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Otaknam

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Everything posted by Otaknam

  1. Otaknam
    Hope I’m wrong, but I don’t see Festa as a top of the rotation starter, aka number one. In my view he’s a 3+ starter, along the lines as Ober, which is pretty good! If his fastball improves to a consistent 97 or higher, he has a chance.
  2. Otaknam
    Sands was mostly ineffective as a starter, but was very effective in the bullpen in 24, capable of pitching multiple innings if needed. Given the young starting pitching depth, with Matthews, Festa, Morris, and Raya, there is no compelling reason to move Sands from where he is very effective, the bullpen, back to where he struggled as a starter. The same for Jax, who is a real weapon in the bullpen.
  3. Otaknam
    It’s kind of a head scratcher for readers to be cranky over the content of this site. No one is forced to read it. As for this story, I hope the take on Culpepper is correct, that his defense is excellent and his offensive profile is trending up. I’m not as high on SWR being more than a number five starter. His fastball would need to add a few ticks to elevate his pitching. 95 mph seems to be the average fastball these days, and it needs to be maintained in the late innings.
  4. Otaknam
    The trade for one year of Cease only makes sense if the team is poised for a serious playoff run, AND it includes Vasquez and 2 prospects not named EROD, Keaschall, Jenkins, Raya or Soto. Festa, Matthews, Morris, etc. are intriguing young starters, but none of them are can’t miss. But unless the stars can stay healthy for once, and the younger players get better, this team can’t make a strong playoff run, making a Cease trade unnecessary.
  5. Otaknam
    I would prefer to read about it instead of listening to a video.
  6. Otaknam
    Despite cleaning house of his hitting coaches and assessing blame there, Rocco is responsible for the team’s lack of performance ending last year. IMO he relies way too much on analytics, especially with pitching. His boom or bust offense has produced middling results at best ever since 2019. This Earl Weaver approach and unwillingness to hit and run, move runners up, and utilize speed when your fastest guys are on base has been obvious for several years. So a change in the hitting approach to focus on contact to get base runners will be refreshing if it actually happens.
  7. Otaknam
    I don’t think SWR’s value is that high. Right now his upside is as a number five starter who might give you five innings. Unless his velocity improves to a consistent 95 or higher or his secondary pitches become better, he’s locked into a number five starter IMO.
  8. Otaknam
    While Cease would be fantastic in the rotation, is Cease the missing piece to get the team to the World Series, like the Jack Morris signing was? I don’t think so, given the collapse at the end of 2024. That said, proposal number one makes no sense for a one year rental of Cease. Keaschall and his right handed bat ready to help this year and should be off limits in a trade. Also Mercedes has an upside 2-3 years out that I would hate to lose. The other trades might be ok, especially if it includes Vasquez and his ludicrous contract. But I doubt San Diego would consider proposals 2 or 3, though a trade that includes Larnach would be more feasible, suince he is in his prime.
  9. Otaknam
  10. Otaknam
    The only reason to trade top young prospects for one year of Cease is if the Twins are poised to make a serious playoff run, and they think Cease is the missing piece. But they’re not, based on how last year went. In any case, IMO, these minor league guys should be untouchable in any trade: Jenkins, Rodriquez, Raya, Winokur, Keaschall, Prielipp, and Soto. They should be in build for the future mode, and Cease isn’t part of that with a one year contract, unless the trade pieces are for lower ranked prospects.
  11. Otaknam
    I believe that there are several reasons Vazquez plays 50% of the time. He is a better defender than Jeffers and it helps to keep Jeffers healthier. But I think a significant reason is the ludicrous $10 million Vazquez contract. The front office knows it made a mistake signing Vazquez to that contract. Vasquez should play every fourth or fifth day, like any backup, non hitting catcher. But that would magnify what a mistake the Vasquez contract is. So the front office wants Rocco to play him to receive some payback, with the excuse that it keeps Jeffers healthier. And Rocco goes along with it to keep his job.
  12. Otaknam
    Why would a rebuilding Miami want Paddock and Castro, with their $13 million salaries? That makes no sense, but I would take their lefty. Also, San Diego unloaded an injury prone Paddock on the Twins. They know his history and I doubt they want to give it another go. But the name mentioned, Valenzuela’s muddling offfensive stats are unimpressive to say the least. Cincinnati makes some sense as a salary dump for minor league depth. But not for the 34 year old Arroyo ( why is he a prospect) or 19 year old catcher Duno. Higher level and proven prospects would need to be included.
