Twins GM Thad Levine: "We Have A Little Bit Of A Hole In Our Starting Rotation"

[Brock Beauchamp]

While Twins General Manager Thad Levine couched his statements with excitement about the current starting rotation, he admitted that with the loss of so many starting pitchers to free agency - Sonny Gray, Kenta Maeda, Tyler Mahle - the Twins could use some help in the rotation by Opening Day.

There are several pitchers who have been rumored to be on the block, led by Corbin Burnes and one of the Marlins starters. Unfortunately, two of the most readily available arms (Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber) play for teams in the AL Central, which makes a trade trickier for the Twins front office to pull off.

Listen to the clip from Levine on MLB Network Radio below:

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[Cory Engelhardt]

I feel like they are waiting out Milwaukee and Corbin Burnes. It’s a perfect fit here for 2024. 

[CRF]

He's 100% right. 

[Twinsgypsy]

Agree, but depends on the asking price .

[sweetmusicviola16]

I am of the opinion that Milwaukee still wants one more shot in 2024. Why would they have just signed Hoskins, among other moves? Burnes will not be a Twin on opening day. I don't think Miami has a high priority on trading SP's either. They're very close to being a PO team themselves. 

Maybe we should be thinking about the few FA's that are still available, like Clevinger. Yep they have dug a hole and now will try to dig out of it with the clock ticking down.

[Cory Engelhardt]

5 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I am of the opinion that Milwaukee still wants one more shot in 2024. Why would they have just signed Hoskins, among other moves? Burnes will not be a Twin on opening day. I don't think Miami has a high priority on trading SP's either. They're very close to being a PO team themselves. 

Maybe we should be thinking about the few FA's that are still available, like Clevinger. Yep they have dug a hole and now will try to dig out of it with the clock ticking down.

Don’t aim so low, and I don’t want personalities like Clevinger in this clubhouse

[sweetmusicviola16]

11 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Don’t aim so low, and I don’t want personalities like Clevinger in this clubhouse

OK. I'll meet you halfway, lets sign Montgomery then. He's an FA and will only cost us money. He doesn't even have a QO attached.

I hate to burst anyone's bubble but Burnes will not be coming to MN for opening day. Maybe at the deadline we can outbid other suitors. He also wants to test the FA waters next offseason. Starting out at anything less than 32-33 mil per will get a quick click of the phone from him imo.

[jorgenswest]

Trade for 1 year of Burnes. Needs to be done before the season in order to make a qualifying offer and get a comp pick.

It might take Julien for one year of Burnes and a comp pick. 

[wabene]

36 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I am of the opinion that Milwaukee still wants one more shot in 2024. Why would they have just signed Hoskins, among other moves? Burnes will not be a Twin on opening day. I don't think Miami has a high priority on trading SP's either. They're very close to being a PO team themselves. 

Maybe we should be thinking about the few FA's that are still available, like Clevinger. Yep they have dug a hole and now will try to dig out of it with the clock ticking down.

Dug a hole, lol? The off-season is ongoing. Let's keep score at the end. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

10 minutes ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

OK. I'll meet you halfway, lets sign Montgomery then. He's an FA and will only cost us money. He doesn't even have a QO attached.

I hate to burst anyone's bubble but Burnes will not be coming to MN for opening day. Maybe at the deadline we can outbid other suitors. He also wants to test the FA waters next offseason. Starting out at anything less than 32-33 mil per will get a quick click of the phone from him imo.

I’d be open to Montgomery too, it just seems that the trade route is the way they are headed. And if it isn’t Burnes, they will get something done.

The only part that sucks is that, as a fan, we are all so used to what the offseason used to be like even 5 years ago, so it FEELS like they have run out of time already. That just isn’t the case. 

[Jocko87]

2 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I feel like they are waiting out Milwaukee and Corbin Burnes. It’s a perfect fit here for 2024. 

Milwaukee is absolutely taking another shot this year but a Burnes/Hoskins combo platter at the deadline might be nice.

I caught this interview live, just after Bowden went on another 5 minute rant about Mauer not being a half of famer, and Thad is pretty good at saying nothing.  One thing that was interesting was the firmness he spoke about Brooks Lee.  He will start at AAA, no surprise, and come up when he shows he's ready and be in the mix for enough playing time with the current roster to be a regular.  He wasn't exactly breaking news but something about how firm he said contrasted with the rest of the coach speak. 

[jorgenswest]

2 hours ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Unfortunately, two of the most readily available arms (Dylan Cease, Shane Bieber) play for teams in the AL Central, which makes a trade trickier for the Twins front office to pull off.

I have been wondering about this lately. How true is it? How much trickier? If trades occur randomly in division trades would occur 4/29 or 13.8% of the time. How much less than 4/29 is it?

The only significant in division trade I recall this winter is the Red Sox sending Vergugo to the Yankees. They do occur.

[Cory Engelhardt]

11 minutes ago, jorgenswest said:

I have been wondering about this lately. How true is it? How much trickier? If trades occur randomly in division trades would occur 4/29 or 13.8% of the time. How much less than 4/29 is it?

