Hawkeye Bean Counter

If a pitcher comes up that you think you can turn into an elite pitcher yes I would consider it but the staff is looking very strong. You have your #1 in Lopez locked up for 4 years. The Twins have a decision to make as to who the #2 is. Paddack looked very good at the end of the season. I have a feeling he will step into the #2 spot. Then with Ryan, Ober, Varland you have a top 5. Now I do think they need to get another pitcher. Whether that is resigning Gray who could step in as your #2 or #3 or going for a pitcher they think they can fix. Personally I think they let Gray go. If you could get Eduardo Rodriguez as a decent contract I would consider it, but in general they look for value contracts on trades, which brings us back to a possibly trade option. Right now OF and 1st base and RP are primary areas I would be looking at upgrading and then retooling the depth players. I think this offseason will be wide open for the front office.

You may see some go longer than 1. You would also have effectively all pitchers on deck other than Gray and Lopez.

Do you take pictures standing on your head regularly 😄

I wasn't able to read the full analytics of it. If Gray continues to perform it is going to put pressure on the Twins. It would make you want to try to run it out again, while at the same time increasing the contract Gray gets with every successful playoff start. The extension for Pablo looks like pure gold right now. I think you are easily looking at 70 to 80 million on a 3-4 year contract for Gray that could get as high as 90 million. If he walks the Twins will get a comp pick at the end of the first round. 2 years of Gray, a good run in the playoffs possibly even more and another late 1st round draft pick for Petty seems like a dream scenario. You know the Twins are comfortable with what Gray is and are comfortable with his performance and know he can be an extremely strong 1B pitcher to Lopez 1A. I fear his velocity is right on the precipice of greatly hindering his performance. In 2016 he was average 94-95 MPH. It is now down to 92.9. I think as it continues to decline to lower 92 to 91, even with more horizontal and vertical manipulation, that the hard hit rates are going to start popping back up. With as many runners that Sonny has been stranding on the base paths, if that occurs at inopportune times his ERA could be significantly higher. As much as I love Sonny for this year and what he is doing and want it to continue this playoff run, the best thing for the Twins would be to let him walk, and find another undervalued pitcher that is considered very good that they think they can make into great.

You would be placing Taylor above Paddack and Pagan. I love Taylor, but I have effectively prioritized elite players. That is not to say Taylor hasn't been elite as a defensive player and even done fairly well with the bat, However I see Paddack performing as our #2 pitcher next year. The question is will he be on an innings limit.

"Having them be able to watch me play, play with them, them being able to come into the clubhouse, to just be a part of it, that and then winning a World Series, going on a playoff, going on a postseason run, that’s the things that still drive me in this game,” Gray told reporters. “That’s the reason that I still show up and put in the work that I put in.” I always thought we would not have a chance at resigning Gray. Because we wouldn't give him the best shot at winning in his eyes. With Pablo and Correa, that changes the dynamics. Will be curious to see how his free agency plays out. I still think the Twins are ok allowing him to walk, but I would be fine if they resigned him.

Protecting Correa will be interesting, other than Lewis no one else scares any other team.

Rooker was DFA'd by San Diego. That is why I didn't include him. As to the his performance, he was great at the beginning of the season, struggled the entirety of the summer and had a pretty good Sept. He is not a rising star. However, he could be a decent player for the A's if his strikeouts don't come up to haunt him again. They are winning the trade currently just from Pagan. As to Paddack, his stuff looks legit. We get a couple of solid years from him would be great. Plus have a chance at a comp pick for him as well I believe.

Farmer started the game, because he still currently our best 3rd baseman. With Lewis still injured, the platoon split, and his defense made 3rd base his. Polanco's defense at 3rd makes me gag. Hopefully Lewis is good enough to go at 3rd in Game 3. Baldelli said he was running much better.

