Rosterman

Kriedler?? Orza? Who are the Rule 5 possibilities?

Not really. Just the need to get work for the next group next season, depending on how it all works out. Lopez and Ryan are tradebait no matter he situation. Kremer and Ober are not in furture plans. So have to find a way to get Abel, Matthews, Prieloff into the mix, not to mention Rojas. Finding space in the bullpen to keep them at the major league level is a possibility, Either way, mid-season will see some changes. The bigger question is Bradley. You have to committ to an extension or he becaome another Berrios or Ryan, wokring towards free agency in search of bigger dollars elsewhere. And, remember, you can always spend to get a BIG name arm, an innings eater, or just a run-of-the-mill multi-year contract starter with an overpaid contract (which the Twins commonly do). 2028: Bradley, Abel, Prieloff, Matthews, Rojas. I can live with that with Festa, Gallagher, Quick and a couple of other fast trackers in the wings. And that is before you might add someone via free agency or trade. If thew Twins could've only traded Jeffers, Bell, Larnach or others to get, perhaps, that 7th or 8th starter (a la Ryan with the Rays, Bradley, too) instead of basically nothng. Development is still the key. Coaching second. Major league experience a MUST!

The question on Payroll is do you commit it to guys like Ober, Larnach, Lewis and even Wallner with the hopes of trading them to a team that feels the players are worth that much money (probably not, as if they become free agents msot will sign for less than the Twins would have to pay in arbitration). You are probably talking close to $20m here. Plus throw in the $4+m you'd save by not bringing back Banda or Sands. You could spend that extra money on a catcher (Jeffers, although defensively he is still NOT the best, and you are hoping to get 100 games from him). Or maybe a first baseman, unless you think you can fill that role with a Keaschall, Roden, Gonzalez, Sabato... all of whom would bring at least as much to the position as, say, Lewis. The Twins have a low payroll team that they can put on the field. They could use better defense at catcher for a season. They need to address second base shortterm. Clemens can play until Houston comes up and pushes Culpepper over. They need a first baseman, but have too many outfielders on the current roster (Larnach, Wallner, Mendez, Gonzales Martin plus guys who will play in 2027 like Keaschall, Buxton, Jenkins, Rodriguez. They also have Rosario who needs to be prtected from Rule 5). If they NEED to spend, they need to look at what depth they don't have if any players go down for either short or longterm. A bench of Ross, Sabato, Martin and Jackson doesn't inspire confidence. Okay if working on a rebuild, which the Twins may still be doing as they have to hope players advance like Jenkins and Culpepper and Rodriguez, and that they do address best play at a position fielding wise.

You spend money on a bullpen if you are winning games. The Twins cut out relief arms in 2025 because they were showing worth, and there is no need for an $8m closer who was just going to egt expensive as well as a couple of other arms (Varland exclused) that were just getting older. When was it that the Twins had one of the more expensive bullpens in baseball, heded by Joe Nathan. I think the pen ate up one-fourth of payroll at $20m alone. Hoffman is getting a pretty penny. The Twins could resign Minter for close to $7-9m. That would be two expensive guys, neither the surefire closer if you still wish to use Gomez in the role or develop Morris further.

Right now, the Twins are the prime example of why there shouldn't be a minimum payroll. They have players on the lower end, but who will become expensive. If a salary cap was indeed in place, as well as a team minimum, the winners would be those guys willing to get overpaid for a single year contract. WHich we might see more and more of. Teams would develop players, but then you job in a Ryan Jeffers at $20m for a season as the young catcher developes, or overpay a Josh Bell to be a bench bat, or spend $10m on a savvy bullpen arm, just to meet the lowend rquirement/ Throwing away $50-60 million, as would be the Twins case this season, on short term plugs while the minor leagues develop. With hopes that any additional payroll space will be available come free agency days for the youngsters who will be expensive in 4-5 seasons.

Astro rade falling thru because the owner really didn't want to pay the arbitration salary of Larnach and felt the arm in the pen was more valuable at the moment. That is the rub amongst ALL the Twins pending arbitation guys. Are they worth the Twins tying up the money? Most teams will wait to see if they are released now or in the spring (and sadly they collect their full arbitrated salary if cut loose). You would be able to sign Wallner, Ober, Larnach, Lewis, Sands, etc. for much cheaper if you are any team not named Minnesota Twins. So, take the hit. Let them walk. And, if you must, sign corresponding players cut by other teams because they were too exensive in arbitration if they fit into any of your bench needs. Two reasons to keep. Can be packaged in a trade, or insurance against a major outfield injury. Lewis is falling into the Sano territory. The Twins had that problem in the past, too, with names like Plouffe and Cuddyer. Where best to play the guy. But at some point the production is not there. Would you give Lewis a 3-5 year contract at this point? Trusting he will get... better? Who's on first? WIlling to go with Sabato? Hope Keaschall or Roden can work-at-it in spring training, solving some other issues. Gonzalez and Mendez a possibility (two guys who are young, but also being surpassed by others for future roster spots).

Right now, being an outfielder in the Twins system is a prospect without a job. Jenkins and Rodriguez are sure bets. Buxton is still around. Roden is cheap. Martin is unqiue. Larnach and Wallner are close to being set free, although Wallner is still inexpensive. You have GG and Mendez in the minors. Rosario needs to be protected from the Rule 5. Kendle, O'Daniel, Winkor are in the wings, But the question remains, "Who's On First!" Sabato? Lewis? One of the above?

