Lefty61

Only more angst for long suffering Twins fans in this about face! And fitting the team's now stuck in a rain delay in the Bronx to start the latest Chapter, feels like a harbinger for the nonsense to follow this offseason!!

Yes, baseball fan in Minny; and a new owner is coming, more concerned about 2027 and the expiring CBA. Congrats to the holdovers and roster mix-ins on the impressive series win in Mo-town! And listening more than watching, for over 50 years!

Would love to keep Ryan if the Twins projected as competing for the division next year, but it does not look like it so Selling high to a team like Boston desperate for playoff baseball who is really short on starting pitching with their #4 tearing his ACL and Buehler's struggles. Here a deal that could make sense for both sides, Ryan and Vazquez for rookie SS/3B Mayer, former starting C struggling this year after solid 2024 Connor Wong, Rookie RHP Fitts up and down AAA similar to SWR last year and a AA prospect arm like LHP Tolle or Early. And then move Duran for on the cusp top 40 OF/1B prospect and a 2nd T100 prospect.

With Red Sox win streak putting them in Buy mode, Chapman will no longer be available so Duran trade value jumps further, certainly there's a contender that will overpay in thin market.

Modern day David Eckstein? Let's Hope So!

I suggest the first trade deadline deal should be an arm for their rotation for the 2nd half and Kiriloff could be a chip there. Would Kiriloff or Wallner and an A level infield prospect like Miller or Harry be enough to acquire the Angels Anderson or Rockies Quantrill. Probably need to sweeten with one more top 50 prospect.

Futile is the off season their spring cross town rivals had, only off season move is headed to TJ, that's a fan base I wouldn't want to be. Twins will be in the mix at the trading deadline and then will see what the FO is made of.

Also Harold Baines. Chipper and Joe are the only two 1-1s elected to spend their entire career with the team that drafted them!

Terrific day for the Mauer family and Twins fans! A look back at the Classic SI Covers for Hometown Joe, hoping SI gets new ownership in time to get Mauer a 3rd cover this summer! For those heading to Cooperstown I recommend getting a membership to the Hall of Fame museum which gets members free admission and expanded hours to enjoy the museum. I love seeing the plaque locations on Saturday prior to plaques going up after the induction ceremony. Congrats #7 !!

Gotta think what others will be offering, Red Sox will be aggressive, could offer their young 1B Casas and top 5 prospect. Twins would need to offer at least Kirilloff or Wallner and a top arm prospect, SWF, Soto or Festa. Throw in Miranda, since Brewers need a third baseman too. Other options for Twins to target would be Sale from Sox or Giants Webb. I would include 2nd prospect for Webb.

Targetting Sale in a trade from Boston would be a good option, despite recent injuries, he would be a year younger version of Kershaw, and for 1 year at $27M could be terrific as a #2 behind Lopez if healthy. And Vazquez was his catcher when he was runner up CY in Boston. Red Sox will be looking past 2024, Richardson or Martin, Gordon and Ethridge or Veen could get it done.

Levine is a pretty good fit in Boston as the tandem of him and Falvey don't overvalue their prospects and are willing to make bold deals to improve the big league club, particularly starting pitching. Sox have suffered from lack of starting pitching, cautious deal-making and prospect hoarding. Cora called out Bloom this summer on that, and he is a proven manager with the right aggressive minded baseball operations - if Levine takes the job, he knows he has a manager who can win with the right roster. Some think Sox are a multi-year rebuild, but deals like Gray & Lopez, a free agent starter and their back in the hunt. And with New Englander Sam Fuld and others declining an interview, Levine should be able to get a commitment from ownership to spend a good chunk of their $80 million cap space giving the new GM plenty to work with. If Levine pulls a Billy Bean and declines, it could be a bad sign for Sox fans.

The best thing about today for Twins is Rangers beating up on O's for the sweep, Fox didn't see that coming, game tomorrow moves to prime time and certainly everyone knows the network is beyond hankering for a marque winner take all game, and what a game it would be Verlander vs. Lopez. Book it, winner hosts the ALCS, let's go get it Rocco's Boys !

Definitely Cruz for Ryan in my book, especially given it was a deal with the pitching savvy Rays who really missed on evaluating Ryan which also is indicative of the sell high opportunities that can be had with contending teams at the trade deadline. Also took chutzpah to trade #1 pick Petty only months in the Twins system for Gray, which certaily put the Twins over the top to make the playoffs this year. Given the lack of quality innings eating starting pitching available on the trade market every year, teams need to be prepared to overpay with trade prospects/talent for the good ones, impressive the FO got it right with Gray and Lopez. Also, this list is very messy with all the player for cash lottery tickets and minor league fillers, a new list should pull these out, they don't count as major league trades in my book.

Solid move by Twins, Ober had two starts in 2021 vs. Astros with an ERA of 4.5, Ryan has 3 career starts, ERA over 8. And 2023 Ober is much better than 2021 Rookie Ober. Hopefully Twins can get a couple early runs to help Bailey settle in. If we can get a split in Houston, I like our chances to close it out in four.