DocBauer

Welcome to Twins Daily! I am going to disagree with your take on Keaschall, however. While I want him to stick at 2B...and would stop all this talk about playing the OF for 2026...if his best position turns out to be 1B, I'm OK with that. Carew was never a great fielder, but he fit better at 1B and had an amazing career. All Star, Gold Glover, and Silver Slugger Darin Erstad played CF for the Angels, but also saw time at 1B. Ditto for Cody Bellinger. In recent Twins history Arraez provided a unique skill set without much power or any speed as a top of the order hitter. So when I look at what the OF and INF could/should soon look like for the next few seasons, I can see 1B being a good landing spot for Keaschall if he just can't get the mechanics down at 2B. Not saying he can't or won't, but having his bat and pop and speed at 1B would be fine for me if that's what seems to make the most sense.

I'm not as down on Lee at SS as some. I like his hands. And while not a great athlete, he seems to make a smooth, quick transition and can throw decently off balance. But being solid...with room to improve...he's just never going to be the athlete that Culpepper is. Lee could still improve at SS and probably will. And hopefully, he will transform to a .270 hitter with a .330-ish OB% and produce 30+ Dbls while continuing to provide HR power in the teens. But K-Pepper simply has more potential offensively and defensively. Ideally, he stays healthy and continues on his quality trajectory and is ready by mid season. That changes the depth and versatility of the INF. Does K-Pepper take over SS? Does he debut as a fill-in at first? Regardless, I see him at SS at some point and Lee becoming a valuable utility INF who should be able to also contribute as a 1B. He'd probably play almost daily between 4 different spots. While Houston might provide elite defense in a couple of years, I'm only concerned with 1 prospect at a time. And right now, that's Culpepper hopefully on the fast track to improve the team defense, offense, and depth

8 pitchers? Did I count that right? I could be wrong, but I don't recall them signing anywhere close to that many arms for some time.

I guess I'm going to end up repeating myself here. 1] The Twins have had Garver, Castro, Jeffers, and Vazquez almost exclusively at catcher the past several years. Jackson set a floor for a relatively cheap deal, but now they have a better option to work in a 60/40 split with Jeffers. It also allows Jeffers to DH against LHP and have a guy at catcher that isn't a black hole in the lineup. 2] We simply don't know what the payroll ceiling actually is. With Larnach still on the roster as of now, we should be about $100M. Many have conjectured that's the payroll. But how do we know that? What if it's actually closer to $115M? That's STILL less than where they finished 2025, but still with room to add a couple veteran pen arms to assist in the rebuild and provide some leadership. Maybe there's even room to add another backup SS/utility option better than Kreidler, though I don't know there's actually anyone worthwhile left at this point. But I don't think this signing is an automatic indicator that Jeffers is being moved. Or that no other signings aren't coming. I still don't see the fit for Larnach on this team, but let's say they spend $10-13M on Robertson or Dominguez, for example, and brought Rogers back home? Or maybe Coulombe instead of Rogers for a little less $? If the payroll actually is in the $115M range, and a couple decent veteran arms are brought in, the Caratini signing makes a lot of good sense. If not, then it becomes a questionable move. We should know more over the next couple of weeks as January is counting down fast.

Only speculation on my part, based on how they've built rosters before, and without actually knowing the payroll ceiling: 1] Jackson isn't very expensive, cost little to get, and helped set a floor. The FO has done this before. A fairly recent example was Farmer before Correa. Farmer created an unexciting but decent floor, and then became a good utility player once Correa was brought on board. 2] Since this FO took over, the catcher position has been handled almost exclusively by Garver, Castro, Jeffers, and Vazquez. Caratini gives them a better all around player than Jackson, a better 60/40 time share option with Jeffers, can play a little 1B here and there when needed, and allows Jeffers to DH against LHP without having a black hole behind the plate when he does so. 3] Considering point #2, I'm not sure Jeffers is traded. Maybe at the deadline depending on how the team is doing, but I don't see the sense in keeping your core players in tact, but then moving Jeffers and turning catcher over to a 55-60 game starter and another backup who can't hit a link. 4] They strengthened catcher, and are only paying about $1M more for the position than they did last year. This might indicate the projected payroll is actually more like $115M-ish, and not $100M as some have conjectured.

Opening Day? Rodriguez has the best chance for OD, and I've been championing that idea for some time. With only 1 option remaining, a good, healthy ST, I'd give him his shot. If he needs a re-set od any type, I'd rather it be sooner rather than later. But service time, time missed in 2025, and the Twins wanting to take a look at Martin and Roden, I'm betting he begins the year in St Paul. Presumably, Gonzalez can also hit RHP decently. So no, I don't believe he's used as strictly a platoon bat. So when he does come up, he'll play on a regular basis, no matter the pitcher. But he's also a great candidate for a 1B trial. I like the inclusion of Fedko even though he's not on the 40 man. He's got a decent eye and some contact ability...witnessed by his career MILB OB%...along with some power and speed. Yes, he's a late bloomer. No, he's not a top prospect. But he's reportedly a quality corner OF, can cover CF acceptably here and there, and can also play some 1B. That's a solid resume for a bench guy. At at 26yo, you don't mind him being an occasional lineup presence. But I doubt he makes it OD. But I can see a possible fit. (The bench isn't great at this point). I think Raya is behind Prielipp and Klein simply because he might need some better success before getting his ML debut. But I'd like to add Cory Lewis as another OD option. His control abandoned him in 2025, but he still had a quality 10.7 K per 9. Dialing his repertoire down a bit, throwing hard as possible for 1-2 innings, and that CRAZY knuckleball of his, he might be a ST surprise.

