I look at the make up of the trade a little different than others. I see it as We received Topa and cash for taking DeSclafani off of Seattles hands. We traded Polanco for Gonzalez and Bowen. This is how I see it. The organization said they were not trading Polanco for prospects. They did not do as they said they would. That is my opinion.
Good luck to Austin Martin as he starts his ML career.
Best wishes to Royce Lewis in his rehab. You Mr. Lewis are one heck of a talent with an even better attitude. I'm still behind you 100%. Twins will be fine in his absence. Just gotta push through.
After reading through the article and the comments I'm still learning about Quad injuries and don't know the extent of Royce's injury. But two things I have figured out, there are quite a few out of shape old farts commenting on Twins Daily.
Because of his crazy talent and flare is why you keep him.
But what this latest injury shows us, myself included, is that Royce should not be extended a long term contract without multiple years of good health. You have to learn something from Buxton.
Knoblauch is a great comp. I had forgotten Chuck. I'm guessing more power from Lee. There would be nothing wrong with Lee becoming a 45 WAR player imo.
We talk about Baez like he has zero chance of a bounceback, ever. Yet Correa is going to comeback to All Star status in our model. If Correa can bounce back, so can Baez.
Baez has talent, he's not one of the worst hitters in the league.
The jury is still out on whether Lee will stick at SS as well. I agree that Gary was more of a power hitter than Lee will become, but the game is more of a power game now than it was then. One would think that Lee will hit for higher average too. But who knows? I would be quite happy with a 42 WAR career from Lee. Whether at 3B, SS or 2B.
Gary Gaetti would be mine. Drafted #11 by the Twins in 1979 also out of college. Gary played most all of his games at 3B but he was also capable of filling in at SS. That would be a high bar for Brooks.
Brooks maybe a better pure hitter than Gary was. Time will tell but I'd take this as a repeat any day.
I concur, they finish with more than 75 wins. 79 or 80, with some luck maybe more. Good chance their pitching is good. Winning the AL Central in 2024 is no gimmee, and the Twins chose to fall back closer to the pack instead of widening the gap.
Call me less than optimistic, but I will be very surprised if Duran is back anytime much before June 01. Obliques are nasty, and you don't want him injuring something else coming back too soon.
That is a great group overall. Some disappointments. Some fulfillments of hopes already.
2018. 2019 I thought Colina was going to be very good. And then he wasn't....
My prediction is still for the Twins to win. 84 for the Twins. 83 for Det. 79 for Cle. Then Royals in mid 70's. With the Sad Sux in misery losing 100.
But Twins are no shoe in.
The Royals haven't made up 30 games with their improvements. But they will be a lot better in 2024. That being said I look at them as somewhere in that 73-77 wins or so. I'll agree with Dave above, will possibly embarrass the Twins in a series or two. The Twins will not have a cakewalk to the AL Central crown. If these pitching injuries continue we may not even win this division.