All Things 2025-26 Minnesota Twins Off-Season Thread

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I don't think Caratini is more than a backup. His arm stinks. He threw out only 1 out of 27 runners last year.

Jackson, the other backstop, acquired from Baltimore is an excellent defender, who IIRC, has options left. They could start with him at St. Paul, and trade Jefferson at the deadline, as the Phillies likely aren’t a landing spot for him now, based on my prior post.

 

[gophersfan]

 

[howeda7]

The Twins two best relievers right now are Ryan Pressly and LaTroy Hawkins....

 

[Ope3]

The Cubs resigned former Randolph Rocket/Twin to a 1 Year $4.5M contract a few weeks ago.

Cubs Free Agency Update: Caleb Thielbar contract details, Bullpen, Chris Martin

In a world where the Chicago Cubs deserve the benefit of the doubt with their offseason intentions, there would be reasons to be impressed with their free agenc

cubbiescrib.com

In another life I just want to be born left-handed and able to throw a 90ish MPH fastball.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

The Twins two best relievers right now are Ryan Pressly and LaTroy Hawkins....

How many times does signing FA bullpen pitchers work out? It seems like rarely, especially at the price we're wiling to pay.

You build the bullpen from within. They now have what could be 8 starters. They will move some young starters to the bullpen, just like they did with Jax, Varland, etc.

I won't be surprised if someone like Taj Bradley becomes a closer. He has great stuff but can't keep it together as a starter.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Cool article in The Athletic regarding players who received one and only one vote for the HOF

Just one Hall of Fame vote? Why that distinction matters so much for some MLB players​

Just one Hall of Fame vote? Why that distinction matters so much for some MLB players

A few special players are hoping to reach that 75 percent threshold. Others? They're just hoping to land one vote.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Jackson, the other backstop, acquired from Baltimore is an excellent defender, who IIRC, has options left. They could start with him at St. Paul, and trade Jefferson at the deadline, as the Phillies likely aren’t a landing spot for him now, based on my prior post.

Catcher? First? DH? Here's where Caratini could slot in for Twins

This story was excerpted from Matthew Leach’s Twins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

www.mlb.com

Jackson is out of options, per this article, which also notes that Caratini will also likely play 1B and DH, but he's kind of redundant with Bell, who's also better from the left side of the plate, so there might be more moves coming.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Catcher? First? DH? Here's where Caratini could slot in for Twins

This story was excerpted from Matthew Leach’s Twins Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

www.mlb.com

Jackson is out of options,

Yes I didn’t recollect correctly.

per this article, which also notes that Caratini will also likely play 1B and DH, but he's kind of redundant with Bell, who's also better from the left side of the plate, so there might be more moves coming.

Will be interesting to see what follows and glad you subscribed to him; he has some stuff, in my experience, not covered by others.

 

[howeda7]

Twins sign Taylor Rogers for $2 million. Good move. Now still need a closer and a RH set-up.

 

[gophersfan]

He back home. Welcome home Taylor Rogers

 

[Breakin' The Plane]

Twins sign Taylor Rogers for $2 million. Good move. Now still need a closer and a RH set-up.

I agree with what Weather Guy said earlier. Taj Bradley looks like the kind of erratic former starter who ends up thriving when moved to the pen.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Twins sign Taylor Rogers for $2 million. Good move. Now still need a closer and a RH set-up.

3D

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

How many times does signing FA bullpen pitchers work out? It seems like rarely, especially at the price we're wiling to pay.

You build the bullpen from within. They now have what could be 8 starters. They will move some young starters to the bullpen, just like they did with Jax, Varland, etc.

I won't be surprised if someone like Taj Bradley becomes a closer. He has great stuff but can't keep it together as a starter.

I agree with what Weather Guy said earlier. Taj Bradley looks like the kind of erratic former starter who ends up thriving when moved to the pen.

FWIW - everything I’ve read and posted previously, the plan going into spring training is to give Bradly every chance to make the rotation, as he has front line starter stuff. He had 6 starts for the Twins last season and 2 were QS (not earth shattering, but a promising start), including the dandy in his last one, 6 IP, 9Ks, 1BB, 2H, 1ER.

