tony&rodney

Can the Twins find a starter on the market for $10 million? What is the limit or possibility of the Twins going big on a starting free agent pitcher? I like the idea of adding a good RH left fielder. I believe Gurriel Jr. is the best on the market. There is a decided lack of good outfielders available in free agency this year. It might be tough to improve on what we currently have in the system. I'm open to all ideas though. Most of the trade ideas I goof around with ( a second here and there) are a little unrealistic or seem impracticable.

You have two things going on here. I don't see the relationship. The Twins are not going to get back very much in return for Kepler alone. He has one year left on his contract. On the other hand, if the Twins did not pick up his contract and Max becomes a free agent ... well, then Kepler jumps to the front of the line as the best free agent outfielder. A team that has too many excellent outfielders would not be interested in adding another, but any team needing a solid fielding, good base running, athletic guy who is coming off a season where he had an OPS of .816 with an OPS+ of 121 is going to be very actively interested. We can all agree that Kepler was frustrating in 2022 and the first half of 2023, but it would be stubborn to ignore his talent and production along with the potential for future production from Max. Kepler could possibly be dealt in a package that includes a couple of good prospects for a needed pitcher.

Taylor may be in more demand now than he was previously, thus his price tag may be higher. I'm not sure what the market holds for Taylor. I don't believe he can expect a multi-year contract but it is hard to predict. Taylor strikes out a ton, has a low OBP, and won't hit for a high average. His defense and ability for a quick strike via the long ball and stolen base are positive additions to the good defense. I don't have a feel for his market but $8 million may be a fair number. Will the Twins look at that number and bring Taylor back for insurance? We have seen how critical strong defense is to shutting down an offense during the playoffs with some long runs to record outs by excellent centerfielders. Falvey sees this too.

This year the Twins used the safety squeeze a few times. The difference between Arizona and Minnesota from my vantage point is that all of the D Backs have clearly spent time working on bunting, whereas the Minnesota team has more than a few players who look totally out of it when they attempted to bunt. Players can become accomplished at bunting by putting 5 minutes per day (six days a week) into the practice. I'm not an advocate for frequent bunting but there are times when it is the best method of scoring runs and putting pressure on an opponent. The skill of bunting simply needs to be an available tool.

Damn. I thought the same thing when I saw that. It got to me thinking about the Marlins or Mariners. I'm not sure I am ready to part with Max, but the idea of improving the team is always there. I'm guessing if Kepler is traded it is straight up for a reliever (unlikely) or as one of several players in a larger deal. The Dodgers and Padres? Hmmm.

I guess the D Backs know how to turn a close game into a whooping without grand slams. On to Phoenix. I guess I'll take the dock out tomorrow.

I should add that I believed that Royce Lewis might be a very good outfielder too. I did not think he looked very good at shortstop. That was two years ago before his second ACL injury. I was excited to see what he could do as a centerfielder. Alas. Last season after his injury and again early this past season there were several comments made by his agent (Scott Boras) about the best use for Lewis defensively. Boras commented that Royce is going to be a superstar playing "on the dirt". I took note. It seemed firm when we began to hear Baldelli and Falvey talk.

I wonder if Castro benefitted from the cliche change of scenery. There were times when Willi took wild hacks but he was pretty disciplined whenever runners were on base. The defense was really a plus and his base running too. Castro is athletic and has a host of skills, which should allow him to repeat as a solid performer. He has gained some experience and a little extra in the next contract should also be a motivator.

D-Backs are putting on a show on how to put the ball in play. Merrill Kelly had the Texas bats all tied up tonight throwing everything on the corners and across the bottom of the strike zone; pretty impeccable control.

This was addressed specifically and emphatically in the end-of-season press conference by both Baldelli and Falvey. It was reported on in addition to the commentary. This was stated as a close to the issue after making comments during the year and right after the last game. You can look this up. Many may have the opinion that Lewis should be put into centerfield and that is a fair opinion/comment. However, when those who make the decisions are so specific and emphatic it is reasonable to accept their call and end your plans of a roster with Royce Lewis in centerfield.

Yah, it was hit hard and he was playing in. Reaction time diminished but the Rangers did need a stop there. AZ playing very tough.

Jung needed to get that hot grounder. AZ puts pressure on all the time and still finds moments to take big swings. No Ks for D-Backs into the 7th inning.

Twins fan since 1961. After that, I favor the American League but really just want to see good baseball. There have already been a few nice plays. Seager deep in the hole and Jung dive for a hot ground ball down the line were sweet. Moreno didn't miss his pitch for HR. Pham took a big cut before guiding an outside pitch down the right field line for a double. I like that the Diamondbacks use all types of baseball in any inning. They are a little unpredictable. The Rangers seem like they have more talent. Finally, i saw that tickets are going for thousands. The economy is kicking hot when people can pay $5K to watch a sport. Good times, good times.

