DocBauer

I don't question Buxton offensively, despite not a full season, because we know his talent and potential and what we saw last year. My only question is health. NONE of his injuries are chronic or repeat injuries. Has he just been snakebit? Or is he just one of those guys, for whatever reason, tight and taught and not flexible in the right way who is always dinged? If he could fight instinct, hold up just a bit, become the 4th or 5th best defensive CF in baseball and play 140 games, I think I'd go for that. He is just too talented to not be on the field.

While I'm not thrilled with Bailey, I am 100% on board with any team taking on a flier for a rebound. You sometimes strike a bit of gold. The biggest difference between Bailey and Perez, IMO, is at least Bailey has had actual ML success in his career before being derailed by injury. What I find so interesting is Bailey being signed to a ML deal and a guy like Chacin being signed to a milb deal after an awful 2019. But if we examine the past couple of years previous, Chacin would have the better, more recent track record. But Bailey gets the ML deal based on 2019 and especially his finish. Interesting. But while I am 100% on board with each of these different fliers, I am also 100% on board with cutting losses after an inexact time frame to move on. With no insult intended, and I do "get" why the Twins stuck with Gibson and Perez as long as they did, how much better might Dobnak, Thorpe and Smeltzer be prepared for 2020 if they had been given greater opportunity in 2019? Said it before and will say it again, would such a move really impacted the final season results negatively?

This trade absolutely about 2020. But it was done with the future still feeling secure. Right or wrong, the FO determined Graterol's short term future was in the pen. If he has/had a future in the rotation, in their opinion, it wasn't now and might require some nurturing. Still, if they really believed he was a future stud SP, they would have traded someone else. They clearly feel Duran and Balozovic are as good or better options as true SP vs Graterol and where they see him. For the Twins sake, you hope they are right. They are not the only 2 options, but they are probably the top 2. The pen looks good with help on the way and on hand as well.

I agree with the premise that Maeda makes and impact, but I stop short of any hyperbole he is a potential #1. I think that's ludicrous to even suggest. He pitched just shy of 180IP and won 16G his first year in LA and has put up consistently good numbers across the board in his 4yrs there, including K's, WHIP, etc. He was very much a part of the rotation in LA. A rotation that ranks as one if the best on one of the best teams in all of MLB. From everything I have read or listened to, the reason he finished the last 3 seasons in the pen was because he was needed there and could really help. And he did. Berrios is clearly our #1 and the only thing stopping him from being considered an ACE has been some 2nd half faltering. To be fair, in 2019 he rebounded after a rough stretch. Something he really didn't do in 2018. Oddo is a 5-6IP starter, but so is most of the league these days. And he is borderline dominate for that 5-6 stretch. The Pineda we saw from June 1st last year might have been even better than Oddo. Without improvement, simply pitching as they did in 2019, I'm not sure I could say which of Odorizzi, Pineda or Maeda would be our #2-3-4. I am also not saying that any of them are necessarily Greinke level. But they are all 3 really good SP. Rank Berrios how you will. Hopefully, by the end of this year we can ALL agree he's a true #1 and he has a signed extension. But IMO, the Twins follow him up with 3 straight guys who are at worst #3 options who all pitch like a legit #2 some if not most of the time. If we get half a season of the Hill that he can be, has been, we have a dangerous mound weapon to add in July. (I'm sticking with a July prediction to full health, velocity, control, etc). "Impact pitching" is/was perhaps a poor choice of words. Semantics. At no point was anything said about adding a $300M pitcher, or sending 4 top 20 prospects to some team for a proposed ACE SP. Nor has any such pitcher been moved this offseason. (Or been made available). The Twins HAVE made impact moves to their staff. It just may not be the impact player some dream of.

While I'm not saying the final spot should go to Astudillo...I think both he and Cave will see time during the season regardless...I'm going to champion the Turtle here some. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but I think he's pretty solid defensively having watched him a lot to end '18 as well as his play last season. I think he's fine behind the plate and he's been solid at noth 3B and 1B when I've seen him. In the OF, while his range is limited, I haven't seen him make a poor play that I can recall. Now, the idea of him at 2B for any reason other than emergency seems silly. I also think he can hit and he has developed some power. He actually hit well at times in 2019, before his 1st injury and seemed to be rounding back to form before his 2nd. Something happened to his timing and whole approach somewhere along the line, however, and he was suddenly flailing and missing or making weak contact at stuff out of the zone. If he can reign that back in, he can be pretty effective. I do believe, however, that Cave is absolutely the better and more dangerous hitter.

