DocBauer

I hated the signing. And then I read and read some more, listened, reflected, and realized it just wasn't the bad move I initially thought it was. Not a big fan of the 3 true outcomes, but Gallo rebounding to what he was in Texas is a real threat. He's a quality defensive OF and 1B. And his signing also provides that potentially big bat and good glove at 1B for the moment. So while I don't share the enthusiasm of the OP, it was still a smart flier that only costs $. I don't know if 100 PA is the magic number for him or not, but I do know there should be a point where he's either providing that dangerous "threat" and some production, or he looks like a 1yr sunk cost. At that point, AK should be ready, possibly Julien as well, and it should be time to move on. NOT saying the negative is going to happen! But I also don't want to take AB and opportunity away from talented youngsters that are the future and will hopefully be looking good, just because the Twins cling to misguided hope.

Mildly surprised by the cut of Olsen. IIRC he was a flier draft choice with some real talent but needed TJ when drafted, or had just had it. Then, with the pandemic, he didn't return to the mound until 2021. He hasn't exactly flashed since his return, and will be 26 in May. Getting a little old to be any sort of prospect. And I'm guessing the stuff just never came back. But mildly surprised he wasn't moved to the pen permanently and given a little more time. Unfortunately, the deck was stacked against him.

So what I'm reading here is CBS and FANGRAPHS have the smarter writers, yes? :) Not surprising ESPN would just gloss over any mention of the Twins. Maybe I'm jaded, but it always feels they dismiss Minnesota teams out of hand. I think Cleveland is a good ballclub. I liked their addition of Bell. I'm not sold on their depth or their offense yet. (Of course, I still have questions about the Twins offense as well). All those come from behind victories and the 1st or 2nd healthiest team in all of MLB, if I recall correctly. That's asking a lot to duplicate. IMO, the biggest question for our Twins is the offense. I know there are a lot of IF's involved: can Gallo rebound, can Kepler show some improvement, can Polanco get right soon and be his normal self, can Larnach stay healthy and continue to shine when so, will Kiriloff really and truly be good to go now, how much do Lewis and Julien contribute when up? But not every IF has to come through in dramatic fashion for this to be a quality offense. I don’t buy in to the scheduling changes as a pro or con to anyone. I'm standing by my prediction of around 88 wins with a shot at 92 if a few things break right.

I may be wrong, but I feel any angst regarding injuries to Twins players is more about just caring about the player, the team, and any ACCURATE information as possible regarding such. And I'm in that boat. As a fan, I just want to know if player X is going to be back relatively soon, or had a set back, or is now done for the year. So is this about a lack of transparency...which we aren't really entitled to for various reasons...or just a frustration as fans based on multiple injuries...mostly in 2022...in which initial prognosis were very incorrect? I hate Twitter. I don't do Twitter. But I read TD, look at articles on MLB, and MLBTRADERUMORS, and read articles by Do on the Twins website, and listen to Gleeman and the Geek both free and Patreon, and I have yet to see any lack of information or transparency, overall. I sure wish the Twins had just told us last year that all of the projected players expected back after X number of weeks suffered setbacks and such, and we might not see them again. THAT, IMO, was something fans were allowed to know. But was that poor communication, poor public relations, or poor management by the training staff is hard to know. Just a few posts above is a listed timeline of Polanco injury updates. The Twins were forthright. Without going in to great detail, they offered updates they believed true at the time, and then announced setbacks. How are they not being transparent? Do we need confirmation reports from doctors or the training staff? Or are we just discouraged and want to blame someone for Polanco not being ready? This is akin to so much angst that Buxton will DH a lot in the early going. The guy has been working in the cages, running, shagging balls, and played in milb games. But they've stated they want to DH him a lot to begin the season. Nobody said this was a permanent move. Did they really have to announce they wanted to run him less in early cold weather to make sure his knee felt good? He sure looked fine legging out a triple opening day despite a silly slide in to 3rd base. Have the Twins been nothing but open about Alex Kirilloff and his surgery and rehab? Soreness, and no pain. A slow ramp up to get confident. Everyone confident this latest procedure will work, including comments from AK himself. Where is there a lack of transparency? The NFL has a mandated injury report due to gambling. And so, teams are deliberately vague about injuries to stump their competition that week. The NBA allows games off for "stress management" which stinks. If I spent a few $hundred to watch James or Davis in a Laker game I might feel cheated. But my very first game at Target Field was last August with my father, my uncle, and some additional family members. I already knew who wasn't going to be in the lineup. But we were there for the experience. If we lived closer and attended more games, I might be disappointed to find out Buxton's knee had him on a day off. Or Miranda woke up with a stiff back and didn't start. But that wouldn't mean it wasn't a good game, or the Twins might not win. So should MLB teams post who MIGHT be out the next day due to rest or a last minute "tweak"? "Sorry gang, but if you're planning on attending the Twins game tomorrow, it's been reported that Larnach has a stiff ankle and Alcala has a blister. So you might not want to attend if you were looking forward to seeing these two". And I'm over exaggerating, of course! But other than poor communication with fans about extended injuries that we as fans want to know that extended, I just don't see an issue here. IMPROVEMENT? Just give us updates every couple of weeks. Fans want to know. Player X is now at Ft Myers healthy and working back. We hope he's ready to start his rehab. Probably a few games here and there with the thought of level X In a few weeks. That's all. Just some updates for the fans. Other than that, I just don't see an issue here at all.

