JD-TWINS

The poll attached for “floor or cap”, decision has to go hand in hand IMO. Desperately need both! Choosing your opponent is ridiculous to me. I guess I’d be OK with it on a 2 year trail basis……. then reverting back to standard means of determining opponents. If, after the trial period and a shift back to historical norms …….. if it was seen as a much better approach, then fine. 154 games obviously isn’t a radical change and if it buys some Goodwill with players, go ahead “in the name of player safety”😉. 3, “Best of 7” Series Wins to get a ring seems extensive! Used to be one Team from each league & that was it ……… now 6 Teams per League vying to move to the Series. To me, whether one likes it, depends upon if your team wins the first year or two the expanded # of games are tried. Do not need more games! The Division Series is fair for the Team with superior record and the opposition as well. 2 more Playoff games (potentially) per Series can’t move the Revenue Needle enough so it is a necessary change.

How about Zack Littell for $11M/yr. for 2 years? The entire FA budget for “Bullpen” in ‘26. Threw 186 innings in ‘25 ……… career and recent ERA in the 3.85 range. Reliever experience for a few years earlier in career (for playoffs). Plug in as a 5th starter and allows Bradley and Abel to develop. Great depth protection for rotation injuries! If young guys are clearly ready, he’s easily moved at deadline in ‘26. Allows opportunity to move another starter arm for an accomplished bat at some point. Matthews to Closer role - Festa to 7th/8th inning role - Prielipp - Raya - Morris - Adams - Klein …………6 guys to supplement the existing 4 guys currently in place in the PEN.

I would assume Twins have guys in minors that can play defense & muster a 88 OPS+ …… Urias is out! Bader would be a shot in the arm for the roster but is too costly as a Buxton back-up and with Martin’s offensive rise last year, they are redundant in LF. I’d love to sign him but don’t see Team going 2 years with $22M guaranteed. Hayes - I live in Cincinnati and he is broken down physically. No reason to spend money on a guy that will perform OK for 95 games.