Brandon
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Everything posted by Brandon
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I think the Twins are hoping just one of them finds their control. There is really only one spot open in the pen unless there are injuries. I think the strategy is if the Twins can develop one of the flame throwers into a dominant reliever, they got one for a fraction of their worth to the team. if they develop 2 all the better. I think the Twins are hoping this is the low-cost way to getting a dominant reliever on the cheap and have them all set by the all-star break or by August anyways so they have time to show they are ready to dominate for us in the playoffs. I see the pen as: Duran, Jax, Stewart, Theilbar, Alcala, Funderburk, I think Winder has a likely one of the last two with the last spot a free for all. I think it may not go to the best pitcher but the one they can work with and develop the best in that slot.
- 19 replies
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- jorge alcala
- josh staumont
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Isnβt Gordon repped by ROC Nation? They may be the ones advising their client on the value they think he is worth. But 1.25 million is a loser as the projection model has him at 1 million so the 900k is going to win and Gordonβs pride is going to get busted if he doesnβt settle. Also like the two options for Farmer with Farmer the Twins can either have him back for next year at a predetermined price or save 250,000 if Farmer opts out and if they decide to get rid of him they pay that 250,000. and Alcala. Itβs going to help keep costs down next year. I love the nickel and diming.
- 35 replies
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- kyle farmer
- nick gordon
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For as much success as we had with health last season we had quite a few starters in our rotation miss time with injuries. Mahle only got 5 starts. Meada missed over a month close to two. Ryan had a groin injury and Paddack was out almost the entire year. We did get volume from our top 8 though. Lopez, Gray, Mahle, Paddack, Ober, Ryan, Meada, Varland with Keuchel getting 6 or more starts too.
- 34 replies
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- paddack
- bailey ober
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I thought about this too after the trade and it just doesn't work for the Twins to get him. They would need to trade Polanco to offset the salary and that right there should tell you no. because of all the risk you mentioned above and the loss of Polanco. We would need more to complete the trade. I am hoping the Twins sign someone like Ryu to a contract. We almost had him before. but if we are going to sign an aging starter who is more of a number 4-5 then I would want Ryu and save the talent and trade Polanco for something else. back to the topic at hand. no on Desclafani unless the cost is minimal with cash coming back to help cover part of his contract. now Seattle is probably saying no.
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The Twins Have Been Great at Replacing Stars They Trade
Brandon replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
That is exactly what a contender is. A team who should make the playoffs where anything can happen. I mean the Rangers and Diamondbacks were both just contenders last season. Itβs not like they were any better than the Twins.- 67 replies
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- edouard julien
- pablo lopez
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The Table Setter, Jan. 9: What To Do With Trevor Larnach
Brandon replied to Matt Braun's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
Can Larnarch play 1B? We seem to want a backup plan or platoon player to pair with Killeroff. I know a 2 left handed batter tandem in a platoon is crazy but if we donβt have another option. If Miranda is back in AAA then why not give Larnarch some time in LF, 1B and DH? To be fair he did knock in 40 RBI in under 200 AB last season. I think he can hit. The question is can he hit enough to push his way back into the starting lineup? -
The Twins Have Been Great at Replacing Stars They Trade
Brandon replied to Nick Nelson's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
The Twins front office have shown nothing but top level respect for Correa and the Twins are contenders for the foreseeable future even with a limited budget. Minnesota is a much better place than many of the other Major League cities to raise a family. I doubt Correa looks to be traded anytime soon if ever. Itβs fine as even though he had a lower batting average due to injury, he was still a leader other players could look up to and with Lewis, Julien, Killeroff, Jeffers, Wallner and Larnarch on the team and Gordon and Castro to. Correa is a good asset to have for the team. You could also add the Brian Dozier trade since Polanco moved over and took over 2B.- 67 replies
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- edouard julien
- pablo lopez
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The Table Setter, Jan. 8: And Teoscar Goes To...
Brandon replied to Ted Schwerzler 's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
8.5 million is deferred. He only gets 15 million this season. -
Can Josh Winder Sink to Success?
Brandon replied to Cody Pirkl's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
I donβt see why he doesnβt just learn the Screwball nobody seems to throw that pitch anymore, and add a good euphus pitch every hundred pitches or so to help keep batters honest. Is his brush back pitch any good? I guess if his career is on the line he could learn the scuffball pitch. -
So by bringing his walk rate closer to Gallo and Sano levels makes it sounds like he is becoming more like them. Wallner.can also take a beating as by his 10 HBP will attest.
- 29 replies
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- matt wallner
- miguel sano
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I think they are underwhelming if we are looking to fill an important role. getting both Bundy and Archer for the rotation when we were looking for #2-3 starters is not fun. trying to take a high ceiling player with issues and stashing them in low leverage situation is different. That player could be another Brock Stewart. signing a hole plugger with issues like Joey Gallo is not fun. Because of how likely he is to not fully rebound. signing Brock Stewart who came out of nowhere to be a vital part of our pen or Theilbar now those signings were fun.
- 22 replies
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- aj alexy
- josh staumont
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And I would rate Raya at 13 once he leap frogs Festa. There is still distance from where he is and that point. Also Raya has been on strict pitch counts limiting his innings pitched. I just think he has more to do to get the higher ranking. Thatβs just my opinion and not that big a deal in the grand scheme. I feel like a 19 or 20 ranking due to potential is more accurate for where he is at.
