Rosterman

Looks like Enlow signed with the Giants as a minor league free agent. I was hoping him and the Twins would take a flyer on each other for another season.

Gabriel Yanez returns to the Twins after electing free agency. We obtained him last off-season from the Phillies.

I'm hoping the Twins talk more with Jeffers in spring training. Gordon, like Alcala, are lucky they aren't seeking minor league split contracts. I'm not sure how badly any team would wish to carry them on the 40-man if requried to open the season with them. Like Farmer, Alcala having the lower option that what he "might" get in arbitration is a plus if either become valuable enough to be a trade piece. So the Twins get four arbitation trips with Kirilloff, right? Will it be the same when Lewis enters arbitration next year?

Julien is a hard worker and if he can't stick at second, should become the Twins first baseman. Of course, Kepler was once a very had worker, too. And speaking of Kepler and Polanco, both of whom are tradable...I'm not seeing the demand. More of a wait-and-see, which is only valuable to a team if they have a spring training injury ofr a mid-season need. Sadly the Twins have made it known that they would like to shred salary. That HURT the trading edge they sought. Lee is being pushed, but I expect a full season at AAA, unless Correa is out for much of the year. The Twins will cycle in a Heilman or Prato and move internal pieces around, if they can. Get a good look at Martin. See if Kirilloff is a keeper for three more seasons or what. Buxton and Correa have, in some ways, complicated the Twins in both potential prospects getting playing time today and tomorrow, as well as strapped the team financially. But a year from now the Twins will know more about Lee and Severino in the minors, Miranda and Kirilloff and others, who will play the outfield, is it worthwhile to shift Correa to third, and how will Buxton handicap the team going forward. Yes, Lee or Julien in a package for a rotation arm might entice a trade with The Braves or Mariners or some other team, but right now I would rather see both on the roster today and beyond and jettison Kepler and Polanco and a few mid-level blocked prospects at these positions, if possible.

Taylor as a gem with both power and speed. But I would think Martin could replace his speed, as well as his average, if the need arises for him to play in centerfield. People ask about Gordon. He is on the bubble. He IS the 4th outfielder, if the Twins can get Buxton to play centerfield. If Buxton is out, or needs to be the DH, the Gordon has to hope that the Twins move someone, be it Farmer or Kepler or especially Polanco. It was wonderful to see some stolen bases, but with Castro more likely being a reserve guy, his time will either be in the late innings (especially overtime). More important, always, is the ability to stay out of the double-play by having a good jump, or going from first-to-third and forcing that ball-in-play decision. Springtraining is around the corner. But, yes, was glad to see some speed on the paths. I would love to see more from Julien and Lewis, and especially Buxton. But I also don't want them jeoparadizing their heath for a stolen base. I was equally happy with the Twins pitchers and catchers handling the stolen base game by most of the teams.

One of maybe half-a-dozen piotchers that the Twins system traded AWAY IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. Not room for everyone in he organization, but, still............

Rockies don't want to add that much payroll on a one0year rental. Plus, they have little to offer in terms of usable pitching. Unless you ship them Gordon or larnach, but for...what.

Is Ricardo Olivar also in the mix as a future backup backstop who can play other positions? Schmidt, after being one of the msot-moved-around-the-system guys of late, is now gone.

You forget that the Twins jsut didn't want to pay Ortiz for what his arbitration salary would be that year they let him go. LeCroy was still cheap, could also play catcher and first bse, and was showing similar lines of power. It was pure economics on the Twins part.

The guy was probably more valuable to the Twins in 2023 than Buxton. The homers were a nice surprise. Plus he offered some baserunning speed. But still, the average was below average, and the strikeouts meant he bats low in the order. Not sure if his 2023 gets him a big contract, or even multi-year.

I never really heard an answer about why the Twins gambled $11m on Gallo. Sano would serve the same bat purposes. Except that Gallo was also centerfield insurance. On Sano watch for 2024.

I'm not sure what contributed to Gallo's success in earlier years, as he seemed to just swing in one place while he was a Twin...succeeding if he guessed at the right pitch. The free swinging also means more strikeouts. Sano could never stay away from those low and away pitches. Seems like someone would talk to him and he would layoff those pitches for a game or two, but then...just can't hold back. Either he needed a longer bat, or just stop swinging. Wallner, like Kepler forawhile, seems like he will be a hard worker, as that will guarantee his success at staying in the majors for awhile. Natural ability only carries so far. You will quickly learn that pitchers will throw to this guy high, because of his size he actually expands the strikezones in many ways. Patience will be the key to Wallner, as well as doing homework on opposing pitchers. Im not sure how long he will play (shades of Mike Restovich or David McCarty, but the Twins will have adequate replacements in the next few years and the best the Twins can hope for is that he shines enough to be a trade token for other needs. Or maybe he does become Minnesota's David Ortiz. One year at a time. Anyways, he doesn't need more time in the minors.

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!