DocBauer

A thought comes to mind as I look not only at this list, but various other top 30-40 types of rankings. I felt the Twins system was heavy in the high minors and heavy in the low to begin 2023. Not just top prospects, but OK prospects. St Paul had Varland and Wallner, and Julien, and potentially Martin, and a solid catcher prospect in Camargo, and a couple of potential arms in Sands, Winder, and Headrick. Not great, but not bad. And maybe Helman who would get his shot. I thought AA Wichita and A+ Cedar Rapids would struggle somewhat. Just too many young prospects plus a couple guys traded away who might have made a difference. Well, Cedar Rapids pretty much blew everyone away with a young roster that probably shouldn't have done that. But where do those kids go from here? Emma is a top 3 prospect in the system, but he's going to AA at what 21yo? Rosario will be 21, right? And coming off an amazing season and a great AFL, isn't he destined for AA at this time? It would be kinda rare to have a couple top OF prospects at 20-21-ish at AA right? Then we start to add Keaschall, who might surpass Schobel soon on the prospect list. And then we come to the pitchers. To be fair, Wichita had a couple of guys pushed a little too early like Adams. Old enough, talented enough, to just push them and see what happens. Probably, begin 2024 there. But Jones, Matthews and others are knocking on the door. And they should be. It's time for Nowlin to find his control enough to state he's a viable ML SP and move to AAA soon. OR, be moved to the pen where he might dominate. There's more than a handful of prospects that sit at the margins right now that are capable of making a difference at the ML level really soon. 2024 will help determine how many will take the next step.

Doc Munson, I agree with your general premise. I really liked the way the 2023 team was generally built with a couple exceptions. Not going to rehash that. And if that team played the way they did the 2nd half all year long, they would have won 90 games. Again, not going to rehash. In a few ways, I actually like this 2024 version better, with the caveat that there remains a rotation question, and the possibilities of regression, or at least "speed bumps" for some of the young talent. For example, I still trust a full season of the young Wallner vs the "WTH" Gallo. And I'm very encouraged about the pen, and it's depth. A healthier Correa and a healthier part-time Buxton add to my encouragement. I DON'T believe Santana is anything more than a time share 1B, PH, and occasional bat against RH pitching. But he's fine IF that is his role. I'd still trust a RH OF to augment the lineup against LHP vs trusting Martin to be ready at this time, or rely on my personal champion Helman to be added to the roster. (Miranda is already in AAA due to rehabbing his shoulder still and the signing of Santana). Other than that, I feel this is a pretty fine team overall to begin 2024. I LOVE that the prospects have remained untouched! Despite 2023 graduates like Lewis, Julien, Wallner, and Varland, the system still sits middle of the pack. Martin and Lee should graduate this year as well. And despite being a bit top heavy with talent, but deep, there's a real chance that 2024 is going to provide some BIG dividends in the system from Emma, Gonzalez, Rosario, Schobel and Keaschall, a HUGE group of arms from Festa and Raya on down, as well as others, including a few IL signing kids who didn't do so well in the low minors but might make a jump this year. We might even have a better idea how good and deep our system is to actually make a key trade for a SP mid year. Unfortunately, there's enough question marks about some top 20 prospects like Severino, Emma, and others, where we might wish we had made a move when we could. But I do like the long play idea. I DON'T agree that buying a strong rotation arm will cost the same, or less, come the deadline this year. With so many teams still in contention, theoretically, pickings might be small and expensive. Unless there's a chance teams might reflect this soon on the results of 2023 and just decide to NOT be the Angels and make moves anyway. That's a pretty big ask/hope. I guess the positive spin is, we'll have a better idea about the top and depth of our system by then to understand what we have, how good and deep it is, and if we can afford to make that kind of move. But I guess I'm with you and the FO at this point. Add 1 more RH OF bat, add a veteran SP on a milb rehab deal, and go with what we have. I don't think we have a bad team AT ALL.

