Trevor0333

I would love to see the league move towards a NBA type model where a salary cap is based on a percentage of league revenue.

The owners will be fine. When a player & team outplay their value salary wise and bring in extra revenue in attendance, merchandise, extra playoff games. Do they get more money? If the league goes bonkers popularity wise and league revue doubles, triples etc and owners are raking it in, do they get to renegotiate? The point of signing the contract is valuing security over real time value, they could always get more year to year. This same goes for ownership. They can afford to honor those contracts and absolutely should be required to. Again, the owners will be fine.

The Twins get a compensation pick if Odorizzi leaves next year in FA right? It makes sense to have Maeda replace Odorizzi next year in the rotation and prepare for one of Dobnak/Smeltzer/Thorpe/Balzovic/Dhuran to take the 5th spot. Then giving the team an extra pick to try and replace losing Graterol in the system.

I think all teams will have some regression purely from the standpoint of fewer teams intentionally tanking. It was like a record number last season.

Move Taylor Rogers into the rotation and sign Will Harris or Betances.

Can TD book some "no-impact move" grief counselors to provide support for the rubes.

The only way passing on Ryo at that number is if they feel in the driver seat with Donaldson and feel he is a better add at that $.

You don't think there was a thought in NY of, if we trade Syndergaard we can re-sign Wheeler? I think the best chance of acquiring a starter via trade is calling up the Rockies and saying you'll take on Wade Miley's contract and ask them what else they want for Jon Gray. They aren't taking on enough salary to prevent a run at Donaldson or a high end RP.

I believe its very important to make one big free agent acquisition in the rotation. Cole, Strasburg, & Wheeler are obviously in high demand but I firmly believe in paying for high end FA over having 3 solid to average veterans. The FO has put the team in a position where they should not have to greatly over pay for quality. Free Agent signings: SP Z. Wheeler 22M/5y Wes Johnson will be salivating at working with Wheeler, giving the team at least 3 starters you feel good about in the playoffs. If the team strikes out on Wheeler, I would look into Alex Wood or Bringing back Pineda on 2-3 years deals type signing. CP W. Harris 11M/2y Losing Rogers in the back end of the pen means a high end RP is a must. (Wait losing Rogers, more on that later...) Harris maybe slightly underrated due to the amount of good RP the Astros had. He was very good and given his age, a 2 year deal makes sense for both sides. RF A. Garcia 8M/2y Losing Rosario in LF means you are either locking Gonzalez into the OF or adding an OF to keep him in the super sub role and injury replacement. Kepler/Buxton/Garcia would be a big improvement defensively. Garcia had a good year and would be a defensive improvement over Rosario. (Also, more on Rosario later...) RP F. Liriano 2M/1y / S Romo 3M/1y I have no issues starting out the year with both Smeltzer and Thorpe as your LRP but prefer having one of them ready in case of injury or performance issues. Franky had a solid year last year and it would be fun to see him and Romo slinging sliders from each side of the mound. Trades/Roster moves: Trade Rosario to the Reds for Rece Linds. An intriguing slugging "will he stick at 3B" prospect. The Reds just signed Moose and are deep in 3B prospects. Suarez is not moving off 3B after his break out season either. J India is a better and more MLB ready 3B prospect in their system. Potential Sano insurance. Trade B. Rooker and N. Gordon for Josh Bell and Richard Rodriguez. Rooker has looked promising and is near MLB ready. However he is only a year younger than an already established Bell. Who is still under Arb control until he is 30. The thought here is you are trading more cost friendly controllable years in Rooker for a known commodity at a higher cost. This team is too ready to contend, Im not bothered losing Rookers arb years at ages 30-34 for Bells presence in the lineup now. Rodriguez adds an good vet RP with cost controlled years left. Move T. Rogers the the rotation. Its been well documented on the changes to Rogers pitch repertoire being the trigger to his success, not relying on the extra velocity from moving to the pen. He pitched multiple innings often and would be a great candidate to employ an opener in his starts. I fully believe he can be top of the rotation starter with Wheeler & Berrios. Build his innings somewhat slowly so he is strong for the playoffs. Start Graterol in the minors to build his IP and arm strength. Keep the innings low to fullfill the same role he did this year. Potential late inning equalizer. He slides into the SP rotation in 2021 in Odorizzi or Dobnaks place. Starters 1) Arraez 2B - .6M 2) Garver C - .6M 3) Kepler LF - 6.3M 4) Cruz DH - 12M 5) Sano 3B - 5.5M 6) J. Bell 1B - 5.9M 7) Polanco SS - 4M 8) Buxton CF - 3.5M 9) A. Garcia RF - 8M Bench IF/OF Gonzalez - 9M IF Adrianza - 3M OF/1B Cave - .6M C Astudillo - .6M Rotation SP Berrios - 4.5M SP Wheeler - 22M/5y SP T. Rogers - 4M SP Odorizzi - 18M SP Dobnak - .6M Bullpen CP W. Harris - 11M/2y RP - Duffey 1.3M RP - May 2.5M RP - Littel .6M RP - Romo 3M/1y RP - R. Rodriguez .6M LRP - F. Liriano 2M/1y LRP - Smeltzer/Thorpe .6M Total Salary 130.3 M

