beckmt

As has been stated before there was a long thread on how the Bryon Buxton September callup was handled. This is to be a different look with regards to damage to the long term franchise. 1. Case 1 Texas and Profar. Texas did a service time saving manipulation of Profar's time. This worked out very badly for Texas. (Side note Profar's agent is Boras so not all of this may be relevant). The long term result was that went after 2017 or 2018 when Texas tried to get an extension with Profar, the Texas front office was told not to bother without paying market rate or above market rate (my guess based on what happened here). This led to the trade of Profar to the A's for not what I would consider a market rate deal for Texas. Profar is in the same category as Buxton as he was rated in the top 5 prospect list for 2 years running at one time. Without the extension given Texas's time line they were forced to take what they could get (given Profar would be a free agent before Texas became relevant again). How does this affect Buxton? The Twins do not look as if they are actively planning to compete without a bit of the luck factor in 2019. There are two possible outcomes here: Buxton plays OK this year breaks out next year and hits his maximum trade value about the time the Twins expect to become relevant (2020 - 2024). Twins are then faced with the issue of (do you trade a potential superstar when you are ready to compete or do you hold on to compete and lose Buxton in 2 years for a compensation draft pick). Then there is the issue of the FO talking about sustainability. That would mean looking at trading Buxton at this time when the best Twins talent is years is arriving and creating issues in the clubhouse and ongoing for the Twins keeping players who could be the face of the franchise. Kyle Gibson (the union rep), has already weighed in by commenting he thought Buxton should have been brought up. This leads to 2 more issues: 1. Having problems with keeping players who are getting good or watching them walk after 6 years. Or being forced to trade them (issue with this is you are dealing with other GM's who on the free spending teams will give you a number of their lessor 4 - 15 type prospects, but put there top prospects off limits in deals like this). This rational being that in 1 - 2 years they could sign them without giving up prospects. 2. Team reputation: Unless you pay more money than anyone else will offer, you will not get good FA's to come here. This leaves you with taking chances or having to sign players with warts (bad clubhouse personalites, lack of hustle, and me first types). You will never win big with these types. Option 2: If you want to play hardball and Buxton plays into your hands by having a bad spring you could send him to Rochester and leave him for the year. If you as the FO are convinced he is not going to stay here, this might be the winning option. It will now align Buxton with the new upcoming core and you could get 2 - 3 years from Buxton when the Twins might be really good. Downside: There is this pesky thing called the CBA, this would certainly be noted by the union (especially if Buxton did well in Rochester and was not called up). It would certainly complicate things and might lead to the union holding out for shortened club control be free agency as small and mid market clubs would take note and try to group talent into possible windows. Extreme case is that it might be litigated based on deliberate manipulations with the goal of bringing all sports into a much changed employee - employer relationship (this might be done by dissolving the sports unions). 2. The Kris Bryant - Chicago Cubs case. This is more of the common case where the Cubs sent Bryant down at the start of the season to gain an extra year of control over him (even though Kris Bryant was clearly major league ready). What this has done to the Cubs is that there is almost no chance he will resign with the Cubs unless they offer more than any other club. Cubs might, but are not guaranteed to do that. Or the relationship may be so far south Cubs would have to do a big overpay to keep him. Where does thing affect Buxton? 1. It means that the union will almost certainly want changes to the CBA in this area. This could be a big sticking point (if the union decides to exist). This could lead to a nasty strike(which might last for a long time into the season before being settled), or major changes to the length of team control (most of which I have seen is about 4 years). This would in the long run kill the small market teams from being competitive for any length or period of time). 2. Buxton could develop a bad or me first attitude (this would be very bad for clubhouse chemistry) and could try and force his way out early than the Twins would want.

And you are also assuming that DiPoto is an idiot.

Around .300 OBP and about a 35% strikeout rate. Interesting, but a big gamble for giving up things.

