DocBauer

I'm only interested in a milb deal, or a cheap ML deal with incentives. Maybe $1-1.5M with incentives? You can't predict injuries, but we need at least ONE good arm for the pen that is experienced and we feel will be reliable. That's Fulmer or better. Healthy and solid. A gamble that might pay off makes some sense for a second arm, but not as a primary signing.

Honestly, I'm not sure what else to add to your article, Nick. Well said sir! I do think Bundy, by himself, as a 5th starter for a team that had to re-build almost the entire staff on the fly, wasn't a horrible choice. I mean, he kept the Twins in games and marched out there every 5th day. The problem was having Bundy AND Archer in the rotation. And the plan of Archer eventually getting stronger and stretching out just never came close to materializing. (I guess I didn't realize he was also fighting a bad hip). I liked Gray when we traded for him, and I like him now. I didn't like ignoring the vast FA market last year and "settling" for only Bundy. HUGE mistake. Additionally, why did it take until about August for Rocco to finally say ANYTHING about needing/wanting middle relief? Now, to be fair, Winder was doing that early until he had to slide in the rotation and then he also got hurt. So there was at least SOME attempt to set up middle relief but it blew up in a hurry! And Smith was the ONLY FA brought in along with Pagan in trade? Wow!

In theory, I think not spending huge on your pen is a smart idea. But that doesn't mean not spending at all. And I do think the FO has gotten way to cute in their approach/belief in a lot of their additions. They've probably done far better in trades than in FA arms which baffles me. RP may be volatile, but spending smartly up front is better than trading prospects mid year because you didn't do your job before the season. I agree that there is a potentially really good pen in the making currently. We all know the names: Duran, Lopez, Jax, Thielbar, Alcala and Moran. And in Winder, Sands, Henriquez, etc, there are a lot of middle relief options to create the very necessary bridge between the starters and the back end of the pen. Something they grossly ignored for a good portion of last year. I'm very encouraged by Moran, (will they keep Sisk on the 40 man for LH depth?), and the return/potential of Alcala. But I don't know that I want to count on them. I want more depth, more options. I'm more than OK with Fulmer back, or someone else at least as good. I'm also very interested in Hand for another proven LH. I don't know that I'm crazy about Rogers, but if he's healthy, a return "home" might do wonders for him. And the Twins know how best to use him. They have $50M to spend, or more depending on Urshela and Kepler decisions. There are no glaring holes anywhere other than an answer at SS. But they need a RH bat somewhere, another catcher, said SS, and MAYBE a SP if the right one can be found. Can they afford a combined $10-12M for TWO pen arms? If they can fit it in to payroll, that's what I'd like to see. Fulmer or equivalent/better, and a solid LH you feel you can count on for a combined $10-12M. ONE is almost a necessity. TWO would be a luxury that I don't know if is affordable, but would be outstanding depth!

My personal 2023 bullpen is based on 3 things. 1] Talent on hand. 2] Needs. 3] Health. Duran is a STUD. Lopez has tremendous stuff. Did anyone expect him to do what he did in his first year as a reliever and continue to do it? I didn't. I seldom if ever expect a player to just continue to be amazing during a transition time and movement between franchises. But he has some wicked stuff. Unless the Twins mess him up, they have a great arm to work with and make him an important part of 2023. I believe in Jax. I believe Thielbar still has the stuff. Moran has done nothing at the ML level to say he isn't about ready to take on a serious role. A healthy Alcala could make a huge difference. He's got the stuff and really flashed late in 2021. There is a base for an excellent pen in 2023 based on what is on hand. But it needs more. I'm OK with Rogers, healthy and ready to go. But maybe Hand is the better option. And, IMO, whoever is added should be Fulmer quality or better. Fulmer has been pretty damn good since his conversion a year and a half ago. He's NOT been a "lights out" guy so far, but he's been a solid 6-7th inning guy.. I love Rogers. But if hand comes at the same price, or slightly above, I'm probably in on Hand. But I'm not going to be disappointed on Fulmer back again. The biggest question is the guys who fill the middle relief role.

