Dman

Totally agree with everything you said especially the comparison to if one of our rivals signed him. Like you I am hoping for the best but there are plenty of warts in Santana's profile to make you worry about him being dead weight. Obviously the Twins feel otherwise. Have to believe there are more moves on the way.

I had the same reaction, confused. I kind of thought they maybe wanted to keep Bubba and his elite speed on the 40 man. Not that he would be a huge loss but the elite Buxton like speed might have come in handy at points in the season. They just grabbed Duarte and again no big deal to hope he clears waivers but they signed Jackson so he is here to stay. As you pointed out the guy has been around a long time, but hasn't pitched much at the MLB level. He had a real nice year last year although as others have pointed out his FIP is not nice. Not sure how his peripheral numbers check out, but it seems a curious choice for a 40 man spot. I mean his MLB numbers are good he just seems like a possible regression candidate. It does make you wonder if the Twins don't have a trade coming up that is gonna clear some 40 man room or maybe this is just a guy they really like for lower leverage work? I just kind of thought they might want a few more guys in the pen with options that they could could send up and down and Jackson is out of options and 36 years old to boot. So yeah Doc I am a little confused myself. Have to assume the moves to come will make this move make more sense? Edit: Reading more about him the Twins must be believers that last years numbers are for real and if they are he would be a very nice addition. Wondering what the salary is going to be as I have to believe the Jays wanted him back.

This looks like the Twins went for a cheaper option to replace Polanco's production at the plate. I guess I can talk myself into this being a positive as he has plus defensive value doesn't K at a 30% rate and hits lefties fairly well. He also is a base clogger as he doesn't run well and lacks versatility as well. At 38 his best years are behind him, but he is still a productive player. FWIW his stats last year aren't that far off from Polanco's, but it's just hard to get excited about this signing since it isn't a huge difference making bat.

Really nice to see and hear from Bowen about his baseball mentality. I love the confidence. Hope he can put on the weight and stay healthy all year as he seems to have the pitches. The hype appears to be real, hopefully he keeps the pedal to metal and zooms up the levels.

Not the move I was hoping for. Hopefully this turns out better than I think it will.

Lot's of different opinions on Soto, but as mentioned he wasn't seen a lot. Still in most mocks he was in the 20 to 30 range which is where the Twins took him. I loved the pick when they made it. He is big, fairly filled out and looks ready at a young age to keep moving. Lot's of questions about the fastball shape and whether it will play at higher levels. I am very interested to see how he does this coming year and I still like the pick and going for a high upside arm. Wouldn't mind them doing that again this year, high school or college arm. For all the concern about high school arms Miami doubled down on them and Cleveland gave Clemmy an above slot bonus in the second round to get him to sign. Pitchers are always tough calls especially early in the draft, but I liked the Soto pick and hope he's another ace level arm in time.

I guess in Hall they think they have their Hader replacement or maybe they think he can start? They have him for 6 years now for one year of Burns but I thought they would have wanted a legit starter to replace Burns. I guess they save 15M so they can buy one of the budget starters as well. I get Ortiz is a defensive wizard but I don't buy the hitting numbers. Feels too risky for me. Still, I guess they can lean on his defense and hope the offense follows. Gotta believe getting the comp pick put this over the top. If they kept Burns all year that is all they would have gotten and they would have had to wait another year to recoup the pick. Now they get that pick a year early and they have 4 picks in the first 68 selections for this year to kick start the farm. I guess that is a pretty good return for one year of Burns, but it feels like their shot at a World series title takes a serious hit without Burns. I guess they are playing the long game. They sure fooled me as I thought with the moves they had made that they were gonna give it one more try this year.

I really read the Brewers wrong as I thought they would wait until the deadline to trade Burns. They must be getting something really good back. I wonder what it is?

I have Lewis and Culpeeper moving to AA to start the year next year since Lewis was rock steady and minor league pitcher of the year and Culpepper has two good fastballs and a plethora of other pitches they both seem like they could handle the level change. I was wondering if they were going to keep Jones in the rotation or move him to the bullpen. He is older and there might be better starter arms in the mix there this year. They also might move Hidalgo to the pen since he is two pitch pitcher, but he is young so still time to work on things. Hard to say what the Twins think but those are my thoughts.

I was thinking High A too as they drafted a lot of pitchers in the 2023 draft that will likely need to start at A ball. Thinking about it longer I also wondered that since he doesn't have that third pitch and is new to the org that they might want to keep him in A ball for a month or so to refine pitches and work on that third pitch at the complex. Hard to say what they will do, but IMO he fits best at high A since he has good stuff already and it seems like there is more room there to start.

What stuck out to me or surprised me was just how close his OPS was to Jenkins in the FCL and he hit more HR's than Jenkins in that SSSS. That K rate is the biggest concern for me. It was the knock when he was drafted as well. It feels like if he overcomes that (which is no easy task) it would be like getting a 1st round pick in the 3rd round. He is an incredibly versatile player and I am super excited about this kid, but a full season will give us a better idea of just where he is at in all aspects of his game.

