TopGunn#22

You pick up the options for Kepler and Polanco because they are a good "value" at about $10 million for what they provide. You trade them to get something you need/value MORE than what they could possibly provide to you. The youth movement went well last season. I think the plan was to continue it this year. I'm frustrated that the Twins seem to be on the verge of building a very competitive ballclub, but it is what it is. The outfielder I prefer from Milwaukee is Garrett Mitchell. He had some injury problems last year, but his offensive ceiling is higher. The Brewers are overstocked with young OF prospects and potential 19-year old A.L. Rookie of the Year candidate Jackson Chourio is signing an 8-year, $80 million dollar contract. He played (and played well) last year, and reached AAA. With that contract, he's breaking camp with the Brewers. Milwaukee doesn't need Kepler because of all the OF depth they have. They do need a 2B. Polanco isn't enough to get Burnes. He could probably get Mitchell in a straight up 1 for 1 deal. Julien WOULD probably be enough to get Burnes unless a team like the Dodgers offered a couple of young pitchers that are major league ready. If the Twins do in fact acquire Burnes, they absolutely have to be willing to extend him like they did Lopez. But at 28 years old, if Burnes wants 10-years, $250 million, I don't think that's wise. You'll be paying him at age 36, 37 and 38. If you could get him at 5-years and $150 million I'd do it. The problem is that someone else will probably be foolish enough to offer 10 years. Depending on who the Twins are willing to give up, I think Miami and Seattle are better options. But the FO should be willing to talk to practically anybody and open to any trade that makes the team better in both the short and long term.

That's interesting Fatbat. Even with Alcantara set to miss all of 2024 I have them with: Luzardo, Perez, Garrett, Rogers, Cabrera, Max Meyer, Sixto Sanchez and Ryan Weathers. That's 8 guys who enter the 2024 season healthy and who could be SP. The first six are as good as anybody with the exception of Seattle. The Twins M.O. has always been to wait out the FA market. I think their primary focus is on a trade. They want to move payroll (Polanco, Kepler, Vasquez, Farmer) and these four guys have value to the right teams. I just hope that a Giolito or Bauer is still available when they tale the FA plunge. Wacha or Miley might be as well. The entire FA landscape is waiting on the Shohei Ohtani situation. He's such a guaranteed box office that whoever signs him is looking at sellout after sellout. Everyone thinks he'll go to the Dodgers, and he very likely will. But consider this: Whoever signs him gets a DH only for the first year of the contract. Assume he gets 10 years and $500 million ($50 million per year). That's practically enough to add Yamamoto and Blake Snell to a rotation. And a team like the Dodgers needs at least two big impact free agent SP. So he's a DH only for the first year. When he's theoretically ready to pitch in 2025 how many of those remaining 9 seasons will he pitch AND hit? I don't think it's more than 4. When a team acquires Ohtani they must re-set their pitching staff to a 6-man rotation. The Angels did this, yet Ohtani still needs Tommy-John surgery. That's why I think he only pitches 4 or 5 of the 10 year contract. He's a wonderfully talented player, but with him comes challenges with how you handle him and how that affects the rest of the team. Lots of teams use the DH as a way to rotate players in to give them a pseudo day off. It would help immensely if Ohtani played a corner OF position, and maybe that will happen once he's done pitching. But it's a challenge. The team that I think he fits best with is the Mariners. But they just announced they wouldn't be in the sweepstakes. But Seattle has plenty of pitchers, even if they traded one, to have not just the best rotation in all of baseball but the best SIX-man rotation. Castillo, Kirby, Gilbert, R. Ray, Woo, Miller plus Marco Gonzalez. What the Mariners need more than anything is HITTING. But 'OH" can OHTANI HIT ! (pun intended). And the Mariners have enough young, affordable pitching (Kirby, Gilbert, Woo, Miller) that they could make it work for a few years. It just makes too much sense for the Mariners, and even if both Yamamoto and hometown kid Blake Snell have stated their desire they would like to pitch for Seattle, they can't hit like Ohtani and the Mariners need offense. It's why we as Twins fans cling to the hope that we could trade Polanco, Kepler, Miranda, Julien, Lee, whatever, to Seattle to get one of their pitchers. The only other thing I could see is Seattle signing one of Yamamoto or Snell and make a trade with the Padres for Soto. They have their big bat (they sign him to an extension to keep him in Seattle) and their pitching staff is loaded for years to come. In any scenario this requires Seattle to spend BIG. But I think they can make it work and could be a very tough team team for years to come. Remember, this was a team with A-Rod, Griffey Jr, and Randy Johnson (and Edgar Martinez as well). Their fans, even though there have been some lean years, are accustomed to Star Power.

