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RaoulDuke

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Everything posted by RaoulDuke

  1. RaoulDuke
    Capps/ Reed/ Dyson/ Colome/ Pagan The Twins have an impressively awful track record of bringing in vet relievers, while also letting go of stud arms like Pressley/ Rodgers.
  2. RaoulDuke
    I have really enjoyed watching Correa, he appears to be a really good leader in clubhouse as well as currently being an elite player. This along with his playoff success make him something this team has not had since before Mauer/ Morneau. 7-8 year superstar deals are scary period, but Correa is on the very young end of players hitting free agency even with this "1 year" deal he is on. He will be 28 when he opts out and signs a new deal, so you are probably buying his 28-36 years. His bat shouldn't decline anytime soon and his defense isn't super based around speed so he should be the same good shortstop for a couple years then slowly decline into ok shortstop then great 3rd baseman. I think they should sign him. This is the Buxton/ Correa prime window opening. Push your chips in when you have the chance to hit big, best CF/ SS combo in the mlb is a hell of a place to start. Add in a pitching pipeline starting to produce young controllable arms and you have a real chance at contending.
  3. RaoulDuke
    I wasn't able to watch the game but was checking in. It really hurts that I saw 7-3 in the 3rd and still thought they are going to lose this game, and it came true. I get winning a Bundy vs Cole matchup is unlikely but holy **** they pounced on Cole and had no reason to lose this game. My big takeaway from all the failures vs NY is you never see an ex Twins pitcher on a Yankees roster. There are plenty of hitters but I can't think of a single Twins pitcher that the Yankees acquired outside of Lance Lynn who was a weird case. We are happy to get the Hughes and Pavanos of the world but NY has had zero interest in any pitchers we have rostered.
  4. RaoulDuke
    Bundy putting up those first 3 games was pretty hilarious after all the angst in the off season about him being the best pitching addition. Even when succeeding it was still apparent he is a back of the rotation piece at best. I do think continued work with this coaching staff could improve his pitch mix and approach. He is valuable as a decent 4/5 vet starter but may just not have a spot in this rotation. Gray/ Ryan are locked in the top spots, Paddack/ Ober/ Winder all have much more upside, and Archer has a higher ceiling as the reclamation project. He still may be very worth keeping around if you can, 1-7 in the rotation there are no pitchers you can count on a full season from.
  5. RaoulDuke
    I think Duran is here to stay, meaning his starting days are over. I don't want to see him pigeon holed into the 9th either, but I also don't want to see him get to many multiple inning appearances. Duran looks like he is going to be an awesome reliever and I want him used as bullpen ace to get the biggest outs be it the 7th, 8th, or 9th. That being said this year is going to be tough to not overuse him, 19 something innings last year, covid year, and an injury history on a power arm. Let Pagan/ Duffey/ Alcala "close" and be the work horses. Limit Duran getting back to back days or multiple inning stints to keep him healthy and build him up. I want next year to be when he is truly unleashed instead of dealing with arm problems.
  6. RaoulDuke
    Yep there will always be a place for frisbee guys in my book. I honestly think every pen should have one so they can just give a wildly different look, the changeup of pitchers. Pat Neshek is still my favorite non star Twin ever. Imagine facing a starter throwing 95+ then this funky weird side arm/ submariner comes in throwing bowling balls at 85 or sweeping frisbee breaking stuff in the 70s, then its right back to Alacala or Duran throwing 100+. They might not strike you out but there is going to be a ton of soft contact and its going to screw with the hitters timing for the next ab as well.
  7. RaoulDuke
    3 games in the pitching has looked pretty good. Ryan, Gray, Ober got hit some but overall pitched well. Duran and Alcala have the potential to be major weapons out of the pen. Urshela and Sanchez mashing the lefties/ Arraez giving righties fits is great to see. Buxton is a monster. Correa is a monster. This is an insane pairing of talent at the two most important positions.
