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Matt Canterino Matt Canterino Moving to bullpen
Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 10:26 AM
Canterino (shoulder) is expected to work as a reliever next season, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "He's starting to ramp up his throwing again," said Twins General Manager Jeremy Zoll.
Analysis: Canterino missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. He returned for spring training but suffered a rotator cuff strain in mid-March and missed the rest of the season. It's a good sign he's started throwing again and it sounds like he'll be ready for spring training. The 2019 second-round draft pick was a rising pitching prospect when last on the mound in 2022 as he posted a 1.83 ERA with a 13.2 K/9 in 34.1 innings at Double-A. He has some upside as a reliever as a result - if he can stay healthy. |
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Darren McCaughan Darren McCaughan MiLB contract with Minnesota
Thu, Dec 12, 2024, 9:58 AM
The Twins signed McCaughan to a minor-league contract Dec. 4.
Analysis: McCaughan, 28, held a 6.21 ERA over 42 innings between the Marlins and Guardians in 2024. The right-hander has experience as a starter and a reliever, and it's unclear which role the Twins have planned for him, but he'll likely begin the 2025 season at Triple-A St. Paul. |
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Royce Lewis Royce Lewis Position not yet determined
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 3:23 PM
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said Tuesday that the team has not yet determined which position Lewis will play next season, Darren Wolfson of Channel 5 Saint Paul reports.
Analysis: Lewis has been taking grounders on both sides of the second-base bag this offseason, but whether the 25-year-old ultimately settles in at third base or second base in 2025 will be decided "when we see what our roster overall is gonna look like," per Baldelli. The skipper did respond with "he can do it" when asked about Lewis' ability to handle second base. Lewis made one start at the keystone in 2024, with his other 49 starts in the field coming at third base. |
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Matt Wallner Matt Wallner Healthy heading into spring
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 12:22 PM
Wallner is not expected to have any issues related to his season-ending September left oblique strain by the time spring training begins, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: It wasn't thought that this would be a long-term concern, but it's still good to hear his injury won't have more serious ramifications. After starting the 2024 season in Triple-A, Wallner found his stroke in the second half and hit .272 with a .914 OPS and 10 home runs over his final 55 games. |
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Huascar Ynoa Huascar Ynoa Minor-league deal with Minnesota
Tue, Dec 10, 2024, 9:44 AM
Ynoa has signed a minor-league contract with Minnesota, Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated reports.
Analysis: After missing the 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, Ynoa opened the 2024 campaign at full health and occupied a spot in Triple-A Gwinnett's rotation, only to be shut down in mid-April with elbow inflammation before he hurt his shoulder in August during a rehab assignment. Ynoa was signed out of the Dominican Republic by the Twins at age 16, so he returns to a familiar franchise. He could be a nice depth piece for the Twins if he can return to full health this spring. |
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Alex Speas Alex Speas Joins up with Minnesota
Sun, Nov 24, 2024, 4:08 PM
Speas agreed to a minor-league contract with the Twins on Sunday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: The right-hander made one big-league appearance in 2024 and had a 12.13 ERA in 32 outings across four organizations at the Triple-A level. Speas will provide the Twins with some organizational bullpen depth and isn't likely to be a factor in the majors. |
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Justin Topa Justin Topa Avoids arbitration with Minnesota
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 5:31 PM
Topa agreed to a one-year deal with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration.
Analysis: Topa started the 2024 regular season on the Twins' 15-day injured list due to left patellar tendinitis, and he was transferred to the 60-day IL in late May after an MRI revealed a small tear in his left patellar tendon. Topa managed to return from the injured list Sept. 25, and across three outings he threw 2.1 scoreless innings while striking out two batters and allowing one hit. The 33-year-old right-hander should be good to go for spring training. |
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Michael Tonkin Michael Tonkin Sticking around in Minnesota
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 4:21 PM
Tonkin agreed to a one-year, $1 million contract with the Twins on Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Tonkin started the 2024 regular season on the Twins' roster, then spent stints with the Mets and Yankees before finishing the year back in Minnesota after being claimed off waivers in late August. He appeared in 57 games between the three organizations, posting a 3.63 ERA and 1.26 WHIP over 79.1 innings while primarily serving in a middle relief role. |
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Brock Stewart Brock Stewart Reaches deal for 2025
Fri, Nov 22, 2024, 4:09 PM
Stewart (shoulder) and the Twins agreed to a one-year, $870,000 contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Aaron Gleeman of The Athletic reports.
Analysis: The left-hander missed most of the second half after undergoing shoulder surgery in late July, but that won't prevent Minnesota from tendering him a contract for 2025. The initial recovery timeline was 5-to-6 months, so he should be ready to go early in spring training. Stewart had a 5.17 ERA in 16 appearances for the Twins this year but was dominant in 2024 with just two earned runs allowed across 27.2 innings. |
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Scott Blewett Scott Blewett Re-signs with Minnesota
Wed, Nov 20, 2024, 12:36 PM
The Twins re-signed Blewett to a minor-league contract Monday.
