All Things 2024-25 Minnesota Twins Off-Season Thread



Twins saved $250,000 by signing Coulombe instead of bringing back Thielbar. Best move of the offseason!
I'll miss the Randolph Rocket but not his WHIP, which in 2024 was a staggering 1.563.

Coulombe's was at 0.674.
 

Twins are siging Harrison Bader to a one-year deal with a mutual 2026 option. 6.25 million, plus incentives.
 
Last edited:

giphy.gif
 


Had reverse splits last year but over his career hits lefties pretty well with .776 OPS.
 

It's obvious insurance for Buxton (and Larnach too, I suppose), which he's proven is needed. Is he that much of an upgrade over Castro would be my question.
 


It's obvious insurance for Buxton (and Larnach too, I suppose), which he's proven is needed. Is he that much of an upgrade over Castro would be my question.
Castro pretty much stopped playing CF the last half of last year as he had a few train-wreck games. But Austin Martin can play there too.
 




It's really not a bad signing. It's just not very exciting.
True. But outside of Pete Alonso there's not really any exciting free agents left. The other back-up CF alternatives were old friends Margot, Aaron Hicks and Michael A Taylor or Kevin Pillar.
 

Column from the new Twins beat writer for MLB.com



From the article -

Twins' bullpen projected to be the best in baseball​


With the expected addition of Danny Coulombe to an already deep unit, the Twins genuinely may have the best bullpen in baseball. At least one projection system already had them rated as such even before the addition of Coulombe, and now they are apparently adding a shutdown lefty to their bountiful stable of right-handers.
If you’re looking for reasons for optimism regarding the ’25 Twins, the relief pitching should rank near the top of the list. Jhoan Duran returns to anchor the back end, and setup men Griffin Jax and Cole Sands should form one of the AL’s best pre-closer combos.

Add Coulombe, and it’s clear there’s a lot to like. The veteran has become one of the better lefties around since his last stint with the Twins, and he is expected to finalize a deal with the Twins by the end of the week.

On the 40-man roster: Jorge Alcala, Eiberson Castellano, Duran, Kody Funderburk, Brent Headrick, Ronny Henriquez, Jax, Sands, Brock Stewart, Michael Tonkin, Justin Topa, Louie Varland
New arrivals: Castellano, Coulombe (will be added to 40-man when deal becomes official)
Departures: Caleb Thielbar, Steven Okert
Top 30 prospects: None (note: true relief prospects are very rare; most relievers came up as starters)
The big question: Are they actually that good?

There was a lot of optimism about the 2024 Twins bullpen, as well. And they weren’t bad. By the end of the year, Fangraphs had them tied with the Brewers as the No. 4 bullpen in baseball by WAR (5.9). But they were 19th in bullpen ERA (4.12) and had the eighth-most relief losses in MLB (31).
So … how good are these?


Some of that will depend on Coulombe. Part of the problem last year came from the left side. Thielbar, who had been a reliable option for years, saw his strikeout rate tumble and his walk rate balloon. Okert struggled with the long ball and Funderburk was too hittable. If Coulombe can be a lockdown option, the whole unit will look better.
 

It's obvious insurance for Buxton (and Larnach too, I suppose), which he's proven is needed. Is he that much of an upgrade over Castro would be my question.
He’s the fourth OF, RH stick, can play all three positions and is a great defender with a laser cannon and baseball savant’s defensive fielding run value ratings is “Great”. I watched him when playing for Yanks & Mets and he’ll make scintillating defensive plays.

This would seem to seal Castro’s fate as well and the trade to the Yanks (?) will come to fruition. Love Free Willi, but it’s a business.

 
Last edited:



PECOTA projects the only non- playoff team not located in Illinois to win the AL Central.

All Hail Rocko, Falvey and the Pohlads 🥳🥳🥳🥸🤓🤠


From the article -

The AL Central winner is … none of the 3 playoff teams from 2024
The AL Central was the surprise division of 2024, sending three teams to the playoffs: the Guardians, Royals and Tigers.

