mike8791

LA Vikes Fan: My suggestion was Larnach or Wallner plus Miranda. That's two potential starters for the Nats. I think Varland, Winder or SWR might have to b e added, but only to sweeten the deal for A Nat RP.

Would add Miranda to the list. Larnach or Wallner (I prefer wallner) + Miranda could net someone like Lane Thomas, especially if we were to throw in a #11-20 pitching prospect.

Nice, precise analysis. Up until this year(or, more precisely Aug. 1, 2022), I couldn't distinguish between the FO's failures or the coaching staff's for the team's underperformance in 2021-22. As you mention, the 2021/22 seasons foundered on the pen's weaknesses - a fact squarely on the shoulders of the FO. They refused to spend any money on FA relievers who could have appreciably improved a pen that was subpar. But at least at the last trade deadline, for the first time in their 6 years, the FO made some trades to bolster a beleagured rotation(Mahle) and pen(Lopez), which only partly made up for their perplexing trade of Rogers and failure to sign any FA but Joe Smith. Then they follow up this past season by trading for Lopez, resigning CC, signing Vazquez,and greatly improving depth thru addition of Taylor, Farmer, Solano, and Gallo(??). With this FO turnaround, yes, the heat should be on The Rock to get this team into the playoffs and end the long winless streak,. Anything less, and ownership should get rid of Rocco first, and the FO quickly thereafter. Here's hoping the classic Passive Pohlad era has ended with the elevation of Joe. No guarantees, but for the first time in ages, some hopeful signs have emerged. As SGD states, the negatives on Baldy's side - lack of fundamentals, inability to manufacture runs, slavish attention to a formulaic approach to the rotation, going along with FO's inexplicable attachment to underperforming players,e.g., Pagan, Colome, Sands, rather than putting the 26 best players on the active list, and any lack of overt leadership/fire that might inspire a team rather than go along with the "Minnesota Nice" attitude that we've seen since TK left- should leave little doubt that if 2023 shows signs of repeating the last 2 seasons, Rocco must take the fall. If the first 3 months of the new season shows no great improvement, he must be replaced. No more excuses can be accepted.

Nick, prior to ST, you had an article on risk FO was taking by not signing one or two veteran relievers with good track records. I agreed with that, but wonder why you are changing your opinion now? The risk is still great. Yes, Duran looks like a bonafide closer, but there's always the worrisome sophomore jinx that looms. I agree that Lopez is a real key to success. If he proves that his post-trade work with the Twins was a fluke, that is a big plus. But the risk is still there. After all, until last year, he was not even on anyone's radar as a closer. Which Lopez will emerge in 2023? There is a fair amount of risk here. Going down your list, Thielbar and Jax are probably now #3/4 in pen pecking order. Jax's lofty rating is worrisome; after all, he had an Inherited Runner's Scored % of 42% last year. That is not what you want to see from a late inning reliever! I,too, like Thielbar, but at age 35 can he repeat 2022 performance? There is some risk here, too, Frankly, my hope is that Alcala emerges as a solid #3 pen arm ahead of these two, but can he rebound from serious injury? As for the last 3 arms in the pen - Pagan, Hoffman and Moran - the outlook is from somewhat below average to horrible, especially with the Rock's tendency to limit his starters IP. As many have mentioned, Maeda in the pen and Ober starting looks like a plus-plus but so far, no hint of that happening. Why Pagan is anywhere near a Twins dugout is mystifying. Seems like more of Falvey's hubris at work. Hoffman is a journeyman who has never succeeded at ML level, and Moran, despite his "stuff" continues to fight control(2 walks yesterday in one inning against Rays' subs). I'm obviously looking back the past 2 years at this FO's frustrating reluctance to add better depth to the pen - a fault that cost them dearly. I hope they and you are right in this bullpen being in the top 10 as currently constituted, but I'll take the under here. A playoff team is only as good as its weakest link and the pen, as well as recurring injuries, would seem a serious impediment to the 2023 Twins' success in even getting to the playoffs.

Nice optimistic article! But this guy couldn't last w/Cubs and so far is below replacement level w/twins. If he were with a rebuilding club, then sure, he is worth a risk. But the Twins are not rebuilding. Can they risk sending this guy out at the major league level? This optimism for the pen is based on hope for improvement, not performance. Not a bad thing if he were #8 in the pecking order with the 1-7 guys fairly solid. Unfortunately, half the bullpen, as it stands today, is in a similar category - Pagan, Moran, and Lopez. This currently does not have the look of a playoff-type bullpen.

I don't get it! To their credit, the FO added some real talent in the offseason - Correa, Lopez, Gallo, Vazquez, Taylor. As many have noted, barring a rerun of injuries like last year, the team's rotation has been greatly improved, the starting lineup looks capable of improvement, and the bench is much deeper. So why stop with the bullpen.? Any team that is committed to a successful run in the postseason should aim for a shutdown bulletin - 3 late-inning relievers who can do just that, even against teams like Houston and the Yanks. As you pointed out, Nick, we currently have Duran and lots of question marks. Lopez has shown great potential, but in one half of a season. No one else in this pen has shown that shutdown ability consistently. Jax allowed 42% of inherited runners to score, Thielbar is at an age where he could fall off the cliff, and the rest are just big question marks. After seeing the last 2 seasons torpedoed by ineffective relief, is it hubris that prevents this FO from spending an extra $5 -10MM to sign an established reliever like Chafin or Moore? Would either of these two bolster a pen that includes Pagan? Defending Falvey for doing nothing about the pen because of a better second half misses the point: the current Twins bullpen is relying very heavily on one reliever, Duran, to repeat last year's performance. An injury to him would be disastrous to hope for returning to the playoffs - and winning at least one game! I hope Falvey's bet pays off, but if not, by any reasonable accountability, his failure to act here is a fireable offense.

