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The Marlins, Caleb Smith, and Eddie

While the Twins should absolutely be looking at deals with the Marlins, I question how viable it is. They have remarked how "incredibly high" the Twins price on Eddie Rosario is when they said the same thing about Nomar Mazara who was dealt for a high A outfielder. That just tells me that they aren't even looking for a reasonable deal, but one that is just downright lopsided for them.   I doubt they're too inclined to trade any of their younger guys like Alcantra, Lopez or Yamamoto who have all

Cody Pirkl

Cody Pirkl

Free Agents

When the best is off the table, then the second best is swept up, do we get desperate and jump at the left overs? If we cannot get what we want is it reasonable to say we should get what is left?   I cannot buy into that theory. If Bumgartner does not sign with us I can understand. Does that make Kuechel suddenly desirable? The real question is how does he compare with Dobnak, Graterol, Thorpe, Smeltzer.   I hate buying out of desperation.   The same with Ryu. Why would he sign with us.

mikelink45

mikelink45

Spending First or Not at All

Last night the baseball world watched in awe of the contract that Gerrit Cole was handed by the New York Yankees. He signed the for the largest AAV and total contract value ever given to a pitcher. New York spending money isn’t surprising at all, but there’s a tickle down effect and how it impacts a team like the Twins remains to be seen.   It’s a great thing that the Minnesota Twins have significant funds and a real opportunity ahead of them. What is less than great is there’s only so many desi

Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

Twins Could Trade for a Former Free Agent Target

After bringing back Jake Odorizzi and Michael Pineda the Minnesota Twins should be turning their focus solely to the top of their rotation. Madison Bumgarner is the presumed name, but Jon Heyman recently reported that former Dodgers starter Hyun-Jin Ryu could be the target. What if Minnesota wanted to go a different route entirely?   There’s no denying that Bumgarner and Ryu are the best (see: only) arms left in the second tier of available starters. Bumgarner has been dissected plenty, and Ryu

Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

3 Bold Predictions for the 2019 MLB Winter Meetings

So far the 2019-2020 MLB offseason is getting off to a hot start, while the Atlanta Braves have been resigning some of their own Free Agents they signed Will Smith to a 3yr/$39M deal, they also signed Travis d’arnaud to a 2yr/$16M deal, they even signed Cole Hamels to a 1yr/$18M deal. The White Sox signed the top catcher on this year’s market by signing Yasmani Grandal to a 4yr/$73M deal. The Phillies signed one of the market’s best pitchers by signing Zack Wheeler to a 5yr/$118M deal. The Win

Hansen101

Hansen101

Plan B: Dallas Keuchel and Josh Donaldson

Somewhat expected news dropped on Saturday night when LaVelle E. Neal of the Star Tribune basically removed Hyun-Jin Ryu from the Twins' potential list of targets in his latest Winter Meetings primer article.   Similar to Zack Wheeler, Ryu has a preference to stay on the coast. For Wheeler, the east was most desirable. But for Ryu, he would like to remain in or near Los Angeles, where he has spent his entire career.   With this presumably in mind, Madison Bumgarner has the best resume of the rem

Nash Walker

Nash Walker

Pros and Cons: Ryu or Bumgarner?

The Twins missed on Zack Wheeler when he signed a 5-year, $118 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine made an offer that Wheeler may have considered had he not been tied so heavily to New Jersey and the National League East.   The good news is that Wheeler is not the only realistic impact pitcher that the Twins can acquire. They took a considerable step forward by resigning Michael Pineda to a 2-year, $20 million contract late Thursday night.   The

Nash Walker

Nash Walker

Twins Set Up for a Big Splash

So far, the Minnesota Twins have committed something like $30 million in 2020 contracts to three players this offseason. Two pitchers and a backup catch mean the 26-man roster is quickly closing in on finality. At this point, there’s nothing left but the big bang.   Jake Odorizzi returning to the Twins was a great development. A longer-term deal is probably better than the qualifying offer situation, but it’s negligible nonetheless. Michael Pineda is a guy that made sense to QO, and instead Minn

Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

Free Agents - Pick a Team, pick a city

I join others with regret that we continue to move down the the next pitcher on the list essays. If I was more motivated I would go back and see how many "sign this pitcher" essays have been on the site since Thanksgiving.   But the essence of so many comments is - why would they come here, not what they would sign for. I do not think that it is money that is winning. If you or your girlfriend are from Philadelphia you want to go home, if you have had your career in warm cities or are tired of

mikelink45

mikelink45

Hamels off the Market

Cole Hamels to the Braves for 1 year, 18 million. That would've been doable for us.   https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28224887/sources-cole-hamels-braves-reach-1-year-18-million-deal

TFRazor

TFRazor

Twins Prospects Taking Over Bowman

Today is one of the biggest releases on the calendar in the hobby world. As Topps pumps out the latest Bowman Draft product, collectors feast their eyes on an opportunity to grab autographs and cardboard of the next great stars. For the Minnesota Twins specifically, a Bowman product hasn’t been this exciting in a few years.   While collecting sports cards is a hobby, a large contingent of its appeal is monetarily driven and provides an aspect of gambling. Outside of buying specific cards you cov

Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

Olney: Phillies Front Runner For Wheeler, Twins Not Mentioned

Per Buster Olney at ESPN (posted this morning), the Phillies are the front-runners for Wheeler. The Reds, White Sox and Rangers are also mentioned as possibilities.   "The bidding for right-hander Zack Wheeler continues to progress toward resolution, with the Philadelphia Phillies seen by sources as the most potent bidders -- and the Reds, White Sox and Rangers also involved."   SOURCE: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28222913/sources-phillies-seen-top-bidder-zack-wheeler

Dave Overlund

Dave Overlund

2020 IBWAA Hall of Fame Ballot

Once again, it's that time of year and December 1 saw my inbox being hit with the yearly IBWAA Hall of Fame ballot. Although this isn't part of the official BBWAA vote to enshrine players in Cooperstown, there's plenty of crossover between voting parties and many of the same principles are the same.   At this time the IBWAA allows voters to select up to 12 candidates. You can find my 2018 ballot here, and my 2019 selections here. As was the case last year, I wound up with a ballot less than the

Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

Fielding in the age of shifts

Judging the fielders in the age of shifts is a difficult challenge. As I read about Sano – should he move to 1B I am constantly trying to evaluate what the qualities are for those two bases. 3B – quick reflexes (believe me the ball gets to 3B quick) and a strong arm. 1B – reflexes of a different type, not grabbing missiles, but rather erratic throws, short hops, flexibility to stretch and grab, and still a range for fielding the position. 1B have that strange responsibility for “covering the bas

mikelink45

mikelink45

What good are records

When the Twins Bombas broke the MLB record for HRs there was elation - and rightfully so. It is fun to see records fall and even to have some marks like 56 straight game hitting streaks seem to be impossible to break. When I was young (1950s) I got hooked on baseball and my little transistor radio would sneak under my pillow at night so I could follow the Milwaukee Braves.   I loved the way baseball connected me with my dad and Grandpa, the way it related to the old town teams my relatives playe

mikelink45

mikelink45

Twins 2020 Offseason BluePrint

My 2020 Offseason Blueprint gives out multiple different avenues the Twins can go down to acquire starting pitching, among some signings for depth/bench pieces. Sign Free Agent Starting Pitchers. Develop pitchers from the farm system. Trade for a young controllable starter. Backup Catcher. Nice bullpen piece. Sign Free Agent Starting Pitching The Twins probably won’t sign Gerrit Cole or Stephen Strausburg, because they will be too much money, so the Twins will sign the next tier of starting pitc

Hansen101

Hansen101

Robo umps and the future of catchers

In one of the discussion entries I saw the question - what will happen to catchers when the Robo ump is put in place and the quick hands ability to steal (frame) a strike is no longer a vital skill. This got me thinking about what are the other attributes of a good catcher.   My first thought is the ability to call a good game, to put the pitcher in a better position to fool the batter. Of course the Houston Astronauts are pushing for a change there too. Maybe we will have head phones on the cat

mikelink45

mikelink45

Twins Certainly Giving Fans What They Want

Although we have grown accustomed to slower offseason activity when it comes to Major League Baseball free agency, that doesn't make the reality any more exciting. Sure, the Minnesota Twins have spent $30 million already in retaining Nelson Cruz and Jake Odorizzi, but the true free agents are still out there. Before adding new talent to Twins Territory the franchise gave fans something else they've been clamoring for over the past few years; the baby blue's.   In 2020 Majestic is being replaced

Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

Wheeler, Bumgarner, Ryu

Last night the Twins Daily Twitter account tweeted out a poll, asking which free agent pitcher people would want the Twins to sign. As I am typing this right now, 71% of people voted Wheeler, 15% voted Bumgarner, and 9% voted Ryu, with 5% saying they wouldn’t want any of the 3. I personally voted for Wheeler as well because I think he definitely has the stuff to take his game to another level, but it surprised me that an overwhelming majority of people want Wheeler, considering Bumgarner’s

BlakeAsk

BlakeAsk

The Epitome of Offseason Plans

You have all been very patient waiting for my 2019-2020 offseason plan. Your patience is now rewarded as I present to you the master plan for winning the 2020 World Series. {Cue the calliope.} This plan includes six free agency signings, one major trade, three contract extensions, and one token raise as a reward for a great year.   The Trade to End All Trades Step one is to call the Arizona Diamondbacks and offer them the opportunity to greatly improve their day-to-day lineup. The Twins send

terrydactyls

terrydactyls

Did Schoop Work for the 2019 Twins?

In early December 2018 the Minnesota Twins found their replacement for Brian Dozier. With the fan-favorite having been traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to his free agency, Derek Falvey and Thad Levine needed to find another second basemen. Replacing Dozier’s pop wouldn’t be easy, but they tabbed a former All Star to do so when they inked Jonathan Schoop to a one-year deal. Now with the season behind us we can evaluate how it turned out.   At the time of his signing I wasn’t too terribly i

Ted Schwerzler

Ted Schwerzler

Offseason Blueprint: Let's Make a Trade

My 2020 Offseason Blueprint builds a Twins roster that can win the World Series within the next two years. I’ve tried to address the three weaknesses that TD staff have ably outlined in previous articles: A rotation depleted by free agency and in need of a second front-line starting pitcher. Poor infield defense. An inability to attract first-tier free agents. How do Falvey and Levine get the Twins that third World Series Title? Aggressive free agent signings and a blockbuster trade. Pay for

dbminn

dbminn

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