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TopGunn#22

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Everything posted by TopGunn#22

  1. TopGunn#22
    Good counterpoints IndianaTwin. After reading your insights I've "moderated" my views.
  2. TopGunn#22
    GREAT topic Seth. It's clear they still need at least ONE SP. I'd like it to be an impact guy who would be our #1. I've been pushing Sale. Why settle for Price. If your looking to make an IMPACT move, help the Red Sox keep Mookie by taking Sale off their hands. That said, I'd like to see Graterol open the season with the big club. The Odorizzi idea sounds interesting as does Zach Littlell for 2 innings and Graterol for about 3. Anyway they slice it and dice it, they need to handle him much like they did with Johan Santana his first year as a Rule 5 guy. They began the year with Santana in the bullpen and as he continued to impress he got higher and higher leverage innings. After the All Star break Johan became a SP who rarely went anything but 5 innings. Graterol could probably benefit with some time at AAA but the Twins will need him right out of the gate. Right now the starting staff is Berrios, Odorizzi, Dobnak, Thorpe and Smeltzer. Pineda won't be there until 25% of the season has elapsed. Pineda will be strong down the stretch but 3 rookies at the 3-5 spots in the rotation just ain't gonna cut it.
  3. TopGunn#22
    I like nicksaviking's idea. If the Twins are going to make a move now that they've missed out on all the non-Twins FA SP's go for an ACE like Chris Sake or Blake Snell. If the Red Sox are looking to cut salary and Price and Ed. Rodriguez have been mentioned, inquire about both of them but also ask about sale. I doubt Boston moves a young, controllable LHP like Rodriguez, but why settle for Price when you can have Sale ? Sale will cost more in payroll but we've got PLENTY of flexibility there. What would it take in players/prospects ?? Otherwise, Blake Snell is an excellent idea. He's an ACE, he's young. Lock him up and put him at the top of your rotation for several years. The other nice thing about Sale, is that you have cost certainty for several years (albeit a hefty salary) but go for someone you'd be confident starting game #1 against the Yankees, Dodgers, Astros etc... Don't SETTLE.
  4. TopGunn#22
    I also like the idea of Snell or Thor. If you're going to go the trade route, make a splash for someone who would front our rotation. The only way we compete in the playoffs is if someone better than Berrios is our #1 and everyone behind him gets pushed back one spot. We have the prospects. Let's make a DEAL !!!
  5. TopGunn#22
    I'd be interested in Ray because he has STUFF. With only one year of team control (and the option of a QO) I would think Rosario would be sufficient, maybe even expand the deal to multiple players. The idea that we would have to offer MORE than Eddie just doesn't make sense for a pitcher with only one year of control. Ray at least could POSSIBLY beat the Yanks in a playoff game. Matz would get shelled. Someone, somewhere had suggested a trade for Ray and another pitcher (current minor leaguer). I can't remember the pitchers name. And hey, if Boston needs salary relief and would consider Price or Rodriquez (who I prefer to Price) why not make a play for a true Ace like Sale ??
  6. TopGunn#22
    If we miss on Donaldson I'd like to see the Twins go after a great fielding SS. Sign Jose Iglesias as a FA or look to make a blockbuster deal with Colorado and add Trevor Story and Jon Gray. Not sure what we would give up...Probably a mix of major and minor league talent. Getting Story, a young, All Star SS would solve a LOT of problems for the Twins. Why would the Rockies do it ? Well, it depends on who the Twins would give up,(it would not be cheap) but if they are REALLY considering trading the face of their franchise (Arenado) why not deal Story to keep Arenado and put top prospect Brendon Rogers at SS ?
  7. TopGunn#22
    I'm glad we still have Wander Javier. The Twins now have one more season to see what he could become. Either he lights the fire that makes him a prized prospect again, or he fizzles for many of the same reasons he's fizzled for the last couple of years and soon finds himself out of baseball.
