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NYCTK

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Everything posted by NYCTK

  1. NYCTK
    Perhaps. But that SS will be no different in substance than the Farmer type anyways. Akin to Caballero just traded by the Rays to the Yankees. Regardless we're on the same page. Some depth is needed. I just think it's not the end of the world if it's a meh vet for the $3 - $6M fee that those guys tend to demand. God knows there's gonna be room in the budget... Depending on the future moves, it may be the only place, with Bullpen, that need to be added. For about $16M you can collect 3 bullpen arms and a SS and this is still a 76 win team that can maybe get lucky in a bad AL Central. And if (when) they don't you just have pieces to sell for your actual run in 2027.
  2. NYCTK
    I mostly agree giving up on any potential 2026 glory is wise. But I still think you're underselling the value of organizational depth. If Lee proves he's incapable of competently playing the position and as a result you're two deep at SS...you're not only giving up on the season, but you're screwing over every one of your pitchers too. A veteran being present is not going going half ass. And it's not hampering anything whatsoever.
  3. NYCTK
    I hate the Pohlads. But it seems too much ire for this dismantling is on them and not on the rightful target, Falvey. It sucks IF his goals or budgets were drastically changed after the 2023 postseason, but the Twins still had a middle of the pack payroll and it's his job to figure out how to put a good roster together. Instead he gave Twins fans DaShawn Keirsey and Mickey Gasper for opening day. One is maybe forgivable. Both, is just a failure. Getting rid of Correa is a great decision, for Falvey or whomever takes over his job when he's justifiably axed.
  4. NYCTK
    Just saying, if you want to completely punt on the season, I think that's fine. But if you want to spend the first half seeing if you might be able to compete (ramping up for 2027 contention) that it would be very, very beneficial to have a veteran MIF on the roster and it's not expensive. It's insurance against entering the season with a Brooks Lee that proves he's overextended at the position and then goes down for a month, with Culpepper starting his season with a 600 OPS in AAA. What would the Twins do then? Depth is important. Injuries are inevitable.
  5. NYCTK
    People here said this exaxt same thing about Emmanuel Rodriguez for this season as a reason not to sign Bader. First, we don't know Culpepper is actually ready and there's no benefit in forcing him to the majors. Second, depth is important because small injuries happen all the time and add up. And if you don't have organizational depth you have a team that opens the season with Mickey Gasper and DaShawn Keirsey on the roster. Third, Brooks Lee may be complete **** that takes a Julien path, or need a reset in AAA like Wallner. Right before the trade deadline I remember folks asking for Brooks Lee to be sent to AAA to help him get his swing fixed. Without any depth in the organization, how are they filling those holes There's nothing hurt by signing a player like Farmer to a $4M contract.
  6. NYCTK
    Roden is the far superior outfielder.
  7. NYCTK
    Platooning is not some Rocco Baldelli invention. Other teams do it too.
  8. NYCTK
    I'm also satisfied with his cromulent defense. It gives himself more rope.
  9. NYCTK
    I remember people here saying that about Bader... I don't think the Twins should fully punt the season, and the simple fact is they have some holes. They're better patched with cheap vets than by throwing young players into the fire if they're not ready. Unless you're ready to just give up on the season, cheap veterans can be very important role players.
  10. NYCTK
    Well, those two I named are basically only part time players as it is. I really think Twins fans need to get over this fear that any vet brought in will block young players more deserving. It's a really long season with a lot of playing time to go around. Ty France was losing playing time to Kody Clemens of all people, and rightfully so. If Julien or Miranda proved they were worthy of playing time there's no doubt in my mind that France would have lost his job even earlier. And need I remind everyone how in 2023 the Twins allowed a batch of rookies and second year players to come in, take control of their jobs in the second half and go on a run?
  11. NYCTK
    The Carlos Correa Twins were a huge flop. It was appropriate to turn the page to the next chapter. Eeles is playing a fair amount of SS in the minors, but he's not any better a bet than Lee but could be giving him competition. I imagine they'll bring in a vet capable of playing the position, perhaps a reunion with Farmer or Miguel Rojas, and basically hold a proper try-out in Spring Training. I am optimistic about Culpepper and come midseason he'll be in that mix as well. I'm sure there will be a AAAA player like Fitzgerald in that competition as well. But regardless, this is a transition period. If the next crop of prospects (Jenkins, Rodriguez, Keaschall, Culpepper, and SP galore) don't figure it out, then nothing was going to make the Twins a contender. For better or worse, the fate of the organization is firmly in that class's hands.
  12. NYCTK
    Presumably you mean win, because they've been to 3 since the Twins have last been in the World Series. Losing two in Game 7, ouch.
  13. NYCTK
    I'm a bit worried about this as well. Would love to close the book on pure defensive incompetence. Not impossible but I think people need to show a bit more patience. The odds of all three demonstrating they're ready by the beginning of the year are low. We should be hoping they've all forced themselves into the bigs by midseason. Some cheap vets should be brought in with the intention of getting passed up.
  14. NYCTK
    I don't know why I'd expect the failed starter turned RP to develop more than he already has, being in the job full-time a season now. Even if he took great steps forward there's simply not much higher he can go. He can become Griffin Jax. But he can just as easily become Cole Sands. Alan Roden could be nothing, but he could also be a 3.5 WAR player, like Lew Ford. A team like the Twins is much better served by gambling on a player like Roden than a player like Varland. And this is all ignoring Rojas. The Twins did well with this trade.