Gang, I'm totally conflicted about Correa, which is why I had to make a recent post in the Forum section. My personal blueprint for 2023 was without Correa because it made sense to me to take that approach. And I stand by that blueprint, even with a "fantasy" idea in my head that has been proposed by others...in various incarnations...where Correa is re-signed, some limited in scope, some more aggressive by moving on from Urshela and Kepler and other variations. And I don't have the answer as to what the Twins should do. On one hand we have the "DO'S" and on the other hand we have the "DON'T's". The bite is, both sides have very valid arguements! DO: The Twins lock down SS with a potential HOF player who not only stabilizes SS for the next 5-6yrs and maybe an extra year or two with health, but provides quality offense, a "been there, done that" experience factor, leadership, and might be one of the smartest players in all of MLB. On top of that, he provides a real leadership for not only the infield...which is getting real young real quick with Lewis, Lee, Krilloff, Miranda, Arraez, Julien, etc...but for the team as a whole. Imagine a STAR player at SS for several years to come, a producer, and Lewis taking over at 2B...maybe being one of the best in all of MLB...and the "natural" Lee at 3B, with Miranda at 1B, still able to fill in at 3B, a healthy AK also playing 1B, as well as OF, and Arraez able to play 3 infield spots as well as DH. Lewis and Lee and Gordon can all cover SS on occasion. And that's just the infield. Larnach, Buxton, Wallner in the OF with AK also playing there and a hopefully improved Celestino, along with Gordon and maybe another RH OF addition at some point. This could be as early as 2024, with parts of it manifesting in 2023. DONT: So much $ tied to ONE player, despite his offerings. More $ to spend on the rest of the team and a bridge player to cover SS until Lewis is ready. It's a gamble, and a small gamble, IMO, because I think Lewis will be at least a solid ML SS. But you can still see an infield of Lee at 3B, Lewis at SS, Polanco or maybe Julien at 2B, and Miranda at 1B/3B with AK at 1B/OF and Arraez still covering 3 positions as well as DH and still having all of the same OF potential as previously listed. And again, this infield and OF option could be in 2024 with parts of in place 2023. But you sacrifice a truly transitional talent for the franchise a whole to bank on the promise of what you have, and what is close. I'm torn! I see both sides of this. And I think both sides are solid in their thoughts. And I'm not sure which way is the best. I guess I'm thinking, 8yrs and $280M to go with option #1, and don't be cute and wait and miss out on other opportunities. Patience for deals is one thing, being blind to opportunity to do something different is being short sighted and obsitent.

FWIW, and I can't find the article now, (dangit), but Heyman had a post recently I read where he had Correa for 8-9yrs and around $270-280M. Not sure where his numbers come from vs other projections, but I thought it was interesting when I read it.

I've gone back and forth on the front load idea as well. As has been pointed out, smartly, by others, a $35M per will be worth "less" 6-9yrs from now as payrolls increase. Paying less up front gives an extra few $M per to go to the rest of the roster, but paying more up front with so many cost controlled players making up the roster over the next couple of years allows some extra flexibility payroll flexibility down the road. So yeah, I'm torn on that part of any offer. I do wonder if an opt out in 4 or 5yrs is an added incentive to a potential deal? I remain conflicted on the total years and dollars of the deal. I've always been conflicted about the whole 10yr and $330M idea. For whatever reason, Seager got 10yrs from Texas, but for less than the proposed Correa $330M idea. And again, for whatever reason, NOBODY stepped up to offer anything similar for Correa last year. And a recent podcast from Gleeman and the Geek with guest Dan Hayes offered the opinion for $315-ish to get a deal done. BUT, if 10yrs and $330M was a proposed idea in 2021's offseason, but Correa...still young...is another year older and earned $35M last year, shouldn't we be talking about 8-9yrs and $290M this time out? I guess I'm just confused how another year has gone by, NOBODY jumped at the 10yr $330M idea last year, and now we're speculating almost the same terms a year later. We're still talking a HUGE and long term deal, but I'm confused about terms a year later.

I knew someone smarter than me would know right where to look. Thanks! The old phrase there are lies, greater lies, and then statistics comes to mind at times when we talk baseball. There are simply so many different ways to analyze everything in baseball that I agree its impossible to accurately measure or quantify everything player to player or year to year. But regardless if these measurements prove Jeffers more positively or Sanchez more negative, it affirms what my eyes have seen and what my ears have hears. BTW, absolutely LOVED "Rodriguez, Gonzalez, Sanchez" with the scratch outs. Priceless!

