laloesch

Definitely something positive something positive to build on next season. Fingers crossed he continues to avoid the injury bug that plagued him earlier in his career.

The Twins have long put Buxton up on a pedestal as the unheralded leader of the franchise. The truth is he simply doesn't play enough games each season to warrant that designation. One only has to look at his stats and put aside the emotions. He's played in approximately 57% of the regular season games over the course of 12 years (this does account for his 2015 rookie year and the Covid shortened 2020 season of 60 games). Is he a good player when he's healthy? Absolutely. Is he a perennial all-star? Not with the all the time he misses. Should the Twins continue to market him as the cornerstone of the franchise despite him being 32 years old, hurt all the time, and aging rapidly? At this point no. It's time for new blood and thankfully ERod and Jenkins are waiting at the doorstep. It's really too bad he won't drop his no trade clause. Atlanta would have loved to have had him and he might have gotten a world series chip out of it. With as much money as these players make, the ultimate achievement is a world series win and mvp trophies. He has neither. Perhaps he's just content and there's nothing wrong with that, but the Buxton, "being the face of the franchise" ship sailed long ago no matter how much he's glorified as such on this site. Falvey, Zoll, and Pohlad made a critical mistake this season. They should have moved Jeffers when they had the chance. Perhaps the offers were not great that they did receive at the deadline, but they should have unloaded him before it was the 9th hour. The same can be said of Ryan. They were fielding offers for him early in the season and last season if I remember correctly. He's under contract for 2027, but they should have traded him already as we know they aren't going to resign him or Jeffers. The longer they wait the more time they waste.

The Twins have a number of issues. Losing Lopez for the season did not help, but the continued lack luster play from Lewis did not help matters either. Buxton not being 100% again for a season also did not help. The Twins need to stop relying on Buxton as the foundation stone for this offense. He just can't stay healthy. Josh Bell just does not cut it as the fulltime 1st basemen, and I doubt he's brought back. I don't think moving Lewis to 1st is the answer either, but I think the Twins will try to get him to stick at 1st. This team needs to spend some money at that position. The rest of the infield (outside of catcher) will take care of itself. Culpepper at short or 2nd, Lee at 3rd, and eventually Marek Houston at short. That's a solid infield beyond the glaring hole at 1st. The outfield will take care of itself. Erod in LF, Jenkins in Center (eventually), Buxton in RF (eventually). Roden 4th outfielder. Keaschall at DH / 4th/5th outfielder. Catcher is a question mark. Ryan Jeffers is almost assuredly gone (thought the Twins should do everything they can to keep him around for at least 3 or 4 more seasons in my opinion). That leaves them with Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson.

My guess is they were expecting to trade Jeffers by the deadline when they signed Caratini and either got putrid offers for him at the trade line or hesitated because he hit so well.

Can we please move on from trying to desperately plug Royce Lewis into every position need the Twins have to justify his continued prescence on the major league roster? He can't hit, he's an average fielder, is hard to coach, etc. Basically, for a #1 pick.....a total bust. He's not a 1st baseman and he doesn't hit like one either. He gets mired in massive, prolonged slumps that last 1/2 the season, etc. Time to move on from Royce, he's had MORE than enough major league time to figure this out.

Rubbish. Buxton had a say in all of this and when the surgery happened. If he delayed the surgery foolishly thinking this team was going to make the playoffs with a lineup full of holes like swiss cheese that's kinda on him too. What is on the Twins is not bringing up Culpepper, Jenkins, and Erod sooner. All three should have been up after the trade deadline, playing a significant number of games to be ready for the 2027 season (if there is one). It's also the Twins fault for NOT trading Jeffers and getting prospects. They now will only get a compensation pick. Such a shame.