  8. RaoulDuke
    Paddack for Rodgers as the main framework is a good deal in theory but there is certainly some gamble to it. Paddack for Larnach as the main framework is a good deal, trade corner OFs for SPs. Rodgers is a great pen arm but he is here for 1 year and likely has priced himself out of the Twins plans going forward. Larnach is a good hitting prospect with 6 years of control but has a ton of question marks and best case scenario is still just a defensively limited corner outfielder. Paddack with 3 years of control has mlb success in the rotation but is coming off some down years. You generally don't get that for a reliever or corner OF prospect. This deal comes down to the extra stuff involved.
  9. RaoulDuke
    https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/padres-open-to-trading-from-rotation-catching-depth.html#comments Padres seem to be in the mix to trade a starter and they are in need of outfielders. Kepler or Larnach should get the conversation started. Add some prospects depending on the return or eat Myers or Hosmers contract to pay for it.
  10. RaoulDuke
    The one year of Correa would never have happened if they had signed a pitcher. Its a weird deal that came about because they had to do something.
  11. RaoulDuke
    I am on board with this. He can bounce back to being a mid rotation starter, he could just be a back end guy now, he could suck, he could get injured again. Its a cheap contract if he isn't good and they will happily pay the bonuses if he is. Its not the splashy trade everyone wants, but its about as good as you are going to get at this point in the off season. It is also cheap enough that it does not prohibit trading for someone or signing whatever else there is left like Cueto. This season is going to be rough on pitching staffs. Shortened spring they are already going in under prepared. Starters going 5 is going to be luxury for a bit, injuries will happen, and who can you trust to throw 180 innings? The stable of young arms will see plenty of work it would have been insane to go into this year with 3/5 your rotation as rookies. I am still on the trade bandwagon for sure though. Go get Means, a Marlins pitcher, or eat a bad San Diego contract to get a starter back. They can still do more even if Oakland is asking for a ransom for their assets they clearly want to move.
  12. RaoulDuke
    This is fine if they were rebuilding, let the multiple young arms earn their licks. However spending a prospect like Petty to bring in Sonny Gray and signing Carlos Correa to a historic AAV contract, even if its for a year, is a much different route. Ryan and Ober both have potential but also limited ceiling, limited experience, and limited stamina. Both are major question marks for next season. Rookies breaking out would be awesome but there are a ton of innings to fill before thats a thing. There has to be at least 1 if not 2 moves coming to the staff, or they just signed Correa to trade him.
  13. RaoulDuke
    Ryan and Ober have earned shots at a rotation spot but other than them there should be no questions in the rotation. They have signed Buxton and Correa, put a serious rotation out there to back them. There are a lot of high minors arms with potential but you are already betting 2 rotation spots on that. They need a legit top of the rotation arm and then the 5th spot can rotate amongst the possibilities. Gray Vacant spot Bundy (ideally your 5th starter) Ryan Ober That being said this is going to be a very interesting year for pitching endurance. Short off season off multiple covid effected years, there will be a lot of bullpen innings to eat. The long reliever and the extra bullpen arms are going to get a lot of play.
  14. RaoulDuke
    Combined Polanco and Correa offer a somewhat slow middle of the infield, Correa makes up for it in a major way with his cannon but its kinda what limits Polanco defensively. I think they will be a fine pairing but that is the weakness. Urshela will help as a good defensive 3rd but Arraez and Miranda innings will stretch it some. I haven't watched a ton of Correa play but a lot of his defensive highlights come with a rocket throw picked on the bounce by the 1b. Sano/ Kirilloff are going to have to make sure they are ready to dig some balls out of the dirt.
  15. RaoulDuke
    WTF is happening! I will be honest and say I was expecting to be let down by Story going to the Sox or another contender over the Twins, and a mediocre rotation add. There has to be another real move for a starter coming now.
  16. RaoulDuke
    I am very interested to see where Kirilloff plays, they need to find a spot for him now his development should be a high priority. The easy move was to give him first and move Sano to DH, now Gary Sanchez is in that DH mix (and maybe Sano is in the 3rd base mix a little bit?). They can give him LF but he seems better suited to RF and Martin/ Lewis are coming for LF eventually. He could bounce around but it would be nice to hand him a position and let him focus on hitting. The current bullpen is scary if they want to contend. Betting on Rodgers/ Duffey/ Alcala/ Thielbar all taking a step forward or returning to form is a real gamble. They need to sign as legit a back end arm as they can get at this point, or trade for a controllable one. Miranda is the other big thing to watch, 3rd base is currently open for the taking. Urshela or Arraez probably starts there but Miranda could make some real noise with a good spring.
