Twodogs

I think any pitcher that the Twins currently have are part of the pipeline. I mean Maeda got here with the Grateral trade, but I think where the front office comes into question is that the crop of guys coming up through the system seems weak. I mean it was brought up that Cleveland still has guys coming through the system. They know that when they get rid of a Bauer, Kluber, Clevenger, Carrasco, Colon, Lee, etc..... that they have replacements already on their way. So that's where I question whether the FO actually has some magical method that produces a pipeline or if it was the Cleveland organization, their developmental team and coaches. I mean it's quite possible that if all of the Twins guys over the last 6 years or so had gone through the Cleveland system that they'd have a bunch of all star pitchers. What I think is that too much focus and or credit is being given to Falvine and their abilities. I think that they are just figure heads and that if the twins get a pipeline going it's going to come from whoever develops these guys. Falvine just provides some clay, the coaches and development team are the ones who create the final products. That's why every in year during free agency I always suggest forgetting so much about free agents and find an out how much money it would take to pry away the guys in Houston's or LA Dodgers organizations development teams and go out and sign those guys. Because they seem to continue to produce players year after year. I'm sure those guys have a price. I mean how many other teams can just let Carlos Correa go and have a Pena sitting there ready to take over?

Well, I mean if you are looking for a one year filler, AJ Pollock would be a decent pickup. I mean he probably has more projectable power. He's on the older side, but I mean if you're only looking for a year stop gap until Cabrera is ready he'd be a good target. Has won a gold glove in the past, probably isn't as good as Kepler since he's a little older but serviceable nonetheless. Also trade capital free which allows NY to use that capital at the trade deadline to push them over the top for a WS run?

I wonder how much Kepler's value gets lowered just by the fact that the Twins want to replace him with Gallo, a player that the Yankees didn't want? Plus why would the Yankees trade for Kepler when there are free agents out there that are ok ballplayers?

I wonder how much Kepler's value gets lowered just by the fact that the Twins want to replace him with Gallo, a player that the Yankees didn't want?

I don't think I'd trade anything for Escobar. But I mean if he was given away I'd probably be fine with him. Now I know a lot of people are talking about lateral movement here, but I think when the twins traded away Gio, I believe that they thought they'd get Correa back. So that would have put Farmer in as the Utility player. Now that it looks as though Farmer is probably the starter, keeping Miranda at 3rd and having Escobar as the Utility seems like it would be a decent fit. But again like I said I wouldn't give them anything for him. I mean the Twins probably need to reconsider doing a rebuild at this point in time. Especially if they struggle this season they probably will have to trade gray, mahle, maeda, gallo, Kepler, polanco and whoever else at the deadline so as to start over. So no point in trading any prospects for an Escobar at this point in time.

Not that this would change your mind, because it shouldn't. But using Puckett's trial as an example of why Puckett deserves a break is a little off because they tried to put a case together against Bauer and the DA threw it out because there wasn't enough evidence to convict him. So Puck actually had a trial because there was actually more evidence against Puck, or actually there were probably inconsistencies against Bauer.

To all of the people claiming that it's about Bauer and only Bauer that's a pretty big cop out from a bunch of people that pretty much compare everyone and everything in baseball on this forum. Bauer to Puckett is a fair comparison. But it's a different comparison. So for instance, had Bauer never done anything wrong in his career and he came to Minnesota, played 10 years and helped the Twins win a couple of world Series titles and then, after his career was over, he went and did some horrible acts how could you hold the Twins accountable at that point in time? I mean had Puckett done all of those terrible things in say 1989, I doubt that the Twins would have worked so hard to resign him at that point in time, they probably would have let him walk when he became a free agent. Now that we already know what Bauer has done and been accused of, the Twins already know what they would be getting into and any reasonable person would steer away from that kind of controversy. So yes they are similar, but also no because the timing is way way different. Some team out there will take a chance on him and he may implode or he might right the ship and fix his life. But it will probably be one of those teams that can afford to make a mistake like this and just move on. Like the Yankees, or the Mets, some big spending team that can easily cut bait when something doesn't seem right. I mean the Dodgers are going to do it. They took a chance, it didn't work out they walk away from it. Twins have a tough time doing those kinds of things. So there is about a zero percent chance the twins go after him and rightly so.

