That 2022 Minnesota Twins Opening Day Sense-Making Piece

Yay! We all survived the lockout, and now it's finally time to begin the 2022 season!

Coming off an unexpected last place finish, there was much work needed to improve the team. Despite trading off their best pitcher last July, Falvine insisted there would be now tear down and rebuild, even if that may have been the best route to take. 

Instead, we re-signed Byron Buxton to the most realistic contract in baseball, then hit the pause button for labor strife. Much work needed to be done in the time the lockout lifted, until season would start barely a month later. To their credit, the Twins did a lot in that time. Arguably more than any team in baseball, as far as turning their roster over.

So who/what are the 2022 Minnesota Twins? Let's take a look at me showing off some cards. 

It all starts with the pitching.

And of course, the 2022 Twins will play the season without their top starting pitcher.

2021 Gypsy Queen - Kenta Maeda

Maeda accidentally caught a case of Tommy John last Summer, and wont pitch until 2023. We had very little depth even if he was healthy. Jose Berrios was traded last July and Big Mike Pineda signed with the Detroit Tigers. Suffice to say, we have some major gaps in our rotation. 

Which I'll gladly take... If it means I don't have to watch this guy in a Twins uniform ever again...

2021 Topps - J.A. Happ - Independence Day

Or this guy...

2021 Topps - Matt Shoemaker - Gold

Shoemaker is off to Japan for 2022. He gets to suck in a different language!

No one has signed Happ...

With most of our legendary 2021 pitching staff gone, how do we address our new starting pitching deficiency? Maybe start with signing a stable free agent to build off of... Perhaps an old Baltimore Orioles top prospect?

2012 Bowman Top Picks - Dylan Bundy & Kevin Gausman

Of the two, the Twins would sign one of these guys...

2022 Topps Heritage - Kevin Gausman

Hint: It wasn't this guy.

I'd like to make note that I'm very happy Topps Photoshopped the new Heritage cards to reflect the flood of November 2021 free agent signings. 1973 Topps was ripe with bad airbrushing to update photos, so this is just a modern day extension of that. Here, it fits. Surprised they hadn't done it earlier (to this degree).

2015 Finest - Carlos Rodon - Autograph

We also didn't sign this guy...

And I'm fine with that. 

Rodon strikes me as another injury waiting to happen. The market was clearly scared of him as well. He got some decent money, but only on a two year deal. Out of anywhere he could have signed, the Giants did make the most sense to me. He has a good chance at success. If healthy, pitching in that park, in that league.

Recognizing that starting pitching was the Twins biggest need going into 2022, the free agent pitching class didn't inspire much confidence. Beyond Scherzer and Kershaw as the two most established aces "available", the rest of the group just didn't have a strong enough track record to command the contracts they'd end up getting. Between Robbie Ray, and the aforementioned Gausman, neither of them have been at that ace level long enough, where I'd feel confident in giving them $130 million. 

But the Twins still need someone to throw the ball to opposing batters, and they have to do something...

For example, Oakland had a near full staff of starters available. Because their stadium sucks and the owner is pathetically cheap. Athletics management has already sold off most of the pieces that put the team in the postseason the last few years. They'll have a tough time replicating success without Matt Chapman and Chris Bassitt, and especially this guy...

Why don't just rip this man's heart out and pee on it?

That's the spirit Rob, don't let them know they've hurt you!

Stiff upper lip and stuff!

Since everyone else is being shipped out of town, surely the Twins could put something together to acquire one of those A's pitchers? How about the lefty with the wild hair?

2022 Topps - Sean Manaea

Nope...

Our last hope just went to the Padres. 

For two prospects that I'm sure Minnesota could have matched, or topped. 

A few weeks ago, we did pull the trigger on a pretty decent starter.

2010 Bowman Platinum - Collegiate National Team Auto Jersey - Sonny Gray

Opened a box of 2010 Bowman Platinum, back in 2010, and this was one of my hits. Thought it was cool to pull a jersey/auto combo for a prospect who hadn't yet been drafted. Meaning that I'd pay closer attention to where he went in the next year's draft. He became a PC guy after I pulled his autographed Bowman Chrome Draft card the next year. Now pictured as an Oakland Athletic. Obviously that card a sign from the card gods.

