LA Vikes Fan

I don't think you and I are too far off. I agree that we're missing a RH middle of the order bat to hit 5 or 6 and could really use that kind of player. For me, adding that RH bat to mostly play a combination of DH and either 1B or LF works IF Kepler is traded. I want at least one OF position and half of the DH ABs open so Kirilloff, Larnach and Gordon can each be playing 5 days a week. I just don't see how we do that AND play Arraez, Kepler and Gallo 5 days a week. You have to think that Gallo has been promised an every day spot or he wouldn't have come to the Twins. Arraez is the defending batting champion and Kepler's defense is such that you have to think they are regulars going forward. We only have innings and ABs for these 6 guys at LF, RF, 1B, and DH. That's not enough for 6 players to play regularly, especially when they all hit left handed. I absolutely agree that adding a solid RH bat would help this lineup tremendously and could give us a few more wins. The problem is that I can't square that with getting enough innings and ABs for Gordon, Larnach, Kiriloff, and eventually Wallner, Lewis, Lee and Julien in 2023. I think the two ways to add the RH bat and create enough space without a tear down is either to trade Kepler to create an OF spot OR commit to playing Gordon 4-5 days a week at SS. Even then we're one starting spot short but that may be cured by injury or ineffectiveness. I think that there's a real choice here that we should make going into the season. One choice is to stay with what we have and add a RH bat. A few more wins, but not enough to contend in my view, and that choice would be made at the cost of needed development time for the guys mentioned above. My choice would be to trade Kepler to create room for those guys to play even at the cost of a few wins. IF we trade Kepler there potentially is room for a RH bat as long as he's willing to play part time, but not for a full time guy. For me, the most important value is getting ABs for this next wave in 2023.

This is the question - assuming McCutcheon could marginally raise the floor (a pretty big IF), should we try to get him? The answer depends on if we're possible contender where 2-3 wins could make the difference in making the playoffs or winning a series, or are we father away then that and thus should use this as a development year? I personally don't see a lot of upside to improving from 75-80 wins to 82-83 wins so we can say we're a contender. The mediocre middle is a bad place to be. Either try to contend or try to develop so you can contend sooner rather than later. Don't play for 3rd place instead of 4th. I'm the eternal optimist but I don't see this Twins team as a few wins away from contention. We have a solid rotation missing a true #1, a decent bullpen that could improve to solid if we sign a Fullmer type, average defense (above average OF with a below average IF), and a below average hitting lineup which lacks speed and is short on power. That's your current 2023 Twins. Sounds like 75-85 wins depending on where we fall on the bad vs. perfect health spectrum. My view is play the young(ish) guys like Larnach, Kirilloff, Gordon, Miranda, and Lewis when he's ready, plus Wallner and Lee in the second half. Don't sign a McCutcheon type to take away ABs unless you really think we can contend. I don't. In fact, I see the only way to contend being to play the young guys and hope they fulfill their promise quickly. Assuming health, get Miranda 600 plate appearances this year, 500+ for Gordon, Larnach and Kirilloff, and 250+ for Lewis, Lee and Wallner in the second half if you can. If possible and deserved by early performance, add Julien and Martin into the mix. Get 30 plus starts for Ryan and Ober, and 10-15 for Varland and SWR. Try to get Paddack back in the rotation for 8-10 starts after his TJ rehab. If that means trading vets at the deadline, moving Maeda to the BP, and/or living with a lesser defensive SS who hits while Farmer becomes the UTl who can play SS, do it. Most of these guys are 25 or 26, not 21 or 22. Play them and play them this year. Live with the consequences.

I'm with you Chief except that Celestino may develop into more than a "waste of space" in the future. He needs a full year or close to it in AAA playing CF every day. He turns 24 in a month and has spent the last year and a half trying to survive in the BIgs when he wasn't ready. He might be ready in 2024 or even September 2023 if he gets a year in AAA to refine his hit tool. Don't take him to the MLB roster. Gordon/Gallo can be the backup CF. Garlick? Just no, thank you. He's older, always injured, can't hit RH pitching at all, and is a below average fielder. His career OPS+ is even slightly below average against LH pitching. He's ok as a stash depth piece in AAA, not as a guy on the 26 man expecting to play semi-regularly. I hate to say this but he doesn't help short term much and has little value long term.

