Rosterman

The Twins have some major 40-man add decisions. Enlow, Williams, Heilman will all be minor league free agents. Any keepers there? What to do with Bechtold and Prato? I was surprised to learn that Luplow wasn't totally removed from the 40-man (although that may be happening shortly). Why not advance Celestino to play the final weeks in a few games, see if he an be a 4th oufielder next year...when he is out of options.

It is too early to look outside the box. The hope would be that Buxton would return to centerfield, for at least 90+ games in 2024. That would solve a lot of problems. It would mean the Twins wouldn't have to invest in a total replacement centerfielder. Right now, it looks like Castro could fill the bill as the 4th outfielder who could play centerfield. The Twins also have to evaluate if Gordon is a good 4th outfielder (who can't play centerfield or shortstop). Celestino has age on his side, but this will be a make-or-break spring training for him as, I believe, he is out of options. The Twins will likel;y add Keirsey to keep him out of the Rule 5 draft. I'm not sure if he is also eligible to become a minor league free agent if he isn't added. He isn't lights out in his brief AAA stint, so the Twins might try and keep him on the minor league roster. At what point do the Twins make a hard decision on Royce Lewis. If Polanco is retained for 2024, then Julien will also need a place to play, maybe learning further skills at first base, plus a Buxton-free DH spot open for rotation. Is Kirilloff the 1st baseman for the future, and do the Twins need to sign him longterm. Is Lewis at thirdbase. Would he serve the team best in centerfield. Is Austin Martin the real deal and also in need of consideration for a spot on the field, or just the bench. Martin will need a 40-man add and will get it, but will still start 2024 in AAA, no doubt. And where do they play Brooks Lee, come 2025. The Twins are sitting pretty comfortable on inernal options. Sure, they lose 40+ homers with Gallo and Taylor leaving, but Wallner could be an option for the whole season. Lewis and Kirilloff fulltime can make up that difference. Miranda is still an AAA keeper as a backup at third and potentially 1B and should be given every opportunity to remain with the organization. And I would take a minor league free agent flyer on Stevenson again, if terms can be reached. Garlick, probably not. Anyone know why Contreras was released by the Twins?

Sadly for all the Stevenson love, and I am glad the Twins gave him a shot, when they have to add guys back onto the 40-man, he is one of three that are on the bubble, the other two being Floro and Keuchel. All of whom don't fit into long-term Twins plans, sadly. You want speed? Both Castro and Taylor fulfill that role. The next biog question is who plays centerfield, how valuable is it that Gallo could, and what is the status of getting Gordon on the roster. Lopez and Gray are locks. Who is #3? Maeda perhaps. WHo could best work out of the pen? Would Ober fall into that category with Varland for 2-3 innings. In a 3-game first series, who starts Round 2 - would that be Ryan or Ober? The Twins could have the luxury of having 3 (or even 4) lefty arms in the bullpen if they see fit. Just don't push multi-innings out of Keuchel or Headrick if they make the cut.

He needs to heal. Depends on the match-up for series #1. Otherwise, the Twins will see if they can live without him, which is a BIG decision to make. I am more worried about Lewis being available right now. And if the Twins will be making a decision on Gallo vs., say, Wallner.

4 starters and flip a starter for a lefty (say Headrick or, if still with the team, KeauchelThe Twins need their absolute BEST 26 players. They have some wiggle room....go with 3 or 4 starters and replace one with a lefty, perhaps, like Headrick or Keuchel. Buxton prevents the Twins from using the DH for an already over-abundance of players not having a place to play. Plus they have to eliminate two players from the current roster. Bad enough that 60-day IL guys like Brock Stewart, Nick Gordon, Chris Paddack and maybe Jorge Alcala. One has been removed. Are Floro and Stevenson (and even Keuchel) up for the waiver wire? Not to mention getting Gallo back onto the team. Again, BEST 26, as they match up against your opponents. You can add arms and switch out bats from series-to-series, right?