I'm also concerned about the depth, but 7 on. I'm not worried about the 6th spot, which is presumably Varland at this point. Last year we had both Ober and Varland for depth to begin the year. In retrospect, it was mostly Varland as Mahle was done pretty soon and Ober was up pretty quick. The problem with adding another arm, as has been suggested by some, is unless it's a major deal for a top arm to compete with everyone not named Lopez, somebody has to leave the roster. DeScalfini has to move to the pen as he doesn't have options. Or, someone has to be hurt to make room. But either way, someone comes off the 40 man at this point, and it's pretty crowded already. Reportedly, DeScalfini is healthy, recovered, been throwing for a while, and was throwing in camp today. The Twins are of the belief/hope that this means the Disco who actually threw quite well for the first 2 months of 2023 for the Giants is the guy they acquired. If so, the Polanco trade ratchets up a notch or two in the "win" column for the Twins. Varland is your #6, like he was foe about a month last year. He too came up early when Maeda needed more time. Again, reportedly, SWR has been in Ft Myers, for about a month I believe, working on his delivery to gain velocity and more "comfort" in his motion. I believe it's a delivery he moved away from previously. Still young, hopefully we will see real growth this year, because we're going to need hum at some point. I think Festa is the better arm, but he's barely pitched at AAA and needs time. The jury is very much out on Headrick at this point. Pierson Ohl might surprise, but I'd bet he's at least a half season away. It would be a crazy but good story if Dobnak suddenly re-discovered what made him a decent, viable back end SP a few years ago. Don't laugh, crazier things have happened, but I think that's stretching hope an awful lot. Along with all of those possibilities, as per usual for all teams, the Twins have grabbed a couple journeyman types who've never made it. Once in a blue moon, you uncover a shiny stone...not a diamond...who figures something out and can be a decent #5 to help. What the Twins CAN do, and SHOULD do...now or in a couple weeks as things shake out...is grab an Odorizzi, or Cueto type veteran coming off injury or the such on a milb with standard ML split deal with an out clause...preferably July 1st...to "crowd" the AAA rotation in hopes of being additional depth. In most of these scenarios, you're really, really hoping you don't need to dig deep until a couple months of the season go by so that the younger arms get time, the reclamation arm gets time, and you might cringe when someone is brought up. Keuchel was brought on by the Twins late in 2023 not because they had a potential steal. He was brought on to just throw innings, hopefully keep the Twins in the game, and help rest a couple guys to get ready for the post season as a temporary #5. That's not what the Twins need right now. What they need is someone who has a reasonable chance to legitimately get guys out for 5 IP if they can "get right", after Varland is already up and someone else gets hurt. Someone who can maintain a solid low-ish 4 ERA and toss those 5 IP. It costs nothing to bring someone like that in. And if they're brought up, their pro-rated deal won't break anyone. They might cost as little as $5-7M with incentives, again, with pro-ration accounted for.

Well reasoned. I don't dispute your thoughts at all. In fact, in the past, I've advocated for an 8th man who could eat innings. It's not a bad idea/tactic at all. To perhaps be more clear, I want a 5 man rotation where you feel most every single night you're going to get at least 5 IP, and 6 pretty often. The rotation did that last year. Even with a step down this season, I don't know that the Twins won't have that this season as well. Based on that fact, I'd rather have a better arm to call on whenever I need him. Again, if 2 pen arms aren't available one day, you've still got 6 guys you can throw in a game, and don't have a questionable guy who's only there for what I call loosely an "emergency" appearance. Now, there have been plenty of years where the Twins really NEEDED that long, fill in arm. And I thought they needed one. Just a couple seasons ago in fact. But as of now, I don't believe the Twins are in the position to need that long arm. So I want the best 8 guys I can have in the pen to have the best pen I can have nightly, which is all the better when you have a couple guys who are "out" for a night.

I feel you Roger. The defense is for real. Its hard not to put him in a top 20. And maybe he belongs there. But I have to say, there's enough insecurity about his bat still that I think I can understand him missing it. (Also, there's some really good players in front of him). He had some stretches last year where his offense looked like it was coming along. If he raises his game another notch in 2024, and can be a little more consistent, I think he's easily in the top 20 next season. I've really been wondering if he doesn't repeat in Cedar Rapids to begin the year.

