tony&rodney

I watched Julien hit quite often this past year and he has improved tremendously. i think he will be a better bat than Miranda was this past year for Minnesota. Julien can also steal a base and is a savvy base-runner. Of every minot league bat I watched this summer, Julien was the most impressive. He has begun to hunt his pitch even if it comes early in the at bat and fouls off a ton of very tough pitches. Yes, he will strike out but he hits the ball hard and works over a pitcher about as good as anyone. Julien could be ready soon. His glove is not horrid just not above average.

Interesting idea for Lopez. Can we also get Edward Cabrera if we send Arraez and sub in Mahle for Varland?

Nice article. Good luck to this young man. One thing we saw in the playoffs - command and control of your pitches is the ticket.

Last season was somewhat unusual in the usage of starting pitchers, which put a strain on the bullpen. If that strategy is the new norm or even repeated in 2023, then the Twins will likely need to use finances for relief pitchers that should be allocated elsewhere. A decent starting staff stretched out means the current options only need to be buttressed with a number of guys picked up for minimum dollars. Duran and Lopez are fair options on the back end of a bullpen. Jax and Thielbar will be joined by a healthy return from Jorge Alcala and Kenta Maeda, who I believe will be best in a relief role especially early in the year. Jovani Moran is ready for important innings and Guys like Ronnie Henriquez and Josh Winder will be useful in the bullpen too. We might see an effective return of Cody Stashak as well. I'm pretty optimistic about the current arms in the Twins system slated for roles in a bullpen. A few guys out there, like David Robertson, Matt Moore, and Rafael Montero, look interesting but I'm more keen to see improvements at catcher (Murphy) and starting pitcher along with a right handed bat like Haniger.

Gray getting his option picked up was a no brainer. I wouldn't extend him though.

Accepted. I see more or less the same figures yet we really do not have exact numbers. The Twins face somewhat of a challenge due to declining attendance and a general loss of interest in their product. While I'm willing to see what happens at a payroll below $120 million, a jump this year to around $155M that may create interest and improve numbers in seats would be offset by a decrease in payroll in the next 2-3 years as players come off the rolls (Kepler, Gray, Urshela). The main issue is that the team looks stagnant to some extent and I'm hoping for some movement to see a more watchable game from the Twins. FWIW, I don't ever turn away, but maybe I should.

While I agree that trying to win with just free agents doesn't really work, there are reasonable expectations for a salary budget that include a $!60 million number. The Twins are at an interesting point where there are players near ready even as there are others players nearing the end of their time in Minnesota. Players like Jeffers, Kirilloff, Julien, Miranda, Lewis, Larnach, Celestino, Gordon, Martin, Wallner, Lee, Ryan, Ober, Winder, Varland, SWR, Duran, Alcala, Moran, Jax, Henriquez, and maybe more are controlled and inexpensive. Guys like Polanco, Urshela, Kepler, Gray, Maeda, Lopez, and Mahle are potentially in their final year with the Twins. Arraez is inexpensive and could be around for several more years. Only Buxton and Dobnak are signed for more than next season if one declines options. This is an opportunity to explore a few free agents and look at possible trades. I'm ok with a direction that may see budgets decline toward $100 million if the talent level and athleticism is increased along with pushing a more exciting brand of baseball (fundamentals, willingness to advance more than one base at a time, etc.). The Twins could sign a pitcher like Rodon and also add Haniger as well as Correa due to the flexible nature of the next 2-4 years. It will be interesting to see what direction the team takes in the next month.

The Twins are not going to fall into a discount from Carlos Correa. However, there is a chance that Correa signs early and bypasses what may be a frenzy if the Twins offer 8/$300 now.

World Series has ended, offseason begins. Budget: $155-160 million (within reason) Trade for Sean Murphy (OAK) - guessing = Larnach, Ober, Miller, and Festa or Raya Trade for Pablo Lopez (MIA) - unsure = Arraez, Kepler, Mahle, and Cavaco Trades can be tweaked but seem fair. Sign free agents Carlos Correa 8/$300M, Carlos Rodon 5/$135M, Mitch Haniger 1/$10.50M Needs filled: catcher (SM); shortstop (CC); RH of bat (MH); starters (PL & CR); relief (JA & KM return) While I would like Jacob deGrom and Edwin Diaz for $60M, I’ll take Correa and Rodon. Aim high. C: Sean Murphy ($3.90M) 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Jose Miranda ($0.75M) SS: Carlos Correa ($35.20M) LF: Nick Gordon ($0.75M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.15M) RF: Matt Wallner ($0.70M) DH: Mitch Haniger ($10.50M) 4th OF: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M) Utility: Gio Urshela ($9.20M) Utility: Edouard Julien ($0.70M) Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) SP1: Carlos Rodon ($27.00M) SP2: Pablo Lopez ($5.75M) SP3: Sonny Gray ($12.00M) SP4: Joe Ryan ($0.80M) SP5: Louie Varland ($0.70M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.80M) RP: Jorge Lopez ($3.50M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.70M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($0.90M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($2.50M) RP: Jovani Moran ($0.70M) RP: Josh Winder ($0.70M) RP: Kenta Maeda ($3.50M) Payroll is 4.11% over budget

I like the signings of Rodon and Correa. Wonder if the Twins might be able to shake Murphy or/and Jansen loose.

Do you mean at the plate with a bat or behind it with a glove? I guess Tampa Bay had some issues at the catching position, but Houston, Philadelphia, San Diego, NYY, Seattle, Atlanta, LAD, Toronto, Cleveland, and St. Louis were all pretty happy with their catchers. The Mets have a young pup on the rise. The Guardians and Cardinals put a high premium on the defensive side as does Houston. I wouldn't say that the Twins catchers compare favorably to the playoff teams sets of backstops. I do understand that there is a shortage of good catchers across baseball and that the depth is thin for many teams.