I think in time Keaschall will be fine in the outfield. He just needs more fielding experience. Moving from 2nd base to the outfield is a big shift for any players. He's going through trial by fire. I'm not worried about it as the kid is proactive and willing to do what it takes to get better. I'd really like to see the Twins call up Marek Houston sometime in 2027 (if there is a season). A lineup that features Jenkins, Culpepper, Houston, Rodriquez, and whatever Buxton can give them (he will never play more than 100ish games). Not bad. If they can just get a big bat for 1st base, things will be looking up. It's really a shame they didn't get anything for Jeffers. His bat will be sorely missed, but the prospects he could have netted in a trade will be missed more, long term. Taj has been awesome this season and Connor Prielepp has shown he's got good stuff too. Add Abel and Lopez back into the mix you've got a solid rotation. Rojas also looked good at times. The key is, what happens to Ryan. The Twins need to throw in and sign him to an extension. He's worth overpaying to keep.

Almost certainly

My mistake. I misunderstand the mutual option aspect. But it matters not. If he expresses that does not want it they will trade him like they should have at this trade deadline along with Jeffers

Pretty much this. Joe Ryan and Ryan Jeffers will be gone at the end of this season. I didn't realize this but Joe Ryan's contract has a mutual option meaning even if the Twins want to pick up his option he HAS to agree, otherwise he can walk at the end of this season. I hope he wants to stick around but I've heard he wants to go back to California. It's very possible both Ryan and Jeffers walk as soon as the season is over. Jeffers wants a long contract and a big pay day and the Twins are unlikely to give him that. Lopez's contract ends at the end of the 2027 season (if there is one). I think it's safe to assume it's gonna take him a good chunk of the 2027 season to get his feet under him (this is his second TJ surgery), but then he's a free agent as well at age 31/32. I doubt the Twins re-sign him unless it's a good deal for the team. Buxton's contract ends at the end of 2028. I can't imagine he'll sign an extension. Given his health issues I believe he will retire. I also doubt the Twins carry Ober and Larnach beyond 2027. The Twins will have shed a huge amount of salary by then (over 63.75 million annual). At the conclusion of 2028 the Twins will also stop paying 10 million a season for what's left of Correa's contract as well. They will have to spend a TON of money to meet a 171.2 million dollar floor if that makes it into the new CBA.

Lewis? Sighs. How long do we continue to play that record over and over again, same time every-time, he has no eye at the plate and swings at every breaking ball down and away.

I'm NOT a fan of Kremer. I was not a fan of that trade for him either. Luckily he can be easily ditched when the time comes as can Bailey. I think when Abel and Pablo are back next season (if there is one) it's an easy decision to ditch Kremer or Bailey. Prielipp emerging as a legit rotation option has helped too. I think as they ramp him up even more next season, he will fill the gap from either Ober or Kremer potentially. Festa has not shown any consistency or durability. I think long term he's a relief pitcher, but we'll see. I want him to succeed, but he's fragile as glass it seems. The real question is what happens with Joe Ryan. I keep hoping the Twins extend him, but I think that's pretty much not going to happen. Joe is heading back to California as soon as he can.

My two cents and I know it won't be popular, but I'd rather have Trevor Larnach in the outfield than any maddening combination of Austin Martin, Matt Wallner, Kody Clemens, James Outman, Alan Roden, Ryan Kreidler, Kyler Fedko, or Luke Keaschall (love his bat though), that we've seen this season. While I'm not a huge fan of Larnach he is FARRRRR from the biggest problem facing this team. The Twins did the right thing by finally calling up Jenkins who's gonna take a bit of time to get his feet under him, but they should have called up EROD too. It's clear the Twins aren't making the playoffs, call up EROD NOW!

I'd like that too but Lewis is not worth much now. He's been terrible for a while now after his brief hot streak after getting called back up. Just feed him a steady diet of offspeed breaking ball pitches and he's a sure out and that's what teams are doing. Lewis is cooked, just saying. With him I think it's mental not physical. He apparently does not listen to the coaches as he continues to swing at everything down and away from the plate. His approach reminds me of Sano. The guy just couldn't resist chasing breaking balls.

This. Ryan should have been traded already. He has already hinted his intentions to go home to California.