The Twins' current payroll is roughly $36M lower than in 2023. The new TV contract should bring them an additional $46M (85% of last year's $56M). Because the payroll will have a significant increase in 2025, now would be an ideal time to offer Montgomery a huge one-year deal. And the leftover $$$ could be used on Duval, Pham, or whomever to solve the RH outfielder problem.
I think it is just the opposite. The worst teams get the highest draft picks and the higher draft picks theoretically have the best chance of being named ROY.
For me, what the Twins haven't done so far this off-season doesn't matter. With the TV revenue now a reality, they should be on the phone right now with Montgomery's agent and finalizing a deal. Revenues are probably going to increase in 2024 and there is a strong possibility of additional playoff games so they should be able to handle the payroll increase in 2025.
If you are willing to trade "their choice of a couple ML players who are young and have potential and/or a collection of 2-4 solid top 10-20 prospects, and maybe the QO draft pick thrown in" for one pitcher, I would aim for Luzardo rather than Cabrera. Your trade is a six or seven players for one player trade and should have a bigger return than just Cabrera.
Whenever I read another story about what Buxton might do in 2024 and beyond, I hear the Everly Brothers singing "All I gotta do is dream, dream, dream."
You said above that in 2023, Wallner, Julien, and Kirilloff all did poorly against left-handed pitchers. And that is true. But all three had fewer than 50 at bats against left-handers in 2023. Maybe the Twins should concentrate on having these three face left-handed pitching in spring training. How knows? They may actually be able to handle same side pitching if given the opportunity.
Would the Pirates be amenable to a trade where they get to pick any 4 from E-Rod, Schobel, Helman, Kirilloff, Larnach, Gordon, Miranda, or SWR for Keller?
I seldom agree with chpettit19, but in this instance I can only say Damn Right, Skippy.
Assuming the spring training performances of Gordon and Martin are fairly close, my feeling is that it would be advantageous for Martin to begin the year in St. Paul to both get in a groove hitting and hone his outfield skills. The only downside would be when he gets called up in June, people will start complaining that the front office is playing the "service time"" game.
I've not seen Winoker play so there is one line I need a clarification on. You state that maintaining a swing that is short and direct to the ball will be challenging. Did you mean that he already has a short and direct swing and maintaining it will be the challenges? Or that he needs to develop and maintain a short and direct swing?
In 1954, my parents took my two older brothers and I out of school and on a road trip to Texas, then Phoenix, and then home. We were in Phoenix during spring training and we went to Cleveland vs. NY Giants game (a preview of the 1954 World Series). My dad brought his new 8 millimeter Bell & Howell movie camera to the game and filmed some of it. And he happened to catch an at bat of this young guy just returning from the Korean War named Willie Mays. He wanted to catch him on film because he remembered Mays from his brief career with the Minneapolis Millers in 1951 (called up in May). He got a single. I watched that two-minute clip many times in my youth. I sure wish I had that film now.
Instead of waiting until the ink is dry on the new TV contract, I would like to see the Twins "anticipate" the signing and move NOW to strengthen the bullpen or sign Montgomery (or both). Act now while other teams are playing the waiting game. Plus, if you act now, MLB will throw in two extra prime-time dates on the TV schedule! Hurry. The supply of quality pitching is limited. 🤩
I responded to what you said. Your comment was not about what I said so I shouldn't be referenced. But since you never wrong about anything, I will let you trash me once more without responding.
If that is the case, don't use my comment as the source. I didn't imply in any way the that the trade was or was not controversial. As a matter of fact, almost all postings on Twins Daily are "controversial" because there are always positive and negative comments. In the case of the Polanco trade there is no way around being controversial because of all the unknowns.
Will Polanco be healthy in 2024?
Will Disclafani have a decent year (or fall off a cliff).
Will Topa be a one-year wonder? ....,.etc. etc.
The Twins will have a "2 hole hitter" for the playoffs. As a matter of fact, they will have a "2 hole hitter" all season. It is actually required by the rules of baseball that someone hit second. We just don't know who that is right now.