Sean Murphy seems like a reach. BTV would cope with Larnach, Ober, and Miller for Murphy, but the A's and Twins might not agree. Perhaps Danny Jansen would be a conversation piece. What does Toronto want in return? A catcher worth some thought is Christian Vasquez and maybe he is open to 2/$18M deal. Omar Narvaez may be less costly but he looked to be in decline. This is where those talent evaluators earn their paycheck.

Jansen and Murphy may be available and it is possible to sign Vasquez.

It is interesting to see both Harper and Schwarber running. The good teams are not afraid to run. The Twins weren't just poor at stealing bases, they were not good at running the bases anywhere as a team. The Twins did not score on doubles from first base very often nor even on singles with two out. While I have no idea why the team was a collective turtle, those of us who watched enough games can attest to the lack of base-running acumen from our Twins squad. Buxton should run. It is a part of his skill set. If everyone is too worried about injuries we are looking at a unique player being held hostage as a DH. If he can't run, he might get hurt in the outfield too. I'm hopeful for a change in ideas for the Twins in 2023. That hope includes improved fundamentals on the bases and behind the plate as well as in the field.

The Pohlad's businesses are not emotional ventures. The goal is to maximize the asset, which many would argue (why not?) is the point of business. Carl and sons are not baseball people or fans. That's ok for many businesses but baseball does require some level of risk via spending that may be more difficult than many normal businesses. The alternative is to be superior at scouting, drafting, and developing. A combination of financial risk and an eye for player talent works best. The Twins are currently in a rough spot. Jim Pohlad repeats the same lines spoken decades in the past by his father because he has hired people to run his (the family) baseball business and does not have a vision for the Minnesota Twins beyond the expected financial return, and that is his right. Twins fans haven't seen their team among the highest in MLB payrolls since the heydays of Calvin Griffith's 1960 teams. San Diego has a smaller market but has spent big. Whatever the answer is, spend $140-180 million for 2023 or cut back to $90-110 million, I just hope the Twins are interesting in 2023 because their 2022 product was horrid and I followed them to the end just like a fanatic.

Wrong.

The question of whether Martin is a decent trade candidate depends on what baseball philosophy the Twins adopt for 2023. Martin is an on base machine and athletic player who will steal bases. The Twins could have a new look next year but their approach has been to play base to base and wait for a home run; they were very poor at running the bases in the last several seasons. If the Twins are going to continue the style of baseball we have seen, then trading Martin is almost certain providing any value comes in return. However, I am hopeful of a shift in thinking and practice that will begin in 2023.

Very unlikely, but it could happen. Think of it as something similar to a Joe D hitting streak. Joe Mauer was a unicorn. If I had to identify what Mauer brought to the game that is most missed by the current era of Twins catchers, it is his ability to block everything and reduce the opponent's running game. Imagine a Maldonado or Hedges at catcher and add the ability to hit .300 and run the bases efficiently - Joe Mauer. I doubt any of us lives long enough to see another catcher with his talents.

You have included a solid bat in Bogaerts that might be a good choice. Kepler? Maybe Miami is interested in Kepler and Miranda for Lopez? If Miranda doesn't start, he might be expendable? I think Josh Winder could do what we expect from Fulmer. One thing I see from most every list is the hope in Gray, Mahle, and Maeda for $29 million. While I'm thinking that Falvey rolls with those three in 2023, I would prefer different options. What about Rodon, Lopez, and Varland as possible replacements?

What's the budget? Sign Bassitt, deGrom, and Correa. Shouldn't cost much more than $95M. ?

This was super interesting to me. Correa missed a little bit of time but is generally a gamer. Urshela and Sanchez played through everything. I was very impressed with how tough Sanchez was this past year. That said, he is not a good defensive catcher and his bat has slowed considerably.

Yes, sign somebody. The Twins don't need any more piles of Happ, etc. I would like to see a signing of Rodon for 5/$125 and Correa for whatever. I don't expect this to happen. I just threw out those trades but have not made them part of any plan. I'm curious about what possibilities exist. What would Miami want? Polanco or Kepler or Arraez? I suggested Larnach because he has been mentioned as having a high trade value, although I personally do not see that. I'm not sold on Jeffers as a starting catcher and am not enamored with any of Mahle, Gray, or Maeda. Perhaps some other team thinks differently. i believe the Twins have mostly spent their money on stopgaps and still don't understand what the agenda was with the SD Padres trade, except for Falvey has stated that he always liked Paddack. I never stopped following or watching the Twins last season but they were a sorry team in nearly every regard. Thus, I am curious about what options exist. It sure seems like most folks have plans to return the same team mol.

Jorge Polanco was injured in 2022 and also disappointing at times. Still, I'm not ready to trade Polanco unless he can bring back a haul. That seems unlikely.

This is the magical question. The ideas that get thrown out can be ridiculous but we just don't know what another team values or is willing to give up in return. Would Toronto part with Jansen (C) for Arraez and Gray? Would Miami surrender P. Lopez and Cabrera for Larnach, Mahle, Jeffers, and N. Miller? I have no idea what other teams value but a couple of trades along with maybe two or three additions via signing free agents seems like a way to improve the roster for 2023.

The offseason is usually all about optimism and positive vibes that crescendo in Spring Training. It's a ritual for all baseball fans. Your concern is one I share, yet I cling to the ideal that people do not need to repeat their past mistakes because learning is an option. We shall see how things play out. Hopefully.