When a team succeeds or fails in any fashion, it is usually a reflection of owner/administration on down. We see this all the time. While the Astros performed well on the field and succeeded, the cesspool that is the reality of their organization is now clear. And it starts from the owner. If anyone heard his ridiculous comments and backtalk in a recent "apology" news conference that never really had any remorse, you know what I'm talking about.

The now 15 day mandatory IL does complicate "rest periods" for SP or players of any position. The Twins used that well last season. Still, there are enough bumps and bruises and blisters and the such that I don't think it would be out of the question for someone to be on the IL late in the season if the Twins have a comfortable lead. With options available, they could shuttle a guy or two to the pen and back to the rotation as well as up and down to facilitate said rest periods. But these things often work themselves out, as we've seen. Not in favor of a true 6 man rotation, but in favor of cycling guys here and there. I find the option of partial days off to be interesting, whereby a pair of SP could piggy back about 3 IP each.

Absolutely Rosario is the better player, especially at 100%. But I do like Cave and think he is a nice player. While i don't believe, right now anyway, he has major trade value, I think there are a lot of teams with far less talent in the OF than the Twins that would like to have him. My only problem with Cave is defense. I see him make routine plays and some really nice ones. And then he will inexplicably take a horrible angle or dive for a ball 3 foot out of his reach. If he could just refine his defense a bit more I think his value ratchets up another notch or two.

We can debate grading now vs grading after the season. But I am giving them a grade of A, though I could be talked in to A-. I really hate going down the path, again, that all forms of offseason shopping are nothing like going to a store and selecting what you want off a shelf. Donaldson affects defense and offense, and sets a different perspective and precedent for the club. The Maeda trade was quality and aggressive. You can't knock them for trading good to get good. The half season flier on Hill is smart and could pay huge dividends. I really don't know how I feel about Bailey. Could be a quality move as his rebound and new approach looked legit last year. He was quite good before a string of injuries. The cost might be a little high, but it's only 1yr. I like the Clippard signing and think it's being undervalued. Just because Romo, Odorizzi and Pineda were with us last season doesn't make re-signing them any less impactful. Honestly, my biggest concern right now is replacing the coaches we lost. The FO seems to have an eye for quality personnel and I'm trusting them in this area. We have one of the best teams in MLB. Period.

Oh great! I was told there would be no math.

Brilliant!

Thank you! That was the piece I was attempting to quote a page or two ago but couldn't remember where I had originally found it.

Just being real, Wheeler is a nice pitcher with a talented arm. But the reason he was in such demand, and got the contract and offers he received, had to do with a FB that consistently sits 94-97 and the hope of further upside. Does Odorizzi have additional upside? Maybe. I'm not sure. But I do know he's awfully good/solid the way he is. But he doesn't have Wheeler's velocity or a wipeout slider. This is all to say I like Oddo a lot and want him back. His $18M this year (rounded) is right in line with the other FA pitchers "below" Wheeler. Unless he, his agent, the Twins, etc, expect a huge blow up in values next offseason, he should be worth right about that $20M mark per. If it takes a bit more, OK. $25M per? I just don't see it at all. I think the Twins would like to keep him. He seems to want to stay. Berrios may be the priority at the moment, but I bet an extension is offered. May: I think he's for real. Can he be replaced? Technically yes. Should he be? No. Sign an extension. Adrianza/Gonzalez: I think Adrianza has the better chance of coming back. Marwin has a shot at a reduced salary. Both offer value for positional flexibility and decent offense. But neither should break the bank Cruz: LOVE the guy and all he has done. But he is absolutely a year at a time guy now, early extension or not.

When the leagues switched to 3 divisions and 1 wild card I was very pleased. When they added the 2nd wild card and 1 game playoff I was ambivalent, but it does make the 1 game "sudden death" playoff interesting. If you HAVE to change the current format...and I DO NOT think you have to or should, just stick with 6 teams, bye or no bye. But for goodness sake, getting to "pick your opponent" sounds like playground rules and is an absolute joke!

Hey now...some of us live in Nebraska. At least one of us does. Not naming names or anything.

Kid looks special. Like the word and glimpses of Balocovic as well. I applaud the FO in regard to being aggressive with prospects and challenging them. But the beauty is, we don't have to feel compelled to rush either of them.

