tony&rodney

While I am all in on spending for really talented effective players, it is talent not money that wins. Tampa Bay, Cleveland, and Milwaukee lead the way. They allow free agents to walk, when it suits them. Management remains important. I'm encouraged by the changes taking place this season. After the All Star break, we may see some positive moves in the first days of August.

There really wasn't much to buy in 2023. The two names that flooded Twins Daily were Jordan Montgomery and Rhys Hoskins. There is mythology involved. There were missed opportunities to trade players. Jeffers could be traded or kept as they may see value in his talent on the team through the remainder of the season. Ryan is under contract through 2027 so not a free agent. There is no hurry on Ryan and it would be foolish to trade him unless the offer is a major return of talent. I'm choosing hope for more competitive rosters. Others will cheer for losses.

I don't know what is going on behind the scene but I think Tom may have encouraged the coaching staff and manager as well as the front office to make some of the moves we have seen this season. The movement of players to positions where they are more suited has significantly strengthened the defense. I don't believe those moves would have been made last year. In that sense TP may be a fresh start. We just don't know. The reflexive hatred doesn't serve a purpose though, except that some people feel better having fantom enemies.

Worth a look and let us hope some more substantial bullpen help arrives via trade, return to health, or development. An improved bullpen is the next step to more series wins. The defense and offense are coming around. The starting pitching has been respectable.

Maybe it is too early to project 2027 much less 2028. Keith Law put up his guess for the draft this weekend and he has the Twins picking .... Roch Cholowsky. If so, that ends Marek Houston discussions as the Twins shortstop of the future. Naturally we cannot know what will occur but keep an open mind. We also hear a ton of people screaming that the Twins must trade Joe Ryan now or before the 2027 season. Well ..... maybe he is not traded or maybe the transaction is a blockbuster that brings in a top middle infield prospect ready to play next season. I have seen great improvement in Marek Houston this season at the plate from watching his games this season via milb.com. I'm very encouraged by his development and excited to see how he progresses going forward. I'm just not prepared to guess on next year much less two years from now.

There are opportunities. LA Vikes Fan had a couple. The Sonny Gray and Chapman for Dasan Hill and EmRod is another idea. One would guess that teams may be interested in Matt Wallner. We don't know what will be required but there are possibilities. The Twins can trade Ryan Jeffers for something too. Whatever takes place there are some names the club can live without and names that could improve the Twins odds of winning. Take a look some time at the players who will be free agents this offseason. There are, as always, a few interesting relief pitchers and some starting pitchers whose contracts will almost certainly be large. Other than that, there isn't anyone worth much more than the 13th position spot. So I hope people don't scream for the club to spend big on free agents before they actually look over the pile of mediocrity. I'm hoping for two or three sweet trades in the next month.

My guess is that this is correct. Gray has been frustrating recently but he hit well early in the season. Gray has some limited history whereas Fedko has none at the MLB level. Kreidler is the superior defender at both shortstop and centerfield, so he gets starts. It is a really tough spot for Fedko and I have empathy for him. Additionally, Fedko is a player who goes on runs, at least as shown in the minor leagues. Sometimes that is multiple games in a row with several extra base hits but other times he does have spurts where he swings and misses frequently. Fedko playing very sporadically is very difficult. The best 13th guy on the roster players are usually veterans. While I feel for Kyler Fedko and found myself urging him on to get a hit more than I ever would for a regular player, I do believe Shelton is managing correctly.

This is what people should have noticed. The pitchers have noticed. The Twins opened the year with players at their old positions and they were given an opportunity to show their worth, both in the field and at the plate. There have been no real surprises. Jeffers was injured which was a significant loss due to his bat. Caratini and Jackson are better catchers and are hitting. Lewis scuffled badly and was sent down to find some balance and also shifted to the other side of the diamond. Lee was moved to third where he is more effective, even though he might still like to play shortstop. Clemens was inserted at first base to shift Bell to DH. Lewis comes back and pushed Clemens to right field. Finally the Twins made the sound decision to move Keaschall away from the infield which shifted Clemens back to second base. Yes, there is still a bit of uncertainty at shortstop and centerfield because Buxton has been hurting and Larnach is still not a fully average defender in left field. However, overall the defense is greatly improved. Where there may be one, two, or three questions now from game to game that is down from seven or eight early in the season. The Twins are trending up.

Maybe I'm in the minority on this, but I fail to see a connection between the expiring CBA and whether K. Culpepper, W. Jenkins, or others are assessed as ready to make contributions at the major league level this season but are held off the roster to maintain some form of control in future years. The CBA could just as likely eliminate the control sought by some. It isn't for me to say whether a player is ready and needed, but I doubt the Twins are holding players for 2027 or later at this time. If the Twins feel their team has an improved chance at winning games with Culpepper, Jenkins, or someone else, I would think we shall see those players at some point.

Numbers are good in arbitration, not for evaluation of readiness. The Twins will move players based on who fits a need. The role that Outman and Fedko fill is not a role that matches Walker Jenkins. Those interested in what players look like on the field can watch the games via milb.com. The stats tell very little. Numbers tell us that Matt Wallner is a superstar.

Twins are playing well. There are a few players who might step forward from St. Paul after the All Star Game. As always if there is a trade that makes the team demonstrably stronger, adding talent, do it. There is zero reason to trade for the sake of trading. If all that is available is AA and AAA players with questionable skills, hold. If there is a gain, act.

First experience with baseball?

What about a relief pitcher from San Diego? Bradgley Rodriguez? I'm being redundant but Big Matt can be a solid DH, but not an outfielder.

Matt Wallner can still possibly carve out a career as a DH. He simply cannot play in the outfield, at all. If anyone questions the finality of that statement, watch him play five games.

