Jamie Cameron

MLB dot com recently released it's annual survey of MLB executives and front office staff. For the Twins, there should be plenty of future optimism despite a slow offseason. Let's dig into the important takeaways and perceptions of the Twins from inside the industry. Image courtesy of © Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network The offseason has been slow and cold for Twins fans. Budget limitations and ownership uncertainty have handcuffed a front office who usually move deliberately through winter. Despite the inevitable frustration, there is plenty to be optimistic about regarding the future of the Twins organization, highlighted by MLB dot com’s recent executive survey. The survey anonymously polls front office executives, scouting directors and personnel, player development staff and analytics departments on a wide variety of topics from pre-season awards favorites to which teams draft and develop the most effectively. The survey received responses from all 30 MLB organizations. Here’s the most important Twins takeaways. The Twins are Flush with High Impact Prospects Would you rather have a farm system headlined by depth or impact talent? The Twins have the latter, and Walker Jenkins received plenty of plaudits in the survey. He was ranked as the third best prospect overall (6.1% of the vote), the fourth best hitter (11.1%), as having the best hit tool (11.1%), and the 7th best usable power (6.5%). Cut it any way you want; there’s industry belief that Walker Jenkins is the real deal. He’ll start 2025 at AA as a 19-year-old, so it’s easy to see why. Perhaps surprisingly, Emmanuel Rodriguez didn’t receive any attention in the survey, but he is now a consensus top 20 global prospect on the cusp of the majors with a tantalizing combination of power and swing decisions. Luke Keaschall did come up, tying for first place (6.4%) as the most underrated prospect in baseball. He’s catapulted himself to top 75 global prospect status, too, and should start the year healthy at AA after TJ surgery cut short his 2024 season. The Twins are One of the Better Drafting Organizations in Baseball Until the ownership situation is resolved, the Twins are more reliant than ever on drafting and developing MLB contributors in house. Looking at their 40 man roster, 23 players were drafted (or signed on the international market) by Minnesota. The Twins were votes tied fifth for the organization who drafts the best. Looking beyond their current MLB roster, there’s 3 more prospects in top 100 lists (Jenkins, Rodriguez, Keaschall), and many more intriguing arms and bats throughout the system. While you might argue the Twins have found more success in the middle rounds of the draft than at the top, their track record is strong in the Falvey regime. Notably, there was no mention of the Twins in questions surrounding performance on the international market. Emmanuel Rodriguez could alter that perception, but the Twins have had a disappointing run in recent seasons of their top international prospects ‘popping’. There were a number of standout performers in 2024, including Daiber De Los Santos, Eduardo Beltre, and Yasser Mercedes, with Danny De Andrade and Ricardo Olivar also noteworthy on slightly higher organizational rungs. Prospect Turnover Masks the Strength of the Twins Young Core The Twins didn’t receive any votes for best farm system despite finishing third overall in MLB Pipeline’s midseason update. So what gives? Turnover. The Twins graduated Brooks Lee and David Festa from their farm system (with Zebby Matthews soon to follow). This is why I much prefer a ‘pre-arb talent ranking’, or ‘young talent ranking’. Organizations like the Twins are not only reliant on drafting and developing their own contributors, but they need to produce those contributors in relatively short order. The Twins have a ton of young talent. The organization also received votes for the best at developing pitching and was graded out as fourth best for finding and developing sleeper prospects (hello Payton Eeles). One barometer of their player development for me in 2025? Can they add another name to global top one hundred prospect lists who's not currently featured on them? Aside from any offseason frustration, what do you make of the health of the Twins organization? Who or what are you high or low on entering 2025? View full article

JD Cameron gives a breakdown of Haritzon Castillo, one of the headliners of the Twins forthcoming international prospect class View full video

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 63 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie work through news and notes from the mid-offseason freeze in activity. They break down the Micky Gaspar for Jovani Moran trade, talk through the Cubs incredibly aggressive ZiPS projections, dive into Brent Rooker’s extension to remain an A and speculate about the possibility of the Twins having a new ownership group by Opening Day. The guys then preview the forthcoming international window, which opens on January 15th. The guys talk through the bonus pool system, the complications of the Roki Sasaki signing, and why pitchers don’t typically sign for large bonuses. They walk through the headliners of the Brewers, Cubs, and Twins classes and reflect on the approach of each organization to acquiring and leveraging international talent. Finally, they finish with a mailbag question on potential breakout prospects for the Twins. 0:00 Intro 4:00 News Whip Around 27:00 International Signing Window 34:30 Brewers Preview 45:25 Cubs Preview 49:42 Twins Preview 1:02:00 Outro You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