One of the biggest "tragedies" in Twins history is Mauer being forced to move from behind the plate. Even then, he turned himself in to a great 1B who could still hit and get OB. I still believe he was miscast as a hitter, especially in his later years, as a #3 hitter and should have been hitting #1 or #2 in the lineup as a table setter. But I digress. I was too young to ever watch or appreciate Earl Battey as the Twins catcher when the franchise moved to Minnesota. I was a young fan at 5yo listening to my dad and his transistor radio, but when I became a true FAN, was in the mid 70's with Butch Wynegar as the Twins #1 guy. For decades the catcher spot was a game calling, catch and throw position. And if you had one who could hit and provide offense and power, you really had something! But there were so few Bench and Fisk and Carter type players in the league. But then something happened around the late 90's and the start of the new millennium...much like SS...where there was an influx of quality catchers who could do it all. And Mauer was one of the very best EVER, even if his career behind the plate was cut short. He did things no other catcher ever did in the grand history of baseball. Even as a homer, he's a HOF'er in my book. But it sure seems to me the Twins have been pretty blessed with quality catchers in their history. Wynegar was very good and had flashes offensively. The Twins won 2 WS with Laudner and Harper at catcher. Two completely different players, but each filled their role very well. And we have joked many times about Sal and Drew Butera and Redmond, but they filled a role over the years behind the Twins "starting" catcher. AJ was a fine catcher who was traded away to make room for Mauer. So a lot of great catching before and with Mauer. Agreed it's been a little disjointed since then, but not poor. Suzuki was a fine catcher for a few years and so was Castro, as Garver transitioned to taking over the top spot. All 3 of these guys were fine catchers, not studs, who provided what was needed behind the plate, and produced different levels of offense from year to year. Honestly, just good game calling and defense, with solid offense, I can't think of a season for the past 6 or 7 years where the Twins didn't have a "solid", if not good, catching situation. Garver FLASHED BIG TIME, and then regressed. Love the guy, but the Twins made the right move at the right time. I've been disappointed in the FO to not address the catcher position more aggressively than they have. They've taken shots with Banuelos and Carmago. They've drafted 5 or 6 catchers in the last couple of drafts to work with and develop. But they are all 2-3yrs away from proving any long term answer. That leaves Jeffers and someone to add to fill the roster with a quality secondary option. Jeffers, and I know he was a college player, had 2yrs of milb and a little over 600AB in the minors split over rookie/A/AA ball before he was promoted from the taxi squad in 2020. I never bought in to the hype in 2021 that he and Garver were amongst the best tandem in MLB. Again. 2yrs and 600AB in milb before his promotion. He NEVER had a catching coach in college, taught himself, and finally got real defensive coaching once he was a pro. I was asked recently in a different thread why I believe Jeffers is a good defensive catcher. I could point to a 2.2FWAR, OR the recent TD defensive article from SABR SDI rankings that have him at 2.0, but didn't qualify due to games played. And while I don't subscribe to a site that allows me defensive details, I'd bet his team ERA while catching is better than most alternatives. Or I could just say I don't always understand all of these metrics but have watched him play these past 2 1/2 years and been impressed from what I've seen, and he's usually been the catcher when, win or lose, the team allowed just 3 or less runs. (I really wish someone had the team ERA numbers). I KNOW his throwing numbers aren't great. But is that really the most important thing vs calling a game and having the confidence of the staff? We call all agree to disagree. And that's OK. I like what I've seen from Jeffers behind the plate, but see potential improvement. I like a 25yo backstop with power who has hit in college, milb, teased at the ML level, and has only about 530AB at the ML level thus far, and was on an upward trend in 2022 before his broken thumb. I ask again, honestly, with his still limited AB, if Jeffers had been healthy and finished 2022 with a .245 AVG and 14 HR, would we be having conversations about how he needs to be replaced? I just don't think we've seen the best of him yet. I am fully on bord trusting improvement/reaching, or starting to reach his potential in 2023. I want a solid co-catcher to complete the lineup. There are larger holes to fill AFTER a co-catcher is brought on board. If 2023 turns out badly, then I'm all in for looking for a different option.