I don't dislike Marwin. I don't know the man but don't recall ever hearing anything bad about him until this event. I want to believe he is a good guy who got wrapped up in something bad around him. I believe in forgiveness and second chances for people. I want to believe he truly is remorseful and regrets it all. But he was part of it for 3 years. He never said anything, that I can recall, after all of this broke until now. Why not? I will root for him because he is on my favorite team. I will root for him hoping he really is that good guy. I will root for him because I believe in those second chances I mentioned. I can only read the words, I wasn't there. And maybe I'm becoming a bit jaded as I get older, but I hear "sorry we got caught and are embarrassed now. Oh, and we're done." I honestly hope there is more to it than that.

This! (Though I would have had Ryu and Bumgarner swapped). I don't pretend to be a scout or an expert on the NL in general or the Dodgers specifically, but to dismiss Maeda as anything but a quality ML SP is a mistake. Now, he's not the #1 ACE SP everyone wants, but that doesn't mean he's not good. All the numbers I look at, and every report and opinion I read has nothing but good things. As to the bullpen, make up your own minds. But from what I gather, despite having a deep and outstanding rotation, the Dodgers have done little to amp up their pen the last couple of years. Hence, the move of Maeda there at the end of the season.

And Rortvedt by 2022 at the latest? And the solid and versatile Astudillo more than likely still around? Depth of talent is a fun problem to have.

Not inconceivable we could soon have the "good problem" roster crunch at catcher like we will soon have in the OF.

Jeffers really excites me. And not as a Garver replacement. But as an addition to Garver to maintain having the strongest and best catching duo in baseball.

Yes to the baseball reference numbers for Garver. Regression or not, I'd take those numbers any day. Not that I necessarily agree with that much regression. The Castro vs Avila comparison is interesting as they are similar players in regard to overall production, but are not the exact same performers category to category. Despite the results of almost 50-50 split time between Garver and Castro last season, and the time off/rest for both, I think it could easily be argued some of that was veteran vs youngster and Garver could easily increase his time behind the plate another 10-20% without some fatigue wear down. I think we're going to be just fine at catcher in 2020.

There is no accurate way to judge this trade right now. A year or two we could maybe assign a better grade. LA and the Twins are in a NOW moment. Boston is not. While this trade does not overwhelm me with immediate baseball fairy dust to believe the Twins just bought a WS, I think hope and expectation in regard to Maeda vs hope and expectation for Graterol clouds some opinions. Maeda is a very nice addition. He is not some also ran throw-in ballplayer. Not crazy about losing the pick, especially since short term results seem to indicate this FO knows how to draft, but it is part of the process. The $10M is to offset the biggest payroll in Twins history, and never before seen aggressive moves by the FO and ownership, and possibly assist in a mid-year acquisition. But yeah, they just got that tossed in to line pockets.

What did we learn? Everything is fluid. Graterol, with a lightening arm, is a TANTALIZING prospect! To think, even for a moment, that the Twins didn't like him is foolish. And he is talented enough, and young enough, that if nurtured and brought down the right path, he might yet turn out to be a good to fantastic SP. If he does, the Twins don't look so great here. At worst, he could be a good to great BP arm. And I am NOT disparaging Graterol or hoping for poor results or a poor career from him. But I was recently reminded about Prior and Alex Meyer. Prior had the perfect build, the perfect delivery, and was the next can't miss stud All Star, Ace, possible HOF SP. And he was done by about 25yo. Meyer was imperfect, but had real top of the rotation potential. There were even crazy comparisons as to him being a RH Randy Johnson given time. You just never know. Initially, after some setbacks, limited IP, the Twins decided Graterol, for NOW at least, felt he was a quality pen pitcher. Only time will tell if they were wrong. Other scouts and experts felt this would be his role. Maybe Graterol proves everyone wrong and becomes a stud. But TODAY, he is not. TODAY he is a lightening armed young pitcher with potential. And sometimes you give up potential and hope for something more proven and substantial and hope it turns out. The Twins did that.

Agree with your opening day roster as being the most practical one, even if it's not the best one, or short lived. I only say not the best because there is a decent chance someone shines above Wisler or Chacin but that pair makes the initial roster if they flash at all. Stating the obvious, the other guys have options and these 2 are make it or gone. Nothing wrong with that.