Potentially Trading Polanco and Kepler and the possibilities Twins could use QO, after Teoscar signing

[Fatbat]

2 hours ago, cmoss84 said:

If I am the Twins FO, I am doing everything in my power to trade Vazquez, Kepler, and Polanco this off-season...for whatever they can get. We have perfectly reasonable replacements for all of them, and that is a lot of money that can go towards an ace or a solid #2. Or we can sign Hader and have an amazing bullpen. Kepler and Polanco may be at their apex value NOW. 

These guys still out there...

Snell/Woodruff/Montgomery/Urias (and Kershaw but I'm sure he signs with LAD or retires)

You could even keep one of those guys and still buy a #1. At some point in ‘24, the FO will be making a deal. People on here have little patience. 

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, cmoss84 said:

I'm sure it is highly unlikely to sign a big FA...but if we clear up some $, why is it 100% off the table? 

Most of them are already gone. Montgomery and Snell are all that remains. Neither one is looking to sign with the Twins.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, cmoss84 said:

I'm not big on Snell either. But would love to clear up money for Woodruff/Montgomery/Urias/Hader. Although I am not sure if Urias is still in trouble or if LA is ready to part ways. 

The bats left in FA aren't all that great...

I'd be happy to have Hoskins or Turner on this team. 

Woodruff won't pitch this year and Urias is more likely to be given a long suspension than than be of any use. I wouldn't say no to Montgomery, but he doesn't have a high ceiling, I'd rather trade for a younger more dynamic pitcher who could lead rotation for several more years. And I'd rather have a hitter for the middle of the order than a reliever.

[stringer bell]

28 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Most of them are already gone. Montgomery and Snell are all that remains. Neither one is looking to sign with the Twins.

From what I see, the best the Twins can hope for is a young guy who can grow into a #2 or #3.

I still think their best hope is getting a guy from a bad team and try to “fix” him. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

I do want to mention,  just because a team is willing to trade a player doesn't necessarily mean they don't value the player like Arraez from last year.  It means they think they can more easily replicate their value through another player.   

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

Just as a follow up.  Kepler this season had a rough start to the season,  but since coming back has been on a tear.  

For the Year a slash line of .293/.364/.812      134 OPS+

The last 2 weeks    .421/.500/1.147  231 OPS+

He is hitting the ball confidently to all fields,  waiting on outside pitches and slapping them into left field.  The home runs are a little light which is to be expected with cooler temps,  but I would gladly take this version of Kepler any day of the week.  At .6 War for a little over 1 month,  he is on a good start to have a heck of a season,  and continue the discussion on whether he will get a qualifying offer or not  😉.   

[Riverbrian]

If he continues at this pace in 2024. He'd would be in pretty rare company. 

I would expect a QO if an extension can't be reached. 

I can't really comment on Kepler though. I would have cut him last June. 

 

 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

If he continues at this pace in 2024. He'd would be in pretty rare company. 

I would expect a QO if an extension can't be reached. 

I can't really comment on Kepler though. I would have cut him last June. 

 

 

He has effectively been at this pace since last July.   He is making more contact and better contact.   The current approach is so much better than previously.  

[Riverbrian]

Just now, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

He has effectively been at this pace since last July.   He is making more contact and better contact.   The current approach is so much better than previously.  

Post All-Star Break in 2023. He was statistically one of the best players in baseball. 

[IndianaTwin]

1 hour ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Just as a follow up.  Kepler this season had a rough start to the season,  but since coming back has been on a tear.  

For the Year a slash line of .293/.364/.812      134 OPS+

The last 2 weeks    .421/.500/1.147  231 OPS+

He is hitting the ball confidently to all fields,  waiting on outside pitches and slapping them into left field.  The home runs are a little light which is to be expected with cooler temps,  but I would gladly take this version of Kepler any day of the week.  At .6 War for a little over 1 month,  he is on a good start to have a heck of a season,  and continue the discussion on whether he will get a qualifying offer or not  😉.   

It's really .6 WAR for 17 games, several of which he was hurt. 

[Hawkeye Bean Counter]

3 minutes ago, IndianaTwin said:

It's really .6 WAR for 17 games, several of which he was hurt. 

Its really a .8 War for 17 games,  as he was a -.2 War to start the season.  

[IndianaTwin]

1 minute ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Its really a .8 War for 17 games,  as he was a -.2 War to start the season.  

So then really .8 over the last, what, 13 games? 😀

 

[bean5302]

@Brock Beauchamp we also need a thread necromancer reaction in addition to the dead horse, haha.

[bean5302]

...since I'm here today and I wasn't following this site in January. Trading Kepler was absolutely the direction I advocated, and I still think it was the right decision. The trade would have required the Twins to make at least one additional trades to secure a young, cost controlled OF who could cover center field. The guy I wanted the Twins to target was Jarren Duran.

In any case, looking at trades in isolation isn't that helpful when it comes to an offseason plan with a team like the Twins. The offseason was always going to involve a number of trades, free agency signings and prospect promotions as the team was trying to cut payroll, compensate for free agent departures, and field a competitive team.

[USAFChief]

5 hours ago, Hawkeye Bean Counter said:

Just as a follow up.  Kepler this season had a rough start to the season,  but since coming back has been on a tear.  

For the Year a slash line of .293/.364/.812      134 OPS+

The last 2 weeks    .421/.500/1.147  231 OPS+

He is hitting the ball confidently to all fields,  waiting on outside pitches and slapping them into left field.  The home runs are a little light which is to be expected with cooler temps,  but I would gladly take this version of Kepler any day of the week.  At .6 War for a little over 1 month,  he is on a good start to have a heck of a season,  and continue the discussion on whether he will get a qualifying offer or not  😉.   

Nitpic, but Kepler's triple slash line should be .293/.364/.448

 

Skipping the SLG and inserting OPS is just confusing.