tony&rodney

The main reason the Twins need better team speed/ athleticism is because way too many ground balls leak through the infield and fly balls find the grass in the outfield. All of the stats in the world cannot disguise what is a team with little range defensively that winds up forcing the pitchers to continually get more outs than their opposing pitchers. There will need to be some changes, likely through trades. Rolling back the same outfit .... well, you know what is said about trying the same thing over and over.

Hoping for Cleveland to come back. Torres and Stanton have been better than expected, even if we know they are experienced veterans.

It is interesting to read how people view the possibilities for first base for next season. Seems like both of Miranda and Kirilloff could be good at the plate but it is generally agreed that they are less than stellar with a fielding glove on their hand. Something tells me that the Twins DFA Kirilloff, yet I'm in favor of using the duo as pinch hitters and at DH, with only occasional time in the field until they show some improvement. Royce Lewis is my first base guy. It is his best opportunity to stay healthy, get his bat going, and make a case for a larger salary in the future. With some work, Lewis could be a decent fielder at first base.

This is on Falvey and has little to do with ownership. If the budget calls for a number and Falvey chooses the $5M and $7M guys instead of an $11 guy and a minimum MLB salary to fill the bucket, that reflects directly to the PBO.

I'm not sure how this popped back up but we can see that none of these teams are looking for shortstops unless they are given away for a low price or to play another position. Arizona has a gem in Perdomo, who was injured a bit this year. St. Louis has Masyn Winn, strongest arm in baseball perhaps. San Francisco has broken in Tyler Fitzgerald with some good luck. Boston will have Trevor Story back and Ceddanne Rafaela is wiz at both SS and CF. Los Angeles Angels have Zach Neto, who they like enough for now. Correa is a Twins a while most likely. Of course, anything can happen but it would be a big surprise if the Twins could trade Correa. Best bets, if the team looks to reduce salaries, are Paddack, Jeffers, Kirilloff, Castro, and pitchers making more than the minimum. Buxton, Correa, and Vzquez would be difficult to trade. I don't think the Twins need to shed salaries.

Should have been specific about new purchases. I was aware of his former buy ins at decent prices.

One would think that Chicago, with its large market, would have more long term potential for financial gain. Chicago is a rambunctious sports town and there is a ton of money to support any team. I do agree that the Twins have a better roster, milb system, and stadium. I don't mind the South Side park at all but Target Field is really quite a nice place. What is the price for each team would be a big factor in who finds either an attractive investment. It seems like the high prices today make buying a professional team a hobby or splurge, which is easy enough for the wealthiest of people. I imagine Bezos would hardly flinch at paying $1.5 billion for a team and not care if the team made or lost money. Then again, business folks are in the habit of making sound monetary decisions most of their life. I guess one could say that buying a sports franchise could be akin to purchasing an island, ranch, or other seemingly senseless expenditure. I doubt we will see Warren Buffett cast an eye towards sports.

Interesting article, for sure. I'm choosing to believe that the signing of Carlos Correa was meant for positive reasons. It wasn't clear then if the Twins had to pay as much as they did, but Correa plays a very good shortstop and can hit. Perhaps the undoing of the roster has more to do with how Falvey views baseball, talent, and the way to put together a roster. Correa still has value and people do emerge from plantar fasciitis without complications or reoccurrences of the problem. I guess we shall see how Correa does next season.

The idea of rostering Miranda and Kirilloff has value but counting on them to be starters is not a solid plan for a winning season. I would rather be pleasantly surprised by both of them becoming outstanding hitters as DHs and role players rather than entering the season relying on them. The Twins have their first baseman on the roster already and he has some promise on both side of the ball if he works at it. Royce Lewis is my first baseman unless he can return a pitcher like Logan Gilbert. Lewis is too stiff to play the other infield positions and his arm is erratic. Yes, he could work to improve but I'm more interested in starting the season with someone who can make the plays behind the pitchers. The pitchers suffered enough last season with defenders who couldn't quite get to this ground ball or that pop up. It is time to use guys who convert the outs into outs.

Pretty much a great example of why the site, for all of its efforts, is merely for entertainment.

The problem with poor defense is that fly balls that any decent outfielders catch fall, some for extra bases and combined with all of the ground ball outs that manage to elude our infielders .... well, no pitcher can escape undamaged from that mess. An average defense with a good offense can be ok, but it is rare when an offense can overcome horrid defense. Of course, some believe that the Twins defense is ok. I can't spend any time contradicting that thought. I know I date myself badly but I keep going back to those Twins, Dodgers, Orioles, and A's teams of the 60s and early 70s.

Yes, I watched him pitch at least ten times. He is inconsistent but talented. I would put him on the 40 person roster because the upside is there. Youth often need experience and failure is a part of baseball and life. I guess he might be a little bit of lightning, so good and bad. Nowlin might be the type of guy to be the perfect #8 reliever, used when the team needs innings.

My initial thoughts of who to add to the bullpen include three of these pitchers: Nowlin, Raya, and Prielipp. I'm not sure if any of them begins the season on the roster but each has definite value. Nowlin looks really good in short stretches and he has good stuff. Both Raya and Prielipp are potential starters but will need a couple of years to build up their stamina and repertoire. Each already has pitches to get outs in the pen though and seem like possibilities for being added to the roster by August if all has gone well for them to that time.

