DocBauer

Not uncommon to see an A ball player jump to AAA on a temporary basis. While it's always been weird to me when it happens, it's to fill in a spot for a week or so until said injured player is back and then the A ball player goes back. I think it also depends on depth in the system. If you have a full roster at A ball, why not sneak a guy up for a week or so, everyone plays, and again, you return the deomote the young player back again. It's really just a shuffling of the chairs, so to speak, for a week or so in place of signing someone off the street.

With all due respect to St Paul, who I'm sure wants to finish the year as strong as possible, I'd have Wallner and Varland both up to finish 2022, gain valuable experience, and use it as a stepping stone for 2023. Varlqnd should be able to get in at least a pair of starts. Wallner may start cold, but what's he going to do? Be worse than the injured and non-existant Kepler? Kepler's had like 2 good days in over 2 months. I would have had Helman up a month ago instead of Cave when down to our 8th OF and were facing a slew of LHSP. At least he's RH, can play all over, and is young enough to have a future. IDK, maybe you still give him a shot. What good are Hamilton and Hamilton doing for you at this point?

100% But just to add to the discussion, it's also about FREQUENCY of their arm build up, not just IP. College and HS arms, with little exception, only pitch once a week until pro ball. Then it becomes not only a longer season, but at times starting twice a week. Additionally, I think some forget at times that SP aren't the only arms being developed. While those arms are perhaps the most "important" ones in the system, teams are still trying to develop potential bullpen arms as well. They need to throw as well in order to develop. Not unlike developing the entire roster as well. It's part of the reason catchers will spend time at DH and 1B in order to keep working on hitting skills but also let everyone also get turns behind the dish. Got to play to develop.

I think the title of the OP should be longer, and more accurate, by reading something like "The Twins are built for a possible single short series win in October". Ted is pretty clear in the OP that the Twins aren't a WS contender. No stretch there to be sure. But I do agree with the basic premise that if they actually can rally a bit and finish decently and win the ALC, they have a chance to actually win a playoff series for the first time in YEARS. As ALC Champs, they would be playing a 3 game series against a team NOT at the top of the mountain. A team of comparable ability. With a much improved bullpen, some combination of Gray, Ryan, Bundy...maybe Varland?...actually winning a 3 game series is not a stretch. I have no illusions of the Twins making any noise in the post season beyond a possible 1st round win. But I remain hopeful to get that opportunity and possible victory. Ending the year doing so is a lot more fun way to end the season than staying home.

What frustrates me the most, while acknowledging the OP and the horrible record presented there, is the losses against teams like the recent Texas series, at HOME, against a team no better than us, and probably not as good. I can accept an IL that you could almost build a team with. I can accept losing to the top teams in MLB and needing to improve to have a chance against them. But I am very frustrated by the number of losses against the teams we are as good as or better than. If we had just taken care of business against those teams, Cleveland included, we're in 1st place in the ALC right now. And I'm more frustrated about thus at the moment.

I've been really pleased in that, as a rookie, we could have easily seen some real struggles despite his successful, late 2021 appearances. I've been a little disappointed in his second half as it sure seemed like his slider was more consistent early on. But I have to wonder if fatigue is part of the issue. Really, not sure what more could have been expected or hoped for in his rookie season. I like his mentality and intelligence and work ethic. I believe his secondary stuff WILL improve via work and experience. The question remaining, of course, is to what degree. I just don't believe in overly projecting rookies as being a future this or that or not future this or that. I've seen too many washouts and too many "mid rotation" arms become legit #1-2's to play that game. But just based on what I've seen so far, I think he's probably a really solid/good #3 with a #4 floor. Don't know that he's got the pure stuff to rise to #2 status. Just too much overall improvement needed at this time to climb that high. But I like what I've seen and I think he's got a nice future.

