I honestly think this Twins team can contend next yrear for the division and do well in the playoiffs IF :
- Sano comes back as a .850+ OPS guy with power
- Berrios becomes a true #1 starter
- Gobson pitches like he has over the last full year and becomes the solid #2/#3 starter
- Santana fills the #3 starter role, and
- We pick up a good .750-.800 OPS plus RH bat to hit in the 4 or 5 hole.
I think that's worth gunning for next year, particularly when you factor in the weak division. Having Buxton come back and play well would be a bonus but I wouldn't count on that as a high or even medium possibility when thinking about next year.
So, trade Lynn and Morrison for what you can get, feel free to trade Dozier if we can get the bat or the some soon to be in the MLB pitching, trade Odorizzi for the bat or keep him as next year's #4, and re-sign Escobar. Call up Gordon if we trade Dozier and try a bunch of combinations with Escobar, Polanco, Adrainza, Sano and Gordon in the non-1B infield spots until you find a good one knowing you have a 1B/DH spot for Sano if he doesn't make that good combination.Play Cave every day, including against LH pitching, so you know what you have if Buxton i nothing more than a superior defender with no bat OF. Run a revolving #5 spot with Gonsalves, Littel, Romero and Mejia so you can see if we've got 1, 2 or zero capable MLB starters for next year in that group.
Set yourself up for next year. Don't trade good players for long term prospects.
Edited by LA VIkes Fan, 21 July 2018 - 01:52 PM.