The Twins Could Look Completely Different After the Trade Deadline

[karcherd]

I would say don't trade anyone except maybe for Jeffers.  The reason is do we trust this front office to make the right choices and decisions of who to trade.  What is the vision of the organization, do they value athletic players, sluggers, defense, strong baseball IQ any of the above.  The only trait I can see they value is versatility so they can platoon everyone, but what has that gotten us but sub .500 ball since 2020.

Our infield has no one playing at the same position as opening day on a regular basis.  Have Lee, Keaschall or Lewis regressed defensively from the end of last season. They made assessments over the offseason and said these three were going to play the infield, but halfway thru the season that has changed.  That seems like either a very poor assessment or a knee jerk reaction with no real planning to change this much only halfway thru the season.  And they have also had Keaschall take grounders at first.  It feels like they are just throwing slop at the wall and see what sticks.

Yes Lewis needed a reset for his offense which is not unique in baseball, even Hunter and Buxton were sent down a couple of times.  But should this have meant a position change.  Yes Keaschall's defense has been rough but it did seem to be better next to Kreidler, would stability and a better defender next to him help.  As for Lee, he didn't move for Culpepper who is not up here and who knows when he will be but instead they trot out Gray on a regular basis who is similar if not less defensively than Lee at short.  And remember they signed Bell to play 1B not DH, those were Falvey's words.  Based on all reports he favored a collaborative approach so I have to believe there are still people advising Zoll and maybe Zoll himself that believed Bell could play 1B that are still in this organization and will be helping make the decisions at the deadline.  Fortunately they finally figured out what the rest of baseball already knew, Bell is unplayable at 1B.

Some have mentioned Lewis as a trade candidate, that to me would be a real indictment of this front office.  One of the first people Shelton visited in person not on the phone after being named manager was Lewis.  I have to believe this was part of the interview process discussing the core players and who to build around.  That would tell me Lewis was near the top of the list.  And they are having a jersey day for Lewis, this was planned in the offseason between baseball operations and marketing.  It shows they valued Lewis as one of their core players.  Yes he needed a reset but he has come back and has been producing.  So a half season after identifying him as a core piece you say no he's not let's trade him.  If I am Tom P.  I would look at Zoll and seriously question his process and decision making abilities if he tried to trade Lewis.  At the end of the season you could review this.  Yes he needs to learn to layoff the low outside sweeper just like Buxton.  And I know many don't like his eye black but that is not a reason to get rid of him.

If last year's deadline is an example of their moves, I would like to see more of a vision.  They traded for two more LH outfielders that were semi major league ready when we already had two similar players slated at some point in 2026.  They did at least fill a void in the lower minor leagues for a catching prospect.  And did get one starting pitcher, maybe two.  I want to see a vision not just more prospects to say we have more prospects.

So if you want to trade Clemens, Bell or one of the veteran relievers for a low A player, fine it at least clears roster space if you can find a taker.  But otherwise don't let this management put us further behind.

End of rant.

 

[JD-TWINS]

17 hours ago, MikeNC said:

Trying to inject some realism here.  Jeffers is a UFA at end of season, Twins won’t pay him, yes trade him.  Joe Ryan is a UFA after 2027 season, so keep for 1 more year unless someone offers a boatload, then yes trade him (pay attention, Joe absolutely wants out).  Love Clemens, but he is 30, and baby daddy wants him in prime time, I’m thinking he’ll ask out at some point, and we have young guys to bring up.  Larnach is 4th from the bottom of MLB of worst defense in LF, and cannot hit lefties.  Yes trade him, we can do better.  Wallner probably has little value, everyone needs to see if he is really a MLB player.  Keaschall dead last defensively at 2B, and it is hurting them.  Where to put him?  And where to play Lewis. Both have too much potential upside to let go for cheap now it seems.  Byron is awesome when healthy, but he gets hurt - every season.  His trade value likely will never be better than right now, and next week he might be hurt again.  Hate to say it but if he wants to play in a Series he should go.

