Rosterman

Lots of minor league free agents cut loose. Catchers Grayson Greiner and Chance Sicso have been released from St. Paul, along with pitchers Locke St. John, Nolan Blackwood, Parker Bugg and Tyler Webb. 2019 10th-round draftee right-hander Ben Gross, who played for Wichita last season, retired.

Base stealing is a skill. A some point, some players (like, perhaps Buxton) will refrain from doing something they could probably do very well because it does have injury concerns. Be interesting to see where it goes in 2023. I have monitored and the Twins have been threatened with at least one steal per spring training game. Most of the Twins steals have come from minor league players. Julien and Martin would be the two biggies. Michael Helman also went 40/45 in stolen bases as an infielder/outfielder at two levels last season. The big thing is that the guy has to get on base. Also, can argue having a guy like, say, Helman on the bench who could pinch run for the guy on second in the tenth to possibly take third before an out happens. Which ahs become a BIG apt of the game these days. And, the topper, you still have to have a batting order to construct around the "base reunner." If he gets on abse, can the next guy advance him. Is the next guy a hitter that will allow the base runner to easily get to third.

You don't lose money if your investment continues to increase in value. But you do lose money if you have to pay interest on borrowed money that far exceeds your income for the year. Also, 50% of $300 million is $150 million. When the Twins had a payroll of $100 million, how much different are the "operating costs" from that day compared to, say, today. How does Kansas City get more TV money than...The Twins?

I think it may be mroe about the timing. The Plus: it got people excited about baseball worldwide before the season began. Especially if you continue to want baseball to be recognized outside of a few countries. Another Plus: The quality of play is on par with the majority of spring training games. Yes, some grizzled retirees may be setting foot on the field, but equally as many all-stars. Big Plus: You see a real love for playing the game. Competitive for something other than the next free agent contract. If there is a minus, it happens in the middle of spring training, when players are fighting for placement in them minor leagues, or a chance to win a major league job. Spring training is not just a time to get in shape (most players are in shape, now, by the time they arrive). But a time for guys to play together, learn routines with fellow teammates, become a team over the weeks of spring training so they can hit the season running. You can't do it in the fall, after the seasons end, because it will conflict with the playoffs and ALL the teams in that mix. It would be great if it could, though, giving minor league guys something other than Arizona Fall League or Winter League to compete with others, but the guys who couldn't play would be the ultimate top teams in each league. Can you do it BEFORE spring training begins, kicking off baseball the day after The Super Bowl (or a week later for some time to get going). Talk about a showcase for many players who might be looking to continue a career. Or get a jump start on spring training. Enlightenment. Who gets paid, by whom, and where does the money flow for this competition?

Can Miranda play first, if he can't play third. That is my fear now, that Miranda will jsut become a bat. With Julien and Wallner the 40-man names at St. Paul, there isn't much room for another injury without a major roster move. Especially if that move would need to add a catcher for an injured backstop. Waiting to see where Henriquez and WInder end up. On the short-term or long-term IL. This could've been a BIG CHANCE for Henriquez to start his major league career!

And Wichita is the Twins AA team, which was a newly showcased franchise with a new field that was to open during the COVID season.

Pretty much everyone in campo NOT on the 40-man are alredy part of the minor league system. Always amazed how many players thry promote up to play games above and beyond those "officially invited to major league camp." Announced on MLB Trade Rumors that Kirilloff and Polancho shall start the season on the IL list. Now have to wait and hear about Hernriquez and Winder. I'm sure the Twins would rather not give service time to Celestino on the 60-day IL list. But they currently have just one open spot. Who will be the extra guy on the field (Castro) or in the bullpen (Hoffman). Of maybe this means Sands has the upper hand.

I hope Alcala bounces back bigtime. I always felt he could've been closer material if he got in that unique groove. Alot rides on Duran. Happily, Rocco will go closing by committee, givings shots to Lopez AND (ugh) Pagan in the early games. To me, Lopez and Pagan are both the question mark. I like the risk of Lopez being a better "just a bullpen" guy than Pagan. I would like just ONE SPOT to be held by a questionable player in the pen. Which is why I found it maddening that the Twins didn't sign ANY of the available relief pitcher options. Yes, they could've grabbed another Joe Smith (who wasn't bad for part of the season and jettisoned, like he was sooner rather than buried)/ I like both Moran and the aging Thielbar. Both can get thru 3-4-5 batters in a game. I wish Jax was a long relief guy, but seemed better spent as a setup guy now. Just don't let him start the 10th with a runner at second. The question - would I keep Ober over Hoffman? Once Ober gets into the starting routine at St. Paul, which will also happen to Woods Richardson and Varland, you will want to keep him there. Then it leaves Megill, Coulombe and names like Ortega and Dobnak on the call-in roster, if there is a palce for them. It will be interesting to see how the Twins setup the "rotating" light rail express if they only have one roster spot in play. Heaven forbid they need to add a catcher short-term. Again, can Duran build on last season and STAY the closer forever and ever. Or at least five more seasons.