I agree with Riverbrian on the concept. We desperately need to deepen the lineup unless this year's plan is the hope that multiple inexperienced players will step up (Larnach, Kirilloff, Jeffers, Wallner) and/or continue up (Mirnda, Gordon). Lots of "ifs" there. We could really use a good professional RH hitter. The question to me is whether any of those 3 guys actually meets that definition. Pollack is on the downslope, McCutcheon is farther down that slope, and Mancini is a wild card after his huge fade last year. I thought about Nelson Cruz but he fell off the table last year and will be 43 in July. I guess Mancini is he best veteran option out there but he scares me a little. I just don't see trading Kepler as getting us much more than a decent MLB reliever or a decent prospect or two so that isn't the short term answer for the lineup either. I'm almost ready to say that we should just go ahead and run with what we have and call 2023 a development year. Hope for 85 wins, be ok with 80 wins, be excited about more than 85, and call for heads to roll with less than 80. It's not what I was hoping for a couple of months ago but maybe ok.

I like and agree with the list. I'm one of the posters that has said that Gordon should be penciled in as an every day LF or at least in a platoon with a RH hitter. Right now that's Garlick but I still hold out hope we can find somebody better, even Trey Mancini. Lately though, I've come around to the idea that we should give Gordon a real chance to show us whether he can be a MLB Shortstop. If 2022 was a fair indication of how he can hit, he would be a huge asset as a Shortstop if he can field the position at an average or better level. We have Spring Training and the first half of the 2023 season to find out if he can field at that level. Farmer was signed as a utility player, not as an everyday shortstop. I would love to see them play Gordon at Shortstop in the Spring Training and unless he is terrible, I'd love to see them play him at SS at least in a platoon with Farmer so he gets 4 games a week there. Let's find out if Gordon can play the position and give ourselves as many alternatives as possible when Lewis comes back.

I'm with you on the concept, just slightly different on the details. Let's be honest, the chances of improving the club through FAs is gone other than a decent middle relief option like Fullmer. Trades tend to be more of a reshuffling than an addition unless we trade prospects for MLB quality and we traded most of those prospects last year. Unless we can trade Kepler plus prospects outside of our top 10 for a starter like Lopez or Luzardo (unlikely) or Kepler for quality MLB relief or decent prospects (also unlikely) I'm generally not in favor of any of the trades I hear rumored. The rotation is solid, bullpen is close to solid, and the lineup is a question mark. That's who we are and who we're likely to be. I say play the younger guys and play them now. These players aren't 22 or 23, they're 25 and 26. They need to play to see if they are MLB worthy guys. Play them, play them 5 days a week, and live with the results for at least the first half of the year. The one person missing from your list is Gordon. I think he may be a MLB starting player in LF, and has a chance to be a good bat, decent glove SS or 2B. I would like to see him get a real run at SS in spring training, start the season playing there at least in a platoon with Farmer (and maybe even 5 days a week), and see if he can handle the position and still hit like last year. He can move aside for Lewis in the second half if he can't handle the spot. If he can and does, Lewis can move to LF. Having too many good young players is a good thing and it's far too early to pick winners from guys who haven't shown quality over an extended sample. Let's make them earn it and give them a chance to do so. Overall though, I agree. Barring injury, I'd love to see Larnach, Kirilloff, Miranda and Gordon get 500 ABs this year, Lewis get 300 (only because of injury rehab time), and Lee and Julien and maybe Martin getting 200-250. I also want to see Ryan and Ober get at least 25 starts apiece, with Varland and SWR getting 10-15 each. It may not be pretty all the time but it would be fun to watch.