Truly a long shot…….but as FO/Owners, I consider taking $7M being paid to Caratini (trade him at deadline) and the $5/6M Jeffers currently makes & add $4M………extend for 3 years at $16.5M (a bunch for a catcher that’s barely OK on defense) Worth a shot! …… Depth at Catcher would be Jackson & youth.

There’s no payback, IMO, that is better than what Larnach & Clemens bring to the table. What “Major League ready player” does Team get that’s better than Larnach, for Larnach?? Clemens can play 4-5 positions and makes the minimum …… he’s learned to hit over last 12 months ….. why trade that & for what return?

Martin is still mediocre ……. inclusive of defense, Keaschall is looking to be, not much different in value to Martin. Neither are important pieces going forward. Both energetic and seem to have potential, but potential unrealized sucks.

IMO, Lewis has found a home at 1B and could “potentially” thrive there! 😉

[Major League Ready]

11 hours ago, GNess said:

Yes, trading away current assets at the MLB level for prospects who might be productive MLB players is what teams do. The success rate of. doing this is spotty and often leads to multiple losing seasons.

Do you have any data to support this assertion?  Having heard this often, I collected the acquisition method of every player over 1.5 WAR for every single 90-win team with below average revenue for the past 25 years.  It's not universally true that those teams had a major influence from prospects acquired in trade.  However, on average prospects acquired in trade contributed as much as prospects that were drafted and those two categories combined accounted for 80-90% of WAR for the most successful organizations.   

It's an assumption of many that trading current MLB players for prospects diminishes the chances of building a playoff team.  History suggests the opposite.  Trading for established players has by far the smallest role in building a winning team among organizations with below average revenue.

[bean5302]

8 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

Do you have any data to support this assertion?  Having heard this often, I collected the acquisition method of every player over 1.5 WAR for every single 90-win team with below average revenue for the past 25 years.  It's not universally true that those teams had a major influence from prospects acquired in trade.  However, on average prospects acquired in trade contributed as much as prospects that were drafted and those two categories combined accounted for 80-90% of WAR for the most successful organizations.   

It's an assumption of many that trading current MLB players for prospects diminishes the chances of building a playoff team.  History suggests the opposite.  Trading for established players has by far the smallest role in building a winning team where organizations with below average revenue is concerned.

Almost every single non-huge market team in the World Series the past decade had a tear down a rebuild a few years prior to their first appearance. It's non-optional. It's REQUIRED for a small or mid market team.

Small and mid-market teams cannot sustain World Series viability without a purge of their players who are coming out of cost control. Those arb 3 and free agent players are boat anchors.

26 guys on the roster.

$3MM average = $79MM
$4MM average = $104MM
$5MM average = $130MM
$6MM average = $156MM
$7MM average = $182MM
$8MM average = $208MM

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, karcherd said:

The cash considerations were just guys put on the waiver wire and we jumped the line by giving cash considerations.  So maybe technically correct but not in spirit.

No, that's not how it works.  Once a player is on the waiver wire they can't be taken off. The cash considerations were to persuade the other team not to do it.

[karcherd]

5 minutes ago, ashbury said:

No, that's not how it works.  Once a player is on the waiver wire they can't be taken off. The cash considerations were to persuade the other team not to do it.

Technically these players were designated for assignment and then we agreed to give cash considerations to skip the waiver wire hierarchy.  Bottom line these players were deemed no longer necessary to be on their former teams 40 man roster and the Twins made a move ahead of other teams to claim those players.

[tony&rodney]

Designating a player for assignment and placing a player on waivers are two separate actions. If one wants to know the difference, just look it up. There is a clear easy to understand explanation.

[JBK]

Trade Bell, Larnach and Wallner.  Release Banda.  Bring up the young fellas and let them ride.

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, karcherd said:

Technically these players were designated for assignment and then we agreed to give cash considerations to skip the waiver wire hierarchy.  Bottom line these players were deemed no longer necessary to be on their former teams 40 man roster and the Twins made a move ahead of other teams to claim those players.

So we're in agreement, no pitcher on the 40-man was claimed on waivers.  Which is what I said but you wanted to play gotcha or something.