Houston has to win 1 game against Gray or Lopez. Verlander on short rest isn't likely to get it done. If I were them, I would throw the kitchen sink accept Verlander in Game 4. He gives them a shot in game 5. Valdez right now doesn't have it. I expect to see lots of intentional walks coming to Correa with runners on.

Right now best trades. 1. Lopez for Arraez 2. Duran for Escobar 3. Gray for Petty 3. Ryan for Cruz 4. Paddack and Pagan for Rogers Both the Lopez and Gray trades are higher than most would have put them. Hindsight helps. However when you can get a #1 pitcher for Arraez the trade always tips in your favor, especially when they sign a team friendly extension. Duran is obviously elite. Gray has provided everything we could have hoped for. Him and Lopez have the ability to lead us deep in the playoffs. Add in we may get a draft pick if he were to sign elsewhere and that trade looks golden. Ryan trade speaks for it self. The Paddack Pagan trade has the potential to pay dividends as well. Paddack looks really good, and hopefully can fill into Grays spot next year.

Thats the issue though Muppet, he isn't healthy. He looked overmatched in AAA.

Those days off is helping with Correa's plantar fasciitis. The extra days off in the playoff are not hurting either, you can tell he feels healthy but also confident. Buxton has a career .167 BA in the playoffs. He could have racked up 6 strikeouts so far this series trying to hit a home run.

Have you not watched the playoffs? Taylor is doing everything he can in centerfield. I would say arguable playing as well as a healthy Buxton. Anything we get from his bat is gravy.

Well I am not saying anyone needs to eat crow yet, but things right now look pretty good. As I stated in this thread the AL is wide open. Part of the reason I was optimistic as I was about the Twins potentially making a run is there is no team like Atlanta in the AL. You have a bunch of above average teams. I twice looked at the odds for the Twins, I think the one I saw was 2500 back in late August or Sept. If I was a betting man I would have definitely considered putting some money down. Right now the Twins have the 2nd best shot in the AL to win the WS and the 5th best shot overall at 10%. The bullpen is really starting to round into shape. You have a solid 4 in Theilbar, Stewart, Jax, Duran. The next group, Pagan, Varland, Funderburk and Maeda and Paddack, gives you some length possibilities and a big upgrade over the bullpen iteration of most of this year. The rookie bats have been a massive infusion to this team. Correa also delivered in the first 2 games. They won their division and they won their first playoff series. At the vary least the front office was given a much longer runway due to the players performances. The plan has worked out well, and they have created a chip and chair situation. Best of Luck go Twins and don't worry, I am more than willing to keep bumping this thread 😉.

Definitely interesting to see everyone's list. In going through it became vary apparent I had a major bias that in general unless they had already performed, I was not willing to put the international players in the top 20. For example, De Andrade, had an ok season, above 700 OPS, and seemed to come up with big hits especially in the month of August (really struggled in Sept). Yes he is young, and had a really nice August, beyond that there is nothing there that I am saying he is better than Culpepper, Lewis, Morris, Ohl, Canterino, Funderburk or Cossetti. Maybe the ceiling is higher, but I think in general the underperformance of international players in the Twins system makes me look long and hard on their value in the prospect rankings. Overall fun exercise. To me it is looking like we do go about 30 deep and it could get deeper after the 2023 draft picks start playing next year and we find more quality players deep in the draft.

Most likely not. The twins have an incentive not to resign with #1 draft pick coming back if he signs for more than 50-60 million (not sure what that threshold is). I feel like the margin of error on Gray is razor thin. This will likely end up being his best year, right up there with 2019 and 2015. The issue with Gray will be increasing age and inconsistency with performance over his career. I can be thrilled with the trade and how it turned out. With all that being said I would be happy if they did resign him. I just don't see it happening. As to this, Gray was the best performer for the Twins, but Pablo and Duran are the best pitchers on the team. I would give the award to Gray. Heck of a season, and is a master at patience and knowing if you don't give a hitter a grooved pitch that he has an advantage, that sooner or later the hitters will miss or have weak contact. He is willing to go deeper in counts, walk or have hitters get on base. However he vary rarely gives up the home run and very rarely gives up the crooked number.