This is not the blueprint I put together simply because I felt I had to create one that didn't include Correa. But if I could do one that I WANT to have happen, this would come pretty darn close. (I may feel compelled to do another one). A couple notes: 1] I like the Mancini signing and hadn't thought about him. I went $10M for Haniger, but I like the Mancini idea as well, and at a lower cost. Very interesting. 2] IMO, and blueprint, I cheated and kept Ober in a 6 man rotation as I'm playing devil's advocate and expecting someone to be hurt or dinged at any one time. To me, you place Moran in to his BP slot. And I'd place a healthy Winder in the pen over either Sands or Megill. After that, it's open competition for someone to join Winder, which changes if the Twins can squeeze another $5-6M in somewhere to bring back Fulmer, or someone comparable. (Leaning to brining Hand back home to Minnesota). 3] PAYROLL is hard to speculate, but agree it needs to bump, and I suspect it will. I've been using a flat $140M with a fair 5% bump that should just be an "average" expected bump. That allows $147M. That gives the Twins approximately $52M to spend. Making some aggressive as well as smart moves to re-tool means saying goodbye to Urshela and Kepler in trades. That's another $18M to spend, or a total of $70M total. Sounds crazy, right? a] IF Correa is a full $35M per, and Rodon signs for a Gausman/Ray deal, that accounts for $58M. That leaves $12M, in this potential scenario, for a 2nd catcher, a RH bat, and one more quality BP arm. That's cutting things really close/fine. But Mancini, Narvaez and Fulmer back is only a small squeeze to hit $150M, which should place them about the middle of MLB ranking somewhere around 14th-16th place in total payroll. b] In regard to the listed payroll, Dobnak's $1.5M counts toward 2023, (And he might still turn out to be helpful, if fully recovered), as does the $3M for Paddack. But the other $4.5M you listed counts backward to 2022. So there is another $4.5M, in this scenario, that can be added towards another addition. Perhaps a little more if Correa isn't front loaded.

Me or auto correct I have no idea! LOL Of course I meant Sanchez. Thank you for catching that.

FWIW, a "rumor" ...and I despise using that term...had the Twins going "going backward" in their design. WTH does that mean? Sloppy wool jerseys from the 1900's? LOL Personally, I like the updated powder blues and I don't think they are going away. But I don't like the red tops and am abilivent on the blue tops. I'm expecting the return of pin stripes and a cream colored alternate option. Retro is not bad, is classic, and can be even better with a few subtle changes.

I'm sorry gang, and I'm not trying to be dismissive of personal opinion or be mean, but what are you asking or looking for? There is a dearth of "outstanding" catchers in MLB who can provide quality defense and great offense. AJ and Mauer aren't walking through the door any time soon. Sanchez, one of the worst catchers defensively in MLB actually improved with the Twins, while seeing his bat continue to decline. But he's a better option than Jeffers, as some have stated? Jeffers calls a good game. Once again, when given the primary spot to begin 2022, before all hell broke loose about July, he caught/called something like 12 of 16 games where the Twins only allowed 3 or fewer runs. Say what you want to about passed balls...they happen...but his fielding % is .995 for his young career so far. And I know there are different metrics for anything you want, but that's from Baseball Reference. So take it as you will. But I don't see any major defensive discrepancy to say he doesn't play solid defense. He doesn't throw well enough? You have an argument. His 22% in 2021 was 3% less than average, so, solid. His 18% in 2022 was not good. Is that him? Pitchers not holding runners? Hard to say. The Twins are focused on the batter and less on the runner on 1B. That's documented in their approach. Also part of the reason being they are looking for the low strike, having their catchers squat lower with the leg "kick out" approach made famous a couple decades ago by Pena. As an aside, it does help keep the catcher's legs healthier for the season, as well as at the plate. So let's pause for a moment to talk about quality hitting vs good game calling and quality defense vs questionable throwing. Jeffers OPS+ is right on with ML average for the position in 2022. So if you can accept good game calling, and solid defense, average batting should make him a decent, quality catcher overall. When you take a step back and remember he's only 25yo and has 591 actual plate appearances at the ML level and has produced average results despite hitting in college and in the minors, how in hell can't you be excited about his potential to hit at the ML level with just a little more time and opportunity? He was drafted as an offense first backstop who has turned in to a solid, quality backstop who had ZERO catching coaching until he turned pro. His offense is still developing after being somewhat rushed from AA in 2020. After 591 PA TOTAL he's an offensive bust despite power and flashes and being league average offensively? Some of the wisest words Tom Kelly ever said was no hitter ever reaches their ability until they have approximately 1500 ML AB. And I'm paraphrasing somewhat. I want to see a better arm and a better release from Jeffers behind the plate. I don't expect miracles, just better than last year. But I have no problem with his game calling or overall defense. I've watched him and he's good. But I also want him to grow as a batter and reach his ceiling, or close to it. I think he can. I wonder, if his thumb didn't get broke just as he was hitting hot in 2022, and he finished hitting .230-240 with the same 14HR he had in 2021 are we still talking about how he needs to be replaced? None of my opinion is going to replace the opinions of others. I get that and it's OK. I'm also looking for more from Jeffers in 2023. And I'm looking for a solid co-catcher compliment yet again. I'm a believer, still looking for more, but really surprised by the negativity for a pretty good player.