Mendez should have been included as he's a MILB player converting to 1B. Amick also should have been included as he's been splitting time there as well as 3B. Sabato has been a disappointment for sure. His strong AA in 2025 didn't carry over to AAA past his first couple of weeks there. (His college career still marked him as a solid prospect). There was a time when teams used to draft 1B. But the game has changed over the decades. But even Hrbek was a 17th round pick back in the day. Doug Mientkiewicz was a 2B/3B, IIRC correctly, before moving to 1B. Morneau was originally a catcher before moving to 1B. What's been bizarre and unexplainable to me is the FO lack of vision as to what a quality 1B could mean to the lineup. I love the idea of moving Mendez to 1B since his OF defense is questionable. Considering the same, in addition to prospect depth, why aren't Gonzalez and Rosario also being mentioned as possible 1B converts? Over the years, the FO has "shoved" Sano, Arraez, and Solano over to 1B and basically asked them to learn on the fly. (I do believe Salono had played at least a little 1B previously). So why would you "shove" someone to 1B at the ML level but not be imaginative to maybe do that at the MILB level where a kid with a strong bat could LEARN the position while coming up? I understand you don't want to move someone off their "natural" position too soon, but if you're not sure said prospect is a quality defender at X position, why not move him to 1B and still allow him to play a few games in his X position as well, just in case? It's so damn frustrating! Imagine if Gonzalez or Rosario could play a competent 1B and have a decent bat with 20+ HR power? And I'll take it a step farther, what if Roden and Fedko...who have previous 1B experience...could provide solid gloves, decent bats, and a mix of pop/power and speed at 1B? Wouldn't that be a good thing? And both could be squeezed out of the Twins OF picture if/when Rodriguez and Jenkins debut. Another step forward? What if Keaschall's arm never comes back...it probably will...or for some reason his athleticism just doesn't translate to being a GOOD 2B? (I think it will). Then how about K-Pepper takes over SS, Lee moves to 2B, and Keaschall becomes a solid 1B with a great offensive game but just not the power you expect from a traditional 1B? There are SO MANY WAYS to have a solid 1B who can contribute offensively in various ways instead of leaving it as a dark hole position that seems to change yearly. This FO is lacking imagination for a position that may be at the bottom of the defensive spectrum, but has the potential to be a big producer in the lineup.

OK, on the surface I love this addition. Caratini was my DREAM FA signing to be the #2 and work with Jeffers. I just didn't think they could afford him, so I was looking at others in the $3-4M range. Caratini might not be quite as good as he used to be defensively, but he's a solid, experienced option with a good bat for a catcher. The fact that he has almost neutral splits makes him that much better as a pickup. While recent draft picks at catcher haven't turned out for the Twins...though I still think Cardenas will turn out to be a solid ML backup...the FO HAS made catching a priority. That's why one of the first signings they ever made was Jason Castro. And they followed that up with the drafting of Jeffers in the 2nd round, and gave Vazquez a 3yr deal when everyone else only offered 2. (You can debate that at length if you care to). I say that to remind everyone that Jeffers/Vazquez cost about $13M combined in 2025. Jeffers and Caratini are a combined $13.6M for 2026. Only a small bump on payroll, but a better offensive combination. Now, it's possible Jeffers is on the move. Not disputing that. But only Tom P and Falvey actually know what the 2026 payroll target actually is. Financially speaking, again, Jeffers/Caratini are almost neutral in $. So either Jeffers is on the move...which I dislike for a variety of reasons...or the projected '26 payroll may be closer to $120M than $110M. YES once again Larnach has to be moved. While 1B is NOT being handled the way I think it should be, the roster construction is too heavy at 1B and DH and potentially crowding out younger, cheaper players with better defense. IF this signing IS an indication of a $120M-ish payroll, they just upgraded the catcher position. And the fact that Caratini CAN play 1B here and there as needed, with a split neutral bat, only adds flexibility in late inning moves or injury. And there's STILL room to add a Dominguez and Rogers/Coulombe to the pen IF the payroll is actually more in the $115-120M range. IF Jeffers is actually moved, I'm not crazy about the catcher position for 2026. But I guess that's a wait and see arguement. In regard to Alex Jackson, I'm going to trust the MLBTraderumors statement. Were Jackson DFA, and someone picked him up, said team would be responsible for his salary. If not, he could sign with the Saints for more than he'd probably get as a FA. He would essentially be a "Dobnak-like" player who could be stashed at AAA; useful, but too expensive for someone else to claim. I don't know if that's great roster and financial management, but I believe that's how it would work. But Pereda, Cardenas, Winkel, and possibly Olivar as a catcher/OF already on hand, St Paul may have a strange crunch behind the plate.

Here's my honesty as a fan. I really, really wanted Festa to not just be a good story as a late round selection ,but especially when I saw his potential as a SP at the ML level. And I really, really wanted Prielipp to be a good story about a highly regarded LH arm who might be a STEAL for the Twins. Grudgingly, I have had to adjust my thinking. As I also remembered thinking it would be awesome if Duran were to be the next top of the rotation SP. And I had real hope for Varland as well. And to be 100% honest, I misplaced hope for more than a few past Twins pitchers. Festa has proven he can do serious damage 1 time through the lineup. Like Duran, his body just seems to suggest this is his best path ML success and profile. A 4th offering, like Duran learned, only means you are growing and adapting. And Prielipp really did have a great 2025, and even flashed at times. But he wasn't actually the best MILB pitcher overall. But he's got some great stuff! And the truth is, considering IP from college to MILB, despite not being OLD, where does he fit? I used to argue staying with him and let him develop and become a ML SP at 26. Why not? But I'm coming around to the thought that maybe that's just not his career path. I'm not saying he couldn't follow the Santana and Liriano path, but considering his history, maybe his best path to ML success, like Festa, is in the pen. I don't expect Festa or Prielipp to have immediate success. But Festa HAS ML experience. Prielipp still needs some AAA time to adjust. But he could be an awesome LH setup man relatively soon. Closer? We'll see. I still like Festa in that role. I HATE seeing dreams of SP not turning out what I WANTED them to be, but I can also see the potential of terrific arms in the bullpen.

