutting it out" those last couple of starts. But even if Ober is no longer that really good #3 SP that he was, he just might end up being a hell of a #5. And there's real value in that! And no offense to Paredes, who's done way better than expected...and might have secured a serious look as a future long/middle man in the bullpen...but we could use Ober back. But again, the most important thing here is Abel's elbow looks SOLID from two separate reports. Glass half full? Without exact details, it appears he is only having a "minor" procedure. That's usually the case when we're talking about an orthoscopic procedure.

I'm going to admit some disappointment in Raya as he was one of my favorite prospects his first few seasons, and I couldn't wait to him pitch. When they drafted him, and I heard about some great STUFF for a HS kid, and being a good athlete, and having a bit of bulldog in him...considering he wasn't the biggest kid in the world, I thought maybe we got another Berrios. Alas, we all know how jis journey has transpired. But I've been VERY excited about him post a horrendous April. He's really settled in and seems to have found his role. With 4 solid pitches and a starter's background, I can see him capable of being a 2 inning arm initially. But if the STUFF is as good as advertised, it's possible he transitions to a higher spot at the end of the pen eventually. For now, it's going to be a lot of fun watching his initial entry in to MLB as a hard throwing middle man with K ability. I'm not exactly expecting greatness right off the bat. But as @miller761sstated, I'd much rather watch a young arm struggle but gain experience than watch another over 30yo DFA option get those innings. Losing Festa for the season...to this point at least...has been a real bummer and a potentially serious loss for the bullpen. Losing Cory Lewis until just recently was also a major bummer as I still have this gut feeling he could be a really good middle man who baffles opposing lineups for a couple innings. Might that still happen later this season? But Gomez has been a 26yo surprise revelation, even if some regression is eventually due. Morris has really taken to his bullpen role and I think his ERA is very misleading for what he's done and the potential he's shown. Personally, I think Rojas is going to end up as a late inning power arm by next season, if not later on this year. I also think that Banda, not too old, still under control, should be brought back as well. Now, Raya still has a lot to prove. And there are going to be growing pains. But I can live with that! His promotion is about potential and HIS future, and the future of the Twins bullpen. His command/control is going to be an issue until he proves it's not. But maybe he's just "wired" in a way where he mentally focuses better in shorter bursts than being a starter. Again, I'm very excited. But I hope the promotions don't end there. I think we'll see CJ Culpepper up before the season is over as well. And I'm still crossing my fingers that Festa isn't done for the entire season and might be up August, or even September, to get his feet wet in the pen. Slowly but surely, we're STARTING to form a relatively young pen with potential. But a small warning, let's give Raya a little rope before we make any rash determinations about his future. He's still young and has a live arm. He might not look like a stud over night.

To be fair, I didn't read anything beyond the headline. I didn't need to. The Twins battled on Monday against probably the best team in MLB and lost an extremely close game. Circumstances had us throwing a talented young rookie for a couple of innings and then tossed out a recently signed, mediocre or poor AAAA arm to just get through the damn game. While I am very disappointed by Rogers appearance, he wasn't signed this season to do anything but be a decent Coulombe replacement. He's largely done that, despite today's game/appearance. Unfortunately, this was a throw away game from the 1st pitch. So IDK if this really "defines" the Twins. I think that's unfair considering Monday vs a virtual "give up" game tonight. My hope is Ryan is ready for Wednesday. Does he have the stamina after being sick all weekend? I sure hope he does as winning 1 game against the Dodgers would make me feel really good.

