tony&rodney

The trades of expiring contracts: Paddack, Coulombe, France, Castro, Bader, and Dobnak were fine. Nothing really gained but a few tickets of chance. One would have hoped for a big gain on the other deals considering it wasn't necessary to move controlled players. Duran, Jax, Stewart, and Varland seemed to have value. The players now aboard have value but mostly are a replications of current prospects. Seems like some bundling or something should have left us feeling that one or two of the transactions were pluses. Yes, the 2025 Twins were going nowhere, but that was mostly due to weak hitting and deficient defense. The gains don't bring the hope envisioned in discussions of trading one or more of Jax, Duran, and Ryan. The trades that release Ryan, Ober, Jeffers, and possibly Lopez should bring at least two strong prospects. The deadline massacre doesn't inspire confidence in me for future success. Going for Bradley, Rojas and Abel made me wonder if the Twins feel that all of Festa, Matthews, and Woods Richardson are not adequate mid or back end rotation starters? Perhaps Morris, Raya and others have dropped in the eyes of the team evaluators as well. The direction is impossible to guess.

Yes.

For the Twins? Would you be content with them in the Mets outfield? I'm not being difficult. I expected the bar to be higher. The return for expired contracts can be justified to an extent. But a counter is if the players coming back are merely replicas of guys already in the system, why add more 40 or 45 type guys. The exchange for good players needed to be pieces that will be regulars or critical support. What was it, 10 trades. Did anyone say, "Wow, that player could be a real difference" on any of the 10 trades. The most highly ranked/rated player is not even on the top 200 of some lists. I actually like Tait. If your Mets had made these types of trades I'm not thinking you were be too enthusiastic. Some of us expected better. I do not think that is a complaint.

The first two games were not much for an impression, but I will watch him play and we shall see. Odd that Toronto, a team in need of outfielders, would trade him if he was decent. No?

Julien is an anomaly. He plays like he wants out. The Twins play him to prove they own him. Great tussle going on. I'm actually surprised that Julien hasn't been more focused and all out in his play. It would seem like his professional baseball career is on the line and yet ..... we see what we see. Eddie would have a hard time in Senior Men's Baseball. The pitchers never throw the ball anywhere except the edges of the plate and it is a full 7 pitch arsenal of junk with 5% 85 mph FB, which Julien takes. Oh boy. Maybe he busts out starting today. Right?

Actually $11.333.333.33 per year by Fangraphs and other sites. But it saved money for someone which is what many believe is important in whatever way. Always good to have different viewpoints.

Most people can get behind that idea. Name one position player acquired who fits as a player in the 2027 lineup? Tait is 3 years away, if for no other reason than to learn catching skills (ETA-2028).

FWIW, the first post deadline evaluation of organizational minor league talent put the Twins at 9th among all MLB teams and notes that all of the teams above them have much more high end talent - Fangraphs. There are dozens of sites, some done by teenagers and some by AI, and a few may put the team above where Fangraphs puts them. While I am a big fan of Winokur and possibly Tait at A+, Jenkins and K. Culpepper at AA, and Keaschall at AAA, it must be noted that the Twins are still not benching good prospects because of any surplus at any level.

No argument that the Pohlads decided to cut back on the roster budget. It has been fairly established that after Grandma Pohlad died there was no interest in baseball within that family. They have other concerns, hobbies, duties, and interests. The inability of the people in charge of building a strong baseball roster failed mightily and that is where things went wrong. When the Twins lost to Houston in 2023 there were glaring needs/holes that needed to be addressed. The issues were ignored. Correa did what he could. His production wasn't very good this year but the systemic problems are directly attributable to the plans of the front office. A mishmash of slow, defensively challenged position players that struggle to hit wasn't ever going to work. Half a dozen DH types makes for a headache for the pitchers and the dilemma of who can the manager hide where. Correa was just a sideshow. Good for everyone that he can reset in Houston and that the Twins can move on. Also good that the Twins have a reminder each of the next 3 years of their deal ($11M+ to C4). So it goes. Things can get better with 2-4 really good trades in this coming winter.