I'm going to have to disagree with the OP that NOT having more players on the team from OUTSIDE the organization is a bad indicator. In fact, I think it's just the opposite. While the Twins have "blown" a couple early round picks...and EVERYONE does...the fact that they can field a starting lineup with almost all home grown drafted and developed players is a very positive indicator. Now, don't get me wrong, we haven't exactly seen all of the players listed play completely up to their abilities as of yet, I'm not blind, but the talent, and at times, the production HAS been evident for the most part. So let's examine the provided list; BUXTON: He's an absolute stud when he's been healthy enough to perform. He's absolutely one of the most talented and exciting players to ever wear a Twins uniform. He's learned...much like Hunter did...to not always sacrifice his body. His migraines seem to be under control. With all due respect to medical science these days, what's MADDENING to me is that something as seemingly simple as removing his plica in his bad knee could have been done BEFORE 2023. What a difference that has made! We're finally seeing Buxton as a 100+ games played performer the past 2 seasons. But could it have been 3 years instead? While he's over 30 now, he's still DAMN good! LEWIS: His knee injuries are certainly not his fault. Unfortunately, crap happens. We've seen him awesome. We've seen him bad. And we've seen him OK. And despite everything he's been through, he's STILL only 26yo! His improvement at 3B, a decent 2nd half, the most games he's played ever in 2025, and the fact that he felt good enough to begin running again in 2025...successfully I might add...gives me hope his body is "settling in" from physical changes. Now, can he begin to STAY healthy going forward? Can he find an approach/swing that feels comfortable? He doesn't have to be the Superman he's flashed previously to be very good. I sure wouldn't bet against a 26yo with that much talent. WALLNER: He had a solid debut and 2 years of an OPS of around .875. That's OUTSTANDING. I know he got an early season re-set each of those seasons, but IMO, those re-sets were far too long. He's always going to be a bit streaky, and the Twins should recognize that and understand that. But you can't dismiss how good he was in '23 and '24. Injuries affected him and messed with him for 2025, and his OPS was still above league average. His terrific arm mitigates being an average OF, and he's best as the Twins primary DH, and he doesn't even have to be a .875 OPS hitter to be damn good. I'm certainly not betting against him being really good in 2026 and beyond. He's already shown how good he can be. LARNACH: Look, I don't dislike Larnach. But he doesn't FIT the team going forward and should be moved however possible. We've all discussed this at length. And he's never developed in to the hitter/producer we hoped for. But for a 1st round pick in the 20's, he's become an AVERAGE ML hitter. That means he's achieved about a 70-75% outcome for a 1st round pick. While some might not recognize that, or just refuse to accept it, that's a positive result for a said draftee. Doesn't matter he doesn't fit and he should be gone at this time, for this team, his outcome has been a success. JEFFERS: He's not great defensively, but he's OK. I think he might have slipped a bit in 2025, but he's solid as a game caller and handler of the staff. He's been about average as a thrower, though that can be affected by the staff as well. And he's consistently been one of the best offensive catchers in MLB since his debut. KEASCHALL: It's kinda weird to put him in this conversation considering he is just coming off his rookie season. Especially considering he was also coming off TJ surgery, and then got the same arm broke on a bad pitch. Despite all of that, his MILB performance and rookie ML performance has been tantalizing. He should be the 2B for ALL of 2026 and the whole idea of experimenting with him in the OF is misguided as hell. The fact that he COULD be a good OF, and spend time there, is great. But he has the potential to be the best, long term 2B for the Twins since when? Since Knoblauch maybe? KEEP him at 2B and let him settle in and develop with a healthy arm and tons of athletic ability. He's got the ability, just let him adjust again to the nuances of the position. LEE: I kept him for last for a reason. I am SICK AND TIRED of so many people banging on Lee. He was drafted in 2022, rushed through MILB because he was productive, and debuted in 2024 with 172 official AB. The ROOKIE standard is 150 AB. So he entered 2025 22 AB away from being considered an actual "rookie". When drafted, there was a general consensus that he could "handle" SS, but was probably a future 3B or 2B. But his bat and high contract rate would make him a quality hitter, with some question about his power. Well, his 16 HR and 64 RBI weren't bad for a near rookie. And I watched a TON of Twins games in 2025 until the last month. He's got the tools to be a solid player at 3B and 2B, and he CAN cover SS. (I don't give a damn about metrics. I know the potential in what I saw). But his BAT, and his APPROACH is what disappointed me. I think, maybe, things have always come to him so easily that he just thought "contact" meant he could HIT ML stuff successfully. He SAYS he recognizes he chased too much and needs to refine his approach. He seems to be smart enough to learn and adapt. He's NOT the future SS of the Twins. But he's got the ability to get better, and just maintain the spot until Culpepper is ready. Lee could end up as the 3B, with Lewis taking over 1B for years to come, OR, take over 2B with Keaschall moving to 1B as a multi talented player there, OR, he could become a great super utility player who can play all 4 INF spots and be in the lineup almost daily. For a top draftee, and top prospect, that still isn't a poor outcome. Especially when you ALSO consider what Martin was SUPPOSED to be when drafted, in a similar position. NOW, Martin is suddenly a really good looking defensive LF with a batting profile that is starting to resemble his draft status. The results are still TBD. I KNOW it sounds like a crutch, but injuries to Buxton and Lewis have really crippled the Twins at times. Perhaps not recognizing Wallner's ability to adapt and be streaky has been a mistake. (I think so). CRAP HAPPENS, and I hate to say that. But it's true. A lot of players never even reach MLB for one reason or another. Goodness knows the Twins have seen enough of injuries to top prospects to feel they are cursed somehow. But how better would the lineup be the last 3 years with a healthy Buxton and Lewis? I DON'T like the current roster construction, and I've been strong on that in regard to Falvey and Tom, and offering up different options that would be way smarter and NOT expensive. But Buxton, Lewis, Wallner, Jeffers, Keaschall, and even Lee is a really good starting point if we can FINALLY have them all healthy and progressing and productive at once.

