DocBauer

I do think Kwesi has SLOWLY been a little better each draft. And that's not exactly paying tribute. They did better in 2023. The awful and tragic loss of Jackson skews last year's draft somewhat. But in theory they have their new, young QB. They got an awesome talent in Turner who flashed at times and is really young. And they got a damn fine young kicker and a pair of OL who show some real potential, plus a talented sleeper DL in LDR. What's been oddly strange to me is how many solid looking UDFA and waiver wire players they've picked up. Maybe they've "too cute" with some of their picks, trying to outsmart everyone else? I'd be fine if they just kept the 4 pick they have and just make good choices. If you draft smart, you can get a really good #1, a really solid #3, and then a couple developmental guys with the last 2 picks. With all the FA moves, that could still be a decent draft under the circumstances. The last thing I want to see them do is trade away 2026 draft pick depth...where they have the potential to double down at multiple positions...but I could see them moving down a few spots in the 1st round for an additional 3rd round pick if the board sets up well. That extra 3rd rounder while still staying in the 1st round could be one more really solid player for now and the future.

While i understand the intent of the OP, I can't really embrace the overall concept. A full time, day 1 Wallner is the replacement as the every day RF. Finally. Bader is the replacement for Margot, who was the replacement for Taylor. The Twins brought in Taylor to provide an actual, bon-a-fide CF option for Buxton who could also play some corner OF. His AVG, OB%, and K rate was bad. But he played phenomenal defense and provided some timely power. It was the first time they had a real CF to fill in for Buck. ON PAPER, a healthy Margot, coming off a bad ankle I believe it was, was a solid idea to replace Taylor. Again, ON PAPER. But he got OLD virtually overnight. It was a bad fit and a bad add. Bader is a solid option for 2025, even though I'm not a tremendous fan. He's still an elite defender at CF who can cover the corners as well. He's got some speed and some pop/power as well. POTENTIALLY he's a solid bat against RHP, but he's been inconsistent in that regard year to year. I'd much rather have Rodriguez storm out of the gates and be brought up to "crowd" the lineup with "too many good LH hitters". But even then, Bader is probably on the roster due to his RH bat...if he hits at all. But for now, he's actually the replacement for Margot, who was the replacement for Taylor.

So the player roster is set for opening day. I think Gasper was the right choice considering the current injuries. A switch hitter with a good OB/contact ability offers potential value at DH/1B and PH. I think him playing any catcher or 2B is more about "break glass" in extra innings games and the such. I'm pleasantly surprised by Keirsey making the roster. Being LH, having speed and good defense is a better fit at this point than Martin. I don't know that he plays a lot, but Martin needs to play daily to work on defense and prove his offense. Keirsey's presence also allows Castro to concentrate more on the INF for now with Lewis and Lee both out. Time for Miranda and Julien to step up with the bats and just not be buthchers with the glove. I never saw a fit for Castellano in a pen on a team that expects to compete. But I am confused by not keeping a depth piece already on hand instead of grabbing someone off the waiver wire. I guess it makes a little bit of sense if they expect Stewart back up in a couple weeks. But I still struggle a bit with that decision. If Lee really just has a muscle strain and nothing more serious, someone will be sent down fairly soon to make room for him. I'm in agreement that the potential for a decent offense is there. I still like Miranda quite a bit, but can we get a full season out of him? Has Julien found his stroke again? The opportunity is there for both of them. Of course, i like the potential of the offense more with Lewis back. And while i really, really don't want to say this, does France have the ability to impact the lineup if he's actually back to his 2022 form? I'm not saying he's a difference maker. But from lineup DEPTH, if he's sitting around 7th or 8th with Wallner, Correa, Buxton, Larnach, Correa, and Miranda, and Jeffers as PRIMARY bats, a good, solid France just make some difference.

