tony&rodney

I believe TopGun#22 proposed a trade for Corbin Burns that included another Brewer, I think Gareth Mitchell. The Twins would send Joe Ryan and a couple of other players whose names I cannot remember (maybe Jovani Moran and Josh Winder) to Milwaukee. Perhaps Farmer was also in that deal. Is that worth a look? I'm not too keen on trading Ryan myself but it seems like a thought.

Ok. Your pick of Brooks Lee over Julien is the overwhelming choice on Twins Daily if we can make a quick nonjudgmental survey from a host of comments and posts. I see nothing wrong with that choice and we both know that the answer will be unclear for quite some time (a year to ten from now). My pick is a bet on the unknown qualities of internal drive, processing speed, and other difficult to judge factors. Again, there is no way to know at this time and any choice is a calculated gamble. It is a gamble I am willing for the Twins to make but I also do not believe that the Twins are ready to make a judgment at this time. Last year, we saw that the Twins were unwilling to make a call on Trevor Larnach or Jose Miranda. Now Miranda was injured and it isn't fair to judge him. Larnach may still turn into a fine starter in the majors but he has seen his value plummet. A year ago he was worth a bit more than Julien is at this current time. I believe Julien will be a strong player in MLB. I do not expect him to be a superstar, but someone who can consistently put up strong numbers and drive opposing pitchers crazy with long counts. I would pick Julien over Lee. We both know that I could be well off the mark on my belief. Last offseason, I advocated for using Arraez in a trade. My position was based on my preference for Jorge Polanco and I also felt that the unknown futures of Julien and Lee could back up a loss of Arraez. More than anything though I thought that Arraez stood to bring back the strongest return in a trade. This year I think that Lee in conjunction with another player or two bring back the strongest return. The Twins could lose Polanco and Lee or Julien and still be relatively fine at second base. However, like at all times, I am not in the loop so I don't know. I simple feel that Julien will be a better MLB player than Lee for reasons that would take several pages to explain, none of which are 100% sure things.

How did you come to that decision? Walker has been evaluated as the more superior prospect tool-wise to either Lewis or Lee. I have nothing to compare Walker to myself, but am merely parroting the words of various writers like Keith Law and others who go to events and games where prospects play. Personally, when a guy so young gets so much hype it can be hard to know what to believe. At least we can have watched Lewis and Lee play a couple hundred times via tv and milb.com as well as in a person a few times. Still, Walker has had a bevy of words, like "superstar" flung at him that were never put on either Lewis or Lee. I couldn't make a judgment yet, but I'm leaning towards the evaluations of scouts and well-respected writers at this time.

Why Julien? Why not Lee? Why not Ryan? Why not Lewis? Why not somebody else? How does that trade help in 2025? Just curious about the thought process.

You did not ask for an evaluation. You asked where the hype come from? I merely was telling you where it came from. I'll leave you decide/estimate/guess for yourself what his future is as a MLB player.

It comes from being scouted and watched for years, first in his journeys through the California school system, then college, and for the last year and change at the minor league level. I myself have seen dozens and dozens of his at bats as well as seen him play in the field. So, yah, scouts and all that is where the observations and comments come from. I mean we have known who Brooks Lee was for five years now, so there is a bit of a trail.

Edward Cabrera should be available if the Twins are serious and make a strong offer (something like Larnach, Winder, Schobel). Seattle? I would like Kirby or Gilbert and offer quite a bit for either one Also interested in a trade for Bryce Miller. Offers? That is unknown because I'm not in on what Seattle finds worthy. Kirby or Gilbert for Polanco, Kepler, Lee, 2 minor leaguers ? - Z. Matthews, Y. Mercedes). Might sweeten by taking on Evan White and his contract for Kirby. For Miller, trade Polanco or Kepler, maybe both. I'm looking for starting pitchers with stuff that includes velocity.

There has been a widespread usage of Julien as a DH going forward and placement of Brooks Lee at second base when he is ready. Most comments, with the exception of a few, have Lee arriving by June next year. Lee is a highly ranked prospect. The guys behind the scenes (talent evaluators, scouts, coaches, and managers) are generally who makes the recommendations to the office suits on players to draft, move up, and ultimately to place in a position with the big squad. We do not know their thoughts. I'm not thinking that Julien will be a primary DH. Furthermore (of course I could be way wrong), I do not see Julien playing many games as a first baseman. Julien is best suited for second base. Julien was never projected to be a star. The unknown is whether Julien can make more significant improvement in the field and either hold his rookie lines or improve with the bat. It is always a nervous look when seeing how rookies react to MLB in their second and third seasons. I don't believe there are any guarantees. In 2021, MLB ranked Julio Rodriguez as the second best Mariner prospect.with Emerson Hancock ahead of both Logan Gilbert and George Kirby. Brooks Lee has done well as a prospect. He flew through the system and finished in AAA in his first full season of professional baseball. He plays a good shortstop and most comments include his final position as a third baseman while thinking he could also handle second base. Lee projects as a solid regular who even might make an All Star team. It is wonderful to have too many good players but if there isn't anywhere for them to play on a daily basis, the full development of a player like Lee or Julien may never occur. When people suggest there are plenty of at bats to go around I wonder how much players like Lewis, Lee, and Julien would be affected by not knowing their status on the team. I don't see either Lewis, Lee or Julien as utility players. I get that most people will believe that it is way too early to pick one or the other, but I'm thinking now is the time to best use the player resources to find an exchange for a starting pitcher with years of control remaining. I'm inclined to be wary of trading guys like Emmanuel Rodriguez or David Festa. Walker Jenkins is the only player I would not consider trading. Then again, perhaps the Twins become the first team in baseball to begin a season with only players who were in their system from the previous year.

