rv78

The Twins have come a long way from their “Bomba Squad” identity, with a new style overall Huh? Their approach hasn't changed. It's still swing for the fences. The only thing that HAS changed is their ability to be prolific at doing it. Makes a difference when the ball isn't juiced..... I'd say watching most of their at bats last year they're still trying to be Bomba Squad #2.

I understand the work involved in writing up these articles and appreciate the effort in doing so, but isn't this just another one of those written on pure speculation? Is there any indication from anyone in the Orioles organization that they are taking offers for Kremer. If not, then there are 28 other clubs besides the Orioles that we could speculate have a pitcher or two that the Twins could trade for. Give us something with teeth that is in the works. If ya ain't got it then you might as well put the keyboard to rest. Speculation comes true about one time out of a hundred and it isn't worth the time to write about or read.

If Buck was worthy of an extension with his injury riddled past then taking a chance with Lewis and doing the same should happen sooner rather than later.

What is Rocco Baldelli's Seniority Worth in the 2024 AL Central? Zilch!

Grisham looks to be a cheaper version of Gallo. Which means this FO is likely to jump at the opportunity to get him. I'll be more emphatic and say, H E double L toothpicks NO.

Not sure why there is so much love for Kepler. He's a part-time hitter playing full-time. Take away his 2019 season and his 2nd half 2023 season and the only worth he's provided is defense. I guess he looks good because he plays next to Buxton who's even more than a part-time hitter, he's a part-time player completely. Now add in LF and the Twins haven't had anyone there that could hit since Eddie left. That's a whole lot of nothing from your outfield for too long already. Gee, I wonder why this team, at times, struggles to score runs. I'd start the year with Wallner, Castro and Larnach in the outfield and give Martin or Gordon the 4th OF spot. The past 3 years has proven the guys they've went with aren't that good if they can even play. Time to try something different and let the young guys get the chance, to learn from their mistakes, and actually see if they are any good, especially if the FO doesn't sign a #2 Starter to replace Gray.

" we can't say for sure whether Buxton will ever play center field again--let alone do so on a regular basis. " Unfortunately for Twins fans and for Buck, you could have made this statement a long time ago. He hasn't played on a regular basis most of his career.

A headline reads: "We need to chill" :The offseason is going to take a while to develop. All that really means is, the Twins FO will let other teams dictate the market. They are not leaders but followers. It is too much too ask for them to take the initiative and go out and get what this team really needs before other teams take the cream of the crop, Their overwhelming patience will once again mean they will have to take from the leftovers or over-pay with in-house talent or top level prospects to actually improve the major league roster. Of course, maybe "improving" the roster is not a goal, Saving money is the real goal and we should be happy they are being cautious. Amazing what a difference 1 year makes.

I agree. But having $50M come off the books in 2029 to help finance that extension will matter when and if they get that done.

This is the guy you build a team around. .300 hitters with the potential power of 40-50 HR's a year don't come around very often. Thank goodness that both of Correa's and Buxtons contracts come off the books the year he becomes a Free Agent. 2029. Their going to need that money to keep him.

You are right about the 20 HR's per year but hitting .300 has only happened once and close to .300 has only happened once. He's more likely to hit .275-.280 which has happened 4 times. Maybe I'm just splitting hairs but let's not make him better than what he really is. What would really be nice if if he would play and perform at that level for 155-160 games like the other top shortstops in baseball, since he's getting paid like one.

If only they played games on paper. If the Twins don't make at least 2 significant moves, a #2 starter and a good CF that can play everyday, Detroit will give them all they can handle and I wouldn't bet against them to win the division. The X factor is the Manager. One knows how to manage and the Rocco over-manages.

You have to remember who you are talking about. If his bad knee is finally healed there is another knee he'll probably injure. Or pull a hamstring, or tear an achilles, or stub a toe, or break a tooth eating some pudding. He's over-rated and over-hyped to the extreme.

How many times is Buxton going to be discussed here? Must be a slow day at the office. Sorry but it is really getting old. Rinse and repeat the same articles and here we are again. Why are the writers here so enamored with a part-time player that has done nothing to help this team go to the next level. Even in 2023 he was not a factor in the playoffs and they won 3 games and a series without him. The Twins success does NOT depend on Buxton. It depends on the other 25, 30 or more players who actually play and contribute on a regular basis. Nine years he's put on a major league uniform and we've had a broken Buxton in almost everyone of them. His average stats over those 9 years is a .239 Batting Average, 12 HR's, 33RBI's and 9 Stolen Bases. People here clamor over how he is worth every penny of his $15M contract and the Twins never would have gotten him that cheap had it not been for his injured history. Anyone who tells me a player who has numbers like his average stats, is worth $15M a year, drinks too much Kool-Aid. Please ask him if he'll waive his NO Trade clause in his contract so he becomes another teams problem. Because when you have to have another player to cover for him, that is all he is. A Problem.

