Doctor Gast

Totally agree with TopGunn. I'm not only looking at the player's value now but also his potential upside value. There I've listed Arraez at the top, he's not needed at any position and we can still trade him on the Tony Gwinn hype. He's only a one tool guy and we need to trade him before he bottoms out, the rest I see more upside. #2 I'd list the DH group, the ones that have a good bat and weak glove. Although these don't have much value there will be an opportunity when the DH is adapted. FO needs to work their butts off trying to sprinkle them through out trades to alleviate this horded commodity, to help free up and balance out our roster. To me Kepler is a golden glover at RF. If Kepler finally adjusts to the non-lively ball he could easily double his value but although we need highly defensive depth at CF and SS, RF isn't an issue. Because of our need for high end pitching and his trouble to adjust, I'd place Kepler #3 and use him injunction w/ others to obtain the pitching we need. At catching we have depth with Garver, Jeffers, Rodvedt and others in the minors that are overlooked. Having 2 RH hitting catchers is counter productive, Jeffers because of his potential is baked into his value and of his arm, I'd place him #4. Here I wouldn't trade him unless we had a great deal that's important to the success of the club. If we do trade him, we need a Castro type to fill in because most of our depth isn't ready. #5 are our pitching prospects. Here I'd hate to trade any of them because you can't have enough pitching. But I can't help but to do this because most important deals would require this. #6 At the deadline, I'd take a long look at Donaldson and Sano. If Miranda is ready, I'd trade Donaldson. Sano is a difficult to figure out. Here is where I'd like the FO focus on not overpaying low ceiling dumpster divenees.

Again thanks Cody for your work here. Mainly RPs which we could use. I feel Boyd as another Happ but maybe worse. I like both Rodrigues and Kuhl. I'd like Rodrigues to continue his early 2021 success but I suspect that his success maybe came from his high spin rate that could've been due to illegal substances. I hope I'm wrong because he'd be a great addition. I agree with you about Kuhl, I'd put him in long relief until he get most of his stuff really working. The others I'm not really familiar with. Always nice to find that diamond in the rough from that lump of coal. All is needed is that eye that can see it.

I agree that we have go out and field a team worthy to take us well into he post seson. I could be wrong but I wouldn't want to gamble on Rodon. I'd like to trade for a sure bet top of the rotation.

If I were a manager w/o scruples I'd tell my pitchers to pitch Buxton hard and inside. If they miss him odds are they jam him if they hit him better yet. Because if Buxton is in the game odds are I lose if they take him out odds are w/ Cave (or others) I win, a no brainer. I think getting a decent back up could help our odds when Buck's out. Thus removing less temptation of hitting Buck.

I wished he was taken, not only for his sake. I would've still preferred having Colina around.

Remembered the MiLB videos of him hitting HRs and making fantastic catches. Couldn't wait for him to prove himself on the big stage.

I had high hopes for a trade with them. But at this point, I don't think the Reds are serious. Unless you offer a ridiculous offer, they're not budging.

I don't like anyone internally. Absolutely not Cave! Kepler doesn't feel comfortable there. The only true CF is Celestino but he's not ready. The ship has past on Taylor, we finally have 2 super utility players in Lewis and Austin that can play there in the future but not now. Although I like Gordon as an utility player I don't want to depend on him there. That leaves a short term external option, unfortunately. This should have been done years ago. I'd love a Reynolds (PIT) or K Marte (ARI) type (if they can be had) that can start at LF and sub Buck so we can be solid at CF when Buck is not there

I have a lot to be thankful for. Now that the Twins signed Buxton, I have more to be thankful for. With 2 MVP potential players, Buxton & Polanco, we have something to cheer for. I've also decided to try an early New Years resolution of taking the high road pertaining to this FO. It'll be hard to keep quiet with things I see but I'll try my best.

I'd hope the Twins pursue their main top 2 pitchers via trade with OAK, MIA or maybe BAL's Means. We have some depth where they have needs. Also we have a ton of DH types that hopefully would provide opportunities if NL passes the DH. Trading provides the best and most economically sound choice without much loss. I see FO signing Pineda and some other pitchers that could do some spot starting and long relief. SS and Buxton sub might be a little trickier. If they can find any decent ones available that fits their profile via FA then they that's the way they go if not need to look via trade. Long relief should be a focus instead of putting our total confidence on our rotation and short relief like they did last year.

