DocBauer

Power PLAYS! OB % PLAYS! And neither of these are new concepts! And the Twins aren't bad in either of these categories. The problem has been consistency and situational hitting. Nobody has ever "called out" anyone, but there have been allusions concerning hitting approaches game by game that the previous staff supposedly put in place and weren't always carried out. Is that blame on the strategies in place? The players not following the strategies in place? Maybe a lack of adjustments in game? We're on the outside looking in, so I don't think we really know for sure. TOTAL run production has the Twins very high the past few seasons. The problem has been too many games where they score 8, and then lose too many 1 run losses. FAR too many games with runners on 3rd and 2nd and 1 or 0 outs and a simple sacrifice fly could have scored a run. No idea who's at "fault" but it is interesting that they did change the hitting coaches. That they did so to "cover" Rocco as an excuse is ridiculous. The FO could easily "balme" him and ushered him out as they did Molitor. They're looking for a different voice to make changes in approach in regard to situational hitting, maybe different mid game strategies. In 2023, the offense was terribly inconsistent and lead the team to a .500 record mid season. Better production and production from some young prospects propelled the team to a playoff appearance. The offense in early 2024 was putrid, then really good for about 4+ months, then the whole team melted down the last 6 weeks. But can we just stop with blaming Rocco for every bad thing that happens? Look, I'm not his biggest fan! I have debated some pen moments and usage. I've disagreed with too heavy of a PH and too heavy of a platoon strategy, but he's not responsible for injuries or rookie pitchers hitting a wall or players suddenly forgetting how to hit. Rocco has been on record stating in 2019 and 2020 he almost had to do nothing but write out a lineup. After that, he had to start making decisions. All very tongue in cheek to be sure. Again, I'm not his biggest fan. I think he's a pretty good manager overall, but I have issues with some of his choices the past few seasons. But him RECOGNIZING and ACCEPTING changes need to be made tells me he's intelligent enough to recognize these things. The Twins aren't going to suddenly be a running, SB team. They aren't going to suddenly be a bunt/sacrificing team. (HINT, the whole BUNT thing is ONLY situational, and history has proven that). But a new staff might just either communicate better, or make better in game adjustments than the previous staff. They might, for example, figure out how Julien can still be a patient hitter, but also be more aggressive and hit or foul of breaking pitches until he finds something he likes. (Kinda like Larnach). If new owners want to move on from Rocco, I don't have a problem with that. But Rocco recognizing some changes have to be made, and a new set of coaching staff in place to find a different direction, even if it's subtle changes, are all positives heading in to 2025. Of course, a healthy Lewis and Correa makes a difference as well. But let's not quibble about having your best players available.

I don't disagree. But I think it's as simple as Lewis has the ability to be a very good 3B, who just needs to overcome the weird throwing action he developed last season. He seems to have a little better arm than Lee. Considering he played so much 3B in HS, and then transitioned to SS his senior year, and primarily played SS as a MILB, I'm still a little confused how he developed that "trouble" in his arm angle/throws. I think he'll be just fine. But I see no reason why he shouldn't keep working some at 2B for no other reason than late game moves that MIGHT require/allow him to play there. Miranda has improved enough at 3B to be ML average there, IMO. So you simply increase your flexibility in the INF. I think it also makes sense simply because there are more options to play 2B with Lee, Julien, Martin, Eeles, and Keaschall. IMO, 2B is reserved for Lee if he can put his rookie season behind him and just be the hitter we/everyone believes he can be. (Opinions vary, but even his floor is expected to be solid). I stubbornly refuse to believe that Eeles isn't a potential ML ballplayer, but he's still in a "prove it again" cycle that I understand. Keaschall could replace Castro as a SUPER UTILITY player, OR take over 2B if Lee falters...I don't think that will happen...OR potentially take over 1B. I won't dismiss Julien after one bad season. MAYBE he was a flash in the pan hopeful prospect. He hit in college, he hit in MILB, and he hit as a rookie in 2023. He also made great improvements as a defender in 2023. He suddenly lost the ability to hit or play defense in 2024, but I'm betting the long game with him. I'm betting he becomes a 1B/2B/DH rotational/regular lineup player. But he has to turn it around in 2025 or he might be pushed aside. I'm just not sure I see Martin as an answer at 2B, but it's probably his best position on the dirt. I see him as an OF who CAN play 2B. I think he's best as a utility player who primary covers the OF, but I'm just not sure the instincts are there. Just too many bad reads when I watched him last season. Unless he makes major improvements with his bat, and defense, I'd rather see him at St Paul to begin 2025. The kid has talent, and I know he was only a rookie in 2024, but he just looked lost to me at times. But I'm also not ready to dismiss him yet either.

