Dman

I am a big Strotman backer but he has to gain better control and miss more bats. I think the Twins will get him straightened out and I don't know if you watched the interview Seth had with him but he knows he is close and wants to make it real bad. He is going to work hard and his pitching motion is soo smooth I have to believe if he can just refine things a little he has to be a solid starter just has to, but he has to prove it at AAA first.

If I had the time and the inclination I probably could dig up at least hundreds of examples and if privy to team player negotiations probably thousands. Just to keep going here is another one on Jordan Zimmerman signing with Detroit because he wanted to be close to home. To name another one that is more recent Byron Buxton signed his contract with the stipulation that the Twins cannot trade him. Why do that if only money matters? If location has no bearing what so ever? It must mean quite a bit or else he wouldn't have that in the contract. Same for all the no trade clauses. If only money matters and location has no impact why put that in? If a guys family is on the west coast why sign with an east coast team if the money isn't all that different? Personally I think Chpetit is right that it likely factors in more often than we realize or know about. Sure some guys don't care to be close to their families or it matters less. Sure for some guys it is all about money but I don't think you can make such a blanket statement when there are so many counter examples especially when you consider no or limited trade clauses.

Haven't there been multiple examples of players taking less money to be closer to family or their destination of choice? I am thinking Wheeler and MadBum as the first two to come to mind. Even Ryan Pressley said a big reason he re-upped with Houston was that family is close. Those are just a few examples of players that didn't go for the biggest deal so money isn't everything to every player. Also if players don't care about destinations why do they even have no trade lists? If money is all that matters then there would be no such need. It obviously matters quite a bit from what I see.

And Lewis misses even more time. He has an uncanny ability to miss seasons. Well hopefully we see at some point this year and he gets on track.

I was young but I thought Bostock was superman. Robbing home runs and always getting on base. Every time I listened on the radio he seemed to be impacting the game one way or another. Every time he was up to bat it felt like he would get a hit. I was so disappointed when he left for the Angels. I didn't really follow him after he left as I didn't watch or listen to the Angels but when I heard he died I was crushed. I couldn't believe it and it seemed so senseless as well. I for one will never forget him.

That Jepsen trade proved pretty instrumental in how things worked out for the Twins as he was an absolute stud with a 1.61 ERA and sub 1 WHIP. He was just what doctored ordered. Unfortunately that was his last good year. Kintzler was big piece as well as he performed far above expectations. Just goes to show when a few things go your way any team can be dangerous.

There is soo much to like about Buxton. Maybe I am goofy but I like that he calls Minnesota home. I love the State and it makes me like Buxton even more for calling Minnesota and its tough winters home. I like that he has strong character and is willing to prove that character by believing in himself to the point of taking that incentive laden contract as well as the way he handled his contract situation. That he continues to get better despite the many setbacks he has faced. The fact that his attitude is so positive after all the injury adversity he has faced. The fact that he is well liked by his teammates and that he has their backs. I like that he is confident but not arrogant that he has a certain humility about him. Beyond all those admirable traits I just love watching him play whether he is robbing some player of a hit or taking a pitcher deep or beating out an infield ground ball it is just fun to watch him play. He certainly has my respect as a person and a player and I am happy he will be around longer than I thought he might be.

I don't think Minnesota is a completely unattractive destination for players but I think its reputation as a cold state plays into some of the bias that is out there. Also maybe that they aren't a franchise that is going to pay top dollar to bring a guy in would be another aspect of why FA's would be unlikely to come here. Also for whatever reason players seem to like coastal cities better than landlocked ones or they prefer to be closer to family and since so few MLB players seem to come from up north fewer players have family close by Minnesota. Of course all of this can be changed with the right dollar amount but the Twins are not ones to operate that way. As far as the Twins culture and team atmosphere Byron Buxton didn't want to leave. Neither did Nelson Cruz and Cruz went out of his way to say what a top notch organization it is. I thought Maeda might not like it in Minnesota but he seems OK with being here as well. I haven't heard Donaldson complaining either. So it seems like they treat their players well and have coaches in place to help them get better. I haven't heard any players say not to come to Minnesota that have been there. Like I said probably just mainly boils down to money and where a player wants to be and Minnesota is just lower on most players list.

