The Top 20 Minnesota Twins Player Assets of 2024: Part 3 (6-10)

[JD-TWINS]

22 hours ago, Jocko87 said:

You alluded to it but Julien needs to figure something out with hitting lefties. At least be functional. His value takes more of a hit being a pure platoon guy more than suffering on defense.

If he can do it that, to the moon.

Farmer is around in the meantime…….Eddie is still young and needs to see a lot more pitching……..both of us hope he gets there v. lefties!

[JD-TWINS]

17 hours ago, stringer bell said:

I agree. I hope I'm not getting too far off topic, but one of my biggest concerns for 2024 is the health and effectiveness of ...................Pablo López. López has an injury history and he was mostly healthy in 2022 and didn't miss a turn in 2023. If he can stay healthy and effective next year, I think he cements his ace status. There are precious few starting pitchers who are both healthy and effective year after year and if López becomes one of them, it justifies trading a fine hitter no matter what Luis Arraez does in Miami. It is even more crucial to the Twins that López is a top of the rotation guy in 2024 because the other top of the rotation guy is gone. 

Lopez has lost a bunch of weight & become a workout fiend over past 18 mos. - seems to not be a coincidence he’s been durable. The Driveline guys seem to help pitchers with proper form/approach as well.

Gotta point out again that team was 15-19 in Gray’s starts. He went 1-1 in the playoffs with a pick off at 2B to end a rally in his win v. Toronto. Other start v. Houston was a stinker. Gray was 8-8 in ‘23 & obviously deserved better run support but the results regarding team’s record are real. His playoff starts & those results are real. I honestly think that Varland will be a .500 pitcher with a serviceable ERA at 4.50 or better - seems durable as well. 

IMO, after seeing the innings from Lopez and with his 2 lights out starts in the playoffs, he’s the real ACE coming out of 2023.

[stringer bell]

5 hours ago, JD-TWINS said:

Lopez has lost a bunch of weight & become a workout fiend over past 18 mos. - seems to not be a coincidence he’s been durable. The Driveline guys seem to help pitchers with proper form/approach as well.

Gotta point out again that team was 15-19 in Gray’s starts. He went 1-1 in the playoffs with a pick off at 2B to end a rally in his win v. Toronto. Other start v. Houston was a stinker. Gray was 8-8 in ‘23 & obviously deserved better run support but the results regarding team’s record are real. His playoff starts & those results are real. I honestly think that Varland will be a .500 pitcher with a serviceable ERA at 4.50 or better - seems durable as well. 

IMO, after seeing the innings from Lopez and with his 2 lights out starts in the playoffs, he’s the real ACE coming out of 2023.

Yes, I like López a lot more than Gray. But weight loss alone does not guarantee durability. I think there's a really good chance that Pablo will be an ace, but it's not a certainty.

[JD-TWINS]

42 minutes ago, stringer bell said:

Yes, I like López a lot more than Gray. But weight loss alone does not guarantee durability. I think there's a really good chance that Pablo will be an ace, but it's not a certainty.

Nothing is a certainty - he lost weight because of a new discipline and new strengthening workout. Not suggesting he’s an ACE because he is eating more salads. The main focus of my comments were directed at durability. If he’s pitching with health, he’ll probably be pretty good…….I think we agree in principal.