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JD-TWINS

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  1. JD-TWINS
    Draft right - assume attrition amongst high draft picks and highly publicized prospects. Also, Guys like Matthews - Festa - Ober, from much lower round draft pick slots can be developed! There’s no magic in grinding through established players that contribute (Ryan - Larnach - Lopez) to get more “highly touted prospects” ………. prospects are always just that, a hopeful future…….nothing guaranteed. The trading to restock has been done in summer of ‘25. The competing for a Division Totle should start with current Club and a couple FA relievers and maybe trade for a bat. Core is in place - guys (Lewis - Lee - Jeffers - Marrin) that were prospects need to perform!
  2. JD-TWINS
    Exactly! Bored & looking at other Team’s Minor League transactions is no way to gauge any sort of future success. It’s just a way to twist other Team’s busy work into a rationalized way to bitch about the FO in Mpls. Senseless, IMO. The Twin’s Minor League system is ranked in Top 5, I believe? Last deadline the Team made moves that got them the highest rated Catcher in MiLB - Abel - Bradley - Rojas & 3-4 outfielders that may or may not turn out to be anything, etc. Plenty of activity with players that are much closer to benefitting the Club. These moves seem much more worth our time, IMO. Watching other Divisional rivals MiLB moves is like listening to the police scanner.
  3. JD-TWINS
    Completely agreed on SWR, I don’t get the disdain either. Per this article, it appears Ober was ineffective with guys on base in ‘25 - seems to me that his physical ailments had more of an effect when he pitched out of the stretch. The stats back that up. Hopeful for a healthy bounce back season. Also agreed, need starter depth! Trading guys out of “fan like boredom” is not the way to run an organization. Trading guys at “peak value” to accumulate more prospects when some “neutral sources” see the TWINS system as Top 5 in the game……. it makes no sense. Don’t need more guys in Minors that we all HOPE will work out. Winning trades on paper do nothing for teams - guys playing well win games. Being sensitive about Prielipp going into the PEN because his innings need to be monitored - his skills need to be sharpened doesn’t make sense. PEN needs talent! Santana started out in bullpen & he worked out OK …….. the PEN is not a path from which a guy can’t return from, regarding being a starter some day. This applies to Raya - Morris as well. Personally, Matthews is the Team’s back end guy in ‘26. Festa & Abel back up Ober & Bradley for the 4&5 slots.
  4. JD-TWINS
    Would some Team trade an effective starting pitcher like SWR or Ober for Matt Wallner? Maybe? Vientos is the same streaky type hitter but he doesn’t have a position nor Wallner’s upside…………redundant here but Team can’t seriously pursue this.
  5. JD-TWINS
    I can’t take this seriousl! A poor defender coming off a sub .300 OBP season after a “good year” with his .322 OBP in ‘24. The sense is Twins need to send a starting pitcher for this level of player…….some say SWR or Ober wouldn’t be enough….. how is that possible??? Hell, play Clemens at 3B and you get 20 HR pace, when he plays & a poor defender at 3B…….not serious here with Clemens but Vientos is hardly the answer for a team trying to improve. I don’t get the take at all other than he plays in a big market so people recognize his name AND the Met’s are trying to shop him.
  6. JD-TWINS
    If there were one or two potential prospects in the Twin’s system at 1B, I would agree. To me, the cupboard’s bare at 1B. Professionally polished hitters with some upside, that also have a good glove (Walker), is never a bad move on a short (2 yrs) deal. …… Bell is a 1 year deal. Acquire options!! Can always trade and move on if youth rises to proper level for MLB success.
  7. JD-TWINS
    Team spent $154M in ‘23 and nearly $140M prior, in ‘22 ………… if they just stayed level at $154M (even with Correa’s salary included) they would have been competitive in ‘24 & ‘25.
  8. JD-TWINS
    The ASTROS said “no” at the time. Walker goes wherever those who have him under contract deem he should be. His alternative is to retire. I don’t hate the idea either. Seems Bell or Larnach gets traded somewhere where if they would acquire Walker.
