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The Twins front office has stuck to their process all season. Has it worked to their advantage? Image courtesy of Brett Davis - USA TODAY Sports Stubbornness is a polarizing characteristic. Traditionally, people associate stubbornness as a flaw of character: Close-minded, stagnant, and unable to grow with the ever-changing environment surrounding oneself. Stubbornness can stunt progression, leading to an adverse reaction that can affect people on a micro or macro scale, depending on the situation. On the other hand, stubbornness can be great when blended with a sense of discernment and a strong foundation, especially in decision-making professions where multi-billion-dollar corporations' success and public image are on the line. Sound familiar? When stubbornness leads to success, the decision-maker gets praised for being decisive, focused, and having a clear vision. Like most things in life, specific decision-makers and corporations' stubbornness should not be considered exclusively good or bad. To think in absolutes is a fault in thought process, especially when analyzing the ever-changing state of professional sports teams. Notably the 2023 Minnesota Twins. The narrative behind the Minnesota Twins franchise and specific Twins players resides in a constant state of extreme fluctuation, and much of that flux in narrative resides in the decisions, or lack thereof, made by the front office. The Twins front office decision-making process, or lack thereof, has created a new angst amongst Twins fans that has yet to be felt since the front office did essentially nothing to enhance and fortify the World Series-hopeful 2019 Bomba Squad. Although the Twins have done relatively nothing to improve this year's roster besides trading Jorge López for Dylan Floro and claiming Jordan Luplow off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays, the team benefits from sticking with a handful of players that the majority would have cut bait with long ago. While this is true, the other end of the spectrum exists, and the Twins have also suffered at the hand of their stagnation. Has the good outweighed the bad? Let's take a look. The outcomes manufactured by the Twins stubbornness overlap with the 1967 Spaghetti Western film aptly titled The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, so it feels appropriate to categorize the decisions made as such. The Good: The Re-emergence of Max Kepler and Emilio Pagán The prominent cases that illustrate the Twins reaping the benefits of sticking with players when the majority believed they should part with them are the recent performances of Kepler and Pagán. Here are Kepler and Pagán's numbers since the end of the All-Star Break: Kepler - .297/.344/.576 (.920), 128 PA, 35 H, 9 2B, 8 HR, .280 ISO, 21.1% K%, 150 wRC+ Pagán - 1.04 ERA, 2.98 FIP, 92.1 LOB%, 4.3 HR/FB, 0.52 HR/9, 61 TBF, 17.1 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 4 BB, 15 SO Kepler and Pagán have put up elite numbers since the All-Star break, propelling themselves into conversations of being the Twins current best position player and relief pitcher, respectively. Unfortunately, that was not the case earlier this season or last season for Pagán, and when discussing Kepler, this hasn't been the case since his breakout season in 2019. Kepler and Pagán's turnarounds have been encouraging. Although that doesn't guarantee future success, their production since the All-Star game has contributed significantly to the Twins having a 91.2% chance of making the playoffs, according to Fangraphs. The Twins front office's stubbornness has finally appeared to pay off with Kepler and Pagán, but this, unfortunately, isn't the end of their stubborn ways. The Bad: Unwavering Allegiance to Joey Gallo When the Twins signed Gallo to a one-year $11 million contract last December, a sense of optimism came with the addition. Many thought Gallo, like Sonny Gray, was a victim of the formidable pressure Yankees fans put on players. Once Gallo returned to a small market team, he could play loosely, thrive, and hit 41 home runs again, as he did for the Rangers in 2017. Right? Gallo has undoubtedly been better as a member of the Twins than the Yankees, but his numbers are less than inspiring in both cases. Here are Gallo's first 314 plate appearances with the Yankees compared to his first 313 plate appearances with the Twins: Gallo - Yankees - .167/.299/.380 (.679), 314 PA, 44 H, 16 HR, 38.2% K%, .213 ISO, 91 wRC+ Gallo - Twins - .180/.304/.447 (.751), 313 PA, 48 H, 20 HR, 42.8% K%, .267, 107 wRC+ Gallo has been better than many make him out to be and has provided defensive flexibility while hitting the occasional home run. Regardless, the Twins have better options to fulfill his roster spot waiting in the wings at Triple-A. It is reasonable to think that current Saints players Austin Martin, Chris Williams, Trevor Larnach, Anthony Prato, and potentially even recently promoted to Triple-A prospects Yunior Severino, DaShawn Keirsey Jr., and, most notably, Brooks Lee could help the Twins more than Gallo at this moment in the season. The Twins have done a great job at blending young hitters with their core veterans this season, but Gallo feels like the last roadblock that is stunting the development of a future full-time contributor like Martin, Larnach, or even Lee. Rostering Gallo for the rest of the regular season will likely prove insignificant as the Twins are all but locked into a playoff spot with a 91.2% chance of making the playoffs. However, suppose the Twins elect to start Gallo over a promising young player like Matt "Cement Bones" Wallner or Alex Kirilloff in a playoff game or prioritize pinch-hitting him for Royce Lewis or Donovan Solano in the late innings of a playoff game when a right-handed relief pitcher enters the game. In that case, flying too close to the sun could make the Twins like Icarus. The Ugly: Neglecting the Back End of the Bullpen The way the Twins front office's stubbornness has negatively affected the 2023 team the most is through neglecting the back end of the bullpen. While the front office choosing not to improve the back-end bullpen should be considered malpractice, their passivity hasn’t come back to haunt yet due to admirable performance from the front-half of the bullpen. Highlighted by Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, Caleb Thielbar, currently inactive Brock Stewart, Floro, and the previously mentioned Pagán, the Twins, according to Fangraphs, have the 22nd-ranked bullpen generating 2.1 fWAR. While the combination of Duran, Jax, Thielbar, Pagán, and Floro, to an extent, have performed well, they account for only five-eighths of the bullpen, leaving three bullpen spots relatively unclaimed and lacking production. Jordan Balazovic, Josh Winder, and Cole Sands currently fill the final three bullpen spots. However, their jobs are in a highly dynamic spot, as all three of these relievers could get optioned back to Triple-A St. Paul at any moment. A playoff team's sixth-best reliever has to be better than the likes of Balazovic, Winder, and Sands. The five other American League teams currently owning playoff spots are the Baltimore Orioles, Texas Rangers, Tampa Bay Rays, Houston Astros, and Seattle Mariners. While each team has relief pitching-induced shortcomings, they have established bullpens that most would deem playoff-ready and more well-rounded than the Twins. To put this into perspective, here is how much fWAR each playoff team's sixth, seventh, and eighth options have generated combined compared to the Twins with seeding: Orioles - Danny Coulombe, Cionel Pérez, Nick Vespi (1.5 fWAR) Rangers - Chris Stratton, Brock Burke, Grant Anderson (1.6 fWAR) Twins - Balazovic, Winder, Sands (-0.4 fWAR) Rays - Jake Diekman, Shawn Armstrong, Jacob Lopez (1.1 fWAR) Astros - Ryne Stanek, Rafael Montero, Seth Martinez (0.3 fWAR) Mariners - Tayler Saucedo, Isaiah Campbell, Eduard Bazardo (0.5 fWAR) While some of the advantages appear incremental, it cannot be understated how much less productive the bottom half of the Twins bullpen has performed in comparison to the other playoff-caliber teams in the American League. The Twins front office purposely rejected two opportunities to improve and fortify their bullpen by not acquiring a reliable veteran set-up man this past offseason and by not trading for another veteran relief arm to complement the acquisition of Floro. Electing to have faith in unreliable young relief options like Balazovic, Winder, Sands, Jovani Moran, and Oliver Ortega has proved to be the front office's greatest fault this season. Will it come back to haunt them in the playoffs? That remains unanswered, but if it does it is essential to note that it was entirely avoidable. The Twins front office has expressed a sense of stubbornness regarding roster decisions this season. While it will likely prove to be insignificant the rest of the regular season, it has the risk of being their Achilles heel come the post-season. What do you make of the Twins front office's stubbornness? Has it worked in their favor? Do you think they will come to regret it? Comment below. View full article

