tony&rodney

It could happen. Berrios, Buxton, Sano, Rodgers, and Rosario are all targets for extensions.What would you offer? I don't think the Twins extend Rosario beyond 4/50. They might go 4/60 for Berrios and Sano, but Buxton is a tough call, maybe 4/50 to 4/60. Also, something makes me think that Berrios, Buxton, and Sano are willing to play it year to year. Either way, there is still money for extensions and JD. Right now there is just over $20 million plus committed for 2021.

Sano is a fearsome hitter and i think he could really step forward. Experience, fitness, health, focus, and happiness could congeal to help the big man deliver an MVP level performance (please remember that MVPs are for Trout). I'm a fan.

The Twins won 101 games last year, but were swept aside in the playoffs. The quick defeats to NY were in part due to failed offense, but untimely pitching mistakes were exasperated by poor defense. Is it necessary to disrupt the lineup? Switching Polanco to 2B, Sano to 1B, and Arraez to 3B leaves the team without anyone playing SS and three players learning positions on the fly at the major league level. It could work, but it seems dubious. How can this change? If the defense is to be upgraded some trades would need to happen because there isn't anyone sitting at home waiting for a call to play SS in the majors. Trevor Story? Colorado would want something that makes their team better. Are the Twins willing to gamble on a major trade? Colorado will not be looking for prospects. Any ideas? Berrios, Arraez, and Rosario for Gray and Story? Hmm. The team defense does need to improve but the manner to do so is difficult.

Can someone who objects to signing JD for 4/$100 million please explain what other options you are thinking of for the 2020 season? Josh Donaldson would almost surely (no player is a guarantee) improve the Twins. The Twins have the money now and going forward. While 3/75 seemed good, the market changed. Who will receive the money from the 2020 budget?

"It's a competitive market and sometimes your offer needs to set you apart." - spycake Probing and working from valuations is fine if there is intent to seek a positive result. I think all teams are hoping for additions which fit inside their schemes. Yet, this market has demanded a shift in thinking and a proactive approach to a "best" offer has a place or the price offered meets the perceived need. The quote from spycake succinctly says it all. A key word, "sometimes". Many Twins fans see that as now.

We are just guessing at the numbers, even approximate numbers. We can think he only wants to play for Atlanta or Washington, but it seems equally likely that he would really enjoy hitting in the Twins lineup and fishing the area lakes. How far are the Twins willing to go to sign Donaldson? Are they prepared to go over their initial offer or reach his request? I'm ready to watch a few rookies and Gonzalez alternate with anyone else at 1B and believe Sano is fine at 3B. I'm also hoping to see what Thorpe, Dobnak, and Graterol can do on the mound. The topic is Donaldson, so ... Q: Does Donaldson improve the Twins roster? A: Yes! Q: Do the Twins have the money to sign him? A: Yes! Q: Are they willing to meet his price? A: We don't know now. We will know eventually.

Perhaps Donaldson wants to let two weeks, or another period of time, pass before he asks teams for their final and best offer. We don't know his thoughts any better than we know what is being offered. We really don't know what teams profits are any more than I know your net worth. Either way, each team does operate with a budget and projects expenses forward for planning purposes. All the teams involved in Josh Donaldson have the money. The only real question is the level of their interest. "Serious interest" can easily be defended because they contacted or responded to JD in the first place. This is like stopping at an open house or calling someone about a car, albeit at far higher numbers. The semantics of "serious" becomes open to discussion when an offer is clearly not going to be accepted because of price. We actually do not know those numbers either, not at all. The frustration of many Twins fans is that our team has fallen short in their attempts to add to the team. Given the current state of available players, Donaldson clearly: improves the team, the money is there, and his contract will not (unlike maybe Cole at $350 million) restrict future budgets. Serious has malleable limits. For me, it is - "c'mon, are you serious?" Just make the highest offer and force him to decide.

Losing out on JD at the above number would be a shame.

Would offering Cole 6/150 have been a serious offer?

Less than 0%? Don't gamble with those odds. Is the unicorn named Verlander? I agree - the Twins are a cautious bunch.

This is a well done series, thank you. My personal feelings are that Sano is underrated. I guarantee pitchers would rather face just about anyone else in baseball than Sano. He hits the ball so hard. It is not the distance it's the velocity. My judgement is that a secret poll of MLB pitchers would place Sano in the top dozen in all of baseball for fear factor. He is respected. That said, this year is a big year for the big man because he must stay on the field, stay focused, and produce consistently.

Not in 2020. It is not competitive.

No one in the Twins front office will ever confirm an offer if JD signs elsewhere, but any offer below $100 million is a real sign that the Twins are NOT serious about signing Donaldson. That would be sad and mean that possibilities for trades are also slim, unless the exchange is ridiculously safe or in favor of the Twins, similar to the Odorizzi trade. That turned out well but it should be agreed upon by most as a safe trade. I'm ok with JD signing for a team that is his choice or overpays. The idea that the Twins play around with numbers like $80-85 million is not being competitive. These were numbers predicted in October. The deals paid out throughout the offseason have changed that prediction or we could have signed Cole for $220 million. Is this a sort of Rubicon for the Falvine boys? I'm skeptical of all reports until the deals are done.

The manner in which I wrote the post you responded to was not clear. Sorry. To the last post - I too am very high on Graterol, but he is not going to throw too many innings this year. The Twins should put him out there though. I'm hoping for 125-140 innings this year.