Stroman made a mistake by opting out of the final year of his Cubs deal. I know the money for pitching is always insane, Heck, I can't believe Maeda got what he did, but I also do not think Stroman is a good fit. I'd much rather take a chance on Giolito or Bauer, guys that can strike people out and stack innings. The biggest addition is going to come via a trade but at least one other addition will come in the form of a FA signing. It just depends on how penurious the Twins turn out being. They've got to come up with a CF option. I had proposed a trade with St. Louis on BBTV that sent Connor Prielipp away for Tyler O'Neill. I see an O'Neill, Dylan Carlson, maybe a Garrett Mitchell from the Brewers or something like a FA signing of Adam Duval and/or Nick Senzel helping fill the CF problem. Castro will also be a factor. I wish I had a better idea of what the Twins think of Austin Martin as a CF. But before any of that happens the first shoe must drop on a Twins SP acquisition, either by trade or FA.

A story out of theheavy.com says Blake Snell desperately wants to pitch for his hometown Seattle Mariners. Seattle already has a TON of SP so if they were to sign Snell they could easily trade TWO SP !! Snell, Castillo, Kirby, Gilbert, R. Ray, Woo, Miller, and Marco Gonzalez. That's EIGHT SP. But Seattle would want a bat that would instantly make their lineup better. A Brooks Lee type of prospect just isn't that guy right now. Even with some of the young hitters the Reds have, none of those young guys--De La Cruz, Steer, CES, Benson, McClain, Noveli Marte, Friedl, just aren't there yet either. I could see Seattle parting with a young pitcher for Juan Soto, playing a season with Soto hitting 3rd their lineup and then seeing how the season goes and if Soto would agree to a fat extension to remain in Seattle.