To a degree, I appreciate and can agree waiting out the offseason for a quality, discounted add or two. In the past, that strategy has worked out fairly well. Cruz is the best example, but there have been other solid late adds that have paid dividends. But you know what works better? Target a handful of quality adds you like and need, and THEN sit back and look for some bargains to fill in certain spots on your roster. I make no apologies for some of the moves Falvey has made the last 2-3 years. But when ownership cuts your legs out from under you in regard to payroll, it does make it hard to "go for" the targeted adds I mention. For their of me, I just can't understand keeping the core intact, but then cutting the payroll...apparently...to be less than the $120M-ish that they finished 2025 with. Larnach doesn't fit any longer, but until/unless he's moved, his $4.5M could have been spent better elsewhere. And while I actually like Bell, I can see where his $7M could have been spent better. And I've stated this is a previous OP, but imagine $10M for Nathaniel Lowe to stabilize 1B. Maybe even on a 2yr deal. Is he coming off a down season? Yes. Does he have Bell's power? No. But he's been a solid, productive player with very good splits for his career. And you might then grab a solid utility player with a decent bat, also with good career splits, in the form of Ramon Urias for around $4M based on projections. That's only about $2-3M more for players that actually FIT the team needs better, and provide a more balanced roster. Wallner is now available to DH more, and Martin and Roden get the starting corner OF spots to open the season, providing better defense. And guess what? You have 3 top 20 system OF sitting at AAA waiting for opportunity. With those types of moves, they have a decent, solid, primary 1B instead of trying to cobble a platoon there. And you also have a 1B/2B/3B utility player that is at least useful. And again, Wallner can be your primary DH and still play a little corner OF here and there. Next, you TARGET a couple RP that can help stabilize and lead your bullpen. The best options are now gone, but maybe $7-8M for a RH and $4-5M for Rogers from the LH side. Or even Colombe for $3M-ish again. The math isn't hard. That's about $27M added to $85M for a TOTAL of approximately $112M! THEN you sit back and wait out the offseason and end up with a 3rd RP for around $2M that can help fill in some middle IP. Maybe there's a decent, RH hitting OF who can play against LHP for another couple $M or so. And the total payroll ONLY climbs to somewhere between $115-120M TOPS! And that's about where they FINISHED 2025 after the sell off. The roster is better balanced, and the bullpen has 2 solid arms, and a 3rd potential "steal" for depth. At least you've constructed a roster that has a chance to legitimately compete for a better than. 500 record. And ownership can't allow for a $115-120M payroll after keeping the core intact with the publicly declared idea of competing? That's still a bottom third payroll! But a better team. Again, I've lost a lot of faith in Falvey. But a ton of blame still has to go to the Pohlads. Tom, you say you are a "go big or go home" kind of guy. Well, none of us are expecting some MAJOR payroll increase overnight for 2026! But you can't even have a 2026 opening day payroll a little less than how you finished 2025? Shame on you Tom. Shame on the Pohlads.

While I'm not crazy about him being a 40 man add, and I doubt he suddenly turns in to a decent ML hitter at age 28, St Paul needs some additional help/depth as well. He's actually been a pretty productive player as a MILB player. At some point, someone will be injured and someone will need to be a fill in. I think he's probably a better option than Arcia. I still think Tanner Schobel will help the team at some point in 2026 in a utility role, but you do temporary help from time to time. So while I would have liked a better option to have been signed, as a bottom of the 40 man addition, I'm "meh" on his addition. I just hope he's not pressed in to any sort of extended duty.

I honestly don't care who the Twins sign, even though the 3rd tier market is where they are now looking at. TD offered up Dominguez, Leclerc, and Phillips as possible veteran additions who might help the club. None of them are proven closers. But are proven veterans with a solid history of solid production who might help build a bridge to the future while deepening the early 2026 bullpen. And that's what this bullpen needs. They need a Dominguez, Leclerc, or Phillips from the RH side and a Rogers, Caffin, or Coulombe from the LH side for $10-12M to STABILIZE the pen and also give the younger arms an opportunity to learn the necessary approach to actually BEING reliever, as well as taking off some initial pressure, as well as helping to close out a few games. IIRC, even Duran started being a closer as a 7th and 8th inning guy initially, though it didn't take him long to adapt. Jax wasn't the Jax we remember overnight. Nor was Varland. Based on his 2024, a mediocre early 2025, and a strong finish to 2025, I've actually got a lot of faith in Sands developing in to a strong set up man. Im not as convinced about Funderburk, but I can see him being at least a 2nd solid LH option. I can see a reality where Rya, Klein, and Lewis could all really excel in a pen role EVENTUALLY, all for different reasons. But I still see a couple months of AAA for all 3 before getting their shot. Same for Prielipp. But the one guy that the Twins don't seem to talk a lot about is Festa. Reports are he's 100% healthy and ready to go! I think I speak for most of Twins fans that we hoped he'd turn out to not only be a good story, but also a good SP. But that's just not his role going forward. I think a blind man can see that. He has the stuff, based on previous production, to dominate a first time through a lineup. His velocity plays, especially if he can harness his 2 seam sinker to play off his FB. And he has a great slider and solid change. I actually think he's the next closer "in waiting" as it would be nice to have a veteran "handling" things early. There's actually some interesting young arms who might actually be very good to debut in 2026. But its all the better with a couple of solid veteran FA signings that can help bridge that gap.