  8. TopGunn#22
    If you're willing to consider Price at 32-million per year why settle for 2nd best?? Chris Sale should be the target. He's much more talented than Price and the cost is relatively the same except that Sale is under contract for 3 more years. If you're going to make a trade like this you go for somebody head and shoulders above what's available on the FA market. You go for somebody who will be your #1 and you can have confidence he can shut down ANY lineup. Be that the Yankees, Houston, the Dodgers, whoever. Who here on Twins Daily would be concerned that we would have Chris Sale pitching with a trip to the World Series or a Championship on the line ? I would still have "concerns" if the guy we were leaning the most on was Berrios, Mad-Bum, Ryu, David Price, Odorizzi. But Chris Sale ?? Give me some Chris Sale. Boston is desperate to keep Mookie. They MUST keep JD Martinez. Make a deal for Sale.
  9. TopGunn#22
    The marlins need SOMEBODY to be a competent bat in theri everyday lineup. of course they'd be interested in Eddie. That said, I think it's absurd you'd trade a proven big league bat for either of these guys. If I'm giving up Eddie I'm asking asking what else they're giving me in addition to Alcantara. Kiriloff and Larnach are ready. They will not be as good as Eddie right away, but they will be soon. They will get on base at a much higher rate and the power will eventually come. If I'm giving up Eddie I want somebody like Robbie Ray or Matthew Boyd. Smith...meh. Alcantara? Maybe. But certainly not straight up for a guy who got MVP votes last year and certainly not if the Twins would have to include something else.
  10. TopGunn#22
    This is an interesting article that really puts into perspective that someone like Mad-Bum could be mediocre at a very rich price. Honestly, the only SURE THING on the market is Gerritt Cole. The Twins have very little chance of signing him. But heck, 7 years $245 million would put them in the conversation. Again, he's the only sure thing. Everyone else is an exercise in speculation. Sure the Dodgers, Yankees or Angels would probably out-bid the Twins. Fine. The Dodgers have recently started operating like the Royals. The Angels, even with Cole aren't going anywhere next year or the near future, so let the Yankees go $250 million or more. Seems like avoiding the luxury tax is more important to the Dodgers and Yankees than ever before. Why not shock the world Twins ! Heck, offer Cole 3-years $120 million. I prefer Ryu to Mad-Bum as well, but the only sure thing is Cole.
  11. TopGunn#22
    I'd almost rather get a pitcher like Syndergaard if I'm giving up Arraez AND Kiriloff, but the Chapman idea is intriguing. An infield of Champman-3B Didi or Jose Iglesias-SS Polanco 2B and Sano-1B would be pretty good defensively (especially the left side) and if Didi is your SS that infield can mash with anybody. If it's Iglesias you get an excellent glove and a guy who's figuring out how to more of a factor offensively. Kind of like Omar Vizquel without the speed (O.K. I apologize, there really is only ONE Omar Vizquel).
  12. TopGunn#22
    As always Doc, a stellar take. I agree. (Good article Nash, this should generate a LOT of discussion). Both are smart pitchers who know how to pitch. They don't have the velocity of a Verlander or Wheeler, but either one would have a tremendous impact on our pitchers. Look at the positive impact Cruz had on our hitters. I don't think it's an accident that Sano looked more and more like Cruz at the plate as the year wore on. So I agree with Doc. If I had to choose, I'd take Mad-Bum. Durable, post season pedigree etc...but if you told me today, "well, you guys will have to settle for Ryu" I'd say "EXCELLENT !!"
  13. TopGunn#22
    I agree with almost everything MikeLink45 had to say. I think Arraez's ability to hit doubles like JLease pointed will help his slugging % as well. I'll take 39 HR's out of Cruz. But while I don't think Kepler will be a superstar, I can't see Rosario having a better OPS. Max just walks so much more than Eddie, and as was pointed out Kepler has improved his fWar each of the last couple seasons. I think he's turned a corner. I'd be really interested to see what they project for Polanco since he's such a glue-guy for their lineup. I think offense will be down slightly but not as much as most people think.
