I think it would have been interesting to see if we could have swung something for Burnes. The price they got from Baltimore was good yet it still didn't deplete the farm. Perhaps Gonzalez, Varland and the competitive balance pick might have been close. I would have thrown in another prospect to get it done.

Bauer? I would. But we won't. I am 100% positive on that one.

I would not add Bauer.  I.want positivisity and good vibes in our clubhouse.  Don't F with that.  

There are plenty, PLENTY of quality pitchers to trade for.  It doesn't have to be my fan crush Luzardo.  Find someone good and trade some of our prospect equity.  

There is actually a good case to be made for thinning out our farm system.  It's not like we can keep them all.  

Will The Twins Get Their Postseason SP?

No.

9 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I think it would have been interesting to see if we could have swung something for Burnes. The price they got from Baltimore was good yet it still didn't deplete the farm. Perhaps Gonzalez, Varland and the competitive balance pick might have been close. I would have thrown in another prospect to get it done.

Bauer? I would. But we won't. I am 100% positive on that one.

MIL turned down a lot of good deals but liked the fit the BAL offered. I doubt MIL would accept your offer, sorry. IMO you don't do a Burnes trade unless you're sure you can extend him, I'm sure we can't and I'd hate to give up Varland for a year rental.

3 hours ago, David HK said:

Will The Twins Get Their Postseason SP?

No.

I'd love to better this team, and continue this momentum of success & fan excitement by getting a postseason SP. IMO currently Bauer is a non-issue in the clubhouse so I'd sign him. But apparently, you're right & we won't get that much-needed SP. That & further broadcasting black-outs will squelch that momentum. They'd likely get a Desclafani upgrade & say we got your postseason SP & many will buy it.

Quote

He was cleared of any wrongdoing, He has made peace with Rob Manfred, he has been humbled & has matured. 

This is not true. He was not cleared, and he clearly hasn't matured. Plus, he was the 3rd best pitcher on his own team last season and not in the top 10 starters in the league.

No chance they sign him and they would be better off signing 10 other pitchers from that league anyway. 

They already have him - Lopez, Ryan, Ober, and Varland.

It would be nice if the FO could at least come forth with a statement to the fans that they are working diligently towards improving the team or this is the team we are comfortable with ,  like they did at the deadline last year  ...

If Ober, Ryan and Paddack are not playoff pitchers adding one is of little use.  How quickly people forget the Houston series 

I have said many times on here that I would like the Twins to take a chance with Bauer.  It wasn't really that he was cleared of any wrong doing.  It was that the whole thing was exposed as a shake down to get him to cough up a bunch of money.  Which he refused to do.  All suits and countersuits were dropped, but the woman trying to shake him down really dodged a bullet.

I don't condone what he was accused of.  That's just not my bag.  But a LOT of accusations were thrown at him that just didn't turn out to be true.  I don't know about Bauer being the 3rd best pitcher on his Japanese team last year, but he pitched pretty well.  I think he's still got talent and for a guy willing to sign for the league minimum with an incentive laden contract, there is virtually no risk for the Twins.  You might see 10 people walking a picket line with signs the first two weeks of the season and then probably nothing the rest of the year.  How many of you gave up being a Dalvin Cook fan after his legal problems???

Aren't we supposed to be a forgiving society?  Did Red Sox and Yankee fans disown Wade Boggs because he had a sex addiction?  Of course not.  but by all means, for those of you on TD who are so adamantly opposed to this idea, I invite all of you who are perfect to keep casting your stones.  

That is a big no for me dog on Bauer.  The man is terrible clubhouse guy.  He once threw the ball from the mound into outfield because he was pulled from game.  There has been many stories about how teams did not get along with him.  He reminds me a lot of Josh Donaldson when it comes to willing to talk and stir the pot. He got sent out from Arizona, despite being a top pick because he refused to change the way he did things.  Maybe he knew what he was talking about, being he put up good numbers, but Cleveland also traded him in middle of playoff race when he was one of their top 2 or 3 pitchers at the time, with no clear replacement.  What team does that unless there is a big issue with the guy? I can only imagine the things that go on behind the scenes.  I mean, Dodgers were paying him millions to not pitch even though he could have returned. Finally, outside 2 elite seasons, he has not put up amazing numbers over his 10 year career. He is 33 now, have not pitched in MLB for 2.5 seasons.  His career numbers good not great.  To me he has wayyyyyy too much risk to take a pass on.  There is a reason no other team is willing to either, despite everyone always needing pitching. Not even a low budget team taking him at min, hoping he has a good first half to trade for something. 

