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So the Twins are strengthening up their bullpen because they know they SP4 and SP5 are going to be train wrecks with no intention to improve. Welcome to your 2024 Minnesota Twins.

Kepler has higher value to the Twins at the moment as there is no true successor in the wings. Kepler will be your starting RF on opening day. Depending on how the season goes, he may be a deadline trade candidate. Of course this goes all out the window if the Twins continue to not care about winning this season...

I am ok with the limbo aspect of this process. We are not privy to all of the restrictions and rules placed on the Twins during the bankruptcy process, there could be many reasons why things went the way the went. I am not ok with the Twins screaming "no tv contract means no spend" when there was zero doubt by anyone there would be some contract in place for this season and the money that goes along with it. I have been yelling this for months, it is an extremely bad look for the Twins and a horrible approach for this fan base that had been expecting the Twins to be WS contenders this year, only to have the carpet pulled out from under them. This is so reminiscent of the late 90's/contraction nonsense...

This. The Twins approach this offseason should anger every Twins fan. To take a WS contending team and let it fall apart due solely to save money that they annually promise to spend on payroll is extremely disappointing. I have generally been a supporter of this administration over the last few years. They aren't perfect, but you always felt they were trying to win. This is the first year that it feels like they do not care about the product and only care about money. I am having a very hard time getting excited for this season.

So the Twins cried No TV contract and cut payroll when EVERYONE knew they were going to recoup most, if not all, of that money at some point during this offseason. Now I expect them to say "there are no remaining FA the Twins want to sign" and pocket the money. Welcome back to 1997. Very, very sad.

Considering the offseason approach to pitching right now, I am guessing all 5 of these names will still be here come Spring Training with an opportunity to make the club. That itself is beyond sad...

Disappointing that the Twins would not match that contract, but understandable if they think Paddack and/or one of the MiLB guys can replace his numbers.

Couple of sites that might help your research: https://fanhqstore.com/collections/twins-autographs https://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/mlb-memorabilia/minnesota-twins/signed/o-3454+t-25771040+fa-90+z-9226-2771471032?_ref=p-TLP:m-SIDE_NAV Also, just type in Minnesota Twins signature examples on Google. Lots of image examples

A player that died about 45 years ago is not "recent" in my book. Munson is probably one of the most egregious omissions from the HOF, but the scuttlebutt is that writers did not like him because of his personality. That, and he never led the league in any offensive category, hurt him in a time when writers were more concerned about counting numbers. Coast bias is real. That is why Derek Jeter is considered a god and George Brett is just really good.

Considering the Mets have already come out and said Alonso is not on the market, I am not sure where this article is coming from...

If Joe Mauer played for the Yankees, Red Sox, etc. there would be no discussion here. He would be flying in on the first ballot. The fact that this is even open for discussion continues to show how political the HOF is.

I put Ryan as nearly untouchable because he a cost-controlled 2/3 type SP. Hard to imagine a scenario or player the Twins would package him for....

The points you make are valid. However, unless the Twins come out and say Correa or Lee is being moved to another position, Lee is the odd man out. Teams prefer to trade form a position of depth...

The only real untouchables in the Twins organization are Buxton, Correa, Lopez, and possibly Ryan. The list of guys that would be moved if them Twins were blown away or acquiring an elite level player includes Lewis, Duran, and Julien. I do not believe they would be traded but they could be moved in the right deal. Any minor leaguer (including Jenkins and Lee) could be moved. Minor leaguers are a high risk acquisition, look at the number of trades that give a top player for elite prospects and see how many of the prospects truly work out. The failures dramatically outweigh the successes. Personally I think if the Twins are going to make another Lopez-like trade for another pitcher, Lee and Larnach will be at the top of the list to be moved. Lee is stuck in a tough spot being behind Correa and Lewis, it is easy to see the Twins look to move him for a position of need.

Playoff team that won a series... Not sure what your interpretation of a WS contending team is...

I just realized this is an ESPN+ article... Here is the Phillies package proposed: Castellanos, outfield prospect Justin Crawford, pitching prospect Griff McGarry and $5 million in cash each year from 2024 to 2026

I agree that Trout is probably only behind Ohtani in true value. We are talking about off-field as well as on. What makes it somewhat doable is the injury risk you assume with Trout on top of the monster contract he has attached to him. There is a price for every player...

I respectfully disagree. The Twins have prospect depth and quality, especially in the infield. The biggest in a trade like this is dollars. If the Twins would need to eat the entire contract, the prospect package would be smaller think.

Ghirardelli - sweet swing... I see what you did there

ESPN had an interesting article today about what a trade between the Phillies and Angels for Mike Trout could look like. That article can be found here: Why the Phillies should trade for Mike Trout Trout's contract, age, and injury history play a big part in this type of deal, but the proposal offered by the Phillies seems very light considering you would be getting a still very effective Mike Trout. Living in the dream world, assuming the Twins want Trout and Trout is willing to come to Minnesota, let's build an offer that might be acceptable. The big factor would probably be how much salary the Twins would be willing to take on. We know the Twins have discussed lowering salary, but I am tend to believe they will be somewhat close to last year. Trout is owed $248m over the next 7 years, about $35.5m per season. I don't think the Twins would assume that much salary, so they would have to offset some of it with prospect talent. Here is what I think it would take: Twins receive: Mike Trout $12m per season ($84m total) Angels receive: Max Kepler Brooks Lee David Festa Simeon Woods Richardson Matt Canterino Kepler provides a quality short-term OF replacement. The Angels get two strong prospects and two decent-but-questionable prospects. The prospect quality helps to offset the salary. I am in the middle on this... Granted Buxton or Trout would have to move to a corner OF spot, but Trout brings a huge jumpstart to the offense. Having Trout also puts the Twins in a stronger national spotlight position. Would you make this trade? Would you look at a different offer? Have at it...

Baseball windows tend to be pretty small for players. Luck and injuries can unfortunately play a huge role in that. Gordon underperformed for so long in the minors. When he finally got a long look, he had some success. The horrid start to 2023 with the season ending injury, allowed Wallner and Julien to bypass him. I believe Gordon's window with the Twins is all but closed. I anticipate he will be tendered and signed, but ultimately moved before the 2024 season starts.

So who does Trey have as the Twins #41 prospect? That is the real question...

I have never said they should trade Julien, only that I don't believe his future is at 2B. He has tremendous offense potential, but they need to find him a defensive home were they do not need to pull him out for a defensive replacement in the late innings. Maybe 1B or OF...

Tendering them a contract and expecting them to be on the roster in 2024 are two totally different things. The Twins already showed their hand with Luplow and DeLeon, expect all of these players to be tendered (or signed/traded).

I am very aware of the reports on Lee. I am finding it hard to believe you expect a WS contending team like the Twins to turn a full-time 2B job over to a minor league SS that is one year removed from Rookie Ball and has 38 games in AAA where he batted .237 with an OPS of .731. Why is this even a discussion? He may turn out to be what you say, but he has not shown he is ready to take the reigns. Also, for the record, Kepler and Polanco provided 4.9 WAR last year for the Twins. The Twins are totally fine paying $4m per WAR when the going rate is much higher. Stop looking at the dollars in a bubble and look at what they bring to the table. As I stated earlier, I do not believe Julien is the 2B of the future. His bat is great, but a full-time 2B he is not.