Cory Engelhardt

I mean, the majority of baseball is saying the same thing right? I feel like the winter meetings were a much bigger deal before there was social media and everyone had zoom and cell phones. It's still a really nice job fair, but it's not really a thing anymore that teams have their only chance to meet face to face with other organizations or with players/agents like it used to be. I'd imagine things pick up in the next 2 weeks, take a lull during the holidays and new years, and start again early-ish January, not just for the Twins but all teams.

It'll be interesting to see how much draft bonus pool money the Twins end up with, now having pick #21, a pick for Gray signing elsewhere for over 50 million, and a comp B pick after the 2nd round. They certainly can make some waves in the draft, and that's certainly a fun follow.

Which is why creativity is important right?

I've had a couple of thoughts over the last few days, and I just wanted to share them in this thread to get others' opinions. 1) Erick Fedde; I could see the Twins in on this. I know rumors are that it's down to the White Sox and Mets. I wouldn't be shocked if it is or is not the Twins, but I could see this. I also say this as I wouldn't at all expect it to be the primary addition this offseason. IF they get Fedde, I could absolutely see them rolling with a 6 man rotation to help watch the innings of Ober and Paddack, among others. Maybe less so Ober, but still, he had BY FAR his career high innings total in 2023, so I could see them not wanting him to blow past that number. I could be wrong. 2) With adding a pitcher, I keep coming back to, IF they truly are looking to add a front-line starter, to me that would spell more going after a guy who is currently a front-line starter, not someone who is a tweak away from potentially being that. So the YOUNGER Seattle guys (Woo, Miller) or some of the Marlins pitching (Cabrera) this wouldn't apply to. It also makes me think that Burnes or Glasnow, or even someone else not in trade rumors (Framber Valdez, Nestor Cortes, I'm just spitballing names) is more the hope for the way that was worded. The hope is to get someone who immediately starts game #2 in a playoff series over Joe Ryan (who in his own right was VERY good pre-injury 2023.) Am I crazy (don't answer that.) But I think that's what their goal is this time around. Worry less about the team control JUST for 2024, and worry more about filling the need of a playoff level starter. Thoughts?

I can see a scenario where he is picked yes. That said, hard to say if they will regret it or not without seeing the finished 40 man roster for this offseason. If he does get a chance with another organization, wish him well :)

This kind of move, if we were to trade for Paraedes (and Glasnow) would have me be fine having Julien go back. Lewis, I think, can then move to 2b, and Brooks Lee is probably more of a 3b than 2b anyway. Have Parades keep 3b warm until Lee is ready, and then have 1b/3b covered. I don’t know if the value is there though if we aren’t also bringing Glasnow in a deal like this. I can’t say I want to trade major trade assets for a hitter right now

I think taking a flier on Oneil is worth it. I expect a Kepler trade, and adding a right handed hitter who has some pop makes sense

Lopez is 27, he will turn 28 in March. I think generally they won’t trade major league pitching or Walker Jenkins or (most likely) Royce. Otherwise I wouldn’t be shocked at just about anything

Scott Diamond had an ok 3 year run 2011-2013, at least in comparison to the rest of the pitching staff at that time. Otherwise I don't know that I can argue any of the choices. And yes, man, was Shane Mack good. :)

Just to compare; Joe Nathan was a SS. So was Jacob DeGrom. And Michael Cuddyer. High School SS's can do a LOT of positions later on.

Agreed 100%

Ryan was legit good until he went he was injured 6/27. Prior to 6/27, he was 8-4, and in 93.2 innings he struck out 100, walking only 15, and had a 2.98 era with a 2.77 fip. He was a dummy and tried to pitch through the injury, and that wasn't smart. After the injury, he was 3-6 and in 68 innings he still struck out 97, but he had more walks than previosly (19) and he had a 6.62 era and a 6.01 fip. I don't know if he is AS good as his pre injury numbers, but his splitter/fastball combo was legit the first 2/3 of the year. I also don't at all expect him to be anywhere near as bad as his post-injury pitching was either.

Agreed!

Ryan, Ober and Lopez are all well above replacement level. You've seen what replacement level is, correct? It's still up in the air a bit with Paddack, but his stuff was electric in the playoffs. Yes, without any additions this offseason they are the odds-on favorite to win the division in 2024. I want them to add because JUST winning the division isn't good enough next year.

I certainly don't expect Logan Gilbert to be available in trade, so I don't know why his name is the one put out there when mentioning Kepler to Seattle. But these are certainly fun rumors to read about.

I’ll take that bet

Well, I will say I feel more confident about Paddack going into 2024 than I did Maeda coming into 2023. Just for comparison’s sake

We don’t know that they won’t choose to add and extend someone like Burnes though (or at least add and plan on giving the qo 11 months from now.) We are all just guessing at this point based on quotes regarding payroll. I can’t say they won’t add someone like Burnes or Glasnow, but we have to let this offseason play out right? Arguably, the trade package going out for a player with 1 year team control (especially a name player) should be less in terms of prospects compared to someone with multiple years of team control. So adding someone like Burnes or Glasnow, just for one year, shouldn’t be cost prohibitive, and would also cost less in terms of prospects. With how much pitching they have that will start the year at Wichita, this path makes a world of sense to me for 2024.

None of these are contracts that should stop the team in any way from improving the team this year or for the next 5 or so. Vazquez and Buxton both make what a back end starter makes on the open market, Dobnak is basically a rounding error on a spreadsheet, and Correa without plantar fasciitis is a damn good player. If Correa never plays again, that’s one thing. But the team is in a good spot with a majority of their roster earning close to the minimum as well.

I do expect a major league signing at some point in January or February. I’d also imagine a number of minor league signings. Should be a fun winter :)

I do think, or at least it seems, that there is good leadership now. That's a good thing. I will argue pretty strongly that Thielbar is not at all a dime a dozen reliever though. His career year in many ways was 2022, so I don't know that he will get back to that level of productivity again. But I'd prefer him and his curveball in the bullpen to Chapman in my opinion.

Imagine saying/thinking that Steer has a similar bat to Polanco. Ugh And no, in no reality does Polanco and CES or Steer and CES get you ANYWHERE in the ballpark of one of Seattle's young pitchers. Sorry

Agree to disagree here. Miranda (when healthy) is better than CES, he just is. And if you think CES's best defensive home isn't dh, I don't know what to tell you. Thinking he could play 3b at all is similar to me thinking I can win the powerball, even when not buying a ticket. Steer, he is a mlb caliber player. He isn't starting over Julien/Lewis/Correa/Lee or a healthy Miranda.

Matthew bragging over here about not needing to check social media 25 hours a day :)

I'm good with that. The hurry-up-and-wait of the start of the offseason takes forever. It feels like December and January, as far as baseball offseason goes, lasts 4 years :) But yeah, hard to have too much hand-wringing on roster until the offseason is actually over. But yeah, I admit, I wish moves could be made NOW :)