The only viable backup to Lewis at 3B is Lee, with Kreidler then playing SS daily. Even if Kreidler played a really good SS, past history at the ML and MILB level says he will be a POOR hitter. So on the one hand, I can see the appeal of Castro be $3M to be a utility player at multiple positions. Forget what he did AFTER the trade with his bat. He was an above league average hitter while with the Twins in 2025. There is a potential fit with the Twins at around $3-3.5M since the current roster construction is just awful. What they SHOULD have done is not sign Bell for $7M...who I still like...and tried to get Lowe for about $9-10M per for 2yrs to settle 1B. Even after a down season, he was productive and he has solid career splits, can play a solid 1B, and you wouldn't have moved a decent LHRP prospect in Bragg for Wagaman. Does Lowe have Bell's pure power? No. But he's a solid hitter with 18-22 HR power, with some doubles, a solid career HITTER profile, and SETTLES 1B for a couple years. And you don't have to WASTE a roster spot for a 25% PA hitter like Wagaman who shortens your bench. NEXT, Larnach shouldn't have been offered arbitration, OR, been signed as he is now, and immediately moved by himself, or part of a package, for SOMEONE with some solid BP experience. By himself he probably brings back an Okert type of reliever. With a solid prospect involved, you probably get another team's Sands/Varland who has some good stuff but is/has just transitioned to the pen and has some upside. The $ saved on Larnach then allows you to sign a nice and relatively inexpensive utility player like Ramon Urias...switch hitter with neutral career splits...with the ability to play 1B/2B/3B and emergency SS, OR, maybe Castro for the EXACT same spots, but with the ability to also play some OF. THAT is BETTER, SMARTER, and more versatile roster construction for only a couple $M more in total! And you NOW get to play Wallner more at DH with the better defense of Martin and Roden playing the corners...each with some upside...Wallner, Clemens, and potentially Castro in this scenario, also able to help in the OF. The INF has better coverage, the OF has better defense, 1B is solid, and Rodriguez, Jenkins, and Gonzalez aren't blocked by anyone other than Martin and Roden when ready. Hell, even Fedko is available for additional depth if needed. Try to tell me that doesn't make more sense than Bell as a full time DH with INF depth issues and questionable OF defense, with no room to move Wallner to DH when the prospects are ready? And you'd still some $ to add a couple decent, veteran FA options for the pen. So yeah, with Wagaman having options and being cheap, there still might be room for Castro, maybe even Urias, as better depth options for better roster construction. But please tell me as a fan an AMATEUR GM, how can I already see a different and better plan for roster construction than Falvey?

Sano, despite pushback due to expectations, was actually a success story. So was Kepler...from the European market. And so was Arraez and Polanco. But SOMETHING really changed the last few seasons. Poor scouting? But also, let's remember that the 16-17yo kids have been almost promised to sign since they were 14-16 yo. Didn't I just hear that the Yankees voided ever deal in place and fired some scouts? It's a weird and mixed up market to be sure. I'm in favor of an international draft to eliminate foreign agents/scouts to profit off of young kids for there slice of a deal. I want the $ to go to the kids and their families. But an IL draft has to be outside the ML draft doesn't it? Can you include 16 and 17yo in the actual draft?, IDK, maybe you can. SOME HS kids drafted are barely 18yo. So maybe drafing IL kids from a different country could be a different draft instead of the MLB draft? But perhaps I'm digressing too much in regards to the OP. The FO has changed over the scouting department for IL signings. That will take 2-4yrs to find out if that is the right choice. But what I never understood since 2017 when Falvey took over, is the history of quality in regard to Latin arms, and Catchers especially. We offen look at great INF talent. And we shouldn't dismiss that opportunity as well. But in the history of the franchise, from Cuba to Venezuela, to the DR the Twins used to be productive in finding talent. We can only hope that a recent change of those in charge will make a difference. Unfortunately, it might take a few seasons to see if the Falvey changes will actually make a difference.

