All Things 2024-25 Minnesota Twins Off-Season Thread

[GophersInIowa]

I've been trying to follow the Tampa Bay story. Tropicana Field is unplayable due to hurricane damage. Manfred says they need to make a decision before the end of the year in order to get all the logistics lined up. at this point, sounds like it's going to be at a Spring Training site in Florida, and they'll have to make whatever improvements are needed in order to play a full season of games.
Rays averaged 16,515 a game at the Trop in 24.

Steinbrenner Field in Tampa (Spring Training home of the Yankees) is the largest Spring Training field in Florida, holding roughly 11,000 fans. of course, no roof, and it rains a lot in Florida, so that could make things interesting. in Florida, Summer is the rainy season.

I bet it will be a combination of different spring training sites. Because those stadiums are still used for minor league teams during the summer too.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I bet it will be a combination of different spring training sites. Because those stadiums are still used for minor league teams during the summer too.

Bright spot, is they may have sellouts

 

[Stan]

Kirilloff announces retirement at age 26

'I'm at peace': Kirilloff cites injuries for retiring at age 26

When the saga of Alex Kirilloff began, he was the kind of can’t-miss prospect whose abilities as a hitter were so seemingly certain that the Twins didn’t hesitate to promote him to the Majors for the first time during the postseason, putting him in the lineup for his big league

www.mlb.com

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Kirilloff announces retirement at age 26

'I'm at peace': Kirilloff cites injuries for retiring at age 26

When the saga of Alex Kirilloff began, he was the kind of can’t-miss prospect whose abilities as a hitter were so seemingly certain that the Twins didn’t hesitate to promote him to the Majors for the first time during the postseason, putting him in the lineup for his big league

www.mlb.com

I know this happens in all organizations, but damn, it sure seems as if the Twins have had more than their share. When Kirilloff was in the minors, he looked like a future All-Star. but his body just didn't hold up.

on the plus side, this opens up a spot on the 40-man roster, so one less player has to be exposed to the Rule 5 draft.

 

[Stan]

We have a long list of "future All-Stars"/franchise level prospects that end up not living up to expectations. I'm sure other franchises have as well, but since Mauer and Morneau went through this (both obviously lived up to the hype, and then some), we haven't had a stud prospect live up to the hype and most have been disappointments.

 

[Ope3]

Kirilloff announces retirement at age 26

'I'm at peace': Kirilloff cites injuries for retiring at age 26

When the saga of Alex Kirilloff began, he was the kind of can’t-miss prospect whose abilities as a hitter were so seemingly certain that the Twins didn’t hesitate to promote him to the Majors for the first time during the postseason, putting him in the lineup for his big league

www.mlb.com

Interesting footnote on his career from the press release from that odd 2020 Season:

He made his major league debut for the Twins on September 30, 2020 in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros and went 1-for-4, becoming the first player in American League/National League history to record a Postseason hit before recording one in the regular season. Kirilloff was also the third player in AL/NL history to make his debut in the playoffs, but the first to start.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

We have a long list of "future All-Stars"/franchise level prospects that end up not living up to expectations. I'm sure other franchises have as well, but since Mauer and Morneau went through this (both obviously lived up to the hype, and then some), we haven't had a stud prospect live up to the hype and most have been disappointments.

Waiting on Walker

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Interesting footnote on his career from the press release from that odd 2020 Season:

He made his major league debut for the Twins on September 30, 2020 in Game 2 of the American League Wild Card Series against the Houston Astros and went 1-for-4, becoming the first player in American League/National League history to record a Postseason hit before recording one in the regular season. Kirilloff was also the third player in AL/NL history to make his debut in the playoffs, but the first to start.

Amazing how the organizational depth has increased since then.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Never got to a his first big payday. Hope he was smart with his signing bonus.

 

[howeda7]

Kirilloff announces retirement at age 26

'I'm at peace': Kirilloff cites injuries for retiring at age 26

When the saga of Alex Kirilloff began, he was the kind of can’t-miss prospect whose abilities as a hitter were so seemingly certain that the Twins didn’t hesitate to promote him to the Majors for the first time during the postseason, putting him in the lineup for his big league

www.mlb.com

Sad but probably for the best. His heart certainly didn't seem in it anymore. They likely would have non-tendered him or traded him for peanuts.

 

[howeda7]

We have a long list of "future All-Stars"/franchise level prospects that end up not living up to expectations. I'm sure other franchises have as well, but since Mauer and Morneau went through this (both obviously lived up to the hype, and then some), we haven't had a stud prospect live up to the hype and most have been disappointments.

Mauer's in the Hall of Fame. Sure it would have been nice if he'd stayed a bit healthier but I think acting like his career was massively cut short as some do is over the top. Morneau is definitely a bigger what if. And the more recent ones certainly are. Buxton. Sano. Kiriloff. Lewis is looking uncertain.

 

[Gophers1992]

Mauer's in the Hall of Fame. Sure it would have been nice if he'd stayed a bit healthier but I think acting like his career was massively cut short as some do is over the top. Morneau is definitely a bigger what if. And the more recent ones certainly are. Buxton. Sano. Kiriloff. Lewis is looking uncertain.

Can probably put Liriano in the what if category as well - pitched for a long time to his credit, but never regained anything close to that 2006 form.

 

[howeda7]

Can probably put Liriano in the what if category as well - pitched for a long time to his credit, but never regained anything close to that 2006 form.

