tony&rodney

Cool video and you do a good job of stating your cases. My number one choice is Liam Hendriks. 3/$30 million seems a little low but I'll pay it. Bauer is a strong temptation because of how tough he pitches and a team will get innings from him every time out. A few pieces need to move to fit Bauer. If the payroll sits at $145 million, Bauer becomes a match. Walker is a good choice at the named contract. Some interesting ideas and thoughts for discussion.

Maeda is already signed long term. Berrios is not signed long term. The Twins are not looking to sign a player to a long term contract who already has one. There are too many other contracts to consider.

Buxton and Sano for Story and Marquez? Wow. I'm not sure about the Rockies parting with Marquez. Maybe add Dobnak and Thorpe? It would be a big trade, for sure. Maybe a week from now we will all see some crazy trades and signings.

The Twins have options. The Rangers might take a package of 2-3 prospects that do not include our top 6 if we include some decent useful pitchers like Dobnak and Thorpe. We want a stable pitcher on a decent salary and Lynn, Hill, or Kluber could be enough. I want to see Duran or Balazovic in the last SP slot. A key, for me, is an additional reliever. I think Hendriks is worth a chance. Nash Walker's idea of trying to get a deal for Ketel Marte is a potential bonus. If I had one concern for next season it is Polanco's ankle. Athletes often rebound from bad ankle injuries, but those who cannot have recurring issues that diminish their skills. Polanco, when healthy, is underrated in my view. He plays every day and is tough. If he doesn't rebound, the Twins will need to turn to Lewis. Adrianza is a strong defender to fill in once a week, not a starter. Mix the vets with some kids and add a player or two via trades. The Twins do not need an ace but they do need to make the right changes. Next season will be more competitive in the Central Division.

One consideration - a new CBA may reduce the years of service before free agency and/or have specific salaries tied to performance in those years where a team holds control over a player. Quite a bit could change and, as such, any negotiations would need to increase their offer from past practices. The Twins have quite a bit on their plate right now and are unlikely to advance a longterm contract. If they did, I believe we should look at 8/$80 million.

Signing Bauer would be tough because it would mean pinching monies spent on a relief pitcher or two and a decent utility player. Signing Bauer would also push either Cruz or/and Rosario out the door as well. The financial decisions are up to the Twins but a payroll of $140 works for them. Don't underestimate the financial abilities or acumen of the Pohlads. They made a sound call on Donaldson. Covid happens.

Yes, we should extend Berrios, as most state above. However, it is possible that Jose wants to play out his contract to see what is available in free agency. He has all the money he needs for life right now, he works really hard, he wants to win, and is likely to be interested in going big at some point. If the Twins are serious about keeping Berrios for a few more years beyond the two left until free agency, they should try 4/$56-60 million. That gives Jose some time to build huge value, make cash, and the Twins are not overburdened with a long term contract. For sure the Twins should be feeling out the market for their star pitcher this winter though. It can be surprising how much one player can bring in a trade with a team overly eager to win now. The Twins have a nice complement of players and any trades that can make them better next summer should be pursued. We can go year to year with Jose. Hopefully Berrios wins a World Series for the Twins next fall.

The Twins will not be signing Kirilloff this winter to a long term contract. The budget is pinched and any extra money will be directed toward pitchers and filling in current needs for next season. An extension now would need to include two years of minimum salary for Kirilloff, because of choices needed elsewhere on the roster, and it would be unprecedented to accept a long term deal that keeps a player at the minimum for a couple of years. By this time next year, a conversation could happen.

The lack of direction by MLB on a DH decision is also pertinent to this post. Cruz and Rosario are linked as moderate payroll tickets. The Twins might have enviable depth in corner outfielders/dh/1B, but the team wants to win next summer as well. The loss of both Rosario and Cruz would be stiff because neither would return an asset. Free agent signings return quality without loss of current players. This is attractive. The Twins should be looking for three or four pitchers and a couple of utility players. My best guess is that this is a busy week of discussing FA, trades, and rosters spots. The market is real slow right now and that December 2 deadline to tender is close. Unless the team makes some moves in the next week, I expect Rosario to be tendered a contract. The loss of both Eddie and Nelson would too tough right now.

There are so many scenarios where Eddie is still a Twin next summer. In addition to using the young corner outfielders as potential links to pitching, the current signed players, Sano and Kepler, may bring back a pitcher. In 2019, five Twins hit 30 home-runs and it is plausible that only one is retained for 2021. Certainly, the finances and team needs will dictate that a minimum of one of the Bomba Squad is moved. Rosario for less than $10 million is an option that must be considered. At the very least, December 2 is day one for the dominoes.

My thoughts exactly. I put my crazy ideas in the Offseason Live Replay: Twins Offseason Blueprints comments section. Despite having Rosario lined up fourth on the list of Eddie or Miguel or Byron or Max, I kept Eddie Rosario.

