Tim

I'll just roll with the biggest move I think will be made... Jose Berrios - Trying my best to create a bidding was between the Dodgers and Padres. Loop in the Mets depending on how bad Cohen wants to win this year. With the Dodgers, I love the Dustin May concept, but I'm going to need more. Ryan Pepiot + 1 more throw in arm is what I want attached. Might have to include Taylor Rogers to get a higher level arm and I'm not opposed to packaging the two. (barring injury) The Padres are interesting. If they want to include Eric Hosmer, fine. With that said, if I'm taking on 58 mil, while also giving up Berrios, the package is steep. I need CJ Abrams back in any deal. . Abrams, Adrian Morejon, and one of Robert Hassell / Luis Campusano is what I need. If not, LA can take the division from you this year and next. Also, your stuck with Hosmer because he gets 10+5 rights after this season. Ouch.. Mr. Cohen, what better way to start off your ownership of the Mets with a deep playoff run. Berrios + Rogers? Great. If Kumar Rocker's arm checks out and that's not the hold up in the deal right now, he's coming back to Minnesota as a PTBNL following the world series. Matt Allan and Robert Dominguez can come back now. Pleasure doing business. Longshot, Rays - If they want to jump in the Jose Berrios + Taylor Rogers sweepstakes, we'd love to do another deal. Shane Baz, Taj Bradley, and Sandy Gaston would be the dream scenario. Any of these deals, I'm going to bed happy.

If your comfortable with Kepler's defense in the corner spots, who had a UZR of -.02 last year and 1.0 UZR this year, we can live with Larnach's -1.3 .. Like you said , "Barely negative" ... If you have a plus center fielder, corner spots don't really matter a ton defensively.

Larnach has played 60 career games, is a former top 30 prospect in all of baseball, and showed flashes of being fantastic in that span. Rookies slump, thats what they do... He is absolutely capable of taking over for Kepler and thats most likely what is going to happen.

what? I'm not sure I'm following what your argument is at this point.

I see you added the stats part of this argument. He’s got a negative UZR in center, with declining speed, the past 2 years. Again, not a centerfielder. Who cares about 2022 at this point, on pace to lose 90+ games right now.

Well corner outfielders seem to be a position of strength for the Twins. Typically teams trade from positions of strength.. You could make an argument to trade Max, for a prospect who is a true center fielder in a package... Also - Royce Lewis is a CF most likely.

Max is not a centerfielder .. He is capable of playing center, but he isn't a center fielder.

hmmm

Taj Bradley is a pitcher I would target in any deal with the Rays. I think a Kenta Maeda deal might make sense for them, especially with the way his contract is structured... Slotted into the bullpen with the Dodgers during his tenure there as he struggled later in most seasons. Rays could deploy him in a similar manner while using him now as a starter. Josh Lowe + Taj Bradley for Kenta ?

There's no way at all any team in baseball would walk from Megill, a pitcher who in a short sample has had success in the majors, a former first round pick, who by some was a top 100 prospect, and a projectable 19 year old who is throwing 99mph and showing progress developing solid secondary pitches vs a Comp Pick ..

Thanks for putting this together! I've mentioned Robert Dominguez as a guy from the Mets that I would want in any deal with them. The size and stuff that he has combined with being 19 years old makes for a great developmental guy to target. Might rise quick too if he's gotten his control down since he last pitched. If were talking with the Mets about Berrios, I'm starting any package with Kumar Rocker. He'd be a PTBNL in the winter, as they can't trade a player after the draft that soon. But if you can go to the Mets and pry Kumar Rocker packaged with a Matt Allan or Robert Dominguez for Jose Berrios, you gotta make that deal ASAP.

I would say it's middle of the pack. They aren't giving up Alvarez .. Mauricio doesn't excite me a ton, Baty looks to be solid. Matt Allan, Robert Dominguez, and JT Ginn all project to be starters with nice upside, Allan the most of the 3. If the Mets are asking about Berrios, I'm starting with Kumar Rocker and working around him as the centerpiece. Would have to be a PTBNL after the season ends. If you get them to bite on a Kumar Rocker + Robert Dominguez package, I'm doing it. Essentially the Stroman deal, with more upside.

I think it’s pretty telling what direction we are headed in the next week or so on the Berrios front.

I think the best fit for the Yankees would be Max Kepler. They need a left handed bat more than anything, Kepler and the short porch in right would be great. They also would stay under the luxury tax, which is their biggest concern right now.

i'm a believer in Lux, would do that deal.

Oooffff .. Alright. - David Price - Chris Archer - Blake Snell All traded with controllable years. 2/3 were Cy Young winners.. all traded with 1.5 - 3 seasons of control.. I’d call that trading stars before they hit free agency. - Tyler Glasnow - Shane Baz - Luis Patino One is a pretty solid starter right now, pretty much top 3 in the game. The other 2 are probably top 10 pitching prospects and figure to slot into the rotation in the 2nd half. Probably for the next 5-7 years too...both reached the majors within 2 years. I won’t even get into what else the rays got in those trades, but it’s pretty good man. Anyways, your wrong.