Welcome to Twins Daily. One example of the difficulty of this type of trade was when the Twins traded Luis Arraez to Miami for Pablo Lopez and two minor leaguers. A team has to feel/think that their strength in a position (1B/2B/DH in the Arraez example) and need in another (SP in MIA-MN trade) makes a trade worthwhile. For sure, it is a move that teams make with an abundance of caution. These trades are a gamble by their very nature, but also necessary to move off of a point of mediocrity. The Twins are sort of in that position right now. Add on .... people will no doubt note the irony of the Twins feeling that there was depth galore at first and second base.

I'm pretty positive towards the pitching as well, I believe in both Matthews and Morris as potential starting pitchers who can give the team competitive innings. Hopefully the top five are healthy and productive leaving the minor league guys to gain more experience in AAA. Bullpens are always tricky and very unpredictable. The performance of Weaver for the Yankees is an example. Relief pitchers can be found in any number of ways: trades, inexpensive FA, waiver wire, and young starters getting their feet wet in the bullpen. Core guys? We may disagree on this area. Correa and Buxton are clear positives, provided they are actually on the field. Vazquez can still provide some value with his glove, despite how sporadically his bat works. The remainder of the roster has potential at the plate but is very weak defensively. The difference between Twins defenders and the players trotted out by the opposition is more apparent in person than on TV. Speed, reads, jumps, and decisions are all below average at this point. My bias is as a former pitcher. Expecting our pitchers to get an additional out or two every other inning creates problems. The Twins pitchers were #2 in strikeouts this past season. This will be difficult to repeat meaning the defense must improve or the team needs a top three offense, particularly in late and close games. Improved defense is a must. My frustration with Falvey grew when he bungled his opportunities last offseason. It doesn't makes sense to look back, so I try to believe that a few changes this offseason can provide some hope for a better roster. Returning the same roster and players to the same positions and hoping for a vast improvement doesn't seem like a plan to me. It is unclear what value other teams see in any player on the Twins current roster, but Falvey needs to comb through ideas and potential moves and take a chance or two. In November, Twins Daily will put up their offseason roster blueprint and by then people will be able to make their guesses. I'm hoping that Falvey does way better than any of us.

I agree that the site is hardly perfect, solely for entertainment.

There will not be a new GM, Falvey is our guy, although he was the last few years too.

I don't believe most people are looking at Duran's salary but rather at the possibilities that he or anyone else could be moved in a trade to improve the team. At least that is the way I see it. However, it would be sad if the team considered Duran, Jax, Ryan, Ober, Jeffers, or Castro as expensive. I just don't think that is the view.

I mostly agree with you but there are prospects and there are prospects. I'm looking at what Jackson Merrill did for San Diego this year. No, San Diego is not trading Merrill but what is out there? I don't have the answer, just thoughts like others. I do want to see the Twins make some changes to what is a slow and poor defensive team. In a deal that makes the team potentially better, anyone can go.

The only reason to trade any player is if it improves the overall roster and increases the chances of a better record next season. Thus, any player can be traded, depending on the return. The goal is not to win the trade but to create a stronger roster in order to compete. Last season, the Twins had similar win-loss records versus teams above even (.500) as these teams: Boston, Texas, Toronto, LA Angels, Pittsburgh, Miami, and Colorado. The Twins also were above even in one run games. They crushed the AL West. There is work to do and I suggest some change.

A new owner in the future should make Falvey more active in seeking opportunities to improve the roster. Another 2024 may result in Falvey's exit from baseball. Who knows though. I thought last offseason provided possibilities. While unlimited money allows for numerous mistakes, it is fair to say that identifying talent still can fill out a roster. $125-135 million is plenty to put together a strong roster.

This accurate statement is a good argument for why Falvey needs to make some changes to the roster. As it is now, Castro is nearly the team MVP.

Twins Daily exists to put out stories concerning the Twins. Thus it makes perfect sense that a series of articles explores specific players and the possibility of trading them. A series of articles also looks at prospects from time to time along with other ideas. These articles are not demands, just food for thought. If one does not believe that any changes should occur with the roster, that is a preference. There is nothing wrong with that position, but just ignore these articles if that is your position. I cannot understand why anyone would disparage an article that is just forwarding a thought. Does Duran have value to another team? I would argue yes. He also has value to the Twins. A trade would work if the right name(s) returns. Arizona comes to mind as does Boston. One thing seems clear to me - if the Twins roll out the same roster next season we can all expect a similar end result.

Castro is an easy decision to tender. A trade is possible if the return is worthwhile. We don't know what value other teams would see in Castro. Meanwhile, he is needed on the current Twins roster. However, a couple of moves by Falvey could reduce his value for the Twins and support trading him. In other words, it all depends on how proactive Falvey is towards building the 40 person roster for next season.

I have no idea what either the Twins or Red Sox would do. The Red Sox have two young guys ready for playing time right now (Anthony and Campbell) and also have Rafaela and Abreu already up and playing well plus Masataka (not going anywhere). The Red Sox need pitching. Certainly the Red Sox would ask for more than Ober ... maybe add Raya and someone like Rosario (rh bat). I might do that. perhaps add another pitcher. The basic idea is that while I do not expect any trades or moves from Falvey, the Twins need to make some changes. I wonder what ideas you might have to improve the roster. Or do you believe the roster is pretty much set?