Kipp35

Is this article really asking about former Twins players, most past any prime they may have had, coming back? This team either gave up on these guys or delt them away when we couldn't use them anymore. Just because this FO doesn't know how to multi-task, and work with more than one FA at a time; does not mean we should sign past the prime players no other team wants, just because they used to be a Twin...

Everything the Twins do is frustrating and upsetting. As a fan of 46 years, never being a bandwagon fan, I get that right to be frustrated. Further, I can be frustrated when I make a point, and the ONE item pulled from my point is a correction on a number and not the point being made. The fact is, what did Kepler make last season? Was I accurate in that? Is the number you corrected me on for the upcoming season, still below $11mm? Then I feel the point I was attempting in making is still valid. But fans that want to let them [Twins] off the hook and make excuses, all the while supporting their poor decisions with their money, time and support, want to make these types of corrections. That is totally fine. You can feel free to continue to support these poor decisions and then make excuses for this club. Further, feel free to continue to correct people on this forum with minor corrections in their points, pro or con. But let's not get our feelings hurt when we are called on the fact you are Google-ing the math of this point instead of understanding the point being made.

Still have to love articles and rumors about Twins players using "if". "IF" Buxton can stay healthy, he'll be an MVP. "IF" Eovaldi can stay healthy, he'd be a #2 starter. "IF" we could have signed Correa... I'd like to add a new one; "IF" we had a capable front office, then we wouldn't need to stop everything in the offseason to pursue ONE person, and let ALL others sign elsewhere. Seems other teams have no issues in working on several FA's at a time.

Public school math still says that is less than $11mm, I believe. But thank you pulling that one take, from what I wrote. Because that was the foundation of what my point was...

This is simply ridiculous! Had to let Sano go (which I agree) because he struck out just too often! Sano is a career .234 hitter with 162 HR's (over 8 years) making $9mm. We turn around (after not signing Correa) and give $11mm to a career .199 hitter with 177 HR's (over 8 years)... WTF? Ok, so we say he is a gem defensively, but then this article stats he is behind Kepler, athletically, who we are rumored to be trading and is making $6.75... WTF? Small market club making poor team decisions and even worse financial decisions. If we wanted to have a guy that strikes out all the time but occasionally goes deep, we could have saved $2mm and kept Sano. If we want a defensive gem in the outfield, we could keep the more athletic Kepler and save $4.25mm. Who also bats a career .232 with a 129 HR's (over 8 years). Am I supposed to be turned on as a fan that Gallos HR's may be more towering than Sano's, or is that I should admire how Gallo can make plays in the outfield that Kepler could make? All three have played 8 seasons in the majors. None have impressive stat lines, but one gets $11mm to do it for the Twins.. The only way I say this is an okay deal, is if Gallo is looked at as the injury replacement for Buxton this season. Can he play CF? We NEED someone who can 100+ games in CF when Buxton goes down... again.

Does this article sound familiar to anyone else? Sounds EXACTLY like last season when we stopped everything in order to ensure we got a deal done with Buxton, who was still under contract, no going anywhere, had no other team pursuing him (as noted by NO offers at the trade deadline). But, they did get Bundy to help out last year... this FO needs to be done and let someone else who can evaluate value, do the job.

That's the issue. We are supposed to have faith these guys know what they are doing. I haven't seen it... When Correa came here, they were contacted by Borras, not the other way around. They can't/won't do ANYTHING.

Really, "Gut Punch"? You felt he was going to come back here? Correa and Borras had nothing else to use the Twins for. He was never going to come back here. We could have offered him a 25-year deal, wouldn't have happened. What did we do to show him, while he was here, we were going to do what it takes to win? Go out and do what you do, bring back Simmons or sign the 36-year-old Escobar to take over when Royce Lewis blows out his knee, again. But, remember to get a CF'er, too! Cain is 37, maybe he could play more games than Buxton... ? Can we now quit dragging our feet and do SOMETHING that resembles a team looking like they give a damn about improving, please?

The Twins need to just stop pretending. Make the best possible offer you can to Correa and MOVE ON! This happened last year when we stopped everything in order to sign Buxton (who was still under contract and not going ANYWHERE) and that allowed us to miss out on everyone else who could possibly help us be competitive. Including Rodon LAST YEAR! Make an offer, then MOVE ON! This team has a lot of needs!!!

