***Official 2024 Minnesota Twins season thread***

[Hollywood42]

The 2023 season has officially come and gone, and what a season it was. From a surprise Carlos Correa reunion, some successful trades and signings and some not so much, lost seasons from Alex Kirilloff and Jose Miranda, to fantastic seasons from Royce Lewis, Edouard Julien, and Matt Wallner. Ultimate we end up back on top in the division, make the playoffs, and end the streak!

Last season got us back on track, and set expectations moving forward. We have a good team to build off of heading into this offseason. The rotation looks like it should be a strength again next year even with Sonny Gray hitting free agency, with Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, and Chris Paddack setting up a solid 1-4. The lineup needs a bit of work, but after great rookie years from the Lewis/Julien/Wallner trio named above, plus Correa, Jeffers, Kepler, Polanco, and hopefully Buxton, I think it's within reason to have some excitement about the offense. Every bullpen ever can always use some more arms, but that too has a good starting point with Jhoan Duran, Caleb Thielbar, Griffin Jax, and Brock Stewart leading the way.

My personal top few areas of need would be as follows:

-1 quality SP. I think we can go into this year and feel that our rotation is a strength, but 2023 showed how invaluable having 2 aces can be. It'd probably have to come via a trade, but if we can land another #1-2, that takes this pitching staff to the next level

-Buxton insurance. I am very hopeful Buck can contribute this year, even if it's on a 100 game managed program. But we can't count on that and I'd really like to have someone that we're comfortable playing 130 games in center if needed. MAT filled that role perfectly last year and I wouldn't at all mind him returning to the team

-Offensive bopper. The offense was way better in the second half, but it held us back big time in the first half. And didn't do enough in the playoffs. I think we have a good core, but we have a lot of average to good guys, and not that many great guys. I'd love to see us add an impact bat this year, and I'd especially love to see us get rid of a platoon somewhere in exchange for a guy that doesn't need to be protected by L/R matchups. Platoons have their place, but they're limiting, too. Someone like Rhys Hoskins would be an exciting add, and would help plug a hole we have at 1B currently

-Bullpen help. No surprise there, every team always needs this, and we're no different. We especially need some more lefty help, as Thielbar is currently our only established LHP out there

I wouldn't be surprised to see another significant trade this offseason, either. I'm not sure who it would be, but we have some good offensive depth right now, particularly in the infield. Do we make Brooks Lee available for a stud, even on the cusp of Lee reaching the majors? Do we let Jose Miranda try to bounce back somewhere else? Can we get something good for Jorge Polanco to open up 2B for Julien full time? Lots of speculation to be had here, but I do envision something pretty interesting happening on the trade market before opening day

At this way too early point in the offseason, it looks like it'll be another weak division, so I'm hoping we take advantage of that, making some October minded moves this offseason, then coming out hot and jumping to a big division lead early on in the season. With the playoff streak no longer looming over us, we can finally look beyond simply getting a win, and now have our eyes on making a real run at things. I don't think we're that far away from being able to do that, but we do have a few clear needs to take care of first

Links to past season threads-

2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014