Tom Pohlad Said "Go Big or Go Home." Now He Needs to Actually Choose.

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, clone52 said:

I could see packaging Jeffers with Marek Houston for a higher end SP prospect.  Houston alone wouldn't be a 1 for 1 swap for a guy like Hess or Lagrange, but Jeffers + Houston might.

Yuck. Keep Houston. 

[clone52]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Yuck. Keep Houston. 

Fair, only tossed him out there thinking it was kind of a depth piece.  If you could pair Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Mendez, Winokur with Jeffers for the right SP prospect, I'd be fine with that too.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Makes more sense to trade from our OF surplus than a middle infielder but I'm with you. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, clone52 said:

Fair, only tossed him out there thinking it was kind of a depth piece.  If you could pair Emmanuel Rodriguez, Gabriel Gonzalez, Mendez, Winokur with Jeffers for the right SP prospect, I'd be fine with that too.

Sure, I'm willing to add any OF not named Jenkins. But I can't recall teams doing that?

[KirbyDome89]

3 hours ago, amjgt said:

I'm an engineer, so I love to be able to put numbers to things. I love analytics and the have no problem with cold hard soulless decisions that sometimes come out of looking at data in an unbiased way.

BUT...

I also think it's important to acknowledge that cold hard soulless decisions have secondary impacts. And while we often have a difficult time putting numbers to those secondary impacts, that doesn't mean they don't exist. The perceived benefits of those decisions need to be weighed against the potential negative impacts those decisions create. 

Player morale. Fan morale. 2026 attendance. Future attendance. Franchise value. All of those things are in play and need to at least be considered.

The difficult thing for us here on this discussion board is that we have ZERO idea what's being offered. We can't make informed pro-con opinion on moves that are or aren't made, because we often don't know what the "pro" might have been. 

I'm not going to say something as condescending as "I'm surprised that needs to be said," but.... well.... you get it.

You're allowed to want the Twins to hang onto Jeffers, Ryan, et al for purely emotional reasons, but let's at least concede that doing so, i.e. devaluing assets, to chase a .500 record is a high risk/low reward move short term, and an objectively terrible decision in the long term. Again, you don't have to like it, but if you're going to try to argue that pursing the status quo isn't harmful, pointing out the damage it has already done isn't condescension. 

We don't need to know the exact details of offers, that's the micro. The direction of the franchise (the macro) is what's being discussed. 

[TL]

19 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

No one is giving up a top fifty prospect for Jeffers. That's an insane ask. A comp pick isn't even likely to be top 100...

Maybe, maybe not. But then we get Jeffers for a pennant chase and a borderline top 100 prospect (which seems to be all anybody thinks he’s worth anyway). I’m fine with that. 

[MGX]

15 hours ago, KirbyDome89 said:

You're allowed to want the Twins to hang onto Jeffers, Ryan, et al for purely emotional reasons, but let's at least concede that doing so, i.e. devaluing assets, to chase a .500 record is a high risk/low reward move short term, and an objectively terrible decision in the long term. Again, you don't have to like it, but if you're going to try to argue that pursing the status quo isn't harmful, pointing out the damage it has already done isn't condescension. 

We don't need to know the exact details of offers, that's the micro. The direction of the franchise (the macro) is what's being discussed. 

If the return for Jeffers isn't going to be much, which seems to be the sentiment in this thread then how can it be a terrible decision to hang onto him. Even if they hang onto him & don't offer a QO all we've lost is a flyer on an A ball lottery ticket that hardly qualifies as a terrible decision.

On the other hand if the Twins feel they can get some real value from the Rays, Yankees or anyone else who may be interested then I think they will move him. Of course we're on the outside so the only way we're likely to know about any offer is if he is traded. FWIW, I think he will be traded.

On your point - micro VS macro I'd say it's more damaging to accept low ball offers on valued players like Jeffers than to miss out on another lottery ticket.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy following prospects, but also understand they're just that, prospects, until they prove otherwise. Especially, prospects who haven't reached AA. Ryan Jeffers is a proven, very successful MLB player. In his career, including the good, bad & other he's averaged 3 WAR/162 at Catcher. That's a good player & the Twins should demand good value in return even in a season where he's on an expiring contract.

[LA Vikes Fan]

Quick question. Is a thread here where can exchange trade ideas? I'm sure most of them will be laughable since none of us know what we're talking about, but I do think it would be fun and a lot of people would engage. Moderators, is that something you can set up ? I can do it if you tell me how to get on the home page so people can see it. . 

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, TL said:

Maybe, maybe not. But then we get Jeffers for a pennant chase and a borderline top 100 prospect (which seems to be all anybody thinks he’s worth anyway). I’m fine with that. 

See my post above....a comp pick is not even in the top 200..... She you aren't guaranteed even the highest of those picks. 

[Mike Sixel]

3 hours ago, MGX said:

If the return for Jeffers isn't going to be much, which seems to be the sentiment in this thread then how can it be a terrible decision to hang onto him. Even if they hang onto him & don't offer a QO all we've lost is a flyer on an A ball lottery ticket that hardly qualifies as a terrible decision.

