IndianaTwin

Holding out for a Pablo Sanchez signing.

I like it. I'd still be glad to have a reunion with Coulombe as well, even though he's another lefty. And with Kopech or Dominguez. Another brainstorm -- here's a conversation I'd also love to see. "Is this Buehlers? Could I speak to Walker? This is him? Great. "Walker, I'm sorry that injuries have done a number on your career, but you're still just 31. "We've loved you for a while -- tried to get you in the Brian Dozier deal. But you haven't been able to get past 126 innings in a season since 2021. The low guys on MLBTR's prediction list were getting contracts around $7M per year and you were in the Honorable Mentions. Nobody has called you yet, inviting you to be a starter. "How about if, instead of signing a minor league contract somewhere, you sign with us for $3M. We'll give you a legit chance to transition to being our closer, with incentives that can easily get you to $5M and potentially even to $7M. Plus $500k for an option year at $7M. "We've got LaTroy Hawkins on staff to help you transition to the bullpen. We've got Ryan Pressley helping at spring training and Joe Nathan on speed dial, plus Glen Perkins hangs around as well. Out of the bullpen, we'll get you back to that 100 mph you've touched in the past. We've got a great collection of music on Spotify to use as your entrance music. "Whaddaya say, friend? Can I send you the contract?"

Yeah, I probably overstated in saying he's an unlikely claim. I also shouldn't have listed it No. 1 -- that was just about setting the stage for saying that signing a third catcher isn't the obstacle it's been made out to be. I think the odds may be more in the 50/50 range on him getting through for the reasons you name. And it would be very easy for an injury to one of them to turn it into a moot point. We've been so blessed with catcher health the past few years that it's easy to forget how common catcher injuries are. Part of the timing in either a DFA or trade is also not making a decision before it needs to be made, meaning, not jumping to the need for resolution in mid-January.

I don't consider Morris the most debatable on the list. In my mind, there's no real debate at all. One phenomenal night, massive as it was, doesn't outweigh a body of work. Morris was third on bWAR among starters in his one season. Much more debatable is which of the four starters named makes sense for the fifth starting spot. bWAR gives a sizeable lead to Pascual, followed by smaller gaps between Perry, Viola, Goltz, followed by a large drop to Tapani. For his role in the establishing the franchise, I'd concur with Pascual as the choice. Pascual actually had more bWAR than Kaat, though Kaat's success more closely aligns with the successful teams of the late 1960s.

I’m not sure that the Caratini move itself has been officially finalized. It may still be in the “pending physical” stage. He’s not yet showing up on MLB.com’s roster, for example. The signing and the DFA typically go hand in hand.

Taylor Rogers, Ryan Pressly, Ron Davis, Mike Marshall, somebody or other... 🤣 Yeah, Ryan Pressly. Thanks for the correction, DJL. (Though I like being able to play around with a Taylor/Rogers duo.)

And now Taylor Rogers. I have to say, for an organization that supposedly alienates players and has Sonny Gray supposedly wanting out of town and Joe Ryan wanting to get out of town, it seems interesting that guys like Taylor and Rogers are quick to come back. Or maybe they don't treat people as poorly as people suggest?

1. DFA Jackson at the most opportune time for getting him through waivers. He's an unlikely claim, because teams don't want to commit to paying him for a guaranteed payout. If he makes it through, he's unlikely to pursue free agency because that would require relinquishing his guaranteed $1.35M salary in pursuit of more. Assuming he gets through and doesn't opt out, assign him to St. Paul. 2. They've named interest in Jeffers being the "No. 1" catcher, but no catcher plays every day. Enter the season with a plan for a 2:1 split, targeting 108 starts for Jeffers and 54 starts for Caratini. In general, Jeffers plays games 1 and 3 of a series, with Caratini playing game 2. Adjust as needed for two- and four-game series. Add additional games at DH (both) and 1b (Caratini) as appropriate. 3. Jackson is an excellent insurance clause for injury on the part of either. 4. The time backup catchers move via trade or waiver claim is late in spring training when teams have a backup go down and are desperate for a body that can fill in. Depending on offers, consider a trade of Jackson at that point (if all three are healthy). At that point, it's conceivable to get more than Eeles for Jackson. 5. Recognize that while Jeffers likely won't sign an extension (Boras client), at least try. And if not, recognize that in Caratini you have an MLB-level catcher under contract for 2027 with an additional year of development under the belt of Jackson, Pereda, Tait and others. 6. Respond to any calls on Jeffers with, "Probably not, unless you've got multiple established relievers you are willing to trade for him. And assuming that you don't, do you have one you'll trade for Larnach?" 7. Call Danny Coulombe.