Much of the takeaway from the Twins lack of trade deadline action rightfully revolves around the current team and the holes that remain. What it may say about the front office long-term is also a worthwhile consideration. Image courtesy of John Bonnes, Twins Daily Many consider the overall body of work by the current front office as a success. It’s easy to compare to the Terry Ryan regime and agree that they’re in a much better place now. That being said, it’s fair to wonder whether their resume undoubtedly makes them the men for the job. This deadline may suggest that ownership, the people who matter, are content. The Falvey regime has had its ups and down, and despite their public desire to build a sustainable winner, the Twins have been anything but. After a surprise playoff appearance in 2017, they understandably finished six games under .500 the following season. 2019 appeared to be the year that years of building infrastructure and a farm system came together. Winning 101 games and setting the all-time home run record, a playoff series sweep was disappointing, but at least the Twins appeared to have a core in place for the long haul. In a shortened 2020, the Twins again made the playoffs only to be swept out by the sub-.500 Astros at home. At no point did the Twins front office express a step back in their attempts to contend between the plans they provided publicly and the moves they made. Still, they missed the playoffs in one of the softest divisions in history both in 2021 and 2022. There were routinely multiple teams missing the playoffs altogether from other divisions who would have run away with the AL Central, but the Twins couldn’t even finish in second place. You’d think this would cause tensions to begin rising within ownership, only to be made worse by a 2023 squad that has always felt mediocre and incomplete. The Twins entered the trade deadline with only a one-game lead on Cleveland. The needs were obvious and relatively cheap, and still, they chose to do nothing aside from part with Jorge Lopez, one of the holdovers from 2022's disastrous trade deadline. The Twins still have the second easiest remaining schedule in baseball, whereas Cleveland is about middle of the pack. It’s a big reason the Twins playoff odds remain near 80% despite their minuscule lead. Making matters even more interesting is Cleveland’s apparent plan at the deadline aiming more toward the future by parting with their most effective starter. They’re begging the Twins to take the division. It’s odd then that the front office chose not to address any of their most obvious needs between a bullpen that’s wearing down and the worst OPS against left-handed pitching in baseball. The Twins may very well still win the division, though it’s far from a done deal given how this team has played to date. We’ll all surely continue to watch in hopes of another division title, but the operation at the deadline should cause long-term concern, as it’s hard to see the front office passing on any upgrades if their jobs aren’t guaranteed. It was true before, and even more so now that Cleveland effectively sold: The Twins should not continue to employ this front office if they miss the playoffs for the third straight year. The bar to clear has never been lower, and the Twins simply should not be allowed to miss the mark for a third consecutive time. With even minor upgrades at the deadline, they could have insulated their division title, but they declined to do so riding a five-game losing streak and having just been swept by the Kansas City Royals. Derek Falvey, Thad Levine, and company simply don’t seem to have any sense of urgency after two-plus years of mediocrity, and that should be a bright red flag. They ignored obvious holes this offseason, and they doubled down on this flawed roster at the deadline even as Brock Stewart’s return to the bullpen and Alex Kirilloff’s return to the lineup became serious question marks. It’s clear they think they know better than anyone else when it comes to building a baseball team despite the lack of historical evidence, and it’s worth wondering whether this deadline’s inaction shows that ownership isn’t close to making a change. That should not be the case. View full article

The front office had conversations and could have made moves. Their explanations for not doing so don't hold water, so the only explanation I can think of is that ownership didn't approve adding payroll, just like the 2022 White Sox. Image courtesy of David Berding-USA TODAY Sports In my never-ending quest to grapple with unfavorable realities by saying what things are similar to other things, I took a look at the 2022 White Sox to try and figure out why this Twins team did nothing at the trade deadline and then gave us an excuse on par with a sixth grader who forgot their math homework. The White Sox were last year's Twins - they had more talent than the rest of the division, but couldn't get out of their own way, had some injuries, and generally just hovered around .500. Every winning streak became a losing streak. Every breakout performance turned into an injury. The opposition crushed every 3-2 pitch with a game on the line. And when the deadline came around, the White Sox did nothing. It was inexplicable. They made one trade, sending their backup catcher, Reese McGuire, for struggling lefty reliever Jake Diekman. GM Rick Hahn had the following to say: "We're disappointed that we weren't able to do more to improve this club, I think you saw a year ago at this time, you've seen it for the last several years, arguably the last couple of decades, that it's our nature to try to improve this club at any opportunity we have. Unfortunately, we weren't able to line up on some of our other potential targets." That is probably a bit more direct than Derek Falvey's explanation for the Twins' inaction, and White Sox fans crucified Hahn's. They had five quality starters (sound familiar?), but they had a true ace in Dylan Cease, who finished runner-up for the Cy Young. They had lineup stars in Tim Anderson, Eloy Jimenez, Luis Robert Jr. , Andrew Vaughn, Jose Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, Yoan Moncada, and a great (though expensive) bullpen. It made even less sense for that team to be .500 then for the current Twins to be .500. They needed any playable outfielder and a bullpen piece at the deadline. Sound familiar? When the season concluded, it came to light that the White Sox were operating with a cap on their spending, and that was at least part of the reason for their inaction. Even with the additions of Andrew Benintendi and Mike Clevinger, they opened the 2023 season with a payroll of about $13 million less than what they ended 2022 with. Could this be a reason the Twins stood pat, as well? In Chicago's case, they had a thin farm system and probably assumed that the Twins and Guardians would return to earth in the second half, so they could avoid adding any payroll (They were right about the Twins, at least). The Twins are in a similar spot. Their farm system is weak but has a few impact guys floating around in Brooks Lee, Marco Raya, and Emmanuel Rodriguez. They could have cashed those guys in and gone for it, knowing they were likely to host a playoff series, but could the team have afforded/gotten ownership approval for adding on Paul Goldschmidt's salary? Juan Soto's? Even the $5 million owed to Teoscar Hernandez over the rest of the year? We have no indications that they either could or could not, so what follows is theory, not fact. What we do have are half-baked explanations that they didn't want to remove anyone off the 26-man roster of a team with a .500 record and had a couple of sellers turn into buyers last minute. One way to divert attention from being at your spending limit is to say you don't want to give up your prospects, but they certainly had no problem offering up Cade Povich and Christian Encarnacion-Strand last year and didn't even offer that excuse this time around. Moderately tuned-in Twins fans have tried for years to quell the masses claiming "cheap Pohlads" and "poverty franchise" at every missed free agent. While all that was true in 1999, we tried to explain that the payrolls have risen to be mid-pack. We signed Carlos Correa! We extended Pablo Lopez! There's plenty of blame to go toward the front office, but their mistakes don't have anything to do with money! It was annoying work, but someone had to do it. The team is now running into some real financial limitations, some of which are out of their control, but nonetheless could have steered the front office away from adding anyone with anything above a minimum salary the rest of the way. First, the Diamond Sports situation could greatly impact payroll flexibility. While they agreed to pay the Twins for their 2023 contract, the team is a free agent at the end of the year. And it seems increasingly unlikely that whatever media partnership they enter into for 2024 will not be nearly as lucrative as the one they had with Bally (court documents revealed that the deal was worth $54.8 million per year)- there's a reason it was hemorrhaging money beyond just mismanagement. With streaming and general shifts in the media landscape, TV deals just don't hit like they used to ten or even five years ago. If $20 million or so gets knocked off the team's revenues for 2024, that will impact the team's payroll, one way or the other. Not to mention the team is already running a franchise record $153 million payroll after signing Correa to the biggest deal in team history. Second, ticket sales have not been great. They are up over 2022 at roughly 24,000 per game, but that pales compared to 2019 (28,000/game) and 2013 (30,000/game). Twins president Dave St. Peter famously stated last August that he didn't understand why fans weren't coming to games, citing the likable, contending (at the time) team. Not noted by St. Peter was any awareness of the public perception of the team, which had yet to collapse at that point. My theory is that Falvey and Levine were directed not to add to the payroll for this year. That may have to do with the team's lackluster performance, or it might have to do with a lack of future revenue. Either way, it would seem ownership told the front office to make something up about believing in their guys and not wanting to boot anyone off the roster. I've supported most of what this front office has done, or at least could see the thinking behind their weirder decisions. But if the team is fabricating excuses for not having authorization to add a couple million to its payroll, that's dysfunctional. Adding Connor Joe and Michael Fulmer wouldn't have made this team that much more of an attraction. But don't tell me you couldn't address obvious weaknesses that wouldn't cost much in prospect capital because the market didn't shape up exactly how you anticipated or didn't want to hurt Joey Gallo's feelings. If you weren't authorized to add payroll, say that. We get that; we're Twins fans. View full article