Not a lot of depth here to be sure. But that's OK as it remains the easiest position to convert someone to. And that's not to say it's not an important spot! Just easier to convert someone. And while this about non 40 man depth, simple perspective forces us to realize that 1B is OK short term for the Twins, and potentially excellent with Kirilloff and Miranda and Julien. I tend to agree with the Twins not working Wallner at the spot at this time. He runs very well for a big man, and has a cannon for an arm. Still, at some point, I could see a trial there just to increase versatility to get his bat in the lineup. He's always going to K a bunch. But he's shown he can hit for a decent average with a good OB at every level and continues to improve. White is for AAA and a possible emergency depth option. Is Kelly even still around? He's not on the St Paul roster. Williams is intriguing. I had high hopes he might be a steal at catcher when he slipped in the draft after a shoulder injury that limited him his senior year. He's not getting any younger, but the bat doesn't look bad and he's got real power. I think he's role as a catcher at the ML level is as a #3 emergency option and his ticket is at 1B/DH. He's still only 26yo despite being a senior college draftee and missing 2020 due to covid. He broke through in 2022 at AA Wichita but struggled at AAA. If he can actually play a solid 1B and carry through on his AA performance last year to St Paul this year, he's got a shot. But it might not be with the Twins. Sabato is a complete mystery. The power is for real. And the ability to take BB for a good OB is real, at the milb level. And I can live with high K numbers from a power bat who takes a bunch of BB. But at some point, he actually needs to HIT, otherwise AAA pitchers will just eat him up, not to mention ML arms. Despite being a #1 pick, I think he's done if 2023 doesn't show real signs of improvement. The one guy not mentioned here is Alex Isola. He's supposedly a catcher, and went to the AFL this past offseason, but he's spent as much time at 1B/DH as he has at catcher the past couple of seasons. He's the antithesis of Williams and Sabato in that the power is limited, but he's shown some HIT ability and decent OB without the huge K numbers. If the power develops, he might be a 1B option who can be that #3 catcher on a roster. But he's got to show more power, or he's just a solid hitting 1B, with no elite grade anywhere, even if he proves quality defensively.