This is a very interesting idea. With those 3 OFs as the "every day" starters, we have 2 guys that can fill in for Buxton when he is off or DHing and not on the IL. Celestino can go to AAA where he develops more and is available if we need a long term CF due to a Buxton injury and if the team isn't comfortable with Gordon as that replacement CF. Larnach goes to AAA or is the 5th OF, same for Garlick. 1B becomes Kirilloff's home IF he's healthy. IF not, Arraez goes there instead of DH/UTL. Gordon is also a UTL with some time at SS to see if he can play there. The starters are Arraez, Polanco, Buxton, Kirilloff, Miranda, Gallo, Vasquez, Kepler, Farmer, hitting in that basic order. It is too left handed so one would like to see a RH hitting OF/DH type better than Garlick. Gordon is super utility who plays SS and OF a t least 2 days a week each, bench is Gordon, Jeffers, a utility IF, and for now Garlick (there has got to be someone better). Not ideal, but still workable and gives MLB development time to Miranda and Kirilloff. If Kirilloff can't go, Larnach plays first or LF with Gallo moving to 1B. Larnach and Celestino develop in AAA and move up when the inevitable injuries hit the team. Look, this isn't ideal but right now it may be the best option we have. Trade Kepler and Larnach takes his spot. Better for development, but could be worse for 2023. Means to me that Kepler needs to fetch an MLB level reliever or a 10-20 type pitching prospect or we keep him. Tough choice.

Kirilloff has the tools but he hasn't been able to get his body to cooperate. Until he does for a season or two, not a week or a month or two, he's a complete crapshoot. It would be a great bonus if the latest surgery worked and he was able to be all his talent allows him to be. Right now, that would be an unexpected but very pleasant surprise. He just had very invasive surgery to shave down a bone. The recovery time and level is totally uncertain IF he recovers enough to play at the MLB level at all. The odds are more likely than not that he won't. Kirilloff is just not a player the team can build around with this history. The Twins should not be moving forward planning for him to fill a position in 2023. If he can and does, what a great gift. Odds of that are not very high. Sad, but true.

I live in LA. I would be very surprised if Bauer plays for the Dodgers ever again. Most likely will be unceremoniously released. Pretty much hated in the clubhouse here, heard the same things about him in Cleveland. I know he can pitch but the Twins aren't one guy away from the World Series. PIus, he hasn't pitched in 2 years. Let's just stay away.

Do everything except keep Polanco and Gray (midseason trade pieces if we flop)ND GRAY ( and have Arraez be a DH/1B/2B guy. Send Wallner to AAA and he'll be up soon enough as an injury replacement. It is far from certain Kirilloff will be able to play and Larnach has had season ending injuries 2 years in a row.

I would add Nick Gordon to the mix of a player who gets some run at SS in the first half of 2023. Now that Correa is gone, the pivot should be to letting the young guys play in April, May and June to see what we have.

I agree that SS is the revolving door and I want to add one more possible solution - NIck Gordon. I like the idea of Gordon at SS since we didn't sign one of the big 4 - I think it's a much better idea that signing a retread like Andrus or Iglesias or playing Farmer at SS every day. Start out with a Gordon/Framer timeshare - Gordon 4 games a week, mostly against RH pitching with Farmer 2-3, mostly against LH pitching. See if Gordon can field the position. Farmer can get another game or two a week at 3B or 2B when Polanco and/or Miranda DHs or sits. Let's find out if Gordon can play SS at an average or above average level. If he stink after the first month, go to Farmer. We have half a season before there's any chance of Lewis being ready. Now's the time; let's find out if Gordon can play SS. Let's tell Gordon NOW - you can be the Opening Day SS if you show us you can field the position. Spend the off season working on your SS defense, show in Spring training, and we'll give you a shot. If he fails, Farmer is the short term answer and we can hope for Lewis, Lee or someone else to be the long term answer. If he succeeds, all kinds of good things and possibilities open up. Give this a shot and do it now.

I like the idea of Gordon at SS since we didn't sign one of the big 4 - I think it's a much better idea that signing a retread like Andrus or Iglesias or playing Farmer at SS every day. Start out with a Gordon/Framer timeshare - Gordon 4 games a week, mostly against RH pitching with Farmer 2-3, mostly against LH pitching. See if Gordon can field the position. Farmer can get another game or two a week at 3B or 2B when Polanco and/or Miranda DHs or sits. Let's find out if Gordon can play SS at an average or above average level. If he stink after the first month, go to Farmer. We have half a season before there's any chance of Lewis being ready. Now's the time; let's find out if Gordon can play SS.

