Minnesota Twins' Surplus of Arms: Smart Depth Play or Missed Trade Opportunity?

[DJL44]

I'm not sure they will want to trade a starting pitcher. They'll need to get back a ton in return, since they can hold on to any of them, give a qualifying offer and get a draft pick. That's what they did with Sonny Gray.

I think the most interesting trade bait might be Jax and Duran. Relievers tend to get more expensive than they're worth quickly and they're never worth a QO. The Twins have some arms in the minors who might be able to take their place.

[tony&rodney]

19 hours ago, bean5302 said:

SWR making it as a starter in MLB is the same as saying Tyler Duffey made it as a starter in MLB.

You are a numbers guy. Why would use your apparent distain for a back of the rotation young pitcher to pull down any credibility you have with research? Nobody has argued (that I have seen) that Woods Richardson is a top or even mid rotation starting pitcher. He did however have a good year for the Twins last season and should earn some respect for his work. No pitcher in baseball can be guaranteed to put up numbers every year but a number of them do. Many others suffer injuries. Jacob DeGrom is fabulous when healthy, he makes huge money, and betting on him for a complete season is a non-thing. Thus is the fate of starting pitching. 

Tyler Duffey was touched up for 4 or more runs on 18 occasions during the 2016 season. He was hit hard, more hits than innings, 25 home runs in 133 innings, and a pile of stats that indicated he was ready to be a relief pitcher. Woods Richardson wasn't expected to do much but he started 28 games, gave up 4 or more runs 4 times, managed to keep the ball mostly off the barrel, less hits than innings pitched, 16 home runs in 133.2 innings pitched, and a pile of stats that suggest he is a legitimate starting pitcher. SWR was 23 last season and TD was 25 in 2016.

Perhaps you might have some success compiling a list of #5 starting pitchers who were 23 years old and threw more than 125 innings giving up fewer hits than innings pitched to show that Woods Richardson is not a good back end rotation pitcher. We already know that he or any other pitcher may not have a good year this year. But that can wait. Until then, we should accept that SWR had a fine year in 2024 and hope he is even better this year. Unless .... you just have something about Simeon similar to a few posters who believe all veterans are inherently far superior to any young players. 

[tony&rodney]

13 hours ago, TopGunn#22 said:

whoever that young guy tony&rodney always mentions in Seattle.  

Harry Ford is the young guy in the Seattle system. He was actually my fourth or fifth choice mostly as an add on in a larger trade with Seattle. The quest for adding a young catcher is difficult. Trades are risky and teams are often unwilling to even discuss their young catchers. A few guys who seem like possible targets would require an overpay. Jeferson Quero (Milwaukee - questions coming back from surgery), Kyle Teel (Boston - traded to CWS, no longer available), Endy Rodriguez (Pittsburgh - plays all over, questions at catcher), Harry Ford (Seattle - questions about catching), Dalton Rushing (LAD - price would exorbitant), Samuel Basallo (Baltimore - likely untouchable, questions about catching ability), Jimmy Crooks (St. Louis - questionable bat), and Drake Baldwin (Atlanta - likely untouchable) are a few of the young catchers to target. A couple may be totally untouchable but one never knows what happens when a #1-3 starting pitcher is a part of the conversation. It is also very likely that a team can successfully go along using a couple of veterans with strong skills behind the plate until the team develops a catcher. I had a thought that Milwaukee might be open to a trade if a player of high value such as Brooks Lee was offered and I was even willing to add something. That ship has sailed and right now the Twins will be looking to replicate the last two seasons with Jeffers and Vazquez. 

[Elliot]

“The Twins’ lineup is far from elite, lacking a true right-handed power threat …”.    ?????

Buxton, Correa, Lewis, Miranda, Jeffers

That is 50% of the lineup. I know durability is an issue, but who do you sit if you use your pitching wealth to acquire a high end RH bat and end up with a relatively healthy lineup?  Not ideal but this is reality for the team. 

[tony&rodney]

Why can't I think of a single high end bat that is available?

[Fatbat]

23 hours ago, Elliot said:

“The Twins’ lineup is far from elite, lacking a true right-handed power threat …”.    ?????

Buxton, Correa, Lewis, Miranda, Jeffers

That is 50% of the lineup. I know durability is an issue, but who do you sit if you use your pitching wealth to acquire a high end RH bat and end up with a relatively healthy lineup?  Not ideal but this is reality for the team. 

Then add in 2 switching contact hitters in Castro and Lee. I don’t understand the fascination with getting another RH bat.  LK could probably hold his own as soon as he debuts this season. There is also Kala’i Rosario if room develops on the 40 man.  Two young guys that are bat first and headed to the show. 

[MGM4706]

Twins philosophy is "Pitching is Paramount'? Amusing comment. Thanks for the laugh. They had one of the best 1-2 combos with Pedro and Gray and they let Gray walk for a few more dollars. Just like they did Santana. It's NEVER about pitching being paramount. It's ALWAYS about the payroll. Its obvious that one of those pitchers should have been traded for a top line first baseman. Now we are stuck with a patchwork group at first and at several other positions due to the Pohlad payroll restraints! Welcome back to Twins Territory and 3rd place at best!!

[Wellimam]

Sometimes I feel like the Twins' pitching "surplus" is more about having bodies than actual dependable MLB arms. Every year, we see a few guys make the jump and show flashes but then either struggle or get hurt, and we’re patching things up again midseason with AAA call-ups. It’s nice having rotation options, but in my mind that doesn’t really equal excess depth yet. I actually think it’s smarter to hold what arms we have and wait to see who sticks before trading anyone off, especially with how quickly injuries can flip the picture. If talking about value and market moves, every time I see someone talk about investing, trading, or new markets lately, I think of how folks generate token volume on raydium dex to pump activity, kind of like creating buzz before the real value is proven.