See! The Twins DID trade for an ex-Oakland starter.

He just happened to lose a few years in Reds and Yankees limboland, first.

2021 Bowman’s Best - Chase Petty

Unfortunately, we had to give up our first pick in the 2021 Draft to get Gray. Petty may be a high price to pay, or it could look like a steal for us. We'll know in a few years. I'm glad we got Gray, but I had high hopes for Petty in a distant future Twins rotation. 

Which were probably unrealistic. 

Wish him luck in Cincinnati.

Even though we have our new "ace", a rather surprising name draws the Opening Day start...

2020 Bowman Chrome Sapphire - Joe Ryan

With only 5 Major League appearances, Ryan will start the first game of the 2022 season. He was impressive in those five games. Well, one of the against Detroit, not so much... Nice honor for our top (MLB ready) pitching prospect. The key here is if he can adjust to batters that are going to quickly adjust against him. He's got good stuff, and he's going to get a real chance to show what he can do.

2021 Topps - Bailey Ober

Ober was called up in the middle of last year, when the Twins simply ran out of people who could throw the ball. Of the pitchers brought to the majors in that wave, Ober stood out as a guy who actually knew what to do before he threw that ball. A rarity with Twins pitches in 2021.

2018 Topps - Chris Archer

We need some veterans besides Gray, so we took a flyer on the former Tampa Bay Rays ace. Some 4 years too late. Maybe he’s got something left it the tank, but if not, we didn’t break the bank to sign him.

I always dug those fake retro Rays uniforms. 

The question bears to be asked: If I'm to pretend this franchise existed in the early 1970's, wouldn't the they need to be the 1973 Tamp Bay DEVIL Rays? That's what they were when the team was born in 1998. So if I'm asked to imagine their lineage going back another 20+ years, that would imply the team intentionally switched to DEVIL Rays at some point in fictional franchise history. 

I bet it was in the 1980's...

2021 Panini Classics - Randy Dobnak - Autograph

He’s still injured. 

So yeah, that’s kind of an underwhelming rotation for a team that has hopes of contending. I can think of a lot worse five man starting staffs the Twins have trotted out over the years.

At least this years’ version doesn’t have Matt Shoemaker on it!

If/when any of these guys falter, some of our top pitching prospects will be a mere 11 miles away in St. Paul.

2020 Topps Pro Debut - Matt Canterino

The Twins are very high on Canterino. With some more time, he could become a decent Major League starter.

2021 Leaf Flash - Jordan Balazovic - Autograph

Balazovic is ranked higher in national scouting reports than Canterino. From what I've read, they're slightly different, yet similar enough to not read too much into their rankings. In an ideal world, both become top flight pitchers for the 2023-24 Twins.

******

Before I move onto the bullpen, I need to point out that I wrote everything above this point in mid-March. When everything related to the Twins roster was changing daily. There's so much that I'd have to re-write, just to update it, that I'm just leaving it as/is. The new news fits more at the end of this anyways...

******

A top prospect will start the season in Minnesota!

2019 Bowman Chrome Draft - Jhoan Duran

Duran came to the Twins system from Arizona, in the Eduardo Escobar trade. 

A 24 year old fireballer, with an impressive 2022 Spring Training, made the Major League team and will pitch out of the bullpen, to begin the year. The Twins still see Duran as a starter in the long term, but some long relief outings should get his feet wet. I’m interested in seeing what exactly we have with this guy.

He will find a home alongside our returning, more established bullpen pieces…

2022 Topps - Taylor Rogers - Gold

Rogers became the Twins closer in 2019, and has been pretty decent since his first season with Minnesota, back in 2016. A free agent after the season, I'd like to see him re-sign with Minnesota, but he may become too expensive for our budget. Which is always an issue around here.

Just not as bad as Oakland!

Uh-oh!!

That didn't age well...

2016 Topps Chrome - Tyler Duffey - Green Refractor Autograph 

After a couple years of trying his luck as a starter, Duffey settled in as a quality setup man. Like Rogers, Duffey is also a free agent after the season. Like Rogers, Duffey may become too expensive for our humble little ballclub. As the 2022 Twins faced major gaps in their starting rotation, the 2023 Twins could likely face a gutted bullpen to rebuild.