A big thank you and shout out to everyone involved for the list and all the write ups. Since I've gone on at length about each guy on the list at some point, guess I need to just do an overall view. 1} Yes, the mid rankings are quite solid, especially with the kids that graduated last year. Of course, can't every team say that? They can, but to have THREE bats like Lewis, Julien, and Wallner all at the same time? And while the jury is out a little bit still, the strong armed Varland is also a recent graduate. So I'm very happy with a mid ranking right now. 2} This season, I'd be very surprised if both Martin and Lee don't graduate. I also think Canterino is going to come close, at least. (He might not hit the IP mark until next year.)The only way it doesn't happen if they get hurt, or the ML roster is blessed to be almost entirely healthy for the whole of the season. Yeah...right! LOL. 3} I love the overall depth in the system, and the past 3 drafts have all been really good. While most of 2021 has been moved in trades to acquire additional talent for the Twins, those prospects still reflect on the quality of the system. Further, there's still a few guys in that draft that might turn out, including a couple of catchers, (Winkel and Cardenas) and arms like Festa, Nowlin, and Ohl. I think this upcoming season is really big for a couple top prospects like Emma, the recently acquired Gonzalez, Rosario, and the bulk of the arms drafted the past couple of years. Do we wish we had moved Emma for an arm after this season? Or does he look like the future star he teases at being? Sort of the same for Gonzalez. Rosario has made vast improvement really quickly. Can he keep it up this year as well? Canterino, Raya, Festa, Ohl, Nowlin, Jones, Matthews, Cullpepper, Morris, etc, are all looking at high A and above to begin the season, and SHOULD all be at AA or higher if they are for real, as their early returns suggest. And a couple of those guys might reach MLB this season, or finish in AAA, one step away for 2025. I'm honestly almost as excited for the milb season this year as I am for the Twins. There's at least a decent shot the Twins have a number of arms in the top 150, with a couple maybe sneaking in to the top 100 by this time next year.

I do understand some who have doubts about the growth potential of Ryan and Ober at 27 and 28 years old, and parts and wholes of 3 ML seasons. They aren't 23-24yo kids fighting control but who sling it 97mph. I get that. And it's an easily defendable position to take. But in all of the years I've watched MLB, time and time again I've seen a really good, solid, ML pitcher reach that #2 or even proverbial #1 ACE status when they hit their late 20's or touch 30yo. It's that time in their careers where stuff meets experience/knowledge and they really know how to pitch. I'm not saying Ryan or Ober, or anyone else, is going to suddenly be Gerrit Cole tomorrow, or even Pablo Lopez part 2, but it doesn't mean Ryan and/or Ober can't still get a little better. It doesn't mean one of them might not become a legitimate #2 going in to their 4th seasons, still under 30yo. Here's hoping either or both can.

I'm a big Varland guy. I don't know if he's got the potential to be a #3, or only a #4-5 type. But I'm a believer if he can just keep the ball in the park better than he did last season. I keep shouting this out, but I don't think a lot of people realize that in his first 12 GS over 2022 and 2023, he had a sub 4.00 ERA and solid H/IP and WHIP. It was his last 3 starts in 2023 that skewed some of his numbers. He keeps the ball in the yard better he's got a chance to be pretty good. I'd take a low 4 ERA. And I'd love 180 IP. He might have the build for it, but as a young guy still gaining experience/knowledge I doubt he'd be allowed to throw that many. Maybe more like 160? But I'd be fine with that too. While I don't always agree with it, I do understand the approach by the FO in cases like this. IF DeSclafini can come anything close to his 2021 and early 2023 self, you have a solid, quality, veteran arm and Varland in reserve for when someone goes down. And even if it's not a major injury, someone always goes down. But if you place Varland in the rotation and something happens, now who do you turn to? SWR? Festa? Dobnak? A 30yo journeyman you signed to help out your AAA club? I don't always like their approach. But I do understand it.

To be fair, I believe there are 2 different debates taking place here. One is the regular season rotation and how good it might be, and pending results. But that's a little different than the debate of who the #2 starter would be in a playoff game. At least, as of now. Both are fair questions, but slightly different topics. Which is fine, we can address both at once I think. In regard to Ryan being passed over for Ober initially, it's my understanding they felt Ober was the better matchup in that game as Ryan is a bit more of a flyball pitcher and they thought Ober was the better choice. Ryan did get a start, it just didn't go very well. Me personally, I'm not going to blast either Ryan or Ober for a pair of bad starts in their very first playoff games, especially considering they were both instrumental to the Twins even reaching the playoffs. And I'm also not going to say anything negative about Gray as a veteran and Cy Young runner up having a bad game. It happens. But it does go to show that the young arm and the veteran arm can both have bad performances. I might come across as flippant or dismissive...and I don't mean to...but right now I'm worried about 162 game season and taking the ALC with a hopeful 90 win team that is balanced between the rotation, pen, and lineup. I'll be more concerned about who starts in the playoffs come mid year at the earliest at this point.