This is an interesting proposition. I'm in the camp that says "Keep Lee." I think he'll be very good. But let me play devils advocate here for a moment. This post rightfully points out that while Lee has been "solid" at every level of the minors he's been in he has not had a season where he just "popped." A Miranda type St. Paul season as an example. This is a valid point. As always it depends what's coming back in the deal. So let's look at a possible deal I just posted on BBTV. The trade site just updated all their rankings and it's interesting. There was one rating that blew me away: The Marlins saw the value for their 28 y/o former Cy Young Ace Sandy Alcantara fall from 15.3 to a NEGATIVE 39.1. I'm stunned. It has to be due to his poor performance in 2023 after his Cy Young 2022. His contract is also $56 million for the next 5 years with 2024 being $9.3 million. Luzardo, Perez and Braxton Garrett each rocketed past him in the Marlins rotation pecking order and they still have Trevor Rogers, Max Meyer and Edward Cabrera under contract for peanuts. Not to mention Sixto Sanchez and Ryan Weathers. But the trade I proposed on BBTV is this: Twins 00 NAME AGE LEVEL P1 P2 AVAILABILITY YEARS AFV SALARY SURPLUS LOW MEDIAN HIGH Bryce Miller 25 Majors SP 6 56.5 30.5 25.9 20.7 25.9 31.1 Bryan Woo 23 Majors SP 6 53.4 25.1 28.2 22.6 28.2 33.9 Total Value: 54.10 Mariners 00 NAME AGE LEVEL P1 P2 AVAILABILITY YEARS AFV SALARY SURPLUS LOW MEDIAN HIGH Trevor Larnach 27 Majors OF Low 4 9.2 5.6 3.6 2.9 3.6 4.3 Caleb Thielbar 36 Majors RP Medium 1 6.6 3 3.6 2.8 3.6 4.3 Brooks Lee 22 Minors SS 0 0 0 48.1 38.5 48.1 57.7 Total Value: 55.30 In this trade Lee is the centerpiece with a couple of extra pieces of value to a team like the Mariners. The Mariners have enough depth in their rotation to give up BOTH of these young pitchers. They would install Lee at 2B right away. The other option is you include Polanco and keep Larnach and Thielbar. But the Twins, in a deal like this ride with Julien at 2B and have a rotation that now boasts: Lopez, Bryce Miller, Bryan Woo, Joe Ryan, Ober, Paddack. Varland is now the master of the 8th inning and the Twins have ZERO rotation worries for the next 5-years which is their window. This illustrates what the Twins could accomplish with a bold trade where they sell high on an asset but get 2 outstanding, young pitchers back. the Values of Woo and Miller actually ticked up from the last time I was on BBTV. Submit a Comment Posting as: 0 TonyO6 SUBMIT NEWSLETTER? SURE, SIGN ME UP! SUBMIT TRADE SIMULATOR TRADE BOARDS PLAYERS Player Value Timelines Player Rankings TEAMS Team Totals Team Rankings ARTICLES PODCASTS SHOP ABOUT History Background Valuing Major Leaguers Valuing Minor Leaguers Contact baseballtradevalues@gmail.com © 2023 Invisibleinkwell Productions LLC. All Rights Reserved Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Twins & Mariners: Baseball Trade Values

Well Done !!!

This is good news. Big Provus fan. As a guy with some play-by-play experience the observations of Atteberry are spot on. I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt to improve now that he's got the gig. I always felt that Atteberry was consciously "auditioning" for the radio gig whenever he got a chance. Maybe he relaxes a little now.

Chapman may still have some ability. I'm not as concerned about "good teammates" as you are Cory. It's a factor, but not primary to me. If he does his job at a high level it won't matter much with good leaders like Correa and even the young Royce Lewis. That's why I wouldn't be against signing Trevor Bauer. I think he can still pitch and I'd bet the price is right. Same with A. Chapman, could I sign him for less than the $2.9 million we're paying Thielbar? I doubt it, and that's why I'm open to trading Thielbar. 2024 will be Caleb's age 37 season. Everyone else in our pen is 33% the cost of him. He's breaking down. Give young guns a shot at the bullpen. A vet like Josh Hader or Devin Williams, there's no denying talent like THAT. But Thielbar's are a dime a dozen in MLB.

I agree Brock. It's not as if the Twins will go the entire 2024 season with zero TV or broadcasting revenue. They'll have some, maybe a lot. If this was a team that just finished 3rd in the division that had 3 promising rookies but wasn't close to contending, I'd understand this "SELF IMPOSED PAYROLL CONSTRAINT." But we're talking about a division champion who finally got the winless playoff monkey off their back. They really have a 5-year window where they could rule the division. But the other teams of the A.L. Central aren't just going to give the division to the Twins. The ballclub needs to improve each year. I see a trade for a SP first. They will probably use a Polanco or Kepler to acquire this pitcher and cut some payroll in the process. Who in free agency they have their sights on is anybody's guess. Luis Severino just signed with the Mets for one-year $13 million. Severino has a better track record than Montas but he also pitched for better teams. He's still a bit fragile which makes me lean more toward Giolito and gamble on the bounce back or take a chance on Trevor Bauer, who is healthy, can eat innings and if he has his velo and stuff back, like it appeared he did in Japan could be a one or two year option. Bauer is not "young" and I would prefer someone younger. I'm not afraid of the clubhouse with a vet like Correa around. But he could be an cost effective and solid rotation piece.

