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TJSweens -> RE: Twins off-season (3/25/2025 12:58:56 PM)
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I'm finding myself strangely optimistic with this team. As much as I think the Twins had an uninspiring offseason, they look like they may have added a couple of good role pieces. There are also young players in the system who managed to not crash and burn at the upper levels of the minors and may be ready to push their way onto the 26 man roster.
The starting rotation looks real promising. Lopez, Ryan and Ober of course are solid. Paddack has had a good spring, but I will be skeptical about him until I see him perform at a high level over an extended period during the season. He also will have the issue of having hardly pitched at all over the last few years. He could go along fine, hit the wall and have to be shut down. SWR, will have to make some adjustments. He really wasn't very good outside of April and May last year. I'm still very optimistic about this group because Zebby Matthews looks poised to force his way up here very quickly. Festa didn't have the greatest spring, but showed a lot of promise in his debut last year. Corey Lewis and Andrew Morris are also rising fast.
The bullpen looks really good. They have stockpiled so many power arms, nobody even cares that Stewart is already on the first of his six annual visits to the IL. There are plenty of good options in St. Paul if the injury bug ravages the pen again.
As much as I didn't like it at the time, the Twins may have hit on one of their bargain basement moves. Ty France has looked really good. Good strike zone discipline and a simple approach. He just barrels everything. Even his outs this spring have been loud. I don't expect him to hit .467 during the season, but I am cautiously optimistic for the season. Harrison Bader (no, he's not quitting baseball to tour with Vampire Weekend) gives us an elite defender to use against LHP and to cover CF during Buxton's routine visits to the IL. If he can hit at all against lefties he will be an asset. He's also a good base runner. I love that DaShawn Keirsey climbed over Martin to take an outfield spot. The kid is an elite defender and a promising bat.
The infield has the depth to absorb Lewis' trips to the IL. I'm betting on a healthy season from Correa.
All in all, I see a good chance to win the central. After that who knows, given our pitching.
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