The salary that you proposed was fair. But the salary that Buck accepted was so much better, which tells mean me, what took this FO so long to sign him! All along it has been reported that Buck was fine w/ the base pay but FO balked at the incentives. Why did they balked at MVP incentives which benefit them or was it the no trade stipulation? IMO that this FO did not want to keep him but later felt the pressure to sign him and did so at a bigger price tag. Just like I felt this FO was pressured to move Polanco to 2B and Arraez off, by the article by Ken Rosenthal. It was a no brainer, it was the best move this FO had made. Now I think signing Buck tops them all. We as objective fans needs to keep constant pressure on this FO to get them off their plan and do the right thing and not blindly accept everything they say.

Congratulations to Buck & FO! We are fortunate that Buck is a forgiving man and that he indeed wanted to stay in MN. God bless him. May he be able to max out his contract. Now get the trading machine warmed up for starting pitching.

I agree also that we need BP arms to eat innings from the rotation to cover any deficiency. The focus should be on long relief because a lot of short innings BP will add to any problem in the Rule V like Stringer has mention. Early trade would be beneficial but doubt will happen. Focus on Buxton should not be to tendered but to be extended. To tender Buxton shows that they're not serious to extend, which is a poor sign of good faith.

Johan pitched a no hitter shortly after his return from his 1st shoulder surgery. He was abused.

Last year when TOR grabbed Robbie Ray out of the gates, I thought that TOR saw something in Ray that nobody else did. It turned out that they did. That eye is invaluable, that's what we need. I think I read that pitchers in general from BAL that leaves, does better outside there. Maybe they don't have the coaching. If that's the case maybe Means could be a good trade target? I'm not a fan of going after Bundy though. You can scratch Michael Wacha off your list, he's going to BOS

My pick again is Chris Archer. I never expected him to bounce back last year and step into the starter role after sitting out for well over a year above having surgery. IMO TB tried to rush him into that position too soon. He was dominate for 3innings, in the Eastern Division that's an incredible feat. After 3 not so much. People criticize Archer's stats at PIT, where they had him pitch away from his strength to pitch more sinkers. Like many studs that pitched in PIT, their stats didn't show what kind of pitchers they are. MN is a much better fit that could help tweak his already dominate FB and slider. J Santana could help him perfect his circle change-up and he could become that ace that his potential has indicated. Before his shoulder problems Archer was a work horse frequently pitching 200 innings. Yet I'd take him slow, putting him in long relief until his arm is ready to go 5. Even if we go out & find 3 work horses (which I doubt, especially after reading Nick's article about piggy-backing the entire rotation) we'll still need a lot of long relief. I'd sign him to a RP type contract w/ incentives based on innings pitched. A one year deal with 2 owners options, because if (which I believe is a very good possibility) become that pitcher that lines up to his potential, we'd want have more than 1 yr. control. His shoulder seems to be progressing, his other problems IMO will take care of themselves once he's back in form.

Yes, thank you all.

There's a few things I didn't like about Baldelli. But I don't know how many were his fault or if they were FO. And if they were Baldelli's, I still believe if the FO knew what they were doing they'd step in and intercede. Although many say he's a player manager but still I didn't like how he treated some that weren't in his circle especially Maggi.

I had planned to go to this coming ST but kinda lost interest the way this FO has been handling things, especially Buck. I doubt I'll go to any games this year.

If you read carefully I never stated anything in the past tense. In the future according to contract incentives, for Buxton to top out to $100 he'll need to perform at MVP caliber every year. Each year will be calculated according to how many games played and performance from the base pay. Buxton most certainly has the potential to do so. If not he won't achieve the $100M but the motivation is there. I believe Mauer contract had very little incentives baked into it.

7yrs. has been connected to that. I get my info from TD. What I hear and assuming that the topped out $100 worth of incentives are based on MVP performances. Since I didn't see that actual rumor I couldn't be absolutely sure.

Mark, what I've heard is that Buck is OK with the base pay and is asking for incentives that tops out at around $100M. $100M for MVP performance is not squeezing out every buck that I can mentality. $100M for a MVP performance is a steal, a self respecting FO would jump all over that. There's a narrative that Buck is after the big $, there's nothing I've seen to support that. Narratives are smoke screens to cover up what is really happening.

Thanks CJM, I enjoy looking at different trade possibilities. Kepler could turn it around at NY but CF might not agree with him, which could effect his hitting coupled with extra pressure of playing in NY. My preference is using Kepler w/ others to catch a bigger fish. Kepler could also do better in CO. About Severino, being laid up for a while due to injuries, it'll take awhile for him to be stretched out enough to become a starter. I am OK with that and even the possibility of being reinjured but not at the $11M price tag. Plus having to deal with the Dark Side.

Buck doesn't impress me to be a liar. I wouldn't be surprised if he had mixed feelings about staying and I wouldn't blame him because of how he has been treated by this FO. If he doesn't stay I wouldn't blame him, 100% of the blame lies on this lousy FO.