Love the ideas and different iterations of the 2021 Twins team. I run through my own, especially as a means to stay away from the political morass and Covid downers. It is a form of entertainment to look through the stat columns and team needs and wonder where deals can or cannot be made. My craziest ideas involved a series of trades, losing some of my favorite Twins. I traded Max Kepler plus a few minor leaguers for Brandon Woodruff from Milwaukee; Miguel Sano for Max Meyer from Miami; and Jose Berrios, Mitch Garver, Lewis Thorpe, Cole Sands, and Jack Cave for Luis Patino and MacKenzie Gore from San Diego. Finally, I liked the trade for Ketel Marte suggested on a previous Offseason Live. My budget comes in just below $130 million. SP = Kenta Maeda, Brandon Woodruff, Michael Pineda, Luis Pineda and a rookie. The rookie can be either one of Mackenzie Gore or/and Jhoan Duran. RP = Liam Hendriks, Rogers, Duffey, Wisler, Alcala, Stashak, Theilbar, and Colina. C = Realmuto; 1B = Kirilloff; 2B = Arraez; 3B = Donaldson; SS = Polanco, LF = Rosario; CF = Buxton; RF = Larnach, DH = Rooker; bc = Jeffers; utility1 = Marte; utility2 = Lewis; 13th player = ?/Astudillo. Total is near $125 million. I signed two free agents: Liam Hendriks is my first choice for 3/$42 m. and then my unlikely signing is J.T. Realmuto for 5/$125 m. I also want Tyler Clippard to return. I, too, had fun listening to the podcast. Thank you for doing these and keeping our moods light.

"It is fun to see this ranking and I will look for other outsider views this off season. But my take away from this is that we have a good team with a lot of players ranked in the middle at their position, but other than Cruz and potential Donaldson we do not have the superstars that the great teams have. We have no one on a HOF track." from mikelink45 First, this might be a strong argument for inserting at least one (or two) of the youth into the lineup next season. Secondly, this can also be an argument for signing a significant FA, which would require some shifting of personnel to accommodate the budget. Finally, do the Twins make a couple of dramatic trades in an attempt to jump past their obstacle of first round playoff losses?

Remember these all quite clearly. Debates raged about college players and flame throwing high school pitchers. The one that really hurt, because it seemed the available information was present, was choosing Tyler Jay. From my couch I preferred Buehler and then Benintendi. My third choice was McKenzie. Still, what did I know? A little video, game reports, watching a few games, and blogs were my only sources. Terry Ryan spoke at a coaches' clinic at St. Olaf's College every winter and it was understood that anything he said was kept among us. He also brought along a young player each year. The most cocky, and funny, but also well spoken was A.J Pierzsinski. Ryan was always real direct. His baseball knowledge was beyond compare as was his integrity. Terry Ryan is a gentleman in all respects; the consummate baseball man, respected by all across the league. Something about the baseball draft swings wildly for many teams, back and forth, from success to failure. The 2012 draft brought Byron Buxton and every single team in baseball would have taken him that year. Lately, the Twins have taken a number of DH/!B/corner OF types. Once again, only the future will exonerate or refute these decisions. One thing I am confident of - Ryan and Falvine and their team of scouts and talent evaluators are more knowledgable than me.

We are looking for a shoehorn. Cruz, Sano, Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Rooker, Kirilloff, and Larnach. Cave is a viable OF too. The Twins have five positions to allocate, a budget to consider, and two players too many. The idea of stashing Rooker, Kirilloff, and Larnach in the minor leagues no longer seems like a structurally sound plan. While only the Twins internal talent evaluations count, we have seen both Rooker and Kirilloff swing a bat already and Larnach is not a secret. Eddie Rosario has been a clear contributor for the Twins and I have not seen any dramatic changes to his talent. A three year offer to Eddie is a path forward for the Twins, as is a consideration of using him more often as a DH. This will be a tough winter for Falvine as they work through all of the roster possibilities. No matter what direction the team goes, we will miss the two players left standing when the music stops and the chairs are claimed.

This past season was such an outlier and no minor league games made for a situation which meant that any strong determinations about player development knowledge was kept in house. Was there any way for teams to evaluate the alternate site or fall instructional camp players? I am not aware of that this was happening. One year can be huge in the development of a young player. The excellent interview (thank you Seth) with Brent Rooker hints at some of the opportunities presented at the alternate site. While Rooker was clearly being a gentleman and throwing nods to a number of his fellow youth, his description of the value in seeing multiple reps every day against players who are all considered potential call-ups and have the talent to effectively compete at the MLB level was instructive. This does clearly contrast with a typical minor league experience where there are many players who fill the roster at A, AA, and AAA. One can see this gap any time you go to a minor league baseball game. I can attest to this personally (in the past) having played against players in amateur ball who were recently released from rosters at all levels, including MLB. Some of these guys were sent by their wives/girlfriends to go join a local team just weeks after their release because they were just hanging out too much around the house. My gut instinct leaned toward the Twins choices based on reading Twins Daily and the mlb.com reports. A player like Ober being protected is a sign that the team sees projection now and that there is a reason to suspect that the brain trusts of their competitors have some degree of information to choose Ober in the Rule 5 draft. The Twins likely made their decisions about who would be protected back in October, pending an unexpected trade or other addition. The real action starts on December 2, when teams decide who gets tendered contracts, released, or traded. Despite the prediction of a slow off-season, teams will need to formulate a plan soon and their direction will be a combination of gambles based on projected monies available versus the emerging player markets. The number of Twins players who are in their prime plus those ready to contribute for the first time sets a scenario for a winter of speculation. I'm pretty pleased with the potential of the young guns and am particularly happy that Rortvedt was added now, for exactly the reason that AceWrigley noted above.

