DocBauer

Old joke: "You know what burns my ass?" "No. What?" "A flame about 3 feet high!" Kind of how I feel as I realized my big post/rant here is almost the same one I made in a similar post on this subject. Lol But my opinion remains the same darnit.

If Garcia does well and likes his 2 months with the Twins, would a re-sign be out of the question? I'd say no.

LOVE Monkeypaws take but can't seem to like or quote on my phone for some reason. 1] This team needs pitching. Period. So we trade away a good, solid, quality, at times excellent SP in Santana to gain a couple more milb pitching prospects that could help in a year or two? With the talented young core of players growing up before us, this helps how in 2018 exactly? Santana appears to be more than capable of being a quality SP for at least another season, maybe two even. But we don't want him because he's not 23? How about keeping him until a prospect is ready to take his spot? 2] I could argue almost the same for Kintzler as above. Is he lights out? Absolutely not. Used properly has he been reliable and quite good? Absolutely. Could he play up his sudden success with the Twins in to a huge payday? Maybe, but I have serious doubts. I'd sign him to a fair 2-3 year deal and won't feel bad if someone overtakes him and he slides down to a 7-8th inning guy who might even have trade value. 3] Love BD. I don't like him batting leadoff but feel he is a quality ballplayer. I don't know what his trade value could be, but as I've stated before, this is the one guy you can afford to move. You have Polanco (get off his back people-young, talented, filled with potential and probably struggling with expectations and his grandfathers death), Escobar, Adrianza with Vielma, Gordon and maybe even Goodrum in the wings. If the value can be found, this is the guy you trade. And this off season, unless Vargas shines still, or you really believe in him, you sign or trade for a 1B to platoon with Mauer for 2018 and DH before taking over fulltime in 2019. You replace Dozier's bat, and have the INF depth to replace him.

1] The Twins have "won" many trades over the years. They've also been "neutral", meaning both teams turned out the same. They've also "lost" some trades. Guess what? So has everyone else. 2] For whatever reason, Murphy regressed tremendously with the Twins offensively, at both the ML and milb level. If Murphy finds himself in AZ, it still doesn't mean, unto itself, that trading a struggling hicks for a young catcher with a solid bat, at the time, was necessarily a mistake. See point #1. I love this trade no matter what happens. Murphy didn't work here, no matter what he does in the future. So we trade someone who doesn't fit in here for a LHRP that has dynamite numbers, pitchability, at least one plus pitch, and has the potential to be at least a serviceable, solid bullpen piece going forward. There is nothing remotely wrong with this trade.

With a smaller payroll than last season, money coming off the books in various installments, and a below median leave average payroll, and with this young core developing, it is time to haul a big to semi big fish for the rotation! Can Berrios develop in to a true #1? Absolutely! Eventually maybe. I love what I see. But nobody can reasonably predict that, and it's not fair for a young guy to be pegged like that. But he's absolutely good, talented, and will only get better. Personally, I am against trading Santana unless an offer is just too good to pass up. We need pitching so we trade a still really good, really solid 2-3 starter? I say no. And with the young talent on its way, and by acquiring a top level FA, you keep your prospects intact for his replacement via development or future trade. Really like what I see in Mejia. But again, very young, only a rookie. The pitch economy will come with time and experience. 5th spot? Can't count on May anytime soon. Too much expectation for the prospects? A solid probably. If Garcia looks good and likes his 2 months in Minnesota, I'd push for a re-sign. Gibson could be a fallback if the rest of the season he shows any sort of the life he's shown more recently. Keep what you have. Add the big FA. Keep the guy you just traded for. And AAA will have real depth to call on and call up. You might even have surplus value at some point in 2018 to trade away.

Buddy! Not being friendly to the Dodgers! Like it!

ARGH! Just beat me to it! Haley gone and made the trade for Garcia. Maybe crazy but not as far fetched as it sounds.

And payback!

Grossman was safe!

Grossman was safe!

LOAD. OF. CRAP

Honesty, I feel Polanco will come back around. He's very young, the season is a grind, and this ML baseball stuff is hard. I further wonder if the death of his grandfather is having a pronounced affect on him. Until, or unless, the Twins make a major move such as a trade of Dozier, I would bring back the roster...player wise...almost entirely intact. I love Planco's potential and believe in him. I also love Escobar as a very nice piece to the puzzle. And Adrianza has been a very nice surprise. I'd have Garver in place of Giminez. And I'd look hard, after acquiring a top rotation arm, for a trade or FA 1B to come in and split 1B/DH with Mauer. They split the spots on an almost daily basis, with Mauer getting some rest says here and there, and have their full time 1B for 2019. With Grossman and Granite, that makes 14 position players, which I know is one too many. But there are injuries and options for a guy here and there.

Trade bait? Maybe? Was it Thrylos, some time ago, that advocated/predicted he'd finish the year in the pen if the Twins made a move?

At this point, we certainly don't know how good he could be. But 24, decent stuff and control, he's worth taking a harder look at. Someone mentioned body of work, not the month of July. And I agree with that. But to succeed the way he has thus far in his introduction to AAA, plus the bug month plus, would seem to indicate improvement to me. And improvement in a player as he advances to a higher level always makes me want to look closer at him.

Nick, agree with all of your points 100%. Let me add the bullpen might have just gotten a little better too, with another, better starter to eat innings. Looking down the road in to next year...not that I want to loose focus on the trade or this season but...via trade of FA, (preferably FA), the Twins still need to acquire another high quality arm to join Santana and Berrios. What if Garcia enjoys the city, this exciting young team, and has success the next two months? You may have a possible re-sign option to fill out the rotation with Mejia. There's a lot to like about this move.

I'd say fair. And I'm betting Garver is up very soon and a return to a 7 man bullpen.

OK, he may not project the way some pitching prospects do, but sooner or later, we have to acknowledge that Slegers is a legitimate SP prospect with at least some potential. Don't we? He has made steady and solid progress since being drafted, albeit nothing special, he is 24, (25 in September), and in his first season, period, of AAA ball. And while there have been a few poor or so-so performances, he has largely been solid and been in a roll. If you are 24, in your very first season of AAA ball, and actually getting better as the season goes on, sooner or later you have to be considered as a decent prospect. Yes?

Is there really room for Vansteensel at this time to move up? And can we re-state the obvious? Why can't Gonsalves, Romero and Jorge finish out at Rochester?

Agreed. Just not sure why Gonsalves, Romero and Jorge aren't up at Rochester to finish the season. I mean, really, who is blocking them?

The problem with statistics is they can be bent to mean many things with different variables, as mikelink just pointed out. I like Giminez as a teammate from all I've heard, he offers some versatility, and is not horrible at the plate either. Still, the numbers offered and Barber's ability offensively, and all the positives we've heard about his defense, I think its about time for his turn. I've said before, I wonder at some point if there will be a team needing catching help and Giminez might be moved. Agreed the team could do well with all 3 on the roster, with Garver sort of taking Vargas's spot. (Though I'm still not sure I'm willing to give up on Vargas just yet).

Big congrats to Perkins to make it this far and actually see the mound again, be it in rookie ball or not. He still has a very long road to travel to make it back the the majors in any form, but best of luck to him. Age and the severity of his injury and repair, I'd say the odds of him ever reaching his old self again are astronomical. Still, you have to pull for the guy and I can't help wonder, what if he could regain enough of his old self to make it as a decent bullpen piece in some capacity.

Did we make a find in him? Right place and right opportunity?

Does anyone hate the Twins more than Martinez? Damn!

I just think he's a cool customer. Unlike Mr Gibson who seems to pitch tight.

Keep it in the bedroom Brian! Lol