Good response to cmoss84 Riverbrian. This would be my response to BiggestRoccoFanEver who tried to point out the same thing: The trades I proposed with Miami were pretty much dead even. Jeffers is currently valued at 33.3 points in a trade on BBTV. Alcantara is 15.3 and Cabrera is 8.5. That trade favors the Marlins. Burnes is valued at 32.1. Jeffers straight up would be a fair trade for a catching needy team. Milwaukee has William Contreras, so they don't need Jeffers. But Miami DOES need a catcher and I listed all the pitchers they currently have who could start. Alcantara didn't have a good year following his N.L. Cy Young last year. And as Miami keeps churning out young pitchers he could very possibly be traded. Miami would shed his 5-year $56 million contract because everyone else in their rotation is at major league minimum. The Twins would add a pitcher at a cost that is very attractive over the next 5 years. Can Alcantara regain his old form? That's the gamble in a Twins/Marlins trade. BBTV is a decent gauge to propose a trade that is far more reasonable than some guy posting a Polanco (8.8 value) for value for Logan Gilbert trade a (73.9 value). None of us knows how MLB teams actually value each player, but I'm sure they have a system that is "similar" to BBTV. Otherwise, wouldn't Colorado have unloaded Kris Bryant and his tasty contract to the Twins last season when we were looking for a RH hitting OF??? Shouldn't the Yankees be able to entice the hitting needy Cleveland Guardians to take Giancarlo Stanton for Shane Bieber?? There are reasons Bryant and Stanton can't be moved. Toxic Contracts. BBTV at least tries to approximate this dynamic.

Nicely put Riverbrian. Great insights. It's the classic sell high scenario. In either case, I'm comfortable with Camargo as our backup catcher. What if...The Twins offered Jeffers 33.3 value to the Marlins for Alcantara 15.3 and Cabrera 8.5 26.1 value. The Marlins would still have a rotation of Jesus Luzardo, Eury Perez, Braxton Garrett, Trevor Rodgers, and Max Meyer. And they'd have their catcher of the future. If they balked at Alcantara how about Trevor Rogers 17.4 and Max Meyer 16.7? I'd throw Thielbar in (2.9 value). One guy...Jeffers could plug the rotations holes left by Gray and Maeda. To your point, that is the value of catching. If you can catch AND hit a little, you're GOLDEN. Do you sell high? This is what makes or breaks front offices. It's such a crap shoot. If Jeffers hits .285 with 24 HR's in 2024 somebody (either the Twins or Marlins) has a HECK of a player. But how about a Twins rotation of Lopez, Alcantara, Cabrera, Ryan, Ober and Paddack? OR...Lopez, Trevor Rogers, Ryan, Ober, Max Meyer and Paddack? In these trade scenarios Varland has moved to fortify an impressive bullpen with a REALLY GOOD rotation. At the cost of Jeffers with Vasquez and Camargo behind the plate I do this in a heartbeat.

I think our FO doesn't really want to spend much on bullpen arms and will only pony up the dollars as Duran becomes eligible for bigger paydays. It's high time to get the Funderburks and Varlands in there. It's also why I look at Thielbar at$2.9 million and see that he is by far the highest paid bullpen arm and at age 37 going into the 2024 season I could see him packaged in a deal with Seattle or Miami. I'm not interested in any of the listed pitchers. Trevino will be out half of 2024.

