Cory Engelhardt

I think the Twins need to add a solid bat prior to the deadline. Whoever that is, at least show they are open to adding. If it is a big name player like this, the fit will work.

David Robertson would be great to have here. Sign me up.

Good thing they have Lopez, Ryan, Ober, Varland and Paddack ready for the start of 2024, along with a whole lot of time to make trades or sign a free agent while letting their pitching develop right?

I would like to nominate this post for both a Nobel prize and spot in the Lourve in Paris. It is absolutely perfect

IF they are going under slot, I would hope for about 8 or 10 other guys before Gonzalez. Why not Chase Davis or one of the next level of college pitchers (Dollander, Lowder, Waldrep) or Tommy Troy or Kyle Teel? All of them are vastly more exciting than Gonzalez in my opinion, and all would still come with a bit of a discount right?

It’s fun to dream :)

I'm hoping for one of Crews/Langford/Skenes to fall to 5, but otherwise Clark or Jenkins would be great. I don't really want to reach too much, and his bat/potential is very exciting.

This article feels way too early to decide on. Funny that it was put out day(s) after Martin's first hit in AAA.

This would not at all be my first choice or even my 8th choice. But I would be more excited with him than either Gonzalez or Wilson. If they believe they can develop this guy I wouldn’t hate it

I will be very disappointed if he is the pick at 5

I am not advocating for keeping Kepler. I'm not. I just don't know that I (or anyone) should expect Wallner to be a savior of this offense. That's all I'm getting at. I am all for sending Kepler on his way (among other moves) but I also wouldn't expect Wallner to be a long term fixture in a corner spot here. That's all I'm getting at

I'd certainly be more excited about this than one of Gonzalez or Wilson. I can get behind this for sure. Who would you have at 34 in this scenario?

Pass

If the twins love him, and have a plan to help regain his slider, that would excite me. I just don’t know that I see the value that high in this specific draft

If you were to tell me they were getting him at 34, I'd be ecstatic. At 5, not so much.

Please believe me that I am not advocating to keep Kepler around. I just don't have a ton of faith that Wallner is a starting level corner outfielder. I do think Larnach can be, if he can ever stay healthy, but that's another question mark. I'd love to be proven wrong. He is ready for his shot.

I mean, he very much could be worse.

I think if you are expecting Wallner to outperform Kepler, you will probably be disappointed. I mean, I'm expecting to win the powerball. That'll happen at some point, right? (I'm NOT saying to not ditch Kepler. It's been time for a while now. I just don't see Wallner being this massive upgrade, or even an upgrade.)

My fingers have been crossed for him to be a twin for some time now. I actually do t have feeling in those fingers anymore. Is that a problem? Does anyone know a medical professional? How am I still typing? :) Anyway, I hope he is there at 5 :)

I'd be SHOCKED

And see, I do every one of these trades at the time of the deal. Even now, arguably other than the Arraez for Lopez et al deal, I'm not certain they really lost anything otherwise that will come back to haunt them.

To be fair to Langford, he is every bit as fast and athletic enough to be a good defensive center fielder. He may need some coaching on defensive routes to the ball, but he is a fantastic athlete. He isn’t Josh Willingham/Delmon Young out there

I’d be all for it if Crews or Langford are already gone.

I'm hoping for Langford at #5. I don't know if that is possible, but he would be a homerun pick

I would absolutely look into dfa'ing Kepler post haste (it's beyond time) but I do think getting Miranda going will be about as good a positive as this lineup can hope for. He has started to pick it up a bit in AAA, and going into the season I truly thought he was set to be our best hitter. I still think that could be the case. I know he had shoulder issues in spring training (he didn't play 3rd base until basically opening day) so I have to think that played a part, right? After that, I do think a trade is in order that will help the roster. I'd try and go after someone who is having a solid year and who is striking out less than the league average. Probably someone from an organization who isn't going all in this year. The first name I came up with when looking at K% leaders in 2023 was Lamonte Wade Jr. Now, don't laugh, as he was good in 2021, terrible in 2022, and is having a career year sort of start to 2023. I know he has 2 more years of team control after this year, but I also don't know that he would break the bank in terms of prospect capital. I'd look at trading more than a few guys for him, as getting someone who walks as much as he does, and strikes out as little as he does, would be such a boon to this offense. There are other things they can do at that point. Let Larnach and Wallner get a chance (by trading away Kepler) and getting Miranda going at AAA (does he replace Solano at that point?) But it's possible that Austin Martin could even be up this year, and for everything he is, he doesn't strike out and he makes contact with some speed. All things the roster could use an infusion of. That might be optimistic in terms of Martin, but I am curious where they will send him after his current rehab assignment is up. Does he go to Wichita or St. Paul initially? Does he need tommy john? We'll see. Oh, and did I mention get Correa and Buxton healthy and going? That would help too :) As far as trading for a reliever, I do think the next month and a half will show us where the need is there. I have faith in about 5 or 6 of the bullpen arms already, but some could turn it around in the next month where the type of pitcher they will need to acquire will be more apparent. But yeah, I don't want Aroldis Chapman.