Looks like the Twins found a good add on in that trade. Watching some of his stuff on video he looks like he has some really good pitches. Finding that third pitch can be tough, but if he can do it he looks like a fast mover. He will be an exciting guy to watch.

A near 800 OPS is pretty darn good at the MLB level and that number might have been higher as he likely played through injury. Would I like that OPS a little higher for a 1st baseman sure, but I don't think he is a liability there yet. On to the article which doesn't say he didn't have a good year at the plate but that he has a chronic injury history and that he doesn't completely fit the Twins hitting profile not to mention if Lee comes up they might want to move Jullien off of second to first base. Depending on how fast Lee comes up it does kind of feel like there will be a silent competition between Kirilloff and Jullien. While Kirilloff can play Left field that doesn't seem like a long term fit given 3 of the top 4 guys in the system are outfielders and he isn't the greatest defender out there anyway. If Jullien looks like the better bat and long term fit at 1st I could see the Twins moving on and trying to trade Alex for something they need. That being said given Kirilloff has one option year remaining and doesn't cost that much this year I don't see them doing anything this year. The kid was a feared hitter in the Minor's and looked good at times last year at the MLB level. If he moves that OPS needle a bit further and stays healthy for a season he will be just fine.

I think pretty much this whole board felt the same way. Descla isn't the type of pitcher needed to take the next step. No one wanted just another 5th starter and even less an injury prone one. The offseason isn't over so still a chance things change although those odds seem very remote. The only hope now is that if the team performs well maybe they get the guy we were hoping for at the deadline.

AA seems like the toughest level for hitters to get through. The pitching is generally really good at that level. Brooks Lee struggled to start there and he has good contact skills. I agree with @jmlease1 that Schobel's approach at AA didn't change much. He kept taking walks and kept hitting the ball he just wasn't getting the same quality of contact. Might take some time but I think he gets back to those high A numbers he put up when he was at the top of his league in HR's and OPS.

I guess I don't get this line of thinking at all. There is no way to know how any season will turn out. Injuries and regression kill potential playoff teams every year. Pablo goes down early in the season and even if you got that number 2 you are probably sunk in the playoffs. Not to mention Lewis, Buxton, Kirriloff are injury prone. You have rookies in Wallner and Jullien who preformed well in SSS, but were protected against lefties so no idea how they will fare this coming year. There are question marks all over this team so banking on being a contender is impossible to know until the season unfolds. I mean every team is a contender opening day until things play out and every team would like another number 2 arm to start the season. We all want a top of the rotation pitcher but what trades have been worked out for one this year? Even the Orioles with prospects to burn haven't paid the cost to get "a guy". I think the people running the show are doing the best they can given the parameters\money they have. Every team wants a number 2 it's just not that easy to get deals done.

I think we are down to one year deals and possibly another trade. I do think the Twins will wait until to the deadline to decide how to handle the top of the rotation. One of Ober, Paddack or Ryan might emerge as an option or maybe Varland, Festa or SWR emerge. It also gives them time to see how this team performs. There are lot's of young players and lot's of sophomore slump's to get through. Waiting to pay a premium for a top guy might be prudent. I don't see them going past 130M for payroll and they will want to keep payroll flexible in future years for arb raises and extensions. Not having a solid TV deal hurts as well. They added starter depth and replaced Pagan along with getting a top 100 prospect in the Polanco trade for less money than they would have had to pay for free agents so it feels like the heavy lifting is done. I'm not saying I love who they got as a starter, but if he is healthy he can be a mid rotation guy if you squint a little. Another big right handed bat for lefties would be nice. We will see who they decide on.

I don't see any multi year deals for the Twins this late as they are likely hunting one year deals. I think they will want to keep payroll flexible in future years here to counter arb raises and to have money for extensions. We'll see what happens.

Very nice summary!! Excellent content thank you!! I am hopeful he can improve the swing decisions because then he will be a monster at the plate. That being said some guys have that skill and some never develop it. His ability to make contact should help him some, but hunting good pitches to hit is generally the difference between making it and not making it. I'm rooting for him. Nice to have another highly rated right handed bat in the system.

I really would like to see Severino work out as a hitter for first base. Having a good power hitting 1st baseman\DH that can hit from both sides could be really valuable. He will have to conquer AAA first but he could be a Morneau type bat if it all comes together.