Bauer is a terrible idea and he would destroy this team.  Whether his actions were criminal or not he was exposed as someone who completely disrespects women.  Can you for a moment think about what kind of message that would send to 40-50% of the Twins fanbase?  Even more since guys like me wouldn't even spit in his direction.  In addition, putting aside his many public problems, he's a horrible clubhouse guy.  There's a reason no one has signed him.  He's selfish, abrasive and focused on being the center of attention at all times.  He seems like a horrible human being to have to work with on a daily basis and a terrible addition to any team. 

If Terry Francona openly states someone had to go because they were just so bad for his clubhouse that person is automatically out for any team I'm running.

22 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I have said many times on here that I would like the Twins to take a chance with Bauer.  It wasn't really that he was cleared of any wrong doing.  It was that the whole thing was exposed as a shake down to get him to cough up a bunch of money.  Which he refused to do.  All suits and countersuits were dropped, but the woman trying to shake him down really dodged a bullet.

I don't condone what he was accused of.  That's just not my bag.  But a LOT of accusations were thrown at him that just didn't turn out to be true.  I don't know about Bauer being the 3rd best pitcher on his Japanese team last year, but he pitched pretty well.  I think he's still got talent and for a guy willing to sign for the league minimum with an incentive laden contract, there is virtually no risk for the Twins.  You might see 10 people walking a picket line with signs the first two weeks of the season and then probably nothing the rest of the year.  How many of you gave up being a Dalvin Cook fan after his legal problems???

Aren't we supposed to be a forgiving society?  Did Red Sox and Yankee fans disown Wade Boggs because he had a sex addiction?  Of course not.  but by all means, for those of you on TD who are so adamantly opposed to this idea, I invite all of you who are perfect to keep casting your stones.  

Thank you Topp Gun, for your response, I'd like to challenge ourselves to question that maybe social media is wrong about Bauer. Then Bauer deserves a 2nd chance to help MN to advance to the World Series. Maybe if there were any poor clubhouse vibes he has matured where there is at least it's a non-factor. Like Jack Morris, players didn't care about his lack of clubhouse leadership but his desire to win. Morris never helped young pitchers while Bauer is eager to do so.

Correa has gotten a lot of social media slack for his part in the sign-stealing scandal & is booed by many. Why not give Bauer the same courtesy who paid the price & was declared innocent? Unlike Donaldson, our monetary commitment would be minimal where we could let Bauer go if he did anything to hurt the Twins' chances by poor performance or any toxicity. There's nothing to lose & everything to gain.

Some called me a Cave hater, he was a perfectly fine cOF sub but not a Buxton sub in CF. Some called me a Polanco hater because I advocated for him to move off SS. Some call me a Jeffers hater, because I thinks he's a perfectly fine back-up but not a starter. Other call me a Polanco lover because I was against trading him now. I suppose some may call me a Bauer lover because I'm willing to give him a chance. None of these are true. There's one thing I'm passionate about & that is to see the Twins win another WS.

Ryan still has a lot of growing up to do (i.e. potential) and Ober somehow still has something to prove. If both of those improve this year and can continue to increase their IP, then all we have to worry about is Varland laying an egg. IF the bullpen is as good as advertised they'll be fine with a potentially sub-par DeSclafani who has the potential to actually not suck. I'm more worried about their hitting than the pitching. 

1 hour ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I have said many times on here that I would like the Twins to take a chance with Bauer.  It wasn't really that he was cleared of any wrong doing.  It was that the whole thing was exposed as a shake down to get him to cough up a bunch of money.  Which he refused to do.  All suits and countersuits were dropped, but the woman trying to shake him down really dodged a bullet.