Just wondering, is that "T" really gold? (light gold) Or is it maybe off white as a hat to be worn with some cream uniforms? Really looks more cream than gold to me. But who knows with that lighting. Could be just a single snapshot of a single proposed hat of many that will be offered in 2023.

It sure looks like the Twins have been looking for more speed and using it more in the minors. For the most part, their affiliates rank in the middle of their respective level. That indicates, IMO, a willingness to adopt a SB strategy without selling out toward that strategy. I think that's wise. Limiting pitchers ability to throw to 1B might have a greater impact on SB league wide rather than the larger bases. I get that a SB attempt is often a bang-bang type of play. But we're only talking a total of 3" less between the bases. And then, the covering infielder is is 1 1/2" closer to tag the runner, we're talking about a very small difference overall. I'm not convinced yet that the larger bases are going to have a profound affect.

Sorry, but have to echo comments about Jet Blue vs Hammond. Really? Medina is years away. I'm not dismissing him, but he tops out at high A CR this year if it starts to come together. He's just not on my radar right now. Cruz is one of those guys who is "older" at 23 who has amazing stuff and really didn't deserve to be promoted to AA for 2022. But STUFF...and I'm guessing a solid Instructional League...got him to Wichita for 2022. And I applaud that move! Pure arm talent rivals Duran and Alcala. The rest of his results do not. But a repeat of AA MIGHT have him finding control finally. He's a 2nd half of the year candidate for AAA, with a possible ETA of 2024. Now, in Raya, we might have something! I didn't like the 2020 draft and still don't. But I liked Raya. From day one I felt they found another "Berrios-like" pitcher with stuff and attitude on the mound. He's so young, barely thrown in 2yrs, and had himself a really good 2022. The IL will tell a lot, but I wouldn't be shocked if he he jumped to CR. And I wouldn't be disappointed if he started at Ft Myers and jumped quickly to CR. I just think this kid is going to surprise people really soon. Why was Festa not part of the article? Because he flashed enough? I would have placed him ahead of Medina. And if you really want to look at a potential breakout candidate, look at late round 2021 pick Jaylen Nowlin, a LHP who is WAY under the radar right now. ONE awful 2021 appearance. And then a promotion to A and A÷. 14K per 9. 1.40 WHIP, .230 AVG. Jumped to A and A÷. M ight be a RP eventually, but he's higher on my list than other. He's a sneaky good prospect that deserves mention and following.

