Offseason Trade Targets

[ChrisKnutson]

Gordon probably won’t hit enough to have him at a corner.

Maybe, but then how do you explain playing Joe Mauer at 1st and Matt Duffy’s success as a 3rd basemen, despite a lack of power???

[Rosterman]

If the Twins add pieces, I think it will be thru signings rather than trade, unless they can trade for someone that might be a part of the team for sure come 2021 and beyond. Like Odorizzi, they may be given a leash to produce or leave. But more than likely, the Twins will patch holes and hope that the talent the new regime endorses will develop and take their place on the field for the Twins to be a powerhouse team for many seasons to come, starting with 2021. 202 will be a season of some fulltime rookies and late season additions as you wean out some of the players still on the team, leftover from this and next season.

[Battle ur tail off]

While you might be right, pushing the "contention" date back sucks and we've heard it for long enough. It's been since 2010 since this team has been any good. It shouldn't take 10 years to bring a team back into the fray every time. 

[mazeville]

Hm.

 

I think the Twins can contend. They have starters, especially if Berrios takes a step forward and Romero can play a full season. A staff starting with those two, plus Kyle Gibson and Jake Odorizzi and then pick your fifth starter isn't bad. But a stronger starter at the top of that order would look much, much better. Problem I have is that said starter would cost too much either in terms of dollars (and years) in a free agency deal or prospects. 

 

The biggest question mark to me is Byron Buxton. If he is healthy and can hit the Twins have a much, much better chance of contending than if he isn't. And his status for next year makes me so iffy that I'm inclined to do relatively little going into next year.

 

I might sign some guys, like Logan Forsythe on a one-year, repair-my-image deal, or a DH and a starter. I most certainly hold off on making any big prospect trades simply because I do not know what I'm going to get out of this team next year. If they're in contention in July, then they can trade a prospect or two to make a run. 

[Lonestar]

Starlin Castro has only played SS in 3 games in 3 years. He only has two years of team control left at $13.5M AAV. I don't see the fit.

[yarnivek1972]

Maybe, but then how do you explain playing Joe Mauer at 1st and Matt Duffy’s success as a 3rd basemen, despite a lack of power???

They had to play Mauer somewhere. He wasn’t fast enough to play outfield. He probably would have worked at third, but it’s way too late now.

 

I don’t know if I would call Matt Duffy “successful”. I’d call him cheap and replacement level. Trying to build a career based on one good year.

[RatherBeGolfing]

Still waiting on a completely absurd trade proposition that lands us Trout

[yarnivek1972]

Trout for Buxton. Straight up.

[h2oface]

The Twins were a trendy pick to play for as a free agent last off season, and at reduced rates. But all those wonderful (right.....) free agents tanked, and so did the core.... Sano, Buxton, Kepler, Polanco out half the year, Santana all year..... Mauer back to mediocre.....Dozier totally regressed... and even Berrios centered in as a #3 instead of the upside that was anticipated.

 

Now the Twins will be back to a very unattractive and uncertain option for free agents. I find it so comical that the Angels, a .500 team, can be considered terrible, but the Twins attractive. It takes a Twins' fan to come up with that. It is easy to do, I guess. Rose colored glasses. Hard to see the reality.

[Vanimal46]

Trout for Buxton. Straight up.

And give up 4 years of control for 2? No way /s

[ChrisKnutson]

They had to play Mauer somewhere. He wasn’t fast enough to play outfield. He probably would have worked at third, but it’s way too late now.

I don’t know if I would call Matt Duffy “successful”. I’d call him cheap and replacement level. Trying to build a career based on one good year.

Fair point, but if Duffy is replacement level, then so is Polanco, in fact Duffy might actually be better. Also, I’m not saying that Gordon and the rest of our players should be striving for slightly above average performance, all I’m saying is that we shouldn’t be afraid of breaking away from baseball’s old school train of thought in more than just a few certain areas, which is why I’m a fan of positional flexibility and the new “opener” strategy.

[yarnivek1972]

Fair point, but if Duffy is replacement level, then so is Polanco, in fact Duffy might actually be better. Also, I’m not saying that Gordon and the rest of our players should be striving for slightly above average performance, all I’m saying is that we shouldn’t be afraid of breaking away from baseball’s old school train of thought in more than just a few certain areas, which is why I’m a fan of positional flexibility and the new “opener” strategy.

