Mike Sixel

You want to sign a RP to a long term deal past his age 30 season?

Meh, I'm not trying to convince anyone, especially a few of you.....but here's what I'd do to try to win in the playoffs. My belief is that once you have this opportunity, you should make the most of it. It might not come around again. None of these things put anyone at risk, and we only risk losing two guys that, let's be honest, just aren't good. 1. Move Varland to the bullpen, and get him in MN. He has better stuff than most of the pen, and it won't hurt his ability to start next year. This is the easiest decision on this list for me. 2. Call up Austin Martin, DFA either Gallo or Luplow. The Twins won't miss either. This is an upside play. I'm trying to win, not playing not to lose. He might not be ready....but he's healthy, he's raking, and he was once a top MLB prospect. I put him in CF right now (the Twins are in the bottom 5 of all teams in CF fWAR). Taylor is a great defensive replacement for Wallner lat in games, and should start against lefties (Martin plays left against lefties). 3. Put Buxton in CF in AAA. If he can't play, IL him. If he can, when he's healthy, he comes up. We put Martin at first until AK is back? Or, Martin is a pinch runner / hitter. He can play 2b in a pinch, or when Julien is PH for. 3a. If Kiriloff can come back, I consider DFA of Salano, but I don't think that's realistic. Maybe Farmer? Again, not sure that's realistic. Until AK comes back, I put either Polanco or Martin at first (though, I'll be honest, I'm not sure Polanco will hit this year). 4. Put Ober in the bullpen when Ryan is back. He needs to rest his arm, and he's a better option than the other players. Plus, he's nearly a lock to be in the bullpen in round 1 of the playoffs. Get him ready for that role. 5. Don't worry about Gordon.....he's not better than Castro or likely, imo, Martin. When Castro is back, either Gallo or Luplow go. He might not come back to the team if Martin is working out. Frankly, since Buxton has to replace someone, I'm hoping both are gone for him and Martin, so no idea what happens with Castro..... If Martin doesn't hit, then he just goes down when Buxton is healthy.....but you aren't winning championships with Gallo and Luplow starting for this team. You MIGHT with Martin starting. I'm trying to win here....and not working out of fear of the unknown. I think the Varland and Martin and Ober (eventually) decisions are easy decisions. What to do when all three of AK, Buxton and Castro are healthy are much tougher decisions. I know several of you have zero interest in taking the Martin chance, and I'm not convincing you..... Alternatively, on Ober, I move Keuchel to the bullpen. But unless he's a low inning lefty RP, I have no interest in him being on the playoff roster.

He's not settling for the kind of money a decent RP gets.....no chance.

He and Varland should be moved to the bullpen. Varland now, so he can get used to it (it won't hurt him as a starter next year) and Ober as the last week apporoaches. They are both better than most of the current bullpen. NOT doing this would be another nail in the coffin of this FO for me. There is no reason not to put Varland there right now.

I'd make the QO and see what happens.

This. Also, he's gotten a big paycheck already, and he probably has a much better agent than what the Atlanta players have.....But it is the injuries and the fact he's their's until he's 29 that would stop me from doing this at this time. Do they need another Buxton on their hands? Lastly, the changing tv deals and the great unkown about revenue will likely dissuade them...

Looks like that was it. Thanks

Game thread.... I'll check.

What changed? I get notifications when people comment on threads now?

Great win.

Great job by Winder!

Austin Martin

Rocco is so bad pinch hitting there.

That's almost the exact number of runs more they've scored than MN! Seems like not a coincidence...

62% chance of scoring 1 or more runs with a runner on 2nd and no one out....

Luplow is who we thought he was. Why does he have a job?

I doubt it matters at all at this point....but I was surprised.

They've scored 25% more runs than MN! Staggering.

If only there was a AAA RH OF dominating, after being healthy and formerly being a top 20-40 overall prospect.....they should all be fired at this point.

All reports I read is that he's still getting a massive deal, even if he's not pitching. I've rethought my position, and agree, he'll get it

go look at the numbers, he's much worse than Pagan that far into the game. And, come on, Sands? Really? He's barely even on the roster.

I'll be shocked if he gets more than $200 MM at this point. I'm guessing a 1 or 2 year make good deal, then a longer deal.

Stop with the facts, sir. No one wants facts in a baseball argument.

People are asking for Gray to go longer? Have y'all looked at how he's actually done going past the 6th? Really?

All I have to add is that they better make the bullpen better next year (I've been calling for their heads most of this year, and the bullpen is just one reason).