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A season ago, the Minnesota Twins acquired baseline depth at crucial positions, hoping their injuries from 2022 could be masked. That worked out wonderfully, but with payroll taking a different shape in 2024, veterans may not be the players provided as depth for the upcoming year. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints When Derek Falvey went into the offseason last year, he had a few key areas to supplement Rocco Baldelli’s roster. In looking to build the Twins while hoping to avoid being dealt massive blows by injury, he sought to bring in veterans with upside. Kyle Farmer was a starting caliber option at shortstop if Carlos Correa landed elsewhere. Joey Gallo could start in both the outfield and at first base. Willi Castro and Donovan Solano would be vital supplemental roster pieces. The Twins acquired each of those players based on their previous track record. If the front office failed to upgrade in those positions, at the very least, they would have capable veteran options going into the 2023 season. The Twins organization was in a much different place last offseason, however. They had a broadcast deal that assured ownership of millions in revenue. The team has acknowledged that the 2024 payroll will be lower without it. Should the Twins decrease payroll by up to $25 million, as has been discussed, bringing in multiple veterans isn’t going to be an option for rotational pieces. That isn’t very pleasant by some measures, but it also reflects where the Twins organization is as a whole. Minnesota has no reason to sign a rotational outfielder north of $10 million this offseason, and Correa is the shortstop, so Farmer at $7 million doesn’t make as much sense. The budget dropping isn’t ideal, but it was sure to happen with the emergence of young talent anyway. Edouard Julien, Royce Lewis, and Matt Wallner have all taken starting roles, and barring an extension, each of them will make the major league minimum. With how the Twins youth stepped up a season ago, fans should be excited about this prospect depth. No one within the Twins organization will ask Austin Martin or Brooks Lee to play significant roles on Opening Day. However, blocking them with a veteran making a couple of million while they are this close doesn’t make much sense either. Minnesota tendered a deal to Castro this offseason so that he will return to his utility role. For now, Nick Gordon will remain on the roster at $1 million. Beyond that, Martin could find himself working towards that type of production after a wildly successful 2023 season. Jose Miranda has the opportunity to bounce back if he’s healthy, and Yunior Severino was recently added to the 40-man roster as well. From a pitching perspective, more will be asked of Brent Headrick as he looks to settle in, and David Festa could be an arm that emerges from a Bailey Ober trajectory in 2024. Matt Canterino should be back and healthy, while the hope would be that Jorge Alcala or Simeon Woods Richardson becomes usable. Pablo Lopez has established the top of the rotation, and Ober, paired with Joe Ryan, makes three guarantees. Adding in Chris Paddack should stabilize things further. Paying for free agents is a minefield. You are looking to acquire the best talent while being forced to pay for previous production. On top of that, you’re getting aging commodities, and the goal of each player is to establish stability for the longest tenure possible. Routinely bringing in a one-year hired hitman is difficult, but it works well when things turn out like Solano or Michael A. Taylor (acquired via trade). A season ago, the Twins experienced a historic rookie class, and they got extensive production from them early and often during the season. Banking on that to repeat itself shouldn’t be the plan A. Still, in a season where Brooks Lee, Martin, Festa, Severino, Canterino, Marco Raya, and Tanner Schobel could all debut, it’s understandable to look within. Depth is something that every organization will always place a premium on, but being able to develop it saves substantial money, and there is a much more known track record with your talent. Minnesota’s farm system is flush with near-ready players, and they could be called upon when the first opportunities arise in 2024. View full article

The Twins had a trio of terrific rookie debuts in 2023, and other top prospects are getting closer to the big-league level. Here’s a timeline of when to expect the team’s top prospects to debut. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints (photo of Austin Martin) Baseball player development is a non-linear path, with players facing different obstacles on their way to the big-league level. Organizations can be aggressive with some top prospects and move them through the farm system quicker than expected. Other prospects might suffer injuries or poor play and be forced to repeat a level for multiple years. Every prospect follows a different journey, making it intriguing for fans to follow. Below is a look at the top 10 prospects in the Twins organization according to Twins Daily’s end-of-the-season voting. Not every outlet updates its ranking multiple times per year, but Twins Daily updates the player rankings and scouting reports monthly so there is a live view of each prospect's progress. Multiple names below are on pace to impact the Twins roster next season. 1. Walker Jenkins, OF ETA: 2026 The Twins took Jenkins with the fifth overall pick in the 2023 draft. He was promoted relatively aggressively during his professional debut by ending the year at Low-A. In 26 games, he hit .362/.417/.571 (.989) with five doubles, four triples, and three home runs. It’s expected that he will start the year in Fort Myers with a chance to play in Cedar Rapids at the end of 2024. That should put him on pace to reach the big leagues in the second half of 2026, at which point he'll be 21 years old. 2. Brooks Lee, SS/3B ETA: 2024 The 2023 campaign was Lee’s first full season as a professional after the Twins took him with the eighth overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. He started the year at Double-A, posting an .841 OPS in 87 games. Minnesota promoted him to St. Paul in the season’s second half, and his OPS dipped to .731 at a level where he was over four years younger than the average age of the competition. Lee will start the year in St. Paul and be one injury away from making his big-league debut. 