Cory Engelhardt

Or, how about Joe Ryan + what? gets the A's to think about sending us Shea Langeliers? Ryan and Kendry Rojas? Is that too much? Is that not enough? Is that something you'd even be interested in? The A's certainly need pitching.

Yeah if he is traded, I have to think the Twins think they got the right value back, right? And front offices have to act as if they were having a season next year, in many ways. I know the Brewers got Joey Ortiz and DL Hall for Corbin Burnes. I think he had quite a bit more value than Ryan does today, but I wanted to start this thread mostly to ask who our Joey Ortiz would be in this scenario.

See, is he even their best catching prospect at this point? I know there are some rumors that Milwaukee could trade Contreras this offseason to get more prospect capital. I'm just not THAT certain that Quero is who is next in line there.

At which part? The trade to Milwaukee? For Jeferson Quero? Trading him at all?

Ok, for example, Milwaukee. If they offered a deal that started with catching prospect Jeferson Quero, I don't know what else would be added, but I'd be intrigued.

Yes, that could be. I'd still argue his value is higher than Ober or Kremer. And I don't see them trading Pablo.

I wanted to start a topic and get opinions on Joe Ryan, mostly because of what Bobby Nightengale shared earlier. Bobby stated that BECAUSE the Twins have 4 starters who are all (at this point) only signed through 2027, one of them most likely is going to be traded. Personally, between Pablo, Ryan, Ober and Kremer, I could see 2 of them even not back next year. With that, my question specifically regarding Joe Ryan. Let's say the Twins KNOW he isn't going to be extended. I'd argue he has pretty neutral value after finishing the season with a couple of ok starts, compared to what he looked like for all of August. So, let's say hypothetically they were NOT looking specifically for a package of prospects that are in high A and won't be ready until 2029. Let's say they want a package of player or players that specifically could be ready even for opening day 2027. And for THIS exercise, let's say it's primarily one player coming back who for sure will be on the opening day roster. My thoughts process here is, can they get a young hitter that would be part of their core (so to speak) in a deal for Joe Ryan. Maybe it's even someone that another team isn't in love with and/or is blocked. For example, would a deal with the Red Sox were going to offer something like Triston Casas or Kristian Campbell interest anyone? I'm NOT saying they are who I would target, but that's the type of player as far as age range and veteran status I'm thinking of for this post. Possibly someone who can be a catcher or 1B or 2B, or even SS, who is ready to step in now, not years from now. Alright, long winded answer, who ya got?

Sounds like it's something he's had for years, and with knowing it'll be probably a long and unusual offseason anyway with a lockout stalling some things. So yeah, good to get it done now.

Before this season Peralta was every bit an ace level pitcher. I think he still has that in him

Just throwing it out; I don't know what Houston would want for Isaac Paredes, but with him being a free agent after 2027, I very much would trade something for him and then extend him. I think his pull power would look really good at Target Field, and I think he can play a solid 1B along with being available to play 3B in a pinch if needed. He is someone I would personally target in trade that I don't think would NEED one of Lackey or Jenkins or Culpepper to acquire.

And yeah, if Abel is truly healthy and ready to go, then I don't see Kremer ahead of him. I just think planning for a 162 game season, you need lots of arms. But yeah, if you could promise me that each of their 5 starters would make 31 starts next year, then that's a different conversation. It also could be that Zebby is moved to the bullpen and Ryan and Ober are traded, and then there is just room.

Sounds good to me. That said, Abel and Prielipp and Zebby all have the option to go to the minors if needed. Which totally works for me as you can never have enough pitching.

I don't see Ober back. Otherwise, IF Ryan and Lopez and Bradley and Abel and Kremer are healthy and ready to go opening day, I'd be ok with Abel or Prielipp starting out as the 6th starter and piggyback. You never have enough pitching. But I'm not certain that Ryan will be back either, and we have to find out if Lopez and Abel both will be fully ready to go opening day. If you can give me Peralta on a 3 or 4 year deal, that's a good problem to figure out.