I do know my way around the Google machine.

And assuming a healthy Lopez, Ryan, Ober, SWR, 5th guy with the Twins, pretty loaded at the high minors as well (pending exodus to the big league bullpen). Knowing that using the term Pipeline® creates angst on TD, there does appear to be some semblance of a duct/hose/line/aqueduct/canal/channel/conduit/conveyer/spout/trough in development.

Though it's also exciting that on average he was 4.1 years younger than average in Low-A and 3.0 years younger than average in High-A. One would think the hitters would have a bit more polish than the pitchers with that much age difference.

He's another guy where they chose the very consistent, methodical approach to his workload. His first 19 starts were on Saturday, skipping three throughout the season. In the first eight, he never threw more than 62 pitches. In the remaining 12 starts, with one exception, he threw from 61 to 80 pitches.* With only four starts at High A, I suspect they will start him there with hopes of moving him up to Wichita in Junish and perhaps even a couple of year-end starts in St. Paul if things go swimmingly. *This pattern sets him up for regular "How are they going to develop him into an MLB starter if he never throws more than five innings" comments on TD, but like most teams, their emphasis is more on pitch count than inning in the minors.

I really like MLBTR and highly recommend it to anyone not familiar with this source. They do a good job of reporting factual information and making regular updates to their stories as more information becomes available. They will report Tweets from other writers, but regularly offer alternative Tweets from people. They also do a great job of explaining contract nuances and their comprehensive views of teams and positional situations are indeed very comprehensive.

Thanks, OTH. You saved me a bunch of keystrokes. I think it's a good move as well for the reasons you describe and will add a little. They earlier talked about Jeffers being the "No. 1 catcher," rather than a 50/50 split. Caratini seems like an excellent fit for a 2/1 split, with Jeffers getting about 108 starts and Caratini 54. Jeffers in the first and third games of series, Caratini in the middle, etc. That's better than alternating Jeffers and Vazquez. The team has improved at catcher. Caratini is a great fit should Jeffers get hurt, a definite improvement over Jackson. Last year's No. 3 option was Gasper. Jackson seems better. Having Jackson on a "guaranteed" contract is not a problem. As others have noted, Jackson's Dobnakian contract paying $1.35M makes it unlikely he'd get claimed on waivers if DFAed. His contract also makes it unlikely he opts out, so he's a great insurance policy, better than the minor league signings of catchers that often come with an opt out that's invoked when they see greener pastures elsewhere. If everybody's healthy, expect to see Jackson start on Opening Day at St. Paul. Jackson is a great fit as a backup to Caratini if Jeffers gets hurt; he's a great fit as a backup to Jeffers (the previous plan) if Caratini gets hurt. Folks have longed for an extension with Jeffers. He's a Boras client, which generally decreases the chances of an extension. They just did arguably the next best thing by locking in Caratini for two years, ensuring an MLB-level catcher is on the roster for 2027. Folks are expecting a trade. Based on things like keeping the veterans and these modest spendings, I don't see that happening with Jeffers or Caratini. The time when fringe catchers do get traded or moved around is at the end of spring training, when teams have had an injury and are desperate for a live body for their backup. If all three are healthy and they do want to trade, I could see the Twins getting more than Peyton Eeles for Jackson in a trade in late March. And if all three aren't healthy or if nobody comes calling, see bullet 3. As you said, smart move.

