tony&rodney

Any word on cost if one already subscribes to MLB.com? Does anyone know how that works?

We all want a really good bat. Now, can you come up with one trade suggestion that has a reasonable chance of being completed? No, the Twins are not going to trade for Vlad Guerrero. I have asked this question numerous times since the beginning of November and not one reasonable trade has been offered up by anyone. I'm still hopeful.

The Twins have two guys who could drive the team if they were players who posted 150 games per year. Correa and Buxton are both really good but injuries and days off are just a reality for them. Thus the team needs a couple of players to step forward and drive the lineup. Any two of Wallner, Lewis, Rodriguez, Keaschall, and Jenkins could potentially manage that either now or next season (2025-2026). The key will be for at least two to step forward and some others to provide solid play. As far as windows go, most teams manage to have a few players and some prospects capable of pushing their teams into the playoffs. The question is always health and performance. Especially this time of year fans are feeling pretty good about their team .... for the most part. There are exceptions.

Trading Lee is somewhat risky in the sense that Brooks seems to be a player a team can count on to be pretty decent, albeit not expected to be a star. The return would need to be strong. I suggested a trade last October of Lee for Jeferson Quero (Brewers catcher prospect) plus a low level player. I don't believe either team would be comfortable making that deal. My only real thought centered around the belief that the Twins needed to be proactive about solving the catching shortage. Brooks Lee is a good baseball player though and hopefully he busts out this year for the Twins.

Brooks Lee was and is valued for his high baseball IQ and solid floor as an expected regular who may/should provide above average defense at third base. He never impacted the ball with his swing like Keaschall. They are different players and not really good as comparisons.

The Nashville Sounds average about 1,000 more fans than the St. Paul Saints. I don't think the Twin Cities could support two franchises and Nashville isn't a top choice either. Love Centennial Park in Nashville though and the Country Western Hall of Fame.

No. Lee would cover the position more or less in a similar fashion to Willi Castro. The Twins are pinned to Carlos Correa; they need him to play 130+ games.

BTV can be looked at for fun and to see how they value players. I look at it on occasion but do not subscribe. It shifts all the time. Royce Lewis was around 30 something in October but last i saw was in the mid to high 50s. For those who have a minimal feel for clubs it is easier to put yourself in the shoes of both Preller and Falvey. San Diego wants to reduce payroll but still push for a playoff spot. The Twins are in the same position. These two teams don't match up very cleanly. The Padres will not trade Cease and have the money even. Larnach would be a good addition for the Padres. So would Julien potentially. In all cases though, San Diego will want either two pitchers with substantial upside (Charlee Soto, Dasan Hill) or much more likely a starter who has thrown MLB innings, Woods Richardson. Any deal that sends Vazquez increases the player cost if San Diego pays his salary. If the Twins include $6M with Vazquez the player cost is reduced. I'm guessing that the Padres continually ask for two of Festa, Matthews, Rodriguez, and Keaschall. Cease is really good but parting with any of those three would be foolish in my opinion, especially Keaschall or EmRod. I'm not sure a trade works with the Padres. My best guess/offer would be Larnach, Woods Richardson, and Cory Lewis. If the Twins sent Vazquez, they also send $5M. All told that would add about $7M to the Twins payroll and reduce the Padres by about the same. However, despite ideas that the AAA players can fill the 2nd catching position, a trade of Vazquez puts us right back to the first discussions in October. Before the Twins unload a catcher there must be someone to fill the position. These would be tough negotiations. I'm very hopeful that the Twins do not send away any of Jenkins, Keaschall, Rodriguez, Festa, or Matthews.

TJ I believe and already fully healed. The Twins will initially have him ramp up slowly in February and the beginning of March. All restrictions should be removed by April.

In 2023 there were a only a few occasions when I managed to watch Keaschall's plate appearances, not enough to really jump in on his abilities. Last season, again using milb.com, I watched a bunch of plate appearances by Keaschall. From the start of the season there was a marked difference in his approach and ability to control his at bats that separated him from his peers. The swing is strong and quick and he drives the ball. I'm guessing one of the factors that scouts like about Keaschall is how much he has improved with swing decisions. The guy adapts quickly. By last July I was sure that Keaschall was a top prospect, right there with Jenkins and Rodriguez. It was no surprise to me when a number of teams made attempts at the trade deadline to pilfer Keaschall from the Twins. Obviously, experience is a need and Luke's position as a defender is still uncertain. Luke had a mediocre reputation as a defensive infielder in college. He looked pretty athletic at first base last season but was playing there due to his arm injury. The call for a RH OF/2B/1B is right there, Luke Keaschall. Memorial Day starter?

My belief is that this is the final correct answer. MLB does not publish all information regarding their finances, bylaws and agreements within the ownership groups. So, we don't know. My best guess is that some tweaking takes place in the next CBA, but based on how few teams actually come up for sale (and only that) a large majority of MLB clubs still turn a profit. Notably, we have yet to see a distressed sale for less than purchase price.

No signs up in my hood.

Maybe I wrote too much which obscured my message. The Twins need bats. They don't need pitching if it cost any bats. It would be beyond foolish to trade any of Jenkins, Rodriguez, or Keaschall for Cease in consideration of the Twins need for bats.