All the more reason it really stinks that Eels is currently out recovering from surgery. I've been contemplating Morales lately as a depth option. I think he's still down the ladder of a pecking order, but we shouldn't dismiss him as a possibility. Nor should we forget about Will Hilland who somehow learned to HIT in 2024 when he'd never hit as a pro previously. If that wasn't an illusion, he might be a depth option at SS and CF and provide some speed. But like Morales, he's down the ladder a couple of rungs. Here's hoping everyone is healthy ASAP and stay that way. But I think most of us have been expecting Keaschal and Rodriguez at some point this season. Might Keaschall's bat and arm both by healthy by June? That definitely changes the depth component. Gasper makes the roster and then who is #13? Does Martin make it just because he's RH? Or will they not focus on short sided platoon situations and keep Keirsey and his defense, speed, and LH bat and have Martin play daily for the Saints? I'm going with Blewett as the last man in the pen for now. But that could change pretty quickly.

Topa is healthy unless something happed in the last day or so that I missed. He was sitting at 92-93 consistenly in the game I watched last week, and hit 94 at.least once. He allowed a run and got 2 K's.

Just read an interesting idea at Vikings PTSD, or whatever it's called, LOL. There's still room to add to the roster pre-draft. Despite improvements to the OL, they still really need another quality body for the interior. And I'm 100% in favor of finding/adding another body at C/G in the draft. But they mentioned the Vikings adding Trystan Colon as a 27yo IOL with experience at all 3 middle spots, including some starting experience. Someone like him could really set up depth nicely. He was around $1.7M in 2024. He's young enough to provide upside, and should be inexpensive enough where maybe $2M-ish can bring him in? One more really solid IOL deepens the roster, and also furthers the idea of just drafting the BPA available with every, limited, pick the Vikings have in the upcoming draft.

The good news is Lee stated it didn't feel major, and it was higher up than when he's had problems with his back previously. On the surface, it appears to be some form of minor stiffness, small muscle pull or cramps, that kind of thing. But it's still worthwhile to speculate depth, as Nick has brought up here. IF there's an injury to Lee, Castro either becomes a starter somewhere, or, concentrates more on the INF. That means room for Keirsey or Martin in the OF to accommodate, until Rodriguez is ready. Personally...and this slightly off topic but has been touched on...I look at Lee the way others have discussed Ridriguez coming in to the season. Rodriguez's ankle sprain set him back a couple of weeks so it's a moot point, but there was a serious discussion about letting him jump straight to the Twins and just let it fly! Let him hit at the bottom of the order and just grow in to his natural talent and ability and let him grow and adapt on the fly with the long term outlook of him "getting it". My approach with a healthy Lee is the same. He's got the glove, instinct, baseball intelligence, and talent to be a pretty good hitter and producer. I can live with a bat that is still finding it's way with the glove he has. But back to the depth conversation: Again, Castro potentially sticks to the INF and we have a couple OF options to allow him to do so. Miranda is not a great 3B, but he's turned himself in to an acceptable one, especially if the bat is working. Julien's glove disappeared along with his bat last season. But if you had the ability to watch him in 2023, his hard work took him from butcher to solid/average at 2B. So if he's in line for more 2B time with Lewis out... MAYBE Lee out if the back flares up and we aren't talking about a bad day...the hope is the improved defense of 2023 comes back. Keaschall just isn't an option at this point. He still hasn't played above AA and is just starting to work at positions and testing his arm. But what if there are no additional injuries other than Lewis and a Lee stiff back for a couple days, until June or July? Might Keaschall be ready for 2B duty by then? Eeles being out really messes with depth issues and opportunity, but also explains why no ST invite. Damn that stinks! Lewis out, the Twins can adapt for the short term. Lewis AND LEE out for a while does test. And i really don't want to go down the "what if" rabbit hole for a situation that might have been someone simply sleeping wrong and having a cramp/pull...buuuttt....beyond Castro and a not yet ready Keaschall, there is the possibility of Will Holland coming up. He's a prospect with speed and talent who hasn't hit AT ALL until he reached AAA last season. SUDDENLY, for whatever reason, his bat came alive. I believe he was a ST invite? At worst, he could be brought up to be a utility player at SS, and CF, and has also played some 2B I believe. He could hit 9th and provide some speed on the basepaths at least. Let's just hope it doesn't come down to him being a necessary option.