I like the idea of Dylan Carlson as well as his current Cardinals teammate Tyler O'Neill. I think the Twins should target one of these guys as CF Buxton insurance and additional OF depth. I'm not interested in Bader. Zero offense. O'Neill at one time was considered a cinch 20 HR/20 SB guy. Carlson is a switch hitter. Both can play all three OF positions. However, if I was inclined to hang onto Farmer for 2024 (I think Lewis, Castro and eventually Brooks Lee would be fine backing up Correa) and I realized the Cardinals are far more likely to want pitching in a deal, I'd be willing to dangle Josh Winder for either O'Neill or Carlson. The Redbirds have an excess of young OF talent and one of O'Neill or Carlson is going to be dealt. If Milwaukee was willing to give us Garrett Mitchell for Polanco I'd consider that to acquire our CF of the future. It's possible the Brewers blow everything up and would consider trading Devin Williams. If they're just looking to cut payroll and the Twins were willing to add payroll a deal of Garrett Jax straight up for Williams is numerically even up on BBTV. The Brewers get a guy who could become their closer and affordable control for years and we have a devastating back end of our bullpen. Varland stays in the rotation as #5 in this scenario. I think Hoskins would look good in the lineup but with Kirilloff and Miranda on the 40-man and money needed to replace a Sonny Gray level pitcher I spend that money on Sonny's replacement and Devin Williams. We won the division last year because of pitching. Correa will have a bounce back year. You may actually get something out of Kirilloff and Miranda. The Winter Meetings start this weekend. Anybody think the Twins will make a major move during them?

Ever since Johan Santana the Rule 5 Draft has taken on a "bigger than it really is" attention of Twins fans. And I don't mean that as a negative, I just think it's importance is "outsized" due to that. I imagine Old Time Pirates fans are like us as they got Roberto Clemente from the Brooklyn Dodgers that way. Johnston is the shiniest one of them all and it's kind of surprising to me given the offensive shortcomings in Miami and how we're always talking about acquiring pitching from them on TD by trading them offense. Still, Johnston will be long gone before the Twins pick and I think our team will just sit this one out.

Doc Bauer laid out a very good case why trading Vasquez could be beneficial to the Twins. I agree with his take that Camargo is probably ready and probably deserves a chance. One thing we ALL agree on is that we're not going to just give him away in a salary dump. I think the self-imposed payroll reduction is short sighted. But in reality, this is so true to form for the Twins after a division winning season that I'm expecting it. #1 Our catching tandem is solid (though not as good as the Braves with Murphy and d'Arnaud). #2 We're not just giving Vasquez away #3 BBTV aside, last year, Lopez was valued higher than Arraez and we still got a couple of lottery ticket prospects in addition to Lopez because the Marlins WANTED Arraez. The Marlins NEED a catcher. (the Mariners do not. They have Cal Raleigh). Would the Marlins do a Vasquez for Edward Cabrera straight up? Would they take Kepler and Vasquez for Cabrera and another pitcher? (Sixto Sanchez?) If I'm the Twins, I'm doing that. I get one or two young pitchers. Cabrera fills the Maeda rotation spot immediately, and I shed $20 million in future salary while promoting Camargo. The Marlins are overstocked with pitching and have needs elsewhere. They made the playoffs last year in a stacked division. The Braves and Phillies are tough. The Mets will certainly be better. Steve Cohen will spend the money to make it so. But the Marlins LIKED being in the playoffs and even with pitching being at a premium they part with some to improve their team. Kepler and Vasquez for Cabrera and Sanchez is something I would do. But if the Marlins or anyone else thinks they can get Vasquez for a Class-A marginal prospect, forget it. I'll hang onto Vasquez and consider trading him next off season.

I think jorgenswest has phrased this well when saying we would never trade Duran for a decent, back end starter, but he would trade Jax for a #3 starter. Let's say the Twins traded Garrett Jax 19.1 BBTV "value" Polanco 8.8 Kala 'i Rosario 2.2 for a 30.1 Total Value to the Mariners for Bryce Miller 25.8 and Ty France 3.6 29.4 Total Value. Varland then replaces Jax as the primary 8th inning guy. Miller slots in as our #3 SP with Lopez, Ryan, Ober and Paddack. Ty France is 1B insurance for Kiriloff and a solid RH bat. Varland wouldn't be spending any time "wasting bullets" in St. Paul, he'd have a solid role and would probably pitch 70-75 innings. And he could be VERY good doing it. I'd be on board with this, but I'd still want to either sign Giolito (Severino just signed with the Mets for a very affordable 1-year $13 million deal) or trade Kepler to the Marlins for Edward Cabrera to make sure I have enough depth for my rotation.

