Ted Schwerzler

Bring water, absolutely. Wear a hat, sun screen, etc. People certainly won't be fond of umbrellas in their faces, so shade or cool in another form is necessary.

Great points! I left this one out as it actually moved. It was in Oneonta until 2018, and has since relocated to Frisco, TX

While Major League Baseball continues to slowly work its way through the offseason, the highlight of the evening was none other than Joseph Patrick Mauer. The call from The Hall came at the earliest possible moment, and his career will now forever be immortalized in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Image courtesy of David Berding-USA TODAY Sports With the ballot announced back in November, multiple weeks of voting culminated in the live reveal on MLB Network taking place in Cooperstown. Adrian Beltre was the only lock to have his plaque unveiled, but both Joe Mauer and Todd Helton will join him. Mauer Gets the Call For weeks it looked like Joe Mauer was going to become a first ballot Hall of Famer. Updates from Ryan Thibodaux’s tracking team had the former Twins legend polling upwards of 83% for some time, and the consistent support on ballots of all types showed some very positive momentum. Just before the results were read his unofficial total sat at 83.5%, earning votes on 182 of 218 ballots. What matters now is that Mauer has been inducted as a first ballot hall of famer and will enjoy that title forever. It was much closer than anticipated though, as the private ballots often reflect a significant decline and provide a detriment to all players. Minnesota’s catcher cleared the 75% threshold by just four votes. He was chosen on just 111 of the final 167 ballots, accumulating just 66.5%. Mauer’s induction ceremony will be held on July 21 in Cooperstown, New York. The Twins have announced they will honor him on August 3, 2024, prior to a game against the Chicago White Sox. Sano is Back It wasn’t just Mauer that made news on Tuesday. Former Minnesota Twins third baseman Miguel Sano returned to major league baseball after taking the 2023 season off. He was signed to a minor league deal, with an invite to spring training, by the Los Angeles Angels. Given the inability for Anthony Rendon to stay on the field, and an opportunity to improve the roster as a whole, Sano should have a real chance to crack the Opening Day roster. It certainly has been a bit of a rough stretch for Sano as he was out of the sport last year, and posted just a 2 OPS+ across 20 games in 2022. That said, he has shown some impressive highlight moments during Dominican Winter League action, and he certainly looks to be a much more trim version of himself as well. Thinking about Sano providing lineup protection for Mike Trout seems fun, and there’s a vacancy at designated hitter too thanks to Shohei Ohtani going to the Dodgers. Joey Gallo Gets a Shot Last season Minnesota spent $11 million on Joey Gallo to provide thump in the lineup and play both corner outfield spots as well as first base. He started off hot, and then fell off while never truly recovering. Gallo was leaned on heavily at first base after both Jose Miranda and Alex Kirilloff dealt with injuries, but it was clear that Rocco Baldelli was seeking other options. Despite not playing from September 5 on, and being left off the postseason roster after a rehab assignment, Gallo found a landing spot with the Washington Nationals. He did earn a major league deal, but at $5 million, it comes in at less than half of his 2023 number. Joey Meneses is an option at first base, while the outfield features names like Jake Alu, Jacob Young, Victor Robles, and Lane Thomas. A chance to rebound and be in a low pressure situation may suit the 30-year-old well. Were you surprised by how close the vote was for Mauer? Who do you think has a better season in 2024, Sano or Gallo? View full article

