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JD-TWINS

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Everything posted by JD-TWINS

  1. JD-TWINS
    I do think that a guy that can routinely deliver at the plate is valuable! The conventional thinking in baseball is you bat high average guys “up in the line-up” but I see value in Arraez as a protector of another bat in the line-up and as a guy that can drive in runs with RISP. If he hits 5th or 6th instead of 1st or 2nd he protects Lewis - Correa - Larnach - Wallner……whoever is hitting just ahead of him. Nobody wants to pitch to a guy that doesn’t strike out with guys on base so they throw the guy in front of him strikes! He can play 1B ….. a little 2B …… DH. He’s Donovan Solano versatility wise, only better defensively and much better offensively. I understand that $14M is a fair amount for this Twin’s payroll……….I’d much rather have Arraez coming to the plate with RISP than Willi Castro.
  2. JD-TWINS
    Seems Castro would bring good value as a potential starting LF and as some infield depth for Padres. They have interest in Vazquez. Those 2 guys & a AA or less pitcher for Cease makes sense to me. Cease is only around for a year…..on paper. Maille or Casali could be signed in the $3-$4M range, maximum as 2nd Catcher for at least 3-4 months of ‘25. Not trading Larnach…….certainly not in a deal for a single guy that’s under Team control for only one season.
  3. JD-TWINS
    Grichuk hit .291 with a 2.2 WAR in ‘24 Hays hit .251 with a -0.1 WAR in ‘24 Not thinking Grichuk makes sense but Hays could doesn’t make sense to me. It was Grichuk’s best year, arguably. Hays obviously didn’t have a good year. Seems picking up Grichuk could be a nice fit for many Teams…..at what cost though? He may be in the $10-$14M range in today’s market. I probably stick with Martin & Kiersey behind Larnach - Buxton - Wallner to start the year. Focus $$ spending on 1B &/or Catcher. Castro, if still here, is solid OF depth as well. If they can move Vazquez and Castro to San Diego or maybe Vazquez & Matthews (or like young arm) for CEASE it should be acted on right away. Shifting Ryan to a #3-#4 starter makes the Rotation look awfully formidable!! Keep SWR & Festa as 23 & 25 year olds in ‘25!
  4. JD-TWINS
    Agreed. If San Diego is willing to trade Cease for Vazquez and another lesser player it’s a good move……Ronny Henriquez maybe? Nice shot in the arm for rotation and at least gives team, under new ownership, ability to consider extending Cease based on fit & performance in ‘25. Matthews for Mountcastle?…….. Keaschall by June/July as depth at 1B & 2B. Paddack - Topa - Stewart - Varland - Headrick as additions to the PEN as health allows. Need to trade, potentially Duran and somebody, for a Catcher! I guess they could keep the PEN strong and sign a $2-$4M FA Catcher like Maille or Casali?
  5. JD-TWINS
    Nothing wrong with a healthy Larnach at this point…….not specific to you here, but I don’t understand any dissatisfaction with him after the ‘24 season?
  6. JD-TWINS
    He’s only guaranteed for 1 year - supposedly they want a veteran catcher……. Matthews - Vazquez should be enough……Gonzalez as well if necessary. No reason to give Raya away, IMO. I think we agree, Cease is pretty good but a no-hitter is one game & it’s history. Cannot trade Ryan or Ober or even Festa (with his upside & years of control) for Cease - that’s a zero add and Team loses years of control.
  7. JD-TWINS
    Nice post - great clarification - logical!!
  8. JD-TWINS
    No problem with this thinking at all…….to me, Lewis in LF eliminates the continual hunt for a corner OF that hits w/power from right side! As an alternative, Lewis at 1B answers same questions at that position.