  9. JD-TWINS
    Re: ‘25 Trade Deadline (fire sale) Coulombe was going to be a FA and Team had punted on the season. Stewart was hurt more than healthy - hurt immediately with Dodgers - didn’t create some huge void in Twin’s PEN. Duran - tough shoes to fill!! As others have pointed out, he washed out as a starter due to arm issues and developed into an elite closer…..can get other guys in system headed in that direction (Prielipp - Raya - Matthews - maybe Festa?) ………look at Ronny Henriquez after settling in with Marlins as another example. Varland, drafted in low round and originally had one pitch ……….washed out as a starter with Twins after numerous opportunities. Then, after 3-4 months in ‘25 he had elevated to an effective and durable guy in the PEN. They got a lefty, more highly touted guy in Rojas that projects as a starter in ‘27. Roden was a flier throw in and not really worth fretting over. IMO, if Louie was from Stevens Point instead of Twin Cities, fans would have a much more open mind on this trade. Tough to see Louie go! Jax had/has Great Stuff. He seemed unsatisfied in ‘25 and more uneasy on the mound than usual. He had pitch mix issues and seemed uneasy between the ears. Couple games there were blown holds due to inept fielding on his part…….a tough year for him at north of 4.00 ERA. Bradley is younger with more control and projects to be 5th starter. If Bradley isn’t successful it doesn’t mean he’s a wash! All 3 of Duran - Jax - Varland were failed starters. Bradley has good value, IMO. I know there are a lot of questions but not all gloom & doom. I think LaTroy Hawkins will be a big asset with guy’s regimen and approach on the mound. Keeping guys loose but ready. He’s been in & seen every bullpen role over looong career.
  10. JD-TWINS
    I wish Abel all the best!! SWR has started 51 games over past 2 years and is 12-9 with a 4.10 ERA. He’s 24 years old. He’s a solid #4-5 starter for 25 Teams in Baseball, IMO. I think Festa’s arm may take some time to get back to usable for starter………so, with time early in the year, I see him working back to full strength and being the #7 starter behind Abel coming out of Spring Training. Matthews seems to me to be the obvious choice for back end of PEN. 4 guys listed above along with a couple FA’s …… Prielipp - Adams - Klein - Morris all seem to have enough stuff to be effective for an inning at a time…….it’s not a given but I don’t think it’s a bad situation with these options. FA’s have to be contributors.
  11. JD-TWINS
    He’s a gamer, multi-tool guy, and pretty consistent producer. Team just rid itself of a $34M SS………after partial pay down, they are saving $24M. Should be able to re-invest $8M in ‘26 and if Duran is effective, he may cost $11.5M & $15M going forward. I think it makes sense to add a consistent guy to Buxton/Keaschall at the Top of the line-up…….yes, at these potential costs over 3 years.
  12. JD-TWINS
    Batting Champ for Lopez wasn’t that long ago and it would fall under something other than “status quo”. I don’t care how good Abreu is with the glove if he’s not a consistent bat. (not directed to you but just a general thought) The Sox were reportedly shopping Duran (less control) last season as others became MLB ready. I trade any two pitchers that the Red Sox want, other than Lopez or Ryan. ……. Ober seems that he could be a potential nightmare at Fenway? Abel & Raya for Duran? Maybe Twins add another, even younger arm with promise? Bradley is available if desired in Boston as well……..Festa too. Larnach at DH v. RH pitching is a good thing for Team’s offense. Bell at 1B ahead of Clemens is generally a good thing for the offense. Letting Martin play 20 games in LF - 20 games in CF - DH 30 games - play 30 games in RF…….and available off the bench in 60 games - to me, that’s a good roll for him and the Club. Duran in LF for 140 games. Lewis - Lee - Wallner need to play (hit) much better if Club is to be successful. Adding Bell & Duran to these 3 mentioned along with Martin/Jeffers/Larnach - to me that Team can compete.
  13. JD-TWINS
    320plus MLB AB’s ….. .201 BA ……. They signed Alonso for 5 years so Mayo didn’t turn the heads of the baseball people in the building in Baltimore.
  14. JD-TWINS
    I may try and trade Ober & Morris & E. Rodriguez for Rutschman………they extended young Catcher last year and Alonso has 1B occupied………Twins can then DH Jeffers for all LH starters they face and catch 65 games …… maybe play some 1B? E. Rodriguez and either one of Ober or Morris plus Raya to Boston for Duran. TWINS need impact players, not guys that they hope will eventually work out.
  15. JD-TWINS
    btw, he’s hit .201 so far at MLB level over 304 AB’s.
  16. JD-TWINS
    A fine rotation is more than many Teams have. 10th is good. 3rd is delusional - agreed. Why am “I” losing Jeffers - Lopez - Ryan & you aren’t, if you’re such a fan? You troll - that’s it. You jump in and tell everyone here they’re clueless & the Pohlad’s are clueless (everyone knows that) and you seemingly don’t give a rat’s ass about the organization other than seeing an opportunity to demean. Ryan, Lopez, & Jeffers aren’t going anywhere. A “laughing stock” across baseball, I guess that’s your opinion. Btw, spending $200M more than the Twins and not actually shaking anything up is a pretty weak mgmt achievement ……..they managed to drop Nimmo - Alonso - Diaz …….. they are shaking this year.
