weitz41

I honestly don't see what the hub bub is all about... Both player best season using OPS+ is 104. Best OBP and SLUG are within 10 points. MAT would not take 4 Mil to play here this season and I can't blame him. As for the prospects neither may turn out or one/both could be the next Cory Seager and the other Fernado Tatis. I'll win money on the Vikings winning a super bowl before I'll plan on either turning out like that. I should add if they are or were expected to be platoon players how much does their defense really matter?

This flashed by on my home page and thought some may want to read. I was caught by surprise and good for him. i'm rooting for him. Angels All-Star Free Agent Signing Showed Up to Camp Nearly 60 Pounds Lighter (msn.com)

I like this trade. Miller has a lot to like. I just don't know how you get him in Minnesota with Correa, Lee, Lewis and some might say De Andrade in front of him. The Twins traded from a minor league depth to fill a need for this season and possibly next. Also, may be a best case for Miller with a much clearer path to the big leagues now.

Exciting player and prospect. I'll wait till after this season to order the bronze statues for target field. Don't get me wrong, Buxton and Maurer comps apply no doubt. Let's let the kid (young man) play. Prospect ranking are fun and pump me up about Twins prospects but overzealous expectations can easily crush a player's confidence. I'm sure I'll get some down votes..of hands..but as I said. Let's let the kid (young man) play.

I'm going to verve off from your thought process and throw a couple of names you haven't mentioned. Whit Merrifield as a Free Agent and Dylan Carlson as a trade target. Merrifield could split time with Julien at second base and played every OF position last year. Carlson has played every OF position, Has 3? years of control and crushes lefties (check his career stats) I think it was 135 OPS+ against lefties. As for a starter, I think that ship has sailed till Aug 1st. There's a lot that can happen between now and then. Also, a lot of prospects that may shine or crash and burn on the pitching side.

Winokur is probably my favorite pick out of last year's draft. Yes, Jenkins has the highest ceiling. But a 6'5" SS/CF?? That's an athlete I want to put some chips on. He's no Brent Rooker, more like a: James Wood Minor Leagues Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com There's very a long way to go but boy-o-boy. The tools look like they are there.

I like Martin as a player that makes the 26 man out of SP. #6 is a bit high for me, but all the parts are there for it to be the right spot for him, maybe even a little low. I've seen a few talk about E Rod's .400 OBP in A and A+ ball being a rare thing. Martin, after a slow start, ended the season in SP with a .387 OBP. I believe that translates well to MLB. No, he may never be a 25 homer guy., but a 10-15 hr, 30+ doubles, and a few triples guy, with maybe .280 BA, .380 OBP and .400 slug with 20-30 steals is a what? 2.5-4 WAR player? That's a player you want as many as you can get on your team. Here's hoping he gets there.

It has been a disappointing off season. There is a big difference between spending because your team (the Royals) has been so bad a developing their own talent and the Twins filling a hole or two with a free agent, The Royals have Bobby Witt and well that's about it for young upcoming players. You kind of have to spend to be completive at that point.

I'm going to air on the positive side. 1st I've always liked Carlos Santana. He's just a baseball player. Will he replace Polanco's production? If he gets anywhere near close the Twins have an injury riddled season. It does make trading Kepler more of a possibility. Although I still think that's a low chance. Kirillof in left, Wallner in right and some combination of Buxton/Castro/Gordon/Martin in center isn't a bad outfield..I hope.. All in all it's a good signing. With good and bad to it but I lean to the good side.

hmm.. You can't win the lottery if you don't buy a ticket...

The article on BTR made it sound like Burnes has zero interest in a Glasnow type of trade/extension. There's a draft pick to be had if you QO him and he signs elsewhere. But would that recoup enough to make it worthwhile for a rental? IDK

I would love to have Garver back in a DH/3rd catcher type of spot, but we have this CFer and 2nd baseman that may end up in the DH spot. Tough call but I think I'd be forced to pass.

I'd be thrilled with any of the three starters mentioned. I like BTV for ideas on trades, but I feel they are a bit off on their values on starting pitchers. My point is I think the three trades proposed are likely quite a bit on the light side. I don't see parting with Lee or Julien as a good way to fix the pitching depth or bringing in a #2 pitcher. Polanco alone won't get that either. Adding Raya or Festa would affect late 2024 and 2025. Trading Kepler would seem to lead to a lot of crossed fingers in the OF. Unfortunately, spending to fix the issue seems to out of the question. Frustrating offseason for this Twins fan...

I know I shouldn't be bothered by this contract... But it bothers me in a haves and have nots type of way...The distance between them grew substantially today. Listening to MLB network trying to justify the contract says a lot about the same point. More power to the players but man-o-man... Here the Twins are cutting payroll because of the lost revenue of the TV contract that is worth far less than Ohtani's AAV for the next ten years. I know, I know, it shouldn't bother me...but it does...

I'm happy for Gray and Meada. Both earned their new contracts. Sure, I'd hoped one of them would have come back for 2024. Both these trades worked out well. Now add in a comp A pick and even better. It should make for a quality draft having 4 picks in the top 80? I'd make a case for trading for someone like Glasnow to do the same next offseason with the comp pick. But I think the budget may make that a non-starter.