It could not have come at a better time when the Minnesota Twins found themselves benefitting from the first-ever Major League Baseball draft lottery. Moving up to the fifth pick in a draft with five traditional prospects that would be in play at first overall, they were going to get a dude. Walker Jenkins is now that guy, and Jackson Holliday presents an exciting trajectory to chase. Image courtesy of William Parmeter Two years ago, during the 2022 Major League Baseball Draft, the Baltimore Orioles selected Jackson Holliday with the first overall pick. The son of former big leaguer Matt Holliday, Jackson was a tooled-up shortstop that could blitz a farm system. He was a consensus top-15 prospect across the sport before his first full season, and he did nothing to throw water on that. Posting a .911 OPS and reaching Single-A during his first 20 professional games, the Orioles started Holliday at that level in 2023. He spent just 14 games at Low A, before making a 57-game stop at High A. Holliday posted a .940 OPS in South Atlantic League action and found his way to Double-A Bowie. More of the same results came, and his .928 OPS allowed for a 14-game cameo at Triple-A Norfolk to end the season. Although Baltimore doesn’t need Holliday to crack their Opening Day roster, he will be in big-league camp with an opportunity to do so. The shortstop position is taken by American League Rookie of the Year winner Gunnar Henderson, and former top-100 prospect Jordan Westburg is penciled in at second. Ramon Urías could be supplanted at third base, though, and Holliday may be just the talent to do so. A rise through the entirety of the farm system in less than two seasons as a teenager is something we don’t see often., and it's also something the Twins haven't been known to lean into The Bryce Harper path is undoubtedly one less traveled, but if Holliday is going to make it work, it’s a blueprint that Minnesota wouldn’t hate to see Walker Jenkins follow. Already in Fort Myers getting prepared for the season, Jenkins will likely be very high on multiple prospect lists when they debut. In a 26-game sample that included 12 contests at Single-A, the North Carolina native owned a ridiculous .989 OPS. He showed off the power, the speed, and the plate discipline while still looking like a player who could contribute in centerfield. We likely won’t see Jenkins bulk up substantially this early in his professional career, but as he matures into his body, there is a sense that a future home may be on one of the corners in the outfield. His athleticism will give him every opportunity to stay in center, but the power profile will fare fine if he has to move to a corner. That's not the traditional blueprint for a player that will see a quick rise, so Jenkins would need to buck that trend. The Twins could have gotten more aggressive with Jenkins last season if they wanted to infuse his talent into the High-A Cedar Rapids roster for their playoff run. They opted against that outcome, but it should be where he is expected to start most of his first half. Staying in Fort Myers until Iowa warms up makes some sense, but that shouldn’t be expected to remain an extended stay. The sky becomes the limit if Jenkins can show well in 50 games or so for the Kernels. Like Holliday last season, Jenkins could utilize his talent and production to push for somewhere around 50 games at Double-A in 2024. He may find a way to get a Triple-A look, but that doesn’t necessarily need to happen for a 2025 debut. Also like Holliday, he would be unlikely to make the Opening Day roster, but being within sniffing distance at 20 years old would be incredible with Minnesota. Rocco Baldelli must find a new corner outfielder after Max Kepler leaves. Even if he isn’t traded this offseason, it doesn’t seem likely the franchise would retain his services from the open market, and Matt Wallner has plenty to prove in 2024 if he wants to be a regular for years to come. The outfield could look much different at Target Field in a year or two, and seeing a superstar prospect be a part of that would be exciting. What Holliday did for the Orioles last season, and the position he has put himself in to start 2024, is eye-opening to say the least. Expecting that from Jenkins isn't unfair, but limiting him against being an outlier could be so as well. He has appeared within the top 20 of multiple top 100 prospects lists, and replicating 2023 production is only going to push him further up. Acclimating further as he rises the ranks is a must, and consistently producing loud contact is something that made him appealing in the first place. Jenkins has a plan in place for the season, and putting it together should be fun to watch. The Twins haven’t had a prospect with Jenkins’ talent since Royce Lewis, and they haven’t had one stay healthy on the farm in even longer. This is a kid from the same vein as Lewis, Byron Buxton, and Joe Mauer. Those don’t happen often, and seeing what the meteoric rise could look like will definitely be worth watching in the year ahead. View full article

