tony&rodney

Perhaps not a favorable opinion, but the players within the system are as good as any available, except for Blake Snell who is a risky signing for any team. The pitcher to add and fit above or just behind Lopez had to come via trade and that ship has sailed. Adding an expensive free agent of dubious worth at this time will not help the team.

This would actually be true for all of the teams, but the point stands. You might be surprised to know that the 1970 Twins team had four players who have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.

The Twins still have Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Varland, and Paddack as their starting pitchers. DeSclafani will be evaluated for his availability (likely on IL at the beginning of the year) but was never going to slot in the top of either Seattle's or Minnesota's rotations. If you look around baseball sites, read Twins Daily, or just are real aware of the teams throughout the league you know that the Twins were looking and will still look to eventually find a guy to put near the top of the rotation. It hasn't happened yet. DeSclafani will fill the exact same role for the Twins as he would have for the Mariners - depth. The Mariners SP are ranked among the top three in baseball from what I can tell, but it is also noteworthy that the Twins are top 4-7 in all of baseball depending on the source. The Twins are hopeful that Gabriel Gonzalez is useful eventually and that Topa can repeat his rookie year. As far as the two good utility players, Urias and Rojas, they may be much better in the expected platoon. We exchanged too many comments already. The Mariners and Twins should both win around 85 games, more if everything clicks and the players' health holds up reasonably well. Take care and enjoy the season.

Now, if you follow the Mariners you know that is not true at all. The Twins didn't get anything to replace either Gray or Maeda. They already have Varland and Paddack. If you follow Dipoto you should also know that he will go all the way until the start of the season, if necessary, to make a deal. That is why he is called Trader Jerry. If Urias and Rojas were ever in the plans for Seattle, they would not have called Minnesota ceaselessly. You will know the answer if Polanco is the starting second baseman batting in the top four of the lineup. The quotes thus far are that he will bat second or third. Try to find a lineup where Rojas or Urias would bat consistently at the top of a lineup. We have no idea why a deal was done in late January. That is a fact. I will speculate that there was a deadline to reduce salary for Falvey based on comments made by him. We will never know who Dipoto was willing to offer next to find a pathway to improving the Seattle lineup. We do know that their expected wins went up by two games and the Twins fell by one. The Twins will be fine covering for Polanco due to the number of their options. They have also added Carlos Santana with the money saved in the deal. Minnesota also plays in the AL Central. Seattle had options too. They could have waited another year or two while one of their fine young infielders developed. Now, as Dipoto has said, Seattle can compete for a playoff position. Lastly, as a Seattle fan, how can you go against the comments of the PBO, GM, manager, players, bloggers, and writers who all speak of the importance of Polanco for the Mariners getting back to the playoffs.

Okert should help the Twins and a number of people have correctly noted that Gordon was facing a difficult row to gain a 26 person roster spot. It is worth noting that Okert almost certainly had even less of a chance of avoiding being DFAed than Gordon. Miami is delighted to receive Nick. The Twins can certainly use Okert. This trade works for each team because both players are out of options and were redundant due to depth for their now former employer.

Don't think Falvey paid any attention at all about Gordon trying for another $100,000. Gordon was out of options and a long shot to make the team. Okert was in the exact same position in the Marlins franchise. Works for both teams. It is can't hurt and nothing lost trade. Gordon was well liked by everyone. i wish him good luck, health, and prosperity.

Great series Matt - well done. The arguments will never end, best versus greatest and every little detail argued "That was foul" "No, it was fair", just like back on the playground. Part of the disagreement is generational or based on how some players were legendary in some folks' eyes. One example (don't freak out) - Kirby was an electric fan favorite and he hit that big " and we'll see you tomorrow night" home run, but Jimmy Hall was no slouch. In 1965 Hall posted an .810 OPS and 124 OPS+ versus Kirby's .812 OPS and 119 OPS+ in 1991. Hall was a better glove in centerfield and actually ran the bases better than the legend as well. Unfortunately, his career became lost to most after being beaned. Concussions were not a recognized thing with only some war time brain injuries seen as worthy of attention. The 1965 Twins were better at every position save for 2nd and 3rd base, even though Rich Rollins was a phenomenal glove at third. The starters and pitching staff was better in 1965 as well. The 1991 squad was glorious. I really loved watching that team play baseball because everything fell together for a group who had tasted bitterness in the prior year and the fact that the 1991 World Series was so splendid. Still, i would have to slot them behind the 1965, 1970, and 1969 teams in a ranking of the best Twins teams since 1961.

