dxpavelka

Then they'll never trade him. Lee, Duran AND one of Arraez, Kirilloff or Gordon? I can see two of those three and lower level and a lower level lottery ticket type but not three of those five. And he doesn't have that type of value as long as they have Kirk. But again, our inability or unwillingness to move prospects to fill an obvious need will continue to keep us from filing those needs and ultimately from competing.

This team scored less than 700 runs last year. Until that number goes to over 800 they don't have too much of anything that can carry a stick to the dish.

So you're thinking Toronto views him as Herschel Walker......

I get that Jansen is the most likely to be traded but they've also got Kirk who is 24, an All-Star and a Silver Slugger winner which means they MIGHT be a little less dependent on Moreno. Jansen's a nice player but probably peaked last year. I'd also believe it's less a matter of having the prospects / players to get Moreno and more a matter of being willing to part with what it might take. We've ALWAYS got prospects. They don't always pan out. AND we don't have any catching anywhere in the system even close to what Moreno could become. If you want to go for it, go for it. Go big or stay irrelevant.

Fortunately, injuries are seldom an issue for the Twins.

Jansen's a nice player but if you're gonna deal with Toronto let's get Gabriel Moreno. If you're gonna get something, get something.

Now that Abreu has signed with Houston we may be overlooking what may end up being the key aspect of this story: The fact that a guy 3 years removed from being the AL MVP has been removed from the lineup of a division foe. We didn't get him and whether we seriously pursued him or not will likely remain only the topic of online discussion. But the fact is that the Sox no longer have him. He may have had a down year in 2022 (although an .824 OPS would have stood tall in a number of lineups--namely the local 9) and that may or may not be a precursor of future performance but that down year almost certainly contributed to a consensus division favorite finishing with a .500 record. The fact that they won't be getting him back bothers me little.

Not sure that signing a guy who projects as a backup catcher who will not hit better than the guy he replaced just because he hits from the left side of the plate screams like a move that HAS to be made. Especially when we seem hell bent on becoming LESS left handed in totality.

8 years, $275 Million. Opt outs at 2 and 5. Structure it any way you want. Even if that guarantees he opts out.

Not a lineup of all stars and best hitters in the game. Lineup of the best RBI guys in the game. Which is what makes them all-stars and best hitters. If Judge had 70 RBIs instead of 134 he wouldn't be an all-star OR one of the best hitters in the game.

Realmuto is the best RBI producing catcher in the game. Gotta have a catcher. The point is not that elite hitters have high RBI totals, the point is the we need to have elite hitters. Abreu would help that.

Hasn't been a guy wearing a Twins uniform in two years that has contributed to winning baseball. New uniforms won't change that.

Actually my lineup is the the top 6 RBI guys in baseball plus Lindor (top RBI SS) Realmuto (top RBI C). I put Turner at 2B but wouldn't miss a beat if I put Cronenworth there instead. You made my point for me. The most complete players in the game are also the top RBI guys. Abreu would almost certainly, (unless possibly we found a week to keep Correa) slot in as our best RBI guy AND best overall offensive player, barring a HUGE leap from Miranda and I'd be just fine any of those things. We scored less than 700 runs last year. If that number ain't over 800 all the debates on this site about pitching become meaningless.

Most important word in your whole statement is the smallest one. The "if" in the statement about Kirilloff's wrist.

Not to mention Gordon batting anywhere and that one of both of Larnach or Kirilloff will likely be on the IL by mid April.

When I look at those options at first I see three. 1. A guy who might not be able to play the field at 3rd. 2. A guy who maybe shouldn't play the field anywhere. 3. A guy who can't stay on the field. Bring on the old guy.

Kind of funny. You, and many others, describe RBIs as a stat of opportunity and then decry the Twins lack of taking advantage of opportunity. RBI is the first thing I look for when it comes to player production. Yeah, you gotta have opportunities to get them but you also have to take advantage of those opportunities. I'll take the big RBI boppers every time. I'll go to war with a lineup of Judge, Alonzo, Ramirez, Goldschmidt, Tucker, Alvarez, Lindor, Turner & Realmuto any day of the week and you can pick whichever one you want using whatever metric you want. I'll bet on mine to beat yours.

What actually happened was he won a World Series the first year after we let him go. Atlanta even traded for him. We let him go to save $8 Million. I'm old enough to remember when fans would have ripped ownership a new one for moving on from a guy to save $8 Million. Didn't realized I was dealing with a Pohlad Pocket Protector. Given the injury issues with our OFs the last two years we would have had plenty of need / use for him. He likely would have out-performed much of the putrid sludge we've run out there. You ASSUME that what he did in 270 plate appearances last year is the same as he would have done here had that plate appearance number been 470. His production could have been totally different. You know what the say about ASSUMing. I would ASSUME that had he played here the last two years he would have hit better than the folks we actually rolled out there. You can ASSUME whatever you want and I can ASSUME whatever I want and neither of will ever be proven right or wrong. What I CAN PROVE, however, is that in the two years he's been gone is that this ball club has hugely under performed. Been listening to folks all season telling me about the Timberwolves lacking heart this season. I tell folks the same thing about the Twins since Eddie's been gone and they act like that 's not a thing. You can't measure it and you can't see it. But you can sure see when it's not there. Hasn't been there since Rosario left. Won't get better if Correa leaves. But, hey, if you're OK with the last two years, who am I to disagree?

Dude. Nick Gordon was our best LF. 'nuff said. That's how you miss the post season in the two years since Rosario left and Rosario wins a World Series.

I'd be ecstatic if this was the year he played as many games as Buxton does. Larnach too. Then maybe we could get a read on what they might actually be able to contribute. If not, we may need to start looking at other options. And I'd have to continue to harp on the short-sightedness of moving of from Rosario when we did. Especially if we double down and do the same thing with Kepler this year just to get more right handed.

Rodon will be off the market LONG before Correa moves.

If I'm making a deal with Toronto for a catcher, I'd rather have Gabriel Moreno. They just might do it considering, Alejandro Kirk's an All-Star and a Silver Slugger winner and only 24 years old. Moreno's gonna cost but would be worth the price considering the dearth of high end catching in the system.

Teams also have the right to re-sign said players before they reach free agency. Says so in the CBA. Typically, if they wish to retain the player, they make an offer they deem to be in line with his value to their team.

8 years, $275 Million is what it's gonna take at minimum on both--Unless it drags into March. Pay that now and get it done. Opt out shouldn't bother anyone if you honestly believe that Lewis, Martin & Lee are viable future options.

And yet the Ms feel they can do better..