3. Emmanuel Rodriguez, OF ETA: 2025 Rodriguez will have an advantage over other names on this list due to being added to the 40-man roster this winter. These roster spots are valuable, and it gives him a better chance at making his debut because the team might need to dig into their depth if there are multiple big-league injuries. Rodriguez played the 2023 season at High-A, hitting .240/.400/.463 (.863) with 38 extra-base hits in 99 games. The Twins will plan for him to spend the 2024 campaign at Double-A, which puts him on pace to debut in 2025. 4. Marco Raya, SP ETA: 2025 The Twins have taken a unique development path with Raya by aggressively promoting him while limiting his innings pitched. He ended last season at Double-A in his age-20 season. Between two levels, Raya posted a 4.02 ERA with a 1.07 WHIP in 62 2/3 innings spread across 22 starts. He never pitched more than four innings in an appearance and never threw more than 54 pitches. It seems likely for Raya to spend all of 2024 at Double-A unless the team continues to be aggressive with him. 5. David Festa, SP ETA: 2024 Festa emerged as one of the organization’s top pitching prospects last season after being taken in the 13th round of the 2021 MLB Draft. He pitched at Double-A and Triple-A with a 4.19 ERA and a 1.39 WHIP. He posted an 11.6 K/9 in 92 1/3 innings across 24 appearances (22 starts). Minnesota faces a self-imposed payroll crunch next season, which may leave the team relying on internal options for added depth. Festa will be at Triple-A, waiting for his opportunity to join the Twins’ rotation at some point next season. 6. Charlee Soto, SP ETA: 2027 Soto has yet to make his professional debut after being drafted by the Twins with the 34th overall selection last June. He didn’t turn 18 until after the draft, so he has a lot of time to develop in the organization’s farm system. He will likely be the last player on this list to debut, but he has an exciting future with his pitching profile. 7. Austin Martin, 2B/OF ETA: 2024 Martin was the top-ranked prospect included in the Jose Berrios trade with Toronto, and he’s seen some ups and downs during his time with the Twins organization. He struggled during the 2022 season with a .683 OPS at Double-A before heading to the AFL and being one of the league’s best hitters. Last season, he injured his elbow during spring training, and there was some discussion that he’d need surgery. Martin rehabbed the elbow and posted a .791 OPS in 59 Triple-A games. The Twins have an opening in center field, and Martin might be able to take over that role at some point in 2024. 8. Brandon Winokur, OF ETA: 2027 Minnesota went well over-slot to sign Winokur for $1.5 million as a third-round pick. Winokur played 17 games during his professional debut and hit .288/.338/.546 (.884) with five doubles and four home runs. He has shown flashes of being a potential five-tool outfielder, but he is far from Target Field. Like Soto, he won’t debut for multiple seasons, and many things can go wrong with development along the way. 9. Luke Keaschall, 2B ETA: 2026 The Twins love to draft college bats, so the club targeted Keaschall with their second-round pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. Minnesota was aggressive after signing him by having him play at three different levels and finishing the year with Cedar Rapids. In 31 games, he hit .288/.414/.478 (.892) with 14 extra-base hits. The Twins will likely have him return to High-A to begin 2024, which puts him on pace to debut during his age-23 season. 10. Tanner Schobel, 2B/3B ETA: 2025 Schobel was selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft, so his development path shows what the Twins might follow with Keaschall. He split time in 2023 between High- and Double-A while posting a .776 OPS in 126 games. Minnesota continues to play him at second and third base, and this defensive flexibility might help him reach the big leagues even sooner. Do you agree with the ETAs listed for each prospect? Which player will have the most significant impact on the Twins next season? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

We’re all excited to see what’s in store for these guys, but now’s not the time for the Twins to get cute with it. Image courtesy of Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports Pump the brakes on Brooks Lee. For that matter, the same applies to Austin Martin, Yunior Severino, Jair Camargo, Chris Williams, and DaShawn Keirsey. Lee is the third baseman of the future, hopefully. Martin, Severino, Camargo, Williams, and Keirsey will all likely appear in games for the Twins at some point during 2024, but we don’t need to put the cart before the horse. The Twins have a number of decisions to make with an already crowded infield, a questionable mix at first base, a backup catcher making $10 million in both 2024 and 2025, a hole in centerfield, and an unclear budget for making additions. Many of the aforementioned names could be written in as key contributors in those spots. However, none of those players are beating down the hatches. Lee has 60 games at AAA with a mediocre August and a solid September. Martin similarly has 59 games and one outstanding month in St. Paul. Severino and Keirsey have even less than that. Williams and Camargo are both in their mid-20s coming off great offensive years, but they still haven’t gotten a single plate appearance in MLB. None should be the answer to any question at the beginning of 2024. It would put the Twins in a very difficult spot. If Martin or Keirsey are your personal long-term answer in center field, you’re welcome to that. You might see Camargo as a long-term backup catcher, replacing Vazquez. Forcing that to happen in March is a problem. The recent success of rookies Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner has been incredible, but it’s important not to expect that level of production to be the norm, even for prospects at the top of organizational rankings. It’s not normal. Their success was exceptional. They themselves may struggle to find the same