DocBauer

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.

Alright...bedtime. I'll see the morning report. Have a great night everyone!

My stream must be behind your view. Thanks for the early optimism. Lol

Kepler baby!

Heart conditions run in my family. Maybe I'll just read the next day box scores at this point.

Seriously...WTH? Nobody covering 1B?

Third night in a row I swore I wouldn't stay up to watch.

Was just going to ask if anyone actually feels pretty good to be so competitive and "in" each of these games with the best team in baseball, and then comes that big hit. (Sigh)

My personal opinion only....selling hurts the Twins in 2018 and continues the rebuild. 1] Santana could bring back a couple nice "prospects" but nobody to plug in. We have now weakened, temporarily at least, the biggest hole on the team. Despite not pitching as well as he did to start the season, he's still quality, still solid, and I expect him to be so next season as well. Could the wheels suddenly come off? Sure they could. But that could happen to almost anyone. The nucleus of the team is here, and going to get better and better. I'm putting my money on a solid to good Santana for at least one more season vs bringing in another couple prospects. 2] Kintzler, frankly, has far exceeded expectations. And he's done it long enough now, and well enough, for it not to be just smoke and mirrors. He will want his money, but I doubt he's going to break anyone's bank. And if traded, like Santana, and despite his success with the Twins, what is he going to bring back? Another "prospect" or two? 3] Dozier is talented enough, proven enough, that he could bring back an interesting piece or two. He is the one guy the Twins could afford to trade...Polanco, Escobar, Adrianza, Gordon, Vielma (maybe) and Goodrum (bigger maybe), and possible FA all providing depth and options...to cover for the loss of Dozier. It still comes down to what he can actually bring back. Again, IMPO, you keep Santana and Kintzler for what they bring, and you float Dozier and see. After that, you do the following: 1] Acquire the best SP you can. Hopefully through FA to keep your depth and future trade options open. 2] Sign a quality RP to set up or compete maybe with Kintzler. 3] Sign a veteran LH starter or "failed" LH starter to convert/re-invent himself as a RP. The Twins have a pretty good history of doing this. 4] If you don't believe in Vargas, or he doesn't prove himself the rest of the season, you sign or trade for a quality 1B to DH and platoon for a season with Mauer before taking over full time in 2019. This deepens the lineup and bench. Even though he has yet to throw a pitch for the Twins, you might look to re-sign Garcia if he does well and just cut bait with both Santiago and Gibson. You have a talented roster that will only get better. You've added a couple arms to the pen to go along with what you have, and are auditioning, with depth. And you have a rotation of Berrios, NEW GUY, Santana and maybe Garcia with, potentially, Gonsalves, Romero, Jorge and Slegers in AAA. You can call me crazy if you want, but I really, really like the potential of that team.

Side note, especially since I think the Twins should be promoting a AA arm, or two, or three to finish the season at AAA, I'd be moving Turley to the pen tomorrow with the idea of a possible September call up. I think there could be some real bullpen potential there.

But really, sooner or later, kharma or the law of averages, doesn't one or two of the injured guys have to finally get healthy and get his shot? I'm just saying.

I really like this post and mostly agree. I truly think there is optimism to be had here. But just a few points: 1] We all know a RP season can be volatile. Sometimes, even for the best. They often come in in tough situations. A couple bad days can vastly inflate numbers and perception. A SP with a bad inning can still pitch a reasonably good game. Not so much for a RP. 2] Many quality RP, even some top ones began as failed starters or were late to find themselves. So age, in of itself, is not a big factor, IMO. There are many examples to consider but just look at some top Twins pen arms if the past; Nathan, Trombley, Guadardo and Perkins are just a few guys who found great success as failed starters, late to relieving, etc. So while having numbers...30 or so names as it was put...sounds good, if they are poor arms, numbers don't mean anything. And while there are a few arms amongst the 30 listed, such as Tonkin or Wimmers, that I wouldn't bank much on, there are some live arms with real stuff and potential there. So numbers ARE a plus to work with here. Jay may, unfortunately, be done. (Forget the wasted draft choice rhetoric, nobody could foresee this type of injury). Burdi may be done, but could also be rounding in to form this same time next year. I still have real hope for Chargois unless the other shoe suddenly drops. Melotakis? I just don't know what to think or expect at this time, but I'm hoping. You keep Kintzler, who has frankly proven himself at this point, and could be excellent as a 7-8th inning guy if someone even better does emerge. Rogers looks very good, but anyone can be overused. Same might be said for Duffey. Pressly has the arm, and has been good in the past. You don't ditch an arm like that. Hilgenberger looks good to nasty as a rookie. Busentiz shows promise. Reed and Curtiss both look like they could be good. But you can't just gamble on depth and potential if you want to be great. Sign one high quality RP. Could be a guy chomping at the bit to prove himself or a rebound candidate even. You sign a lefty veteran trying to re-invent himself (think Martinez or Swindell from the past), or a failed SP (think Guardado or Perkins). You now have, predictably: Kintzler FA Duffey Hilgenberger Rogers Lefty FA ...to begin with. That leaves one spot open, presumably, in this scenario. And you have Pressly, Busentiz, Reed, Curtiss, Boshers and other names previously listed for competition and depth. A top bullpen? Maybe. Just too early to say. But I really like the potential I see there.

Pitching better than he did the start of the season, and coming off his best start of the year, this seems very, very odd. But I think his situation is somewhat like Vargas being a yo yo this season when a roster spot has been needed. There is some sort of promise made to Colon in regard to getting an actual look. Something obviously beyond 2 games. Now the trade for Garcia. Someone had to go, at least temporarily, and that guy is Gibson. Willing to bet money he will make a couple AAA starts and then probably be up again to replace the released Colon. (Unless Colon suddenly finds new life, which I doubt.)

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.