Trov

Severino numbers are very close to CES numbers at nearly same age and level. CES struck out a little less but ratio has been about the same. Similar power levels too. What is funny is CES was a college guy that started hitting HR, Severino did not start hitting HR until age 22 season. If Severino was drafted out of college same year as CES we would be singing Severino praises like may have for CES. They both have huge issues with their game, like bad defense and a lot of swing and miss, but people fell in love with CES power. CES is struggling at MLB level so far, and I think some expect him and possibly Severino to be the dreaded AAAA player. Unless Severino can drop the K's he will be a fringe MLB player.

There is also the possibilities of trades for areas of need as well. Martin has shown ability to play OF, and Lewis could do it too if needed, despite the freak injury he got.

I am hoping this is just a painful learning experience for Ryan. He is serving up meatballs left and right. Yesterday it was also with plenty of runners on for a couple. The issue is he is not missing as many bats as he did early in year. He is clearly missing in the zone, and the ones just on the edge hitters are either fouling off or staying off getting the ball called. Joe really needs to develop a good secondary pitch. Early in the year they were working, but the league has adjusted, he needs to adjust again. I still have faith in Joe, but right now hitters are just teeing off on the fast ball in all counts. They have no respect for any off-speed pitch, and Joe is not locating his fastball down. The problem is his go to is fastball up, which has worked, but since his fastball down is not locating at the knees, if the pitch starts low, the hitter assumes it is a breaking ball and adjusts. Until he can mix up the location, and do it well, with the fastball he will continue to struggle.

Without knowing what the trade discussions were, it is hard to really say if the FO did the right thing or not. I feel like the roster is at a bit of a crossroads. Our vets have not been hitting like we need, and the young guys have shown flashes, but the team is not always willing to count on them. Also, the young guys have had some injuries putting us in the, what will they be when they return. For the fans that wanted a huge splash it was going to cost big prospects, and I feel the FO did not want to give up any big names, hoping those names, at least on the offense will be up helping the team in the next year or two. Larnach was being floated, and will most likely again in the off-season, but he has very little trade value in my opinion. The likes of Lewis, Lee, and E-Rod were really the only names that were going to net a big return. When you need to build a team for not just 1 year but years to come, it is hard to justify giving up on those guys for a 1 or 2 year rental that could or could not push us over the top. I think mainly is we should make the playoffs with no one else trying in our division, and actively selling. As long as you make the playoffs you have a chance. Then the question is, was there a trade out there that would make us feel that much better about winning in playoffs? Most likely not, unless Buck and company start hitting better. Our team is far from a top competitor, but sometimes it just takes the team being hot and having guys have great runs. We have the potential pitching to keep us in games, if we can get some timely hitting we could have a chance to win in the playoffs. I am not expecting it, but if our pitching is hot, we just need a few timely hits.

As I always say, if the deal is good enough then do it. I would be willing to part with either if the return is worth it. I am not saying we should sell, but we could handle losing one of our starters right now. Who would have thought this would be the case coming into the year? But, the deal needs to make sense, preferring to get back younger pitching that should be ready in a year or two, and not just more bats. We have plenty of possible bats right now, but pitching prospects have been light lately, mainly due to injuries. I do not what is offered out there, but I would also look to deal them to NL team than an AL competitor right now. Nothing would be worse than if we make the playoffs and lose a game to a guy we traded away.

I wish the writer would have suggested who we would need to give up to make those deals. I am not willing to gut our whole farm system to get a few rental guys to maybe push us a little bit better. We have a core that should be good, for whatever reason we have had issues putting it all together. But giving up any depth and the long term future when we still will not be favored to win anything will be a bad move in my opinion.

I would agree, that teams themselves do not fully, but I do think it gives them ideas of who to look more into, and why are they ranked where they are. Also, they have fans that look at the lists, and if you deal for a prospect that people talking about the trade say team got a good return, it makes fans feel better about the trade, even if it turns out to not work. However, if the reports are your team got hosed, and it turns out to be right, then reason for FO to get fired. So if you go way off the prospects lists, as they are put together by several scouting groups, unless you hit big on the move, people will question it. I remember when Twins traded Santana to Mets, we did not ask for their top ranked prospect and many national sports news people talked about how we were fools not to include him, but included Gomez instead, as they were both outfielders. I do not remember the number one prospect name, mainly because he never made a thing for himself, and Gomez was by far the better player in the long run. However, if it was other way around where we took the top prospect and left Gomez, the talk would have been we got a bad trade, but unless it leaked we had a chance for Gomez, no one would have said a thing about getting it wrong with Mets, only that we should have made traded with Red Sox or Yankees, as both packages would have been better. Should teams make decisions based just on how fans will take it, no. However, fans pay the bills and if you get them too upset jobs get lost.