I was spitballing in regard to a larger than 40 man roster simply to allow more fringe players to not go through so many DFA situations. Not sure that is the way to proceed, just an idea. But I absolutely disagree with a 25 man roster. The idea of FORCEING teams to just FORCE pitchers to throw 100 pitches and stay in the game for 7 innings plus is a pipe dream based on how baseball "used to be". Despite amazing velocities that we see today...88-90mph was excellent 40yrs ago...and tremendous breaking stuff, hitters today are not only bigger and faster and more athletic, but they have better scouting and actual IPads in the dugout to watch their AB and see what they did and what the pitcher is throwing!. In today's game of athletic change, if we actually restricted the roster as you proposed, the game would become a bit of a farce where we'd see games of 14-12 consistently. NFL type of scores. And speaking of the NFL, there was a time where they played with a 40 man roster. The game was ground and pound. If you were hurt, you still played no matter what. While I DESPISE a 53 man roster but only being able to PLAY 45 on game day...just SILLY and makes no sense...they have adjusted roster size, and even come up with rules regarding ups and downs from the practice squad to fill out their game day roster. The NFL game has recognized changes in their game, even if I don't like how they manage game day. But like it or not. MLB has also changed. Again, you just aren't going to see SP dominate, generally speaking, the way they used to. Even before the full time DH happened, you USED to have a 10-11 man staff. The AL had a DH. A NL club had a special PH. That still left 14 or sometimes 15 position players for depth and possible platoons. Sorry, and you may yearn for the way the game was played a couple decades ago, but it's just not the way the game is played today. The NFL hasn't been ground and pound for decades now. And MLB is no longer a collection of 2 or 3 200+ IP SP and a handful of guys who finished games. I am a HUGE believer that the owners and players need to pull their heads out of their collective and stubborn AZZ's and establish some sort of mutual profit sharing, similar to the NFL if not exactly, for the betterment of the GAME. SOME sort of ceiling and floor just makes sense. FORCE owners who are making $ off the teat of MLB to spend more, which profits the lower level earning players, or makes those lousy owners more ready to sell their teams. How pissed might you be as an owner of the Yankees, or the Dodgers, sending $M's to a team that isn't even trying but is pocketing $? BALANCE is going to be an issue that is that keeps MLB healthy, or die a slow death. But wishing the game itself to be played the way it was 30 years ago just isn't going to happen. Power PLAYS. The SB is starting to come back. But the art of pitching has changed. Can you imagine some of today's hitters facing off against most of the arms throwing in the 70's, 80's, and even the 90's? They would RAKE! I'm not picking on you. I'm simply pointing out how all sports, including MLB has really changed over the years. And it's not going back, even with rule changes are making it a bit more exciting. But FEWER players or pitchers will only elevate fewer moves, less depth, and weekend softball types of scores. And I don't think any of us want to see that.