All these comments on 'if he can play "x-# games", then he would... is really where we are at as a club. We gave him 7 years and $100mm and this article says what a deal that was. What other club would look at paying someone $100mm and them playing a total of less than 100 games and only half of them at the position he was signed to play, a "deal"? This also was not a $100mm deal, as we have to plan on paying someone to play the majority of the season in CF. And both Cave and Celestino are not the answer to that! We let a lot of other top tier FA's sign with other clubs while we were working out this 'deal' of a contract with Buxton. Remember, the Twins couldn't get an offer for him at the trade deadline, he wasn't going anywhere. This was a deal that made sense for Buxton, not necessarily for the Twins. He would not have received 7y/$100mm from any other team had he hit the open market. Now we are back at this off season. We had better sign a veteran FA that can take over CF and play the majority of the season there, and also fill all of our other needs...

He was great, defensively, but I would say our best most consistent player was Arraez.

Why are we content with an article listing players that "maybe available in January". Are we once again going to be okay with this team waiting and taking what scraps are left? I think as fans, we need to demand better. This practice didn't work last year. And, why are we still looking for the batting title champ to be a platoon player? Any other team would be looking to get him as many at bats as possible, NOT reducing them in a platoon. All I can do lately is just shake my head at these decisions.

I like seeing a lot of the comments not trusting what is said. I also agree, I am sure he wants Correa back, who wouldn't? But, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! The Twins picked up the option on Sonny Gray, that is a good move. Keep those good moves going; if you want Correa, then be aggressive and go after him. I know his agent is tough and aggressive, but don't let him bully you. Make your best offer, with the caveat that the deal expires in 24 hours and then we will move on to the next player. Then, follow through on that. After all, if it is your best offer, then there is no sense continuing to wait on someone who is only going to use you as leverage. We have a lot of holes and can't afford waiting on one guy again this offseason while other players that fit our needs are taken by other teams.

Hall of Famer, Mike Piazza couldn't do any of those things, but still significantly benefitted his team(s).

I HATE dreaming of the 'impossible' with this team. The Twins, need to get started NOW on working deals. I know the season hasn't officially ended, so we can't make any 'deals', but we CANNOT be last to get started again this year! And, just to remind everyone, we had a shot at signing Rodon last year, just dragged our feet and didn't. Signed on March 11th to a 2yr $44mm deal. Felt it more important to sign Buxton (already under contract) to a 10-year deal. Buy the way, he played just 92 games and just 57 of those in CF. But we did get Dylan Bundy all locked up before the lockout. And this notion of 'platooning' Arraez and ANYONE is just ridiculous! What else does this young man have to do to prove his worth on this team? He played in 144 games and batted .316! The anointed one [Buxton] played in just 92 games and batted .224. I know he hit 28 HR's, but how did that help us, down the stretch? Get Arraez in the lineup and LEAVE HIM THERE! Stick with what makes sense; if Correa wants to come back, let him. I don't think he will have two bad seasons at the plate, and I had no issues with his defense. If he chooses to walk, then get Lewis back in here, and sign a veteran to back him up [injuries] and be a utility player. Throw money at a top line rotation guy [DeGrom] and fill the back end with our youngsters [Canterino, Varland and Woods Richardson]. There will be no lockout this year, so the idea that an agent is going to gift their elite client to the Twins [Correa], is a fairytale. The team needs to start realizing who they can do without (both on AND off the field) and get to work, fans are waiting.

That's why Lewis is the Utility spot and NOT the starter.