As I went on to say in a followup post, IMO this is actually worse than waiver wire pickups.  We know this franchise is perpetually strapped for resources.  That they spend any resources at all on these marginal guys means they are not devoting those same resources to something more productive.  The fact that an occasional pickup seems to work out for a while has to be weighed against the bad results on the field while sifting through. 

They're trying to find the pony in the pile.

[DocBauer]

There will be some who agree with my opinion and some who don't. And that's OK.

I would prefer TP put his $ where his mouth is and start to expand the payroll, beginning with his own team. The team is better overall having Jeffers on it. I'd love an extensuon but don't expect one this close to FA. So he's probably traded. If he goes to a larger market team, he's not really a rental as they'd have the $ to just offer him a solid extension. So if they really like him. The payback to the Twins might be decent.

Ryan should also be offered a fair extension option. Why wouldn't you at least try to keep a #1 caliber, All Star starter? If he says no, I still don't know if I trade him. He could be very valuable to the 2027 Twins, could still be moved at the 2027 deadline...though the return would be less...or even kept all season and then offered a QO to at least bring back a draft pick.

While I understand the opinions of others regarding a nice return for Ryan, I'm not sure that he necessarily brings back what is needed or hoped for in a deal. By that I mean a playoff contender isn't going to offer up players on their ML roster for him. NOBODY is trading a young, talented, controllable SP currently on their roster to acquire Ryan. They still need that arm, and other players on their roster to compete.

So we'd be getting prospects back, not immediate, PROVEN help. Now, is it possible 1 or 2 of the returning players are top 100 and sitting at AAA or AA and close to making a difference or debut? Absolutely. That's why I'm not totally out on trading Ryan. But I'd sure like to have him for 2027, if not beyond.

And speaking of prospects, or acquiring more, is there something wrong with playing ours first? K-Pepper should be up in a couple of weeks to take over SS and let Kreidler be the SU option on the team. While Rodriguez won't be ready until August, he's out of options after this season, is a top 100 prospect in his own right, and we've seen the type of potential he has.

Meanwhile, Rojas is back and raking at St Paul, joined by Jenkins, off to a good start on his return as well. Gonzalez has actually been doing pretty well after a poor April. And Mendez looks to be an absolutely pure hitter. Oh, and Keaschall is really, basically a rookie and we're still not 100% sure where he fits going forward. (Opinions will vary). 

So where do we put/play everyone? I'm not saying there aren't other good prospects available. But are we certain they would be better than our current prospects?

Boy do I like an opening day 2027 rotation of Lopez, Ryan,  Bradley, Abel, Prielipp, and Matthews. And that doesn't even include Ober, still under control, as a 7th option if his velocity comes back, or he can continue to be successful throwing "old school".

How does an OF or Rodriguez, Buxton, and Jenkins sound? Probably Gonzalez as a corner OF/1B/DH option as well? I don't see room for both of Roden AND Wentz, but what a nice "problem" that would be.

Yes, the bullpen still needs to be figured out. But much like the OF, the rest of the season is for the development of Morris, Rojas, CJ Culpepper, and possibly Raya and Klein. Maybe Festa still makes it back at some point? Maybe Cory Lewis gets moved to the Saints bullpen and gets some 2nd half work with the Twins? 

Plus, there is still FA in the upcoming offseason, and might Jeffers, Larnach, and Bell possibly bring back an interesting pen option or two?

I think the team is better keeping Ryan, moving/removing various parts that don't fit long term, and get the prospects as much time as possible to get their feet wet, begin their careers, and get as much experience for 2027 as possible.

[1985Fan]

Minor trades to improve the BP if they win series in the next 2-3 weeks. Major trades if they lose series and fall further below .500. Either way, this roster needs help. 
As an earlier poster stated, can Falvey acolyte Zoll be trusted to make the right trades? He’s the decision maker about who to trade and what players to get back. They need defense and athleticism to be competitive long term. We’ll find out if they think they have the prospects now to step up and contribute or if they need to go get those players. From what Favey sold us for years, the prospect pipeline is loaded. That hype hasn’t borne fruit yet, but will the next wave pan out? I have my doubts based on the poor player development I’ve seen. 