All 3 interviews are fantastic!

Kwesi has done a good job managing the roster as whole, and did a tremendous job in FA last offseason. His drafts have been AWFUL to better each of his 3 seasons. His UDFA signings have been almost as successful as the drafts. (YES, I recognize is scouts and not JUST Kwesi). I'm not IN on keeping Ingram as a backup G. I'm still pi**ed that they didn't keep the young G in camp last year, Robinson I believe, that "almost" made the initial roster. He impressed the HELL out of me in preseason to the point I thought he should not only be kept, but maybe given an opportunity to push Ingram for the starting spot. Alas, someone signed him off the practice squad. As bad as Ingram has been, I'd wager a 5th round pick or smaller FA signing would be better. I've had arguements with one of my sons that IN NO WAY should the Vikings spend their 1st round pick on an IOL! But then I mention how incredible McDaniel was for us at G, and the CENTER position being so good for DECADES before recent poor performances. I'm IGNORING any draft options pending FA, and any sort of Donaldson sign and trade options. Just too many wheels turning to do so. My FIRST priorities are bringing Bynum and Murphy back. Next is another CB, then a DL and OL. There's a decent chance FA and re-signs MIGHT take care of that. But it's a mixed bag. IF they sign TWO OL, then maybe CB is the top draft priority. And I'd be happy to bring back Jones on a similar $7M 1 year deal and draft a young RB to work with him before the younger player takes over. Does a 30yo + RB really have a market? I'm really excited about the future of this team. But 2025 is SO DEPENDENT on FA and any possible Darnold sign and trade for extra picks that the only thing I'm looking at RIGHT NOW, is a few re-worked deals to add to the FA $, and who they sign. THEN I'll start to focus on the draft and how many picks they have. It's POSSIBLE they get everything they need and want in ONE offseason. I've just always thought they were on a 2 year cycle with a young QB and talent on hand and financial flexibility. The problem is other teams are also in place when it comes to FA.

I'm sorry, but what? The defense is fine except for Martin and Eeles? Is that what you are saying? Martin had a couple good plays at 2B last season, some questionable ones, but mostly played OF where he again made a couple good plays, but was average to very poor in others. Eeles hasn't even had a ML shot yet, and we have no clue as to how good or average to poor he might be. But there have been reports he has worked very hard to be the best he can be from his MILB coaches. I've offered him up as a possible 2B option among many. So what exactly are you saying?

Natural athletes don't have things/handicaps to overcome? Have I quoted you accurately? If I have, many is the college athlete, even high "star" talents who are great athletes who never become great players. Many great athletes are selected in the MLB draft, or signed as international FA, who never turn out to be ML players. SOME have limited athletic ability when it comes to PRO sports, but work their tail off to become something. Arraez would be an example. But being a great athlete doesn't mean you will make it, or have a long career, much less be a difference maker. Martin reaching MLB is a success in doing so. But just being a great athlete doesn't mean you find success. While I have hope Martin will figure something out to be a competent hitter and defender, and allowing for him being a rookie and a weird development curve that more than a few prospects had "around" the lost 2020 covid season, he really hasn't shown anything thus far but brief glimpses as to any kind of BAT performer. And his potential defense has been suspect at best so far. I recall when he had about a 1/3-1/2 season of hitting success in 2023 at AAA where a lot of posters had him penciled is as a major contributor for 2024. I never understood that. I don't dislike the kid, I don't wish ill will to the kid, and I wish his athleticism would allow him to raise his offense and defense up another level or two and surprise the hell out of us in 2025. But just being athletic doesn't mean you can play ML defense or hit at that level. Or did I misundstand your comment?

Some guys have awareness and/or instincts and some don't. Correa, for instance, has amazing instincts. Some guys don't have it. A great athlete doesn't necessarily have good instincts.

