beckmt

Interesting set of concepts as I also value OBP and long at bats. However unless you field 9 players with those skills (an interesting concept to chew up opposing pitching staffs), one or two of those type of players will not move the needle. Will see and hope the Twins make some trades today, but do not see much movement from them. Grossman is the only Twins player I can see nontendering. Oderizzi would cost as much or more to replace with someone that is as good, and would also tell me the Twins are going the evaluation route in 2019. Hope the Twins use some of the minor league depth (on one minor league list they had 21 B- or better players in their system), most teams do not get to 10. Let's see some deals and at the end of the day will have a better picture of where the Twins are going. Twins need to clear room on the 40 man and move some players not going to be here in 2020 for more controllable assets, so if some of these possible nontenders would be shipped out, would not cause a great deal of pain here.

Given the White Sox are about 2 years away (and about the same number of question marks, but with more money than the Twins are willing to spend), Twins need to be creative here. I can understand the viewpoint (though not agree with it), that the Twins need to figure out where Buxton and Sano are going to fit (are they a piece ongoing or will they never make it here to the extent the Twins need them to), before committing a lot of resources to 2019. I disagree with this approach because I think the division is reachable with the correct application of resources this year. As of last night the Indians are most likely shipping off Kluber in return for some position player help(rumor has it to the Dodgers). This still leaves Cleveland with a very good starting rotation (and a very bad bullpen). Maybe you can take a shot at Addison Russell (who has baggage, but is a very buy low or nontender candidate in Chicago). Then sign a couple of decent relievers (Herrera and one of Miller, Famila,Britton ) who might not command super multiyear contracts. I would certainly try and sign one of the top end starters also, and maybe call it good. This would still keep payroll within reason and give the Twins a chance to evaluate and either buy or sell at the deadline. Next I would try and extend Rosario and Berrios (doubt you could get either Sano or Buxton to agree to a multiyear deal since their reps would feel like this is selling low). I would not commit resources to try to extend any starters (maybe Pineda if he looks decent early in the year, or you could extend a QO to either Pineda or Gibson if necessary after the year). But expend enough resources to make an effort to make the playoffs and win the division, then see at midyear what you need and what holes you have and go from there. Please this is our time, at least make a big push to win the division as a starting point.

I feel Twins cannot carry both Astadillo and Grossman on this bench. I much favor Astadillo so if Twins do not tender Grossman will understand (and agree) with the direction. Twins have younger, cheaper options than Grossman.

I think you have 2 issues here. Most of the 2000's Twins drafted in the 20s. You will have a lot more misses in the high teens to 20's than in the top 5. There are going to be misses, just hope there are not too many. Some of these are why Twins metrics have changed in the new regime. Arraez needs to be given a chance this year and see if he can produce at the major league level. Really feel strongly about this if you are not moving a lot of chips into the table to see if you can win at least a division this year. Gordon does not look ready and Wade still needs at least part of a year at AAA before we bring he up (if Buxton totally becomes a failure this year). By the end of this year Twins should know what holes they need to fill to get to the next level. But I am hoping they play to win this year and push some assets into fixing the holes they feel they have this winter.

What you're missing is that his velocity is down, He is more like a #2 or #3 now not a number 1. Could he recover, maybe, but are you willing to risk resources needed to get him for 1 year. If the Giants want significant resources, what are you planning to send them in return. Would not gut the farm system for a one year rental. I could think of a few trades if the Giants want salary relief and some near major league pieces (Cave, Gonsalves or Littell, with maybe another lottery ticket). And there are posters on this board who might think this is too much. Might be different if we could work an extension before trading for him (really doubt this). So would take a hard pass on this.

One other note, I believe far more in Stewarts stuff than Gonsalves. I also believe we will see some trades in the next week (will be very disappointed if not). It is time the Twins turned some of their minor league depth into viable major league players from some of the clubs who are not planning to contend for a few years.

Do not like this, but is probably what will happen. They will see if Sano and Buxton rebound first and then make additions in mid season if warrented. Expect to add 2 - 3 relievers and maybe a second baseman and call it good for now.

Nice article Nick. Like the love for Astudillo, he could turn into something special. Twins do need versatile players, and also players who could fill in if another player does not perform as needed.

was disappointed with the Donaldson signing. Twins have the money this year to play in the big one year contract area. Do not know if Donaldson was worth the money, but taking the chance says volumes. American League Central is weak this year Twins should take the chance to grab it (without ruining the future). This is the correct type of move. Remember the White Sox have a top 3 farm system and the money to spent (starting this year or next). Do not want the Twins to become second banana in a weak division. Twins need to excite the fan base, this would be the type of move to help.