Like any front office, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have seen their share of ups and downs during their tenure. However, fans' trust in this front office might have hit an all-time low after back-to-back poor seasons and a lackluster trade deadline. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports The Twins hired Derek Falvey and Thad Levine to head up their baseball operations department leading into the 2017 season. At the time, Minnesota had lost 90 games or more in five of the previous six seasons. A new direction was needed for a franchise stuck in some antiquated ways. Over the last seven seasons, the Twins have won two division titles, but the team has gone 0-for-6 in postseason games and had disappointing finishes for two consecutive seasons. It seemed like the 2023 campaign might be a make-it-or-break-it season for the front office, but they haven't treated it as such. Only some things have been doom and gloom for the front office in 2023. They have built one of baseball's best starting rotations through multiple trades in recent seasons. Over the last two winters, they have surprised the baseball world by signing Carlos Correa to multiple contracts. Despite these positives, the front office has avoided adding late-inning bullpen arms or a right-handed power bat. Those were the team's needs coming into the season and remain the same following the trade deadline. Falvey met with reporters in the hours following the deadline to discuss Minnesota's lack of moves. There were three clear messages from the front office, but each can be spun in multiple directions. If fans trust the front office, Message 1: Fewer Teams Ended Up Being Sellers This message is valid on a surface level. Teams on the fringes of contention like the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Los Angeles Angels, and San Diego Padres didn't enter full-out seller mode. Some of that can is expected with baseball's expanded playoffs, including three Wild Card teams in each league. According to FanGraphs, six teams in the AL have a 65% chance or higher of making the playoffs entering play on Wednesday. That leaves one playoff spot for a fringe team, and that was enough to stop some from selling. With fewer teams selling, it might have made it harder for the front office to address the team's needs, but other teams traded for relievers and right-handed corner bats. Minnesota's front office knew the teams guaranteed to be sellers, and their conversations could have focused on players from those clubs. Also, the Twins could have made better offers for players they valued with the deadline approaching. The supply of players changed with fewer teams being sellers, and teams, like Minnesota, must adjust to the market. Message 2: Stick with the Veterans For months, the Twins' front office has stressed that the most significant help to the team would come from the players in the clubhouse. Minnesota's highest-paid position players are Carlos Correa, Byron Buxton, Joey Gallo, Christian Vazquez, Max Kepler, and Jorge Polanco. All six players have underperformed compared to preseason projections. Correa and Buxton should crush left-handed pitching, but the team continues to struggle, and some of that performance is tied to the streakiness of the team's top right-handed hitters. Gallo has been one of baseball's worst hitters for two consecutive seasons. Kepler and Polanco have spent time on the IL while providing inconsistent performance. Vazquez was considered one of the top catchers on the free agent market, and his OPS+ is the lowest since 2018. There is plenty of blame to go around. Yes, the Twins aren't going to reach their full potential without the team's top players performing better. There were still opportunities to make low-cost additions to supplement the roster. Also, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to future performance. Some of the team's younger players had sat behind veterans on the depth chart even when it seemed apparent the younger player should be in the lineup more regularly. The front office values depth (maybe too much), making it tough to move on from veterans. Message 3: No Room On the 26-Man Roster Like the points above, the front office claimed that a lack of roster spots was another reason not to make a trade. Falvey and Levine felt there wasn't anyone on the 26-man roster that deserved to be passed over when acquiring a new player. In retrospect, this was the biggest falsity made by the front office in the wake of the trade deadline. Clearly, players on the team's roster deserve playing time over Gallo. He would be the most likely position player to move off the roster. Willi Castro also has the team's fifth most plate appearances with a 94 OPS+. It would be easy to add a better right-handed bat to take either of their roster spots. In the bullpen, the Twins carried Cole Sands for most of a week without him making an appearance. Minnesota has rotated through players in the eighth bullpen spot, which would make it easy to add a replacement. Jovani Moran has also struggled, and the team could have optioned him to make room. There are plenty of spots on the 26-man roster. A playoff cameo won't satisfy this fanbase, and it shouldn't satisfy fans. The front office is placing a large bet on the roster they assembled last winter, but that was before the hindsight of playing over 100 games. There are flaws with the Twins, and there was an opportunity to make minor additions to help this club. It might be time to move on from the current leadership group if the front office can't be trusted. Should fans trust the front office and its process? Will the front office survive if the Twins don't win the division? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. View full article

Twins fans might not have agreed with it, but the Minnesota Twins’ front office had reasons for their inaction at the trade deadline. As a first-place team in the American League Central and favorites to win the division, many expected the Minnesota Twins to be active at the trade deadline and bring in help as they prepare for their first playoff run since 2020. To the surprise of many, though, the Twins didn’t make a single move on Tuesday afternoon and instead decided to compete for the American League Central with the same roster they had coming into the August 1 deadline. Whether or not standing pat at the trade deadline is certainly fair to wonder, and is currently being discussed at Twins Daily here, here and here. But whether you agree with the front office’s inaction on Tuesday or you don’t, it’s worth exploring why the front office did what they did (or didn’t do). Here are three potential reasons why the Minnesota Twins stood pat at the trade deadline: 1. The landscape of the trade market changed In his statement following the passing of the trade deadline, Derek Falvey noted that the landscape of the trade market changed in the week leading up to the trade deadline, which impacted their ability to make trades. Teams like the Cubs, Angels and Padres seemed like sellers a week ago, but recently changed their tune to become buyers at the trade deadline. Whether it’s a valid excuse or not, the changing of the trade market hampered the Twins’ ability to get a trade done at the deadline. 2. The rest of the American League Central turned out to be sellers While the Minnesota Twins weren’t active at the trade deadline, the rest of the American League Central was very active at the trade deadline, as all four teams outside of the Twins turned out to be sellers. Each of the Tigers, Royals, White Sox and even the Guardians sold off present-day assets at the trade deadline. With the knowledge that the rest of the division, and most notably the Guardians not only weren’t going to be buying at the trade deadline, but would actively be selling, it left the Twins in a position that they didn’t necessarily need to be buyers in order to solidify their playoff chances. Whatever odds that the Twins had coming into the trade deadline went up just from the fact that all of their competition sold off assets that would have helped take down the Twins in their hunt for the American League Central. It’s clear that because of the decreased competition in the division, the front office didn’t feel the same amount of pressure to load up their roster for an August and September run and that they feel confident in their ability to win the American League Central. 3. The Twins didn’t feel that this roster was worth investing in While the front office might have felt that the Twins didn’t need to add to their roster in order to win the American League Central, there is still an argument to be made that the Twins should have bolstered their roster in an attempt to make a run in the playoffs. By their lack of action at the trade deadline, the front office made it pretty clear that they don’t think that the Minnesota Twins’ roster has much of any shot to make a run in the playoffs. If the front office had confidence in the Twins’ roster as currently constructed, they would have done what they could to support that roster with additional pieces that would aid in a playoff run. With the roster that the Twins have, though, it’s not outlandish to have the mindset of “why would we add to a roster that is just going to lose anyways?” The Twins added to a roster in 2022 that didn’t end up being strong enough to even make the playoffs. They didn’t want to double down and add to a roster that wouldn’t be making a run once again. Do you agree with the reasons why the Twins didn’t make a move at the trade deadline? Leave a comment below and start the conversation. View full article