Recent reports have the Vikings talking to Tannahill as the backup QB. Nothing pending. I actually like this idea a lot. I believe he's 37yo, and obviously not looking to be a starter any longer. And while his career has had a lot of ups and downs, there have been moments where he's been a solid starter. I could see him as a really solid mentor and fill in starter who's definitely a step up from Mullens. Does missing a season suddenly rob him of ability? Or does it make him healthier and more hungry playing with a top team and KOC? This might be the best choice for QB #2.

To be clear, Lewis has never suffered an injury as a Twin playing defense other than the 1 game in CF. And it wasn't him crashing in to the wall. It was an awkward leap and landing that re-injured the knee. I think any move to 1B is more about the BEST total configuration of the INF and not about keeping Lewis healthy. In regard to his work ethic, he is a tireless worker who has rehabbed TWICE from major knee injuries. And he worked hard this offseason with a previous trainer to work on flexibility to try and avoid any more muscle injuries. MAYBE this is the last one for some time? We can only hope so. But it's entirely possible his previous pair of knee surgeries, and all the game action missed, has his body over compensating in an attempt to be "normal" in execution of his playing ball. I mean, even on a much smaller basis, how many of us have hurt a knee or ankle and limped around for a while and felt other parts of our body feeling the affects? Buxton, for example, has had a hip issue flare up at times, probably due to compensating for his knee issues. Glass half full, Lewis is still young enough that with continued rehab and exercise and his body adjusting to the new norm of having a not quite 100% knee the soft tissue injuries might abate themselves. Our own TD physical therapist contributor...paraphrasing here...has commented in the past about the body adjusting and compensating and adjusting. MAYBE Lewis never gets right. It's possible. It's also very possible with a little more time and work his body just adjusts to playing daily and he's fine. Considering his attitude, talent, work ethic, and young age, I'm betting on him and his body eventually "settling in" and being more durable going forward. I'm a bit confused about the OP. Lewis should be dismissed? Lewis should be granted patience? Or the Twins should already be looking for an alternative? I can see reasons for looking in to the system for alternatives if things go sideways. But I'd bet real $ that the STILL ONLY 25yo Lewis WILL settle in as healthy and productive. I just wish it was today vs tomorrow.

I'm going to be the proverbial blogger sacrificial lamb here. As smart as I am, and as smart as I pretend to be, I'm just NOT the STAT HEAD that I'm seeing presented here. BUT, I can follow the numbers to some degree. May i make a few simple comments? 1] Reliever numbers are, and always have been, volcanic in nature. A couple bad games, bad pitches thrown, bad luck, can skew a RP's numbers due to limited IP. 2] Very few human beings can throw a baseball consistently at 100MPH, give or take. 3] Pure velocity isn't everything and you need other quality pitches. Duran has that. In fact, his secondary pitches are probably better than his FB. 4] The BABIP against Duruan in 2024 would seem to be "unlucky" based on normal numbers. 5] Duran has also been working on a 4th pitch, a 2 seamer I believe. He's looking for any edge he can find. ALL OF THIS tells me there isn't a worry about Duran UNTIL we see an actual worry. Honestly, other than the bionic Chapman, I've NEVER seen a real ML pitcher consistently throw 100 MPH other than Duran. Anyone with control that is. The Twins have 2 AAA arms that could do that, with no idea where the ball is going. It's a very strange discussion. If Duran only repeats what he did in 2024, he's an excellent pen arm. But we're worried that he's suddenly lost something when the season hasn't even begun? I'll worry in a month or so when the season starts, the lights are on, and games matter.

