Jacksson

If Buxton starts out as DH due to recovering from surgery and if Jenkins begins the year in AAA, Roden could be starting in the OF.

The organization should have a "PLAN" for each and every player in the organization that lays out their advancement through the system along with the use of developmental and training tools necessary to accomplish the "PLAN". Sometimes the players develop as planned, sometimes they don't. It is important to the long term success of the organization to identify those players who are not working out early in their career and move on from them, making way for better prospects. Given the number of LH hitting OF, the players without a defensive position, the positional "holes" that exist in the organization, this is an area in need of increased attention.

In some way shape or form, Larnach will be with a different organization in 2027. There is no room for him on the Twins' roster. The only possible fit is as a DH, but 50% of those at bats will go to the surgically recovering Buxton who may not play a defensive position until after the All Star Break, while the rest will go to position players who are getting a partial day off. If Larnach is untradeable, he will have to be non-tendered. Same for Wallner.

The team failed to live up to expectations for 2026. Reasons= #1 Injuries to players leading to extended loss of playing time = Abel, Sands, Banda, Festa, Paredes, Rojas, Acton, Buxton. #2 Performances below expected levels from = Wallner, Larnach, Buxton, Roden, Martin, Ryan, Adams, Ober, Orze, Rogers. #3 Poor organizational decision making = A - Keeping Outman on the 26 man roster. B - Failure to trade Jeffers & acquire MLB ready players. C - Failure to trade Ryan & acquire MLB ready players. D - Taking until mid season to realize that the infield alignment was flawed and making the moves necessary to overhaul that situation which resulted in position changes and necessitating "learning on the fly" at new or relatively unfamiliar positions by players: Lee, Lewis, Keaschall, Clemens. E - Continuing to believe that Gray was a capable ML Shortstop. F - Delaying the season ending hip surgery on Buxton until the season was shot when it was clear that surgery was the outcome at the time of the All Star Break and depriving players: Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Roden, Mendez of gaining valuable MAJOR LEAGUE outfield experience as well as providing organizational data on their performance that could be used for player evaluation. G - Signing Caratini. H - Signing Bell. I - Shortening the 26 man roster by carrying Jackson as a 3rd catcher for two extended periods of time during which he received minimal utilization. #4 - Having an owner and GM with a deluded opinion of the construction and performance capabilities of the team.

Too bad there is a lack of top tier ML pitching talent at the top of the organizational pipeline but that must be due to having to elevate pitchers from St Paul to the Twins due to in season and prior to the season pitching injuries. Keep an eye on MiLB free agents, International Free Agents, Independent League Free Agents, Rule 5 eligible pitchers to fill out at AAA.

Got to look at 1B trade opportunities with organizations where the advancement of their ascending 1B talent is blocked by an established ML level 1B, Research, Identify, Evaluate, Prioritize, Pursue. Also be open to top AAA performers who could be moved to 1B or at least have exposure to playing 1B. This should be a top priority and except for a few select players, EVERYONE or a combination of everyones should be available.

Yes they did, the DUMMIES !!

The next 1B is not currently in the organization. Identify that player. Trade for him.

TWO EXTRA HOURS of OF practice EVERY DAY for Keaschall !!

Possibly him and BP Coach Hawkins as well.

Move him to RF (if he is still with the team). Have him fill in in CF and DH a time or two each week. Make sure the rest of the league knows that despite Buxton's stated wish to remain with the Twins; the Twins will take calls and listen to trade inquiries.

BUXTON

Shelton should order an "unintentional" HBP to one of the premier players on the Guardians in retaliation of Culpepper getting plunked.

Buxton's best days are in the past. His value is diminished when he moves out of CF and into either RF, 1B or DH. Should have cashed in on his value when the team could. Now, although value priced and if he consistently is able to take the field in a defensive position, he is just an unreliable, injury prone, old beyond his calendar years, ballplayer whose presence on the roster is gumming up the organization's player pipeline of outfield prospects.

YES

Too bad nobody had the brains to have made this move to surgery back in June.

BUT... What if he could play for his hometown team in Atlanta? What if he played on a team with a REAL CHANCE to win the World Series? What if it was communicated to him by the Twins and his agent that he has ZERO CHANCE to win a World Series if he remains in Minnesota? What if he was told that his best way to help the team that has been so patient and loyal to him over the course of his career is to approve a trade and LEAVE?

I am well aware of his veto rights !! That does not mean the organization can't float it out there that the Twins would listen to offers for Buxton. If the long term career benefits of a trade were to be framed correctly, the trade being with a contending organization and by emphasizing the benefit to the Twins in exchange for their patience and loyalty to Buxton over the course of his career; perhaps Buxton would recognize the handwriting on the wall here in Minnesota and waive his veto rights, approving a trade.

When a team calls to see if Buxton is available the Twins need to take the call and listen.

The idiots running the team should have put him on the 60 day IL and scheduled the surgery back in June when this condition first came to light. Buxton has been worthless to the team since that time. His ONLY VALUE being that fans who have sipped ownership's Competitive Kool-Aid will attend a game to see Buxton play. Based upon his injury history throughout his career, this guy needs to be handled with kid gloves when it comes to his health. No amount of delusional thinking by: ownership, field staff, trainers and player is able to make an injury go away, magically heal on it's own or enable a player to cope with pain/discomfort without an injury affecting on-field performance and potentially leading to other complications due to making adjustments to cope with the initial injury. Future for Buxton with the Twins = RF, DH, maybe even 1B or perhaps with a different organization.

Keaschall is currently a liability for the organization rather than an asset. Unless/until the Twins find a defensive home for him his roster presence is gumming up the planning for the construction of the roster. If he couldn't cut it at 2B, it's highly unlikely he has the reaction time reflexes to handle 1B. With his weak arm, he's not a fit at CF or RF. Does the organization want to turn a 23 year old into a DH this early in his career? So, if he is still with the organization, that leaves LF. Unfortunately, with the system abundance of both existing OF (Larnach, Wallner, Martin, Buxton, Roden, Jenkins) coupled with the OF who are literally knocking at the MLB door (Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Mendez, Rosario, Winokur); taking an infielder and converting them into an OF just further clogs up the pipeline.

NO!!

Who are: Clemmons & Rondon and where did we get them from? Difficult to take serious comments from individuals who cannot even correctly spell the names of the players for whom they are making comments.

AND.. Matt Wallner, Josh Bell, Joe Ryan, Ryan Jeffers, Byron Buxton, Luke Keaschall, Travis Adams, Jeff Hoffman, Eric Orze, Taylor Rogers, Cole Sands, Tristin Gray, Austin Martin, Alan Roden, Aaron Sabato, David Banuelos, Ron Marinaccio, German Marquez, Julian Merryweather, Aaron Rozek, Cody Laweryson, Anthony Banda, and others.

If Keaschall can't play 2b, then he lacks the reflexes to play 1B. He's either LF or DH or trade bait. No confidence in Lewis as an everyday 1B. Trade him away. Like the idea of signing Arraez as a FA to play 2B. Buxton, whenever he recovers from his off season surgery is the everyday RF. Until then it's either Rodriguez or Gonzales in RF. Jenkins is the everyday CF. Bell, Larnach, Wallner, Martin, Sabato, Sands, Gray, Roden, Jeffers are all out of the organization one way or another as the decks are cleared. After the season ends the team hands out 1B gloves to: Mendez, Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Ross and just about anybody else with a pulse. Meanwhile, the front office scours AAA for a 1B who is able to generate offence play defense and is positionally "blocked" within their current organization.