I think you sort of answered your own questions a couple times here. #1} As a team/organization, you have to be honest with yourself and what you have, and who you are. Let's remember early on Maeda struggled and Mahle didn't last long. And you even offered up evidence that Sands wasn't used and the starters were going 6 IP per on average. So unless you believe your rotation arms are doing it with smoke and mirrors, shouldn't you be honest enough with yourself to realize you're just wasting a roster spot on someone you aren't using unless you have one of those "emergency situation" days? So should they have had foresight to know they didn't really need Sands? Absolutely. As a counterpoint, they should be honest with themselves coming out of ST this year. Do they trust their rotation? Do they like it even if it might not look as good as the one coming out of ST last year? Then maybe they just really believe they need a long guy to sit there "just in case". 2} You included a stretch of games in which you asked if they missed an opportunity to use Sands. Well, the point is, as you clearly stated, they didn't use him. So whether it's Sands, or Winder, or Headrick, or anyone else, reserving a spot for a guy you only use in occasional "just in case scenarios" makes no sense. Especially when recent history shows that you AREN'T using that guy. I agree that I hope they don't need to use their 8th guy a lot either. That means the starters are doing great and so are the other 7 guys in the pen. But I sure want to know if I have an extra inning game, or a couple guys were used up the day before, and I need to turn to that #8 guy, I'd like to feel I can trust him rather than saying "well, guess I got no choice but to use him". Good post!

Let me start by stating I am NOT going to say "if healthy" as a general term. Any more, that terms should be used for direct individuals only. Since when is "if healthy" only a Twins mantra? Doesn't it apply to ALL teams? OK, yes, the Twins rotation is going to regress. It's almost guaranteed isn't it? Statistically speaking, how likely is it to repeat as #1 in fWAR in the AL? And yes, losing Gray is a blow. Forget W-L record. That's as much on the rest of the team as anything Gray did or didn't do. It's his quality number of starts and IP that need to be replaced. But few comments before I go further. As much credit as Maeda is due, he wasn't very good to start the season except for like 1 start. He needed more rest/time/build up. Keuchel was signed to eat some innings for a team that had the division locked up and wanted to rest guys. He provided about 1 1/2 solid starts. Ryan hurt his groin and didn't tell anyone at first and tried to throw through it. Not a good idea. My only point here being over the course of a 162 game season, there are highs and lows. There are good performances and bad performances. Replacing Grays production doesn't have to come from a single performer. It can come in bits and pieces from the rest of the rotation throughout the season. If the Twins rotation would drop only 2 fWAR points when all is said and done, I'd happily dance a jig! (And I don't have a clue how to do so, but I'd try my best). Without talking absolutes or guarantees, or super human efforts, how about Lopez is basically the same guy for the whole season and doesn't get any better, but doesn't regress. Ryan avoids unreported groin injuries and can throw for the entire season more like he did for 2/3 of one? How about Ober just repeat what he did last year and not improve? Paddack seems to be healthy, has raised his velocity a tick or two...even in the rotation and not the pen...has always had a great change, and the Twins were working with a new breaking ball right after they got him in 2022. He's got the potential to replace Maeda, possibly do better. What if the Varland we saw for his first 12 career starts is the real deal...with some improvement...and not the guy who had 3 bad starts to end his 2023 time in the rotation and see him sent back to St Paul? Man, I REALLY don't want to play the "what if" game with DeSclafani! I just can't bring myself to say "what if" he's like his 2021 self or first 6 weeks of 2023 self. But how about..."what if Disco is solid and doesn't completely stink"? Yeah...the rotation is going to regress. I just don't know that the sum of the whole can't make up a decent portion of the part that way lost. Meaning Gray. The area that does give me pause is the depth. I read about STUFF+ with SWR and a much better 2nd half to his 2023 and his youth. But then I look at his numbers, even the 2nd half numbers, and I'm just not sure what we got. I love Festa a lot, but I don't want him at the ML level until mid season at earliest if possible. I think he needs time. Hoping Headrick grows after jumping from AA and riding the shuttle between the Twins and Saints all season. I think Pierson Ohl might surprise a lot of people this year! But like Festa, I sure don't want to have to use him the first couple of months of the season. So I am worried about depth. Doesn't mean it won't exist, or that the Twins will necessarily need it early, but it worries me. It's why I think they still might add, but it might be a rebounding veteran on a milb deal with a split deal and an opt out. And why wouldn't you do something like that? I don't want to stray off the original topic, but the pen looks so much different than this time last year. That's good because the pen wasn't so great early on in 2023. The offense could, rather easily, perform better the first half of 2024 than they did in 2023 simply from Correa being back, Buxton being at least partially back, the presence and continued play...with some bumps in the road but also growth...from Lewis, Wallner, Julien and I'd inlcude AK as will. There's a lot of ways to win games and a better pen and offense are part of that. And I do believe they are both improved as of right now. So the rotation is GOING TO regress. But as long as they don't sink in to a mire, and the offense pen are more or less what is expected, the team is going to be OK. Exactly how for the rotation regresses simply won't be known until the season is over. It is nice to know that most sites and pundits looks pretty favorably overall on the Twins staff at this point. I'm pretty optimistic as a whole for the season, including the rotation. Healthy permitting. DANG! Just couldn't help myself! :)

