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

[clone52]

On 7/8/2026 at 10:57 AM, LA Vikes Fan said:

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? 

Agree with dangling Rodriguez.  Detmers or Soriano will take more than him but it'd be a good start.

No guarentee Prielepp or Paredes is a good reliver, but its worth a shot.

[clone52]

On 7/8/2026 at 1:06 PM, MGX said:

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.

Jeffers + more for one of those Top 6 if you like them enough.  Trading Jeffers doesn't mean it has to be only Jeffers.

[Vanimal46]

Yep. Make a significant investment in the team, and the people will come. The next iteration of the Pohlad family gets a little bit better at media relations. We have unfortunately had this carrot dangled in front of us for the entirety of the Pohlad's ownership.

[Mike Sixel]

4 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Yep. Make a significant investment in the team, and the people will come. The next iteration of the Pohlad family gets a little bit better at media relations. We have unfortunately had this carrot dangled in front of us for the entirety of the Pohlad's ownership.

actions > words.

[Scott51104]

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

I have read with interest as some other clubs (KC and CWS for example) have been signing young players to longer contracts prior to the necessity of doing so. I think (but cannot prove) that this would send a message to fans that ownership is prepared to take chances to improve the team. I would support the Twins extending a pitcher and non-pitcher (or more). Bradley sounds good. I would offer Mendez, but I must recuse myself as the founder of the "Why Don't They Play Him at First" foundation (501(c3) pending.)

[clone52]

Could Lackey make Tait a trade chip?  Would consider it for a good SP with control.  How about Tait for Soriano from the Angels as the start of a package?  2.5 years of control.  Tait+ for Soriano and Yates?  I would do something like that.

How about Gabriel Gonzalez for Freddy Peralta with the Mets.  Mets traded Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat for a full year, so a guy like Gonzalez may get it done.

Wonder what it would take to get rental RP Senzatela from the Rockies?

Saw a proposed dodgers trade for Trevor Rogers.  Paredes and Billy Amick would be similar.  Worth a family reunion?

[clone52]

3 hours ago, Scott51104 said:

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

I have read with interest as some other clubs (KC and CWS for example) have been signing young players to longer contracts prior to the necessity of doing so. I think (but cannot prove) that this would send a message to fans that ownership is prepared to take chances to improve the team. I would support the Twins extending a pitcher and non-pitcher (or more). Bradley sounds good. I would offer Mendez, but I must recuse myself as the founder of the "Why Don't They Play Him at First" foundation (501(c3) pending.)

Not sure who Royces agent is but his value is hopefully at a low point.  As a Twins fan, I say sign an sweetheart deal.  As his agent I say build back the value.

[Cory Engelhardt]

On 7/12/2026 at 6:43 AM, clone52 said:

Could Lackey make Tait a trade chip?  Would consider it for a good SP with control.  How about Tait for Soriano from the Angels as the start of a package?  2.5 years of control.  Tait+ for Soriano and Yates?  I would do something like that.

How about Gabriel Gonzalez for Freddy Peralta with the Mets.  Mets traded Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat for a full year, so a guy like Gonzalez may get it done.

Wonder what it would take to get rental RP Senzatela from the Rockies?

Saw a proposed dodgers trade for Trevor Rogers.  Paredes and Billy Amick would be similar.  Worth a family reunion?

Soriano had a really great start to the year. Since May, or even since April 28, he has an era north of 5. 

I don't know that Tait will be a catcher long term, but I'm not itching to trade him either. He doesn't even turn 20 until the end of August. Hopefully he gets fully confident at high A and then maybe finishes the year as a barely turned 20 year old at AA.

[amjgt]

On 7/10/2026 at 12:17 PM, Twinsrtheworst said:

I wasn’t speaking to you Woof. But you have my attention. Multiple times you have called me out for being a fan of the Twins. You go be who you want, Facts are the Twins could win the Wotkf Series and you’d stiff complain. No need for your power trip.

I hope the irony of "Twinsrtheworst" calling out someone for being too negative isn't lost on people.

[Twinsrtheworst]

4 hours ago, amjgt said:

I hope the irony of "Twinsrtheworst" calling out someone for being too negative isn't lost on people.

It was changed to this, as a joke to others like the person I was answering for calling the 2026 Twins the worst of all time.time. I usually answer absurdity with sarcasm.

[amjgt]

Sarcasm works. Because it’s usually topical sarcasm. 

Sarcasm as a user name doesn’t, because the impetus behind the sarcasm usually gets quickly lost to time. And in this case, a constant flow of new users of this website that only know you as “twinsrtheworst”

[ashbury]

47 minutes ago, Twinsrtheworst said:

I usually answer absurdity with sarcasm.

The reverse also sometimes works.

[thelanges5]

On 7/10/2026 at 10:21 PM, Mike Sixel said:

actions > words.

Gotta spend money to make money. 

[Vanimal46]

On 7/11/2026 at 1:44 PM, clone52 said:

Not sure who Royces agent is

I’ll give you 1 guess and I bet you can name him. 

[wesnewy]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’ll give you 1 guess and I bet you can name him. 

Super agent Scott Boras has ruined the way contract negotiations have gone in the MLB, in my opinion, especially since 2020.

[Mike Sixel]

12 minutes ago, wesnewy said:

Super agent Scott Boras has ruined the way contract negotiations have gone in the MLB, in my opinion, especially since 2020.

