Rosterman

WELL, YOU WONDER WHAT THEY EXPECT TO DO WITH THE REMAINING THREE ROSTER SPOTS. You always keep a few players around to jettison if you sign a free agent or make a trade. Names like Michael Tonkin and Brock Stewart are also questioned about being retained thru arbitration. People forget that the Twins added at least five guys this past season who weren't on the 40-man at the beginning of the season. Most of the other names mentioned ae up-for-grabs. Hey, no one talks about first rounder from 2020 Sabato, who is also Rule 5 eligible. When you also talk about Rule 5 passes, you have to ask if there was much interest in anyone obtaining the guys from the Twins as part of a prospect package at the deadline. And, if so, why wouldn't the Twins pull that plug if they could've improved themselves.

He's in the category of Caleb Thielbar and Brock Stewart, too. Not so much the money, but worth the roster spot, especially if not tradebait, and if you would cut him for signing another free agent, you eat some money. Better on a minor league free agent contract, with the hopes of cracking the roster in spring training or being immediate relief help in St. Paul. At this stage, if you sign him, keep him in the majors, you jsut can't option him back to the minors. 40-man roster spots are valuable.

It's not jsut 40-man roster, but also runnung out of options that doomed Rooker (and even guys like Sorrento before him). Yes, I wondered why Severino didn't get a call-up, to see how he handles himself for at least a dozen or so at bats and on a major league field. He still ahd youth on his side. Both Severino and WInder I would've dangled in a package along with Kepler during the trade deadline, at best. But if people aren't knocking down your door for certain players, you get to make the "I give up" decision sooner rather than later. Winder performed well at the major league level, but so did Henriquez. Is it worthwhile to give Winder a 40-man contract, or pick up someone similar on a minor league deal. Even on the lowest rungs of baseball, salary comes into question. One question about Severino. Was he a total butcher on the field? Not worth playing at third or first. Strictly a DH? I would suspect a team likje Oakland or Tampa Bay would grab him for a couple more years of development.

It's interesting is that three of these guys could see major league action this season. One pitcher, an infielder and an outfielder who would be next in-line if a corresponding roster spot opened up.

I'm curious to see what Vice Presidents are ann ounced to help the new GM, as well as other business aspects for the new President.

Sure, not everyone can do it. But..... Also, putting the ball in friggin' play. Learn how to properly do the hit-and-run if at all possible. Plus, having a bench guy like Cruz or Thome who could actually hit a fly ball more often than not if you got someone on third with no outs.

Santana might've been even better if he didn't have a revolving door at second, shortstop and even third base. It was great have a solid steady presence at the bag. Unfortunately his age, and just adequate bat, will keep him from returning. I could live with a repeat of 2024 if everyone else, across the barod, improved on their offensive numbers.

Stewart, like Thielbar, could be brought back on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training. No need to keep either on the 40-man. Topa gets resigned just to make a horrible trade and expenditure look okay (although the Twins may win out if Gonzalez makes the team in 2026). We didn't see enough of him, and a comprable relief arm will cost about the same (considering all the flyers the Twins took last season). Tonkin did little upon his return.

A gem of a person. Visited every father/son banquet at local churches that he could. A workhorse out of the pen. Before him, the Twins had Ray Moore and Bill Dailey. Johnny Klippstein was his cohort in the pen for a couple of seasons. You for get to mention why he had trouble with the Giants. Religion and "cehating" in the game got in his way. https://davidjmarkowitz.wordpress.com/2020/08/27/august-27-1964-al-worthington-wouldnt-cheat/

