LA Vikes Fan

Quick question. Is a thread here where can exchange trade ideas? I'm sure most of them will be laughable since none of us know what we're talking about, but I do think it would be fun and a lot of people would engage. Moderators, is that something you can set up ? I can do it if you tell me how to get on the home page so people can see it. .

I agree that the timing is good, even though it kind of sucks for Buck to have to miss the All-Star Game. Fedco is still on the roster and playing CF tonight since Cleveland is starting a LH pitcher. I think his tenure ends very soon as the man that goes when Jeffers rejoins the roster. Roden should start and play CF on Wednesday and Thursday when Cleveland is throwing RH starters. This is Roden's chance to show he's worth keeping when Buck is ready to come back.

Well, the wait is over! Buxton was just placed on the IL and Roden was called up to replace him. Fedko is slated to start tonight in CF, probably because the Guardians are starting a LH. They're starting RHs the next 2 days, so I think there's a good chance that Roden will be in CF both days. Here we go!

Hey, at least one just came up. Buxton went on the IL and Roden was called up to replace him.

Makes more sense to trade from our OF surplus than a middle infielder but I'm with you.

It was Lawyerson. Optioned yesterday.

You're probably right. Still, I'd even be willing to throw in a mid-tier prospect with Jeffers to get a better pitcher like Hess or Lagrange. Trading him for two 10-15 guys doesn't really excite me. Having said that, we have to trade him so if that's the best we can get . . . Here's the thing I wonder about. If Chapman is worth a top 7 prospect why wouldn't Jeffers be worth at least that? It seems like a top 5 everyday catcher has to have the same or better value than a reliever, even a closer, particularly if that reliever is 38 with a bit of an injury history.

By the way, I'm bored at work so I'm using Claude AI look at trade scenarios. According to Claude, Jeffers should fetch a top five system prospect on the acquiring team, or two mid tier prospects. Claude specifically mentioned RHP Ben Hess, the Yankees number 5 prospect plus some younger, lower tier prospects, or SS Kaeden Kent (Yankees #13) and LHP Kyle Carr (Yankees #11), two mid tier prospects as a package. I would be more interested in getting a better prospect like Hess or, even better, adding in someone like Taylor Rogers and getting Carlos Lagrange and a mid-tier guy still down in A+. What I would really like to do is trade Jeffers for a solid MLB reliever plus a lower tier or younger prospect. I think that's going to be hard since any team trading for Jeffers must consider themselves a contender, or why trade for a rental, and probably won't want to trade somebody any good from their bullpen. I guess the one possibility is to find a team surplus bullpen arms but I don't think that's the Yankees and I don't know who it would be. My guess is the best likely deal is for someone like Ben Hess or Carlos Lagrange. That's likely the best we're going to be able to do, if we can do that well.

The trade talk is interesting and made me curious about 2 things. First, what would it take to get Chapman? I put that inquiry into Claude and the AI response was a top seven prospect. For the Twins, that means someone like Tait (3), Houston (7), Hill (5), GG (6)or Soto (8). That seems like a lot for a 38-year-old two month rental. I like Chapman as a player and I can see how he would be a great get and a real addition to this bullpen but I just am not certain I'm willing to pay that price for this team. Second, has anyone heard or seen anything that suggests Sonny Gray would waive his no trade clause to come to Twins? What I've seen is that he wants to go to Atlanta because he's from the area and wants to play for team that has a real World Series chance. Maybe his buddy Joe Ryan can convince him to consider the Twins but even then, Claude says it would take a top three prospect (not Jenkins, but someone like Culpepper or Tait), plus a pitching arm in the upper minors as a secondary piece (CJ Culpepper? Sam Armstrong? Mike Peredes?), and maybe a third piece if the market gets very competitive. That prospect cost is also really high but I think the real hurdle is that Gray can choose where he wants to go and he has publicly said he wants to go to Atlanta. I guess I would be tempted to trade someone like GG for Chapman given how many OF prospects we have, particularly if we can be assured of re-signing him for next season at something in the neighborhood of $13.3 million deal he has for 2026. Otherwise, I think the cost for these two it's just too high because I don't think either one of them gets us beyond a one (or maybe two) and done playoff appearance at best.

