Hawkeye Bean Counter

This is obviously a subject that bothers the author as this isn't the first time its been addressed implicitly or directly. A team is made of Batters, SP, and RP. The SP carried a massive load, especially early in the season. Its why Sonny Grays W-L record was crap even with his excellent numbers especially for April and May. So we can easily handle some regression if the bats show up at the beginning of the season. As a whole the offense and the relievers look much stronger and can handle any decrease that occurs even still you have the talent to do well Ryan and Ober have both done very well for us the last 2 years. Ryan tailed off last year, likely due to injury. It will be curious if its a one off or closer to the #2 pitcher he was early last season. Over has been a low end #2 to #3 pitcher. If he and Ryan give us solid innings again it puts us in a very good to be successful. I think Lopez will perform as well as last year, possibly better. He had some bad luck early and also seemed to fully buy into what the Twins were telling him and it clicked the 2nd half. So you have Paddack, who has #2 ability, Desclafani who appears to have a clean bill of health, Varland, and potentially another starter they sign to a AAA deal as additional depth, or try to run with 6 starters during the season. Not sure what they are planning but they are still checking on starting pitching. If the top 3 hold out, I think between Paddack, Desclafani and Varland, you have high upside to fill the 4 and 5 positions. Or they could be pumpkins or Desclafani takes the Paddack approach and only lasts a month before IL for the remainder of the year. I am cautiously optimistic the starting staff is as good as last year. However with the RP and better hitting they don't need to be. Ready for the ball season.

Topa did it for a full season. Add in that he fundamentally changed a pitch and his approach in 2022. It took hold in 2023. I have much more confidence in Topa duplicating his season that Stewart. However, when Stewart was in last year, he looked damn good. Personally I think both do well, which is good, as I expect decline from Thielbar. We have lots of arms in the bullpen to fill in spots.

Best news I have heard. Thanks.

It saves $34.5 million in future years, and gave them a useful asset this year that they needed that they were going to get nothing for this year. So yes they were able to clear salary from a player on the IL to use it on a useful player this year. What would have Haniger got as a 1 year deal this year, $10 mil, $12 mil $14 mil? So at a hard cap and effectively found $12 million dollars in this trade. Yes it tells you what they are doing. Go listen to the Mariners Podcast, they blast ownership for this offseason every episode then praise Dipoto for what he has been able to do.

I thought today was the day they could put him on the 60 day. So yes if he throwing and not on 60 day he appears healthy. However, you are majorly oversimplifying the Mariners and Giants situations. The Giants have had money to burn and no one to take them up on big money deals. The Mariners were told they couldn't spend anymore and had to cut budget. So the Mariners floated a injured high end arm with likely 2 years of pitching to dump salary. They liked Haniger before but he was a negative war, so in order to take Ray, the Giants dumped Hanigers contract and Desclafani who in all likelihood Mariners said in order for us to take him on we need the $6 million dollars to try and flip him (most likely already talking to the Twins). Then as a cash strapped team they were willing to add $2 million to the pot to the Twins to get rid of him. If the $4 million for Desclafani is a sunk cost to get the 3 other players we did, so be it. He was a negative war in the trade calculator and I still view him as a negative asset (that could have upside if healthy). I don't ever feel the front office was completely up front with us on Buxton last year. I think they knew that Knee was extremely inflamed and he was struggling to do likely simple exercises, rehab ect. Its why MAT was brought in. Look if Desclafani is cleared he is cleared. If he is still not cleared and pitching, tells you all you need to know about what the Twins have been telling us, but also his medical diagnosis. The Twins still shopping for a 5th starter is also interesting. There would be no need if Desclafani is healthy and your 5th starter.

They can if he still isn't cleared to pitch (ie his tear is not healed yet)- he still isn't until we hear otherwise. Until then his ETA is well up in the air. Yes he had a strain that should have been 4-8 weeks. It didn't heal, then was given prp shot - should have been 12-16 week recovery time. Again a no go late Sept, early October. Unless that information is wrong, there is a lot of question in regards to how healthy he is and if he will be able to pitch this year. You also had 2 teams trade him with cash because of this "questionable" arm. I don't think the Twins would have any issue having the documentation for a 60 day.

Well best case scenario, we were able to keep Balazovic and Duarte in the system. They are lottery arms with still some talent and things to work on and could be useful. The talent in St. Paul in the bullpen appears to be very good, and could even be better if Weiss is able to be passed through as well. I will Bubba would have made it, as he would have been a very nice break glass option at Center for this year. Who knows we may try to claim him again if he gets dropped but I think we are getting close to the end of our claiming merry go round for now. Bubba is obviously very much viewed as AAAA type player that a lot of people like, but unwilling to commit a 40 man spot for him. I would feel a lot more comfortable if we were to resign MAT. Gives you the defense as a backup if we need it.

No they didn't prefer Bubba over a Blake Snell (Only Balazovic and Duarte) not anyone else, Bubba will likely again be waived and the process will only stop when no one else claims him. The issue will be that unlike the Twins being able to pass through now 3 questionable players onto triple AAA because Rosters are full, they all will open up with 60 day designations and it will be much more difficult to pass through a player in 2 days.

