MLB Trade Rumors on how teams have addressed their weakest positions

[DJL44]

Quote

Twins (Right field, -0.3 bWAR): While right field was Minnesota’s worst position, shortstop wasn’t far ahead at -0.2 bWAR, as the Twins got less from the shortstop position than any other team in baseball.  Third base was also a problem area with 0.0 bWAR, but the hope is that Royce Lewis can finally stay healthy enough to deliver something close to a full season in 2026.  After trading away large chunks of their roster at the trade deadline, the Twins have stopped short of a full rebuild, so they could be looking to add to some degree for next season even if their adds will surely be of the lower-cost variety.  Minnesota might add a veteran utility infield type for depth purposes, but the team surely wants to view Lewis, Luke Keaschall at second base, and Brooks Lee at shortstop plenty of runway to (hopefully) establish themselves as true building blocks.  For right field, top prospect Walker Jenkins figures to make his MLB debut in 2026, so the Twins might again stick with Matt Wallner and/or Trevor Larnach until Jenkins arrives.

Ouch. The Twins have multiple "worst positions" to worry about and so far they haven't addressed any of them. There is some hope that Royce Lewis and Matt Wallner can each hit better than last season, If Wallner struggles, there are several options in AAA.

I am most worried about SS where Ryan Kreidler (career WAR -0.7) is apparently their improvement plan. I would love to see the Twins sign Isaiah Kiner-Falefa to fill that hole. He's not perfect, but he's a 3 WAR upgrade on Ryan Kreidler. They will not make the postseason if they get "less from the shortstop position than any other team in baseball".

[DJL44]

SS was also a weak spot for the Tigers. I have seen both the Twins and the Tigers mentioned as possible destinations for Isaiah Kiner-Falefa

[Major League Ready]

3 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Ouch. The Twins have multiple "worst positions" to worry about and so far they haven't addressed any of them. There is some hope that Royce Lewis and Matt Wallner can each hit better than last season, If Wallner struggles, there are several options in AAA.

I am most worried about SS where Ryan Kreidler (career WAR -0.7) is apparently their improvement plan. I would love to see the Twins sign Isaiah Kiner-Falefa to fill that hole. He's not perfect, but he's a 3 WAR upgrade on Ryan Kreidler. They will not make the postseason if they get "less from the shortstop position than any other team in baseball".

I am not sure I follow.  IKF would not be replacing Kreidler.  He would replace Lee who produced .3 WAR last year and IKF produced .7.   We sure have low aspirations when signing a less than 1 WAR player is considered a positive.  We know if the sign a guy like IKF, they will play him instead of getting Culpepper up who might actually be a solution to the problem.    

[bean5302]

Isiah Kiner-Falfa. Why does his name even come up let alone at the ridiciulous rate I see? He's not a legitimate starting baseball player.

He can't hit. Like at all. The defensive metrics are all over the place amplified by SSS multiplication which are just floating fake value.

He's fine as an insurance policy utility infielder, but that's not a need for the club.

[DJL44]

32 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I am not sure I follow.  IKF would not be replacing Kreidler.  He would replace Lee who produced .3 WAR last year and IKF produced .7.   We sure have low aspirations when signing a less than 1 WAR player is considered a positive.  We know if the sign a guy like IKF, they will play him instead of getting Culpepper up who might actually be a solution to the problem.    

IKF replaces Lee to add 1 WAR. Lee takes the bench role instead of Kreidler which adds 1 WAR.

It's not a good argument that they shouldn't replace bad players with okay players because they'll deploy the okay players instead of the talented young players. That's an argument that they need to replace the people in charge with a competent front office.

Culpepper hasn't even seen AAA. I don't think he figures into their 2026 plans at all. They'll either give Kreidler 400 plate appearances or give I K-F 400 PAs. Which would you prefer?

[bean5302]

The Twins' weakest position is probably shortstop and they've seemingly addressed it by pretending Brooks Lee might be able to cover the position.

[bean5302]

Just now, DJL44 said:

IKF replaces Lee to add 1 WAR. Lee takes the bench role instead of Kreidler which adds 1 WAR.

It's not a good argument that they shouldn't replace bad players with okay players because they'll deploy the okay players instead of the talented young players. That's an argument that they need to replace the people in charge with a competent front office.

Culpepper hasn't even seen AAA. I don't think he figures into their 2026 plans at all. They'll either give Kreidler 400 plate appearances or give I K-F 400 PAs. Which would you prefer?

