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tony&rodney

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Everything posted by tony&rodney

  1. tony&rodney
    I'm not particularly high on Keirsey Jr., but reality means the Twins don't sign a Bader and if they do the past record suggests that usage continues past the time when a DFA is needed. Not enough money and not enough common sense in usage. This likely means that Keirsey Jr. is next one up. A far better choice (IMO) is that the Twins begin the season with Emmanuel Rodriguez in the outfield. The primary knock on EmRod is strike outs and the big fear is injury. Cast all anxiety aside. He is ready. Put him in the lineup and should Buxton go down for any time the Twins can slide Emmanuel over into centerfield. Problem solved.
  2. tony&rodney
    I'm not sure what you mean by vibes. If you watched enough of these players at AAA you could see the player's positive and negative points. Transferring those skills to MLB is much more difficult but everyone starts at the bottom when it comes to rookies and MLB experience. I think the Twins need to place trust in a couple players. If Bader or Hernandez agree to sign for $2 million or less, I might agree with you. Then if the Twins were not satisfied with performance, the player could simply be DFA'ed. However, that doesn't seem likely. Neither Hader nor Hernandez managed to impress with their OPS, WAR, or OPS+ numbers or much of anything else really. Given, I would choose either of them over Keirsey Jr. or Martin or Helman if they all played for the same salary. Bader and Hernandez, somewhat similar to Margot, are no longer the players they were in the recent past and there is very little guarantee that they will perform any better than the younger guys in the Twins system or even stay healthy. I don't think this is all about money, but teams are reluctant to pay Bader or Hernandez much more than the minimum for a reason. Austin Hays just signed for $5 million and he is still seen as capable of being a starter and productive bat. There was a fair amount of consideration that his past year was simply due to a serious health issue and not a massive decline in skill or inability to stay healthy. Hays was a player a team takes a chance at, although I don't think for a second that the Twins should have signed Hays either at any price. I'm a little surprised that Jose Iglesias hasn't received a contract yet. Maybe he signs for $2-3M.
  3. tony&rodney
    Think the Rays traded Ryan for Cruz at the trade deadline in the summer because they wanted a bat.
  4. tony&rodney
    The Twins have to feel that the team is in a pretty good spot with Woods Richardson, Festa, and Matthews trending upward. Makes any trade for Cease seem difficult too due to the loss of several players that would need to go to San Diego. I have more belief in Festa and Matthews now than I did going into last season because they have continued to refine and adapt to hitters. Yes, each had a few hiccups but the overall stuff and skill looks really good and the team will benefit from the experience gained last season. Hard to know what the Twins can get from Brooks Lee. He looked weak but bad backs will do that. The other position guys on the list are all capable of solid production as utility players. It has to be very difficult for an athlete who has always been a star to see their projections stall as a part time player. The mental hurdle is enormous but Keirsey Jr., Martin, Helman, and Camargo should be decent utility players.
  5. tony&rodney
    Not sure Tork is worth Julien either.
  6. tony&rodney
    The odds are probably 1,000-1 right now. The conversation (of some kind) was had, reported, and thoroughly discussed. The Twins would need to sign Luke Maille first to minor league deal, $2M. If the Twins wanted to make Preller think real hard, they could throw a pile of players in an attempt to entice him. It won't work and if it did it might weaken the Twins. No harm in texting. Vazquez, Larnach, Julien, Raya, and Cory Lewis is my last offer ..... for now. I think this idea has outlived its shelf life, but it never hurts to wish/discuss.
  7. tony&rodney
    The problem is that one of the two teams (or both) may be reluctant to face a guy they gave up on too soon. It is just how MLB works. I mean there should be times when these trades are made. This may be a perfect example but the hesitancy is still there even if it seems counterproductive.
