Hot sports opinion time:

[DaveW]

The Twins are only the following away from being a legit World Series contender:

 

1. Solid, reliable, healthy number 3 SP

2. A good 8th inning guy.

3. Another average RP or two.

[Mike Sixel]

Hmmmmm.....

 

As a hot take, I agree. With serious thought, I'd say they are fringe contenders if the first happens. I think they need AT LEAST 2 RPs.

 

All that assumes health.

 

I looked at the FGs leaderboards, not many SPs you'd want on teams likely to make trades, but we'll see.

[DaveW]

Hmmmmm.....

 

As a hot take, I agree. With serious thought, I'd say they are fringe contenders if the first happens. I think they need AT LEAST 2 RPs.

 

All that assumes health.

 

I looked at the FGs leaderboards, not many SPs you'd want on teams likely to make trades, but we'll see.

Yeah I feel like "average" RP are somewhat easy to get.

 

The key is one close to shut down guy IMHO. Then just give up a couple non prospects for another average RP or two

[ashbury]

The Twins are only the following away from being a legit World Series contender:

 

1. Solid, reliable, healthy number 3 SP

2. A good 8th inning guy.

3. Another average RP or two.

4. About three years of additional playing experience for the young studs you are counting on.

 

In their current incarnation, I think this lineup would get carved up by the elite pitching you start to see exclusively once playoff time rolls around. One-and-done this year, were they to sneak into the post-season. Maybe the same in 2018. Of course you could get lucky, but legit WS contender, no.

 

That said, I'm not against acquiring the pieces you named, if they are controllable for more than this one year, and don't cost an arm and a leg. Which means, probably, it's very tough.

[mikecgrimes]

 

The Twins are only the following away from being a legit World Series contender:

1. Solid, reliable, healthy number 3 SP
2. A good 8th inning guy.
3. Another average RP or two.

 

I don't know that this year it will be easy to get a #3 but if we change that to a good #4 to improve the back end of the rotation we might be able to find 2 of those three from within maybe even all 3 if two relief prospects emerge.  The main thing is get through this weekend 2-2 or better and you come out as buyers with the deadline at that point not that far off and a solid division lead. 

[mikecgrimes]

 

 

4. About three years of additional playing experience for the young studs you are counting on.

 

In their current incarnation, I think this lineup would get carved up by the elite pitching you start to see exclusively once playoff time rolls around. One-and-done this year, were they to sneak into the post-season. Maybe the same in 2018. Of course you could get lucky, but legit WS contender, no.

 

That said, I'm not against acquiring the pieces you named, if they are controllable for more than this one year, and don't cost an arm and a leg. Which means, probably, it's very tough.

 

 

If you have an offense which we do I don't look much beyond top 2 starters and bullpen in determining who the true contenders are.  Right now we don't have that kind of bullpen so we don't think about what that means.  This lineup has literally scored runs every single game and scoring 6 is nothing for them.  This lineup getting carved up can often mean 3 or 4 runs.  The bigger concern is Berrios and Santana blowing up.  I think people are still seeing this as a 70ish win team that's been getting lucky, we're exaggerating our flaws and ignoring our strengths.  The nice thing about glaring weaknesses is if you do fix them it makes a major impact, and we all know finding 2 solid arms in the bullpen either through trades or prospects would not be a shocking event.

[gunnarthor]

It's amazing how many bad pitchers are out there. Cleveland and Baltimore are dying because of their staffs right now.

[Brock Beauchamp]

It's amazing how many bad pitchers are out there. Cleveland and Baltimore are dying because of their staffs right now.

Yeah, it's one of the reasons I'm hoping the Twins found some magic in Turley. Lots of bad pitchers out there, lots of teams that will be overpaying for pitching rentals.

[jimmer]

We are last in the AL in team ERA (results matter? :-), FIP, and WAR.  Our offense is slightly above average in the AL.

 

I'm not sure we're just a 3P and even three RPs away.  In any event that's a 33% turnover of a normal pitching staff. Tall order.