I don't think getting Joey Gallo moves the needle a whole lot but I do think he'll benefit from the new positioning rules and Kepler will not. Why? Because Gallo hits a lot of hard ground balls to his pull side. It's those balls that will become hits. Kepler hits a lot of softer contact to his pull side with soft ground balls and pop ups. Those will not become hits against a team with any sort of infield range. In 2022, Gallo had a hard hit rate of 49.1%, avg. exit velocity of 92.5 mph and barrel percentage of 20.2%. Kepler was 39.4%, 89.1 mph, and 7.1%. those rates and percentages have been fairly consistent over the last few years. I could see Gallo's average going up 20-30 points (that's 10-20 hits over 500 ABs) or even more. If he's really a .200 hitter and not the .160 he hit last year that gets him to .220-.230/.355-.365/.475-.485 based on historical performance. I don't think Kepler will get that same kind of benefit because he just doesn't hit the ball hard enough to benefit. Gallo is demonstrably the better hitter and may be as good in the field as Kepler. If the trade off is Kepler replaced by Gallo, that's probably a slight upgrade. But the trade off MAY be better than that IF Kepler is traded for a good prospect or as part of a package for a starting pitcher or quality reliever. Signing Gallo allows us to trade Kepler without then having to completely rely on an OF of unproven or injury prone players, most of whom are both. There's really no good way to evaluate the signing of Gallo until that other shoe drops. I too wish that the FO had done a better job so far by either signing Correa, Rodon, or Bogaerts. All signed pretty "out there" contracts although we could and should have offered Correa at least $300-320 mil. Still would have lost out on him, though. The off season isn't over yet. It's to soon to know whether it's successful or a complete disaster.

I agree. Gordon's performance last year should have him penciled in as the Twins starting LF. He has performed. Kiriloff, Larnach, Wallner and, to be honest, Kepler, have not. He should be given the chance to start against LH pitching to se if he can improve against same sided hurlers. He should be allowed to attempt more stolen bases. He should be (and I think is) the backup CF when Buxton can't play. In other word, Gordon should be treated like the most likely to succeed of our up and coming prospects. Why? Because he's earned it . Kirilloff, Larnach, Wallner - they have not. We should trade Kepler, keep Kirilloff as part of a 1B/DH time share, and have Laranach and Wallner fight it out for the last roster spot and send the other to AAA. Play Gallo in RF and play Gordon in LF every day next year for as long as he performs. No scholarships - play the guys who earn the time.

This is not exciting, although I wouldn't call it disheartening. I'm assuming it is a step necessary because of another step coming - a trade of Kepler, Laranch, Wallner or some combination thereof, hopefully as part of the rumored package for a Lopez type starter. That might make this move make some sense. Otherwise, all we've done is make a crowded OF more crowded with yet another LH hitting OF who strikes out a lot. That would be a little disheartening. In other news, Andrew Benintendi just signed with the White Sox - 5 years, $75 million.

I'm unhappy that we didn't ay the freight to get Correa and happy that we didn't really compete for Rodon (too injury prone). But please, let's stop complaining about Urshela. Nice guy, decent player, but a classic starter on a second division team who is a UTL/trade bait on a good team kind of guy. His defense is good as long as the ball is hit to him or a step or two either way. No range. That's why the Yankees moved him off SS, and then realized that his bat isn't good enough bat to augment his glove at an offense first position once MLB got rid of the juiced ball. He's not on the Yankees any more because he wasn't good enough for a team that expected to contend. Perfect for the Angels who won't really contend but don't want to rebuild. He'll help them get as high as 80-82 wins this year. Whopee! And let's not forget he's a FA in 2024. We traded Urshela to create room for a player that has a much higher offensive ceiling at 3B, while leaving 1B open for the reigning AL batting champ and/or Kirilloff who also has a much higher ceiling. Yes, both young players have a lower floor. Will this work? I say more likely yes than no but none of us know. These are the kind of moves the Twins have to make and risks they have to take to have a chance to get better. A team of Urshelas might win 80-85 games but it won't compete for anything else. This might work, it might not, but at least it's an attempt to get better.

Kepler and/or Maeda is not going to get us a good SP, you're right. They might get us some decent prospects, particularly Kepler. I'm in the camp of trading Kepler for prospects but not packaging him with Arraez to get a decent but not great SP. I think we need Arraez' bat. This lineup is at least 2 bats short as it is unless the young guys step up.

