Twins Trade Deadline Buying Guide: Dream Scenarios

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Andy MacPhail said:

Right you are, that's why I hesitated to state this. I'm most likely wrong (hope so), it was only a feeling that was probably should have been left unstated.

I hope I laid out reasons why the feeling ought to have been dismissed before even considering whether to state it.

45 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

You should be embarrassed. Seriously. Like, never post again embarrassed.

A relatively new member of the community, an apology ... I'm a little more charitably minded.

[Major League Ready]

On 7/21/2026 at 4:46 PM, LA Vikes Fan said:

When do you see that future realized? Next year, 2028, 2029 or later? That's the evaluative decision you have to make first. If you think that the current group augmented by 3–5 players could be a championship contender, keep most of what you have and try to find those 3-5 players by promoting from the farm or trades of expiring contracts for controllable talent. On the other hand, if you think the talent level of the current roster plus those in AAA leave us at least 4-5 years out, you trade away pretty much everything we have that has value. The phrase "trade veterans and build for the future and create young core" suggests that you think we are at least 3 and probably 4-5 years out from a championship contender, probably more. I reach that conclusion because any prospect we trade for is at least two years away from making a meaningful contribution on a championship team, probably three or more because they have to get their feet wet for a year, can make strides their second year, and then become real contributors in year three at whatever level their talent allows them to reach. Brooks Lee now in year 3 is a classic example. If you think we are that far out, then I would agree – be willing to trade everyone on the roster except Lee, Prielipp, Morris, Gomez, Matthews, and Keaschall, as they are the only current players who will still be real contributors three plus or more years from now. If we do that, then basically call up AAA roster and weed through those players as you add in any prospects acquired in trade this year and over the 2027 – 2029 seasons. Endure the losing and low attendance for the future hoped for gain. It's a viable strategy if you think were that far away, blow it up and start over.

I just don't agree because I think we are closer than that. We aren't a championship contender this year. The right moves, though, and we could be division championship contenders next year, and overall championship contenders by 2028. If you start there, which is where I start, I don't like your idea at all. All that does is push out possible contention even farther with no guarantee of success and eliminates the possibility of success from this core if properly augmented, something I see as possible. That's where we disagree I guess.

Yes, the downside of acknowledging a team does not have the talent to truly compete is it takes time to assemble the talent.  The downside of the strategy you are advocating is that it bets on a one-year window.  Most of our best hitters will be gone at the end of 2027.  Jeffers and Bell are gone at the end of this year and Larnach and Caratini will be gone after 2027.   That's 4 of our 5 most productive hitters.  Our two top SPs (Ryan and Lopez) are also gone after 2027.   I guess the question becomes how much talent that will be here for 5-7 years can you acquire in trade for the players that will be gone after 2027.  Are the same guys you are saying will take a while to contribute going to be the difference between the 500 team we have this year becoming a contender next year?  If not, why would you expect a team with the same players to become a contender?