Kep / Manoah?

[Russ]

Manoah's older brother Erik was in the Twins farm system in 2021

[David HK]

On 1/16/2024 at 2:28 AM, Parfigliano said:

Because he's not done and screws can always be tightened or loosened to adjust them properly and make them right.

Any Frankenstein movie would tell you that.  One turn of the screw and everything's fine! 😂

[tony&rodney]

8 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I would trade Kepler for Manoah. 

I would have cut Kepler in June so it would be like getting Manoah for nothing.  

 

I thought you had eliminated yourself from any Kepler comments after DHing him last June? Naughty.

[tony&rodney]

For just this coming season, how have people felt understanding that Max Kepler is easily the best Twins outfielder on the roster and one not easily replaced? 

Shivers?

[Parfigliano]

11 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I can't say that I disagree with you in principal Major League Ready, but Twins fans need only look to our beloved Kent Hrbek to see that not all people really care.  Old Tigers fans would point to Mickey Lolich and say "give that fat guy the ball  in any big game."  

Baseball is a game that is technique driven.  Players don't have to be Bo Jackson to stand out.  A great physique is never a problem, but Hrbek showed you can be fat and out of shape but still pretty darn good.  

Exhibit B:  CC Sabathia

[Riverbrian]

33 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

I thought you had eliminated yourself from any Kepler comments after DHing him last June? Naughty.

I lose track of the boundaries from time to time. 

[big dog]

10 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

I lose track of the boundaries from time to time. 

Yeah, plus there's the problem of a warping space-time continuum. People forget that, but it's a huge deal to those of us who pay attention.

[lecroy24fan]

11 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Exhibit B:  CC Sabathia

Exhibit C: Bartolo Colon

[Riverbrian]

38 minutes ago, big dog said:

Yeah, plus there's the problem of a warping space-time continuum. People forget that, but it's a huge deal to those of us who pay attention.

I can bend it... I'm very dense. 

[chpettit19]

13 hours ago, tony&rodney said:

For just this coming season, how have people felt understanding that Max Kepler is easily the best Twins outfielder on the roster and one not easily replaced? 

Shivers?

I think this very much depends on what one believes Kepler's bat will be like in 2024. If he's back to a mid-90s OPS+ he's much more easily replaced (Castro could possibly be a 1 to 1 replacement if one believes in his bat maintaining last year's production). If he's a 120+ OPS+ bat again then he's far harder to replace. This is the conundrum of Max Kepler.

[Rik19753]

I don't know if this has been discussed anywhere, but how about Yusei Kikuchi for Kepler? The values are very similar and the Twins get a solid lefty starter in the rotation. Both are on one year deals and are paid similar amounts.

I'm not tremendously high on Kikuchi as a starter, but you can certainly do worse than him as your 5th starter. I do like the idea of having him out of the bullpen in the playoffs. I think he can play a role similar to the one Varland played in 2023. 

[chpettit19]

1 hour ago, Rik19753 said:

I don't know if this has been discussed anywhere, but how about Yusei Kikuchi for Kepler? The values are very similar and the Twins get a solid lefty starter in the rotation. Both are on one year deals and are paid similar amounts.

I'm not tremendously high on Kikuchi as a starter, but you can certainly do worse than him as your 5th starter. I do like the idea of having him out of the bullpen in the playoffs. I think he can play a role similar to the one Varland played in 2023. 

I think I'd probably prefer to keep Kepler over getting Kikuchi for him. I think the rotation is in better shape than the OF situation as far as adding someone of that expected production goes. I think Kepler carries value for this team in RF than Kikuchi would as the 5th starter.