Although the initial expectation may have been that it could take Joe Mauer some time to gain entry to the Hall of Fame, he ultimately found his way in on the first ballot. Now is the chance for Minnesota Twins fans to flock toward Cooperstown, but what should you know before you go? Image courtesy of © Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports Thinking logically, Joe Mauer could be the last Minnesota Twins inductee for quite some time. Kirby Puckett was elected on his first ballot in 2001, and while Bert Blyleven talked his way in in 2011, it took committees to put both Jim Kaat and Tony Oliva in two years ago. If you’re on the fence about making the trip out to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, you absolutely should, but there are some things you should know first. Getting There Cooperstown, New York is a village of just under 2,000 people. Of course, it will grow to more than 20 times that size during induction weekend, but the reality is that the infrastructure for the influx of people isn’t great, and getting there presents challenges. The three main airports nearby are in Albany, Binghamton, and Syracuse. Of them, Albany is the busiest, with Binghamton being the least so. You will find varying degrees of flight expenses because all are relatively out of the way, but both Syracuse and Albany process international travel. All three airports are roughly the same distance from Cooperstown from a travel time perspective, but you can expect an hour and a half drive. Rental car agencies at the airports will be booked solid, so remember to pounce early on that, as well as a flight itself. Where to Stay I am a big advocate for AirBNB or Vrbo properties, but again, Cooperstown is well out of the way. Places are relatively few and far between when searching on either service, and you’re going to pay a steep premium at that time of year. Finding a hotel a few cities away (sooner rather than later) should be the plan of action. While Cooperstown is home to The Otesaga Hotel, there is no vacancy there from July 16th through the 21st. Used to house incoming Hall of Famers, writers, and other dignitaries, it is a site to see but not one to count on. Boutique hotels, bed-and-breakfasts, and chain options can be found within 30 miles, but prices should be expected to increase as the event gets closer. The Museum Itself If you have never been to the National Baseball Hall of Fame, going while in Cooperstown is a must. However, going during induction weekend is arguably the worst way to experience everything The Hall has to offer. Whether Friday, Saturday or Sunday, you can expect long lines, crowded exhibits, and a diminished experience inside the hallowed halls of baseball’s Mecca. If you’d like to experience the museum in a more laid-back setting, the earlier in the week you can be to Cooperstown, or later following the Sunday ceremony, the better. The Ceremony Inductees will have their ceremony on July 21 on the grounds outside of the Clark Sports Center. A large stage will be erected in the front of the lawn, with chairs set up for special guests. The stage is flanked by multiple large screen televisions so you can view from a distance, and audio equipment will broadcast the day’s speakers at an adequate level. The vast majority of the grounds are a flat lawn atmosphere, and putting out chairs or blankets to secure a spot is a must. Generally, people are respectful about leaving things put, and similar to a parade route, you should feel as though you have a space once property has been set down. Rather than traveling with seating arrangements, multiple places throughout town will sell camping chairs at relatively reasonable prices. These could also be disposed of or donated if you’d rather not bring them home. The induction ceremony is held rain or shine, outside of severe weather, but New York can be hot with the sun beating down in summer. There is no shade on the grounds, and tents are only allowed in the very back, atop a hill. Sunscreen, head coverings, or some other sort of protection is important. The ceremony lasts two to three hours, and can be brutal in heat. Alongside the seating area is a large bay of portable toilets, and