SteveLV

Man, Wallner is looking hapless and helpless at the plate the last month. What is going on?

Just to be clear, I am NOT rooting for draft position. I am just identifying where they currently stand. Let's face it: This is Spring Training Part Deux. Play the kids and see who can stick!

Wow, that was an amazingly poorly played game by the offense. Now picking 6th with a shot at top 3 with the pick lottery!

Top 7 pick before tonight, now heading for the top 5! Could really use some clutch hitters on this squad. I think most of them are afraid to come to the plate in tight situations. Not good.

Man, the Twins may really have something with Keaschall. He just seems like a baller. Fun player to watch and to root for.

Great AB Mr. Lee, and even better decision not to try for 2!

Good job there to wiggle out of that mess. Should boost the hitters, but who knows with this bunch....

I think Lee should have skipped the slide. Save wear and tear on his uni, and it was pointless anyhow. Sheesh.

Yuck. Terrible at bat by Wallner.

I think Ober is a decent 4-5 starter, but all those people who were suggesting last week he should be given a big extension are not watching the same player I am. His fastball has lost 3-4 mph, he is now a nibbler, and he has had multiple stints on the IL. Plus, he sure is prone to the gopher ball....

I thought we were at rock bottem after the trade deadline over sell-off. This is worse news by far. This may be the nail in the coffin for keeping a viable fan base. How would you like to be a season ticket salesperson for 2026? At this point, bring on the lockout! Salary cap, salary floor, more revenue to younger and MiLB players, quicker FA, full revenue sharing with financial transparency. Only then can MLB be saved.

Extend Ober???? He has been basically replacement level this year, with an ERA over 5. He is also 30 years old and will be 33 by the time he is a FA. Why would the Twins do this? Ryan, absolutely. Jeffers, maybe, if you are convinced he can stay behind the plate. Keaschall, let's give it a couple months, ok?

Wow, Jax gives up 3 run HR to Raleigh and could not protect a 2-0 lead for the Rays, losing the game. Ouch.

"I would agree with you on most of this but I strongly disagree with you and almost everyone else on the salary cap and floor. Exhibit one: Luis Severino. While the A’s might have seen this as a good move speculation also points to the fact that per the CBA and previous MLBPA grievances this signing was used as a play to avoid any problems with their move and simply keep the MLBPA off the back of the athletics and MLB. Anybody can read the CBA and the grievances but in a nutshell the Athletics were forced to buy a player past his prime for more money than he really should have got to simply show they are spending money and “playing ball”. Now times that by 30 teams. That will force teams to spend money on aging FA’s who don’t necessarily “deserve” these pay days simply to show “hey, we’re spending money.” Meanwhile they’ll have a league wide inflation where the floor and ceiling move by certain percentage points every year. Older aging players will get their payday. Owners picket more money. We all know there are angles to all of this and the strongest angles are gonna be played by owners and established players. It’s gonna be about what’s best for the business and not what’s best for baseball as a game. People need to go read this stuff. There’s a reason some of the most lucrative franchises are all in the NFL. It’s not because of what you think. There’s a reason why MLB players are the highest paid in sports. It’s because they get a bigger piece of the pie. Now do you want the money in owners hands or players hands. That’s the question." I have a different vision of a MLB Salary Cap. I would guarantee the players 55% of ALL revenue. That is more than they are currently receiving. This is the main carrot. I would impose a hard cap and a hard floor for every team modelled after the NFL CBA. I would impose true, full revenue sharing. I would increase MiLB salaries 100% across the board. Their treatment is ridiculous. I would limit the length of all contracts to 5 years max. That allows players to sign deals and second deals while still in their prime. I would make players FA after 4 years of MLB service time, reduced to 3 years for player who meet performance goals similar to the time-served calculation. I would raise MLB minimum salaries to $2M per player. I would forbid future or deferred compensation deals beyond 5 years. I would require financial transparency from all owners for all revenue streams. My goals are: 1) Get more $ in the hands of younger players, including minor leaguers; 2) Create competitive equality in the league like the NFL enjoys; 3) Raise the value of smaller market franchises; 4) Let players achieve FA earlier in their careers. Who would say "Yes". The players, except the very few elite players. The vast majority of players benefit hugely under this proposal. Small market teams, but they have to share the wealth with the players. Who says "No". Big market team owners and the few fat-cat elite players and their agents. If this is presented properly, this should be accepted by the MLPA and the owners by majority vote. This is a skeleton of a deal that would benefit MLB and MiLB immensely. It will never happen. Manfred is weak and the elite players and their agents control the MLBPA.

