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stringer bell

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Everything posted by stringer bell

  1. stringer bell
    Taking BAM into account and using a model with 50% of payroll going to payroll, the Twins payroll would then drop $15M without the one time BAM money and half of the difference in money from Diamond between '23 and '24 due, estimated at $11-15M (so half would be $5.5-7.5M. Midpoint would be $6.5M, adding back the $15M would mean a reduction of $21.5M (give or take). The Twins currently are at about $124M, after going to $155M last year. It looks like there should be some room (maybe $10M), but there could be other expenses to render this little calculation inaccurate. At best, reducing salaries should make the accountants happy, but as G and the G point out, there isn't a much worse time to reduce payroll when the Twins finally won a post season series with a mostly young lineup. It only makes sense (to most of us) to bring in another excellent player or two to get over the top.
  2. stringer bell
    I don't think I'm being Debby Downer to point out that not everything will work out. Every season there are surprises and disappointments, 2024 figures to be no different. Having all of these options in the bullpen is pretty sound strategy given the volatility of pitching and relief pitching specifically. We can all pick out our favorites and we'll be right sometimes and wrong sometimes. I think there will be opportunity for relief guys to move up the pecking order in the spring. Alcalá and Funderburk are currently below the line to make the club, but they can move closer and there will be injuries and there will be disappointments, maybe as soon as the spring.
  3. stringer bell
    I would consider platoon work in left field plus being the first sub for Buxton no matter which hand the pitcher uses to throw would be enough playing time to keep Martin with the Twins. Right handed hitters usually aren't as prone to large platoon splits, especially guys like Martin who make a lot of contact.
  4. stringer bell
    According to Gleeman and the Geek, the Bally offer was considerably more money (probably $40-45M) than a deal with mlb.tv. And, it appears the team will essentially pocket the $$$$ since they haven't spent more than what they saved when Polanco was traded.
  5. stringer bell
    Always an interesting listen. I realize I’m not typical in that I’ll follow the team passionately whether they win 70 or 90, but attracting the casual fan and setting the team up for future success seems to have been lost in balancing the books for the short term. Regarding Spring Training, I am curious about similar topics. I hope to see (and hear of) Austin Martin in center field and I’m really interested where Brooks Lee will be playing on the infield.
  6. stringer bell
    Taylor was near league average in OPS despite the low batting average and he had a .915 OPS against left handed pitching. I could see him as a platoon LF and defensive replacement/pinch runner and Buxton insurance. Honestly, I’d like Austin Martin better in that role, but there aren’t many options if Martin isn’t ready.
  7. stringer bell
    1) Win lots of games. 2) Reduce ticket prices. I'm serious about this. For the games that look like they might draw less than 20,000 offer tickets for the nether regions at reduced prices, sort of like the Knothole Gang games of old. 3) Win lots of games. 4) Sign a prominent player to an extension. Royce Lewis might be the best case.
  8. stringer bell
    I can't see him making the BP without a rash of injuries. He is first on the list for a DFA IMHO.
  9. stringer bell
    Funderburk will get some time with the Twins, I am confident. Whether it is because a lefty is injured or someone else washes out, Funderburk will get his chance. I think Alcalá needs to prove something and maybe that it is to be done at St. Paul. This is a big season for him.
  10. stringer bell
    There's space for Canterino to be in the rotation sooner than the bullpen, I think. I can see him starting once a week for the Saints and then being recalled at mid-season.
  11. stringer bell
    Weiss has two options remaining.
  12. stringer bell
    Topa, Jax and all the guys looking for that last spot have options. I would anticipate that any minor injury might be grounds for placement on the Injured List, with as much depth as they have. Additionally, those signed to minor league contracts may well have opt-outs. Something will have to be done as there are considerably more players than spaces available for the Twins and St. Paul.
  13. stringer bell
    Michael A Taylor remains on the Twins radar according to mlbtraderumors.com. He is the only free agent that really makes sense for the Twins at this point IMHO. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/02/twins-rumors-michael-a-taylor.html
  14. stringer bell
    Official reporting date is Saturday IIRC. The first official workout is the 18th.
  15. stringer bell
    I would hope this thread would be a go-to for news of injured and recovering Twins during spring training. Star-Trib reports that Josh Winder is behind because of a "right scapula stress fracture" diagnosed in October. He won't be ready for the early Spring Training games, but is throwing 90 feet at this time. Jose Miranda may be limited early in Spring Training due to the procedure on his right shoulder. Injured from last year: Staumont and DeSclafani are reporting and saying they are recovered. Kirilloff is at Fort Myers with no report of being limited due to his late-season shoulder injury.