I think this team looks pretty good. And it's a nice mix of your typical AAA/AAAA players and a nice group of quality prospects as well. I like the rotation a lot, even though Sanchez is filler, and not a prospect. But he fills a role, and like 2022, he might end up helping here and there at the ML level at some point. Hunch and hope has Balazovic healthy and re-establishing himself as a top prospect again and might be ready by around July. He and Varland and SWR give this team outstanding talent and potential for the Twins. While his future with the Twins might be in doubt, and might find better opportunity elsewhere, Dobnak might work his way back in to the conversation as a useful arm. I'm pleasantly surprised by Headrick in the rotation. I know he had a breakout last season, but his AA numbers weren't great. But I want to say he finished strong. The longer he was with the Twins in ST, the more I thought he had a chance. So again, pleasantly surprised. The pen is mostly what you'd expect, mostly AAAA arms that work in AAA and might help at the ML level at some point, but Laweryson and Schulfer have a chance to be something. I like the pen even more when Winder is back. I can't help wonder, when healthy, does Henriquez figure here, despite his youth? Or does he go back to the rotation for now? Catcher really surprises me. They had way too many on the initial roster, but where is Sisco and Greiner? I think Camargo has a shot to be a solid ML catcher, but just figured he'd start at AA. Another pleasant surprise to be at St Paul. Williams figures more at 1B and DH, but he can catch. Fans better enjoy Julien while they can, if he keeps his current trajectory, he might not be there long. The rest of the INF is functional. It will be better with a return of Lewis and future promotions from AA, Lee and probably Prato and Severino. Helman will help there as well. And that brings me to the OF. Helman is part of the equation here as well. One of my biggest disappointments was his being hurt in ST. He's too "old" to be a quality prospect, but he's versatile and talented overall, and has a future as a super utility player for someone. Nice to have Garlick around for depth. Wallner has real potential. I'm not betting against him, but nice he gets time to smooth rough edges and work on his defense. The OF is even better when Celestino is back and working on his game, FINALLY at the level he basically skipped, getting better prepared for what is still a potentially solid ML career. It will be very interesting to see what Martin does, and where he plays, once he's back.

The game speeding up is a good thing. The improved pace of play keeps the game moving along, and if anything, keeps the intensity up. Changing the rules for the post season infringes on the integrity of the game, and if anything, takes away from the intensity of special moments. I mean, both pitcher and hitter having to get in a physical and mental mindset NOW, instead of dancing around the mound, adjusting gloves, wiping the bat down again, tap cleats, etc, etc, just delays the moment. It doesn't intensify it.

First, I just want to state I'm not "worried" about the more balanced schedule. As a fan, I'm excited to play more teams, all due deference to the ALC. But not only are many/most teams fluid year to year in quality and ultimate W-L records, but every division in each league always has bottom dwellers in any given season. Mathematically, highs and lows, the Twins will be adding an overall collection of .500 opponents. The key is to beat the lesser teams consistently, and adequately against the better teams. But isn't that true every year? Brief hits: 1] I really like the rotation and the depth. Ober is absolutely part of this rotation, and I really like him and his potential. He's just in reserve right now. And when was the last time the Twins had top prospects like Varland and SWR, and eventually Balazovic, as the 7-9 SP to help and fill in? 2] I really like the first 6 in the pen a lot. Lopez is going to be just fine, and doesn't have to pitch like his HOF numbers to begin 2022 to be very good. I understand that the last spot or two in the pen will be fluid. And that's not a bad thing. But I'm still hoping there is a legitimate "crunch" there in a month or so where Henriquez, Winder, and Sands, perhaps others, can almost be interchangeable. And I'd feel a hell of a lot better if Pagan actually PROVES he can be a legitimate 2 IP middle man that doesn’t cough up leads. 3] I love the depth and versatility of the roster. And I don't just mean the ML 26 man. To have guys like Julien, Lewis, Wallner, and a re-emerging Kirilloff sitting at St Paul is a tremendous luxury. And there might be a surprise or two that can potentially contribute such as Castro, Garlick and possibly Helman. 4] The offense is my greatest concern. Not everyone has to be great. Again, the depth is there. Can Gallo return to form? Can Kepler be at least solid? Can Polanco be Polanco a few weeks from now? Miranda, Larnach, AK, Julien, and Lewis are all part of the present, and future. How good is everyone, and the rest of the roster? The potential is absolutely there. I think the team is built for around 88 wins right now. The offense clicks the way it COULD, I can see 92 wins. I think the Twins win the ALC. It's a battle between Chicago and Cleveland for 2nd place. Each team has different strengths and weaknesses. Can Cleveland produce enough offense and remain one of the healthiest teams yet again? Can Chicago get healthy, and do they have enough depth? TWINS WIN.