I'm guessing that most, not all, people who come to Twins Daily have identified offense as a key need going into 2025. Both Emmanuel Rodriguez and Luke Keaschall figure to contribute this summer. When is open for discussion. If pitching is what people want the Twins could easily interest Pittsburgh in Wallner and Seattle would probably trade Bryce Miller for Royce Lewis. Heck, the Mariners might even throw in Harry Ford if the Twins sent back Louie Varland and a low level prospect. But the Twins need bats and should not do those trades. Dylan Cease has one year left before he walks into the free agency world. His salary is $13.75 million according Fangraphs. Giving up any of Jenkins, Rodriguez, Keaschall, Festa, or Matthews would be foolish. Both Pittsburgh and Seattle will trade guys who have years of control left and are on MLB minimum contracts. It is fine to go with other combinations that do not pull from the top or from our prospective batting hopes. The cost for one year of Cease will not include a team's best prospect.

You are probably right. Teams are very reluctant to trade their top prospects, more than ever. The Twins traded Wilson Ramos for Matt Capps and the Cubs traded Gleybar Torres for Aroldis Chapman. It can never hurt to have the conversations. I'm sure teams have asked about Jenkins. I was thinking Arizona is close and has a set team and would benefit short term from a closer. Lawler does have injury concerns but all players do to an extent. Still wondering who is available for any cost in a trade. I'm not trading any of Jenkins, Keaschall, EmRod, Festa, or Matthews for one year players. I would trade Jenkins for Yordan Alvarez. Not happening, I know, and YA has a big contract too. The Twins need bats.

While I totally agree with that sentiment, I keep wondering who is available. I was ok with an idea of trading Pablo Lopez for Jarren Duran but that wasn't going to happen unless Boston couldn't sign anyone at all. Is what I offered for Lawler unreasonable? I would even throw in Julien.

This I agree with, but then again since the season ended I have advocated for 2-3 deals. I'm not as high on Cease as some but he would help. I like the Twins pitching right now. They need bats. There aren't really any bats available. Emmanuel is my main added bat right now. I wonder if the Twins will give him a shot? My proposal which would be soundly rejected from many fronts (almost certainly AZ) is to trade Duran, Castro, Raya, and Kyle DeBarge for Jordan Lawler. Arizona isn't going to trade their top prospect but that is an enticing offer.

The only reason San Diego will consider trading Dylan Cease is for salary relief, thus they will not pay any player returning to them more than $3-5 million. Additionally, Preller will want a starter who can fill a rotation spot now. This likely means SWR, Festa, or Matthews. San Diego will also want more too.

I'm not looking back at Rooker. He is having a good run with the A's. Good for him. Rooker may have never worked out no matter what with the Twins. I do think Larnach and Wallner need plate appearances to show their worth. I agree with you, let us see what we got.

The "self-imposed" was a creation of writers disgusted by the payroll being clipped last offseason. We all were disappointed. While I'm not expecting any major additions, there would be room for adding Cease if Falvey worked out a favorable deal. I don't believe Paddack will still be a Twin in May. While my take is that Paddack could be good in the bullpen and useful as a spot starter 4-6 times in 2025 his salary doesn't fit that role in Minnesota. The return might not be much but if it clears some dough for Cease it makes sense. On a different note, Willi Castro likely has wide appeal for a number of teams. Yes, Castro also has value to the Twins but if the Twins have any faith at all in Keaschall, Rodriguez, and Lee providing value this season, Castro becomes very useful as a player to trade and has the ancillary benefit of reducing payroll. Both Vazquez and Castro are gone by 2026 and Cease will be a free agent as well. Can a deal get finished? The Twins could take on all of Cease's money and half of Vazquez's contract if Paddack and Castro are up for discussion. The difficulty is getting Preller to agree on a return of young players. Perhaps a deal involves two of C. J. Culpepper, Marco Raya, Cory Lewis, and Kaelen Culpepper plus SWR. I don't know what Preller is looking for but I'm not listening on Festa, Matthews, Keaschall, Jenkins, or EmRod. The Twins don't need Cease. Heck, Preller may like one of Larnach, Miranda, or Julien for that matter.

The Padres-Twins discussions are being discussed under Twins active in trade market under Twins Talk.

The Twins have a big investment in both Royce Lewis and Brooks Lee. We can be pretty sure one of them will get the first shot at second base. That is how the Twins roll. It would be refreshing to see a competition for the positions in Spring Training. Other than Carlos Correa and Byron Buxton and maybe Matt Wallner, none of the other players looking to be in the starting lineup have proven themselves to be regulars. Payton Eeles pretty much showed he deserves an opportunity last summer. If he can play at a high level, give him a shot. I'm actually more worried about the catching position if there is an injury than I am about second base or any other position.

Thank you for putting the work in to examine how Pablo Lopez can take a step to be more consistent and finish 2025 with improved numbers. I'm not at all concerned about Lopez. Dude is a big guy who is intelligent and disciplined in the routines needed to be good at pitching. Something about Lopez oozes confidence and success. The Twins need to put a better set of defenders behind him to turn those outs into outs at a far higher clip than the ragged defensive group from last season. I beieive Lopez is primed for a big year.

I don't know that to be the case. Like I have said previously though, i have no idea what Falvey sees or wants.

Wallner has quite a bit of value and I assure you that multiple teams would push forward some enticing offers to Falvey in order to acquire big Matt. Wallner can be streaky and look futile on occasions but he winds up with pretty consistent numbers for the last three years. If he gets close to 600 PA, expect an OPS near .900, 30+ HR, score about 90 runs, 100+ RBIs, and a BA from .260-280. If another team had Wallner he would play in 150-160 games. I'm expecting that this year. If the Twins are not going to use a pen to put him in the lineup, he should be traded.