I'm just not going to get in to a debate about Jeffers and his value other than a couple comments. I think he calls a good game and has the trust of his staff. I still think that's the most important element to being a backstop. And I know some of his defensive numbers are lower this year than last. These things happen, and are fluid, like a lot of numbers. And while I don't know how good he will ultimately be offensively, I don't believe we've seen him hit his mark yet. Personally, I like him and he's part of 2023 for sure. It's beyond that, that is the issue. Despite defensive improvement and a good arm, and apparently a good teammate with experience, Sanchez is just not a good hitter. And he had greatly declined before coming to the Twins. In Jeffer's case, there is optimism to be better. But the initial ML hitter Sanchez showed earlier in his career is not who he is now. I had been impressed enough with him during portions of the season to be interested in his re-signing as the co-catcher, or however you want to look at it. I'm just not so sure any longer, especially considering how he may price himself. But what FA option out there is the right one to target? Right now, I have no clue for a better option, and that really frustrates me. Buenolas, (sp) has defensive chops but can't hit. Carmago is really stepping forward and showing some life, but won't be ready for 2023 IDK. Isola and Williams have the bats, but spend as much time at 1B/DH as they do behind the plate. Either MIGHT still develop well enough defensively to be legitimate. But right now, at this moment, each is more of a LeCroy 3rd catcher which we don't need or have room for. Leon back on a milb deal might be nice as an insurance policy. But AAA is going to be very crowded already with all the "potential" catchers who need more time and aren't ready to step in for 2023. A trade or guessing right in FA is going to be an under the radar but very important part of the 2023 roster. Maybe Sanchez on a lower than expected deal is the answer. I wish I knew.

An interesting article, and I see both sides on this matter quite clearly. On the positive side of things, Maeda has been a stalwart. Despite there being "some" concern his arm might snag the injury bug, he sure looked good for years, including 2020, and looked as good or better in ST 2021 before things went south. Is it Price that's been pitching year after year with a similar projection but never had surgery yet? Can't recall if I'm remembering correctly. But I don't think Maeda was acquired as "high risk". Mahle has been very solid, very consistent in his young career. Over 30 GS in 2021, yes? He looked good after a IL this year and looked good his first few starts with the Twins. There seems to be no real indication to predict and injury situation with him other than his stint with the Reds earlier this year. But guys get tweaks at times. Unless the Reds and the Twins were just blind, I don't know that I can include him as a "risky" acquisition either. Dyson cost very little, would have helped if healthy, but was basically pitching in pain and lying to all parties. An investigation in to the matter determined the Giants had no knowledge of his being injured. The "bad" to me is Paddack. I'm not going down the rabbit hole again concerning the trade itself. I've got nothing against the guy and I've stated many times that I wouldn't be at all surprised if a year from now most of us are clamoring for an extension despite having control for 2024. But for someone you wanted/needed for 2022, there were massive red flags indicating the Twins should have struck for someone earlier, or looked elsewhere for a trade option. Sorry, but I do believe in bad luck. Or bad fortune, or whatever you want to call it. But it also happens to other teams as well. HOWEVER, I DO THINK you can mitigate better "luck" by just being "safer" in some of your choices. The Twins knew Pineda, for example, had some past concerns. But he was relatively inexpensive and contributed quite a bit and was mostly healthy in his tenure. And while I wasn't entirely sold on the Archer signing, for the most part, he's done what was initially expected, though he has yet to "climb the mountain" to be better. Were the front 3 better from the begining and the bullpen not such a mess to begin with, he would have filled the 5th spot "adequately", though I would have aimed higher initially and not signed him. But again, Paddack should never have been acquired as a major piece because just about everyone knew he was destined for another surgery. So you can't always predict, but you can, at times, just be smarter and maybe pay a little more for someone that appears to have a more clean medical report card. I don't know that there's any real pattern here, but where there's smoke, fire might not be far behind. And I do believe a more thorough examination of past moves is very much in order to try to prevent future negative situations. Related, and built on speculation, Rodon has been strongly tied to the Twins last offseason and during the trade deadline this year. He's a guy the Twins like, and I do as well. Apparently, the Dirty Sox were out on him due to $ and possible future injury. The Giants jumped and he has had a good year and is expected to opt out for a longer deal. If the $ and terms are there, would the Twins make a move this offseason? Or would they be asking for trouble?

