DocBauer

Understandably, a 17-18yo HS arm is the hardest type of prospect to predict success for as they have such a long road to travel before reaching MLB. A foreign born 16-18yo is probably that much harder to predict. So I can understand the Twins seemingly more attracted/interested in young, teenage bats that are probably a little easier or "safer" to project. But I'd still like to see them focus a bit more on the young, Latin community of arms than it feels they have previously.

"A playoff caliber starter" is what's often heard. Right behind that we hear "an ACE". ACES are rare and really expensive. I mean, a real, true, legitimate CY Young candidate or top finisher year to year. Think Verlander. A playoff caliber starer is also very expensive, still might qualify as a #1 starter, and also come expensive. Personally, I'd rather try to get one...were it possible and the Twins goal...in the offseason and not as a mid year move as part of a bidding auction. Anyway...back to "a playoff caliber starter" and what that means to the Twins. Pablo has not has a good of a year as 2023...so far anyway...but has certainly flashed many times. The underlying numbers are all solid. And he's smart, and a hard worker. So why the inconsistencies this season? I don't have a clue. Mechanical, mental, sequencing, just his turn for some bad BABIP type of luck, IDK. But he's a good arm. To say he's not is disingenuous IMO. Ryan is pitching about as anyone around. To just assume he will suddenly become injured like last year is short sighted isn't it? I mean, anyone can become injured, yes? Ober is very solid, has looked about as good as ever his past handful of starts, and doesn't look like he's slowing down. So who exactly are you going to acquire when over half the teams in MLB are still within a handful of games of being in contention? Just how much is this new arm going to cost? And just how easy do you think it's going to be to get someone BETTER than the top 3 arms we have right now? And if you don't get better arms, then why bother? Look, I'm not saying don't improve the club and never make trades. Not at all. But it also has to make sense. And I don't see who you are going to get MID YEAR that's actually really good, and available, and not going to be auctioned off at a really high cost. And again, if you aren't getting someone back even better than what we have, there is no point. I'm more concerned with the LH side of the pen right now than I am the rotation. I know not everyone shares my faith in our top 3 starters, but that's where I'm sitting. If I'm going to add from the Jays, it's clearly Kikuchi for me. He's going to be a relatively inexpensive rental, his remaining salary isn't much, he's experienced, he's still solid, and he offers an interesting LH pen option in the post season.

I'm still hoping for the best. And while he's been sliding some of late, the eye test alone has shown a definite change in approach and general improvement. So I'm certainly not going to give up on him just yet. Long term, however, I don't believe he's a fit. I'm one of those that believe Wallner is going to be pretty good and pretty dangerous. At some point next year, Rodriguez is going to be ready. At least one of Larnach or Kirilloff is going to be pushed out of a spot over the next 9-12 months, if not both. I'm hoping one of those two can get it together and become a valuable part of the club. And that could be Larnach still. But agreed he's got to continue to make adjustments. Here's hoping he will. We could still really use his bat the remainder of this season as well.

If it played out this way, I'd be very pleased. I don't know if Benge falls to 21, but I'd jump on him if he was. After Rodriguez, and possibly Rosario, OF gets really thin for the Twins until you get to A ball. But I would have to consider Brecht long and hard. I know there are questions about control, but, if the Twins feel decently comfortable they can fix that aspect of his game, not sure how you pass. Sanford is on my wish list for the comp pick, along with Lewis from Omaha. This would really fill an organizational need: young, talented SS with high upside and no need to rush. The prep pitching class appears deep enough that the Twins can still grab a pair of talented ones in the 2nd and 2nd comp pick. Just feels like the right time and opportunity to take a couple shots at that demographic. They are the longest Longshot, but they also have probably the highest upside of any position. It's a good year to take the plunge. I'm just borderline obsessed with catcher Campos, a LH hitting version of Jeffers from everything you hear and read about him. He's not projected for the 3rd round, but I'd consider grabbing him that early to make sure I don't lose him. The Twins have some interesting catchers in the system, but most have had disappointing seasons thus far. Time to add. From there, the Twins then have another 17 picks. I'd say 10 college pitchers after that...hopefully an interesting LH or two...and then a mix of college hitters mixed in for the other 7 spots. Keep hoping for a top LH college arm to come in the 3rd or 4th right before or right after Campos, just depending how the Twins see the board playing out. That's my dream draft. Something just a little different than the past couple of years. But it sure seems like opportunity of talent and bonus pool $ make this the perfect year to lean on HS talent early.