I don't condone what he was accused of.  That's just not my bag.  But a LOT of accusations were thrown at him that just didn't turn out to be true.  I don't know about Bauer being the 3rd best pitcher on his Japanese team last year, but he pitched pretty well.  I think he's still got talent and for a guy willing to sign for the league minimum with an incentive laden contract, there is virtually no risk for the Twins.  You might see 10 people walking a picket line with signs the first two weeks of the season and then probably nothing the rest of the year.  How many of you gave up being a Dalvin Cook fan after his legal problems???

Aren't we supposed to be a forgiving society?  Did Red Sox and Yankee fans disown Wade Boggs because he had a sex addiction?  Of course not.  but by all means, for those of you on TD who are so adamantly opposed to this idea, I invite all of you who are perfect to keep casting your stones.  

Bauer doesn't project above of Ryan or Ober.  If we are looking back several years, yes, Bauer was good and DeSclafani was as well. I don't believe the Twins care though about whether Bauer would make the team better.

As far as forgiven, yes, why not? 

MLB is a very conservative corporation. Players get set aside pretty quickly when they piss off the head boys. 

In 2007, Barry Bonds had a .480 OBP, a OPS of 1.045, an OPS+ of 169, and 3.4 WAR among other stats. Bonds offered to play for minimum wage and despite being among the top ten players in the game .... his career was over. That is how MLB works.

I have nothing against Trevor Bauer but the corporate heads do and we don't have any say in their decisions. Such is life.

I think the Twins are working on their post season starters. The way to add post season starters is to play in the post season. Prior to last season Pablo had only pitched in 5 post season innings in 2020, but everyone was considering him the ace or at least co-ace. I think we have a good rotation with Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Varland & Paddack. Not sure about Desclaflani. I also think we add 1 or 2 more by the end of this season with Fiesta, Raya and perhaps Richardson. Next year probably a couple more.

Most of the guys you read about as free agents or trade possibilities with built up track records have arm troubles already or seemingly soon will. I expect the Twins to make the playoffs this year, but no matter who they trade for this team is not yet a world series contender. If the lineup stabilizes this year, then next year might be the year they contend for a AL championship.

Bauer has been given "second chances" over and over.  I refreshed my memory on his Wikipedia page, and even when he does something nice like set up a charitable donation program, he feels compelled to include some jackassery about it.  That's the word that keeps coming to mind, jackass, and from a distance maybe he seems cute and eccentric*, but I can imagine his act wearing thin in a clubhouse quickly.  Hard pass, as they say.

* Up until his legal troubles, which were not cute and beyond eccentric to vast numbers of people

I don’t know Trevor Bauer. Can only imagine he’s been through a lot in past couple years. When he was leaving Cleveland and then Cincinnati, I had my opinion   Didn’t want him. But is he the same guy now? Has that attitude been humbled?  I would think the Twins -like anybody else- would want to check in on him. 

I would take a chance on Bauer.  He knows he has to behave.  If he don't he gets cut.  Super low risk at min salary.  Super high rewards possible.  Go for it.

I'm totally fine with second chances for anyone. As long as they deserve it.

Now, I don't know Bauer at all. It's possible he's just completely misunderstood. But while charges were ultimately dropped in three different cases, the fact that HE was targeted in three different cases means he's either terribly unfortunate, or has done something to paint a target on himself.

The fact that we've heard negative comments over the years about his personality and character doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a second chance. 

But if he was a changed man. If he had matured and grown and was contrite and was really changing himself and his life and had "learned his lesson" I haven't heard about it. And if he had, wouldn't someone have taken the opportunity to dive in to his current life, sit down with him, and if convinced he's a changed man...and can still pitch...wouldn't we have heard something about it by now?

I'm not picking on the idea. The idea has real merit. And I'm in favor of second chances, as I said. But I'm just not seeing or hearing anything from anywhere that would indicate he has done anything to indicate he is a changed person. 