They didn’t give up what they did to move him to the bullpen without a lengthy time in the rotation - he’ll be a starting pitcher for 2026.

As we saw last season, you can literally never have too many starters, especially when you may end up trading one or more at the deadline.

The plan is to give Marco Raya and Connor Prielipp, all the opportunities to make the team as relievers, as their stuff is MLB caliber, but they haven’t shown nearly enough durability or thrown enough innings in the minors, for them to be seriously considered as starters at this juncture.

To wit (professional innings pitched) -

Bradley age (24) - 766 innings pitched
Raya age (23) - 324 innings pitched
Prielipp, age (25)- 112.2 innings pitched

 

[howeda7]

I agree with what Weather Guy said earlier. Taj Bradley looks like the kind of erratic former starter who ends up thriving when moved to the pen.

So does Zebby Mathews. I'd move him first. But you still need an experienced closer/set-up guy.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

FWIW - everything I’ve read and posted previously, the plan going into spring training is to give Bradly every chance to make the rotation, as he has front line starter stuff. He had 6 starts for the Twins last season and 2 were QS (not earth shattering, but a promising start), including the dandy in his last one, 6 IP, 9Ks, 1BB, 2H, 1ER.

They didn’t give up what they did to move him to the bullpen without a lengthy time in the rotation - he’ll be a starting pitcher for 2026.

As we saw last season, you can literally never have too many starters, especially when you may end up trading one or more at the deadline.

The plan is to give Marco Raya and Connor Prielipp, all the opportunities to make the team as relievers, as their stuff is MLB caliber, but they haven’t shown nearly enough durability or thrown enough innings in the minors, for them to be seriously considered as starters at this juncture.

To wit (professional innings pitched) -

Bradley age (24) - 766 innings pitched
Raya age (23) - 324 innings pitched
Prielipp, age (25)- 112.2 innings pitched

I'm sure they'll give him another shot to start, I'll just be surprised if he sticks.

As far as what they gave up to get him? They gave up Jax, a 31 year old former starter turned setup man/closer.

That has nothing to do with where he'll pitch long term.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

So does Zebby Mathews. I'd move him first. But you still need an experienced closer/set-up guy.

I like giving Zebby another chance as a starter more than I like Bradley or Festa as starters.

 

[howeda7]

I like giving Zebby another chance as a starter more than I like Bradley or Festa as starters.

I believe Zebby has the best fastball of the 3. If he tracks as Varland did, he can likely reach 99-100 out of the bullpen.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

I believe Zebby has the best fastball of the 3. If he tracks as Varland did, he can likely reach 99-100 out of the bullpen.

Because of that he has the highest strikeout rate of the 3 as a starter. Bradley has been a starter for 3 years now with limited success and a SO rate that continues to drop. Festa is more middle of the road, similar to what Varland and Jax were as starters, which would likely get better if moved to the bullpen, which is what happened with Varland/Jax.

 

[gophersfan]

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Quite the haul; wonder what an AS first half might fetch for The Experience

Rangers get MacKenzie Gore in 5-for-1 trade with Nationals

The Rangers have acquired All-Star left-hander MacKenzie Gore from the Nationals in exchange for five prospects, including Gavin Fien, the 12th pick in the draft.

www.espn.com

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I'm sure they'll give him another shot to start, I'll just be surprised if he sticks.

As far as what they gave up to get him? They gave up Jax, a 31 year old former starter turned setup man/closer.

The point is they’re not going to give up on him as he matures into a frontline starter, they’ll give him a good long run kiddo based on the flashes he shown and the quality of his stuff.

He has to learn how to be a major league pitcher, not thrower.

That has nothing to do with where he'll pitch long term.

I never said long term did I Willard?

As usual, we’ll agree to disagree, as I’m correct and you bitched another one Partly Cloudy

The other things you and the younguns don’t understand yet, is that the managers/front offie folks, have lots more patience than the average fans, as it’s their vocation, not avocation/obsession.
I only learned this by getting older: there’s hope for you yet