Super happy for Vazquez. Never saw that coming but such a dramatic way to end the game. Didn't understand Vazquez on the basepaths though. That huge turn and subsequent throw out at 1B confused me. I didn’t think the move to 2B seemed there. Just my opinion. But did Lee take off late for home late deliberately? Sort of looked like they were trying to sneak him home, thinking the Astros would look elsewhere. I mean, it worked, but it looked clumsy. Hate seeing Martin out. But excited to see Wallner get his shot. His AB looked really solid. SWR has been a life preserver for the rotation, and IMO, keeps getting better. Velocity keeps ticking up and he keeps gaining experience and confidence. And he won't even turn 24yo until late September. I keep wondering how good he just might end up being. On to Chicago for a sweep! But would someone please tell Cleveland they aren't this good and it's time to lose a few games.

There are absolutely some arms out there that might interest the Twins that are having a down season, but might be the victim of some tough luck with fine underlying numbers and might be a change of scenery and/or a mechanical tweak to get right again and really help the pen in a trade. And more than a few of them have already been mentioned in different articles here on TD. Houston is doing better, and they aren't going to move Pressly unless they collapse. The Twins MIGHT consider picking up $5-6M remaining salary if they really liked the arm they brought back. But they sure aren't going to pick up any $14M salary option for 2025. Nor are they going to send additional prospects, or a better prospect, to the Astros for them to cover a portion of that salary for an arm that will be 35yo next season. Pressly may or may not be done. Same with some of the other arms mentioned previously that are having down seasons. But Pressly's AVG is up 36 points from career norm, up 28 points in OB%, 49 points in SLG% and up 76 points in OPS. His BABIP is up 66 points, which might account for some bad luck or a mechanical tweak, but these are HUGE red flags across the board for a 34yo reliever with another year under contract. Unless Varland implodes in the pen come August/September or Stewart's arm falls off...not even considering Topa for the moment...I'm more worried about a LH arm we can really feel confident in. Not opposed to a quality RH arm, I'm just not sure I see the need with Duran, Jax, Stewart, Alcala, and Varland. But if Pressly is moved for any reason, it won't be to the Twins.

Quick shout out to LHP Christian MacLeod from CR. The Twins drafted him in the 5th round in 2021. Unless you want to count the 1.2 IP he had right after being drafted as something worth considering, he didn't debut until last year, 2023, following a year off from surgery that I believe was TJ related. He put up solid, but certainly not great numbers last year, but is off to a much better overall season this year for the Kernals. Despite the missed season...putting him a little behind some other arms...he's still only a little over 24yo. His BB are a 5.6 per 9 so far, which is not acceptable. But fewer hits than IP and 9.7 K's per 9 are solid. If he can lower his BB I could potentially see him finishing the season at AA post draft. Boy, what might Wichita's record be if they had any kind of bullpen depth? Yasser Mercedes is absolute raking and needs to bump up to A+. Post draft maybe? Very happy to see Em Rodriguez back on the field. If he can stay healthy the rest of the year, I still expect a little AAA time this season, if for no reason than to get him adjusted and challenged as early as possible to get ready for 2025. Probably not immediately, but at some point, he's going to be up next year with the Twins. I have faith in Julien as a hitter. He's been up and down on daily performance since his demotion. It's just MY opinion, but I think he's struggling in his head between being aggressive, while working the count, and making a mental adjustment as to the ML strike zone, the MILB strike zone he's seeing from lesser umps, as well as the robo ump. His game is so predicated on working the count for a pitch to drive or take a BB. I believe he's searching for the right balance of aggressiveness vs patience and will still be an important part of the lineup once he gets right again. But I see him more at 1B, covering 2B, and making some appearances at DH as well. While I think he's developed in to a solid 2B, I think that's going to end up being Lee's spot when Lewis is back. One step at a time, but that group, plus Miranda, and Castro for at LEAST one more year...I'd be looking at a fair extension...the INF looks GREAT for the next few years!

