laloesch

125-130 games played would be an absolute miracle for Buxton. He's only broken 100 games twice in 10 seasons (2017 and 2024). That's atrocious. His career average is 77 games played a season. Not hatin just sayin. I'd rather he focus on staying healthy, hitting the ball, and only steal bases when absolutely necessary.

If Dobnak is making starts at Target field this season the Twins are in BIG trouble from a starting pitcher perspective.

It's a one year dumpster dive move nothing more. Fulvey can try and hype this signing up more than it is but it's a dumpster diver signing. Hopefully once there's new ownership the Twins will sign a quality first baseman or trade for one.

Bingo. And that's not to say you won't have anomalies every once in a while, like the Guardians or even the Royals who will make the show and even on occasion win it all. Yes, that will continue to happen periodically, but the truth of the matter is that it's STILL the same handful of teams spending crazy amounts of money (as you said), 2 to 4 times more on player salaries than the rest, which distorts the free agent market and favors the big spenders. Possible Solution: 1. Increase the arbitration eligible years from 3 to 5 years for a total of 8 service years vs. the current 6 before a player is a free agent. Raise the minimum salary to help offset the extended time with the franchise before free agency. That would at least give the team a chance to benefit from more years of mlb service time while theoretically in the prime playing years. It should slow down the looting of talent from small market teams to the big market free agent spenders that are gobbling up the star talent. 2. Institute franchise tags similar to the NFL's below. NON-EXCLUSIVE TAG: This tag allows the player to sign an offer sheet with another team. The original team has the right to match the offer or receive two first-round draft picks in compensation if the player leaves. This is the most common type of tag and is most similar to MLB's compensation picks. EXCLUSIVE TAG: This tag completely binds the player to his team. His agent is prohibited from seeking an offer sheet. TRANSITION TAG: This tag works like the nonexclusive franchise tag, except it only provides the original team the right to match the other team's offer. If the original team decides not to offer a matching bid, it gets no compensation when the player leaves. 3. Institute a hard salary cap and floor. This has been discussed ad nauseum in other threads.

I don't necessarily disagree with what your saying, but the fact remains that teams like the Yankees and Dodgers can consistently do this (keep signing multiple big free agents in their late 20's early 30's almost every season), and then buy out or trade the ones (while including $ to the recipient to offset a portion of the bloated salary), that are on the downhill slope of productivity and not shed a tear. The latest gimmick is to massively backload those contracts, which allows them to load up on even more talent in one season and then kick the can down the road for paying the piper. This also negates the damaging alternative of going WAY over the luxury tax threshold. That's the difference and why MLB at minimum needs a hard salary cap. Most franchises in MLB can't do that to the level that the Dodgers have recently (nor should they), but the fact that a handful of teams DO consistently do it, is an unfair advantage, and why a strike is necessary in 2027 to get this nonsense under control. And for the record I am not opposed to a salary cap floor either.

I agree. Sure there is a variety of teams that make up the 12 that initially make the playoffs (now that MLB has an expanded wild card round), which OCCASSIONALLY factors in and produces random results in the championship, but the fact remains that typically the same gang of teams makes the ALCS and World Series almost every season with a few exceptions through the years. I just can't agree with Brandon Glicks statement that "baseball has much stronger parity, both in terms of playoff performers and champion variety." That's just utter complete nonsense.

You should be able to cast from your android phone to your TV, assuming it's a relatively modern phone and internet capable tv. If your tv is over 5 or 6 years old you might have issues. My wife has a samsung galaxy and is able to do so. I have an iPhonex (which is pretty old now) and are able to do so with no issues.

One season vs. 11?

One season does not make a trade a good one. Berrios has been at this a lot longer than SWR.

I'd like to see the Twins trade for him and then try and extend him with new ownership. That would be phenomenal.

Because its anything to justify the terrible trade that sent Berrios to Toronto.

