Wax Kepler
-
Posts
144 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
News
Minnesota Twins Videos
2026 Minnesota Twins Top Prospects Ranking
2022 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks
Minnesota Twins Free Agent & Trade Rumors, Notes, & Tidbits
Guides & Resources
2023 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks
The Minnesota Twins Players Project
2024 Minnesota Twins Draft Picks
2025 Minnesota Twins Draft Pick Tracker
2026 Minnesota Twins Draft Tracker: Picks & Bonuses
Forums
Blogs
Events
Store
Downloads
Gallery
Everything posted by Wax Kepler
-
In 2021, We could have a Rooker and Kiriloff rotation at 1B and DH with Larnach in LF. Who of this group, including Raley, has the best defense in OF, I wonder?
-
I also like Wade as a 4th outfielder. Very good plate discipline, I prefer him to Cave. Wade just seems more comfortable and competent in his role. I'm in the trade Rosario camp. I won't expect much in return. Clear the way for this group. I also really like that ability to play first that these guys have. We might not need a first baseman.
-
Is it a spike or continuous improvement? He's trending the right direction since his minor league days. A less juiced baseball would have an effect on both Garver and Cruz, however, Garver's positional value is unaffected. I think there's going to be a dropoff in production out of the DH spot regardless whether be it's Cruz or someone else.
-
Maybe could package him with Rosario for a case of beer. I'd be OK with that
-
They might if they need an influx of power.
-
I don't have a forecasting tool. Sano could come close but I kinda want him at 3rd this season. You said Garver had a better OPS+ than than one of Cruz's last 5 seasons, he's risen to that level aleady. And Sano, too? Well there you go; that's close enough for me to allocate Cruz's money to a much more urgent task, luring in the two best pitchers we can. And another catcher.
-
Fact: Cruz is 40 or very close. Fact: Cruz is a DH only I respect what he did year but I think the rest of the team is ready without him. I don't think Cruz needs to hold Sano's hand in 2020. Very good mentor, great guy but this is business and I think we have people who can replace him and come close to his production at a much lower price.
-
I don't think other teams are going to feel the same way. We hit 300+ HR. Only the teams who have as much power hitters should be less interested, like Yankees, but who knows, the Yanks might like Cruz's team friendly contract.
-
I disagree with all of that. 12 million could easily hinder a sighing considering that's nearly 10% of the entire payroll. If a team felt confident they could trade someone, of course they would pick up the option. Because the other choice is let him go and not receive anything.
-
I have no problem having catcher (Grandal) AND a DH that rakes (Garver). No problem
-
No, my worries are that the ball won't be juiced so the game is moving away from the aging Cruz and the two, age + a deflated ball, are going to take a toll and his OPS plummets. I don't think he's going to be bad, but I think not as good as last season. I think he's going to be entering a decline and last year's baseball won't be there to mask it. Sell high. Trade him for something before you can't get anything. Whoever replaces Cruz isn't going to be much worse.
-
I'm worried a less juiced baseball and the inevitable drop off he is going to experience due to age, do not expect him to come close to last year's production. I have a hunch. So, I'll throw out a hypothetical, what if Garver has a better OPS in 2020 than Cruz does? Everybody who disagrees with me is just assuming that Cruz will be better than Garver at the plate. What if it's vice versa?
-
Sounds good to me. Grandal will be costly, the best catcher available as far as I know which is also why I've heard of him.. But maybe our personnel deparment can get a better bang for the buck. Definitely want a solid defensive catcher with at least a decent bat. Sounds like I'm describing Castro, but really, just a Castro+ or Castro 2.0, whoever that is. We do for sure need a need catcher, right? I trust this front office to do their due diligence to get a good catcher to handle a big chunk of the workload. I'd be OK with Castro again but I'd like to upgrade there
-
We agree on that
-
He's 40 years old, has zero positional value, and the game came right to him with the 2019 ball. The 2020 ball is gonna be different. BATTLE UR TABLE OFF, why do you put words in my mouth, when did I say the only reason to do this is purely for the prospect we get and clearing room for Rooker. You know very well that I have presented more reasons the just getting a prospect in return and a lot more names than just Rooker. You know by I have concerns about money, Garver's durability at #1 catcher, a regression for Cruz. I want to free up those DH at bats for the multitudes of bats we've got, not just in the minors but the guys who need a break. Garver, Sano, Kepler, Polanco, Rooker, Kiriloff, or Larnach, one of them (or many of them) is going to thrive in the DH spot but also add positional value. Draft bats, buy arms, don't spend money on DH only guys when you're loaded with talent batters.