If we had Steer on the roster, we probably wouldn't have Julien, and CES would probably still be playing in Wichita, knowing the Twins. At the beginning of the season, the Twins planned for Solano and Gallo to hold first base. They got Farmer as a shortstop, and then backup when they signed Correa. They fully expected Polanco to be back, and Miranda to be holding down third. My, how things can change. Of course we all expected Buxton to be in centerfield and Taylor as the 4th outfielder and Castro in the minors. It ended up being a sweet deal for the Reds. The only the Twins can salvage, if they wish, is to resign Mahle to a contract similar to Paddack. And, at some point, everyone is going to yell at the Twins about Petty!

Wondering who from St. Paul need consideration for the Twins 40-man. Kiersey? Prato? Williams? Camargo? Austin Martin, for sure. Do the Twins keep Enlow or let him walk as a minor league free agent? Bechtold and Heilman keepers? Severino, do the Twins take the chance of losing him?

With the possible return of Kepler, it doesn't look like he brings anything special to the outfield. The Twins will probably add Keirsey to the 40-man, and if they feel Celestino and Gordon should also stay around, it is getting pretty crowded out there. And who knows if Kirilloff will be the first baseman, or if the Twins do need to find a place for Julien in the long run (not to mention what to do about Miranda). Yep, Larnach could be bundled with a prospect or two for a solid relief pitcher or middle rotation arm, perhaps. If teams feel the Twins high draftee shows promise. If the Twins are giving up on him, though, do we jsut try and rebuild his worth?

Luplow and Stevenson are most likely toast if the Twins have to add back any of the 60-day IL guys. Taylor will be the centerfielder when he returns. Gallo will stay in the mix. Buxton is the one that creates a roster problem where someone has to go if and when he returns. Not to mention if it is worthwhile to throw Gordon into the mix for whatever reason. Yes, Wallner is on the bubble. But Floro is also on the bubble on the pitching end. If Stewart, Paddack and Alcala come back, three names have to come off the 40-man roster promptly. If it is any of the prospects, say bye-bye.

Where Buxton plays (and if) remains the elephant in the room. Without Buxton in enter, the Twins need a centerfielder, for at least anotehr season. At one point, letting Polanco and Kepler walk seemed to be the norm for the end of the season. Both fought injuries and showed little trade interest. But now that both are back, their trade stock has increased. They can remain a stopgap going into spring training, or perhaps be packaged before that to a team in need, along with a prospect or two, for a piece the Twins may need. What are the Twins real needs going into the off-season? Probably possibly another mainline starting arm. Better to trade than play the free agent market? Of course, I do expect the Twins will make a qualifying offer to Gray. They might try and resign Maeda (let's wait a little, please) and maybe even Mahle (not a factor for 2024). The Twins could also seek out a top flight bullpen arm or two in trade. I'm seeing the Twins fielding the following 12 come next season: Jeffers/Vasquez, Kirilloff/Polanco/Correa/Lewis, Kepler/Buxton/Wallner. The bench will include Castro, Julien, Farmer. The Twins still have Celestino, Larnach, Miranda, Gordon on the 40-man. And will probably add Camargo, Martin, Severino and have to think about folks like WIlliams, Prato, Bechtold, Heilman, Keirsey. The only pitcher under consideration remains Enlow. You can argue the need for another right-handed bat and no need for three (or four) extra infield guys. But the Twins have names to play with. But ia all boils down to Buxton, and beyond. Where does Buxton play. Also, Correa. Does he move rom shortstop sooner rather than later (to make way for, say, Lee). And where does that throw a musical chair rotation of infielders. Kepler and Polanco both now are worth the $10-or-so million, and might actually be worth a look by other teams, who might even think of extending them...something the Twins should probably avoid.

