farmerguychris

I have no interest in trading Lee, Rodriguez, Jenkins, Lewis, or Julien. I think it would be a mistake to move so much future talent that could extend the current open window.

1- Trade away Vasquez for money savings, bring up Camargo to be the backup. 2- Trade away Polanco for a starting pitcher. Julien starts at 2B. Get Keller from the Pirates with 2 years left of control. 3- Trade away Kepler for a prospects. Move Walner to RF and put Larnach in LF 4- Bring up Lee to be a utility IF and DH. 5- Give Miranda another shot 6 - Castro is 4th OF 7- Is Dobnak no longer on the 40? I think this may be his year to return to the majors if he's healthy. That money needs to be earned this year. Starter or reliever - I'm fine with him being here either way. C: Ryan Jeffers ($2.30M) 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($1.70M) 2B: Edouard Julien ($0.77M) 3B: Royce Lewis ($0.77M) SS: Carlos Correa ($33.33M) LF: Trevor Larnach ($0.77M) CF: Austin Martin ($0.77M) RF: Matt Wallner ($0.77M) DH: Brooks Lee ($0.77M) 4th OF: Willi Castro ($3.20M) Utility: Jose Miranda ($0.77M) Utility: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) Backup C: Jair Camargo ($0.77M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($8.25M) SP2: Joe Ryan ($0.77M) SP3: Bailey Ober ($0.77M) SP4: Chris Paddack ($2.53M) SP5: Mitch Keller ($3.00M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.77M) RP: Brock Stewart ($0.77M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.77M) RP: Louie Varland ($0.77M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($3.00M) RP: Simeon Woods Richardson ($0.77M) RP: Jovani Moran ($0.77M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.77M) Payroll is 36.74% under budget

C: Ryan Jeffers ($2.30M) 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($1.70M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($10.50M) 3B: Royce Lewis ($0.77M) SS: Carlos Correa ($33.33M) LF: Matt Wallner ($0.77M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Max Kepler ($10.00M) DH: Edouard Julien ($0.77M) 4th OF: Willi Castro ($3.20M) Utility: Trevor Larnach ($0.77M) Utility: Kyle Farmer ($6.60M) Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($2.30M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($8.25M) SP2: Joe Ryan ($0.77M) SP3: Bailey Ober ($0.77M) SP4: Chris Paddack ($2.53M) SP5: Louie Varland ($0.77M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.77M) RP: Brock Stewart ($0.77M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.77M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($3.00M) RP: Cole Sands ($0.77M) RP: Jovani Moran ($0.77M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.77M) Payroll is 18.73% under budget

This FO has never spent anything on the pen. Why would they now when payroll is going down for the first time in their tenure. I expect a pen full of existing guys (Duran, Jax) and young guys from AAA.

Is he offering to work for free? If not - I don't expect him to be here.

You're not wrong. The only item I may have concerns with that you list is that yes, the Pohlads run multiple businesses, and yes, they have the ability to handle losses in one area that will be offset by gains in another. I just don't think they (or most multi-business owners) run their larger corporation that way. Each business generally runs independently of their other ones and each one is expected to make a certain amount of bottom line revenue. Could they cover any Twins losses by the excessive profit on their other holdings - Absolutely! Will then? I really don't think that is something they are interested in doing - the more I listen to the new news of lower payroll coming - I really feel this is ONLY a business for them, and the fact that fans are getting excited about the team again doesn't really count for anything. I've not be one of the 'cheap Pohlad's' crowd - but I can understand how they got that moniker.

I know this is what we're supposed to do in the offseason. Look at who is available that matches our possible needs. But I just can't see them spending anything until they know whats going to happen with tv revenues. I run a business, and I can't imagine setting my future expense budget until I know what my next year's revenues will be looking like. My business is not baseball, and its not apples to apples, but with us already having about 90M committed, I can't imagine they'll be in any rush (not that they ever are) to sign up for the first FA off the board without knowing how much new tv revenue we'll have coming in. I'd be surprised and pleased if they signed one FA over $10M. Otherwise may be a year of young guys (Martin?) getting a shot and hopefully making a splash - IMO.

I wouldn't give him a roster spot - but maybe now is the last chance to trade him while he's hot?

