beckmt

Twins have much better pitchers with more stuff waiting a AA and AAA, why waste a roster spot, if nothing else see if he can be traded.

The difference with football is the union sold out. About the worst type of pay scale where the middle tier makes little, because most of them can be replaced with someone cheaper and about the same talent level. I agree on the floor as it will force the small market teams to spend. Owners will probably never go for this, but also making 29 1/2 or 6 years which ever is less be the threshold may be closer to fair for all sides. Believe the owners will not buy anything close to this, as I feel a cap with significant penalties is the only way to somewhat level the field. Say $200 million with a 50% tax on overage the first year 75% the second, and 100% on the third may be the only solution.

no to Wacha and Ottavino, Rest is OK, but would rather trade for a pitcher than sign Rodriguez. Would be ok with him other than the QO. Knebel is an undervalued pitcher I would like to have.

This also assumes we could extend one of the pitchers

Don't think this structure will work for Oakland. They will want more top prospects and less possible lottery tickets. they also have to field a major league team next year, missing most of their top 5. Try Larnach, Rooker, duran, Enlow. it may be an overpay, but probably closer to what Oakland could use.

I would also remove Dobnak and Garlick, hopefully they can be resigned as minor league options. A bad club may claim Dobnak, he is cheap starting pitching, but not the type you need to contend. I would rather sign 1 - 2 FA pitchers and use the other spot(s) for a revolving door for the 8 - 10 pitchers we have at AA and AAA, to see what we have before we have to trade them, or the roster crunch gets them next year.

I am hoping they add Dobnak to the DFA roster moves. Or have him stashed in St. Paul until needed. See little need for a small upside pitcher like him.

Just pay him, and hope he can play full time. He wants to be here.

From what I have seen he lost control of the locker room. That is not a good thing. It may carry over here. Bad choice

sorry, but both should be in

Rodriquez was tagged with a QO. That probably puts him out of our price range.

Rodriguez was issued a QO, that should finish the Twins. Also Ray. You may have to go big or go home.

Both should be, but there are a lot of great players on this ballot. I feel Kaat should certainly be in. If Don Sutton got in (good but not great, how can Kaat not be in) couple of the old players make this tough. Buck O'Neill is a certainty in my mind, and Lefty Grove should be in. Tough field, Maury Wills will probably be elected and in my mind should not be.

Radon is too risky for the Twins. You have to give the young pitchers a chance. I can see signing Pineda and the trade with Miami if you can resign Buxton

I am also concerned about Enlow. A lot of potential there. Vallimont is a high risk high reward player, don't expect the Twins to protect h, but he could be the next on the list of why didn't we protect him. There are others who need to be discussed in more depth, and I for one would like to see more of the AAAA types gone

I can see adding one better than Pineda type. At some point you have to see what the kids can do. Some will make it, some will fail or fail the first time, but before 2023 we have know what we have. If the model totally fails, then we need a new front office. I don't think it will

You are selling Kirlloff and Laurach very short. If they fail then we are looking for an outfielder.

One question for you people. How many strikeouts would Koufax have in modern era. For those who do not remember, who was the 4th starter for the Dodgers in the 1963 - 1965 era? It was Johnny Podres, the hero of the 1955 world series. This was also in the different mound days. They lowered the mound after Bob Gibson's 1968 season.

Part of the problem is the number of pitching prospects the Twins have. They must find out how many of them can stick. When you have the numbers the Twins have, my guess is that 2 - 3 will work out. That just leaves us with a need for a front line starter, unless you think the Twins farm system has that (it might). But if you are going to fill the holes with FA pitchers, how do you find out if any of the farm pitchers will work (and might be better)

I also prefer Knebel. Graveman is my second choice. We need one more good bullpen piece to help. And no to Colume.

I agree on two points, NL will probably have a DH. Twins have other options and players in the majors. We need to rotate them through the DH slot. We may also need the DH slot for Sano for about 1/2 the time.