Look, I'm just spitballing my own thoughts here, but I do think anticipation is meeting frustration on a virtual battlefield at the moment. And I'm as frustrated as hell to see "the plan" come to fruition. Because the original "plan" made a lot of sense to me: "augment and promote and we're going to see changes soon". And so far, it hasn't worked. We can say Ober is NOT a success yet because he hasn't performed long term after getting hurt this year. Ditto for Winder, who looked pretty good the first couple of months. But if they are healthy in 2023, do we do a sudden rewind and give kudos? Not every Cleveland success story was a SP drafted and developed by them. Some were acquired via trade. So over 2023 and beyond if Ryan keeps getting better and SWR actually turns out to be a quality SP, do we credit the Twins or the teams that drafted them? Not so different than Duran becoming a top of the league RP here in 2022. Is that credit to the Twins? Or are they just benefactors from a trade made a few years ago? Varland has been on the rise since drafted, just like Winder. He looked good in his debut. Hopefully he's a part of a new wave of quality young arms that help make a difference. What the Twins CAN'T DO is consistently sign $25M+ pitchers, or survive with mediocre SP, or continue to trade away potential young arms to fill out their rotation. SOME of that, yes, it's how you build a good team. And I'm as sick and tired as anyone at watching injuries seemingly happen at every turn at the ML level and the milb level. But in reality, 2021 and 2022 are the first years in which the prospects have just been arriving. Ober and Winder are not failures at this point. Ryan looks good, and he's a Twin now, and his future success and development is as a Twin. Same with SWR if and when he comes up. A healthy and back on track Balazovic in 2023 could go a long, long way to building this rotation. Varland being the solid arm we hope he can be will do the same. And yes, there remain a few really interesting arms lower in the system that bear watching. Again, I'm as frustrated as anyone the proverbial "pipeline" hasn't delivered what was hoped for yet. But again also, the prospects only started to arrive in 2021 and this year. Someone mentioned Berrios as an example. Great. Loved him, big fan. He stunk his first season. But at least he was never hurt, grant you that. I'm withholding my final vote on the FO until next year. I want to see the arms they've traded for...via prospects...be healthy and productive. And I want to see the young arms who have just recently debuted...or are close to doing so... also be healthy and productive. And if I don't see positive results atnthat point, then I'm going to be talking about failure.

No matter any issues I had with the construction of the team, primarily the bullpen, my absolute #1 WORST part of this season is ABSOLUTELY INJURIES. And I don't know how anyone, IMO, can debate that. Despite any misgivings about Paddack or Mahle, (who sure looked healthy when traded for and his first 3 starts), Alcala and Winder could have made a major difference. Even with Kepler being an almost zero factor after his foot injury, what kind of difference might a healthy Larnach and Kirilloff and Lewis have made? Ever think you would actually miss Garlick after we ran through a veritable gauntlet of LHSP for a while there? And, sorry for those who don't like him, but losing Jeffers was a big blow, IMO. My greatest wish for 2023...along with a handful of moves...is to just see better health overall for the Twins and to actually see the team, ON THE FIELD, that the Twins could potentially employ. Man would I like to see that. 2] Sticking with a single, detrimental arm like Pagan, stubbornly, for so long and after so much history of poor performance was hugely disappointing. When the pen is bailing out water in the boat the best they can and he kept pouring buckets right back in was inexcusable. Whether they made an earlier trade or auditioned ANYBODY the results couldn't have been worse. 3] Sanchez has been a slight disappointment to me. I wasn't expecting anything great. I hoped for better defense, and I think we got that. I hoped for his power and OK OB ability to remain with just a "nudge" in his batting toward the positive. And really, there's been none of that. When crunch time happened and he was given opportunity, he didn't come through. Time to move on. 4] I know I'll get pushback on this, but I've been disappointed in Correa. I've become a fan. I like the guy. I love his defense, despite metrics saying he's had a down year. I'm not saying he hasn't been a great teammate or leader or that I want him gone. But while it's easy to point to OPS+ and other statistics and saying he's doing just fine, I think numbers can ring hollow at times. Again, I like him. He's a good ballplayer. He's done some nice things here in 2022. But it just seem to me he's come through near often enough in key moments. Maybe it's perspective. I can spill out my thoughts about some missed offseason opportunities by the FO, but we're talking about the SEASON, and not the offseason here. So I'm leaving it at that.

