Cory Engelhardt

I like Jonah Tong a lot actually. But with them getting Abel and Rojas and Bradley last week, along with the other starting pitchers they have and are close, I don't know that I'd prioritize another AA/AAA type starting pitcher for a return like this. I'd want to look at trading a strength to fill an area of need. Especially with the idea that I THINK they have real options in the rotation once that gets sorted out. I also like their centerfield prospect options. Do I like them more than Walker Jenkins or Emmanuel Rodriguez? No. And their options and Jenkins will all debut around the same time, in the next year or so at some point. How about Tampa? They've made lots of trades with them over the years. Tampa has a number of hitters who are already either in the majors or who are close who would very much help the 2026 club. I guess that's what I'm saying. I THINK if Ryan (for example) is traded, it would be to help an area of need for next year and 2027. I wouldn't see the point to adding to an area that they already have volume. AA/AAA starting pitching is a spot in the organization right now that they have quite a bit of depth. I know you can never have enough pitching, but if they are trading Ryan I think the focus could be elsewhere.

Then if they are trading Ryan it isn’t to Boston. Seattle and other teams probably would have interest. It’s not like it has to be just to Boston for whatever Boston would decide to trade

Roman Anthony just signed an 8 year 130 million dollar deal. He isn't going anywhere. I only mention Casas because I know the Twins have had interest in him in the past. He has shown real power in the past and is coming off an injured year. He wouldn't be the centerpiece in a Ryan trade, but I do think they need a middle of the order bat for this line. If he is healthy, I think he has that type of production in him. That's all.

I do agree that new owners are needed asap. And I do agree that they have a path to choose once that happens. If Ryan does go back to Boston, I'd imagine they could get Tristan Casas as DH/1B along with a starting outfielder and a good prospect or 2. Barring health that wouldn't hurt either. Casas or O'Hearn or Naylor or someone, I think the focus to get a middle of the order bat would solve a lot of issues with the lineup as a whole. And if Roden (or Outman) could be Larnach with improved defense, that's a good thing too no? I do think you are selling Jenkins a little bit short with his potential, but we'll have to see results when he does come up. Otherwise, fun talking baseball. Thanks!

Ok, but let's play it out with a cup that's even near half full. Barring health, let's say Lewis and Wallner both do get back to their expected seasons. Wallner carrying an .800 OPS and Lewis being closer to 2023. He doesn't even have to top what he did, just not the shell of himself to start this year. With Buxton playing the way he can, and Lee getting more footing along with Keaschall, those are 5 bats that can be at the top of an order. I do think they need a 1B. They'll certainly have money to give a 1 or 2 year deal to someone like Ryan O'Hearn or Josh Naylor. I don't know what the plan is with Jeffers. I could see him play out in 2026, or I could see a small extension with him since he hasn't been traded. But they do need a co-catcher with Vazquez moving on. I did see they were interested in Yankees backup JC Escarra around the deadline but nothing materialized. I think for 2026 they need to find someone who can produce at least as well as Vazquez did, and I don't think you need to trade Ryan to acquire that player. After that, they do have a rotation. Yes they will need to bring in some 1 year free agents. And I'm not going to say it'll change overnight, but Varland and Jax and Duran and Stewart were all failed starters, so it's not out of the realm of possibility that they can piece together a bullpen between April 2026 and the trade deadline. It's also not at all a guarantee that any of Jax/Duran/Stewart/Varland stay both A) Healthy and B) as productive in 2026 as they did in 2025. Outside of that, figuring out the outfield could be a chore, or it could become Buxton and Jenkins with Roden or Outman in short order. Or maybe someone else, like Austin Martin? Gabriel Gonzalez in left? Anyway, I am an optimist by choice. But I don't think the cupboard is bare for 2026. Even if they do trade Ryan (and if they do, I'd imagine they would get back either a starting level catcher or a middle of the order bat along with another prospect and probably a good reliever) and then you still have Lopez/Ober/Zebby/Abel/Bradley/SWR/Festa and then will move some guys from fringe starter to bullpen no? But yeah, with all of this, what would you think Ryan would bring?