  17. JD-TWINS
    Winning the Division and having a shot to advance and re-energizing the fanbase is a lot better than selling at the deadline and winning 72 games. Step in a better direction! I could care less if they win 87 games v. 92 games if they are in post season either way. Top 1/3 in rotations is solidly above average. A rotation with expectations to produce between #7-#12 is a lot better than #14-#16, IMO. btw, I’m aware of who their pitchers are. I’m a fan and said the rotation was top 50% - Fangraphs has them at #10, per you. Doesn’t seem to be “vastly overrated” estimation by this fan - right? Could spend $340M and miss the playoffs, like the guys in Queens - that’s when one has to look at an organization and wonder where the level of the evaluators/coaches/effort is at……
  18. JD-TWINS
    The rotation isn’t the ‘70 Orioles but it’s certainly above average for MLB, as of today. 5 guys that could win 12-15 games with decent health. Bradley - SWR - Ryan - Ober - Lopez (Festa & Abel for depth) Lewis - Wallner - Lee can’t perform at a lower level than in ‘25, IMO. If they perform at average expectations for themselves, it’s a shot in the arm. Jeffers should be mildly better at the plate and Jackson should be mildly better than Vazquez at the plate. Jenkins - Gonzalez - Rodriguez ……. one and maybe 2 of these guys should have some positive affect on the offense by June/July. Bell should be at a minimum, mildly better than 1B offensively. Keaschall will be in the line-up 140 games and that’s another very probable shot in the arm. Larnach will be back to a more strict platoon role v. RH pitching and his numbers will increase. Need a real SS option, i.e. IKF or like. Clemens is at best, the 13th guy on the roster with flexibility to play 1B - 2B - Corner OF. Not any better or worse than ‘25…………placeholder for potential injury depth and keeping spot warm for young guys at AAA. If they don’t spend $50-$60M (obviously not happening) they could spend $15-$20M above the current $102M on the books and get the Team to serious competitor in the Central. I’d trade Festa & Rodriguez (3rd sweetener if needed) to Boston for Duran. Everyday guy in LF that WILL produce! SS & 2 FA relievers…….. Prielipp - Orze - Raya - Morris - Adams - Sands - Topa - Funderburk - Klein - MATTHEWS in back end, along with 2 FA’s and the PEN is very functional for a contending Team.
  19. JD-TWINS
    The Varland trade was for the lefty, Rojas (nice upside) & Roden was a throw-in and in my opinion, not worth fretting over. Same with Stewart (immediately injured again in LA) for the flier on Outman. If one of them has a good spring Training they will either work out for ‘26 or be a short-term place holder for Gonzalez-Rodriguez-Jenkins. Duran trade was to get the Young Catcher, highest rated in MiLB at the time. They also got Abel, previously touted as a mid-rotation “for sure guy” ……… Abel at a controllable expense for next 5 years. Paddack - Bader - Coulombe - Castro - France were all going to be Free Agents………not very surprising there……freeing ourselves of Dobnack made total sense. Jax……4.03 ERA in ‘25 despite fantastic stuff. Seemed disillusioned with his role in MN. Struggles between his ears and with pitch mix in my opinion. Jax for Bradley was a choice……results remain to be seen. Correa not being healthy and steadily declining on defense and at the plate……saving $22-$25M/year made perfect sense as well……..can’t have ownership approve $35M/yr for ONE GUY & then slash overall roster spending the next 2 years…… that’s the ZERO plan that was thrust on to shoulders of FO to fix on the fly. Those were/are the strategic thoughts.
  20. JD-TWINS
    The Varland trade was for the lefty, Rojas (nice upside) & Roden was a throw-in and in my opinion, not worth fretting over. Same with Stewart (immediately injured again in LA) for the flier on Outman. If one of them has a good spring Training they will either work out for ‘26 or be a short-term place holder for Gonzalez-Rodriguez-Jenkins. Duran trade was to get the Young Catcher, highest rated in MiLB at the time. They also got Abel, previously touted as a mid-rotation “for sure guy” ……… Abel at a controllable expense for next 5 years. Paddack - Bader - Coulombe - Castro - France were all going to be Free Agents………not very surprising there……freeing ourselves of Dobnack made total sense. Jax……4.03 ERA in ‘25 despite fantastic stuff. Seemed disillusioned with his role in MN. Struggles between his ears and with pitch mix in my opinion. Jax for Bradley was a choice……results remain to be seen. Correa not being healthy and steadily declining on defense and at the plate……saving $22-$25M/year made perfect sense as well……..can’t have ownership approve $35M/yr for ONE GUY & then slash overall roster spending the next 2 years…… that’s the ZERO plan that was thrust on to shoulders of FO to fix on the fly. Those were/are the strategic thoughts.