Nothing major, especially between Gray and Alcantara. Things such as age, service time, innings pitched, baa and a few other things. There doesn't seem to be much reason for Arizona or Colorado to trade if they are going to compete. Alcantara is the youngest and seems to be possibly available (maybe not) and improving, while it would likely take more of the Twins top prospects to pry away Ray or Gray now. I have been thinking that July may be a time when trade options expand. I wonder what San Diego would ask for Paddock? Lewis and Larnach? Not likely. Two teams need to find a common goal and I don't know what that formula is. We already have a bunch of one year contracts. My thinking is that a major trade of prospects should bring a controlled player back.

Josh Donaldson is worth what he is asking for right now, if it is $100-110M. The Twins definitely have the money with only $21 million committed in 2021. Now the front office can put the ball right back in his court by that offer (above). Then we see if JD really objects to MN money and will only play for Atlanta. This seems rather simple.

Josh Donaldson is a risk. However, he is less of a risk than any of the other options discussed this winter. The Twins are only on the hook for slightly over $20 million for next year. The money is available. If JD doesn't want to play for Minnesota or the front office has him evaluated much lower for some reason, fine; we have to agree to disagree (unhappily) with their decision. If the front office believes Donaldson has value, then they need to force him to make the decision. The Twins should have the best offer. Price, Sale, Archer, Gray, Ray, and others are just not seeming to be very balanced decisions based upon multiple risk factors, such as price, injury, prospect cost, and statistical peripherals. I would not trade any of Lewis, Kirilloff, Larnach, Graterol, Balazovic, or Duran for that crew. If there are other combinations that work using lesser valued prospects, do it. In June or July there will be a new alignment of values for available pitchers and the prospects. This is looking like the time for a decision. Mitch Moreland for @$4M and Alex Wood for @$4M are my only remaining options. There is a good chance that some of the Twins young prospects will provide the performance and value we are hoping for this summer. They will be watched closely this Spring.

Most of the pitchers being touted are either too risky (Sale) or have poor peripherals (Archer, Ray, Gray). The Twins should be open to trading anyone if that acquisition is a tipping point. The Cubs giving up Gleybar Torres to run for the title was an extremely risky and still controversial trade, but an example. Most of the top pitchers are simply not available, at any price and others have the same present value in a game as players like Thorpe. Lewis and Kirilloff are or have been rated as top ten prospects and should bring back a haul or held. Looking through the names and numbers, only Alcantara looks promising and a possibility for picking up in a trade. I do not think Snell, Paddock, Castillo, Bieber, or E. Rod are available. Will Miami consider trading Alcantara? What would be fair? Larnach and Enlow? Some combinations of players maybe, but Miami has a good system and are not looking for numbers of prospects in place of quality. There is a better likelihood that the trading environment is improved in June or July.

There has to be somebody who can watch him and talk to him and determine if young Master Kirilloff is ready for a shot at The Show. Torii, Tony, Rod, the coaches and scouts. Alex wouldn't be the first player to arrive swinging. He wasn't my first choice for 1B in October, but it's January now.

Re: Garver and trade value. From a Cody Christie post 18 November - Posted 18 November 2019 - 12:24 PM "What would Garver bring back? Grandal, Avila, and others could be signed. Of course we love a contract controlled slugger like Garver, but what would other teams offer? Atlanta? Cincy? San Diego? If not FA signings the Twins must explore all trade ideas." I have wondered about Garver's value since October. I have no idea though and nobody seemed to think this noteworthy. My idea was to gamble early for an ace dangling Garver plus. I was curious to know what the market was at the time. Still am.

Rooker, Raley, and even younger - let us see what they can do. Gonzalez, Garver, etc. are there to back them up. With the solid core the Twins have in their lineup it is ok to trot out a rookie.

Bryant has had some great seasons thus far. He is in a dispute with the Cubs that he is expected to lose. I think he should win his grievance. Thus, he become a rental. Either way I am not a Bryant fan. Something unexplainable makes me think he could mirror Prior - quick start and too quickly becomes a highly thought of young coach. Donaldson is risky in two years and Bryant costs major prospects. JD - ok, KB - no.

... So What's The Plan Now?" I think this is the thread. We have a little bit of the working class people adoration for billionaire profits arguing with disgruntled fans who might have thought that something big should happen this offseason. Baseball is entertainment and we read this junk to keep abreast of trends, thoughts, and various ideas. There have been many - that's good. I want to refer back to the thread idea and suggest that this season could be a very exciting one for Twins fans. Garver has emerged as a strong MLB player and even with regression will see more time on the field and be productive. It is easy to see Arraez, Kepler, and Rosario having equal or improved seasons this year. Cruz is a professional and DH can be covered by many players. Gonzalez has to be better. I expect Buxton and Sano to bust out and be around for the entire season. That leaves Polanco, the AL starting SS last summer. Read that again. How did we get to complaining about an all star shortstop. Polanco is not Mark Belanger in the field, but neither is Buxton Paul Blair. The pitching staff could be middle of the pack and that should be pretty good as the Twins break in some young pitchers. I would argue that a 91-95 win season is doable with the current squad. I wanted to add Grandal at $20M, Cole at $38M, and a few adds like Pineda and Alex Wood. The only player they added on my list was Avila. Now we can move forward and hope the kids get their chance to play and do well with their opportunities. Who knows, maybe Donaldson wakes up tomorrow morning and has had dreams all night long about batting with Buxton and Kepler on base. Whatever ... the Twins front office has apparently encountered some difficulty and I am not enamored of that at all, but still that should not obscure what should be a rising, exciting, and competitive team. The kids are next, in full support of a solid core.

At this point the available starters are not looking any more likely to be successful than those already on the roster. Roll with what you have until July when a team that expected to compete has failed. Another conversation worth having is a query with Boston concerning Betts. They may actually have ideas other than all the Twins top prospects.

Betts? Anyone want that guy?