Rosterman

By mid-August, the Twins should have no one on the roster and gtetting innings or at bats that isn't expected to contribute in some way in 2026. Make the hard decision on Julien, Gasper. Even Fritzgerald. Many can be resigned as a minor league free agent if they so wish, like Hatch and even Tonkin. Or watch them go elsewhere. You will be able to add a couple of names come September, but still, can look at all those 10/11 starters. If there is a double-header, call-up Raya for at least one start, if nothing else. See who might be better for the "long relief" role going forward, like Adams, Festa, Woods Richardson. Regarding 2026, Austin Martin gets the call until you decide on Rodriguez, Gonzalez or maybe even Jenkins. You need tyo look at WInkel and Cardenas, in the least. I would go ahead and bring up Prielipp for a couple of innings. Let him see what he needs to do in the off-season, and can he handle a one inning roll. Hard=decisions going forth on Wallner, Outman, Larnach, Roden. You really only need two of them. Yes, expect the Twins to trade Ryan and Lopez, sadly. WIll still have a payroll pushing towards $100m. Anyone think Aaron Sabato deserves a shot? He's a minor league free agent!

I was surprised that the penny-pinching Pohlads would end up writing a check to Houston to take a player that they never should've signed in the first place. Usually you take "bad" salary back from the other team, especially if they wish to remain below certain league guidelines for spending. Like do take on the Walker contract if you must, you MIGHT at least get also some on-field return, plus you have a player that you could still, perhaps, move. I was hoping they could pry loose Lance McCullers and his $17.5 contract, as well as the remaining salary from this season, maybe only absorbing out of their own pocketbook the remainder of Correa's 2025 salary at worst. That the player they took needs a 40-man spot, is all-over-the-place in his throwing, and still at High-A. Plus...26? I'm totally surprised Ryan and Larnach aren't also gone, not to mention figuring out what they could get for the injured Lopez, who will surely depart in the off-season. They got three hopefully sold starters to fight it out over the next year with the half-dozen other 25-26 year olds the Twins have in the pipeline. They got three outfielders who probably fall behind three homegrown guys (and Gonzales) who will be pushing Wallner and Larnach elsewhere hext season. Go figrue that. Sometimes you go for lower minor league promise rather than taking on the contgracts of players other teams would probably be jettisoning anyways in the off-season. Hey, anyone notice: except for Ryan, the Twins no longer have pitchers that depend on the strikeout!

Like Griffin Jax, Varland gave his all to the Twins. Sacrificing a dream of being a starter to wade into the world of bullpen relief. You still run the risk of overuse, people recognizing your pitches, injury...all for lesser salaries than a rotation arm. But being on a major league club is first and foremost the dream. And Louie did develop. So much so like Jesse Crain and Ryan Pressly before (and the hopes of Jorge Alcala) - you were thinking coser material in the works. A couple more years as a setup guy, and then - bang. The real deal (J.D. Durbin he is not). Add in the hometown angle. Maybe even a reunion with Gus, who was recently demoted by the White Sox. Not to be. The Twins traded their three top bullpen arms for three potential rotation arms, and I agree that the potential is there in Abel, Bradley and Rojas. On paper, it looks like a Twins win, esecially if Rojas can start as a lefty. The Twins also got rid of France (need to see if Sabato is a keeper, please) for Roden seems to be someone that wasn't needed on the Jays roster, and sadly might prove the same for the Twins as they might have up to 8 outfielders on their 40-man come the off-season. I expected the Twins to include Larnach in a deal somewhere, which would have justified the need to acquire, for even just one season, Outman or Roden. Again, sad that a hometown kid showing such promise was traded. Especially when the hometown team is basically in the midst of a public relations nightmare.