Exactly. Let's just take Bellinger and Taylor as an example. NOT saying this is true, just an example. Let's say there's 3 teams entering this past offseason really needing help at CF and don't have an in house solution. Well, 2 guys are gone. The big name is out there, but not affordable for various reasons to some of those needy teams. So for whatever reason, one guy, Taylor, is stuck in a game of musical FA without a chair. Teams have their 40 man set, have an idea of what their team might look like, have spent most of their budget, so guys slip through the cracks and can be had for a budget price. That's part of the reason the Twins tend to hold out a little longer than most teams. It's going to be crazier next season with all the fluidity of TV deals and more expirations. As much as we talk about the Twins situation, the Rangers were supposed to get $85M per until the year 2032 I believe. That's a lot of the reason they went on a big spending spree the last couple of years. And now their deal expires next year as well. Wow! Next offseason is going to be nuts!

Don't want to look a gift horse in the mouth as these are mostly really nice projections, but I like Ober just a little more than PECOTA. A few points higher, nothing dramatic. And I might like Paddack just a couple points higher as well as I'm trusting in the change to his previous breaking ball the Twins began in 2022 when they acquired him. Again, just a couple points higher, nothing dramatic. I think the only thing that's really debatable here is Stewart and Topa. But the reasoning behind the projections is logical. They both had great seasons. Just go out and do it again. I'm going to HOPE for better from DeScalfini OR Varland. That means Varland is really establishing himself and doing well, or that DeScalfini is feeling good and looks like he did early last year, and close to his 2021 form. Otherwise, this all looks really good. Certainly, the pen numbers are going to have the most variation, and that makes sense.

OK, first of all, you can change the usage of your pen the entire season depending on needs, so I don't know that there's a single, correct answer. EXAMPLE: 2 starters go down, and you're replacing them the best you can. Might be a rough game or two when a long man might be needed. I know the game has changed over the last 20 years from starters who go 6 and 7, sometimes 8, to guys going 5-6, and sometimes 7. And the pen has gone from 5 or 6 guys to 8...but that's still EIGHT guys in your pen these days. And you can't find a couple who can throw 2 innings every few days?? Last season, Sands sat on the bench for as long as 10-12 days without appearing in a game. Now, I'm sure he loved being with the Twins, as well as collecting service time, but that is a horrible way to fill a roster spot. The Twins basically played with a 25 man roster at times, when everyone else had a 26 man crew. I want 8 good arms that I like and trust and don't feel bad about putting in to a game. And again, I should be able to find a couple of them that can throw 2 innings every few days without compromising them or the rest of the pen. If my rotation is bad, or so shallow, that I have to have a long man in the pen because I actually EXPECT some 3 and 4 IP games on any kind of regular basis...think Archer a couple years ago...then I have a much larger issue than this particular debate. Having a long guy sitting in the pen because someone MIGHT have a really bad day or get hurt is a really poor use of resources and roster management. Especially when you will have the option of making a roster move the next day if truly necessary, say in case of injury. I just don't see where this should really be a debate.

Just to add, he was a catcher in college and was drafted as one. He had surgery in college...shoulder?...that limited him to DH his last season. I've heard he's really good with pitchers and is very smart. There was one game in particular last season where he got the Saints out of an inning by using the review system. But whether it's movement behind the plate, or his arm, or both, he's just not seen as a catcher any longer, though he still takes turns behind the dish. As to Helman being a candidate for Sire of Fort Myers, I've been clamoring for him all offseason. If the Twins do add a FA RH bat, he's probably a long shot to make the club to open the year. But if they don't, he's got a legitimate shot. He was invited to ST last season as well, but had a bad hamstring the entire time. Then, during the season, a concussion and then a bad shoulder. I agree with Seth, and have said myself, he would have appeared with the club in 2023 if he had been healthier. Despite being a late bloomer, he's got a shot to be a super utility player who can do a lot of things, and have a career. So does Prato, for that matter.