I do not know how bad his defense is, but he has played 3rd base and 2nd base mostly and his fielding percentage is not great. I do not know the good cut offs for range factor. He may be servable, but he does strike me similar to CES when looking at their minor league numbers, but really have never looked much into them together. I do find it interesting that CES was rising up lists last year, being second year removed from college and hit 32 HR in a full season, across 2 leagues and 3 teams. Then hit 20 in AAA this year. Serverino at same age season, had very similar season at the plate. The main difference is Serverino had not shown that power ever, where CES showed it in college. Not saying either will be superstars at majors, there is still a reason neither were top prospects, but CES did climb to 4th in Reds listing. So far not a strong start to career, but very SSS.

With the trade deadline coming up and Twins looking as buyers, and maybe dealing from depth of starting pitching or corner outfield guys, and after recent moves last year, our system is getting a little thin. One name that is not coming up a ton, and in part because he dropped a bit on our prospects lists is Yunior Severino over the years, and never was super high. Topping out in 2019 at 13 in MLB list, when we first signed him after the Braves had to give him up. He just dropped from there and seemed like a lost cause prospect. Then came this year, where at 23, will be 24 at end of season, he is playing AA, still 1.5 years under the average age. He has broken out in a huge way. Really, not on a bad time line age wise, only he was signed as a teenager. If he was a college kid he would be 1 or 2 years removed from college. The TD crew has him ranked 17th now, but his numbers are very good. A little high on K rate, and defense seems not all that great, but not too far off what CES was doing last year. Clearly there is a reason he is ranked as low as he has been, similar to CES, who was not ranked high on our list because of high K rate, and poor defense. Not comparing the two other than why neither were super high level ranked prospects. CES is same age about as Severino. The last 2 years Severino has shown power that he did not do. Last year Severino hit 19 HR in 83 across 2 leagues, this year he has 24 in 81 games. So this HR output is not out of line with what he showed last year, but he has more HR just this year than he did from age 17 to 21 seasons, keeping in mind 1 was 2020 with no games. He has not played full seasons either. Could he be breaking out now that he has his man muscles? Is he worth holding onto as a possible future bat? Does he have value to be traded or will we need to keep him another year. I still see him ranking well below many guys in our line up for next couple of years, barring injuries, trades, or complete drop offs in production. Personally, I think we should be excited, hold onto him for another year, see what we have when he moves up to AAA next year. He is still young enough that he could make MLB debut at 24 next year, which is plenty young, or he could put up big enough numbers in AAA that we look to trade from depth of infield guys. Keep in mind, our starting 4 infielders should be locked with Lee knocking on door next year. I think too many teams would not have a ton of interest in Severino right now, only because he is not high on ranked lists right now, but I have to imagine he will climb them up a bit next year if he can play a full year, and continue to put up the numbers he has shown.

I would agree stocking up on the pen would be best way to go. We need to hope the offense comes around overall, swapping Wallner for Gallo would help the offense but hurt defense some. We need to hope Buck can get back to his norm and CC stays hot, Lewis and/or Polanco can fill the 3rd base hole. The rest just stay hot. If we can get more from what we have, adding 1 or 2 more high leverage arms in the pen would cut the games down to hoping we can lock down any game after the 6th. I do not see really an upgrade at starting pitching that would be enough of upgrade for what it would cost prospect wise. I also would not want to trade any of the top few prospects. Lee, Lewis(not technically prospect anymore) E-Rod, are all too valuable right now for our future to sell them for this year. I think barring injuries we should make playoffs, then it is just about hoping our pitching holds and we can get some offense. If Buck gets hot in playoffs he can carry a team.

No. He is not on 40 man, he is 29 years old, and has only had short runs of success at MLB over his career. He appears to be the AAAA player, good for AAA but below average for MLB. Why would we DFA someone, keeping in mind we need to bring Gordon of the 60 day DL, for a guy that that will not be on team after season. He would be added to our many left handed hitting OF. He was brought in as AAA depth that is about it. I wonder why he chose Twins organization being he is like 7th on left handed hitting outfield depth.

Of course if you can add better pen arms that is always a possible upgrade, but our farm system is thinning out, and unless current MLB rostered players are included in trades some will be DFA/released for anyone you bring in. I would not get mad at another high leverage guy, preferred left handed, to throw out there in late innings, but pen is not our biggest issue. Hitting left handed pitching is biggest issue, but is it as big of an issue we may think? Looking at the other likely playoff matchups only 2 teams, Boston and Yankees, currently have more than 1 left handed starter that would likely start in playoffs. Every other team has 1 or 0 left handed starters that fall into top 4 starters really. Of course some teams may make a change if they face Twins. My point is, do we make a trade for a guy to simply play 1 game in the playoffs, or pinch hit a few times, because they are slightly better against lefties? Keeping in mind it is hard for many to just play part time against lefties and sit rest of time. I am not saying we should pass on possible upgrades, but do not overpay for what you are hoping is like at most 10 at bats per round of playoffs. Yes, if those at bats would be the difference makers then it would make sense, but for all we know they would have little impact. Keep in mind Lewis should be coming back, and CC is heating up. They could make the difference as well.