#4] I don't know about any Silver Slugger awards. Frankly, it would be nice, but I don't care as long as the overall production is there for the team. But I don't think it's a stretch to say Correa and Buxton are the prime candidates to potentially win one. Miranda might have a decent shot. And I'd never discount Polanco to win one if his tendinitis heals up in a few weeks and he's good to go for the rest of the year. But he's got stiff competition. #5] Gold Glove possibilities have to be Correa and Buxton. #6] I am completely torn on top rookie. I am just such a fan and believer in Julien. And he's going to play and contribute this season. The biggest question is WHEN he arrives. I still look at Lewis making his debut around July. No need to rush him. The long game matters more than immediacy. But he's so damn talented, so good, and can help in multiple ways and multiple spots that I'm going to pick him, even with only half a season. #7] Most improved player? Take your pick between Larnach and Kirilloff. The only thing either needs is health. Larnach has it now. A month or so from now. AK is going to get his stroke back and feel confident in his wrist. BOTH of them have a chance to make a major difference this season, in addition to beyond. Push comes to shove, Larnach might be the choice since he's ready NOW. Don't be surprised to see an improved Jeffers. #8] I'm going to say Lopez as top SP. But I still have a gut feeling Mahle is going to force the Twins to offer a viable extension after he puts 2022 behind him. #9] I really like the first 6 in the pen, with reservations about the last 2 spots that I hope will get settled within a month or so, understanding there will be movement throughout the season. But how can anyone pick against Duran?

Honestly, I never would have included Pagan in the article. Just because he has 30 career saves doesn't mean he should ever be in that position again. And frankly, history indicates such. Here's hoping he can be a good 2 inning middle man similar to late last year. If Jax was going to included, I would have placed Alcala in the OP over Pagan. I'm responding after the win against the Royals. I was GOING to say I think Lopez will be the primary closer and Duran the highest leverage pitcher and they would probably save about 25 and 15 each, Lopez obviously with the higher total. Do we place stock in how they were used today? Or am I correct in my original thoughts and today was the right day for Duran to close? I really like both guys and am going to stick with my original prediction of usage and save splits.

I like the construction of this team, even if every move didn't hit my personal blueprint ideals. Honestly, the only real headscratcher is Pagan. Might be a lovely dude, but after so much team and fan shellshock moments last year, it should have been time to move on. Coming out of ST, my only disappointment is Polanco, Buxton, and Kirilloff not ready to go 100%. I expected it with AK and remain optimistic he will be up relatively soon. Again, soreness while getting his wrist to baseball activity is a good thing...pain is not. And reportedly, there is no pain. I am very optimistic Larnach is going to step forward this season. If one of Kepler or Gallo does the same, I'm feeling pretty good about the offense. But I feel even better with a healthy Polanco starting daily at 2B. I think this is a 88 win team with any sort of acceptable health. (Literally, it would be almost impossible to be worse in 2023). And if a couple things break right...Larnach, Polanco, Kirilloff, continued improvement from Miranda, younger pen arms are as good as they look now, plus a few others I won't dive in to right now...I can see 92 wins. Let's play ball!

Stupid auto correct. Can't believe I didn't notice that. Lol Thank you. Corrected now.

Sorry Indiana, but over multiple years of radio broadcasts heard and posts read in various articles beyond TD, I just don't have the ability to post links. I wish I did. The Correa comments might not be as hard to produce, but not sure I have the energy to look up all the Correa and Boras comments made. https://www.mlb.com/news/carlos-correa-discusses-return-to-twins-free-agency That might be one. Arraez was going to arbitration with the Twins before his trade. Before that. Berrios stated he wanted to go to arbitration for himself and future players. It was a sort of "trying it" and see, IIRC. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2020/02/twins-win-arbitration-hearing-jose-berrios.html That should be a Berrios link. But I'm really bad at times with finding stuff and copying it. Lol And even if I did right, not sure how I'd find articles I've read or listened to about respect for the FO.