Still love my Twins, of course, but am going to have to beg a little forgiveness here due to a combination of 5 game frustration and my first battle with covid has had me out of the loop a little bit for the past 6 days. (Been on my back pretty much until making it back to work today). I didn't watch the game, only followed along with GameDay. Looks like Varland did a tremendous job. Very happy for him and proud of his performance. I'm not in a position to debate whether Varland should have remained in, but, rookie debut, it SEEMS it was the right time to pull him before facing Judge a 3rd time. Considering how good Jax has been, a rookie when the season began and making such a good transition to the pen, I have a hard time blasting him for giving up the run he did. Really, the bullpen did their job for most of the game it appears. My goodness is Duran a weapon! From what I've read and the box, feels like the undermanned offense still had chances but didn't come through? I hate laying the blame on one guy, especially when we get to the 12 inning, but I really wish Megill wasn't the guy in that spot. I thought the Twins might have found something in him for a while, but he's been as un-reliable as Pagan for weeks now. And I know with all the injuries the pickings are slim for the last few spots in the pen right now, but I would have rather seen a kid like Sisk up, and the veteran Peacock to help fill those last spots for a good week or so now. Not saying the outcome would have been different today, but when guys aren't getting it done, why not give the talented prospect and the experienced veteran looking good again a shot? Tip of the cap to Varland. I wouldn't be surprised to see him finish the year with the Twins.

Going to need Winder up soon, but probably in the rotation and not the pen, though we could still use consistent long arms there. (Sanchez, Smeltzer, and Sands may be able to handle that role for now.) And it looks like either SWR or Varland are going to get an early shot if the Twins arms keep dropping

Great step for Balazovic. He needs to get right and I believe he will. Still think the early knee issue and late start just messed with his mechanics and then with his head. I still consider him a top prospect unless he proves otherwise in 2023. I expect a huge turnaround. Losing CES in trade stunk because I think his bat has a chance to be pretty special, and I saw him as a possible replacement for Kirilloff at 1B if AK's wrist doesn't come round. But low and behold, Williams is having a monster year, best one of his career, and at 2 different levels. Good timing to break out!

