They aren't looking for the best, they are looking for the cheapest. Moneyball without the analytics. I can't wait to watch 0 games this year to spite them.
I feel like we already had that, which is what’s so frustrating. We had a top 3 bullpen in the league at the start of last year, and almost all of them (maybe all??) were NOT free agents. They were all in arbitration, or even pre-arb. And then we gave it all away…
I still especially hate the Duran trade, especially since I don't really rate Abel or Tait. They could have traded 2-3 bullpen arms behind Duran -- like Jax for Bradley I didn't really mind -- and they'd still have a serviceable bullpen while arguably adding to other areas of the team, but they were obviously just blowing up the bullpen to save money.
But Duran's the kind of arm that boosts morale on the team, from the starting pitchers to the hitters, they are all gonna feel like they can win if they just get Duran the ball with a lead. Now everyone's just going to be extra pissed off every time the bullpen blows a lead.
New model. Get a ton of supposed top line starters (ceiling 3-5 starter level) and whichever don't work - you force them into relief. See Louie Varland.
My ability to care extends to seeing the news, confirming that it still sucks, and encouraging the Polads to just fucking sell the team already. I can’t watch a team whose owners can’t be bothered to care.
Agree but if you squint you can at least see a world where Falvey tries to spend the little bit of money he's given on trying to improve the offense since a bad bullpen doesn't matter if you never have a lead anyways. If any sort of money was ever going to be spent, the bullpen is probably the last place it should go
I am very bullish on Prielipp. I have felt that he would be the closer by midseason as an elite bullpen arm.
But i thought there would be SOME competition. Literally anything.
I also hate the idea of converting 3-4 starters all at once to fill it out. ESPECIALLY Abel given he was a key piece of the Duran deal. Duran for a reliever and an 18 year old would look terrible valuewise.
The thing is. I cannot accept the idea of being competitive and building around Ryan/Lopez/Buxton when this is the reality. This is a 70 win team with Josh Bell added. If THIS is what we end up with? Trade them. Get value. Restock for 2028
I really don’t think they have/want to. A rotation of Pablo/Ryan/Ober/SWR/Zebby with a pen of Festa/Abel/Bradley/Sands leaves ~3 spots open, with at least one of them needing to be a lefty. Id rather give Raya/Morris/Prelipp/Rojas run at the majors and maybe some low end arm for low leverage and mop up duty than try to build up the pen from scratch through free agency
Why is this news even? It's expected that we are gonna be a AAA team until the Pohlads pay off some debt. Nothing at all in terms of "Twins are looking for real talent" will be true for a half decade from now.
I think it's insane that there's still people who think this front office/ownership is trying to win in any way other than simply "get lucky in a weak division." Doesn't help that Gleeman continues to stoke fan anger because he needs fans to not quit following the team. Just admit to yourself the Twins aren't spending money and either decide to support them anyways or spend your time thinking about other things. I promise you you'll feel better either way!
This is why when Tommy took over and people were delusional enough to convince themselves, there were changes ahead with little Joe leaving. I just rolled my eyes and laughed. The guy literally lied to the reporter's faces and contradicted himself in his first opening statement. His entire go big or go home and no half measures will be his right size of business legacy.
He's just a salesman nothing more. You would be an absolute fool to buy any tickets this season and anytime moving forward until that family is completely gone.
Twins baseball baby
Get to know em.
That wasn’t a suggestion, more like an order 😂
I'd rather not.
This is how we baseball!
This team was never going to spend money on quality, in-demand relievers.
Correct! Get ready to learn a bunch of names of player none of us have ever heard of!
FTP.
Joke’s on you, I don’t plan on paying enough attention this season to know any names.
FTP.
They aren't looking for the best, they are looking for the cheapest. Moneyball without the analytics. I can't wait to watch 0 games this year to spite them.
I feel like we already had that, which is what’s so frustrating. We had a top 3 bullpen in the league at the start of last year, and almost all of them (maybe all??) were NOT free agents. They were all in arbitration, or even pre-arb. And then we gave it all away…
I still especially hate the Duran trade, especially since I don't really rate Abel or Tait. They could have traded 2-3 bullpen arms behind Duran -- like Jax for Bradley I didn't really mind -- and they'd still have a serviceable bullpen while arguably adding to other areas of the team, but they were obviously just blowing up the bullpen to save money.
But Duran's the kind of arm that boosts morale on the team, from the starting pitchers to the hitters, they are all gonna feel like they can win if they just get Duran the ball with a lead. Now everyone's just going to be extra pissed off every time the bullpen blows a lead.