We don't know what happened behind closed doors and over phone calls and messages, but with news that the Twins did nothing at the trade deadline, it's impossible not to have an opinion. Here is mine. Image courtesy of Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports News came shortly after the 5:00 Central Time trade deadline that the Twins had done nothing. Made no moves. There were rumors about wanting a right-handed hitter, preferably an outfielder. When news broken that Tommy Pham had been traded, Twins fans had about a 10-minute window to get excited... ultimately learning he was traded to the Diamondbacks. Then we heard that the Twins and Cardinals were exchanging medical records on some players, so there was some thought that maybe the Twins would soon acquire Dylan Carlson or maybe even Jack Flaherty. Well, soon after, we learned that Flaherty was going to the Orioles. And then Twins beat reporters announced that they were told that the Twins didn't make a move. Deflating, right? I wasn't even excited about anyone that was being rumored to potentially be of interest to the Twins, probably other than David Bednar. But even I just had this weird sinking feeling when I read Do's tweet. But ultimately, I'm not upset. I'm not angry. I don't actually have a big problem with it at all. Yes, it would have been fun to add a player, and it's not like they sold. Is there a player that the Twins could have acquired that would have given the team or the fans confidence that they could truly be a competitive contender in a playoff series. The Twins team isn't one piece away. They aren't a journeyman right-handed outfielder who is considered bad in the clubhouse away. Not even adding a couple of veteran bullpen arms that other teams are trying to give away was going to do that. The reality is that this is a flawed team. If they want to truly be a contender for more than an AL Central title, today wasn't going to be the game changer. They weren't getting Verlander or Scherzer. They weren't going to get Goldschmidt. No, what this team needs (whether they added bit pieces or not) is for their own players to start playing like we know that they can. Or, that we know that they have in the past. They need Byron Buxton to hit like Byron Buxton did most of 2022. They need Carlos Correa to hit like Carlos Correa did most of his entire career. They need Sonny Gray to pitch like he did the first two or three months. They need their veteran starters to pitch like they did early. And they need their young players to keep playing. They have, in general, been the players to not only meet expectations but in many cases exceed them and be really good (see Edouardo Julien). The need Alex Kirilloff to only miss 10 days and then get back to his Player of the Week performance. They need Matt Wallner. They need Trevor Larnach. They need Royce Lewis. They need Joe Ryan to turn things back around. They need guys like Jordan Balazovic and Josh Winder to come up big out of the bullpen. They need to get Brock Stewart back... Oh wait, now this came out. Oh, and Alex Kirilloff had an MRI on his shoulder today too. And if all that goes well, the team should coast to the AL Central Division championship, and if all that happens, they should feel "OK" about playing the #3 Wild Card team. And most important, they can hopefully help us remove the 0-18 narrative. (PLEASE!) Oh, and if all those things would have happened up to this point in the season, the front office and ownership would have (and should have) felt much more obligated to make moves. Cleveland was a seller. They traded their best, healthy pitcher (Aaron Civale) and their DH (Josh Bell). Detroit tried to trade Edouardo Rodriguez. The Royals traded most of their bullpen. And the White Sox made all kinds of trades over the past week. What the Twins did at the Trade Deadline - which ultimate amounts to dealing Jorge Lopez for Dylan Floro - will have almost not impact on whether or not the team will win the division, or even run away with the division. We can be as upset as we want at the front office, and that's fair - sometimes trying to add something to breathe new life is good - but the focus needs to go to the players, especially the veterans that have been there and done that to step up. They don't - or shouldn't - need another player's only meeting. But, I get it, Twins fans. Trade Deadline Day is so much more fun when the team you follow is a buyer. Geez, it's more fun when they are a seller because you've likely accepted that decision being correct. Standing Pat is never exciting. That said, I personally don't have a huge problem with it. I mean, they were buyers last year, right? (insert comment here about Tyler Mahle and Jorge Lopez trades) Share your thoughts, y'all. We can listen. View full article

August 1st is quickly approaching and the Minnesota Twins are leading the AL Central. They should be expected to win the division, and that could be argued as true even without reinforcements. They will bring some in, but don’t expect the big splashes. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports A season ago Derek Falvey and Thad Levine swung some of the biggest trades in franchise history. They acquired Sonny Gray before the season, sending top pitching prospect Chase Petty to Cincinnati. They flipped Taylor Rogers on the doorstep of Opening Day to acquire Chris Paddack and Emilio Pagan. Then at the deadline they went gangbusters adding Tyler Mahle, Michael Fulmer, and Jorge Lopez. The trades the front office made prior to the season have worked out well for the Twins, but the group they made at the deadline have virtually all blown up. Mahle blew out his arm. Lopez has often looked lost. While Fulmer was fine, he faded down the stretch. Aside from the Baltimore deal, none of those swaps were all the egregious when considering track record and future value. Still though, even with a sound process, Minnesota has to feel a bit more cautious. Then there’s the reality that Rocco Baldelli’s roster doesn’t have many openings. Where are the Twins going to play new faces? Would Paul Goldschmidt or Cody Bellinger find their way into a regular rotation? Sure they would. Do the Twins really want to part with the prospect capital and further complicate a left-hand heavy outfield, or move Alex Kirilloff around the diamond? Max Kepler has played right field all year in spite of Matt Wallner’s emergence, and that is a swap that could have been made internally. Left field is manned by Joey Gallo and whatever other rotational outfielder figures in. Michael A. Taylor is stretched as an every day player, but his defense has been exceptional with Byron Buxton unable to contribute defensively. Buxton himself blocks the designated hitter spot. Second base has been taken over by Edouard Julien with Jorge Polanco coming back. No one is bumping Carlos Correa off of shortstop, and the starting rotation may be among the best in baseball. While Minnesota has succumbed to a level of mediocrity for most of the year, the reality is that it’s a byproduct of already-talented players underperforming. The Twins simply don’t have enough positional flexibility, or openings, for the front office to add like crazy this season. It still stands to reason that a right-handed bat makes sense. Ideally, that player would also play the outfield, and come with some team control. The Twins haven’t been keen on trading for rentals, and someone like Dylan Carlson would fit that bill nicely. He’s still going to command a premium being under team control through 2026, but Carlson is just a 24-year-old with league average offensive numbers and can play strong defense. Beyond that type of addition, it makes sense for Baldelli to be given more help in the bullpen. With both Brock Stewart and Caleb Thielbar still on the injured list, the group of Jhoan Duran, Griffin Jax, and Jorge Lopez need more help. Emilio Pagan has rebounded nicely, but finding a way to avoid rostering Cole Sands or cycling through arms has to be a goal. The Twins aren’t going to go and grab the best closer on the market, but getting someone capable of pitching in high-leverage situations, and propping up the overall ability of the bullpen, seems like a logical ask. Those types are always plentiful, and they shouldn’t cost much in terms of exchanged assets. Minnesota is absolutely looking to play well into the playoffs. Just because they have a weak schedule the rest of the way doesn’t mean they’ll coast and be content with where they are now. They aren’t going to blow the doors off the competition at the deadline, and their ability to win in October centers much more around the players already in the clubhouse. Inserting Royce Lewis and Jorge Polanco back into the lineup should help. The rotation will continue to give them a chance. How far they go from there is up to the performers needing to show up. I’m not sure what should be considered a well-executed trade deadline for Minnesota this year, but temper expectations if you think big names will be acquired. View full article

In the seventh draft since Derek Falvey took over and transformed their front office, the Minnesota Twins selected high school outfielder Walker Jenkins out of North Carolina at fifth overall. How does this pick track against other players the Twins have selected with their first choice in the draft under Falvey and Co.? Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker, Nathan Ray Seebeck, Ken Blevens – USA TODAY Sports At a basic level, most people in MLB front offices would likely agree that "Best Player Available" is a proper guiding principle for the amateur draft. It's a smart approach to drafting in any sport, really, but especially one with such lengthy, circuitous, and unpredictable development timelines. With that said, determining the "Best Player Available" is not so straightforward in practice. After a certain early point in the first round, this assessment becomes very subjective, and even at the highest picks, opinions tend to vary wildly about who is better than who. Moreover, you have different organizational metrics and evaluation systems, different priorities, and different strategies in play. The bottom line: looking back at players chosen with the highest-stakes draft picks can tell you a lot about a front office's philosophies. Reviewing how those decisions have panned out can be telling in terms of how effective these philosophies have been, and what lessons might be carried forward. Is the Walker Jenkins selection reflective of an adaptive front office evolving its mentality? Or are they merely following their usual blueprint? Let's run it back to the start and see what patterns or takeaways we can find. Top Twins Draft Picks Under the Falvey/Levine Front Office 2017: Royce Lewis, SS (1st overall) By virtue of joining the reigning worst team in the major leagues, Derek Falvey inherited the No. 1 overall pick in the first draft he would oversee as Chief Baseball Officer. Quite a welcoming gift. The top of the that class was a fascinating one. Sometimes there is a clear-cut No. 1 pick, sometimes there are two or three guys who could reasonably be the choice. In 2017, there were a handful of plausible options. Lewis was among them, but generally considered lower in that mix. Two-way player hysteria was taking over in the face of Shohei Ohtani's looming stateside arrival. There was a pair of talents billed as such at the top of the 2017 draft class: Louisville's Brendan McKay and high school phenom Hunter Greene. To the extent there was a consensus choice for the top pick, it was probably Greene. He would've been an exciting addition as a teenager throwing in triple digits along with that trendy two-way potential. Alas, that also made for a highly experimental path, and a costly one to boot with Greene expected to command a big signing bonus. The Twins opted for Lewis in a move that preserved draft pool funds for a later splash. (They took prep pitcher and LSU commit Blayne Enlow in the third round, and signed him overslot with the leftover budget.) Interestingly, they used their second pick, which was essentially a late first-rounder at No. 35 overall, to select college slugger Brent Rooker – a much "safer" draft pick after dominating higher-level competition at Mississippi State. Takeaways: While the Twins would later develop a reputation for highly preferring college players in the draft under Falvey, the first and most significant draft selection under his regime was a high schooler. Take note of this. They did, however, aim to offset the volatility of a raw prep talent with their first pick by adding a more polished college slugger shortly after. Take note of that also. Six years after being drafted with the No. 1 and 2 overall picks, Greene and Lewis are still working to establish themselves as big-leaguers: Greene has thrown 199 MLB innings, Lewis has accrued a whole 140 plate appearances. This despite the fact that both have mostly delivered on their promise when healthy and on the field. A reminder that with high school prospects – even the small percentage who don't fizzle out – it can take a while. 2018: Trevor Larnach, OF (20th overall) In the second draft under the new regime, Minnesota went back to the Rooker profile with their first pick. Larnach was an established collegiate masher who featured on a star-studded, national champion Oregon State team. There were no illusions about Larnach being a defensive maven or future batting champ. He was drafted for his proven power at the highest amateur level, which theoretically made him a low-risk pick in the second half of the first round. Looking back, that assessment was ... pretty accurate? It's definitely fair to say the 26-year-old Larnach has fulfilled the "high floor" part of his scouting report. He can hit. He has a .292/.379/.463 career slash line in the minors and a respectable career OPS+ of 93 in the majors. Has he hit enough to justify regular MLB playing time at a bat-first position? Not really, as evidenced by his current presence in Triple-A. Then again, neither had Rooker at age 26. Now he's an All-Star at 28. Takeaways: College bats like Larnach might be appealing for their ostensible quicker path to the majors, but it doesn't always work out that way. Rooker took every bit as long as Lewis to find his footing in the majors. Larnach's breakout might still be ahead, five years in. We probably shouldn't be super hasty to give up on Trevor Larnach? 2019: Keoni Cavaco, SS (13th overall) This pick seemingly went against the organization's scruples. Not only was Cavaco an unrefined prep talent out of high school, he was also generally viewed as a reach this high in the first round. (Cavaco ranked 28th on MLB Pipeline's pre-draft board.) The Twins had scouted him heavily and bought into their favorable assessment of his tools and potential. “I think upside is the right word to use here.” scouting director Sean Johnson said at the time. “He’s got electric bat speed. We think he’s going to have home run power. He’s one of the best third basemen I’ve seen in the high school ranks in my time scouting, and most of the guys who saw him -- that’s including guys that’s done it 20-plus years -- so a great defender.” Most great infield defenders don't play third base in high school. Never mind. Like so many other promising high school players who enamor scouts with their conceptual ceiling, Cavaco didn't reach his. In fact, he has never come close. He's had no success in the pros and currently has a .544 OPS at Single-A as a 22-year-old, on the verge of fizzling out of the system. In this draft, as they did two years earlier when they took a high schooler with their top selection, the Twins aimed for some level of assurance in their next two picks, going with college slugger Matt Wallner (39th overall) and college fireballer Matt Canterino (54th overall). Takeaways: Toolsy teenaged high schoolers are risky, especially near the top of the draft – even when they amaze with their tantalizing potential against prep competition. Cavaco is shaping up as a banner example; he might not even make it Double-A. While the Twins were showing a willingness to gamble on prep picks in the draft, they also were noticeably balancing those gambles out with college standouts in the following selections. 2020: Aaron Sabato, 1B (27th overall) The Twins picked near the end of the first round in 2020 due to their 101-win season the prior year. This was a weird draft – because of COVID, it was cut down to five rounds, and teams had relatively little data to evaluate the class. Under the circumstances, Minnesota opted for what they viewed as the safe pick to pan out into something of substance. Like Larnach and Rooker, Sabato was a proven college slugger seemingly poised for a quick path to the majors on the strength of his bat alone. Unfortunately, we've witnessed the downside of a one-dimensional, strikeout-prone slugger who doesn't slug. (Sound familiar?) The Twins liked his offensive profile, in part, because of advanced metrics. (Sound familiar?) "If you look at him analytically, he lined up with some of the guys that went at the very top of the board," said Johnson at the time. While patience and power have kept his numbers afloat, Sabato has never dominated pro pitching as hoped. He owns a .785 OPS through two-and-a-half minor-league seasons, and is currently batting .226 with a 34% K-rate as a 24-year-old at Double-A. Takeaways: Again: there is no such thing as a safe bet in the MLB Draft. Even the apparent sure-thing bat – drafted solely for that purpose, already at the bottom of the defensive spectrum – can fail to figure it out against professional pitching. Probably not a good idea to use a first-rounder on a position player with zero likelihood of offering any defensive value at any point. 2021: Chase Petty, RHP (26th overall) Another division-winning season in 2020 left the Twins drafting late in the first round again. This time, they reversed course dramatically from the prior year's strategy – from collegiate slugger to prep pitcher. High school arms are notoriously the most high-risk proposition for a top draft pick, and it's a profile the Twins have resolutely avoided with their highest picks under Falvey. Petty was a big exception, due in large part to his big fastball. While reaching triple digits as a high schooler might not have been as novel as it was four years earlier when Hunter Greene was doing it, Petty had plenty of steam behind him and flashed impressive stuff during a brief pro debut. That was enough to sell the Cincinnati Reds on him. They flipped Sonny Gray to Minnesota for Petty in a one-for-one swap, securing the Twins a frontline starter who's made a huge impact over two seasons. In many ways, for a team that fancies itself in immediate contention mode, this is the most ideal use of a late-first-round pick you could ask for. Takeaways: Major-league teams like upside. Would the Twins have enticed Cincinnati if they'd instead selected and offered some 22-year-old college pitcher, or run-of-the-mill high school shortstop? Maybe. I kind of doubt it. The allure of age and projection adds a lot of shine to young pitching prospects. Sometimes it's good to sell high on these assets when the shine is still there. Sometimes that comes back to haunt you. While the Twins have certainly gotten back a lot of value on this pick already, it may ultimately be another we look back at with dread. 2022: Brooks Lee, SS (8th overall) I think most Twins officials would agree that, among all draft picks covered on this list, Lee was the least difficult choice. Possessing a top 10 pick for the first time since Falvey took over, the team had eyes on Lee but didn't figure he would fall to them at No. 8. When he did, the decision was a no-brainer. Lee is a pretty prototypical first-round draft pick: standout collegiate shortstop with a chance to stick at the position. This profile offers a nice mix of polish and floor with upside and ceiling. Surprisingly, he was the first (and only) player of this ilk that the Twins have drafted under this front office. In fact, it's the first such player they've drafted since 2011 when they took Levi Michael, who could aptly be described as Brooks Lee Lite. Outside of Lee and Michael, the Twins haven't taken a college infielder in the first round in almost 30 years ago, when they took Todd Walker out of LSU in 1994. Michael was emblematic of the downside in these types; he had already basically reached his ceiling when the Twins drafted him. Walker better represented the upside – a readymade impact player – and he's probably a better comp for Lee, given that he too was taken with the eighth overall pick. Takeaways: Due to preference or circumstance, the Twins have been really averse to drafting college infielders in the first round! In the MLB draft, things fall where they may and sometimes you have to take what you're given. That looks to have worked out well for the Twins last year. As for this year... 2023: Walker