  16. stringer bell
    I'm glad that DeSclafani is reporting as healthy coming into camp. I don't trust that he will last the season and/or his effectiveness will be limited by his elbow issues. That said, I don't see him as being another Dylan Bundy--a guy with substandard stuff who had to have near perfect command to be an effective starter. DeSclafani demonstrated in April/May 2023 that he could be a good mid-rotation pitcher. If that guy can give the Twins 120-150 innings, the rotation looks pretty solid. To me, the main risk with taking on DeSclafani was health. With the Twins only taking on $4M of his salary, it is a good risk.
  17. stringer bell
    First of all, as a fan of Willi Castro, I don't want to see him tied to center field. It's not his best defensive position and his biggest defensive asset is his versatility, so I would hope that Willi is the 3rd CF. While every club needs to score runs, I don't think the Twins have a glaring need to add an offensive asset in center. They have one is Byron Buxton is healthy and in center. I think it is important that his backup be more than passable as a defender. I think Willi Castro just gets there, so I would hope for something better, be it from re-signing MAT or employing Martin (or Keirsey) as the backup. Whoever wins the 26th spot on the team will need to show they can hit and field well enough to belong in the majors. I'd prefer it is someone already in the organization and the only non-organization guy I see filling that role is Michael A Taylor.
  18. stringer bell
    There's certainly a path for Martin to make the Opening Day roster. What I would think is important and, at this point, undetermined is how good a defender Martin is in center field. If he is better in center than Willi Castro, I think it enhances his case to make the team, particularly because it then frees Castro to be a true super utility guy, with no assigned position, but who can get playing time at five different spots. Martin has to show something in camp, both with his glove and his bat. I think the closest thing to a certainty is that he will be a good base runner.
  19. stringer bell
    The injury was to his non-throwing shoulder FWIW. I've visualized AK as the primary first baseman for the last three years. He was last year for a while (platooned, of course) and I hope youth is served eventually at first base by having Kirilloff as the first baseman even when Santana is in the lineup.
  20. stringer bell
    Matt Wallner is the incumbent in left field. He'll start there or in right field if something happens to Kepler and he'll DH some with Willi Castro in left field. A year ago, Trevor Larnach was clearly ahead of Wallner, but Matt clearly outperformed Trevor in major league at-bats and played a good left field. Larnach is around in case Larnach falters and will also get DH at-bats if he makes the club. If he makes the club, Austin Martin will get some time in left as well. It will be interesting to see the pecking order between left and center between Martin and Castro. If Castro is in left and Martin in center, that will indicate that Martin is a viable option to back up Buxton.
  21. stringer bell
    The Twins head into 2024 with an apparent "good problem" on the horizon. Brooks Lee is nearly ready to step into the majors as a regular infielder. The Twins already have Edouard Julien penciled in as their regular second baseman, Carlos Correa as their shortstop on the second year of a six-year guaranteed no-trade contract and Royce Lewis at third base after a shortened (but monster) rookie season. Lee has played shortstop in college and as a pro with a few games at third base. He looks the part of a major league SS, but is projected to be an excellent third baseman if a position switch was made. Additionally, there is little doubt that he'd be able to handle second base, as well. Julien is a hitter first, but made tangible strides on defense last year for the Twins. He did play a couple of games at first base in 2023 and acquitted himself satisfactorily. Correa is the veteran at 29, he previously won a Platinum Glove as the top defender in baseball and was a finalist for a Gold Glove last year. Lewis was also a shortstop, now switched to third base. His defense there was satisfactory last year and he has played some outfield in the minors and Arizona Fall League. Royce suffered his second ACL tear while playing in center field for the Twins in 2022, his only major league game at that position. How do the Twins resolve this situation? Could one of the younger guys be traded? Does someone switch positions? Could all four be regulars by using one as a DH? Lots of possible answers! On the poll, I'll list "none of the above" as an answer--please give your solution in the thread if you choose that answer. Thanks!
  22. stringer bell
    So was Byron Buxton last year??? Self-reports aren't the most reliable, but nonetheless it's better than saying they can't throw from the pitching rubber to home plate.
  23. stringer bell
    This early in the spring, it isn't wise to utilize the 60-day IL unless the player is certain to be out long-term. There really isn't any 40-man issue until a non-roster player makes a push to be on the active roster or the Twins sign a major league free agent. I would think that Weiss would be DFAed before any player is put on the 60-day IL to make room for someone. I think both Staumont and DeSclafani are huge injury risks. I also think that if fully healthy, both could be big additions to the pitching staff.
  24. stringer bell
    That's correct. The 60-day list can be used once teams report to camp, but the 60 days start on Opening Day, so anyone put on the 60-day IL is out until the tail end of May. Edit: Ninja'd by @IndianaTwin!
  25. stringer bell
    I saw the list and noted they had passed through waivers. So, they lost Bubba, but kept Jordy Blaze and Duarte.
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