1.) Where are you from? Around the Twins Cities area, started in SLP and spent a good number of years in Eden Prairie. Now between northern suburbs of the Twins Cities and Clearwater, FL (wife can no longer spend winters in Minnesota). 2.) Age Range? 71 3.) What brought you to Twins Daily? blind luck I guess 4.) Highest level of baseball/softball played? small high school so I tried, was not very good, played some softball for a few years in my 20's (Was much better at other things). 5.) Favorite Twins Player, and favorite underappreciated Twins player, and if you want, favorite current Twins player? Rosario, loved Killebrew, unappreciated Bill Campbell for a few years. 6.) Favorite non-Twins Daily site/authors? science fiction fan various authors. David Drake, David Weber, Brandon Sanderson mainly at this time. 7.) Favorite Twitter follows? Have account, do not use. 8.) Other interests outside of baseball. tournament bridge (I am pretty good), also do some gaming, played a lot of stratomatic baseball for about 35 seasons (yes there are a couple of leagues in the twin cities). Also like music (folk rock to 80's mainly). 9.) Favorite part of Twins Daily... lot of the comments on the Twins, also appreciate the minor league section. 10.) Tell us what we can do better. What features or other topics would you like to see in-season or out of season? More on prospects out of season. 11.) Have you been to any of the Twins Daily "events?" No just never at the right time.

May be able to see the Zombies here (I winter in Florida) in February. At least Colin Bluetooth and Rod Argent are still in the group. A lot of groups have no one left.

Assuming the outfielder you sign is close to what Kepler produces (which I believe is over 2 WAR).

Mariners trade Ben Gamel to the Brewers for Domingo Santana. Noah Zavolas also goes to the Brewers, per MLBtraderumors.

Puig and Kemp are one year contracts, Wood may also be. Reds look like they want to start being a player in the Central. Starting to look like a very tough division.

This could be a bad deal for the Dodgers if they do not sign either Machaho or Harper. Both Puig and Wood are very useful players.

Also mlbtraderumors are expecting Bailey to be waived after the deal is done.

Yes, But Bailey according to MLBtraderumors is only 18.5 for tax purposes. Still thinking they are changing both club house chemistry and giving Harper a place to land where he could well win a ring.

According to MLbtraderumors and Yahoo sports. Profar has been traded to the A's in a 7 player 3 team deal including Texas and Tampa Bay. International bonus money is also involved.

I would prefer to be picking from the top or at least the middle of the barrel. Not the bottom were it looks like we are heading now.

I think most of us posters are concerned with the lack of signings. Maybe the Twins budget is lower than any of us thought. I am now looking at a payroll under 100 million and the start of erosion of the Twins faithful turning to not caring and not filling seats at the park.

I think the infield will be closer to average defensivly than you think. Schoop is a quality defender and Polanco at SS and Cron a 1b are around average. Sano is a little below, but not enough to say it is a black hole, like the Yankees with Adjuhar and a few others. I do feel like you this club is closer to feast or famine, that is not good, since most times with this lineup a quality starter will be able to shut them down. We are all waiting for money to be spent, but do not think it will be this year.

The problem is here that Gibson will be for 4 years, do you want his age 34 - 35 year contracts. I do not. Oderizzi is 28 and 3 years will get him to 31. That for me is doable. We shall see.

According to MLBtraderumors the Angels are also signing Trevor Cahill, around 1 year 9 Million dollars.

This is out of the box, but a good thought. Depends on price, but I can see being onboard with this and the idea if Gibson has a good year, you can QO him.

Your total of 16+ War is based on Sano and Buxton having the worst year anyone could have thought of. Improvement from those 2, plus improvement from the rest of the team could easily bring us to at least 24 and quite possibly much higher. This is the SSS that everyone talks about. Last year was the perfect storm, if you assume this number is the skill level, then your base point should be a total cleanout of the Twins office and a start over from scratch. This would be almost unheard of in baseball. (I mean firing the FO, most of the analytical department, about 1/2 the scouts and almost all of the minor league managers and coaches for not knowing their jobs).

If you are of the mindset that seeing what you have is a good policy, I get that. I also get the division is possible to take with bold moves. However, you have been giving the Sox the feeling that you are not going to make the moves, so they have started to. They have the better ranked farm system, so multiple bold moves to jump ahead of you this year, may make it almost impossible to catch up later without catching lightning in a bottle, and all but guaranteeing that your young core moves on in a couple of years without overpays to keep them. Baseball has changed, the names have changed for the Twins, but still see the same mindset in the FO, which is quickly becoming the past.

I am not only looking at last year, but the entire body of work. Do not want to pay for one good year (read Phil Hughes), and have him decline after last year. If he has another good year, maybe we pay him (I would just issue a QO). Twins do not seem to be in the position of paying for bad production.

Doubt he should cost as much as Reed. Maybe a 1/$7 million to rebuild value.

According to MLBtraderumors, he also meets with the Yankees on Wednesday.

Any bets Machado does not make it to his Phillies meeting on Thursday.

There are some of us on this board who do not want him after 2019. If you want him give him a QO, less of a risk and he might take the money. He has 2 bad years for every good.