I thought waivers was 2 days. I thought would have heard about the 3 DFA Friday, Then thought with the weekend would be Monday. Still nothing today. When will we hear anything on the 3 whether they were claimed or passed through waivers.

Way too many questions marks regarding what? SP - we have subtracted Gray and Maeda, have added Desclafani and Paddack. You also have Varland who could take step forward. Bats wise we have less questions. Buxton appears healthier, you have Julien, Lewis and Correa in the infield. Kiriloff is platoon with Santana. You have a strong catcher Duo, hopefully vazquez bat shows up a bit more this year. Then outfield looks pretty solid. No offense I see no quesion marks in the bullpen. This is the best constructed team in years. Doesn't mean we have some things to tweak.

Gray was a hell of a pitcher for us the last 2 years. I also don't see him performing as well as he did as last year. He got out of a lot of jams with no damage done. A couple more home runs changes his ERA quite a bit. Gray is also an excellent regular season pitcher. However with just so/so stuff but pretty good control, if the control is off just a little bit the elite baseball teams in playoffs are more likely to do damage. I loved what he did for us and the trade. Absolute no brainer. Even still I am ok, with the team we have and hope we get 1 more starter either as a FA or trade to add to the mix.

No its not much at all, just a Lee, or Walker or a Julien or combination of something. Right now White sox are asking for 2 top 100 prospects plus additional prospects for Cease. No offense for Cease that is nuts. The cost is likely too high right now for a #2 or #1 type pitcher.

No if they were taking him on as a negative asset, affective "as-is." the medical records or physical would make no difference. They would know a heck of a lot more about the situation than us. Even still, a player that has not been cleared for 8 months from injury, does not sound good. And in, he has not pitched for 8 months, there is a very real possibility he will need the 60 day even if healthy just to strengthen up. I have no idea what the Twins have planned, and maybe he is cleared tomorrow for all I know. I much more concerned on his health than I was when we traded for him.

From reading the tea leaves I think they are going to get that right handed bat and 1 more starting pitcher. With being on the starters market it means Varland starts down. Weiss would go down and Staumont to the 60 day. That opens 2 spots, but then carrying 6 starting pitchers during the season and reducing 1 spot for a reliever. The hope is they are dumpster diving in the 1-4 million range and more in the $5-10 million range. If so and they can get a decent right handed bat, and a usable starting pitcher, I really really like the construction of the team. I am hoping in the Ryu, Clevinger and Lorenzen. Any of those 3 I would be happy with. I wouldn't be surprised if its Clevinger.

It wasn't the velocity that impressed me. It was the control of the secondary pitches. Painting the plate with curve ball. Fastball, high and away. The control was fantastic. With the increased velocity, and much better coaching, yes as long as health holds up, his ceiling is very very high.

Sounds like Twins still interested in FA pitchers.

Interesting Twins still in the market for a starting pitcher in FA per Morosi. Those in that second tier still remaining are Ryu, Lorenzen, and Clevinger. Snell and Montgomery are likely out of our price range. But very interesting development. Showing again they are valuing depth and options. There are a few further down option but those appear to be the main targets for about 4-6 teams.

Marlins may think Twins stock pile good players and may not maximize them on the hitting side.

200 million for a player who has had 2 good seasons out of the last 5 with sub mendoza years thrown in, does not sound like a good use of that money.

Prato and Kiersey are decent options as well, just not as well known. Really helps if Bubba Thompson passes through waivers. Gives another option. Right now Options are what the Twins are trying to create.

Bellinger is a pipe dream. I truly think MAT is the final move. Get your defensive backup, unless you really trust Martin to be on the big league team.

I understand questioning it. Its not as strong as last year, but its not bad compared to previous years. Actually much stronger. We still have the opportunity to improve it. Not sure if we will or not, or run with what we have. I really really like what we are doing in the bullpen, and I am more optimistic on Buxton that he may actually be healthy. If I were a betting man would be tempted to put some money on them this year. They have a chance to be special.

MAT are you serious . . . Michael A Taylor

We have a few question marks but I like the starter options. You have your #1 in Lopez. Haven't had that for years. #2 This is your question mark. Paddack, showed me something in the playoffs. I think he has the chance to be something special. He has the highest ceiling of any of our pitching options beyond Lopez. #3-#5 you then have Ryan, Ober, Varland and Desclafani to fill 3 spots. Yes I would prefer 1 more solid option but that is a strong starting lineup with a bit of depth. However you are counting on Paddack showing something he hasn't during his career. As to Gray, I think he will be a solid starter the next couple years, but I think last year will be his high water mark on the remainder of his career. We have saved our prospect capital to use it if we need it.

I fully agree. I think the front office saw how beneficial it was to have the great depth by SP and Hitters last year. Quality MLB players make a huge difference on winning games. Bullpen - Duran, Thielbar, Jax, Stewart, Topa, Jackson, Okert, Then Staumont (possible 60 day) Alcala, Funderburk plus the options we have in AAA and I will be curious if we are able to pass through a couple more options throw waivers tomorrow in possibly Duarte, (soon to be) Weiss and Balazovic to add to Jensen, Bowman. Pretty Clear Varland will remain a starter option.