RaoulDuke

I want to see him play in CF as much as possible to maximize his value but I also want the focus to be him playing CF come the playoffs. That is going to take plenty of days at DH but that is much more palatable now that Taylor is there to keep a great glove on the field.

Health is certainly a gamble for every team but the Twins have targeted players in both free agency and trades that had their price depressed because of health concerns. Buxton/ Correa/ Mahle at least are not on this team without health concerns. I mean it more as those are the only real average spots in the defense. Polanco is a decent 2nd base but his all star bid was all about his bat, Miranda could become average at 3rd but I don't think he is there yet in part to him playing a lot of 1st last year, and Vazquez is solid but I am not sure Jeffers is (outside of framing) and he will get 40% of the playing time there. The Those being the "weaknesses" should lead to a very good defense.

This will be a vastly different year. This team is built around a gamble on health and young talent hitting. Buxton/ Correa/ Kirilloff/ Polanco/ Gray/ Maeda/ Mahle/ Duran/ Alcala all the star talent has health questions. If it breaks right its a deep rotation filled with number 2/3 starters and depth behind them. A pen headlined by a true monster and 2 other potential flame throwers, with some legit lefties mixed in. A defense with 2 platinum glove winners at the important spots and and multiple other gold glove caliber guys spread around, the only real average spots or weaknesses is at 2nd/ 3rd/ C. The offense has the two best hitters at CF and SS, a kinda crazy situation, but injury concerns plague them. Buxton/ Correa will lead things Polanco/ Kepler/ Gallo all need to rebound, then its on the young bats. There needs to be standouts from the Miranda/ Kirilloff/ Lewis/ Larnach/ Wallner/ Celestino/ Julien/ Lee group to contend. They have raised the floor with professional hitters like Solano/ Farmer but they still need a lot of fire power.

Ober has still got to prove it, I lump him in with Varland/ Winder/ SWR/ Balazovic as guys that could step up and claim a spot but have to do so. I did forget about Lopez, I was on board with that trade. I do think they are likely to bring one of Maeda/ Gray/ Mahle back depending on who preforms, stays healthy, and what they cost. Mahle probably has the highest ceiling but Maeda/ Gray could be cheaper shorter contracts due to age.

I am pretty high on Maeda, his covid year was awesome to witness. He was just eating hitters alive at 91 with pin point control and spinning the ball. He probably won't reach that peak again but he can be a good 3 borderline 2 going forward. He is not an ace and will never throw a ton of innings but he is one of the few pitchers in recent Twins history I would have actually had confidence in going into a playoff start. I hope he can stay healthy and get right by the end of the year, maybe he can be extended with somewhat of a discount because the team stuck with him through injury. Ryan/ Maeda/ Paddock could be a decent start to a rotation for next year.

The best case scenario is Polanco is healthy and hitting for the 1st half making him a valuable trade piece. Correa is locked in, Miranda/ Lewis/ Lee are the future and need a spot to play. Kirilloff hopefully regains form putting him in that category as well. Gordon/ Farmer/ Solano are solid almost starters depth. Julien is lurking in the minors as well. They are going to sell some infielders once the dust has settled more. Polanco has been a great Twin but hes getting expensive and the farm is nipping at his heels.

I think they have significantly raised the floor on this team, they should contend for the division even with the new schedule and playing better teams more. The offense has potential but is reliant on a couple guys breaking out. The pitching has a lot of 2-4 guys that could preform and make a nice rotation or be hurt/ rusty and throw back of the rotation stuff. To make noise in the playoffs they need a lot of rolls to go right. Best case scenario they feel ok about Lopez/ Mahle pitching game 1 and 2. Buxton is healthy and Correa is leading a young core of Miranda/ Kirilloff/ Larnach.

No chance he gets moved back to the rotation, he is to valuable to this team that is trying to win now. He was too good last year, too much of a nuclear option to mess with his development going forward. Just enjoy that we have one of the 5 nastiest relievers in baseball for years to come, and at a time where they have never been more valuable.