  9. JD-TWINS
    Do you think Rocco should send TD readers an email on whether or not Lewis may play 2B? I don’t get the criticism of his thinking nor approach w/o any tangible knowledge. Many here thinks the Team’s thoughts/plans should be in the Tribune every morning, I don’t get it at all. No other business posts it’s 6 month - 1 year - 3 year plan unless it’s publicly owned and trying to drive stock value. I like some combination of Lewis & Keaschall at 2B by June. Keaschall still needs to prove himself for longer than just Spring Training. Ultimately, I like them to handle 2B & 1B if they both are hitting! Shorter term Miranda at 1B & depth at 3B to protect Lee’s head & health. Lee’s the best glove option at 3B from what I’ve seen. I agree, Julien has a big hill to climb to be considered competent to play 2B/HIT at the MLB level. Castro, if still here, is an obvious option at either 2B or 3B as needed.
  10. JD-TWINS
    Way to be upbeat early in the a.m. - everyone sucks.
  11. JD-TWINS
    The article’s premise is flawed IMO! As you point out, nearly 75% of pitchers are Right Handed. Why would Team trade away one of two productive LH hitting OF, at least until after they are sure Emma is going to be successful at the MLB level? Shiny new toy syndrome. Wallner has a shot to be a star producer with further refinement. Been waiting for Larnach to “develop into draft expectations” for 3-4 years. He has a respectable year in ‘24 and we want to trade him for a guy that can be more effective against 25% of opponents pitchers? And/or to bring somebody else up and hope they can perform as a Rookie.
  12. JD-TWINS
    TWINS history is 64 years ……… considerable amount of time relative to MLB but not really approaching a Century. I’ve lived in Cincinnati for 34 years but still appreciate my upbringing in Minnesota…..sure seems this “most pivotal point in Twin’s history” stuff is grossly overstated. Maybe if you’re 26 years old it may seem that way but regardless of the level of importance it seems this is a very dramatic take on this years Team & potential activities around this year’s Team.
  13. JD-TWINS
    His velocity being down in Spring of ‘24 (Topa) is assumed to be because his knee was jacked up. Tough to max out without a good base. They liked what they saw after his knee was better in September. His couple outings looked good to me. I expect good things from him if his knee is healed up. Should we expect Sands to backslide to previous years or be optimistic after his best year?
  14. JD-TWINS
    Prielipp, Canterino, ………Stewart ……..Topa are all health risks, potentially, big time. Stewart should be managed and kept on watch (slowly) to utilize his capabilities in August - October. Topa seems or seemed to be past his leg issue as of September ’24. I expect him to have a normal season. Prielipp & Canterino are guys that need to throw 40 innings of ball and remain healthy before anyone considers them for The Show. No real confidence that either will be able to pull off good health. Both “could” help in August - September. My Opening Day PEN is as shown after trading Duran & Tonkin ……Rule 5 guy is either rolled into a trade to acquire him with flexibility or DFA’d: Varland - Headrick - Paddack - Topa - Henriquez - Alcala - Sands - Jax ………(still very talented) I think trading Duran with others could/should allow them to get a very needed solution at C or 1B.
  15. JD-TWINS
    Not being obnoxious here but have real question about your statement……..how does LA squeeze MLB in CBA discussions? What leverage do the Dodgers hold that allows them to push around the other 29 teams (26 teams) that do not have same leverage? I don’t get it. It seems if owners that make up MLB want the rules changed to make the playing field more level they can…….seems putting a ceiling on quantity of contracts that can be deferred would be a fairly simple topic to vote upon……or some other parallel solution.
  16. JD-TWINS
    I do like & appreciate the information and comparative thoughts on all the players/positions in the Division! Thanks. I too think the “lefty” can be valuable but isn’t necessary to thrive within a Team’s PEN. I opt for Paddack to stick and be an 80-90 inning long/bridge reliever and spot starter once a month. Also, I think the Rule 5 guy will be released or traded for so his status changes and is very doubtful to take a roster spot if it risks somebody with talent and Team history. Paddack - Varland - Stewart - Topa - Alcala - Sands - Jax - Duran………talent wise, as good of a list of 8, top to bottom as you’ll find. Health??? I think as health gets sorted in Spring, or prior, Tonkin & Henriquez and/or Paddack & Duran are all traded to help infuse more talent on the field at C - 1B!! I know this is a Reliever Post but how about Pete Alonso on the 1 year deal with player opt outs over a 3 year deal……at $26M/yr?? Seems his market is adrift and Boras has worked this deal with Twins previously…….. (Castro/Paddack/Duran/Vazquez …..team covers $3M…… it’s $28.5M less the $3M……Pete’s covered & we traded for a good young g Catcher) BLUE SKY!!