I feel like this as well. However, I also stop and remember that this may just be a typical thought when one is a fan of a team. People tend to see stars emerging within the prospects .... on every team. The Twins are not ranked very highly in neutral or national sites for their farm system. I also wonder if it isn't worthwhile to see how other teams value players within the Twins system. There are potentially a few players with 4-6 years of control remaining who are worth acquiring for some of our prospects. I do agree that the Twins should not be looking to trade 3-4 good prospects for Juan Soto or a similar deal. I also didn't really think the Twins traded the farm away for Tyler Mahle, despite the fact that I never was interested in Mahle at all and really enjoyed watching CES hit. The Twins have been pretty conservative about trading prospects. There may be some examples, but I'm struggling to think of when the Twins traded off their best prospects for a disappointing return. I'm sure there must be some. There should be conversations with any number of teams searching for agreeable exchanges of players.

MLR, as much as one might agree with the general premise of your argument for building a sustainable decent roster, there seems to be one big over-riding question. The Twins seem to be in position to sign a top free agent pitcher (Nola, Snell, Monty, etc.) and a trade of Polanco for prospects would even allow for a signing to fit within a newly formed reduced budget. The question is whether you or others believe that the Twins will actually seriously sign one of the top guys? This question is based on a complete avoidance of entering that market. I'm not going to entertain a thought that the Twins were ever in on Wheeler or Darvish as some have argued because making a low offer that is never even looked over doesn't meet the mark of serious. So I (we/others) may be hoping or thinking and rationalizing that the Twins can add one of the top pitchers this offseason, but is it a realistic thought or fan rationalizing? If it is, go for it - I'm in. I just don't see it. What about another crack at a trade similar to the Lopez-Arraez deal? How about a trade of a solid pitcher with years of control for a guy with one year left like Burnes? How about a trade of a top prospects along with Polanco plus a few others for a solid #2-3 starting pitcher? Somehow it seems the options are narrow unless there is a venture into taking an outsized risk.

Welcome to Twins Daily. This has been discussed endlessly. Short version - after being asked/bugged a number of times about whether Royce Lewis would or could be used as a centerfielder in the future, Falvey and Baldelli pointedly stated that Lewis is a third baseman now, he will work in the offseason as a third baseman, and he will be a third baseman going forward next season and beyond. Take that for whatever you think. Additionally, Lewis prefers playing in the infield and his agent, Scott Boras, has specifically stated that Lewis is going to be a superstar .... "on the dirt" and the outfield is not in his future. Again, many will take that with a grain of salt. Just remember that too much salt is bad for your diet. FWIW, I don't care where he plays.

Do you think adding Kepler changes anything with Seattle?

Good catch on Julien. Thank you. I guess I can't correct that, but it is Julien because sadly I traded Polanco. Varland gets the start in the beginning of the year. I'm using Paddack in relief or until injury to save the innings on his arm as he returns from TJ. Cabrera is also used in relief as he works on both command and control. In a typical year there is a need for one or two more starters before mid May due to some type of injury. Cabrera is out of options or i don't think he would be available. He is a wild card because he can be really good. A failure to make a deal with Seattle puts Cabrera in the rotation, which is why I try to make that deal asap even it is an overpay. Miami is open for ideas. We don't know about Seattle.

I like Brantley quite a bit. He made $12M last season. What can the Twins offer? $7M?

Total: $119.67M from the blueprint. Take away Polanco = $109.17M. Take away Farmer and we are under $103M. It isn't a big deal and I agree that there is potentially still money to add someone if the payroll goes to $140M. The money may be closer to $125M. We just don't know. TheTwins have not been active in adding FA SP for money. Wacha? A return of Maeda? Something tells me that trades will happen.