[GNess]

3 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Do you have any data to support this assertion?  Having heard this often, I collected the acquisition method of every player over 1.5 WAR for every single 90-win team with below average revenue for the past 25 years.  It's not universally true that those teams had a major influence from prospects acquired in trade.  However, on average prospects acquired in trade contributed as much as prospects that were drafted and those two categories combined accounted for 80-90% of WAR for the most successful organizations.   

It's an assumption of many that trading current MLB players for prospects diminishes the chances of building a playoff team.  History suggests the opposite.  Trading for established players has by far the smallest role in building a winning team among organizations with below average revenue.

Yes, but it is anecdotal such as the Marlins trading away Miguel Cabrera for a host of prospects that never really worked out, the same for Yelich to the Brewers and some would argue the Twins did not get enough for Johan Santana. Of course there are examples of the reverse occurring.

Your point though is understood.

[Danchat]

5 hours ago, GopherMike said:

Larnach has a 126 wRC+ and a .377 OBP and has been one of the actual stabilizers in the lineup. He is not Bell. He is not a short-term dead-end rental. He is useful now, and the Twins are not overflowing with proven MLB corner bats.

The “too many young corner outfielders knocking on the door” argument sounds good, until you remember one of those is Wallner, who is obviously very risky, and the rest are guys who have yet to prove anything at the major league level. 

Larnach has been great no doubt, but if these prospects never get called up they can never prove anything at the major league level. If the organization does not believe in them, they need to trade several of these guys. There's no point to holding onto these prospects if they're not going to use them, may as well cash them in for something. Heck, I wouldn't complain if Rodriguez/Roden/Gonzalez/Mendez got flipped (as part of a package) for a major league player who can help in 2027/2028. That would be better than the alternative of watching said OF prospect continue to sit in AAA for 2026 and 2027 not helping the major league team. 

[tony&rodney]

23 minutes ago, GNess said:

Marlins trading away Miguel Cabrera for a host of prospects that never really worked out,

Mike Rabelo was in that trade and he is doing good work now for the Twins.

[The Great Hambino]

I actually think it's more likely that the roster looks depressingly similar after the trade deadline.

Ownership is pot-committed to the idea that this team is competitive.  Furthermore, as demonstrated in Tom's offseason comments, they operate under the midguided notion that maintaining the status quo constitutes doing something for the fans.  So as long as they're close enough to a playoff spot to feign contention, they're not selling off anything meaningful.  They think keeping Ryan around will drive increased attendance, even though that doesn't make any sense.  If they already weren't drawing a crowd with him on the team, why would simply keeping him drive any meaningful change?  This was the thought process behind holding onto their most valuable trade chips in the offseason (keeping Lopez/Ryan/Jeffers/et. al. constituted "doing something for the fans"), and I don't see why they would change their thinking now.

They're also not going to be willing to pay the price necessary to make meaningful changes to the roster in a positive direction (it's looking to be an extreme sellers market if the entire AL can convince themselves they're contenders).  This is a franchise that has made nothing but incredibly marginal additions at trade deadlines even when they are legitimately contending, with the exception of the disastrous 2022 deadline.  And now, they're less than a season away from some potentially game-changing rules in the CBA that could make actual contention more realistic (read: less expensive) from their POV.  If they weren't willing to make any sort of investment at the beginning of the season, I don't know why they would now. 

So they can't sell without ditching their narrative, and they won't be willing to buy.  That's the recipe for a holding pattern.  

It's not what I want to see happen, but it's where I think we're headed.  They might flip a low-rated prospect for a marginal rental reliever so they can say they "tried", but not much of anything beyond that. 

As noted philosopher Marlo Stanfield once said: "You want it to be one way ... but it's the other way."

 

[JADBP]

22 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Me and others have said this for many months. This season was already decided on July 31, 2025 when they decimated the bullpen. The roster needs to be turned over because a bad bullpen and bad defense won’t win squat. 

I’ve been waiting for this organization to turn it over to the next wave of prospects. As soon as Culpepper is healthy get him up here. Walker Jenkins and Alan Roden. 

The Twins have no choice but to keep picking up waiver wire relievers and rolling the dice on them. I’d just prefer they’re under 28 with an option or 3 left. 