level of success going forward. So often prospects, even those who are hyped and go on to have great careers, struggle in their early stints. Names like Torii Hunter or Michael Cuddyer come to mind, struggling for years to find their footings before becoming mainstays in the Twins lineup for a decade. Other prospects don’t manage to get their footing at all, such as more recent examples like Stephen Gonsalves, Alex Meyer, Oswaldo Arcia, or Joe Benson. It’s difficult to project success, even in players at the upper levels of the minor leagues. Both Jose Miranda and Trevor Larnach have shown flashes of being very good players, but they have also gone through extended stretches that cast a cloud over their long-term outlook—and both were Opening Day starter in 2023. If that’s not the organization showing a reliance on them, I’m not sure what is. Fortunately, Miranda and Larnach were able to be replaced by Lewis and Wallner, respectively, but it would be foolish to assume that that outcome was always a given. What if the team didn’t open the season with Lewis and Wallner in reserve as alternative options? What if they were going to sink or swim with Miranda and Larnach? They would have been in trouble. Likewise, starting 2024 with upper minors depth in key roles is asking for the same. The Twins clearly have a philosophy in this type of situation, and it’s probably the right one—they want depth. That’s exposed in the acquisitions of players like Michael A. Taylor, Joey Gallo, and Donovan Solano. Granted, not all of these types of acquisitions are beneficial, but that’s kind of the point. They want options. Do those options sometimes block our favorite prospects on the depth chart? Sure. But it also allows those prospects to be a short-term backup plan, protecting them and the team. Blocking prospects is the cost of bringing in big league depth. Beginning the year with some sort of big leaguer in those roles ensures better talent is in the organization. Those same big leaguers wouldn’t take a minor league deal to serve as a backup to the prospects. The decision is effectively between bringing in an MLB veteran and having a top prospect as a backup or having a top prospect with a minor league veteran as a backup plan. One of those plans has a better rate of success. It’s risky business trusting a big league role to someone who’s never seen an MLB pitch, and it can go wrong in any number of ways, be it performance or injury. Sure, the MLB veteran could struggle or get injured too, but it’s much more comforting to be able to turn to a top prospect than a career minor leaguer in that event. If any of the aforementioned players do break camp with the team, it’s not the end of the world. They all have the potential to be competent pieces at minimum. It just shouldn’t be what any of us are clamoring for. They’ll be here when it’s time. Right now, the Twins have a division to win. View full article

Twins fans rightfully are excited about having high-quality pitchers and pitcher depth. However, what makes that even more exciting is that they have done so while continuing to get strong performances from young hitters too. The Twins could always draft or sign and then develop position players. Consider the names drafted and signed under the regimes of Mike Radcliff and Terry Ryan. It’s a Who’s Who of Twins hitters. Hunter. Mientkiewicz. Jones. Cuddyer. Morneau. Mauer. Kubel. Span. Buxton. Sano. Kepler. Polanco. And with many of the same people in the scouting department, we are again seeing emerging, talented position players. Many have debuted in recent years to varying success (and opportunity). Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner were keys to the Twins second-half success. Meanwhile, players like Ryan Jeffers, Alex Kirilloff, Trevor Larnach, Jose Miranda, and Nick Gordon have helped the Twins win over the past couple of seasons. While there are finally more pitchers in the Twins system to be excited about, there continue to be solid-hitting prospects around the diamond. Let’s take a look at some of the depth around the field that can be found in the Twins organization: Catchers The Twins have two catchers on the big-league roster, Ryan Jeffers and Christian Vazquez. Jeffers will not be eligible for free agency for three more years. Vazquez has two years remaining on his three-year deal. Jair Camargo was added to the Twins 40-man roster since the end of the World Series. The burly backstop showed his powerful arm and his power with the bat for the St. Paul Saints in 2023. He will likely return to the Saints to start the 2024 season and be the guy called up if there is a need. Chris Williams, who is not on the 40-man roster, has become one of Twins most prominent power prospects the past two years with the Saints. He can catch, but he’s got enough bat to be a DH or get time at first base if needed. Patrick Winkel was the primary catcher with the Double-A Wind Surge. He is arguably the best defensive backstop prospect, but he can also hit with extra-base power. Noah Cardenas spent the entire season at Cedar Rapids. He can hit and get on base at a strong clip while playing well behind the plate. Andrew Cossetti may have as much power potential and offensive prowess as any of these catching prospects. He split his first professional season between Ft. Myers and the High-A Kernels. He ended the season representing the Twins in the Arizona Fall League. View full article

The Twins added two names to their 40-man roster and left eight others open to being taken in the rule 5 draft. Let’s review the moves and look at one player the Twins should look to acquire. View full video