As far as this Duffey card, it's one of my favorite Twins hits I've ever pulled from a retail pack. Which came from the WalMarts in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. Laura and I were on a few day getaway in southern Colorado, and made a supply run after getting into town late the night before. Packs of 2016 Topps Chrome were surprisingly included on the supply list! I've said before, 2016 Topps was a bad design, but the Chrome set was surprisingly good. Especially an autographed green Refractor, numbered out of 75.

That's the top two parts of the bullpen, who else will join them?

2007 Bowman Heritage - Joe Smith

Look Rob, we signed your baby brother!

Hopefully he can still pitch with the Wonder Wheel glued to his back... Smith should serve as a late-inning ground ball specialist. A weapon that was lacking out of the 2021 Twins bullpen.

Man was the old Rookie Card logo just too large. Got used to the new one, forgot how bad the old one was. I hate how it takes away from a pretty cool image.

2019 Topps Update - Devin Smeltzer - Gold

Given how he pitched in Florida, I’m shocked that Smeltzer was optioned to St. Paul to start the 2022 season. He didn’t give up a run, struck out more than 1 per inning and showed excellent control. Surely he deserved a chance for some of the mop-up innings that will go to an assortment of relievers this spring. 

2020 Topps Heritage - Cody Stashak

Stashak is still trying to define his role, after bouncing between AAA and the majors, the last few years.

He didn't make the team either.

2020 Topps - Jorge Alcala

Young fireballer pitched some quality innings in 2021, looking for further development this year.

And he made the team!

2020 Panini Contenders - Luis Thorpe - Autograph

Lefty from Australia seems to have exhausted his opportunities to start for the Twins. Looks like he's viewed as exclusively a bullpen piece after failing in the rotation multiple times over the last two seasons. 

He didn't make the team...

2017 Bowman Chrome - Jharel Cotton

Waiver claim from the Texas Rangers last November. Since he was already on the 40 Man roster, Cotton seemed to have an advantage over some of his non-roster competition. He's pitched okay so far, and is probably good for some mop-up work.

And he made the team!

Enough about the pitching. Obviously that is still our biggest question mark, but on the other side, the lineup is one of our strengths. We're balanced on offense and can field a solid defense. Fairly young, in both veterans and rookies. This team will go as far as our pitching takes us. We could compete for a Wild Card spot, or we could finish in last place. 

But there are pieces here that could click...

2021 Panini Spectra Dynamic Duos - Alex Kirilloff & Ryan Jeffers

I just wanted to show this card off. It's one of the latest additions to the Twins collection. I was going to use it to feature Ryan Jeffers, since he will be taking on a larger role in 2022. 

2020 Topps Museum Collection - Mitch Garver - Auto Jersey

This was unexpected. Two days after the lockout ended, Minnesota traded catcher Mitch Garver to the Texas Rangers.

I'll get to that in a moment...

2021 Donruss - Ryan Jeffers - Signature Series

Here's Jeffers starring on his own card. After a promising but unspectacular rookie season, Jeffers is poised to carry the bulk of the catching duties. Good defensive catcher, hopes are that his offensive potential continues to advance.

As far as his backup behind the plate? I'll get to that in a moment...

2019 Topps Five Star - Willians Astudillo - Autograph

Sadly, Jeffers wont be backed up by my favorite recent Twin, Willians Astudillo. Minnesota chose to non-tender Astudillo after the 2021 season. He signed with Miami over the Winter, but didn't make the Marlins team. They have played him all over the field. Just as the Twins did over the last three seasons. Maybe he'll opt out of his contract and come back here!

He still fits on this roster!

2021 Topps - Ben Rortvedt - Black

Jeffers' backup also wont be Ben Rortvedt, as he's no longer here either...

Trading Garver was a shock, but the Twins had a great deal of depth at catcher. It was one position I expected would result in a trade to fill other needs. (Like pitcher?) Soon as the lockout ended, Garver was shipped to Texas for a shortstop?