I agree with waiting to see on all listed. Balazovic has the frame, and stuff, to be an anchor in a rotation. He has shown stuff, development, and continued growth throughout his advancement and made top 100 lists for a reason. SOMETHING has happened in 2022 with his body and his head to mess him up. Even if "healthy" is he feeling discomfort? Did his mechanics get screwed up and his head isn't right? You just DON'T give up on a talented arm after a bad season. You look for a re-set. We can argue all day long about Canterino and whether his arm was destined to implode due to college use or physical construction and it was only a matter of time. At this point, it doesn't matter. Healthy again after surgery, he still has a chance for a nice career, because a healthy Canterino has amazing stuff. Now, to be honest, despite amazing results we've all seen in the past, not everyone comes back. He could still be an outstanding stuff SP at age 26 with a shortened career, or a brilliant RP. The point is, either way, he can still have a fine career and be a PLUS arm either way, just not the length of a career hoped for or initially expected. That's a hell of a lot better than no career. In retrospect, I just wish the surgery had been done earlier. The guy I'm most concerned about is Martin. Were I in charge, I would have NEVER had him miss an entire year and then push him to AA. The Jay's made that mistake and the Twins added to it, after the fact, by acquiring him and making a lateral move with him. And to be fair, he WAS hitting and showing some bat control and ability, etc. Again, top prospect doesn't play for a year and then goes straight to AA AND is playing a position he's barely played before. Contrast that to the Twins handling of Lee this year, a very comparable player, who just gets his feet wet in the FCL, and then jumps to A+ where he's expected to do well and IS doing well. Now, whether after instructs and the offseason he jumps straight to AA Wichita or spends a few weeks at CR is debatable and TBD. But he's going to be at AA soon, if not right away. Compare that now to Marting not playing at all in 2020 and going straight to AA in 2021 and again, playing a mostly foreign position. If someone can't see the basic difference regarding simple indoctrination to pro ball, I'm not sure what to tell say. IMO, despite reports Martin is improving at SS, I'd be looking hard at what makes him COMFORTABLE. Find what makes him COMFORTABLE as a hitter and let him do THAT with continued advice and coaching to maximize his ability. And if he and you, as the Twins, just see him as an OF who can cover 3B/2B, his previous positions, then MAKE THE MOVE and make him an OF with a few games here and there at 3B/2B to keep his hand in play as a fill-in. IMO, he's been messed around enough. Let him play the OF...which we're told he's natural at, and give up the SS experiment, and just let him play and bat. I'd send him to the AFL and let him play the OF exclusively and just hit freely based on what feels natural.

Looked at all of his numbers by season as well as ML career hoping to find a positive sign. I don't see one. Pagan part 2 where a hard throwing 29yo is suddenly going to be transformed by the Twins in to something different and better than he's ever been before? I'm not buying it.

Lots to say! 1] Moral victories don't mean much, but the Twins didn't roll over and die in Houston. They are a good team that I would love to watch healthy, but they haven't given up. 2] LOVED watching Rocco in the dugout talking to Gordon after he sent Garlick up to PH. Anyone else notice that? The message was clear, it was the right move at the right time despite a negative result. But Rocco was instilling belief in Gordon at that moment. I thought it was awesome. 3] The pen was outstanding. What more can be said? Too bad Bundy couldn't have gotten one more out. 4] Urshela!! He was a fan favorite in NY, and he's a fan favorite with the Twins. The guy is just a good ballplayer! There is nothing great about anything he does, if we're being honest. He's a good fielder who makes some great plays, but he's average to above average overall. He's an OK hitter with decent power but not great in any way. Just look at the numbers. They don't lie. He's not great in any measure. But he sure is a good "ballplayer" to have on your team. I have a hard time giving him $8-9M in arbitration to keep him. But if the Twins could settle on a number that makes sense, I'd really like to have him back in 2023. Could discuss using him as a temp backup SS, or expand his limited experience but ability to play 1B/2B, but I'd just really like to see him back if the numbers work out.

To be honest, Bundy has surprised me. He's not great. But he's been durable and solid, as well as pretty consistent. He's got a real bulldog mentality, doesn't walk many, and keeps the Twins in most every game for 5 innings. He's clearly a smart pitcher. I keep thinking how many years in the past we'd of loved to have him as our #5? I think his "value" to this team is underappreciated a bit due to struggles from the pen as well as frustrating injuries to other arms and Archer still sitting there as a 4 inning arm. I wouldn't be upset if he was brought back, but I think $11M would be high when I think the Twins can and should aim higher. Of course, there are some financial questions we just don't know about at this point, meaning Correa, but that's a different discussion for a different day. Pagan, to me, is simple. With a 3yr history of poor results that have continued to trend in 2022, and responsible for double digit losses that have almost single handedly kept the Twins from being in 1st place in the ALC, he should have been gone already. You CAN'T run a state of the art analytics team and NOT be able to look beyond beyond velocity and K's to see poor results that AREN'T NEW in his career. You're just not going to strike gold with a 31yo arm that will be 32 in May next year and expect different results! Even as fans and amateur GM's we can see him pitch OK one day, and get nailed the next. For giggles, Megill probably doesn't have a big future for the Twins. His stuff is as good, and probably better, than Pagan. At 28yo, 29 in December, at least he offers a CHANCE to be viable for a couple of years as late bloomer with a change of scenery. Maybe. But almost 4yrs of Pagan, he is what he is. I don't know if the FO is being stubborn on Pagan, or if injuries and some poor performances from younger arms are "forcing" them to keep him as a middle man for now. But if it was me, he would have been gone after the deadline and I'd be trying almost any arm at St Paul to provide middle relief.