So if you read the tea leaves a little, Topa and Stewart are involved in a mix of bullpens and simulated games. Stewart should begin a rehab assignment next week if his next effort looks good and no setbacks. Topa isn't far behind. Now, Topa hasn't pitched at all this season, while Stewart has. So my money is on Stewart to be the larger addition to the club, but it's possible both will make an impact. But I'd say we're talking late July or first of August before they are ready. And that's find. We need help, we need to keep winning, but August and beyond are most important right now. So the pen, from the RH side, WITH Varland joining it sometime August, and no later than September 1st, IMO. Duran, Jax, Stewart, Alcala, Varland, and possibly Topa. While Sands has been a little hot and cold, he fills a role as a 2 inning plus guy. I'm leaving Staumont out of the arguement for the moment as the K's aren't high, but the BB are, and I think he's probably going to end up behind everyone else here on the list. I think Okert is just fine as the 2nd LH in the pen. He's solid and generally gets the job done. Funderburk has the better pure stuff, but he's still gaining experience and working on his command. I mean, he's lights out at times, but scares the hell out of you other times, even if he does get the side out. Take what's listed from the RH side, find a solid, dependable LH arm that doesn't break the bank, and then let Okert and Funderburk fight it out for the 2nd LH job to finish the season. Of course, Funderburk having options means he's probably the initial loser. Were I the Reds and had Cruz for a couple more years on the cheap, I'd only move him if I really liked the rest of my pen arms and didn't want to trust a 34yo when I'm ready to win again...soon. So he MIGHT be available. I was really interested in Yates a year or so ago when he was trying to bounce back. Wish we had grabbed him. If the Rangers don't get back in the race over the next couple of weeks, I could see them shipping him off for something. But how big is his price tag? I just feel a LH SOMEONE they can feel they can count on is what they really need right now. Sorry, I just don't see Thielbar suddenly turning the clock back. I don't know if that's Nardi or not. But I could be interested. He posted really solid numbers across the board in 2023, as pointed out in the OP. His BB per 9 this season sits at 2.7. Not great, but not bad. And he's averaging 11.1 K per 9. His quad slash line of .252/ .307/ .402/ .709 aren't super, but are about average overall. So again, he might be a good acquisition. The Marlins are a mess, seemingly searching for an identity, and might be interested in a young bat, or two, that isn't/aren't at the top of the Twins prospect list. And maybe Nardi isn't the answer. But he or someone similar...maybe also having a rough year but good stuff the Twins can work with...is what I believe they should be targeting. Providing Stewart, and maybe Topa, really are on the road to recovery.

I fully embrace the statistics as presented to a degree. I agree Larnach has been unlucky because I've seen hard hit ball after hard hit ball all season lining to someone, or settling in to a speeding OF glove when it looked like he had a double, etc. Where I have to disagree with these kinds of statistics is when they play themselves over a long period of time. For instance, while I don't have the data in front of me, Kepler's BABIP has been greatly discussed the past few seasons because other data said he SHOULD be ranking better, or having better "luck". But when a low number like that keeps happening year after year, it's a trend, and not poor luck. When Kepler's BABIP has risen, it's been because he changed his approach and began to sacrifice some contact for better overall power. Suddenly his overall production went up, including his BABIP. So while I feel Larnach has been unlucky, and is continuing to improve, I might hold out just a little judgement until I see the numbers. And I'm not being a downer, I have a good feeling about him. As to Margot, his defense has gone from awful, back to OK/good-ish, to borderline awful again. I believe he's lost a pair of balls just in the last week due to the lights. Doesn't mean I'm ready to give up on him yet, but he's been inconsistent defensively, to say the least. Offensively, I was ready to be done with him come June 1st. Instead, he went on a tear and for a month at least, was hitting as well as or better against LHP as he ever has. He's had some big games, and some big hits. He's even, lately, been better against RHP. Just a hot streak? Maybe. But you don't cut a player who's actually producing positive results even IF he stunk for the previous two months. You just don't. Now, can he keep it up? Because you absolutely CAN cut a player who stunk, got hot, and then stinks again. So if he seriously regresses in July and going in to August, I can see him removed. He has the experience that Martin doesn't have. But as player types, they are very similar, and having both is a bit redundant. And considering how approximately 75% of the pitchers are RH, I'd love to see Wallner or Keirsey up and providing a LH bat. But I'm fine admitting that for now at least, the FO was smart to hold on to Margot and he did a great job in June. But we still have a half season to go, and moves can still be made down the line. But right NOW, I'm glad Margot was kept.

Seriously, if Varland heads to the pen come September...if not sooner...and the Twins need/want someone to make some starts to rest an arm or two as they did late last year, is it automatically Festa? I mean, no offense to Festa, I think he's got a world of potential. But could Dobnak be an August/September option for that fill in arm? A lot of good arms deserving of praise, including some not listed in the OP but mentioned elsewhere.