You're exactly right Cory. My feelings about turning Varland into a lethal bullpen weapon are clear. I see a trade of Kepler or Polanco to Miami for Cabrera. That fills one rotation spot. But I could see the Twins making a trade for at least one other young and controllable SP and/or signing a mid-level FA like Severino or Giolito. Somebody like Glasnow just seems out of their budget and too risky. Sonny Gray ALWAYS took the ball. Aside from how effective he was while on the mound, he consistently took his turn in the rotation. That can't be under-appreciated at all. We really need 2 or 3 SP acquisitions for depth alone. But I want Varland breathing fire in the 8th inning or high leverage situations with Stewart, Jax and Funderburk. Pagan won't be back. Theilbar is breaking down (his $2.9 million dollar salary is by far the highest in our pen, trade him). We need Varland in the pen MORE than as a 5th starter. I get that SP's pitch more innings. I just think 70-75 EFFECTIVE innings out of the pen is almost as valuable as 100-110 not nearly as effective innings as a 5th SP. Using Varland as a bullpen arm doesn't "end" him as a SP. Johan Santana began pitching for the Twins out of the BP. Varland is not Santana, I'm just making a comparison.

Gray will regress. We got 2 solid years out of him but now we don't have to pay him $25 million for 3 years he won't come close to his Cy Young runner up. Maeda at $24 million for two years of his 37 and 38 year old seasons...no thanks. I'll sign Giolito or Severino to $14 million dollar contracts and have better upside.

I could very much see him sign with Seattle to play 2B (if we don't trade them Polanco) or with the Dodgers to play SS or 2B depending on where the Dodgers want to play Lux. Anderson WILL bounce back with the bat in 2024. Two other interesting trade targets with the White Sox would be: Michael Kopech--Great arm with a negative 3.6 value. I'd trade Nick Gordon even up just for the chance to work with that arm !! Eloy Jimenez 27 years old, good hitter, LF/DH type of middle of the order bat Negative 7.3 value. We don't need to ask who the Twins leaders are. They're Correa and Lewis (Buxton if he can play). I'll bet Chicago might even pay for a bit of Eloy's $13 million contract in 2024. There are club options for $16 million in 2025 and $18 million in 2026 but depending on how quickly Emmanuel Rodriguez develops you could spin Jimenez in a trade at the deadline of just decline the option.