They can say that all day long, can’t see it happening at all. The Larnach and Kirilloff idea - Yes. The Marlins are a fantastic match too.

Please elaborate on why they won’t get value for either player, also elaborate on your rationale of not trading Cruz (expiring contract)

Why? so you can lose them for a single comp pick in free agency? The Twins and Berrios + Rogers are the only two parties that know where they stand on an extension. If you are parting ways and the Twins front office see it as likely, you absoutlely do not keep either. You field offers and try to maximize value.. Lets say they do keep them though, lets say they finish middle of the divison in 2022 and can't resign either because of financial restrictions.. Then we head toward a re build right? Then taking a single player, in 2023, with our one comp pick, is the plan of attack. We have leverage right now, a wider pool of players to select from other teams vs the draft and comp pick. MORE PLAYERS POTENTIALY.. I don't get how people don't understand this. You can't be stubborn here.

When it comes to this topic, the majority of comments are people typically complaining about a "rebuild" and how trading players like Rogers and Berrios for "prospects" isn't how to win.. Granted they are an anomaly and its salary related, the Rays are "rebuilding" every year, yet compete in the same division as the Yankees and Red Sox and consistently win year in and year out with, while maintains a top 5 farm system, and bottom of the league payroll... How do they do that? making moves like this. Sometimes you've gotta make tough decisions, sometimes they hurt as fans, we all get it. But if they are 2 weeks from the deadline, neither player has an extension, and you aren't competitive, you need to take a step back and do what's best for the organization as a whole. I don't care about competing in 2022 frankly if your on pace to finish with 85+ loses. Why would next year be different? are we gearing up for a 5+ year run with a cheap core? . If this is a move that makes you better in 2023, 2024, etc.. Then you do it.

I think he will be fine. Alcala is probably the only young pitcher on the staff this season where I’ve thought you need to trust what you see. If you forget the numbers for a second, which I rarely want to do, his stuff is just too good to ignore. Clean delivery, simple mechanics, easy to repeat. Command will be refined as he develops. The change up will come, he’s too talented. He’s going to figure it out and be a good reliever for years to come.

Gavin Williams for me. What else are the Twins looking for? If you haven't checked it out, you must watch his performance against Vandy and Jack Leiter in the CWS. 13K's in 7 IP and 2 unearned, looked nasty. Pitching, Pitching, Pitching.. and more Pitching.

