tony&rodney

And Merrill, a prospect not as highly rated? Milwaukee had players to play ahead of Chourio but they stuck with him despite two plus months of a near .210 BA. Your team, the Bewers, wins with confidence in their young players. Why can the Brewers play Ortiz, Turang, Frelick, and Mitchell? Is age the barometer? Contract? The point was that the Twins need a boost to their lineup and to their team and they need to trust their rookies at some point or get value for them in trade if they just prefer more experienced players. Nobody knows how a rookie will do as evidenced by the experience of Jackson Holliday last season. Sometimes a team needs to have enough confidence in a player that they give that player a real shot. The Twins would never have stuck with Chourio into mid June. I'm not comparing Rodriguez to other players. He is quite a bit different in a host of skills and weaknesses. If the only way a Twins player gets an opportunity as a rookie is via an injury, that player faces a tough road wondering if they slip up or slump and glancing over their shoulder expecting to be replaced when the veteran is healed up again.

Keaschall stays; didn't trade him.

Kind of feel bad for dxpavelka because he had Pete Alonso coming to Target Field and I appreciated his optimism. and hope for a big bat in the Twins lineup.

Falvey added Bader as the thunder. Hmmm?

Agree with this and one has to wonder why another team didn't step in sooner if Bader had this much value. The lack of planning seems evident to me. The current payroll sits at $148 million or so. I never thought the Twins were closely tied to $125-130M, but now we are well beyond that range. This has become a pattern. I guess there may still be a couple of trades, perhaps even ones that include bigger salaries and more than just one or two players. We shall see what comes next but the current state of the team is a little strange.

Harrison Bader is athletic, which is a plus. He runs well. He also is a good glove, something lacking last year from the Twins. These are positive points. Bader was ok in the first half of last season and did manage a career high in PA. However, Harrison cratered badly in the second half. Perhaps the Twins can use him once a week and as a defensive replacement in the 9th inning.

Merrill had never played an inning in CF before running out there for the Padres, not even in the minor leagues. Merrill was not rated as highly as Rodriguez is currently, really the same range though. Chourio, highly rated, struggled mightily for more than 50 games and didn't turn it around until June last year, after more than 50 games. These guys both played for teams that are better/ more competitive than the Twins. I understand nobody wants me to ask how many times have you watched a guy, so I will quote someone who has scouted him a fair amount, from Fangraphs. The following squares with my own personal views. "The thing that is going to pop off the screen at you when Rodriguez reaches Minnesota is his defense. He isn’t an elite speedster with huge range; instead, he has incredible skill at the catch point. He makes spectacular plays around the wall and while going to the ground. His reads, routes, instincts and ball skills in center are all spectacular, and right now, he has the foot speed to play there." - Fangraphs As I stated elsewhere, Emmanuel is ready. He is a classic boom or bust player. I'm not understanding why the Twins are so reticent to put a rookie in the lineup. I'm not talking about easing them in either. Who is demonstrably better as a potential outcome? A couple of years ago the Twins gave Joey Gallo well over 300 PA all the way into September before they pulled the plug. This has happened again and again with vets. Good for them and they earn a little extra money too, which is a good thing. Now it is time to allow that lattitude to a rookie who might be around for awhile. The Twins have nothing to lose.

Your first line is out of line. The history of special players getting put right in the starting lineup is long. Cal Griffith ordered Rod Carew to be in the lineup every day. Last year Milwaukee played Jackson Chourio for two months before he came around. Joe Mauer never played at AAA and he would have been up a year earlier if he wasn't still working on catcher specific skills. The Twins have had their share of Rookie of the Year winners but it has been a while. Rodriguez is well ahead of other minor leaguers. His 90% line drive rate leads all minors players. His on base is spectacular. His defense is excellent. How many times have you watched him play. He has definite faults. He strikes out a ton and whiffs on pitches he should hit. He toys with AA and AAA pitchers including the top pitchers at that level. We don't know how he will turn out and if he will manage at the MLB level until he gets the opportunity. Emmanuel is fully developed physically. The guy needs a challenge. Jenkins needs repetitions and experience at AA. They are different players at different points in their development. Rodriguez has already pounded everyone at the minor league level. He is a classic boom or bust prospect that has a very high value right now. An athlete like Rodriguez rises to the confidence shown in him. There are times an organization or individuals within a system don't believe in a player. That doesn't work well. Get value while value is ripe.

Emmanuel has more at bats in AAA than both Chourio and Merrill from last year's rookie class. That argument doesn't carry with special players. Mauer never played AAA and had only 73 games at AA. I think we all sample more than ten beers across a period of time before we settle on an opinion of our "go to" favorite beverage. People often sample many omelets before their opinion rests on one that works for them. Perhaps the Twins don't believe in him and think he is not ready. If that is the case, trade him. The value will never be higher. Kansas City will gladly stick Emmanuel in the lineup. We can then enjoy his at bats from a close experience. This feels like Johan. Free Emmanuel.