-
That's speculation on their part. They aren't getting that from any source, their just saying it's not likely because of Garver breakout. The author admits,though, the team needs a second catcher and Jeffers isn't ready now. I liked Castro. I'd be alright if they signed him and not Grandal.
-
Well, signing Grandal might help the pitching staff. But that's a fair point. Either way I don't want to pay $12 million to a DH only 40 year old when the strength of the organization is their bats. Bring up Kiriloff or Rooker, somebody's gonna get hot.
-
If Cruz isn't here the our lineup isn't good? You say don't discard for a prospect then you say sign Cole and Ryu. Well Cruz's 12 million would help a lot in that effort, so it wouldn't be for just the prospect, it would also be to allocate the money toward pitching. We got so many qualified candidate who can step in and give close to what Cruz gave you a the plate, but unlike Cruz, they'd add positional value. I'd rather allocate that $12 million to pitching.
-
That's fascinating about Grandal. I'd heard he was a good backstop but what you say about him gives me reservations about giving him a big contract. I like Cruz and loved him on the team in 2019, but not so much in 2020. I don't think we have anyone as good as Cruz but this organization is chalk full of talented bats. A number of guys could benefit from those DH at-bats and I think they wouldn't be a big dropoff from Cruz. Garver, Kiriloff, Rooker, then you have the guys who could use a night off like Sano, Kepler, Polanco. I think the production could be close to what Cruz would give. With so many young talented bats in the organization, I have trouble allocating $12 million on a guy who is DH only. Throw that money at Cole, Strasburg, Wheeler, Ryu, etc. Everybody thinks we have so much money to spend but it's going to go fast. Try to build a World Series rotation and watch all that money that people think we have so much of disappear in a flash.
-
I don't think money isn't an issue. We have 2 out of 5 spots filled in the rotation, and we're looking to lure a big fish ace plus another better than average arm. That's just the rotation, not including the bullpen, you might like to add a premium arm there. Plus you have Berrios and Buxton to extend.
-
Cruz doesn't play any position and costs about $11 million more. Garver can play catcher. I value Garver over Cruz.
-
Sell high. People talk about Garver not repeating last year's performance, but why doesn't anyone worry about that with Cruz.I think he's a regression candidate just as much as anyone else. All I wanna know is if anyone would trade Cruz mid season for a good prospect if Garver maintains his torrid pace, and you had Grandal. I think I would get irritated seeing Garver on the bench, even if I didn't have Grandal and it was only 40 games he was sitting on the bench. But you know it's going to be more than 40 games on the bench for Garver, likely way more.
-
They picked up the option on a deal that was signed last year. Cruz had no choice in the matter. They signed him last year.
-
You might have a worse lineup, but it might only be slightly worse. We don't know Cruz is going to replicate 2020 either. I think everyone is taking that as granted. The value that's added here is the difference between Grandal's positional value (which is exceptional) vs Nelson Cruz's (which is absolutely zero) minus the difference between the value of Grandal's bat vs Cruz's. I'd rather have Grandal than Cruz.
-
Well, hopefully for a promising young arm. And to extend Garver's career, and to save millions (that could go toward pitching), and to find room for a young bat that is raking in the minors, Rooker, Kiriloff, Larnach or someone like that, or someone looking for a night off in the field (Sano, Kepler, Polanco). Everyone here thinks Cruz is going to be so valuable in 2020, if that's so, we should be able to get something for him. And hopefully he is much more valuable to another AL team hoping to get in the playoffs and doesn't have the wealth of power hitters we do. Keep in mind, the goal is to get to the World Series, where Nelson Cruz will only be available in a pinch for 3 or 4 away games. Same for all the intraleague games.