A couple of issues here. I think you are correct on Miranda, assuming his bat will play here. As I hope the Twins sign buxton to an extension, you have more outfield prospects than positions. 1. Assumption Kirloff and Sano rotate between 1B and DH, with Kirloff in the outfield at times, this blocks up one position. And I would not give up on Sano this early, he could wind up being a game changer. Laurach is going to need a place to play unless he cannot cut it, too early to tell, but I doubt it. 2. By 2023 you are going to need a place for both Lewis and Martin. That to me would mean leaving Lewis at SS until other positions are sorted out. I like Martin (he like Arraez, can be a pest and put pressure on other teams, both by extending AB's, and running when be gets on). Will he hit enough, I am guessing yes. 3. That leaves you, with the Kepler issue. RIght now he does not have a lot of trade value, this all depends on buxton. If you extend Buxton, I would wait until late winter and see what he would bring. There is always going to be a cost controlled club (Miami, Tampa, Oakland, Cleveland), who would give you a pitcher if Kepler was packaged with another player. I can see this happening.

I think Rooker will be kept on the 40 man, and be optioned to St. Paul as a backup. Do not see the value here. I am much more interested in the pest hitters, then the 3 outcome types.

Pohlad's have always stepped up for a face of the franchise player. I hope they just pay Buxton. IF you trade him you might as well tear it down and rebuild. You have a lot of pitching coming in the next few years, so hopefully that will work like Cleveland and put the young player pieces in around this.

1. Extend Buxton. If we could get the base done (13 -15 million range), I would urge Jim Pohlad to step and and ok the incentives to make it work. I am guessing this may be up to 10 million a year. With Buxton's WAR return, this should be done. Second issue is that most articles I have read from links on other sites, want Buxton for decent but underwhelming returns, That would be a major mistake. 2. Donaldson will not bring enough back in a trade, and the Twins would have to eat a fair amount of money (10 - 15 million) to bring back much of anything or package him with another asset we would probably not like to lose. I see him staying here. 3. Much as I dislike it, we need pitching. That means sending either Garver or Jeffers with another asset or two, to acquire a mid level starter from either Oakland or Miami. There may be another club to deal with, I know Oakland does not need a catcher, but several clubs do. 4. As stated elsewhere Kepler has little value at this time, he will be here unless needed as a sweetner to make a deal for pitching happen. 5. I seem to value Arraez more than most, so will run with him for another year, unless bowled over with an offer. Let's start Catchers Probably Garver (Jeffers goes in the Miami deal) Rortvedt Possibly a pickup if FA for backup 1B/DH Sano/Kirloff 2B Polonco/ Arreaz SS FA/ Gordon 3B Donaldson, Miranda OF Buxton, Kepler, Laurach, Celstino or Rooker (other one in St. Paul to start) Starting Pitching Pickup in deal for a catcher(Hopefully one from Miami) Ober, Ryan, Pineda (resign), Winder (might as well use his bullets here) Relievers Rodgers, Alcala, Duffey, Minaya, Thielbar, Moran, Garza Jr. (maybe Cano, this group will change as the year goes on) Rest of 40 man one of Celstino or rooker, Balazovich, Duran, Jax or Garza, Jr, Strotman, may Dobnak (if not traded), Maeda, possibly Gant (but not sold on him as I believe he has to make the 26 or be lost). Adds enlow, Sands, Palacios, Severino That comes to 37 - 38 by my count and leaves several openings and possible room for other moves or a more major trade. If nothing changes there will be 2 more adds before the rule 5 and a lot of shuffling after. Feel this gives us our best chance for next year without sacrificing the future. Expect Duran or Balazovich to be up next year (possibly Cano or other relievers). This team should be competitive but would need a major starting pitching upgrade to take on the White Sox. I would look at Rodon as a possibility to sign as an FA (might not be as expensive and could be 2 - 4 year term. with fade in second half, might not be issued a QO from Chicago. Stroman of the Mets would be another candidate, but would be more money. Do not want any over 30 filler as this will just block spots from youngsters we need to look at next year. Several of you might disagree with the drops, I have decided to give Jax or Garza Jr. or Gant, to be a bulk pitcher in the long relief/mop role, with the chance it could become something bigger. They probably have 1/2 season to prove they belong before Duran, Balazovich, Sands and others start arriving. Maybe even Varland. I am not a great fan of using pitchers bullets in the minors when they could help the major league club. Let the fun begin.