tony&rodney

Correa is a gamer. He plays hard and works hard to keep in prime physical and mental shape. So many things can happen but the Twins are lucky to have a shortstop who makes every play seem routine and takes professional at bats.

The Twins, like many teams, have some real talented young baseball players. These players will need to force their way on to the roster through their performances. A few people have mentioned Alex Kirilloff but it seems like most have forgotten him or believe his road back is strewn with daunting physical challenges. I have neither heard nor read any reports on Kirilloff this offseason. If Alex returns as the guy who plays a smooth first base and rockets baseballs across the playing field like he did for a stretch last summer in St. Paul, he will be hitting in the heart of the Twins lineup. I see Kirilloff as a key to a strong Twins team. Edouard Julien will need to prove himself in St. Paul before he receives an opportunity in Minneapolis. A strong month in Florida followed by line drives sprayed around AAA fields may push the Twins to give the young batting machine a look. He profiles as a DH until further work in the infield but if he carries his numbers forward Julien could deserve a shot. Spring Training should be really interesting because I believe that all of Lee, Kirilloff, and Julien possess the skills a championship team needs at the plate.

All Julien has done in the last two years is hit for average, get on base at a high rate, steal bases, and hit for extra bases. One wonders what would happen if Julien rips the cover off the ball in Spring Training. DH?

Enjoyed the video. I believe the two teams match up reasonably well. The Marlins should be looking a sure bat and an emerging hitter. I'm keen to add Cabrera to the Twins team but also nearly as hopeful for Luzardo. Both carry huge upside and also risk, as do all young pitchers. A trade for Luzardo and Cabrera? How about Arraez, Larnach, and Kepler? The extra player does create a small issue for the Marlins. Can the Twins take back Soler? There should be a match and it seems like a good gamble for both teams to make.

Baseball players work extremely hard to excel at their jobs and as shown years ago they would play for nearly nothing to stay in the game. Free agency changed the money but these athletes still had to earn their way up through the system. In ten years Correa would most certainly be thrilled to still be playing baseball and bringing home $10 million would just be an added bonus/treat.

The Marlins may be interested in a player for now (Kepler, Arraez types) and some guys who are pre-arb too (Miranda, Larnach, Kirillof, Martin types). They may be interested in an A ball player but that is too far down the road because Miami is building their team for this year and the next few seasons. Finally, if the Twins can only protect one player, it should be Emmanuel Rodriguez. The Twins should not listen on him.

It is a solid gamble at the correct time for the Twins because of the number of young players and health risks.

Correa on the team means less angst about shortstop and allows the players like Lee, Lewis, Martin, and Julien to hit/earn their way into the lineup instead of being given a slot. Still, health is needed as everyone has pointed out.

Something was amiss on the medical front, for sure. Correa should be good for all of six years. It is a gamble worth taking at this point with interest in the Twins waining.

Agree .... and my hope is that the Twins can make a trade for a starter like Edward Cabrera or Jesus Luzardo using players already on the expected 26 person roster.

Christian Vasquez cannot be traded until June 15. Plus, for the next year or two, Vasquez is a better option for the Twins at catcher. This is especially true with our young starters.

Bauer may get another chance in baseball, but it is really hard to see it. He has had more than 10 years of substantial issues in increasingly more complicated manners of behavior. The resume is out there for all teams to consider and it seems nearly impossible that an employer is looking to test their luck at this time. Maybe if he can somehow prove that his can adjust over the next ten years, then someone might say ok. It's none of my business and I don't care if someone wants to employ Bauer but my belief is he is done with baseball.

Trade Sonny Gray to San Diego for Dylan Lesko if you think San Diego is a good trade partner.

Sale doesn't seem likely and would be pretty much outside of the box for Falvey. Let Falvey concentrate on prying loose Edward Cabrera from the Marlins, a gamble worth taking.

