farmerguychris

If he still has a minor league option, I see no reason why anything needs to be done. Let him go to spring and play for a roster spot. His value is low, so no point in trade discussions - lets see if he gets an opportunity and what he does with it if given the chance.

Don't know much about the other guys here, but if Odorizzi would be willing to accept a minor league deal - its a no brainer.

If this is the kind of signing they plan on doing to cut costs, I think I'd prefer to just try out some of our younger guys in the pen so they can develop in the big leagues. 12.0 ERA with 41 walks in 21 innings against AAA hitters in 2023. Sure, maybe they can get something out of him - but its going to take quite a while I would expect to make progresses that will allow him to be an asset to the Twins roster. Thank goodness was only a minor league contract.

This will be a great opportunity. He has skills, now to get to learn from McCutcheon could set him up to be the starter in CF for a long time in Pitt.

Of the 3 options, the only one I'd be interested in is #3. No interest in trading Lee from idea #1, both Julius and Rodriguez is too much for me in option 2.

When you have a player who has a history of being 'just a guy', and then turns hot while he still has positive value in trade - I say trade him while he's hot before he turns back into 'just a guy'. Could Larnach or anyone else in the organization be as good as Kepler was in the second half of last year? Probably not. Is there also a high likelihood that even Kepler himself will turn back into a pumpkin like he has been most of his recent career? Absolutely - trade him while he's hot. If we need to trim payroll, and its very likely Kepler won't stay hot like he was in the playoff run - we can get another 'guy' at a much lower price tag. I've been a fan of Kepler as much as anyone -but bigger fan of the team than the guy.

I generally like the idea of signing likely stars to extended contracts early - But until the TV situation is settled I would not expect much movement on financial decisions that don't need to be made yet.

I think to truly have a 'core' of stars - you need to have more than 1 proven starting pitcher. We've got Lopez, and I feel that Ryan has the talent - but we'll need Ryan to become a star before I'll feel good about this 'core' being defined as being ready to contend for a title.

I think its ok for every team to have a few untouchables - not many, but a few. He would be one for me.

Would our FO really spend money now on relievers? They didn't when they were increasing payroll, why would they now? I expect a pen full of AAAA arms in addition to our existing crew.

Perfectly said - I fully agree.

Agreed - I love the idea of this article looking at back some random Twin in history. I can think of a few I'd be curious to know whatever happened to them.

I absolutely think he will bounce back, just elsewhere. We have enough IF depth already.

I still think that we need our assets spent in other areas. We know we'll need more than 5 pitchers. I'd include Vazquez in trade conversations, but in return something I'll be seeking is a 'normal' back up level catcher who has minor league options still available. Vazquez is a borderline starter, and Carmago appears ready to be the back up now in the majors. I'm afraid $10M is just too much when we need to spend that money elsewhere.

As fans, we always want to compete for a World Series title every single year. However when we look at it from an owner's perspective, we also recognize this "is a business" and often it appears decisions are made strictly from a business standpoint (like lowering payroll, what other company does that?)- not based on trying to win a title. My question is this - Do you feel the Pohlad family actually wants to win another world series if it limits the amount of revenue they can generate? We know some ownerships are all about the dollars and cents. If they win, they win, if they lose, then they lose. I have often felt the Twins owners want to win, but not at the cost of losing any money. Somewhere in the middle between the owners of the Padres, and the owners of the Pirates. What are your thoughts?

Agreed. We know what the best of Maeda could look like. I feel taking a flier on someone like Severino (who started a playoff game against us a couple of years ago) has potential to be someone who still has lots left in the tank if we can get him out of NY and could very likely equal or exceed what Maeda would have given us at this point in his career.

I really don't think the team will add anyone near the salaries these guys will require. We have young internal options like Miranda that they will likely turn to instead to try and add a right handed bat.

I'd rather go with Martin.

I don't think they will give up a young stud for an 'ace' with 1 year of control. They would consider trading a young IF for someone they feel has the potential to be an 'ace' in the future - ala Lopez. Even with that being the goal, I would not be interested in moving on from Lewis or Lee.

I sincerely believe he would be a first ballot HOF IF he didn't have injuries move him to 1st base. But, with that said, nothing wrong with going in on the 2nd ballot either - as long as he gets in. Glad he's voted on by national media and not only Twins writers and fans where he was never looked upon as favorably as he should have been.

Based on this article, if we were ever hoping to 'sell high' on either of these guys, now would appear to be the time to do so. If we hold onto them fine - but selling from a position of strength for a position of weakness (need pitching again) sounds like a good plan to me.

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.