  13. Otaknam
    Unless his velocity is consistently 95 or higher and his secondary pitches improve, I don’t see SWR as a mid rotation starter. But he could improve going forward.
  14. Otaknam
    If Prielipp pitches well at AA and AAA for the first two months, regardless of whether it’s as a starter or BP, I would like to see him with the Twins. Let him throw 60 pitches as a starter and give him some experience in the major leagues.
  15. Otaknam
    An interesting and well researched post. I agree that the Twins are in the win with what we have now mode, but still dump some contracts. They still have talent and three solid starters, with the potential for Festa, Matthews, Raya, Morris and others ready to take the next step. I like the Julien and Castro/Quero trade suggestion, but I think the Twins would want another player for two guys already on the 26 man roster. Maybe a rising AA pitcher. Quero has a history through AA is a solid hitter with some pop, but very good defensively, with an excellent arm. The Twins have a lot of infield talent in Lee, Keaschall, and even Payton Eeles. So they would be dealing from positional depth. And it saves $6.5 million, which sadly is the most important thing for ownership. But the priority is to somehow dump the $10 million Vasquez contract.
  16. Otaknam
    The ownership is in salary dump mode and indifferent to winning. Castro is their most viable and productive candidate for trade, carries a $6+ million salary, and is a free agent after the season. Hopefully he brings something back in return who can make the roster. The guy they really need to move is Vasquez and his ludicrous $10 million contract. The only way that happens is if the team eats a sizable portion of that contract, while getting a flyer on a low level prospect. But what team wants a no hit, good field backup catcher for even $5 million? As for Paddock, if they can’t trade him for something of value, then giving him some starts or as a swing man makes sense. He was pretty good in the bullpen at the end of 2023.
  17. Otaknam
    Thanks for the update on the international signings. Unlike MLB, the teams were able to agree on an equitable salary cap for international players. That allows all teams to compete for the best international players, rather than just the big monied teams with huge media contracts, like the Yankees, Dodgers, Mets, Red Sox, etc., to corner the market for the highest rated international players. Sadly, MLB hasn’t addressed this disparity at the big league level, which allows teams like the Dodgers to sign Ohtani for $700 million and the other big boys to pay massive contracts to other free agents the mid markets can’t consider. If this disparity isn’t addressed it will continue to hurt the league. The NFL figured out years ago that a level playing field is best for the league, and now it’s the most popular professional sport by far.
  18. Otaknam
    Thanks for the great Twins memories from my childhood! An innocent time.
  19. Otaknam
    It seems obvious by now that Varland needs to embrace a bullpen role. His stuff is electric in short stints, as we saw in 2013. Also, Alcala did some good things, has good stuff, and he has the talent take a step forward. Hopefully Canterino and Prielipp are healthy and ready to contribute this season, Prielipp as a starter. It’s hard to have confidence that Stewart will remain healthy, given his history. And if they don’t trade Paddock, which I think they will do, he would bring value to the bullpen, though I think they will give him a shot at starter.
  20. Otaknam
    Since there is a cap on what each team can spend for international free agents, does this mean that the Twins are reneging on an agreement with another player, who they like less than Serrano?
  21. Otaknam
    Just curious. Why does this site require an explanation for editing a posting? What difference does it make if it is a spelling or grammar, or just wanting to add another comment?
  22. Otaknam
    Sano looked like a young Miguel Cabrera when he arrived. Great power and the ability and willingness to drive the ball in all directions. Then he got pull happy with an all or nothing approach, but the team couldn’t get him to change his approach or did not care if he did. I expect it was the former. And his weight and lack of conditioning was also an issue, and it could be argued that he ate himself out of the league.
  23. Otaknam
    I’m with you on not trading Jeffers for a lefty reliever who has a $4 million contract for multiple years. Cartaya does have the potential that once made him a top 100 prospect, though his bat hasn’t produced yet. I think the team expects him to be the backup if Vasquez or, heaven forbid, Jefferson is traded instead of Vasquez.
  24. Otaknam
    I’m not sure why Henriquez is a “fascinating reliever who could blossom into a bona fide high-leverage reliever at the major-league level.” If he is that fascinating why isn’t he a bullpen mainstay already?
  25. Otaknam
    A veteran second baseman is the one thing they don’t need, with Lee and Julien already in the ML, and top prospect Keaschall on the cusp. And there have been discussions about moving Lewis to second, though I don’t think that will happen. But they could use a first baseman, which should be the easiest infield position to fill.
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