I'm actually very OK with this approach with a couple of tweaks. I wouldn't trade Gray; I'd try to re-sign him for 2-3 more years. Given the injury issues in the projected starting 5 there will be at least 20-25 starts available for Varland, Winder and SWR to cover for guys on the IL, probably more. I would add a RH hitting 1B/LF/DH type - either Trey Mancini or Wil Myers seems to fit that bill. I'm assuming Kepler will be traded for a solid BP arm or prospects, so leaves open ABs for Larnach, Kirilloff, Wallner, and Gordon (also as the backup SS/2B/CF). Use this year as more "competitive rebuild". 75-85 win team depending on health and whether the young guys step forward or fall back as a group. 2024 is the competitive window year.

Sign Swanson. Then pivot to signing some hitters and trying to trade for a pitching upgrade. For hitters there's Benintendi, Profar, Wil Myers, Trey Mancini, and Michael Conforto. Sign two to play LF/DH/1B. My picks are Two of Profar, Mancini and Myers. Trade for a starter if you can do it without giving up Arraez. Otherwise, roll with what you got.

And vice versa. Both have said that they want to play for a consistent contender. That is not the Twins as presently configured. That could be the Twins with Correa, Vazquez, PLUS a strong SP and some BP help. My guess is that both are waiting to see what else the club does before seriously considering the Twins as their destination. Let's face it, they both have time to wait. Then we can get the issue of that 4th year for Vazquez or 10th for Correa.

Let me change he discussion a little Does a team with Max Kepler starting every day contend for a title? Not unless he REALLY improves at the plate, and definitely not if he's hitting in the top 6 in the order. Do the Twins chances to contend improve if he's traded and Wallner, Larnach or Gordon play RF every day? Hard to know since we don't know what we're getting back in a trade or whether any of the other 3 will be an improvement. Here's what we do know. The Twins are not good enough to contend with the current roster, even if we re-sign Correa. We need to look at every avenue to improve, including trading a vet like Kepler as part of package to get a return to shore up the pitching staff or catching. A trade also has the ancillary value of giving another guy who might turn out to be better a place to play. That's why I say shop Kepler and if you can improve the team by shoring up a weak point absolutely make the trade. No need to dump him just to create a spot; but definitely trade him if can get pitching or catching in return.

Agree on Bassitt but the word is he wants 4 years and won't sign for 3. He's 34 years old. Question to all - Would you give him the same or a slightly better deal than Tijuan Walker who got 4 years, 72M? Maybe 4 years, 75-80m? Answer assuming that a 3 year deal is not possible, that some team will give him 4. I would give him the 4th year.

I'm fine with trading Kepler for a decent return, and I don't think that's going to be an MLB player. A good fielding below average to poor hitting corner OF just isn't worth that much. I don't think we can get a solid return unless we (1) package him with a bona fide pitching prospect like SWR, Raya or Canterino, or (2) we trade him and a lesser prospect for a strong prospect from a team that needs a CF, not a RF. Logical team - the Dodgers. They need a CF but don't have to play him there every day since they have Chris Taylor and Trayce Thompson (both RH hitters) who can play CF. They are trying to keep the payroll down a little to reset for luxury tax purposes and they may be on the hook for the 60 million left on Trevor Bauer's contract. He will not pitch another inning for LA. The word in the LA media is that they aren't fishing in the high end FA pond this year. Do the Dodgers have a minor league Catcher or Pitcher who isn't the very top end but has real potential? I looked at their 40 man and the pitching names that jumped out are Ryan Pepiot as a starter and Justin Bruihl or Caleb Ferguson, both LH relievers. Pepiot would require a big payout - Kepler and probably 2 top 20 prospects - but the relievers might be had for Kepler and something lower level. They also have a A+ ball catching prospect named Diego Cartaya that has good stats and is only 21 that they felt the need to protect. Anybody know anything else about their org that could help identify a target? Max's ability to play CF and his very reasonable salary might appeal to LA.

Hilarious. One of my all time favorites. Well Said. Rocco definitely has the urban lumberjack look.