The Minnesota Twins Are Active In the Trade Market

[tony&rodney]

4 minutes ago, Sam Morley said:

I think if the twins could get torkelson for one of Julien, Miranda, or walner it would be a steal. We’ve seen real power from torkelson at the big league level, and though he hasn’t hit for avg yet, his hit tool grade is pretty good. Get him out of that park and a fresh start. There are types of trades I understand not wanting to do within the division, but I don’t see what the objection to this one would be. 

The problem is that one of the two teams (or both) may be reluctant to face a guy they gave up on too soon. It is just how MLB works. I mean there should be times when these trades are made. This may be a perfect example but the hesitancy is still there even if it seems counterproductive.

[Riverbrian]

10 hours ago, Sam Morley said:

think if the twins could get torkelson for one of Julien, Miranda, or walner it would be a steal

Groucho Marx said "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member". 

If the Tigers are willing to trade Torkelson to the Twins... you don't want him. 

Supposedly a 22 year old Colt Keith has replaced him as the primary 1st base dude.

Colt Keith only has one season of below average .689 OPS... hardly a known quantity.

Compared to Torkelson with a career .693 OPS and they give up. 

Torkelson hasn't reached arbitration yet at age 25... so he costs the minimum and he has an option remaining. 

In other words... they don't have to trade him. Trading him means they give up. Trading him to a division rival means they don't believe the Twins can fix him either.

Because if the Twins can fix him...  He'd be playing up to the potential of a 1ST OVERALL PICK IN THE DRAFT in their division. If the Twins can fix him... why can't the Tigers? 

You don't give up Wallner for that.  

 

 

[thelanges5]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Groucho Marx said "I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member". 

If the Tigers are willing to trade Torkelson to the Twins... you don't want him. 

Supposedly a 22 year old Colt Keith has replaced him as the primary 1st base dude.

Colt Keith only has one season of below average .689 OPS... hardly a known quantity.

Compared to Torkelson with a career .693 OPS and they give up. 

Torkelson hasn't reached arbitration yet at age 25... so he costs the minimum and he has an option remaining. 

In other words... they don't have to trade him. Trading him means they give up. Trading him to a division rival means they don't believe the Twins can fix him either.

Because if the Twins can fix him...  He'd be playing up to the potential of a 1ST OVERALL PICK IN THE DRAFT in their division. If the Twins can fix him... why can't the Tigers? 

You don't give up Wallner for that.  

 

 

Agreed - you leave Wallner’s name out of your mouth. 😁

[tony&rodney]

Not sure Tork is worth Julien either.

[Riverbrian]

8 hours ago, thelanges5 said:

Agreed - you leave Wallner’s name out of your mouth. 😁

Yeah... That would be trading someone who is getting something done for someone that you hope might get something done and is available because the team doesn't think he's going to get something done. 

[Sam Morley]

18 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Yeah... That would be trading someone who is getting something done for someone that you hope might get something done and is available because the team doesn't think he's going to get something done. 

 

On 1/29/2025 at 8:22 AM, thelanges5 said:

Agreed - you leave Wallner’s name out of your mouth. 😁

Hahaha. Man, I hesitated when I added Wallner to that list. I’ve been out of the mix at TD for a few years, but I had a hunch this was probably a Wallner crowd. I get why guys like him. Massive power and really nice ops. But isn’t his ops buoyed by being platooned? I’d guess he also feasts on league avg and worse pitching but isn’t doing much against anything quality. I mean he pretty much crumbled in his playoff showing in 2023.  

[tony&rodney]

16 minutes ago, Sam Morley said:

 

Hahaha. Man, I hesitated when I added Wallner to that list. I’ve been out of the mix at TD for a few years, but I had a hunch this was probably a Wallner crowd. I get why guys like him. Massive power and really nice ops. But isn’t his ops buoyed by being platooned? I’d guess he also feasts on league avg and worse pitching but isn’t doing much against anything quality. I mean he pretty much crumbled in his playoff showing in 2023.  

Wallner is a horse of a different color than the others you mentioned. The players are too different in multiple ways to discuss together.

[Riverbrian]

1 hour ago, Sam Morley said:

 

Hahaha. Man, I hesitated when I added Wallner to that list. I’ve been out of the mix at TD for a few years, but I had a hunch this was probably a Wallner crowd. I get why guys like him. Massive power and really nice ops. But isn’t his ops buoyed by being platooned? I’d guess he also feasts on league avg and worse pitching but isn’t doing much against anything quality. I mean he pretty much crumbled in his playoff showing in 2023.  

I believe that the left vs left split is real. So... Yeah... You are right... I believe that his OPS would come down a bit if he was ALLOWED to face left handed pitching. How much? 75% of pitching is right handed... so... not a lot... but yeah it would probably come down a bit. 

As far as feasting on league average or worse pitching? Someone can try to produce some stats to try and prove it... I'm not going to research it because I believe that all major league hitters will face similar percentages of league average or worse pitching. 

The 2023 Playoffs? He had 12 PA's. 0 Hits and 3 Walks. 

Freddie Freeman had 12 PA's. 1 Hit and 2 Walks in 2023. In 2022... Freddie Freeman had a post season OPS of 1.286 in 18 PA's. He was back to quite helpful last year.  

Michael Harris was terrible in 2023 and 5 for 8 last year. 

In 2023 - Marcus Semien struggled against the Astros and was a force to be reckoned with against the D-Backs. Tommy Pham was horrible against the Phillies and couldn't be stopped against the Rangers. Small Sample Size... Yadda Yadda. 

I'd personally hate to hang a guy over his first 12 playoff PA's. I'd personally hate to hang a guy over 12 PA's in April, May, June, July, August or September. 

