Mike Sixel

They'll have to give up on four guys being starters between now and the beginning of the year. I just don't see them doing that. I could be wrong.

Interesting! He was basically a number 4 the two years before....but really struggled this year.

Sure, but it took 2-3 years to build.....I think we all see the vision. The other thing it requires is making the decision next year....not in 2-3 years. That's been an issue for this FO, imo. Waiting too long to move guys (Jax and Varland were never going to be successful starters).

You'd have to add a number 4 (though this year 5) starter (with 4 years of control) to Duran to get the deal.

I'm going to grade them from easiest for me to grade, to hardest. I'm also going to use a 0 -100 spread, because A-F isn't big enough for the first one. Easy for me to grade: Brock Stewart to the Dodgers — Grade: negative 1 million (on a 0-100 scale) Return: OF James Outman Look, Outman is one of the 2000 best baseball players on the planet! That does not make him a MLB player. He's 28, in AAA, and can't beat Kiersey, Martin, or Gasper for a roster spot. He doesn't fit the present, or the future. Get an A ball pitcher with 1 pitch and try to make him a RP......but not a 28 yo you don't even think is a MLB player now. A truly baffling trade. Carlos Correa to the Astros — Grade: 75 Return: RHP Matt Mikulski, ~$70M in salary relief Whether they re-use the money or not, it was a good trade for the team from a business perspective, and likely even a baseball perspective. I loved the CC signing, but he's not been CC for a bit of time now, and I think this team is 1-3 years away from being good, so there was no place for him. This either makes the team easier to sell, gives them more payroll room for others, or just gives the Pohlads more money (thankfully, I was getting worried about their ability to even eat). Danny Coulombe to the Rangers — Grade: 65 Return: LHP Garrett Horn If they move Horn to the bullpen, teach him 2 pitches, and are aggressive, he could be in MN in 2027. This FO won't do that, they'll diddle around for 4 years trying to make him a starter....but I actually like this return for Danny. Chris Paddack & Randy Dobnak to the Tigers — Grade: 50 Return: C Enrique Jimenez I really hate they included a negative asset and reduced their return. But, that return was a catcher, and at some point if you throw enough pieces of spaghetti at the wall, one of them might stick. I'm giving this a fairly neutral grade, when maybe I should give it s 30-40? Maybe this should be in the next grouping? OTOH, I'm not sure how much value Paddack really had, so there's that. I'm not sure how to grade these: Harrison Bader to the Phillies — Grade: either a 20 or 85. Return: OF Hendry Mendez, RHP Geremy Villoria Mendez kind of excites me! But man, the scouting reports are not great. IMO, I'd move him to 1B or even catcher (? wut?), because he's not likely to play OF for this team given the other options they have. He's either going to hit, or just provide no value. As for Villoria? Who the F has any idea. I don't think there is much in between here. Either he hits and has value, or he has none. But they got them for an expiring deal on a guy that was going to be way too expensive for this ownership group to re-sign. Jhoan Duran to the Phillies — Grade: Incomplete Return: C Eduardo Tait, RHP Mick Abel I mean, sure, if you go by MLB.com, they got two top 100 guys. If you go by Fangrapsh, they got zero (but close). These two have the most upside of any of the guys they got. Huge, high, ceilings. But, man, the floors are also really low. Heck, one of them being really good and the other busting is possible. Both busting is possible. Both working is possible. Abel has great stuff, but can he harness it? Tait is a baby in A ball, those guys are so hard to predict. In other words, the TWins took all the risk here, while dealing their most valuable asset. I really DO NOT like that part of the deal. OTOH, they went for ceiling, not floor, and I LOVE that. Willi Castro to the Cubs — Grade: No idea Return: RHP Ryan Gallagher, RHP Sam Armstrong Neither of these guys does much for me, frankly. But I'm going to assume there is something here to like, or I don't get this one. I'd have preferred one guy with more upside, but whatever. I just don't have the energy to actually care about this one..... Griffin Jax to the Rays — Grade: 60 Return: RHP Taj Bradley Another trade that makes a lot of sense (on its own, I'm judging these deals on their own, as a group I don't like them). A RP for a potential SP. But, man, Bradley has struggled some.......but, ya, a RP for a potential SP, I can see how this makes sense. I think 60 might be generous, but I'm in a good mood after listening to KPOP Demon Hunters. Louis Varland & Ty France to the Blue Jays — Grade: 35 Return: LHP Kendry Rojas, OF Alan Roden I think Roden and Rojas have pretty good odds of being valuable to the Twins, so that's a plus. OTOH, Varland looks like a closer, with, what, five years of control? Plus, and this does matter to a lot of MN people, he's from MN. I actually think Roden replaces Larnach to start next year full time. I think he can hit and catch the ball. I think Rojas could be good, in some role. I just don't get trading a guy with this much control, unless you are insanely in love with what you got back, and I'm more in like.

The Stewart trade is embarrassing, truly. An awful trade. They didn't give up much, and got negative value in return. Outman should be DFA.

Not Brooks Lee. Wallner.

Could be.

Still better than outman......

If Soto is in Minnesota in two years, I'll be shocked. He's missing the whole season this year, isn't he?

Well, none of them have put on a 1B glove yet.......so I don't know. I mean, I'd consider it! But actions speak loudly, imo.

well, I"m likely under estimating it!

How about wrc+ or even OPS+ (which isn't great) You can't just look at BA and ignore everything else about offense.

I mean, I'd have put him in high A to start.....but you are likely right. I'm not a fan of how they move prospects....

IMO, Winokur will never play SS for MN. He should be in teh OF or first base at this point. Unless you think he'll beat out Culpepper and Houston, which would bode poorly for them...... DeAndrade? I like him a lot more than the Twins seem to, but he's barely playing SS. Challenge Houston at high A. He's not young, he's played against about that level already......

Call up Cardenas and have him catch 1/3 of the time, and DH 1/3 of the time.....

We really need to stop looking only at BA.......though, yes, that needs to be a bit higher for comfort.

Wallner would have 1.5 fWAR if he'd been healthy all year. What is it people have against this guy?

look up several posts :)

And yet people quote this stat like it has some great meaning......

I hope the headline tomorrow isn't "Kriske creamed."

I mean, even most decent to good teams aren't as good against other good teams. I've never quite understood this take, that all the good teams have great W-L records against other good teams.

I hope Williams is ok going forward......

Not a good outing by the RP.....

HOw the hell does Detroit have 66 wins?