  14. TopGunn#22
    I think it makes sense to give resigning Pineda strong consideration. But with the 40-game suspension, he doesn't have to be an urgent priority right now. If the Twins sign Wheeler for 5-yrs $95 million, and make a trade for a Ray/Boyd type of pitcher the Dobnak/Smeltzler/Thorpe 3-headed monster could hold down #5. But if you have Berrios, Wheeler, Odo and Ray/Boyd then yes, Pineda is the #5 guy. If everyone pitches to their abilities in this rotation, Pineda becomes an interesting starting or bullpen option for the post season. I like cost certainty so I would probably offer Pineda 2-years at $7 million per. This would be similar to the 2-year contract they signed him to before where the first year was primarily a rehab year. the #5 guys would have at most 8 starts to take care of to begin the season. There's nothing wrong with having depth.
  15. TopGunn#22
    Yup, Pomeranz is off the market, but I believe the Twins could spend that money MUCH better by signing Dellan Betances. He would be an excellent RH complement to Taylor Rogers. Plus, he's Dellan Frickin' Betances !!! Everyone assumes he's just going to sign with the Yankees. As lee Corso would say "Not So Fast" !! Now that the Orioles have waived Johnathon Villar, would the Twins have any interest ?? It's hard to ignore a middle infielder with .274 24HR's 40 SB's and 114 runs scored. He and Arraez at the top of the order would be intriguing to say the least. Villar could play SS or 2B moving Arraez to 3B and Sano to 1B.
  16. TopGunn#22
    dbminn makes a GREAT point. Their top prospect is a SS (Brendan Rogers) and he's blocked by Story. Personally, I like this trade/plan better than the Mookie Betts speculation because Story stays a Twin for several years and he makes us better defensively. The only thing I would do further is trade Eddie Rosario in a package to the D-Backs for Robbie Ray and Dinkel ?? (the kid who is just 25 and strikes everybody out. I would still sign Pineda in this scenario and have a staff of: Berrios, Wheeler, Gray, Odorizzi and Ray with Pineda to be available to start or relieve like Graterol. That way you've got depth in the starting rotation and power arms in the bullpen. If the Twins added Story, say hello to Kiriloff or Larnach in LF. 1. Arraez 3B 2. Polanco 2B 3. Cruz DH 4. Story SS 5. Kepler RF 6. Sano 1B 7. Garver C 8. Kiriloff/Larnach LF (these 2 kids can flat out HIT) 9. Buxton CF SP Berrios, Wheeler, Gray, Odorizzi, R. Ray BP T. Rogers, May, T. Duffey, Graterol, Pineda, Romo, etc... This would be a HELL of a team !!!
  17. TopGunn#22
    I like your trade, but you forgot to list Robbie Ray in the SP's. I understand the D-Backs want controllable SP'ing, but none of Graterol, Balazovic and Duran are being included in that deal. The D-Backs have LOTS of holes. Your trade fills a LOT of them. Strikeout pitchers like Wheeler and Ray added to Berrios gives us pitchers that can miss bats. We need that. Plus, Kevin Ginkel is REALLY intriguing. He might be just as important as Ray in the deal.
  18. TopGunn#22
    The reason Wheeler is so intriguing is because he has elite "stuff." A BIG fastball and excellent spin rate on his slider. The belief/expectation is that Wes Johnson can unlock much more of that potential than the Mets ever did. In fact, with the exception of deGrom, guys like Wheeler, Thor, Edwin Diaz etc...have not been used/coached properly by the Mets. (and this shows how damn good degrom really is). I get that Cornholio is skeptical, but Wheeler makes waaaay to much sense for the Twins. Sure, kick the tires on Cole. He's a bona-fide ACE. In fact, not just an ACE, but one of the top 3-4 starting pitchers in baseball. Would I prefer Cole fronting the Twins staff? ABSOLUTELY !! But Wheeler at 5-$100 million (or 5-$110 if necessary) is a GOOD signing for the Twins.