But in the PECOTA projections for 2025, all three of those teams are out.
The projected AL Central division champion? The Twins.

Minnesota is projected for 86 wins to win the Central, while the other three teams are projected to be right around .500 (81 wins for the Royals, 80 for the Guardians and Tigers) and miss the postseason.
That's somewhat surprising, since the Royals and Tigers look like they're on the rise, and the Guardians are the reigning division champs. But the Twins did win the Central in 2023, and they were in playoff position down the stretch last year until a late-September skid knocked them out of the Wild Card running.
 

Column from the new Twins beat writer for MLB.com



From the article -

Twins' bullpen projected to be the best in baseball​


With the expected addition of Danny Coulombe to an already deep unit, the Twins genuinely may have the best bullpen in baseball. At least one projection system already had them rated as such even before the addition of Coulombe, and now they are apparently adding a shutdown lefty to their bountiful stable of right-handers.
If you’re looking for reasons for optimism regarding the ’25 Twins, the relief pitching should rank near the top of the list. Jhoan Duran returns to anchor the back end, and setup men Griffin Jax and Cole Sands should form one of the AL’s best pre-closer combos.

Add Coulombe, and it’s clear there’s a lot to like. The veteran has become one of the better lefties around since his last stint with the Twins, and he is expected to finalize a deal with the Twins by the end of the week.

On the 40-man roster: Jorge Alcala, Eiberson Castellano, Duran, Kody Funderburk, Brent Headrick, Ronny Henriquez, Jax, Sands, Brock Stewart, Michael Tonkin, Justin Topa, Louie Varland
New arrivals: Castellano, Coulombe (will be added to 40-man when deal becomes official)
Departures: Caleb Thielbar, Steven Okert
Top 30 prospects: None (note: true relief prospects are very rare; most relievers came up as starters)
The big question: Are they actually that good?

There was a lot of optimism about the 2024 Twins bullpen, as well. And they weren’t bad. By the end of the year, Fangraphs had them tied with the Brewers as the No. 4 bullpen in baseball by WAR (5.9). But they were 19th in bullpen ERA (4.12) and had the eighth-most relief losses in MLB (31).
So … how good are these?


Some of that will depend on Coulombe. Part of the problem last year came from the left side. Thielbar, who had been a reliable option for years, saw his strikeout rate tumble and his walk rate balloon. Okert struggled with the long ball and Funderburk was too hittable. If Coulombe can be a lockdown option, the whole unit will look better.
A full year from Stewart would be welcome, but unlikely it seems.
 

A trade return the Pohlad's always favor. 😎

 


Some old school basebrawl.

Yes, it’s 20 minutes long, but it’s highly entertaining and informative, as the history of the take out slide is covered, including the Hal McCrae & Chase Utley (weenie) rules, just in time for Spring Training.

 



On this date in 1979, the Twins sent minor leaguer Jesse Orosco to the Mets to complete the December 8 trade for West Central School of Agriculture (Morris, MN) graduate Jerry Koosman.

Orosco eventually pitched for the Twins in 2003—25 years after they originally drafted him!

IMG_1994.jpeg
 

On this date in 1979, the Twins sent minor leaguer Jesse Orosco to the Mets to complete the December 8 trade for West Central School of Agriculture (Morris, MN) graduate Jerry Koosman.

Orosco eventually pitched for the Twins in 2003—25 years after they originally drafted him!
I find that 25 year gap with the Twins fascinating.

For reference his 1 year in the Twins minors was at Elizabethton, 1978. Lenny Faedo was one of his teammates. When he returned he was playing with Justin Morneau.
 

I find that 25 year gap with the Twins fascinating.

For reference his 1 year in the Twins minors was at Elizabethton, 1978. Lenny Faedo was one of his teammates. When he returned he was playing with Justin Morneau.
That is crazy
 

The Twins signed Bloomington native Kent Hrbek to a five-year, $6 million extension on this date in 1985, making him the first player in team history scheduled to make $1 million a year.

Hrbie celebrated by going ice fishing outside his Lake Minnetonka home.

IMG_2143.jpeg
 




Top Bottom