Hawkeye Bean Counter

I know you aren't. More just a joke.

I will say @USAFChief motto would be F them picks/prospects LOL

Is there steam on Caratini to the Yankees?

It will be. If its legit - I would say Culpepper, Diaw/Winokur/Young, and then an arm maybe Gallagher/Barr/Reitz.

I am sure @USAFChief would love this, if we are truly trying to buy low and catch lightening in a bottle I would rather have Volpe. Slightly higher OBP but OPS is lower with less homers. If we think we need a shortstop I would go this route than doing a major buy on Neto. I am hoping Nightengale is wrong.

Also the only information appears to be from Nightengale, so the odds it is throwing crap against the wall is high.

I don't know he is already at 4 million per a year, the arbitration numbers will continue to go up for a hitter that the valuation is all on his home runs. The .240 average with around a .300 OBP isn't cutting it for me. Its affectively another Clemens with variable defensive metrics. Plus there will be more going than just Culpepper. Likely Culpepper, a top 15 prospect and then one in the top 30, that is a lot.

I think we have seen the best of Neto. I think I take my chances with Houston and Culpepper.

Appears we are holding on to Jeffers and Larnach is the one we are willing to trade. I am ok with this, just curious on the return from the Astros.

Please no on Culpepper or Houston for Neto. Tait I may be ok, but I would rather see no deal.

Oh wow, I don't know what I feel about that. You would think 1 of Culpepper or Houston.

I am shocked that both Astros and Twins are trying to revive this deal. If I were the Twins I would be asking for more since the Astros squashed it the first time.

Rutschmann and Detmers both traded.

No, They have 6-7 starters. They could get a high lottery ticket prospect for someone they may DFA after the season, or lose immense value if they move him to the pen when some of their starters get healthy. They have gone into full sellers mode now selling off multiple pieces. As to being in the wildcard, they have now traded Ward and most likely Rutschmann. They don't appear to be trying buy for the the playoffs.

Adrian Santana and our old friend Kisting. He has now been traded twice in 6 months.

Interesting. Who are the Yankees going to get at Catcher. Goodman or Jeffers.

Wow, I did not see that coming.

I actually expect we will get a pretty solid pitcher. He is more working of the rust. He is also a very similar pitcher to Bradley. Multiple 0 or 1 run outings followed by 6 or 7 runs. Its been the blowouts and home runs that have hurt him. We were able to help Bradley with pitch sequences and improving his stuff. Honestly I think Ober is about finished and Kremer will solidly slot in as a #3, #4 pitcher that will keep you in most games with the occasional blow out.

If we are going for it, if we are adding a bat its got to be from the farm system. Culpepper, Jenkins and Mendez would all be nice additions.

I do think they reset the franchise, but they really could have finished it. Granted, they can still get value from Jeffers even if they don't trade him with the QO. The Twins will likely end up with 3 first round draft picks unless draft compensation changes for small market teams with the new bargaining agreement which it could. He can make some big swings at pitching or hitting at the end of the 1st round. Add in it appears we have hit on Marek Houston. If Vahn Lackey is the real deal, Marek Houston, Jenkins, Culpepper, Lackey, Mendez at 1st (I have loved him since the last deadline). You only need to hit on 1-2 more outfielders. Pitching is the question. Can we find enough high impact arms. I think they will. Bradley so far looks like the real deal. I wish they would have done 1 more tank year though of selling Jeffers and Ryan but its ok. Buxton will be here long term and he will be fine as a 7-9 hitter. Here is where it gets interesting. The 2022 draft the Twins pretty well nailed. Other than not getting a high ceiling on Lee which was expected they nailed that draft. The 2026 draft we haven't seen the arms, and we have only seen a few games at A ball, but the 6 hitters look legit. You have Lackey who already is showing he is pretty polished, Tinney has immense power with the hardest hit in the Twins org this year and the hardest hit in Fort Myers in 11 years, some strike out concerns but controls the at bat well and I think we will get some positive developments on his defense. Then Teel, Turner, Lane and Schlovin all look solid. Its a small sample size, but if 3 of the 4 can become legit prospects along with Tinney and Lackey this could be a home run of a draft and we haven't even seen the pitching which I am pretty optimistic about. The younger pitchers are also starting to flash in the system a little pit. Dasan Hill just had his best outing. Matt Barr struggled a little bit adjusting but was throwing 96 mph and had much better control in his first start in A ball. Reitz is settling in as well. Quick has been solidly above average already up to AA. We need a healthy Soto and Ellwanger. We have the arms and body types to do well. Add in the 2026 group of arms who we have some more high octane arms and we may have rebuilt the farm system in 1 year.

Bats are much more scarce this year which is increasing the value. Pitching is actually going more cheaply. With the Rangers going into sellers mode, and the Mariners no longer dangling Arozarena, this would be the right time to potentially strike on a Jeffers or Larnach deal. 1 or the other in my opinion, not both. The deal for Arraez was effectively full price.

I will say this, I have really been warming up to the Kremer trade. He was a really solid pitcher for the last 2-3 years. If you can get 40 starts of 2 WAR pitching you take that and run and there is a decent possibility that occurs. I also think its a high possibility we sold high on Reyes as well. .950 OPS in the international leagues is nice, but transitioning to A ball is a big adjustment.

I think its actual a decent possibility. Larnach has done just as well since the trade debacle news so I think he would be fine moving forward. My entire premise has been the Twins were unwilling to bring up Jenkins and Culpepper. Zoll stated they were willing to bring up rookies and implied they would bring up Jenkins.

Here is my dream scenario. Trade Jeffers to Yankees for Warren. Get a low level prospect for Bell. Put Larnach as the DH. Bring up Jenkins if legit going for playoff spot as well as Culpepper and then get 1 more high level bullpen arm. Forget about Call from the Dodgers. You can likely get him on waivers or a cash deal. Your pitching has improved, your offense should be as good or better and you haven't spent much prospect capital.