  17. JD-TWINS
    Tough to see Camargo being able to contribute in the Show. I guess the slant here is he would come up in case of injury or with some use of Options? Gasper seems to be just a notch above where Farmer was on the previous 2 rosters relative to Catching. Right? Maybe he’s more of an option behind the plate than I’ve allowed myself to believe? Cartaya seemed to me to be a pick-up to be developed at least another year in MiLB? To me, 2025 is a year to go get a Playoff spot…….can’t be developing Catchers at the MLB level with this goal in mind. Pay the 2 guys you have and develop a new plan for ‘26!…….,…..OR trade 2-3 guys for a young Catcher that’s ready to play now and for a few years……..(Duran - Matthews - Jeffers or Vazquez - Castro - etc.)
  18. JD-TWINS
    Castro needs to be used in trade for a player of real value. Castro - Vazquez or Jeffers - Matthews - Henriquez - Tonkin - Julien - Duran all need to be considered as pieces in a trade for a Catcher that can play……….not a prospect. I’m optimistic that Team can still make a trade or two over the next 4 weeks to make the Team better. Adding essentially 4 guys to the Bullpen allows for considering a trade using Duran, to get back real value! I like PADDACK - TOPA - VARLAND - STEWART as adds to the PEN in ‘25. Martin - Lee - Keaschall - Miranda - Julien Lewis should be able to handle the load at 2B & 3B and some of 1B w/o Castro. After Catcher, 1B is a position of need to be worked on via trade.
  19. JD-TWINS
    Just saw on MLB that Dodgers signed Tanner Scott for $18M/yr as well……..a bit nauseating when one considers the health of the game going forward.
  20. JD-TWINS
    ……..tried to say above……,, Paddack in the PEN “can go all out” and keep his total innings in the 80-90 range from the PEN. Also, maybe 4-5 spot starts as a 3-4 inning opener.
  21. JD-TWINS
    I guess I don’t understand the rationale of Cleveland & K.C. having 6 pitchers listed as their core rotation going into ‘25 & FESTA not being listed in the mix for the Twins? To me, Paddack has proven he cannot hold up as a regular starter for a season throughout his entire career. He’s either traded, IMO, or Team uses his talents in the PEN as a great maybe 1 1/3 - 2 inning bridge guy. He cannot hold final out and his innings can be minimized. He IS the FA reliever people here think needs to be added. I think Festa is essentially a lock as 5th starter. He & Varland on alternating days when Team is in the game, can go one plus innings to get to the 7th. Sands/Alcala - Jax - Duran to seal them. I see these combinations, along with Topa - Stewart being formidable!! Maybe a note for the relief pitcher post yet to come?
  22. JD-TWINS
    With Paddack potentially being traded and absolutely incapable of a normal starter’s load for more than 10 starts at a time, how are SWR - Festa - Matthews - Raya …”projected to start at AAA” ……? SWR - Festa go north. Paddack is spot starter and asset in the PEN (80-100 innings) or he’s traded. IMO.
  23. JD-TWINS
    He’s certainly not a guy to be used just in the 9th or only “suited for that role”. His typical spot is some clean-up of a tight situation or even more typically (based on the spot in opposing line-up) an entire inning in the 7th or 8th. If Duran remains with the Club, Jax will be the bridge to him 8 of 10 times.
  24. JD-TWINS
    Keaschall works at 1B for me two if he can hit as hoped. Probably needs a couple months or so in St Paul
  25. JD-TWINS
    Is Royce at 1B a crazy idea at his relatively young age?…….I assume he would push back. To me, Lee is our best 3B defensively. Can piece 2B together with, potentially Royce, or Castro/Keaschall/Martin/Julien. Seems Lewis at 1B stabilizes the position with a player of proper offensive profile. No additional cost move. Lowest potential for injury and throwing errors. Thoughts?
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