  17. RaoulDuke
    Well this has certainly been interesting after the Twins doing nothing to start and then the lockout. There has to be another couple moves coming. They need to fill SS - I will riot if its Polanco, Lewis/ Martin aren't stepping into that role quickly if ever, Urshela isn't really an option either. A top of the rotation spot - Nobody to sign unless you are ok with a 3 at best (Greinke/ Pineda/ Cueto?) Gotta trade for someone. A back end reliever (really 2 of them) 3rd base - This could be Urshela/ Arraez/ Miranda/ Sano? Find a spot for Kirilloff - Sano to DH or 3rd? Kepler trade?
  18. RaoulDuke
    Please never again. Polanco is good at 2nd and his bat is what you want him for. He can focus on hitting while playing 2nd. This is going to be a young staff that takes some lumps, they need someone that can actually play short.
  19. RaoulDuke
    I would be shocked if they signed Rodon. They haven't been in play for anyone except Bundy and one mention on Ray after everyone was pissed they weren't in on anyone. They will probably bring back Pineda and hopefully they can find a good trade or 2. Maybe Maeda can throw left handed?
  20. RaoulDuke
    I don't think any of Arraez/ Kepler/ Garver or the major leaguers are going to return a good starter, maybe a 3. Its still a route they should take but the return won't be more than a Manea imo. Its going to take some of the kids to fill the top of the rotation. I wouldn't trade Kiriloff and probably Balazovic/ Ryan but otherwise pretty much anyone could be available. Even 1 of Lewis and Martin might be available since they are kinda redundant now that Buxton has signed, still got to get a lot for them but they are real centerpieces to go get a Castillo or some in the range (see Berrios, J).
  21. RaoulDuke
    Bundy is fine as a reclamation project, cheap contract and they can retain him another year if he pitches well. He fits the tweak the approach/ mechanics mold that Wes Johnson works well with. Maybe he can find another 2-3mph and will surely start throwing the slider way more. The Orioles and Angels are certainly not organizations known for developing or getting the most out of pitchers so maybe there really is still something to unlock for him. Bundy/ Ober/ Ryan/ Dobnak is still short 2 (realistically 3) top of the rotation arms. I assume they bring Pineda back there seemed to be mutual interest, then you still need 2 better pitchers than the rest of them. 1 ___________ 2 Pineda? 3 Bundy 4 Ober 5 Ryan 6 Dobnak That's a lot of back of the rotation guys until they mature or re-find themselves, and none should be penciled in for a full season's worth of innings.
  22. RaoulDuke
    Non tendering him seems pretty dumb. Yes 7 mil for a reliever is a decent chunk in a year they aren't "going for it", but its also doesn't prevent them from signing anyone else and he could be a great trade chip if they don't intend to resign him in FA. If he needs surgery after an off season of rest sure don't pay him to be hurt, but barring that its an easy tender in my mind.
  23. RaoulDuke
    I think they re sign Pineda and get one more comparable vet on a similar contract, no big money 3 years or less. Ober and Ryan are first to get shots. Duran/ Balazovic can claim a spot when they preform. Strotman, Jax, Canterino, Winder, Dobnak, Thorpe, ect all battle for 4/5 There will be one if not multiple Shoemaker/ Perez type vet signings with a hope that something works out. Pitching will be bleak with upside next year, hopefully they graduate some real contributors to the rotation because I doubt they will spend the money to do it via free agency.
  24. RaoulDuke
    This guy is going to be interesting to watch. Does the deception on the fastball delivery transfer to the mlb? If it does there is a lot of potential.
  25. RaoulDuke
    Dobnak has a profile to be a good reliever. Power sinker/ slider combo is strong for late innings if he can maximize it, or his starter mix makes for a good swing guy.
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