I would rather see de Leon rather than Sanchez, if going to call-in a minor league free agent sitting in St. Paul. For his contract signed, Randy Dobnak will still be a consideration. I'm hoping Headrick can also see action this year, if nothing else as a long man out of the pen towards the end of the season.

If Kirilloff is down (and can't at least DH), then Willi Castro gets the call. He would possibly play second. SHowing some base running skills that the Twins might lack. With Gallo at first, Larnach (and Taylor) will both egt outfield time. Maybe Gordon, too. But Kirilloff has to prove he is at least a bat option to break camp. That I have yet to see or hear about.

I still don't know how the six-man will work, if the guys can't get past the sixth inning. Too much strain on the bullpen. And the Twins don't really have any off days (only two) in April, and heaven forbid if a double-header or two happens early in the game (although you do get that extra arm). I kinda liked where a team could start the season with 28 players. Gives a little more wiggle room with the rotation, allows some things to shake out in the minors regarding injury. Something the union should push. Gives more service time and major league salary for a month to a couple of guys. Like, also, bring back unlimited 40-man callups for September. Let these guys sit in the pen or on the bench and experience major league play while getting bonus play (and service time). because they did good.

The name of the game is still advertising for whomever does the broadcasts. Cable services are dying fast, yet people can/will only spend so much on streamning services with so many to choose from. I don't think the answer is MLB controlling broadcast baseball. But is antenna TV still anywhere in the mix? Can cable offer some results? Is streaming via APple or youtube or whatever the real deal necessary? How much do WE pay to watch a game, and how much can advertising generate additional income, with money going back to the teams, MLB, and shareholders?

There are alot of pitchers heded to the mound in St. Paul. But, why is Sanchez starting for the Twins. Explain that? If they want him for long relief, use him in long relief. Was surprised when they gave Santana a 40-man spot. They could've waited until the last moment and maybe got him thru waivers. They also gave Hoffman the major/minor split with opt outs. Picture him posibly walking, as the Twins have 40+ pitchers between AAA/AA right now. Coulombe is making a press for that bullpen spot. Pagan, how long will his leash be? Moran...how much ahs he pitched in the back fields is my question.

You wanna see a good year out of both. Royce is questionable right now. Plus he is getting almost 1.5 years of service time on the IL list, which is a bummer. Lee has only performed in a few dozen games. Need to establish a position for him going forth. Plus, he can actually play three more seasons before the Twins even have to call him up, remember that. Hopefully that won't be the case. But, yes, if you can get a guy for $50-60 million into their free agent seasons, always worth the gamble, I think.

Depending on where the Twins are come mid-season, if any of the 7 names mentioned is showing full production to start the season, and if Twins prospects start to line-up well, they could have some dynamite tradebait, too. Gray would be much sought after. Yes, he would be the best bet for a qualifying offer (or an extension) if he pitches well, but the Twins MIGHT like to move on and save money for 2024 (or invest in another free agent) if Varland, Woods Richardson, Ober, Winder show any signs of being ready THIS year. Not to mention Headrick. Mahle will be an interesting watch. I'm not BIG on an extension, so a trade might be the best deal, if he isn't woth a QO. Can the Twins get the equvalent of a Steer/Encarcion-Strand back for him? Madea, I just worry about lasting the season. I would consider starting him in the pen, of piggybacking him with a long-relief/starter like Ober to start the season. But have to see how the bullpen and rotation end up overall. Pagan, gad...I hope he shines and the Twins can flip him. Seems he has a roster spot no matttr what to start the seaon. Most of us would replace him in a minute. Of course, Gallo is using this season to rebuild his value. The Twins will also have to make a decision on Kepler. Martin being out, Kirilloff still questionable, we still have Larnach and Wallner having to prove themselves this year. Plus the need to find a position for Lewis at some point. Again, Gallo could be a tradechip if he bangs the ball. I doubt, even with his age, I would go for an extension. I feel he is already avstly overpaid. Sorry. The Twins also could move Taylor or Solano if the need arises. Julien could be on the cusp. Not having Celestino in the mix hurts as a Celestino replacement. I see the Saints outfield to be full of minor league free agents. Of course, we are all hoping Buxton plays 100+ games in the outfield. Players back in trade can be as useful as additional draft picks. Don't rule that out for any member of the off-season free agent class.