DocBauer, I think you're on the right track with us needing to lower our expectations somewhat. I'm glad your comment was the last while I read through everyone else's and researched a bit. I think CoasterProductions pretty much gave a highlight reel of all sorts of trades the Twins could make by giving very little up and getting TREMENDOUS value back. It's like we should set some ground rules. No, Seattle is NOT trading Kirby (98.6 value). The Twins would have to offer Lewis and Walker Jenkins to come close to that "value." Not happening. Neither is Logan Gilbert at a 73.9 value. He's out of our league. Luis Castillo, due to the contract they gave him after acquiring him from the Reds has a of 20.8. Seattle isn't trading him either, he's their Ace. Then you have Robbie Ray who after his Cy Young season the Mariners signed to a contract that will pay him about $25 million per season for the next 4-5 years and just missed the 2023 season with an injury. They can't give away him away with his "negative" 30.2 value. With the news that Yamamoto would prefer to pitch for Seattle and Washington native and defending National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell also favoring Seattle, assuming the Mariners actually sign one of them, it appears Seattle would have two rotation pieces to move for hitting. (Seattle still has lefty Marco Gonzalez for depth. Enter Bryce Miller 25.8 value 25 years old and Bryan Woo 24.6 value and 23 years old. The Twins could go big and offer a blockbuster of Julien, Max Kepler and Marco Raya (Total Value 50.50) for BOTH Miller and Woo (50.40 Value). Lopez at the top of the rotation, controlled for 5 years. Miller, Woo, Ober and Ryan, all controlled for several more years. That's a big swing, and highly unlikely. But going after ONE of Miller or Woo makes sense. Maybe Polanco, Miranda and Festa gets one of them. Kepler (8.9) even up for Edward Cabrera (8.5) or a bigger deal Kepler & Nick Gordon for Cabrera and RHP Sixto Sanchez. Sign a Giolito/Luis Severino type. Those are probably more what you might see. Solid moves, reducing the payroll (Polanco and Kepler both move to teams looking to contend). The Jeffers situation is interesting. I'm not so sure he's a sure thing to hit like this next year or even ever again. You sell when your asset is at its highest. Jeffers at 33.3 is at his peak. I too expect Vasquez to bounce back with the bat next year and his defense and handling of a pitching staff is excellent. Am I the only one who wonders if a catcher like Vasquez was a big reason our pitching staff, especially the rotation performed so well last year? So who could we trade Jeffers to? A straight up deal to Cleveland for Tristen McKenzie would work, but the Tribe/Guards have a young Naylor behind the plate. Seattle doesn't need Jeffers unless they would like to DH Raleigh more and I don't think that's the case. MIAMI is the best fit. But their Pitchers and values are a tough match. Sandy Alcantara 15.3 value 28 y/o 5 yr. contract $56 million. Braxton Garrett 52.0 value 26 y/o Jesus Luzardo 54.7 26 y/o Eury Perez 67.8 value 20 y/o Edward Cabrera 8.5 value 26 y/o Trevor Rodgers 17.4 26 y/o Max Meyer 16.7 24 y/o Sixto Sanchez 0.0 value 26 y/o Ryan Weathers 0.0 value 24 y/o. Guys are either REALLY expensive and out of our league (Perez, Luzardo, Garrett) or are affordable like Cabrera or have no perceived value but diamond in the rough potential like Sanchez and Weathers. You can get Cabrera and maybe a throw in like Sanchez straight up for Kepler or Polanco. To get Luzardo or Garrett you'd have to trade Jeffers AND Emmanuel Rodriguez. 33.3 + 19.7 =53.00. Here's a wild idea: Why not offer Jeffers straight up for Alcantara? He's a former Cy young winner who is still young at 28 years old and has an attractive 5-year $56 million dollar contract that would fit into the Twins future budgets perfectly. He had a down year last season and saw some diminished velocity. But maybe Miami feels Perez, Luzardo and Garrett are their future Aces and would be glad to cut payroll? The Twins might have to overpay for a former Cy Young winner at 28 years old but maybe not considering how loaded with young pitching the Marlins are. I'd start the talks by offering Jeffers 33.3 and Josh Winder 4.9 Total 38.2 for Alcantara 15.3 and either Trevor Rogers 17.4 26y/o or Max Meyer 16.7 24 y/o Total value 32.7 or 32.0. Heck, I'd even ask for a Sixto Sanchez throw in. We're still overpaying based on BBTV estimates. A Vasquez and Jair Camargo catching tandem doesn't look bad at all if I've got affordable pitching like THAT coming back in the deal. The Twins will NOT be in on Blake Snell, Yamamoto or anyone else priced $25 million or higher. They won't even be in on Eduardo Rodriguez at $18-22 million a year. But there ARE ways to improve this club even with the foolish self-imposed budget cuts.

I won't argue with that deal DJL44. The Twins could still make a trade of Kepler to Miami for Edward Cabrera and they'd then have two rotation spots covered with young, talented pitchers. And they would still have Julien at the top of their order as well.

