soyouresayingtheresachance

There is a position in need of an upgrade, but its 1B. Kriedlers offensive production at this time is a .714 OPS while providing above average defense. Almost league average bat overall at a position where offense isn't usually as strong. Royce Lewis on the other hand has an OPS under .700 at the bottom of the defensive spectrum where most teams like to hide one of their best bats. Why does Lewis get a pass when hes been outperformed offensively and defensively by Ryan Kriedler? By the way, 1B is a MUCH easier position to upgrade at the deadline than SS and it will cost a ton less.

Something better is possible with some of the current players. Im not going to pretend for a second that the owners are not billionaires. They can absolutely afford to put a winning team on the field around the current stars and prospects. Its their jobs as owners to do that. Selling off our best players isn't managing towards something better. All it does is keep pushing the goalpost forward and out of reach. Selling off Jeffers for possibly a fringe top 100 prospect isn't going to help more than keeping him, giving him a QO and taking the compensation pick if he declines. Selling off Ryan just means we need find multiple pitchers like Ryan instead of the 1 we are currently missing. "Managing towards something better" should include keeping our stars in MN. It sounds like there's a good chance of a salary floor in the new CBA. If the stated number is anything close to what happens, this team will need to spend near 70M this off-season. Keeping our stars and adding to that core should be easily done with that size payroll.

If Buxton is headed for the IL, Culpepper would be a good call up. Not only is Kriedler our best defensive option at SS, i believe he is also the next best option in CF. Not sure if Culpepper is ready or not but defensively speaking, that seems like it would be the best option.

I absolutely agree, which is why i added it to the comment.

Unless Tom Pohlad is trying to anger the fan base yet again, the answer is yes. 30% is enough.

The more I read about a potential return for Jeffers, the more I feel like trading him would be a terrible idea. Possibly a fringe top 100 prospect? Keep him and Give him the QO, if he rejects it, the compensation pick we'd receive would most likely come after the 1st round? Unless the front office completely screws up, that pick should get us a top 100 prospect easily. Then add on top they're talking about trading to an AL contender? Keeping him would make sure we wouldnt have to face him in a potential playoff match up. Is it really that weak of a return? Or am I missing something?

Not a tough blow for the BP at all. Sands is massively overrated. Im a glad Anderson is back. I hope he continues to do well. This is a tough blow for Sands, though. I hope he recovers from this injury. Luckily for him, it sounds like he'll have all off-season to heal and wont be rushed back.

Royce isn't figuring anything out. He has a .523 OPS over the last 7 games. He had a short warm stretch after he came back up but hes fallen off a cliff since. Even going back the last 30 games he only has a .228 BA. That "production" wouldnt play at 3B, let alone 1B.

I 100% want Royce Lewis to be traded but I am absolutely not interested in Walker. At all. How much do I not want either of these guys? I'd rather keep 3 catchers and rotate Caratini and Jackson at 1B the rest of the season than see either Lewis or Walker on this team. Griffin is fine but is Washington selling? Definitely wouldnt be interested in overpaying for him for a couple months. Im not a fan of trading for rentals. Senzatela might do better away from Colorado. Could be an ok BP addition. Id much rather find a closer, though.

None of those excite me. The only guy that may have been decent has a possible career altering injury. If these are the types of guys you can get for trading Jeffers, you may as well keep him and give him the QO. If he accepts, we'll have a top 5ish C in the league and if he declines, the compensation pick will most likely net a similar or possibly even better prospect

Let me clarify a little. Having Kriedler as the starting SS may not be ideal because of the questions about the bat. But the defense is much better than average at the position. What I meant was that I believe he can handle the position just fine until Culpepper is ready to come up. If Culpepper doesn't come up this year, Kriedlers defense is more than good enough to warrant a starting job. Hopefully his bat comes back from that .150 a little but even .225 or so the rest of the way with his defense would be acceptable.

Sign Trevor Bauer. I can't understand why nobody has yet. He was cleared of any and all wrongdoing. He's a former Cy Young winner. He's worth a look. Edit: I checked his stats and seems he hasn't been too successful this year. Seems too much time has passed.

SS is traditionally one of the weakest offensive positions in baseball. Teams settle for low output to get great defensive value. Kriedlers approach at the plate has been different this year and its mostly worked so far. But I truly feel he could be the starting SS the rest of the season if needed. His defense has been so much better than anyone else on the team even if his bat fell off a bit, its still the best option we have. Once Culpepper is ready, then we'll have one heck of a defensive utility guy.

We are getting roster spots is what we're getting. If TB doesnt want them, trade them somewhere else. The return for them is of little consequence to me if it means we kept Jeffers. The team can afford to add higher cost players at the deadline in exchange for lesser prospects. Keep Jeffers and move Larnach to DH. Trade Royce Lewis while we're at it.

100% Royce Lewis should be traded. He's had his chance. Its been 3 years since hes done anything to help the team. If the return for Jeffers is just going to be a relief pitcher, trade Caratini for one. Im not in favor of trading Jeffers, either way. If playoffs is the goal, a player like Jeffers will definitely be needed. He had a couple months off. He's should be fresh right now. Which, Theoretically, should mean he'll be a little more fresh come playoff time. On the other side is Caratini, who is already playing more than he usually has in a season. Add in him being the starting C if Jeffers is traded and he'll be spent come playoffs. He already less than 100 ABs from his career high. He just not used to this kind of workload. Relying on him as a starter is potentially setting yourself up for failure. On a side note: During the CBA negotiations, I would like them to add a restricted FA status like other leagues have. Allowing a team to terms of a deal to retain a player.

Keep Jeffers and give him a QO. Send Caratini and Bell to TB instead. Move Larnach to DH. That would be my preference. But if Jeffers has to be traded, including Bell would be a better idea.