I'll probably repeat myself in the Duran OP, but I'm just not worried about Duran ar this point. He's still hitting 100 mph and has crossed it a couple times. He's been working on a 4th pitch...a 2 seamer I want to say?...and working on the shape of his stuff and sequencing as well. 100mph is still crazy good. Said it before, but MAYBE a slightly less velocity simply means taking off a tiny bit of his other pitches? Or just some tweaks? His BABIP in 2024 was crazy. So for now, I'm just not worried. Jax is great. Stewart is a question mark to some degree. He suffered a mild hamstring pull. It wasn't his arm. When he got his cleanup in the offseason he says his arm hasn't felt this good in a few years. With his usage limited, at least the first couple of months, even 40 IP makes a difference. I've got faith in Coulombe in his role as the veteran LH who doesn't stink against RH bats. He's not a LOOGY, but he fits a certain role in the 7th...maybe the 8th once in a while...and I feel confident he's going to handle that role well. Sands started to show real promise in 2023 before taking the next step last year. He was fantastic. He could regress some and still be very good. I've been a fan/believer in Alcala since 2021. Just a shame he spent most of the next 2 years on the shelf. Despite a bad finish last season...probably wore out...his career numbers are a 3.64 ERA, only 123 H in 163 IP and a WHIP of 1.084! And he's a 9 K per 9 IP. And that's from what might be our #6 pen arm? His final 2024 numbers were still really good even with a poor finish to the season. Not hard to imagine him better with a full year behind him after missing the previous two. Varland is a bit of a wild card. We saw the potential late in 2023. We've seen the numbers and the results as a SP 1 time through the order, and they are really good. Now he gets to crank it up for 1-2 innings and 1 time through the order. He's got to prove himself still, and continue to make the permanent adjustment to the pen, but he could be a future set-up arm. Topa was throwing pretty well the other day when I watched him Monday. The wind was crazy, he did allow a run, but he struck out 2 and was sitting at 92-93 and touched 94 at least once. I believe that was his first game back after sitting for a week or so. Not saying he's great, or ready, but the velocity seemed to be there, or close to where it needs to be. I'm CONFOUNDED by Castellano. I've watched him a few times and the STUFF is there. I'd love to keep him. But, not unexpectedly for a young pitcher jumping from AA, the control is lacking. He's had a couple really nice appearances that give optimism he could fill the role of long man with good stuff that can fill a role, and then he's been all over the place and you just know SOMEONE ELSE would have to come out of the pen to take the ball from him and tax the pen. I just don't know if he's ready to fill even the 8th man innings filler role. And that's a shame as I'd love to keep him. I'm still hoping they can find an acceptable trade to keep him. But as has been pointed out by others previously, Topa could start at AAA, and they could see what Castellano does once the season starts, and cut him at any time. But if out biggest worry about the pen is keeping a AA rule 5 pitcher as the 8th man, things are looking pretty good! IF they keep Castellano to begin the season, who knows what happens. Maybe he turns a corner. Maybe he gets hurt, in which case he can go to the IL, then rehab to work some more, before coming back. Maybe he's cut. Topa sits and waits. Tonkin is what he is, a non-upside veteran middle man with a cheap contract and a recent resume as a solid 1-2 IP middle man who is available probably middle April if needed. Funderburk is still a very live arm with potential sitting and waiting. I doubt there's many teams opening the season with the 7-8 arms projected to be in the Twins pen opening day. And there's some depth there as well. Not just the names already mentioned. IF Castellano is removed via being cut, it opens up a 40 man spot. If he's somehow traded for and kept, at least he can be optioned for another arm on the 40 man. It might also be time to just move Canterino to the ML 60 man list. You'd have to pay him a little more...peanuts to any teams payroll...and you start his service clock. But who cares? You start the clock on a 27-28yo who might never pitch again? That opens up a 40 man spot for a Blewett or anyone else not on the 40 man roster. And IF injuries hit the pen hard...knocking on wood...nothing says starters can't be relievers in the temporary. Again, if the 8th spot in the pen is an issue, we are looking damn good. There's some depth. There are SP options on the roster to help fill in as well if there is a serious injury issue. And at some point, almost every team in MLB ends up calling up a "serviceable" arm or two that usually ends up cut, and re-signed again for AAA. Only massive injuries or massive underperformance should keep the Twins from having a solid pen for 2025.

I really like the Rondale Moore signing! He's been hurt quite a bit in his career, and hopefully he's lost little to no quickness or speed coming off the knee injury that knocked him out of last year. But he is DYNAMITE when on the field. I could see he and Nailor alternating between the #3 and #4 WR spots depending on play calling/situation and the team/defense being faced.