[Linus]

On 1/29/2025 at 8:30 AM, tony&rodney said:

Not sure Tork is worth Julien either.

Ooooh….if they could get Tork for Julien they should do it in a New York minute.  Not happening though.

[tony&rodney]

1 hour ago, Linus said:

Ooooh….if they could get Tork for Julien they should do it in a New York minute.  Not happening though.

Well, last season both Lewis and Julien were pretty much worthless, but there was a season in 2023. I think Lewis can rebound to carve out a fair MLB career and it is possible for Julien too. 2023 and 2024 - tale of two seasons that highlight the hopes and fears of young players.

[Sam Morley]

On 1/30/2025 at 1:24 PM, Riverbrian said:

I believe that the left vs left split is real. So... Yeah... You are right... I believe that his OPS would come down a bit if he was ALLOWED to face left handed pitching. How much? 75% of pitching is right handed... so... not a lot... but yeah it would probably come down a bit. 

As far as feasting on league average or worse pitching? Someone can try to produce some stats to try and prove it... I'm not going to research it because I believe that all major league hitters will face similar percentages of league average or worse pitching. 

The 2023 Playoffs? He had 12 PA's. 0 Hits and 3 Walks. 

Freddie Freeman had 12 PA's. 1 Hit and 2 Walks in 2023. In 2022... Freddie Freeman had a post season OPS of 1.286 in 18 PA's. He was back to quite helpful last year.  

Michael Harris was terrible in 2023 and 5 for 8 last year. 

In 2023 - Marcus Semien struggled against the Astros and was a force to be reckoned with against the D-Backs. Tommy Pham was horrible against the Phillies and couldn't be stopped against the Rangers. Small Sample Size... Yadda Yadda. 

I'd personally hate to hang a guy over his first 12 playoff PA's. I'd personally hate to hang a guy over 12 PA's in April, May, June, July, August or September. 

Good points. I didn’t realize he went 0-12. Of course, 12 abs isn’t statistically significant. I just also remember thinking he was overmatched, not just unlucky with his contact. 
 

But I should back up; I do think he is an asset. His strengths make him a worthy trade candidate, and his flaws make a parting less painful. 
 

while tork has gone through failure, he’s also had success (30+ hr season), his tool grades give reasonable reason to hope that his high ceiling is still attainable, he would fill a positional need, and isn’t a challenge for the budget. 

it wouldn’t bother me to lose Wallner for a chance at tork’s ceiling. 

 

 

[Sam Morley]

On 1/30/2025 at 11:55 AM, tony&rodney said:

Wallner is a horse of a different color than the others you mentioned. The players are too different in multiple ways to discuss together.

Why? his power separates him from them, but they are similar a handful of other ways. They are all pretty much one tool players. Wallner is power; Julien and Miranda are hit. They’re all pretty clunky defenders. 

[Riverbrian]

14 minutes ago, Sam Morley said:

Good points. I didn’t realize he went 0-12. Of course, 12 abs isn’t statistically significant. I just also remember thinking he was overmatched, not just unlucky with his contact. 
 

But I should back up; I do think he is an asset. His strengths make him a worthy trade candidate, and his flaws make a parting less painful. 
 

while tork has gone through failure, he’s also had success (30+ hr season), his tool grades give reasonable reason to hope that his high ceiling is still attainable, he would fill a positional need, and isn’t a challenge for the budget. 

it wouldn’t bother me to lose Wallner for a chance at tork’s ceiling. 

 

 

Don't get me wrong. He's making the minimum... I'd take him... maybe he turns into what he is supposed to turn into. Maybe he won't...

But, what I won't do... is trade a young player that has demonstrated some potential like Julien, Miranda or Wallner for him. 

 

[Riverbrian]

32 minutes ago, Sam Morley said:

Why? his power separates him from them, but they are similar a handful of other ways. They are all pretty much one tool players. Wallner is power; Julien and Miranda are hit. They’re all pretty clunky defenders. 

Wallner's arm is a pretty significant tool. It might be better than his power.  

[RpR]

5 hours ago, Riverbrian said:

Wallner's arm is a pretty significant tool. It might be better than his power.  

If his accuracy improves, greatly, maybe.

[Otaknam]

On 1/20/2025 at 6:32 PM, RpR said:

IF the Twins are actively looking at trades, they are looking too improve the team, not to make it a lackadasical bottom dweller.

If the Twins make a trade it isn’t a given that it is to improve the team. They have been in salary dump mode before, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they go that route again, especially to get rid of the ludicrous Vasquez contract. Hopefully, the FO isn’t mandated to trade Lopez because of his contract. 

[tony&rodney]

28 minutes ago, Otaknam said:

If the Twins make a trade it isn’t a given that it is to improve the team. They have been in salary dump mode before, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they go that route again, especially to get rid of the ludicrous Vasquez contract. Hopefully, the FO isn’t mandated to trade Lopez because of his contract. 

Worry not, the Twins are not even paying attention to the payroll at this point. The team is for sale. Unless something catastrophic happens (U.S. gov. implodes) the Pohlads are not paying salaries for the 2025 team. All decisions related to transactions of player personell are strictly according to Falvey's plans for the team.

[RpR]

4 hours ago, Otaknam said:

If the Twins make a trade it isn’t a given that it is to improve the team. They have been in salary dump mode before, and it wouldn’t surprise me if they go that route again, especially to get rid of the ludicrous Vasquez contract. Hopefully, the FO isn’t mandated to trade Lopez because of his contract. 

The Twins are losing game attendance, very important to the Front Office;  salary dump would hurt the bottom line even more.

They are not doing a salary dump.