GusGus11

I said it on the game thread. But we cant have that guy batting 3rd in big games behind guys who draw walks. Its a strategy thats asking to be exposed. He isnt good with RISP either.

Im begging

Wallner will end up with more career HBP than Rizzo

Hell of an outing from Sonny

Cmon Solano. Either let Polanco get it or make the play bro. Wasnt even difficult.

Dick has gotta hang it up soon. Hes always been bad about thinking something is a homer but it gets worse and worse and now he barely even knows who is who. That ball hedges hit "Deep to left"...Cuts to Wallner in a dead spring running towards the infield.

MLB has got to put an end to this These losers are never held accoutnable. They just keep working games. Torres deserves legit bad things to happen to him.

There we go Sonny Way to regroup

Cmon Sonny Since being given the lead hes allowed a homer. 3 laser outs. A hit to one of the worst hitters in baseball. A wild pitch. Lets go

Welp Sonny doesnt know how to pitch with run support

Hell of an inning. But we have got to stop batting Correa behind 2 guys who draw walks. Its just asking for DPs and is simply moronic strategy. When AK returns this should be the lineup but never will be Julien Polo AK Lewis Wallner Correa

Veteran with positional versatility and keep in mind this is a roster that is also currently rostering Jordan Luplow.

Putting this here for some good vibes tonight

A lefty reliever like Funderburk Id say is absolutely necessary. And Alcala/Miranda wont play again for us this year.

Funny you mention AK, because I was actually gonna add him to this convo when giving my opinion on why Id be ok paying Royce ASAP. I am a HUGE AK. I have a long time Twins buddy that I have kept in contact with from a different sports message board many years back. We text all the time how much we love him and that as an all around hitter hes the best of the bunch. But hes one I absolutely would not try to do any early deal with. Because 1. Hes almost 2 years older than Royce 2. While his all around plate coverage, use of all fields and OBP ability is impressive. Royce with the known power and all around talent has a higher ceiling 3. The main thing. His big injuries unlike Royce's worry me immediately. I mentioned how I think Royce knee injuries in a vaccuum are more concering for 33 year old Royce than 26 year old Royce. Hes still fast and athletic now and they dont impact his hitting currently. AKs wrist injury from everything I read was nearly a career ender and directly impacts his hitting ability. Im glad its been fine this year *knock on wood* but having a wrist injury that nearly ruined your career by 25 is not a good thing. Now hes dealing with a shoulder problem which agian theres optimism hes close to returning. But already having shoulder and major wrist issues before your prime is scary. I look at Kirilloffs injuries as much more ominous than Royce. I'm willing to roll the dice with Royce.

With the current roster this is our best possible lineup. With a Gallo/Taylor platoon.

I said into his 30s not when hes 30. If you give him the deal now you dont just overpay yearly for 1 more year haha. You do it like the Acuna one and see if Royce due to his injuries wants that same security but at a later age. Paying him 17ish per year through age 32 is a great risk and avoids having to do any sort of performance based arb that could raise his pennies cost currently and also avoids having to negotiate with a 29 year old under no contract that is ready to get paid with a big deal finally into his mid 30s at earliest with knees that wont last. Lockin him up now lets us acess where hes at into his 30s and through most of his prime. Again, its cool if you wouldnt. But there is a very clear world where that would work wonderfully. Or it could fail. Same way waiting could.

Excellent point. And very probable Boras would go that route. What I should have made more clear in my OP is this discussion is simply from a Twins stand point. Basically me saying I think the team should be looking to try to do it. And wanting opinions of those on this board what they would do if they were Gm. How much, right now? Wait til last minute? Give it 1 or 2 years. Basically operating under the assumption that whatever deal makes sense is what Boras/Lewis would agree to. So like my stance is right now I would would love locking him up at an Acuna like rate. If the twins tried to do that and royce said no he wants 10 years 300 mil right now. I would not be mad at them for saying "nahhh we are gonna wait" But I am of the opinion we should try something soon within the next year at the latest. And would be really disappointed if we never tried and just let him fleece us at 29.

But see, to devils advocate Royce and his injuries. You can make a very good argument that his knee injuries are more of a long term worry. Of course right now we would be gambling that continous things like the oblique or random hamstrings and groin pulls dont happen because injuries are who he is. BUT if you look at the two major knee injuries. Right now Royce Lewis is still fast, hes still agile, hes still mobile. Hes got power through out his body upper and lower. The major injuries hes had are ones that are likely to cause him to breakdown earlier than the average player(cause all break down) kinda like Correa So hypothetically(again this is all hypothetically and from a Twins stand point ignoring Royces side). We could offer him a deal tomorrow that gives him like 17 mil a year until hes into his 30. He takes for his reasons. We got him locked up through his prime years. Or we could wait until hes 28/29. He proves to be productive adn stays on the field and at that point we give him the usual 7-10 year deal at huge dollars players get. But now a guy with 2 knee injuries is undercontract from 34-37 years old with knees that are probably jelly at that point. As Ive said in other posts, its just my opinion and what I would do. I completely understand if someone would rather wait out until its absolutely needed. But I think there is much more than "little reason" to do it sooner. Royce current injury history has me much more worried about the years wed be paying for when we pay him at 29 then what we pay him for cheaper now.