I would agree but them who does Jeffers replace when he's ready to go, hopefully today. Jackson is out of options and will be claimed on waivers because of the real dearth of catching available as injury replacements (and there's always injured catchers) and because he's playing well. I think the plan all along has been to replace Fedko with Jeffers and keep 3 catchers until Jeffers is traded. I really think that Roden needs to come up and it should be now. There's only 3 choices that I see to make that happen. First, IL Buxton. Bad choice unless you're sure he can't help us against Cleveland. Famous last words, but we shouldn't need him against the Angels so if he can't play by Thursday put him on a 10 day Il and use next week at 4 of the 10 days. That means he doesn't get to play in the AS game though so he isn't going to like that idea. Second, replace Fedko and Martin with Roden and Jeffers, Another bad choice. Martin is starting to play well again and makes a very good natural platoon with Larnach in left. Don't do this to force Roden onto the roster. If this is the only choice, Roden waits. Best choice is to option Gray (he has one left) for Roden. It's risky because now you have no utility IF if someone gets hurt or needs a day. If someone gets hurt, your only option is to move Lewis to the open spot if it's 2B or 3B, with Bell at 1B, or Lewis to 3B if you need a SS and Lee goes back to SS, also with Bell at 1B. Defensively pretty ugly. Still, the best choice available to get Roden up now. I suspect that unless there's an injury Roden is going to have to wait until Jeffers is traded to create a spot to come up. If Buxton can't go in CF this week, then maybe you option Fedko and Gray for Jeffers and Roden if Jeffers is ready, Roden for Fedko if Jeffers needs another couple of days and then Jeffers for Gray. I don't see why Jeffers needs more time though so to me the choice is Gray or Roden. I would pick Roden, but I get why they may want to stick with Gray , Arcia, or Ross, to have some kind of a utility IF on the roster. I love Bell as a hitter but this is what happens when you have a full time DH.

He hated it and so did I. Nobody here is suggesting that we do that, or at least I'm not. I'm a big proponent of trading Jeffers, the one good player we have on an expiring contract. Besides, this is a different team in a different situation. Artie refused to trade when the world could see the Angels weren't in contention. Plus the Angels drew 30,000 a game even with a bad team then so there was no business imperative. Here, we'll have a better idea in 3 weeks whether the Twins are in contention for the playoffs this year and there is a serious business imperative to trying to contend. The Angels analogy doesn't work unless you assume the Twins can't contend for the division or the playoffs. That's a question for which we don't yet have an answer. If we go 9-13 or worse in the next 22, or 13-9 or better in the next 22, then we will. Watch, we'll go 11-11 and be having this debate a month from now.

Both Mike and I gave you the thumbs up but I suspect for different reason. I think the Twins can go 41-30 the rest of the way and I also think 39-32 might get it done.

Hey, if we can get Hogland or Dotel for Bell and even a solid prospect like Rosario or CJ Culpepper, jump on it. I'm not as big a fan of Harrington, in part because he played for the Campbell Fighting Camels. Seriously, the Fighting Camels? That's the best you got?

Jeffers for Fedko. Roden only if Buck goes on the Il, which I don't think he will. No room for Wallner.

I agree that it's a definitional issue. Joe Ryan was no "slappy" when we got him. He was 15-8 with a 13.0 strikeouts per 9 and 2.67 ERA in his last MiLB season with the Rays, and he was on Team USA for the Tokyo Olympics. The issue with Ryan was that he was 25 and didn't have the big fastball velocity so scouts were worried his MiLB success wouldn't translate to the Show. I can't think of an equivalent guy but if we can a Joe Ryan type for Bell, do it. The problem is we can't. One other thing. We don't have to punt on Bell in 2027. We can re-sign him; he won't be out of our price range if we're willing to pay $8-12M for a DH. He's making $7M this year. That's a good price for a guy who is likely to finish 2026 around .255/,325/.450 plus with 20-25 HRs and 90-100 plus RBIs. i know people want him gone to give chances to others and his fielding can be charitably describes as awful. Still, will Roden, GG. Emma. Mendez, or Rosario. do better than that in 2027? Maybe but just as likely not. They are younger and might be better by 2028 or the same for longer, and they will be cheaper for awhile, but there's also just as good a chance that they will be worse or get injured. Jenkins I make room for, next year. He gets Martin's spot and may bump Keaschall or Larnach to the bench if Larnach isn't traded. The other 5? We can give them a chance but they have to earn a spot. No scholarships and no creating need by trading productive players just so they can get a chance.

