tony&rodney

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.

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.