AlLagoon

Hope Tait stays in Cedar Rapids at least through June, as I have my tickets booked for a visit down there.

Bradley collecting Cy Young scalps: Skukil, now Scherzer.

Oriole fans gotta be puzzled by that.

Was just gonna create a post, "Is Royce Lewis a bust?" and saw this. He is just 26, it might yet happen. Hunter Greene was my hopeful pick, mainly because he seemed to have outstanding character on top of a two way game. Water under the bridge. Royce is 10th in WAR for his draft class, at 4.0. But 4th in WAR for that draft class: Brent Rooker, at 8.8. His 46 HRs are 5th in his draft class, well behind Rooker's 1st place 108. I think we punted the wrong guy. Probably not Ortiz vs. LeCroy stupid, but still. As I recall, Lewis was one of those helium prospects that caught everybody's eye late, much like fellow SS Keoni Cavaco. Dangerous practice. Dubious about this guys future. Wasn't a red-hot draft class, but still, missing on a #1 overall? That's not how it's supposed to work.

23. That ain't young by baseball standards. Why roll out a AAAA veteran in his place? If this is what new Pohlad and Shelton are about, barf!

They don't really say at the Twins website.

I don't know if I'd classify a guy who led the National league in hits last season and still had more walks than strikeouts, like Arraez did, as in steep decline. His brand of ball might be out of style, but at 28, he might have a batting title or two left in the tank.

So my thread about extending him and buying a year or two of free-agency, I did have those years well below market value I am realizing. Still, better to start low and meet in the middle than do what the Wild did with Kaprizov, start with richest contract ever and have them refuse after owner states again and again he'll open the wallet no matter what. KK's agent played Leopold for the fool he is. Sadly, this Twins ownership is starting to remind me of Calvin Griffith's Twins, where you knew your best players would be leaving once they became too expensive: Carew, Hisle, Bostock, etc. So much for Target Field and all its revenue streams fixing that.

The guy has been a bargain from day 1. He's arbitration eligible through 2027, becomes a free agent 2028, at which point he will be 31. I'd buy out a couple years of free agency, something like 8, 10, 12 , 14: nice payday for him, and some cost-controlled bedrock in the rotation to build on. Win/win for Joe, immense wealth, chance for more at 33 years old. What say you?

Dumb dumb dumb

My theory - the Twins expected him to get scooped up for more dough by a team with deeper pockets than the Twins. Time passed, he was still available, they made an offer and were rewarded. I know the Polhads are cheap, but will they sweat a million or so? If Jackson agrees to be AAA depth, so much the better.

Age old question: how many shortstops do you need to spend a high draft pick on to find a winner? From Levi Michael to Marek Houston, and Lee, Culpepper, Lewis in between. Sheesh, draft a pitcher.

I'd wager that if the Twins knew Caratini would be available to them, they wouldn't have bothered with Jackson.

I dunno, his WTF is off the charts, coupled with that sterling FTP. Bustout a comin'.

Machado needed some competition? I wish Miranda well. Liked him as a player, and as a cousin to Lin-Manuel.