Offseason Status Update: Castellano Aboard, Casting a Net for Trades

[DJL44]

1 hour ago, LambchoP said:

Twins need to actually pick up the phone and initiate some trades. Waiting back and just hoping some team calls us with a good deal probably isn't going to happen. Waiting until the last minute when everyone has their teams pretty much set is pure stupidity. Every other day it seems we read about a new team acquiring a catcher. Why didn't we try to trade Vasquez to any of those teams?

You think the new general manager is completely incompetent and doesn't know how to use a phone?

[David Maro]

Just what team are you all talking about,not the Twins with Rocco as manager. His lineup moves are game to game and no one knows who's playing 2nd or 3rd. As of now who's on 1st as well,hopefully Correa will play 120+or SS will be a problem as well. You can't have good defense with a rotating infield. And saying it is a different game now is nonsense,yes the pitcher and hitter are on the the clock.  But it's still pitch the ball hit the ball catch the ball throw the ball. Last year the only Gold Glove was Santana at 1st for good reason his everyday play. 

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Doctor Gast said:

I consider core players as a combination of players who have proven themselves in '23 as valuable, foundational, leaders, and winners, who work well together. Those who are still with the Twins are Correa, Buxton, Lopez, Lewis, Ober, Ryan, Castro, Duran, Jax & Vazquez. IMO a winning formula If we trade any of them it'd greatly affect the continuity of the team.

Julien? Eddie had a better 2023 than Lewis and others on your list. Jeffers was the highest via WAR of the position players. I'm not going to suggest Julien versus Lewis but I was only looking at what are core position players. Correa and Buxton hold spots, largely via the nature of their contracts.

Teams are filling the edges of their rosters now. There are still some expensive free agents available but we don't expect the Twins to go big on dollars. Trades are the path forward to improve the team. It is possible, though, that the Twins feel their team is already complete making all thoughts and conversations of deals pointless.

I'm open to trading any player on the current roster if it potentially improves the team going forward.

[Doctor Gast]

8 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Are they talking to a team in South Korea? Dobnak doesn't belong in MLB and he probably isn't good enough to play in Japan.

Dobnak isn't very well-liked at TD. Twins is a very good pitching organization & they see value in keeping him. If he is absolutely not a MLB pitcher he'd be gone no matter what we owe him. I see very little hope for Dobnak here at MN. But there are many teams who are far worse, with until recently ROX has been the worst. IMO Dobnak is a fit there, maybe some SP, RP at the very least the same way the Twins have been using him.

There can be a book written filled with players who have been deemed unfit for MLB & even MiLB & come back & become credible MLBers with a team that takes a chance on them.

[Old Twins Hat]

8 hours ago, LambchoP said:

Twins need to actually pick up the phone and initiate some trades. Waiting back and just hoping some team calls us with a good deal probably isn't going to happen. Waiting until the last minute when everyone has their teams pretty much set is pure stupidity. Every other day it seems we read about a new team acquiring a catcher. Why didn't we try to trade Vasquez to any of those teams?

They landed a RH BP guy, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

Sounds like a winner, and should stabilize St. Paul pen.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

If  Castellano adds velo to his pitches, due to a move to the bullpen, that may free up Jax to start. Why no lefty relievers? Is this a new statistically based decision, or are the Twins just going  with what they already have ......which is ???

[dxpavelka]

13 hours ago, Fire Dan Gladden said:

You do realize you can insert any other Owner/GM in baseball in to those statements and they would be 100% accurate...

Careful.  You could be ostracized for a comment like thatl

[Fire Dan Gladden]

14 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Dobnak isn't very well-liked at TD. Twins is a very good pitching organization & they see value in keeping him. If he is absolutely not a MLB pitcher he'd be gone no matter what we owe him. I see very little hope for Dobnak here at MN. But there are many teams who are far worse, with until recently ROX has been the worst. IMO Dobnak is a fit there, maybe some SP, RP at the very least the same way the Twins have been using him.

There can be a book written filled with players who have been deemed unfit for MLB & even MiLB & come back & become credible MLBers with a team that takes a chance on them.

Seconded...

Here is an article about the volume and success of indy ball guys making the transition to affiliated.

https://tht.fangraphs.com/independent-league-to-affiliated-baseball-who-makes-the-move/