The Twins Should Trade for This Former Gold Glover

Sounds like a good fit for the twins  , 

Trade castro for trade depth pieces ...

Your logic is sound ...

These team needs right handed power hitter and everyday DH

It's going to be a long winter. Only 97 days, 22 hours until spring training begins per https://www.springtrainingcountdown.com/

"Countdown is currently based on pitchers and catchers reporting on February 12, 2025.

The countdown will be adjusted as opening dates are announced".

You simply CANNOT say "to spell Buxton"

NO way , No how and never in hell can you count on Buxton to play the majority of games in CF

Too many years of being hurt for far too long to count on him.

They need a good CF besides him.   Period.

He's not a young player anymore and only twice has he been what one would call a regular.

I agree with you Matt, that Donovan is a very good utility player. But I'd prefer Castro because he's better at SS & CF, giving us even more flexibility & better team chemistry. IMO he won't be available. To quote you.

"Trading for Donovan would probably mean moving on from Castro, but getting extra team control, a few more dollars to spend,"

I wrote a blog here about how to create a successful team by emulating other successful teams. All those teams I mentioned had some common characteristics, and they were very good player evaluation and development together with the ability to pull off needed trades without being dependent on FA. The team I wanted to emulate the most was mid-market team ATL because they focused on extending key players to keep the core and chemistry intact to maintain continuity and success.

I would like to add that there is a team that I don't want to emulate, and that is the Colorado Rockies.  They are terrible in player evaluation & development, terrible in managing their money by overpaying FAs especially bad ones & great players like Arenado & Marquez. They had a great season with their core but the following seasons, although they had spent a ton of money, they had no money at all to spend & had nobody to trade so they did nothing in the offseason. Arenado was a very rich dude now but he wasn't happy, because the team wasn't getting any better & he became disgruntled. Then the dismantling of the core began & although they didn't rebuild their team, their team plummeted. The dispersed core never achieved their former glory. 

Bad at player evaluation & development, frivolously spending their allotted money, bad trades, not filling important holes therefore making the team weaker instead of better, dismantling of their core, beginning of disgruntle players, does that sound familiar? Our problem isn't the core, we have players & prospects we can trade, trading needed players isn't the answer. Quit trying to emulate CO & try to be more like ATL. 

I would only be on board with him if the Twins found a way to keep Castro as well so they have their backup still on board for SS and CF. Donovan could be a Farmer replacement. I'd consider trading Julien for him and give Donovan the reins at 2nd base if Lee isn't going to be the starter there on opening day.. Unfortunately that trade doesn't free up payroll and only adds to it. Maybe they'd take a Paddack with Julien and the Cards could flip Paddack to another team for another prospect. 

10 minutes ago, Doctor Gast said:

I agree with you Matt, that Donovan is a very good utility player. But I'd prefer Castro because he's better at SS & CF, giving us even more flexibility & better team chemistry. IMO he won't be available. To quote you.

"Trading for Donovan would probably mean moving on from Castro, but getting extra team control, a few more dollars to spend,"

I wrote a blog here about how to create a successful team by emulating other successful teams. All those teams I mentioned had some common characteristics, and they were very good player evaluation and development together with the ability to pull off needed trades without being dependent on FA. The team I wanted to emulate the most was mid-market team ATL because they focused on extending key players to keep the core and chemistry intact to maintain continuity and success.

I would like to add that there is a team that I don't want to emulate, and that is the Colorado Rockies.  They are terrible in player evaluation & development, terrible in managing their money by overpaying FAs especially bad ones & great players like Arenado & Marquez. They had a great season with their core but the following seasons, although they had spent a ton of money, they had no money at all to spend & had nobody to trade so they did nothing in the offseason. Arenado was a very rich dude now but he wasn't happy, because the team wasn't getting any better & he became disgruntled. Then the dismantling of the core began & although they didn't rebuild their team, their team plummeted. The dispersed core never achieved their former glory. 

Bad at player evaluation & development, frivolously spending their allotted money, bad trades, not filling important holes therefore making the team weaker instead of better, dismantling of their core, beginning of disgruntle players, does that sound familiar? Our problem isn't the core, dismantling needed players isn't the answer. Quit trying to emulate CO & try to be more like ATL. 