while there are a significant number of them, lines can back up. Mauer’s induction ceremony, even with Adrián Beltré and Todd Helton also going in, won’t be among the most heavily attended, but there should still be large crowds. Also alongside the lawn will be a souvenir tent selling merchandise only found there, and specifically tied to the class entering The Hall that day. The Town Itself Nothing exudes the charm of baseball like Cooperstown does. Shops and restaurants line Main Street to the west of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The vast majority of them sell collectibles and memorabilia from the game, and plenty have souvenirs as well. Venture into as many of them as you can. Even if you wind up not buying anything, you’ll see artifacts that you won’t find anywhere else, and the history should amaze you. Beyond the shops themselves, Cooperstown comes alive with heroes and legends of yesteryear on induction weekend. Shops will have signings that include Hall of Famers and former players both out front and in back rooms. You will bump into retired and current major leaguers alike. Keeping your head on a swivel will highlight just how many players now consume the game as fans. You can also bet Pete Rose will be there hawking his likeness while hoping to one day be accepted up the road. Make sure you check out Doubleday Field as well. Civil War General Abner Doubleday was credited with inventing the game of baseball by the Mills Commission in 1908, and despite the obvious falsity of that story, his name still shows up on Cooperstown’s baseball field. Many Little League tournaments take place here, and Ozzie Smith hosts a clinic there on Friday morning. The Parade Beyond the ceremony, the other highlight of the weekend is the Hall of Fame Parade of Legends. Every single living Hall of Famer is welcomed to come back on induction weekend, and they all make their presence felt Saturday evening during the parade. Riding on a plethora of different types of cars, players from multiple different eras will wave to fans and pose for pictures, often accompanied by their spouses. Its a great time to see those that once carried the sport. It stands to reason that former Twins such as David Ortiz, Oliva, Kaat, Jim Thome, Jack Morris, Blyleven, Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, Steve Carlton, and Rod Carew should all be present. Seeing a Minnesota boy go in, those connected to the franchise in any capacity will make the day that much more special. What Else to Do Depending on what amount of time you have for your trip, there are plenty of other things to do while out in New York. Yankee Stadium is a three-and-a-half-hour drive away, but the Bronx Bombers are home on Monday, Jul. 22, hosting the Tampa Bay Rays. Should you prefer the nearly four-hour trip to Boston, you’d have to settle for a tour of Fenway Park and the surrounding area, as the Red Sox are on a road trip. For those fans of breweries, Ommegang is a highlight of the city itself. Located in Cooperstown, they are known for their Belgian-style brews but offer myriad options. Despite being on the East Coast, they have distributed to select stores within Minnesota, but this is the only place to get their offerings straight from the tap. The Cooperstown Distillery is also local, and they offer varying selections of bourbon, rum, whiskey, gin, and vodka. Well-known for the baseball decanters, it’s worth a trip. Another Hall of Fame in another unassuming town is the International Boxing Hall of Fame, in Canastota, New York. On the way to Cooperstown from Syracuse, and just over an hour from the Baseball Hall of Fame, you can find stories and history for your favorite boxing legends here. The 2024 inductees will be celebrated June 6-9 and are highlighted by the inclusion of Ricky “The Hitman” Hatton. The area boasts plenty of kid-friendly activities as well, including fun parks, hiking opportunities, and the Utica Zoo. If this is a bucket list trip for you and you’re on the fence, Mauer's induction is a great occasion to go for it. Hopefully, these tips and tricks help to make the most of your experience, and it’s something you remember for years to come. View full article