I did one of these sometime in 2025. A lot has changed since then, so it's nice to do another review. The Twins haven't IGNORED the catcher position at all. One of the first things the current FO did was sign Jason Castro as a FA backstop, work with Garver, and draft Jeffers. And they've drafted quite a few catcher prospects over the years. Unfortunately, they've mostly whiffed on those selections. But here we go: GASPER: He can't translate his AAA bat to the ML level. Boston thought so little of his development behind the plate they removed him from that duty. I haven't seen anything from him to convince me he shouldn't be cut in favor of a RP FA signing. PEREDA: NOT mentioned, and no FIX, at least he IS a catcher. His bat offers a little bit of hope, I hear questions about his arm. But his career CS% in MILB sits around 25%. That's not bad. I'd trust him behind the plate more than Gasper. WINKEL: The Twins seem to like the way he calls a game and handles pitchers. But he can't hit, has limited power, and can't throw. CARDENAS: NOW we get to talk about someone of actual interest. He plays solid defense, can call a solid game, and while he's never been much of a hitter, one very poor MILB season has brought his numbers down a bit. But he's always maintained decent contact, and has a good eye with a quality OB% in his MILB career. He doesn't have a lot of power...despite a brief eruption when he reached AAA in 2025...but he'll hit some doubles and jack a HR here and there. His 28% MILB career CS% is pretty impressive. Ideally, he gets another couple of months at St Paul to just refine his game and work a little more on his actual HIT ability. IMO, he's absolutely the Twins #3 catcher in a few months, if and when needed. I can see a solid career as a #2 receiver in his future. OLIVAR: He's a contact, solid OB% bat with SOME XB power who is really a LF who CAN catch. He set a career high in CS % in 2025 at 16%. And he only caught about 30% of the time in 2025. After 1 1/2 years at AA, he's probably ready for AAA. But where does he play? He's just NOT a primary catcher prospect unless he suddenly makes massive improvement behind the plate. And catcher and OF at AAA is so deep we're wondering how to play everyone? Maybe he starts in AA simply because of the depth at St Paul, but he's just not a primary catcher. COSSETTI: He was drafted as a BAT FIRST catcher who they hoped to develop. And he looked really good initially as a hitter. But his bat disappeared in 2024 and only made a small improvement in 2025. And his CS% is a poor 16%. BAEZ: This is my biggest disappointment in the catcher position within the system. He's a really good athlete with a potentially solid bat who was never a full time catcher until 2022 at AZ State. He played almost everywhere. I thought he was a "develpment" steal. But so far, he's been better as a 1B with little power. Just a real disappointment for me. DIAW: Here is where it gets really interesting again. He's got OF ability, and enough athleticism that he even played a little CF. There's SOME power potential, but a SOLID BAT ability. He's going to need some time to develop, and he needs to stay healthy, but he could be exciting to watch over the next couple of years. Nothing wrong with an athletic catcher. He got off to a really good start in 2025 before being hurt. Two years from now, good health, we could be talking about a really good catcher prospect. There's a lot to like here. TAIT: There are reasons he's a TOP prospect with top 100 status. He's got BAT potential with good power, and a strong arm behind the plate. I guess, at worst, his bat plays at 1B. But IMO, as young as he is, it's about communication with a staff and just learning how to call a game and work with his staff. He does THAT with his offensive potential, he could be an All Star. JIMENEZ: Honesty, I would just normally STOP after Tait. There's just no real reason to dip down to the Rookie league or DSL, with all due respect to the author of the OP. But the simple fact that Jimenez was part of a ML deal, and actually IMPROVED his numbers in a promotion to Ft Myers gives me pause. He's a "squaty" built kid who supposedly has a good arm, and a decent knowledge of how to call a game at his young age. He seems to have some pop and power potential. Whether his switch hitting remains is TBD. But the early results are at least intriguing, and worth mentioning. I'm a BIG catcher guy who believes the position still remains undervalued, surprisingly so, even today in regards to current value, and even HOF value. And when I talk about CS% for MILB prospects, I understand that MILB pitchers don't always do the best at holding runners on base. And maybe poor INF defense also affects CS% numbers. The single most important thing is calling a good game and just being solid behind the plate. However, with all of that considered, if a MILB catcher shows a good arm, that tells me he's dutiful in what he does and his defense might just translate to the ML level. Cardenas is the best #3 catcher for the Twins in 2026 if he's just given a little more AAA time. Diaw COULD be a stud and top prospect 2yrs from now. Tait might be the #1 catcher 2-3yrs from now. Jimenez might be a great #2 3-4 years from now.

I wasn't a big fan of Garlick because he was horrendous against RHP and not much of an OF. But to be fair, he was initially a pretty good, powerful, and productive bat against LHP. And maybe Wagaman can offer that as a platoon 1B with Clemens and a PH. My primary objection is ROSTER CONSTRUCTION. How many teams have a platoon at 1B? It shrinks the entire roster! I wouldn't have resigned Larnach, not because he's bad, but he doesn't FIT. Or at the very least I'd be everything I can to move him in a trade, or part of a package, for someone who might be useful. Preferably a pen arm with some potential. And I would have used Larnach's $4.5M for an unspectacular, but USEFUL player like Ramon Urias, a switch hitter with neutral splits, who is an OK bat, who ALSO plays 1B, in addition to 2B and 3B. That's a USEFUL bench option who can fill in 3 different spots. Right now, if Lewis spends any appreciable time on the IL again...knock on wood for his healthiest year to date...who plays 3B?? You move Lee to 3B and have Kreidler play SS with one of the most anemic bats you could ever put in to a lineup? Someone like Urias could at least cover 3B for a while and not destroy the lineup. I sort of "get" Wagaman as an inexpensive option, who might even surprise a bit, to work the margins. But again, how many teams actually platoon at 1B and shorten their bench like this will do? I just don't like the way the player roster is being constructed.