I was so said that the Twins Baseball Classic team wasn't able to be worldly enough to compete this year, especially against the "former Twins prospects" Australian team. I am still hoping that names like B.J. Garbe and Ryan Mills would garner prospect value again, along with Shooter Hunt, Danny Rams, Whit Robbins and Travis Harrison. I mean, people say the Twins give up on guys too soon. But somehow they managed to bring 2007 drafted Elliot Soto back into the organization, and even put him on the major league roster for a couple of days in 2022. Go figure. Why not do the same for us fans of Jay Rainville, Eduardo Morlan, Ryan Mullins.

How long of a leash do we give Kirilloff. ANotehr long stint on the IL-list, spending time rehabbing in Florida before being reassigned to AAA St. Paul. In the meantime, do you make the move of Miranda to first looking towards the future, or leave him at third. If the Twins need to develop a first baseman, is it Miranda...learning on the job now. That means that third base is Farmer for the now. Would you choose to have Julien learn third base, first base, or be the heir to Polanco if that time comes. And then, for third, will Lewis or Lee (or Martin) be in the mix for sure before the end of the year, if not in 2024. Making Kirilloff that extra guy who MIGHT someday be in the infield at first or outfield...or if he can put up decent numbers in rehab, but nothing special...do the Twins market him as tradebait. Moving Gallo to first opens up the OF for Taylor, Larnach, Gordon (or Wallner). Moving Miranda to first means your infield subs are Gordon and Solano (or maybe that is why you signed Hernan Perez - leaving Larnach at AAA). The reality is that today, there is NO first base prospect in the Twins system crying to take over the job - same as catcher - so it will involve moving pieces already with the team, or guys who haven't really played, or been groomed yet, for the position.

If the Twins go with a 6-man rotation, do they have 7 or 8 arms in the pen. If they can have 8, that eliminates, momentarily, a batter (which could be Kirilloff if put on the i njured list). Larnach stays if Kirilloff is injured. The Twins will be giving Santana every opportunity to make the team. Megill (and Pagan) are on the bubble. Could someone like DeLeon crack the squad? The Twins are paying Hoffman NOT to pitch in St. Paul, although he will probably start there. Wow! There are 80+ names on the current rosters in St. Paul and Wichita. Not many will fall backwards...so who goes from those minor league clubhouses!?!

Ober could actually work out well as the long-man out of the pen, especially if he could pitch 2-3 innings with limited rest between appearances. He also could be a change of pace depending on who he follows on the mound. You would hope you could push him towards 100 innings at the least in 2023. And that is entirely possibly if you use him well over the whole season, which would not diminish his potential to be a back-of-the-rotation arm. Plus, being the long guy could also means that he gets the spot start jobs or is the replacement starter (if you don't need to bring up someone like Woods Richardson or Var-30 starts for the others with mixed inning totals (how many 4-5 inning starts vs. 5+ innings). 28land dazzling at AAA). As that guy who would pitch the second game of a double-header, you could then bring up someone just for the relief role for the extra roster spot. Yes, six starters. You hope to get 30-32 out of a couple of the Twins guys (Ryan, Gray). You could live with 26-28 starts for the others as they build up innings. And Ober you do wish to keep in the mix if Gray, Maeda and Mahle walk for 2024 (or it allows you to dangle one of the impedning free agents as tade bait). But do you still keep 8 guys in the pen (and does MLB allow you to do so). Thus leaving your bench/DH as Taylor, Jeffers, Gordon, Farmer and no Solarno. Do the Twins have a 7-man pen to pitch 3-4 innings a night?

The biggest thing in spring training is to develop reads. The guys who will be on the mound pitching, where the balls hit are hit, how you all in the field learn to lineup for throws and cutoffs. Plus, it is a time to also work out lineup kinks. I always felt some batetrs work well if they consistently know who is hitting before and after them in the order. You worry about pitchers working on certain pitches in a game that might result in an injury. But, yes, am amazed at the amount of "non-Twins" that are getting innings as well as time in the line-up, compared to the 25 coming north. Sure, there are enough guys in camp that you can have short mini-games, especially between major and minor league guys, to get the swings in, work out the muscle kinks and such, in a playful and non-competitive way. The pitchers have to work up to 75-80 or even 100 pitches by April 1. The batters need to get back into the swing of things. You can have all sorts of fielding drills. The players do work in spring training, at least four hours, if not 6 to even 8 (counting strength/conditioning time) at the minimum. I'm all for players on the main roster only playing half a game, if need be. But at some point the starting nine have to work together.