This trade was a natural fit for both teams. The Marlins had three lefties above Okert, who is out of options and they really didn't want to just put him on waivers. Same went for Gordon - LH batters, options, and desire to get something for Nick. A bonus is that now everyone will forget that Gordon was chosen over Nola and Turner, neither of whom can rap worth a crap. Feel a little for Funderburk because he is really good, despite his propensity to make people nervous with a few walks. The bullpen should be solid with ample numbers stored in St. Paul for those convenient IL usages. How are we lined up now? Duran, Stewart, Jax, Thielbar, Jackson, Okert, Topa, and ? In spite of all other arguments, i will suggest that the Twins need Varland as their #4 and Paddack as their #5 starting pitchers. It would not be at all surprising if DeSclafani starts the year on the IL. Plenty of scuttlebutt on TD about adding another RH bat. My thoughts are that Austin Martin would be a really good choice. He can run, field, hit, and fits all over the place. If Buxton is toast and someone needs to come up I have confidence in Prato, Helman, or Kiersey Jr. Spring Training starts this week.

BAM is short for MLB advanced media. Short story (poorly told), MLB had a good idea for streaming and Disney decided they could make money on it. They bought 33% and then another 33% for a ton of moola. The money was distributed to the teams which invested it, spent it, or put it in their pockets. Poof .... and it's gone. Teams need to now adjust their payrolls or cover that money in another fashion. To get an educated idea - read the 10-15 minutes read, because my summary sucks. This has been known information for several years.

What you may be missing is that MLB front office folks are holding all of the cards. There are people who oppose signing Bauer, there are people in favor of signing Bauer. It doesn't matter. The corporate heads hold the power. There is a chance - .0001%, but Bauer is still unsigned by an MLB team.

Who is taking the over at a 2024 payroll to begin the year of $127 million?

You are correct to say that nothing can be ruled out. The odds for Kepler considering another contract is about the same as the Twins signing Snell. It cannot be ruled out. The Twins are banking on some combination of outfielders working out from a list of: Wallner, Castro, EmRod, plus a host of others. 2026 is a long way off in terms of baseball predictions.

Welcome to Twins Daily. I agree with you. I would not agree to sending away Cabrera or Luzardo for quantity. The Marlins may not make any moves. I don't think the Twins are considering any trades that include their top young players or prospects, which includes Lewis, Julien, Wallner, Lee, Festa, Raya, Jenkins, and maybe a few others. An advantage the Twins have is their position in the AL Central and the depth of controllable starters (Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Varland, Paddack). Cabrera at his best fits in behind Pablo Lopez for the Twins. Cabrera as he has been is likely a relief pitcher. He isn't very dependable and is now out of options. Still, the talent is mesmerizing and I am not sure what Miami plans for him. They will continue to listen and want a good return though.

The amount of payroll needed to field a really good team is probably somewhere around $80-120 million. Larger payrolls allow for mistakes and gambles on stars. Most every team will have a player or two on big contracts. It is a mistake to think that those contracts ruin the team. Teams that carry lower payrolls just need to make better decisions on trades, player development, and drafting. When the Twins decided to push the payroll to $150+ million last year (BAM $) it allowed them to carry Joey Gallo. If their budget had been $135 million last season there is no way the Twins even consider signing Gallo. I'm fine with a payroll of $110-130 million. I would like to see a couple of proactive moves more similar to the Lopez-Arraez trade than the Mahle or Polanco deals. Naturally, it would be easier to see the Twins with a payroll about the same as the Cardinals or Rockies (similar markets), but that is well out of a fan's control thus not worth fretting about.

Someone in the organization must have been tasked with media options and negotiations. That somebody effed up. A multi-million dollar screwup seems like it might be serious enough for the powers that be need to make some evaluations and appropriate changes. Sure doesn't read like a .... "oh, we never saw that coming" .... or "nobody could have ever possibly guessed that cable was becoming a diminishing market." When Jordan Balazovic failed to distinguish himself, he was DFA'ed. I'm wondering who gets the pink slip within the organization for this debacle?