Ad to the OP more directly, the Twins...try as they might...were apparently unable to parlay one of Polanco or Kepler, a couple quality prospects, and maybe the comp pick acquired from Gray moving on, in to a quality ML starter around or under 30yo with control.

I don't see Kepler moving at this time. And I don't see anyone like Julien, Wallner, Lewis, and any other core member of the current team being moved.

That gives 3 options:

1] Bite the bullet with around 3 quality prospects and the QO pick over the next few weeks.

2] See if a team has multiple injuries and sees their season going up in flames before it starts and decides to add young talent.

3] Pretty much the same outgoing cost in a deal at the deadline. 

I think we have what we have at this point. Though I wouldn't be shocked if we see a veteran reclamation project yet added on a milb deal with a June or July opt out clause.

Who, besides Bauer, are the Twins signing that bumps ahead of the guys they currently have on roster?

Trades? The Twins had their chance and decided that DeSclafani, Topa, plus two prospects was what they wanted. What prospects are the Twins trading? I think the roster looks set, been wrong before.

11 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I'm totally fine with second chances for anyone. As long as they deserve it.

Now, I don't know Bauer at all. It's possible he's just completely misunderstood. But while charges were ultimately dropped in three different cases, the fact that HE was targeted in three different cases means he's either terribly unfortunate, or has done something to paint a target on himself.

The fact that we've heard negative comments over the years about his personality and character doesn't mean he doesn't deserve a second chance. 

But if he was a changed man. If he had matured and grown and was contrite and was really changing himself and his life and had "learned his lesson" I haven't heard about it. And if he had, wouldn't someone have taken the opportunity to dive in to his current life, sit down with him, and if convinced he's a changed man...and can still pitch...wouldn't we have heard something about it by now?

I'm not picking on the idea. The idea has real merit. And I'm in favor of second chances, as I said. But I'm just not seeing or hearing anything from anywhere that would indicate he has done anything to indicate he is a changed person. 

I watched an interview with him on a PBD podcast via youtube (I believe he has been on others). IMO he seemed sincere & really wants to play MLB. to the point where he'd take any opportunity seriously, so I'd take non risk flyer on him.

That is essentially the question tony&rodney.  The options, at this point have really dwindled.  But there still are options.

Sign Snell or Montgomery.  Despite how well each of these pitchers did last year, Snell winning his 2nd Cy Young and Montgomery having a solid year and then a great postseason, each has underlying metrics that are scaring major league front offices away from BIG dollars and LONG commitments.  But as Twins fans, we know this is not happening.

Sign a cheaper vet who has some potential upside.  This is Bauer.  Past success, at 33 years old he's young enough to still have some gas in the tank.  But a past and reputation that leaves a LOT to be desired.   If Bauer were 35 or 36 I wouldn't even consider it.  At 33 on a one year, league minimum deal with incentives, I'm interested.  And as Doc Gast said, if he's getting shelled and/or a clubhouse problem, you cut him and move on.  But he has been a Cy Young Award winner and he could still be pretty good at 33 years old.

Vikings fans didn't turn on Dalvin Cook after his issues.  It might take some time for many Twins fans to warm up to Bauer but if the performance is that of a solid #2 behind Lopez, giving Ryan, Ober and Paddack a little more runway it would be a good move. 

The last option is to make a deal at the deadline.  And that's not a bad option at all.  It gives the Twins prospects more runway to prove how soon they could be major league ready.  As this off season began, I posted some trades that I had done on BBTV where I had included Emm-Rod in a deal to acquire a true #2 or even #1 SP.  His "value" fit to make a deal possible.  Now that I've read more about him I can see that he's right at a point where the Twins just can't trade him.  They may regret that they didn't if he really struggles at AA but his upside is just too tantalizing to risk regretting a trade later.  

The other problem with a deadline deal is that if you have to give up as much, or more, than you would to get that piece later than sooner, you've missed months of having that player on the team and contributing.  But waiting until the deadline allows a team to determine if they're really contending or just pretending.  

Bauer would be an extremely low risk addition from a monetary standpoint.  If he worked out it would be great addition.  But I am sensitive to the potential downside.  I just think it's worth the risk.