I agree its time to find the next time full CF for our team. Buxton has to be considered a backup due to health issues. Not sure if I like Kiermaier over Taylor simply since he's another lefty OF when we already have a bunch of those. Would ultimately like to see Martin grab this role and run with it, but not sure the likelihood of that just yet. If between Kiermaier or Taylor - I think I'd prefer Taylor until Martin is ready to roll.

Pass for me. We ranked in the top 10 for HR didn't we this past year? With the uncertain financial situation we will be in due to Bally's - lets keep our prospects in-house as we may need cheaper talent in the next few years.

Big Castro fan, but worried if he's already reached his ceiling? Would Martin someday be someone who could make him expendable, just like Castro made Gordon expendable this off season? Good problem to have where talent keeps getting better to push players to be their best.

I don't think the term 'comeback' is accurate. When he was healthy he was an above average starter. Keep him healthy, he'll be fine again.

Why would you offer him $20 with the QA, when you probably wouldn't offer him that same amount as a FA? He's fine, but his velocity continues to drop. He deserves to get paid after the last incentive laden contract he signed. I just don't think he's a candidate for that kind of money - more so in the 12-15M range at his age. He's a number 4-5 guy at this point.

We already have enough IF about ready to play significant innings in the high minors. Lets give them a chance to fill that role first. We signed Solano right before the season started, we can do again if the current roster options don't look good in spring training. Lee, Martin, etc.

Spot on.

I suppose I'd be ok with Miguel on a minor league deal for depth. If he were to get on one of his hot streaks he could be worth calling up. Once he got cold, send him down again.

I think a 1st base platoon of Miranda and Julien sounds pretty good. Bonus points as they can both also play at least 1 other infield spot when needed. This FO likes flexibility, and this would give us a lot more than signing a big name like Goldschmidt who has maybe a year or 2 left and who can only play 1st or DH.

I have no problem with Baldelli as our team manager. Face it. Managers get too much credit when things go well, and too much blame when things go poorly. There are so many variables (specifically injuries) that the manager has absolutely no control over. I feel too many Twins fans (for most teams probably) don't like it that analytics are playing such a huge role in managerial in-game decisions and that we aren't relying on our gut anymore. Those fans have every right to feel that way, and maybe they're not wrong. However - facts are that analytics simply are not going to go away. You don't have to like them, and you don't have to subscribe that they are making the game better - But, I sincerely believe they are here to stay and will only become more and more involved in both in, and out of game decisions. Baldelli is the perfect manager to be in place for an analytic driven type of decision making process. He sees the benefits of analytics, and understands how to communicate the findings of said analytics to the players. This may not make him popular among fans, but then again - how many managers really are popular anyway and does fan popularity really matter anyway when more revenues are generated by tv contracts than the fans that actually show up in the stands?

We all know how much this FO likes depth. I can certainly see us signing someone like the above names as depth in hopes of turning their career around - and they may be able to do it!

I don't think this changes our plans. Make him the qualifying offer, he'll decline said qualifying offer. If he gets interest and signed, we get a comp draft pick, if he doesn't get offers, then I think we have a possibility of resigning him - but I would doubt they want to offer him anything longer than 2 years with a team option for the 3rd. He was a bulldog for us and I'd be happy to have him back, but at a reasonable price for a 2nd tier starter.

If we pitch like we did in the Wild Card round, and are patient hitters - only swinging at strikes like we did in game 1 - Anything is possible. Can't go out there and try to win the game with big swings on every pitch. I can't see either of their top starters going 110 pitches, so be patient up there and get them out early in games.

I have a feeling that 'fire' is shown to his team on a regular basis. We in the fan section just don't get to see it.

Brooks LeeWalker JenkinsEmmanuel RodriguezAustin MartinMarco RayaCharlee SotoDavid FestaTanner SchobelBrandon WinokurYasser MercedesYunior SeverinoLuke KeaschallConnor PrielippJordan BalazovicSimeon Woods RichardsonKala'i RosarioJose RodriguezDanny De AndradeBrent HeadrickMatt Canterino

Boo

Glad he's in our pen instead of having to face him. Hoping they'll teach him a slider in the future just to have an extra layer of wow!