Cory Engelhardt

If you aren’t going to push some chips once in a while, are you even playing the game? Better way to word it, if you aren’t going to go for it this year, when will you ever go for it?

I’m fully on board with this. 100%

Is Paxton still effective though? That’s a lot of walks this year with diminished velocity

I’ll say it again like I did this past offseason; Blake Snell is already a twin. His brother lives near Seattle. Bring him in for the playoff push, show you are truly going forward, and that will help with the tv push and playoff seats more than just about anyone else no?

This is how this front office has always worked. They never give off smoke signals for anything. It’s annoying for those of us who hit f5 often during the day, but it’s fine

In this trade, for a Minnesota angle, one of the prospects is Mac Horvath. He was a 2nd round pick in 2023 out of the university of Carolina, but he grew up and played baseball through high school in Austin, MN. Hopefully he gets a shot at some point

Not all top 10’s are created equal. That’s mostly what I meant. I don’t love Scott’s walk rate at all, but I get what you are saying. In that sense I would take Puk over Scott too. We will see

Yeah, no. Payroll space is only so valuable. It’s not more valuable than Pablo. That line of thinking is just beyond ridiculous today

Agree to disagree that he is similar to Keaschall. That strikeout rate of his can’t continue if he wants to have success in the majors

Imagine thinking Pablo should ever be on the table. Yuck

Keaschall is a top 100 prospect though. Still, it is a lot to give up, but Puk is a good reliever

JUST putting this out into the ether. With how he's looked since coming off the injured list, he would be an AWESOME get. Am I being naive? Yes. Will it happen, no it (probably) won't. Just sharing because it would certainly be exciting. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/07/blake-snell-among-giants-drawing-trade-interest.html

I mean, Chicago is probably at least 3 years away from being relevant again right? Especially if they do trade away their good tradeable players now too. What I'm saying is, I'm fine trading for players that will help us and giving up fair value regardless of the team.

Certainly any pitcher could be an injury away or even have their production fall off the table. That said, here are some numbers to compare for his production at different points... 2023 with Saint Louis, prior to being traded to Baltimore... 20 games started, 7-6 record, 109 2/3 innings, 116 hits, 54 walks, 106 k's. That's 8.7 k's per 9, and at that point he had a 4.43 era, 4.20 fip and a 4.47 Xfip. Also, according to brooks baseball, his average fastball velocity from March through July 2023 was typically between 92.79 and 93.15 mph. So far in 2024... 17 games, 100 2/3 innings, 7-5 record with only 80 hits, 17 walks, 127 k's. That's 11.35 k's per 9, and he has a 3.13 era with a 3.15 fip and a 2.47 Xfip. And his fastball velocity has averaged between 93.92 and 94.09 for most of the year, which is about a mph faster than last year too. Basically, this year he is walking way less, giving up way less hits, and is throwing harder. I'd feel a lot more confident that he can start a playoff game this year compared to his pre-trade production in 2023. Now, he could get hurt and revert back. Just saying, his numbers so far this year are night and day compared to 2023.

Paxton's drop in velocity this year and his pretty enormous walk rate are both reasons why I wouldn't prioritize him as being an addition here. I'd prefer to look elsewhere. I can see trading away a veteran or two as well though for salary purposes. I guess we'll see.

Just for comparison's sake, I don't think we are giving enough credit to what stuff Kikuchi has. For example, Eno Sarris put out 2nd half pitcher ratings today in the Athletic. What he looked at were his ratings that include Stuff+, Location+, Pitching+ and k to bb percentage, along with just how healthy that person has been this year. I won't list every single name here, but here are some names that stick out to me... 1) Tarik Skubal 2) Zack Wheeler 5) Corbin Burnes 6) Paul Skenes 18) Garrett Crochet 19) Joe Ryan 20) Pablo Lopez 22) Sonny Gray 23) Yusei Kikuchi 26) Jack Flaherty 51) Bailey Ober 52) Nathan Eovaldi 56) Zach Eflin 57) Justin Verlander 62) Luis Severino 63) Max Scherzer 64) Jose Berrios 77) Erick Fedde 81) Sean Manaea 82) Zack Littell 109) Frankie Montas 111) JP Sears 112) Jake Irvin 114) Chris Paddack 120) Tyler Mahle 121) Lance Lynn 147) Simeon Woods Richardson 155) David Festa 175) Louie Varland Anyway, based on stuff and health, Kikuchi is throwing really well in 2024 compared to a lot of other names that are rumored to be available.