I think you are misunderstanding me and way undervaluing what you want to trade. Remember, most prospects don't pan out and you're trading established above average to elite (Ryan) MLB players. The issue is the market. I think you're undervaluing the market for Ryan. I think he's worth an established MLB reliever plus a top 50 prospect. You're trading him for all prospects and ones that either have flaws or are at least 2-3 years away. Salas has an extensive injury history and couldn't hit at the AA level until the last month, Mayfield has had shoulder issues, but is dominating at A+, and De La Cruz is 19 and in the Dominican Summer League. I think Ryan is worth a lot more, but if that's all he will fetch, there's no reason to trade him. Keep him and try again in the off season. It's better for this year's team and you can get that level of return in the off season. I'd be fine with trading Larnach and a prospect for Waldschmit, but not a high end prospect like GG. Jeffers is the harder call as a quality rental who's gone in 2027. I've seen Jeffers for Kyle Carr and Kaeden Kent, two of the Yankees top 20, or Jeffers and Rogers for Carlos Lagrange and Rafael Flores, or for Henry LaLane and Jace Avina. Jeffers alone is worth Hopkins plus and Hopkins alone is worth less than what the Yankees are supposedly willing to do. I see another real problematic issue for the Twins. The team is actually performing fairly well and the league and the division are both weak. They have a chance to play some meaningful, exciting games in August and September if they keep playing this well. That is a difficult scenario to trade away from because it energizes the fan base, restores some faith in the team and ownership, and shows confidence in the players you have, many of whom you need to re – sign in the next year or two. That alone is enough reason not to trade Ryan unless you are blown way and the package you have isn't close to that. You have to trade Jeffers so there you probably have to take what you can get. You don't have to trade anybody else unless you get quality back. Now if they win 10 or less of the 22 games to the trade deadline, trade away.

I get the long game and if we can trade Bell for a prospect projectable to a solid MLB player at AA or higher, I'm in. I understood people here to be saying trade Bell for an A Ball Lottery ticket or trade Bell to open up ABs for Roden regardless of return. If the latter is the deal, I'm out. .

I think Bradley has been a great acquisition. He was never thought of as "the ace Minnesota envisioned when they acquired him last summer." I think the hope was that he'd be a solid #3 or #4 starter. There was hope he could improve to be something akin to a #2. And improve he has. I would argue that so far this season he has been a very strong #3 to a solid #2 in a competitive team's rotation. Remember, all we gave up was an aging but effective setup man in Griffin Jax. He wasn't a closer, in fact failed miserably in that role when tried, and he had started the back nine of his career. Jax has had a decent season with the Rays as 7th inning guy. Conversely, Bradley has had a very good season with the Twins as our #2 starter. There is no question we got more value than we gave, at least so far. I'm all in favor of changing his pitch sequencing to make you more effective and I think the ideas here are good. Still, I'm more than okay with Bradley continuing the way he has for the rest of the year.

Can't agree with you. You're right that the recent hot streak got him to a 103 OPS+. His history is a slow start, then heats up and continues hot the rest of the way. He's likely to hit at least a 110 OPS+ by the end, 115 OPS+ for the later 81 games. He's probably gone next year but very helpful this year. I'm not against trading Bell, I'm against trading him for "a lottery ticket". I would trade him for a solid AA or AAA guy with solid regular upside. Not a future star, but a pitcher who is likely to be a solid reliver, a middle IF who is an above average glove and hits 7 at the MLB level, someone like that. If we can't get that, and maybe we can't, keep him. He may be worth more to the Twins than anyone else but his value to us is what matters. It will be tough to find at bats for Roden. It's tough when the starters at the positions you play are all hitting at the top of the lineup. Still, I think you can get him 15-20 ABs a week, including ABs against LH starters when Larnach sits and a day or two when Keaschall sits. Roden has neutral platoon splits. That's enough to find out what you have and chances are an injury gives you the chance to find out more.

The return on all of these ideas seems light except for the deal for Detmers, which I love. Salas, Mayfield, and de LA Cruz are all at least 2 years away and the latter 2 haven't even hit AA yet. Ryan is worth more, a whole lot more. He's worth an established controllable MLB bat plus. Waldschmit is Gonzalez with a better defensive profile so why both GG and Larnach? Hopkins would be a great get but Kelly is just ok, nothing that special, and giving up BOTH Jeffers and Houston is way too much. Hopkins and Kelly for Jeffers and someone like Sam Armstrong makes more sense to me.