This will certainly allow them to work in rest for Buck, he now has days he can DH without them losing much defensively and a long term replacement if things go bad. Taylor is a weak bat but great defender with good speed, limit his exposure and he could be an asset. Having Buxton healthy for the playoffs is the goal, he can DH more in the regular season now even if that limits his counting stats and major strength. Buxton as a CF is an insane player, Buxton as a DH is good player. They need Buxton to be in center for the playoffs.

I like it solid depth move for a minimal price. Sisk and Cruz are both real wildcard prospects with major control issues that weren't viewed as close enough for anyone to claim in rule 5. Up to 4 gold glove caliber outfielders now, they have clearly worked to raise the floor of this team so they don't bottom out again like the 2nd half last year. Taylor/ Farmer/ Larnach/ Jeffers is a very solid bench. This also allows Lewis time to get right and ready when he comes back, allows Wallner/ Celestino/ Martin/ Julien time to earn their call ups in AAA. Kepler has to be traded at this point, right?

A healthy Kirilloff hopefully runs away with the position. Nasty LH bat and the scouts seem to like him at 1st. Miranda will certainly take reps there, though I think they would like to maximize his 3b innings to get him experience. Gallo has played there. Polanco/ Gordon could see reps there. Julien if he forces his promotion.

I am going to assume Buxton stays healthy but with a reduced workload with days off and at DH, this seems to be the goal and how they are building the roster. An outfield of Gallo/ Buxton/ Kepler is an insane defensive outfield, that is 3 gold glove caliber guys. They will be reluctant to use them there but both Gallo/ Kepler can play center well. You don't want them there daily but both can eat some games. Gallo/ Kepler as the corner guys can also make up for some CF weaknesses. Celestino/ Gordon have much more support if they need to be run out there for long stretches of time. Adding a RH bat that can play center is ideal but until that happens this seems to be the path. I have been wondering why Kepler hasn't been moved but considering Buxton's uncertainty made me think how much they are valuing his defense. I still think they move him but it shows maybe why they are holding out for the best return?

I think they are hoping Larnach or Wallner claim a Mlb spot in the spring and then they can cycle through everyone at DH. There is a lot of positional flexibility with Farmer/ Gordon/ Miranda/ Kirilloff/ and Kepler/ Gallo maybe taking a day in center here and there. DH is the half work day to keep defenders fresh and bats in the lineup. That being said I wouldn't mind a cheap Reyes or Gurriel signing but they shouldn't be full time or have a long leash. In the end they are playing the Garlic role as lefty masher.

This becomes much more interesting minus Arraez, he really held the 1-4 together. The 4th spot is the biggest question to me, its hard to slot a young bat there but Miranda/ Kirilloff/ Larnach are who you want ideally. I think Polanco might be the best early option but you kinda need him in the 1-3 spots. There is a lot of strikeout to this lineup so strings of Kiriloff/ Larnach/ Gallo/ Miranda are scary, they can be real boom or bust. 1-11 or 12 hitters this team just doesn't have a lot of obp, they are going to have to hit and have young bats grow and play a large role.

I love watching Arraez but he is very tradeable and partly because of the batting title his value is higher than it ever will be. I am not saying sell low on him, I wouldn't do 1 for 1 for Lopez, but they should certainly be entertaining offers. His best position is 1b or DH, but he is 5'9 and won't top 10-12 homeruns. His knees have and will be a continuing issue going forward. As a bat first player with limited power and speed his value is always ready to tank as soon as he slumps. If he isn't hitting .310+ and drawing walks he is a below average 1b/ DH. Correa/ Arraez/ Miranda/ Kirilloff/ Lee/ Lewis/ Farmer/ Gordon/ Martin/ Julien. That is a log jam of infield talent under control for years and some pieces need to be used to upgrade the roster where it is weaker.