I really like what Atlanta is done too but they are not a mid-market team.  Atlanta is the 10th largest city in the US and the Braves are top 5 in revenue.  Mid-market (average revenue or below) teams can't emulate their spending.  What successful team(s) with the equivalent of the Twin's revenue would you emulate.

Castro is a solid utility guy. So rolling the dice on a possible upgrade there would be way down on my list of priorities.

Instead, how about finding a full time center fielder and shortstop and seriously think about less physically demanding places where Buxton and Correa could play, that will put them at less risk for injury?

When they’re healthy (and every conversation about them includes that phrase), they’re outstanding defenders and essential offense. The Twins need them on the field and in the lineup every day.

If they stay in their current positions—two of the most physically demanding spots that don’t involve a mound or crouching behind home plate—the injuries will keep on coming and the time they spend on the IL will keep increasing, especially as they get older.

Both have expensive long-term contracts with no-trade clauses. The Twins need them out there as often as possible.

If that means having great defense in LF instead of center, why not?—especially if it puts less strain on Buxton’s fragile hip and knee. If that means putting Correa at 3B or 1B so he’s not pounding the daylights out of his plantar fasciitis every day, but still contributing on the field, that sounds good to me.

8 hours ago, theBOMisthebomb said:

It's going to be a long winter. Only 97 days, 22 hours until spring training begins per https://www.springtrainingcountdown.com/

"Countdown is currently based on pitchers and catchers reporting on February 12, 2025.

The countdown will be adjusted as opening dates are announced".

So about 80 days until the Twins start making their offseason moves.

17 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

I really like what Atlanta is done too but they are not a mid-market team.  Atlanta is the 10th largest city in the US and the Braves are top 5 in revenue.  Mid-market (average revenue or below) teams can't emulate their spending.  What successful team(s) with the equivalent of the Twin's revenue would you emulate.

Very good point ML Ready. TB & CLE are smaller market are good models but I'd like to extend our players much more than they do. The Twins won't be able to compete with ATL that's understood as far as the ability to extend players. Granted that ATL is a larger market (where does MSP fit in?), my point is not to focus our money on FA but to extend our own key players.

I'd say pass. We don't need another 2nd and 3rd base option, we need a RH outfielder. Looks like he profiles just like Larnach and Wallner. We need a speedy gold glove caliber CF, preferably RH. If we do go after an infielder it should be a first baseman with some pop. We have tons of options for 2nd base already. Lee, Julien, Castro, Martin, Eeles and Keaschal.

If the option was Castro or Donovan, everything being equal, you make a sound argument as to why Donovan or Castro.  However, they are not equal.  Mainly, we have Castro and can keep him for the money spent, but to get Donovan we would need to trade for him, giving up prospects.  Now, if we trade for him first, maybe we can save on some of the prospects we send out, but then when we shop Castro we are clearly looking to sell, and will not get as good of a return most likely.  If we trade Castro first, maybe we get better prospects in return but then will be a position of having to give up more to get Donovan. 

Point is, to shuffle the two around we will need to shuffle prospects around as well, which may not work out well long term. This is basically, make moves to make moves. 

If Donovan hit right handed this might make sense. They don’t end another left handed hitter, even if his defense is an upgrade over Larnach and Wallner. And I wouldn’t trade a good infield prospect like the right handed hitting Keaschall  for a utility player. Also, I wouldn’t trade starter prospects either for a utility player. Keeping Castro at a slightly higher price and keeping your prospect makes more sense. But who know what ownership will dictate this offseason.

34 minutes ago, Otaknam said:

If Donovan hit right handed this might make sense. They don’t end another left handed hitter, even if his defense is an upgrade over Larnach and Wallner. And I wouldn’t trade a good infield prospect like the right handed hitting Keaschall  for a utility player. Also, I wouldn’t trade starter prospects either for a utility player. Keeping Castro at a slightly higher price and keeping your prospect makes more sense. But who know what ownership will dictate this offseason.

Agreed.