Personally, I do not see why the kid would not sign at slot or just above slot based on a little extra left in pool. His options would be play junior/community college ball for a year and re-enter, or go to 4 year college and wait 3 years. So much can happen in that time. At best he jumps 4 spots and adds a couple mil in the future, at worst he falls several slots and loses much more than he could earn. I am not surprised Boras waited to last min because then he knew how much money the Twins had to work with and playing chicken.

Yes, if you offer a contract to a player and they do not sign it, then you get the pick after the one they were drafted in the next draft. However, number 6 next year may not be as good as the number 5 this year, as many say Jenkins would have been 1 in last years draft.

The problem with looking to trade either Wallner or Larnach is that neither have much trade value. Left handed corner OF are a dime a dozen. Larnach does have some defense to go with his possible bat, but Wallner is bat only. Neither have shown elite skills so far at MLB level. Both have shown flashes that teams may be willing to take flier on them, but best we get in return is a pen guy or mid-level rental guy most likely. I do not see either headlining a deal that pushes us over the top.

I get the thought, but you are making way too many assumptions. First, you assume his difference output versus expected output based on batted ball numbers is mostly based on the LF in Baltimore. The problem with that assumption is even if you look at his last 2 year splits, his numbers are still better in Baltimore than on road. Without more data to show that he has hit many balls that would have been HR in most other ball parks that were outs in Baltimore, it just is assuming that was the case. It is possible there are many other factors that have led to that difference, like great catches, wind knocking down fly balls. Overall, no I am not willing to give up prospects for a part time hitter that may surge in a new place.

I am not a fan of half-selling, meaning you only are trading away lower value trade chips. It normally results in lower value returns. For the most part, the players listed in the selling were players on lower value, outside Berrios. Jury still out on SWR and Martin, but their stock is falling fast. However, the rest of the trades are pretty equal or tip in favor of Twins. Ryan and Duran are great, and what we gave up for them were minimal at the time. Selling can bring in big talent, or at minimum supplement what you need. Rarely will a pen guy bring in big returns, but a lottery ticket of a young kid that may develop. Position guys or starter tend to bring in bigger prospects, but there are misses. I see no point in "selling" this year. I could see, if you are sold we can fill the last spot in rotation with some in AAA, trading Gray for the right deal. He is doing well, unlikely to sign with Twins, basing this on some of his comments about how they run things. Being we only need 4 guys in playoffs, if you are sold that the 4 we would most likely have, assuming health, and a good deal is offered, why not pull off what Cleveland has done.

I follow the Pirates, because my wife is a huge fan growing up in western PA. Cutch never wanted to be traded from Pittsburgh the first time. Every fan loved when he returned, he was their Puckett of that generation of fans. The fans loved him, he loved the city and the fans. Trading him away a second time would be like a big middle finger to him and the fan base, even if they are in last place. The fans hated he got traded the first time too, even if they got some current players. If they trade Cutch, unless he asks for it, the team will lose any little bit of respect the fans have for the team, or the players have for the team.

Really it is the Hardy to Baltimore that was the worst trade, not the Hardy for Gomez. You group 2 trades in as the worst trade, but if you look at the trade of Gomez and Hardy it was not a bad trade. The follow of up sending Hardy away because Twins thought they had a SS coming from Japan was the terrible trade. If we kept Hardy and he produced what he did with Baltimore with Twins we would not say it was a bad trade.

Generally these things work themselves out. Assuming all healthy and playing well, Lewis will stay at 3rd and Correa at SS, really Polanco and Julien are the only 2 fighting for playing time. Rotating them and having the other DH from time to time is not a bad idea, but looking to see if Julien can play 1B some games, and moving AK to OF is possible too.

The only reason Lee will not be up at AAA soon is they organization feels they cannot find regular playing time at the preferred position they want to get him innings at. In terms of the bat, no reason he should not be moving up.

He may not be the most reliable and will not be used in many high leverage situations, but he has show an ability to get outs. Every pitcher has bad days, and really he is normally either really bad, or does just fine this year. I know we worry so much about past outings, but take it one game at time. I would not want him closing games or being regular 8th inning guy, but I am fine with him in games overall.

No way do you send down Julien at this point, or take away at-bats. The team loves to rotate around who sits. When Polanco comes up it will most likely be for Wallner. Then Polanco will get at-bats at 2nd and DH. Julien will get at-bats at 2nd and DH, maybe 1B. 3rd will be Salano and Farmer mostly. Buck will get at-bats at DH, but my guess until he starts to heat up, assuming Polanco is hitting like he can, Buck will get much more rest.

Turner interests me the most, if we are concerned about Lewis returning healthy this year. You never know with core issues. Even if Lewis does come back fully healthy, Turner could fill in at first, and AK can play OF. Turner also has plenty of deep playoff runs in his experience. If he can be had for a mid-level prospect I would go for it, but I am not giving up a top 10 prospect for him.

I would not give up any level of actual prospect for Cron. I get he fills in to hit against lefties, but outside of that he will be taking at bats from overall better hitters. He would be Garlick basically, and I am not a fan of a guy that will only be used to hit against lefties and nothing else.