Analysis: Blewett was outrighted off the 40-man roster earlier this month but is now back in the organization. He held a 1.77 ERA and 18:8 K:BB over 20.1 frames with the Twins in 2024 and will likely begin the 2025 campaign at Triple-A St. Paul as relief depth. |
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Griffin Jax Griffin Jax Move to rotation not ruled out
Wed, Nov 13, 2024, 3:54 PM
Twins bench coach Jayce Tingler indicated in a recent interview that the team is open to the possibility of moving Jax into the rotation, Mike Ferrin of MLB Network Radio reports.
Analysis: Jax came up through the minors as a starting pitcher and made 14 starts for the Twins in 2021, posting a 6.10 ERA. He's since turned into a lockdown reliever, most recently collecting a 2.03 ERA and 95:15 K:BB over 71 innings this season. With a five-pitch mix and past starting experience, Jax would seem more equipped for a shift to the rotation than most relievers. The question, of course, is whether the uptick in stuff since his move to relief would translate back to a starting role. |
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Daniel Duarte Daniel Duarte Re-signed to minors deal
Wed, Nov 13, 2024, 9:55 AM
The Twins re-signed Duarte (elbow) to a minor-league contract on Nov. 6.
Analysis: Duarte was outrighted off the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization while he rehabs from UCL revision surgery. The righty reliever is expected to miss most of the 2025 season. |
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Carlos Correa Carlos Correa Making progress on plantar fasciitis
Sat, Nov 9, 2024, 8:33 PM
Correa's recovery from plantar fasciitis in his right foot is progressing ahead of his recovery from the same problem in his left foot last offseason, Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told The Athletic. "He's tracking in a positive direction. He's got good plans for how he's going to handle it therapeutically and I think he's in a good place," said Falvey.
Analysis: Correa was sidelined with plantar fasciitis in his right foot from just before the All-Star break on July 12 until Sept. 14. He was able to play 11 games in September where he showed little rust despite no minor league rehab games by hitting .325 with a .960 OPS. However, he was clearly not moving at full speed, so the rest and rehab in the offseason should have him ready for spring training. After struggling with plantar fasciitis in his left foot during the 2023 season that limited him at at the plate, the healthy of his feet will be something to watch in spring training. |
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Joe Ryan Joe Ryan Shoulder injury recovery on track
Sat, Nov 9, 2024, 8:20 PM
Ryan has made good progress in his recovery from a shoulder injury that ended his season in early August, Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey told MLB.com. "Reports on him have been nothing but positive, kind of exactly what we expect for this to recover," Falvey said. "So that's good news."
Analysis: Ryan suffered a Grade 2 teres major strain during a start Aug. 9 and missed the rest of the regular season. While no details were given about Ryan's progress, it sounds like he'll be ready for the start of spring training. He'll return to work at the top of the Minnesota rotation after going 7-7 with a 3.60 ERA and 9.8 K/9 in 23 starts last season. |
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Emmanuel Rodriguez Emmanuel Rodriguez Undergoes thumb surgery
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 1:46 PM
Rodriguez recently underwent surgery to repair a ligament tear in his right thumb, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey indicated Wednesday it was a cleanup procedure that Rodriguez had and the expectation is the young outfielder will be ready for spring training. Rodriguez was limited to just 47 games in 2024 due to the nagging thumb issue. The 21-year-old ended the season at Triple-A St. Paul and is already on the 40-man roster, so he could push to debut in 2025. |
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Royce Lewis Royce Lewis Could see more action at keystone
Wed, Nov 6, 2024, 8:56 AM
Lewis could be used more at second base next season, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports.
Analysis: Lewis made one start at the keystone for the Twins in September, his first there at the major-league level. The 25-year-old has graded out well in terms of range at third base but has struggled with his throwing, so second base could be a better fit. How much time Lewis ultimately spends at second base in 2025 might depend on how the Minnesota roster shakes out over the winter. |
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Jorge Alcala Jorge Alcala Option exercised
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 3:29 PM
The Twins exercised Alcala's $1.5 million club option for 2025, Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Alcala spent some time in the minors in 2024 but pitched well over 58.1 innings with the Twins, posting a 3.24 ERA and 58:20 K:BB over 58.1 frames. He'll be used in middle relief in 2025. |
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Josh Winder Josh Winder Outrighted to Triple-A
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 2:43 PM
The Twins outrighted Winder to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Winder, 28, spent the bulk of the 2024 season at St. Paul posting a 6.15 ERA but a 47:13 K:BB over 41 innings. He will remain in the organization as bullpen depth. |
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Yunior Severino Yunior Severino Sent outright to Triple-A
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 2:41 PM
The Twins outrighted Severino to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Severino is no longer on the 40-man roster but will stick around in the organization. He slashed .254/.342/.434 with 21 homers over 128 games this season with St. Paul. |
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Daniel Duarte Daniel Duarte Removed from 40-man roster
Mon, Nov 4, 2024, 2:39 PM
The Twins outrighted Duarte (elbow) to Triple-A St. Paul on Monday, Bobby Nightengale of the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports.
Analysis: Duarte underwent UCL revision surgery in May and will be sidelined at least until midseason. He'll remain in the Twins' organization while rehabbing. |
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