The Twins Have Their Shortstop; Another Starting Pitcher Next?

I was wrong about the FO being stupid.  Urshela is a good 3rd baseman, Correa is a stud, and so is Polanco. I think Sano will be better this season.  Jeffers is improving and we have good depth with Sanchez, Miranda, Lewis, Gordon & Arraez.  I think the infield is in REALLY good shape.  

Buxton, Kepler, and Kiriloff could be really good offensively and overall, above avg defensively.  Depth is not as good as the infield with Celestino & Larnach of course, but perhaps Lewis or Gordon could also serve in back-up roles.

The bullpen was pretty darn good by the end of last season, and I think with all the options available, we find enough pieces to have at worst, an average to slightly above avg bullpen.

We need one more really good starting pitcher, and have enough quality prospects, and enough MLB depth to make a trade to get one more high quality SP. 

I don't think the FO has come this far not make a deal for that final piece...one more quality starter. 

The team is not perfect, but other than the Dodgers, who is?

This, with one more top starter, is a 90+ if healthy.

I want my Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team to reach the Sweet 16 before I am in the ground.  I just want the Twins to win one playoff game and then one playoff series before I am gone.  Anything else is gravy.  

With Urshela, Correa, and Polanco starting, and Arraez, Gordon, Miranda and Lewis backing them up, the Twins are so deep in infielders you have to think someone in that group has to be part of the package to garner the starting pitcher we need.

I like Polanco a lot (except for the defense, at SS), but I suppose he is older than a team like the A's would want. I'd hate to give up Lewis, but if that's what it takes to add a front-of-the-rotation starter, then it's time to make the deal.

This team is waaay too good in the field to try and compete with a rotation of Gray, Bundy, Ryan, Ober & Dobnak or Jax.

My guess and the "word" is that the Twins as well as a half dozen other teams are looking at the Oakland pitchers. The Twins Front office is clearly looking for one more pitcher ... just a matter of when and who.. 

This is going to be an interesting season!!

Well done Seehafer.  Good read.  We're poised for another big move.  There's a possibility we could make the move for Montas, Manaea, or Castillo w/out losing Martin & Lewis.  If you see what the Mets gave up for Bassitt, it's possible.  That said, I see us dealing Martin before Lewis.  Lewis is 1 ACL tear and two years removed from the game.  Calling him a "key" piece in trade would probably be insulting to the A's or Reds.  Down side is it will cost more pitching.  Sending Woods-Richardson doesn't seem likely.  Neither would want to be the 4th team on his young career.  On top of that, I'd feel bad for the kid.  I think we can do it with a departure of Winder, Duran, and maybe a flyer on a low-A guy.  Maybe Canterino over Winder or Duran, which I'd hate to do.

I LOVE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE TWINS RIGHT NOW!!!

I see quite a few touting Miranda as a solid backup.

A) triple A success doesn't mean he can handle major league pitching. That needs to be proven 

B ) they are not going to keep him here to sit on the bench. He either starts or they move him 

Just the opinion of an old guy

Last weekend the Twins made three deals.

This weekend we have Correa, the pitcher, and who will be the third?

I am hopeful it is some deal for a starting pitcher, a deal that will lighten the overload of infielders and/or DH's.

I'm going to take a wild guess and predict a Kepler-to-Miami trade package. Too much competition for the A's pitchers. Can get a better deal where no one is looking.

5 hours ago, bean5302 said:

With Polanco, Miranda, Urshela, Arraez and Gordon, there's too much redundancy. If the Twins are looking to move Gordon to full time utility outfielder, it still leaves at least one too many valuable every day worthy guys at 4-5-6.

That's probably true over the course of the whole season. But it may not be an issue to begin the year -- Miranda won't necessarily open the season in the majors, and as we saw in 2021, Arráez entered the season as the "10th man" and got a ton of starts and innings. Having a bench full of guys who should be full-time starters is a waste, but having like 1 or 2 starting-worthy players on the bench each game seems solidly in the realm of "good problems."

3 hours ago, Unwinder said:

I'm going to take a wild guess and predict a Kepler-to-Miami trade package. Too much competition for the A's pitchers. Can get a better deal where no one is looking.

Detroit, Angel's and Royals are hot n after Montas too.  It is going to take an impressive package to land him. 

8 hours ago, KirbyHawk75 said:

I want my Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team to reach the Sweet 16 before I am in the ground.  I just want the Twins to win one playoff game and then one playoff series before I am gone.  Anything else is gravy.  

Thise of us who are Vikings fans have a phrase:  Just one before I die.

If we can’t get Montas, Manaea or one of the Marlins starters, I think they should look into Zac Gallen.  Gallen may not be ready for opening day, but doesn’t sound like his shoulder issue is anything major. 
Marlins want to compete and need an mlb ready CF.  Twins have plenty CF prospects in Celestine, Martin and Lewis, but I don’t think the Marlins want a prospect.  Kepler makes sense, if the Twins are good with Larnach and Kiriloff manning the corner outfield spots, or picking up a 4th outfielder that could be a half ways decent starter.  Maybe Tommy Pham.  They could also use Rooker in Left Filed.  With Buxton in Center field that helps balance out the defense.  Then the next issue is who is the back-up CF?  Gordon?  Do you sign Kevin Pillar?

