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Great piece, Nick. Think I will sit back and see what the FO actually does rather than speculate. Will you be maintaining the above as they make their moves?

The Twins will drop to 39 or 40 at the end of the Series when their two or three free agents leave the roster. They will then need to make additional moves to create space for the five or six prospects that need to be added and open spots for the handful of free agents they sign. Much of the work has been done, but they were the easy moves. Going forward there will be some difficult decisions, some of which will have us shaking our heads.

Great question, why isn't he? But I am biased because he is my third favorite lefty of all time.

I will repeat what I have said 500 times on this site. When they let Eddie go they lost the heart and soul of this team. The result, the Twins played heartless baseball in 2021. And yes, Eddie lost his group and didn’t do anything special in Cleveland. with the added excitement of the playoffs, Eddie is having one of his hot streaks. On the other hand, I can’t disagree with anything written above except the comment about his defense. Yes, he will make the occasional head scratcher mistake, but he will make just as many plays that are exceptional.

What we are seeing in Atlanta, or Los Angeles, is what Eddie has always been able to bring to the game. That was several streaks a year when he was on fire, could lift the entire team and carry it for X games. Was common to happen several times a year and something sorely missed by the Twins in 2021. We are now seeing one of those streaks....Eddie, Eddie, Eddie!

Wasn't a huge fan of their signing him three years ago as I thought age was catching up with him. Was I wrong! Lots of reasons to not bring him back, but if they do it has to be on a one year contract. But one reason to bring him back would be if the Twins are say a .500 team or under come late July, could they trade him to another contender for a HUGE return as this year? Guess it depends on the market and how he is hitting, but if the NL has a DH the market would double.

Why would anyone consider trading Canterino right now? He potentially could be the best of all the arms coming thru the system. But he spent most of last year injured, and unlike TJ when you know what the recovery period will be, there isn't a clear answer of when/if Canterino will return at 100%. So the Twins would be selling LOW, not something to do with the lottery ticket he could become.

Yes. By that I mean it is a plan to work into during the 2022 season with a 100% commitment to it in 2023. So no, it isn't what you would run out there on opening day 2022.

Truth is we don't know what is really being discussed. And with all three leagues talking about being involved, Sinclair having some control meaning they will need to be satisfied to sign off, and baseball and all its franchises...its a long way from becoming reality. Wasn't it only a few weeks ago that we learned Sinclair was planning its own streaming service? Today we learn that that isn't going to happen because they are one step from going down the crapper financially and no one had any interest in loaning them the $250M they needed to get that off the ground. Hopefully, this will work out so that the 55% of us who weren't watching the Twins last summer can watch them in 2023. Would be really nice if it could happen sooner, but with all those different interests at the table...that's unlikely.

Would a more accurate headline been: The Twins need a healthy Taylor Rogers?

Question Brock. I wasn't able to watch the Twins this year as I refused to go back to my dumpster cable company. So I wasn't able to see Kirilloff at first base. The little I have read, reports seem to indicate he is either decent to potentially pretty darn good. I view him as their first baseman in 2022 and beyond. What are your thoughts about his defense?

Polonco at second, Lewis at short and Miranda at third. Keep Buxton and Kepler in center and right. Add Larnach and Martin in left field with Martin moving around to center and right as needed. Arraez gets a lot of at bats as DH, while also backing up Polo and Miranda at second and third. Kirilloff is the first baseman with Sano as DH and AK's backup. Would be heck of an every day lineup without the need to go out and sign any expensive free agents. But it all starts with Lewis being able to handle short. As for who plays short when Lewis needs a day off, could be Polo, Martin or another backup utility guy...maybe Gordon?

I only wish we had the ability to 'like' your statement twice, Doc.

The Twins have two stars they can build a winner around, Polo and Buxton. Sign Buxton, keep Polo and find some pitching.

I seriously doubt, Sconnie, that MLB teams will be buying or building any housing, unless like the Twins have done at their spring training complex. No way will they want to get involved being a landlord in four or five different markets, markets that could change whenever they move a team from city A to city B. More likely will work with the local teams to obtain X number of apartments for the baseball season., or as noted above a block rental deal with an Extended Stay property...if available in the market.

Awful lot of numbers there, Brock. But the key would be that his numbers seemed to remain constant in all the various situations. And all those numbers appear to be quite good. What would be interesting is how they compare to lots of the other big name hitters in the game. Got a feeling that a lot of them have much worse 'clutch' numbers. But that is just my guess.

I'm certain I will be corrected if I am wrong, but I recall Eddie getting on base during some of those losses to the Yankees. Don't recall what his stats were, but I seem to remember he did ok.

Although the most important question, don’t see Buxton decision being first to be made. Agree that if unsigned, he will likely be traded this winter. Personally hope he is back for many years. other questions, Nick, are right on. Thanks.

Thanks for the report. What an appearance from Laweryson. Hopefully Wallner can make up for lost time and get back on track as a prospect. After all, the Twins have a MVP award to defend, is Laweryson Rule 5 eligible this year?

Fantastic and long overdue. Not clear, at least to me who will be providing it? Is it MLB teams? Or will MLB teams require the local franchises to do this?

Eddie, Eddie Eddie!

Agree they need one strong arm to join the late inning group. Doesn’t have to be their closer. Whether they get him as a free agent or trade isn’t important. equally important is signing Rodgers and Duff for two or three years, preferably one for two and the other for three.

Don’t have a clue how FO feels about which to keep, both or neither. If Rooker is on 2022 Twins it should be as DH. Don’t understand why so many keep referring to Kirilloff as a corner outfielder. He was at first last year and will be the Twins first baseman in 2022 and beyond.

Eddie was my favorite Twin, beginning that summer down at ETon when he battled Sano for the HR championship, winning it I believe in their last game. I may be in the minority, but I wanted the Twins to keep him. I believed his value on the field for the Twins was worthy of the cost and his value OFF the field more so. The Twins went into the crapper this year, in part I believe from lack of whatever Rosario brought to the locker room and dugout. I also believe the lack of those relationships are partially the reason his play at Cleveland was lacking. Now that he is on a team in the spotlight, the Eddie we have come to know and love will shine. And yes, I won't be surprised if he makes one of those gaffes on a throw or on the bases, but he will overcome it with some clutch hitting or throwing someone out at the plate on an impossible to make throw. Eddie, Eddie, Eddie!!!

Great article, thanks. A bit confused, however, by one of your last comments regarding batting from the right side limiting his versatility. Assuming that Buxton and Kepler are back and Larnach is the leading candidate to win the left field job either in spring training or early in the year, a right hand bat to offset Larnach and Kepler being left handed fits perfectly. Did you mean compared with the entire lineup, not just the outfielders he would likely replace?