Shows the issues you have dealing for prospects at the Trade deadline. Teams are happy to get rid of guys on their own 40-man fringe that will be questionable in the off-season, as well as rid their rosters of possible upcoming Rule 5 guys, or hard arbitation decisions. The Twins Rule 5 decisions are all guys that the Twins could've considered in trades if they were looking to buy. A few could've been added in packages to get future prospects, too. The Twins are now faced with making decisions on spare aging outfielders James Outman and Alan Roden, while deciding the fate of Austin Martin, the need to add Hendry Mendez who will be a minor league free agent after next season and still is in AA ball, as well as Kala'i Rosario still in AA, and the younger Gabriel Gonzalez, amongst waiting for Emmanuel Rodrigues to play a season unhurt and the rising star of Walker Jenkins. Lots of outfielders which means we have probably seen the last, also, of Carson McCusker and DaShawn Keirsey. All the while with Buxton, Wallner and Larnach holding down the fort. ANy pushing anyone to DH here? I picture the Twins will carry a third catcher when rosters expand. Will it be giving Jhonny Pereda another look at major league pitching, or see if Noah Cardenas is the guy to protect. I doubt they worry about the need to protect Patrick WInkel. And Ricardo Olivar can probably escape Rule 5. For all his faults, Vasquez was still a good catcher working with the young pitchers (who runners steal on, more than the catcher). I picture the Twins will still keep Mickey Gasper on the 40-man, as a possible "off" if they sign a free agent. There is no reason to keep Ryan Fritzgerald on the 40-man. I wish the Twins had packaged Julien or Miranda with another player at the deadline rather than just probably releasing them. Both are on the bubble and could stay on the 40-man with hopes of being someone next season, or packaged in the off-season. Again, you need people on the 40-man to jettison if you do sign a free agent. The Twins can probably avoid adding Nate Baez, Kyler Fedko or Tanner Schobel. All are fringe enough or there are others in the system as closer to the majors. None of those three would be expected to make the roster out of spring training. I would, personally, bring up Aaron Sabato now, and get him 20-30-40 at bats to see if he should be added to the roster as a possibvle 1B/DH going forth. He will be a minor league free agent and got thru the Rule 5 while languishing at AA ball too many seasons. Seems you should give a first rounder a chance, right? The Twins have to quit signing minor league free agents hoping they will be the next Brock Stewart, Matt WInsler, Brandon Kintzler, or even the return of Michael Tonkin (signed for a $1m and thus making the Twins deicde between keeping him or lefty Brent Headrick or young Ronny Henriquez in the spring). You can throw a few spots on the AAA roster to minor league guys you might wish to run thru the bullpen (Scott Blewett), but keep them off the 40-man. And amidst the fact that the Twins have 10 pitchers classified as rotation arms on their 40-man, you are going to add Kendry Rojas. You also have to add Christian MacLeod, although he may be better suited to the bullpen as not sure if he will get enough innings in 2026 to build as a starter at AAA. He could contribute out of the pen next season. CJ Culpepper, Cory Lewis, John Klein, Andrew Morris, and the young Jose Olivares fall in behind the cadre of 24-25-26 year olds currently on the Twins roster. Shows the futrue rotation depth near the majors. Someone will have to become a bullpen arm. None need a 40-man spot next year. Connor Prelipp does need a 40-man spot. Too bad Canterino won't also be ready for 2026. It is arms like these, if healthy, that justify trading away your bullpen in a lackluster year. Of course, the following all need to go elsewhere: Erasmo Ramirez, Jose Urena, Thomas Hatch, Anthony Misiewicz, Brooks Krista, Noah Davis, Michael Tonkin. You can keep Kody Funderburk because he is still a lefthander, and maybe Travis Adams - again, you need names to remove IF you sign a free agent. But both could be replacable. There are 20 names on the 40-man roster that the Twins would not miss. 9 could be kept, are on the bubble, whatever. There are six (Rojas, Prielipp, MacLeod, Cardenas, Sabato, Gonzalez) that I feel MUST be added, which is the usual number that happens in most off-seasons.

Bradley, Able, SWR, Matthews, Festa. Don't forget Raya. Add in Ohl and Adams. The Twins suddenly have a roster full of guys who can easily pitch 3 innings, maybe consistently four, and some who can get into the fifth. They have been piggy-backing rotation arms in the minors. Maybe do the same in the majors, with the ability to pitch guys every third day if necessary. What it leaves is a bullpen of around four arms. The Twins have two right now, who will probably be back next year, in Sands and Topa. Both can pitch multiple innings, too. Sadly, they need a bonafide closer. A situational lefty would be fine, too. I picture, perhaps, Ohl and Festa being developed as relief arms. But none of this matters if you can't field a team of batters that will keep you in the game. Otherwise, it is just pitchers getting innings.