2019 Topps 1984 Anniversary - Isiah Kiner-Falefa - Autograph

Looking at the available shortstops after the 2021 season, I thought Kiner-Falefa was the option that made the most sense for Minnesota. He is versatile, spending significant time at short, third, second and catcher. Not a great hitter, but not dead weight, and most importantly, an acclaimed fielder.

We needed a good fielder to replace...

2021 Allen & Ginter - Andrelton Simmons

This guy was mopey and weird and cost us $10 million to field decent, but not hit anything. He signed with the Chicago Cubs (for a whole lot less than $10 million) just as soon as the lockout was over. Surprise! He is injured to start the season.

He wont be missed.

2018 Bowman Chrome #Trending - Nick Gordon - Orange Refractor

I really like this card!

Former fifth overall pick in the 2014 Draft, finally made it to the Major Leagues last year, and was perfectly acceptable. He played short, second and some outfield. Including some time filling in for an injured Byron Buxton, in center. It appears he will play that same role on the 2022 Twins, but I doubt he's able to hit enough to pull down a regular starting role. That being said, Gordon has occasionally flashed some power that you wouldn't expect from a speed first guy.

Which is fine. Our two top prospects are both listed as shortstops at this time. So we just need someone to keep the position warm until either of them are ready to grab it.

2018 Bowman Tek - Royce Lewis - Autograph

2016's first overall pick will finally get to play after missing the last two seasons due to Covid and a messed up knee. He didn't have Covid, but the entire minor leagues couldn't play because of it. I'd assumed the Twins would place him back in AA Wichita, since he needs to get back up to speed. But Minnesota assigned him to St. Paul. He will be challenged at AAA to begin his comeback. 

2021 Mosaic Introductions - Austin Martin - Silver Donut Prizm

I think Panini went a little too heavy on the Silver Donut Prizmness for this card.

It's kind of hard to even see who/what it is.

Sure is sparkly though!

Austin Martin isn't too likely to stick at short in the distant future. I could see him at second, third or a corner outfield spot. No matter where he plays, he will hit. He's got an excellent eye at the plate, takes a lot of walks and doesn't strike out a whole lot. So far his power hasn't developed, but he did hit an absolute bomb in Spring Training, in one of his less than 10 at-bats. Twins scouts and management feel he will develop into a 20+ home run hitter, with a high average, who will arrive quickly. Kind of surprising to see Martin heading back to AA Wichita for a second season, instead of advancing to AAA St. Paul, but with any success he will likely be promoted. Personally, I would have flipped Martin and Lewis' assignments, but what do I know?

Just when I'm thinking we are now set at short, with Kiner-Falefa under team control for two years, and Nick Gordon to back up. Royce Lewis gearing up for the eventual  take over, with Austin Martin as a wild card. 

Then all that went out the window...

Less than two days after trading for Kiner-Falefa, I went online to check for any new transactions and I see: "Twins trade Donaldson, Kiner-Falefa to Yankees..." I didn't even see what the return was right away. Had to click the link first... 

2021 Topps 1952 Chrome - Josh Donaldson - Refractor

Yup, our highly paid third baseman, Josh Donaldson, our brand new shortstop, Isiah Kiner-Falefa and backup catcher, Ben Rortvedt are going to the Yankees for...

2019 Topps Update Silver Pack - Gary Sanchez - Purple Refractor

A defensively challenged power hitting catcher, who had simply worn out his welcome in New York.

And...

2021 Donruss - Gio Urshela - Jersey

A decent infielder. Urshela can play any of the infield positions and not be terrible. He wont be a lights out megastar, but he wont be Andrelton Simmons either. At this point, I no longer understood exactly what the Twins were trying to do...

Over the next day or so, the rumor mill started to make a little more sense of what was going on with Falvine. They hadn't gone mad, but the market was moving fast and plans were changing equally fast. The Yankees had tried to work out a trade with the Rangers to acquire Kiner-Falefa, but they didn’t have a catcher that Texas wanted. So Kiner-Falefa went to the Twins for Mitch Garver.