While I agree that the proverbial "log jam" seldom occurs, I DO AGREE with the basic premise of a "promotional problem". Regardless if you believe the current team can reach .500, or sneak in to the playoffs, the Twins are ATTEMPTING to do both as an organization. Playing winning baseball and extending the season in the playoffs...regardless of final record...is more FUN than NOT playing winning baseball and NOT being in the playoffs. But what I personally care about most of all is setting the team up for 2027 and beyond. Anything other than that might be FUN, and I can enjoy it, but as a fan, it's my objective to see the team get ready for 2027. BUT, look at it from the perspective of ownership, the FO, and MOST IMPORTANTANTLY from the PLAYERS perspective. If they have a chance to win games and sneak in to the playoffs, the TEAM would love to do that. So, like it or not, NOBODY is going anywhere tomorrow. You're just NOT going to see Bell DFA when he's heating up AGAIN, as his career MO. Now, he might be moved at the deadline for SOMETHING in return opening up a roster spot for a younger player, but it's not going to happen tomorrow. Larnach's power has almost disappeared, but he's playing better defense, is hitting, getting OB, and producing, just in a different way than expected. But he's also not going to be DFA, or traded before the deadline. Again, as an organization, the Twins are TRYING to win. An no team doing so is going to DFA bats doing well. But they might move on from players not expected to be part of the 2027 season at the deadline. So yeah, there is a bit of a PROMOTIONAL problem. Roden SHOULD have broke ST with the Twins instead of Outman. Only the FO disagreed with the obvious. (I would have kept Rodriguez as well, but different topic, different day). Roden doesn't need more than a few games to be ready for a promotion. The problem there is who does he replace? Martin and Fedko offer a pair of RH bats that "fit" the roster better at this point. Martin is no "disaster", he's just proved he should normally play against LHP. Fedko may or may not prove to be a ML ballplayer. But he brings RH balance, has only played a few games so far, and has the POTENTIAL to be better in his role than Martin. So why be so quick to demote him before he gets an honest chance to see what he might be able to do? With Larnach and Clemens currently holding down the LH portion of the corner OF spots, where does Roden "fit"? If an injury happens almost anywhere other than catcher or SS, then Roden is 1st man up with some easy roster manipulation. Nobody is more bummed than me in regard to Wallner. I've been a fan and believer his entire career. But he's not taking BB at St Paul, which is something he used to do. And for some reason, he can't connect on anything 95mph or above. So he's not deserving of a promotion at this time. And Rodriguez, unfortunately, probably doesn't play until August. So again, Roden is 1st man up. But currently, there isn't room unless there is an injury, or Martin or Fedko is sent down, and neither deserves it currently, or so soon. So Roden sits and waits. Jenkins was on a hot streak before his injury. He needs time to get back in a groove. Maybe a couple of weeks? But then again, he might be behind Roden and there's still not "room" at this point. Mendez is out currently, but his BAT looks about ML ready even as his power is still developing. So he's a ways down the list of promotion options. Gonzalez got off to a slow start, but has been really heating up for weeks now. And while his defense might lag behind Martin and Fedko, I think he's got a potential ML BAT. I think it's possible that Martin and Fedko could be in silent competition for the BEST RH 4th-5th OF. IF Fedko gets a legitimate chance to prove himself. Good speed from both, decent to good OB ability from both, more power from Fedko. Similar defense from both, but maybe a slight edge to Fedko as an occasional CF. So if Fedko can actually be given a run to prove himself, he MIGHT surpass Martin as an option. And that doesn't mean Martin might not win that competition. So, despite injuries that have set a number of top prospects back...and I still consider Roden a prospect...where is the OPPORTUNITY for advancement? Until the trade deadline where the Twins might get SOMETHING for Bell and Larnach, there IS a PROMOTIONAL issue. Roden is already ready. Jenkins might not be that far behind. Despite a poor start to the season, Rodriguez has really been heating up. Mendez, so young and currently out, might be excused until 2027. But Rodriguez might not be ready until August, and he's out of options, so he HAS to be part of the end of this season to get him ready. Unfortunately, this all might leave Wallner out of the Twins future plans. It also means there is still NO ROOM for promotions available for Roden and Jenkins, and possibly Rodriguez, until Bell and Larnach are moved, and the Twins make a decision on Martin and Fedko. Clemens still has a place on the team due to production and versatility. But YES, CURRENTLY, there is an issue with promotion possibilities. Not a "log jam" of talent...though it's about as close as I've ever seen it...but ROOM just HAS to be made over the next 40 days for the FUTURE.

I agree totally. I don't want to penalize players from having the freedom to move about for better opportunities in their careers. But I wonder if a 45 man roster would make a little more sense. Perhaps there should be a tweak in how many options a player has in their career, or maybe after signing with a new team said player gets an additional option? Maybe they would gain said option if they haven't been on a 40 man for X number of seasons? I'm just spitballing off the top of my head. Personally, I really liked the 28 man roster we had during the covid season. The game has changed over the decades, but other than moving to a 26 man roster, there's been little change over the years in regard to rosters.

Good call. I admit I hadn't stopped to consider we needed SOMEONE to fill the middle innings Tuesday.

I don't get it. Laweryson wasooking pretty good earlier in the season before his injury. It seeems.lime he was a little hit and cold since he came back, but I thought he was looking more like his old self lately And Voth offers what exactly?