Ahead of Tuesday's deadline to protect minor-leaguers from the upcoming Rule 5 draft, the Twins added two of their top 10 prospects to the 40-man roster, starting the clock on their major-league arrivals. A few other intriguing eligible players were left unprotected, meaning Minnesota will be at risk of losing them from the system next month. Image courtesy of William Parmeter, Mighty Mussels, and Mark J. Rebilas, USA TODAY Sports The Twins got a head start on their 40-man roster moves earlier this month by adding infielder Yunior Severino and catcher Jair Camargo, keeping them from free agency and protecting them from teams seeking to add talent in the Rule 5 draft. They saved the easiest decisions for last. Today, the club added outfielders Emmanuel Rodriguez and Austin Martin, pushing their 40-man roster to 38. There was no way either of these two would be left unprotected. Both are highly promising players – Rodriguez ranks third on our top prospects list, Martin seventh – and both would have certainly been selected if left available. (Possibly with the top two picks.) Both Rodriguez and Martin are interesting figures in the Twins' offseason planning, for different reasons. Rodriguez is one of the team's best trade chips to dangle in the hunt for frontline pitching, while Martin's presence as a future center field option will influence the front office's decision-making at that position. Ultimately, the Twins added four prospects to their 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 eligibility deadline: Severino, Camargo, Rodriguez and Martin. That means a number of other Twins minor-leaguers WILL be left exposed when the Rule 5 takes place on December 6th. As a reminder, the stipulation of adding a player through this process means that player must remain on the active MLB roster for the entire 2024 season, or be put through waivers and offered back to his original team. With this in mind, players who could potentially be selected by other teams include: DaShawn Keirsey, OF – 26-year-old can run and play center capably, posted productive numbers in the high minors. Could easily be viewed as a fourth outfielder candidate in the majors right now, with a bit of helium. Anthony Prato, IF/OF – Defensively versatile right-handed hitter with strong OBP skills. Posted a .990 OPS in the inflated Triple-A environment. But there are a lot of players coming off big seasons in that league. Not a prospect, per se, but a solid ballplayer. Michael Helman, IF/OF – Finds himself in a similar boat as Prato, but his relatively advanced age (27) might remove any perception of remaining upside. After a great 2022 in St. Paul, injuries derailed most of his 2023 season. Aaron Sabato, 1B – Former first-round pick has been a major disappointment, but his power and patience give him a semblance of offensive floor. A non-competing team could try running him out there at first to see what happens. Jose Salas, IF – He's 20 and coming off a horrible season at Single-A. It's clear Salas would be overmatched in the majors but given his ceiling, it's not unthinkable a team like Oakland or KC could try to stash him in a utility role for the summer to steal him away long-term. Ricardo Olivar, C/CF - Yes, catcher and center fielder. Olivar had a strong performance in Low-A Fort Myers and hit a lot of doubles. While his bat is certainly not ready for prime time, his intriguing defensive profile could make him appealing to some team. Stay tuned to Twins Daily for more updates on offseason developments and breaking news. View full article

The Twins are cutting and potentially slashing payroll this winter. While this will undoubtedly result in a rightfully negative response, it will create opportunity. Which players stand to benefit from the Twins reducing payroll? Image courtesy of Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports If the reports hold that the Twins are attempting to cut payroll from over $150m in 2023 to $125-140, the expectations for activity this offseason can be lowered significantly. The downside of this is obvious. The Twins likely can’t afford to bring in a proven slugger like Rhys Hoskins for first base. Safer Sonny Gray replacements, such as Eduardo Rodriguez or Aaron Nola, can be all but written off. There will be plenty of negativity around this news, and it’s all warranted. However, the payroll reduction will create opportunities for some players within the organization, likely the sole positive of pulling back on spending. Austin Martin With center field as one of the primary needs this offseason, Martin could be part of the solution. It would be great to sign Kevin Kiermaier or bring back Michael A. Taylor, but these names may price themselves out of the Twins' plans due to requiring multiple years or a one-year deal at a premium. Willi Castro became a passable center fielder in 2023, and they still hope that Byron Buxton will return to the field at some point. Austin Martin would be the fallback option, undoubtedly getting a big chance to stick in 2024 if everything stays the same. Martin slashed .263/.386/.405 in St. Paul last season, and the Twins are high on his ability to handle center. He stole 16 bases in 59 games, and his six homers were the most he’s hit in a season in professional ball. Martin’s skill set would be a great complement to the Twins' lineup with his ability to get on base and lack of strikeouts, and he could even become a platoon leadoff hitter against lefties if everything breaks right. Yunior Severino Even after Alex Kirilloff’s shoulder injury proved less significant than initially thought, the Twins likely need more confidence in the former top prospect’s ability to lock down first base for 2024. A right-handed option to platoon is a reasonable ask to insulate the position. Such a role may be less of a priority with limited funds available. Severino has little to prove after leading the minors with 35 homers in 2023. He got off to a rough start in his Triple-A debut but finished with a slash line of .233/.320/.511, and the Twins saw enough to add him to the 40-man roster after the season. Severino is a strikeout-prone light tower power hitter with a defensive profile likely to slot in best at first base. His ability to switch hit makes up for some of his lack of versatility, and he could carve out a career for himself as an all-or-nothing slugger capable of being a legitimate offensive weapon when he’s running hot. At 24 years old, Severino’s time may come in 2024, as the first call-up should Alex Kirilloff miss more time. Jair Camargo To combat the financial limitations, the Twins may not only spend less but look to shed salary from places they can afford to add elsewhere adequately. Should they decide to do so, Christian Vazquez becomes a prime candidate to ship out to another team. After not appearing in a single postseason game, it’s obvious Vazquez is the