Thursday, November 05

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- Officially, Hot Stove season is under way. It’s been more than a week since the end of the World Series, meaning that teams are free to negotiate with any and all free agents.

Still, it’s a bit quiet for now. Baseball doesn’t have the kind of frenzy when free agency opens that some other sports do. So it’s a good time to do a little roster reset as the Twins enter what could be a very interesting winter. Let’s go around the horn and look at what they have and what they need.

Starting pitching

This is one of the deepest areas on the roster, and if Minnesota decides to be active in the trade market this winter -- which would not surprise me -- it would make sense to deal from the pool of rotation candidates. The Twins have at least seven legitimate candidates for five starting spots, and while two of those pitchers are coming back from injury, it’s still an area of real depth.

Barring any moves, the rotation would most likely go something like: Pablo López-Joe Ryan-Taj Bradley-Dean Kremer-Bailey Ober. That obviously doesn’t include Connor Prielipp or Mick Abel, never mind Kendry Rojas, so you can see where the interest in trading comes from. As an added factor, López, Ryan, Kremer and Ober are all eligible for free agency after 2027. It would only make sense to make at least one deal so as to avoid being in a position where the Twins have to replace four out of five members of their rotation in a single winter.

Bullpen

By contrast, even after a slew of midseason adds, the relief corps remains an obvious area of need. That’s especially true on the left side, where AJ Minter is a free agent, Anthony Banda has been cut loose following a major injury and Kody Funderburk is the main returnee.

But there’s also need on the right side. Yoendrys Gomez, Jeff Hoffman and Andrew Morris make a solid back three, but the club could use some depth behind them. As of now, Tommy Nance, Travis Adams and the rehabbing Cole Sands would likely make up the rest of the right-handed bullpen. The Twins could probably use at least two quality, late-inning caliber relievers.

Catching

And here we come to the biggest unknown of all. Ryan Jeffers is a free agent. He’s been tendered a qualifying offer, meaning that if he signs elsewhere, the Twins would receive Draft pick compensation, but it would be surprising if he accepts it. The most likely scenario is that Jeffers receives a multi-year deal somewhere else.

Which leaves … questions.

Victor Caratini will be back, but he had a poor year at the plate and is not very effective in controlling the running game. He makes a fine backup, but it wouldn’t be ideal to install him as the starter. There’s no obvious alternative in the high Minors, with top pick and No. 2 prospect Vahn Lackey still a year away at minimum. The Twins will almost certainly look to add a catcher, either via trade or from a free-agent pool that includes names like Carson Kelly and Tyler Stephenson.

Infield

The dirt is potentially the most settled area of the roster, with one potential caveat. Brooks Lee is set at third, and Kaelen Culpepper is set at short. Kody Clemens is likely to come back at second base, and as of now, Royce Lewis would be the primary first baseman. There is no primary designated hitter, and there’s not likely to be one.

But one thing the Twins could use to do is add an impact bat. And one of the few possible places to do that is first base. So it’s possible they could look to trade Lewis and add a first baseman, or even add a second baseman and move Clemens to first.

On the bench, Minnesota has Ryan Kreidler. Highly regarded No. 4 prospect Marek Houston is primarily a shortstop who could conceivably arrive before the year is out.

Outfield

Like the rotation, this is an area of abundance, with at least four starting-caliber players for three spots. Byron Buxton will be the primary center fielder, though as he comes back from hip surgery, he could see some time at DH. Luke Keaschall and Walker Jenkins seem likely to be the primary starters on the corners, with Jenkins also the main alternative to Buxton in center.

That still leaves Trevor Larnach, who played regularly in left and had a good year, their No. 5 prospect Emmanuel Rodriguez, who is out of options, Alan Roden and Austin Martin. As with the rotation, it will be somewhat surprising if the Twins don’t make a trade from this surplus.

Infielder Kyle DeBarge, the Twins’ second pick in the 2024 Draft (33rd overall), has been enjoying an outstanding Arizona Fall League campaign. He was recognized for his success on Wednesday when he was named to the annual Fall Stars Game. My friend and colleague Jesse Borek put together a nice feature on DeBarge earlier this week, and I recommend you click this link to give it a read.

As teams work to get their rosters in order to go about building next season’s teams, quite a few players are being waived, outrighted and otherwise cleared from 40-man rosters. The Twins lost two relievers to waivers this week. The Mets claimed right-hander Jack Anderson, and the Cubs claimed righty Eric Orze.

Y’all be kind and look out for each other, OK?

Lee Bains III & The Glory Fires, “Dereconstructed”

Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “However Long”

Drive-By Truckers, “The Southern Thing”

R.E.M., “These Days”

Cable Ties, “Hope”

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