Trevor Bauer might be available?

Joe Mauer signed an 8 year 180 million dollar contract and almost everyone hated him for it around here during his last 3 - 4 years. And Joe is a hometown hero. Are you telling me that the people that are pissed off about not signing Correa to this really long term contract wouldn't be on here in like 4 - 5 years saying that because of Correa the Twins are not able to compete? I mean I'm ok with the big money long term deals, but I just remember all of the anger slung at Mauer in his last few years that I don't think TwinsDaily would be able to handle all of the hypocrisy had they actually signed him.

You only have 22 players? No DH and a 10 man pitching staff. You could bring in some stud relief pitchers.

Hey looks like Eduardo Escobar is probably available?? ?

Eh, this kind of stuff has happened before, the 80's and 90's steinbrenner Yankees. I even think the Mets have done this before, remember Bobby Bonilla? The McCourt Dodgers, the Arte Moreno Angels have spent big money over and over again, Pujols, Hamilton, Rendon, etc, etc, etc..... I predict the Mets will have so much pressure on them to win the WS this year that they might not even make the playoffs. I mean good luck getting past Atlanta and the Philly. Atlanta doesn't spend anywhere close to what the big market teams pay. But they are always better, now they may have cheated a little a couple of years ago with foreign signings and such, but by and large they have developed their team much better than the Mets and the Mets are the Mets, most likely they won't win the WS this year. So if you don't feel like following the Twins because you want to fish more, or you don't want to follow them because their own front office keeps screwing up the roster I'd get it. But not watching the Twins because the Mets do something stupid, and probably something that will keep them from winning big for years to come seems overboard a little. All I'm saying is that don't just assume the Mets are going to be good because of this. Always remember they are still the Mets, and they will always be second fiddle in their own town. So just relax, I know our own front office seems to always be screwing things up. But that's independent of the Mets screwing up their own team.

So SF made a mistake and resolved it by making up a fake medical issue?? I mean if that is truly the case then SF will have a tough time ever signing any free agent. I mean if Boras thinks SF did something wrong then he will convince all of his clients to go elsewhere. So I think something really came up and Correa pivoted. I sure hope SF didn't get buyers remorse.

ARod and Tom Brady were judging their new girlfriends and dozens of other very good looking women in a spur of the moment bikini contest. I have all of the photos, but in order for you to see them you must pay the caretaker fee. ?????? I couldn't resist. I'm just joking, I don't mind the caretaker fee. But when I see something I can make fun of, I just can't stop myself.

No, I didn't say that you said that. I was just throwing out there what the Yankees would probably offer. Especially after watching them bench him in the playoffs. No I didn't say that you said that at all. I've been frustrated with Kepler, but I just don't want them to give him away. That's all I was saying.

I sure hope they don't trade him for Isaiah Kiner Falafa. To me that would regulate Farmer to the bench and I think would make the Twins worse overall. But I'm not sure that all of these teams are really in on Kepler or if they are just kicking tires to see what looks good. I mean there are a lot of OF'ers laying around such as Conforto that they could get without trading anything away. That's the main reason I don't want them to trade Kepler just to trade him because these teams know there are other guys available and they have the power to really low-ball the Twins. So to me this front office probably needs to consider keeping him until at least they know if we are competitive or not, say June/July. If they aren't in the running then trade Kepler and probably about 3 or 4 other guys. Because then you'll know which teams have injuries that they are trying to fill etc..... It just seems like this front office does things to appease the fan base. I mean when they can't accomplish the big thing to appease the fans, like Wheeler, then they go out and get Donaldson. When they can't resign Correa they go and pull in Gallo. I also think that everyone wants to move on from Kepler, which I get he hasn't lived up to what he was billed as. Especially after his big 2019 season. But Kirillof and Larnach just haven't proven themselves at this point in time. And believe me, I would love for one or both of those guys to break out and hit 25 bombs and have a .800 ops but I was hoping for that with Restovich and Buchanan too. It never materialized, at least we know that with an OF of Buxton, Gallo, and Kepler the Twins will have the best fielding outfield in the AL. If Gallo and Kepler rebound just a little then they would have a chance to do something. But we will see what happens. There seems to be a lot of relief pitchers sitting around out there still also.

