tony&rodney

The idea is to compete and the Twins can compete with their current roster. I made a determination that the team would go in a direction at second base. The trades: 1. T. Larnach, J. Winder, T. Schobel for E. Cabrera (Miami). These are players looking for a change of scenery. 2. J. Polanco, B. Lee, K. Rosario, plus 1-2 minor leaguers for Logan Gilbert or (if possible) George Kirby. C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M) 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($1.70M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($0.75M) 3B: Royce Lewis ($0.75M) SS: Carlos Correa ($33.33M) LF: Matt Wallner ($0.75M) CF: Harrison Bader ($7.50M) RF: Max Kepler ($10.00M) DH: Byron Buxton ($15.17M) 4th OF: Willi Castro ($3.20M) Utility: Austin Martin ($0.75M) Utility: Kyle Farmer ($6.60M) Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($2.30M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($8.25M) SP2: Logan Gilbert ($5.00M) SP3: Joe Ryan ($0.75M) SP4: Bailey Ober ($0.75M) SP5: Louie Varland ($0.75M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.75M) RP: Brock Stewart ($0.75M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.75M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($3.20M) RP: Chris Paddack ($2.50M) RP: Edward Cabrera ($0.75M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.75M) Payroll is 20.83% under budget

Via MLBTradeRumors, the Twins will reset their payroll to former levels. The best guesses are $125-140 million. We can subtract the idea of Juan Soto, which was a 2% thought and likely subtract any trades for Corbin Burnes as well. This makes perfect sense. The blueprints that used $150 million are all in the trash bin now.

I might trade Ryan for Burnes but I'm sending Polanco with Lee and a couple of minor leaguers to Seattle for Kirby or Gilbert. BTV is interesting but just for kicks. Remember they had Pablo Lopez as twice as valuable as Luis Arraez. That trade worked for both teams. Speaking of Miami. Edward Cabrera is out of options and struggled this past year. The Marlins might see Trevor Larnach and Josh Winder as a fair exchange. Perhaps the Twins could sweeten the deal with a guy like T. Schobel.

We need to drop that dream of Cole and Judge. After living in NYC and interacting with the Gotham media for several years they might suffer heart attacks answering questions from our two reporters. That would be cruel. Culture shock is real.

No instead. Do both. If you want the Twins to improve a little movement is necessary. The trade for sure though.

What would the caps look like? 612 in the front with the TC on top?

I think Miranda has a big chain so he fits the city. Actually, if Miranda can see to switch his uniform number he has a chance to be a Twins Hall of Fame player in twelve years ... or so. I don't want to give up Vazquez either because I love how he moves. I can't wait to see the videos of him dancing after next year's World Series triumph.

Absolutely. However, the Mariners want someone for now or very soon, not a player who will be ready in a couple of years. Sigh, this means Brooks Lee.

Nah, Wallner doesn't like big cities and Max looks better on the West Coast.

You are on the right track Doc. Just substitute a guy who I love (K. Rosario), add a low level pitcher, and Brooks Lee and this will get the Twins Kirby or Gilbert. Both are brilliant pitchers. It's the next step to take, even if the cost is high.

Rosario has taken firm steps to improve every year. He is improving as an outfielder and when you watch his at bats you can see that he is working to get his pitch and shows a sweet quick short swing. Love the power and work ethic.

Mahle? He had surgery for his elbow, which was the blow that ended his season. Yet you should recall that he has had a bum shoulder off and on for several years. The elbow happened sort of suddenly but I'm wondering if he is done due to a bum shoulder ... like me.

Yamamoto would be a terrific addition, both for the pitching staff and for media attention/viewership/attendance reasons. Jung Hoo Lee is an interesting player as well. Good to see a proposal that is more robust than simply listing the Twins current players. Of course, that could happen too. But yikes, a year without any changes would be a little strange. Farmer, Thielbar, and Kepler traded for PTBNL? Varland?

Is your trade for Lane Thomas? I'm not sure why Gray signs a contract that pays less than $20 million per year, but it is possible. I like that you tried to make some changes as opposed to having a list that only includes players currently within the system.

The Twins may sign a high-priced FA starting pitcher, but they are unlikely to do so. Everything in their past practices makes me bet against a signing like Jordan Montgomery, Snell, or Yamamoto. But I don't bet. I just don't see it. Lucas Giolito as an inexpensive add seems fairly innocuous. Will he sign for nearly nothing? I doubt it. TheAthletic pins LG for 4/$70M and MLBTR assesses him as 2/$44M. Even half of that on a one year deal seems too much. If we are picking teams, who is picking Giolito over Ober, Paddack, or Varland? I agree that many will see Giolito as a better pitcher than those three guys. I can respect that opinion. However, I prefer the current Twins above LG. I don't believe Lucas Giolito is worthless or cannot find a modicum of success as a starting pitcher at the MLB level. I believe the ship has sailed for his value above a middle or back end (#3-5) starter and the Twins have those guys on inexpensive contracts already. The discussion and consideration of his worth is a good exercise and I spent a little time looking over his trends about a week ago out of curiosity. The numbers published recently for anticipated contracts do not paint a positive viewpoint for the Twins adding a player like Lucas Giolito. Actually it also doesn't look like a good deal for some other free agent pitchers either. The Twins should be in search of a partner (team) that sees value in the players within the Twins system and find a suitable trade that brings back a good starting pitcher.

Soto is quite tempting, isn't he. I don't get a feel for how he fits into the outfield or with his teammates. That's ok. The thing that is really attractive about Soto is that he posts, nearly all the time. Just put his name in the lineup for 160 games. I'm interested.

Twins return only players within their system for 2024?

Adding Montgomery would be sweet. I think he gets 5 years. Does that still work for you? I'm a little surprised that that is the only change - 25 of 26 players in system are on your roster. Is Julien really going to be a DH?

You only brought one new guy (Matt Moore) aboard for next year. You have a lot of confidence in the Twins system to repeat.

The lists out tonight agree with my guess of more than $200 million to Bellinger. I like him, but do the Twins go that high?

That sounds good to add Yamamoto and Soto. Isn't Julien too new (just finished rookie year) at 2B to become a DH? More change than most.

So 2-3 new guys. That is a pretty stable team.

The Athletic and MLBTradeRumors have their lists up and the prices are high. These two lists have been close on numbers lately.

Ok, adding Montgomery is a good get. What seems a little unusual is that this team has 24 of 26 Twins returning. I'm ok with that but it sure unlikely. Have teams generally returned a 92%+ from one year to the next from their system?

While Helman does not project as a starter at the major league level, he can be a decent utility player. He plays good defense all over the field, has some speed, and his swing mostly puts his bat to the ball. Helman is more versatile than Stevenson. Helman is in no man's land - he needs an opportunity.