I was hoping they would package Miranda like they did Dobnak, just to get something, anything, as well as a roster spot. Julien isn't even a good bench/utility player at this point. Unless he is playing first base everyday in St. Paul, I would rather see the Twins give 40-50 at bats right now to Sabato than Julien. He showed promise, enough that when the choice was him or Steer, the Twins choose him and traded Steer. I would rather see Eeles up on the bench playing the utility role right now. Martin has a chance to proce himself. Be the right-handed outfield guy spot we gave to Bader. He can aso sub at second. I'm hoping the Twins have a third catcher on tap when rosters expand, and not named Pareda. (I miss the days when could bring up many multiples of players, just to sit on the bench at least and brask in major leafue life).

It was a player dump for France. Twins took Roden who is still as cheap, and has some upside. I ahd fully expected that Larnach was going to be traded before the end of the deadline. Probably another failed attempt at a trade. Varland is the St. Paul kid who failed as a starter and could come back as a bullpen arm and futrue closer, shades of Glen Perkins. Man, talk about using him a lot this season. But Rojas, even if he just becomes a relief ace, was a fair exchange.

Outman is basially Keirsey with a tad more power. Be interesting to see where he lands, and if he pushes Kiersey to the waiver wire, which means we lose Stewar and maybe Kiersey for this guy. Yes, he can play enter. So that was the big grab right now. He will go to the 40-man, which means we don't gain a spot and will likel;y stay there in the off-season.

A call up in 2027. Maybe a regular in 2028?

Good or Bad, he may end up being another, say, Denny Hocking. Someone who can play a position fulltime if someone is injured, but not holding his own. He will be surpassed in the next two years by others who will regularly hold down second, shortstop or third base. His value may not be even as good as, say, Willie Castro right now.

I would hope Luke could solve the DH problems. But the Twins, quite frankly, could replace Castro, Bader, Kiersey, Visquez, France and probably even Wallner/or Larnach with guys from their system that will perform equally as good... IF THE TWINS CHOOSE NOT TO BE COMPETITIVE for the rest of the season. Ober fixed? That is a plus. I feel Ober is the one Twins starter then might be able to extend (see Ryan wanting to walk as a free agent if the Twins won't get him wins, of the Twins need to pay $150m to him). The others will be better next season with Ohl in the wings. If not competitive, the Twins can sell on Coulombe, get anything they can for Paddack, and I guess take another look at Davis, Gillespie, Tonkin and Fundeburk if they wish, and maybe even Dobnak, for all the few in the stands as the season winds down will care.

Two Major Decisions: No need to have Duran as a closer if he only gets 20-or-so saves a season. He's a luxury if not competitive. If you make Ryan an offer of $125m for five years with a sixth year option, does he take it, or wait you out. Are you willing to go $150m on the guy, or sell high. I think, baring injury, Ryan will relish going free agent and maybe signing with a team that will win games for him.

The Twins are fielding a lineup that would be lucky to average .250 a game, which doesn't win you games unless you do have one of the five best rotations/bullpens in the biz, which the Twins ahd before June 1. They have no leadoff hitter or cleanup hitter. Buxton ad Correa are bette served btting, say, second and third. Thank goodness for Bader and Castro coming off the bench allowing others to bat in the DH spot, not that the Twins have fulfilled that position with any great numbers. The bench is weak. Looking at the Twins 40-man roster, there are 20 names that shouldn't be there come the off-season. Right now, you could replace five of them with guys looking to make the majors in St. Paul, replacing deadwood or potential free agents that NEED to be traded to add to the system.

Congrats! This didn't actially read as satire. Heck, looking at the draft results, looks like we got a lot of multi-position shortstop prospects who could be future utilit guys, as well as low level right-handed bullpen arms. What has really been daunting is the low number of minor league free agents the Twins sgnd this year, how afast many of em havebeen jettisoned. I just iwsh theyid push prospects a tad more.

Well, the Rays sale should be a plus. Of course, it is nice to have people own a team that might care about the Twin Cities and greater region the team serves.

What happened to Jeferson Morales? He looked on the cusp of being a bench guy out of spring training. Suddenly released by Twins.

At the least, he can increase hius trade stock. The Twins will now have to protect him. Can he be a defensive plus for the team, at best. Offer some needed power? Or would the Twins be better making McCusker a first baseman. So, is using Julien or Miranda at first base out of the question now?

Yipes. White Sox grabbed him. Got rid of someone like, say, the Twins sending Milwaukee Miranda or Julien eprhaps. Maybe the Twins should've grabbed ANTHONY DESCLAFANI WHO RCENTLY OPTED OUT AND SIGNED WITH ARIZONA. DOESN'T HE OWE US A BAG OF BALLS OR SOMETHING FROM LAST SEASON?