Yeah you could be right. But I put Garlick on the roster because they seemed to use him a lot vs left-handed pitchers?? So I kind of looked at that ability to pinch hit late in a game against a lefty reliever or to start vs some left-handed starter.

Yeah it's weird. I mean like it or not the starting pitching doesn't look bad, especially when you consider they are competing in the AL Central. But the hitting lineup looks way below average. They have some potential up and comers like Royce, Julien, maybe Walner, Kirillof, Larnach, Lee, Martin, etc.... But by the time they know weather they can depend on this new group of hitters almost all of the pitchers will be gone??? Just doesn't seem like they have been able to time things very well.

With no more moves this is my opening day roster. C: Christian Vazquez ($10.00M) 1B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Jose Miranda ($0.70M) SS: Kyle Farmer ($3.16M) LF: Joey Gallo ($11.00M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Max Kepler ($8.50M) DH: Alex Kirillof ($0.70M) 4th OF: Kyle Garlick ($0.70M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M) Utility: Trevor Larnach ($0.70M) Backup C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M) SP2: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M) SP3: Kenta Maeda ($9.00M) SP4: Joe Ryan ($0.70M) SP5: Bailey Ober ($0.70M) RP: Jhoan Duran ($0.70M) RP: Jorge Lopez ($3.00M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.70M) RP: Jorge Alcala ($1.00M) RP: Caleb Thielbar ($2.00M) RP: Jovani Moran ($0.70M) RP: Emili Pagan ($3.00M) RP: Cole Sands ($0.70M) Payroll is 24.24% under budget

Hey Eric Hosmer is available??

At least with Kepler and the ban on the shift he has a chance to do better. Gallo strikes out 200 times per year. I mean with over 600 plate appearances in 2021 Gallo didn't even break 100 hits. The shift doesnt field strikeouts.

I think with the injury history that the Twins have had the last few years that they should stay away from making a big splash and start trying to pick up competent players for depth. Pick up a good 4th Ofer instead of running Cave out there. Pick up a good middle infielder that can rotate around the diamond and find 2 or 3 competitive relief pitching arms. If they just go after depth they won't spend a bunch and when guys get hurt they won't be struggling to find someone to run out there every day for a few weeks while someone is recovering. My observation at this point is dont make a big splash just to make a big splash. I mean if Rodon was still available I would have gone after him, but since he isn't then get some depth and go with what we have projected as with our young guys.

Twins need to find out how much the Astros and Dodgers pay their guys who are in charge of player development and then offer those guys triple what they are getting paid. Then the twins won't have to trade of buy a pitcher from the free agency route. Rather they'd develop some pitchers.

I like the pin stripes, but when did we become the Marlins?

Wow, imagine Sano in Colorado?? If he can right the ship that could be an awesome opportunity for him. I just have to think, I know people have written about how he is a big human being and that he swings so hard, even mentioning 495 and 496 foot home runs. I mean I saw him swing and whiff at fastballs last year. I have to imagine that as big as he is that if he worried more about contact he'd still hit home runs. I mean 380 - 400 foot shots are still home runs? They might not look as pretty as the 490 foot variety but nonetheless go out just the same. If someone can just convince him to cut his swing down a little he will still hit home runs because of how big he is. I hope the best for him, I hope he lands in a situation like Colorado and hits 30 - 35 bombs again. I'm glad he's not with the twins anymore. At least for now, someday I might wish that he comes back.