Soon as Minnesota brought Kiner-Falefa in, the Yankees were on the phone, trying to convince the Twins to flip him to New York. The Yankees could offer Sanchez (whom the Rangers didn’t want) and Urshella. More importantly, the Yankees offered to take on Josh Donaldson’s ENTIRE contract, in exchange for Kiner-Falefa (and they also really wanted Ben Rortvedt). Which would save Minnesota $50 million dollars.

No "small market" team turns that kind of offer down, and I’m shocked the Yankees wanted to do it. Nothing against Donaldson, he’s been a perfectly acceptable player, even for the high salary. This gave the Twins a do-over, and more money to re-tool for 2022.

So why didn’t the Yankees just go big and sign one of the top shortstop names available?

2020 Bowman - Anthony Volpe

They didn’t want to block their own top prospect.

After making the trade with New York, Minnesota still found themselves without a shortstop. But they now had all kind of money to spend. Coming off a contentious public relations nightmare, that was the lockout, if the Pohlad’s decided to go cheap in this case, the fans would NOT be pleased with them.

Even less than usual!

Almost immediately, rumors swirled the Twins were now going big on a free agent shortstop...

2021 Topps Museum Collection - Trevor Story - Auto/Jersey

We all waited over the next few days to see if my current favorite Rockies shortstop was interested in coming to Minnesota. But nothing materialized…

Nearly a week later, I’d come home from work, late on a Friday night. After doing some other stuff, Laura and I sat down to watch Bill Maher on the DVR, which was something we did nearly every week. The TV was on MLB Network, showing a rerun of one that afternoon’s Spring Training games, when we started watching Real Time. After the show ended, it was close to 2:30 in the morning. I deleted Maher and the TV went back to MLB Network.

Laura saw it first. In the corner of the screen, a black box read: “SS Correa, Twins agree to 3 year contract.”

Uhhh… What?

Sure enough, a three year, $105.3 million dollar contract. However, years 2 and 3 are player options. So if Correa chooses, this is just a one year, $35.1 million contract. My guess if he has any sort of decent year, he opts out and makes bank on a 10 year deal, from a team with much larger pockets than us. 

And that’s okay.

I’m fine with a one year superstar stopgap, until our shortstop prospects are more ready to step in for the 2023 season.

It'll be interesting to watch how one of the top shortstops in baseball, plays in Minnesota. Never saw it coming. Pretty sure I wrote "Not like the Twins are signing Carlos Correa..." in the Byron Buxton Whatever.

Yup...

2019 Topps 1984 Anniversary - Carlos Correa - Bat

Because he spent his career with the Houston Assholes, I have intentionally bought zero Carlos Correa cards over his career. Sure, I’ve picked up his cards from boxes and packs, but I’ve never intentionally bought one. Since it’s "safe" to buy Correa cards now, I picked up this bat relic from 2019 Topps the other day.

It was $5.

No discount for cheaters...

2015 Bowman Platinum - Jorge Polanco - Diamond in the Rough

Polanco should enjoy his new double play partner, and the Twins would certainly enjoy a combined 60+ home runs from our two middle infielders!

2020 Topps Baseball Stars - Luis Arraez - Autograph

Arraez would win the award for most varied autograph in baseball. I'm going to start collecting drastically different Arraez autographs in the future. No two look alike! However, of all the different examples I've seen, this one is my favorite!

2016 Panini National Treasures - Miguel Sano - Auto/Jersey

I do love this card.

Maybe Correa can teach Sano the "ways of the trash can", so he can cut back on the flailing strikeouts?

2017 Spectra Signatures - Byron Buxton - Autograph

Since I wrote a whole bunch about Byron Buxton not very long ago, I'm not going to say a whole lot here. I haven't even picked up any new notable Buxton cards to show here. So we'll go with this one, since it's stll pretty new to me. And I really like it.

The signing of Correa now gives the Twins both the first and second overall picks in the 2012 Draft. And though it was just a hand full of Spring Training games, the Buxton/Correa combo looked like it can carry a team for a while. Even if it's for only one season, this pairing has to the potential to be one of the best 1-2 punches in Twins history. And if the Twins absolutely tank, due to their pitching and/or the inevitable Buxton injury, Correa could net a nice package of prospects at the trade deadline!