No he doesn't. IKF can't cover SS and they hit the same. Put IKF at SS and you'll see 0 WAR. Put Lee at SS and you'll see... 0 WAR.

[DJL44]

2 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

Isiah Kiner-Falfa. Why does his name even come up let alone at the ridiciulous rate I see? He's not a legitimate starting baseball player.

He can't hit. Like at all. The defensive metrics are all over the place amplified by SSS multiplication which are just floating fake value.

He's fine as an insurance policy utility infielder, but that's not a need for the club.

It comes up because they won't pay for a good free agent SS and they won't trade for an established SS. It's basically the only option that fits their budget and their desire to "contend" in 2026.

This team got the least production out of SS in all of baseball in 2025. They've subtracted Carlos Correa and added Ryan Kreidler. They could be once-in-a-decade bad at SS in 2026.

[DJL44]

4 minutes ago, bean5302 said:

The Twins' weakest position is probably shortstop and they've seemingly addressed it by pretending Brooks Lee might be able to cover the position.

They've also acquired a horrible player to back up their pretend SS.

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

IKF replaces Lee to add 1 WAR. Lee takes the bench role instead of Kreidler which adds 1 WAR.

It's not a good argument that they shouldn't replace bad players with okay players because they'll deploy the okay players instead of the talented young players. That's an argument that they need to replace the people in charge with a competent front office.

Culpepper hasn't even seen AAA. I don't think he figures into their 2026 plans at all. They'll either give Kreidler 400 plate appearances or give I K-F 400 PAs. Which would you prefer?

If your goal is to win 75 games, then IKF or players like him are a good solution.  I would like to see them do something that is not destined for mediocrity.

[tony&rodney]

2 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

I would like to see them do something that is not destined for mediocrity.

Like reverse the Correa trade and other late July trades. Nah .... Most of TD liked those moves. So, it is time to sign Bo Bichette. Tom P. said something about big.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

4 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

If your goal is to win 75 games, then IKF or players like him are a good solution.  I would like to see them do something that is not destined for mediocrity.

75 wins is a lofty goal for this motley crew. This team was 70-92 last year, and it was a MUCH better team in the first half. I’d love to see a mediocre team in 26.

[bean5302]

I think the state of the Twins for opening day will say a lot about Tom Pohlad's trustworthyness. This team, as it's currently constructed, looks very much like a team built on half measures. Exactly what Tom said he wouldn't do.

[old nurse]

3 players had bad years last year. 2 are talked like the team needs to move on from them and the other is viewed as saintly,  although he never played for the Saints 

[Major League Ready]

12 hours ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

75 wins is a lofty goal for this motley crew. This team was 70-92 last year, and it was a MUCH better team in the first half. I’d love to see a mediocre team in 26.

I agree completely and didn't mean to suggest IKF makes this a 75-win team.  Filling our holes with players like IKF and Bell and RPs of a similar stature might get you to 75 wins.  So, if that's the goal, signing this type of player might get you there.  

[Richie the Rally Goat]

2 hours ago, old nurse said:

3 players had bad years last year. 2 are talked like the team needs to move on from them and the other is viewed as saintly,  although he never played for the Saints 

Hmmm. Who is who?

I think Lee is a decent utility guy. I’d love for the Twins to acquire an upgrade.

Royce has had two tremendous half seasons, I think it’s worth finding out if that’s real.

Wallner has a couple seasons of being a very good hitter, but his first full season in RF he looked exposed as a fielding liability and possibly his hitting suffered as a result. Maybe he rebounds as a hitter? Maybe he’s a DH? I’m skeptical he’ll ever field well but has shown enough hit to overcome that, if there’s a good fielder in the other corner. Maybe he’s a better LF in the smaller part of the park?

[Parfigliano]

21 hours ago, DJL44 said:

IKF replaces Lee to add 1 WAR. Lee takes the bench role instead of Kreidler which adds 1 WAR.

It's not a good argument that they shouldn't replace bad players with okay players because they'll deploy the okay players instead of the talented young players. That's an argument that they need to replace the people in charge with a competent front office.

Culpepper hasn't even seen AAA. I don't think he figures into their 2026 plans at all. They'll either give Kreidler 400 plate appearances or give I K-F 400 PAs. Which would you prefer?

I vote neither.