Kepler, Garlick activated. Jeffers, Rooker optioned.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Kyle Garlick is 4 for 18 with 7 Ks in his last 7 games. It's fair to point out he might not even be a better option than Cave at this point....

Whereas Cave has a 1.095 OPS over the past seven days.

[umterp23]

So Jeffers goes down to get more AB's and work on things.  50-50 split of playing time on an almost daily rotation doesn't do either catcher any favors.  Garver wasn't killing it and may not be turning the corner yet, so will hold my excitement about him being the guy.  Probably the best thing for Jeffers to play simulated games and some AAA games daily, instead of sitting on pine and hitting in the cages.  

 

Why Cave is still on the roster is very puzzling to me.  With Sano due back soon, does Cave need to be here anymore, no way.  Already have enough lefty options in the outfield.  Kiriloff won't be going anywhere soon and Tortuga while a nice story, isn't the end all the media wants him to be.  Positional depth, sure, but isn't great defensively at any position and his one pitch at bats are starting to catch up to him.  

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

I agree on Jeffers. Rooker is who he is, imo.

 

Glad Kiriloff is staying up. He should be playing in MN this year, not elsewhere. 

 

Unless the Twins were going to bust Kiriloff all the way down to AA or further, it's guaranteed he'll play in MN this year!

[KirbyDome89]

 

Whereas Cave has a 1.095 OPS over the past seven days.

Precisely 

[bighat]

 

The thing is, he's not really sputtering. His average exit velo is 94mph. His expected WOBA is .377. His barrel percentage is 15%.

 

Those are all very good numbers, though obviously SSS applies here. Past performance does not guarantee future results and all that.

Looked awfully good last night.

[ashbury]

Second thing is to sign Buxton now

I'm guessing it's too late now. Or at least, too late to gain any kind of a home-town discount. If they want to shut out other bidders in advance of him hitting free agency, they'll have to pony up a market rate offer. Hope I'm wrong.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Looked awfully good last night.

Yeah, and his barrel rate is now up to 25%, which is ludicrous zone, higher than Buxton and Trout.

[USAFChief]

I'm guessing it's too late now. Or at least, too late to gain any kind of a home-town discount. If they want to shut out other bidders in advance of him hitting free agency, they'll have to pony up a market rate offer. Hope I'm wrong.

I think that ship sailed.

 

I doubt there's anything the Twins can do to get Buxton to give up free agency at this point.

 

Should have been done long ago.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm guessing it's too late now. Or at least, too late to gain any kind of a home-town discount. If they want to shut out other bidders in advance of him hitting free agency, they'll have to pony up a market rate offer. Hope I'm wrong.

I’m not sure a deal was ever really possible with Buxton. When he’s been on the field the past two years, he’s been outstanding and likely wants “outstanding” money commiserate with his talent level. Inversely, the Twins saw that lack of playing time and wouldn’t move past “good” money because the risk was so bloody high.

 

And IMO, neither side was wrong but it made a long term deal really unlikely.

 

Hopefully this healthy Beast Mode Buxton is here to stay, he gets paid when the time comes, and everyone is happy.

[ashbury]

I'm guessing it's too late now. Or at least, too late to gain any kind of a home-town discount. If they want to shut out other bidders in advance of him hitting free agency, they'll have to pony up a market rate offer. Hope I'm wrong.

 

I’m not sure a deal was ever really possible with Buxton. When he’s been on the field the past two years, he’s been outstanding and likely wants “outstanding” money commiserate with his talent level. Inversely, the Twins saw that lack of playing time and wouldn’t move past “good” money because the risk was so bloody high.

 

And IMO, neither side was wrong but it made a long term deal really unlikely.

 

Hopefully this healthy Beast Mode Buxton is here to stay, he gets paid when the time comes, and everyone is happy.

I'm pretty sure your analysis is right, or at least as close as any of us outsiders are going to achieve.

 

My phrase "too late" wasn't meant to assign blame or anything. A couple of years ago it might have been possible to sign him for Mauer money; now it would take Trout money. And that asking price isn't going to regress unless some calamity happens, in which case the bid for his services would also regress.

 

A talent like Buxton's is a rich team's risk to take, once market forces take over, and I don't know of any way around that.

 

So I don't quite see how your last sentence comes true, assuming "everyone" includes Twins fans. Because if Buxton and Twins fans are happy, our FO won't be.

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I'm pretty sure your analysis is right, or at least as close as any of us outsiders are going to achieve.

 

My phrase "too late" wasn't meant to assign blame or anything. A couple of years ago it might have been possible to sign him for Mauer money; now it would take Trout money. And that asking price isn't going to regress unless some calamity happens, in which case the bid for his services would also regress.

 

A talent like Buxton's is a rich team's risk to take, once market forces take over, and I don't know of any way around that.