First let me say I don't think you are wrong. It was a bit of a head scratcher for the Players Union not to agree to at least try a mediator. Although from what I understand given past history it hasn't worked out all that well in the past. I also agree that we make up our minds one way or the other on the good guy, bad guy scenario. I have gone back and forth on calling out each side in this ongoing process. As a fan though I feel like I have certain emotional hot points in regard to player treatment and what I feel is best for my team or my teams situation. I really don't like service time manipulation. If they play over half the games in a season then give them credit for a full season if they play less than half then give them super 2 status. That way they might as well just start the young guys at the start of the season instead of waiting. The other injustice I see is that young players that are extremely productive don't get paid enough for that production and there is no guarantee they will make it to a big payday if their arm gives out or their bat starts to slump. I get that everyone in the working world has a pay your dues moment but a baseball career can be relatively short. I think there should be a bonus system for young players that exceed production expectations. Those are things I would like to see addressed and when MLB doesn't even seem to want to look at ways to make that better well in my eyes they look like a bad guy. Same for the players union when they want to raise the cap when I am rooting for a team that cannot even compete for the best Free Agents without greatly impacting the rest of the team they can field. So that proposal makes them feel like the bad guy to me. While I see your point that both sides have their reasons for why they see things the way they do as fans I still think you end up picking sides. I do get that they agree to disagree and there will be no perfect solution but it is hard to keep emotion out of it.

Again a very nice writeup! Watching these guys getting interviewed by Seth makes you realize just how much discipline it takes just to make it to the top 500 in the college ranks. Now they have to go against the best college players to make it to MLB. The interviews give the players a much more human element but they also appear to realize that stats are pretty much what defines them and the harsh reality they can bring. Still everyone of the players Seth has interviewed appears extremely mentally tough and ready for the challenge. It is hard to believe how excited I am about the Twins 13th and 14th round picks. Festa still has projection left and has a pretty decent floor as a reliever and if he happens to find a plus curve or slider he could be a legit starter. The Twins do seem to be doing well in the later rounds with their pitcher picks. Ober was a 12th round pick. Winder was a 7th round pick. Gipson-Long a 6th round pick and in that same draft Varland was a 15th round pick. So they have found and maybe more importantly developed guys in the later rounds. So yeah at 6'6" a solid fastball and likely plus changeup I am pretty excited about Festa. Hopefully he just stays healthy and continues to get better year to year. Getting to know these guys via the video interviews really makes you want to see them make it. You can see they are going to put everything they have into being the best player they can be. The tough part about this process is that only 5% to 10% will have a role at the highest level. 90% of these players will not make it. Still as Seth has said before they are great players in their own right but it is really hard to be the best of the best.

Yeah I have been thinking about the pen as well. I think the top 4 mentioned are locks and honestly I think they like Garza enough that he will be a lock as well. They kept Stashak on the 40 man so I assume he is virtually a lock as well. I personally think Cotton ends up in the pen but I know Fangraphs did an article on him saying he started in the past and could compete for a starter spot on this Twins team depending what else the Twins do in free agency but I see him in the pen. So that is 7 out 8 spots I have penciled in. I don't know where Duran is at but having another power pitcher to compliment Alcala would sure be nice. Other teams having to face 100MPH and that splinker would be tough IMO. Odds are though he won't be ready to go at the start of the season but hopefully they move him in and he can be a stopper in the pen. I could also see the Twins putting Sands in the pen as well. My understanding is that he has a lot in common with how Duffey throws and I am not sure the Twins will keep Duffey past this season since they don't like to pay relievers big money. They could groom Sands as his replacement. This scenario probably depends on how other starters like Winder, Strotman and Balazovich look first though. I don't know what the Twins plan to do with Thorpe. Given his velocity concerns and the fact that Moran is in the wings and even Smelzter if needed I thought they would have exposed him by now. They must know Something that we don't if they are keeping him on the 40 man. Or maybe just waiting to see how he performs early to make their final decision. So I have no idea if he will be an option or not. If they can use him that would be a bonus IMO but it seems unlikely given his recent performances. They could use a closer type arm but I don't think they will give the years necessary to get a good one. They have the money but I guess we will have to wait to see how things shake out after the lockout.

