What's great about this trade is all week long we heard how Ryan lusted over Shawn Kelley. When you go baseball ref's player comps who is Jepsen similar to..... Shawn Kelley!
In no other organization would signing Ervin Santana, Ricky Nolasco, and Phil Hughes be considered a bold move. That would be an offseason. I also disagree with it being to soon to say Ryan needs to go. If anything it is a decade too late.
Adding the pieces to get you over the hump such as Reardon, Gladden, Baylor, Morris, and Chili. If Ryan had signed a 29 homerun hitting DH and an ace starter this season (Santana is no ace) I bet we'd be right up there with the Royals.
TK is half the problem. "Twins way" is mostly his way of doing things. Hard-working, unassuming, over-achiever. I would like to move as far away from the "Twins way" as possible.
I would normally overreact and freak out that Ryan did nothing yet again, but I am fine with them not making any moves at this point. I don't think this team makes the playoffs with or without bullpen tweaks and a small catching upgrade. Only Dozier is potentially having a career year. I'm satisfied with incremental win increases at this point because 2016-2020 should hopefully be our window.
I enjoyed Antony's offseason discussion of our analytics "team". "Our stats guy showed that Brian Dozier was one of only four second baseman with 30 doubles and 20 home runs and SB in the same season since (insert year)."
Catcher? Check Better option than Suzuki? Check. Versatile? Check Plenty of team control? Check Perceived as a gritty gamer? Check Available? Wait til Beane gets bored, then check I wonder which under 22 aged players Beane would request in exchange.