tony&rodney

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.

There is a continual call for a RH OF/1B bat. Few people actually name a player and most of the suggested players are just Margot redux. Falvey hasn't added any position players most likely because he likes what he has assembled on the current roster. We have to accept this reality. The addition of Coulombe fills the LH relief pitcher slot apparently. Does it almost automatically mean that Tonkin is let go? Injuries happen and it is looking like that is the path to a uniform for any player with an option. Varland, Topa, Funderburk, and Alcala or Sands are ticketed for AAA unless injuries pop up. One has to wonder if that strategy works as opposed to rostering the best eight relievers. I guess we shall see.

Everyone is naturally going to have different ideas about where the Twins can improve upon their performance from a prior season. Sometimes there are multiple concerns such as SP, RH OF, etc. When I thought about what I saw on the field last season, my main complaint was a general lack of athleticism and specifically poor to mediocre defense. I don't need to rely on statistics and analytics very much but a stopwatch helps occasionally. The TD Blueprint exercise has outlived its time based on the total absence of participation last November and that is fine. My goals were to improve the defense at a minimum and add a couple of younger players with some upside. Ultimately I was willing to gamble a downside of 78 wins for an upside of 93 wins. This is quite a variance which often happens with less experienced players. The additions I'm reading about and the stand pat plan currently taken by Falvey looks like at least an 82 win team but could be 88 if things go right. Sometimes I find myself objecting to one player or another and realize it isn't the player so much as that the base competency returns mediocrity as a ceiling. I see the weaknesses of the Twins fringe players but feel they deserve an opportunity to lift themselves and the team. Manuel Margot was a good player for a long time but the Twins managed to use him to a level that highlighted the worst of his talents at a time when poor Manuel was down. These decisions are almost a parody of how the Twins use veterans on the downside of their careers. So now Mark Canha is the latest name to float. A decent player three years ago, but still able to gain an MLB contract ..... for a team hoping to win half of its games.

A couple of years ago (2023) Wallner was slow from picking up the ball or catching the ball to the actual throw. His transfers were a little slow. I didn't check that last year.

You are right. I appreciate your comment and check on my comment. I'm obviously not a fan of Casas but should not diminish his talent or value. I wouldn't trade for him.

Casas is basically worth Julien plus a #10-20 prospect. Yes, you are right, Breslow is trying to get more.

Casas isn't any way as valuable/ worth as much as David Festa.

I'm all in on Payton Eeles. I recklessly put him down as my second baseman on the Twins Daily Blueprint team.

Twins Daily has discussed this to death. There are varying views. I would suggest that the Twins put out a very strong offer of Trevor Larnach (LF), Edouard Julien (DH/1B/2B), Willi Castro (utility), and two prospects from the following: Marco Raya, Cory Lewis, Travis Adams, and Kyle DeBarge. This fills some needs for San Diego and frees up money for the Padres to sign an additional FA pitcher similar to Kyle Gibson. San Diego could not get MLB experience of equal value from another team that I can think of. If San Diego want prospects, there are better teams for them to deal with on Cease. Perhaps the Twins would agree to exchange Paddack for Suarez if Castro was withdrawn from the deal. Suarez has two additional expensive years left on a player option. Perhaps too spendy for the Twins. What do you think?

Not so fast .... Shohei? Alvarez? Agree though, I wouldn't trade much for Casas. Maybe Julien and Cory Lewis.

I'm not understanding the comments on here, relatively common, that assert that Falvey could easily get another job as a GM or POBO or Team President. His record with the Twins is ok. Teams will seek out better than ok, which starts with the work of front office people working for Milwaukee and Tampa Bay. I'm not down on Falvey any more than I was down on Levine. I have no idea what type of plan they use in regards to building a baseball team. Many argued that Levine would be snapped up in 30 days and I'm not privy to his current status. The key for the Twins roster is dependent on how Falvey sees the current group. There are opportunities to make deals with other teams and I will certainly suggest that the terms can be difficult to hash out. Will Falvey find a way. I think he can if his confidence level rises on those players who need to fill any holes from players sent the other way in a trade. Certainly a new owner will be aware of how Falvey approached and managed the current situation, i.e., handling the roster building this offseason.

I'm not advocating a trade of Ryan (or Ober) but if the Twins acquired Cease and then trade Ryan the bottom two plus depth remains the same. Cease moves in behind Lopez with Joe or Bailey still as the #3 SP. There are many who dislike the idea of adding a rental such as Cease and are afraid of missing the players that would go the other way. Falvey is probably in that crowd. Cease as a Twin allows the team to see what is available and a prospect such as Basallo is not far from gathering in a Walker Jenkins type talent, which is why it wouldn't happen. It is always worth conversation to stretch ideas. Boston won't just give Casas away. They like him, just not that much. Cron and Tellez don't have the power that Casas has but Casas is slower and not as good defensively as either of those guys. Does Casas get to his power enough? Hmmm.

If the Twins added Cease, I has suggested that I would be interested in a deal of Ryan for Samuel Basallo. The Orioles say no. Why would I suggest it even? Basallo has a bat that may be Yordan Alvarez and he has also progressed quite a bit as a catcher. I'm also high on both Festa as an MLB pitcher now and Matthews as an MLB pitcher next year. Finally, I like SWR too. So, no don't consider any trade of either Ober or Ryan unless the return is going to be wonderful. Why is Boston willing to trade Casas? Breslow (running the show for Boston) is focused on defense and a balanced roster. Thus he probes for a way to get something for Casas. Boston fans should hope that their team signs Bregman. Bregman pulls the ball and Fenway is perfect for him. He also plays a good third base which pushes the butcher, Devers, over to 1B or DH if it can be accomplished without a storm.

I would not trade any of SWR, Festa, or Matthews for Casas. I would trade Julien and Marco Raya for Casas and i'm one of the few who actually thinks Julien can rebound. I don't see a fit above my offer.

Casas might be ok at DH or maybe 1B, but the real problem is that he really isn't worth giving up anything that the Twins value. I would offer Julien.

With a major league contract in his pocket, we welcome Danny and hope he is excellent as well as healthy for the 2025 Twins.