Said it before and will repeat it again...and the OP alludes to it...2026 will be 2 different seasons in one for the Twins. There will be opening day, and then there will a "second" part of the season that could begin as early as June 1st: when the prospects begin to debut. I have no problem with the 21yo Jenkins just getting a little more time at AAA for experience, work on his power stroke a little, and just "ramp up" for his debut. Inadvertently, it also grants an additional year of service time. While it's not what I want, Rodriguez probably begins the year at St Paul as well to also "ramp up" after missing so much time. But with only a single option left, I want him up ASAP. IF he debuts and needs a "Hunter-like" reset, better to do it sooner rather than later with a single option remaining. With power, speed, a good eye for a decent OB%, and CF caliber defense, he could HIT only .225-.230 and STILL be a valuable part of the lineup. How about Gonzalez? He needs to keep polishing his defense, but dangit, let him at least TRY some 1B on for size while he's in AAA. What do you have to lose? K-Pepper suddenly changes the whole dynamic of the INF when he's ready. He has the ability to play 3 spots. MAYBE he takes over SS and Lee, even with improvement, becomes a super utility player. Maybe Culpepper STARTS as a utility infielder to get his feet wet. MAYBE Keaschall moves to 1B at some point and there is a shuffle in the infield. But we suddenly aren't so worried about backup SS for sure. I, like most everyone else, has dreamt about Prielipp as a LHSP we haven't had in years. But if the love the Twins have for Rojas...echoed by other scouts per reports...is legitimate, it eases the "pain" or moving Prielipp to the pen where he has the potential to be dominate. Similarly with Festa, as we once dreamed about Duran in the rotation, some arms/bodies are just destined for the pen. And like Duran, that's not a bad thing ultimately. IMO, SWR is a starter. I think we sometimes forget how young he is, and how weird his development has been. I think his splitter makes a difference and he might just be ready to raise his game another level. Bradley, Matthews, Abel, Morris, and Rojas provide a TON of potential. Who takes the reigns and runs with the job as #5 and depth that's chomping at the bit for opportunity? I honestly can't recall a time when the Twins had this much POTENTIAL arm talent since the mid to late 80's. (It didn't turn out, but that's DECADES ago). So the OP is very correct when discussing AAA alone, much less examining any talent from AA down. Just not going to go that deep here. A little more discussion? Where does Mendez fit? It seems the BAT is ready for AAA. I don't mind him spending a little time in the OF, but if they're serious about him playing 1B, NOW IS THE TIME. And Rosario is ALSO ready for AAA. He's shown reported defensive improvement, has a good arm, but where does he fit? Like Mendez, give him a 1B glove and let him play there. NOBODY is asking for a Gold Glove rookie 1B! We're just asking for prospects to at least BEGIN learning how to play 1B so they can fill a future role. *NOTE to Falvey, 1B is a position where you can have a really productive player, not just a fill in. Pure power isn't necessarily important if said player has a great all around offensive profile. Witness Hernandez, Grace, Joyner in the past and the likes of Erstad and Bellinger in more recent history. What is your personal aversion to having a quality 1B offensively who might develop in to a decent defensive player as well? Do you lack imagination? Or are you just blindly stupid? That sounds harsh I know. But come on! Morneau was a CATCHER when drafted and wasn't a GG 1B day one. Mientkiewicz was drafted as and INF. HOF Mauer was ridiculously denied a GG after his transition. But even he took a little time to adjust. Sano, Arraez, and FA signing Solano have all been suddenly pressed in to 1B duty on the fly? But no players have been asked to at least TRY 1B since then? Where is the IMAGINATION from the FO? Well it better come back real damn soon because you've got a lot of very interesting prospects sitting at AAA St Paul wondering what the hell their role is, and how do they get to the ML level. And how does everyone potentially fit? I'd love to get deeper in to the MILB system as the OP has spoken about. And there's a lot I like, including the next draft. Man, I LOVE the talent of Emerson and Lombard as HS kids with great ceilings! But it's really hard not to fall in love with LeBron if his contact issues take another level step forward and he joins Houston and Keaschall, and Lewis, and Lee, as an INF that could be dynamic in a couple years, along with the OF talent projected. But I digress. I LIKE Lewis, Prielipp, Klein, and Raya moving to the pen. I can see successful roles for all of them. And Festa should be the #1 guy converted due to stuff, health and build. But there is still a need for a couple veteran additions to actually make a future pen work. The OP STORY LINE is pretty accurate. Again, even looking forward, you still need to look at today. NOT trading and TRYING to compete only goes so far if you ignore the BP to a ridiculous degree. You just can't expect talented prospects to SUDDENLY be go relievers. But they might be come mid season. While the MILB system of the Twins is pretty solid, it's weighed heavily in the AAA level right now. Not to say AA and below don't have talent. But St Paul is LOADED with arms and OF and POTENTIAL 1B options if Falvey and Zoll don't just sit on their ass and don't try something i don't know know what in the hell they're doing. Not every prospect turns out. That's a given. But dammit, give them a chance.

I suppose you could sign Caratini for 2yrs and nurse him for a 90-100 games caught season and trade Jeffers if the Phillies would offer a solid return. But I expect Realmuto to sign back with the Phillies. He's still solid, they have the $, and he's already PART of a good ball club. So I think this is much ado about nothing.

The only 2 teams in all of MLB that have to open their books are the Jays and the Braves. And IDK if my calculations are exact or not, but TRYING to put semi accurate numbers together, since 2017 the Braves have averaged about $358M in income including the covid seasons. Being part of a Super Station obviously gives them an advantage. The Jay's have averaged, with covid and a couple down payroll seasons, about $238M in revenue per season since 2017. Since 2017, the Twins AVERAGE yearly income through 2023 is $235M. Are these numbers accurate? Well, unless I messed up my math, or the internet lied to me, the Braves and Jays are publicly known. So for NOW, I'm going to assume the Twins numbers are mostly correct from my brief research. I have ZERO doubt that covid messed with income for EVERY MLB team in 2020 and 2021. Period. But when MLB's revenue sharing plan basically gives the Twins $100-130M EVERY YEAR so far, and if you spend approximately 50% of your revenue on the ML roster, you should be STARTING with the minimum. It just BLOWS MY MIND that the Pohlad's are so deaf. Deaf to reality and deaf to the public. You want to be different Tom? You want to make a difference? And you want to increase the Twins future? I can get on board with not spending TOO MUCH on FA for 2016. But it appears you've already capped your FO from making a few deals. You want to make a difference? Then let your FO give a chance. Right now, you're just another Pohlad pretending to care by suckling off the $B dollar tit that is the Twins. And you and your family think, for some reason that we don't understand what's going on.