Jenkins, OF (5th overall) For months leading up to this year's draft, consensus solidified around five distinct standout talents atop the class. The three college stars were likely to be off the board by the time Minnesota's selection swung around at No. 5, leaving them with the proposition of taking whichever prep outfielder was left, or pivoting to a different strategy. The Twins chose not to get cute. And that shouldn't surprise anyone. As we've seen while going through this review, the idea that Minnesota's current front office heavily favors college players is pretty off-base. They have used all of their highest-stakes picks on high-school players. Jenkins is merely a continuation of that trend. This front office has amassed lefty-hitting outfielders, having added Larnach and Wallner with previous first-rounders. And it's an affinity that predates the current regime. In recent Twins draft history, Jenkins best approximates Alex Kirilloff, who was taken 15th overall in 2016, just before Falvey took over. A good reminder that while Falvey now ultimately calls the shots, scouting director Sean Johnson runs the draft, and he's a carryover from the previous regime. Some old habits die hard. The Twins love drafting high-school outfielders in the first round and frankly it ain't hard to see why. Of the six prep outfielders the Twins have drafted since the turn of the century – Denard Span (2002), Chris Parmelee (2006), Ben Revere (2007), Aaron Hicks (20008), Byron Buxton (2012), and Kirilloff (2016) – all six have reached the major leagues. A six-for-six hit rate. That just doesn't happen in the crapshoot known as the MLB Draft. Jenkins seems to blend the best of many worlds from the history of Twins drafts. He offers the exhilarating upside of an ascendant teenaged talent, in a historically safe profile. And the team didn't go out on a limb one bit to draft him. View full article

As a perpetually lagging offense threatens to derail a historically great pitching staff, the front office faces a second half full of pressure with increasingly heightened stakes. Image courtesy of Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports Derek Falvey and Thad Levine were hired by the Twins after the 2016 season, primarily, to turn around a woeful arms department. There are other components to winning games of course, but Minnesota's pitching operation was in such a dismal state that it was preventing any real chance of success. To its credit, the Falvine Machine has proven its mettle on this front. Through trades and a few late-round success stories, the Twins have risen to the pinnacle of Major League Baseball in pitching prowess. As Aaron Gleeman noted last week, the Twins' pitching staff checked in at the halfway point leading all of baseball in virtually every important metric, from ERA to strikeout rate to OPS against to quality starts. In the seventh year of their tenure, Falvey and Levine have fulfilled their vision of building a truly elite pitching corps – and it's beyond elite. Amid all the valid disgruntlement around the team's middling overall results in the first half, we really should take a moment to recognize this monumental accomplishment. Particularly when you consider where they came from. In the 2016 season, the last before the front office turned over, Minnesota ranked 29th in ERA, 27th in strikeout rate, and allowed the highest batting average of any team in baseball. Help was not on the way. These were the pitching prospects ranked among Twins Daily's top 10 in the system that year: José Berríos (#2), Tyler Jay (#5), Stephen Gonsalves (#6), Alex Meyer (#8), Kohl Stewart (#9) and Nick Burdi (#10). Aside from Berríos, it was in retrospect a brutal group – representative of the broken pitching approach that culminated in the dismissal of Terry Ryan's regime. Minnesota's front office had grown out of touch with the tenets of successful modern pitcher development, leading to continual breakdowns in talent evaluation, prospect handling, and on-field results. Their staffs were full of slow-tossing, strike-throwing, pitch-to-contact hurlers who got bashed around endlessly. By the time Ryan was relieved of duties, the franchise had become a punchline for its stubborn reliance on mediocre pitchers with no real upside. Falvey's involvement with the operation in Cleveland, as assistant general manager for arguably the most effective pitching powerhouse in the league – with self-limited resources, no less – was a chief selling point for a Twins team in desperate need of an overhaul. The results have been undeniable. In seven years before Falvey took over, the Twins ranked 29th among MLB teams in ERA, ahead of only Colorado. Compare the context of Coors Field and you can fairly state that Target Field housed the worst pitching staff in the league on balance in its first seven seasons of operation. Since Falvey's first season in 2017, the Twins rank 14th in ERA. To move from the absolute bottom of the league to the top half, particularly given the system he inherited, is a resounding delivery on the promise that sold the organization on this bright young executive: an opportunity to modernize their methods, and go from laggards to leaders in the arms race. The makeup of this premier Twins pitching staff epitomizes how the hire has worked out exactly as hoped on that front. Their two highest-stakes trades for pitching have yielded frontline starters who were both named to the All-Star Game last week: Sonny Gray and Pablo López. The front office turned trade deadline "sell" rentals into Joe Ryan and Jhoan Duran. They turned a 12th-round draft pick into Bailey Ober. You can quibble with the misses (Tyler Mahle, Jorge López, etc.), and you can quibble with the philosophies (too many same-sided changeups!), but you cannot argue with the final result. Falvey and his braintrust did it: they took the Twins from the bottom to the top from a pitching standpoint. Of course, that is only one side of the coin. And when we expand our view to that ever-so-important other half of winning baseball games – scoring runs – we find the Twins front office cast in a very different light. Even with this world-class pitching staff, the team finds itself below .500 here at the All-Star break, at risk of botching one of the biggest opportunities in franchise history thanks to an underperforming offense that can't get out of its own way. In a blowout loss to close out the first half on Sunday, the Twins were held to a two runs for a 17th time in 91 games. They've scored two or fewer in 37 of 91 games (41%), posting a 6-31 record in those contests. In short, the offensive shortcomings of this team have single-handedly sabotaged any chance at consistent winning, at a time where the bare minimum of run-scoring competency would result in a comfortable division lead and full-on vindication for the organization's leadership. How'd we get here? It's strange. You can't say the current front office didn't inherit a favorable situation on the position-player front. The state of pitching in the Twins system might have been dire circa 2016, but they were brimming at the time with promising young hitters: Byron Buxton, Miguel Sanó, Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler, and Eddie Rosario were all 24 or below. In the latest draft they had added a highly promising high school bat in Alex Kirilloff, and in the next they would add another in Royce Lewis with the No. 1 overall pick. You can't say this front office hasn't invested in hitters. They locked down Kepler and Polanco long-term just ahead of their breakout 2019 campaigns. They've pushed ownership to repeatedly rewrite the franchise record for free agent spending, with high-profile splurges on Josh Donaldson, Carlos Correa, and then Carlos Correa (again). They overlooked their risk-based reservations to keep Byron Buxton home for $100 million. Roughly $80 million of the team's record payroll this year is allocated to five position players: Correa, Buxton, Joey Gallo, Christian Vázquez, Kepler. Their entire Opening Day pitching staff accounted for a shade under $50 million. Finally, you can't say this front office hasn't shown in the past they can build a successful offense. In 2019 the Twins hit a major-league record 302 home runs on the way to scoring 939 times. Their overpowering offense led the way in a 101-win season full of thrilling highlights. Looking back, you might make a case that the Bomba Squad season was the starting point of this ill-fated path we've now traveled. That year, the Twins embraced a mentality of ambushing opposing pitchers, aiming to elevate and do damage – it paid off handsomely, to say the least. Albeit at a time where all their hitters were clicking, and cashing in their uppercut hacks against a juiced ball. The Twins have since tried to recapture that highly effective (highly marketable!) offensive dynamic in various ways, starting with the blockbuster signing of Donaldson to upgrade an already potent lineup. Despite their efforts, they have never come close. After finishing second among MLB teams in runs scored in 2019, Minnesota ranked 19th in 2020, 14th in 2021, and 17th in 2022. Now they find themselves all the way down to 24th at the All-Star break here in 2023. The fantastic quality of this pitching staff and total inadequacy of this offense make for a remarkable contrast. In evaluating the current Twins front office against the backdrop of its predecessor's pitching woes, you almost wonder if a parallel path is playing out with hitting now: a commitment to a way of doing things that once worked, but no longer does. View full article