I didn't like Farmer as a substitute for Correa. Who would? But to be clear, when he was brought on board, the entire market was still in flux. He was either a stop-gap until Lewis was ready, OR, a really good utility piece if and when the Twins found someone better. Let's be clear, Farmer is a good, solid, starting ML player at a number of spots. To deny that is to sell him short, no pun intended. But to have him, instead, as an experienced and quality player as a $5M utility player is a TREMENDOUS luxury. Even with the idea of him mashing against LHP, would you rather have him or Gordon giving Correa a day off at SS? And I'm a FAN of Gordon! But I'd rather have Farmer there. Polanco is out for a few weeks? Gordon is OK at 2B against RHP, and Farmer against LHP, but late innings and you want the better glove there, I'd call on Farmer. And we could examine 3B on some days if we want to. But we don't have to. I'd be willing to bet over half the teams in the league would love to have Farmer as their utility infielder. And that's NOT a shot at Gordon, but a testament as to the plug and play ability of Farmer to be a quality ML player. Beyond 2023 gets interesting, as the Twins have control. But if a few things break right, POTENTIALLY, Farmer MIGHT be redundant. But isn't it nice to know the Twins have a really good super utility infielder already plugged in?

A very interesting OP and I look forward to reading more. But I don't need to read more to know, understand, and appreciate Correa as a leader for this team. Even on a "1 year deal for 2022" in practical application, Correa attempted to lead routines for the infield. He embraced talented rookie Miranda to guide and nurture him, even offering to work with him this offseason. He was so plugged in, so quickly, he already knew the milb system and the top talent on the rise because he knew he still might end up as a long term Twin at that point. He made a comment when 2022 ended that while he tried to take a leadership role on the field, and off, were he back there were some other things he wanted to do in that role to bring the infield and team closer. Now he gets his chance. I was impressed how much he deferred to Buxton as the #1 guy on the team, who is more of a quiet and respected leader. I was impressed with a game in which Fulmer was on the mound in a tough spot, and Correa came to the mound and basically told him what he saw, and what Fulmer should throw. Fulmer listened, agreed, and got the Twins out of a jam and got the team the win. Despite obvious talent and experience, he is a natural leader. He leads by talent as well as example. How much better does it get than that? While some fans don't understand this, teams and agents have a great respect for the Twins organization, despite pockets not being nearly as deep as the major market teams. The FO doesn't mess around in arbitration. They were one of the first, if not the first, team to retain ALL FO personnel during covid and paid all milb players. Agents and players see thus, even if the Twins aren't always a "destination" team due to market and payroll. (Please don't go on some rant). Correa's investment in his first season, and seasons to follow, brings a certain "legitimacy" to the organization above and beyond their already good reputation. It can be argued, and fairly so, that the Twins got lucky both the 1st and 2nd time in signing Correa. But they never undersold him. He accepted the 1st deal, but anyone else was free to do the same. After his offseason fiasco this year, anyone else could have, again, offered the same. Luck be damned, the Twins were open and honest up front with every offer. And he himself reported the Twins were one of the top teams on his list to play for. So not only is he legit, but his presence offers production, experience, leadership, and yes, even a greater level of legitimacy to the organization. I became a fan almost immediately, and remain one. Correa is a franchise building block for the next several years in many facets.

I also like Funderburk as a future pen option. The converted 1B hasn't set the world on fire, but he's been pretty solid. I could easily see his stuff play up better in shorter stints in the pen for sure. I see Headrick remaining a starter for now. No reason to make any change at this time, especially after he had a bit of a breakout in 2022. But he might also end up as a quality LH pen arm. (Rozek as a possible future convert as well?) And I think the Twins have some hope for Bentley to still find greater control, hence his being in the AFL this past offseason, and possibly surprising in the future. One of my problems with the FO...who I generally like and support...is I think they get "too cute" with some of their roster decisions. Sometimes I think you just go with an arm that has done well for you and figure it out later. I'm OK with Sands as the "last man standing", for the moment, as a 40 man middle/long man. He's got decent stuff and is going to begin his transition to the pen now. I think, ideally, that spot would have belonged to a healthy Winder doing what he did last year out of the pen, while still being able to slide back in to the rotation at some point. Again, like last year, and like the Cardinals and Rays are known to do. And while it's too late and fruitless to yet again debate keeping Pagan as a middle man at this point, he does have a rubber arm and would have opened the season with him in that role. Coulombe is 33yo and is nothing special. His long term future with the club would be in doubt with a plethora of young arms. But he's also thrown his best since he's been a Twin. I would have kept him, even without options, and had a 3rd LH for a short middle man for greater pen versatility. Sands could have begun his pen conversion at St Paul, with Pagan as a 2 inning middle man. Of course, I wouldn't have kept Pagan to begin with, but then again, dead horse syndrome. Lol Really hoping this doesn't come back to bite the Twins because they are suddenly short of LH arms again after all the various moves made. Hopefully, near future, we will see Funderburk and Headrick ready to contribute in some fashion. But neither is ready yet.