First off, Jax would like to start again - Shades of Rick Aguilera. I remember Frankie Rodriguez hgetting so mad when he was switched to the bullpen from the rotation, dreaming of the Biug Money a starter makes compared to msot relief pitchers. And there are always relief pitchers. Guys who are almsot there, but still having a bad season, suddenly out of options, passed by others. You can only keep so many. But the flip side is you can only sign so many minor league free agents and have to own up to a couple of rotating roster spots to see if someone clicks. The Twins were wise with Staumont this season, squeezing a bunch out of him and cutting him when it was time. They might've stuck with Okert too long with the up-and-down, but shows the need of a lefty, who can pretty much name their price and pitch until age 40. This season the Twins signed less that a couple of dozen minor leaguye free agents. A first from the past decade plus. We had Blewett, Bowman, Boushley, Castillo... but no one else necessary to resign. Someone else mentioned those that have got away. Jeff Hoffman, Danny Coulombe, Ian Hamilton, Trever McGill, Yennier Cano, Derek Law (for a moment), Vinny Nittoli, Total crapshoot. You win some, you lose some. You stcik with Thielbar and Stewart because..... But you end up cutting guys. Liam Hendriks anyone? Carefully evaluate your talent. You got a gem in Jax, moving him to the pen. Can the same be done with Varland. Is Headrick a possibility. Festa or Matthews better for an endgame. Canterino and Raya should see action, but fewer innings better than throwing 100 pitches an outing? The 40-man makes you deal some (Gipson-long, Povich, Hajjar). It is all a numbers games. But relief pitchers are the first to go when roster spots close, or opetions disappear.

Unless either totally tank and are replaced by Randy Dobnak, they are good for 2-3 more years according to cost effectiveness if they pitch like they have. At worst, you trade them before free agency, especially if team takes a mid-season dive. At best, you start moving them after next season if the 7+ guys in the pipeline start to produce.

Still have radio!Bad enough that Friday was on APPLEtv. They need to reach the greatest amount of people for the least amount of money. I have no answer. So many of us don't watch local TV anymore, even if it was just a free antenna. We have cut the cord, as my cable company charges a hefty fee for "antenna" tv above and beyond their service. Streaming is fine, if you watch where you spend the money. But if they price the monthly package (which at $20 for say 30 games is still a good price), you lose people, as well as the #1 advertising vehicle to get people excited to come to live games. Still have radio! WCCO Rules!

They need to address a big bat. Right now, the DH is someplace for guys to go to rest. They could use a 26th player bat off the bench, a Nelson Cruz/Jim Thome type who could maybe give you that long fly out in a pinch hitting situation, fulfill designated hitetr duties for the msot part, and maybe play a little in the field, be it a corner spot or first base., The Twins need to decide roles for Lewis, Correa and Lee. Put them at a spot and play them there. Lee may need a tad more seasoning to start 2025, but not sure what the alternative is. Also, first base. Do you go internal with Miranda, Julien, Kirilloff as the main pieces. What about Severino? How does he fit into Twins plans. Is Castro worth $6.2 million to the team. What about Helman as a replacement, Or, better yet, Castillo Payton Eades. This is one hard decision. If you cut Castro, will he command that m uch money in the free agent marketplace? The Twins could add an innings eater to the rotation pushing Paddack to the 5th spot. Making it a battle between him and SWR with a strong Matthews and Festa in the wings. There is strength in the rotation, but better to have too many than not enough. The Twins need soemthing left-handed. Headrick MIGHT be an answer. I like the idea that he can face a run thru a batting order. But be ncie to have something better than Fuunderburk or Thielbar next season. Moran should be back, but not counting on him to break spring training.

I'd be happy to keep him as the rotation alternative going into the season and hope we get 15-or-so starts out of his arm, with average or above results and enough that he looks appetizing to another team to absorb half-the-contract and be traded, opening a rotation spot for the remainder of the season for Festa/Matthews or any oher "rookies" to get their feet wet.

Yes, what he did was totally unexpected. And, as we saw, he did have a limit to the quality of innings and starts he could do for the season. MVP? Naw. Others had to come in and either win or lose the games. Notably, probably, Cole Sands.

If I have two old school gripes, they are: One: Stop playing guys at multiple positions. Find their strength in the minors and bring them up to play that position. Two: Have a set lineup. I always feel batters feed off each other. You get a guy in front of you that will show a free-swinger a long at bat, to observe what a guy is throwing that day. You have someone who hits for contact with decent runners on base. You prep to be a lead-off hitter. You may adjust your swing being the 4-5 hitter. You are glad you have a paycheck if batting 8-9. Going into 2025 is Wallner the right fielder and Larnach in left? Who plays 3rd. Miranda or Lewis. Or 2nd. Lee or Lewis? Or does Lee go to the minors and plays SS because Correa will be moved... somewhere. Nice to have Castro, but something is wrong with the team if he leads you in games played and at bats.

