Rosterman

Not looking good for Ryan LaMarre.

It's playing better than the other teams in your division, especially against the teams in your division. That is where Cleveland excelled in the endgame, as well as the Twins taking a fast fall-from-grace in the last momnth with crippling injuries. Will be invals. teresting to see how mroe interleague games play out, as well as less games against division rivals.

wish it wasn't in the midst of spring taining. But.....

At some point you might have to cut and move on. The Twins took a gamble with Buxton, see how that will play out longterm. But how many times can you see hope in, say, Kirilloff or Lewis, and not just move forwards with...someone else. Always shades of Jim Eisenreich (remember him) who couldn't play, then ended up making a modest comeback, but with a different team. You start to realize how precious those 40-man roster spots can be, especially if you have numerous players that aren't...healthy.

Thanks goodness AUSTIN MARTIN is NOT on the 40-man. Addressing this sooner rather than later is job #1 right now, see if you can get him abck into the swing before season's end, the fall league, or maybe winter ball. I didn't see him getting a call this season.

If players start going on the short-term IL list in any quantity more than 1, the Twins will have to rely on starting arms to pitch in relief to fill out the major league roster. That is not necessarily a bad thing, if the mindset is there. If a guy pitches long relief, he will still build on innings going forth, and could transition back into a rotational role in the future. It is figuring out what a pitcher may bring to the team in that role. Henriquez showed sparks of being a bullpen arm as St. Paul winded down their season, and in his brief Target Field showcase. Winder and Sands would be high on the list, if you want to keep Woods Richardson and Varland strictly as rotation arms. But, in a pinch, the major league exposure would do them good in any capacity. Interesting that the Twins basically list 15 pitchers as mainly rotation arms on their 40-man roster, and only eight as bullpen arms.

I'm seeing some major roster decisions if too many guys are on the short-term IL-list. There is NOT a lot of give in the roster, hampered still if the Twins, say, would need to add a catcher short-term. Is Polanco ready to start the season? If not, Julien stays. Can Miranda only DH? Then Solano or Farmer plays third, unless Kirilloff is also unable to play the field...wait, we have Gallo. Whcih means Taylor gets to play everyday and Larnach - wait - he's hobbling too (Garlick gets the call, followed by LaMarre!) But now we have, literally, no backups...especially if Gordon is hibbling. Celestino can go on the 60-day to open a roster spot...question is - for whom. Yes, the rotation might remain dicey. Will Madea be able to go at least 5 innings once the season starts. Is Winder ready for a long relief role (or Sands). Does Alcala need time facing live pitching in extended spring training and a short term IL visit. Santana and Megill are on-the-cusp roster guys, so you might be able to rotate someone in their place. Canterino could also go on the 60-day, but would get major league service time. The joy side is that it is spring training - round-the-clock rehab and possible play in the field (no rain outs yet), hitting cages, working with coaches, getting in shape. Pick-up games just to hit and field can kinda happen to stretch the skills set. The World Baseball Classic kinda throws a wrench into some things...and when do the Twins start playing more than just a few of the "roster" folks in exhibition games.

Pitching should NOT be a problem (as well as outfield) for the Saints this year. Even names like Jose de Leon and Dereck Rodriguez. Does Fundeburk start at AA (as well as Balazovic). There's a couple more "starting" candidates on the minors free agent signing sheet. What is lacking is 40-man roster names to fill out a Twins bullpen that could be in need at some point. Is there more than 1-2 rotating places left on the 40-man (barring mroe i njuries) that will also allow a third catcher if need calls. The best route to the majors for many of these guys - Sands, Winder, Varland, Dobnak - might end up being able to egt guys out at the major league level in the long relief role, and then also being available for that spot start when needed, allowing the Twins to just bring up "a relief arm" when able to add that double-header player. What is nice to see at AAA and AA is many names developed by the Twins that are pushing their way towards consideration by the Twins, if not this year...next year.