On the other hand if the Twins feel they can get some real value from the Rays, Yankees or anyone else who may be interested then I think they will move him. Of course we're on the outside so the only way we're likely to know about any offer is if he is traded. FWIW, I think he will be traded.

On your point - micro VS macro I'd say it's more damaging to accept low ball offers on valued players like Jeffers than to miss out on another lottery ticket.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy following prospects, but also understand they're just that, prospects, until they prove otherwise. Especially, prospects who haven't reached AA. Ryan Jeffers is a proven, very successful MLB player. In his career, including the good, bad & other he's averaged 3 WAR/162 at Catcher. That's a good player & the Twins should demand good value in return even in a season where he's on an expiring contract.

Zero people are saying it's not much. 

[LA Vikes Fan]

By the way, I'll start with a trade scenario. We need BP help, but it's expensive for unreliable guys and unpredictable results. Plus, our surplus is quality OFs that are worth more than a BP pitcher unless we're getting a dependable closer. I think we can vastly improve the bullpen if we trade for a Starting Pitcher and move Prielipp into the BP along with Ober replacing Paredes who also goes to the BP. Why Preilipp? Because his innings have to be managed coming off injury and he'll be shut down before the end of the season. Moving him to the BP gets him through the season and gives us a valuable BP arm, even a late inning arm. The Dodgers have done this a bunch of times with Sasaki, Maeda, Stripling, Sheehan, even Glasnow. We did it successfully a couple of years ago with The Sheriff. The Angels appear willing to trade controllable starting pitching for young, controllable quality hitting.  

With that in mind, here's my proposal:

Emma for Reid Detmers or Jose Soriano of the Angels. Alternatively, Emma and either Wallner or Ross for Detmers (or Soriano) and Sam Bachman or Kirby Yates. 

Why Emma? Because he's worth a lot, like a quality SP with 2.5 years of control left like Soriano or Detmers, and we have a glut of LH hitting OFs. I realize that Emma is out of options after this year, has been hurt a lot and hasn't seen the MLB field yet, so his value is down a little and we might have to sweeten the pot just to get Detmers or Soriano . We are going to have to keep or DFA Emma next season and we haven't even had the chance to see if he can hit MLB pitching. He's also fallen behind Jenkins, Roden, and probably Mendez in the LH hitting OF hierarchy for the reasons his value is a little down. Conversely, the Angels need hitters bad, can be patient while he develops, and Soriano's and Detmers 2.5 year controllable timeline ends before they are likely to be relevant while our guys 6 year clock hasn't even started yet. I l think it's a win/win short and medium term for us, longer term for them. What do you think? 

[TL]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

See my post above....a comp pick is not even in the top 200..... She you aren't guaranteed even the highest of those picks. 

At least 1/3 of comp A picks end up on a top 100 list or its fringes at some point. You’d probably end up with a Charlie Soto type. But McGonigle was a comp pick too so…

[MGX]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

See my post above....a comp pick is not even in the top 200..... She you aren't guaranteed even the highest of those picks. 

Do you have a way to show this?

[Mike Sixel]

5 minutes ago, MGX said:

Do you have a way to show this?

It was answered in a chat with fangraphs prospect guy....

[MGX]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Zero people are saying it's not much. 

The Yankees system considered pretty weak currently & it's top heavy. After the top 6 prospects I'd rather have a comp pick. Do you think the Yankees would offer any of - Lombard Jr, Kilby, Rodriguez, Lagrange, Hess or Jones. If we can get one of those 6 then it may be worth it. Outside of that I think the Twins are better off keeping Jeffers for the reasons stated in my previous posts. The Rays have a better system overall than the Yankees so that offers more possibilities. It still always comes down to what do you get in return.

[MGX]

4 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

It was answered in a chat with fangraphs prospect guy....

I'm curious as to how they arrived at that idea considering there have been comp picks that ended up in the top 100.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, MGX said:

I'm curious as to how they arrived at that idea considering there have been comp picks that ended up in the top 100.

There are always exceptions.....I just quoted them. You'd have to ask them? 

I agree with your previous post, it comes down to what you are offered.... But there is no way they offer a QO to a catcher. Imo. That's a pipe dream. 

[DJL44]

21 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Oh, yes, totally agree.

But if the Twins sit around a wait all winter and the CBA forces them to spend money, then they'll have to give Mullins and Garver 20M each because they're the only guys left to pay.

Not really. They could give extensions to Royce Lewis and Taj Bradley and front-load the money.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

Not really. They could give extensions to Royce Lewis and Taj Bradley and front-load the money.

I hope they don't extend Lewis. But I understand I'm likely in the minority on that. 

[TL]

Comp A picks last 5 years. 2022 and 2023 look pretty good considering MLB draft is a crapshoot. Too early to tell on most recent 2 years. Of course I’d prefer a player who has demonstrated ability in the minors already, but then again I’d also prefer keeping Jeffers for the stretch. 

[DJL44]

41 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I hope they don't extend Lewis. But I understand I'm likely in the minority on that. 

Better than giving the money to washed up free agents.

