Hard to argue. I'd guess the only prediction that would be remotely considered out on a limb is Megill not getting a starting job, but that's pretty minimal.

But ugh, that's one offensively ugly outfield. Buxton and a bunch of yuck.

Perhaps the team begins the year with 14 position players and 12 pitchers.

Hard to argue what's here. Ober and Larnach being in AAA stinks, but makes sense as you just can't keep everyone, of course. And there will be opportunity for both to probably spend the majority of the season at the ML level. Larnach, in particular, might just benefit from some AAA time as his last full season was 2019.

I'm very intrigued by your choice of Henriquez over Megill. I get it. I like it. I just have a feeling it's his destination to be in the pen where he might be excellent. But as young as he is, I have a hunch he's still going to be in St Paul, very possibly in the rotation still, to just get in innings and work on his stuff. I do believe the Twins should have a middle/long man in the pen. Winder looked pretty decent there to begin 2022. If healthy and ready to go, and reports are he is, would they go that route again? Or would they put him at AAA to be stretched out and re-establish himself as a SP option? The St Paul rotation potential is STACKED, though I think Sands is going to the pen soon, despite the FO saying it's not happening yet.

Good, bad, right, wrong, stupid, smart, or stubborn, the FO has decided Pagan is going to be good as a 1-2 IP middle man. And it just seems they are determined to prove he can be that. And that seems to leave the younger, MAYBE better Megill as a potential odd man out if they go for that middle/long man. But again, the young Henriquez vs letting him work on his stuff more and keeping him as a rotation arm? Same with Winder. Making an immediate conversion of Sands? What about promoting Coulombe to the 40 man right away, which I doubt? And what about one of the other non roster invites having a great ST and just killing it?

I think the bullpen is mostly set, but agree there is room for that 8th guy to step forward.

I think if Larnach is healthy we'll see a trade of Gallo, Kepler or possibly Gordon at the trade deadline.  I'm very high on Larnach and I believe if he stays healthy he will be one of our top run producers.  

Its nice to see the twins stacked with depth on the 40 man as well as trying to squeeze 29 guys onto a 26 man roster. The biggest questions seem to be in the bullpen and why didn’t Pagan go to driveline to learn how to pitch instead of throw gopher balls? 

My only differing thought would be the same as Doc Bauer with Winder.  I was pretty impressed with him at times last season and I think he could be a 2-3 inning guy that teams need from time to time.  It's a shame Ober will probably begin the season at St. Paul, but if Maeda is healthy and capable of going 5-6 innings per start he's a great guy to have at #5.  As others have said, it's just great to have what appears to be "depth" this year with good options to call on should injury or ineffectiveness occur.  I would like to see Pagan on a short leash.  There is no need to keep trotting him out there if he's not effective.  

6 hours ago, Heiny said:

I think if Larnach is healthy we'll see a trade of Gallo, Kepler or possibly Gordon at the trade deadline.  I'm very high on Larnach and I believe if he stays healthy he will be one of our top run producers.  

If Larnach is healthy, I want him on the 26-man and starting opening day over those three. But the current roster construction pretty much guarantees he'll need someone else to get injured for that to happen. I don't like wasting early season games on low ceiling vets. Low ceiling guys should be the depth, not the starters.

I just someone of the expected 3 starting outfielders can hit over 230 otherwise we have a lot of automatic outs in the outfield.

2 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

My only differing thought would be the same as Doc Bauer with Winder.  I was pretty impressed with him at times last season and I think he could be a 2-3 inning guy that teams need from time to time.  It's a shame Ober will probably begin the season at St. Paul, but if Maeda is healthy and capable of going 5-6 innings per start he's a great guy to have at #5.  As others have said, it's just great to have what appears to be "depth" this year with good options to call on should injury or ineffectiveness occur.  I would like to see Pagan on a short leash.  There is no need to keep trotting him out there if he's not effective.  

IIRC, the Twins have said they aren't converting Winder (or Sands) into bullpen arms at this point. Where Winder falls in starting pitcher depth is an interesting question. He might be right after Ober or he might be behind Varland and Woods Richardson. Winder has had persistent impingement issues and I wonder how best to deal with them (bullpen? limited innings?).

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

If Larnach is healthy, I want him on the 26-man and starting opening day over those three. But the current roster construction pretty much guarantees he'll need someone else to get injured for that to happen. I don't like wasting early season games on low ceiling vets. Low ceiling guys should be the depth, not the starters.

Are you referring to Kepler and Gallo? If so, I don't know that calling them "low ceiling vets" is the best term. Neither guy is old (Kepler just turned 30, Gallo is 29) and both have had All-Star worthy seasons, although their last two seasons have been subpar. 

