Tom Pohlad Commits to Higher Twins Payroll in 2027

[HarmonK03]

Clemens is not a replacement for Lewis yet.  If Lewis keeps up what he has done since he came back he needs to be the first baseman next year.  He has an OPS of .834 in the last 50 games, only Buxton and Jeffers are better.  Yes I know he needs to finish the year strong but let him play 1B and get comfortable and see how he does.

[clone52]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Just put Culpeper at 2nd and Houston at SS, move Clemens to first. There won't be many/any 1B better than Clemens available, imo.

They need a C and ace type pitcher. I'm not sure how they can possibly spend money there, unless they deal for an expensive one.

I am going to assume they aren't going to go get Skubal.  Not sure there is another Ace type available.  If several veterans that maybe would sign for 2-3 years at $20M AAV.  Probably some younger guys who could be had around that for a longer contract.  Could go the trade route, but that's where its going to hurt if you really like prospects.  If you could build a package around Tait, Rodriguez, maybe one of the guys who have made their MLB debut, or Rojas, Quick or Soto?

Could Tait, Rodriguez and Quick get you Hunter Greene if you thought he'd stay healthy?  Logan Webb?
Will the Marlins trade Alcantera (only 2027 left)
Could the Rays sell high on Rasmussen (only 2027 left)

list from yesterday
Tarik Skubal, Kevin Gausman, Freddy Peralta, Michael King (opt-out), Sandy Alcantara (club option), Shane Bieber, Corbin Burnes (opt-out), Brandon Woodruff, Tatsuya Imai (opt-out), Jack Flaherty, Sonny Gray (club option/player option), Clay Holmes (opt-out), Shota Imanaga, Robbie Ray, Nick Pivetta (opt-out), Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, Luis Severino (player option), Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Tyler Mahle, José Berríos (opt-out), Brady Singer, Zach Eflin (mutual option), Trevor Rogers, David Peterson, Matthew Boyd (mutual option), Taijuan Walker, Jameson Taillon, Jeffrey Springs (club option), Drew Rasmussen (club option), Casey Mize, Dustin May (mutual option), Nick Martinez (mutual option), Zack Littell (mutual option), Lucas Giolito (mutual option)

[clone52]

5 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

Clemens is not a replacement for Lewis yet.  If Lewis keeps up what he has done since he came back he needs to be the first baseman next year.  He has an OPS of .834 in the last 50 games, only Buxton and Jeffers are better.  Yes I know he needs to finish the year strong but let him play 1B and get comfortable and see how he does.

I also like Clemens as that swing guy that could play almost every day, but at 1B, 2B, corner OF, maybe 3B.

[clone52]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I really do like the idea of Culpepper at 2b and Houston at SS. That would be really fun to see.

I also, I like the idea of Clemens at 1b, but honestly I'd prefer him as a Ben Zobrist utility play everywhere type. Perfect world Royce either becomes a true masher or they acquire one and move on from Royce. These next few months with Royce getting a full opportunity should answer that question one way or the other.

I do think Lackey debuts in 2027. Not opening day, but he isn't far away. Perfect world (for twins baseball) is finding a way to keep Jeffers here through 2027 at minimum. If he does go elsewhere, I'm not certain who would be the bridge, but I think Caratinis more of a co-starter and/or backup compared to full time. 

To kind of respond above to @clone52 Lopez to me is much more extendable than Ryan. I'd very much see what Ryan would get on the open market after the year before I would Lopez. If you can keep both around, great. If I had to choose one, it's Lopez. But yeah, bringing in another playoff level starter is always good, even if I do like the potential I see in many of their younger arms.

And yeah, if there is payroll room to bring in at least a few legit bullpen arms that works too. 

Well, I was going to respond in one way, but I see that Ryan and Lopez are the same age.  I do think Lopez will come cheaper.  If money were no object, I'd go Ryan all the way, but based on what I think contract would look like, Lopez might be the way to go.

I think Lopez will have to balance whether he wants to extend now, or bet on himself that he bounces back from the injury.  If both have good years next year, Lopez is probably a little cheaper.

[Cory Engelhardt]

3 minutes ago, clone52 said:

Well, I was going to respond in one way, but I see that Ryan and Lopez are the same age.  I do think Lopez will come cheaper.  If money were no object, I'd go Ryan all the way, but based on what I think contract would look like, Lopez might be the way to go.

I think Lopez will have to balance whether he wants to extend now, or bet on himself that he bounces back from the injury.  If both have good years next year, Lopez is probably a little cheaper.

And, I see Lopez as a guy you want your other pitchers to be around and learn from. Not that Ryan isn't that, but of all the playoff level starters that are out there, when Lopez is throwing well he is both a top end guy as well as a coach/mentor. That's who I extend.

This is not saying that Ryan isn't that. More I have seen Lopez (outside of this year with injuries) get better as years go on. I've not seen that with Ryan as much. So getting to September and October, I have much less doubt that Lopez will be solid and ready to go than I do Ryan. At least over the last 3-4 seasons of games.

[clone52]

2 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

And, I see Lopez as a guy you want your other pitchers to be around and learn from. Not that Ryan isn't that, but of all the playoff level starters that are out there, when Lopez is throwing well he is both a top end guy as well as a coach/mentor. That's who I extend.

This is not saying that Ryan isn't that. More I have seen Lopez (outside of this year with injuries) get better as years go on. I've not seen that with Ryan as much. So getting to September and October, I have much less doubt that Lopez will be solid and ready to go than I do Ryan. At least over the last 3-4 seasons of games.

I like that point.  Ryan is fiery.  Maybe don't want that rubbing off as much.  Lopez is calm and honestly fantastic when he was in the TV booth a couple weeks ago.  That kind of presence could be a huge deal with all the young arms.

Ryan can probably bring a lot too, but it is a different personality.

[The Great Hambino]

I wonder if Lopez would be open to an extension with some healthy incentives to hedge against complications in his return from TJ.  I'd be open to that

I'd also like to see them give a Brewers-style extension to one/both of Jenkins and Culpepper.  And be aggressive in adding salary in the trade market in areas where the FA pool is shallow.

Increased spending doesn't have to come in the form of free agents.  Basically, get creative. 

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Not even a little. You're actually a great example of how easy it is. You've given me a thumbs down and/or complained about every post I've made about not being convinced anything has changed because the Twins added Nance, Minter, Kremer, and Hoffman over the last few weeks. That's all it took and you're back on board.

That is about as easy as it gets. They changed the first name of the Pohlad in charge and made the absolute minimal investment possible and you're back. That is not a hard PR situation. You're example A of why it isn't hard at all.

Why not both?  It's hard in the sense that there is such an uphill battle to climb and the vast majority of people who used to pay attention are tuned out.  Which is why words and a flimsy deadline are a silly thing for us to have four articles gushing about the Pohlads and the deadline.  Most fans don't care.

Which is also why here, on TD, it seems to be easy.  We've got multiple ongoing threads that are gross as hell falling all over themselves to be happy about this.  Thing is....the folks who want to be all sunshine and rainbows right now would have been right there in front of their TV, or sitting in the stands, whether the team bought or sold.  The venn diagram of "happy we didn't sell" and "wouldn't have done anything to hold the team accountable either way" is a perfect circle.