My expectations for Lee is to hit somewhere in the .260-270 range with a solid .340 OB,% with 34 DBLS and 14-15 HR for 2025. That would be damn good! I don't know if his power could be 20 ish or not in the future. Maybe. And i wouldn't doubt his AVG and OB,% might not climb. But his future is tied to WHAT IS THE BEST INFIELD going forward. IF his bat is what we expect and hope for, it's possible the best possible INF is Lewis moving to 1B.

What's funny/interesting to me is how what came around comes around again. And we say it's "change". Based on the "new" lineup construction that is taking place, Henderson and Raines back in the 80's and 90's would still be the optimum #1 batter. Slugger Brian Downing for the Angels was their #1 for a time based on power and OB%. Boggs and Gwynn were #1 hitters. This isn't a new idea. It's about ideas that have been around for decades about how to build a lineup vs ideas that were so old school that they don't play in today's game. And the league is starting to figure it out. The days of a low OB% batter with speed and a below AVG OB contact hitter batting 2nd to move the runner along is proven to be a failure in today's game. Personally, I believe in a deep lineup...SURPRISE...where you put your best 4-5 position players to get as many AB as they can get. But I also believe in the DEPTH of that lineup. IF Julien or Keaschall could be a good hit OB% #1 and slide Wallner down to a power and RBI slot so much the better. But that means you have an actual table setter. Right now, we don't. So the idea of Wallner and his power and OB% makes a lot of sense.

Cool your jets. Tim Jones is a replacement player similar to Brandon Powell. Might be a notch below Powell. Very limited production. Recent visit Rondale Moore...is he still available?...would probably be a better signing, with more upside. This is a flier type signing for depth who might have some upside. Honestly, practice squad players Jeshaun Jones and Thayer Thomas might be better options.

So what you're saying, even with your small correction, is Rocco DOESN'T have a quick hook with competent SP? I'm absolutely agast! (Massive tongue in cheek sarcasm) I really wish the whole "quick hook" mantra would just die based on facts.

Pablo has great stuff. Pablo is a dependable innings eater. But he's also been a bit of a slow starter, at least since he's been with the Twins. In 2023 and 2024 he wasn't bad, but he wasn't great. And then a switch gets flicked and he settles down and starts to look really good. That switch was turned on a little later in '24 than '23. For whatever reason, the switch reversed itself a little bit late last season. Was it just a landslide that seemed to engulf the entire team? He's a very intelligent person. ST means little to him other than getting in work and trying a few things here and there. But it does seem that it takes him a little while to just a complete "feel" for all of his pitches. So they might be trying for more IP in ST this year to "warm him up" to get said "feel" working earlier. EVERY pitcher, even the cream of the crop, have bad days. But Pablo was a #1 for about 3/4 of the 2023 season. The same for about 2/3 in 2024. I think extra innings this ST is an attempt to get him closer to 2023, if not better. SIDE NOTE: They are reportedly taking a similar approach with position players, especially with ST winding down, more AB to get ready.

I agree that I don't think he's part of the draft comp formula. I also agree that I'm not interested in Rogers. I GET the idea of this newly deepened and probably better roster being primed to make some real noise, and GOING FOR IT with a future HOF QB. And if you look at Roger's numbers last year, they were pretty darn good while playing for a dumpster fire of a team. But do they really want to delay the future another year? And what if he breaks down physically? You've "wasted" $ that could have been spent elsewhere to continue this augmentation of the roster. And then you've had McCarthy sit, potentially, for 2yrs if you tie hopes to add a hopefully healthy Rogers to having ONE MORE GOOD SEASON. I think you keep building the team as they're doing...FA isn't done, and there's another wave coming...hopefully have a good draft, even with limited picks, and turn the keys over to McCarthy. I'm really intrigued by Drew Lock. He reminds me a lot of Darnold. He's got a big arm, experience, but has never put it all together. He could be an excellent backup getting a chance to be coached in the system KOC has put in place, and maybe even take a step forward.

Oh I agree. Some guys have injuries, are on bad teams, maybe are a bit immature, etc, and then they get in to their late 20's with a good environment and good coaching and they take off. Maybe that happens here. I sure hope so. I was thinking Douglas, or even bring back Gilmore or Griffen for another year. This is absolutely a flier. But I sure can see the potential upside with this move.