That's all very encouraging news. But I do feel better about Staumont simply because he's had surgery to fix an issue, gone through rehab, and is reportedly good to go and presumably been throwing for some time now. DeSclafani still worries me. I can't help the little voice in my head that says the PRP and rest is covering up a larger/longer term issue that is going to result in a tear and TJ surgery still. I really hope I'm wrong. I'm still not much of a fan of acquiring him. But I know how good he was in 2021 for the Giants, and I know he was probably just as good the first 6 weeks or so in 2023 before his elbow began to flare up. Disco for 25-26 games started this season would mean his arm was holding up, and he was pitching well. And that would be good news!

I understand your concern. Pens, or perhaps we should say relievers themselves, are a fickle and volatile lot. An arm can be great one year, bad the next, and vice versa. Sometimes, you can be a Jax and have every bit of bad luck and weird thing that could possibly happen for a month...and then there is regression to the norm and you are pretty much excellent the whole rest of the season. ( I know he had a rough couple of weeks at the end, but my point stands). And we've all seen, over and over, that many/most times you trade for or sign a pen arm to a large deal, it usually backfires. Not always to be sure. But often if not a majority of the time. I've always said, never apologize for winning. Well, never apologize if you find a good player as a diamond in the rough. The Twins have a couple of guys who have performed well for a few seasons, and we should feel good about, both our own and newly acquired. And they have a couple recently added guys that had injuries and didn't arrive until late. One went to Japan to get his career back on track and has seemed to do so. So it's a mixed bag of "already have", "just added", and "hoping they can transition to the pen". So yeah, there's some projection involved here. But a number of good, and different, arms allows for a lot of maneuvering to find the right mix. And frankly, I think almost ever team begins every season with some kind of question about their pen. You look for quality and depth and options and hope you did right. There's just a lot of people who think the Twins have done right.

Helman's abbreviated 2023 was even better than his 2022: .296/ .356/ .546/ .902. 14 XBH and 5-1 in SB in 108 AB. Just too bad he was so banged up last year. Hard not to feel good about Prato. He's really not a CF option, but he might be a good 4/5 spot super utility type who does a little bit of everything. If the team were hit hard by injuries and you had to dig deep, you could do worse than Goodrum. Betting Farmer won't be with the Twins in 2025, despite the option. That opens the door for Helman and Prato to potentially take his spot. But both could get their debuts sometime this year. Keirsey has legit defense and speed. He's developed some pop. But can his hit tool continue to improve? Jensen and Henriquez interest me. (Maybe Alexy?) One needs some semblance of control. If he can do that, he seems to have the stuff and K ability to help, Jensen. Henriquez was hurt a lot in 2023 and was transitioning to the pen. He had a stretch of a month or so when it looked like he might be turning corner. If he can just stay healthy, I'm still excited for him. Interested to see if Winkel's numbers can improve for a 2nd year. Does he begin the season back in AA? Or does he move to AAA? Not saying the rest don't have a chance to help, or can't be part of St Paul success, but not sure anyone else really interests me. Obviously, someone like Festa and Lee are of huge intrigue, but that should go without saying.

What's to like? Everything so far. What's not to like? No crystal ball to see when he arrives and just how good he might be. The anticipation is almost painful. But he's still a 19yo kid with a couple dozen professional games so far. He still needs experience and at least a little polish here and there. He makes it to the Twins in 2026 as a 21yo it's absolutely huge! But it's hard to be patient when he looks this exciting.

I'd say just a out right, but a trio of issues: 1] Do we know for sure DeScalfini is 100% and ready to go? If we get anything close to the guy he was in 2021 and the first 1 1/2 months of 2023 we've got something. If not, trouble. But again, do we know he's ready? 2] Do we know if Staumont is 100% and ready to go? Lot of depth and options if he's not ready opening day. 3] Still hoping Larnach turns out. He needs and deserves another chance. But right now he's also somewhat redundant with Wallner, Kepler, and Castro, who hits better LH. I still think a RH OF makes sense. But that's been true for about 4yrs now! Miranda might not be fully healthy and he doesn't play the OF. With Soler gone there isn't really a difference maker. But I'm still a believer in someone like Pham or Duvall for 1yr on an inexpensive deal. You get a veteran RH bat with power to share corner OF time, but not JUST a platoon player if someone is out for a while. I don't think it's necessary to to give the job to Martin at this time. He's going to play this year. But I want that proven vet opening day instead of a rookie with 1/3 of a AAA season, no matter how much I like him. For those Santana supporters, hold back a little. He was bad for FIVE YEARS before a rebound in 2023. And now he's going to be just as good at 38yo? RH bat against LH, PH, and maybe a few days against RHP is all he should be doing. But I like the offense and depth with the 1 OF question. The pen is the deepest and probably the best I've seen in years. I don't have an issue with not adding a big name arm. A big name pen arm can often mean expensive, not necessarily good or better. There's still smoke out there regarding another SP. Not sure I expect it, but there's more $ suddenly coming in that wasn't supposed to be there. It's probably too late to make a huge difference. But a 1yr doesn't hurt or affect 2025. But a Ryu or Clevinger can help in 2024, especially if there are questions about Disco. I like the construction of this team and the depth. But I think there's enough $ to raise the floor and increase the depth still.