The National League West is looking like it will be a battle to the end. Maybe even to the death ? Ok, not that far. The first place San Francisco Giants have been the surprise team in baseball this season. It's a great story as they've been able to hold off the Dodgers and Padres, two teams many had as the favorites to battle for the National League pennant. I like the Giants. Gabe Kapler seems like a cool manager with his cool shades, they've pieced it together without a true star, and you cant forget they have sweet uni's. As much as I like them, they aren't going to hold off the Dodgers and Padres. The Dodgers (1 GB) are the defending world series champions and the front office has constructed this roster to go back to back in 2021. The Padres (4.5 GB) are the new team on the block. The most exciting team in baseball and the flashy young star in Fernando Tatis. The Padres General Manager, Aj Preller, was extremely aggressive this past offseason pushing all the chips in the middle to take down the Dodgers. Both teams are built to win now and have world series hopes. Both teams happen to be struggling with pitching. Now before you jump down my throat, this is a hypothetical scenario and just a mythical piece of writing that some kid whipped up on the couch today. Ok, Let's get into it. Dodgers Los Angeles bolstered the rotation this past offseason, signing the reigning Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer to a 3 year / 102 million dollar deal. Unless you have been living under a rock, you've probably heard that he doesn't treat women with the most respect. He's been placed on the commissioners list and it doesn't sound like he's coming back anytime soon. Adding insult to Trevor's horrible decisions, Clayton Kershaw was recently placed on the Injured list with what's being called a "sore right forearm" . That's typically not what you want to hear in baseball when it comes to pitchers, and we don't want to speculate. He could be back in a week for all I know. The point is they are down 2 of their top starters who happen to be 2 Cy young winners. Now, the bullpen. Closer Kenley Jensen has been fantastic with a 1.27 ERA, but he's a free agent after this season and is going on age 34. Joe Kelly has bounced back this season with a 3.86 ERA, but has a 12 million dollar team option following the season and the Dodgers aren't picking that up. Newly signed Blake Treinen has been just what they hoped for with a 2.78 ERA in 36 games. Looks pretty good right? Statically these 3 have been great. They also all happen to be right handed, have less han 2 years remaining on their current deal or have an option that won't be exercised. Throw in the fact they all are 34 next year. Not exactly spring chickens. Victor Gonzalez, the only trusted lefty out of the pen this year, just went on the IL. His timetable for a return is unclear at this point. Prior to that he had a 5.06 ERA in his previous 8 outings. They need a lefty reliever and they need someone to potentially fill in for 1 or both of their 2 top starters. Like, right now. Dodgers - Jose Berrios, Taylor Rogers Self explanatory after what we just broke down. They acquire 2 controllable assets through next year and fill glaring holes in the pitching department as they chase another ring. I'd assume the Dodgers are going to treat the Bauer situation like he's not apart of the team, until, well he is. Truthfully no one knows when that might be and no one knows what long term repercussions will result from the situation. Jose Berrios isn't Trevor Bauer, but he's a better and cheaper option, than anything you can acquire at the deadline or this upcoming offseason. Taylor Rogers is the shutdown lefty they don't currently have. Younger and Controllable through next year, Rogers gives the team payroll flexibility, fills empty an empty bullpen spot next year and enables them to move on from whatever long-term commitment a 34 year old Jensen might command. Twins - Dustin May, Ryan Pepiot, Andre Jackson Prior to going down with Tommy John in the spring, Dustin May was on his way to becoming an ace. The 23 year old had a 2.74 ERA with 35 K's in 23 IP. That seems good. Personally I don't care if you have to wait until the middle of next season if you get a pitcher of this caliber, who ill say again, is 23.. . Fun kicker, he's controlled through 2026. The Dodgers are giving up a lot in May but they can't wait and need reinforcements now. Ryan Pepiot has been on every "name to watch" prospect report since May. He's lit up AA with a 1.73 ERA in 41.2 IP to go along with 57K's.. Pepiot's fastball works around 93-95, with his changeup being the best pitch. He wasn't really stretched out much early in the season but in his last 2 starts he's gone over 6 innings twice, might be to boost trade value or for their personal use, not sure. Andre Jackson is currently at AA right now and is a bit older of a prospect being 25. He's got a 3.78 ERA, with 63 K's in 50 IP. Padres If you want to talk about a team that's built to "win-now", your in luck. The Padres have dealt away pretty much half the farm system in the past 365 days to build an all-star rotation. Now im embellishing, they still have a ridiculously good farm system. But in the past year they have added Yu Darvish, Jose Musgrove, Blake Snell, and Mike Clevinger. This is a team that already had the top pitching prospect in all of baseball being Mackenzie Gore. We can't forget Ryan Weathers, Dinelson Lamet, and Chris Paddack. Talk about an embarrassment of riches. So much depth they cant fail, wait...... Clevinger is currently recovering from Tommy John. Blake Snell has been absolutely horrible. Failing to pitch over 5 innings in all but 1 of his last 7 starts. He currently has a 6.60 ERA in his last 30 IP to pair with 19 BB's, and is thought to be headed to the IL as he's struggled to "build strength" following his last start. Dinelson Lamet is on the IL with forearm issues after dealing with a setback. Ryan Weathers is on a 120 inning limit and currently at 60.1 IP. Chris Paddack allowed 9 runs last night and has a 7.71 ERA over his last 7 starts... Maybe Mackenzie Gore can step in? He's got a 5.85 ERA at AAA. Things are tough in slam diego. Padres - Jose Berrios, Taylor Rogers In an offseason of all-in moves, why stop now? I've read reports about them potentially going after Joey Gallo of the Rangers, but if the pitching is this bad, you can't splurge when you have a lineup that's more than capable of scoring runs already. Jose Berrios gives them a durable, reliable, starter behind the 1-2 punch that is Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove. Taylor Rogers anchors the setup role in the bullpen that can be safely handed over to Mark Melancon in the 9th. Hoarding prospects isn't really an option for a team that is so committed to winning and Aj Preller has never shied away from doing so. The Padres ease their pitching concerns with this deal. Twins - Robert Hassell, Ryan Weathers, Justin Lange, Brayan Medina The headliner for the Twins is outfielder Robert Hassell. MLB.com has him as the no. 62 prospect in all of baseball and he's going to sky rocket in upcoming years. Through 51 games at low A, "bobby barrels" as Padre fans refer to him as, owns a .379 OBP, .297 AVG, .843 OPS, and 19 stolen bags. This is also his first taste of pro ball, as he's only 19. Ryan Weathers isn't a bad no. 2 return in this deal either. The lefty has a 3.02 ERA through 10 starts and 16 games this year at the major league level and he's only 21. He works in the mid 90s with a solid curve and slider to back it up. Justin Lange is a 6'4, comp. round selection from 2020. Having a 65 grade fastball and wipeout slider, Lange may be more of a project but the potential if he reaches his ceiling is worth it. Brayan Medina is actually my favorite piece of this deal. Medina is a 6'1, 180lb, 18 year old who already is working in the mid 90s. He looks to have the control and delivery to stick as a starter. Similar to Lange, he may be a bit of a project but from a few reports I've read, some scouts think he could move through the system quickly with his advanced control. These teams are desperate. It's not often the top starter on the trade market has control beyond this year. There also aren't too many controllable dominant lefty relievers laying around either. Let me know what you guys think about these 2 options.

They were successful playing the waiver game in 2016, 2017, and 2018 because they were much higher up in the waiver order. Its tough to do now when you were a playoff team last year and have little opportunity to put in claims on players who may have potential.

The funny thing to me is the same people who are angry at the front office for "botching" some of these trades, which the jury is still out on considering we haven't seen some key guys in those deals, are the same people wanting a "re-tool" in 2022. If your angry about these trades, take a look at the free agent signings. When you look at that, why would you have confidence in them nailing a must win offseason when its potentially the last of a Buxton and Berrios core.