MMBoys93

Clemens has a .753 ops over his last 30 games. He's been worth a 2.25 bWAR average per season since coming over (better than Castro during his time in MN) He also plays at least league average defense at 4 MLB positions and he's beginning arbitration next year. They don't have to trade him, but once Culepper comes up Kreidler has shown he can be that super utility guy. Kreidler doesn't start arbitration for a couple years, Clemens starts next year. Brooks has been worth -6 OAA at SS this year, he's not going back to SS.

You raise some really good points here, but as MN fans we've been told there's a chance every year since 91. So why hasn't it worked out in those 35 years? It all comes back to one thing---Money. I mentioned above that 5 of the last 60 WS were won by teams with less than 90 wins. Did you also know that 1 of the last 30 WS were won by a team with a bottom 50% of the league payroll? Only the Marlins in 2021. Many were won by top 10 payroll teams, but there were plenty in the 10-15 range as well. The Twins have been top 15 in payroll 3 times during that 30 year stretch (2010-2012). Yeah the Rangers barely made the playoffs that year, but they had 90 wins and they increased payroll 100 million that year and were 5th in payroll. They also brought in Jordan Montgomery, Max Scherzer and Aroldis Chapman at the deadline. These cost them 2x top 100 prospects and 2 more ranked in the team's top 15. They did this because they had the money to and were getting pressured for results for their all-in approach. The Twins don't have the luxury to go all-in or even boost the team at the trade deadline in a meaningful way. A team that sits in the bottom 25% of payroll has to keep the farm top 10 or they risk being a perennial 100 loss team. If the Twins won't spend money then the farm has to either come through or they have to use the farm to trade for MLB talent. Unfortunately the Twins haven't been strong at player development yet are still averse to trading top prospects for MLB talent. In the last 10 years they've only traded good prospects for established Major League talent twice as far as I can remember (Mahle and Gray). Every other trade has included low level prospects outside the top 15. If they aren't developing enough MLB talent, won't make big trades and won't sign at free agency, then it comes down to only the farm. And if they let the farm dwindle because they don't take advantage of trading expiring contracts they won't extend for a chance at a WC spot when the team is under .500, then you're just throwing up a hail mary and the chance of the team being even decent in the future takes a huge hit. Baseball is not as random as people give it credit for being. I've seen nothing that points to Tom Pohlad changing his ways. He's a corporate head trying to keep the peace with his words, but his inactions show that payroll will at best stay stagnant.

What’s potentially changed is that Bell is on an absolute tear right now and if that continues then there’s absolutely value there. I can’t predict the future though, but if he continues hitting well, a switch hitting guy with an .800 OPS is absolutely valuable. He’s not gonna bring back much but allowing Sabato to take some of his innings is valuable to me.

Bradley also has team control that Jax does not And Castro brought back 2 SP prospects. Both have had a tough year but they were regarded ok. Clemens, Bell, Larnach could bring back similar level returns to Castro and Bader with Clemens potential bringing more back because of his control.

They’re in the hunt because the AL is truly awful. Being in the hunt for a wild card spot and being a contender are two massively different things. Sabato is 27 now and they spent a first round pick on him. Isn’t it time to see if there’s anything there? Bell is a streaky hitter and likely to go on a cold streak at any time. He’s been incredible this month but was the opposite before that. If a team sees him as a bat to boost their lineup it’s absolutely worth seeing what they can get for him.

Because you get trade value for Clemens at the deadline. With Culpepper on the IL he’s not coming up anytime soon. They’ll need someone to replace Clemens who can play the infield with Kreidler starting every day. It’s not cause I want Arcia, but in the infield there’s no other option. They need a backup who can play SS, Gray is obviously not that and the ship has sailed on Lee getting any time there

Sneaking into a WC spot with an 81-81 record, knowing full well that they’re likely to get swept isn’t contention for me. Teams get hot and bad teams win a series all the time, but very rarely can get to and win a World Series. Since 1960, 5 teams have won a WS with less than 90 wins. 83-88 wins. 83 being the Cardinals and Twins obviously in 1987. That’s 7% of the champions in those 60+ years.

Agreed here. Larnach has always been a streaky guy and he’s going through one of the best of his career. I think you look to trade the below. One catcher- 3 MLB catchers on the roster. They’re not resigning Jeffers and that’s why they brought in Caratini in the first place. It’s the likely route. Bell- it’s time to see what they have in former first pick Sabato. Clemens- value is extremely high right now. Kreidler can take his super utility position down the road. This allows them to bring up guys like Roden, Wallner, Sabato, Mendez, Arcia. These moves also clear up room for Royce and Keaschall to continue to play every day and gives the twins flexibility to figure out a position for them. Larnach and Clemens values are up, and it’s the perfect time to trade them. I know how people feel about Wallner and I’m not far off. I’ve been high on the guy but getting sent down to AAA every year for struggles just seems to be the Twins way. There’s no point in trading him when his value is the worst it’s ever been. Give him the rest of the season and then make a decision, same with Royce. I’d love to see them keep Ryan and add 3 guys to the pen. They’d still come out ahead on boosting the farm after the position player trades I suggested and give us a little bit to actually cheer for. They’d be a better team. Tom Pohlad recognizes that they can’t give up on this season without losing another sea of fans but at the end of the day if they’re not going to even consider resigning Joe, doesn’t it make the most sense to trade him now, before an almost guaranteed lockout? IDK, it sucks regardless