Beast

They won’t pay him because, yes “ball guys,” they’re cheap. If Rodriguez isn’t ready to start the season, give me Kepler over some half-assed filler akin to Margot. Alex K and Wallner should not be handed anything they haven’t earned. They are not the answer for various reasons (health, performance, etc.). Plugging them in with no questions asked is a poverty franchise move. Since we’re run by the Pohlads, I think we already know they’re plan. They’ll have to “right-size” (that sickening, academic, cut-rate business-school buzz term that they came up with for cheap makes me want to puke) thing even further next year for the results their incompetence is providing for them this year. There’s been a lot of lean years here, not sure I’ve ever seen the base as apathetic and fed up.

I think the projections are a little heavy. I’m still not convinced the central can produce a Wild Card. They just may have the win the division outright, and there’s some stiff competition there. Regardless, making the playoffs is the minimum/baseline for this team. Anything less than winning a series is an abject failure

This is an illustration of a common fallacy today. Pity is not “the right thing.” Kepler staying at third base accomplishes nothing other than virtue signaling (aka, self aggrandization and vanity). It would likely have a detrimental impact instead of “the right one.” What’s to stop a player from faking injuries in those situations once they know that’s the outcome? What you’re proposing is wrong and unjust. Kepler going is right. Always will be.

It was an awful trade from day 1, regardless of his struggles. They gave up a potential elite defender at SS, with some offensive upside (5 HR, 6 2B, 17 BB/22K at high A). Who trades that for a freaking 4th OF that are dime a dozen? Pillar could’ve been had on a minor league deal (and can actually play defense). Grichuk mashes lefties (.995 OPS last year) and could’ve been had for $3.5 million. Renfroe signed for peanuts. Taylor signed for $4M. Let’s say Margot did play to his historical level. You’re looking at roughly an OBP of .320 and slugging off .375. Combine that with a Total Zone Total Fielding Runs Above Average of -27 last year. How the hell did they come up with $8M of value when they could brought back Taylor for $4M? Taylor hasn’t been great at the plate this year either, but he’s at least providing positive value with his defense. Margot is below replacement level. Our LF defense is awful right now because it, and we’ve seen the impact (Margot and Martin have both butchered plays at the wall very recently). “Slashing payroll” can’t even be used as an excuse here, because the Twins are paying Margot $8M (I believe, could be wrong). Maybe Doncon ends up being a good piece, but I’d rather have Miller and Taylor right now.

This is special. We are witnessing a generationally incompetent combination of ownership and management begin [another] death spiral in front of our eyes. In an attempt to save $10-20 million on a potentially multibillion dollar company, they may have set off a chain of events that will cost them much more over the next handful of years (both realized and in terms of franchise value). Between the sport declining in popularity, the overall economic conditions, the PR problems of Minneapolis in general (agree or not, it’s a thing), the T-Wolves skyrocketing popularity (and franchise value), the Vikings smoke wagon rolling on the excitement of the draft and a new franchise QB, and their unwatchable product, there’s potential for some puckering here. I’m no market savant, but I’d certainly be starting to ask about the direction they’re taking if I were an investor. The board meetings must be fun right now.

Well, which is it? When people complain about acquiring another injured pitcher in a trade, “he was a throw in to even out salary numbers, they knew he was injured, they really just wanted the prospect.” Now, when people complain about Varland (rightfully so, my 9 year old son can recognize he’s not a major league starter), “he’s only there because of the hard luck Descalfani injury.” Either option, frankly, is awful. Why in the name of pete would you rely on a guy who hasn’t been healthy in years? That’s maybe more inexcusable than watching Varland pitch a home run derby every start and think, “yep, he’s the guy.” Im getting tired of hearing excuses. I don’t care about their intent. I care about results, and they are absolutely blowing it.