Look at Pagan and Coulombe at the end of the season and tell me who had the better year. I have a hunch who's going to win this arguement.

Am I happy with this? Of course not. I want Buxton in CF playing as many days as possible and Taylor being the great depth and rotation piece he's meant to be. But I just don't see the angst here. They've only stated Buck is beginning the season in the DH role. Where was it ever said he's moving there? No spring games in CF? It's not like he wasn't running around at the complex and hasn't played the position before. They're just being a little overly cautious about easing him in and saving some game wear on his knee. Additionally, it's going to be a little damp and cold the first few weeks of the season. We've seen this approach before, not just with Buxton, but other players and milb players before him. I'm just not concerned about anything here until something tells/shows me that I should be.

Stinks for Ober and he is a viable, quality ML SP. But a 6 man rotation just doesn't make sense and moving someone to the pen makes even less sense. Invariably, someone will not look good, get dinged with some injury, and a stretched out Ober will be up. At the very least, you need about 8 starters during a full season. Ober is going to end up with 20+ starts and hopefully 100+ IP at the ML level. Coulombe deserved the last spot. But roster construction has him biding his time at St Paul until needed. And he will be at some time. Right now, they want an arm that can pitch multiple innings and have options. Sands is sort of the last man standing right now, and figures to convert to the pen soon anyway. But not keeping Hoffman to begin the season seems strange to me. He looked solid, and from what I read, the velocity was there and his secondary stuff showed some life. Being a former SP, he should be able to handle multiple innings. So why not him instead of Sands to open the season? Is a DAY ONE available option that important? This one stumps me. I didn't see immediate room for Garlick. He missed part of the spring, didn't exactly rake, and would have to be run through waivers if sent down. So why not just keep him in reserve for now? Castro was the right choice for the last spot. Forget his ML career with Detroit so far, not exactly a recent hotbed of player development or winning teams. The guy is only 25yo, athletic, fast with some pop, switch hits, had solid milb numbers, and can play solid defense at 6 spots. He's a perfect last man on the bench player until guys get healthy. And as young as he is, if he and the Twins can "fix" his hit tool, they may have found a steal of a utility man. Forgetting the fact that Pagan shouldn't be around no matter what, the only head scratcher for me was Sands on the opening roster. Otherwise, this is the way it plays out best to begin with.

Wow! I sure didn't see that coming! I figured someone like Detroit, KC, etc.

Bundy might still sign with someone when injuries begin to happen. He can be counted on to take the ball every 5th day and throw some innings, but he's a .500 pitcher at best. Archer could be valuable as a middle bullpen arm at this point, if he wants to keep pitching. But it's my understanding he has an almost chronic issue...a hip I believe....that has really messed with him. It's probably time for him to go in to broadcasting. Sanchez's defense was better than I expected, though it's my understanding he put in a lot of work to bet better while with the Twins. And he's got a good arm. But as much divided opinion as there is on Jeffers behind the plate, the numbers seem to indicate better numbers from the staff when he was healthy enough to catch. Offensively, he got figured out a few years ago. His approach seemed to be, "see ball, swing hard at ball, and hope to drive ball." I'm sure the dead ball did him no favors, but I got tired of him hitting balls to the OF that didn't go anywhere but to a glove. With experience, power, and a solid arm, a team desperate for catching depth might still sign him. I think he'd be better off going oversees. Any thought the Twins didn't work with Sano, or want him to be good, is rather ridiculous. They invested millions of dollars in him. I ever thought he was as bad at 3B as some painted him, and thought he was a pretty decent 1B after the conversion, with the exception of a few awful plays where he was out of position or tried to run over a teammate who was calling for a ball. His bat wasn't just powerful. He had/has great bat speed through the zone. So I don't think he was slow to catch up to fastballs. He just seemed to lack "hit" ability to make enough regular contact. There is a misconception about his high K numbers. He didn't swing at everything. He often worked a count, and took more than a few BB. But he'd work counts and then become overly aggressive way too often on the high strike, or anything down and away. He just never developed a "hit" tool. I've often thought he swung way harder than he needed to, considering his natural power, and sacrificed contact that might have altered his career. We can argue all day long about conditioning and injuries, and maybe even desire to improve vs just playing the game. But he never made adjustments to his approach. And like Sanchez, someone might still take a shot at him as a bounce back candidate to play 1B/DH, but if he wants to keep playing, he's probably better served also going overseas.