I do think it's possible, at times, to have a team just prone to injury. It usually happens to an older, more veteran team, OR, a team that drafts, signs, trades for players with an injury history hoping to not have a repeat. But even then, mass injuries are just impossible to predict. In Minnesota professional history, I always think about the Vikings Robert Smith. He was an explosive, supremely talented athlete who couldn't stay healthy his first couple of years. And while I'm sure he worked hard to build his body up to endure the pounding of the NFL, he got some great advice from Tony Dorsett, which was, the team needed him all year, not just a partial year, and it was OK to drop down, or run out of bounds once in a while, and don't always look for contact or fight for the extra yard every play. And while that advice may have not been the sole reason he suddenly found better health, he did find it. And he became a better player, an All Pro, and became one of the greatest RB in Vikings history until he retired early to preserve his health and pursue other ventures. I use that as a reference to further state you just don't always know why and how injuries happen. They are unpredictable. And trying to avoid them might be anything from not playing through them all the time, to changing how you approach conditioning. I don't believe the Twins hired Salazar a couple years ago believing he was in any way incompetent. In fact, they've been pretty strong in brining in various coaches and support staff from a variety of places. But the number of soft tissue injuries has really bothered me. I've even half joked before how former Twin Nick Punto credited pillates as a major reason for health and improvement, and maybe the rest of the team should do the same. I do believe the lockout had an adverse affect on a lot of ballplayers this year. And a couple recent things I've heard has me convinced of that. Buxton's family had a big bout of covid in the offseason, and he was unable to contact the Twins training staff in regard to treatment and medicine to treat. Now, Buxton's unfortunate knee injury, and the hip that bothered him while compensating, has nothing to do with that. But it indicates how EVERYONE across MLB was simply allowed ZERO support from the training staff in any way. So how do you advise or monitor your players in the offseason? And while not trying to throw any shade whatsoever towards Mahle and what he may have done to prepare for 2022, he has stated that he may have thrown too hard, and too long to begin the season and developed his "tired arm" as a result. As a reminder, multiple doctor exams and MRI's have shown no injury. But what really bothers me is reports that he wasn't on any kind of shoulder strengthening program. Is that on the Reds, the Twins, or both? Could this have affected Winder and Balazovic as well, getting ready for 2022? Right or wrong in blame to change things up, I applaud going out of the system to find a different voice and a different approach. The one thing I'm curious about is the head trainer, and his staff, is only part of the equation. Every professional sports team also has a strength/conditioning coach and staff that work with the trainer and his staff. Have the Twins missed the boat on the S/C side of things? Does this need to be re-visted?

Do the Twins NEED a LH catcher to split duties up with a platoon advantage? No. Would they like one? I believe so. While a general sharing of duties and good defense and game calling is most important, having a split platoon does allow for better matchups. Once again, I am of the opinion Jeffers is solid to good defensively with room to grow. I like the offensive potential and see a better floor than he's shown with a pretty nice ceiling if he "figures it out". And remember, he's only got about 550 ML AB thus far. Narvaez and Barnhart are experienced and have solid reputations. While neither is a hitting stud, and both are coming off poor 2022 seasons, each also had solid 2021 seasons where they basically hit their career stat lines. So both are just a single season removed from a solid hitting line. But Narvaez is 1yr younger, and has a little better overall quad slash line for his career. IMO, the FO should have already been on the phone with Narvaez's agent stating they want to offer a 2yr $12M deal as soon as the market opens. Don't wait around. Get the deal done, and then move on to other pressing matters. And FWIW, I would also be trying to bring back Leon on a split contract milb deal similar to what they did with Cave last year. Give him a high $ AAA deal that pays a solid, fair ML salary for when/if he's up with the Twins. I'd love to have him working with our young pitchers at St Paul and have him as insurance. Our best catching prospects are anywhere from 1-3yrs away.

