Rosterman

The Twins have some minor league movement on the 40-man. Let's look at that. Rodriguez, Severino, Canterino, Woods Richardson would be hard-pressed at the moment to see major league action, sadly, unless it was dire (or a double-deader start, by chance, for Woods Richardson at best). The Twins have arms like Jensen (should start in the minors) and Staumont, both who could be removed from the 40-man if push came to shove, but still remain in the organization. The Twins pitching depth at St. paul will be the non-40-man Ranmdy Dobnak, Ronny Henriquez (starter or bullpen arm) and names like Winder, Sands, Balazovic, Headrick if not out of options. Headrick could still develop into a lefty starter and be that 7th-8th piece in the mix. But all those names, along with Alcala, are pretty much replaceable by a minor league free agent signee in the near future. The Twins have to extra spaces open on the 40-man right now. And from all the names above, you could easily find three spots. But everytime you add a topflight minor league guy, you risk the need to move him off the 40-man, or keep him and create a logjam. The Twins also have Camargo on the 40-man, so the call-up catcher is set and doesn't need to be added by pickups. Looking over the Twins mior league roster, is this the year that they actually stock St. Paul with prospects that they have signed, rather than dominated by guys who come in and play for the season? Last year the Twins signed 25 minor league free agents no longer with the team. They had 8 guys on their 40-man that were basically place fillers at times. 49 guys played in the majors for the Twins on their 40-man roster.

I guess Buxton is #21. Fair guess, as he will be around for the next few years. If you start looking at the Twins prospect list, there are quite a few names that are very hopeful, as much as many of the ones that have yet to make the team. Seevrino may make us forget that we traded Strand to the Reds. Canterino will have to be pushed to the rotation of the pen. But, like so many (Enlow), may never make the cut. In the #20-30 range are names like Griffin Jax and Kody Fundeburk, both of whom have team control and can develop as strong arms in the pen for years to come. Of course, they could become another Alcala, hoping for another year with the Twins. And how the mighty change. A couple of years back, names like Miranda, Larnach, Gordon and Balazovic would be on this list. All four still remain Twins, and still have potential. But shows how even prospects that do make the majors will struggle to stay, their only strength being that they MAY be better than what is on-the-field in St. Paul, for now. Once again, looks like the Twins are playing to win in a weak division, rather than dominating in a weak division and being competitive in all play against the East and West. Will it sell tickets? The minor league pipeline does look solid to put new names on the roster as well as a solid core for seasaons to come.

I love Varland, how he takes command of his time on the mound. Like Jax, he may not end up being the starter the Twins would like, but if the Twins can get 3-4 years of solid bullpen control out of the guy, and an ability to pitch thru a line-up, he is a valuable arm going forward.

At worse, the Twins send him thru waivers after everyone has their 40-man rosters pretty well set, thus allowing the Twins to stash him in St. Paul. A lot of teams passed on him for the Twins to get a claim.

I'm hoping Martin will shine when he hits the majors. Fingers-crossed. Is centerfield the best spot for him, though? Max Kepler. Can the Twins get another half-season out of him if they don't trade him now? I'm not sure I would gamble and sign him for more years, no matter how good he may start 2024. But talk about a franchise story. I'm surprised he is on this list. Unless one really thinks he will be a Twin in 2024...and beyond. Paddack can be a dark horse in the rotation. Do you pair him with an opener to start the season, especially if you add a third lefty to the bullpen? If he shines, but the team folds, is he trade bait with both Festa and maybe Canterino in the wings? Kirilloff, it is his job to keep. He has all the skill set, all the promise, to be a middle-of-the-line up hitting threat. If he can stay in the line-up, and also hit both righties and lefties.

Blayne Enlow signs with Giants. Andrew Bechtold, a two-way player, signs with the Blue Jays. Both would've been great to have back in St. Paul, but six years in the Twins system was just enough for each of them.

Let's give Martin the opportunity!

Let's start selling season tickets. And, TwinsFest is around the corner!