Houston has improved quite a bit at the plate in the last twelve months. Whether it was some coaching, personal small adjustments, or whatever, the bat that looked weak has been smoothed out and plays now. Keep an eye on Marek Houston.

You remain consistent, having commented in the past that Andrew Morris was not an MLB pitcher and that his stuff wouldn't play; you don't believe in Morris. Pitching is not easy to predict for anyone. I have been high on Morris for a couple of years. The numbers will tell the story in time. In the period from 2024- now, I have seen Morris pitch many times .... the majority of his appearances. I don't believe I can state an argument for him in an unequivocal fashion but I do believe in him finding success and his emergence at some point (next year?) as a successful starting pitcher would not be a surprise to me. I wonder how many times others have watched him pitch prior to his recent Twins gig. Kendry Rojas has to learn some of the same skills as Morris is learning - what does it take to create outs against the best hitters. While I do trust the Twins to make a good decision for him, I also believe he can benefit from pitching in relief this season.

Tell that to Chris Sale, Johan Santana, and hundreds more over the long history of baseball. The Twins will take care of him. Whatever they decide is fine for me. Development wise, pitching to the best hitters is a good learning experience.

Maybe Rojas takes Banda's spot. Rojas is flammable though. The transition back to a starting pitcher could always begin anew after the current season. The experience at the MLB level could be valuable.

The Twins, seemingly, have had a process in the past which would not promote Walker Jenkins ahead of Alan Roden, Emmanuel Rodriguez, or others. Is that what you are suggesting? When you state, "Not how I'd do it ...", I'm wondering what would you do. My instincts tell me the Twins are moving away from DH types to improve the defense.roster/team. Walker Jenkins needs to show he is ready. If he hits in July, I would bring him up. If the Twins suddenly created an opening via a transaction of someone currently receiving regular playing time (that is not Fedko or even Martin) sooner than August, I would bring him up. Talent plays. He is a little raw but Jenkins will not be overwhelmed. What would you do?

Don't overthink the draft, especially when there is the #3 pick at stake. While it is totally true that no one can guarantee success in a baseball draft, the top three have separated themsleves enough to be the choice: Cholowsky, Lackey, or Emerson. I would like the Twins to push for a trade to get themselves a pick in a Comp Round A slot.

Sure, the Twins can add and subtract. that's elementary. Right? Bell is unlikely to return much, unless there is a team interested and the Twins have identified a totally unheralded player in the DSL or rookie ball. Maybe Bell goes on a real heater all the way up to the trade deadline and some team feels they need his bat. I just can'y see it. Bell seems more valuable to the Twins. Larnach has been swinging a good bat. He has been pretty important to the offense. Moving Trevor depends on a decent return. Will a team (San Diego?) send a relief pitcher (B. Rodriguez or Jason Adam) worth the bother? Austin Martin and Matt Wallner may have some value but it seems pretty low. What ideas do people have for either of those guys? Ryan Jeffers has been out for quite some time but he will have value and will be gone as a free agent. Additionally, Caratini and Jackson have been fine. I don't believe Jeffers will sign before he goes on the market, at which time the Twins can join in the bidding. Someone will send a good relief pitcher for Jeffers. Bailey Ober could rebuild some value but it is not certain. Perhaps Ober can be bundled with others. Joe Ryan has a ton of value but what team will turn over the prospects or players needed to complete a transaction. Mere prospects don't really cut it as a return for Ryan. Last winter I wondered if a combo of Ryan, Charlee Soto, and Alan Roden would entice Boston to send Franklin Arias plus a pitcher or would Sacramento send us Leodalis De Vries plus a pitcher for the same package? Does adding Wallner or Lewis finish a deal? The A's could use a DH, an infielder, and pitching. At all times i wonder what those deals would look like from another team's perspective. Would you trade a Cole Sands or Marco Raya type plus Walker Jenkins for Ryan, Soto, and Lewis? Boston would trade Sonny Gray. What would they want in return? I have no idea ... maybe Luke Keaschall and Boston sends money too? Buying and selling is possible. The question is whether the Twins front office has the stomach for risky deals. The Tampa Bay Rays have made more than a few gambles. Trading Joe Ryan and another dude for Nelson Cruz was an example that didn't go so well for them. I wouldn't mind seeing some buying and selling this trade deadline.

The goal is to find a trading partner. We merely speculate because it is an unknown whether another team finds a Twins player a fit for their roster. Who gets traded and who gets acquired is the negotiation. We all know that. Thus: Yankees send Carlos Lagrange in return for Ryan Jeffers? Padres send Jason Adam and Bradgley Rodriguez for Bailey Ober and Trevor Larnach? Does some team view Matt Wallner as a good DH? A couple 2-3 relief pitchers and the development of some prospects could make a difference. This might be where we remember that three young guys made a difference in 2023. There are options and it does not entail trading the top prospects. Buxton has a NTC and 10/5 rights; he stays. There doesn't need to be many moves and it can be buying and selling. The big question surrounds the value of Joe Ryan to another team.

Check back at the end of July. If Walker Jenkins is hitting line drives all over the field, making plays in the outfield, and stealing bases - bring him up in a month. The final step to becoming a regular position player in MLB can only take place versus major league pitchers.

Hard to make a run without getting into the playoffs. While i can agree that losing in the first round or at all is disappointing, I'm more likely to enjoy a playoff team than a fourth or fifth place club. The Yankees haven't won since 2009. I guess their fans are edgy perhaps. No, that isn't a comparison but just opposite sides of a coin. What strategy do you suggest? Do you have specific plans that are potentially feasible. I'm curious.

Love what Larnach is doing right now for the Twins but I was also wondering about something with San Diego like your idea. Maybe Larnach for Jason Adam, although I too prefer B. Rodriguez. I have wondered about the Yankees coughing up something worthwhile (LaGrange?).