Offseason Live Replay: Twins Offseason Blueprints

I prefer Seth - I am a prospect person too. Grossman is a step backwards. Ramirez is not much better than Larnach for DH.  Bauer is not someone I could rely on.  Snell for Kiriloff would be a good trade, but I do not believe the Rays would do it.  

Again, fun, smart and well thought out. Great work guys! Echoing the previous sentiment that there is merit with each plan.

Going to offer a little feedback in reverse order for reasons that will probably be apparent.

3] Nick: Love the Snell trade but believe the Rays have a window right now and won't trade Snell for a year. He's affordable, even for them, for another season. BUT, if they are willing, I don't believe Kirilloff get's it done. I'm thinking Larnach instead, with Enlow or Canterino and a decent lower level prospect with some upside. And I'd make that move. I love Larnach and who knows, he may end up better than AK. But there is just enough difference in he and Kirilloff, IMO, that a 3 for 1 has Larnach and not AK.

I like the idea of Simmons at SS and Polanco, or Arraez, becoming a super utility 10th man who plays daily. And really, would it matter? Opportunity and versatility abounds without having to label anyone in a given role.

I suspect the Rays holding on to Snell for one more year sort of dismantled your plan.

2] John: I fully appreciate your aggressiveness here. And I think the Twins have an "in" with Bauer from the FO, general familiarity after years in the ALC, and are a legitimate contending team. An intelligent, if opinionated and flamboyant personality, he now has an agent and is on the open market, albeit in weird off-season. My opinion based on this and a few various additional opinions, he will drop his 1yr at a time approach and sign a 2-3yr deal and then hit FA again. The Twins could afford that. And the rotation would be AMAZING. But I'm not sure I like sacrificing the remainder of the roster for this one big move.

I also agree the roster, in general, doesn't have a MUST addition. And I also agree in the Twins ability to build a bullpen. I never want to take a young arm out of the rotation too early, but Colina and Chalmers are a couple of arms that could be ready soon if moved to the pen to join what is on hand.

I like the Santana addition as a DH, who could still play a little 1B here and there. He had a lousy 2020, but was still good in 2019 and could easily be a bounce back candidate. He's no Nellie, but it's a smart addition.

IMO, Bauer will end up with a higher bidder, though I think the Twins have a legitimate shot in your scenario. I do think the entire roster suffers, potentially, from just trusting the team to build a pen and fill in where they can.

1] Seth: I believe your approach makes the most sense overall. I am OK trading prospects to improve the team. But after no milb season, even with every team having taxi squads to work with at least some young talent, and an EST, how do fully evaluate young talent at this point as the Twins or any team?

Oddorizi may or may not be the guy we saw take a step forward in 2019. But he's still young enough that I'm betting on him. With Storman and Glausman gone already, and Tanaka almost certainly going back to the Yankees if they want him, he is the best option to bring back. He has stated he wants to come back and the Twins have done nothing to treat him wrong. I'm willing to bet he, healthy, is closer to the 2019 version than not. I just think this is a perfect fit for player and team.

I love Profar, or La Stella, as a 10th man option. BUT, I'm wondering if Cabrera on a 1yr isn't smarter for less money. The OF should be OK. Couldn't we use savings there for the pen?

Speaking of the pen...I love Hand for $7M. But what about bringing back May and signing Yates on a bounce back for $3-4M and maybe even bringing back Clippard for $2-3M. The savings for no Hand and no Profar could deepen the pen.

*Seems everyone would love Cruz back IF the payroll bumps to $130M or POSSIBLY stays the same. (No additional payroll is still a sort of "cut" if ownership is wanting to be aggressive with the window open).

**everyone Seems to agree bringing back May if there is a couple $M available. I agree. Not sure if there is additional upside available. His arm and SO numbers can't be denied. His only negative is a handful of games where he was wild and allowed a big hit before settling down. We all know the role of a RP is volatile. Even more so in a SSS. Does he really get such a big offer that we can't squeeze him in?

MY OPINION:

1] The Snell trade of a 3 for 1 is outstanding. I don't see it happening until 2022. So sign Oddo for the best deal possible. If not possible, look to Morton, Richards and Walker.

2] Trust the FO and staff to build a pen, but don't just trust in TBD and keep Rogers, look at keeping Clippard, May if you can, look at Hunter and Yates. There are so many possibles here that if you wait it out, there could be some real bargains late.

3] If $ doesn't allow Cruz to be back, then use the DH spot as a rotational spot. I don't think John's idea of Santana is bad at all. Smart idea if you believe he is what he bas usually been vs 2020. But maybe you just want to trust in Kirilloff, Rooker and Larnach, much less better health for a couple of guys and a normal season.

The Twins have one of the best teams in all of MLB the past 2yrs with some very talented players oh so close to being ready. So I'm looking at tweaks and keeping what we have.