Jair Camargo is a real prospect, and still quite young. Became a minor league free agent and the Twins got him back. Should start (hopefully strong) at AA. I'm more worried these days now on depth with actual catching/throwout abilities. Framing is a plus to give the pitcher a target, but with the automated strikezone being implemented in some minors leagues, being crafty behind thee pllate is no longer a plus. The Twins have Vasquez as a starter for hopefully a strong two years, and maybe Jeffers will develop into a stronger half-time catcher in that time...so the Twins may be pretty set ffor three seasons, although losing both of these guys for any length of time will put a strain on the 40-man which has NO backup BACKUP catcher.

ARE YOU ALLOWED TO CARRY 14 PITCHERS?

The biggest question is: Who's on First. Then, who's on third...or the corner outfield spots. Not to mention DH. Twins batters struck out 17 TIMES the other day. Sands/Jeffers had a little trouble with a couple of guys on the basepaths. I'm trying to figure out if the Twins will have any kind of a running game on the major league level.

An automatic strikezone will change so much. Hey, gives the ump more time to monitor the pitch clock. Stolen bases start with the pitcher and the pitch selection. Then the catcher has to have a good throw/catch relationship with the second baseman/shortstop, which is why it is necessary going forth to NOT rotate people thru those positions anymore than possible. You also have to match your catcher even more now with pitchers. A strong throwing catcher with the pitchers that have trouble holding runners on the bag. Of course, the greand scheme is to always get that first out, and do your best to keep speedsters off the basepaths. Going to be interesting to see how the stolen base works out with the ghost runner in extra innings. It will be the same for both teams...but if a runner steals third, walking the batter to set up a double play may not prevent a run from scoring. Sometimes I wish Jeffers would go back to AAA and get a full season working with future players and further developing skills, with the Twins returning Sandy Leon, as an example, to the team as a defense catcher who can also bunt. Just for the year. The Twins could get extra service time for Jeffers. I only make that remark as I sit here in player limbo, wondering about the future of players like Kirilloff, Larnach, Jeffers, Celestino who seemed to have rushed to the majors (or faced significant injuries) and need to produce at a certain level, but can we afford to have them learn on the job...still. If we wish to compete.

In the grand scheme of things, Miranda may end up being the first baseman the Twins need, since there are no "hot" prospects on the horizon. And the Twins have plenty of prospects to fulfill needs at second, shortstop or third base. Question one is: will Correa be the shortstop for, say, at least four mroe seasons. If so, the Twins have plenty of guys to move elsewhere. Julien is the heir to Polanco, who may be playing his last season with the Twins. The Twins have high hopes for Lee, on the fast track (although the Twins could let Lee flounder in the minors for three more years and become the future shortstop at age 27 or something likethat). Lee is being touted as the best bet for third base. Lewis and Martin are in the mix, most likey in the outfield, although there is talk of Martin being the supoer utility guy. Sadly, both may not see any major league action this year, which is not a biggie for Martin as he is not on the 40-man, but Lewis will have 1 1/2 years of service time basically spent on the IL list. Tanner Schobel may be on the fast track, too. And Jose Salas is a name to watch, both could be major league regulars by 2025 at the latest. The Twins have hopes for Noah Miller, and behind him Bryan Acuna, at shortstop...and those two could easily follow Correa as the regulars in 4-5 seasons, spending a little time as backups on extended minor league play while in the minors. Miranda will be like Sano, a guy who may eventually be more of a designated hitter, but can so play the field at both first base and third base. But...if the Twins do wish to win, I wish they would take a guy and plant him somewhere and let him get comfortable...none of this rotating three guys thru first base (the first baseman adjusts to catching throws from three guys on the diamond on a regular basis). And also figure out if Miranda will bat 4th or 5thg, battes feed off of the guy batting ahead of them, and sets the plate for those behind. A wrinkle in that Miranda was having throwing troubles coming into spring training. You got all off-season to show up in shape and ready to go in spring training (unlike the old days where you ahd to work a job during the off-season). Guys doing too much strength conditioning and not enough "playing baseball?" I ahd hoped a month with Correa was going to bring spectacular results to Miranda in 2023.