I keep seeing people say they are certain that both Lopez and Ryan are getting traded. Other than the trade deadline happening a few days ago, I struggle to see why people are so certain of this. That said, let's play it out. Let's say one of them is traded. I'll say Ryan because he is having the better year and isn't injured. What is coming back in that scenario? It's not like we trade him and then nothing is in return. What do you think a return for Ryan would be? How would trading him help the 2026 and 2027 team? And how would that help the team more than trading him would?

This year Larnach has hit 259/337/440 for a .778 ops against righties. I'm not saying he is a budding star or a building block. But Ty France got moved didn't he? I'd have to think a team would have given SOMETHING to have a hitter on their bench who could hit righties occasionally. That said, Houston went out and got Jesus Sanchez from Miami, so maybe there wasn't a ton of options out there. Probably more options for a change of scenery this offseason if that's the case.

The draft is supposed to be a VERY strong one in 2026 fwiw. Right @Jamie Cameron? Not that that helps today, just saying.

Larnach to me is the one guy who I am surprised wasn't traded at the deadline, especially when comparing to them needing to move Stewart and Varland. Larnach, I would imagine, gets moved to a team this offseason for a reliever option. Maybe Toronto would listen on Louie Varland? :)

If they do trade one of Pablo or Ryan (I don't see them trading both) I think we would have to look at what the focus would be. Let's say the return is a solid starting level catcher, another higher end prospect and a good reliever, then I can see (depending on results) that actually working ok for the lineup. If they trade them for a bunch of lottery ticket types, then that wouldn't work in my opinion.

Depends completely on health and performance. Hard to trade an injured pitcher no? But I do get what you are saying otherwise. New owners can't get here soon enough though

Only because I don't think you need to trade all 3 of them this offseason. I think they could trade one for real value, and then be open to deals both this next trade deadline in 2026 and in the 2026/2027 offseason no? That is, if there isn't a work stoppage. We also don't know for sure if the new owner would want a different plan? What if they come in and want to extend Ryan for example?

I agree, in that I don't see a trade of anyone coming off a down year. So I don't see Ober getting moved. I do think arguably Ryan would be the easiest to trade, coming off a good year for him. He would track as making the most sense to trade in my opinion IF that's the case. Coming off a good year and having good value could make sense. Pablo, I guess we'll see. If he comes back and looks strong I could see it too. I also could see them holding onto him for next year if they were looking to trade him. I more was just saying I don't see a way they trade all 3 THIS offseason. 1 makes sense, depending on the return.

They have a ton of value, each of them. One of them alone can bring in a catcher, a top 50 prospect and probably a good reliever. They don't need to jettison all 3 to do that.

Why would we trade BOTH Ober and Ryan? MAYBE one, but you don't need to trade both this offseason. Even then, you wouldn't need to trade either of them or Pablo this offseason.

See, I'd be good adding a middle of the order bat somehow, even if they are a DH or a !B. They haven't had that since a healthy Nelson Cruz left, and I think that's a need.

How about for a separate idea (instead of giving the pitching staff for Kurtz) going to Boston and trying to get Tristan Casas from them? Maybe there is a world where a trade can be made for him this offseason? I do think they need a true middle of the order bat. I'd rather try and add someone coming off a down year compared to someone coming off a 4 homer game anyway.

It's too much pitching to give up for a 1B, even if he is good.

I feel like he is here to provide defense in the outfield, preserve Buxton's health, and probably be showcased with playing time to flip this offseason. Not necessarily about winning as a whole.

I'm only saying that's enough of an argument to HAVE to trade away Varland. And then why take on Outman? And keep Larnach? Both make more than Varland and France's remaining dollars this year anyway.

France's contract was never guaranteed this year. And he is set to make about 300k the rest of the year if he is on the roster. If he were making 10 million I could understand this. But this doesn't pass the smell test for me.

They could have just dfa'd him.

I more meant they don't HAVE to trade all 3 THIS offseason. They can certainly trade all 3, but one could be this offseason, and then they have the 2026 deadline and the 2027 offseason, along with the 2027 trade deadline to make those decisions. And that's of course assuming there is a 2027 season on time. But yeah, not all 3 HAVE to go this offseason. That's all I meant. I would be surprised if all 3 are in the rotation to start 2026.

I wouldn't need to hold on to Larnach. Outman and Rodan are both superior defensive players, and Jenkins and Rodriguez are both not far away (unless Rodriguez can just never stay healthy.)

Disagree on the drafting portion.