Depending on how they believe Paddack will respond and be able to come back, as well as how they see the last few months going with Woods Richardson, I could see a scenario where bringing in more than 1 starter could make sense. Hard to trust Paddack for SURE coming back, and Woods Richardson will go over his career high in innings after about 20 more innings total, so I have to think more depth here is a good thing at minimum. We'll see.

I worry about injuries. I don’t know at all that Paddack will be back, so I could see a depth move (like Paxton) just in case. I just don’t see him as someone who id feel comfortable starting a playoff game, so I’d still want to pursue someone along those lines.

I’d be ok with this if he isn’t the only starter they acquire between now and next tuesday

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5649385/2024/07/22/mlb-trade-deadline-player-position-ranking/ Tim Britton and our Aaron Gleeman made a top 50 list of players who could potentially be traded prior to next Tuesday (6/30/2024, 6pm central) trade deadline. It's coming up quick. How they laid it out was having a green (likely) yellow (possibly) or red (not as likely) color next to each of the 50 players, and they listed best fits for each of them. Typically each player had 3 teams listed next to each that were a fit, and the Twins were listed next to 5 of them. Here are the names associated with the Twins... 1) Vlad Guerrero Jr..I don't know that I see it with our our 1b/dh options are doing just fine right now. But really, if Miranda is going to be out a while, or Santana gets hurt, I could see being interested in a 1b type. Guerrero would be fun in this lineup, but like the next guy listed, I don't know that I see the Twins using prospects to bring in what isn't a problem with the current roster (outside of injuries, of course.) Vlad has probably 8 million left on his deal for this year and would be in arbitration for the last time in 2025, probably making north of 23 million or more next year. Salary wise I don't see it here. 2) Pete Alonso (see description next to Guerrero Jr.) Pete should have about 4 million (give or take) left on this season's contract before he becomes a free agent. 3) Nathan Eovaldi...This would be my number 1 target if Texas is open to trading him. He is a bulldog and has a lot of strong playoff success in his resume. He most likely is a rental (if he pitches 62 more innings this year he would have a vesting option for next season, but he most likely only picks that up if he gets hurt and won't pitch next year.) But man, he would be fun to have for a game 1 or game 2 starter. He most likely has about 7 left on his deal for this year, so the price isn't bad unless he gets hurt and opts in to next years contract. 4) Yusei Kikuchi...If Texas doesn't listen, I'd love to go after Kikuchi as a fallback to Eovaldi. His stuff is really good, he is left handed, and he is also a rental. Plus, he has good experience against the Yankees both this season and during his career, which wouldn't hurt in a potential playoff series. I think I read he has maybe 3-4 million left on his deal for this season, so he certainly would be the most affordable listed here. 5) Jordan Montgomery...I know he has playoff experience, but this season has been mostly pretty terrible for him. I don't know that I see it. He is making 25 million this year, and he has a conditional player option for next year that certainly the Twins wouldn't pick up, so probably a salary dump for Arizona. IF he comes back looking healthy over the next few weeks I wouldn't hate taking a flier, but I'd prefer Eovaldi. I'd imagine he has about 11 million left in salary for this year, so maybe the Diamondbacks would even cover some of the salary to get out of that deal? Who are you manifesting to be a Twin come next Tuesday evening? For me it's Eovaldi with a bullet, but we'll see what takes place.

Gotta say, his next few starts will be interesting to follow. If he gets his typical velocity back he will be a huge potential trade target for everyone

Just throwing it out, I would LOVE the idea of Kikuchi, but I think I'd love the idea of Eovaldi if Texas sells even more. It is exciting knowing they will add, or at least I believe they will.

Just curious if anyone knows when Zebby's first start will be in AAA? I don't see a listed starter for Sunday, so maybe it's that day. Anyone able to confirm?

I hope Festa can stick as a starter. I do have more confidence in Zebby being a starter. But reliever Festa has 2 elite pitches at minimum, and I do think as a 2 inning guy he could be lights out. But if he can stick as a starter, even better. He led AAA in strikeout percentage, so his stuff is not a fluke.

That'd be up to coaching staff to make sure whoever they get doesn't produce like he is a bum right?