tony&rodney

The thing I don't really care about most of the talking head podcast is that they insinuate that they have knowledge unknown to the common person and talk endlessly about nothing, with an inevitable curse about "self-imposed" payrolls. The energy is not very positive and listening to these guys isn't as productive as reading the comments on this site. Our suggestions are at least specific and we admit that we know nothing and that the front office has their own ideas.

Perhaps Keaschall and a few others can turn this trend in a different direction. The 2006 team had 6 players with more than 600 PA. There are many other examples too. Hopefully the 2025 team stays healthy and a couple of rookies step in to support the guys that are just barely past rookiehood.

It is a long shot. I believe that is largely the consensus of many of us here commenting on this article. The discussion shifts to what is possible and you and others have mentioned some possibilities. There are outlandish ideas and there are reasonable ideas. Ultimately and naturally this is down to the choices and decisions made by the front offices and whether the deals suit their plans. What suggestions or guesses did the talking heads put out? On a fan site or podcast it makes no sense to just suggest that something should be done - RH LF/1B or that something cannot be done - Cease, catcher, etc. Did these fellows put out a specific idea they felt was rational?

Luis Arraez plays with enthusiasm. His plate appearances are almost always a joy because he frustrates really good pitchers and fights through every at bat. However, he is a player without a position mostly, has very little power, and most damning (for me) is his inability to move around the bases. If i had to identify why Arraez, for his salary, is not a fit for the Twins or many other teams it is because he clogs up the base paths like an older power hitter. I still tuned into a number of his at bats last season via mlb.com, but I'm not expecting Arraez back with the Twins. If salary suddenly and unexpectedly was not an issue whatsoever, sure, trade Gonzalez, Martin, and another low level prospect for Arraez.

What would your trade for Arraez look like?

Pete Alonso has a couple of offers in hand but he is still hoping for that big deal. The reputed numbers for short term offers are in the neighborhood of 3/$90M. Others suggest 3/$80M. I'm guessing a team gives him 5/$125M, although the original asks were considerably higher. Do the Twins even think about a DH at those numbers? Remember that both Byron Buxton and Carlos Correa (less so) need at bats as a DH and the Twins also have guys like Miranda, Julien, Wallner, and Larnach who have some days where they are the DH. Alonso isn't even on the radar for MN. I think I would be flabbergasted and I have stated often that I have zero idea what Falvey thinks or plans for the roster.

The Twins traded Steer because the feeling was that the team had more than sufficient numbers of similar or better players who slotted into his positions. That same situation does not exist for Keaschall. Miranda and Steer are roughly the same age, with Steer being a half year older. Steer has 4.5 WAR to his name versus 2.3 WAR for Miranda. I still like Miranda, but his opportunities are running out. He has to take the next shot. Keaschall is not the key to a trade. There are other players to send if Falvey desires to complete a deal. Hold Keaschall to see his ceiling.

At a minimum, the Twins would need to send a starting pitcher back to San Diego. One of SWR, Festa or Matthews are the likely requirements. Most likely Preller also demands a pitching prospect like one of Raya, Morris, Cory Lewis, C. J. Culpepper or Charlee Soto as well as a guy like Yasser Mercedes. I will add that a monster complicated deal could be a real boon for the Twins in the short term and largely depends on Falvey's willingness to believe in specific players versus the field, which is how we often view the big lists of prospects.

Who would you spend money on?

This is actually an easy answer. Dylan Cease increases the win total by roughly two (at a minimum). The cost cannot be any of Jenkins, Rodriguez, or Keaschall any more than Baltimore is sending Basallo or Mayo. The Twins don't need Cease but they can acquire him with a combination of players and prospects that the Minnesota franchise can afford to deal, even while San Diego receives players to fill their needs. It is a want for needs deal The comment about trading for a high impact position player, a bat, continues to baffle me. Why write that comment if you cannot put out the name of a player who might be reasonably available. Margot, Grichuk, and many others are not those players. Austin Hays would be ok only, but not an impact player. Mountcastle is another player who might be ok, but is he really better than Miranda. Patiently I wait for ideas of a substantial trade to surface involving names instead of the obvious "The Twins should concentrate their resources towards acquiring an impact bat." Please don't suggest a swap of Julien, Paddack, Vazquez, and Martin for Vladdy Guerrero. Finally, I have stated all offseason that the Twins would or could add minimally to the 2025 26 person payroll within a roughly $10 million region. Adding Cease and Arraez for prospects isn't an answer either plus Arraez is not an impact bat (apologies to those who hold a different view). Waiting.

Yes, Culpepper can be traded. The entire movement of Cease (or others) is almost entirely up to Preller. He will ask Baltimore for Grayson Rodriguez or Samuel Basallo or Coby Mayo and he will ask Falvey for two of Festa, Matthews, Keaschall, and Rodriguez. Those are unreasonable requests for Cease. Your proposal and a couple of others put forth here on Twins Daily are more acceptable. The Padres want to find a LF, and DH plus they would need a starting pitcher to take the position of Cease. The Padres have nobody in a couple of spots right now. The Twins might want a RH OF/1B or something else but they actually have a couple of people to field each spot. Whether people like the upside of the current roster is a different question. So a deal for Cease rests with Preller.

My apologies. i only saw what you had written here in this thread and believed you were responding to my request for a bat that was available in a reasonable trade. I didn't understand it. I hit the quote for the entire part you wrote. However, I have gone back and I found your trade suggestion for Cease on that other thread/discussion. It took me a little time but you have made a reasonable suggestion. In such a case as your trade or a few others that do not send away needed bats, I'm all in support of dealing for Cease.

Don't you forget about Eeles.

Once again. I already subscribe to mlb.com. Does that allow me to now watch Twins games? Is there going to be an add on fee? I understand the stand alone subscription for someone who does not have mlb.com.

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. Those don't go together. Trade for a bat? Who? Cease? Who goes?

If one looks at 2024, Eeles might be the most likely to succeed in 2025. If we look at 2023, Julien is your guy. Julien and Lewis were pretty close to twin successes in 2023 and twin failures in 2024. Spin the wheel and see who you get in 2025. Martin? ..... uh,uh,uh. Good luck.

I respect your position but we will just need to agree to disagree on trading any of our top three bats. Baltimore was able to trade a couple of good but totally blocked (Joey Ortiz) or repeatedly injured (D.L. Hall) prospects for Corbin Burnes. Those were the #7-8 rated players in the Orioles system (MLB.com) at the time. The Twins don't really have anyone blocking either Rodriguez or Keaschall. Burnes is a slightly superior pitcher to Cease. If the Twins were to offer Kaelen Culpepper (#4) and Charles Soto (#8) I could get on board. In any event I doubt Preller is looking for a prospect as the main piece in a trade for Cease. It seems more like a Cease for Woods Richardson, Larnach, and a guy like Cory Lewis type of deal. I'm not suggesting that but San Diego wants to fill a couple of holes on the current team that are there on day one of the season. Hey, Preller might even demand Julien be included to seal the deal if Vazquez is part of the transaction. That looks like what the Padres want, a SP, LF, DH/1B, and prospect.

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.