I think claiming Schultz has merit. His K rate last year was 10.2 and his BB was an acceptable 2.9 per 9. For a rookie making his debut the BB aren't bad when backed up the K's. What seemed to hurt him was the 27 HITS in his 24.2 IP. Having a pair of options helps increase his value. IDK if they SHOULD claim him as I don't know anything about his STUFF. But it looks like there is something to work with there. And I'm always in favor of a former starter being converted, or having just been converted as an option for a mid market team to take a flier on. That being said, I still want at least TWO actual, veteran arms, one from each side, to be added to deepen and help stabilize the pen. There's a lot to be said about veterans assisting other young arms in their transition to the pen just showing how to go about their business. I can't recall, but was Castro a FA when the Twins grabbed him? Or was he a DFA from the 40 man the way Schultz was? It's not dumpster diving to grab someone 25/26yo, or even Schultz at 28yo, who hasn't "found himself" yet, or is moving to the pen for the first time and might suddenly take off in that new role. I don't think it's a formula for great success, but you do sometimes get surprises. Thielbar, Stewart, and Castro are recent examples of the Twins uncovering "hidden" talent of castoffs of other teams. I've caught a bit of flak in the past few days...which is fine...for me stating I was OK with the recent MILB signing of veteran glove man, utility player Orlando Arcia. He costs zero prospects, a zero immediate 40 man spot, and costs very little $ wise IF he actually makes the roster. IMO, just keeping Fitzgerald on the 40 man was the best option as he's a good clubhouse guy, and a solid backup option for what is probably a temporary position until a couple prospects like K-Pepper and possibly Schobel are ready for daily duty, or depth. I just don't understand the Twins love and belief in Kreidler as the best option for that role. I say all of this to say I'm really disappointed the FO seems to limit their imagination at times. They grab Castro for virtually nothing a few years ago and are greatly rewarded. But KNOWING they have a SERIOUS need for a backup SS they have seemingly ignored MILB options that might be available to sign, or make a minor trade for...no pun intended...in hopes of MAYBE finding Castro-lite. I digress, but am also making a point. Schultz might not fit the Jay's roster and plans. But I'm betting they hope he passes through waivers. And he might. But again, I think it's a bit short sighted to ever claim a "cut" from another team might be "dumpster diving". Thielbar actually had a really solid AAA season when Detroit let him go, and he was outstanding back with the Twins again. Ditto with Castro. Never leave a stone unturned where you might find value. That's all I'm saying. Schultz is fine. Is he better than the 28yo Orze we picked up in a small trade? Depth is a good thing. I'm actually a little excited about the arms that are about to be converted to the pen. I just don't want the FO to stop at potential.

I don't disagree with you. But they aren't trying to add a veteran starter with fingers crossed and hope that he suddenly "finds himself" again. On a MILB, they added a solid, veteran glove man to challenge for the job of backup SS and utility INF. His bat was pretty good in 2023, and quite mediocre in 2024, but the power was nice. But this is a temporary position until Culpepper...and maybe a couple others...are ready to bump whoever has the job off the roster. Personally, I would have preferred a younger option with upside like Castro was a couple years ago. But I'd rather have a veteran like Arcia around to challenge for the spot instead of just handing it to Kreidler.

I'd really like to see what Taimani could do with a chance at some regular playing time. He's impressed me each of the past 2 preseason and looked OK in very brief action on the regular season roster. Overall, the DL is very deep and a nice combination of veterans and young players. I don't know if Taimani has simply been pushed out by that depth, or because he's a classic run stuffer, NG type that Flores has been reluctant to use him.

So we're basically saying the exact same thing. Especially concerning Lewis, Lee, and Keaschall in their respective spots daily. I also want Culpepper up ASAP. And I don't see the Twins holding him back as he only makes the INF better and deeper, and there will be PLENTY of games and AB for 4 guys in 3 spots. But as bad as Arcia was in 2025, he was decent in 2023 and still provided power and 46 RBI. For a glove first player, that's not awful. And again, vs Kreidler, Arcia only hitting to his career average numbers would still be an improvement over Kreidler. So I'll take a cheap, MILB deal for a veteran glove man for depth and insurance any day over a guy with a .383 ML OPS. And Kreidler's .743 career OPS isn't a lot to brag about either. It would be great if the 28yo Kreidler could suddenly find a different level as a hitter. But I'm not betting on it.

What young utility player, back up SS would you play ahead of him? Kreidler is 28yo and can't hit in MILB, and has hit worse than some pitchers used to in his brief ML career. Culpepper has ONE full pro season, has yet to play above AA, and you'd rather give him a full time job? At the expense of what other young INF in Lewis, Lee, or Keaschall? Schobel had a really nice rebound 2025 but then got hurt right after being promoted to AAA and didn't play a lot the 2nd half. So what young player could Arcia, if he makes the club, could he possibly be blocking? He, Kreidler, and possibly Fitzgerald are temporary depth pieces. They are blocking NO-ONE.