The Twins most certainly have options other than picking up waiver wire relief pitchers.  Instead of bringing up all these  cast-off loser RPs (like nearly every one has been so far!), here are some not-so-novel ideas:

1) Bring up some AAA pitchers!!!!  That has worked out pretty well in the past.

2) deal for some actually good RPs

3) spend some F’in money already!!!!

[JADBP]

2 hours ago, DocBauer said:

There will be some who agree with my opinion and some who don't. And that's OK.

I would prefer TP put his $ where his mouth is and start to expand the payroll, beginning with his own team. The team is better overall having Jeffers on it. I'd love an extensuon but don't expect one this close to FA. So he's probably traded. If he goes to a larger market team, he's not really a rental as they'd have the $ to just offer him a solid extension. So if they really like him. The payback to the Twins might be decent.

Ryan should also be offered a fair extension option. Why wouldn't you at least try to keep a #1 caliber, All Star starter? If he says no, I still don't know if I trade him. He could be very valuable to the 2027 Twins, could still be moved at the 2027 deadline...though the return would be less...or even kept all season and then offered a QO to at least bring back a draft pick.

While I understand the opinions of others regarding a nice return for Ryan, I'm not sure that he necessarily brings back what is needed or hoped for in a deal. By that I mean a playoff contender isn't going to offer up players on their ML roster for him. NOBODY is trading a young, talented, controllable SP currently on their roster to acquire Ryan. They still need that arm, and other players on their roster to compete.

So we'd be getting prospects back, not immediate, PROVEN help. Now, is it possible 1 or 2 of the returning players are top 100 and sitting at AAA or AA and close to making a difference or debut? Absolutely. That's why I'm not totally out on trading Ryan. But I'd sure like to have him for 2027, if not beyond.

And speaking of prospects, or acquiring more, is there something wrong with playing ours first? K-Pepper should be up in a couple of weeks to take over SS and let Kreidler be the SU option on the team. While Rodriguez won't be ready until August, he's out of options after this season, is a top 100 prospect in his own right, and we've seen the type of potential he has.

Meanwhile, Rojas is back and raking at St Paul, joined by Jenkins, off to a good start on his return as well. Gonzalez has actually been doing pretty well after a poor April. And Mendez looks to be an absolutely pure hitter. Oh, and Keaschall is really, basically a rookie and we're still not 100% sure where he fits going forward. (Opinions will vary). 

So where do we put/play everyone? I'm not saying there aren't other good prospects available. But are we certain they would be better than our current prospects?

Boy do I like an opening day 2027 rotation of Lopez, Ryan,  Bradley, Abel, Prielipp, and Matthews. And that doesn't even include Ober, still under control, as a 7th option if his velocity comes back, or he can continue to be successful throwing "old school".

How does an OF or Rodriguez, Buxton, and Jenkins sound? Probably Gonzalez as a corner OF/1B/DH option as well? I don't see room for both of Roden AND Wentz, but what a nice "problem" that would be.

Yes, the bullpen still needs to be figured out. But much like the OF, the rest of the season is for the development of Morris, Rojas, CJ Culpepper, and possibly Raya and Klein. Maybe Festa still makes it back at some point? Maybe Cory Lewis gets moved to the Saints bullpen and gets some 2nd half work with the Twins? 

Plus, there is still FA in the upcoming offseason, and might Jeffers, Larnach, and Bell possibly bring back an interesting pen option or two?

I think the team is better keeping Ryan, moving/removing various parts that don't fit long term, and get the prospects as much time as possible to get their feet wet, begin their careers, and get as much experience for 2027 as possible.

Lots here.  Sure we have made some good progress this year is holding players accountable and have seen positive signs (e.g. Lewis and Lee).  But this is NOT a competitive team and we cannot make it one with all of these moves.  I agree, bring up the young OFers!  NOW!  And move some of these SPs to the bullpen.  
 