When the Minnesota Twins kick off their 2024 regular season, they will do so with a good deal of optimism regarding star center fielder Byron Buxton. Again returning from an offseason surgery, the hope is that the aching knee of the Georgia native will allow him to play the field. If that doesn’t happen, they’ll need a backup plan. Could Aaron Hicks be in the cards? Image courtesy of © Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports With the center field position being a possible area of need for Rocco Baldelli’s club, it is up to the front office and their evaluation of internal options to decide if something else is needed. So far, they have passed on Kevin Kiermaier and Harrison Bader. They probably aren’t going to factor into the Cody Bellinger sweepstakes, and while Michael A. Taylor could be brought back, there has not been much steam on that front. Certainly, the Twins could trade for someone like Dylan Carlson, or they could decide that Nick Gordon, Willi Castro, and eventually Austin Martin are all workable partners. If they want to reunite with a familiar name, though, Aaron Hicks may have some allure. Now 34 years old, Hicks was the Twins' first-round pick in 2008, out of high school. He worked his way up through the system, and he provided more usable results than promising outfield prospect Joe Benson before him. Still, Hicks struggled with switch-hitting for Minnesota, and as a younger kid looking to mature, he found himself drawing the ire of both Paul Molitor and Ron Gardenhire. After John Ryan Murphy took closer Glen Perkins deep, Minnesota’s front office decided they must have the Yankees catcher, and thus ended Hicks’s time with the Twins. He went on to have some strong seasons in New York, and ultimately, he tallied a 110 OPS+ from 2017-2022. His 120 OPS+ for the Yankees from 2017-2020 helped him earn a $70-million deal in 2019, but injuries and fading performance had him being pushed out. Resurfacing with the Baltimore Orioles last season. Hicks played in 65 games and posted an .806 OPS, good for a 127 OPS+. He once again displayed a strong ability to get on base, and the .275 batting average was a new high-water mark for his career. Playing all three outfield positions for Brandon Hyde’s club, Hicks proved to be a valuable member of a great team with young talent such as Adley Rutschman and Gunnar Henderson. Despite having been released by the Yankees and paid to not play for them, it’s plausible that Hicks earned himself a new major-league deal through his production in Baltimore. Expecting him to be a consistent regular at this point of his career is probably unlikely, but as a rotational type to spell Buxton, Minnesota could do much worse. Last season, Hicks destroyed left-handed pitchers to the tune of a .970 OPS. He scuffled mightily against righties, but the Twins' current center fielder has seen success against same-handed pitchers. Despite Hicks being a switch-hitter, it could make sense for him to play only when soutpaws are on the bump. New York paid Hicks nearly $30 million simply to go away, and that could make his level of affordability for 2024 even more straightforward. There is likely to be enough interest to secure a 40-man roster spot for Hicks, but any team who signs him will only have to pay him a prorated share of the league-minimum salary while he's on the roster. The Yankees will keep paying the remainder of his salary from that deal, which runs through 2025. This isn’t the same regime that drafted Hicks, and it’s not the same group that he had to mature with either. He’d provide some veteran perspective, and if the Twins could get the production he brought to Baltimore, that would be a great outcome for all parties involved. What do you think of bringing Hicks back as a depth piece for the roster? Sound off in the comments. View full article