He offers quality CF defense as a starter and #9 hitter or a late inning defensive replacement. He also offers ability as a PR. I guess as a 13th man there is some value there. Other than that? I honestly can't think of any reason to bring him up barring yet another injury. I'd rather stick with Gordon and Celestino day in and day out until Buck comes back.

All due respect to Cave, who came up with a clutch hit late Saturday, I still can't understand why Helman wasn't brought up either in place of Cave or the recently returned Beckham. He's having the best season of his career, is an actual OF, (unlike Beckham), can fill infield spots, and is actually RH. If the Twins were going to clear spots for and Beckham, I would have rather seen a young talent like Helman get an opportunity. He might surprise, and he was a better fit need wise than either of the other two.

I keep seeing the many, many Roadrunner cartoons I watched as a kid. BEWARE of ANYTHING marked ACME anywhere around Buxton or Target Field.

OK, just going to get this out of the way 1st. Like everyone else, I'm sick and tired of mentioning the lost 2020 season. But being sick and tired of it doesn't change the facts that all but a handful of prospects missed an entire season of playing and developing. (The "handful" were at an alternate site). Wallner may be 25 next season, but as a prospect he's equivalent to 24yo next year. I just don't believe a missed year can be so easily dismissed when we talk about the ages of players, more so college draftees. I'm actually optimistic about Wallner, but cautiously so. Others have watched him play defense, I haven't. But it seems like he runs "OK" based on doubles and an increase in his SB. Or is that luck? The arm sounds great. I do believe repetition, work, and coaching can iron out his defense to be at least solid. Am I wrong? He's probably always going to K quite a bit. But as pointed out above, his K percentage this year has actually declined per month, showing development and recognition. His OB and BB totals are relatively solid. And if he's nothing but a future K windmill, then why is he hitting in the .290's for the season? I'm thinking he can actually HIT and take some BB despite SO quite a bit. Is he a better HITTING version of Sano from the LH side? If so, there's real value in his offensive potential. I am curious in regard to his OPS being only a few points different in regard to facing LH/RH pitching. Is that 2022 or his career? Either way, it shows either consistency OR potential growth. I think it's easy to see him as a big guy with some errors and SO and think he's questionable as a ML player. I get it. And again, I'm CAUTIOUSLY optimistic. I don't think he's Rooker part 2. I see a guy who can run well enough for some doubles and a surprise in SB to think he's not exactly a statue and can work on his defense. I see a hitter who can actually HIT a little, takes some walks, and seems to be able to adapt and actually lower his K rate as time goes on. If what what was posted in the OP is accurate, he's far from an auto out against LHP. I like Larnach and AK better at this point in all regards, though Wallner probably has more pure HR power than either, TBD. And he has to CONTINUE to grow defensively as well as offensively, proving he can continue to do what he's been doing, which is be a hitter with decent OB and average. But I think he grew a lot between the AFL and this current season. Again, I'm cautiously optimistic but I wouldn't bet against him at this point. Constant growth is a good sign.