The Padres are in a major conflict in regard to ownership, but they're also in a weird place...especially with a number of big contracts...where they want/need to add at spots, but also want to lower payroll. So I don't know if they're ripe for "picking" or so mixed up that trades are going to be tough. Vazquez is reportedly of real interest to them to lead their staff. Cease came up in conversation. That doesn't mean the Padres are really interested in trading him. While it won't be popular with some, my opinion is a NO on making a move for Cease. If this was the offseason between 2025-2026 I would have a different opinion, probably. I like the current team, overall, despite weak/questionable depth. The rotation and depth of talent is pretty damn good. The pen looks good. But a more consistent offense from what's on hand, maybe adding another bat, is more important than another starter who will cost talent, and might be "wasted" for his ONE SEASON if the offense doesn't come through. Seattle comes to mind. I understand looking forward is hard because you fall in to a trap of "next season" if you aren't careful. But this time NEXT YEAR has a much better idea of just how good/ready Rodriguez and Keaschall might be, how good/close Jenkins might be, and how good Lee, Miranda, Julien, and others might be. That, IMO, might be when Larnach and others might be moved. It's where it's easier to move arms from the current AAA and AA "logjam" and below to move for help. While an imperfect team, I mostly like the current version of our Twins. I think they are a division winning team and playoff team. AGAIN, not a perfect team and I want more. But I just don't see a 1 year deal for Cease, and what it would cost, for the losses of 2026 and beyond. If I had a crystal ball that revealed Lewis is ready to go for 140 games, Larnach and Wallner keep doing what they've been doing, Lee takes over 2B, Miranda is 100% and plays 140 games, the bench is OK instead of being poor, I'd probably change my mind on trading for Cease. But they'd still want a couple of those players and not just prospects. And that doesn't mesh with what the Padres need and want. Cease isn't going to happen. I'm not even sure he's really on the table. And he's not what the Twins need until a few spots/players/prospects are set/settled. A "Cease" pitcher move next offseason might make sense as this team might need that one great arm to push them over the top. Of course, it's POSSIBLE Lopez, Ober, Ryan, Festa, SWR, Matthews, Morris, Lewis, Raya, etc, MIGHT change that perspective as well.

I hear ya. The FO, Rocco, and the coaches have forgotten more than most of ever know about MLB, or baseball in general. But once in a while something seems so OBVIOUS that you have to scratch your head and wonder what's going on? Using Martin specifically...and I'm NOT picking on the kid...were they just mistaken about how easily he could move to the OF? By the time of your visit to the AFL, shouldn't they have realized SS wasn't in his future and moved him to the OF? Or maybe spend the majority of his time at 2B/3B? Did they really think more time at SS would help him at 2B/3B? It does make one wonder sometimes.

Wait! Huh? So Lewis was handled poorly and not given a good opportunity to stick at SS after TWO knee surgeries, a gain of about 20+ pounds of muscle, and the signing of Correa, who happens to be one of the greatest SS of his generation? The Twins did NOT assign Martin to SS. The Jays did that. The Twins kept him there when they acquired him at the deadline. If the Twins made a mistake, it was in not moving him off of SS the following season as I don't believe anyone every believed he would stick at SS. Right or wrong, the Twins reportedly kept him at SS stating he could learn more there from an experience perspective if he were to remain on the dirt at 2B or 3B. Of course, it was also reported they felt he was a "natural" OF and could move there easily. And I dare say we've all been underwhelmed by what we've seen of him out there. Should they have moved him sooner? Perhaps. But they are not the ones who moved him to SS I guess I don't understand where Lee fits in to the equation. He was drafted as a SS, has played primarily SS when coming up...even has some at the ML level...but it's been somewhat accepted he would be better at 2B or 3B. So where exactly have the Twins potentially errored here? He didn't hit well in his debut and had an injury because they played him too much at SS? I just don't know that I see the correlation regarding Lee and the theme of the OP. But I have to add, except for special cases like TOP prospects that might include SS or CF that might stick at one position almost exclusively, virtually ALL MILB players move around, and usually have. They do this to increase the likelihood of making the majors, possibly not at their original position which may already be manned by an even better player, but also because in MILB you want/need everyone to play. It's about development and opportunity, not just playing the best starting 9/10 and letting other players sit on the bench and never develop. So catchers play 1B and DH to keep getting AB's while other catcher play. CF play the corners so they get AB's, but other CF options get to play. Same with SS, and just about any other position. Now, if you want to argue/debate about the Twins not doing a good enough job of drafting/signing young SS that can STICK at SS at the ML level, I'm willing to listen and probably agree. But I really don't see anything debatable or wrong in the handling of the names mentioned in this article, save perhaps moving Martin straight to 2B, or permanently to the OF sooner.