NOT what I was hoping for. MAYBE he's healthy and ready to soak up new knowledge in Viking Purple and turn a corner. But he's only ever had 1 decent season, 2022, despite his draft pedigree.

They need to figure out the 2nd QB before they do anything else. Are they going to pull the trigger on Rogers? I'm not going to get in to that, but if the answer is no, they've got a couple older 30+ QB to be mentors and a couple under 30yo options who might have some upside under KOC. In addition to having enough $ left over for the draft, and UDFA, they need some depth pieces like a #3 TE. But they still might have enough $ left over for a couple bigger moves. They need another IOL for depth if not competition. And there's a handful of good/decent ones still out there. One more proven CB could really solidify the defense. And again, there's a handful of good/decent ones out there. A WR to compete for the #3 spot? Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Grugier-Hill back. An OL, CB, WR, TE, and maybe a LB might be too much to ask at this point other than depth pieces. But a couple more additions that might actually compete for primary spots in addition to depth would be nice. It would give Kwesi even more ability to just draft the BPA. There's no guarantee we will trade down in the 1st, or out of it, but I think there's a good chance it will happen if there's a decent collection of talent still sitting there. I think a top young S is a strong possibility. I'm not opposed to another talented young RB in a deep class for additional depth and future potential. A late TE with potential could make some sense. But the better they do to flesh out the roster over the next few weeks will make this draft interesting in a unique way if BPA is truly open to them with each pick.

Why does Lee make the opening day roster only because Lewis is out? He's probably the best 2B on the club and his bat has looked a lot better this ST, for what that's worth. And if Lee is the primary 2B, it frees up Castro as the SU. As I've stated before, figuring out 2B really does have an overall roster affect. Before Lewis's injury, there was 1 spot left. Now there's 2. I thought the final opening was between Julien and Gasper, Martin and Keirsey both feeling superfluous at this time. I'd say as of now they both make it.

I'm not exactly sure about him pitching from the stretch, but he's working on a 2 seamer to help against RH batters. Originally, I thought i had heard it was a curveball, but the 2 seamer has been reported about the time ST began. I think this is also an example of not putting too much stock in ST numbers. It's great when someone blows batters away, or knocks the crap out of the ball, but we never really know what's being worked on over such a small sample size.

The top 3 are all legitimate All Star possibilities, for what that's worth, and playoff caliber starters. If I had to pick one to have the best season and get Cy Young votes it would be Lopez. It's all about a little more consistency earlier in the season for him. SWR could regress. But he could also progress, which he was doing in 2024 until he ran out of gas setting a career high in IP. Paddack is the mystery man. I'm not expecting anything more than a dozen starts, 70 IP, and just keep the Twins in games until he's hurt. And maybe that's more than enough with the younger and more talented Festa, Matthews, Morris, and Lewis ]sitting at AAA getting a little more time to settle in and develop. I think there's a chance Paddack could surprise. When he came up he was a 2 pitch pitcher. Since then his breaking balls have advanced. If he can maintain velocity this year...unlike last season...and get the feel for his changeup back, he might actually be good. High floor but a pretty high ceiling here as well. Odd but crazy good that the arms waiting in AAA are probably better than those of the 4-5th arms currently in the rotation.

With a little luck, Lewis won't be out long, and will be close to 100% for the remainder of the season. Losing 1 player for a time, even a great one, doesn't destroy the season. Losing 2 or 3 can. I believe Miranda is now the primary 3B, Castro will fill in as well. Lee should be the starting 2B, can play 3B but really shouldn't have to much. Miranda was going to DH quite a bit i believe, in addition to some 3B and 1B time. The Lewis injury opens up a spot for Julien to provide another LH bat. After that, I'm probably agreeing on Gasper as he's a switch hitter with career success as an OB% guy. He becomes, possibly, the primary backup at 1B. The fact that he can't play 2B without being an embarrassment helps his cause slightly. Martin needs to play daily, IMO, and won't as the 5th OF, or even 6th OF when you consider Castro. And that's pretty much the same boat Keirsey is in.