  8. tony&rodney
    Yes and this makes Luke Maille the last available MLB catcher. Minnesota cannot trade Vazquez before acquiring a catcher which is what we knew back in October. Meanwhile the free agent market is reduced to Margot or Andrelton Simmons or we now know for sure that trades are the only path remaining if the Twins want to add any significant players this offseason. It is possible that Paddack is dealt for a lower level prospect. The current roster looks ok and it is likely to be what we see in April unless Falvey gets real fancy. No use guessing any longer.
  9. tony&rodney
    Well, I was responding to a comment that posits the Twins as a landing for Alonso, which seems way way out there to me. If the Twins were to have had an interest and a willingness to spend Walker was the better bet. I'm not a fan of Pete Alonso but wondered what type of deal dxpavelka envisioned the Twins might see? Good to read what others think always.
  10. tony&rodney
    Yes, I find that interesting because he was the #5 pick in Round 1, but never had one position in college or thereafter. Good athlete, not openly poor defensively but also not really average either at any position. Odd.
  11. tony&rodney
    The Diamondbacks had their wrists slapped a few years back for too many deferrals. One thing to consider is that any team can defer contracts but only to that amount where the money gets set aside and is covered. How does a team worth $1 billion defer $1 billion+ in salaries? This is complex and it is easy to understand how the players like this arrangement because it is good for income. Similarly it is easy to understand how the wealthier teams like this arrangement because it reduces their CBT liability and they have the money to set aside which satisfies requests from players and may also benefit the club financially as well in the long run. I'm not seeing the attraction for about 20 teams in MLB and it makes one wonder how that affects competition. From a distant viewpoint it looks like the CBA is largely a negotiation between the MLBPA and the ten or so wealthiest franchises. The players get enough to agree to terms, especially the top earners, and roughly two thirds of the clubs are still viable financially via revenue distribution to still be among the club (MLB).
  12. tony&rodney
    Martin was a CF/LF in his first year, 3B/if in second, and Of in his third year at Vanderbilt. Toronto and Minnesota moved him to the infield in 2021 and 2022. When he played in 2023 and 2014 Martin was used in both the infield and outfield. The idea that Austin Martin hasn't had many experiences in the outfield doesn't compute. Perhaps his issues defensively are a lack of confidence from being moved all over virtually every year and now he finds himself needing to prove himself as a utility player when he was once seen as a future MLB regular. I can only wish him good luck. Looking at his usage from college until now, I see what appears to be some mismanagement.
  13. tony&rodney
    Bohorquez is one to watch in his first full year above the rookie level leagues. Good player to highlight. Last season Fangraphs also liked Yoel Roque but I haven't heard or seen anything about him.
  14. tony&rodney
    Your take is interesting. Do you think Alonso will sign a one year deal for $10-20 million or less? If the Twins were shopping for a free agent first baseman, there were players available for a better price. Christian Walker? The optimism is laudable but it would be far more surprising than the Correa signing.
  15. tony&rodney
    It was a stretch to suggest the Twins have the best bullpen. Perhaps an optimist would suggest one of the best or possibly a strong relief corps. The Twins bullpen should be ok. They signed another guy. Minor league free agent, and former 19th round pick by the Colorado Rockies, Jacob Bosiokovic has agreed to a deal with the Minnesota Twins. Bosiokovic spent time at North Carolina’s Tread Athletics this offseason and transformed his abilities. It is way too winter for baseball but nothing much is happening. Maybe all the GMs are playing a game of I'm not calling him, he should call me.
  16. tony&rodney
    Trading Larnach is a risk, for sure. Festa is a no though. Twins and Padres have their work cut out for themselves as they fight to put together rosters that manage to compete for a playoff position without causing any harm to their futures.
  17. tony&rodney
    Arraez is not playing for the Twins again, as close to zero as anyone. Invest in a starting pitcher? Gone over thoroughly and now up to Preller and Favey. A new rumor suggests San Diego is gaging interest in another one of their starting pitchers due for free agency next year, Michael King. There is no way King returns half of what Cease can bring to the Padres roster. Preller has his work cut out for him. Falvey can dictate any terms. Thinking from Preller's pov, the Pads ask for Matthews, Larnach, Julien, and Vazquez for Cease. San Diego has 35 players on their 40 person roster. No idea what Falvey thinks. Curious what BTV thinks of something like the above?