[Kwak]

WS contender? Was this article commissioned by the FO?  The Twins have succeeded (so far) by a significant improvement in their offense and almost as much in their defense. Pitching has improved because they aren't "pounding the strike zone with FBs" (the Ryan Mantra), but have fooled many an opponent with off-speed pitches. Will that continue in the playoffs especially considering the intense scouting?  I think not. 

 

Do the Twins have bona fide top-of the rotation starters? No. A longer series will expose that. Santana has been better than expected (much better actually), Will that continue? Hmmm... After Erwin--a complete crapshoot.  Please consider that the Twins are only a few games above .500 after a relatively soft schedule.  The one true WS they have faced so far--carved them up!  The best Twins fans should hope for this season, even with the additions stated, is a division 1st place followed by another ass-kicking by the Yankees in the ALCS. Hey, it beats 59-103.  But it will feel like the end of this year's hockey season.

[Shaitan]

Don't get an RP 'til the break, or Molitor will burn him out by August.

 

I'd say they're distant contenders because this sport is so prone to streaks. The right streak at the right time, and why not?

 

(File under 1987.)

 

I imagine a 7 game World Series. Giminez will pitch 2 innings in games 2-6, but the Twins lose game 7 18-13 after leading 12-6 in the 7th.

 

[akmanak]

Lots of holes to fill with this team, but I think the most important would be 2 decent starters to take the pressure off of the bullpen.

[diehardtwinsfan]

At some point they need to get some of the AAA relievers up...  too many guys in Rochester deserve a chance and several in Chat could be promoted.  I think that problem can be addressed internally somewhat.  Starters on the other hand... if they want to go deep, they need one.  I wouldn't want to be a buyer for a starter in July unless the plan is to pay a modest price for a #4 rental that can stabilize the rotation throughout the season. But that won't be much better than Santiago.

[ahart10]

IMHO doing #1 goes a long ways towards fixing 2 and 3. Picking up a non rental starter who can slot into the top half of a rotation would be a big move. My vote goes to the Pirates Ivan Nova.

[Tibs]

Santana-Berrios is definitely a solid 1-2 in a playoff series. The defense has been good this year. We know the offense can score runs. A third SP could make the Twins an actual WS threat. I just hope they don't pay too much for it.

 

It's really unfortunate that Chargois, Burdi, and Jay haven't been healthy this season. Those three guys definitely have the potential to fix this bullpen. I still refuse to believe that the remaining guys like Busenitz, Hildenberger, Curtiss etc. wouldn't be better than Belisle, Breslow, Haley. Turley could be a beast in the bullpen but the rotation outside of Santana and Berrios is a complete mess.

 

I don't want the Twins to be big buyers at the deadline this year, but the team has to acquire some kind of SP help. This team can definitely win the division this year.

[DocBauer]

The Twins are only the following away from being a legit World Series contender:

 

1. Solid, reliable, healthy number 3 SP

2. A good 8th inning guy.

3. Another average RP or two.

Can't disagree here. Think it may still be possible to fill a couple of the bullpen spots internally by the second half. Santiago getting back on track helps deepen the rotation.

 

I absolutely love the young talent on this club and overall depth and versatility, position player wise. My concern, even with the listed upgrades, might just be the overall youth of the team. Still have a belief that 2018 may be the real breakout season.

[S.]

"Only" need 4 good pitchers. I think you're underselling how much it would cost us to acquire a "solid, reliable, healthy" #3, a good setup guy and two average-above average relievers, barring getting lucky as hell on some waiver claim or something. Who exactly are we trading to acquire a solid #3 or a good setup man at the trade deadline? Neither of those is going to be cheap. Think about how much we'd want in return for Santana, if we were to trade him. Acquiring a good #3 and a few above average relievers is going to cost about that much. Solid setup guys don't come cheap at the deadline either.

 

[DJSim22]

If it costs too much to trade for a 3rd starter, it wouldn't be all bad for this group to experience a playoff series without giving up the farm.  Just a thought.