If you're referring to Solano, I pretty much agree. However, the problem is that Gordon, Gallo, Kepler and (indirectly) Kirilloff are all competing to get the ABs that Larnach could/should get. Is Larnach better than all of those guys, some of those guys or none of those guys? If he isn't better than any, he really should be in St. Paul.  

Personally, I think Larnach can be as good as Kepler has been in his 26-30 years and also be a more complete player than Gallo. Whether he makes the team out of Spring Training or not, he almost certainly will get a shot to prove himself this year. Like Kirilloff, he needs to be both productive and healthy or others may pass him by.

3 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

My only differing thought would be the same as Doc Bauer with Winder.  I was pretty impressed with him at times last season and I think he could be a 2-3 inning guy that teams need from time to time.  It's a shame Ober will probably begin the season at St. Paul, but if Maeda is healthy and capable of going 5-6 innings per start he's a great guy to have at #5.  As others have said, it's just great to have what appears to be "depth" this year with good options to call on should injury or ineffectiveness occur.  I would like to see Pagan on a short leash.  There is no need to keep trotting him out there if he's not effective.  

Very solid roster Stringer and pretty close to what they'll select. Mine would be a little different. But I'm going a long the lines of TopGun & Doc Bauer except I'd have Ober in the BP to piggy-back with Maeda. I like what they are doing with the position players in being more cautious. Yet our biggest injury & efficiency problems IMO weren't with position players but with SPs.

In the beginning of last season they had Bundy on a limited innings, he pitched great. Bundy cried out I feel great, give me more innings and I cried out no, no you are at where should be. They gave him more innings & he never returned to the same efficiency. Just because Maeda says he's fine doesn't mean that we start with the same load as the year he got hurt. I believe it prudent to be cautious with Maeda. I don't want to send Ober back to AAA. I want to start him slow & regular in long relief at the MLB level.

1 hour ago, stringer bell said:

Are you referring to Kepler and Gallo? If so, I don't know that calling them "low ceiling vets" is the best term. Neither guy is old (Kepler just turned 30, Gallo is 29) and both have had All-Star worthy seasons, although their last two seasons have been subpar. 

If you're referring to Solano, I pretty much agree. However, the problem is that Gordon, Gallo, Kepler and (indirectly) Kirilloff are all competing to get the ABs that Larnach could/should get. Is Larnach better than all of those guys, some of those guys or none of those guys? If he isn't better than any, he really should be in St. Paul.  

Personally, I think Larnach can be as good as Kepler has been in his 26-30 years and also be a more complete player than Gallo. Whether he makes the team out of Spring Training or not, he almost certainly will get a shot to prove himself this year. Like Kirilloff, he needs to be both productive and healthy or others may pass him by.

Sorry, but I do consider Kepler and Gallo low ceiling guys. I suppose Gallo could go ahead and hit 45 HR to say otherwise, but I don't think Kepler has any potential any longer.  Those two plus Solano, Farmer, Gordon and Taylor, there's just nothing there to dream on. Seems like there's just way too many guys who's best case scenario is 'average' and worst case scenario likely isn't much better than the prospects.

I’ve said on other threads that I’m not a fan of all the acquisitions, Gallo in particular. However, having experienced and versatile bench players like Farmer and Solano provides the Twins with flexibility and short side platoon ability. I do think having veterans in part-time roles is better than using rookies. 
 

I’m not a big fan of the outfield construction, but the best players should get the most time. I hope the younger guys make themselves regulars, but the Twins seem to have a Plan B. What I don’t want to see is fielding AAA player throughout the outfield as they had last year. 
 

21 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Hard to argue. I'd guess the only prediction that would be remotely considered out on a limb is Megill not getting a starting job, but that's pretty minimal.

But ugh, that's one offensively ugly outfield. Buxton and a bunch of yuck.

Nick Gordon played 98 games in OF in ‘22.  33 games in CF. First year ever playing outfield. He had 405 AB’s and had 9 HR & 28 doubles & he hit .272. He has been sick his whole pro career until ‘22 when he gained 25 lb. I think that after getting stronger and adding another 5-10 lb he may be one of our top 3-4 players offensively.

Buxton hit .228 & started about 70 games in the OF in ‘22.

Taylor will start & be effective v. LH pitching & will be a reserve in the other 125-130 games.

Gallo & Kepler are a roll of the dice and won’t get past June 15 if they aren’t performing!

I see Larnach as the DH and 50 game starter in LF.

Outfield is reasonable offensively.