Just a hunch, and my opinion, but it just FEELS like the Twins need and want a young, talented SS to work with as an eventual successor to Correa. And it just so happens there are a handful of good ones this year. I'm thinking Sanford or Lewis with the comp pick. Not too soon, not too late, and the bonus pool $ available to make some moves. The Twins are going to draft at least 7 and probably 8-10 college arms through 20 rounds and 22 total picks. I think that's a given. But I could see a prep arm, or even two, being taken early. There's enough good ones to choose from, and again, they have enough bonus pool $ to play around with to make it happen. Oakie and Levonas are just a couple to keep an eye on. They're committed to some big baseball schools in Arkansas and Wake Forest, but that goes to show how talented these kids might be. I'm also very intrigued by the tall kid from Utah that's been rising lately as he hasn't been on many circuits but looks very projectable. I can't recall his name at the moment. Might they mix in a pair of HS arm? Maybe one from each side? Ryan Campos is a guy I've been really interested in ever since he was mentioned on the podcast. Everything about him sounds like a LH Jeffers, with maybe a little weaker arm. Getting him in the 3rd or 4th round and working on the defense with his profile sounds like a future Jeffers partner behind the plate.

Ober has been looking very good, and did again today. One bad pitch really his only blemish. Hard to say anything about about an error that suddenly extended an inning and you're half in the dugout, (mentally), and have to suddenly compose yourself again. Great game. Miranda already better than his rookie version and still getting better. Jeffers has broken out of his slump? Has Kepler? Sands worked a phenomenal inning and struck out the side on 14 total pitches, and that was with having to face a 4th man due to the Correa drop. He's the only pen arm that pitched today. That's a little extra benefit from the game being called after 7. But as bad as that field was, game should have been delayed and called a full inning before it was. Someone could have been hurt out there...and Jeffers almost was.

Yes to Matthews, Morris and Lewis. Have to see how Raya is used, develops, and what kind of offseason he had. Right now I'd say he begins 2025 back in AA. That wouldn't be a negative considering his age and how he's been/being used. Festa, Matthews, Morris. Lewis, and Nowlin should all be in St Paul 5o begin next season, barring something happening on the ML level. How about Headrick as a SP as well? Or does he become a short and dangerous LH for the pen? Still going to have Dobnak around for depth. Already excited about the 2025 rotation and pen for St Paul. I think Wichita will be almost as good/deep as well.

The 13 man position player portion of the roster is pretty easy. A couple days ago a few of us shared similar thoughts and the OP is pretty much dead on with my opinion. Generally speaking, the Twins have a primary 10 man lineup since Castro can and will play everywhere and almost every day to rest someone. That leaves the backup C, Martin at 3 spots, and Kirilloff as a 1B/OF/DH to round out the roster. I don't wish injury on anyone, but I'm really hoping Camargo will be brought up in September of this year to rest Jeffers/Vazquez a little and get some actual ML time to see what he can do. But I believe money, defense, and veteran status has Vazquez on the roster. Kirilloff is a wild card. Now that his wrist is OK, can he finally stop getting hurt in other ways? If he dies, he has a role playing 3 days a week...occasionally more...at 3 corner spots, DH, and as a valuable PH. He's still got an option left if the Twins don't use it this season. But time might be running out. Martin might be part of the "bench" as well, but that's a pretty loose term on this team. He plays 3 spots, can be a quality RH PH, as well as a good PR. Plenty of opportunity for him as well, considering the Twins like to use the whole roster. SOMEONE is always going to get hurt. It's normal. One of Castro's strengths is roster flexibility due to his versatility. That means someone like Keirsey can be brought up even if an INF goes on the IL. This roster has the luxury of being fluid. At some point, Emmanuel Rodriguez is going to be part of the roster, I just don't expect it to happen opening day, and maybe not for a month or two. While this roster lacks veteran experience at a few spots, I really like it.

Farmer is a good guy and a "gamer". He is a positive influence in the clubhouse. He had moments in 2023 that lead to a playoff appearance and an actual WIN! BUT despite a bit of an uptick in his offense lately, he remains, unfortunately, a low producing player without a spot on the 13 man position player roster. Has he been given enough playing time to get himself put of his hole? Maybe not. But fellow veteran Margot actually did. At some point, the "nice guy teammate" and "can play across the infield" mantra has to come to a close. Sorry, but it's true. Julien, IMO, is still a part of this team going forward. But Lee is ready NOW for the Twins. He should be up to play 2B SOON and Farmer should be DFA, unless there is someone in real need for a veteran utility player on a low level trade. It's TIME to make a move for this season and the future. Period! Unfortunately, at some point, barring injury or horrible performance, the Twins might have to make a decision between Margot and Martin vs having another LH bat available, Wallner OR giving Kiersey his first ML shot. It's not fair to Martin, but right now Margot is performing. Are we playing for the playoffs and a shot? Or are we preparing for the future? Or is there a slim line where we do both? That's where I think Lee and a possible OF move come in to play.

