2026 team building through via trade question

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, The Great Hambino said:

Even if both those IFs are addressed, which are far from guarantees - if you're counting on internal starter prospects to be that competent bullpen, then it's not gonna happen this season as it's going to take time to sort out the rotation and games in April count in the standings as much as games in September - then you still have to address the lack of quality at the top of the lineup.

What you're suggesting I think would require a level of investment that I don't see them making. 

"Short-term pain" 

"I expect Ryan and Lopez to be in the rotation.  Well, that's my hope"

"Limited partners that share Pohlad family values"

Etc

The tea leaves have not been encouraging

Still want to see how everything plays out no?

[The Great Hambino]

Just now, Cory Engelhardt said:

Still want to see how everything plays out no?

No, I'm not sure if I want to see how everything is gonna play out.  That's my fear

(I know what you mean)

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 minute ago, The Great Hambino said:

No, I'm not sure if I want to see how everything is gonna play out.  That's my fear

(I know what you mean)

I just mean, I have a hard time really figuring out this offseason and what it'll look like. But it is also really hard for me to expect who will be traded or who will be signed or not until there is any clarity. But I have a hard time getting too worked up over anything too much until actual moves are made.

[The Great Hambino]

2 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I just mean, I have a hard time really figuring out this offseason and what it'll look like. But it is also really hard for me to expect who will be traded or who will be signed or not until there is any clarity. But I have a hard time getting too worked up over anything too much until actual moves are made.

We're all just projecting right now.  That's sort of the point of this hot stove stretch of the year.  I just think the ease and speed with which the bullpen rebuild will take gets pretty overstated pretty consistently.  And that's a huge consideration in determining how feasible a quick return to competitiveness is going to be, which ultimately should be what determines the path they take going forward. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

Just now, The Great Hambino said:

We're all just projecting right now.  That's sort of the point of this hot stove stretch of the year.  I just think the ease and speed with which the bullpen rebuild will take gets pretty overstated pretty consistently.  And that's a huge consideration in determining how feasible a quick return to competitiveness is going to be, which ultimately should be what determines the path they take going forward. 

I agree. But let's say they do sign a couple of major league free agents (say 1 year 5 million each) and they trade Larnach for an arm. Then, if they do move Festa to the pen, that's quite a lot of additions that should help without a ton of moves. But have to make the right moves.

[The Great Hambino]

Just now, Cory Engelhardt said:

I agree. But let's say they do sign a couple of major league free agents (say 1 year 5 million each) and they trade Larnach for an arm. Then, if they do move Festa to the pen, that's quite a lot of additions that should help without a ton of moves. But have to make the right moves.

I think the likeliest outcome from that is you've successfully built the middle-to-bottom half of a good 'pen.  Your'e asking to win a lot of coin flips for that to result in legitimate high-leverage weapons at the expense of maximizing your return value on your starters.  And at a bare minimum, you'd have to trust at least three of those acquisitions in high leverage.  It's certainly not impossible.  But even if you do hit on those, you still have to hit on a lot of internal development elsewhere in the lineup and the back half of the rotation.  Stack all that together, and it starts to become wishful thinking to me given their recent track record.  

To be fair, I'm of the belief that the starting pitchers will have more trade value in this offseason than they will at the next trade deadline for multiple reasons.  If I'm overstating that discrepancy, then maybe it is worth it to give it a go for next year and pivot at the trade deadline if necessary.  But I'm also not interested in letting Ryan and Lopez walk for a comp pick for the chance at maybe sorta kinda having a shot at backing into the last wild card spot.  I want to see them be legitimately competitive

[Linus]

Changes on the margin will not make this team competitive. If they are going  to try next year (which I don’t think is likely) they would have to trade Ryan and successfully add two - three athletic impact bats, sign multiple free agent relievers and get a proven MLB SS. In other words, this is a fools errand.