I would argue Sano's biggest problem was his lack of discipline at home plate and the dinner plate. I don't harbor any personal animosity to the guy, but let's be brutally honest here. By many accounts he was difficult to coach, and didn't listen to the Twins trainers. Thus never evolved as a hitter. Once the league realized he was a sucker for breaking balls that was it, he was a total strikeout machine. In contrast Kepler evolved as a hitter and kept himself relevant despite the slumps. Sano never did that nor developed an effective eye at the plate. Worse yet Sano was completely undisciplined with his body and gained a ton of weight when he went to the majors. If he had stayed trim at 220-240 he would have been a much more athletic player, with raw power. Personally, I'm 6'-4" just like him and I lift 5 days a week and have for years, and are around 240. He should never have been bumpin the scales at 298 (which he was at one point). That's lack of discipline. Unfortunately, it took the Twins letting him go for him to finally realize he needed to make changes to his diet and reportedly he lost 50 pounds before the start of the 2023 season. Now he's 31. It's really too bad. There is an article with the Athletic that talks about it. How Miguel Sanó lost 58 pounds, revived his career with Angels: ‘I needed to make a change’ - The Athletic

Exactly. To put it bluntly Sano was lazy and difficult to coach.

Bingo. they never should have signed that 37 million dollar shortstop. Signing Lopez was justifiable but the contracts for Correa and Buxton have been total complete disasters considering neither player can stay healthy for longer than 30 games at a time it seems.

Ummm no he didn't. I'm no fan of pohlad at all but he delivered the notices from the bank during that time frame. sorry. He was literally 18-20 years old. No bank of that size is gonna allow a non-college grad to write foreclosure notices.

Honestly I was not impressed AT ALL by the statement from Jeremy Zoll. Total word salad statement he made.

Complete word salad statement. That is the longest string of sentences I've heard from a GM that said absolutely nothing.

Really? Doesn't seem like the sentiment I've ever seen here.

Unfortunately, that appears to be what's happening. At least they haven't had a fire sale prior to the team sale.

UHHHH...Rosario's arm was not better than Kepler's. Putting Rosario in right field would have been a disaster.

I have to agree. Do not trade Lopez unless you are committed to a full rebuild and at that point it's time to unload Buxton, and Correa.

If they trade Lopez what is the point of extending Ryan, Ober, and retaining Correa, Buxton, etc.? Might as well blow the whole team up and do a full rebuild at that point. Lopez's contract is not the issue.

I would argue that the major reason for MLB's impending decline is the severe lack of parity between all the different franchises and not affordable seats and concessions, although it is a factor to a certain extent. Everyone knows MLB is rigged to a certain extent with all the big market teams getting all the good players eventually, because they have unlimited resources compared to the mid and small market franchises. That turns A LOT of potential fans off. Why should I watch and root for a franchise that will ALWAYS be at a major financial disadvantage to the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Mets, etc.? I'm sorry, but MLB either commits to a salary cap at some point or this league slowly dies, it's inevitable. It is going to be a slow death, and it will likely accelerate as the baby boomers and their long adult kids age out, but eventually the fans drift away and it drives the sport into the ground. The other major factor is length of games. This subject has been beaten to death here on the forums but it is 100% true. MLB needs to stay on it and keep the games to 2-1/2 hours or less. Prior to 2023 / 2024 the length of games had reached absurd levels, of 3+ hours which honestly was ridiculous. Very few of us in our busy lives can consistently follow a sports team for an entire season (which they rely on for revenue) and watch 1/2 or even 3/4 of the games. It's just not practical when you have family obligations, a job, etc. Each game 3+ hours during the week? Not gonna happen. MLB needs to adapt to the modern era or it will continue to loose fans and eventually disappear altogether.

I agree. The big problem is the offensive side. If Correa, Buxton, Lewis have injury filled campaigns again in 2025, it's gonna be hard to improve on things without some serious additions maybe at 1st base, DH, the outfield.

I like the wish list. My biggest items (priority in order) would be a: 1. A Power hitting first basemen 2. Another catcher, preferably one with more offensive skills than Jeffers. 3. A corner outfielder with significant offensive skills that can sub in CF with Buxton's inevitable prolonged injury absences that are disrupting the order. 4. Ace caliper starter to team with Lopez forming a dominant 1 2 punch. I would like to see the Twins take a swing at acquiring Luzardo. He's definitely a risk given his history, but the potential upside is big.