I don't completely disagree with you. And the Twins were wrong to keep Wallner down as long as they did. But I think they handled Julien fine. In previous examples, they handled AK and Lewis just fine as well. And they certainly gave Larnach multiple chances previously. Hey, I have real hope for Martin. I'm really anxious to see him and see what he can do and what he might become. His floor is a useful utility player. His ceiling is a daily lineup regular, even if he plays multiple spots, who hits at the top of the lineup with Julien, setting the table and producing. I'm excited about his breakout in the AFL, and a solid 1/3 of the season last year in AAA. But his injury limited him to 1/3 of a season. And the Twins have a chance to add a useful RH bat...different options/directions to go...to help against LHP, which has been a thorn in their side for a few years now. I think the FO really likes Martin. But I think they think, and me too I guess, that hitting more than .250-ish for a third of the season he got, would firmly show he's ready. Injuries happen. Guys are brought up. Again, look at Julien last year. He came up, got sent down, came up again and never went back. And if we go back in time, we can see other past prospects who followed that same path. My point being, he's right on the cusp. But why not give him just a little more time to refine his game, get a little more experience at the highest milb level, and spend some $ that they have for another solid veteran for now? He's going to play with the Twins this year. And he very likely ends up playing a lot when all is said and done. I just look at it, being Martin in this case, with a little more conservative view. Had he raked and hit .280-.300 last year, my viewpoint might be a little different than it is today. IF he makes the club opening day and struggles, and needs to be sent down again, where is your depth? Who replaces him? I DON'T want another Gallo repeat situation. But I also want the best talent we can have on the roster opening day. We both like Martin. We're just looking at building the roster from slightly different angles.

On the TV side of things, I'm lucky enough to not be blacked out from the MLB app unless the Twibs play KC. Then I have to watch the game on cable, which I have. The "good news" is that this a 1yr deal and the whole blackout issue should finally go away for fans who can't, or have limited options, to watch the games. The bad news is a whole revolution as to who and how much $ is involved when MLB pretty much steps in, takes control, and sets up a new future of ML broadcasting. It could affect over half the league. And it could mean a large lowering of revenue per team, at least initially. We could be in for a very messy 2025, and I think a lot of players are not going to be happy. But long term, it could/should be much better for the fans. I think I echo your general optimism on this team. This pen is better, and much deeper, than the one that started 2023. In fact, guys like Funderburk and Alcala might begin the season in St Paul even though they look primed to help the Twins. I like the offense more as well. Yes, some of the kids might hit some speed bumps. But these are very talented young men with a world of ability. Correa should be healthy, and we should get more from Buxton. I still like the depth, and will like it better after they add 1 more RH bat, which I believe they will very soon. I'm not as sold on Santana as you though. I can't dismiss a string of generally poor years, a rebound in 2023, and then expect him to do so again in 2024. I hope I'm wrong. I still think he's a part time player, mostly against LHP, and I'm OK with that. I'm still worried about replacing Gray's quality innings. But I really like our top 3, and I'm genuinely excited about Paddack if they can monitor his IP for the season. And I'm a believer in Varland. DeScalfini is a complete mystery and scares me. And I don't know if the young arms in St Paul are going to be ready early in the season. I hope they aren't needed until closer to mid season. Rumors are the Twins might still someone like Ryu. I could get behind that. I can also get behind a former ML pitcher like Cueto, Odorizzi, etc, on a milb deal to see if they can make a comeback. Why not take a shot? You might get lucky. I'm feeling pretty good about this team, even if we haven't got a direct Gray replacement at this point.