Heading into the 2024 Major League Baseball regular season, the Minnesota Twins are seen as the best team in the AL Central. That said, a change of guard could soon come if the hometown nine don’t watch themselves. Are the Tigers ready to make that splash? Image courtesy of © Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports Last season, the Twins were projected to finish behind the Cleveland Guardians when the season began. There were some that even though the Chicago White Sox, no matter how mismanaged or poorly executed they’d be, would be in the hunt as well. When the dust settled, no one kept up with Minnesota, but the Detroit Tigers overtook Cleveland for the second spot in the division. With Chicago having talent ready to roll and needing a leader to put it all together, they made a catastrophic mistake in hiring Tony La Russa. That bought everyone else in the division time, but when the Detroit Tigers grabbed A.J. Hinch from the Houston Astros, the division should have been put on notice. With a World Series and two pennants in tow, it was only a matter of time before he put a young organization with a loaded farm in position to win. Hinch’s Tigers wound up going 78-84 last season, five games better than their Pythagorean record suggested they should be. They took advantage of a weak division and separated themselves from the cellar dwellers while aiming at the Guardians. Catching the Twins in year one of a resurgence would never happen, but they could draw closer in 2024. At Bovada, Minnesota is -115 favorites to repeat as division winners, but the Tigers are only slightly (+375) behind Cleveland (+350) for second place. BetOnline has Minnesota’s win total set at 85 1/2 games, with Detroit coming in behind them at 78 1/2. While Minnesota remains the only Central team with a winning record for the second straight year, Detroit being seen as within striking distance from the start could provide more of a challenge. The Tigers have also ushered out the old wave with the retirement of Miguel Cabrera. They were never going to cut him loose without the farewell tour, but now the bulk of his dollars are off the books, and a key roster spot can be turned over to a usable player. Detroit has developed more of those in recent seasons, and they have also been looking to add this offseason. After something of a slow start, former top prospect Spencer Torkelson emerged and showed some of the superstardom he was expected to possess. With 31 homers on the season and a series against the Twins that got him going, he could indeed step into the Cabrera role and be a dominant force within the division for years to come. It isn’t just Torkelson offensively, though, for Hinch’s squad. Riley Green flashed abilities that had him the darling of multiple prospect lists, and rookie Kerry Carpenter looked the part of a regular in extended run last season. The franchise is undoubtedly hoping that Javier Baez can be any shred of the player they signed for a mega-deal, and if they get any return on that investment, their lineup will benefit in a big way. We have seen competition shine in the Central through the pitching staff, and that’s where things could be most interesting for Detroit. Tarik Skubal may soon be one of the best pitchers in baseball, and former Twins prospect Sawyer Gipson-Long put in an impressive cameo to end the year. They still need to see Casey Mize return healthy and effective, while Matt Manning, Alex Faedo, and Reese Olson could all afford to settle in. Over the winter, the Tigers have added intriguing arms like Jack Flaherty and Kenta Maeda. Minnesota’s previous starter is set to be their staff ace, which limits the group's overall ability, but he should present a stabilizing force for the staff. Flaherty has never shown an ability to stay healthy, but the stuff has always been exciting when it’s working. Lowered expectations in a smaller market could help, which may be what they are banking on. While it’s probably unlikely that this is the year everything begins to come together, the Tigers aren’t done infusing talent, either. Max Clark is at least a year away, but he presents some of the best upside from any prospect in the sport. Colt Keith should see major league action this season, and so could Jace Jung. Pitching prospects Jackson Jobe, Ty Madden, and Wilmer Flores all have varying degrees of big-league opportunity this season. If Detroit can continue their development, the water level will only rise higher. Ultimately, the Tigers are coming, but they aren’t there yet. If the Guardians piece out Shane Bieber and others, then Detroit should be expected to take over the second spot in the division. That does likely come with a losing record, and Minnesota should cruise to the title, but still, this is an organization that is larger in the rearview mirror than may initially appear. View full article