Injuries derailed the 2022 Twins. While they are unavoidable, setbacks normal, and timelines unpredictable, the Twins could be much more effective in how they communicate about player injuries. In this article, we'll dive into organizational communication tendencies and how the Twins could improve them in 2023. Image courtesy of Orlando Ramirez, USA Today Sports I want to talk about injuries. They derailed a solid-if-not-spectacular Twins squad in 2022. Minnesota was reduced to trotting out a quad-A lineup for the last month of the year as the season sputtered to an anticlimactic close. I’d argue, though, that the reaction of Twins fans to injury news was disproportional even for a fanbase that can careen toward toxicity at the best of times. There are factors that underpin that, some the Twins organization can control, some they can’t. In this piece, I’ll try and highlight those tensions, and propose reasonable, easily implementable solutions the organization could implement in 2023. Before digging into a topic that can be contentious, I want to be clear about some things I’m not advocating for. I don’t think the Twins owe fans anything regarding player timelines as they recover from injury. I also want to acknowledge that players suffer setbacks. That’s normal, and it’s never going to change. Despite some of the worst injury luck going last year, I have a contention: the Twins organization does not yet have consistent and proactive systems and structures in place to communicate about player injuries. Let’s lay out the challenges, and propose some solutions. Problem: No One Owns Communication Regarding Players Injuries To my limited knowledge, the Twins don’t have an owner of injury communication. There’s no one person with whom injury updates sit. Rocco Baldelli often gives injury updates in pre and postgame press conferences. It’s natural for reporters to ask injury-related questions after the game (it’s news/proximity to the event). I’m not suggesting Baldelli never communicates about injuries, more pointing out that it’s clearly an area of his media responsibilities he found uncomfortable or frustrating. Derek Falvey also communicates updates about injuries and player status when he has media availability. If there isn’t a responsible party of the majority of injury updates, communication can become muddled, unclear, or even contradictory. Solution: Release a Weekly Injury Bulletin The Twins social media has taken a huge step forward early in 2023. Behind the scenes access such as ‘The Diamond’, redesigned social media visuals, and an excellent communications team make the Twins set up to take the majority of the communication out of Rocco Baldelli’s hands. The Twins should release a ‘injury bulletin’ on a regular cadence to provide updates to media and fans who want access. Predictable communication structures promote consistency and trust. Problem: Too Often, Communication is Reactive, Instead of Proactive The second challenge I’ve noticed with the Twins injury-related communication is a reactive approach, instead of a proactive one. Last year, Trevor Larnach suffered from a core muscle injury. The timeline communicated by the Twins and the actual timeline of his return were vastly discrepant. I’d argue that although the setbacks and the longer recovery time are frustrating to fans, the bigger frustration is expecting one outcome or timeline, and experiencing another, an experience that could be improved with more consistent communication. Solution: Over Communicate Updates via Social Media For players with mid-to-long-term injuries, the Twins should communicate updates on their status at least weekly, using social media. The great thing about this solution, is there’s already an exemplar out there, the Golden State Warriors. Here’s an example of how they communicated updates leveraging twitter, during Steph Curry’s recent recovery from injury. The upside is clear here. Overcommunicating updates instill confidence that progress is being made and player needs are being attended to. Problem: Communication Around Injuries is Often Unclear The final prevalent issue with the Twins approach to communicating around player injuries is a symptom of the first two challenges. Because there is no clear owner of communication and updates tended to get ‘backed up’ until a presser in which Baldelli or Falvey would have to reel off a list of players and their current status, updates felt lacking in detail, specificity, and clarity. Of course, it’s the Twins prerogative how much information they reveal to the public about injuries. Obviously, they want to and should respect the players’ privacy. I’d argue, however, that there’s no competitive advantage to vague communication. Solution: Follow a Simple Formula When Communicating Injury-Related News I’m not a doctor, healthcare professional, or anything in the field, but a simple formula for communicating injury updates would increase clarity tremendously. Diagnosis + current treatment + next step. The diagnosis re-grounds folks in the player’s injury, the current treatment plan reminds fans that the organization is working on solutions (because we know they are), the next step previews for fans when they can expect further updates or information. Perhaps all of these offerings aren't aligned with what the Twins organization is willing to communicate, that’s their choice. I’d argue, however, that there are some quick and easy wins to be had in how the Twins communicate around player health. These solutions would increase trust and perception from fans of something we should all believe to be true; that the organization is doing everything they can to keep players on the field and maintain a winning team. What are your thoughts on these potential solutions? Are they feasible? Would there be any concerns with these options from the Twins perspective? Would these solutions be enough to stop fans from questioning things so often? Leave your COMMENTS below. View full article

Over the first six years of the Derek Falvey and Thad Levine era, the Twins have been up and down. They've made the playoffs three times, including two division titles. Yet, they are coming off two straight losing seasons, putting into question whether this regime will see an eighth season leading the organization. Image courtesy of Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports Heading into 2021, it seemed evident that Derek Falvey and Thad Levine had things under control. They modernized the organization analytically, assembled a farm system of players seemingly ready to make an instant impact, and had just won two straight division titles – the franchise's first since 2010. The organization seemed poised for sustainable success with its leadership's thoughtful, cutting-edge decision-making steering the ship. There have always been critics of this front office, but on the back of 2021 and 2022, they have grown louder and multiplied. Some will question the regime's competency, others will criticize their lack of an "ace," and a vocal group of critics will question whether their entire philosophy and reliance on data is the right way to run a baseball team. Let's examine what this group has done well and poorly to evaluate whether the boisterous critics of Falvey and Levine are onto something. Front Office Strengths Development of Homegrown Major League Bats Terry Ryan, a scout by trade, always prided himself on putting together rosters built around cores of homegrown position player talent. This ability to construct a nucleus of quality hitters drafted or acquired via international free agency has carried over to the current regime. It's a critical skill when working with a middling payroll. The Twins can distribute their funds to a few extra quality players because they have team-friendly structures with most position players. Beyond utilizing those homegrown bats in everyday roles, they have shown an ability to develop hitters that they can flip in trades – even if they weren't top picks. That allowed them to acquire Tyler Mahle, and it could come into play again at this deadline when trying to bolster a playoff-caliber roster. Increased Aggression in Acquiring High-End Talent Under the current front office, the Twins have shown a more aggressive approach than the previous regime when acquiring high-end talent, and they've continued grown more emboldened over seven years at the helm. We first saw that when they acquired Nelson Cruz ahead of the 2019 season. That aggression grew when they signed Josh Donaldson to a record free agent deal. While this contract didn't pan out, it made a statement. They traded Donaldson while he still had some value, which enabled them to pay Carlos Correa, breaking the Donaldson contract record. Of course, they eventually shattered Correa's record when they re-signed him. Add in various trades – including the ones that brought in all five of this year's starting rotation members – and the increased aggressiveness is undeniable. Front Office Weaknesses Bullpen Construction and Reliever Free Agents One common thread between the losing seasons in 2021 and 2022 was bullpen meltdowns from newly acquired pitchers. In 2021, Alex Colomé deflated the team and its fans with his early-season implosions. In 2022, the Twins traded Taylor Rogers for Emilio Pagán. He held it together for a bit but memorably cost the Twins multiple times against Cleveland as the Guardians sped away in the divisional race. Beyond those memorable blowups, they have repeatedly tried to sign relief pitchers on small short-term deals, but most haven't worked out either. Due to the volatility of relievers, building a good bullpen is extremely difficult, but the Twins have rarely had enough homegrown arms or capable enough external additions to do so. It may be different this season, but it's one thing to have a good group on paper and another for them to succeed in games. Starting Pitching Development and Free Agent Acquisitions When the Pohlads tapped Falvey as president of baseball operations, they touted him for his role in building the terrific pitching development pipeline in Cleveland. However, Falvey has yet to materialize that level of pitching development success in Minnesota. To this point, Bailey Ober is the only homegrown starting pitcher that has proven to be major-league caliber during the Falvey and Levine era. Others may be on the precipice, including Simeon Woods Richardson, Louie Varland, and David Festa. However, they all have yet to prove they can be quality starters at the major-league level. Beyond the lack of internal development, the front office has invested very little into starting pitchers on the free agent market. Most of their free agent starter acquisitions have been bargain-bin signings, like Homer Bailey, Dylan Bundy and Matt Shoemaker. Most of those did not work out, with their only successful free agent starter addition being Michael Pineda. Not developing starting pitching and not paying for it in free agency has been one of the most significant flaws of this regime. They may have put together a good rotation for 2023 via trade, but the development of their starting pitching prospects this season will be a crucial storyline to monitor. If the strengths remain strong and they have improved their weaknesses, the front office should have put together a winning team in 2023. If so, their future will be clearer as the organization's leaders. However, if their bullpen construction weakness rears its head again and tanks their season, and we don't see progress in developing quality starters, the Twins may be at the point of considering a front-office shakeup. Ownership is investing in this team like never before and that comes with heightened expectations. View full article

