Cory Engelhardt

I'm not losing sleep over it, and I'm certainly not embarrassed.

I'm curious what role you have Larnach playing on the bench? It seems to me he would do well to rake for a while in a full time role at AAA, and be ready when an injury comes along. I do still think another outfielder is brought in, probably a right handed hitter. Also, the bullpen will be interesting to see how it plays out. I know you have Alcala in there, but Staumont and Funderburk, and possibly Canterino among others, would seem to have a place depending on how it shakes out. That said, I can totally see a revolving door between the bullpen and St. Paul for a lot of the season once again. I still expect a different playoff level starter to be added, but maybe that's in season? We'll see.

I'm curious why you assume the offseason is done?

It is a major league deal

What if Buxton is actually healthy though? I will say, I have more faith in Castro and Martin, but I get where you are coming from. Is there someone you want them to bring in?

Add a high impact starter, as was their stated goal, and continue to augment when possible. I know it’s not at all probable or realistic, but I would love a move for Bellinger. Primary 1b, good backup for cf, and he is still available. If they got him (I know, don’t laugh) it would be easier to center a trade package for a starter around either Lee or Julien right? And it’s hard to count on Kirilloff, so I’d go that route. Not my money, right? :)

Yeah, Abreu is in a class of his own the last few years, I agree for sure. Sorry if I read that wrong :)

I doubt they trade Abreu. I also think you are shorting both Jax and Stewart, if you truly think no one else in the bullpen is dominant after Duran. Just my opinion.

I’d trade him for someone like Forrest Whitley if they would be open to it. He seems like someone that could use a fresh start. Could probably add something to it potentially

I always appreciate Brandon Warne reminding when this thought comes up; the 2014 Detroit Tigers were swept in the playoffs, and they had a starting rotation including Verlander, Scherzer and Price. Nothing is ever guaranteed in the playoffs. Ask Atlanta and Baltimore this year, for different reasons. All of that said, better pitching gives you a better chance. I like our pitching staff as a whole. I love the bullpen, I like the starters. If the Twins can add someone so that we can love our starters too, that would help. We would want to have at least two guys who can comfortably start a playoff game by October right, and hopefully a lot sooner

Probably plenty to be honest

I do agree that they will add a starting pitcher. And we also don’t at all know what the payroll will end up at right?

I just want to bump this thread. I’m being naive, most likely, but man would he fit here really well. Here is to Cody Bellinger being a Minnesota Twin

Curious, I wonder if Jensen will clear waivers and they just assign him to St. Paul. Interesting.

Does his catching partner have anything to do with the number of passed balls? Asking because I have no idea how that stuff is tracked. And yeah, I more meant the initial ask is certainly to include Lee. Whenever Cease is traded (to the Twins or elsewhere) it'll be interesting to compare the returns.

See, I'm on the other side. Cease and even Kopech would both (in my opinion) be great targets to get a fresh start. They have talent for sure.

I can see that. I'd imagine a LOT of players who are on other teams could have rebounds from 2023. Whatever happened in Chicago last year, it was really bad, even for White Sox standards.

That could be. I just found it interesting that Hayes connected Minnesota to him specifically. I also trust that Maki and company can get him going right. The dumpster fire that was the 2023 White Sox would be good for any player to get away from right?

I still think Cease has the capability of being a high end #2 or even an ace if you get him back to his 2022 form. Even last year his fip wasn't bad, and his strikeout rate is still elite. IF the Twins get him he clearly slots ahead of both Ryan and Ober in the rotation.

Yeah, I don't see Ober going anywhere either, at least inter division. I also wouldn't move Woo for Cease if I am Seattle. I could MAYBE be talked into Miller, but I don't see it being a 1 for 1 there.

I could see that. Varland being a centerpiece, maybe with Festa or Raya added, and another pitcher at the lower ranks COULD be enticing. They have talked though, the two teams. I'm curious if there is a fit.

I'll start with mine. I think there can be a few avenues for a trade here... 1) A trade based around Brooks Lee. I'd imagine it wouldn't be a 1 for 1 (on either side, the Twins like to get a prospect or two back in these kinds of deals) but this to me is a deal that could work for both sides. 2) A deal with 3-4 good prospects. I know the White Sox will ask for a LOT for him from any team, but if the Twins came back with something like Emmanuel Rodriguez, Cory Lewis, Marco Raya and Tanner Schobel, to me that FEELS like a light return, but it would be a pretty large injection of talent into the White Sox system. 3) Edourd Julien. I don't know that I see Minnesota trading him, but I'm sure he would be someone that Chicago would ask about. Royce too (although I see no chance Royce is actually on the table. Or Jenkins)

So, I know it's not probably likely, being an in-division trade and all. But I wanted to throw out a few reasons why Dylan Cease is a solid target for Minnesota, and also is similar to pitchers they've acquired in the past. 1) Dan Hayes specifically mentioned him as a target that the Twins have talked to Chicago about 2) He is right up the Twins alley, in terms of a few reasons. A) He has an extra year of control, and B) He is (arguably) coming off a down year compared to previous seasons. 3) He very much fits the bill as a "high impact" starter. I KNOW he is on the White Sox. Any deal for a pitcher of that quality is going to cost a lot in terms of prospects. It (sort of) is magnified being in division, and I'm sure most teams wouldn't want to trade away anyone that COULD become a star for a team in their own division. All of that said, because of what is listed above, I figured I'd start a thread on what YOU think it would cost the Twins to acquire Cease. Payroll wise he fits for this year and next, as he is set to make about 8 this year and I'd imagine only 11 or 12 next year in his last year of arbitration. He just turned 28 in December, so IF the Twins were to acquire him, he would be with us for 2 years and wouldn't turn 30 until after the 2025 season is complete. He certainly could be a good option for an extension at some point, but that wouldn't have to happen NOW. Thoughts? What would it cost, in terms of players, to bring Dylan Cease to Minnesota?

I mean, for 2024, the Twins certainly could have afforded Burnes' contract. It's only about 15 million. I actually think there is room for them to extend someone like Burnes for 2025 ongoing, but that's a different story. I'm curious if he will get extended in Baltimore. New owners, so there will be a push for it. We'll see.

As a Twins fan, that deal would have been very exciting