He’s a viable MLB bat the same way Gallo is a viable MLB bat. Most here wanted Gallo banished from the team, but believe Wallner to be a potential fixture for years to come. That doesn’t compute. Matt Wallner is the bad version (not the MVP candidate version) of Gallo with less defensive acumen/flexibility. There will be some highs at the plate where he hits some HRs in bunches, but they are short lived. The lows are about as bad as it gets as a professional hitter and can absolutely derail the lineup. Oh, and getting lucky and catching the Blue Jays playing like dog crap in a play in series before getting our butts removed, gift wrapped, and handed to us by Houston in the actual playoffs is an “extended playoff run?”

Correa is worth every penny. Those acting like a $200M contract is some sort of albatross might as well just quit watching baseball or find a new team. That’s peanuts for player of his caliber. There is no hope if we can’t stomach that contract. He’s one of the premier defenders in the entire game. Had a down year last while being injured, but still led the clubhouse in route to a playoff birth, then nearly single handed it took over in the playoffs and got them a consolation play-in series win (for those inclined to celebrate such things as a major success). He’s been absolutely phenomenal this year. A .924 OPS, 169 OPS+, 8 walks to 8 Ks, getting on base at a .452 clip, has two 3 hit games already, has hit into 0 double plays. If not for him, this is a 1 or 2 win team right now. It’s no coincidence that they did what they couldn’t for two decades once they finally ponied up some cash for a premier free agent. The money ballers living in baseball upside down thinking it’s a safer bet to keep payroll down by relying solely on the prospect roulette wheel and AAAA guys, because a couple of teams have had minuscule levels of success with in the entire modern baseball era via random lightning strikes, should learn a lesson there.

No, he doesn’t add depth. Depth implies competence. A bunch a JAGs and AAAA guys standing in a longer line to get shelled does not constitute depth.

This isn’t looking like a very good baseball team, as expected. Outside of Buxton, Correa, and maybe Kirilloff, this offense is looking anemic. I don’t trust any starting pitcher outside of Lopez to not give 3+ HRs in any given start. The bullpen is fine, even with Duran out….but who cares if we can’t get them the ball with a lead. Still early, of course, but I feel even less optimistic than I did a couple of weeks ago. The division is bad enough that they might sneak into the playoffs, but that’s not nearly the given the homers seem to think. And, if they do pull that off, they are going to get absolutely obliterate by good teams in a series. And don’t look now, but they’re again down early to the Brewers through 4 while mustering only two singles, while they guy they couldn’t be bothered to sign (that everyone was clamoring for - Rhys Hoskins) is beating their pants off and slugging .688 through the first handful of games while Santana looks like he can barely hang onto a bat anymore (more strikeouts than hits and walks combined coming into today). Margot offers absolutely nothing. I can count the number hits Matt Wallner has since about last July on one hand. Again, still early. But, the horrible personnel decisions just keep piling up.

When I point fingers at “the FO,” ownership is included. Ownership slashing payroll because of this TV deal nonsense (that they themselves negotiated) doesn’t make it OK that this rotation stinks outside of Lopez. The way this team is currently constructed has an absolute zero chance in the playoffs. Ryan is so up and down and home run happy that they didn’t trust him to pitch more than one inning last year. Now we’re going to roll into a playoff series with him as the potential #2? Ober is just Ober. He’ll give us some good innings against bad teams this year, and maybe even end the year with a decent enough ERA, but nobody can feel good about giving that guy the ball against any potential playoff opponent. Thats all assuming this team even makes the playoffs, which is a big if. Many seem to think it’s a foregone conclusion. I’m not so sure. I don’t care about the reasons why they make awful decisions routinely. I care about the end result. Whether it’s the “FO” or ownership, way too many self sabotaging decisions are being made that are in excusable. I’m tired of it. I’m tired of the endless media and blogger barrage rationalizing the mediocrity. I’m tired of hearing how they tried hard (but did they really?). I’m tied of hearing about the one contract they signed that nullifies decades of intentional roster neglect. I’m tired of hearing about the operating loss (which is BS and accounting smoke and mirrors with no connection to actual cash flows and hard profits they are pulling out of the company in the way of executive salaries and draws for their own coffers). I’m tired of this poverty franchise and the endless propaganda campaign trying to convince me otherwise. I’m tired of being told celebrating moral victories is mandatory. No more excuses.

