hitterscount

I agree.... if a player is ready and has earned playing time at the MLB level because they are excelling in the minors then they should be brought up. I have wondered if keeping players in the minors to manipulate team control can actually hurt their confidence or put undue pressure on them once they are called up. Hell of a difference between big league accommodations and the minors and the pressure to perform to stay must be tremendous. If he is successful and there isn't room because the line-up is "stacked" then we have trade material somewhere for a true ace.

Totally agree it's do or die time for Kirloff. If he is injured again or underwhelms it is time to move on. The issue is there really isn't a good option to fall back on. Not thrilled with the thought of Gallo or Miranda as the everyday 1st base option.

The Correa deal falling into their laps has certainly changed the outlook of the team. I would think this line-up is strong enough to compete for the division. The keys, IMO, are Miranda and Kirloff, they need to step-up. Really like the Taylor acquisition. Unless a trade really upgrades the roster I would defer until the trade deadline. Many of our top prospects are in the 24-27 age range, it is getting close to the point that they can either play at the MLB level or time to move on and using some of them in trades. The only way to find out what you have is letting them play. The team should be solid enough that will allow a prospect or two get steady playing time.

If Rocco utilizes the starting rotation as he did last year there will never be enough bullpen arms.

Aside from Dobnak.. you almost have me sold! Someone mentioned Wes Johnson's surprising departure last year, would like to hear the real story.

If you are serious about contending you pull the deal for either one of them... preferably Gallen with the additional year of team control.

I believe Duran might be undervalued after watching Pagan blowing saves last year. Duran was, for the most part, lights out after taking over the closer role. I would argue if the switch was made after Pagans 3rd or 4th blown save that came by mid May they may have held on to win the Central. Duran may be #3 or 4 on my list.

This is a decent trade. Taylor is one of the better, if not the best, defensive center fielders in MLB. Buxton's injury history pretty much tells you that Taylor will be needed at some point. I will give up BA for a quality defensive CF. With that said, we could use one more quality bat. You know you're getting a .200 hitter in Gallo, not sure he is the best 1st base option if Kirloff falters. With the Arraez trade, other than Correa, I am not seeing anyone that is getting on base consistently. It seems like we are going with the hitting approach of HR or bust. Kind of miss the Gardenhire days of advancing runners and small balling them into submission.

Did we really need another infield prospect? I have no issues trading Arreaz, it's a business, but if the goal was to land a top quality/ace type arm than we probably missed the mark with Lopez. I would have demanded Cabrea or Luzardo in return and if another prospect on our end was needed so be it, The goal was to land an ace or high end 2 starter that can stop losing streaks or a win playoff game or two, not sure we accomplished that while giving up the one player that is constantly on base. If the Marlins were unwilling to part with either one of those two I would have walked.

Twins had several shortcomings last year and their defense was one of them. Moving Farmer doesn't help/address that issue. While he can't hit, Gallo should help the OF defensively. You can probably plan on Buxton playing CF around 50% of the games. IMO, Buxton's health is the key to the season. If he could exceed expectations and play CF 100-120 games and remain healthy if they made the playoffs, then another RH OF wouldn't be quite as big of a concern, at least not as big as adding a quality starter. Moving Farmer to the OF to offset Buxton being unavailable is not a great fallback plan. Then again it might be the only one they have. Related to the defense topic, did I miss something last year,... I was not impressed with Arraez's defense at 1st. In spring training I would get Miranda as much time as possible at 1st and let Farmer handle 3rd base duties.

Don't believe the 91 team was much better. In each of those WS they lost every road game and were fortunate to have 4 home games. Those were two of the best WS ever played.... the Metrodome was rocking!!

It should come down to what helps the team this year and in the long run, Arraez and a couple of minor league players for a front-line starter is a trade you probably need to make. However, I agree 100% that pitcher is not named Pablo Lopez.... that trade would offset any progress the FO made in winning back some fans after having Correa land in their laps.

It’s a start. Now fix the outfield, add a first baseman and a quality starter and maybe , just maybe they can compete for the division.

This shouldn’t even be a consideration, the man is toxic and his actions after and during his suspension show what a POS he is. I don’t think enough emphasis is placed on having a clubhouse that truly gets along and roots for each other. I have no knowledge of this, but maybe it hasn’t been the best the past few years? You look at the World Series teams and they had it… unfortunately that’s been 3 decades ago.

Looks like the article has touched a nerve with many. I feel it's fair to question the direction this organization is heading. No doubt owners are not a charity and are in this to make a profit. But us as fans show up to and watch the games based on the product placed before us. The current plan is really hard to get excited about. What is this teams strength(s) as of today? They are relying on position players that have had 2-3 years or more of injury issues to suddenly get healthy and have career years. They low ball Correa who was a priority and pivot to a 1-year contract with a guy with a career .avg of ,199 The organization has a history of dumpster diving to fill out the rotation., signing some really bad arms. Many of them based on 1-year contracts. Watching Happ, Shoemaker, Bundy, Archer. etc... getting shelled start after start is kind of, well not fun. My point is what the hell is the plan? What has the FO done that brings some hope. What moves have been made that leads us to believe that we can compete for a playoff spot? What makes me think if we were to reach the playoffs that there is enough talent not to be swept for the umpteenth time? I would love to see a plan that makes this team fun to watch... even if there are some growing pains. The Cardinals and Rays can do it in smaller markets, just have not witnessed it here.

I don't agree with the current plan or the last 4-5 plans... if you can call them plans.