Wow. All over the place. Lopez I expect to be a 16-14, 4.10 pitcher. Anything different is bad or good accordingly. Ober is going to be a one bad inning pitcher. Ryan needs to control the pace of his game. The young guys - SWR was amazing, but ran out of gas. Can he stay disciplined at his young age? Festa was the guy who never walked anyone. Welcome to the major leagues. He needs a strong 4th pitch and say he will work on it. If not, he'll be a strong bullpen arm going forwards. Matthews was rushed. I like what I saw. Alcala had an increased workload. Remember he only did a dozen or so innings over the past two seasons. He pitched fine, until he started tom wear down, partly from the pressure to be solid. Him, Jax, Duran, Sands gives the Twins a solid half-a-bullpen. Duran started late, tinkered with a pitch too often, but that should be better next season. Jax, please don't pull an Aggie and ask to start. Varland needs to be a part of the bullpen. He bombed out of the chute because your starting routine is different than if you are just coming into a game. Headrick will the Twins dark horse, perhaps. A lefty who can pitch multiple innings, or just be a gem for one. Paddack is that end of the rotation guy. Maybe not worth $7.5 million, but might be the best you can currently find for the team. But...he needs to give us innings. Funderburk gets another shot because he is left-handed. But he needs to pitch better than he did if he wants to find any major league work ever ever again. Thielbar was a $3.5 million F. Sorry. If the Twins needed to eat payroll, this was the time. The Twins signed a host of guys: Jackson, Okert (trade), Staumont, Bowman, Tonkin, Irvin, Castillo. They acted accordingly.... jettisoning them, maybe a few too late. Josh WInder is still in the mix folks!

Two Questions to answer. As well as the Overall Question of WANT to be Competitive. Cost: What do you have to spend to fill a weakness. Do you trust that a rookie will step forward, as much as a free agent, and fulfill the needs for a position of weakness. Looking at the Twins offensively for 2025, they need a first baseman. Or a bat that can play that position, maybe the outfield, or DH. Internally they have the unproven, as both a bat and fielder, Yennier Severino. They can also mix in one Miranda, Julien or Kirilloff, all who hold more potential than value right now for the team to cut. There is also the need for strength from the left-side in pitching. Headrick could fulfill part of that. Is Moran due for a comeback? Do you rust Funderburk. Spending money on a Taylor Rogers is, sadly, out of the question for managment. Had their chance. Two: When figuring payroll, you lways have to factor in "how much can I have spending time in the clubhouse." The team basically paid $5m for two players, who performed basically a but more than one. So you actually were eating around $22, in salary, not counting the DeScalfini, Paddack, Kepler days watching from the bench. A team like the Yankees can write off $50 or so million, a drop in the bucket. But when 25-30% of your tight payroll is unusable on the field, you either signed the wrong contracts for guys, or won't be competitive... unless you have an outstanding farm system. Roster construction is always the key. Having the flexibility to promote future prospects to get playing time, and then sending them back to the minors for some possible fine tuning. Having enough developed every year so you can avoid the expensive free agent contracts and just try to survive on smart trades, or rewarding your own with modest contract extension (see Span, Polanco as examples). You can field a decent team, and even a compoetitive one, if everyone come together at the right time. We can't knock the Twins for spending. They invested in Correa... a solid player but also a roadblock to many prospects unless he changes positions. They considered Buxton the current "Face of the Franchise" and reward accordingly, although how long is he for centerfield. Lopez was a shrewd trade and a decent resigning of a still young arm, but veteran presence for the pitching staff. You can be inexpensive with prospects thru their first arbitration years. Then the dollars start to add up. You can often patchwork with lowend free agents, but are they really any better than your prospects (Margot = Martin, for example). Ultimatey, you want your monies worth when you pay someone. Innings or days on the field, as well as productivity.