As of today, Lewis and Lee appear to be the best fits at 3B, with Lewis probably having a slightly/somewhat stronger arm. (Yes. Castro can play it well also, but he's probably gone next year). Meanwhile, 2B might also be manned by Julien, or Eeles, or Keaschall in addition to Lee. (Martin can also play decently there it appears). For this reason alone, I'd have Lewis at 3B and roll through the more numerous options at 2B.

With no insult to the amazing HOF Harmon Killebrew...who moved around a lot...Gaetti and Koski were the best 3B I've seen in a Twins uniform in my 50+ years of being a fan. BOTH had struggles early. Gaetti had "hands of stone" until he didn't. Koskie was "too tall and awkward" until he wasn't. I often reference to Lewis at 3B when examining the careers of both of them. While their careers don't necessarily overlap one another, I often wonder about the horrible/unfair injuries that robbed Koskie and Mauer and Mournea. Smalley should be next.

I wasn't big on Keaschall being drafted initially because I felt they sort of drafted the same player in Schobel in 2022. Boy was I wrong about that! All he's done is flash a contact bat with pop/power, speed, and OB% ability. His defense is the question mark. He was primarily a SS before moving to 2B for Arizona State, but did bounce around the OF and INF here and there in college. I don't say his defense is a question mark because he can't play defense, it's about where he fits best. He's a good athlete who has the speed to play the OF, but has most of his experience in the dirt. Because the Twins KNEW he needed TJ surgery, he spent most of 2024 at 1B/DH/OF. They timed his surgery so he could play as much as he could before going under the knife to be ready for 2025. I'm not saying he won't have a permanent position with the Twins at some point. But if Lee and Lewis hold down 3B and 2B, I can see Keaschall taking his athleticism to 1B, while being able to play elsewhere. But I can easily see him being a potential Castro replacement in 2026 if Castro isn't brought back. The offense plays. The athleticism plays at multiple positions. The future is undetermined. But he's part of the Twins lineup at some point in 2025. And he might be the #1 batter for several years when he arrives.

I'm going to just put my own spin on things at this point. 1] Dan Hayes has reported that the interest in Vazquez by SD is real. They were in on him 2 years ago when the Twins got him with a 3rd year. SD doesn't like their current catchers due to poor offense and poor defense. They're interested in Vazquez to lead their staff. ] Also according to Hayes, the Padres don't necessarily want to move Cease as they have a TON of guaranteed $ locked up and they still want to compete, but they also want to trim payroll where they can as they have an ongoing fight of who is going to "own" the team and be in control. Cease has come up as a result, but he and Vazquez are presumably 2 entirely different conversations, not necessarily tied together. (Doesn't mean things couldn't change). 3] Falvey has always run the team with a personal mantra of "what can I do NOW to improve the team without sacrificing the future". I don't see him suddenly changing gears now. That doesn't mean questions asked about Cease's availability aren't genuine. You ALWAYS ask! But if the Twins were forced to trade a trio of top 15 picks for ONE YEAR of Cease, i believe Falvey would balk. 4] NEITHER Vazaquez or Paddack are going to bring back some top prospect, or prime starting player with any type of control. Zoll has publicly stated the payroll could stay neutral and be OK to start the season. Let's take him at his published word. IF Paddack and Vazquez could be moved, possibly along with a low level prospect or two, the Twins POTENTIALLY have $17M to work with. Moving BOTH of those expiring deals allows them to POTENTIALLY: A] Sign a veteran backup catcher like Diaz, McCann, or Grandal for a 70-30 split with Jeffers for $2-3M B] Sign a RHOF like Grichuk for $4-5M. Career mostly neutral splits, not a "specialist". C] Sign a LHRP such as Chafin or Poche for $3-4M, mostly neutral splits, not a LOOGY only. D] Sign a 1B/DH option like France, only 30yo, who MIGHT be a rebound candidate, for $4-5M The $ numbers fit. The players might change. There's a LOT of decent players still players still looking for work with 3 weeks remaining before ST starts! This is working depth and the edges, but depth and edges that might increase the WIN total by a handful of games. But it's also IDEAL by the Twins CLEARING the $17.5M. What if they have to pay down each of Vazquez's and Paddack's salary somewhat? Maybe a combined $5M? Well then, ownership has to allow for a small bump. But what if at least one of these deals brings back ONE of the "needed" options back in a deal? MAYBE it's a RHOF or a solid LHRP? Then ONE of the proposed 4 needs are met as a neutral $ addition. There's opportunity for a variety of options for the FO to make this work if things play out right for them, and actually ADD to the 2025 roster. Especially if ownership is willing to bump even a couple $M to field a better team for potential buyers to see. (A comment made by Hayes that I don't think should be dismissed). Personally, I would drop any illusions that the Twins are IN on Cease. As mixed up as the Padres are right now, i don't believe they would move him unless they got at least 2 TOP prospects/players that are ready now. And i just can't see SWR/Festa/Matthews AND Keaschall for a 1 year rental.

