Projecting the 2022 Twins Opening Day Roster: Version 2.0

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, USAFChief said:

As currently constructed, I'll take closer to 60 than 80.

This has a chance to be the worst team in MLB. Certainly a real chance to have the worst pitching, and now we've lost 2 of the team's better hitters and gotten worse defensively.

I'll take 71 and you get 69.... luckily, this isn't the final roster.

Here is why I think you are wrong....

A full year of Gray, unlike Berrios last year.

A full year of Ryan. 

The other three spots are unknown compared to last year, but last year was terrible.

A lot more Buxton and Kiriloff.

I think fangraphs is bullish, but this isn't a sixty win team. Like some here are saying.

[mikelink45]

21 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Hole in LF: Kris Bryant, Joc Peterson, Eddie Rosario, Corey Dickerson, and Kyle Schwarber available.

Hole at SS: Story and Correa still available.

Starting Pitcher: Greinke, Danny Duffy, and Pineda still available.

Relief Pitcher: Collin McHugh, Ryan Tepera, Kenley Jenson, and John Curtis's still available.

My suggestion is to use the large war chest available to make inflated offers to all of them, see who is interested, and then negotiate with the ones you like best.

McHugh now signed. 

The Yankees are making an offer for Montas and Monaea. 

Rosario signed with the Braves for two years.

 

[mikelink45]

18 hours ago, HerbieFan said:

Nash Walker on Locked On Twins podcast had the path to complete this roster....trade for Montas and sign Story

Good luck - the Yankees are zeroing in on Montas

[mikelink45]

17 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Unless someone who played part of the season with the Twins (Larnach, Rooker, Celestino) seizes left field, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Sanchez at DH, with Sanó at first and Kirilloff in left field. Arraez could also get some starts in left. To me, Urshela is the shortstop until someone is added. This does give Miranda a spot. If Sanchez is DHing more than occasionally, they probably need a third catcher. Ugh, what a mess. 

Baldelli says Arraez is not going to be used in LF - Minneapolis Tribune on Monday.

[mikelink45]

2 hours ago, cHawk said:

Gray is better than you think.

I hope so.  I want him to succeed and he is far better than Bundy, but I feel like everyone we get is automatically moved up a tier in our minds.  Let's wait for the season.

[mikelink45]

2 hours ago, dex8425 said:

I think we both would feel better if the Twins also got Montas! I see him as more of a #1 for 2022 than Gray. Montas, Gray, Ryan is a fine rotation for a playoff series. Definitely not Scherzer, DeGrom, Bassitt though.

The Yankees are pursuing Montas according to MLB.com

[dex8425]

22 minutes ago, mikelink45 said:

The Yankees are pursuing Montas according to MLB.com

Royals too. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/royals-trade-rumors-frankie-montas.html Plenty of teams are going to be interested. 

If Twins don't get Montas, not the end of the world but they need another quality starter. Could be Manea. Could be Castillo or Mahle. Heck, if you don't want to give up prospects, the Twins could probably win 85-88 games with Story and Greinke or Matt Boyd? If you squint hard enough?

[Minny505]

@Cody Christie, let's not equate the batting value of Sano and Sanchez. They are the same age and have similar batting profiles, but Sano is a superior hitter.

Sanchez is a good hitter for a catcher. Sano is a good hitter. 

Over the the past three seasons, eyeballing the wRC+ of each comes to about a 105 for Sanchez and a 120 for Sano. 

I want Sano starting at 162 games at DH if the choice is between the two and they are both healthy and rested. 

From a projection standpoint, Gary Sanchez profiles as nearly identical to Brent Rooker. 

Like I said, Sanchez is a good hitter for a catcher, but as a DH, he's a more expensive version of Rooker...and I don't think anyone here at Twins Daily prefers Rooker over Sano at DH.

[Minny505]

(1)If the Twins do sign Story, I've been thinking about the possibility of trading for David Price with the Dodgers. I suspect Sano would get the deal done as they need a DH and we could probably get the Dodgers to eat $8mil of that contract making it a salary neutral swap for both teams.

Both squads would get something of need out of it, with Price becoming the 2 or 3 pitcher in the current Twins rotation, depending on your view of Joe Ryan. Sano is now the 4/5 batter in the Dodgers lineup and the everyday DH.

If the Dodgers sign Freeman, this trade is off the table.

(2)Twins don't sign Story, but instead trade for David Price and Gavin Lux, offering up Trevor Larnach. Lux is then the SS, but is less entrenched at the position than Story would be if the Twins want the option to use Lewis there.

Thoughts?

[dex8425]

Well, Greinke to the Royals. One year 13m deal. Twins could have easily sprung for that too...