I can't believe that they won't make a trade for a decent starting pitcher.  Spending that much money even if only for one year makes no sense unless you have major league pitching.  They have made trades in the past to acquire prospects.  It may be a good time to trade some prospects for reliable pitching.  It appears I, like many others, was selling this FO short.  It looks like there is a plan.  Thank you.  Must get another veteran starter.  I am sure they will.

18 hours ago, SkyBlueWaters said:

This team is waaay too good in the field to try and compete with a rotation of Gray, Bundy, Ryan, Ober & Dobnak or Jax.

Indeed. But let's also keep in mind that a solid defensive infield makes every pitcher that much better.

11 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Arraez, Balazovic, Enlow, Kepler, Strotman, and Steer for Montas and either Soderstrom or Longeliers (two top catching prospects).

So...2 MLB starters (right now, Arraez is starting either as our DH or 3B and Kepler is still our starting RF) one under team control and one with a team-friendly contract, our best starting pitching prospect (#4 overall), two more of our top 20 prospects, AND another pitcher? For Frankie Montas? Talk about buying high.

I just wonder what Oakland is seeking.  They still have two pitchers they are most likely trading.  I think what they may be asking in return is based on when they think their timetable will be.  Just looking at their prospect lists, they seem to light on OF prospects, but do they have much interest in what we have there? My guess is they really do not want much of our MLB or near MLB OF guys, and I am think the discussion will be for either Lewis or Martin and a pitching prospect.  We clearly are looking to win now with current moves, do we give up that, or can we get Oakland to accept younger hitting prospects and one of our more ready pitching prospects? 

Celestino should be attractive to Oakland but I'm not too sure how they view Larnach, Wallner, etc.

Agree that they now have to do what it takes to obtain starting pitching. Where I differ is that I believe they need two starters not one. 

I’m happy with the new shortstop.  I don’t think they are finished with the roster and will add some pitching.  
It’s fun to read Yankee fans comments on MLB Trade Rumors about the Twins signing Correa. Quite a few are really cranky about who they got so the Twins could end up with our shortstop. 
I also read that Rortvedt has an oblique strain and is out for awhile. 

15 hours ago, terrydactyls said:

Arraez, Balazovic, Enlow, Kepler, Strotman, and Steer for Montas and either Soderstrom or Longeliers (two top catching prospects).

I don't know, Falvine staked their reputation on building a pitching pipeline. That's a big chunk of their livelihood going out the door.

4 hours ago, Trov said:

I just wonder what Oakland is seeking.  They still have two pitchers they are most likely trading.  I think what they may be asking in return is based on when they think their timetable will be.  Just looking at their prospect lists, they seem to light on OF prospects, but do they have much interest in what we have there? My guess is they really do not want much of our MLB or near MLB OF guys, and I am think the discussion will be for either Lewis or Martin and a pitching prospect.  We clearly are looking to win now with current moves, do we give up that, or can we get Oakland to accept younger hitting prospects and one of our more ready pitching prospects? 

I suspect they are seeking a top 50 pitching prospect to headline a Montas deal. The Twins aren’t a good match here. They may not find that match and come back to the Twins but I would want prime pitching prospects for Montas.

5 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

Arraez, Balazovic, Enlow, Kepler, Strotman, and Steer for Montas and either Soderstrom or Longeliers (two top catching prospects).

 

So...2 MLB starters (right now, Arraez is starting either as our DH or 3B and Kepler is still our starting RF) one under team control and one with a team-friendly contract, our best starting pitching prospect (#4 overall), two more of our top 20 prospects, AND another pitcher? For Frankie Montas? Talk about buying high.

It isn't just Montas. terrydactyls included either Soderstrom or Longeliers in the deal. Both catchers are in MLB's the top 100 list, 56th and 59th, respectively. Balazovic isn't on the list.

Fangraphs lists them 36th and 70th overall. Balazovic is ranked 90th.

So it's certainly debatable that either of the catchers would more than make up for the loss of Balazovic.

From MLB:

...Soderstrom entered pro ball without a ton of catching experience and that part of his game is still behind the bat, leading some to wonder if it would be better to move him to first, a position he saw some time at in 2021, to let his bat advance more quickly. There’s still work to be done, but the A’s are pleased with the progress he made in terms of blocking and receiving, as well as with using his above-average arm strength.

...the A’s wanted Langeliers to be one of the headliners in the deal that sent Matt Olson to Atlanta...

...Even if he doesn’t hit, Langeliers’ defense will make him a big leaguer. He has one of the best arms of any Minor Leaguer at any position and he threw out 42 percent of potential basestealers a year ago. He’s a strong leader and works very well with pitchers and after his experience on the postseason taxi squad, he’s close to being ready for a job as a big league regular.