The answer on Sano and Polanco was obvious until this year. They are good enough for now but both will need to move across the diamond sooner than later. Now with the breakout of Arraez, 2B is no longer an obvious option. Polanco's arm is not going to do him any more favors at 3B and I'm not sure I like the idea of him in the OF. Eventually you'd like to see Kepler move to LF and Kirilloff take over in RF. Honestly the decision that needs to be made is: 1) Who's future is valued more. Polanco or Arraez? Each are under contract through 2025. 2) Can Royce stay at SS in the majors. (I think Polanco sticks long enough to figure this answer out) 3) Is there a long term option at 3B in the system already, Blankenhorn, Javier? 4) Does investing in a FA position player prevent from going after the SP you want?

Before I put any real thought into it, I assumed this would be an easy answer but there are some tough options even considering only needing a shortened bullpen. Who would I form the best 25 man roster to open playoffs? Of course there are 2 assumptions built in; they make the playoffs and everyone currently healthy remains so. Lineup: Garver Cron Arraez Polanco Sano Rosario Buxton Kepler Cruz The lineup is the easiest, Catcher and 1st are the only real place I would split/platoon based on the opposing SP. RHP Castro catching with Garver at 1B and LHP Garver catching with Cron at 1B. Rotation: Berrios Odorizzi Pineda Perez I don't think they will use a 4th starter unless absolutely needed but Perez will be on the roster in case &or as an additional lefty out of the pen. Honestly, I would rather see Smeltzer starting over Perez. Bullpen: Graterol Smeltzer Duffey May Dyson Romo Rogers It was really hard to leave Littel off the Bullpen, I think he's pitched well and probably deserves a spot over Smeltzer but I want the extra lefty option. Bench: Gonzalez Castro Astudillo Cave Adrianza I thought the idea of adding Miller to the 40 man as a possible pinch runner was interesting. When it came down to actually putting it on paper though, I could not find a player I'd rather have Miller over on the roster. There are difficult decisions on the final few spots on the roster. Graterol not performing well down the stretch would make it a little easier. Deciding between Schoop, Littel, & Cave was not easy. Im curious what other rubes thoughts are on how you would shape the playoff roster.

The other factor in higher FB usage is less use of the curve. His curve used to have a really nice 12-6 break & he could usually place it well for the amount of movement. Especially this season his curve looks more like a hanging change up.

In the Playoffs given everyone is healthy RHP Garver at 1st with Castro catching. LHP Garver catching with Cron at 1st. More Garv Sauce please....

I could not stand watching Parker pitch, his pre pitch fidgeting antics drove me nuts. Then you got to watch the garbage he actually threw following it.

What amazes me about Arraez is how quickly he makes a a decision on whether he is swinging or not. His body and swing are completely in sync with that decisiveness.

Where are you getting your research from on what a classic no no is?

Seriously, is there anyone better at breaking down mechanics in baseball and presenting it in a written form that's easy to understand and enjoyable to read? Twins fans are lucky to have Parker as part of the Twins Daily community. Great article Parker.

In interviews with other players it is often brought up that Rosario is one of the most popular players because they love the passion & energy he brings. I don't think its fair when people watching on TV make assumptions on attitude. Resting B Face is real thing

I would absolutely offer Kepler a long contract extension between now and next season.

I've been on the Rosario bandwagon a long time. His tools are legit, speed, arm strength, bat speed, & an elite level of hand eye coordination for putting bat to ball that has fostered terrible habits. His defense has regressed to the mean some. He is not run on nearly as much, which becomes harder to calculate with metrics. Eye test wise, a combo of seemingly fewer chances at spectacular catches combined with less aggressiveness has dropped his defensive value metrics wise. I don't give up on Rosario, he's responded well to challenge throughout his baseball career. Bring up Granite as the 4th OF to push him & play the hot hand. Let's see whacha got Eddie!

They absolutely have to go after a 5th starter and bullpen help. You don't have to give up Kepler for that. I'd try and move a package combo of Kyle Gibson, Kohl Stewart, Zack Granite for a 5th starter and reliever or 2.

I've always believed in the offense coming into the season, until they patch up the bullpen and find a 5th starter they are going to have difficulty staying in the race.

This is why you go after the guys like Neshek & Benoit.

I wonder if the last place Phillies could be talked into moving Helickson to be the 5th starter along with Neshek & Benoit to stabilize the pen. Both are off to strong starts & shouldn't have high costs.

He pointed out something he noticed, he didn't say it was an illegal substance. [edited by glunn to delete bickering]