In the 2023-2024 offseason the Twins indicated that the payroll budget would retreat to former levels after a one year bump. The outcry was phenomenal and unending. It was also a little bit expected by those who knew about the one time payment and the dying RSN. At the close of the 2024 season the Twins indicated that the payroll budget would not be cut further and the details were left as nebulous as one could possible state nothing. Twins Daily, Aaron Gleeman and others went ballistic about the *****Pohlads. A statement was issued that the Twins were for sale and that numerous parties had already been involved as interested parties to an unknown degree to that point. The Ishbias were noted. The sale process was reported as moving along quite smoothly or words to that effect with an April or May date expected for finalization although the end point was left open. This obviously meant that the 2025 player payroll would be entirely the responsibility of a new owner. All during this offseason, every single article until about two weeks ago contained a reference to "owner imposed payroll restrictions", a mantra repeated on national press and roundly circulated as fact when there was never any statements or indications of a said policy. The $130 miilion 26 person Opening Day payroll was gospel or we were led to believe that line. Now the Twins are approaching $148 million (Fangraphs) for a 26 person payroll and crickets from Twins Daily and Gleeman among others on what looks to be a rather substantial operating change. Apologies for all of the character assassinations? Hmmm. Waiting. I cannot wait for a new ownership group because my choice of the best ownership group lost out in 1984. Not a fan of old Carl (RIP), but his sons and grandkids did what they could if one understands the lack of baseball acumen in the family. For now I'm hoping for a few big trades (Falvey needs to make at least an effort to keep his job) and the completion of the sale of the Minnesota Twins Baseball Club.

Pardon the interruption but I have to ask you if you have seen at least a couple dozen to fifty of his plate appearances. I'm not interested in hearing about video highlights or statistics, but actual game PA. How many?

What would your lineup look like? SP = Lopez, Cease, Ober, Ryan, Woods Richardson RP = Jax, Sands, Stewart, Alcala, Coulombe, Varland, Henriquez, and Tonkin Bats = Rodriguez-LF, Buxton-CF, Wallner-RF, Correa-SS, Eeles-2B, Lewis-1B, Miranda-DH, Jeffers-C, Lawler-3B with Bader-OF, Vazquez-C, Lee-ut, Martin-ut.

Goodbye Joe, hello Bader. Win projection 85?

Are we feeling any possibility of a Cease trade after the Bader thing today? Can't think of another reason for Bader. Defense-yes, but at a price more than was likely out there from anyone else. Did Falvey want insurance before a trade?

Expect absolutely nothing and then be pleasantly surprised by anything at all.

The Cease conversations must have some length. That is my conclusion.

Matthew, I'm happy for you that you feel this move puts the Twins in a good spot.

You might not know these players but both Jackson Chourio (LF-Brewers) and Jackson Merrill (CF-Padres) were put into the lineup and kept there by teams that wound up either winning their division (MIL-NLC) or getting into the playoffs (SDP-NLW). Both Jacksons struggled horribly early and often until they found their pace. Chourio was highly ranked and Merrill was ranked last year a few spots below where Emmanuel Rodriguez is now. Rookies are rookies until they get enough playing time. Rodriguez is ready, he doesn't need to prove anything. The Twins need to prove they believe in him. If they do not, then the Twins should trade Rodriguez now while his value is sky high. Kansas City and Pittsburgh will put him in the lineup. Here is another way to look at this development. Emmanuel Rodriguez tears up AAA in his first 10-20 games. Do the Twins call up Emmanuel and DFA Bader? I'm still waiting for Falvey to do something right that makes the Twins more competitive in their division. This isn't it in my opinion. For all of those who disagree, I am happy that the Bader signing has raised your outlook for the Twins and that you feel encouraged by this action. Different viewpoints, that's all.

I have never said this about Falvey, but you have likely put it as plainly as possible for those wanting to know what is up with the Twins.

A couple of stats people on TD love are WAR and OPS+. Bader was ok, just ok, in ...... 2021. He is as likely to have an OPS of starting with a 5 than one starting with a 6. When teams carried 10 pitchers they also carried late inning defensive replacements like Bader. Could be a trend.

Injured all year? He can be. Don't bet on it.

I feared this type of signing just as I fear Falvey getting fleeced in a trade. Will the other shoe drop? The Twins have a really good player to step in and play centerfield. His name is Emmanuel Rodriguez and he can play LF or RF too as his regular gig. Seems like the Twins do not believe in EmRod and they might as well trade him to give him an opportunity elsewhere. Maybe a prospect for prospect deal. ... Milwaukee, Kansas City, Pittsburgh.

Place your bet.

This looks a lot like the trade for Margot last season. Perhaps we can just wish that signing Bader allows for the Twins to push through and find a decent deal with Preller to bring Cease to the Twins. As is, the team looks close to a 82-86 wins squad at best. I'm losing hope.

I guess I would too. Wondering if San Diego accepts Paddack. I'm real high on both Woods Richardson and Matthews but losing one allows a good year of development from AAA SP's with Lopez, Cease, Ober, Ryan leading, and Festa or SWR in the fifth spot. Initially I didn't really think Cease would be a good idea because of the cost of players going to the Padres. Now i feel like the Twins need a little shaking up to move off of being a .500 team. This will require faith and commitment to Emmanuel Rodriguez and few other inexperienced players. I'm still not sure the Twins believe in their guys. I'm a little concerned about the lack of a decent catcher to work in the event that either Jeffers or Vazquez go down for two or more weeks. The last two years the Twins have rolled with these two and plan to do so again. Seems like a backup plan is needed. The guys they have slated for AA and AAA are ok for a week or so but any longer time will expose the team badly.