Win probability for the Vikings in 2024 was around 7.5. I never quite bought in to that. There were questions about depth, and MOSTLY about QB. And we can blame Darnold all we want to, but OL play had a major impact in how things ended. But to simply ignore what Darnold did this season is a dismissal of his talent, and what KOC has done as a coach building a system and a team. Its also why I was surprised just how good this season was with questions at QB, the OL, and a sudden rebuild at CB due to injury and death. I've stated in the preseason where holes were, and have repeatedly stated the same. FA and the next 2 drafts have the potential to fill those holes and actually make this a team who could be a legitimate SB contender. You play who you play. And from year to year, you never take any team for granted. The Vikings had a great season and rose above expectations despite some holes, and some quick fixes by the FO. The next chapter is McCarthy leading the team and FA $ and the draft fixing the holes in the team to rise to another level. And I think it's time to let go a fun and expired season and get ready for 2025 and beyond.

This is just preposterous! 70-75 % of ALL pitching is RH! And we want to fall deeper in to the trap of too much platooning? Part of the young players not facing enough LHP is a trap already set. Wallner got more time against LHP in 2024 because Kepler was hurt. Platooning, to some degree, makes sense. I'd LOVE a decent, solid, RHOF who doesn't STINK against RHP to give Larnach and Wallner a break, and have them coming off the bench as needed. There's still a few guys waiting for jobs we might bring in cheap in the next couple of weeks. But trading Larnach because he's good, might be better yet, and move him BECAUSE he bats from the strong side is beyond ridiculous! Between Rodriguez this season, and POSSIBLY Jenkins in 2026, I can see a move of Larnach. But not NOW. BTW, I'm just sick and tired of the ongoing mantra that the Twins need a RHOF to play CF for when Buxton needs a day off, or is injured. WHY? Why do the Twins need a RH option when Buxton sits or is injured? Does the league suddenly throw nothing but LHSP against the Twins? Is there some bizarre TWIGHLIGHT ZONE scenario where only LHSP face the Twins? OK, I have a certain angst in this situation, LOL. But if Keirsey finally gets a chance to be a ML player who can cover CF adequately, play the corner spots as well, and be a viable PR, what's wrong with him hitting LH? If Buck is out for 2 weeks, I'd rather have a LH hitting OF who plays good defense in his stead vs another Margot! We're still talking about 70-75% of all arms throwing from the RH side. Can we just STOP once and for all about the NEED for a RHOF to back up Buxton.