The Minnesota Twins enter the 2024 season with a relatively stout bullpen. They have the key, high-leverage roles already spoken-for, but there are more questions as you go down the pecking order. Four arms face an important crossroads this season. Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports While Rocco Baldelli has been criticized at times for having a quick hook with his starters, it's the quality of relief corps to which he can turn that really determines many wins and losses. Sonny Gray and Kenta Maeda are both gone, but Pablo López routinely pitched deep in games. The hope is that Joe Ryan and Bailey Ober follow suit, and that Chris Paddack can perform at a high level while out there. The Twins don’t need relief help to step up and take the roles of players like Jhoan Durán, Griffin Jax, or Caleb Thielbar, but they do need the next Kody Funderburk or a rubber arm to generate the production lost in the form of Emilio Pagán. There are four internal talents who have gotten the opportunity to seize that role in the past, and failed. Maybe this is the year that changes. Cole Sands Having made the Opening Day roster last season as a long reliever, Sands took spots from Danny Coulombe and Jeff Hoffman. The fifth-round pick in 2018 had plenty of prospect sheen, and his 8.2 K/9 in 30 2/3 innings as a rookie suggested he was (at least) rosterable. Instead, he bounced between the majors and Triple A without an ability to stick last year, because he couldn’t command the zone. Although the strikeouts jumped to 8.7 per nine frames, he walked a ridiculous 13 batters in 21 2/3, while posting a 5.52 FIP. For the Saints, Sands put up his best numbers as a professional. The 1.47 ERA and 12.0 K/9 were impressive, and he allowed just a 2.9 BB/9. That’s what Minnesota needs to see at the next level, and maybe that comes with less jumping between levels. Sands is just 26 years old and could factor in as much more than a mop-up man if that Triple-A production begins to translate. Jorge Alcalá Agreeing to an arbitration contract at the exact $790,000 figure he earned during 2023, Alcalá has now been on the 40-man roster since 2019, despite pitching just 105 innings in that timeframe. He’s struggled to stay healthy, and while there have been glimpses of production, we haven’t seen any sustained level due to the inability to stay on the field. Minnesota saw Alcalá throw 8 2/3 innings in the Dominican Winter League this offseason, and he posted a 3.12 ERA with an impressive 14-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio. For years, it has seemed like Alcalá possessed the stuff to blow pitches by opposing hitters, and he should be able to rack up strikeouts, if he can just rack up some batters faced. The Twins will have him penciled in for a bullpen role on Opening Day, but how much and for how long he can produce will decide how long he remains in the organization. Josh Winder A 7th-round pick in 2018, Winder initially looked like an arm who could factor into Minnesota’s starting rotation. Unfortunately, the more he has been used, the more troublesome his injuries have become. With a body that may not be able to withstand the rigors of starting regularly, a transition to the bullpen has made sense for a while. Last season, the Twins got just 34 2/3 innings out of Winder, and he turned in a 4.15 ERA. His 3.98 FIP was workable, and the strikeouts jumped, but his fastball was almost entirely unusable. Minnesota can try to find alternative options for Winder’s repertoire, which may unlock a new level of production. Recently having turned 27 years old, Winder will be pushing to find a more consistent role, and the Twins can’t afford to have a glut of mop-up types. Jordan Balazovic Once the best starting pitching prospect in the system, Balazovic has gone through the wringer of late. From suffering a broken jaw deep in a Fort Myers night to posting a 5.32 ERA at Triple A, 2023 wasn’t a great year. Balazovic debuted at the major-league level, but he’s no longer a starter and posted a 4.44 ERA with a 6.01 FIP across 24 1/3 innings. Finding a new level of maturity and growth could serve the Canadian well in 2024, and he may not have many more chances. Balazovic didn’t miss bats for the Twins, and he walked too many batters. Nothing about the profile, at any level, was usable. If the trajectory of his time with the Twins is going to change, it's going to happen within the next 90 days. There might still be a good pitcher here, but we haven’t seen it since the 2021 season. Minnesota won’t benefit by having an incredibly soft underbelly in the bullpen. It’s great that the higher-leverage arms are talented, but the group must raise the water level. If one or more members of this group could step up, that would be an excellent development for everyone involved. Each will be worth watching during spring training, and if any can separate themselves, then the opportunity should be immediately available. Who do you have your eye on for long and lower-leverage relief for the 2024 Twins? What tweaks could unlock any of the guys listed here? Start the conversation below. View full article