How did Polanco come in to a conversation about Gordon?

[FlauerPauer]

I say go big on Patrick Corbin. Kid is a stud. Won't be 30 until next July. Probably be a big contract, but I like him better than any of the other options. No reason they couldn't make a serious bid at both him and Machado. 

 

I understand that this is a trade target thread, but I don't see them making any major trade this winter. I'd rather spend money than trade prospects at this point. I really don't see any impact deal where the other doesn't ask for Lewis or Kirilloff. I wonder how much trade value Gonsalves has; same with Romero (not that I'd trade either). Gordon probably doesn't have too much value. Would it be too soon to move the A and A+ guys? I just don't see where the Twins trade from and I am not knowledgeable enough to even know who they could target with a with guys like Rooker, Baddoo, Graterol, Enlow, Thorpe, etc... I also don't really want to trade any of those player quite yet.

[ChrisKnutson]

How did Polanco come in to a conversation about Gordon?

Well because Gordon had a down year, it seems like a good portion of people (I’m assuming you too) on this site now view him as a bust and label Polanco as the Twin’s “2nd basemen of the future,” yet simultaneously minimalize a player like Duffy, when in reality Matt Duffy is better than almost our entire lineup, besides Rosario. Meaning, either Duffy is replacement level or our entire lineup is, maybe both? And if that’s the case, then what makes us so disillusioned to the idea that we’re only a couple free agents away from winning the division and going deep in the postseason. This the main reason why I’m for turning the page and commiting to new strategies such as developing players (in this case Gordon) to be defensively versatile.

[ChrisKnutson]

I say go big on Patrick Corbin. Kid is a stud. Won't be 30 until next July. Probably be a big contract, but I like him better than any of the other options. No reason they couldn't make a serious bid at both him and Machado.

 

I understand that this is a trade target thread, but I don't see them making any major trade this winter. I'd rather spend money than trade prospects at this point. I really don't see any impact deal where the other doesn't ask for Lewis or Kirilloff. I wonder how much trade value Gonsalves has; same with Romero (not that I'd trade either). Gordon probably doesn't have too much value. Would it be too soon to move the A and A+ guys? I just don't see where the Twins trade from and I am not knowledgeable enough to even know who they could target with a with guys like Rooker, Baddoo, Graterol, Enlow, Thorpe, etc... I also don't really want to trade any of those player quite yet.

While I think I’d be a mistake, I could definitely see us signing Corbin to long term deal, unless he returns to Arizona, which is unlikely, due to their recent drop in the standings and the fact that they’ll probably be more focused on bringing back A.J. Pollock.

 

When it comes to Machado, don’t get your hopes up because he probably doesn’t even see Minnesota an option. Now if the Twins are still interested in a player with Machado-like potential, once after he signs, then I’d recommend they look into acquiring Philadelphia’s former top prospect J.P. Crawford.

[Linus]

The twins have a huge hole to fill in the bullpen. That is where they can make the biggest improvement

[notoriousgod71]

Jed Gyorko because he has a high launch angle and low contact rate and doesn't run, field, or hit well.

 

If Ryan were around, I'd assume Peralta since we played him 18 times a year for ten years.

 

they'll probably sign Jordy Mercer.

[notoriousgod71]

 

Trade for 2B Starlin Castro of the Marlins. He and Polanco are the middle infield. MLB Trade Rumors say the MArlins want to trade him and are looking for controllable pitching (them and everybody else). Castro is 28 and last three years are :

 

2016 - .270/.300/.433, 21 HRs, 93 OPS+ for the Yankees

2107 - .300/.338/.454, 16 HRs, 106 OPS+ for the Yankees

2018 - .286/.337/.409, 11 HRS, 111 OPS+ (so far) for the Marlins. 

 

I would trade any of the AAA starters not named Romero or Mejia - Stewart, Gonsalves, Littlel, Slegers, De Jong - plus either a Busenitz/Duffy/Vasquez type reliever (anybody except Rogers, May or Hildenberger) or Gordon, or maybe even both. Either that or Mejia plus an A ball guy. Makes sense I think because Miami is 3-4 years away from any hope of contending and by then Castro will be on the downside, and the Twins hope their window is the next 3-4 years.   

 

Just offer salary relief. That's all the Marlins want anyway. Throw them some garbage. So, about 90 percent of the guys on your list qualify.