Yes.

The weaknesses not only remain (slow, weak defenders that cannot run the bases or hit) but they are now arguably worse. The team added prospect pitchers and one A+ ball position player prospect (Tait). The Twins still need a stronger #1 catcher with Jeffers as the #2 guy. There is not anyone to play first base in the system. There is hope for Keaschall and Kaelen Culpepper to hold down the middle infield and Brooks Lee can be a decent utility player. The book on Royce Lewis is unfinished with Billy Amick a couple of years away (he is not yet a strong defender). The outfield has some potential if both Emmanuel Rodrigues and Walker Jenkins make the leap as every day corner outfielders next year with Buck between them, healthy and productive. Playing Wallner, Larnach, and Roden in the outfield is just hate on the pitchers. These guys and Gonzalez are pure DH's. Gonzalez is improving dramatically at the plate and projects as the most productive if he adds consistent power. Martin can be an effective reserve is used correctly. Looking above, it is clear that a rebuild has not really begun at all regarding position players because all of the players who the Twins plan or hope to fill positions were already in the system. The coming offseason will almost certainly result in further trades. The questions/speculations will revolve around the potential of the returns of position players/prospects for any or all of Jeffers, Lopez, Ryan, and Ober. Given how opposing GMs managed to get their player without giving up substantial players from their own organizations, we should be wary of the transactions. While any one deal completed might be seen in a positive light, the direction towards improving the offense, defense, and speed was ignored. The positive outlook on the deadline deals was strictly hoping for future excellence from the pitching additions with the exception of Tait. Watching Tait last night made me think positively that perhaps he and Winokur can arrive at the same time with high hopes for their potential as MLB stars. Until this coming winter ends and Spring Training begins we won't have any idea of the direction of this franchise. Will the Twins manage to find a Kyle Teel and Braden Montgomery type player/prospect plus in trades? Can Falvey avoid adding more DH style guys? Trading Jeffers and 2 of the 3 starters should plug position player holes. That's the hope for 2026 and beyond. The coming trades are critical for the organization or it will be years before the team climbs above fifth place in the AL Central.

Very doubtful.

Fire the person who put those stats together. Someone needs to record different stats.

Tristan Casas doesn't play first base. They put him there, but he is a pure DH. I want the incompetent defense to end and that requires ahletes who can field. Juan Soto is not a good outfielder but he doesn't usually botch the easy plays. Kurtz is a good first baseman now and will get much better. Boston will use Casas if he can hit 35-40 home runs. Yes, a guy like Kurtz is a dream. Maybe in another decade. The chaos of the Twins is chasing me off blogs and hopes due to the type of baseball favored by the front office. It's too much to take. Take care.

Well, it is just a crazy idea. I totally understand why you and chpettit19 believe it is too much pitching and it isn't something the teams would discuss in any event. Still, I'll disagree and make that trade. K. Culpepper, Kurtz, Keaschall, Jenkins would be something to build on. Right now the Athletics offense is terrific, although they did lose Wilson to an injury. I suspect I will watch more minor league games than Twins. I know there have been down years but this team has been my worst Twins experience since April of 1961.

Nothing makes me believe the Twins will be able to successfully trade for position players of note (athletes). The past record doesn't support any trust. Pitchers? Yes. Position players? No. When you respond that my crazy trade seems like too much it makes me think that others might think so too. That makes say - Do it. I am still rational and know this will not occur but I do wonder if the Twins actually can get a really good return for Ryan and Ober or if the return is players who can maybe mash as a DH or have high grades and no chance to play with their current organization. In other words - extra guys.

No takers.