Seth, I appreciated the pace and quality of questions. Thank you.

Atlanta is not trading Anderson or Fried, the Dodgers are not trading Buehler, Cleveland isn't trading Bieber, and that means the Twins aren't trading Buxton. If the Indians will swap SB for BB, sure, do it. Otherwise, the Twins are all in on Byron this year.

Odorizzi looks pretty good on Monday afternoon, now that Smily signed for $11 million. Still, it might be prudent to attempt a few free agent signings of the bigger fish first. Quick now may uncover a gem later. Then again, after today the players may be rethinking their worth in the market.

Drew Smily signs with ATL for $11 million and the board gets more interesting. Here are some wandering thoughts on the possibilities of trades and other nonesense. For no particular reason, I am hoarding Kirilloff and Larnach because they are both true bats. Then, in consideration of Nash Walker's industrious proposals, the Ketel Marte trade looks good. Additions to make it happen are possible in my view, including Cave, and ARI may benefit from an infusion of new looks. What is the market for Sano? Whenever the Twins hit, he and Buxton are my two can't miss at bats. Sano is fearsome. Miami might be interested though. Can we pry away Max Meyer? Talk with Rich Hill and Cory Kluber. The Twins need to be careful. Waiting too long may boost the prices of both free agents and trades. Marte gives the Twins great flexibility on both offense and defense. If he might be available there is a definite need. The trade for Woodruff sounds promising but I'm hesitant to deliver Larnach and the Brewers may actually want more players. Profar may be easier to sign but I believe Walker is on to something with Marte.

If Odorizzi is going to cost $12+ million and the Twins are going to stay below $130 million, then a trade or a flyer on a Kluber/Hill combo might make more sense. Totally agree with Odorizzi at $10 million but I believe someone will offer him more money and multiple years. The Twins could use the money towards acquiring a bullpen piece.

Yes, it would be really interesting to see Trevor Larnach line up next summer for the Twins. I think he would mash. Only the Twins brain trust knows the answer to whether these two are ready but watching Larnach swing a bat delivers confidence in his hit tool. One of my iterations includes TL batting 8th, ahead of MG, and following LA-JD-AK-NC-MK-BB-JP. Maybe, just maybe, a gamble on youth but through the years there are players who manage themselves well when tossed into the fray of mlb action. The deciding factor may be how the Twins manage resources in building a better bullpen and add to their starting staff. That and how committed Falvine are to Cruz might well determine if Trevor Larnach gets a shot, waits, or is traded. If we must bid goodbye to Rosario, I'm ready to see Larnach shine. Maybe he will even agree to shave his sorry goatee, or at least add further facial hair.

The suggestions for trades are pretty decent because they each aim to improve the local squad. I like that. It is what i want to see from Falvine; two heads better than one. No matter how we turn this winter the budget will ultimately drive all trades and free agent signings. Like many of the readers, I play with ideas that range from a reduced financial state to an idea of largesse towards contracts. In all scenarios there are good options and the one thing that pains me is to see and hear so much discussion of moving on from those bombs from 2019 in some form or another. Garver, Sano, Cruz, Rosario, and Kepler all took pitchers deep and now more than a few of these players may not wear the Twins colors next summer. The post suggests Story but his contract would push aside several others and reduce our options for the bullpen and starting pitching. Ketel is intriguing but his salary commitment is significant in an area we may have other options. The Woodruff trade seems to be the most likely to fill a real need for MN. I'm not sure the Brewers are interested, however. What if we sent sent Garver instead of Larnach and dropped Hader from the deal? Woodruff would fit in nicely as a #3 pitcher for us. I'm also wondering what is needed to pry Snell away from TB.

Lindor is really good and the Mets do match up well in a trade. Interesting that both Peterson, Rosario, and another (or two) could be the price Cleveland sets, which means that the players the post identifies as of interest to the Twins are now in the other dugout for 19 games a year. Garver is an anomaly right now. In 2019 he was nearly a Mike Piazza who could actually catch, but then came 2020. The Twins have some wealth at catcher and only a real deal will make them listen.

A strong bullpen is important and wouldn't it be nice to have some combo of two of Hendriks/Hand/Rosenthal/May? The post references potential starters, however, and Kluber on an incentive contract makes sense as does the same for Hill. Pass on Paxton (price) or Archer (questions). Either way, it looks like three pitchers are needed. Who will it be?