Hey, I generally agree with a lot of your comments and perspectives as well. THANK YOU for your kind words. HONESTLY appreciated. I DO try to look at the big picture of everything. But it's 100% OK to "like" and still disagree with me and offer up a different opinion. I BOW to anyone who offers praise. :)

The problem is they are stuck between NOW and 2025. Kepler will be gone next year. Larnach is starting to figure it out, IMO. Wallner is looking like the prospect he was in 2023 just begging to come up and make a difference again and potentially be a fixture. And we're still not sure about Kirilloff. But you also mentioned Margot. The problem there is, the Twins are a contending team and Margot has suddenly been the player they thought they were acquiring. In fact, he's been even better through June. So do you hold on to Margot instead of a LH younger OF for now? Are Margot and Martin redundant? Do you send Martin back to AAA even though he might not deserve it? How amazing would it be for Lee...or Julien when he forces the issue...to play 2B and let Castro do what he does best, which is be a great player ALL OVER? But that means Farmer is gone, or Martin gets sent down. The offense is actually one of the best in MLB since about May 1st. One of the best against LHP which we haven't seen since 2019. And still good against RHP. But it feels like they could really use another LH bat for the remainder of the season. Who??? I know this sounds crazy as we're still trailing Cleveland and there is this sort of "whoh is me and we aren't good enough" attitude after the horrible start to the season. But if you take a step back and realize how good the offense has been the past couple of months you'd realize the Twins are actually in a bit of a roster crunch. I would have let Margot go a month ago and just let Martin get ML time. But Margot has suddenly been good. Farmer hasn't been anything close to good, but he's been much better the past 30 days. So do you just jetison him now for Lee? Maybe you do. Not sure the FO feels that way. CRAZY as it sounds, the offense is clicking and there is ACTUALLY a roster crunch in regard to NOW, and who might be part of 2025 and beyond. That's a good thing.

I think we're speaking the same language. IMO, Rodriguez won't be ready opening day 2025, but sometime later. Right now, I'm higher on Wallner than AK. I can live with a 30% K rate if there's enough actual contact and HIT ability along with a decent BB and tremendous power from Wallner. I actually believe he's improved defensively as an OF, and can get better. I think he showed that last season in LF, even though he's normally been a RF previously. JUST MY OPION but if he stuck in RF, he might be at least average there. His wheels aren't bad once he gets going. And the arm is a cannon. IMO, he has a hard time "reading" the ball off the bat and is better the more he plays one position.

Again, I'm not saying you or @stringer bellare wrong. I've been a Twins fan for 50 years but grew up watching a TON of Cubs, Braves, and Mets through cable TV as a younger man. I've seen decades of NL old school baseball. And I've SO MUCH of pitchers bunting and striking out and killing rallies, etc, etc. But that's just the way it was for decades. MLB has been SO SLOW to adapt to ANYTHING from the game on the field to marketing. And they are STILL behind almost every other league in so many ways. Again, a different topic for another day. I actually love inter league play. It's just FUN to see different teams and different players and match ups. And I'm glad that we finally have the DH universally. Not only was it a weird imbalance, but spending decades watching pitchers TRYING to hit was boredom if not infuriating at times. But the DH is universal now. I'm glad that it is. And I can fully understand and appreciate the idea that you can't PH for the DH. But IMO, when someone gets HURT, in any sport, including MLB, you get time to see if that player can continue or not. I just don't see an issue with replacing a HURT DH with someone else. We're not talking about PH for an advantage. I'm just saying if a DH is actually injured, why should a team have to give up the DH spot and make a pitcher hit...especially since pitchers aren't even supposed to ever hit any longer with the universal DH...when the team with the injured player could offer up a sub?

Sorry my friend, we hardly ever disagree on things, but I'm going to have to argue with you on this one point. I'm a little out of my element here, but I believe college has had the DH in affect for some time now. And I honestly can't recall about MILB, but I believe the DH has been in affect for some time as well, even for NL clubs. And now, the DH is in full affect for all ML teams. It's been established as a lineup position. I can appreciate an "old school" idea that the DH is a "substitute" for the pitcher having to bat. And while I have questions going forward in MLB as to whether or not the DH should be considered a POSITION where you can substitute or not...different arguement for a different day...I do believe if a DH is removed due to injury, said team should be allowed to substitute. I mean, considering roster constraints, we're probably talking the last man on the bench kind of substitution, but we're still talking about an injury sub. POTENTIALLY, that might even weaken a team all the more from a bench move later in the game! But IMO, you should be able to replace an injured player at any point.