There’s a lot of money involved, and definitely a big name

I can promise you that data doesn’t back this up. Weak contact does not produce consistently positive results. Putting the bat on the ball is only a positive when it’s done with optimal contact. You still have to make high velo contact to generate base hits.

That’s not his ceiling. I think he’s much more likely a big league regular for a long time. He may grab an All-Star appearance or two along the way. His skillset is one that is strong because he’s got good tools everywhere but not an elite one.

There has been plenty of talk surrounding the Boston Red Sox's desire to lower their payroll this offseason. While the Minnesota Twins are also seeking to do that, could there be interest in the sides shuffling money around? A catcher-for-reliever swap could make sense. Image courtesy of © David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports Minnesota hasn’t done much work with Boston in recent years. They did get involved in the Mookie Betts deal with the Dodgers that sent Brusdar Graterol to Los Angeles in exchange for Kenta Maeda, but because Boston had balked at Graterol's medicals, that ended up being two separate deals. Technically, the last time these two clubs were involved in a trade that didn't just send the Sox a middling role player after the Twins had fallen out of contention was the Nomar Garciaparra blockbuster in 2004. Thad Levine flirted with the idea of joining the front office before Craig Breslow ultimately took the job, though, and Breslow then scooped away minor-league pitching coordinator Justin Willard. For the first time in a while, there are close ties between the two franchises' leadership groups. When looking at the Red Sox, now run by the former Twins reliever, Minnesota may be interested in a couple of different players. Reliever Chris Martin stands out, and so does starting pitcher Nick Pivetta. Boston already traded Chris Sale from the rotation, though, and Lucas Giolito doesn’t necessarily make Pivetta expendable. Martin is owed $9.5 million in 2024, so his departure would move the salary needle, but maybe not by enough. Of course, the Twins' key players with the potential to be moved have been heavily dissected. Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler are available, but neither is an ideal fit for Boston. Masataka Yoshida and Tyler O’Neill already man the corners, and Kepler isn’t likely to play center field for a new organization, either. Polanco isn’t taking over at shortstop for Trevor Story, Rafael Devers plays third base, and Vaughn Grissom was just acquired as (probably) the second baseman of the present and future. Maybe Kyle Farmer provides intrigue as a lower-cost utility option, but let's dream a bit bigger. Christian Vázquez won a World Series with the Red Sox back in 2018, and Minnesota is motivated to shed his salary as a backup behind Ryan Jeffers, whose star-caliber upside Gregg Masterson capably highlighted earlier today. Boston’s only current catchers are Reese McGuire and Connor Wong, neither established nor high-ceiling commodities. Maybe they would prefer a veteran backstop who provides some familiarity within the organization, and who might work to get more out of young pitchers like Brayan Bello, Garrett Whitlock, and Kutter Crawford. Of course, the Red Sox aren’t adding Vázquez and his $20 million in remaining salary as is, so the Twins need to take something hefty back. Enter Kenley Jansen. The longtime closer has been a subject of trade discussions for much of the offseason. Boston is very interested in unloading his $16-million salary in 2024. This wouldn’t be wiping it all away, but it provides cost savings and allows for a different position to be addressed. Minnesota would likely need to throw in some money or an additional prospect to make up the difference in abilities, but a move could help both teams. Rocco Baldelli doesn’t necessarily need a closer with Jhoan Durán entrenched in the role, but improving the bullpen on the back end is hardly a bad course of action. Given that he’s worked almost exclusively in the ninth inning, that’s exactly where Jansen would go for Minnesota. Certain arms are just meant to stick there, and he is one of them. This would allow Baldelli the opportunity to again deploy Durán as a roving hitman, with the ability to come in during any important opponent rally and quell it. From a financial perspective, the Twins wouldn’t hate an opportunity to stifle future arbitration earnings either, and limiting Duran’s save opportunities would accomplish that. Beyond just a change in the closer role, there are additional ripple effects where adding to the best of the bullpen proves beneficial. Brock Stewart’s health will always remain a question mark, and Griffin Jax went through bouts of shakiness last season. Jansen is not the dominant arm he was four or five years ago, but he still works as a high-leverage reliever, with significant experience and quality stuff. Minnesota pairing him with Durán in some capacity would significantly boost an already-intriguing bullpen. Exactly how a deal of this sort would come together is hard to say. The framework is primarily rooted in the idea of shifting dollars, and the Twins taking on more doesn’t fit with their plan to shed. Aside from Addison Reed, they haven’t ever spent on the bullpen under this regime. That said, the desire for Boston to cut dollars could allow Minnesota to swoop in and acquire an arm that may have otherwise been an impossibility. It isn’t as though Minnesota is currently up against their self-imposed limit, however, and Jansen doesn’t exactly stretch them either. They’d be taking on just $6 million in this swap, after accounting for the loss of Vázquez's salary, and it would push the current payroll outlay just above $120 million. That’s before making decisions regarding Kyle Farmer, Max Kepler, and Jorge Polanco, as well. If this is seen as an opportunity to enhance the overall roster while making a relatively modest commitment, the financial implications should be moot. What do you think? Would you rather see Minnesota pay a bit more for a high-leverage arm, or hang onto Vázquez as the backup and commit significant dollars to the position? What else would Boston ask for to get this done? View full article

The problem is that EV isn't tied to power. If you make weak contact, you're going to struggle getting hits. That could be part of what holds him back at the next level.

The Twins have drafted really well the past two season, and there have been a handful of graduations as well.

I don't have Castro or Chivilli on my top 30 either.

I have Prielipp at 30. With no health, he's hard to peg. Rosario's 2023 was huge, and I was high on him coming into the year.

This front office has done a good job of developing late pitchers, while drafting hitting and trading for pitching.

The ceilings are where you'll often see guys judged by. Brooks Lee is going to be a really good pro, but he's only 52nd on the new BP 101. His ceiling isn't a perennial all star. Minnesota has depth, but not a bunch of Walker Jenkins toolsy types. I'll be down there in mid March as always.

The Twins had very few pitching picks throw last year. For the prep arms, it's heavy body development first.