The joy of being a minority partner is that you share in the expanded wealth of the franchise, so you should be able to expand your own share (or purchase) at less than someone else. Twins borrowing against the franchise is similar to borrowing against one's property. You can do a short-term interest only borrow, but eventually the bill comes due.

Roden is younger and cheaper than larnach at this point. But still, if the outfield is Keaschall, Rodriguez (who is out of opotions) and Jenkins. With Buxton as the DH. It is between him and Martin for riding the bench. And the Twins still have younsgters Mendez and Gonzalez using up options. And Rosario needs to be added and Kendle and Winkor are same-type guys on the horizon.

The two glaring needs for 2027 are catching and figuring out first base. Okay, maybe another strong bullpen arm. Twins can solve catcher issue with money. Give Jeffers a three-year contract with an option for a fourth, or hope he takes $23m to stay with the team for another season. At first, do the Twins stay with Lewis. Is this the position Keaschall can play, opening the outfield for Roden Jenkins Rodroguez. Is Sabato an alternative, 2027's Josh Bell? I would picture moving Jeffers to 1st the following season, depending on how well Tait and Tinney are doing in the minors. But, the question remains, what to do with Lewis and where to play Keaschall in the grand scheme of now and the future. I like the Twins bullpen nfor next season. I would resign Minter. Hoffman as closer. Morris and Minter as setup. Gomez, Funderburk Banda Nance next in line. Adams Sands Raya Culpepper, maybe even Rozek getting a shot. Who knows is you move Ober to the pen, or even Rojas come mid-season. So, the Twins basicaly will pay mor money to play next season. They have to make hard deccisions on keeping Lopez or Ryan around. That would be the big 2028 and beyond expenses. By 2030 they have to look at contracting Culpepper Jenkins Rodriguez, Houston and whatever longer term. Oh, and Bradley. Make a decision before he starts thinking about Berrios money. Target Field was built so the Twins could keep their own free agents, further investment in their development. You can throw money at big names - but they don't really want to come here. You can overpay other free agents, but who do they bump off the current 40-man and what prospects do they derail over the length of their contract.

You can drop him from the 40-man and do a 2-year minor league contract, like they did Canterino. When he comes back, put him in the 50-pitch, 3 inning circuit and see how he does. I don't see him contributing, at best, until 2028. So why use up his options. Let another team do so.

When he is good he is very different than the norm. WHen he is bad, scouting must see something and he needs to adjust.

Listen to offers from other teams. COmbine him with another player to get one good player need. If anyone should be getting a position change it should be Keaschall going to first base, unless you totally want to write-off the future potentials of Gonzalez, Mendez, Rosario, Kendle as prospects with a chance to make the majors (not to mention a home for Roden). Lewis is becoming our Michael Cuddyer who played all over the place before cememnting himself in right field. Or Sano, who played himself off the team by chasing too many balls low and outside. Okay, put him at second. Keep Clemens as the roving bench guy. Chances are Houston will come up in 2027 and the Twins will move Culpepper to second. Maybe Lewis will have more trade value, just like Larnach, Wallner, Jeffers, Ryan did as the 2026 season progressed. The Twins have to start thinking like Tampa Bay and the Guardians. When do you long-term sign the few key players, and when do you start pulling he plug. Lee has another season, but could tank. No, I wouldn't give him a big contract yet. Bradley needs to be tied up sometime next season, good or bad. Or you don't ever resign your own pending free agents (which was part of the reasoning behind giving the Twins a fantastic home, to sign, at the very least, their own free agents). Would you give Lewis a 3-year $60-75m deal. A $100m contract longer term? No, not without a solid position toi play. But the saddest part is that no other team would jump at the chance, right now, to do the same, even if they had a position for him to play.

Now that the minor league season is over, have to think about who is added to the 40-man. The only major keepers have to be Rosario and Culpepper. Twins currently have 46 folks on the 40-man roster. Free agents Bell, Jeffers, Rogers and Minter will depart. The Twins have fluff in Kriedler, Acton, Orza, Grey and Anderson. All could be readily replaceable. I do wish Caratini was also a casuality, but he is signed. Will the Twins bring back Jackson? Olivar didn't return soon enough to get 40-man consideration. And the other "prospect" choice could be Diaw. Paredes could also be on the bubble. If you think Adams will improve, you keep him. Not needing to add Rule 5 guys means the Twins can still hold onto names like Larnach, Wallner, Sands, Lewis, Roden and give another year of development to youngsters Mendez and Gonzales. Can you afford the arbitration saalaries? Would any be tradable this winter or into spring training? Or do you cut and run.... giving away a bunch of guys for nothing in return, or throwing good money down the drain by keeping them around. The Twins rotation is more than set. The question there is the need to keep Paredes, and do you take a chance on removing Festa, hoping no one claims him, and pushing him into relief. The bullpen isn't aall that bad. Hoffman, Banda, Nance could all be back. Gomez, Funderburk, Morris are keepers. Raya is in the wings. Can Ober become a bullpen guy? Culpepper is on the cusp. Can the Twins find room to give Rozek at least a looksee? Is COry Lewis and his knuckleball a possibility?

Wish both Raya and Rojas got the call for the last week. Just to make a couple of appearances and cement, more, what they need to do to be major league guys entering spring training. Rojas is one of ten depth pieces for the rotation on the 40-man roster. Little doubt that he could start at AAA and see if he can be a lefty starter, rather than transitioning to the pen. Still has options.But jsut by being a lefty, he can have a long career... and hopefully with the Twins.