Still young enough that the Twins can afford to 40-man him and play him at St. Paul next year, at first abse and third base. What disappointed me msot about this seson was that he was working out with Correa in the off-season, which was supposed to be a good thng. But both players ended up just...bad. The Twins still have a question about who is on first. Looks like they will be bringing back Polanco for 2024, which means Julian moves to first/DH. Kirilloff may get a couplke of weeks of games to see if he is consistent with his earlier numbers this season. But will he be the first baseman of the future, or a guy who rotates between 1B/OF/DH. Besides Miranda, who wasn't expected to stay at third anyways with Lewis and Lee and Martin and Correa and whomever else fighting for infield jobs in 2025 and beyond, the Twins other choice is Sabato, who is still a year at AAA away from even being considered roster fodder, and possibly even two years if he can avoid the Rule 5 this year. I picture the Twins adding Chris WIlliams to the roster, also a first base (and catcher and elsewhere consideration) in place of Solano for next season. But we will see. There is the chance the Twins might just cut Miranda. He will be on the bubble as someone to remove from the roster if they sign a free-agent. I expect the Twins will offer him a decent contract which might make it less enticing for someone to grab him if he is removed from the 40-man. Opps, almost forgot that there is someone named Yennier Severino that might need to be a Twin.

Nope, better that he gave the Twins what he did at the major league level than toiling all season at St. Paul and making only a couple of starts. The Twins can now pencil him in as a surething in 2024 and push him towards 150+ innings.

we can cycle more people thru DH, if necessary. Or, at somepoint, make movement towards a fulltime centerfielder. And what will be the future of Correa. At what point does he move from shortstop to..where. Third base? Second abse?

It ended up being a bad exhibition game. Made you ralize that hitters can have trouble hitting bad pitches, too. Why a pitcher just throwing strikes still has a better than 50/50 chance of getting an out. It's not like there was a lot of "guessing" where the ball was being thrown by eitehr Fry or especially (anywhere but over the plate) Castro. Looks like the Twins did dodge a bullet on one of the Angels waiver wire arms. Will be interesting to see what kind of contract he gets in the off-season. So, keep Headrick, or swap him out for Moran for the moment. And do you think the Twins will need to make a decision on Styewark, Paddack and Alcala for possible playoff work? Who goes when Taylor, Kirilloff...and maybe Buxton and Gordon ask for a return to the major league roster? Anyone else wish rosters were able to expand fully with more September callups? What was nice was that a few players got an at bat or an inning or two as the season wound down, plus was able to sit on the major league bench. You could reward a couple of journeymen (Stevenson is an example) and allow them to get some "pension" time. But msotly you got to see someone like Fundeburk who can then get some hints on what to work on in the off-season. Interesting concept. Release ALL your free agents to get salary relief, create a bad team on the field.

Nope, can't add any opf these guys to the 40-man. Bad enough that they need to find room for Buxton, Gordon, Kirilloff. Maybe add Varland and Headrick to the mix if they don't jettison anyone. I could at least 14 guys that shouldn't be on the 40-man come November, and as many as 21 to choose from (out of the current 44).

Celestino is still young and maybe needs that full season in the AAA minors. No need to give up on him...yet. Stevenson, looks interesting. Aging minor league guy. Could he spark the Twins? But at the expense of whom. Gallo maybe, except we need Gallo at first now, it seems. Chris Williams could be groomed to replace Solano next season. Camargo will be added as a third catcher on the 40-man in the opff-season (he could've walked this apst season and didn't). Woods Richardson is still a prospect. So is Canterino, when he comes back. I don't think the Twins will give up on Enlow again. The Return of Dobnak!

But...but...they are NOT paying Dobnak millions to just play in AAA. Hopefully a return of something on the investment. Humm...may be a roster spot opening...soon.

Well, it is nice to know the Twins have a bunch of two-inning pitchers in WInder, Balazovic and Headrick. Maybe, at times, there would be less runs scored if the Rocco spreadsheet said "don't need to use for two innings." Of course, bats again to blame. Twins walking and cut down jut a tad on the strikeouts today. Gallo, Kepler, Taylor all want to be the power pak for the Twins, making them keepers for the season, I guess.