With the international signing window set to open on Jan. 15, let’s take a look at some of the Twins’ best international prospect signings in modern history and examine how they’ve performed on the international market in recent seasons. Image courtesy of © Nick Wosika-Imagn Images 4. Miguel Sanó 8.1 fWAR (1 fWAR average) over 8 seasons, peak 2.7 fWAR Sanó was the most famous international prospect signed by the Twins in recent history, commanding a then-record $3.15-million bonus in 2009. Sanó put together some outstanding offensive spurts for the Twins, including a memorable 18-home run, 149 wRC+ 80-game debut in 2015. He never surpassed his 2.7 fWAR peak, however, and limited defensive value and off-the-field controversy colored his time with the organization. 3. Luis Arraez 6.6 fWAR (1.65 fWAR average) over 4 seasons, peak 2.7 fWAR Arraez signed out of Venezuela for a mere $40,000 in 2013. From a simple return-on-investment perspective, he’s close to the top of the list. A fan favorite who averaged a 119 wRC+ in four seasons in Minnesota, Arraez remains one of the best pure hitters in MLB. In addition to his contributions to wins through his play, he netted the organization a significant asset in Pablo López, who has already accrued 7.8 fWAR for the Twins and will be going into his third season anchoring the rotation in 2025. 2. Jorge Polanco 15.4 fWAR (1.54 fWAR average) over 10 seasons, peak 4.0 fWAR Polanco garnered a $700,000 bonus out of the DR in 2009. Polanco logged 832 games in a Twins uniform over 10 seasons. In only two of those seasons was he a below-average hitter. He cranked 112 home runs, added 181 doubles and carried a 109 wRC+ in nine full seasons with the Twins. A fan favorite, Polanco was undoubtedly one of the best international prospect signings in recent Twins history. 1. Max Kepler 18.6 fWAR (1.86 fWAR average) over 10 seasons, peak 3.9 fWAR Kepler was signed for $750,000 out of Germany in the 2009 international signing window. Despite being a league-average hitter, he brought a ton of value on defense, logging 1,072 starts for the Twins, mostly in right field. He hit 161 home runs and belted 205 doubles in a Twins uniform. While he was offensively mercurial, he’s probably the most valuable international prospect investment the Twins have made in the last 20 years. While Minnesota has added value through other international prospects, including those not signed by the organization (such as Jhoan Durán), it’s been a while since a home-grown international prospect was an everyday player for the organization. The Twins will be hoping that changes soon, with Emmanuel Rodriguez likely to debut in 2025. View full article

JD Cameron gives a breakdown of Carlos Taveras, one of the headliners of the Twins forthcoming international prospect class View full video

The signing period for international free agency opens on January 15. Here's a preview of the headliners of the Twins forthcoming international prospect class. The signing period for International Free Agency opens on January 15th. The Twins are one of eight teams with the joint largest bonus pool of $7,555,500. The 2025 International Signing Period is unlike any in recent memory, with the decision of Roki Sasaki set to have significant ripple effects throughout baseball. It seems highly remote that the Twins will sign Sasaki, but whoever he signs with will likely leave several top prospects hanging without deals. While it’s normally fair to confidently assume teams will make good on their verbal agreements with prospects, I’d approach the window with less certainty this season. Minnesota has been closely tied to and are expected to sign, three of the top 50 prospects, per MLB.com. 24. Santiago Leon, SS, Venezuela The Twins boast a strong Venezuelan class in 2025, headlined by Santiago Leon, a 16-year-old shortstop and son of longtime Twins scout Jose Leon. Leon is a right-handed hitting prospect already standing six-foot-one with an offensive skill set headlined by a patient approach at the plate. Scouts are complimentary of both Leon’s bat-to-ball skills, in addition to his selectivity at the plate. While Leon doesn’t have explosive athleticism, he has good hands and moves well defensively, which, combined with an above-average arm, gives him a chance to stick at shortstop. Leon is expected to sign the 20th largest bonus for an international prospect in the 2025 signing period, per Baseball America. He’ll likely sign for between $1-2 million. 26. Carlos Taveras, OF, Dominican Republic Carlos Taveras, a 16-year-old outfielder out of the DR, is already an imposing physical presence and an impressive athlete. Standing at six-foot-one, he’s a left-handed hitter with good bat speed and the potential to boast serious raw power as he develops. There’s some swing and miss to his offensive game, but there are plenty of other tools to like, too. Taveras is an above-average runner with an above-average arm, a combination that should allow him to play centerfield, at least early in his professional career. He’s one of the youngest players in the international class this year. Per Baseball America, Taveras is expected to sign the 39th largest bonus for an international prospect in the 2025 signing period. He’ll likely sign for between $1-1.5 million. 43. Haritzon Castillo, SS, Venezuela Haritzon Castillo is a switch hitting 16-year-old shortstop prospect out of Venezuela. Castillo doesn’t have a standout tool, and offensively, it’s a profile more similar to Leon’s than Taveras’. Castillo currently has a hit-over-power offensive profile, with a good approach and direct swings from both sides of the plate. Defensively, Castillo might profile as a prospect who moves around the infield, with the versatility to become a positionally flexible infielder. Castillo is expected to sign the 47th largest bonus for an international prospect in the 2025 signing period, per Baseball America. He’ll likely sign for around $1 million. In spring 2024, the Twins hired Roman Barinas, a longtime international scout and player development staffer with the Dodgers, as their new Latin American Scouting Director. It’s hard to assess the impact his work will have on the Twins practice, as it's likely that most of the deals in the 2025 window were agreed to long before he assumed his role. Several of the Twins recent international additions looked good in 2024. Yasser Mercedes (in his second go-around in the FCL), put up a .989 OPS. Daiber De Los Santos (.844 OPS) and Eduardo Beltre (1.071 OPS), the Twins two headliners of their 2024 class, both put up big seasons in the DSL, with Beltre, in particular, drawing attention. The new crop will undoubtedly be a fun follow in 2025. View full article