[KirbyDome89]

8 hours ago, MGX said:

If the return for Jeffers isn't going to be much, which seems to be the sentiment in this thread then how can it be a terrible decision to hang onto him. Even if they hang onto him & don't offer a QO all we've lost is a flyer on an A ball lottery ticket that hardly qualifies as a terrible decision.

On the other hand if the Twins feel they can get some real value from the Rays, Yankees or anyone else who may be interested then I think they will move him. Of course we're on the outside so the only way we're likely to know about any offer is if he is traded. FWIW, I think he will be traded.

On your point - micro VS macro I'd say it's more damaging to accept low ball offers on valued players like Jeffers than to miss out on another lottery ticket.

Don't get me wrong I enjoy following prospects, but also understand they're just that, prospects, until they prove otherwise. Especially, prospects who haven't reached AA. Ryan Jeffers is a proven, very successful MLB player. In his career, including the good, bad & other he's averaged 3 WAR/162 at Catcher. That's a good player & the Twins should demand good value in return even in a season where he's on an expiring contract.

Yeah the return won't be a lottery ticket. Idk where that idea is coming from, seems kinda Strawman-esque. 

Offering a QO to a 30 year old catcher in general isn't a great decision. Jeffers isn't a particularly good defender, and his offensive production has been good by C standards but it falls dramatically if you're going to plug him in at DH. Teams are regularly starting black holes at the C position, so there will be demand at the deadline, but his (Jeffers) profile isn't one I'm overpaying for on a QO, especially for a team that's pretending to be cash strapped.  

[Cory Engelhardt]

6 hours ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Quick question. Is a thread here where can exchange trade ideas? I'm sure most of them will be laughable since none of us know what we're talking about, but I do think it would be fun and a lot of people would engage. Moderators, is that something you can set up ? I can do it if you tell me how to get on the home page so people can see it. . 

I like this idea. I don't want to volunteer to start it, but I like it.

With that, I had a dream last night that Tom did go back, while also showing all that he 100% isn't Joe and is trying to fix what he called a mistake. With that, the Twins received Sonny Gray and Aroldis Chapman in a deal with Boston. In the dream Emma did go back to Boston, but as I am awake I don't know that they would want him. Tom did say that letting Gray go was a mistake, and Gray would certainly be a good fit next to Ryan which also allows Prielipp's innings to be better monitored. And for everything Chapman has been off the field, he still would certainly help at end of games.

I know I know, this deal probably wouldn't happen. But in a baseball sense it makes sense, and it certainly happened when I was dreaming last night. :)

Jenkins and Culpepper are both staying. Houston probably too, depending on if Roch is there at 3 or not. Otherwise I kind of hope they are actually open to adding. The worst thing in my opinion would be doing nothing at the deadline. 

 

Thoughts?

[Twinsrtheworst]

On 7/7/2026 at 4:20 PM, Woof Bronzer said:

Tell ya what.  You choose what kind of fan you want to be, and everyone else will choose for themselves what kind of fans they want to be.  That ok with you?

Sorry my realistic optimism angered you. Was I replying to you Woof? But since you addressed me. Let me ask is this your only name on here, WoofBonzer? Curious. But that’s the point Woof, if you think being a fan means calling for a boycott of the boys on our team. That is in no way a definition of the word fan. You and a lot of the moderators have an agenda. An agenda to convince fans to not show up for these boys on our team. Allow US fans to enjoy what this team is going to accomplish this season. Are all Minnesota fans so downtrodden as yourself? I’m honestly curious. 

[Twinsrtheworst]

On 7/7/2026 at 2:06 PM, nicksaviking said:

In this case wouldn't the 'sheep' be the fans that bought into the hallow and clearly false narrative that the Pohlad's were serious about making an effort this year while at the same time slashing payroll by 30M?

I am a huge fan and always will be, and at the same time I don't like what the Twins are doing. I also love my kids and when they make bad or selfish choices, I let them hear about it too.

And I 100% support playing the kids. From DAY ONE they should have said this is a rebuild year as they're not in a position to truly compete. But we can still get enjoyment from watching the next generation of young players develop and bond. But nope, had to try to put fans in the seats instead by selling them on a fabrication about 2026 championships so instead of Culpepper, E-Rod and Jenkins, we got Gray, Outman and Bell. And as it turns out, nobody bought it and nobody showed up to the stadium. AND now with each young player that gets called up, more and more fans have already tuned out for the season. So no, no rose colored glasses here, the team is reaping what they sowed.

If you follow the Ywins, I believe you do. You know due to injuries and other factors Emma, Jenkins, and Culpepper havnt pushed that decision, yet. Many of the kids have been called up. Did you see Rosen for example last night? Morris, Raya, others. If there goal was to put fans into the seats, they would called them up before they were ready. So your assumption carries no water. As far as fans, not showing up and tuning out. Yes you may have and others have tuned out for years now. Do you think any team we could have put together would be favorites over the Dodgers? That being said, I honestly expect a good run to the division title this season and a first round win. Not a championship, but a climb up the latter this season compared to last. Talking to the players, They won’t say it publicly but, they love playing in front of fans. The Twins have out performed your pre season expectations. Don’t they deserve credit for that?