I wish Royce well and love watching Peak Royce play (aka Royce F-ing Lewis!)
But the Twins have enough information to NEVER sign him to a long-term contract.
Small market teams can't take that kind of risk... the Yankees and Dodgers can have at it.
If the plan is to platoon him then sure if his is clearly matching 2024 production.... but I would prefer your best hitter agnostic of pitching side as lead off.
That may change throughout the season.
Again...get your stars the most ABs possible
Twins with classic overthinking on leadoff.
Your leadoff should be your best hitter so that they are assured the maximum ABs for the game.
Nothing is more important than having your best hitters get more ABs.
"After France couldn’t find a job all offseason and 29 other teams declined to guarantee him a deal, the Twins see him as a near-everyday player."
GUT. PUNCH.
I've been shocked for 2 years running that Rocco still has a job....
Thought experiment: Do you think Rocco will ever manage for another team again?
Hard no for me... so why do the Twins cling to a negative WAR manager like he is a prize.
I had Mar-got that Margot had led off so many times during last season.
Not as bat s- crazy as continually running him out there to pinch hit.... but close...
Tonkin estimated WAR of 0.1 is wildly optimistic... he'll be a negative WAR and not even make it through the season.
Brock will be a 1.0 or effectively a 0 based on health.
Alcala could surprise us with the breakout season some of us feel is his capable of.