Doctor Gast

I did answered the question and to reiterate the main point of this thread- nobody. I'd reduce the # of players by trading away several inferior nonessential players for fewer superior more essential players, leaving more open spots. To repeat I'd try my hardest to not leave any worthwhile player unprotected.

I like speed and how they use it. Speed contributes to offense and defense. A good core. Wish Lewis a speedy and complete recovery. Expect great things from him. Can't wait for him and Celestino to come up.

With a poor outing by Shoemaker. Dobnak should have the edge at #5 starter. Actually now I like Dobnak better than Happ for #4.

My point of view is we have a lot of players at noncrucial positions maybe 6 deep or so that are nonessential. I'm suggesting to trade some of them to obtain a player that is more essential to improve the team and make more room for players like Broxton. If there any nonessential developed player that on our 40 man even a team like PIT wouldn't want in their system they shouldn't be in ours.Back to Baddo and Wells, I think at least Baddo is worth trying to keep around to further develop. If we keep on this same track, it'll be harder keep greater valued prospects.

I appreciate the fact that you others have stated that Baddo and Wells aren't worth much in trade value but my intention is not to trade them but continue to develop them. Those I'd trade are those that we've developed that are expendable that is worth something.I think you could find a trade in most cases if you try.

My point isn't that to keep Baddo or Wells in the system, although they may develop into such players. But being able to control them. Always upgrading our roster, not let anyone slip through. By trading away several inferior, less crucial players for fewer superior, more crucial players. Baddo or Wells could be vital part of this organization or they could be a vital part of a trade to improve the quality of our 40 man roster. If they are lost our roster is less desirable.

I hope you are right but DET like to take our discards and those who slip through our fingers. A J Hinch seems to me as a serious manager. He just does foolish things sometimes to gain an edge.

This year's Rule 5 draft we lost Akil Baddo and Tyler Wells. So I thought I'd check to see how they were doing. 1st I checked on Baddo, hoping he was doing terrible so he'd be returned quickly to the Twins. No such luck, he was leading in runs scored and towards the top on all offensive stats including HRs and RBIs for DET. Then I checked on Wells and he was pitching pretty well for the Orioles. They were 2 great prospects that we had and lost without really much compensation. Because we didn't make room for them on the 40 man roster. This is one of 1st things I warned about when I first joined Twins Daily. That we need to better manage our 40 man roster. We have players on the list that were expendable and worth something but are almost worthless now. Managing by upgrading our prospects by trading off some lesser and expendable players on the list for greater valued ones in areas where is more crucial and depleted. CF is an area that is crucial and depleted, it hurts to lose players like Baddo and Wells. And if we continues to hoard players that are expendable, this problem will continue to become worse. Not trading these players not only hurts the team but also the players.

I think especially in the beginning, that we need extra long relievers to help give the starters breathers. That said I still think Dobnak should be a starter.

Buck has bulked up which will help both his durability and power. He's in his prime so extend him now before his stock explodes. We are an winning elite team with him in the field which speaks volumes of his talent. On the other hand when he's not in the line up we lose a good majority of the games which speaks of the lack of ability of his subs. Of the 3 that subbed him last year, Cave is the worst and he's the main replacement. I really like Celestino, those who opposed Lewis, stating he spent very little time in AA and didn't like his high leg kick; Celestino has the same high leg kick and has only a short time in A. Broxton is our best replacement for Buxton and as 4th OF. We have needed someone like him for maybe the past 5yrs. He would have improved our winning % when Buxton was out. Let's close that gap between Buxton and his replacements, bring in Broxton and greatly improved our CF overall.

I was disappointed in yesterday game that Simmons wasn't starting behind our gballer Dobnak. I thought it would give us plenty of opportunities to see Simmons in action. Instead I was pleasantly surprised to see our gballer pitch 3 shutout, 6 SO innings.

Thanks Tom for your analysis. From the beginning I've been cheering for Broxton. He's come to camp a different person. He's more relaxed and more disciplined at the plate. What sticks out most is his BB/SO ratio, except for a lapse after his HR that went to his head. Broxton is our only true CF besides Buxton but he has shown that he's more than a Buxton insurance policy. There's been doubt about him having a player's option but it sounds like from Park that he doesn't. In any case he should be on the 26 man. I'm also cheering for Lin. I'm a fan of Astudillo but I'd pick Lin over him on the basis that he can play SS. I'm impressed with Law

I can't see either team accepting this deal. It wouldn't be fair to the Reds because they need a true SS and they'd want a ton more than what you are offering. It wouldn't be fair to Polanco because if they keep over stretching him at SS, he'll continue to digress maybe to the point of no return and never accomplish his full potential at 2B which was forecast before he was fixed at SS which was MVP. It wouldn't be fair to the Twins because Polanco is grossly undervalued and the tremendous more talent they'd have to give up to obtain Castillo especially if you want to throw in more undervalued players that was thrown off because of covid. I've talked to a true Reds fan and he said that if MN wants Castillo, the talks will have to begin with Kiriloff or forget it. I'm sorry that's reality.