I think a year further removed from his 2nd TJ, there's a reasonable chance Paddack can maintain his velocity better. As I understand it, his vaunted changup wasn't as good last season. With more consistent velocity, his improved breaking ball, and a better feel for his change, he brings potential value. That's why teams have shown interest. It's also what makes him interesting to just keep as well. WITH Paddack, one of Festa or SWR begins the year in St Paul as Ober did to begin 2023. It's not "fair", but it provides depth that will be needed at some point. I have a lot of good feelings about Matthews, Morris, Lewis, and Raya. (I think Adams might be the next Jax/Sands). And I'd rather give Mathews and the others a little more time at AAA vs having to rely on them "too soon". Paddack could start in the rotation and move to the pen later. Potential win-win foe the Twins if they keep him. But moving him...possibly with a lower level prospect thrown in...might allow a little room for a couple of adds to the rest of the roster. There's still a lot of decent ballplayers out there looking for jobs. Paddack's $7.5M COULD be just enough for a LHRP like Chaffin or Poche, still available, and with mostly neutral splits. And there's a handful of RHOF still looking for work that might have to settle for a 1yr deal of about $3-4M. Paddack might be able to allow those couple of signings on his own. It means someone might get called up sooner than hoped for, but you manage to work the edges of the roster to an advantage. IDEALLY, someone out there has a young RHOF that is blocked or superfluous they would be willing to move for Paddack and a decent, lower level prospect. Cubs, Brewers, Orioles, who's looking for a bonus arm for the backend of their rotation and might have a young RH bat to move? That would be ideal! Then you can grab said LHRP with some track record, and MAYBE sneak in Turner on a cheap 1yr deal, though it might push the payroll. Maybe France who has some bounceback potential at only 30yo? Moving Paddack takes away pitching depth and makes the Twins trust in their collection of young arms a little quicker than they might like. But if they find the right deal, and get back a decent ML player option, with his $7.5M gone, they might end up with a 3 for 2 that can deepen the 2025 roster. I am COMPLETELY OUT on moving Castro for ANY reason unless blown away. I have some belief, and a lot of hope, that Keirsey and Helman and an improved Martin can make a decent bench with speed, athleticism, and versatility. But the bench is questionable enough as is without removing Castro.

IF Vazquez was moved for all, or nearly all, of his salary, I would be on board with it. And it's not because he's a bad guy or some awful catcher. But he's been lousy with the bat, and is gone after this season. And you might be able to grab Diaz, Grandal, or McCann for $2-3M this late in the offseason, and have a few $M left over to try to add someone else. But if moving him costs a quality prospect, or only saves about $5M, it's just not worth it. Play Jeffers 100 games and hope for the best in regard to Vazquez's bat. What's so confusing about me is the following: .259/ .323/ .503/ .826 with 16 Dbls and 21 HR and 63 RBI while throwing out 25% of would be base stealers, which is down from his career percentage of 30%. That's Jair Camargo in St Paul in 2023, after moving up and continuing to improve from his decent 2022 A+/AA numbers. I understand wanting to play the ML guys who are earning bigger $, but to just ignore a kid with power and a strong arm and settle for a 60 OPS just makes no sense to me.

My opinion is such a mixed bag that it's hard to say. I don't like adding the "cheaters" from the steroid days...but...some of them were so damned good before the supposedly juiced that it's hard to say no. I'm thinking Bonds and others. Maybe down the road for the veterand committee with an asterisks by their name? I'm a believer in BOTH length of service time and quality despite supposed lack of dominance...Kaat and Blyleven for example...as well as pure dominance over a shortened career due to injury...think Puckett, Oliva, and Koufax. I always think about guys who were just dominate in an 8-10 year stretch. And I tend to look at numbers posted differently because every decade the game does subtly change. Through a 10yr stretch of the late 80's and early 90's, Jack Morris was just a STUD. The same way Verlander has been in the aughts. You just never wanted to face him. I'm not a fan of Harold Baines being in the HOF personally...not because he played for the Dirty Sox...but because I think he snuck in between the category of really good for a long time, and dominate for a 7-8yr time frame. I don't have an answer. But were I a voter, and if I was going to leave out steroid users for NOW, my criteria would be very good for a long period of time, occasionally dominate, and elite/dominate for a shorter period of time. Hard to not then vote for guys like Sabathia or King Felix. But I'm a bit prejudice that Koufax is IN while Santana is out. Yes, call me a Homer. LOL. Posthumous, I would like to see Rose in the HOF. I know he broke a cardinal rule! But his career as a player still marks him as a HOF inductee at some point.