Just STICKING someone in LF isn't an easy answer. You have to expect at least average defense or you are asking for trouble. Julien has played some OF, it's not foreign territory to him. Maybe he just lacks the ability to judge the ball off the bat? That's a major issue. Maybe he needs to stick to 1B/2B/3B, all of which he's played at some point. But I sure would work him hard at instructs and maybe the AFL in LF to see if he can stick there. At some point, always thought Larnach might take over RF and either Martin or Julien might settle in LF. If nothing else, Julien just being acceptable in LF increases roster/lineup flexibility and gets him on the field. Regarding Martin, the Twins have previously stated they believe he is an OF natural right now. Probably the reason they've been so determined to keep him at SS to see if he can actually develop and stick there. IMO, at some point, you have to make a decision that it just might not work and just let Martin play mostly OF and hope the bat comes around. Beckham is a filler RH bat because they don't have another one to call up. Cave is an OF filler because everyone else is injured. Honestly, even if you decide not to protect him, I'd just as soon see OF Helman up to play OF and provide a RH bat. Not sure he wouldn't hit better than Cave, provide a platoon option with Gordon, and fill a role until/if Garlick is ready. He's got talent, is having a solid season, and tossing Cave out there day after day isn't accomplishing anything at this point.

I think Moran has legitimate ML stuff. His BB are absolutely an issue, but haven't always been as high as this year. For whatever reason, there has been fluctuations over his career. He's got some velocity and a decent slider, but it's those pitches he needs to harness better, IMO, and not the change. And while his BB are unacceptable at any level, the K's are there and most of his numbers at the ML level are actually better than at AAA in almost the same number of IP. Weird. Sisk has had a good year, no doubt, great at AA and good at AAA last I looked. The Twins need a 2nd LHRP option and I'm not sure who that is going to be. Just might be a FA signed this offseason. But at some point, Moran and Sisk do deserve a look, or another look. It's up to Moran to PROVE he belongs, but he also deserves that next look see at some point. Biggest issue, IMO, is the middle relief now and going forward.

I have enough old school in me that I have mixed feelings about playing every NL team. On the one hand, it's fun to play someone "different" now and again. And while I enjoy inter league play, I've always embraced at least some separation between the leagues. But the NFL and NBA haven't had such stringent scheduling restrictions for years, so it's probably time to open things up a little more now, especially with the universal DH. I greatly dislike the Brewers match ups being mid week games. Each should be a 3 game weekend series for the sake of the fans for both teams, PERIOD. I also dislike so few games within the division late in the year. It takes away from potential excitement for a divisional run. To me, there has always been a lot if interest in 2, or even 3, teams going down to the wire the last month of the season to see who comes out on top of the division. Forget scoreboard watching, I want to see those teams play against one another with the division on the line. I don't know that this new schedule necessarily is necessarily "harder" on the Twins, or anyone else. Maybe. But there are "poor" teams in each league and every division. And at the end of the day the goal remains the same, win your division, and then shoot for a WC if you don't do that. Where I DO see a potential pitfall is a WC chase. There remains a financial discrepancy...not to be fixed any time soon...between markets. Now, those discrepancies aren't exact, and even some large market teams are simply bad at times. Money available doesn't always equate to success. Witness the Orioles and Angels as examples. But it could make the WC a little harder.

I never bought in to 10yrs and $350M. I mean, why not ASK for it? But just because the Rangers DID do similar doesn't mean anyone else is going to. Even with bad timing, it's still seemed strange someone didn't make a longer deal offer at least. But a year older, down year at the plate notwithstanding, why take $70M over 2yrs and try again when a 5 or 6 year deal now for "only" $30M per more than doubles that? Even $25M per more than doubles the $70M. So even if he wants to stay, even if $35M per is off the table, he's still smart to opt out and end up with a bigger payday than opting in. There's competition in the market this year yet again. And a lot of the top spending teams may be out, for all the reasons listed in the OP. He's going to get paid, no question. But I think it's more $30M-ish per for 5-7yrs.