I kind of felt Smeltzer might be able to work his way back to MLB at some point this year. His main issue it seems to me is giving up the long ball. He has had success at that level before and if he can pick up a few ticks on his fastball I feel like he has a shot. He would have to be really good though since he has no options left. Kind of feeling like Rodriguez is a major long shot given he gave up 112 hits in 85 innings. His stuff is too hittable right now. The Twins might be able to help him find something but like I said he would be a long shot to make the MLB roster with his current profile. Faria's K rate looks good the last few years but the WHIP is too high for a starter. I think he would be better off moving to the pen IMO. It looks like he might have good K\9 potential in shorter stints. He has put together decent Minor league stats in past years but again he looks like a longshot to show enough to be an option right away. Depending on what Canterino does to start the season I could see the Twins adding his arm to the pen. I just don't see them losing service time knowing he will need a shorter workload this year so starter would be a non starter IMO. Since he doesn't need to be added to the 40 man and we have several guys that need a spot to see what they have I don't really see Canterino, Varland, or SWR starting for the Twins even if better stretched out than guys on the 40 man. Even with lights out performance I think the Twins would wait to add them. I think all these are huge longshots but out of all of them I think Smeltzer could be someone that gets that chance. He has had success before and the Twins would put him in spots to succeed.

I agree with the OP. All three players have seen their stock drop. I am still a believer in Lewis and Enlow though. Enlow looked about to break out before injury as did Lewis. There is probably going to be rust as they come back but I still think they will likely play big roles with the MLB team. I just don't know what to think about Cavaceo. Kind of feels like he might be a late bloomer? I don't think that bat is going to be as good as they hoped but it is very early and Covid really hurt his development time. Still I wish instead of a late riser they would have picked the guy I wanted in Corbin Carroll or even Bryson Stot who I wasn't in love with at the time but was a close to ready shortstop. Both of those players had known good hit tools and have been successful thus far in their careers. I hope the Twins learned a lesson there.

For fans in the know I think the Owners\MLB look pretty bad right now. I love baseball but I don't know that I can support such strongarm tactics and inability to compromise. We all know the current system was broken that certain things needed to be cleaned up. I haven't seen MLB propose anything that fixes how fans feel that players get taken advantage of especially in compensation for the years of control and service time manipulation. I know most of this is just posturing and will need to be waited out but right now I am not feeling good about the owners. Maybe it is time for the fans to get involved and write to Manfred\MLB and let them know how we feel.

Yeah there are a lot of thing to like about Winder he was in Seth's top 5 for pitchers, His WHIP was elite at under 1 so command, control and ability to get outs appears MLB ready. Even his ERA sits at a shiny 2.61. He seemed to start to have issues when he was struck by a line drive in July and he was shut down not long after. He has pretty much been money since A ball and his velocity increase in 2020. If healthy to start the season Winder, Sands, Balazovich and Strotman have the best chance to make the rotation as they pitched enough innings and appear to have the stuff to make it. Given that Balazovich still seems be in search in refining a third pitch and his WHIP being at 1.41 feels like there is some work to do there. Strotman somewhat the same deal his WHIP\control is likely the only thing holding him back He has the pitches and the velocity the command and control need to be better. So I agree with OP I think Winder has the best chance to push his way into the starting rotation this year. Cole Sands could also be in the mix I just don't know how I feel about him yet as a starter. His numbers were comparable to Winders though so he is close as well but I still think Winder gets first crack. With likely no spring training none of those guys will have a chance to make the team to start the season so they will have time to refine their stuff before getting their chance but all four could see time at the MLB level if they stay healthy. Given what I have seen I like Winders chances the best.

I fully expected there would be no spring training. I don't think either side is that concerned about the season starting on time but it feels like the pressure ratchets up for the players as the regular season games start to get missed. I guess I don't know enough about what the issues are to villainize either side. I think I would be more on the players side it they were more interested in a spending floor instead of increasing the cap.

Yeah I like the Platoon idea with Kepler especially if Celestino proves ready as then we still get good defense and both players get to play to their strengths in the batter box.

Yeah he seems like a familiar late round Twins pitcher pick. Good control, a fastball that needs to be amped up and a plus secondary pitch to go with it. Hopefully he can follow Winder and Varland to some minor league success. I really liked how honest he was in his interview about not getting drafted on the second day and or fielding low ball offers on the second day. Guy seems to have a wicked change up and if he finds a little more velo in the fastball who knows. Ohl really has a tremendous mental makeup so he sure looks like a guy with all the tools to make it. That was a good pick for the 14th round IMO. I guess we will know more once we see him this coming season.