Trade Polonco and bring back pitching. Allow Arraez to play 2B which is more fitting for his skills, and gets him in the lineup EVERYDAY. Bring Correa back for $35mm/yr (8yr = 280) If he declines, then let him walk. He didn't provide what he was thought to have. Then, go hard after Tim Anderson, which would cost less, too. Celestino needs to go, and bring back a veteran that can ply CF and provide production for the amount of games we need due to Buxton's inability to stay on the field. I would suggest Tyler Naquin or Kevin Pillar. They would take the spot of either Garlick or Gordon, but probably Garlick. Cost would not be any different. Both of these suggestions can play all three OF spots, but will take Buxton's reps. Let Kirlloff move to 1B and be settled. In his place (LF) bring in a veteran to calm the OF. McCutchen [36] could be had for 2yrs at $7mm Bechtold is a solid hitting catchers in St. Paul. He has been fun to watch when you go to the games. We don't need to look outside the organization for roster fill. If Maeda is healthy, that could round out our rotation. Ober and Jax could add spot starts. Any look at starting pitching, needs to come from outside this organization. Royce Lewis needs to be brought back. Any contract needs to include incentives on games played. This needs to be a lesson learned in the Buxton contract. Relievers: We need lefty help. Vets like Detwiler, Doolittle and Matt Moore would be solid additions and could stabilize the bullpen. But, bring back Taylor Rogers to close out our games. That will cost us, but is worth it! I come in $3mm BELOW the ridiculous salary cap of $140mm. When do I start my new job? C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) 1B: Alex Kirlloff ($0.70M) 2B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) 3B: Gio Urshela ($9.00M) SS: Carlos Correa ($35.00M) LF: Andrew McCutchen ($3.50M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Max Kepler ($8.50M) DH: Jose Miranda ($0.70M) 4th OF: Kyle Garlick ($0.70M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M) Utility: Royce Lewis ($2.30M) Backup C: Andrew Bechtold ($0.60M) SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M) SP2: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M) SP3: Kenta Maeda ($9.00M) SP4: Joe Ryan ($0.70M) SP5: Bailey Ober ($0.70M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.70M) RP: Jorge Lopez ($3.00M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.70M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($2.00M) RP: Ross Detwiler ($.60M) RP: Sean Doolittle ($.70M) RP: Taylor Rogers ($7.00M) Payroll is 8.57% under budget

I really hope this article was written for click-bait and hope to keep readers coming to this site in the off season. There is NO way the Twins will be in the market for Judge! Knowing this club, they would be more likely to given Buxton another $100mm contract because he was 'such a trooper' this season. By the way, even pigs did fly, and this did happen (100% it will NOT) this still doesn't answer the pitching issue we perpetually have! Wait, can Aaron pitch, too?

As a longtime/lifetime fan, I have years of vested interest in this team. I get to be frustrated and demand better from the team I have poured my life and support ($$$) into. I am not a fair weather fan and don't jump off the wagon. Unfortunately, I have to bare the bad years to enjoy the good ones. If this team ever turns it around, too many people will jump on the wagon claiming they have been here all along. Due to these facts, I get to be negative and demand better from this team.

Resign.

I am sure they will put the emphasis on the wrong players, as they always do. And, will ensure they miss out on FA's due to ensuring they extend someone currently under contract to a ridiculous deal, while other clubs are signing pieces to make their clubs better. See last off-season's priorities; Buxton and Bundy before the lockout, while other clubs were making deals.

What a joke. Seems like money well spent. ?

Love how I was mocked all off season and all of the regular season when, on here, I said he was never worth the deal nor would he have a full season. I was shut down and told I didn't know what I was talking about and that he was "healthy" and going to have a huge season. He has 28 HR's, awesome so glad he has shown his power. But he is still just a .224 hitter and have played CF just 57 times in his 92 games. He misses insane amount of time, and even when he is in the lineup, it's in the position we supposedly paid him to play! Arraez gets moved around and never gets to settle in a home position, and have to play out of position (1B) and yet we will not throw $100mm at him. He's just the best hitter in baseball and does whatever the team needs. No way that has value. Shut him down and ask for a refund so we can sign someone who can play CF consistently, for an entire season. This front office can all go with him too. Shut them all down.

Guess they shouldn't have given him the contract.

My point is, the Twins do not do a good job at, nor are they good at evaluating their own, current or league talent. And, where are you finding the Twins offered Strawberry a deal? I have found nothing eluding to that or that they had any conversation with him (or Millar). The Twins drag their feet ALL the time. Just look at this offseason for an example of that. As other teams put their nose to the grindstone to get the players they needed before the lockout, the Twins did NOTHING except extend a guy, who was still under contract and not going anywhere, to a $100mm deal. A guy that misses 40-60% of ALL of his games. Glad we locked him down instead of going after some pitchers (other than Bundy!). This is the point that I was attempting to make. The Twins cannot and have never been able to properly evaluate talent. Until they do, they will not be able to complete. We can't sign the big names in their prime, and if we are not equipped to part ways with valuable assets at their peak, in order to better ourselves for the future, we will continue to be supporting a team that will play themselves out of the playoffs.