Cory Engelhardt

An up the middle of Culpepper at 2b and Houston at SS would really be a benefit to our pitching staff and overall defense and run prevention

Coming back to Milwaukee; if Milwaukee offers Logan Henderson as a starting point, I am definitely interested in working with them.

I’m surprised Milwaukee wasn’t listed as an option. Certainly they can put a better package together than San Diego.

If they are adding a bat it should be a true middle of the order type and not a bench/platoon type

1) Isaac Paredes, middle of the order type bat. 2) Kevin Gausman, Freddy Peralta, Robbie Ray or another starting pitcher to help with innings. I'd also be ok with a starter who is team controlled longer, but I don't know how much I trust to plan for that without knowing what the next cba will look like. 3) A true late inning reliever With that, I also want both Jenkins and Culpepper up, because even if their bats aren't ready, the defense will improve with them up. I'm ok with Larnach going to get a new reliever. I don't know that I want Jeffers to go, as I think him being on the team the last 2 months is more valuable than the return will be. If it can be a BIG return for him, then I'd be open to that too.

They can do that too

And Raleigh is signed through 2030. So for example then, which would you pick,,, 1) Victor Caratini and Alex Jackson as your primary catchers for 2027 2) Ryan Jeffers and Victor Caratini, with Alex Jackson as your primary catcher, JUST for 2027 at 23 million. 3) Ryan Jeffers signed to a 4 or 5 year deal at 16 per. I'd argue, 23 million for 1 more year of Jeffers production would almost be better than 5 years of Jeffers production, no? And Jeffers is about a year younger than Raleigh too

He also still arguably might be your first or second best hitter. I’d argue losing his bat in the lineup would be harder to make up than just about anyone else. And 23 for one season shouldn’t be an issue for an owner that wants to win

They might have to invest at least that much if the cba floor is 175.

That’s why I think a fresh start for him could be a good idea. Not saying he is the answer here, but I don’t see him staying in New York either

Good to know. If that is the case I can absolutely understand why the Yankees are looking to probably move on from him

Elmer is aiming high, but I do think Jeffers has a ton of value that the Yankees want. That’s mostly what I am saying. I also don’t think the Yankees have a huge value on Volpe right now anymore

I don't think ERod would go in that deal. That's too much going out. Erod I would imagine could get a starter back from another team.

He isn't a bad defensive SS though. But I do think the premise of this conversation would be, IF they are trading Jeffers, I'd focus on something like Volpe AND Elmer Rodriguez OR Volpe AND someone like Camilo Doval or Fernanco Cruz. IF that was the scenario, would that interest you? And maybe if it is Elmer Rodriguez we add a pitching prospect in the lower minors. Just saying, this as a framework would be interesting to me.

How about if it is Volpe and a mlb arm in the same deal? Would that pique your interest in a Jeffers trade? Not that I want to trade Jeffers necessarily. Frankly, I trust his bat in our lineup over everyone else. But maybe if it is Larnach and a low level prospect to the Yankees for Volpe and say one of their relievers?

JUST starting a topic to get thoughts on him as a potential target. I don't know if the Twins would love him or even want him as a target, but with all the chatter of the Yankees targeting Jeffers, Ryan and even Larnach now, I'm curious what people would think of Volpe as a change of scenery type. My thoughts; 1) I do think he would improve the infield defense. 2) I don't know if his bat will play 3) I don't know for sure that Culpepper's best defensive home is SS, but if/when Culpepper is ready this year, him coming up and having Volpe and Culpepper at SS and 2B certainly would improve the infield defense. 4) I don't know what that would mean for Clemens at 2B as often, IF Culpepper can hold down 2b. 5) I don't think they are ready for Marek Houston to be up this year and play SS, Anyway, this post isn't me advocating to trade Jeffers necessarily in a move for Volpe. That said, if they do trade Jeffers, and they are getting Volpe back, I'd want a pitcher coming with Volpe. Thoughts? Would you like this? Hate this? Just open for discussion.

Man this one was a fun one. Now do your job against the Royals and A's upcoming, and let's have some fun and add. :)

Yes, his surgery went well and he is a good athlete with a strong track record. Frankly I'd extend him as needed as I think he is the leader of the pitching staff

Twins fans complaining about the team? Color me shocked :)

I’d be good with him here. I don’t know if he will ever be great for a full season, but when he is on he is great. Couple him with Pablo and Taj and (I think) Abel and you do have something of a starting point in the rotation. I know there is work to do for the bullpen but I do think that can get figured out. I just want to know which position to players they are truly going with to plan for their next winning team, and what they will add to get to that.

Why do you think they can't assume anything for their ace Pablo Lopez?

Just came back to this. I'm not certain if they will do a hard sell or a hard buy. I want them to pick a lane. But I think the most important thing for me, to build on for 2027 (assuming games start on time, which is a BIG assumption) is I hope the plan is to have a competitive team the rest of this year AND build it towards the best team for 2027 also. By that I mean, I trade Jeffers now IF what comes back can help quickly in 2027 or even the rest of this year. For example, if the Yankees offer Austin Wells and a good pitching prospect, then I think I do that deal. I don't know that I really do trade Ryan, but I will say a majority of rumors that come up if you google "Joe Ryan trade rumors" aren't nearly enough for me to agree to move him. The idea of he and Pablo and Taj at the front of the 2027 rotation is stronger than getting a team's 5th and 7th and 12th best prospect back for a system that is already supposedly deep. I would very much trade Larnach. I do think his value is the highest it has ever been/ever will be. I also do that to fully open a spot for Walker Jenkins. It's time to get his feet wet, and he is someone (along with Keaschall and Taj and Ryan and Pablo and Culpepper among others) that I hope Tom seriously considers giving extensions to. At that point, I would make virtually everyone else in the organization available in trade to help build a team for 2027. If some team loves Emmanuel Rodriguez, great. Tait? Great. Any/all of Wallner/Gonzalez/Mendez? I'd ship them off for just about anything. They should have an outfield set for next year that includes Keaschall and Buxton and Jenkins. After that, trade what you have to fill other spots that are needed. I don't have names for that as far as deals, but I also don't see a future with the Twins for a majority of those guys. At some point in 2027 (assuming a season is had) I do think that the team should consist of some grouping of Royce and Culpepper and Clemens and Lee and Keaschall and Buxton and Jenkins and eventually Lackey. Maybe Marek Houston is the SS? Maybe Culpepper is? Maybe they trade that grouping somehow for a SS they really like, I don't know. But use the assets you have to build a team that grows together, both for the rest of this season and 2027. That's my 2 cents.

I agree with you on this too. I don’t know if they think Lewis is a core guy or not. I’m not even certain if he is more a 2b or 1b. I don’t know that I’d pursue Garcia Jr over a number of other options (I like Isaac Paredes more as an example) but I think he did that because of the Peralta/Weaver trade needing Lewis apparently. All a fun thought experiment

I’d argue it doesn’t really deplete the depth. They still have Jenkins and Lackey and Keaschall and Lee and Culpepper and Buxton and countless others. Plus I have a hard time banking on Rodriguez truly ever staying healthy, and Tait’s 90th percentile is still a long ways away. I don’t know that I see Gunnar being traded either. But it is a fun thought experiment

It’s not giving up Jenkins or Lackey.