backup to Ryan Jeffers, and his total collapse offensively in 2023 makes him more replaceable despite his still great defense. Camargo profiles as a perfect backup catcher: He spent all of 2023 in St. Paul, hitting .259/.323/.503 with 21 homers in 90 games, he has received solid reviews on his defense and pitch calling, and his raw power gives him enough of a floor to be an asset to an MLB squad for several years. Camargo would likely debut in 2024 regardless after being added to the 40-man. Trading away an MLB catcher may push him onto the Opening Day roster. The Twins have internal options should they slash payroll, as in addition to the listed names above, they have several other young players on their way. Deshaun Kiersey Jr. may create a strong career for himself in center field. Several pitchers, such as David Festa, could see an earlier debut should the Twins shop in the bargain bin to replace Sonny Gray. At least with the deflating news comes the excitement of young players potentially debuting. Are there any other internal options that stand to benefit from the payroll decrease? Let us know below! View full article

No position has more question marks around it for the Twins than center field. Byron Buxton has undergone a surgical knee repair once more, but leaving his CF outlook hazier than ever. Even if he does return, how long can he keep playing out there? Image courtesy of Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports Michael A. Taylor made himself a standout for the Twins in Buxton’s absence this season. In the scenario that he doesn’t re-sign, the internal organizational options don’t pan out as well as having a semi-healthy Buxton or a returning Taylor. Willi Castro proved himself useful as a backup and left-handed hitting platoon in center with Taylor. But he would be very stretched as a starter and the Twins value his versatility. Then there’s Austin Martin. Martin ended the season strong with the St. Paul Saints and has set himself up well to make his MLB debut in 2024. But he’s still a player who doesn’t need to be rushed and still has elements of his game to iron out. It’s hard to see him arriving before Memorial Day, at least as a full-time option, unless injuries force the front office’s hand. Another option is Nick Gordon, who missed the majority of the 2023 season with a broken tibia. While Gordon looks to be healthy, his future with the organization is in question as Castro has overtaken him in the pecking order as the team’s super-utility man. Gordon is arbitration eligible and out of options, which doesn't help his case. Royce Lewis may be another option in center this upcoming season too. However, for now the Twins and Lewis both seem to be opposed to a return to the outfield, after his last start in center ended with a torn ACL. While he did remain healthy with his knees upon his return on Memorial Day this season, Lewis still experienced some leg issues during the season, including a hamstring strain that forced him to finish on the IL. There are many who still believe his best-fit position is center field, but it’s possible Lewis remains on the infield to ensure longevity in playing time versus risking another injury that puts him out for a long while. Removing Lewis as an option in center, that leaves Castro as the only man currently on the Twins' outfield depth chart that can hit from the right side of the plate. And the last thing the Twins outfield needs is another left-handed hitter, which makes a reunion with Taylor, or a signing like Kevin Kiermaier or Harrison Bader, the best outfield options in free agency. If payroll limitations price these higher-end free agents out of Minnesota's range, there are some lower-tier right-handed hitting center fielders that can work as a one-year deal, platoon options alongside Castro, Martin, or Lewis. Kevin Pillar, Jake Marisnick, and even former Twin Aaron Hicks are all suitable fallback options if Taylor signs elsewhere. Pillar played in 81 games with the Braves this last season. The Braves used him more frequently as a defensive option than for his offense, as he slashed .228/.248/.416 in 206 plate appearances. Pillar would remain that defensive-first, bat-second option to keep things afloat until the Twins line up their primary center fielder. Marisnick played less than Pillar, showing up in 46 games between the White Sox, Tigers, and Dodgers this year. Marisnick had a .228/.248/.416 triple slash in 83 plate appearances. The limited playing time and injuries this season do show a decline in his performance, but Marisnick will only be 33 and has shown the ability to mash lefties. Speaking of players who showed they still have something left in the tank, former Twin Aaron Hicks. After being released by the Yankees on May 26th, Hicks revitalized his career with the Orioles on May 30th. Hicks played in only 65 of the remaining 106 games on the season but he had his best stretch of games at the plate since 2018. Hicks posted an .806 OPS in 236 plate appearances with the Birds. The switch-hitter has always been more effective swinging from the right side, and that was definitely true in 2023. He may not be the player he once was, but he’s likely the best fallback of this group if the Twins miss out on the top CF names in free agency. It bears noting that Hicks rarely played center down the stretch in Baltimore, more often starting in the outfield corners. The offseason is still young and the options in centerfield outside of Buxton are still plentiful. However, with the Twins likely to move slow and facing payroll constraints, it behooves us to become familiar with the lower tier of free agents. View full article