Additionally, while he's had an OK career, that's pretty much his career in a nutshell except for 2 amazing seasons isn't it? I mean, healthy, he's had a fine career. But he hasn't been worth $30M a year except for those two special years. And if he continues to have issues...or at least be average at best...he might just opt in for 2025 and the Twins ownership would have multiple coranaries were that to happen! LOL! IF the Twins WANTED to trade for an injured arm, they should call up the Rockies and ask about German Marquez. He'll be coming off TJ surgery in 2025, has some untapped potential still, and will only cost about $10M. That one would at least make SOME sense. Pineda was a smart signing on a rehab deal. Dyson and Mahle were traded for SEEMINGLY healthy. Dyson was hiding an injury and Mahle had a few issues, but NOTHING showed up in tests or imaging to say his elbow was giving out. The Twins...and every team I'd say...don't trade for injured pitchers. What the Twins DO at times is sign someone who is coming OFF injuries and might turn in to something. Again, Pineda, and Stewart in the pen. Just a ridiculous notion that probably should have been a Randball Stu comedy piece.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch the game at all due to work today. (Usually get to see at least part of the games). We had a great road trip, won all 3 series, and gained ground on Cleveland. So I DON'T want to sound like I'm being a downer, and you simply can't and won't win every game...but...it does appear we just gave away a couple games on the road trip and that just shouldn't happen as much as it seemed to this trip. Ryan is a hell of a pitcher, smart, and a good athlete. So in the world did he make so many fielding mistakes not in the game, but in ONE INNING? I'm sure it was just a blip, but I agree some general fielding practice for reminder sake might be in order. Sands certainly didn't lose the game for us, and he's been pretty solid most of the year, but I am confused that he was in the game instead of Staumont in the 7th. Staumont didn't pitch Saturday, Monday is an off day, and he's been largely very good. So why Sands? Can we finally just accept that Larnach has "figured it out" after some injuries and adjustments. He's having a very solid season. But he might also be the unluckiest Twins hitter. Even when he's "slumped" he's been hitting the ball very hard. A couple days ago...Arizona maybe?...he went hitless and every batted ball was over 100mph. He's got a .268 BABIP on the season which is CRAZY for how hard he hits the ball. Any sort of progression to the norm and he's poised for a big second half! I've said before and will say again, if 1 of Larnach, Kirilloff, and Wallner "gets it figured out" it's a win. Wallner is always going to K around 30%, but with decent BB numbers and tremendous power. We can nit pick some of his numbers at AAA right now, but he's basically been destroying AAA right now. If we get 2 of those LH OF "figuring it out" we are SET with dangerous production and depth. Now that Kirilloff's wrist is no longer an issue, IF he can get past his sore back and FINALLY avoid injuries and follow the Larnach path of "figuring it out" the Twins will actually have a WEALTH of quality/dangerous LF OF/1B bats that I dare to dream of. And that's not even including the eventual debut of Rodriguez and the possibly undervalued Keirsey looking for a shot. I digress and apologize. But if even ONE of Wallner and AK can establish themselves along with Larnach's development....WOW! All three might be a dream, but it's a dream I'd like to see happen. Lastly, I do think the DH rule has to be re-examined in today's game. Especially now that is ML wide. I'm OK with losing the DH if you PH...though that also should be looked at...but if an injury happens to a DH, I don't believe the team should lose the DH for the game. It just feels unfair and not right in today's game.

Nope.

Thank you. Bad memory. :)

A very logical, well thought out idea. Remember, replacing Kepler in this scenario is a combination of THREE LH bats if Lee, or Julien, comes up to man 2B. Then Castro is freed up for more LF and RF becomes Eallner, Larnach, or Keirsey getting his first shot. (Leaving AK out of the discussion because he's hurt eight now). How good do the Twins feel about making the 2025 Kepler replacement move NOW vs next year? But they like Kepler. They're in contention. They aren't going to upset the clubhouse or roster construction at this point. Additionally, I can't recall the last time I saw a contending team trade from their current roster to add to another portion of their roster. Contend while weakening a spot to strengthen another spot? Kepler would be moved for prospects and that doesn't help this year.