Dang! Get to test the wins rotation depth now if Lopez goes down for any length of time. Festa looks rady. But the Twins could also use a good long arm out-of-the-pen (flip someone for Adams) unless you still trust Alcala or hope the Twins have more mop-up games like tonight was.

And the Twins still have Julien and Miranda making major league money at St. Paul. Fitzgerald is holding a 40-man spot. Eeles and Holland are also future bench possibilities. Castro could also be seen as trade bait if he shows signs of life.

Worst bench ever!

They are being passed in the system by other prospects. Sadly, they have little trade worth unless as a throw-in to some low-hanging eam that might believe they can get better and then become a trade chip. At best, the Twins should be cycling either as a first baseman possibility for next season, but that is a long shot, too. Both could return to the majors if injuries hit the Twins infield. Mainly because they are getting paid more than a non-roster guy and the Twins like to use people that they are paying. I was taken aback when the Twins traded Steer to the Reds and kept Julien instead, although that isn't necessarily going gang-busters in Cincinnati.

As long as he eaminas productive, you keep giving him the reps. I was more thinking that Festa might push Paddack to the pen. SWR was pushed last year, wore out, but should be good for the full 30+ starts. He will only improve with experience. If he wishes, too. And he is still the youngest arm of all the Twins rotation arms with major league experience. The Twins have three 29-year-old gems and they have to make a hard (and expensive) decision on which one to keep. I doubt that they will keep two. But we can rest assure that we will have Matthews, Festa and SWR in the rotation come '27-28, and also the next wave of arms, hopefuly keeping he Twins drom the dustbin of free agent needs. Are we missing Chae Petty yet?

I just have to say that as a lifelong Twins fan, I have never seen a worse looking bench than I saw today - plus one of them has to be a DH (or play in the field for someone else to DH) - Gasper, Clemons, Bride, Kiersey, Vasquez. Not one will be with the team next season. All capable of being dropped from the 40-man roster at some point with little return.

It sadly, started, waaaay back when the Twins left the clear channel of WCCO to use their own limited appeal station in town, even though they did manage to keep most rural stations involved. Television has changed, but going to a subscriber base is NOT the way. The key to TV is still advertising, and reaching the largest audience possible, and keeping it free. People watch the games, and then come to the games. If they can't watch it easily, they don't. Example. I now pay for streaming the Twins. Haven't even watched half the games this month (and one I wanted to watch was on Apple, which I don't have). I listen on the radio, while driving, working outdoors, working out (where I might set up by a television if they are showing the game). Television was always, in my lifetime, turning it on and if a game was on, I would watch it, even mid-game, rather than search out something else. And the advertising on the MLB channel is pretty much NOT there. I hear a few mumbles during the game, but did they abandon this revenue stream. All I see between innings are lame scoreboard games. The Twins and season tickets? Starts with the end of the season. But little hype and effort the past couple of seasons. Even the Twins caravan seemed weak this year. Part of the appeal of baseball IS being a part of the copmmunity. You have to make the community parades, or bigger social gatherings. You have to make the general newsscasts and radio programs (not just the sports programs). Hospital visits. Church banquets. School little league games. The Twins have been so lucky in the past to having a strong core of alumni. But you only see them now on television commercials for a certain car dealership. Yes, you gotta give out tickets to youth groups. You also can't depend on people paying higher prices for some games, especially when you aren't selling out. That only works - team tier tickets - if you are selling out games. Sure, I love the multi-game plans, as well as the vouchers. But it makes one NOT buy a season ticket package. What makes being a season ticket holder so special anymore? Especially with the high cost of parking, concessions, et al. You gotta make the baseball experience fun, although I disliked when Target Field opened and the first couple seasons was all about coming to the ballpark, NOT about the play product being put on the field. You still need to field a team. But, boy, that was a huge blunder in the 2023 off-season announcing a cut in expenditures. You didn't need to do that. You were already riding a decent payroll with a couple of expensive free agents in the fold. Just shut-up and promote the team and the futrure. Marketing department needs a complete and total overhaul. And what is happening in St. Paul. 2-3,000 for a team that used to sell out Northern League ball in a wretched stadium during their prime. Talk about a change. The ball play is better these days. "Live" entertainment abounds. Good food. What gives?