I really know nothing about Ortega but this seems like another power move by the FO. If this guy is a quality reliever I find it hard to believe he would have sat on the waiver wire since December 22nd. It's been my observation that relievers with ERA,s around 4.00 are not very reliable. Don't think we get much better with this signing.

If he wanted to play here, he would already be here. After the excitement of joining the team last year has faded, along with the FO really having no plan on how to proceed after, this story is really getting old and not productive in any manner

This would be another exciting game changing move by the FO, right along the lines of the Gallo signing. I honestly don't understand what their plan is with the OF. At this point unless trades are made that really move the needle go with the younger players and see what they can do. Most of the top prospects are old enough to either sink or swim. It's time to see if Kirloff, Larnach Miranda, Lewis, Wallner and some of the pitchers are going to be impactful, The season is shaping up to be another bust so might as well go all in.

The roster as it stands is filled with holes. If they were in any division other than the AL Central they would finish at or near the bottom. The FO did nothing to improve the OF. If you are counting on Buxton and Kirloff to be healthy and have big years the odds and past history will say you are going to be disappointed. The Gallo signing was a joke. The Brewers traded Renfroe who would have been a perfect fit and would be an immediate upgrade over either Kepler or Gallo, plus a much needed RH bat. The OF as of today is concerning. The INF, not much better. I think trading Urshela was a bad decision. I have no problem with Miranda playing 3rd if they received something of value for that trade, which they didn't. Is Farmer really the answer at SS? 2nd they are alright, but I would look at trading either Polanco or Arraez, who IMO are the teams best trading pieces. What is the plan at 1st... Arraez again, Kirloff.. either way one is not a 1st caliber player and the other has injury issues. And who is the DH.. assuming Buxton slots there a lot when he can play... but that leaves a hole in CF. Catcher they should be alright at. The SP is what it is... hoping Ryan takes a leap this year and is a little more consistent. The biggest question is how the manager utilizes them again. The 5 inning or three times threw the line-up rule destroyed the BP last years. BP could be decent. Colome in 2021 and Pagan last year were just morale killers... you can only blow so many games before it just kills any momentum. The manager failed to adjust and go another route letting the two of them blow game after game. Wow this is really a pessimistic view of the team... someone mentioned earlier, they need to go the Atlanta route and identify key young pieces and extend their contracts while still under team control and build around them. Who those pieces are is the issue.

They need a lot more than three players to step up... if they pick up where they left off last season they pretty much need the entire team to step up. I was also surprised that they were so quick to bring Baldelli back, not many starters were happy with the quick hook that he utilized which most likely led to the BP failures, oh and the willingness to keep watching Pagan blow save after save when they had a legit closer all along.

We are more than a quality SS away from being competitive. Just a bad look for our genius's running the team hoping that most fans are naïve enough to believe that they are trying to field a quality team. I despise the big market teams that attempt to buy a championship and love watching the likes of the Dodgers, Yankees , Mets choke annually. There is no doubt smaller market teams are at a disadvantage, but well run organizations can compete... unfortunately it's not the Twins. Look no further than St. Louis similar size city and market and they have fielded competitive teams for the most part for the last 30 years. But that takes competent long and short term planning and a commitment from the owners. Not happening here.

It's quantity over quality as far as the OF goes. When healthy Buxton is really good.... the problem, he is never healthy and might give you 40 -100 games. When talking trades I am surprised that Polanco isn't brought up. There has to be some value there and they have a logical choice to plug in with Arraez . The Arraez experiment at 1st was, IMO, a fail. Trading Urshela made no sense. Freeing up $$ when the FO knew they had zero chance at signing Correa shows how incompetent they are when you look at the return. Looking at this roster it is difficult to see a team that even gets close to .500. The OF is a mess, The IF is a disaster and our starting pitching has one reliable arm in Ryan... everyone else has injury concerns. There is nothing to get excited about. We made it to last June before the wheels came off and as it stands today the balloon has been deflated before spring training even begins.

The Gallo signing is a joke. The OF didn't get better with this move. Rumors are now really heating up that they are looking to trade Kepler, which I was alright with, but brining in Gallo... why. Kepler is a better player so this makes zero sense which is why it does, the FO is inept. Take the 11 million along with the 50 million you are looking to spend and try and extend Ryan, Mahle or Gray to stabilize the starting rotation. How about extending contracts to some of the good arms in the bullpen instead of blowing money on a .199 career hitter that strikes out nearly 50% of his at bats. The OF was horrible heading into spring training and may even be worse today. The genius GM's are either incompetent or their hands are tied by the owners...either way 2023 is shaping up to be a disaster. Than they wonder why enthusiasm and attendance is near rock bottom for this team.. look no furtehr than your off season moves.

This team as stands is a dumpster fire. There was zero chance CC was signing with a club that finished the season like they did. Going from first place in late June to completely free falling wasn't on him. No one stepped up to right the sinking ship. We have been played once again by the front office while taking their word that they are/were looking to to spend money to try and field a competitive team... clue they weren't and most likely knew their offer to CC wasn't going to get it done. What is this teams strength? OF is really bad, No true 1st base experience, Kirloff? Always hurt. 3rd base was traded away for an unproven player...SS a joke, 2nd base, Polanco struggled in 2002 at the plate and to stay healthy. Starting rotation, we saw how they fared the last two months of the season. BP could be decent and most likely the strength of the team. And a manager that the players weren't happy with in how he used them. Optimistically a 65-70 win team.