Donovan is a useful player, but I don't see him as being a particularly good fit for the Twins. He put up fine defensive stats in his rookie season as a utility guy, but wasn't impressive as a 2B/LF. He's a good hitter, but while he might be aesthetically more pleasing than Wallner, he seems unlikely to be better at the plate in terms of production. (Wallner and Donovan have had nearly identical bWAR over the past 2 seasons combined...but that's a counting stat and Donovan has gotten a lot more opportunity) If he were a RH hitter, this might be interesting but as is we'd essentially be swapping in a less flexible super-utility guy who is a more consistent hitter.

It doesn't make them younger, it doesn't solve the need for improved RH thump, and it might not really improve them defensively...it just might make them a little cheaper if they deal Castro well? 

Considering what they might need to give up, I'm unenthusiastic. Based on last season does Donovan look like a significant upgrade on Larnach in LF? because that's what we might be landing on here, and even while dealing with a turf toe issue Larnach was decent.

Pass.

2 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

Very good point ML Ready. TB & CLE are smaller market are good models but I'd like to extend our players much more than they do. The Twins won't be able to compete with ATL that's understood as far as the ability to extend players. Granted that ATL is a larger market (where does MSP fit in?), my point is not to focus our money on FA but to extend our own key players.

IDK that they are less willing to extend but they have not had the players to extend where Atlanta produced great extension candidates.  They did extend Kepler/Polanco and Sano.  I am 100% with you on the value of extending players.  Just look at the value per $ of Jose Rameriz vs Carlos Correa or even Buxton.  I am hoping Jenkins / E. Rameriz and Keaschall become great extension candidates.  None of the current young guys look like great candidates with the possible exception of Lewis.

4 hours ago, Doctor Gast said:

I agree with you Matt, that Donovan is a very good utility player. But I'd prefer Castro because he's better at SS & CF, giving us even more flexibility & better team chemistry. IMO he won't be available. To quote you.

"Trading for Donovan would probably mean moving on from Castro, but getting extra team control, a few more dollars to spend,"

I wrote a blog here about how to create a successful team by emulating other successful teams. All those teams I mentioned had some common characteristics, and they were very good player evaluation and development together with the ability to pull off needed trades without being dependent on FA. The team I wanted to emulate the most was mid-market team ATL because they focused on extending key players to keep the core and chemistry intact to maintain continuity and success.

I would like to add that there is a team that I don't want to emulate, and that is the Colorado Rockies.  They are terrible in player evaluation & development, terrible in managing their money by overpaying FAs especially bad ones & great players like Arenado & Marquez. They had a great season with their core but the following seasons, although they had spent a ton of money, they had no money at all to spend & had nobody to trade so they did nothing in the offseason. Arenado was a very rich dude now but he wasn't happy, because the team wasn't getting any better & he became disgruntled. Then the dismantling of the core began & although they didn't rebuild their team, their team plummeted. The dispersed core never achieved their former glory. 

Bad at player evaluation & development, frivolously spending their allotted money, bad trades, not filling important holes therefore making the team weaker instead of better, dismantling of their core, beginning of disgruntle players, does that sound familiar? Our problem isn't the core, we have players & prospects we can trade, trading needed players isn't the answer. Quit trying to emulate CO & try to be more like ATL. 

market team.  They are the 6th largest metro in the US

On 11/6/2024 at 8:16 AM, Major League Ready said:

I really like what Atlanta is done too but they are not a mid-market team.  Atlanta is the 10th largest city in the US and the Braves are top 5 in revenue.  Mid-market (average revenue or below) teams can't emulate their spending.  What successful team(s) with the equivalent of the Twin's revenue would you emulate.

Cleveland? Detroit? San Diego?

8 minutes ago, purplesoldier4u said:

Cleveland? Detroit? San Diego?

Cleveland has had far more 90 wins seasons than the other two.  Detroit has managed only 4 in the past 2 decades.  SanDiego has had some success recently but has been one of the poorest performing teams in the league over the last 20 years.  They better in the next couple years because they are definitely not set-up for any sustained success.  They have one of the worst farm systems in MLB and they are going to have a lot of dead weight going forward.  Machado's salary goes from $17M this year to $25 next year and then 7 more years at 37M in his age 34-40 seasons.  Darvish is 38 next year.  They are paying Bogaerts through age 40.  Profar and Arrez to free agency and Kim after next year.   I would bet the Twins have substantially more success than the Padres over the next 5-10 years.