I will say it again .... Barry Bonds was easily one of the top ten players in baseball and no team would offer him a contract, even after he publicly stated that he would play for a minimum contract. Corporations work differently than charities. While I have absolutely nothing against Trevor Bauer, why does anyone believe he will receive an MLB contract this year? Every team could use another starting pitcher, yet not a single whisper and every national writer has written that they do not expect Bauer to get a deal. Sad but true.

First read this title as "Can Byron Buxton finish his career?" Then I read the article and scrolled back up to reread the title. Buck is sure an exciting player when healthy. Nobody has been more disappointed than Byron himself, so I sure hope he can complete his contract. It would be wonderful to have Buxton patrol CF for a full season just once.

Clevinger, Bauer, and Lorenzen are unsigned. Why does anyone believe Montgomery, Snell, or Bellinger are options. A suggestion to attempt to dump piles of players and prospects on the Marlins for Cabrera seems more likely than any of the other options and Cabrera's salary will fit too.

They certainly did choose their limits. They also chose who they wanted to trade and trade for. Season starts soon enough and a host of players will need to meet their expectations for the Twins to win the AL Central. I think they will too. Strange choices by management but that is how it goes.

No question that Emmanuel elicits a variety of responses from trade high to hold at all costs. There are (understandably) a number of folks who have reservations on how well Rodriguez will show once he faces much better pitching. Articles, posts, comments, and those who put out videos have all questioned where ERod lands. This season will be a huge tell for the young slugger. I'm expecting he gets some time with the Saints and may be a late call up to the Twins. Among those on the spectrum, I am thinking ERod is a force in the Twins lineup out of Spring Training next year. i would be disappointed a little if he took until 2026 to be a lineup regular.

Cabrera was my push in the offseason, primarily as a bullpen pitcher. The very last suggestion makes sense. The Twins send DeSclafani, Larnach, Schobel, Gabriel Gonzalez, the draft compensation pick, and $2 million to Miami for Edward Cabrera.

The deal is final and the contracts quiet, thus no real certainty on amount for the year. This seems like it was expected all along and the teams were uncomfortable with a situation that might go bad and felt it necessary to proceed with caution. The public relations hit is not good, so MLB and the teams are trying to keep a focus towards impending Spring Training and not on the media morass and those details. Streaming will not be an option from what I gathered from a release. What baffles me is that the Twins are led by Joe Pohlad, 41 years old. I know a ton of people in the 30-50 age range (my own children, coaching, etc.). I would guess that 90% plus are what we call "cord cutters". Did the Twins not see this? The court sanctioned deal gives the Twins a year to sort through their options. Yet they are coming off of a year to weigh their options. Sounds like someone dropped the ball within the organization, who might soon be reworking a resume. The market numbers suggest viewership of Twins games was up last year, but as discussed on this thread and elsewhere the number of people left unable to access the games is growing. Maybe I am way off base, but it seems like if people in the 5-50 age range do not have access to Twins games, future revenues may be dwindling. Out of sight, out of mind. While I have no idea ever what Falvey is up to, I can't see the Twins signing Snell, Montgomery, or Bellinger. The rest of the pile is more or less redundant to others already on the 40 person roster. Perhaps Soler is different but as a DH he also seems like an unlikely addition.

Like the optimism. Looked over the game logs for Sonny Gray this morning real quickly. He really gave the team a chance. The offense should pick it up and I have more confidence in Varland than most.

Who, besides Bauer, are the Twins signing that bumps ahead of the guys they currently have on roster? Trades? The Twins had their chance and decided that DeSclafani, Topa, plus two prospects was what they wanted. What prospects are the Twins trading? I think the roster looks set, been wrong before.

Dipoto specifically stated that he was going to turn every leaf all winter to get the players he wanted with resources other than his starting pitchers and would only reconsider once the offseason was closing. The facts are clear - we don't know what was discussed or at least I don't know. When Dipoto hinted that he would only trade one of his starters if he felt he had to, this seemed like the time to hold out. Seattle had a real need, Minnesota did not. Our team was fine as is. All offseason I expected a trade that included Polanco and suggested several. My hope was the team was strengthened. I would have held until March at least. Other teams were also in for Polanco as well. If the teams made ultimatums, hem and haw. Let them sign Whitfield. It's done and doesn't matter now.