Yes. I haven't watched a football game in decades, i don't follow basketball much, and only catch a few hockey games late in the year - all baseball all the time. I'm watching for sure.

Good conversation and well argued points in this post. I'm a little surprised that so many folks see Maeda worthy of a QO. Maeda pitched wonderfully for the Twins and still has some value left in his arm. I'm of the belief that Kenta deserves our respect and thanks for a job well done. The Twins need to look around for someone who can step into Sonny Gray's position in the rotation though. It will be interesting to see if Maeda gets a multi-year contract for $10 million per. I wish him all the best.

Twins fans might have gotten a little spoiled this year with the starting pitching. Ryan has been a really good #3-4 starting pitcher. Like another guy still pitching, Ryan had a great first half followed by a rough second half. I'm pretty sure there a pile of teams that would love to have Ryan on their roster. Did Ryan run into an injury problem that he didn't exactly deal with correctly? Yes. There are ways for Joe to improve his pitch offerings and sequences. I believe he will.

A contrarian view which distracts from his other work. I read that and just shook my head. Been reading/following Fangraphs for a decade plus. They have their ups and downs; it's a good site for reference. Opinioned.

The three mentioned all have some helium right now. I agree that Camargo is likely to see MLB time. There is quite a bit of debate on several players, which is good. I imagine that there is also quite a bit of discussion within the Twins organization as well concerning a number of players. There are few items already addressed, even if not certain. Buxton has a contract and his operation portends enough health that it is possible he returns to CF. He will be on the team, we know that. Right? Baldelli and Falvey both specifically have noted that Lewis is going to be a third baseman going forward. I will take their word on this. Of course, things can change but I highly doubt it. Kirilloff's surgery removed a major cause of the pain which restricted his full movements when swinging a bat or diving for ground balls. The procedure was fairly minor in nature and he is expected to begin strengthening and flexibility exercises soon and start Spring Training in full go mode for the first time in six years. Polanco and Kepler will have their options picked up. Polanco would be far and away the best middle infielder on the market. Kepler would be one of the leading outfielders on the market. Whether or not one or both of them are traded during the offseason, both are bargains. When is the last time the Twins signed a free agent pitcher to a major contract? I would like that. We should not expect the Twins to go all in for a free agent starting pitcher. Again, I'm all for adding a star starting pitcher from free agency. Yunior Severino should be added to the 40 person roster and he has a chance to get at bats next season if he continues to produce with his potent swing. He makes for nice PH, reserve infielder, and can play some first base. Severino is one to watch. Austin Martin seems like he should need to prove himself further at AAA, but he has the skills a team is looking for in a utility player. If Martin has a strong Spring Training I can see him on the 26 person roster breaking into the regular season. Martin can play anywhere adequately, can run, is patient at the plate, and can hit the ball. He may be beginning to reach the promise of his being a #5 draft choice at last. Finally, Brooks Lee .... Lee projects as a strong regular for a MLB team. He looks decent in the field and has a strong bat. He also may need further work at AAA, but I would not bet against him playing ten years as a starter in the major leagues. It is never a bad thing to have too many good players, but all of Polanco, Julien, and Lee are probably best served with regular at bats. Polanco seems underrated. He is a tough out and despite some injuries could easily play another 3-4 years of high quality baseball. Julien gets torched by some for his fielding. He doesn't always move so fluidly. Nobody can effectively dispute that Julien has improved quite a bit with the glove. Julien was a prime driver of the offense at the top of the order. Perhaps Lee can do all of what Julien brings to the game and more. I wouldn't bet on that because I believe that Lee already has more experience playing baseball and that Julien has more ceiling. Lee has a higher floor. It isn't a good idea to forget Polanco who is clearly better than both Julien or Lee but has been injured and is older. So the Twins have some decisions to make with these three. Which of these three is most valued by another team? Which (possibly with an addition or two) brings back the most in trade? Which player do the Twins value the most? All considerations when forming a roster.