Not often I disagree with you Brian, but have to in this case. Now I was never a fan of Gordon as the Twins pick that year. I just didn't see the skill set and projection for that high of a pick. I came around a bit as he startes to put up some decent numbers. And I've been rooting for him for some time considering all he's been through, bad intestinal ailments, severe covid that had him hospitalized, to a bum ankle, in 2019 i believe it was, when he looked to be ready for his 1st promotion that ended up going to Arraez. But I believe you have to remove failed hopes and expectations from being a high draft choice 9yrs later. I think at this point you simply have to examine him in the context of who he has become as a ballplayer. And that's a guy who can play a few positions, not great, but OK. He's developed some pop, can hit RHP, but simply wasn't a fit for the Twins going forward. If he hit RH, it might be a different story. Sounds like his versatility and LH bat is a good fit for what Miami needs. And getting a solid LH pen arm who's been pretty good save the last month of 2023, is a good fit for the Twins. I hope Nick does well in Miami, and he just might. But I believe this a good trade for both players and both teams. It stinks we didn't get a better, more valuable player for a top 1st round pick. But in the context of who he is, it was a win for both sides.

A lot to cover, so I'm going to do so in a single post instead of multiple replies. 1} Not worried about him hitting LHP until/unless he just proves he can't. He was actually better against them the season before. Consider he only faces them probably 25% of the time, part of the difference from one season to the next could be luck in BABIP. 2} Where's he going to play when he comes up? Wherever they need him, lol. But seriously, he could legitimately play all 4 spots, but 1B would be a waste at this point. Royce stays at 3B because he's looking just fine there, and they'd probably rather have the guy with 2 knee surgeries at 3B instead of 2B. For that reason, Lee will go to 2B where he'd probably get Gold Glove mention a year or two here and there. Correa is at SS for the next few years. Lewis and Lee can both cover SS when Correa needs time off, as can Farmer for now, as can Castro. Julien will play some 2B, 1B, and DH. If something(s) continue to plague Kirilloff, Julien might even be a full time 1B. Next year, with Farmer probably gone, the INF situation still looks good. Miranda might play 3B/1B/DH, Severino might push Miranda out of the picture. Prato and Helman are super utility types that might get a shot sometime this season and stick. And Schobel and Keaschaal might only be a year or year and a half away from further depth. So yeah, the INF is in great shape for the next several years. So MAYBE Lewis moves to LF, Wallner goes to RF and there's even more room in the INF. In that case, Julien might just sick at 2B and Lee moves to 3B. But it's also easier to find good OF rather than a good INF. And within the next couple years, Emma, Rosario, and Jenkins will be up. Oh, and Martin is up sometime this year playing CF/LF/maybe some 2B, and could/should end up as a top of the lineup fixture with Julien. Still want Lewis in the OF? 3} I don't think a comp of Lee to Polanco is that far off. A healthy Polanco HIT, took BB, didn't K much, and was a legit 30 Dbls 20HR guy. Lee might turn out to be a better version of Polanco...I liked the reference to more "Mauer" in him...but it's not a poor comparison at all. 4} I don't believe Lee breaks camp unless there are big injury issues. And it's not about service time. It's about just not needing to promote him yet, remove someone from the 40, and press the issue when you don't have to. The Twins INF looks really, really good as is for the moment. Martin MIGHT be that 13th man, but I'm doubting it right now. The FO doesn't like to remove depth, and they don't like to make instant room for a prospect as they know it will happen organically. While they waited too damn long to bring up Wallner, both he and Julien got their shot, got it again and stuck. And for a team with playoff aspirations, why push a kid...even if you really, really like him...with 1/3 of a AAA season when you can acquire a veteran bat inexpensively to at least begin the season with? Right now, guys like Taylor, Duvall, Pham, and Grichuk are all probably settling for 1 year deals from $5M to $8M max. Yes, I'd be very interested in Soler on a bigger 2yr deal for around $12-13M per, I'm just not sure it's going to happen. And if it's not, how about Taylor to play all 3 OF spots and provide speed and a little pop? Now you have even more depth behind Buxton. The other 3 options are corner OF to spell Wallner and Kepler and PH. Deepens the team, provides a veteran RH bat, offers more lineup flexibility, especially against LHP. Not enough $ investment to cry over if you move on from someone. Martin can still come up whenever you need him or want him, and he gets a little more AAA time after an abbreviated 2023. Can't wait to see what Lee's going to do! But I don't think he breaks camp with the club.

I could get behind Ryu. He's certainly not the pitcher he once was, but he was pretty solid in his 11 starts for Toronto last season. He doesn't do much to move the needle, but he shouldn't be expensive, is very capable of helping replace some quality innings we've lost, and do we even know if DeSclafini is healthy enough to begin the season in the rotation?? I'm fine with someone like Syndergaard, Cueto, or Odorizzi on a milb deal with an invite and an opt out. Why not take a shot and see if you get lucky? But if we're going to sign someone, Ryu is the only "affordable" arm out there that interests me.