  18. tony&rodney
    Having watched Keaschall on a number of occasions he was pretty good at first base. The arm injury has kept him from working at other position for the most part. We don't have a clear picture of his abilities with a glove at this time. However, perhaps you have seen him play numerous times in the last few years and saw something else. How many times have you watched Keaschall play?
  19. tony&rodney
    Tork doesn't have much value at this time. The Tigers and Twins could exchange Julien and Tork but being in the same division means it is unlikely. The Twins will also want to see if Julien has made any adjustments to bring back his value.
  20. tony&rodney
    There may have been a path but the Twins don't have a Crochet to give away, so Teel to Minnesota was not going to happen. The White Sox don't need Crochet because they are going to lose again for a few years. They do have some good pitching arriving soon, but Crochet was never going to pitch on the South Side. The Twins never had a shot at him. A drastic and controversial long shot to throw out one idea would be an exchange of Pablo Lopez for Samuel Basallo. I'm not sure either side agrees to that deal and I totally understand. I think it is better to just be patient as we have no say in the matter in any event.
  21. tony&rodney
    It is late January with pitchers and catcher reporting in a couple of weeks; time for optimism. All three of the players discussed in this article are important to the Twins fortunes. They will all be true veterans in how they prepare and ramp up for the season. It's great to hear everything is looking good. Thanks for the report.
  22. tony&rodney
    Cease is a long shot and I'm not dreaming on him at all. The right trade would add about two wins. Falvey has work to do but there are likely quite a few teams, other than the Twins, who are very leery of trading any of their propsects. This makes acquiring a catcher difficult. It is also why Falvey may stick with the status quo. Falvey is asking but the discussions are tough. We never hear anything at all from any sources that suggest any of Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, or Seattle are open to trading their young catchers. Boston traded Teel for Crochet. There were other pieces but that is basically the deal. The Twins can't match that at all. The Dodgers are holding Rushing to play outfield and DH. Colorado is not dealing it appears. So .... rock and hard place for teams seeking catchers, which is part of the reason San Diego asks about Vazquez. I think this is where things stand today. Tomorrow? Who knows?
  23. tony&rodney
    I actually put Payton Eeles as my second baseman for the 2025 Twins on the TD Blueprint Roster. I did trade away Brooks Lee, which was not well received. We won't know whether Eeles can play at the MLB level until he gets a look. Why not Eeles?
  24. tony&rodney
    Fangraphs and mlbtraderumors among others have discussed this. It isn't an idea that has many hours of discussion yet among the GM's. The Twins fans are hoping for anything that creates interest or a smidgeon of improvement for the roster. The money rants center around statements that another cut was not likely to follow this offseason, which was deeply interpreted as no money at all which morphed into a firm $130M. The Padres need multiple players to compete and they are trying to make the playoffs. Their ownership chaos means no big money but they do not need to cut either. The problem for San Diego is that they cannot add much in salary. Preller was counting on getting Sasaki and resigning Profar. Bad luck for the Padres. Now they need to turn elsewhere and are looking. The Twins have some guys. It is best to see both sides of a situation. Meanwhile the Twins are largely sitting it out right now, fine to a degree with the team they have rostered. It always makes sense to listen and Cease is good. The key is what goes if this deal goes through and even the initial rumor suggested the odds were quite low. The Twins have what the Padres could use. Falvey is in a good spot. The catching situation is very important to me. In fact my first suggested trade back in October was to trade for Jeferson Quero and my second was to trade for Harry Ford. Later I pushed for ideas to bring in Endy Rodriguez. I didn't ever think Teel was affordable. In the mean time many veteran catchers have signed. Maille is about all that is left. So yes, the catching situation is difficult but Falvey will need to make that call. The Twins are competing for a playoff spot this year.
  25. tony&rodney
    With the salaries earned by MLB players today, they drive whatever they want.
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