I have subtle questions about SWR going forward, and not because of his late season fade. My questions about him are tied to simply being a ML sophomore, and will he adapt from all he's experienced and learned, or will batters adjust more. Just questions about being a typical sophomore. I've read about his offspeed stuff having good STUFF+ ratings, FWIW. But there's a difference when you face ML batters. If he can maintain 93mph, give or take pitch to pitch, and can improve his change, I've got a lot more faith in him going forward. Could he add velocity? Perhaps. His arm and body need to adjust to 162 game schedule. He needs to at least MAINTAIN velocity, even if it doesn't climb. But he's young enough, and lanky enough, that a little more muscle and maturation might add a tick. But the numbers @mnfiremanpposted show a rookie who kept his team in games more often than not. IDK if he's got the K per 9 ability of Lopez, Ober, Ryan, and Festa, but there's a lot of ways to get guys out. Personally, while I love and appreciate K's and what they mean, if he only continues to K 7.9 per 9 but keeps the ball in the yard, doesn't BB many, and gets tons of outs on grounders, pop ups, liners, etc, and gets the job done I'm OK with that. But a couple more K's per game, a few less pitchers per inning, he could be that much better. Build his body up for endurance, get a better handle on his change, he could be a potential 8.5-9K arm who can go 6 IP, even without any big tick up in velocity. What impressed me the most about SWR during 2024 was about late June, through July, and some in early August before he ran out of gas was his demeanor on the mound. This also seemed to conside with him pitching 5+ IP at that time, but he became more animated. He wasn't showing off and pumping a fist, but he had a sort of "strut" on the mound. It was like he was saying to himself, "I got this. I can do this." I think character wise and confidence he's fine. A better change, more endurance, I think he's got the ability to be a quality ML SP. I'm still not sure Festa isn't the Twins #4 starter really soon though. *side comment: I was disappointed he changed his number from 78. Somehow, that number just seemed to fit him and all the miles he's traveled to reach this level.

While it was only a few innings, he did seem to look healthy. One would hope on offseason rest will have his knee more sound for 2025. But with an option still left...or is it 2?...I wouldn't be surprised if he starts in St Paul initially. I don't know that I see him with 69 IP and a .261 ERA again, but what about a 3.50-3.75 ERA and about 50 IP? I could see a healthy Topa doing that. Problem is, the pen might be in flux the first month or so until it settles a bit. Are they really going to stash Castellano all season on the ML roster as an occasional arm in blowouts? Tonkin and Topa are sort of the same pitcher, a solid 2 IP middle man, does Henriquez look good enough to be kept initially? There's a lot of depth, but some of the guys don't have options. So there might be some mixing and matching to begin with.

I don't like Castellano jumping from AA to take one of the valuable pen spots ans turning it in to a "stash" spot for an arm that's going to eat innings in blowouts once every 10-14 days. We've seen them do this with Sands, and others, and it usually just wastes a pen spot. And isn't Tonkin already best suited for 2+ IP every few days? If they really like him, they should trade for him. That frees up a spot for a LH, or for Henriquez to stick, at least initially, if he has a good ST. Not sure I see both Tonkin and Topa on the opening day roster, but it could happen. Since Topa has options I can see him begin at AAA. It may not be "fair" but it's a way to manage depth early in the year. Same with Varland who ABSOLUTELY should be in the pen at this point. He just doesn't have the ability to consistently go 5 good innings, much less more. But he's usually looked good when throwing 1-3. I'd have him as a RP immediately, and toss him 2 IP every time out, but he also could start in AAA initially. Keeping guys without options and having arms that might be better at AAA with options isn't how I'd like to build a pen. But I do see the method to the madness early in the season.

I don't want to see the Twins give up on him as a starter yet, and I don't think they want to either. Best option, IMO, is to start games at AA and go 2-3 IP as you think best based on pitch counts. He dominates enough at AA, then maybe jump him to AAA when it seems right. He can move to the pen later to save his arm, or potentially help the Twins later in the season. You still build up his innings to some degree, but can still preserve some bullets for later in the year. I just don't see any way he's ready for a Twins pen role right out of the gate, or early. But I also have doubts about moving him back to being a starter if he's in the pen all of 2025.

71.8 PFF grade for Blackmon as a rookie in 2023 where he was a starter or top reserve for about half the season. Definitely a good grade, 9 PBU and an interception as a rookie. He was penciled in as a probable starter before getting hurt and the FO having to scramble some. And yes, in his 2nd season and the current #5 S, Ward offers some potential and has been a decent ST performer. Compared to the 2022 class, 2023 looks almost outstanding.

I don't have great faith, but I have some hopes. They completely blew the 2022 draft! But they got 2 starters and a decent 3rd player in 2023. And so far, 2024 looks encouraging. And they've done well with FA and some rookie FA, so there IS an eye for talent working there. So I have a little hope they might be figuring it out.