Yep if they all work out it is a great trade for the Twins. No doubt they have a chance to win the present value and future value of the trade. However, looking back at the Presley trade or the Berrios trade and you can see future value is a murky thing. Looking at the trade for Lopez who was an All Star that year is a present value trade that didn't work out either. That doesn't mean these players won't work out, but it does show there is a lot of risk and variability in outcomes. If Topa and Desclafani are the best versions of themselves it solidifies the team and negates the loss of Poianco. If they falter this deal doesn't really help this years team at all. The most consistent player in this deal is Polanco and barring serious injury he is the most likely to perform to an expected level. He could be injured and Topa and Desclafani could be great. That is one outcome but given the past it seems the least likely outcome. I think I admitted Gonzalez was the wild card in this deal. Still guys that don't conquer the strike zone almost never make it to MLB. He is young and has time to get there, but several scouts see his free swinging ways as an issue. Time will tell how that turns out but that weakness makes him more risky to work out in the end. I agree that if that is over blown he could be really, really good. He has good contact skills and power as his 900 OPS indicates. I am just saying the Twins took on a lot of risk with the players they traded for. It doesn't mean it won't work out well for them in the end. It just feels like too much risk for me, but I probably value Polanco more than I should. As a Twins fan I am hoping all the players they received reach their full potential. I just have my doubts and I feel like Seattle got the player most likely to work out.

I know trade values likes this deal for the Twins and future value on this deal favors the Twins but I still think Seattle won this trade by not giving up anything they might need in the near future for a versatile top of the order bat. Dipoto might not get kudos on this deal since he gave up an arguable top 100 prospect, but this is the type of move win now teams make. While the return for the Twins looks like a lot there are a lot of question marks on the return. The M's had to pay the Twins just to get rid of DeSclafani and they freed up a 40 man spot they can put to better use if so desired. Topa is the piece that maybe hurts them a bit but they got him for virtually nothing last year so to trade that for a top of order bat is still a very good deal for them. Bowen was a 13th round pick with control problems adding him to get the deal done would have been a no brainer. The one thing that could tip this the Twins way is Gonzalez, He is a borderline top 100 prospect who has OPS'd in the 900's until a brief stint at High A. The contact skills (bat to ball) are there and your comp of Miranda is a good one. Can he learn to swing at good pitches and lay off bad ones? There is still a ton of risk and unless he conquers that skill quickly he is several years away from making it at the MLB level if at all. Again I think that is an OK risk for a win now team to make for a player that lengthens your lineup like Polanco does and your team in general. The Mariners gave up extra future value that may never arrive and they didn't give up one of their prized young starters. So again I tip my cap to Dipoto as he got the better present value. If Polanco stays healthy he is gonna give them 800 OPS production good at bats and OK defense. That is hard to find. The Mariners did well in this trade IMO. If you are the Twins you failed to get a difference making starter in this deal. You are risking another one year wonder reliever will work out and at his age maybe you get those 5 years out of him maybe not. You get a near top 100 hitter with good contact skills who might get himself out by swinging at pitches that are not even strikes. And finally you get a 13th round draft choice that might have two plus pitches. If two out of the three work out you ultimately win the trade, but two of those players are a long ways away so you lost the present value of the trade unless you come up with something pretty good with the money saved. It's too much risk for me, but if the goal was to move Polanco and this was best deal they could get then it is what it is. Have to hope the eval's on these players is good and they work out and they do get that future value otherwise this trade looks bad IMO.

I knew Seattle had to be happy to get rid of DeScalfini, but since they gave the Twins a top 100 prospect I didn't see much money coming back. The more money that comes back the more likely the Twins do another deal. This deal could look better in the end will have to wait and see.

I think Topa is the headliner in this deal for the Twins. He has a plus fastball and slider with a solid cutter. Not a strike out guy unfortunately, but really good at generating ground balls. Maybe the Twins can tweak a few things but he had a good year last year and maybe even more importantly he has two option years left. Strengthening the pen should help. I don't love Descalfini as the 5th starter addition, but they have Varland and hopefully SWR and Headrick to help as needed. Maybe one of Festa or Ohl works there way up this year yet. Gonzalez is rated number 3 in their system and in the top 100 on the MLB site I believe. Lot's of concerns about plate discipline though and no projection left. I hope this isn't like Salas again where the other team sold high. Still he is a nice power oriented right handed bat. Twins don't have much for the outfield at high A right now after moving Rodriguez and Rosario up so he is a system fit right now as well. He is only 20 but it is going to be a big year for him. Bowen has a live arm with a plus fastball and slider. That is generally what the Twins like in relievers. Maybe they can add a sweeper or cutter as well. Long way to go and not a control artist, but a nice lottery ticket. Lot's of question marks but I guess Polo had his own question marks. Hopefully some of these guys work out. Especially the reliever as he seems to be what they were after for this years team.

Hate to make Seattle better with a really good bat, but I am guessing this is the best the Twins were going to do in a deal. I think Seattle wins this trade on the short term end pretty easily. Polanco is a tough out and a playoff caliber bat. I think the Mariners are going to enjoy having him in their lineup. If he stays healthy he should be a force for them. Things are looking up for Seattle. Will have to take a longer look at what we got back to see how the Twins did but getting MLB help and adding prospects seems like a good move since they have a lot of young infield talent right now. Going to miss Polo,