But Ryan COULD return a top AAA rookie or two.  He’s that valuable.  And:  I highly doubt that te Twins will be able to sign an extension with him. He wants and deserved Ace $$ and TP won’t pay it.  He’s gonna prob hold out for $15-20 mill in arb!  He’s not stupid. And we might not even play ball next year so why hang on to him for a few months?  All we get is a comp pick, if that still exists!  So might as well capitalize on him now.  Sorry. We need to build for the future so that means either extend or trade.  He won’t extend so trade now.  Sorry.  Start filling holes (1B, RP, etc). I also assume we get a top SS or C in the draft.  

[ashbury]

5 hours ago, Major League Ready said:

Do you have any data to support this assertion?  Having heard this often, I collected the acquisition method of every player over 1.5 WAR for every single 90-win team with below average revenue for the past 25 years.  It's not universally true that those teams had a major influence from prospects acquired in trade.  However, on average prospects acquired in trade contributed as much as prospects that were drafted

Connecting the two clauses I highlighted, don't you think there is at least a teensy risk that statistical bias was introduced?

[GopherMike]

4 hours ago, Danchat said:

Larnach has been great no doubt, but if these prospects never get called up they can never prove anything at the major league level. If the organization does not believe in them, they need to trade several of these guys. There's no point to holding onto these prospects if they're not going to use them, may as well cash them in for something. Heck, I wouldn't complain if Rodriguez/Roden/Gonzalez/Mendez got flipped (as part of a package) for a major league player who can help in 2027/2028. That would be better than the alternative of watching said OF prospect continue to sit in AAA for 2026 and 2027 not helping the major league team. 

I agree with the general concern. At some point, the Twins cannot just keep collecting upper-minors corner bats and never give them MLB opportunities. If they don’t believe in all of their guys they should absolutely trade from that group for pitching or a major-league piece who fits 2027–2028.

Where I disagree is making Larnach the automatic casualty and/or that we should force a trade for someone who is valuable now to create space for someone who may or may not be valuable. Trade Bell. That will free up one spot alone. Trade Jeffers and you've basically got two.

Also, the prospects are not all in the same bucket. Roden looks ready. Mendez is interesting. Wallner has already struggled badly in MLB this year. Gonzalez is not forcing it yet. Jenkins should not be rushed. E-Rod is hurt. So “the prospects need a chance” is true, but it does not automatically mean “trade the proven productive left fielder.”

But don't treat Larnach like he's a clog. He's not. Bell is the clog. 

[Vanimal46]

4 hours ago, The Great Hambino said:

I actually think it's more likely that the roster looks depressingly similar after the trade deadline.

Ownership is pot-committed to the idea that this team is competitive.  Furthermore, as demonstrated in Tom's offseason comments, they operate under the midguided notion that maintaining the status quo constitutes doing something for the fans.  So as long as they're close enough to a playoff spot to feign contention, they're not selling off anything meaningful.  They think keeping Ryan around will drive increased attendance, even though that doesn't make any sense.  If they already weren't drawing a crowd with him on the team, why would simply keeping him drive any meaningful change?  This was the thought process behind holding onto their most valuable trade chips in the offseason (keeping Lopez/Ryan/Jeffers/et. al. constituted "doing something for the fans"), and I don't see why they would change their thinking now.

They're also not going to be willing to pay the price necessary to make meaningful changes to the roster in a positive direction (it's looking to be an extreme sellers market if the entire AL can convince themselves they're contenders).  This is a franchise that has made nothing but incredibly marginal additions at trade deadlines even when they are legitimately contending, with the exception of the disastrous 2022 deadline.  And now, they're less than a season away from some potentially game-changing rules in the CBA that could make actual contention more realistic (read: less expensive) from their POV.  If they weren't willing to make any sort of investment at the beginning of the season, I don't know why they would now. 

So they can't sell without ditching their narrative, and they won't be willing to buy.  That's the recipe for a holding pattern.  

It's not what I want to see happen, but it's where I think we're headed.  They might flip a low-rated prospect for a marginal rental reliever so they can say they "tried", but not much of anything beyond that. 

As noted philosopher Marlo Stanfield once said: "You want it to be one way ... but it's the other way."

 

Sounds like we’re about to go full Arte Moreno. And teams should never go full Arte Moreno. 

