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arby58

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Everything posted by arby58

  1. Lewis had a positive WAR last year (0.7) and likely would have been higher but for the time missed to injury. Julien was -0.2, Lewis' OPS+ was 107, and Julien was 74. True, they both performed far better the year before, but Julien's 2024 was a complete bust.
  2. In 40 games at 2B last year, Castro projected out to -13 defensive runs saved. Julien, in 90 games, projected out to -12 defensive runs saved. Suggesting he is a far superior defensive second baseman is speculative.
  3. Castro was just an average hitter last year, and you would expect more at a position that isn't as defensively challenging. His greatest asset is his flexibility - making him an everyday player at one position negates that.
  4. The issue the article doesn't address is what do the Cardinals want/need that would align with the Twins wants/needs. From looking at the Baseball Trade Values website, they aren't too keen on the Cardinals net assets at either the MLB or MiLB level. It appears starting pitching is an area of need based on their numbers. If so, there is pretty close alignment between the value of Zebby Matthews (15.0) and Burleson (16.5). If the Twins tossed in a lower level prospect (they give Travis Addams a value of 1.4) this would about balance out. Are we willing to give up high-prospect Matthews and another halfway decent one for ANOTHER left handed bat with a fairly pedestrian OPS+? I'm thinking not.
  5. I think it is even more. At the least, they will want a proven MLB starting pitcher, at least SWR, and probably the rest of your haul.
  6. I highly doubt that would be enough for the Padres. I expect they want at least an MLB pitcher in addition to what you've suggested.
  7. It's far easier to drive in yourself than to rely on somebody else having to do that.
  8. Ralph Kiner had it right: "Home run hitters drive Cadillacs, singles hitters drive Chevys."
  9. Castro scored 6 more runs in 37 less plate appearances. If you equalized the plate appearances and pro-rated the runs scored, Castro would have had 94 runs scored versus Arraez' 83. That would be 9 percent more runs scored, which is not insubstantial.
  10. This is an incredible rationalization. It is sort of the baseball HOF version of a Rube Goldberg scheme. Looking at the ballot, I'd be hard pressed (unless you are voting for those who aren't making it because of alleged PED use) to find even six or seven players worthy of a vote, let alone 10. Of those who didn't get in (non-PED players), I'd say Beltran and Jones were as far down the list as I would go. Maybe Manny Ramirez, given it is his 9th season on the ballot, but nobody else really makes sense to align with your scenario.
  11. Arraez was in an offense that was 8th in the league in runs scored. The Twins were 10th, so I have a hard time believing his less runs scored were due to the players behind him. He mostly hits singles and doesn't run well. That makes it harder to score runs than if you hit with some power and have some speed. Finally, the fact that Buxton scored himself 18 times versus 4 for Arraez is not an argument in Arraez' favor.
  12. My guess is SD wants more than 3, and that is the only deal I'd be offering if I were the Twins. One year rentals are for teams that are legitimate WS contenders. Given the Twins injury concerns among their core offensive players, lack of a right-handed 'big bat' for a corner OF spot or IB, I just don't see it. If the Twins can fill a couple of those holes, their young starting pitching/established pitching might look really good in 2026, especially if Emma/Walker arrive in earnest at that time.
  13. Arraez is hardly a 'base runner.' He's slow and doesn't score all that many runs. Last year, he was 4th in MLB in batting average and 39th in runs scored. He had 524 plate appearances for the Padres and scored 61 runs, drove in 41. Byron Buxton topped those totals in 388 plate appearances (scored 62 and drove in 56).
  14. Arraez had 524 plate appearances for the Padres, a good offensive team; he scored 61 runs and drove in 41. Neither of those statistics screams out 'impact offensive player.'
  15. Last year, Arraez' OBP was .347, and Castro was .331, so not a huge difference. Castro scored more runs, probably because he runs better and has more pop. Castro had a better WAR, and he's a better defensive player. The biggest difference is salary - Castro's is $6.4 million versus Arraez' $14 million. I'll take Castro.
  16. He had 500 at bats with the Padres last year (a good hitting team that was 8th in MLB in runs scored) and scored 61 runs - that is not someone who is going to score 100+ runs. In fact, he's never done it. The best he's done was 88 with the Twins in 2022. Meanwhile, his OPS+ last year was 106 - not particularly impressive. Plus, he clogs up the bases because he is a slow baserunner. All that for $14 million in 2025? No thanks.
  17. The Arraez love affair never ceases to amaze me. He wins batting titles, but it doesn't translate into many runs scored, as he doesn't run well and lacks power. So, he had the fourth best batting average in MLB last year but was 39th in runs scored. He's not great defensively either. As a result, he was little more than a replacement player, with a WAR of 1.1. That would have ranked him just ahead of everybody's favorite former Twin whipping boy, Max Kepler, who had a WAR of 1.0.
  18. Anything is possible, the Royals showed that last year. That said, a 20 win jump is unlikely. I think this team is more likely to be there in 2026 than 2025.
  19. SWR is a proven MLB pitcher. Not giving him up for one year of Cease. Festa has huge upside - again, no deal. Maybe Matthews. Are the Twins really a WS candidate in 2025? I''m not giving up team control for young promising arms for one year unless that is the case.
  20. I'm not interested in one year of Cease for Ryan or Ober (both of whom are proven starters with far more team control), as he isn't that much better that he makes the Twins a World Series contender. Even Festa would be hard to swallow. When Chicago dealt him, he had two years of team control, and now it is half that, so the 'haul' in return should be less. Besides, the Padres need a catcher. I'd suggest a couple of lower level prospects plus Vasquez.
  21. Except the defensive stats aren't all world. I appreciate your opinion, I would just like to see actual stats that match up with the claim. Even an fWAR of 0.8 (last year) isn't all that thrilling, and Jeffer's was more than twice that.
  22. Cartaya is young - he was 3.4 years younger than average in AA and 4.7 years younger than average in AAA. He put up a .656 OPS at AA and .686 last year between AA and AAA. Those aren't exactly 'Hedges like' given his OPS has been well under .500 for five consecutive years.
  23. Hedges is a pure number 2 catcher - he had 146 plate appearances last year; Vasquez had more than twice that many (315). You can't compare their roles. Same with Leon - he didn't have any MLB plate appearances last year, In 2023, he had 44, and in 2022 he had 86.
  24. OK, that was funny. From what I hear, Cartaya is a good defensive catcher. Could he possibly do worse than a 60 OPS+ offensively?
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