Twins Offseason Status Update: Slow Going

Would you rather have Matt Wisler or Hansel Robles?  ill take Robles for also the same $ figure. Hoping this isnt the biggest bullpen move of the off season but a nice grab. 

I like the idea of bring in a SS, I dont want to trade away the farm tho for a 1 yr rental unless there is a contract extension attached. I also dont want to trade Arraez the contact and onbase skill is a needed asset for this team now and into the future.  But i would be mad if he was moved to the Marwin Gonzalez role as an everyday utility guy.  

I dont mind bringing Cruz back but I also dont want to get caught with our pants down waiting for him to sign and all our options get snatched up.  

I'm not a fan of making Arraez into a utility guy. My observation of his outfield play is that he is pedestrian at best there, and he doesn't have the quickness/agility for short stop. That pretty much leaves 2B and 3B, and there's not much utility in that. Polanco has better all around ability to be a utility player.

Agree completely. Polanco would be best served as the super utility guy at this point. Can play SS, 3B and 2B.. we have enough OF depth so that should not be a need. 

Pick up Didi, Simmons before Simion if it were me as Simion has the least talent on defense... Guessing both Didi and Simmons could be had on a 2 year deal ... give time for our stud to grow up a little more.... 

I don't know what to think about the moves, or lack thereof, this winter. Am wondering if the addition of a shortstop may mean Cruz won't be back. One of the spots for Polanco to get at bats in a super-sub role would be at DH. Those at bats aren't going to be available if they resign Cruz.

Expect there is a better chance the Twins get their #3/#4 starter via a trade than a free agent. In that case, none of us has a clue who that pitcher might be just as we had no idea they were getting Maeda last year. Hopefully, he will be somewhat younger and tied up for 3 or 4 years.

As for left field, will be exciting listening to Gladden talk about Kirilloff in left field come opening day. Have a feeling this kid is gonna be special.

I can see the Twins signing both Cruz and a good SS if they can acquire an inexpensive starter like Musgrove or a starter from Cincinnati Castillo or Gray....maybe with a few million included in a Gray trade....i also think we have lots of extra pitchers for the bullpen already so we need one more good high end middle reliever to sign and with the other pitchers we already signed I think our pen is set up well for next season. I think our own already has Duffey, Rogers, Robles, Littell, Alcala, Thorpe, Smeltzer, Stashak, Colina, and Theilbar ... 1 more steady arm should do the trick.

I sure hope they are not done with constructing next season's roster, because the roster shown above is a .500 team, finishing in 3rd place in the AL Central.

I think baseball as a whole is waiting to see how the actual free agent market will play out this year. Once a couple of guys start signing will give a good idea if the contracts will be subpar as well as the length, partly due to still some uncertainities about the upcoming full/not-full season.

There are an awful lot of players out there. Especially curious to see how the minor leagues pan out, especially for those minor veterans vs. all those players cut loose with little place to go because of elimination of a team and, thusly, the non-need for major league teams to house/play up to 25 players that they can snatch from what remains of indy ball (now controlled, in most part, by mlb).

The Twins need:

One solid starter

A closer would be nice, or a dominant arm (I vote for Hand).

A DH who can also play 1B or the OF (wait, they have Rooker).

If they grab a shortstop, they should be set for bench/field backup.

I expect many teams to be slow on this until we get closer to season.  Teams and players alike are playing the game of chicken on contracts.  Many non-compeitive teams will be looking to dump money and will sell for pennies on the dollar, and many FA are getting crap offers to a normal off season and are holding out for better.  

What I expect to happen is once few guys sign dominos will start to fall very quickly.  Every off season needs someone to set the market, this one everyone is afraid to set the market, not just for themselves, but for everyone else.  If big name player takes less than players expect the other players will be upset.  If Teams set it for more than teams looking to spend teams will be upset. 

I could get behind a Semien signing if Rowson was still here, otherwise Didi or Simmons if going FA. Would prefer even one year of Story over any of those three. Otherwise make a run for Kiki and keep the status quo.

Bradley and Clippard to fill out the BP, maybe one more if Cruz decides to sign elsewhere. If no Cruz, Brantley would look good at DH and can spot start in the OF.

If Odorizzi suddenly gets too expensive, I think Kluber, Bailey and Hill could make 25-30 starts between them and cost about the same without the long term commitment.

I have faith in the braintrust, they've done alright so far.

I can’t help but think some teams are going reduce risk as much as possible for this season. I mean dumping any salary possible and not signing free agents. Lose as little money as possible this year and jump back into the game next year. The early signings might end up being huge overpays by spring training

I expect many teams to be slow on this until we get closer to season.  Teams and players alike are playing the game of chicken on contracts.  Many non-compeitive teams will be looking to dump money and will sell for pennies on the dollar, and many FA are getting crap offers to a normal off season and are holding out for better.  

 

What I expect to happen is once few guys sign dominos will start to fall very quickly.  Every off season needs someone to set the market, this one everyone is afraid to set the market, not just for themselves, but for everyone else.  If big name player takes less than players expect the other players will be upset.  If Teams set it for more than teams looking to spend teams will be upset. 

I don't think it's a game of chicken. The starting point of any budget is a revenue projection. IDK about you but I don't have much of a handle on how many games will be lost or when fans will be allowed to return. The difference for the Twins between fans being present from day vs 1/2 the season is roughly $60M. How do you set a budget with that much variance likely?

The vast majority of teams are going to budget based on a low estimate. They will increase spending should evidence surface of revenues being closer to normal. However, Falvey could pitch cost averaging. In other words, a 3 year plan where current payroll is set based on a 3 year revenue plan. The logic being players will be less expensive this year and the overall return on investment (productivity per dollar) will be improved by investing more heavily this year.

The downside from a fan perspective is that the budget is going to be very tight in 2022-23 if revenues are down anywhere near what they were last year. However, we should have enough young talent emerging by 2022 to manage the roster in that event.

BTW ... The 10 o'clock news had a story on vaccinations in Minnesota a couple nights ago. They reported vaccines should be available to the general public "late spring to early summer". I am not exactly sure what that means for attendance but the end of the tunnel is in sight.