Yep. And what we did hear most recently (after new ownership was announced and after it was stated that Ryan, Lopez and Buxton, and I'd say by extension, Jeffers, were staying around) was language that the FO had a little flexibility and would potentially be able to add some salary. No one implied $140-$150M, but it wasn't sounding like $100M either. It's still four weeks from spring training and the MO has been to move late. The Coulombes of the world are still available. I suspect we'll still see one or two of those that add $5-$8M.

One of the great moments in broadcasting history, worthy of a display in Cooperstown alongside "We'll see you tomorrow night" and "The Giants win the pennant." If I'm remembering correctly, I timed it at 52 seconds of total silence, followed by a deflated Hawk saying, "And we'll be back," as they went to a commercial for a pitching change. Have you ever found the clip on YouTube? I've searched for it in vain.

I liked Gaetti a lot, but with Mauer, Carew, Morneau and Hrbek around, you pretty much need to move Killebrew to 3B to maximize any version of an all-time Twins team. Same with keeping Carew at 2B and Mauer at C.

Related, it's easy to focus on the "what might have been" with Buxton's health, but I'm not sure folks recognize frequently enough that he only needs 8.8 bWAR to pass Hrbek into the retired number category. Getting 13.3 bWAR would pass Oliva and get him into the Twins legend stratosphere. Buxton had 4.9 bWAR last year, so those are very reachable numbers with three years left on his contract.

Shane Mack and his 19.6 fWAR as a Twin is called underrated. That's not wrong, but I'd say Bob Allison and his 35.3 fWAR (4.2 of which came as a Senator pre-move) is more underrated. Folks a bit older than me speak about Allison with glowing terms. It's easy to be overlooked when you are batting behind Carew-Oliva-Killebrew.

Were you thinking they would get more for what amounts to a trade for Gasper (but that could also still result in keeping Gasper around in AAA)?

AAA salary as a starter = $45K-$90K if on the 40-man, plus $31.50 per diem (in 2025) while on the road. MLB salary as a reliever = $780k, plus $117.50 per diem (less if a meal is provided) while on the road. I don't think a move to the bullpen is an overly difficult sale if it presents a nearly guaranteed path to the majors.

I'll go a step further and say you WILL have more than one "leader" in the clubhouse. With 26 guys it's inevitable that there are going to be different leadership styles and that people will respond differently to different leadership styles, etc. There's positional differences as well -- you hear regularly of guys who are leaders on a pitching staff, etc. Your picture captures the type of leadership I've perceived in Buxton as well. And while it's impossible to judge from the outside, my sense is that Lewis responds better to how Buxton seems to lead than to how Correa seemed to lead. That's not a knock on Correa, just an example -- others may benefit from more rah-rah than Buxton seems to provide. We're all different. Leadership isn't enough to get and maintain a spot on the roster, but if that's an aspect Bell brings to the roster, cool. I'm struck that leadership was perceived as something Santana brought to the roster a couple years ago. Bell's 110 OPS+ last year was better than the 101 Santana had in the year prior to joining the team. I think Bell's a solid add, but the key is still going to be the rest of the roster. As I've said elsewhere, for the Twins to be good offensively, Bell needs to be batting sixth or seventh, shoved down the lineup by a thriving Lewis/Wallner/Keaschall, etc. If he's batting fourth, they will struggle.

As long as he doesn't call Ozney "Ozzie."

I'm not arguing for this, but in 2024 he played nearly as much CF as 2B. My understanding is that they didn't use him in the outfield in 2025 because of his return from Tommy John surgery. From a December story: “'It could be really valuable if he could run out to left field or center field along the way,' Twins General Manager Jeremy Zoll said. 'We’re going to have some more formal conversations on what all that is going to look like pretty soon.' In the minors Keaschall played 173 2/3 innings in the outfield, all of which came in center field. His speed makes him an ideal fit there, and his arm strength has never been an issue, prior to Tommy John."

From the OP: "As things stand, the Twins favor Wallner and Roden for regular roles early in 2026, with Outman serving as the primary backup to Byron Buxton in center field." Have the Twins made statements to this effect? The word on TD is to expect Martin in the lineup and I've also read of speculation on Keaschall relocating to the outfield.