I'd be curious what major league player they could get for a return of Joe Ryan. Mostly because I have this assumption that he wouldn't want to be extended here. Maybe there is a team that has a decent power hitting type player that's not fully formed yet who would be open to trade him for Joe Ryan. For example, I don't think the Cubs would trade him now, but if there is a player somewhere like Michael Busch was a couple of seasons ago when he was traded by the Dodgers who had been blocked, is there a player like that somewhere that could be available for someone like Ryan? Otherwise, of the players you mentioned, I truly don't see Jenkins or Culpepper or Lackey moved. But I don't think that means moves can't be made otherwise.

All 3 of those starters are very much upgrades over our 5th best starter, no? I mean, like you know you'll get a baseline with any of them, and that's never a bad thing. Peralta is someone I like because he is known as a good clubhouse guy. Adding someone like him helps the rotation and helps the clubhouse. Trevor Rogers is very much statistically a pretty big upgrade too. I can't imagine anyone arguing otherwise. Case Mize this year was more fine than great. But would I take him over Dean Kremer and Bailey Ober? Yes I very much would.

You are looking at it in terms of a small sample though. They HAVE all traded for established players at some point in the last decade right? I mean, Milwaukee getting Christian Yelich (who is still on the team) WAS a big deal at the time. Cleveland added Foster Griffin this deadline as well as Nathaniel Lowe, and both would look good here. I'm not even saying the Twins need to trade and add their BEST player via trade. I just don't love the free agent list for established middle of the order types. So they'll have to be creative.

Agreed. Have to sign guys that will help. My optimistic hope for free agency would be a closer (Cory Provus mentioned he thinks they like Aroldis Chapman?) and then someone like Freddy Peralta I think would be GREAT here) along with trading for or signing a good defensive catcher that controls the run game. Then after that, be on the lookout for a trade for a hitter, really at any position, who can be a middle of the order type bat. But adding those players to getting full seasons from Jenkins and Culpepper and Rodriguez and Keaschall and Lee would be exciting in my opinion.

I wouldn't trade anyone that's debuted or Lackey. If they are getting a SS back I am open on Houston. Basically any pitching prospect. Tait. What is the expensive veteran you are wanting to trade for?

It can't be JUST free agency. A good trade or two, along with health from Pablo and Abel, as well as full seasons with better defense overall from Jenkins and Rodriguez and Culpepper among others compared to what was on field for the majority of this season.

Well, if he proves it and does sign a legit free agent after the world series, then that's a good thing. Obviously there are different levels to "legit." If it is an end of game reliever, or a playoff level starter, or a full time position player, then that's a good start.

Just for my own curiosity, when will the blueprint tool be updated for the 2027 offseason? I know it's just for fun/educational purposes, but it would be fun to have at some point with updated potential salaries. So my GUESS is after the world series and when decisions on QO are made with Jeffers, then the tool is updated right? Just curious if it can be updated sooner than that with educational guesses? Thanks!

I can very much see a scenario where he is kept as a utility guy to start the season off the bench. Then if he performs, great. If he doesn't, easy to move on. But with his talent/potential, I have to think the 5 million or so he is set to make wouldn't be spent on a better backup 1b/2b/3b. I mean, they kept Larnach a year longer than I would have guessed. I can't see a scenario where he is handed the starting 1B job right now today. No chance. I also can't see a scenario where he is handed the starting 2B job today. But as the 11th man on the roster, with a chance to always hit his way into more of a role and earn it, sure. But if a true clean slate is better for both sides, so be it.

I feel like saying something like could be proven incorrect with an extremely quick google search. But for this specific instance maybe you are right in terms of Willis leaving.

I wonder how much it would cost to get Carl Willis away from Cleveland. He probably wouldn't leave, would he?

Came here that I would bet on Kremer having more success in a starting role than I would Ober next year. Mick Abel threw a bullpen off the mound today at target field and looked good. Just wanted that shared. That’s from Dan Hayes. Just assuming Pablo won’t be available isn’t fair. He may not be what he was in 2023 again, but he is already throwing too. I HAVE to think they bring in at least one outside pitcher for the rotation too. And maybe they trade Ryan? Who knows. Having churn of the roster isn’t a bad thing, even if it feels like you can never have enough pitching.