[DocBauer]

4 hours ago, JADBP said:

Lots here.  Sure we have made some good progress this year is holding players accountable and have seen positive signs (e.g. Lewis and Lee).  But this is NOT a competitive team and we cannot make it one with all of these moves.  I agree, bring up the young OFers!  NOW!  And move some of these SPs to the bullpen.  
 

But Ryan COULD return a top AAA rookie or two.  He’s that valuable.  And:  I highly doubt that te Twins will be able to sign an extension with him. He wants and deserved Ace $$ and TP won’t pay it.  He’s gonna prob hold out for $15-20 mill in arb!  He’s not stupid. And we might not even play ball next year so why hang on to him for a few months?  All we get is a comp pick, if that still exists!  So might as well capitalize on him now.  Sorry. We need to build for the future so that means either extend or trade.  He won’t extend so trade now.  Sorry.  Start filling holes (1B, RP, etc). I also assume we get a top SS or C in the draft.  

I don't necessarily disagree with you. I think I stated they SHOULD resign Ryan, but I'm open to the idea of trading him. I just don't LIKE the idea. 

I'm TIRED of the idea that "we're not quite there". But of you DON'T once in a while KEEP a TOP player, how do you EVER actually GET THERE?

Look, if someone offered another TOP SP like Abel, and a TOP Catcher or 2B and another "Varland type" of arm that's ready for a full BP conversion, I could be IN 100%.

Maybe we extend Lopez instead of Ryan as the leader of the staff. I could see that happening. 

Again, I'm not OPPOSED to trading Ryan. But I'd rather keep him as a Twin for the next 4 years. I think that makes more sense than looking for the next Ryan. But you give us the next Abel...which I really dispute a contending team would do...and a TOP CATCHER or 2B, and throw in a 23-25yo ARM who has real talent but is Varland Jr just converting, or ready to convert, my mind can change in a hurry.

That's 2 top 100 prospects ready to debut, and a 3rd who might be the next Varland. Another team offers THAT, I'm on board for a trade.

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Sounds like we’re about to go full Arte Moreno. And teams should never go full Arte Moreno. 

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, GopherMike said:

Where I disagree is making Larnach the automatic casualty and/or that we should force a trade for someone who is valuable now to create space for someone who may or may not be valuable. Trade Bell. That will free up one spot alone. Trade Jeffers and you've basically got two.

Trading Larnach should rely on whether they will buy his final season of arbitration, if that's going to be too expensive for them then it's better to trade him at the deadline than let him hit the open market and get nothing for him. 

[Major League Ready]

7 hours ago, ashbury said:

Connecting the two clauses I highlighted, don't you think there is at least a teensy risk that statistical bias was introduced?

You will have to elaborate.  What statistical bias would be present by using a data set comprised of the highest WAR players or in this case generally the 10-12 highest producing players.   I was looking to identify how the highest producing players were acquired.  How could that result in statistical bias. Where is the issue with how the study was structured? If you want to conclude it's all about development, OK but the fact remains the majority of production does not come from free agency or trading for established players for the most successful modest revenue teams.

[dxpavelka]

On 6/27/2026 at 12:59 PM, MMBoys93 said:

14-23 vs teams better than .500, good for 24th in baseball, 13th in the AL and worst among the division.

Comes out to a 61-101 pace against winning baseball teams.

Aggressively buying would be a giant mistake. Hope the Pohlad’s don’t force that because they finally realized they made a giant mistake 3 years ago by dropping payroll by 30m.

Trade expiring contracts like Jeffers and Bell

Trade Clemens and Larnach

Jeffers hasn’t played in weeks and the Twins can replace the other 3 internally without losing much offensive ability.

If they play decent baseball before the deadline, they can add 2-3 cheap expiring contract decent relievers and you’ll still come out ahead on the farm system while giving a chance at a wild card spot allowing everyone to be happy. 

That 61-101 pace thing seems irrational since I have it on good authority that they are highly unlikely to only play winning teams this or any other year.

[dxpavelka]

Buxton no.  I'd find a way to keep Jeffers.  Might involve spending money.  Ryan HELL NO.