Arraez or Miranda, Kirillof or Larnach, and Kepler for Cabrera and Luzardo should work for both teams. Perhaps add a Cavaco or Celestino from our side. That should help the Marlins with offense and strengthen the Twins pitching staff. It sure seems like the Twins will not move on anything until the entire Correa saga comes to a definitive end.

MLBTradeRumors has a post saying that Miami is listening on Lopez, Rogers, Luzardo, and Cabrera. They want bats and years of control. This is an opportunity for the Twins to pick up a guy (Cabrera) with massive upside. albeit a gamble. What is needed to complete this for the Marlins? Larnach or Kirilloff and Kepler for Cabrera. Add Ober and Martin going south with Miami sending Luzardo north? Hard to know what will work but there should be a match for at least Cabrera.

You make a good point but I would argue that the Twins ceiling could easily be $175M. Given their current roster I would make trades which actually brings the cost down. Large long terms contracts will always need a long term evaluation. Signing Correa without any other moves doesn't push the team far enough to justify the cost. Hopefully there are other ideas or moves to come in the near future. I also agree with what you argue about the value of the back half of large contracts. However, don't teams sign these contracts with this expectation because the front half balances out the deals in the teams' favor? The Hosmer and Hayward deals were totally panned immediately and who knew the mess of a situation that Cano would fall into. All of the other deals, like Mauer's, were a plus for the teams. I am generally opposed to large long term contracts because of all of the points you have argued in other posts. There is a time though and one deal I would have gambled on this winter is making an attempt on Carlos Rodon. I'm still quite ambivalent about Correa.

The Twins could use a player who hits for average and has power but also has a high on base percentage and might steal some bases. Julien is that guy and he can be moved around the infield (1B, 2B) when he isn't the DH. Put him in the lineup.

Solid report these five are important to any success possible for the Twins in 2023. Most people would agree that Buxton and Polanco will produce given good health, and all of Kepler, Gallo, and Vasquez could surprise us with their performances. Arraez will hit. That leaves one guy who is not spoken for - Nick Gordon. He also needs to prove himself, although his case is different. Gordon had a fine year last year and seems capable of even better numbers, yet because he faced so many challenges and took such a slow path to regular work he will need to prove he belongs in the lineup on a daily basis. As far as those in the post, they each have different expectations. Jeffers should be able to relax as a backup to Vasquez and hopefully he is able to improve his at bats as well as his blocking with Vasquez as a tutor. I see Ryan as the perfect #4 guy for our starting rotation and his consistency would be welcome there. He can develop without the pressure of being a top guy. Ober fits right behind Ryan as a #5. Hopefully Ober remains healthy. There really isn't any reason to be so careful with the big guy any longer. Either Ober is ready to handle a full load or he gets replaced by another potentially positive starter, Varland. The Twins and their fans should have a good idea of where Kirillof stands by June 1. It would be optimum for the team and their fans if Kirilloff can replicate his Saints run last season in MLB starting in April, but a little patience may be necessary to allow for the rust to be removed. Either way, We should have an answer on Alex by June. With Gallo, Kepler, Gordon, Garlick, and Wallner available to play corner outfield and the potential to throw Celestino and Kirilloff into the mix, it is difficult to see where Trevor Larnach fits with the Twins. I expect him to open the year in St. Paul if he is not used a piece in a trade. Perhaps the Twins move several other players to open an option for Larnach as well. Larnach seems ready to get regular at bats and it may need to happen with another team. If he begins in AAA, I sure hope he rakes to force his way into a regular lineup spot for someone.

This reads similar to an article about Royce Lewis just a few years back. One side comment - errors at the minor league level are not solid indicators of whether a player can actually succeed at a position. Lateral movement, reads, hands, reflexes, release, and arm are better indicators of future competence.

Enlow may be gone soon.

Manfredball is horse manure, especially the ghost runner.

Manfred and the owners are content with what they have and display little interest, judging from their actions, in growing the game. Simply put, baseball either doesn't have competent overall leadership and vision or perhaps it is not interested.

Winter is long.

This is the song that never ends. It goes on and never ends ......