Seager lol. Obviously was never going to happen though. But to your point its why I find it funny that people are fully out on Correa. He frustrates me with some of his ABs that look like a rookie approach but hes still got a bat and plays great D with a game changing arm. Look at other SS signed recently around him. Baez? nightmare. Story?? nightmare. Bogaerts? Regressed his first year. Swanson has been Swanson but hes always had a lower bar. Turner turning it on but regression off the bat with a LONG deal. Seager is really the only big FA one that has definitively worked and his was way more years and way more money.. Shorts stops aroudn the league are mostly busts. Tim Anderson? Brandon Crawford? The Guardians 8 man platoon of trash? Im ok with 5 more years of Correa so long as hes able to play. I think he will have a couple hot years too and the D plays.

Youre right that it can work both ways instantly locking up multiple players. I personally am of the belief, Royce willing getting him into a 17ish per deal soon would be a fantastic move. On this thread I am absolutely not saying im am definitively correct. Simply my opinion. The short sighted part thats wild to me is a few people in here insinuating that there is zero reason to go that route. That is objectively jsut incorrect. There is definitely a very obvious reason why we could choose to lock up Royce soon and why it could end up a very good move. The debate is all about if its worth it, which is I started the thread. Thats up in the air. But at the same time, reason why I argue for gambling on Royce is known talent. Either way as ive said we are always gambling. We blindly gave Vazquez 10 mil a year for 3 years. That guy is black hole contract right now playing 50/50 at worst with a guy thats way better and we have potnetial in minors. We used to sign starters like Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco to large deals with no support. I am always of the belief that with contracts the priority should be 1. Are they talented 2. Are they part of the org already. Id much rather potentially overpay, potentially biff on players that you know have the talent and are part of the org. Committing to Ricky Nolasco and Christian Vazquez is much worse to me.

Yup this was brought up by someone in the game thread. I dont think its a coincidence that Julien/Wallner/AK are the ones constantly getting the brunt and almost always right. They have been playing with it. It obviously helps that they are flat out more disciplined hitters than all of our vets(sad but true) but i think a part of that is also being used to a strike zone where you know its going to be consistent and accurante. Where as, as much as it annoys me watching buxton chase. Hes operating on more guess work But its why I find it insane people were saying Wallner should swing at that pitch. WHAT?? As frustrating as it is seeing Julien and Wallners stats blatantly impacted by bad calls. In the long run its going to help so much. Making them much better hitters and if godforbid MLB goes to robo umps they will make a elite jump with zero learning curve.

100%. And this is just a discussion point anyways. Its not saying the Twins absolutely have to do it. Or that Royce would take it. But hes the guy you look into doing it for. People keep restating the obvious short sighted comment of "why sign him when we have him at 29 and hes had injuries". Duh. But the reasons for why you still could do thatis gambling on productivity of a star talent to get him at a Buxton rate early. When hes 28 the only way to get him at a Buxton rate is if his injury history and consistency go the way of Buxton. Which wouldnt be ideal anyways. As you said there is A LOT that signing talent like Royce early can benefit future flexibility. Contracts are a gamble at all times no matter the player, the team or the age.

Well, its been stated mulptiple times 1. No one said need. There is no need. But why lock him, to repeat because that is what you do to ensure talent sticks around at a certain rate. It doesnt NEED to be done. But locking him up now at 17 mil a year for 8 years(If Royce is willing) can be better then waiting 3 years. He stays healthy and rakes and now wants 31 mil a year for 8 more that extends into his mid 30s. Its not rocket science why a team would do it. Its a gamble either way. So its all about what they believe his talent is and what hes willing to take. We just signed Correa to a way bigger deal with worse medicals. So lets not act like getting royce through his prime at half the cost would be some albatross haha.

Not officially because he is on the 60 day currently. But when ever he comes off he has to go on the 40 man and has zero options remaining. So activate him ASAP and cut ties. No clue why Alcala isnt 60 day'd tho. Or even Miranda. Ortega is another we dont even need to have rostered We have a bunch of deadweight on the 40 man Funderburk should be up here immediately.