I'd rank them in the same order as you did. If I had to choose one of them to get a young stud pitcher, Logan Gilbert or Jesus Lazardo types. Not Shane Bieber types. I'd say Brooks Lee is the likeliest to be traded and that's not very likely.

Same here. At least one of the two pitchers you mentioned. Payroll should expand once a new TV deal is worked out for the more expensive years of a deal like that.

I noticed this this mornings and thought maybe there's a couple of players that may fill a need on the Twins roster. 36/40 man roster filled. Intriguing free agents after the tender deadline (mlb.com) Nick Senzel in CF wouldn't be the worst fit. He's also a pretty good bat against lefties. Juan Yepez as a RH 1B/OF option? This one a question even mentioning. Was pretty good in 2022...Minor league signing?

I noticed Vasquez as well when I 1st saw that on MLB trade rumors. I get the 10 mil for 65 OPS+ on the surface is a big overpay. Yes, Jeffers was by far the most valuable catcher of the two. Can we predict health? Regression? What's the value of Vasquez defense and game calling? In theory we had/have one of the better catching combos in the majors. COMBOS.. Sure, Rushman or Realmuto are better but one hamstring strain and do you want Vasquez or McCann behind the plate? 12.3 mil in salary for the pair in 2024 or 23.8 mil for Realmuto with a hamstring strain? Polanco makes sense to move, even if I'd prefer, they didn't. Kepler I'm not convinced the next man up is going to be close to Kepler last season. Also not convinced he will repeat it in 2024. I expect one or both to be traded before spring training. This is a useful site when thinking about payroll. Minnesota Twins 2024 Salaries & Payroll Table | Spotrac

With I believe the norm of hoping for one position player per season for debut and stay on the roster, there is a lot to be excited about on the position side. Of course, some of the top 10 may not make it to the bigs. The pitching side could use a few surprise players. Like Varland. Maybe Canterino and Prielipp get past the injuries and become what we had hoped they would be. If a few pitchers take a big step forward the Twins could be in for a long run of strong teams.

Yunior is a tough one to have a strong opinion on for me. He hit righties and lefties at an almost identical rate in 2023. Give me 25-30 HRs, league average defense at 1B, 25-28% K rate and the Twins are in great shape. Move Kirilloff to LF Walner to RF. Lewis at 3B, Julien at 2nd and Jeffer behind the plate. With hopefully Jenkins, Lee and E Rod all needing a place to place in the bigs. That's (in a dream world) a pretty solid team for 5-7 years. BUT then the 36.6% K rate says HI! and you think about Gallo or Sano and get a little chill...Maybe another spring in St Paul with clear it up?

I get it. Hoping for something exciting...But let's be realistic. A 1B for the beginning of the season and a platoon player after that. That's not a 15 mil a year player like Hoskins. If DH wasn't a mess with who knows from Buxton, sure OK that works. A RH 1B/Of guy whoever that may be is what I expect. Maybe a trade? But Hospins..I wish..

To start off I traded (against my better judgement) Polanco, Kepler and Farmer. Mostly due to payroll restrictions. No, I didn't add anyone to the 40-man roster from those trades. I cut payroll to 140 mil or about 10% reduction. I want to use the Ober plan for Varland, so he'll be #1 starter in SP until needed. Larnach will join him there. I used MLB Trade Rumors free agent predictor for approximate salaries. I added Lourdes Gurriel Jr on a 4-year 54 mil deal. He has played some 1st and 2nd base when he was with the Blue Jays. J.D. Martinez and Clevenger are on 2-year deals. I'd like to add a BP arm or two to push Sand and Moran to Saint Paul, but funds are too limited. Castro and Gordon can handle CF if needed, Gurriel and JD can platoon with Kirilloff at 1st along with Miranda. Martin and Keirsey are at AAA for depth. This should be a better offensive team but less so on the pitching side. Strike gold with a minor league arm or two and maybe just as good on the pitching side C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M) 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($1.70M) 2B: Edouard Julien ($.77M) 3B: Royce Lewis ($0.77M) SS: Carlos Correa ($33.33M) LF: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. ($13.5M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Matt Wallner ($0.77M) DH: J.D. Martinez ($20.0M) 4th OF: Willi Castro ($3.20M) Utility: Jose Miranda ($.77M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($1.0M) Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($2.30M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($8.25M) SP2: Joe Ryan ($0.77M) SP3: Bailey Ober ($0.77M) SP4: Chris Paddack ($2.53M) SP5: Mike Clevinger ($13.0M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.77M) RP: Brock Stewart ($0.77M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.77M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($3.00M) RP: Cole Sands ($0.77M) RP: Jovani Moran ($0.77M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.77M) Payroll is 1.50% over budget

This was extremely disappointing news...I think I heard the price is right's Ween Went Wah Weah...After I read that...There's a team here with a shot at a deep playoff run with a few quality reinforcement's...Winning the division should not be the ONLY goal...

I really like this one. Not to pull on the loose threads but Hoskins for 8 mil seems really light. One year deal? Also, I think Glasow's actual salary is 25 mil for 2024. He signed last offseason a 2-year deal that is backloaded. Still really like this team.