No team ever won a game when the offense didn't score; that's simple enough. Still, baseball has a long history of proving that pitching is the key ingredient in winning. I'm with those who have hopes that the Twins add a strong starting pitcher this offseason. While signing a free agent saves the loss of good position player and prospects, a trade seems more likely. While it might be beneficial to add to the offense, it is very possible that good health, always elusive, and incremental improvements by a few players make the Twins into a productive offense. The Twins have some decisions to make about Julien, Polanco, and Lee. Perhaps this gets deferred. Royce Lewis just may be a steady player and a fixture in the lineup. I'm still bullish on Correa and believe he will have a better year with the bat going forward. The key, as it ever is, will be if Byron Buxton can be productive for 110+ games. Not just home runs, but the Buxton everyone pictures and hopes for only at a reduced rate of games. It is also reasonable to expect Alex Kirilloff to improve quite a bit if he is finally fully healthy and can have the offseason and March needed to prepare him for seven months of baseball. I'm thinking that the offense will be stronger in 2024, more in tune but even improved from the second half of 2023. The key remains to consistently place very good pitching on the mound. The decisions made this winter will determine whether those arms are from the current roster or from a few guys brought aboard.

I would take the Twins pitchers before either team, Texas or Arizona, every time. Nobody can guarantee results in the postseason but it is worth noting that the Twins has success against both World Series teams, even though some might point to when we played those quads.

That is a fair question and one all front office people ponder. Remember Kyle Lewis or Evan White from Seattle? Sure-fire all stars and Seattle even signed White to a long term deal. Stuff happens. Baseball is a rough business. I'm high on Brooks Lee as well, but he has never been labeled as a regular All Star type player. He will be a regular starter for an MLB team with solid performances. This has been and continues to be his line. If you watch Lee, he is really solid and does some good things on the field, but he isn't a wow player who puts up crazy numbers. He is just really good, which is something. Festa is in some ways opposite to Lee, albeit a pitcher. He has a lack of polish and is very inexperienced. However, starting pitchers who can locate 3-4 pitches with a fastball hitting 96-98 with regularity and a wicked slider are not common. Festa has at least another year of learning but I would not be surprised to see the skinny 6'-6" right-hander become a #2 starting pitcher. You are correct that a team will get more in trade for a highly rated prospect and that the evaluations are tricky. For a sure thing, I would bet on Lee. For star quality, I would pick Festa. Then again, both could be Evan White. I'm also keen on an attempt to add Burnes via trade, but I think one or two other moves need to happen first.

Too early to give up on Salas, that is for sure. It is highly doubtful that any team would give an MLB roster position to such an inexperienced, raw player. Salas could still rebound in a big way. He looked quite tentative at the plate. Once he got on base he felt more comfortable but the swing needs some work and Salas just needs to play for a couple of years to see where his career is headed. Prielipp has had physical misfortune. I think he needs to be fully healed and built back up to game speed before pitching in game situations. The Twins will be careful with him. By this time next year we should have a better picture of how his arm has responded to intervention and whether Connor could be a good prospect with development. I'm not giving up on him. Woods Richardson has certainly had his share of challenges being traded twice. He looks inconsistent from pitch to pitch and from inning to inning. However, Simeon is a big strong guy who has a number of pitches that do work at times. He still has more upside than a guy like Jordan Balazavic. I wonder if SWR becomes an add-on in a trade of big names in order to seal a deal, similar to how Jose Salas came to the Twins.

I never thought Lopez had twice the value. I was referring to the BTV site that many use to judge or guess at fair trades. My point is that we don't know the value other teams place on our players as well as to guess that Falvey does not want to trade for a player like Ray with a $74 M price tag. I'm fine with adding Ray because it is not my money, but I just don't think it is likely. So I'm not questioning the value of Ray as a pitcher and the Lopez-Arraez comment referred to BTV which is interesting but that is about it.

Oh yah, Festa is looking like a find. I like baseball and especially like watching the game in person. You can pick up so much about how good a player is or how projectable they are watching games live. Unfortunately, my exposure to Festa, Schobel, and Rosario is limited to milb.com. My take on Festa is that he is a guy who could be a #2 starting pitcher as soon as 2025. He has some impressive pitches but still has some challenges in staying consistent over more than five innings. I'm thinking Festa is just raw in his craft and needs experience. We will learn quite a bit this coming year because I think the Twins will let him stretch out and allow him to pitch through more situations than he has faced thus far in his career. Festa might be a guy who develops quite bit (physically) this winter. Man, he looks skinny. Experience, refinement of his pitches, and physical maturity should push Festa high up national rankings by mid season. I believe Festa is the Twins top pitching prospect by a fair margin. I also have watched Schobel and Rosario quite a bit and like both of these guys. I'll save the lengthy read to agree that these two are also making a strong impression. Schobel does so much right and Rosario has worked to be quick to the ball and more selective. Nice post Nick on three fun to watch prospects.

All five had great debuts. The Twins were lucky. Health, hit the ball, and play defense is exactly the ticket to moving up. Prospects get a chance to show their game and talented players who perform are rewarded with opportunities. A full year of good health will tell us how good Walker Jenkins can be. If he can get some exposure next August in Wichita, that would be a meteoric rise for a high school player.