It's that time of the year again! Major League teams need to set their 40-man rosters in advance of the annual Rule 5 draft. Every team has decisions to make. Some are easy decisions. Some are hard decisions. And some teams will make mind-numbingly bad decisions. Or at least that's what their fans think. We cover the Rule 5 draft and more in the twelfth episode of Destination: The Show. 0:00 Intro 4:00 Craig Counsell to the Cubs 10:14 Kala'i Rosario wins the AFL Home Run Derby 14:32 Rule 5 - what is it? 18:35 What happens when a player is drafted? 21:00 How common is it to find a great player? 25:50 What teams are looking for? 27:30 Brewers Overview - main options 33:15 Other possible Milwaukee adds 36:37 Cubs Overview 48:50 Twins Overview You can support the show by downloading it from wherever you get your podcasts, leaving us a positive review and five star rating at iTunes or Spotify, retweeting show related content on Twitter, and subscribing to the Twins Daily YouTube page. You can follow us @DTS_POD1, @J_D_Cameron, @Jeremynygaard, and @TheodoreTollef1 on Twitter. Send us your prospect and draft related questions for our next episode. Find Destination: The Show on all major podcast platforms including Spotify, iTunes, iHeartRadio and Amazon Music. The show is available on Libsyn, our podcasting platform, in addition to YouTube. View full article

We're officially in the MLB offseason (congrats Rangers, btw). Here is a discussion on the current state of the Minnesota Twins 40-man roster and some decisions facing the front office. It's a good situation to be in, but it appears the Twins are in a bit of a roster crunch. View full video

The Minnesota Twins need a quality starter in centerfield. There is no way around it. Image courtesy of © Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports They prefer a healthy Byron Buxton for most of a 162-game schedule, but a healthy Byron Buxton available for most of a 162-game schedule has yet to present itself. How can they recapture the magic of Michael A. Taylor in 2024? When the Minnesota Twins extended Byron Buxton, they knew what they were getting: An elite talent when on the field, but a growing unknown how often that would be each season. His 92 games played in 2022 was the second-highest total of his career, and he has reached the 100-game milestone once in his career. Therefore, having someone available to compensate for an extended absence in centerfield is a must. Over the years, Minnesota has tried to make a patchwork plan fit. Gilberto Celestino, Jake Cave, Nick Gordon, Rob Refsnyder, and others played substantial time at center, but none adequately played the part. If Buxton was reliable for 120 or more games, a quality backup may suffice in his absence. Realizing that hoping and wishing can't be the plan, Derek Falvey addressed the situation for the first time last winter. When they acquired Michael A. Taylor from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for Evan Sisk and Steven Cruz, the Twins not only brought in a player to supplement Buxton but one that could conceivably start instead of him. Taylor has left plenty to be desired offensively throughout his career, but he's a Gold Glove talent in the field and has had stretches of decent production at the dish. Taylor proved to be worth every penny. He played in 129 games for Minnesota this year, and he would have been in Rocco Baldelli's lineup more if not for a late-season injury. Buxton never saw the field for the Twins, meaning it was Taylor's job to cover the centerfield grass nightly. Beyond that, his 94 OPS+ was the second-highest output of his career. He blasted a career-best 21 homers, and without another proper centerfield option on the roster, his presence was not only welcomed but necessary. A free agent this offseason, for the 33-year-old Taylor, replicating his 2023 is unlikely. He followed his career-best 104 OPS+ in 2017 with a 69 OPS+ the year after. He did have a 90 OPS+ in 2022 with the Royals but posted just a 74 OPS+ from 2018-2021. For the sake of continuity, Minnesota may opt to reunite with a known commodity, but it will likely come at a higher cost than the $4.5 million he made a year ago. If they want to replace him, getting it right is imperative. Similarly to someone like Donovan Solano, finding another option to fill a utility role in the starting lineup isn't an incredible proposition. Doing so with the right mix of cost and output in hopes of replicating the Taylor or Solano level of success is more complex. The Twins will have the free agent market to explore, and this front office has also shown an affinity towards trades. The answer probably isn't immediately within the organization. Spending on a player like Cody Bellinger isn't part of the Twins' plan. They could opt for Kevin Kiermaier, but he's the only real option in free agency outside of Taylor himself. Aaron Hicks isn't returning, and neither Kevin Pillar nor Harrison Bader can be regulars on a serious contender. It would be asking a lot of Austin Martin to step up immediately, and it doesn't appear the Twins are interested in moving Royce Lewis off of the dirt. For now, the plan for center is unknown. It would be great if Buxton responds well to his latest knee surgery and ultimately takes time away from whomever the front office brings in, but that can't and won't be the expectation. Falvey executed well in dealing for Taylor, and he found everything necessary in an alternative option. Replicating that success will be challenging, but Minnesota must get it right. With a position so important to any roster, especially this one, the Twins can leave no stone unturned. View full article

The Twins saw a trio of rookies emerge as critical cogs in a line-up that struggled in the season’s first half. Here are three rookies who can join the Twins next season and have a similar impact. Image courtesy of Rob Thompson, St. Paul Saints It’s hard to imagine how the Twins’ season would have played out without the team’s trio of rookie players. Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner immediately impacted the roster and helped the club win its third division title in the last five seasons. This trio of rookies all had an OPS+ of 130 or higher while establishing themselves at baseball’s highest level. There have been few times in baseball history where a rookie trio has compiled better totals than Minnesota’s rookies last season. From a team construction standpoint, it would be in the team’s best interest if their prospect pipeline could continue to produce big-league talent, but that can’t always be the case. There are signs of other prospects joining the Twins next season and producing at a high level. Here’s a look at three players who could be Minnesota’s next great rookie trio. Brooks Lee, SS/3B TD Top Prospect Ranking: 2 The Twins have been aggressive with Lee since taking him with the 8th overall pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. In his professional debut, he played at three levels and finished the season at Double-A, where the Wind Surge were on the way to the Texas League Championship Series. In 2023, Lee started the year at Double-A, hitting .292/.365/.476 (.841) with 31 doubles and 11 home runs in 87 games. He was promoted to Triple-A for the stretch run and posted a .731 OPS at a level where he was nearly 4.5 years younger than the average age of the competition. His bat has been his best tool since the Twins drafted him, but there are long-term questions about where he fits on the defensive spectrum. He’s played primarily shortstop in his pro career, but many evaluators feel he will shift to third base as he continues to add muscle to his frame. For the long term, the Twins could employ an infield with Lee at third and shift Lewis over to second base. 2024 Outlook: Lee will start next season in St. Paul, but he projects to make his big-league debut at some point next season. He’s one of the most advanced hitters to come through the Twins’ system in quite some time, and many national outlets will rank him highly on their top-100 lists this winter. Austin Martin, UTL TD Top Prospect Ranking: 7 Martin’s time in the Twins organization has been a bit of a roller coaster ride. Minnesota added Martin as one of the key prospects in the Jose Berrios trade with Toronto. At the time of the trade, he was considered one of baseball’s top 25 prospects. In 2022, he struggled with a .683 OPS at Double-A while dealing with some injuries. The Twins sent him to the Arizona Fall League following the season, and he destroyed the baseball by hitting .374/.454/.482 (.936) with seven extra-base hits in 21 games. Based on this performance, there were high hopes for him entering the 2023 season. Martin suffered a sprained ligament in his right elbow during spring training, and there was a chance he’d need to undergo Tommy John surgery. Instead, he rehabbed the injury and returned to the field in July. In 59 games, he hit .263/.387/.405 (.791) with 11 doubles and six home runs. His days at shortstop are likely behind him, but his athleticism allows him to play center field and second base regularly. 2024 Outlook: The Twins must continue to get Martin back on track so he can make a meaningful impact at the big-league level. Byron Buxton’s future in center field seems like a long shot, so Martin might be able to play a role at an essential up-the-middle defensive position. Yunior Severino, 2B/3B TD Top Prospect Ranking: 12 Severino had a tremendous season on his way to being named the TD Minor League Hitter of the Year. In 120 games, he hit .272/.352/.546 (.898) with 17 doubles and 35 home runs between Double- and Triple-A. The Twins player development team has worked hard with Severino to make more consistent contact, and he seemed to put it all together at the organization’s two highest minor league levels. Next year, he will be 24 and still young to be playing at Triple-A, so there is hope for him to make continued improvements in the years ahead. The Twins will need to add him to the 40-man roster this winter to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft, which seems straightforward. Severino has continued to add to his defensive flexibility by playing 125 innings or more at three different infield positions (1B, 2B, 3B). This defensive versatility should help to make him an option when an injury impacts the team’s roster next season. 2024 Outlook: Other prospects will rate higher than Severino on national prospect lists, but he still has an opportunity to be an above-average player at the big-league level. There are other prospects ahead of him on the team’s depth chart, but look for him to debut in the second half of 2024. What kind of impact can these players have on the 2024 roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

The Twins finished 24th overall in the MLB with 86 stolen bases during the 2023 regular season. Though this is an improvement from when they finished last in the MLB with only 38 stolen bases in 2022, their 2023 numbers lagged behind most teams. The Twins are suited to be an effective base-stealing team, and they should increase their stolen base attempts in 2024. Image courtesy of David Kohl - USA TODAY Sports A good person is someone who attempts to live a sound moral life in an entirely corrupt world. That means avoiding the temptation of morally corrupt actions like fraud, violence, lying, and theft and instead doing what is right in the name of actively attempting to be a good person. Though this is a valuable and essential standard of life to pursue, one of these morally corrupt acts has an entirely different meaning when discussing baseball: theft. Also known as "stealing" in the baseball lexicon, attempting to swipe a base is a perfectly reasonable and even encouraged act to engage and dabble with. Unfortunately, the Twins have been one of the more steal-averse teams in baseball since Rocco Baldelli took over as manager in 2019. To add context, here is where the Twins have ranked in stolen bases as a team each season since 2019: 2019 - 28 (30th in MLB) 2020 - 14 (30th in MLB) 2021 - 54 (25th in MLB) 2022 - 38 (30th in MLB) 2023 - 86 (24th in MLB) Three out of the last five seasons, the Twins have finished in last place in stolen bases in Major League Baseball. The highest the Twins have finished was in 24th place, which is still in the bottom half of the league. Twins utility player Willi Castro led the team with 33 stolen bases (SB), and if it weren't for Castro the Twins would have had 53 stolen bases during the 2023 season, which would have been last in Major League Baseball. Of course, this isn't an appropriate way to view the situation because Castro played for the Twins and had 33 steals, the butterfly effect, etc. Nonetheless, Castro, the manufacturer of 38% of the Twins stolen bases, puts their unwillingness to attempt to steal them into a fascinating light. Castro was incredibly efficient as a base stealer, stealing 33 bases on 38 attempts (87%), and finished 10th in Major League Baseball in total steals. What is interesting about Castro being a highly efficient base stealer