By getting his clients the most money? 

[Cory Engelhardt]

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

By getting his clients the most money? 

He did just get the Brewers to sign Cooper Pratt to a long extension before he was even called up. That's one of, if not, the most recent contracts his agency has helped with, and that contract is for 8 years/50 million. Pratt may never be a star, but he wanted a long term deal and his agency helped make that happen.

Not saying they are exactly equal. But I don't think Royce would need Bobby Witt Jr. money either. 

At the end of the day, isn't an agent's job to make the player they represent as happy and secure as possible?

[Cory Engelhardt]

One idea I just had while daydreaming; IF Toronto does fall out of it, what are the chances that BOTH Kevin Gausman and Jeff Hoffman could be part of a deal centered around Emmanuel Rodriguez? Toronto, IF they sell, certainly would want young talent back. And Rodriguez is out of options after this year, so even with massive power potential and a good eye at the plate, along with the ability to play center, he does have a lengthy injury history that any team would have to figure out. 

Not saying EXACTLY that would be the deal. But this one FEELS like a type of move that 1) would show that Tom Pohlad is serious, 2) would add good players to 2 different spots that are needs, and 3) be a pretty massive gamble trading someone with Rodriguez's ability for a rental in Gausman and a reliever who is only signed through 2027.

Hypothetically this deal would help 2026, but it would be a pretty massive risk with a top 75 global prospect with pretty major injury concerns in his history.

Hate it? Love it?

[amjgt]

13 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

By getting his clients the most money? 

My view on Boras is that he has longer term goals/objectives. He's willing to take a couple Ls with the long term goal of increasing all free agent contract values. That strategy sometimes ignores (or hurts) individual players' earning opportunity and from a small/mid market fan perspective it sometimes feels like we're at the whims of Scott. 

Overall, is that a bad thing? Nope. And he has a large and successful enough client list that even if there are some bad results along the way, he can point to the Juan Sotos and Corbin Burneses of the world as contract success stories. 

[Twinsrtheworst]

On 7/13/2026 at 5:51 PM, amjgt said:

Sarcasm works. Because it’s usually topical sarcasm. 

Sarcasm as a user name doesn’t, because the impetus behind the sarcasm usually gets quickly lost to time. And in this case, a constant flow of new users of this website that only know you as “twinsrtheworst”

Ok, next time I use sarcasm,, I will run it by you. I want to make sure I only use it to what works best to you. PS: That was sarcasm does it fit your usage standards? Good grief. It’s just a name, just because it’s over your head, no need to be the sarcasm police. Were you a hall monitor I bet

[amjgt]

OK. I'll mark you down as "not open to feedback" 

Your hall pass is revoked. Get back to class or I'll report you to the office. 

[ashbury]

On 7/16/2026 at 10:28 AM, amjgt said:

OK. I'll mark you down as "not open to feedback" 

Your hall pass is revoked. Get back to class or I'll report you to the office. 

How's the rating for "Plays Well With Others"?

[amjgt]

49 minutes ago, ashbury said:

How's the rating for "Plays Well With Others"?

playswellwithothersistheworst

[ashbury]

1 minute ago, amjgt said:

playswellwithothersistheworst

Careful.  We're verging into Satire now, not Sarcasm.

[LA Vikes Fan]

On 7/13/2026 at 9:06 PM, Cory Engelhardt said:

One idea I just had while daydreaming; IF Toronto does fall out of it, what are the chances that BOTH Kevin Gausman and Jeff Hoffman could be part of a deal centered around Emmanuel Rodriguez? Toronto, IF they sell, certainly would want young talent back. And Rodriguez is out of options after this year, so even with massive power potential and a good eye at the plate, along with the ability to play center, he does have a lengthy injury history that any team would have to figure out. 

Not saying EXACTLY that would be the deal. But this one FEELS like a type of move that 1) would show that Tom Pohlad is serious, 2) would add good players to 2 different spots that are needs, and 3) be a pretty massive gamble trading someone with Rodriguez's ability for a rental in Gausman and a reliever who is only signed through 2027.

Hypothetically this deal would help 2026, but it would be a pretty massive risk with a top 75 global prospect with pretty major injury concerns in his history.

Hate it? Love it?

Like the concept, not sure I want Hoffman. By the way, chances are pretty good that Emma will be granted a 4th year of options if he plays less than 90 days hits year. Here's betting that his injury takes long enough to heal that he plays less than 90 days.

I'd like to use Emma to headline a package to the Angels for Detmers and either Bachman or Yates. We'll have to include more, say someone at the Mendez or Young level, and probably a Ben Ross or Sam Armstrong level guy. I would do it. 

[Cory Engelhardt]

1 hour ago, LA Vikes Fan said:

Like the concept, not sure I want Hoffman. By the way, chances are pretty good that Emma will be granted a 4th year of options if he plays less than 90 days hits year. Here's betting that his injury takes long enough to heal that he plays less than 90 days.

I'd like to use Emma to headline a package to the Angels for Detmers and either Bachman or Yates. We'll have to include more, say someone at the Mendez or Young level, and probably a Ben Ross or Sam Armstrong level guy. I would do it. 

Detmers doesn't really do it for me, but I get what you are saying. I know he has team control and all, but I'm not as much in love with him. That said, if they like him, I support the coaching.