Yep, still got two open spots, and you always like those extra names for removal if you do sign a free agent or make a change. I do wonder how Severino will fit into the greater picture. And what Canterino's role will be with the Twins. For sure bullpen arm, preferably left-handed, would be a plus. If they can find a 1B/DH with power, that would be a plus, too.

I love the pitching pipeline. Festa said he is going to work on his curve ball this off-season, otherwise, like Varland, he may be better suited to the bullpen longterm. Morris Lewis Raya will all be on-deck to appear in 2025 and hopefully one breaks the rotation in 2026. You gotta love the promising depth. SWR and Matthews both will be fighting for the 5th position come spring training. It means the Twins could flip Lopez come the following off-season (or mid-season if 2025 isn't competitive). It allows them to play the Guardians game of moving players as they enter final arbitration years if they don't feel they are worth the big free agent contract down-the-line. With young pitchers, the key is getting them innings, and capable of throwing 150+ in the majors.

So few. The question is are "probable" better to add than to keep, say, a Helman, Kiersey, Camargo. I don't think Jeferson Morales or Chris Williams worked themselves into a protective position. Adams would be an interesting add. If you see him as a bullpen opportunist for 2025.

Anyone know who the Twins need to Rule 5 protect? I'm guessing the list is eally short. WSill Holland? Sabato?

Well, overall they SHOULD have the same budget as 2023. But they cut it for 2024, but still had TV money that ended up in their pockets, and attendance equal to the previous year. They SHOULD have the same budget in 2025 as this year, right...even if they have zlich dollars from TV (which won't happen). The current team, after deducting free agents and giving contract pay increses and arbitration $$$, should basically have the same payroll.

The team should've never been in this position. But they are. Still in the hunt. Stgill playing Margot and farmer, instead of giving time to Kiersey or Helman or martin. Loo and Julien sit on the bench. Irvin and Tonkin are getting innings. Amazing, you go the whole season in the category of playoff team and in the last week of joyous home games, you stink. Putrid offense. No movement from the trade dedline utilizing a rich prospect system full of guys who will never set foot on the field... at least as a Twin. A good portion of the season the front office collected monies from a television contract that didn't play out on a cable system that couldn't agree to broadcast the games. Your ads are great, Twins. But you do have to advertise somewhere other than JUST on your own games. I don't expect any free agent big splash for 2025. The team ahs three solid contracts to pay off in Lopez, Correa and Buxton, all top-flight players if healthy. You see nexy year's 26-man roster on the current 40-man. Actually only 3-5 places a best witll open up in the off-season, and there is only 1-2 that the Twins really need to even consider for Rule 5 protection. There is solid rotation depth, if you can afford to give them starts, as you did this year to Matthews and Festa, to fail but develop. The arms that can't start can be switched to bullpen arms. Except for catcher beyond 2026 (a second one), and a surefire choice at first base (is Severino still in the mix), all positions have solid depth for the next half-decade before guys become minor league free agents or a traded away. We can argue about Rocco and his lineups, bulling pitchers, leaving pitchers in to get out of a jam, lefties and righties, whatever. The team is a bit redundant. Can players develop into brng different than the guy in front or behind them in the lineup? Did the front office fail in NOT bringing in a rotation arm, as no one expected SWR to pitch well all season. At the trade deadline two arms in the pen (like a Chapman, Taylor Rogers, whatever) who would cost prospects, or even in August just money, were avoided. Signing minor league free agents, or bargain basement free agents, didn't pan out if you are a true competitive playoff team. The excitement of 2023. Getting out or Round 1 of the playoffs. Hoping to go further still in 2024. But I' m not sure how I will feel looking at the Twins as the 4th place team in a division that wasn't all that special.

I just can't figure out his lineup construction, or his situational need to use the bullpen the way he does. When your bench players have as many at bats as the regulars, well, that means a lot of inuries... maybe. Resting guys the next day after a good game. Playing the pitch count rule, then NOT doing it next time out. But also must deal with the hand dealt. You have to trust ALL the players you have, in the end. It is what you have. No reason to have them in the dugout or the pen if they are not ready to be put on the field, I guess.