Paddack should replace Madea. Age and durability for both was questionable, especially with any longterm contracts. Good deals for both, they signed early (a Twins tactic in the past). Here's hoping the Twins can make a trade. And Glasnow is always out there as a one-season high-priced rental, if the Twins can move the right prospects (from their depth). But do they really want that contract, although he is a lefty!

Being snake-bit twice, doubt the Twins pay much attention to that market, unless it is cheap. The Twins just can't win when they gamble. ALready they have to make due, now, with not just Buxton, but also Correa...both eating up massive payroll. They can maybe succeed, but I, for one, often ask myself who would be playing just as well in 2023 as theset wo and how the Twins could improve in small economical ways moreso if they weren't burdened with large contracts. Face it, we have to stop thinking (sadly) BIG. And always hope winning teams can be constructed with drafting, trades, development and solid managing.

Gotta find a place for that high-priced contract. Can first base be the answer? Well, fine, as long as you have a DH, too. Otherwise, just use him as a DH. But then you have no place to rotate others without a true position. So the issue always is: why are guys on the roster that have no concrete position? Okay, depth is important, maybe getting that firm position next season. So, is Julien or Kirilloff on first? When Polanco leaves, who is on second. Is there a reason for Miranda to be in the mix? I'm all for having a roster of guys who play multiple positions, but still feel that a player should be and play solid in one position. Nice to know how much room you have to cover in the outfield. Who your double play partners are on the field. What are the abilities of the guy you throw to at first base. I affects the way a person plays day-in-and-day-out, especially when competitive. Same with line-up. Nice to know who is hitting in front and behind. You can recognize what a pitcher throws better. Get comfortable, when on base, with what the batter might be able to do. So, we have to find a way to play Buxton that won't hurt the team!

You could bundle him with someone. But, right now, I like him as a possible outfielder. But this is his do-or-die season, before being passed by others. He ahs a slim chance of staying with the Twins, depending on what happens to Kepler eventually, and if Buxton can actually play the outfield. The Twins will have no problem filling a 4th outfielder position, and even have to make decisions on names like Gordon, too...especially with Castro playing well last season, and the minors still full of good "reserve" guys.

I say WHY NOT! Break the Bank!

Yep, Twins have six roster spots. Just what they need to add some Rule 5s or minor league (their own) free agents.

Alcala and Gordon are a couple of those on-the-bubble players, guys you keep in case you need a roster spot for a free agent signing. You aren't out much going to arbiration with either of them. Plus, if you bring them to spring training, their value may increase. Or, they could be part of a package trade easily.

$48m between Buxton/Correa. Happily the Twins have control of MOST of the names on the above list for the next 3-5 years. What to do about Enlow? You can hang onto some names and hope for trades or remove them if you sign a free agent. As with all Rule 5 names, you have to ask how much will they contribute to the 2024 team of your own. If you don't see them contributing (with the rare occasion), you would hope other teams would feel the same. Some, who are minor league free agents, you can offer a bigger minor league contract (maybe Stevenson will be one) to stay in the system with the promise of a had look next season.

Nams like Farmer and Gordon and Larnach could be on the bubble, packaged with some pitching names like Sands or Balazovic or Winder and another prospect to bring us something abck in trade, as well as open up a roster spot for an additional free agent signee. Which also means names like Kepler and Polanco should have option pickups. Both have increased their value over a season ago, and if not worth more in the off-season, could be a trade piece in spring training, if the Twins retain roster flexibility. You start moving assets that have some value, but that you have possible ready replacements in the pipeline.

Yes, it was. I would've held off on Thielbar until the 7th or 8th inning. But what happened happened. Overmanaging. What was surprising was the Astros leaving their starter in for as long as they did.

