Offseason Status Update: Counting Down to the Winter Meetings

[tony&rodney]

There actually should be room for optimism toward this offseason and the 2025 Twins. If the budget really is going to remain stable around $130 million, only a few steps would reduce the current number (est. $135M) and create room for "creative" trades to improve the team. The obvious are Vazquez ($10M), Paddack ($7.5M), and Castro (est. $6.2M). Moving just one of those players gets the Twins below their mark. Accounting for minimum salaried replacements, the Twins are down to around $114M. From there Falvey & Sons have a little room depending on their plans. Naturally, keeping one or two of the three guys mentioned leaves less room. So there is hope.

[RpR]

2 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

There actually should be room for optimism toward this offseason and the 2025 Twins. If the budget really is going to remain stable around $130 million, only a few steps would reduce the current number (est. $135M) and create room for "creative" trades to improve the team. The obvious are Vazquez ($10M), Paddack ($7.5M), and Castro (est. $6.2M). Moving just one of those players gets the Twins below their mark. Accounting for minimum salaried replacements, the Twins are down to around $114M. From there Falvey & Sons have a little room depending on their plans. Naturally, keeping one or two of the three guys mentioned leaves less room. So there is hope.

Replace Vazquez and Castro with what, for the most part inept rookies?

The Twins have nothing coming up to replace Vazquez while Jeffers is a just plain lousy catcher.

Castro does not exceed at any thing but he is at least equal to the options, and he can play mulitiple spots where the rookies have a hard time playing one.

Maybe Helman  and Keirsey Jr. will come up and have a Cave first year, but Cave regressed after his first year, probably because pitchers figured him out and he could not address that.

Or they could come up like most have the past few years and at best, be one-trick ponies.

[tony&rodney]

24 minutes ago, RpR said:

Replace Vazquez and Castro with what, for the most part inept rookies?

The Twins have nothing coming up to replace Vazquez while Jeffers is a just plain lousy catcher.

Castro does not exceed at any thing but he is at least equal to the options, and he can play mulitiple spots where the rookies have a hard time playing one.

Maybe Helman  and Keirsey Jr. will come up and have a Cave first year, but Cave regressed after his first year, probably because pitchers figured him out and he could not address that.

Or they could come up like most have the past few years and at best, be one-trick ponies.

All three do not need to be dealt, perhaps none. depending on if the Twins are to be closer to $140M than $125M. However, reality is a part of existence and some moves need to be made to improve the defense. Who and how is up to F & S. Maybe you have some suggestions on how to field a better team on a budget of $125M.

[JD-TWINS]

On 12/2/2024 at 1:03 PM, Cory Engelhardt said:

Just saying, Falvey and this front office have been one of the more aggressive front offices in terms of making moves over the last 5 years or so.

 

Agreed!

Lots of potential moveable pieces:

Duran - Jeffers or Vazquez - Castro - Julien - Paddack - Henriquez - Miranda - Matthews ……..just to name a few. Need a BAT at Catcher or 1B or both!!

Personally, I’m fine with not making any OF moves outside the organization. Castro, if not traded, can play LF & CF as needed….Larnach - Buxton/Keirsey - Wallner - Martin are fine with me while Emma gets more ready and Jenkins is a possibility for ‘26.

[Jeff K]

On 12/2/2024 at 5:23 PM, Rod Carews Birthday said:

Agreed.  The reality is that none of us really knows the plan at this point.  It is certainly conceivable that some of Paddack, Vasquez, Castro are dealt at some point, but people sometimes wait for the free agent market to set the prices before they do that.  It is also conceivable (we have the prospect capital) that the Twins trade some prospects either separately or with the above mentioned players for something that the team could really use -- RH bat, LH arm, Catcher.  If I have learned anything watching the front office over the past few years, it's that they are anything but predictable.  They trade/acquire/sign when you least expect it and they do nothing when you most expect it. 

I too think that the team isn't in bad shape as it stands.  Of the players who are definitely leaving at this point, who are we really going to miss?  Maybe Carlos Santana, but that's probably it.  Most of the players are on the "up" sides of their career curve, so we should be able to expect some improved performances from some of them.  I would like them to acquire some additional talent that can have an immediate impact, but I'm not going to cry if they don't. 

I think you are spot on it.  Paddack and Castro are the most likely to be traded.