Lewis hitting a home run then getting hurt is a fitting microcosm and karmic retribution for ownership yanking the rug out from under fans after last year’s step forward. They tempted the baseball gods, and they’ve answered resoundingly the past couple of weeks. Aside from that, Lopez eased the concerns over his relatively rough spring, and Correa picked up where he left off with his strong playoff performance. That’s promising. Those two are going to have to carry us this year.

Brooks is a weird prospect. Prospects ranked that highly are usually have some ridiculous physical tool that give them some sort of superstar projectibility. There seems to be consensus that he doesn’t have the huge upside, but more of a high floor. He may be a good or great player. But, kind of a boring prospect.

The pitching staff they are rolling out to to start the season….unreal. They’re not even trying. Heck, they’re not even trying to look like they’re trying. Not only is fan morale absolutely shot, but think about the players. Guys like Lewis considering their future with the club……Why the hell would you want to commit to anything long-term here? It’s futile.

Logan must be a high ranking member of the FO?

But how similar are they to the Rays and is their business “right size?” We all know those are the key ingredients in the recipe for success.

A bunch of AAAA guys and bargain bin guys who were once promising a half decade ago does not continue bullpen depth. There is no rational basis to believe guys like Alcala, Staumont, etc. will provide any positive value.

The Rays haven’t won a damn thing and never will. My local amateur team has better attendance. Why would we want to emulate them? I don’t care about little engine that could moral victories. I’d rather employ a strategy that has a history of winning a World Series. If you think a team like the As or Rays (the Royals don’t even count, they spent a fair amount money and acquired high end via trade when they won the World Series) popping up for one or two seasons every 30 years by the grace of God is some sort of proof this is superior strategy…..it’s completely illogical and devoid of any sort of real evidence. It’s a Pohlad trying to cover his ass. It’s a mechanism used by fans of hopeless, cheap, small market teams to give themselves hope. There’s no hope in that strategy. It’s decade long rebuild cycles in the hope of stumbling into enough prospect volume to eventually make to the very fringe of contention for a couple of a years, before starting the process over again. Fans of those teams are lucky if they see one World Series appearance in their lifetimes.

Some of the takes here are amazing. ”This roster is better than last year’s playoff team. Period.” Huh? By what measurement? We replaced the Cy Young runner up and a gold glove caliber CFer who hit over 20 HRs with an oft injured 5th starter and a replacement level back up OFer with no power. We lost one of the more professional and accomplished hitters in the lineup (Polanco). The difference between Carlos Santana and some combo of Donny Barrels/Alex K at first base doesn’t even come close to compensating for the losses. “ I give ownership a B. They said they were going to cut payroll, and that’s what they did.” Not sure why that’s worthy of a B. Everything they did this off-season screams, “we don’t give a **** what the fans think.” The way they explain their financial situation with the team is competent fraudulent (if I hear “they’re losing money” one more time). They basically confirmed the fact that they are the supervillains of the sports world. The few remaining accounts defending their handling of the offseason have to be bots. An F is generous for this club. I’d vote to expel them for cheating on the exam, habitually lying about other kids to cover for themselves, and stealing other kids lunches just to throw them in the garbage. This franchise is a joke. Everyone has this delusion about being the Rays, and that being the way. We’re actually more like the Oakland Athletics, and Kate Upton will show up at my door riding a unicorn with a giant blank check before this team wins a real playoff series (not the fake 3 game “play-in” wild card MLB money-grab round).

He’s not basically MAT. He’s a much lesser defender. MAT walked at a higher rate and the power production was much better. Not sure how grounding out a few additional times makes the approach superior to MAT. I’ll take the home runs and walks, myself. It’s not the people unhappy with this trade that are the unreasonable ones here, IMO. It’s the people trying to rationalize this as a positive move. We gave up a potential future gold glove SS prospect for a replacement level backup OFer, just because he’s free with the cash that is coming along (this does not really “increase” the payroll as the article states - another team is effectively paying him). It does not improve the team whatsoever over last year (it makes it worse).