JD Cameron gives a breakdown of Santiago Leon, one of the headliners of the Twins forthcoming international prospect class View full video

For the first time since 2017, the Twins made a selection in the Rule 5 Draft adding RHP Iverson Castellano from the Phillies. Castellano is the Phillies reigning Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Did the Twins fleece a pick from them or will Castellano fall into a bullpen mop-up role? View full video

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 62 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie continue to reflect on an extremely busy and fun offseason. They break down the biggest signings and trades of the offseason in the last week, including Kyle Tucker being traded to the Cubs, Cody Bellinger to the Yankees, and the Brewers trading away bullpen ace Devin Williams. They then discuss the Ishbia brothers potential interest in purchasing the Minnesota Twins, including whether fans should view this as ‘good news’. The guys then review a very active Rule 5 Draft in which the Brewers, Cubs and Twins all took a player. They examine the skill set of each and try to predict whether they will stick on the MLB roster. Finally, they finish with listener questions on Eiberson Castellano and the Twins pool of catching prospects. 0:00 Intro 3:30 Kyle Tucker Trade 9:21 Cody Bellinger Trade 11:30 Cubs Next Move? 21:00 Ishbia Interested in Twins 25:38 Rule 5 Draft - Brewers Pick 31:30 Cubs Pick 35:42 Twins Pick 41:31 Listener Questions 56:35 Housekeeping You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

The Draft Lottery has come and gone and the Washington Nationals have clinched the number pick for 2025. Where did other teams land in the lottery and which team beat the odds to have the best move up for a selection? View full video

Draft tandem Jeremy Nygaard and JD Cameron team up for a podcast to discuss prospects on their way to the big leagues and the MLB draft, produced by Theo Tollefson. Image courtesy of Thieres Rabelo In episode 61 of Destination: The Show, Jeremy and Jamie talk through an extremely active Winter Meetings. They break down the biggest signings and trades of the offseason so far, including Juan Soto to the Mets, Max Fried to the Yankees, Willy Adames to the Giants, and the Red Sox big trade to land Garrett Crochet. The guys then review a disappointing MLB Draft Lottery in which the Cubs, Red Sox, and Twins all moved down. They dig into the top 40 picks and bonus pools for each of those teams, before talking about some of the perceived strengths and weaknesses of the class. Finally they end with some listener questions. 0:00 Intro 3:00 Juan Soto to Mets 6:56 Max Fried to Yankees 9:28 Guardians making moves 13:47 Red Sox, White Sox deal 26:12 Adames to the Giants 26:59 Roki Sasaki posted 31:55 Draft Lottery 40:03 Draft Pools 44:40 Draft Overview 48:52 Listener Questions You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, including iTunes and Spotify. If you enjoy the content, consider leaving us a five-star rating and review in addition to sharing or retweeting DTS-related content. You can follow us on Twitter @DTS_POD1, @Jeremynygaard, @J_D_Cameron, and @TheodoreTollef1. We’re now on Bluesky @destinationtheshow.bsky.social. You can also find full episodes and clips of our shows on our YouTube page @DestinationTheShow. View full article

his week's crowd-sourcing question asks Twins, Brewers and Cubs fans; what is your dream offseason move? (realistic) and what’s a move (signing, trade, etc.) you’d be happy with? Hear what listeners had to say here. View full video