Easy problem to solve. If his velocity is back, he will be a valued member of the bullpen, if not he is an early season DFA candidate, if he is unable to work with lesser velocity.

I stand by my comment. Thor is an ace and they do not come with three years control very often. Sano + Romero + a third piece or Sano + Gordon + Cave might tempt them enough to do the deal. You need aces to advance in the playoffs. Let's start here. Twins to get to the next level must take the risk. High risk could very well equal high reward. We could get burned on Sano, that is the risk, but do not view other two suggested pieces and non replaceable.

I think the keyword that has been used is sustainable. Twins are a lot farther than 1 - 3 players away. To get where some of you want to go would just totally empty the farm system. You might get 2 - 3 playoff chances, but Twins are a long way from Boston and the Astros. Play for the division this year might be done without significant loss of the farm system. But to get a team to the level of Boston or Houston will take a lot more than that. (Unless you are assuming that Pohlad would agree to a $170 million payroll), and trading significant farm system assets. I suggested in another thread what I would do for Thor (your ace) and money can be spent on the pen a replacements for traded major league assets. To get much further than that would take significant farm system capital and that would not come close to guaranting more than a 2 - 3 year window with no guarantee of success.

I know the feelings, but Mets will get way more than this from some club. (Houston, NY, maybe the Cubs if they are willing to take Russell). I might take the gamble and send them Sano (and then make sure I signed Donaldson for a couple to 3 years). Sano + Romero + a lottery ticket is where I would be looking.

His minor league stats are good, but doubt any team will want to waste money to stash him. Just trading areas of need, or minor league infielders in the Twins case.

Agree Twins are going to lose people. Might as well get something for a few of them.

Would depend on how much Arizona wants for Goldschmidt. Certainly worth checking in, but depends on how much we have to send and how much salary the Twins take.

Glad to see they protected Arraez. Maybe their is stuff we don't know coming down (like trading Gordon).

Problem is for mid and small market teams, the window is much tighter. Big market teams can spend their way through problems, if they do not create so many payroll issues to be in luxury tax hell. Rest of the teams have to work hard, develop their players and get creative and lucky in roster makeup.

As I read it, it would have been like Gastrol, Gonsalves (or like piece (Stewart)), +. That would have been too high for me.

As far as the pitchers go, Twins keep Busneitz, Duffey, and Curtiss on their roster at this time. That speaks volumes to the FO pecking order. FYI, I expect none of the 3 above to be on the roster come February.

Seth, I thought Arraez was a decent fielder, though more of a 2B only. Maybe you can correct me on this, but he seems to have the ability to be a starter (doubt he his much of a utility type at this point), but his hit tool could be a .280 - .310 hitter. He would not draw many walks (though feel this is improvable). That still to me is a keepable player.

I would add all three of the players and maybe let one player DFA (Granite or Curtiss or Buesnitz). Duffey and some of the rest can be DFA'ed as we add players this winter.

According to MLbtraderumors, the Yankees and Mariners have annouced a trade with James Paxton going to New York and Justus Sheffield and two other minor leaguers going to the Mariners. This seems to set up that only about 7 teams intend to compete next year with all the rest in reset or rebuild mode. Good news is that the Yankees will probably only sign one more starter, so some ot the competiton will be less, bad news is that the Yankees will be a very good to great ballclub next year. This seems to be more of a reset for Seattle to line up a run a couple of years later. Final analysis will depend on Paxton's health over the next two years and whether Justus Sheffield is as good as advertised. Interesting first piece to the offseason.

I think that May, Rodgers and A Reed are the givens, unless Reed is so bad in spring training he is released. Hildenberger will have to earn a spot, and I hope Twins find a better lefty than Moya. Mejia and others should be packaged to bring back a better asset (either bullpen or starter). There are better relievers wasting away on rebuilding clubs that twins should be able to make an offer on. Otherwise buy them on the FA market and rotate the rest(if possible).

This is an interesting set of hires. I do think the main issue here is can they communicate and teach. Players are getting younger (as they will with the steroid era over). Most major league players will be done between age 32 and age 34. You will be dealing with younger players and need to teach them at the major league level to survive. This is what bothered me the last 10 -15 years with the Twins, other clubs would have their top prospects come up and succeed very quickly, the Twins top prospects would struggle for a few years before putting it together (if they did). So maybe the analysis was to blow the whole thing up. We shall see, but this will take another 2 - 4 years to have measurable results.