I saw that. Sanchez got equally lit up in the other game. Frankly, I'm not very high on either one. Always felt they were signed simply for AAA depth and not much more. De Leon just never put it together and Sanchez lost it somewhere along the line. Sanchez did seem to rediscover himself in 2022 somewhat in the minors. I believe both are 30yo right now and their ticket back is probably embracing a pen role, though each may end up in the St Paul rotation at some point. Even then, there time in the rotation should be limited if there is good health in play at both levels. (He said crossing his fingers). Varland, SWR, Balazovic, Winder, Dobnak, Henriquez, possibly Sands, should be the primary starters, even though Jordy Blaze and Henriquez are out at the moment, and Sands may convert to the pen sooner than later. And there's going to probably be some mid season promotions from AA as well.

Agree Hoffman has a leg up on DeLeon to begin the season. While not classic middle men or long relievers, Hoffman and Pagan fill an early 2 IP role. IMO, it comes to either showing enough to warrant their roster spot. I'm hoping the FO has learned from their previous mistakes and won't stick with either too long. DeLeon has had some injuries, and has never capitalized on his stuff. But I could see him embracing a bullpen role and being an easy option to slide in to the 7th or 8th spot in the pen. I may have missed it somewhere, but does he have any options left? I'm betting not. That could have an effect at some point as the Twins like the last couple of spots to have options to run a St Paul shuttle. Ortega fits the Twins profile. Still only 26 and coming off an OK season, I was surprised the Angels let him go. With his stuff, and youth, and options, he could be a real surprise. For future consideration, I like him better than DeLeon, but the control has to be better. He has milb starting experience, but DeLeon has more time being being stretched out. So if the Twins are looking for innings, he might not fit as well. Call it a gut feeling, but I think Lawyerson has a future in this pen. Despite less than tremendous stuff, he's deceptive, and has shown the ability to get guys out in various roles. I see Lawyerson as a perfect middle man in the pen who can throw 2-4 IP as needed. In my fantasy bullpen I see him and maybe Headrick as a RH/LH pair to control the middle innings before turning things over to the back end 6 of the pen. Not necessarily now, but maybe 2024. Lawyerson needs a little more AAA time before I'm ready for him to make his mark. I see him more for next season, but he might make a contribution late this year. Interesting that Coulombe isn't included here. Is that because he's a "given" to contribute this year? I'm guessing so. This is all fluid. And its up to each pitcher to establish themselves and contribute and prove their worth. But when I step back and look long term, I see Sands, Henriquez, and even Winder as perhaps better options for the future. Ortega has a shot. Lawyerson is the one name here I like the most for fit and future contribution.