I like Marquez also, he's my #2. He should be more attainable.

I always thought Castillo would be untouchable. So when the Reds put him out there I instantly began to come up with trade options. But come right down to it, I think this would become a futile exercise, because some get excited about the possibilities and others anxious about losing their favorite players or combination of both. I don't see FO making this trade unless they really want him and I mean really want him and in that case I wouldn't trust them making the right trade. I'm a firm believer of trading. Trading helps us to balance our 40 man roster and bolster area where we are weak at the same time thinning areas where we are overstocked. I believe every player have locked potential. If you are fortunate the team that draft a player has the key to unlock that potential. But many times they don't so trading that player, gives him the opportunity to find the right team that pocess the key to unlock that potential. Johan Santana is case in point. He came to the Twins as a good pitcher but when he found the key of the circle change up, he became an elite ace. How did the Reds come across Castillo? Castillo bounced around as a young prospect. Miami saw potential in him and had 2 opportunities at him, they all gave up on him. Reds picked him up for almost nothing and the rest is history. What's my point? My point is all prospects have potential and many can't see it and give up on prospects. Even if we can't unlock a prospect another team might. Also keep an eye open for players that we can unlock. I think this is the road that FO likes to take in FA. But still I'd like them to be more active in trading.

If the Reds want a true SS. We can be creative like LAD and try a 3 way trade. I believe Castillo is our best target to advance to to the big show and worth the risk

I too have thought about this for a long time. About going all out to get Castillo so we can better compete for the World Series. Going all out I don't mean trading a valuable player at a depleted crucial position or a player that is very under valued due to 2020. It would have to be a player who is close to his maximum value and at a position where it's noncrucial and have an abundant simular substitutes; that would marquee a trade. Any trade would be very expensive but is doable without really radically effecting other areas too much. To begin this discussion, is that I like all our players and hate give up any of them. The 1st player that comes to mind that fits my criteria is Larnach. But I believe that the Reds won't consider a trade for Castillo that doesn't include Kiriloff. Trading Kiriloff will hurt but we have Larnach which is simular to Kiriloff and some argue that he could be better without having to deal with Kiriloff's agent. Reds would want much more therefore my 2nd offering that fits my criteria is Arraez. Losing our IMO top pure hitters would hurt a lot but we have others that can admirably substitutes them,these 2 would marquee the trade. Reds more than likely would want a pitcher most likely a prospect. The rest is negotiable. You may want to debate, why don't we substitute Lewis for Kiriloff. I don't think that would work for 2 reasons. #1 Lewis is hurt and #2 we are depleted at the crucial positions he plays SS and CF. This is the trade that I believe that the Reds would consider. It's a bold action that I believe it is worth it to obtain Castillo. I'm not sure the FO would do it.

This full season without distractions, we should see Berrios the Ace, extend him.

I love what I see from Shoemaker. We all know what Kiriloff can do, he's just adjusting to LF but he'll come around. I was great to see Balazovic pitching well out there, hope to see Duran soon. I think that the HR that Broxton hit probably went to his head. I believe he knows that he needs to focus more, we really need his glove and speed. I think it was a good idea to give Sano time at 3B. Still I'd like to see Arraez at 1B, a position where he's more suited for and would give him more ABs. Baldelli has faith in Smeltzer so he should eventually will come around. ExTwins always seem to turn around and bite us!

I expected Lewis to be #3. His last competitive level was AFL (the cream of the minors), he was MVP. I'm sure a good part of that was his hitting. Last year we didn't hear much from St Paul but what we heard was that Lewis was one of the best if not best hitters there. I know a lot of so called experts don't like high leg kicks but many of the great hitters have it. I believe he needs to quiet his hands to hit in the majors, I believe he has been working on that the last couple of years. It doesn't surprise me that he's not on the list but he should be.

I like your analysis of Polanco's progress.

My opinion is we need Arraez's bat in there as much as possible. But Baldelli will put anyone that he thinks analytically fits.

Wives are a big part of the player's success. Their support is essential, I remember Dozier's wife response to his retirement. Like she knew how important baseball was in his life and she was 100% behind him. That impressed me

I expect Big Mike to be consistent by putting up steady numbers. This year I don't expect anyone pitching 190 innings, even Berrios. Pineda pitched 123 innings in 2019,if he pitches close to 150 innings I'd be very happy.

Thank you for sharing that