At this moment, Kirillof and Larnach have NOT gauranteed themselves as longterm answers to the Twins, and maybe NOT even shot-term answers as we wait for players like Rodriguez, maybe Martin, and others to move up in the system. Question #1. DO the wins need the 40-man roster spot. Probably not. Question #2: Do they have the payroll flexibility to keep him on the roster (as well as Polanco) for the amount needed. My answer to both is - YES! Yet, yet...I really don't think there was a lot of interest in Kepler in the off-season, and Polanco being hurt also hurt the infielder's chances of being traded. Do you gamble that you could still make BOTH available in the off-season at a decent salary for a 30-year-old player? Or, by extension, that either will start and find playing time in 2024 and actually increase value enough to be a mid-season tradechip? Or, easier to just make them the problem of someone else? Have to do a hard review of where everyone is in the Twins system, how the team can react to the high salaries being paid for modest production from the oft-injured Buxton and "face-of-the-team" Correa.

I'm confused? Is there no value in the Twins pending free agents, perhaps? You have Gray and Madea. Hopefully each will start 10 more games. Okay, those two have been pitching better. But still, at season's end, they will be walking unless the Twins make a qualifying offer. Did no one make a decent offer for either, plus taking on the payroll obligation? Is there a chance the Twins will pick up options on Kepler and Polanco, hoping they will be off-season tradebait, or perhaps improve enough to bring back something next year? Or do the Twins also let these guys walk. Kepler had to have some value as he has upped his game of late. And Polanco is still a young 29 with no place to play in Minnesota. Better to get something than...nothing. Gallo, Taylor, Solano also were available. Readily replaced by such folks as Wallner, I would bring up Contreras (or the aging Andrew Stevenson). Heck, even Larnach. Would Chris WIlliams be a grat replacement if Solano was taken by someone, anyone? Anyone you advance from AAA allows you to advance others further up in the organization. Keuchel has now replaced Ryan for at least three starts. Shuffle out Moran to the minors for Fundeburk. Varland and Headrick (imagine the Twins having TWO lefty starters - or team Headrick with Winder for a complete game). Yes, I can believe that the Twins had a roster full of unwanted free agents.

So Wallner is showing that HE CAN replace Gallo, in both the home run and strikeout department. Is Gallo safe, though, becuase we need a first baseman? What do you do if the pitcehrs wear out., Do you send Ober, Duran, even Ryan to the minors to just pitch some less stressful short outings? But who do you bring up in return and also where do you find the 40-man roster spot for the "Return of Dobnak."

Where do we expect Brooks Lee to play again? Not to mention Yennier Severino. Austin Martin.

All the lineup shuffling looks like genius, until you need to comeback and score runs, at times. Moran needs to go back to St. Paul and take it easy. Bring back Headrick. Hope Thielbar is on the horizon. Better yet, trade out Ortega for Keuchel. You are going to give up hits, but Moran couldn't throw a strike. You got a four run lead, facing the bottom of the order, and you can't throw a strike!You bring in Duran for the shutdown, and then worry about the rest of the game.

Yep, I'm sure the Twins would love for another team to absorb the salaries of a Kepler or Gallo. So, low level prospect at best. At some point, who goes when Polanco, Lewis and Gordon all return?

I wuld not balk at adding anothger proven "closer" type arm, depending on the cost. But the Twins, if they feel Thielbar and Stewart are coming back, have an embarrassment of riches in the works. I'm more worried about how they work the roster if they have to worry about workloads for Ober, Gray, Ryan in particular. Where do they go? Bullpen? Shut down and shuffled back to the minors? Traded (Gray) to become someone else's problem. I feel good the Twins got a decent look at Varland, and although his St. Paul stats aren't stunning, doesn't mean he can't pitch in the majors. Headrick is also a plus. 3-4 innings for the rest of the season would be wonderful in any appearances. We forget that Woods Richardson and Henriquez, along with Winder, are still in the mix. Who goes. Who stays. That is the question.