O.K. Twins Daily fans, here is the solution to the Twins off season pitching woes. It is rumored (I'm in trouble already) that Yoshi Yamamoto wants to sign with Seattle. One problem: the Mariners already have Castillo, Kirby, Gilbert, Ray, Miller and Woo plus Marco Gonzalez. What could the Mariners possibly do to remedy that? Sir, the Twins are on line #1... Mariners Get: Edouard Julien 35.3 Max Kepler 8.2 and Marco Raya 6.9 Total 50.5 value. Twins Get: Bryce Miller 25.8 value 25 yo SP and Bryan Woo 24.6 23 yo SP. Total Value: 50.4 The Mariners might prefer Polanco but can't pass up a slugging, young 2B who is an on base machine for their moribund offense. Plus, he helps budget wise to fit in Yamamoto. They add a Gold Glove caliber RF and solid bat in Kepler and replace the loss of 2 young arms with a good prospect in Raya. The Mariners rotation is Yamamoto, Castillo, Kirby, Ray and Gilbert. That's quite a staff. The Twins add two, young controllable and talented arms to their rotation which now features Lopez, Miller, Woo, Ryan and Ober. The Twins now hang onto Polanco until the trade deadline and await the imminent arrival of Brooks Lee to play 2B. With a staff like that, with Paddack to provide depth and Varland in the pen the Twins are set on the mound for the next 5 years. There is no need to gamble on a free agent arm like Severino, Giolito, or Montas. It would be BIG. It would be BOLD. But if Yamamoto REALLY wants to sign with Seattle they need to clear room. They would have a staff for the ages and an improved offense with Julien and Kepler. The Twins have an affordable pitching staff through the years of arbitration and Brooks Lee has always been destined to move Julien off 2B.

I'm actually kind of relieved the Twins didn't sign Maeda. They should be able to do better. Severino would interest me if i knew more about his health, his fastball and spin rates. He has the best track record of the 3 pitchers you listed and he's a year younger than Montas. He might not be a bad gamble as a #4 or #5 guy that pitches like a #3. But the way the Twins FO always watches the world pass by with free agents, I have to believe their first move will be a trade for a SP that could be the #2 behind Lopez involving Kepler or Polanco or BOTH so they see their payroll reduction desires realized with the $10-$20 million in salary moving out. The question then becomes: Who do they think we match up best with for a trade? Seattle? Miami? Milwaukee?

$24 million over two years is much better than the $36 million over two years MLB trade rumors was estimating. Still, I'm looking for someone with bigger upside and who will throw at least 150 innings as opposed to 70. I see Cleveland as the primary division rival due to their tremendous starting pitching and Clase to close games out. The Tigers are getting better as well. I would have to think a pitcher will be our first move. Will it be a free agent or a trade? Your guess is as good as mine. The M.O. of this front office, and in fact most Twins front offices, has been to dilly-dally around while the best options are snapped up by other, more aggressive teams. I'm afraid they're going to put us fans through the same grinder again. I would almost expect a trade to be made for the first SP addition involving Kepler, Polanco or both so that the FO achieves their cost cutting up front. Then they can decide if they can afford a Montas/Giolito/Severino/Wacha type signing.

Nice column and the trade you listed of Sandoval 29.4 BBTV 27 years old, for Wallner 22.9 and Festa 8.7 would be a slight overpay for the Twins but fair. I don't think I would do it though. I'd have different targets with teams the Twins would match up better with. For example: Bryce Miller of Seattle is 25 years old and a 25.8 value. Seattle's Bryan Woo is 23 years old and valued at 24.6. Both are cheaper and younger and arguably have higher upside. I would rather build a trade around Polanco or Kepler than Wallner. In fact, either Polanco or Kepler straight up could bring back Edward Cabrera from the Marlins. That would move $10 million in salary and add a young, controllable pitcher. I don't see the Angels contending for anything other than the basement of the A.L. West. Ohtani is moving on. Trout will probably be traded for prospects. Two of our best trade chips are vets (Kepler, Polanco) who a rebuilding Angels organization wouldn't be interested in. Sandoval could certainly be traded, but to a team ready to give up prospects, not vets like Kepler and Polanco (and maybe Farmer and Vasquez) like the Twins are likely to do.