True. Sample size pre-injury was so small though.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

I think baseball is one of the trickiest sports to project forward. I could list 100's of players who looked like future stars in A Ball or AA - but when players move up to the majors, the weaknesses get exposed and some players just are not able to adjust.

when Kepler came up, I saw that swing and thought he was going to be the kind of guy who would hit .280 with 25 HR and 90 RBI a season. never got close to that because he couldn't or wouldn't hit the ball the other way.

shoot - I saw Bobby Kielty play in A Ball and thought he was going to be a stud.

you could put Kubel on the list. before his knee injury, he was hitting for average and power and he could run. after the knee, he was a functional hitter, but lost a lot of athleticism.

on Kirilloff, according to one article I read, it sounds like this latest back injury is pretty serious, including damage to some vertebrae.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Taylor Mathis continues to be a fantastic Twitter follow, and I'm not really even on Twitter

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I think baseball is one of the trickiest sports to project forward. I could list 100's of players who looked like future stars in A Ball or AA - but when players move up to the majors, the weaknesses get exposed and some players just are not able to adjust.

when Kepler came up, I saw that swing and thought he was going to be the kind of guy who would hit .280 with 25 HR and 90 RBI a season. never got close to that because he couldn't or wouldn't hit the ball the other way.

shoot - I saw Bobby Kielty play in A Ball and thought he was going to be a stud.

you could put Kubel on the list. before his knee injury, he was hitting for average and power and he could run. after the knee, he was a functional hitter, but lost a lot of athleticism.

on Kirilloff, according to one article I read, it sounds like this latest back injury is pretty serious, including damage to some vertebrae.

Interesting post.

There was a tidbit on The Athletic, thst only about half of the Top 100 SS prospects, will play SS at the MLB level, because some don’t make it that far and others like Royce get moved to another position.

It’s crazy and just a crapshoot.

 

[TRF Guy]

Here's a Halloween horror story for you: It was on this date in 1972 that the Twins acquired the thoroughly mediocre Dan Walton in exchange for a young Rick Dempsey, who wound up catching his final major league game at age 42.

Dempsey was the World Series MVP the year I was born.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

I think baseball is one of the trickiest sports to project forward. I could list 100's of players who looked like future stars in A Ball or AA - but when players move up to the majors, the weaknesses get exposed and some players just are not able to adjust.

when Kepler came up, I saw that swing and thought he was going to be the kind of guy who would hit .280 with 25 HR and 90 RBI a season. never got close to that because he couldn't or wouldn't hit the ball the other way.

shoot - I saw Bobby Kielty play in A Ball and thought he was going to be a stud.

you could put Kubel on the list. before his knee injury, he was hitting for average and power and he could run. after the knee, he was a functional hitter, but lost a lot of athleticism.

on Kirilloff, according to one article I read, it sounds like this latest back injury is pretty serious, including damage to some vertebrae.

This is exactly why if you have the opportunity to trade top prospects for proven players when you have a chance to win a championship, you do it every time.

 

[howeda7]

The Twins declined their $12 million option on Manny Margot. Word is Rocco is distraught and considering resigning in protest unless they bring back Jake Cave.

 

[GophersInIowa]

The Twins declined their $12 million option on Manny Margot. Word is Rocco is distraught and considering resigning in protest unless they bring back Jake Cave.

Howie on hearing the news...

 

[howeda7]

Howie on hearing the news...

I'm reserving that for when the trade Vazquez for a box of balls.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

The Twins declined their $12 million option on Manny Margot. Word is Rocco is distraught and considering resigning in protest unless they bring back Jake Cave.

I’m all in one reunion

 

[From the Parkinglot]

https:/twitter.com/robertfrey40/status/1852076136873812351?s=46&t=pyoSMY84vYZyQrgc8QzHWw

Saw this today. No idea how it’s calculated, but the twins are on the wrong side of the graph.

 

[Slim Tubby]

The Twins declined their $12 million option on Manny Margot. Word is Rocco is distraught and considering resigning in protest unless they bring back Jake Cave.

No tears for yet another salary cutting move by Ownership?

 

[GophersInIowa]

https:/twitter.com/robertfrey40/status/1852076136873812351?s=46&t=pyoSMY84vYZyQrgc8QzHWw

Saw this today. No idea how it’s calculated, but the twins are on the wrong side of the graph.

Yeah, I'd be curious how it's calculated. Like for instance, does Jose Berrios's WAR for Toronto only count for what was left of his contract when traded or is it still including it?

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Mariners declined Polanco's 12 million option as well. I'll give Falvey a tepid "win" on that trade.

 

[Ope3]

Mariners declined Polanco's 12 million option as well. I'll give Falvey a tepid "win" on that trade.

I think the proper move would have been to just non-tender Polanco to begin with.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

I never fully comprehend how this stuff works, but they have a 1.5 million option on Alcala, and it's $55,000 to buy out of the option. However, even if they buy him out, he's still under team control and would be eligible for arbitration.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I never fully comprehend how this stuff works, but they have a 1.5 million option on Alcala, and it's $55,000 to buy out of the option. However, even if they buy him out, he's still under team control and would be eligible for arbitration.

Fit that price, exercise the option - he just ran out of ️at the end.

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Fit that price, exercise the option - he just ran out of ️at the end.

MLB Trade Rumors projects him for 1.7 million in arbitration, so it seems pretty likely that they'll just pick up his option.