Julien is a man without a position. Might be suited for first base/DH with Kirilloff, with the option of playing second if Polanco goes down. The next bump is when Lee is ready. Does Lee play short, moving Correa to third, which means Lewis becomes, what...second base? Outfield? Austin Martin is still in the posible infield mix. Or will he be an answer for centerfield if Buxton can't play out there. We don't need Byron at DH, sorry. It would be a wonderful position to rotate various players thru to give them rest. On another note, what are the chances that if Buxton comes back, shines a bit better than he has, and becomes a commodity. Do the Twins try and trade his contract with the thoughts that they really have no place for him longterm if he can't play cernterfield and give the gamble of him staying healthy to a contender.

Carmargo, Severino and Enlow can all walk, rather than Rule 5. So have to make a hard decision there. I don't see any team grabbing a gub in AA or below from the Twins organization, so those bodies are pretty safe. Prato is a consideration. I would hope, if not added, the Twins can keep Bechtold, Williams and Heilman in the organizaion. Austin Martin needs to be protected, a well as Keirsey. (who is older, but basically made Celestino expendable). The Twins should have 5-6 roster spots open.

I like the team going into 2024. Catcher is strong, with Vasquez and Jeffers. I like Camargo in the wings (hopefully). The Infield is set. Kirilloff, Polanco, Corea and Lewis. We have Julien who can play 2nd or 1st base. Farmer is the backup at shortstop. We have Castro on the bench. Better yet, we still have Miranda who might make a comeback and back up 3rd and 1st if an injury happens. I imagine the Twins will protect Austin Martin, Yunnier Severino, and possibly Chris WIlliams. Also hope they manage to keep Prato and Michael Heilman in the system. The outfield could pretty much break with Kepler and Buxton and Wallner with Gordon as the 4th guy. The Twins will still have Larnach in the mix. I imagine they will resign Stevenson to a minor league contract. DaShawn Keirsey will get experience. The biggest question is: can Buxton play the field. Even parttime would be better than nothing, but then the Twins MIGHT have to go after a centerfielder. Yes, it would be great to get a big bat (what you wanted Gallo to be, only without the strikeouts and low average). The rotation is Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Paddack. The Twins could use a fifth arm. The bullpen is headed by Duran and Jax and Stewart. Thielbar and Fundeburk are the lefties, but don't count out Moran. Varland, Balazovic Winder and Sands are in the mix for longmen. Alcala should be making a comeback. The Twins will have Woods Richardson, Canterino, Headrick, Henriquez and will probably take another chance on Enlow, otehrwise he walks as a minors free agent. Yes, the Twins could explore getting a stud rotation arm, and never hurts to have an experience add to the bullpen. We don't want to have Randy Dobnak as our go-to guy from the minors. It was a weak division and the Twins stayed on top for the majority of the season. Despite sometimes fielding a very weak lineup of bats before the Kepler surge. Something ahs to be done to improve the running game, hit more for contact rather than waiting for the once pitch to...maybe...clobber. But going forward, the Twins look like they can build a solid roster of returnees for the next 3-4 seasons, suddenly having a "veteran" lineup like...the Astros.

The swings and misses, combined with just looking at too many pitches. Something has to be done. Bullpen exceptional. Whole different game if Thielbar had not served up that homer ball, sadly. At least Buxton didn't strike out. Did Castro forget how to bunt for a hit? Make something happen, man. Every guy looked like they were waiting for a pitch to hit for a home run. Ryan did fine. Could he have gone 3-4-5 innings? We will never know. My biggest worry, suddenly an extra inning game and who pitches for the Twins.

Joey Gallo will be available again! Yes, a strong rotation arm would be nice. The Twins have to look at their oveall lineup. Right now, all the guys are pretty much the same at the player .240-.260 and 10-25 homers. Castro will steal bases, but can anyone else. So many swings and bad misses. At least try and hit the ball, reach, bunt, do something rather than looks and power swing. Keep Polanco and Kepler for now. Kepler might have off-season value, especially if you bundle him with someone like, say, a Henriquez, Balanzovic or Woods Richardson for a decent rotation arm.

I turn off the TV volume and have ALexa play WCCO.

A veteran making his presence known!