Walker Jenkins Walker Jenkins and Brooks Lee are very even. Jenkins has the ability to have the contact of Lee with elite OPS. Brooks Lee has been fairly consistent in his stats throughout all levels sitting with an OPS in the .800-.900 range. Jenkins in a SSS had a 1.054 OPS in A ball as an 18 year old. I have no idea if he can maintain his performance up the levels like Lee has, however there is more and more evidence that the Twins have a potential all-star player in the young Jenkins. Brooks Lee Lee has done everything we hoped he would do. Solid contact hitter, lots of doubles and pretty good defense. He is risen up the levels much better than expected. Emmanuel Rodriguez Rodriguez continues to impress. A more powerful and higher OBP and OPS Julien with better defense. Has to continue to limit the strike outs. Charlee Soto Soto like many of his 2023 draft picks is projection. However the fireballer has the ability to be a #1 pitcher for the Twins. He also has the body type that may be more durable than other prospects in the system. That ceiling and durability lifts him to the top of the pitching rankings. Marco Raya Raya has an electric arm, the question has been can it hold up to the rigors of a season. This season was good in that he got through it, but he was on a severe innings restriction. Hopefully the training wheels come off. David Festa Festa is beginning to see the increase in competition at the higher levels but continued to hold his own. I expect a jump in performance this upcoming year. Tanner Schobel Schobel and Keaschall are doing everything the Twins had hoped for when they picked them. Brandon Winokur He is young and had a SSS in rookie ball. However the contact looks better than expected at this stage and it appears he has the power potential that can carry him up through the system. His athleticism is also better than advertised. Luke Keaschall Solid start to his career. Austin Martin Martins inconsistency is maddening. At one point he looks like an elite prospect player and the next moment the slipper is off and the pumpkin has disappeared. I will say his defense is improving. Connor Prielipp He may have the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the system, but has struggled with health. The Twins were impressed with his stuff in the summer. If the arm is healthy I am expecting big things. Tanner Hall Without seeing him this is all projection. However, we know he is already an elite pitcher. Can the Twins harness a few more mph to Hall's command and quality pitches. If so, he has the ceiling of a #2 or #3 pitcher. Yunior SeverinoCory Lewis Lewis is going to start a run of 2022 draft prospects - and primarily pitchers. Lewis was exceptional this year and has several pitches that can play up. CJ CulpepperAndrew Cossetti His bat played very well this year. He carried teams throughout the year. His performance rockets him up the prospect rankings. Pierson Ohl Ohl is really beginning to put things together and may jump the 2022 drafted pitching prospects. Andrew Morris Although at 18 this spot was between Morris and Matthews. The difference between the two is Morris got stronger as the season wore on where Matthews excelled at A ball and struggled a bit more in high A. Morris is a Hall light in my opinion that will continue to improve as he is in the system. Matt Canterino Of the pitchers in the system that were highly ranked before, Canterino has not only performed the best while on the field but also has the highest ceiling between, Balazovic, Enlow and SWR. All Canterino like Priellip needs is health. If healthy he will rocket up the board and also likely into the MLB. Kody Funderburk The best Reliever in the Twins system has to be in the top 20 prospects right. He is also performing very well.

winnah winnah chicken dinner

veterans Correa and Gray paying dividends.

I am starting to wonder if the AL East was not as strong as it was perceived to be. Maybe just jitters, but if Twins and Rangers win you are only left with Baltimore. Who would likely be our next opponent if we win?

If we get a big hit here, takes a lot of pressure off on this game. Come on guys.

Rookies killing it this game so far. Really making Guasman work for it.

Nice at bat Kiriloff. Don't help Guasman, Correa make him work for it and punish it if he gives you something good.

Kepler not helping the pitch counts