Rod Carews Birthday

So we should replace the guys currently playing first base with a guy of pretty much the same quality? Aim higher or go with youth!

And yet, the logo of the MLB Players Alumni Association was overtly designed to be a likeness of his swing. The actual MLB logo was NOT actually designed after his silhouette, according to the artist, but that would seem to be a situation similar to the Ghostbusters theme not being based on another tune. In Ray Parker Jr.’s case, even if the intent wasn’t there, the song was probably playing in the background while he wrote it. In the same manner, the artist on the MLB logo seems to have been channeling his inner Killebrew as well, even if he doesn’t want anybody to know that. Much like with Jerry West, the NBA logo player, Killebrew was a great player whose persona was something to attach to in perpetuity. YMMV, but that’s the direction I go with this.

Both of these players need to go for different reasons. Larnach had a solid season, but rolling the dice with the raft of outfielders the Twins possess has much more upside and has the potential to be much more helpful long term. Lewis on the other hand has been pretty much a mess for too long to consider him a solution at first base or anywhere else. Trade value for each is very limited. If I were the Twins, I would start speed dialing around the league to see what could be out there. If nobody bites, it’s non tender time. It may seem like giving them away for nothing, but if we can get better players in their (former) roles, the team is better for it.

You can’t expect to improve unless we find better players. Keeping everyone around because it makes us feel good or because we like them is a bad idea. Ober is no longer an mlb starter and would be a very expensive experiment in the bullpen. Larnach is an averagish player in an outfield with many better choices. Lewis isn’t a starting level first baseman and doesn’t appear to have the right mindset to be a utility player. The problem with tendering these guys with the plan of trading them is that their value is mighty low. Kremer seems worthy of a fifth starter spot and can provide stability there. Sands and Nance are cheap enough to put in the bullpen mix next spring. Ryan, Clemens, and Bradley are no brainers. The only significant tough call is Banda. He’s lefthanded and seemingly decent, but he’s not cheap and coming off an injury. I probably keep him and hope for the best.

Once he got to third base, he seemed like a pretty solid player. We'll see if his bat takes another step forward, which would make him closer to an all-star, or a step back which makes him last year's version of Brooks Lee. I'm not personally a huge fan because I got turned off waiting for him to be something above mediocre, but I will admit he at least has me interested to see his development going forward. Good for him! If only a few others (ahem. . . . Lewis. . . Wallner. . . Martin. . . Matthews. . . et al) would take that step forward.

Non tender Ober. The $7M or so saved will get a good reliever - better than Ober would be out of the pen. Kremer is your #5. The other spot besides the big three should be one of Prielipp/Abel/ Matthews, with two held as backup in St Paul

In a ridiculously small sample size of one game, how did Sabato look with the glove? Did he look lumbering or comfortable? It would be wonderful if he could be the first baseman (assuming his bat plays, which it may not in the majors) next year.

I think that it's time for the Twins to part ways with Royce Lewis. His offense is well below par and his defense has been "acceptable" at best, but really only if his offense were better. I'm not sure what value he has left, possibly for a bullpen arm or for another team's change of scenery candidate? Or, as a throw in to a larger deal if there is one to be made. As other posters have indicated, his bat really doesn't play at first base, and if things go according to plan, the move to second base is only a stopgap until (hopefully) Marek Houston comes up -- and not a great stopgap at that. At best, he's a utility infielder who can move around and play acceptable defense, but we already have a guy like that in Clemens, who is probably a more flexible defender and seems to be a better bat. I'm also not sure that Lewis would adapt well to a utility role off the bench. Right now, I think he still looks in the mirror and sees himself as a star(ter). I say give him a chance to do that on somebody else's team.

OK. So you clearly think it IS ridiculous to bring him back based on performance. That's fair. I do choose to argue the overall stat line, and I know that there are MUCH worse ways to spend money than on Josh Bell. I'm not actually advocating for his return because he no longer fits the roster, but I don't think that money was thrown out the window. YMMV

It's not ridiculous. He was certainly productive, he seems like a good guy. and I would rather have him than Larnach. $10M seems like a pretty steep price though for a team with a small payroll. That being said, I think that the team is better served to have the DH spot open for a rotation of players (like Buxton) and the additional flexibility on the bench that having a full-time DH prevents. I just hope we have enough good hitters to make that true. Thank him for his excellent service and wish him well on his next stop.

They can ask, but someone has to want to trade for them. I can't imagine that both of their values are pretty far gone at this point. As for bringing up Sabato, why not? He won't be worse that Lewis right now.

15.5 WAR in the first five years of his career. Might sign up for that, but not sure if the situation is the same. Although, as I said, weird career for sure. I worry that we might "ruin" Lackey by pushing him too much early (see Gomez, Carlos, who took a few years to straighten his career out after being pushed up because we had no options. In this situation, I would actually be more curious if Diaw is closer to major league ready (albeit with a much lower ceiling) than Lackey. Less concerned with messing up his development and hopefully Lackey could show up in 2028.

Maybe, but what a weird career he had. If I remember correctly, they brought him straight up from A ball. He looked like he might be a major star his first few years for us, had a couple of good years for the Yankees, and was pretty much done at age 29. Not sure bringing him up early was what caused it, but it was certainly weird. Lackey certainly has more experience than Wynegar did, but I'm not sure the situation is the same in the league now as it was then.

If only any of these guys were ready to be starting catcher for the Twins next season. The team is quite lacking in candidates for that gig.

This. We all have bosses. Sometimes that gets forgotten.