Doctor Gast

It'd be a nice friendly competition between Polanco & Buxton to hit those milestones. It'd be nice if they both hit that 100 HR milestone the 1st week.

It's hard to trade a player like Arraez but we needed a front-line pitcher and this was time to make a trade like this. Lopez is rated as a middle #2 SP, while S Gray is rated at low#2/ high #3. So Lopez should be our best SP going into the season. Salas & Chourio helps to restock our farm system with 2 athletic 2 way prospects.

Salas comes from a long line of baseball players. MLB (grandfather) Jose Gregorio, (father) Jose Antonio (uncle) Jose Gregorio (brother) Ethan, who was the highest international signing at catcher. So he has a lot of baseball sense. My preference is not to try to beef these guys up but let them keep their speed & play out at SS & CF. They can always beef up later if they can't maintain their edge

People complain about our farm system. But these 2 prospect we got from MIA are not some bat/ no glove types. They're pretty athletic that can field as well as hit with speed.

Yes, Gallo could be a fall back 1B if Kiriloff doesn't work out. But I think it'd be harder for Gallo to help us get over Arraez

Bryon Chourio looked pretty good in his 1st season in the DR league. He's young so it's hard to evaluate at this point. But he should give the Twins some value down the line.

I wish Arraez all the best in MIA. And thank you for your entertaining ABs.

Julien profiles better at 1B, I think he has a very good chance of making the team if he shines in ST & Kiriloff doesn't. Julien could very quickly help us to get over Arraez

Jose Salas is a very good prospect. Very toolsy, athletic & grew up with baseball history. IMO a very good trade. Boras must have rubbed off on Flavine.

It's sad. I have to admit. But this trade will make us better.

Thank you Cody, for this article about Duran. I have 2 questions. I always thought his split finger FB (splinker) was his best pitch, why the discrepancy? If Duran pitched better in the 2nd half by pitching fewer multiple innings games why is that a reason for him to pitch more multiple innings games? I'm genuinely interested because I'd like to see Duran to be even better.

We'll need him to fill an RH 3B & DH bat 1st before he can be supplemented in the OF. RH bats. Buxton CF, Correa SS, Miranda 1B, Polanco 2B, Farmer 3B, Celestino OF, Garlick OF, Vasquez DH, Jeffers C, We forced to start the season with both Celestino & Garlick. I'd have like Celestino to start at AAA. So I'd still like to have an extra RH OF bat. Yet it's nice to know the we have an extra RH OF bat to take away the temptation of putting Lewis out there.

Great job Theo! You're spot on. They can learn a lot from Correa.

Many say that Lopez is a bottom of the rotation SP. I've been searching the rankings on the MLB SPs. I could only find fantasy rankings, IDK how true they are but they seem pretty close. In all those rankings Lopez & Luzardo fluctuated between the two ranking in the middle #2 and S Gray was high #3 to low #2. If S. Gray is our bar then both Lopez & Luzardo exceed that bar.

"His massive second half cool-down proves there’s still something left in his proverbial tank" His massive second half cool-down proves he was running out of gas. Arraez's best position is 1B. At 1B we have Miranda, Kiriloff, Gallo with Julien knocking at the door. There's probably more with some 1B experience. And there others more athletic than Arraez that make that transition to 1B easier than him. So defensively he will not be missed. What Arraez does do well is getting on base but from there he is not a scoring threat. He doesn't take or steal that extra base or has good ability to score on an OF fly ball. Arraez's bat will be missed, but that'll be a short time with Lewis, Lee, Martin & Julien coming up. And even a shorter time if Larnach & Kiriloff really start to hit according to their potential. You might say that Arraez is a great clubhouse guy. That never stopped FO from doing that before. They traded Rogers last year he was a great clubhouse guy and Dozier in '18 who was a great clubhouse guy & leader. Both cases they never got a great return & had no one to take over their positions. IMO this FO undervalues MIA's pitchers. In '20, MIA wanted Rosario and we had a shot at Alcantra but a deal wasn't worked out because FO wanted too much for Rosario. The following year Rosario was released. A great opportunity was lost. What it sounds like is MIA wants Arraez straight up for Lopez. I'd easily take that deal. But again FO wants more. Arraez won't ever be higher in trade value. I'm afraid we might miss another opportunity. We can't look only at what we'll lose but what'll gain. An upper level pitcher that was healthy last year, who pitched 180 innings. That's what we need with our pitching philosophy.

Hi Adell I don't have much faith in our coaching staff to fix anyone with a SO problem. They couldn't fix Sano, Sanchez or Jeffers. So what makes them think they can fix Gallo or Adell. But if Buxton or Lewis have the key to unlock something then I'd be on board. Adell should be very cheap & he does have that potential.

It's strange with Urbina potential that he's only at A. But besides covid, it's a big step for a boy from possibly a poor family, totally different culture that don't speak English to play pro ball here in the US, experiencing homesickness & culture shock all at the same time. I'm not sure Urbina is from DR, but playing there initially there wasn't as much of a culture shock. Hopefully all that is in the past & he's a young man ready to explore his dreams. I suggest the Twins not to force him into that power corner OF but let his body dictate when he's ready or if he stays at a more natural line driving CF is better yet. Wish him luck!

"His massive second half cool-down proves there’s still something left in his proverbial tank" His massive second half cool-down proves he was running out of gas. Arraez's best position is 1B. At 1B we have Miranda, Kiriloff, Gallo with Julien knocking at the door. There's probably more with some 1B experience. And there others more athletic than Arraez that make that transition to 1B easier than him. So defensively he will not be missed. What Arraez does do well is getting on base but from there he is not a scoring threat. He doesn't take or steal that extra base or has good ability to score on an OF fly ball. Arraez's bat will be missed, but that'll be a short time with Lewis, Lee, Martin & Julien coming up. And even a shorter time if Larnach & Kiriloff really start to hit according to their potential. You might say that Arraez is a great clubhouse guy. That never stopped FO from doing that before. They traded Rogers last year he was a great clubhouse guy and Dozier in '18 who was a great clubhouse guy & leader. Both cases they never got a great return & had no one to take over their positions. IMO this FO undervalues MIA's pitchers. In '20, MIA wanted Rosario and we had a shot at Alcantra but a deal wasn't worked out because FO wanted too much for Rosario. The following year Rosario was released. A great opportunity was lost. What it sounds like is MIA wants Arraez straight up for Lopez. I'd easily take that deal. But again FO wants more. Arraez won't ever be higher in trade value. I'm afraid we might miss another opportunity. We can't look only at what we'll lose but what'll gain. An upper level pitcher that was healthy last year, who pitched 180 innings. That's what we need with our pitching philosophy.

Grant you that Cutch doesn't have the stamina he once had. But on a short term basis, I'd still rather have Cutch in CF than Gallo by far.

Cutch made much more sense than Gallo. Just imagine a clubhouse w/ the addition of Cutch, Cruz & Correa. & the damage they could do against LHPs. But I'm happy for Cutch & PIT.

How can you fit a "shift", "non shift" comp into a Kepler? It's all too relative for me.

For the 1st year I don't believe it'd affect anyone. I hope Farmer was never the planned starting SS. If Lewis comes on strong & Miranda is adequate at 3B, maybe Farmer gets traded at the deadline.

Congratulation Nick! You did a good job in writing & hosting this thread.

I always thought that Correa was wasted w/ the shift. IMO Correa will shine w/ the shift ban. He'll rise to the occasion & be an advantage against other teams.

Lewis was great until he was sent down & later lost when placed in CF