The common thought that Royce Lewis should be shifted to CF to create an opening for Brooks Lee at 3B has been floated for over a year and re-booted consistently. In theory it seems like a good fix. In practice, all of Falvey, Baldelli, Boras, and Lewis believe that Royce is best suited to play third base. This creates a backup. The Twins have second basemen galore: Polanco, Julien, Farmer, Castro, and Gordon with MLB experience and Lee, Martin, Pratto, Helman, and Severino with AAA experience. If Julien has peaked or the feeling is that his defense and batting attributes are not that stellar, trade him if there is worth. The same goes for Lee. Both Julien and Lee are at peak value. A couple of years ago, Austin Martin and SWR brought Jose Berrios to Toronto. Is it possible that one of Kepler or Polanco, either Julien or Lee, plus a guy like SWR and Jovani Moran could return a very good pitcher? What does it take?

Twins calculus. Is that fair? Again, I'm not a fan of the Twins front offices or owners and never have been. I'm just a lowly baseball fan.

One could argue that the depth added last offseason was an integral part of the team's success in 2023. When a team cuts payroll by (potentially) $20+ million, depth will not be as strong. The two Twins I have enjoyed the most in the last five years (Jorge Polanco & Max Kepler) would ideally be centerpieces of a 2024 team. However, financial realities may interfere with their inclusion on next year's team. One or both may be traded. The Twins could use a veteran bat like Hoskins and a veteran outfielder like Kiermaier. Both would create depth. Both seem like remote possibilities if the budget shrinks to $125 million. That leaves a greater dependence on guys like Austin Martin, Willi Castro, Jose Miranda, Anthony Pratto, Michael Helman, and Yunior Severino. The odds are not in their favor over veterans, but this is what the Twins are looking at for 2024 potentially.

Well, many folks have thought Lewis in CF and Lee at 3B would strengthen the team. The Twins, or at least Falvey and Baldelli have firmly commented on this as has the agent, S. Boras. Oh, people can change their minds but I think that ship has sailed.

Again, i think we agree that this is a big disappointment. The way to improve is by adding solid players and allowing the prospects and young guys to develop in their careers without so many expectations, and those other things you say. The reality of corporate decision-making changes the calculus. "The Twins need to make a decision at second base going forward. Seattle is waiting for a phone call or visit. Some combination of Polanco, Kepler, Julien, Lee, and some minor league players lower in value will get their attention. NOT ALL - don't panic." This is what I wrote, copied just above. You may not agree but a decision at second base frees up either Julien or Lee to be added to Polanco or Kepler plus a few lottery types. In any event, perhaps other teams do not see any value in the Twins players enough to return anything worthwhile. That is an unknown to me. It just seems like there are still possible trades to make.

I try not to get too wound up about those things I cannot control. Yes, I agree with you about how this has put a dent in what the Twins could potentially accomplish in regards to fielding a better team next season. I'm very frustrated by all of this too and disagree with the direction. However, I'm a baseball fan and Twins fan and neither are likely to suddenly end. Also, the Pohlads have always run the Twins as a business, which is their prerogative and I felt this was predictable.

You do not believe that Seattle has any interest in any of Polanco, Kepler, Julien, Lee, Wallner, etc.? It is unknown whether any Twin has any value to another team, but Falvey has a job to determine how to fit pieces together which requires conversations with other teams.

To bring back a good pitcher will require, as I suggested, a combination of players. Yes, Polanco or/and Kepler would likely be just a part of the package. Brooks Lee or Julien have some value as well. Of course there is the alternative of just rolling out the roster that is current. It is under budget right now or less than $125 million. When one looks at those lineups many people have suggested, the teams listed are pretty much a return of the players already in the system plus a few free agent signings. Subtract the FA and there is your team for those who are opposed to trading.

I totally agree with this sentiment. However, unless one is to just abandon all hope or baseball altogether, an adjustment is needed. Tampa Bay doesn't have any secrets, they just work harder in my view to find ways to build a team that can compete.

The Twins are actually in pretty good shape. They have guys they pay: Correa, Buxton, Vazquez, Polanco, Kepler, Lopez, and Farmer (7 -$93M). They have guys who are still inexpensive: Castro, Paddack, Thielbar, Jeffers, and Kirilloff. Oh ... and Dobnak (5 -$15M). Then the rest are minimum or close: Julien, Lewis, Wallner, Duran, Jax, Stewart, Funderburk, Alcala, Ryan, Ober, Varland and guys to fill out team (14 -$11M). There are players near ready to contribute: Martin, Miranda, Camargo, Lee, Pratto, Helman, Severino, Kiersey Jr., and pitchers. The Twins need to make a decision at second base going forward. Seattle is waiting for a phone call or visit. Some combination of Polanco, Kepler, Julien, Lee, and some minor league players lower in value will get their attention. NOT ALL - don't panic. The Twins need to add a pitcher of value and that might sting a bit, but that is why Falvey makes the big bucks. The Twins could be better next year.