is that he possesses an above-average but non-elite 82nd-percentile sprint speed. An 82nd-percentile sprint speed means Castro can cover 28.6 feet/second, but to be considered a player with an elite sprint speed, one needs to be able to cover 30 feet/second. So, Castro could efficiently steal a high volume of bases while being a non-elite base runner sprint speed-wise. Interestingly enough, this is the case with a handful of the nine players who stole more bases than Castro: Ronald Acuña Jr. (Braves) - 73 SB, 67th-percentile sprint speed Esteury Ruiz (Athletics) - 67 SB, 97th-percentile sprint speed Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks) - 54 SB, 99th-percentile sprint speed Bobby Witt Jr. (Royals) - 49 SB, 100th-percentile sprint speed CJ Abrams (Nationals) - 47 SB, 82nd-percentile sprint speed Nico Hoerner (Cubs) - 43 SB, 80th-percentile sprint speed Ha-Seong Kim (Padres) - 38 SB, 79th-percentile sprint speed Julio Rodriguez (Mariners) - 37 SB, 96th-percentile sprint speed Elly De La Cruz (Reds) - 35 SB, 100th-percentile sprint speed Willi Castro (Twins) - 33 SB, 82nd-percentile sprint speed Now, while this list is populated with 97th-to-100th-percentile sprint speed base-stealers in Carroll, Witt Jr., Rodriguez, and De La Cruz, there are more players with non-elite sprint speeds in Acuña Jr. (the league leader in steals), Abrams, Hoerner, Kim, and Castro. Though these respective players all have differentiating sprint speeds, the one thing they have in common regarding stolen bases is a high number of attempts. Here is how many stolen bases (SB), caught stealing (CS), and overall successful stolen base percentage (rounded) the previously listed players had during the 2023 regular season: Acuña Jr. - (73 SB, 14 CS, 84% sucess rate) Ruiz - (67 SB, 13 CS, 84% success rate) Carroll - (54 SB, 5 CS, 92% success rate) Witt Jr. - (49 SB, 15 CS, 77% sucess rate) Abrams - (47 SB, 4 CS, 92% success rate) Hoerner - (43 SB, 7 CS, 86% success rate) Kim - (38 SB, 9 CS, 81% success rate) Rodriguez - (37 SB, 10 CS, 79% success rate) De La Cruz - (35 SB, 8 CS, 81% success rate) Castro - (33 SB, 5 CS, 87% success rate) Every player listed has at least 40 stolen base attempts and a success rate of over 75%. Having this many players steal such a high number of bases at an over 75% success rate is astonishing, and much of this phenomenon likely has to do with the MLB increasing the size of the bases from 15 square inches to 18 square inches and limiting pitchers to two pick-off attempts per plate appearance. The MLB and its consultants brainstormed and eventually created and implemented these rules to revitalize what was a dying art of stealing bases, and they have accomplished exactly that. Teams like the Cincinnati Reds (190 stolen bases in 2023), Arizona Diamondbacks (166 stolen bases in 2023), and divisional foe Kansas City Royals (163 stolen bases in 2023) have taken full advantage of these rule changes, and the Twins should heavily consider doing the same. Not only did the Red, Diamondbacks, and Royals have three of the best base stealers in the MLB during the 2023 regular season in the previously mentioned De La Cruz, Carroll, and Witt Jr., respectively, but they also had complementary players who similarly stole a high volume of bases. For example, the Reds had TJ Friedl with 27 stolen bases and a 73rd-percentile sprint speed, the Diamondbacks had Jake McCarthy with 26 stolen bases and a 98th-percentile sprint speed, and the Royals had Dairon Blanco with 24 stolen bases and a 100th-percentile sprint speed. To complement Castro and his 33 stolen bases, the Twins had Michael A. Taylor with 13 steals and an 85th-percentile sprint speed. An 85th-percentile sprint speed is in no way lackluster, but the drop off in total number of stolen bases from Friedl, McCarthy, and Blanco to Taylor is significant. To further emphasize how the Twins didn't adequately attempt to steal bases beyond Castro, here are the Twins who finished in third through fifth place leaders in stolen bases with their sprint speed percentiles: 3rd: Byron Buxton - 9 SB, 94th-percentile sprint speed 4th: Royce Lewis - 6 SB, 73rd-percentile sprint speed 5th: Andrew Stevenson - 4 SB, 93rd-percentile sprint speed The point of this exercise isn't to be hypercritical of the Twins and their unwillingness to steal bases at the same rate as other teams with fast players but rather to show that they have players with similar above-average and even elite sprint speeds to teams that steal at a high rate like the Reds, Diamondbacks, and Royals. Taylor and Stevenson might not be members of the Twins' 2024 Opening Day 26-man roster, but Castro, Buxton, and Lewis will be. The Twins will also have players who can adequately steal bases in Jorge Polanco (55th-percentile sprint speed), Edouard Julien (41st-percentile sprint speed), Max Kepler (52nd-percentile sprint speed), and potentially speedy utility player Austin Martin. Utility player Nick Gordon (49th-percentile sprint speed) is also a capable base stealer, but whether he will make the Twins' 2024 Opening Day roster is in great question. Castro, Buxton, and potentially Martin are adequate base-stealing options and should be attempting steals at a higher rate. As evidenced by their sprint speeds, Lewis, Polanco, Julien, and Kepler are not elite base-stealing options, but Acuña Jr. just stole 73 bases with a 67th-percentile sprint speed by masterfully mixing an opportunistic mindset with a high baserunning IQ. It would be a dramatic waste of time to suggest that the Twins begin attempting steal bases at the same rate as the Reds, Diamondbacks, and Royals. Instead, the Twins should aspire to become a middle-of-the-pack base-stealing team and steal 100 or more bases, which they have yet to do since stealing 135 bases in 2012. Acuña Jr., Abrams, Hoerner, Kim, and current Twins utility player Castro prove that players can be highly effective base stealers despite not having elite sprint speeds. The Twins have capable base stealers, and it would be in their best interest to become a team that attempts to steal more often during the 2024 season. Should the Twins attempt to steal more often in 2024? Who do you think should attempt to steal bases besides Castro? Comment below. View full article