My thoughts and hopes after the trade deadline: 1) Pohlads sell to a good new owner willing to embrace the fan base and reinvigorate the franchise; 2) A new TV deal in some form or another that helps the finances; 3) Ryan gets extended in the off season. Otherwise, trade him for an excellent package; 4) The only thing I can come up with on the Stewart trade is that there is something very bad in his medicals; 5) I actually like the Varland trade package and like that this franchise finally has some LH starting pitchers in the pipeline; 6) Correa was becoming an emotional albatross on top of his salary. He may very well excel in Houston, but that was never going to happen here based on his past performance; I posted this before the trade deadline and I stand by the original comment: I would rather watch young players try and possibly fail than waiver-wire wannabes flounder and trying to catch lightning in a bottle. I think all fans are more forgiving of young players trying to make the jump to the majors and enjoy rooting for the rookies. LET'S GO! P.S. The only REAL hope for the Twins is a new CBA that institutes a real salary cap and floor, but that is probably a pipe dream.....

Clearly the decision to play or not play certain players is being influenced by trade negotiations....

BoSox crushing Twins and Bregman isn't even in the lineup. This is a strong lineup with a great mix of young studs and veteran stars. If they had more pitching they could be really, really good.

Astros lost their 3B for the season. Correa has, reportedly, agreed to waive his no trade clause and play for the Astros. However, sides are reportedly "far apart" on the terms of any deal. The Astros owner is also reportedly a "big fan" of Correa, which might help the financial end. I want Janek, C, from the Astros as part of any such deal. Next 27 hours will be interesting to watch unfold!

Also, we have no idea what other Teams are offering. Could be Painter would be needed to beat those offers in the eyes of the Twins FO.

MLB Trade Rumors adds the detail that the Astros owner "remains a fan" of Correa and would welcome him back to Houston. That should help with the financial piece. You have about 27 hours to pull this off. The fact that Correa has "lightheadedness" and is not playing today and tomorrow is an off day gives them time to put this together. This would certainly alter the trajectory of the Twins.....

I would do this if the Astros actually send some value back to the Twins, not just as a salary dump. And I would then NOT trade Ryan and try and extend him this off season. The Twins would then have solid starting pitching and look for younger and better position players to fill out the team. I would be curious if Correa would waive his no trade.

(The above assumes Correa would waive his no-trade clause to go to the Bronx. Have no idea how he feels about that, but suspect at a minimum he would like to actually play in the playoffs.....)

How about Bader, Coulombe and Correa to the Yankees? They can afford the contracts, need a boost, and Correa is historically excellent in the playoffs. They helped us out with Donaldson, would they do it again?

Is there any chance in heck the Twins can swing a deal to include Correa with one of our valuable assets in a package deal to a deep-pocket team? Correa HAS to have negative value at this point, but he is a gamer in the playoffs and might want to get out of Minnesota, especially if a re-build is on the agenda.....He would have to waive his no-trade clause, but might like NYC. We need a starting SS on a contending team to have an unfortunate injury in the next 48 hours....

I would personally rather watch a young team put up this kind of record and try and develop those young players and give them MLB at bats than watch this current mess of a team supplemented by waiver wire wannabes. With no cap in MLB, the only way this team can get competitive is to hit on some young prospects and ride them before they go play for the Yankees and Dodgers.