  15. NYCTK
    What I said isn't rational is that you're seemingly expecting Varland to develop further but not allowing that same chance to the significantly younger and less experienced outfielder. Because it's not rational.
  16. NYCTK
    I left it out because I don't think it's at all relevant. Varland is getting the benefit of the doubt because he's "only" been a major league reliever for a calendar year, but Roden get's no such benefit despite being younger and less experienced. You seem to think Varland successfully converting to the bullpen is some sort of miracle and not a regular occurrence around the league. I'm glad he's figured out how to remain on a major league roster but a failed starter becoming a serviceable reliever is not anything new. I just think people aren't at all being rational about what Varland is, and what the return was.
  17. NYCTK
    You seem to be assuming no further development for a 25 year old LF with fewer than 150 PAs, while assuming further development for a 27 year old RP with nearly 200 innings pitched. Do you see how you might not be viewing this entirely rationally?
  18. NYCTK
    The fact that you can replace Varland for relatively cheap is another reason the trade happened. Phil Maton only got a $2M contract this last offseason. Ryne Stanek $4.5M. Kyle Finnegan $6M. You can find valuable arms on the FA market for fairly cheap. Not to mention the failed starters in your own system. So, while it's nice to have Varland on a league min contract for multiple years, it's simply not as valuable as having a SP or a LF at that same price. Honestly, I can see the Twins "winning" this trade in terms of excess value on Roden alone. I wouldn't bet on it, but I can see a 20% chance of that. Add in Rojas and this was a very good baseball trade.
  19. NYCTK
    They could feasibly just fill their bullpen with some FA arms and still try to go for it. And if things break right, they can try to add a bat at the deadline. I just think it'd be pretty unwise for them to sign Pete Alonso or Kyle Schwarber to a 4yr/$120M contract this offseason, for example.
  20. NYCTK
    I do think Mauer being from Minnesota made it a lot easier for them to give him that 10 year extension. I don't think that would have happened otherwise. But, yeah, I think you're right. I also don't really remember anyone loving Glen Perkins because he was a Minnesota kid. I think he was viewed as a pretty decent closer for a bad team and not some folk hero that people are now trying to make Varland out to be. Valid, but I would respond, he's a 22 year old that has struck out 40% of the batters he's faced in AA after pitching really well in A+, and that's with really good control. Rojas is a legit prospect.
  21. NYCTK
    I think it's fine to look at that, and I think it's also accurate to state that it isn't worth anything at all to the organization and that people here are being extremely irrational over this trivial fact. I can see them giving multiple budget contracts to some decent relievers, in that $2-$6M range. Those are then easily traded at the deadline if things aren't breaking right, and may even bring something real back. This is almost certainly not happening. Veteran bats in the $7-$12M range could be an option, but those likely aren't hitting middle of the order. I think a REAL free agent commitment won't happen until the crop of AA prospects prove they're ready to make up the next core, which I expect to be late 2026, meaning a signing for 2027. I wish you the best in your fight.
  22. NYCTK
    I do think there was some bonus value in Joe Mauer, the franchise player, being a Minnesota kid. But there's a difference in the face of the franchise being local versus a reliever. Glen Perkins didn't bring any additional value to the franchise because he happened to be born in Minnesota. And it probably would have been wise for those terrible teams to trade him away and try to rebuild.
  23. NYCTK
    Honestly, getting a team to take Correa and only paying off 1/3 of the remaining contract is a pretty great trade and something I am pretty happy about. B+ for the organization. They probably SHOULDN'T reinvest that payroll gap in the payroll next season. This is, at least, a minor rebuild and you don't try to keep payroll high during a year you're not building towards. They should look for some more Bader type contracts, which was very obviously always a great signing from Day 1. If it goes well, great you improved your team. If the season doesn't go well, you can flip them at the deadline for some low tier prospects or relievers.
  24. NYCTK
    That is a mostly fair trade. But like you said, doesn't really help the team much for the next two seasons. So I'm fairly confused. I don't even think he's optionable next year, so I agree, he's a strong DFA candidate if not in the offseason, within the 2026 season. Easily the worst trade of the bunch. Would have loved Blaze Jordan in return like the Cardinals got for Steven Matz. If only for that sweet name. But, for whatever reason, MLB doesn't value Coulombe. He only received a $3M contract, and similarly, Theilbar only got $2.75M. Soft tossing, old man southpaws just aren't coveted. Matz's sinker sits at 94, that's probably the reason for the difference in return. People here are getting too emotional over a failed starter. This was a solid baseball trade. I'd probably give it a B. I just don't think it was completely necessary, forcing your front office to completely rebuild a bullpen instead of leaving a piece or two. But the return is impressive for an arm that no one would have complained about trading away on April 1st.
  25. NYCTK
    Ok. This is getting ridiculous. I don't doubt there are a handful of people with personal connection to Varland that went to Twins games with more frequency, but ain't no one else going to games to see a middle reliever. I assure you the Twins are not concerned about lower attendance because they traded Louis Varland.
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