Nice take! I like it. I think Rortvedt can hit your .220 to .240 range with a mid 700's OPS and with the elite defense he brings I think that will be enough. I just don't see him being much better than that. I don't know exactly why but lot's of defensive first catchers never do any better with the bat than when they started. Sometimes the light comes on late and you are correct he has been young for the levels most of the way up so no reason to overly pessimistic but also remember trends do tend to remain trends so he needs to break out before it is too late IMO. He was really mashing in AAA for a while there so I have some hope but he did fall back to earth there as well. Big year for Ben and the bat and a late start to the season likely isn't going to help. I really like your Strotman take and I feel the same way. I think he is just bit more pitching feel away from being a solid starter. I get that, that is easier said than done but his delivery is so smooth, he has the velocity he just needs to find the right mix and I have to believe he could be a good one. If both he and Ryan become viable rotation pieces the Twins will be well on their way to a much needed pitching pipeline. With Winder, Sands, Balazovich and Canterino still waiting in the wings for the other spots.

Rortvedt is our best defensive catcher hands down. With Mitch getting older and all the injuries behind the plate I can see the Twins trying to give him time at 1st and DH when it makes sense. Jeffers is still a work in progress with the bat as well and a tandum of lefty Rortvedt and righty Jeffers seems like the future to me. Catchers get hurt a lot so having three guys who can be play there is good. I like that we have Rortvedt in the wings and I bet he will play a fair bit this coming year. Still not in love with Gordons somewhat wimpy bat but he is very plug and play and one of the few guys with any speed on this team so he has a solid role. Like others have mentioned I am not so sure how long he will have that role with an even better player in Martin likely being ready soon. We will see what happens and I hope Nick proves me wrong but I think he could be a trade candidate at some point. Celestino is the one we need to succeed because we need Buxton and right field insurance. If he can prove he belongs that will be huge for this team to have another plus runner and decent bat in the outfield. He has a place ready on the team if he can prove he belongs. We don't have anyone else with his skillset close to ready so we really need him to be successful and make it. I think all three guys will help this team quite a bit if they can improve on what they did last year.

Honestly I wouldn't mind that scenario too much but I am more concerned we end up with Berry or Jung who again tend to fall into positionless players that are bat first. At least Green will be an above average defender with power. Hopefully he learns to hit. I think it took Buxton a while to get there maybe Green can get there too.

There is so little out there at short that Story makes some sense. I don't love him but after Correa he is the best of what's left and it is getting tiring of having nothing at Short. That being said there are still other teams in need of a SS and something tells me we would be outbid in the end anyway. I hope Royce is going to be the answer but there are so, so many question marks there I don't know if a one year stopgap and dreaming on Royce does it for me anymore. This whole season is a question mark though so the FO might just punt until they know what they have for pitching after this year. Here's hoping they find a good solution somehow, someway.

Lot's of interesting articles on Ober, Ryan and now Bundy giving us hope they can get better or rebound. 2021 seemed to affect our pitchers more than most. I hope we get lot's of good luck this coming year.

I get that this is what things have likely come to and while I don't hate the idea I don't love it either. It sure seems like a move the Twins might make. I would guess the return for Houston would have to be light to make it work for me. Odo is still the same Odo who has trouble the third time through the order and he isn't getting any younger. Yet here we are looking for innings eaters. It could be a good play but has even greater potential to be a Happ like signing IMO. Also I wouldn't be so sure that Houston will be willing to give up Odo that easily. They have some older arms on that team and we all know that you need about 8 to 10 starters just to get through a season. If they re-sign Correa I could see them looking at dropping salary as much as possible but if they are not able to resign him then they should have the money to keep Odo if they want to. I don't find this scenario exciting but I can see it happening.

I am going to go with Rodriguez as he has shown the most so far. I like the swing and hopefully he continues to get better. He actually has decent speed as well so likely a plus defender somewhere. If I had to pick it would be him. I like Petty I really do but until I see more I just don't know what to think yet. Miller doesn't seem to have any standout tools other than being a switch hitter so again just not sure where he is at but he seems the least likely to be in the top spot to me.