  19. TopGunn#22
    I agree with Seth S. on the future projections of Kiriloff and Larnach. I'm not sure Raley has more power than both but Rooker does. I believe Kiriloff and Larnach could hit right now in the big leagues. They will certainly get on base at a higher clip than Rosario. We cannot keep/play ALL of these 4 guys. I would love to see a way we can keep Kiriloff and Larnach and trade Rooker & Raley in packages to add more pitching. Imagine Rooker in Fenway Park or Coors Field. The Twins may not START the season with Kiriloff and/or Larnach, but one in LF and one at 1B is certainly (or at least SHOULD BE) possible in 2020. I 100% agree with beckmt...Kiriloff & Larnach scream professional hitters. Get them up to the big league club.
  20. TopGunn#22
    Wander Javier is worth gambling losing in the Rule 5 draft even though I'm a big fan of his potential. After his last 2 injury marred seasons I'd be surprised if someone grabbed him. This should give him a year back with the Twins to rebuild some value. I agree with Mike on Jax and i could even see someone grabbing Luis Rijo.
  21. TopGunn#22
    Nice job. This was a fun read. However, some thoughts: No Gibson. Don't want a sequel to "The Nibbler." The points guys are making about trading for Betts, spot on. Plus, Betts is a Gold Glove RF'er. He'd play RF, Kepler would play LF. Rendon will sign with the Dodgers...if we want a 3B-man go after Moose. Wheeler will need 5 yrs, $110 million.. Ryu would just resign with the Dodgers for 3 yrs $51 million. We'd need $20 million a year to get him. And lastly, my lineup would be: 1 Arraes 2. Polaco 3. Betts 4. Cruz 5. Rendon 6. Kepler 7. Garver/Grandal 8. Sano 9. Buxton This was FUN. Keep them coming.
  22. TopGunn#22
    Team friendly contract, CF protection for Buxton injuries, more power, gets on base at a much better clip, runs better (both the bases and in the outfield). That's why you keep Kepler and trade Eddie. Maybe in 2022, when Larnach and Kiriloff are both raking and you're set at 1B with Sano or Rooker...maybe then you trade Kepler. But there's very good reasons "everyone" is discussing Eddie in trade scenarios instead of Max. And we've just listed them.
  23. TopGunn#22
    No. Just NO. Goodbye Gibson. Goodbye Perez. Schoop was decent, but Arraez makes him unnecessary. No Castro. etc... etc... etc... This group wasn't good enough to get the job done in 2019 despite a HR record. We need better starting pitchers and a RH'ed complement to Rogers at the back of our pen (Ken Giles). Sign Wheeler. Don't be out-bid. Trade for a Robbie Ray/John Gray type. Larnach and Kiriloff are closer than people think. They will both hit. Use Graterol like the Twins did Johan Santana for the first half of the season (or until we call him up mid-May) and then either leave him in his role and add a SP at the trade deadline or move him in as starter #5.
  24. TopGunn#22
    This is another reason to trade Eddie this winter (and no I'm not a hater). His value will never be higher. Arizona needs a corner OF'er with power. Package Eddie with a couple prospects not too high on our lists for Robbie Ray and Archie Bradley. Ray is needed more in our rotation than Eddie in the lineup and Bradley could be an excellent RH complement to Taylor Rogers in the bullpen. Sign Wheeler and you've got a staff of Berrios, Wheeler, Ray and Odorizzi and you can figure out who #5 is later. Larnach and Kiriloff are coming soon... THIS YEAR. They can play LF and some 1B.
  25. TopGunn#22
    Yes Lonestar ! Getting Giles to be the RH complement to Rogers is a great move. BUT...who are we giving up ? What is a reasonable price for Giles ?? Ray and Wheeler are my targets for the pitching staff as well. One FA and one thru trade. In my mind, I was always trading Eddie for Ray. I think Larnach and Kiriloff are going to be better hitters than Eddie, maybe even fairly early in their careers. BUT...will they be better in 2020 ?? They won't have the power, but they might get on base more consistently. Moreland is good as a LH 1B to platoon and the defensive upgrade is excellent. Avilia is O.K. as a LH complement to garver, but 5-million seems a bit rich for him. Brock Holt is very intriguing. He's very much like marwan without the power and I like your idea of having him after we part ways with Marwan. Great ideas !!
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