You still gotta find 40-man roster spots for any additions beyond the 40-man. Megill might be working his way towards the waiver wire. Santana needs to stick with the club or go back on waivers. So that is two potential spots. Alcala could stay behind in Florida and spend time in St. Paul, but will remain on the 40-man. The Twins also have Oliver Ortega and Dereck Rodriguez ready to stash at AAA. Not any bullpen depth on the 40-man, unless you start converting relief pitchers. I'm sad to rad of possible Henriquez arm issues. He was the dark horse guy to break camp as a long-relief possibility. Instead, an IL visit will just create more roster issues, I'm afraid.

You need your rotation arms to be ready to pitch strong once spring training ends...no more building up innings for the season. And the bullpen ready to produce. The flip side is that there aren't many off days in April. Go figure that!

Over on MLBtrade rumors, we actually got a report on the public-held Braves revenue stream. Of course, would like to see a better breakdown, and would like to know what they get for TV money et al. But a good example of how much money a franchise generates, and still manages to lose money. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/03/liberty-media-releases-braves-financials-for-2022.html You realize that a baseball team spends much beyond their player payroll. Take into considering signing draft choices, paying minor league players and facilities, front office costs, stadium maintenance, any foreign training camps. Yes, we do consider the Twins cheap. But, I think, they are doing a record payroll this year. And last season they were right in the middle, 15th according to some listings (with perhaps $10 million keeping them from being a bit higher or much lower on either side of their payroll). Still consider baseball coming out of some tough times. The Twins did pay all minor league players and staff for the COVID year. Attendance was down. Advertising dollars had to be pro-rated, and now they can sell - finally again - 2023 correct costs for signage, jumbotron advertising, yearbook ads and all. Of course, the worth of a franchise continues to grow. And, looking ahead, the Twins still have a young roster, and a line of players that could replace (internally) up to 75% of the roster itself in the next two seasons, if need be (which I hope doesn't happen and the Kirilloffs, Larnachs, Lewis, Ryan, Duran, Wallners and more continue with the organization for 4-5-6 or mroe seasons.)

Yeah, if a 40-man guy is injured in spring training, he is officially on the major league injured list. Which is why a lot of guys are cut in the first week-10 days who have little chance of making the team (see Balazovic, Headrick, Varland, Woods Richardson - humm, not too many to cut as the Twins may wish to wait on Winder and Sands. Good news for Celestino, he will egt major league service time. Why the 60-day could work (if needed) is that he could spend x-amount of days on training camp rehabbing, plus rehab in the low minors. Of course, anyone on the 60-day means a corresponding move needs to happen when activated.

Interesting. Make a roster spot for Julien. And also, with Kepler gone, Larnach is back in the mix. Julien is still unproven but, y'know, I always pictured Polanco moving into the infield backup role as he ages...not necessarily with the Twins, but if he isn't ready out of spring training, he may find his role dimnishing if other step up to the plate. Julien can also be in the future first base mix, depending on the outcomes of Lewis, Martin and Lee. But those three MIGHT not make more than an appearance with the Twins in 2023, depending on injuries.

That was a brutal series. Contreras also got into the outfield.

Larnach, like Celestino, was pushed too soon. Maybe a year at AAA will do him good. But, he has to worry about falling in the prospect chart, and the Twins may bump him for finding space in the outfield for the likes of Lewis or Martin. A solid season in the minors can also raise the potential for tradebait for any number of high-end $$$ draftees. Some teams like to swoop in and get a guy that anotehr team spent big bucks on in signing. Of course, there is always Wander Javier, too - a $4 million write off by the Twins who managed to go thru two Rule 5 drafts before becoming a minor league free agent after the briefest of time at AAA St. Paul - now with the Padres. Back to Larnach - the Twins with no DH meant there was hope that Larnach could've started for the team. Now he will be in combat with Wallner in St. Paul, as well as a host of minor league free agent outfielders who, hopefully, won't make a Twins call just because of lack of 40-man spots.