  21. JD-TWINS
    The Varland trade was for the lefty, Rojas (nice upside) & Roden was a throw-in and in my opinion, not worth fretting over. Same with Stewart (immediately injured again in LA) for the flier on Outman. If one of them has a good spring Training they will either work out for ‘26 or be a short-term place holder for Gonzalez-Rodriguez-Jenkins. Duran trade was to get the Young Catcher, highest rated in MiLB at the time. They also got Abel, previously touted as a mid-rotation “for sure guy” ……… Abel at a controllable expense for next 5 years. Paddack - Bader - Coulombe - Castro - France were all going to be Free Agents………not very surprising there……freeing ourselves of Dobnack made total sense. Jax……4.03 ERA in ‘25 despite fantastic stuff. Seemed disillusioned with his role in MN. Struggles between his ears and with pitch mix in my opinion. Jax for Bradley was a choice……results remain to be seen. Correa not being healthy and steadily declining on defense and at the plate……saving $22-$25M/year made perfect sense as well……..can’t have ownership approve $35M/yr for ONE GUY & then slash overall roster spending the next 2 years…… that’s the ZERO plan that was thrust on to shoulders of FO to fix on the fly. Those were/are the strategic thoughts.
  22. JD-TWINS
    Buxton - Martin - Larnach - Wallner - Lewis - Lee - Keaschall - Bell - Jeffers - Jackson all seem to be locks for roster out of Spring Training in my estimation. 10 spots. Last 3 on roster: Roden or Outman - Clemens - some guy that can play SS ………..any conversations about how Eddie Julien is going to get Reps at 1B, to me, are ridiculous …….unless he hits .500 in Spring Training he’ll be jettisoned.
  23. JD-TWINS
    I would sign Luis Arraez for 3 years and $37M in a heartbeat! The analytics shown here and the tone is Luis isn’t a worthwhile offensive player and he swings at too many balls ……. has the writer seen Tony Oliva or Kirby Puckett hit?? Many here think someone (maybe himself) can fix Eddie Julien or Matt Wallner. However, a guy (Arraez) can’t be coached up to swing at pitches in the zone?……….TAKING pitches to boost OBP are Julien & Wallner’s strong suit! They both are unbelievable in taking great pitches for strikes and for striking out in key situations!! Can’t put ball in play in key situations. In ‘24 Julien lead MLB in strikeouts looking and closest guy in backwards K’s had 100 more AB’s. Working with a guy that accidentally gets 180-200 hits/year and strikes out 3-5% of his AB’s is a waste of time though???? I still contend having him hit 5th in the TWIN’s line-up every day generates 90 RBI at a minimum. Too late for Arraez. Bell signing is better than some other options available. So, hopefully, leaves $15M to spend on another depth player and a couple serviceable relievers. Sure would be nice to figure out 1B with an internal option by Spring of ‘27!!!
  24. JD-TWINS
    The Acquisitions above did work out…… the math problem seems to be your issue, as the Team won 72 games without any of these guys for 1/3 of the season. Jax - Duran - Varland - Stewart vacating the the PEN for 1/3 of the season lead to no chance for Team to compete. Conscious decision by front office at that point. Equating a terrible year end record with a mediocre record at trade deadline are two different things. Lopez being hurt and Keaschall being hurt and guys like Lewis - Lee - Wallner underperforming is what lead to the demise of ‘26. The front office gets laid all the responsibility (blame) but players that have shown previous competence and have expectations to perform at a level that contributes to wins - they need to perform! It’s not the Manager’s fault nor the FO. Hell, at one point maybe 45 days into the season they had lost 3 different games almost solely due to pitchers not fielding their position properly. This ultimately falls at the feet of the FO - why?? It wasn’t the hitting coaches fault in ‘24 either (‘25 coach of the year). The ability for the Players to grind through a season and make adjustments to keep themselves at a level of performance is generally on them.
  25. JD-TWINS
    Andujar hits great against LH pitching - those are about 85% of his AB’s in ‘25. I live in Cincinnati and I see he was 37 for 102 here after the break - big time platoon though. Can’t get excited about a guy that is pigeon holed into 25-30% of potential AB’s available. He had a nice year but has no defensive spot either - pretty limited signing.
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