The current Twins way is more likely to come in the form of a guy that will be like Joey Gallo. I needn't say no more.

I wonder if he couldn't be someone's Jarrod Dyson or Terrance Gore like the Royals used ala... pinch runner/stolen base option off the bench. Maybe that's a luxury not worth having in todays swing for the fences approach instead of get on base and manufacture a run. Yeah, that's too complicated.

Spending by percentage of revenue is only one way to look at being "cheap". Since the Pohlads are loaded with cash they could spend any amount of cash and get any player in todays market. It would take them to spend money they made from other sources outside of baseball to do that. Will they? Highly unlikely. That's what some people feel, makes them cheap. So, they could, but won't. In the grand scheme of things they could buy their way to a Championship or at the very least increase the odds of it happening tremendously. In the process you excite the fan base, draw more fans to games, increase sales of team paraphernalia and make even more money. But they won't... so yes, they are cheap.

I am shocked that this is being discussed here. There are only a small handful of people that will agree with the headline and the names attached to it. I am one of them and have been saying so since Buxton's extension and the signing of Correa. The values that are tied to a player based on WAR or some other variable effect making decision are only valuable if that player can sustain it for the length of their contract. If Buxton was worth $30M from 2020 to 2021 it was largely driven by the 61 games he played in 2021 and hit .306 with a .358 OBP and an OPS over 1. Taking into consideration his lack of actual playing time and previous seasons of his career, 2021 was an anomaly much like Kepler's 2019 season. I've never understood how a player that can't hit or can't stay healthy and provide production to help a team succeed really provides any value at all when what they really do is keep that team from being successful. Maybe a better indicator of a players true value is how much they hurt a team or hold a team back when they don't perform as expected. Is that 1/2 a season of Buxton being worth $30M really what he is worth or is it the zero value he provides when he isn't playing in the other 100 games that year?

Payroll without Kepler and Polanco on the books would be just under $100M. Pitchers like JMontgomery, Snell, ERodriguez, Stroman, Miley all have been projected to cost in the low $20's per year. Even if the Twins have a Dollar Tree budget they would still fit within what they have decided is their limit.

No, I said, they should have tried extending him for 1 more season. Not 4 or 3 or even 2. Maybe they did and he didn't accept. Do you know if they did or not?

So you are saying they are worth more than their combined $20.5M. If that is the case then the prospect of trading them should be creating a whirlwind of offers that the FO can't refuse. I would venture to guess that most GM's on other clubs see an aging Polanco that is starting to break down and a hit and miss Kepler than is more often miss than hit. I would bet a buck that the Twins will have to add at least 1 if not 2 or more prospects to a Polanco and Kepler trade to get back a pitcher worth $20.5M. Most $20M pitchers have MORE surplus trade value than hitters.

Tell me, which season has Paddack been even remotely like Gray? I would say he'll be closer to a Maeda and Maeda's shortened 2020 season is not the real Maeda.

Nice article summing up what a lot of us have been thinking and discussing here at TD. You suggest that everything that has happened is all part of a plan. It's also been said elsewhere that the FO thinks they are the smartest guys in the room. MY biggest question is, if that is the case and knowing that you are going to lose 2 of the better players that lead to your teams success, why would you just let them walk away? Was there any attempt to extend them during the season? Even if it would have been for just the 2024 season wouldn't that have been a better plan? You also say that picking up the options on Polanco and Kepler were done so they would have 2 trade pieces to possibly get the replacement pitchers they need. Wouldn't a better plan have been to NOT pick up the options on Polanco and Kepler, save that $20.5M and use it to get a pitcher in Free Agency? At least then YOU are in the drivers seat and YOU are not at the mercy of dealing with another GM asking for more than you are willing to trade to get that pitcher. Polanco is the easiest player to replace in the field with Julien. Kepler can be replaced with a number of less expensive players like, Castro, Larnach, Kirilloff, Martin?, Gordon?. They may not be of the quality you desire or not without health concerns but that hasn't stopped this FO before. Buxton, Mahle, Paddack, Pineda, and so on.... Don't get me wrong, I have no problem trading players from an area of depth for areas of need but sometimes and this time in particular the FO needed to change their way of thinking and doing business. Picking up options on 2 players that you have replacements for and letting 2 pitchers walk away that you don't have replacements for maybe was the plan but that is not a good plan. Contracts to players like Buxton, Correa and Gallo are huge over-pays and 2023 proved that. The more I see what this FO does the more I question their plan.

After taking into consideration the production they got in 2023 from these 2 guys, I wouldn't call it smart.

So who do they rely on if Jeffers gets hurt? Just not too long ago...... in 2022 when Jeffers and Sanchez were the duo and neither one could go they ended up with Sandy Leon. Do they really want to go that route again? If we are throwing in the towel then there is no excuse not to trade Polanco and Kepler and see if Correa and Buxton would waive their no trade clauses as well. Let's go all the way.