2021 Topps - Gilberto Celestino

Celestino should be better equipped for emergency center field duty, this season!

I wrote that a good week before the rosters were finalized. Figured assignment to St. Paul was inevitable. However, the Twins bench didn't include anyone that was a true back up in center. So he made the team. Perhaps a setback in his development to ride the bench in Minnesota, instead of playing every day with the Saints.

2019 Optic Pink Prizm - Jake Cave - Autograph

Hopefully Celestino gets the call over Cave.

Twins fans have suffered enough watching him regress annually...

Oh good, he did!

2020 Topps Chrome Black - Max Kepler - Autograph Green Refractor

I like Max, really do.

However, the Kepler of 2020 and 2021 are quickly making me forget the Kepler of 2019. 

Topps Chrome back was a product I liked, but was never going to drop $150 for a four card pack. Even if one of them was an encased autograph. I'll pick up cheap base and autographs of players I like, just because these cards are so attractive.

2021 Select - Alex Kirilloff - Auto/Jersey

Pulled from a pack last summer. Select was a nice set (for unlicensed cards), and a fun box to rip. The base cards look a lot nicer than a scan, but the 8,462,915 different Prizm parallels can look spectacular. 

2021 Prizm White Wave Prizm - Trevor Larnach

Like this for example! Another 2021 pack pull that was among the rarer variety. I didn't see a whole of these around, but it's not serial numbered. Either way, it's a great looking card. Could almost pass for licensed since no logos would really show in this photo.

Larnach will start 2022 in St. Paul. I was kind of surprised by that, but he didn't have a good spring.

2021 Stadium Club - Brent Rooker - Autograph

Cool photo, made even better with Rooker's chicken scratch. Not a great signature, but it's more interesting than most of the effortless scribbles some players pass off.

Rooker didn't make the Twins either...

On the morning that was supposed to be the Twins 2022 Opening Day, Rooker was sent to the San Diego Padres, along with closer, Taylor Rogers for...

2019 Topps Update Silver Pack - Chris Paddack

Cool, I had a Paddack card scanned once before!

His 2019 rookie season was very promising, but he regressed the past two seasons. We don't need him to be an ace, just 150 or so quality innings. Paddock's former Padres manager, Jayce Tingler, is now the Twins new bench coach. Perhaps he knows of a mechanical fix to get him back on track.

Taylor Rogers was a tough piece to give up, but he had injury questions, as well as upcoming free agency.

So the Padres also sent us a relief pitcher...

2017 Topps Update - Emilio Pagan

Now, I never would have guessed that I'd once scanned an Emilio Pagan card!

I wondered if I even had one.

Another arm to add to our bullpen. San Diego is also going to send us a "player to be named later", and we're paying most of Rogers' salary. Which is an interesting move to make.

But it's been an interesting month for the Twins.

And it's going to be a very interesting year.

You hope these decisions work out the best for your team. 

2018 Topps Museum Collection - Eddie Rosario - Auto/Jersey

Because it's agonizing to watch a longtime local star...

2022 Topps Heritage - Eddie Rosario - National League Postseason

Become a hero for a team you really don't like.

Let me wrap this up by saying, here's:

2022 Topps Heritage - Lars Nootbaar

LARS NOOTBAAR!!!

******

Speaking of a longtime local star ('s older brother), former Twins legend, Joe Mauer owns several Chevrolet/Buick dealerships around Minneapolis. One of them was the former Main Motors in Anoka, MN. After finalizing the sale a couple of years ago, his older brother, Jake Mauer, now runs "Mauer Main Chevrolet." 

The other day, Laura took her car there for an oil change, and talked to Jake for a while. She said he look almost exactly like Joe and was a really nice guy, and got a selfie with him. She even stole a copy of Woman's Day from the waiting room, and had Jake autograph it for me.

This ranks up there with my favorite autographs!

Laura had no idea that Jake used to play baseball, and had also been drafted by the Twins in 2001. I showed her Jake's 2002 Topps card, then made this little collage on the dining room table.

All sorts of awesome!

******

And rounding out the autographed memorabilia acquired during the month of March 2022…

Proud member of the Cult of Cornette!

Thank you! F*ck you! Bye!