IndianaTwin

Which is another way of saying "Health of Royce Lewis" as a thing to watch.

Seems like you answered your own question. At the minor league level, where the emphasis is on development and you're monitoring pitch counts for everyone, sure. At the major league level, you don't handcuff yourself that way. That's not to say there isn't a place for a reliever that's able to handle multiple innings, but you can't lock him into a pattern.

Don't know if these quotes were lifted from Dan Hayes' article in The Athletic, but his quotes there seemed pretty transparent about his feelings along the way, including that he's optimistic about the pitching staff. The also clarified that the reason he didn't attend TwinsFest was because of his partner having a baby and his prep for the World Baseball Classic. He also said that Tom Pohlad visited him in LA.

A positive to the offseason is some of the moves they didn't do. They didn't bring on anyone who blocks a legitimate prospect. Folks have been clamoring to "let the kids play." No additions to the roster this offseason block younger players such as Keaschall, Lee and a whole host of pitching possibilities. It allows for finding whether guys like Wallner and Larnach can reclaim any past success they have had. At the same time, keeping Ryan, Lopez and Ober means that the pitching staff doesn't have to rely solely on youth. We'll see, but that also seems like a mindset that will allow them to move on from Clemens, Roden, Outman, et. al, if Jenkins and others push the envelope.

I assure you that Roden's success or lack thereof will not stop the cursing of Falvey.

"Adding catchers" on minor league contracts is pretty much common practice for teams heading into spring training. Between workouts, games and even batting practice, there are lots of pitchers throwing lots of pitches, which leads to needing lots of catchers to catch lots of pitches. Defensively minded catchers are particularly helpful in this setting. Familiarity with the system is a bonus.

You beat me to the punch.

The nature of professional sports (and our society) is that there will nearly always be someone to scapegoat.

I’d maybe add Buxton as a righty who would likely play every day. 😀

I generally think you are right. The one possibility is if he has such a year that the Twins would be inclined to offer $12.75M and Ryan would be inclined to ask for $13.25M. But even in that scenario, the one that gets to go second (Ryan, right?) could decline the option figuring that the first to accept has essentially said they would do $13M. The Twins would basically have to say, “We are planning to offer $12.75M in arbitration, but we’ll give you $13M if you settle know.” Still seems doubtful, but minutely more likely than most mutual options.

If Ferris can visit Wrigley, how about bringing Walker to Target? Still just 31. Considered a stud coming up. Has pitched well, but hasn’t been able to handle more than about 125 innings for several years.

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.