1. If you get rid of all cheaters, it leaves a retired Joe Mauer. The money isn't being re-distributed. I'm fine with Correa back to Houston. He needed to move to third base and the Twins weren't doing that. It is a good move for all. Things can and will get much worse. We can only hope the trades this winter bring in position player talent. 2. 9 years is enough. Falvey needs to go. 3. This was a total miss. Managers are fired because you can't fire the team, supposedly. Baldelli is still here because Falvey fired the team. Given a midnight deadline, there would have been 5 more players traded. The players were done with Rocco so Falvey got rid of the players. Unique in baseball history perhaps.

Really? I do that trade all day, every day. Kurtz plays defense too and actually can go 1st to 3rd. I was just making a crazy idea. If there was even a remote chance that something like this would work, it should have been explored. Hell, add Raya. Kurtz is among the best young players in baseball.

.... are all pure DH's on their best day. None of these players have any more value than Michael Tonkin. Without major changes to their swings and approach at the plate they will not be on an MLB team much longer.

This is exactly what I too have been saying since the Twins lost to Houston in 2023. Nothing positive can happen until everything at the top changes.

I think the Twins have something with these two guys. I'm still holding out long term hope for Winokur but the real sale this winter needs to target guys like Culpepper and Jenkins no matter the cost. Just for fun and with full knowledge that the offer would be turned down immediately by the Athletics , did you ever see my crazy trade idea? Ryan, Ober, Soto, Wallner or Larnach for Nick Kurtz.

Really? Where is the evidence that Falvey has a plan? This is Year 9. Lane? What have we watched? The Twins have improved their starting pitching to an extent and after the trades the organization has a new pile of potentially useful arms. This is a positive. The position players? Pretty much nothing added in the way of fast, defensively skilled strong bats. The entire pile has an 18 year old catcher in A ball to hang its hat on. Some good hitters are more of the same: slow, weak or no glove, or struggle to hit. The ownership earns everlasting damnation for not caring, which is best proved not by the payroll but by continuing the employment of Falvey and Baldelli. Don't expect a sale until the price drops quite a bit. A rebuild can still occur by trading all of Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Jeffers, Lewis, and Buxton if he agrees. None of those players will be around in any event in 3 years. There should be value in those players to acquire actual talent. That talent can then be combined with Culpepper, Jenkins, and E. Rodriguez to move forward. The FO and manager issue remains though. Will all of the players named above be traded for pitchers and players not worthy of starting positions on other teams? Will we see additions that can run, field, and hit? Hard to trust the FO based on 9 years of their work. If the lane was to create chaos, a lane was clearly picked. If the idea was to build a team, it is crystal clear that a lane has not been chosen yet .... unless one really thinks that Falvey is trying to damage the franchise and i don't believe that is the case. He just isn't any good at his job.

Lately I have been watching pretty much every plate appearance of K. Culpepper, Jenkins, and Gonzalez as well as trying to see how they look in the field. Culpepper has improved nearly every week. He owns his at bats driving the ball all over the park. The outs are well struck. There are only a few random wild swings. Kaelen looks ready to move up to St. Paul. There isn't a better middle infielder as a fielder or hitter in the system. Jenkins has turned it on lately. He has a sweet stroke at the plate as advertised and is slowly getting to more power. He definitely is growing into his body. He plays hard, which I love. Walker also looks solid in the outfield although he will certainly need to move to a corner to get the best value from his good glove. Perhaps the Twins (expect it) leave him at AA for the remainder of the season but he could learn quickly at AAA. Gonzalez is a bat to ball machine. Lately I have seen him go big on his swing several times with positive results. There may be a major league bat there if he can rein in some of his chasing pitches out of the zone. The glove has improved tremendously but his best position is still DH. That said, Gonzalez has looked better in the outfield than a couple of the Twins OF/DH guys. GG will stay in AA until next year I think.

The Twins hope they found a catcher .... in 3-4 years. The trades returned some promising pitchers, but it did not return any fast, defensively skilled, competent bats. None. They did add a couple guys who can DH. So the same problems remain: slow, poor defense, can't hit. But ..... now there isn't a bullpen. The rebuild will need to come when all of Lopez, Ryan, and Ober are traded with perhaps Buxton and Lewis included as well.