MINNEAPOLIS - The role of executive chair of the Minnesota Twins changed hands this offseason with Jim Pohlad retiring from the role and his nephew, Joe Pohlad, taking over for him on November 28, 2022. Joe Pohlad moves up from his role as the team’s executive vice president in brand strategy and growth. Image courtesy of Theo Tollefson Jim Pohlad will still be involved with the Twins to a degree but as his 70th birthday approaches next month, he decided it was time for him to pass his day-to-day roles to Joe Pohlad. Jim Pohlad will still be the team’s representative in ownership for any league matters. Many Twins fans ponder what will be different with Joe Pohlad compared to Jim Pohlad. From the first three months on the job, it’s already apparent to some fans that Joe is more public-facing and involved with the front office. For starters, Dan Hayes of the Athletic wrote in his piece on Joe Pohlad (published February 14) that, unlike his uncle and grandfather’s time as the Twins chairman, he will be keeping an office at Target Field. On top of that, Joe Pohlad was heavily involved in making sure the Twins brought back superstar shortstop Carlos Correa and gave him the largest contract in team history. “I can think of no better way to articulate the seamless transition from Jim, his uncle to Joe than what we just went through,” said Derek Falvey during Correa’s press conference on January 11. “Ultimately going back to March and the contract we came up with, and then this offseason. Joe's been a part of those conversations for the last five plus years, at least that I've been here. So I expected that but Joe's patience was matched in a similar way, what Scott [Boras] and Carlos were showing, but also that persistence and that desire to find a way to get to this outcome.” Later during the press conference, Twins Daily co-owner John Bonnes followed up on this quote from Falvey asking Joe Pohlad if the large contract for Correa was a sign of things to come with future free agent deals. Joe Pohlad responded saying, “We'll take that on a case-by-case basis. Like Derek said earlier, we're in constant communication, and we're always looking at ways to make our team better. So if those opportunities come forward, then we'll evaluate that [them] then.” While Joe Pohlad has had a more active role in team transactions than his uncle in the last five years according to Falvey, he still does not want to become or be seen as an owner “who’s always meddling,” as Hayes wrote in the same article on February 14. Joe Pohlad’s interaction in the team’s baseball operations since returning to the front office in 2018 has not come without experience. He spent time as an assistant in the baseball operations department beginning in 2007. His experience there, which not many owners in Major League Baseball have had, sheds light that he is willing to shed the common trope Twins fans attribute to his family; the “Cheap Pohlads.” When asked individually at the January 11 press conference if Correa’s re-signing shows critical fans that ownership is committed to building the team for a championship, Joe Pohlad responded, “I hope so. I think how we view it, or at least how I view it, is this the best route for us in order to get to where we want to be, which is a competitive team that can compete for a World Series?. Ultimately, the goal is to win and is every move we make going to add to that and achieve that goal? And this [signing] is gonna do that.” Joe Pohlad was built up in the Twins organization to be fitted for this role. He’s worked in a variety of roles within the Twins in anticipation of the day when this role was bestowed on him. In an era of Major League Baseball where the reputations of team owners usually bring negative connotations to their franchises, Joe Pohlad may be the outlier. Especially when compared to the ownership of teams such as the Houston Astros’ Jim Crane, the Cincinnati Reds’ Phil Castellini, and the Baltimore Orioles’ John Angelos. Joe Pohlad is in a similar boat as Castellini and Angelos with other family members (specifically the fathers of Castellini and Angelos), who are still living and have the ownership of the team in their name. Unlike the two though, Joe Pohlad has not made any comments that have had fanbases question their commitments to their franchises or the game of baseball. As the first full season with Joe Pohlad at the helm warms up in Ft. Myers for spring training, he has demonstrated many reasons for Twins fans to hope things are changing for the better. Maybe even enough to made the phrase, “Cheap Pohlads” be heard less often as fans return to Target Field for the 2023 season. View full article

Over the weekend, the Minnesota Twins brought back their fan appreciation weekend for the first time since 2019. Twins Fest returned to Target Field, and although the event was substantially changed, it might have been Friday evening’s Twins Fest Live that represented the highlight of the weekend. Image courtesy of © Jordan Johnson-USA TODAY Sports With details emerging somewhat late for many of the events surrounding Twins Fest, there was little room to understand some of the changes this year. The Winter Caravan was back but in a significantly truncated form. The route was not nearly as long, and plenty of it was in more private or intimate settings. Twins Fest (as we have known it) at Target Field had been shortened to just Saturday, and plenty of the vendors or experiences had been less expansive. A key addition came on Friday night, however, and details leading up to the event were sparse. Following a night at the Diamond Awards on Thursday, I found myself wondering what Friday had in store. Opting for the middle level ticket option, I searched for some details and wound up winging it on Friday night. There was a sold out level that included an open bar and additional face time with players, and there was a get-in ticket that was just $35 allowing access to the general admission floor. The middle ground option came with a pair of drink tickets, gift at the end, appetizers during the early part of the evening, and access to the mezzanine level of The Fillmore. Looking back at the night, that felt like the right option to target. The Fillmore itself is a very nice venue. Having never before been inside, I found myself comparing it to a smaller version of First Avenue. Conveniently located right outside of Target Field, the parking ramp adjacent to Caribou Coffee behind left field was a quick place to pull in. Check in was a breeze, and the event seemed to have a perfect amount of attendees and space. For the crowd here at Twins Daily, it’s hard to define the evening as anything but a team-sponsored Winter Meltdown. The bars were manned by players at times, and Joe Ryan had quite the experience making the evening’s featured cocktail. It was something to see Chris Paddack donning a cowboy hat and slanging beers, but both Joey Gallo and Jorge Polanco had plenty of fun interacting with fans. A stage set up at the front of the venue was the focal point to kick off the program. Something like 30 current and former players were in attendance, and each was introduced. From Glen Perkins to Kent Hrbek, and Royce Lewis to Carlos Correa, the Twins had their bases covered. After fans were made aware of who was there, a select group of players took part in Family Feud and other on stage activities. That certainly gave fans something to watch, but it was the crowd that commanded the most attention. From the minute I walked in, there were people I wanted to talk with. Derek Falvey was near the door while both Tony Oliva and Paul Molitor were canvassing the general admission floor. On the upper level, I found myself having discussions with Dave St. Peter and Thad Levine, then the players began to filter in as well. With those not participating in the games on stage set out to mingle, there was conversation with everyone from Royce Lewis to Brooks Lee and regulars in between. As a no-autograph event, everything about the evening felt right. Yes there were fans looking for pictures with players, but it was certainly an exercise of baseball being the focal point. Whether discussing someone’s career, last season, or the one upcoming, having conversations focused on the diamond was truly a blast. Being able to sit back and enjoy the company of superstars as little more than regular people was quite a fun setting. Next year it would seem logical that this event will do a bit better. Although a few different Twins sources suggested being pleased with the turnout, there probably could have been better numbers with a bit more understanding of what to expect. When we see Twins Fest Live show up again in 2024, it would stand to reason that you may not have as much luck finding a ticket. Signature Saturday has its place if you’re looking for autographs or memorabilia, but I found myself viewing this event as the gem of the weekend. Please share your stories and experiences from the Twins weekend - from the Diamond Awards, to Twins Fest Live(!) to Signature Saturday. It's fun to talk baseball and have this space to share those stories, and photos, if you want. View full article