RaoulDuke

Bailey Ober is an awesome success story, a very unconventional prospect that ended up having a couple really good MLB seasons. He has still been a very interesting watch as a back of the rotation guy making it on 87 and off speed stuff but his time with the Twins is probably over at this point with the arbitration wage putting him in the 7-8 million range next year. The fact that he is in the top 5 of a now 16 year old time frame is pretty damning for the organization. They don't sign top of the line free agent talent, they don't trade for established top of the rotation talent, they don't trade for major pitching prospects, and they don't draft pitchers high in the first round. All those things are risky for sure, pitching is the riskiest thing but also carries the most value when the risk pays off. Chase Petty was maybe the biggest draft risk they have taken recently (he hasn't been good) and they turned him into Sonny Gray pretty quick, Gray has been probably the best pitcher through here in the Target Field era.

I would guess Ryan gets traded, unfortunately his return has diminished after another bad/ injured 2nd half but they are not going to give him front line money. I think Ober gets non tendered, as impressive as it is that he is serviceable at 87 mph it will not last and he is due some real money in his last year of arbitration. Pablo/ Taj/ Prielipp/ Abel/ Zebby/ Kremer/ Rojas?. That is the start to a good rotation if things go well but sorely lacking in proven success and depth. I think the supposed increased spending should include someone that can take that #3 spot or better. Hopefully a Ryan return includes an injection into the near to the majors arms because that is where the system is lacking now.

Damn if they had just handled the Royals they would already have a spot all but locked.

They should have sold him with everything else last dead line. It would have been another, if not the major kick in the nuts for fans but if they are not going to pay a player when they reach free agency they need to capitalize on them in a trade. Ryan at his best is not an ace. He is a fine 2 but would be best as a 3 in a contending playoff rotation.

Ober is going to start a playoff game if they manage to do something crazy.

Sign me up. Looks like a real established mlb reliever. Big addition to the pen. Get another one, get an established late game RH. -- (TBD????) Gomez Morris Minter Rojas ******************** Nance Anderson ******************** Adams Fundy

They are in such a strange place with contention vs selling this year. 500 in a very weak AL it makes sense to buy and go for it however the team has some major weaknesses that won't be patched over with fringy additions. Buxton and Ryan are the 2 most important players and both are questionable health wise for the stretch run, the pen (even bolstered) will top out at mediocre, the defense is bad, and the rotation is an injury away from disaster. I think they will add a couple mid tier relievers so they can say that they were buyers and supported this years team. Jeffers is still likely to get sold and they will excuse that with impending free agency. I think Ryan has tanked his value enough with the 6 homer game and arm fatigue break that he will not be moved until the off season.

I am still think Abel has some real potential to be a major piece, the stuff is real if he can stay healthy. Tait is still very young and catching prospects are a nice trade chip to have if you are deep in them.

I would love to see them draft a starter. This front office has so rarely done it with a top of the draft pick. The bats seem to be 1-3 but I would not hate them drafting Flora all things considered.

Picking 3rd in a draft with 3 prospects that have separated themselves. Much like the Walker Jenkins draft take whomever is left and hope they live up to the hype. I will be very excited if they end up with him but I would prefer one of the SS. Catcher to me is not a position I want to ideally spend a top pick on, Mauer/ Posey are the unicorns but they are so rare. Catching prospects are limited in durability and development time. All things considered I would much rather have a SS or CF that has the real defensive chops and can hit than a catcher in the same situation. There is just so much more value in the speed and utility that can bring. A great SS/ CF is a franchise cornerstone, a great catcher is a champagne cornerstone.

San Diego is a very interesting case. Yes is it a 1 sport town technically but the state itself also contains 3 other MLB teams (and the As for now) as well as 4 NBA teams and 3 NFL teams so there is no lack of franchises to patron. The income is higher but so is the cost of living and taxes so I am not sure its any more approachable to attend games. It is surely a more desirable market despite being about the same size as the Twins but that does not account for the massive difference in sale price. There is a lot to be said for how much more relevant San Diego has been even if it has not led to a ton more success than the Twins. They have stars, sign guys like Soto and Darvish, and are in a rivalry with big nationally followed teams like the Dodgers and Giants. The Twins have just been kinda eeking out AL Central wins sometimes and failing miserably when they do manage to make the playoffs. The only real splashes were Donaldson past his prime and Correa when he fell into their lap on the short contract. Then Correa again when everyone else balked, and they ended up paying Houston to get rid of him. Fan engagement is huge and the Twins have absolutely tanked it to the extreme whereas the Padres have been exciting albeit with about the same amount of success to show for it.

This is the pool they are choosing to swim in. Acquire 5-10 of Kent/ Atlavilla/ Acton/ Lawyerson/ Whomever the other 2 new signs are, ect, and one might turn into a serviceable reliever for a half year, hopefully. With this approach and how the pen is being used I am kinda shocked Hendriks and/or Chafin were not kept around. Can they really be that cheap lol? Funkerburk to Topa has been the entire middle of the bullpen for 2 series now, they are going to throw 100+ innings each on this pace.

Bradley's stuff is impressive, there is a nasty pitcher in there if they can get him to be consistent. Hopefully he can find the command and control to be a long term fixture in the rotation but should that not work out he would be a nasty reliever. Great to see a good Royce game early, get that confidence building and lets regain some of that magic that he had first breaking out. It is no surprise but the pen is going to be a major issue, this rotation is not stocked with guys that are going to go deep into games and Funderburk as the fireman, Topa a setup, and Sands/ Rogers getting save ops is far from ideal. I really hope Festa is transitioned when he gets healthy enough to pitch they need a big arm at the back end of things.

Hendriks and Chafin gone so they are not rolling with the oldies. Rogers Sands Banda Orze Funderburk Topa? despite getting shelled Altavilla Kent? Lawyerson? Pickup the best arm that gets cut?

It is somewhat surprising to think had Pablo not got hurt neither Abel or Matthews would be in the opening day rotation in a pretty clear development year. Good on Abel for winning the spot there will be plenty of chances for Zebby throughout the year as well. Now the real interesting thing to watch is how the pen shakes out. Hendriks and Chafin are gone so they aren't going with the old guys outside of Rogers.