FlyingFinn

If you think you are getting the Kepler from the last half of 2023 (not the playoffs), keep him. If he's going to return to the guy hitting in the middle of the order in 2021 and 2022 who batted under .220 and couldn't get a total of 100 rbi's, sell high. Do NOT extend him. Rodriguez and Jenkins are coming.

What about RF?

Just from comments on TD and some experts who rank prospects, I get the impression that E-Rod is going to be okay in CF but that we are going to be saying, "Buxton/Taylor/Kiermeier (or some other great defensive CF)" would have caught that ball - that the range won't quite be the same either due to lack of experience, top line speed, or getting the right jump on the ball. Any thoughts on that? There must be some reason there is talk that he possibly moves to a corner OF position.

I can see all four of these guys in Wichita with Raya and Nowlin as I believe they do a 6 man rotation.

We can make up fantasy trades that will never happen like Logan Gilbert, George Kirby and Luis Castillo for Lewis. I predict Corbin Carroll isn't getting traded either. These trades aren't going to happen.

Most of us who are working just don't have the time to do that. We rely on people on TD and the stats. I especially like when posters like yourself report what they actually see in person at games or on tv. Most of those reports have been glowing on Rosario's power and Miller's glove. Both need to develop other tools. Not sure why we have to bash either one of them (though I did say I was disappointed in Rosario when he was hitting .060 after two weeks in the AFL - did pretty darn good after that to get his average up to .214 by the end).

I would not trade Royce Lewis. He has those intangibles that you can't teach or quantify - personality, energy, excitement. Just look at the Twins offense in 2023 without Lewis and with him. He is a great teammate and leader.

Julien will not be an OF as that experiment was short-lived in the minors. 1B or 2B are his positions and he improved a lot at 2B by September last year (still below average but moving in the right direction).

Do you think they will take someone in the Rule V? I don't see us taking anyone.

No.

We just disagree. I believe CF, SS and catcher are the defense first positions. Alex Bregman and Manny Machado are not as athletic as Royce Lewis. I wouldn't want Bregman or Machado ever playing CF.

Lee will never be in the outfield. Lewis is very athletic and that is mostly wasted at 3B.

Not from our top ten but there are some pieces at AAA that could be ready to fill in for the Twins in 2024 - Prato, Helman, Kiersey to name a few (they do have to make it past the Rule 5 draft which I am predicting that they all will do that).

By the end of 2023 Julien had improved and Polanco had declined in fielding that they were basically the same. Was Polanco's due to injury and will he return to his old form? IMO, no he won't.

Congrats to Noah Miller, the best defensive shortstop in the minor leagues by far. Top ten prospect for the Twins IMO.

In one of the oddest stat line years, Prato hits .171 in 149 plate appearances with a .248 slug. % in AA in 2023. Compare that to what you mention in AAA and it's like it was his twin brother in AA, a guy who isn't very good. I'm thinking this will scare teams away.

I see what you are saying but just disagree. If Helman didn't get selected last year when he plays even more positions, hit more homers and stole more bases than Prato this year (does look like Helman got about 100 more plate appearances than Prato though - not totally sure why as AA starts only about a week after AAA if I remember correctly), Only one year age difference from Helman in 2022 to Prato in 2023. I'm betting he doesn't get selected.

The stats just don't support that it was only Lewis in the 2nd half. Lewis seemed to energize everyone else as well as the Twins finished 14th among 30 MLB teams with 3.45 runners left in scoring position in 2023. (Source - teamrankings.com)

Lewis with a lot of grand slams changed the hitting with runners on base problem in the 2nd half of the season.

Lewis in Cf would do it as well but I agree with you, Polanco was dreadful at 3B. I think Polanco has been a great player for the Twins. You tell me he can play 140 games in 2024 and I'm not trading him. I said he had too many miles on his body at the end of 2022 and would continue to have injuries and most people thought I was nuts. He played................. 80 games in 2023. My guess is his injuries will continue. This combined with Julien's play and Lee coming makes this time to trade Polanco to a team that thinks he will play 140 games, and get a good return for him.

I've got Jorge Polanco being traded (too many miles on his body to stay healthy IMO). Maybe with Larnach, Kepler and Winder to Seattle. Don't think that will get us to Gilbert or Kirby so I'm just not sure for who. Therefore, I have us signing Giolito and praying that he returns to his old form. Sign Neris to beef us the pen. Take a chance that Brooks Lee learns at the big league level and gets ROY and a #1 pick. Varland's on the roster but I really think he takes the Ober spot in AAA to start until someone is hurt. He will be a SP. C: Ryan Jeffers ($2.30M) 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($1.70M) 2B: Edouard Julien ($0.77M) 3B: Brooks Lee ($0.77M) SS: Carlos Correa ($33.33M) LF: Matt Wallner ($0.77M) CF: Royce Lewis ($0.77M) RF: Max Kepler ($10.00M) DH: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) 4th OF: Willi Castro ($3.20M) Utility: MIchael A. Taylor ($6.00M) Utility: Kyle Farmer ($6.60M) Backup C: Christian Vasquez ($10.00M) SP1: Pablo Lopez ($8.25M) SP2: Joe Ryan ($0.77M) SP3: Bailey Ober ($0.77M) SP4: Chris Paddack ($2.53M) SP5: Lucas Giolito ($14.00M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.77M) RP: Brock Stewart ($0.77M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.77M) RP: Hector Neris ($7.50M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($3.00M) RP: Louis Varland ($0.77M) RP: Jovani Moran ($0.77M) RP: Kody Funderburk ($0.77M) Payroll is 1.74% under budget

Anyone else picture this - we don't do much of anything in free agency, Buxton is unable play CF, and the Twins change their plan and move Lewis to CF? I think the lower payroll gets, the more likely this is to happen.

If we are cutting salary, it's not going to be Julien or Lee. It will be Polanco, Kepler or/and Farmer.

The Yankees are looking for two OF's.

Other than Rosario and Sabato, our guys sure spend a LOT of time on the bench.