It would be such a letdown if Jeffers and/or Ryan are traded. Those are the kind of guys you build around to win a championship. They aren't easy to come by. If Tom Pohlad wants to show the fan base he is serious about contending and being competitive, I think it would be a better look to try their hardest to get them extended. I noticed Randy Dobnak is doing well in the ML. Nice to see. He's had an interesting battle with that finger injury for years now.

It would have to be one heck of a return if our best hitter is traded while ownership claims we are all in on being competitive. One of the best catchers in the league seems like he'd be a good investment to extend or at the very least, give him the QO. On the business end, I understand trading a guy on an expiring contract to get something for him. Strike while the iron is hot and all. But this particular player is probably top 5 in the league at his position, give or take. That kind of player is not easily replaced, nor is his production.

Another disappointing decision by the front office. Sands is just not that good. He had a decent season a couple years ago, but he hasn't been good at any other point. I'd much rather see what Anderson can do for us.

Disappointing that Arcia was released. Should've been Gray IMO.

Boston surging definitely impacts the deadline. I was hoping a trade could have been made with them for Sonny Gray and Aroldis Chapman to cover our need for a starter and shutdown closer. It seems they're no longer an option. Back to the drawing board, I guess. If Tom Pohlad is to be believed, staying the course would be my response. Keep Jeffers. Keep Ryan. Go for a spot in the playoffs. Obviously cant have 3 catchers. Im trading Caratini. He was instrumental in helping keep us afloat while Jeffers was out, but Jeffers is a far superior player. Im keeping Alex Jackson as the backup. He has done very well with his opportunity. Im trading Josh Bell. He has no defensive home and contract is up at the end of the year. No future with the team. At that point, I'm moving Larnach to DH. That clears an OF spot for a prospect. Im trading Royce Lewis. He needs a Change of scenery. Its been 3 years since hes done anything. Its selling low, but hes just not getting it done. That clears a spot to acquire a huge bat. 1B is usually one of the easiest spots to fill at the deadline. Lee stays at 3B. Kriedler holds down SS. I'd like to see Clemens at 2B. Big Bat trade acquisition at 1b. Jeffers stays at C. Buck in CF. Keaschall in an OF spot and a young guy in the other OF spot. (Roden, Jenkins, Erod, etc.) I would find a top end starter in a trade somewhere. Ryan, Taj, Top End Starter. Round out the rotation with 2 of Ober, Prielipp, and Zebby. That should get us to the playoffs and a good top 3 for getting it done in the playoffs. Id also find a proven Closer. Not a guy with an ERA in the 4s that was good a couple years ago. I mean a current lock down starter that will get it done in the playoffs. Gomez and Morris are both doing well. Nance seems like he can stick. Those would be my moves. Im sending out 3 players from the ML roster and trading for 3. We have plenty of prospects to get this done. A logjam of OFs in AAA. Id like to find another decent set up guy too but I think we might be able to get by with just 1 great closer acquisition.

Anyone else annoyed at the timing of Prielipp being pulled? Let him finish the inning. I understand hes on a limit but he was dealing and looking darn good. That decision cost us 6 runs and completely undermined the dominating start from Prielipp. And why does Sands automatically get a spot on the roster while a guy with an ERA under 3 gets sent out? Because he had 1 decent season 2 year ago? Dude is overrated. I do understand why he was put in the game in that spot. It Should've been a low leverage spot but he completely imploded. Nance and Funderburk are looking decent at the moment. Adams was on a nice run before today. Hopefully just a hiccup and not the start of something bad. I am fully over Royce Lewis at this point. Why is he ever batting cleanup? .208 average for the season and his numbers are even worse over the past couple weeks or so. Its been 3 years since hes done anything. Its well past time to let go. Is Buck ok? He has been struggling pretty bad for a couple weeks. I hope that hip isn't holding him back still. If it is, he needs to let that heal up. Clemens with 2 triples today. What a difficult feat. Kriedler with 3 doubles and 2 stolen bases. He and Clemens have been stepping up on both sides of the ball. 3 hits and 3 RBIs for Jeffers, showing hes healthy. I sure hope we keep him. Probably a top 5 Catcher in the league. We need to keep guys like him. A's were kicking the ball all over the field today. Very nice to see the team take advantage of those opportunities. On a side note, I wasnt too pleased to see Arcia released from AAA so Gray could have a roster spot. Arcia is a better player in a every aspect of the game. It was a puzzling decision for sure and I just cant understand why the team has been sticking with him so much. He kept getting starts in the ML over better players and now hes taking a AAA roster spot over a better player.

Thank you! As a fan, I have been in disbelief with so many writers and comments on this page clamoring to trade our best players. Absolutely not. We are trying to win. Once you're in the playoffs, anything can happen. There is a 0% chance I'd be in favor of trading Jeffers or Ryan. Those are 2 elite players in this league. I dont care what the return would be. If they were traded, they would need to be replaced. KEEP THEM! Give Jeffers the QO. Try to extend them both. Lackey and Tait are VERY nice C prospects, but there are no guarantees. Now, I am in favor of possibly moving players that wouldn't be a part of the future. Like Bell. If he is traded, move Larnach to DH and clear a spot in the OF for one of the many high end prospects waiting in AAA. Moving guys that have underperformed for 3 years like Royce. Possibly even Martin. But there is no chance I'd be in favor of trading our stars.

Marek Houston sure does look ready for AAA. How long can Kendle keep up an OPS over 1.000? Both of these guys are mashing AA right now.

What an awful article. Terrible premise. The fan base would, and should, rebel even more than we have if anything even close to this happens for the reason of saving money.