- 33 replies
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- joe ryan
- emmanuel rodriguez
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I like this strategy. Our bullpen is actually ok as constructed. The hope was to get starter to bump Varland to the pen so we have another power arm and a reliable one. Now its can we develop one of these guys to be that guy when we need that extra arm the most? Last season it was Cole who has an ok floor but low ceiling in the last spot in the pen and he went long stretches without pitching in a game. This is a good time for someone to be working out the kinks and developing control. but with the other spots ok. I mean we have the following in the pen already: Duran, Jax, Stewart, Theilbar Alcala, Funderburk then choose from Headrick, Winder, Balazovich, Henriquez and Staumont. Ryan Jenson and AJ Alexy can work their way up in AAA. We have had success in the past. Look at Stewart as #1, then we had DeLeon until he threw his arm instead of the ball. I think this works because the other 7 spots in the pen are at least solid. Winder seems to be the guy for that 7th spot. Having a 4.00 ERA from your 7th reliever is not bad. This gives us the best chance to internally develop that potential lights out reliever at minimum cost and without costing the team wins too as the last reliever gets brought in to save the others from working in losses typically or in blow outs. The goal is to have him be fully established and on top of his game a month or two before the playoffs to show he is ready to contribute.
- 22 replies
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- aj alexy
- josh staumont
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Didnβt Ober have a healthy year this last year? He did pitch a full season. The Twins did limit his innings a little so he would be ready for the postseason. As far as the rankings go I think you ranked Raya and ERod too high. They are both a long ways from the majors. Pitching prospects have a high flame out rate. I do agree on your Festa ranking as he is on the cusp of being a major league starter. Anyways just nitpicking. These lists are fun this time of year when nothing is happening. From the comments above it does seem like someone deserving of a top 20 asset is getting squeezed. Iβll stay tuned to find out.
- 33 replies
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- joe ryan
- emmanuel rodriguez
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Would You Double Down on Donny Barrels?
Brandon replied to Cody Pirkl's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
If they trade Polanco then yes. if not they may not have enough playing time available. for the if we already have: Killeroff/ Miranda Polanco / Julien Correa Lewis with Farmer as an all-round back up and Lee and Martin and Severino waiting in the minors. Solano did win me over after his performance last year and I would love to have him back if the Twins feel they need another 1B option. either way I hope he lands in a good spot regardless and continues his march towards 1000 career hits. -
I found this to be pretty humorous. The Twins are outspending 2 of the biggest spenders this offseason. Their 950k contract is more than 4 other teams have given out at this point. So, it's not just the Twins having a slow offseason. Have a great Happy New Year everyone! Each Team's Free Agent Spending Thus Far - MLB Trade Rumors
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This is a great article. Loved reading it.
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Jeff Mathis: Could he become a Twins catching coach?
Brandon commented on Doctor Gast's blog entry in Doctor Gast's Blog
In the late 1990s to 2000, the Twins developed many C that several started for other teams, and a few were backups. But I think I remember counting 6 or 7 C developed over a 5 year period. (David Nilsson, Javier Valentin Rob Bowen, Damien Miller, Chad Moeller, and AJ Pierzynski These guys all came up between 1997 and 2000). Then we developed Mayer and Wilson Ramos and Butters (Butera he actually came over as a prospect when we traded Luis Castillo to the Mets I think). It would be nice to get back to that. It did seem like we were close with Garver, Jeffers, Revordt, and now Carmago. But it appears there is not much else on the farm at this time. -
This is what I dont get, if Castro is good enough defensively at CF, why do we need another CF backup. Castro had a .750 OPS and stole 33 bases. Gordon then Kepler on the bench/ backup should be more then enough.
- 64 replies
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- max kepler
- byron buxton
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I think as a team player he should be open to some CF. Not 80 games maybe 10-20. I think we have plenty of in-house players for CF but for those must win games where we want maximum offense he could play CF and let Larnarch and Wallner start. But I think Larnarch needs to show he can hit consistently before asking Kepler to move over. I was wondering if Lee could handle CF and play that and some IF in a call up to see what he can do.
- 64 replies
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- max kepler
- byron buxton
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we have seen the Twins find gems for their pen this way too many times now not to be upset at a move like this. if you are not expecting this type of move by now you are out of touch with reality. What I wonder is if the Twins are now happy with their bullpen depth or will they sign one more player to take a chance on?
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An Under-the-Radar Center Field Trade Target
Brandon replied to Adam Friedman's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
A perfect trade scenario of Farmer for Slater. Both will be free agents next offseason. But I think π€ Buxton will play 90-120 games there and the rest will be in house candidates. Castro, Gordon, or Austin Martin.- 27 replies
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- byron buxton
- kyle farmer
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5 Gifts for the Twins in 2024
Brandon replied to Ted Schwerzler 's topic in Twins Daily Front Page News
π #6 no sophomore slumps π #7 return to health and form for both Killeroff and Miranda. π #8 Vazquez finds his bat and hits next year at a 105+ OPS rate. π #9 Julienβs glove makes a run for a gold glove or atleast becomes a good asset. π #10 The only reason I can see Varland in the rotation instead of the bullpen is I can see him pitching 180 innings a season without getting hurt so he does that with an ERA below 4.00. π #11 The Twins find another bullpen stud on a minor league contract. π #12 We find a willing trade partner to get us the playoff starter we need without giving up too many prospects or costing us players on the team we need. Now we have the 12 Days of Christmas π covered.- 24 replies
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- byron buxton
- carlos correa
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There's a player that I think would be a nice 2024 addition.
Brandon replied to Riverbrian's topic in Minnesota Twins Talk
The high strikeouts are ok if the rest of the AB lead to things that produce runs. Meneses doesn't walk much. many with high strikeouts do walk a lot and have a high on base percentage as a result. Normally I would agree that we strike out too much as a team, but we did tie for the AL lead in HRs and was pretty highly ranked in the league in offense the second half as well. I am not justifying the strikeouts as ok but there is validity to what the Twins brass is doing with assembling our offense.