I just wanted to add a little but to this. Jeffers had 55 AB's in the brief 2020 season. I think the numbers he posted, at least, show some of his potential, even with a down 2021 and 2022. With the short 2020 season and missed time this past year with his broken thumb, he's still accumulated only 591 PA and 534 AB. He's got power and while he's been streaky the past 2 years, the power is legitimate and he's shown flashes. He was actually on a nice upward trend when he got hurt last year. He's hit everywhere previously, is still only 25yo, and I think there's some untapped potential just waiting for greater consistency. Defensively, I'd like to see either his accuracy or release get better to help control the run game for sure. But his 22% CS in 2021 was only slightly below league average in 2021, though he dipped in 2022. How much of that was him vs the staff not holding runners I don't know. But, while I just can't recall the exact numbers, through the first couple of months last year, before things started to slide, the Twins had something like 16 games where they allowed 3 or fewer runs and he was behind the plate for like a dozen of those. Throwing out runners, preventing passed balls, are important and I'd like to see improvement there. But he's not awful by any means. But I've always maintained that a catcher's primary function is to call a good game, set a good target, and just "handle" the staff and imbue confidence in/for them. And that's why I think the Twins like him, in addition to some untapped offensive potential. I get why some look at the offensive numbers the past 2 years, (though I believe his 86OPS+ in 2022 was about league average for catchers), see a few passed balls and lack of a cannon of an arm, and want better. And nothing I'm going to say, or was written above by jmlease1, is going to directly change those opinions at this time. And that's fine. But I also remember a time when Garver was just "never going to be a regular catcher" and that turned out pretty good after a time. I want more, and frankly, I'm expecting more. And I think Jeffers does the important stuff pretty well. And I'm absolutely giving him all of 2023 to show what he can potentially do. But I DO want a good partner to pair him with. And I repeat, I think Narvaez, Barnhart as a second choice, are quality, experienced backstops with solid bats, despite each having a down 2022, who fit as great co-catcher options. I think it would be a huge mistake for the FO to sit around and wait for one to fall in their lap and hope. Be aggressive and go get the one you like and MAKE IT HAPPEN. This is too important a position to ignore and then hope. I think Contreras is an excellent ballplayer. And I would circle back to him quickly if some things don't fall in to place. The Twins need at least 1, if not 2, quality RH bats for the lineup. One should be an OF. The other COULD BE at SS depending on how serious the FO, and ownership, are about a fair and real deal for Correa, etc. But even then, they could jump on Bell as a 1B/DH with Miranda taking over 3B. IMO, Contreras would be great. But why not a quality partner to team with Jeffers to stabilize and improve at catcher and look for RH bats who could/would/should play on a more daily basis to improve the lineup?

Narvaez at $6M is my #1 choice to work with Jeffers. Barndhart is my #2. Both have good reputations as backstops and can hit a little and display some pop/power. Both are LH batters. Both are coming off down seasons and should be good players at good prices. I'm more worried about a quality RH OF, at least 1 BP arm, and figuring out the SS situation right now.

I think his September and AFl are indicators that his trajectory is trending upward, even with questions about his defense. If your offense is good enough, they will find a spot/role for you. I think his role is going to be every day player at 4 or 5 positions. Not saying he can't/won't be a "starter", just thinking he could be super valuable and successful playing all over on a daily basis. But his value is a little low right now based on a mediocre 2021 and less than ideal start to 2022. And farmerguychris echoes something I've been saying for a couple weeks now: time to spend some $ and quit trading away prospects.

OR, instead of trading even more prospects for either one of the 30 and 30yo+ veterans on 1yr deals they could KEEP their prospects and spend the same $ or a little more in FA. Rodon and Bassitt would look outstanding in the Twins rotation without losing any additional prospects. Remember a year ago when Manea was considered one of the top available trade options? Well, after a down year he's available without having to trade for him. And there are a handful of similar arms out there that could be solid options in the "Gray or Mahle" quality range it would be nice to plug in if depth is the answer.

What's so frustrating is the FO has $50M to spend, and maybe more depending on the futures of Kepler and Urshela. Gausman and Ray each received deals last offseason for 5yrs and about $105-110M total. (Pretty sure I have those numbers right.) Rodon is approximately the same age, has just as good of stuff, can be a difference maker, and should cost relatively the same. We aren't talking an 8yr and $200M plus. Does anyone really think 5yrs and $100-ish M is going to destroy future Twins payrolls? Risk? Yes. But tell me any SP you could trade for or sign and GUARANTEE me he's not going to have an injury at some point? Right now, with a little additional roster maneuvering and guys, the Twibs could sign/re-sign a TOP SS, (hint hint), sign Rodon, and still have a few $M left over for a co-catcher, BP arm and maybe a RH OF. As I said in another similar OP, the books are very clean and at least a little additional $ comes off next year. So if not NOW, then WHEN?

Agree with you about 90%. But with no slight to Maeda or Ryan, I'm not sure a 100% Ober might not be our 3rd best starter right now.

I was impressed by Winder early last year in both roles, even if his K numbers were lower than hoped for. And then he had the shoulder issue and just wasn't the same pitcher the rest of the year. And from what I've read, his FB was the pitch hit hardest and most often last year. But is that skewed by his second half? Because again, I liked what I saw to begin the year. I'd be tempted to put Winder #1 on the list if he's 100% and ready to go. But for now, I think I'm going to go with Varland in the top spot. I think I agree that SWR might have the better career and greater impact, but will be behind Varland to begin with. FWIW, if one of these guys end up being a really good middle/long swing man, that's not necessarily a bad thing.