The only significant in division trade I recall this winter is the Red Sox sending Vergugo to the Yankees. They do occur.

If I am a gm, I take the best deal I can when trading a player away

[Cory Engelhardt]

21 minutes ago, David HK said:

I'm disappointed about Stroman and Hoskins.  I wonder if the Twinks were even in the mix with those guys.

But, since the '65 Series, I've gotten used to the club doing f-all in the offseason, with a handful of exceptions.

I like Hoskins too. I can’t say I hate missing out on Stroman. His 2nd half from last year scares me a bit. Always liked him though 

[sweetmusicviola16]

I know he hasn't panned out to potential, but any thoughts out there on Mackenzie Gore of the Nat's? He's always intrigued me. He's still young and the Nat's are still going nowhere at present.

[DJL44]

Glad they have a grasp on the obvious.

[Greglw3]

2 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Trade for 1 year of Burnes. Needs to be done before the season in order to make a qualifying offer and get a comp pick.

It might take Julien for one year of Burnes and a comp pick. 

That would be an ill-advised trade. Julien is worth 5 times one year of Burnes, maybe 10 or 20 times.

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 minutes ago, Greglw3 said:

That would be an ill-advised trade. Julien is worth 5 times one year of Burnes, maybe 10 or 20 times.

I love Julien. But getting a pitcher like Burnes would arguably give the Twins the best rotation in the American League, no? You take that opportunity once in a while right?

Not saying I want to get rid of Julien. But if the twins can get Burnes, you do it 

[RpR]

59 minutes ago, Greglw3 said:

That would be an ill-advised trade. Julien is worth 5 times one year of Burnes, maybe 10 or 20 times.

LOL, you mean maybe Julien is worth maybe 10 or 20 minutes of Burnes!🤯

[Fat Calvin]

What about "What's His  Name?"  Every time he's mentioned, the whole thread tangles up.  But he's sure worth mentioning, and, imo, worth considering.  And I think he's still available.  I don't think he has re-upped with his Japanese team.

[Doctor Wu]

11 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

Don’t aim so low, and I don’t want personalities like Clevinger in this clubhouse

Clevinger is not ideal, but at this point I don't think we can be too picky about personality issues. We need some good arms and I think he still qualifies on that count. If he can still pitch like he did in Cleveland I'd be happy to have him. 

[Doctor Wu]

6 hours ago, Fat Calvin said:

What about "What's His  Name?"  Every time he's mentioned, the whole thread tangles up.  But he's sure worth mentioning, and, imo, worth considering.  And I think he's still available.  I don't think he has re-upped with his Japanese team.

And as much as I dislike "What's His Name" I'd take a chance on him too. If that guy still has the pitching skills that he had a few years ago, I wouldn't flinch about getting him on the team. If all we want on the pitching staff are morally upright citizens, we may never win another pennant. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

44 minutes ago, Doctor Wu said:

Clevinger is not ideal, but at this point I don't think we can be too picky about personality issues. We need some good arms and I think he still qualifies on that count. If he can still pitch like he did in Cleveland I'd be happy to have him. 

We can and should be pickier than many.

[baul0010]

12 hours ago, sweetmusicviola16 said:

I am of the opinion that Milwaukee still wants one more shot in 2024. Why would they have just signed Hoskins, among other moves? Burnes will not be a Twin on opening day. I don't think Miami has a high priority on trading SP's either. They're very close to being a PO team themselves. 

Maybe we should be thinking about the few FA's that are still available, like Clevinger. Yep they have dug a hole and now will try to dig out of it with the clock ticking down.

I don't think waiting out the other options being traded helps anyway.  If a trade for Burnes was pulled off today or 3 days after all options are gone, the asking price is still the same or very high. They aren't giving him away.  

[Linus]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

We can and should be pickier than many.

I’m not so sure. Right now we are one starter injury away from SWR taking a regular turn in the rotation. Like you I’m hoping for better but if it doesn’t come together we have to do something. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

Just now, Linus said:

I’m not so sure. Right now we are one starter injury away from SWR taking a regular turn in the rotation. Like you I’m hoping for better but if it doesn’t come together we have to do something. 

I like the idea of SWR being our 7th starter a lot more than Clevinger being a part of the rotation 

[Linus]

Just now, Cory Engelhardt said:

I like the idea of SWR being our 7th starter a lot more than Clevinger being a part of the rotation 

Not me. 😀

[Cory Engelhardt]

To each their own.

Id prefer a minor league signing, like Jake Odorizzi, to add depth compared to Clevinger. And I am a fan of SWR

[arby58]

16 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

Trade for 1 year of Burnes. Needs to be done before the season in order to make a qualifying offer and get a comp pick.

It might take Julien for one year of Burnes and a comp pick. 

If it's Julien for one year of Burnes, the short answer is no. The long answer is "Hades" No.

[arby58]

13 hours ago, wabene said:

Dug a hole, lol? The off-season is ongoing. Let's keep score at the end. 

Right - a lot of activity is still on hold because of the expired TV contract and unsigned Scott Boros free agent clients. Neither of those is really hole digging on the part of the Twins front office.