 

So I don't quite see how your last sentence comes true, assuming "everyone" includes Twins fans. Because if Buxton and Twins fans are happy, our FO won't be.
 

I think the Twins can afford Buxton if they choose to do so. They'll have just two years of Donaldson left to clear and then can dedicate the bulk of that money to a longterm Buxton deal.

 

But I suspect the Twins will choose not to play in waters that deep. It will be disappointing but understandable.

 

Mostly, I just want to see a healthy Buxton dominate baseball for a few years. It will be good for the sport, as there are far too few dynamic players like that in today's game. I would prefer to see him do that in a Twins uniform but it won't kill me if he's wearing a different uniform while he does it (except please not the Yankees).

[ashbury]

 

I think the Twins can afford Buxton if they choose to do so. They'll have just two years of Donaldson left to clear and then can dedicate the bulk of that money to a longterm Buxton deal.

 

But I suspect the Twins will choose not to play in waters that deep. It will be disappointing but understandable.

 

Mostly, I just want to see a healthy Buxton dominate baseball for a few years. It will be good for the sport, as there are far too few dynamic players like that in today's game. I would prefer to see him do that in a Twins uniform but it won't kill me if he's wearing a different uniform while he does it (except please not the Yankees).

It. Will. Be. The. Yankees.

 

Because. Reasons.
 

[BeatTheRich]

 

It. Will. Be. The. Yankees.

 

Brock, does the new site have a BOO button?

 

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

It. Will. Be. The. Yankees.

 

Because. Reasons.
 

I don't like wishing injury on any player, particularly one I like such as Buxton, but if the universe is going to force my hand...

[insagt1]

If Buxton stays healthy and has an MVP season, which is quite possible, and the Twins let him walk, the Twins fans will assemble in front of the stadium with pitchforks and torches. A healthy Buxton just might be the most exciting baseball player in the business today.

[Squirrel]

 

Brock, does the new site have a BOO button?

 

heh ... it has a 'sad face' button ... but if you reply, you have more emojis to choose from in the text box

[peterb18]

 

I'm pretty sure your analysis is right, or at least as close as any of us outsiders are going to achieve.

 

My phrase "too late" wasn't meant to assign blame or anything. A couple of years ago it might have been possible to sign him for Mauer money; now it would take Trout money. And that asking price isn't going to regress unless some calamity happens, in which case the bid for his services would also regress.

 

A talent like Buxton's is a rich team's risk to take, once market forces take over, and I don't know of any way around that.

 

So I don't quite see how your last sentence comes true, assuming "everyone" includes Twins fans. Because if Buxton and Twins fans are happy, our FO won't be.

 

 

 

Ashbury...very good analysis . IMO the front office blew this one.....prediction: he’ll be back in Georgia, his home state.

[wabene]

Ashbury...very good analysis . IMO the front office blew this one.....prediction: he’ll be back in Georgia, his home state.

How did the front office blow it? When did they have an opportunity to sign him? Apparently they talked this spring, would you have signed him for $250m this spring?

[peterb18]

 

How did the front office blow it? When did they have an opportunity to sign him? Apparently they talked this spring, would you have signed him for $250m this spring?

He is proving that he is a 25 million a year player. Yes, he’ll be back in Georgia some day. 

[ashbury]

He is proving that he is a 25 million a year player. . 

??? Buxton spits on 25, IMO. Lindor just got $34Mx10.

 

[wabene]

He is proving that he is a 25 million a year player. Yes, he’ll be back in Georgia some day.

 

Again, this spring? We all had seen what we thought Buxton could be, but who was willing to pony up for the full projected performance at the beginning of the year? Now I think the ranks of the believers are growing as is the price tag.

[darwin22]

 

I agree with all these moves. Jeffers and Rooker will develop a lot more playing for the Saints.

Only 1 game, but a good start for Jeffers going 2-4 tonight @ Omaha in loss.  A different story for Rooker.......0-4 with 3 whiffs.  Ugh!

[ashbury]

Again, this spring? We all had seen what we thought Buxton could be, but who was willing to pony up for the full projected performance at the beginning of the year? Now I think the ranks of the believers are growing as is the price tag.

It's a problem with MLB's business model. For a risky talent like Buxton, there will inevitably be a wide gulf between what one of the few rich teams will pay, versus a normal market team. Because if he fulfills the potential, he's a tremendous asset, and if instead he fizzles out due to injury, a rich team's budget isn't wrecked for a decade. The normal teams have to factor that risk in, more strongly. The gulf for Buxton was some number of million dollars in total contract value before his hot start in 2021, and it's a little larger now that he looks like a franchise cornerstone at last. If he falls back to something more normal before he hits free agency, the same math will hold. The gulf will never go away, unless his talent visibly does.

 

The logic doesn't apply to most players - the Twins can sign guys like Kepler and Polanco and Dobnak because they aren't difference makers to the degree that Buxton and Lindor and Trout are.