My quandary is 2 part: 1] How do I classify a player as being a BREAKOUT CANDIDATE? By that I mean, can a rookie be a breakout candidate, or are they just a rookie? And what about someone who has actually looked really good, even in SSS, but raises his game? Heck, Miranda could crank 30+ doubles a d 25 HR and would he still qualify as a breakout performer after a really nice rookie campaign? 2] And if we include rookies, what if Varland looks good in 10-12 GS, for example. Again is he a rookie who would be stil be a breakout candidate in 2024 and a potential full season? And that's just one example. The heck with it, I guess it's up to interpretation so in no particular order, here goes: 1] ALCALA: He's flashed here and there and then really put it together at the end of 2021. He had a nice 2022 ST and was good his first couple of appearances before his elbow acted up. Right now he's the 4th RH behind Duran, Lopez, and Jax. But he's going to give the Twins 4 high octane RH at the end of the pen. 2] MORAN: He's going to have to keep his BB numbers "acceptable", but I love this kid. While he's awesome against RH hitters, he's still good against LH as well. Experience is only going to make him better as the season goes along. I think he'll be solid the first half and raise his game the second half. 3] KIRILLOFF and LARNACH: I'm cheating a bit here because they are almost the same ballplayer in the exact same situation, with one the better overall OF and one destined to primarily play 1B going forward. BOTH are 1st round picks, highly regarded, with bat, power, decent OB ability, and potentially solid against LHP. And BOTH have flashed at the ML level when not hurt. Larnach is going to be one of the starting corner OF in 2024...if not before...and get serious run in 2023 as an OF/DH. Things are going to get really crowded really soon in the OF, but that's a good thing. Soreness, but not pain, indicates that Kirilloff just might be ready to fulfill all his talent and potential. To get his stroke working, and to achieve that "confidence" level in his wrist that it's OK to let it rip might take a few weeks in AAA. No problem. He's going to lay claim to being the primary 1B by June at the latest. 4] JULIEN: He's just going to be too good to keep down. Even with good health, every team is going to roll through more than 13 position players on a season. He's going to force his way in to the lineup on a regular basis pretty quickly as a 1B/2B/DH, probably at the top of the order. He's going to "Arraez" himself...funny how that's becoming almost an adjective...and provide a real spark. 5] OBER: I'm really reluctant to place Ober on this list because he was really good in 2021, was just as good, if not better, when able to pitch early and late in 2022. His numbers so far equate to a really good full year over 2 seasons, even with some IP caveats. But I include him here due to IP restrictions in 2021 and the time missed in 2022. I believe in his stuff and the changes in his routine and delivery. With rotation depth I don't know if he starts 18 games or 25. And they might still monitor his IP somewhat, but I think he establishes himself once and for all as a quality middle of the rotation starter. He's going to average at least 5 innings and throw 120 IP over 20+ starts.

Flabbergasted that Shuffield, even as an older player, could come in as a rookie at play and hit that well, even though his AAA time was as a late season fill in. I don't know if he has much of a ceiling, but who knows. Agree with Dman, perhaps slot him at AA and see what happens. Ben Ross has already gotten run due to his college and independent league numbers, so will leave him alone in regard to comments. I am always drawn to catchers. Cossetti showed a live bat in college but didn't play post draft. (1 game I think). Will the bat play? How good is his defense? I'm more intrigued by Nate Baez behind the dish. He's more athletic than your typical backstop, and didn't become a full time catcher until last year. He's just got to be rough around the edges, but there is real potential with his athleticism if he puts in the work. Stinks Ortega got hurt right away. He reminds me of a 2B version of CES, drafted the year before. The bat potential is intriguing, can he keep it up? Can he remain at 2B? I was surprised Omari Daniel signed. I also thought he'd go to college. He has to get his arm right. But he was a TOP HS SS recruit. He's going to start low in the system, naturally, but healthy and any questions about NOT going to college would have him selected at least a few rounds earlier. I'm very interested in both Zebby Matthews and Cory Lewis. Both are in the 6' 4-5" range with long frames that might not be fully developed. Both could see upticks in velocity to the mid to upper 90's. They remind me of Festa, ready to mature and emerge. The fact that Lewis seems to have a legit knuckleball, not just a gimmick, makes him even more interesting. Other than Prielipp, I like the potential of these two more than any other arm drafted. Lastly, and I'm probably being sentimental, but I'm going to be watching 18th round pick Zachary Veen closely. He has 3 pitches and only throws around 90. But a LHP who averages 10K per 9 IP and only walks 3 in 49 innings gets my attention. And he showed the same control and K rate in the Cape Cod league. Could he crank up the velocity to 93-94 maybe as a pro? Could he make it at 92 with a solid breaking ball and change? I just can't ignore the control and K rates. Might he be a solid BP arm in a few years? This draft is obviously defined by Lee and Prielipp. But there's a handful of infielders that at least offer various degrees of potential. And a couple of arms that aren't exactly longshots, but are intriguing possibilities. Really want to see one of the catchers reach their potential and Baez could surprise. Don't know that it was a great draft beyond the obvious, and it will take a few years to know the outcome, but I can see a handful of surprises here that could rival the 2019 draft. Potentially.