Top 50 Trade Candidates - Who Interests You?

This has been my point when people say the Twins should buy....who on that list moves the needle? Candaleria likely, but only for 5 weeks, then what? And, if he might get a QO, the price is way too high for that short a time.

7 minutes ago, RickOShea said:

None?  I can see at least 10 who would be an upgrade from the current Twins roster.  Mr. Hader would be close to the top of my list.

That's a good name. 

1 minute ago, SwainZag said:

Buxton has a full no trade clause and worked hard with the front office to stay in Minnesota.  He wanted to be here.   He's not going anywhere.   

Plus, why would anyone trade for him?

I'll take Candelario or CJ Cron. 

Cron if the Nats are asking too much. 

Despite not handling the pen to begin the season, no Pagan, spend the $ plus a little more to take a shot on SOMEONE who might turn out, keep Coulombe instead of Megill, and Alcala not being fully ready to come back and earn a spot, the Twins pen still hasn't been all that bad. Granted, Stewart had a lot to do with that. And now he's down for at least a couple of weeks. And even DeLeon showed promise. Now he's done for good. Meanwhile, with those injuries, the bullpen has still been about average with what they have, and fill ins in the form of Balazovic and Sands and others. POTENTIAL arms for the pen began the year with injuries, such as Winder and Henriquez and the aforementioned Balazovic. IF the Twins want to try to keep winning, they can hope for J Lopez to find a "good place" and make a difference. Maybe he can? And hopefully Stewart is back soon. And MAYBE Alcala comes back. Maybe Headrick fits a role, and I like him. Maybe Ortega surprises. Maybe Sands and Winder surprise over the next month. Whew! Too many WHAT IF's. If they believe in this team, they should look for a solid 7th-8th inning arm that can help. Either someone they can have for another year of control, or a possible re-sign. Robertson might not fit. Hader might not either. Rentals that might cost too much and might be looking at better deals in 2024 and not worth the rental. If not those arms, maybe guys like Hicks and Straton.

But since the season began the question always was, and remains, the offense. To be clear, the wonderful Arraez is NOT the reason the offense has struggled so much. I LOVE Arraez, miss him, and so do the Twins. But despite his BA, OB%, and doubles power, he is NOT the problem...though he would help. Who would knock Arrzez in if he was batting leadoff for the Tiwins right now?

And that's the problem. Not the pitching. The rotstion is amongst the best in MLB. The pen is solid, despite some issues and injuries, but could REALLY be good with a healthy Stewart and Thielbar come August. ONE MORE ARM that doesn't come at a premium cost could add a lot.

13 games lost when allowing the opposition 3 runs or less leads MLB if I'm correct. Averaging something like 3.2 runs scored in or around 40 games played despite ranking in the top 10-ish in run differential. 

I always expected the Twins offense this year was going to be built on what they had, Correa, Buxton, Polanco, and Miranda, with improvements and health and promotion from Kirilloff, Larnach, Wallner, Jeffers, and Julien, along with additions like Vazquez, Farmer, and role player Solano. AND, hopeful contributions from Gallo before turning Larnach and Wallner loose. NEVER expected Kepler to be on the Twins to begin the season. Totally grateful he's had a good 2 week stretch and has made a difference these past 2 weeks. He's also played WAY BETTER defense recently than what we saw previous to that. 

But my expectations were blown apart early. Buxton has been a warrior, running when his legs feel like they can, but has been inconsistent as hell, while dealing with his new role AND a 96mph FB to his ribs. Correa is just NOW looking like his old self mid year. Pressure, injury, who knows? Meanwhile, Julien, Lewis, and AK...despite not seeing the POWER yet...have been a few of the Twins best hitters.

I am NOT going to attempt to bring up the same sad story we've been discussing about Wallner and/or Larnach up in place of Kepler or Gallo, except to say, "when it's not working, and you have options, why aren't  you exploring those options"?

It's possible the whole team meeting and a new way to discuss hitting approach might actually make a change. MAYBE there was an overload of data. Maybe the opposition just figured out the Twins approach and the players and coaches FINALLY figured out they weren't playing to their strengths, or were relying on data the OTHER teams were counting on. Maybe Royce was right to say there is a point where I'm looking at "see ball, hit ball". But the offense has largely STUNK for most of this season, despite having the talent to be an upward third offense.

In case you haven't paid close enough attention to the ML roster, and the minors, the 2023 team was built on POWER, and OB% , with a handful of contact hitters until a little more speed and contact came up through the system. Correa, Polanco, Salono, were supposed to provide contact and bat skills until Lewis, AK, and Julien were ready. The problem is, the power hasn't been there. The "contact" of Correa and Polanco hasn't been there. At least not consistently. And while AK's power hasn't been there yet, he sure has done the rest so far. And Lewis has been doing all he could do before his abdominal injury. 

If this team could AVERAGE a little over 4 runs a game for the rest of the season, even with some question marks, they could run away with the ACL. IF talent they ALREADY had on hand was producing ANY kind of consistent run production, they'd already be 8-10 games ahead, AT LEAST. Easily, IMO, 12-15 games above .500 if they didn't "play down" to their competition at times considering their play against MOST winning teams.

I don't believe a single trade BAT acquisition will push this team over the top. I still feel what they need to do at this point is trust in the younger bats. They have to at some point, or the offense remains stagnant. Gallo is gone after this year. Kepler's hot steak is WELCOME! But we just can't ignore 3yrs of downturn vs someone who migh produce as well if not better. Do we really expect Gallo or Kepler to suddenly have outstanding 2nd halves with Buxton and Correa to match them and trade for a big bat...sacrificing more prospects...or do we keep our prospects and let said prospects get a chance to show what they can do?

Trade for a BP on the cheap with control or a rental you might want to re-sign. He might make a difference. 

But unless there is a relatively inexpensive bat, prospect wise, that you can acquire to make a difference, and maybe have control of, what are we even talking about? 

42 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

None of this makes a lick of sense to me.

The Twins have allowed the fewest runs in baseball. If that's not a team you try to build out for a playoff run, what is?

And the last thing this team needs (see sentence above) is Blake Snell.

Also, Lewis has stated he does not want to play center field.

What's your target and who does he replace?

6 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

Could the wins get more for Sonny Gray in a now rade, or make him a qualifying offer and get a draft pick?

Wondering what Madea could bring back in a trade?

Polanco could have value, or do the Twins jsut take his extension and daHow many baseballs can the Twins egt for Gallo or Kepler. Not that they need many with all the strikeouts, lots of clean balls that never touch a bat in their storage room.ngle him in the off-season. Is Julien deserving of a return to AAA for the rest of 2023?

Any takers for Pagan? Can Lopez make himself valuable, or a keeper? Do you trade Thielbar and resign him next off-season?

If a team comes calling for a veteran catcher, do you trade away Vasquez?

 

I was surprised NONE of the Twins pedning free agents made the Top 50 list.

 

 

 

That's because the list assumes they aren't selling. Gray would be the top target on that list, easily.