gunnarthor

Obviously, it's never too early to get excited about the upcoming draft. Pipeline has a top 100 up already. http://m.mlb.com/prospects/2020/?list=draft Twins pick 27th and then have a second round and a collective bargaining pick after the second round so probably somewhere around picks 61 and 69 or so after the FA signings are set (please correct me if I'm wrong). https://www.mlb.com/news/top-100-2020-mlb-draft-prospects “I think it’s one of the strongest classes as far as college arms, up and down,” a National League scouting director said. “There might be 15 college pitchers taken in the first round. With Friday night starters, we’re trying to figure out how to see all of them. We’re going to have to split up national looks because we’re going to run out of days.” “I think that’s realistic,” an AL scouting director said. “I don’t know if the first round will be half college pitchers, but you can make the case that there will be 15-plus guys who could go in the first round, if not the first day, which is a significant change from last year.” .... “I think you’re going to see a lot of college pitchers drafted and a lot of over-drafts of college bats because guys won’t want to take the risk on guys who might not profile as first-round picks,” the NL scouting director said. “The high school pitching group is fairly small this year in terms of potential first-rounders,” the AL director agreed. “I think there’s a significant drop-off after the first few names.” Too early to know what the Twins will do but it looks like a weak group for HS bats and arms, groups the Twins have targeted a bit in recent years.

I think that stride is far too long. I'm sure the Twins instructors and Lewis know that this and they are working on it. My guess is that the talent is too good to hold back and he becomes an all-star third baseman for us.

I think one of the problems we've had so far in the Falvine era is that, outside of the Odorizzi trade, it's hard to name the next best trade. Maybe this is it? Dunno. I don't like this trade. Ynoa looks like a potential strong bullpen arm that would be better than Littell, who has about 50 innings on him in the majors. I always forget that Littell is so young (24 next year) and that's good for him but I don't like his stuff. He wasn't used in many high leverage spots (except the playoffs) and he wasn't used that much overall last year. I'd rather have Ynoa. But hopefully, Littell proves me wrong.

A few things jumped out at me Higher on Thorpe than I thought.I've been low on Jeffers for a bit but it's really nice seeing him this high.A note about Celistino that was worth seeing "he hits the ball hard with consistency, a pervasive trait in this system."Rooker fell a lot more than I thought he shouldThey think Lewin Diaz, whom we traded, could be a top 100 prospect.

Interesting article from Barrons. Should be free to view. https://www.barrons.com/articles/the-10-best-stocks-for-2020-51576285200 I have a small bit of pfizer in my IRA but none of the rest. The u-haul stock is an interesting idea.

I think if Cleveland is moving Kluber now they don't think he'll regain his trade value.

I think Donaldson would be a good addition. If we can't get one of the big time pitchers - and we can't - I think he'd be my first position player I'd want. But he's also probably out of our price range. I think the idea of trading or finding a few diamonds in the rough is the more likely scenario.

Almost certainly not. Blyleven pitched against the DH - although that seemed to be a foreign concept to the Cardinals in 87 - and he pitched in parks better for hitters with a lower mound and still put up the better numbers.

Post season stats for both. Blyleven - 5-1 (8 games, 6 starts), 47.3ip, 2.47 ERA Drysdale - 3-3 (7 games, 6 starts), 39.67ip, 2.95 ERA

In the same article, the Twins say they had to "stabilize" the roster first. It also notes the Twins are spending much more this year on Pineda and Odorizzi than they did last year so ... apparently we are spending money? These are the quotes that should kill any wishful thinking on fans part - “I do think we’ve stabilized the team and that was essential ... Now, we still have the ability to impact it significantly. But, first steps first, was to stabilize.” And, Levine says that the team is “aspirational of getting the best players we can get.” The 'we can get' sorta runs counter to the idea of best we can afford or best that is available. The Twins should still be favorites to win the AL Central if they don't do much more. They have a solid roster and a few impact bats close to coming up. They'll probably get by on another season of over extended bullpen use but 90+ wins, a playoff appearance and a payroll south of 120m is probably a great deal for the owners. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/twins-winter-meetings-rumors-sign-trade-starting-pitching-rotation.html

I really hope he has a good season for Texas.

Good for Strasburg. He earned it.

I'm worried that Auburn crushes us but if the Gophers could pull this off, I think it would do wonders for recruiting and really help the program develop.

I'd be very surprised if the Twins actually sign him but he's a fair gamble. Obviously, his injury history is a concern and going from Dodger stadium to the AL is a bit scary as well. But he'd arguably be our best pitcher (when healthy) and makes our starting rotation a lot better.

I liked both of these picks. A few others on the ballot might also deserve to be in but I'm ok with just those two for now. Agree with Ben on Miller, his impact was titanic. Absolutely deserves to be in the hall.

I read an ESPN article that predicted the Gophers would play Alabama on Jan 1 in the Outback bowl. Wouldn't that be something? I think they'd crush us but still, playing Alabama on Jan 1? Yes, please.

I'm convinced that this is what the Twins are going to do.

It's a solid move for a bench player. Good for us.

I mean, I know nothing about this guy. His numbers look good but are we sure he's an infielder? B-R has him as an OFer but doesn't have fielding information for him for the last two years. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=tsutsu000yos Check that, looks like he might be able to play first base, although not at a gold glove level. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/mlbtr-poll-predicting-largest-guarantee-among-npb-postings.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MlbTradeRumors+%28MLB+Trade+Rumors%29

The original post reads like an apology for the Pohlads. The Morneau and Cuddyer extensions happened after the voters gave them Target Field and, combined, only risked about 55m that wasn't already promised to those two players. We have 25+ years of Pohlad ownership under three different GMs. Until they start showing that they can play in the big boy end of the free agency pool, we shouldn't pretend they can.

Apparently, the Twins bidding topped out at 100m.

We can bring back Addison Reed on a small contract and hope he's healthy now.

I don't think Boyd is as good as last year showed but that's not that steep a price for him. I'd make that trade.

I agree but we are who we are. I think there's maybe a 33% chance we sign someone on a high AAV of more than 17m this offseason but if we do, I think it would only be for two years. I've said it multiple times but I think we're going to go the Rays route with a bullpen rotation. We might sign people out of the Ivan Nova bucket and I think we're going to add an impact bat.

We knew that going into the off season. There are methods to improve the rotation but it won't be through significant free agent moves.