Very true. The Varland trade was a good example of it. Pohlads just do whatever they can to piss on the fanbase.
New model. Get a ton of supposed top line starters (ceiling 3-5 starter level) and whichever don't work - you force them into relief. See Louie Varland.
Then trade them the moment they establish themselves!
Pohlads don’t give a fuck.
My ability to care extends to seeing the news, confirming that it still sucks, and encouraging the Polads to just fucking sell the team already. I can’t watch a team whose owners can’t be bothered to care.
This team is going to be so bad for a long time.
The Pohlads and spending money don't mix.
They've got to hope that guys like Prielepp Raya, and Rojas are ready. They probably aren't.
Did we think this team was seriously going to try now?
How are these people allowed to run a baseball team?
Fuck the ownership.
I don't really know why anyone would have expected them to spend money on the bullpen
You could've just left the "on the bullpen" out of that sentence.
Agree but if you squint you can at least see a world where Falvey tries to spend the little bit of money he's given on trying to improve the offense since a bad bullpen doesn't matter if you never have a lead anyways. If any sort of money was ever going to be spent, the bullpen is probably the last place it should go
I am very bullish on Prielipp. I have felt that he would be the closer by midseason as an elite bullpen arm.
But i thought there would be SOME competition. Literally anything.
I also hate the idea of converting 3-4 starters all at once to fill it out. ESPECIALLY Abel given he was a key piece of the Duran deal. Duran for a reliever and an 18 year old would look terrible valuewise.
The thing is. I cannot accept the idea of being competitive and building around Ryan/Lopez/Buxton when this is the reality. This is a 70 win team with Josh Bell added. If THIS is what we end up with? Trade them. Get value. Restock for 2028
Zebby and Festa will more than likely be bullpen options. Festa for sure imo.
I really don’t think they have/want to. A rotation of Pablo/Ryan/Ober/SWR/Zebby with a pen of Festa/Abel/Bradley/Sands leaves ~3 spots open, with at least one of them needing to be a lefty. Id rather give Raya/Morris/Prelipp/Rojas run at the majors and maybe some low end arm for low leverage and mop up duty than try to build up the pen from scratch through free agency
As many others have said, a couple of the younger starters will end up in the pen, with one of them closing.
So there are 6 available that are third tier top 30...will they sign one? If there is spending involved then probably not
Bullpen? Bullpen? Where we’re going we ain’t need no stinkin’ bullpen.
So trading Varland for no reason wasn’t a good idea?
Poverty Franchise
We knew they weren’t gunna be signing much bullpen help which is why I was shocked when they announced they’re not selling anymore
Turns out trading everybody wasn't a great idea.
Why is this news even? It's expected that we are gonna be a AAA team until the Pohlads pay off some debt. Nothing at all in terms of "Twins are looking for real talent" will be true for a half decade from now.
Please change this picture moving forward. Gleeman needs to dig a little deeper in his reporting bag
Duh we're going to suck
What’s Austidillo up to?
Hey remember when we had great relievers on cost controlled contracts for years and traded them away?
I got my attention focused on the World Baseball Classic this year.
$20 says I watch more Great Britain baseball than Twins baseball in 2026. 🤷♂️
I think it's insane that there's still people who think this front office/ownership is trying to win in any way other than simply "get lucky in a weak division." Doesn't help that Gleeman continues to stoke fan anger because he needs fans to not quit following the team. Just admit to yourself the Twins aren't spending money and either decide to support them anyways or spend your time thinking about other things. I promise you you'll feel better either way!
I'm beating a very dead horse, but sure would be nice to have a Louie Varland about now.
SELL THE TEAM POHLADS
So I should try out?
Good
Something tells me we're going to end up like the Rockies
This team starts looking after the top 30
Go big or go home.
It's cute you think we'll have the offense & starting pitching that would require late inning pitchers to lock down enough wins to matter.
This is why when Tommy took over and people were delusional enough to convince themselves, there were changes ahead with little Joe leaving. I just rolled my eyes and laughed. The guy literally lied to the reporter's faces and contradicted himself in his first opening statement. His entire go big or go home and no half measures will be his right size of business legacy.
He's just a salesman nothing more. You would be an absolute fool to buy any tickets this season and anytime moving forward until that family is completely gone.
Losers don’t need closers.
Wait. The MN Twins, not spending money in FA?! Well color me "not at all surprised!"
Why didn't you just sell the team, you jackwads!!
Absolute joke. Relievers are a bare minimum investment with contracts that they could’ve just liquidated come July 31st.
Damn, could we really lose 110 games this year?
Its gonna be something like Festa or Matthews. Not sure why AG hasn’t acknowledged that yet.