I don't know why people are eager to get rid of Bell for an A ball lottery ticket or its equivalent. He's hit .290/.350/.598 in the last 30 games with 8 HRs, 28 RBIS and only about a 22% strikeout rate. If we have a middle of the order bat, he's it. Now if we were to get a solid late inning reliever for him, that's a trade to make. The problem is that those kinds of returns are not available at the deadline. What's generally available are prospects at least a year or two away, many of whom don't turn out. I understand the issue of getting playing time for Alan Roden, Culpepper, and maybe Emma if he's ever healthy for longer than a week or two at a stretch. It's going to be hard to do if we don't trade anybody. Culpepper could come up and play 2B and SS with Clemens moving to a UTL role and Gray DFA'd but getting time for OFs is a puzzle, particularly LH hitting OFs who can't be Larnach's platoon mate. It will probably take a trade of Larnach or Bell to accomplish that. I'd rather trade Larnach but frankly don't think we'll trade either. I think Roden gets his chance after we trade Jeffers and go back to 2 catchers, thus leaving a spot open. Its going to take either that or an injury and somehow there's always injury related chances for guys.

My son is in Brea. I like Yates too but at age 39, I'm not giving up much for him. He only helps this year and maaaaybe next. Maybe GG, Wallner and Ben Ross for Soriano or Detmers and Yates?

Wow, interesting and good take. I disagree on only 2 things. First, Keaschall is winning the long term job in RF. He's hitting again like last year or close and he's a real athlete. Second, I don't think they trade Bell or Larnach. I think both stay because the return will be too light for Bell to make any sense. Larnach might go if some like SD would offer a really good young reliever like Bradgley Rodriguez but more likely he stays because the available return will be all prospects at least a year out. Neither goes because we won't trade them unless we get someone who can help this year. Keaschall looking good in the OF and again at the plate creates a real opportunity. Now we have trade bait. We have 6 OFs in AAA that could garner some serious interest - Jenkins, Emma, GG, Roden, Mendez and Rosario. And that doesn't count Wallner or Fedko. Jenkins is off the table. I'd be hesitant to trade Emma, GG, or Mendez, but would consider the latter 3 in a trade for an established younger controllable starting pitcher and a solid reliver. Say Jose Soriano or Reid Detmers of the Angels or someone that good? Or maybe for a just graduated top 50 starting prospect like Robbie Snelling of Miami? Maybe Roden or Rosario and throw in a Ben Ross to make it happen? My point is that with Keaschall looking like he can be a long term OF fixture, we now have OFs to trade. You DO NOT trade any of them for 30 plus year old relief pitchers. You DO trade one or two of them for younger, controllable starting pitchers. We've all been thinking all of these guys at AAA are future All Stars. They aren't. At least half of them won't make it and are now at their peak value as prospects with a future. Let's cash that value in if there's an opportunity.

I'll bite on actually proposing a trade rather than just dissing the owner family (who deserves it, by the way). I live in SoCal and my son in Orange County is an Angels fan, poor guy. He says Soriano and Detmers are both potentially available in trades. as are Bachman and Yates in the bullpen. The Angels contention window is at least 3 years out and they're looking for young, controllable hitting. Here are the candidates: Jose Soriano (27 yo RHSP) - 8-5, 3.42 ERA, 111 SOs in 100 IP, 26.2 SO%, 1.32 WHIP, 4.01 FIP, Arb eligible 2027, FA 2029. Reid Detmers (27 yo LHSP) - 3-6, 4.13 ERA, 117 SOs in 104 IP, 27.1 SO%, 1.11 WHIP, 3.08 FIP, Arb eligible 2027, FA 2029. Sam Bachman (26 yo RHRP) - 1-1, 3.26 ERA, 39 SOs, 38.2 IP, 24.4 SO%, 1.19 WHIP, 4.40 FIP, Arb 2027, FA 2031. Kirby Yates (39 yo RHRP) - 0-3, 2.75 ERA, 28 SOs, 19.2 IP, 35.4% SO%, 2.96 FIP, one year deal. Proposed deals - Alan Roden or G Gonzalez plus Kala'i Rosario, Ben Ross, or Matt Wallner and an A or AA pitcher (Sam Armstrong?) for Detmers and one of the two relievers. Basically they can have 2 position players other than Culppeper, Jenkins, Emma or Mendez plus an A or AA guy for one of the two starters and one reliever. I like Detmers better than Soriano but would take either. Getting the starter improves the bullpen because that's where Paredes goes. I'd obviously rather have Bachman at age 26 than Yates at age 39 but would take Yates if the prospect return was lesser. What do you think?

You got that right I think there is little chance that Jackson is DFA'd for Jeffers. He stays so he can be part of the tandem with Caratini when Jeffers is traded. I'd love to keep Jeffers but you just can't do that when he's a FA at the end of the year.