Stupid move. Margot stinks. You can get a backup outfielder to play decent defense and not hit a lick for a song. We have one that’s rotting in the minors (the centerpiece of another fantastic trade). We gave up an elite defensive SS just to not pay a backup OFer a few million. And people are happy about this. This is an awful move even if Noah Miller doesn’t find his bat.

The Pohlads deserve to see the stadium completely empty this season. Fans should vote with their pocket books and force these guys out by making this year an absolute financial disaster. Anyone who attends a game should boo and hiss mercilessly. I’m out on this crap. Not spending a dime on this cut-rate franchise. I’ll take every opportunity to convince any person I come across to do the same. So tired of hearing this corporate money-grubbing drivel out of their mouths every offseason. This franchise is a joke. The 2024 season is already over, and everyone here know it. But, everyone is so desperate for entertainment and addicted to the crap product they delude themselves into thinking they’re doing what’s best for the franchise.

This is an asinine defense. Every team in every season of history faces arbitration. They almost certainly will not carry all of those players listed into 2025. A $20M increase in payroll from where it is now is peanuts, and still way too low. We need new ownership and less propaganda.

No. There's a chance we're not even be the best in the division. Cleveland still has Clase, who had a 154 Stuff+ last year, second in the MLB for relievers (Duran was 11th at 129). He's one of the few guys on the planet with an argument they're better than Duran. Stephan and Hentges both have good stuff. They're always finding solid relievers. Outside of the division, there's not even a remotely legitimate argument. Houston had 3 of the top 10 in Stuff+ last year, with the overall leader (Pressly) and 4th overall (Abreu), and all 3 are back. They've now added Josh Hader to that. Kendall Graveman is very solid, and Rafael Montero was freaking lights out in 2022 (bit of a down year last year - still a 106 Stuff+). They are absolutely stacked. Before even saying this bullpen is one of the best, I need to see Jax be consistently good all year. I also need to see Brock Stewart pitch more innings than I can count on two hands. The encouraging thing is they both looked good in the playoffs. Thielbar is an aging junkballer who got absolutely lit up against premier hitters in the playoffs. Funderkurk doesn't throw hard enough. He's just a younger version of Thielbar. They're fine against the guys in the AAAA Central Division, but not the actual big leagues. Topa strikes out well under a batter an inning and misses almost no bats (9% SwStr rate - good relievers are typically double that). Expecting Alcala, Jackson, Balazovic, Sands, Henriquez, Staumont, etc. to suddenly be effective has no basis in current reality. This is assuming Varland is in the rotation. He makes the bullpen better, but I need to see him pitch some more innings also. I like the bullpen. Its a good bullpen. Its probably the strength of this team right now (which isn't saying much). But, we are absolutely not the best bullpen in baseball. Certainly not the type of uber-dominant bullpen that can shorten a game to 4-5 innings and carry you through the playoffs. But, good enough for a competitive team.

The coping and rationalization in this thread…. Basically, “I don’t want the team to spend money anyway.” And “The Pohlads are better than their owner.” “The Royals better win something first before they’re better than us.” Newsflash, guys. The Royals are a more successful franchise than this one over the past 3 decades. It’s not even close. Who gives a **** about empty division titles in the worst division in professional sports? They made back-to-back World Series, winning one within the last decade. We haven’t won a real playoff series since 1991. They’ve won 10x the number of playoff games we have. I’d trade every playoff sweep ass kicking from 2001 until now for one World Series in that time frame. The delusion of where this team sits in the MLB hierarchy is wild to me. No Twins fan has any business looking down our nose at the Royals. Ive said it repeatedly, and continue to do so whoever it presents itself. This fan base suffers from collective Stockholm Syndrome. It’s its own living organism at this point with a fully functioning immune system that will attempt to dispel and eradicate any differing opinion (like this one) like it’s a foreign entity. It’s OK to admit the Royals have done something we haven’t done. If you wouldn’t take that contract for Bobby Witt as a Twins fan, what are your aspirations? Because that’s a hell of a player.