Mike Sixel: Remove four players currently in the roster? Yikes. Who are you willing to lose to take this chance? In addition to pagan? Huh! I mentioned signing one of the top 3 FA relievers remaining, and possibly take a chance of a high risk additional signing. Falling in love with all these prospects is a sure-fire way to continue our streak of 20 straight years of Not One Playoff Victory.

I find this topic equally fascinating - and frustating. Thank you, Brock, for bringing Falvey's comments to our attention. While Falvey has demonstrated the ability to consummate trades that have helped this club, namely by adding such arms as Odorizzi, Gray, Maeda, Mahle, and now Lopez, as well as the pickup of Duran, along with some key FA signings as Cruz and (hopefully Vazquez), he has been strangely quiet on the reliever front. I say "strange" for a number of reasons: 1. In the 2021/2022 offseason, despite the obvious weaknesses in the 2021 pen and a number of highly regarded FA relievers in the 2021/2022 offseason, the FO signed exactly one FA reliever - Joe Smith, who was released mid-season. Falvey's response was the (rightly) much-maligned trade of their best reliever, Rogers, for an injury-riddled Paddock and a marginal reliever in Pagan. When Pagan flamed out, the FO belatedly traded for the O's Lopez on August 1st, well after Pagan had proven his ineffectiveness earlier, especially against Cle. Falvine's inactivity in the reliever FA market perhaps was as big a contributor to late season collapse as all the injuries. 2. The current offseason shows again the dichotomy in Falvey's planning. By adding Correa, Vazquez, Gallo and Taylor, he has given fans hope for a bounceback season in 2023. Yes, I would like to have seen the addition of someone like Abreu or Josh Bell to protect against Kirillof's history of injuries, but that ship has sailed already. Guerriel should be on Falvey's speed dial, but that is very doubtful. The rotation is the strongest in years, as is the depth. But yet again, Falvey is seemingly ignoring the pen! 3. In these days of shorter starts, especially as espoused in Minnesota, an essential to winning a division title and even winning a playoff series or two is dependent on a shutdown bullpen, requiring a minimum of 3 late-inning relievers who have consistently shown the ability to strand runners and hold a lead. The alternative of one or two aces to start in a playoff is a pipe-dream, especially with Falvey's astounding failure to develop even one shutdown starter or reliever in 6 years of drafting coupled with his aversion to sign long term contracts with starters. In 2022 we enjoyed a great season from Duran and a surprising good one from 36 year-old Thielbar. Even if we assume Duran stays durable and avoids a sophomore jinx and Thielbar can dodge father time and continue to strand runners( 22% in 2022), who else can we rely on? Yes, Jax is frequently mentioned in the same breath but his 42% of IRS rate belies this high ranking. Lopez has the potential, but not the track record, to instill confidence in late-game situations. And the rest of the "designated pen" - Alcala, Pagan, Moran, Magill - are big question marks either due to injuries, lack of big league experience, or uneven big league performance. For those Twin fans maintaining that the bullpen makeup should stay in flux to give some blocked minor league starters, like Winder, Varland, SWR, Sands, etc., a chance to move up to the MLB pen by opening day, my question to you is: why would a FO already spending $150MM, the largest budget in team history, risk blowing the season(again) on what looks like an average, at best, bullpen? Amazingly, there are still several FA relievers out there(Chafin, Will Smith, Matt Moore) who are good(not sure) bets to raise the bullpen ceiling. Sign at least one of these 3 and maybe a higher risk bet on someone like Britton or Hand. Adding no more than $5-10MM a year on bolstering the pen is the kind of move a contending team should make. If Falvey is serious about going with what he has, that is a much bigger risk than signing 1 or 2 FAs for less than $10MM. If this team fails to make the playoffs again, Failvey should be fired. No more excuses!!

Got to join the nay chorus here! Sale(or Wacha, Cueto or any other #4/5-type starter) is not what we need. With a relatively healthy squad, we need a young, cost-controlled starter with #1 or 1A potential to pair with Ryan. Don't forget, 3 of our 5 potential starters' contracts expire after this season. We've had enough retreads during the Falvey regime to choke a horse. Guys like Sale, et.al., will not move the needle, I'm afraid. Finding a young, controllable pitcher will not be easy, but we have the excess personnel, including some minor leaguers, to put a very enticing package together. Sure, we might have to cough up one of Lee, Lewis, Martin, or even Miranda, plus one of out top 2 pitching prospects, and one of Kepler, Larnach or Kirillof, but isn't it worth the risk to solidify the top of the rotation for several years? I would feel much better aboiut contending with a Glasnow, May or even Montas pairing up with Ryan.

NO, raising the floor should not be a priority at this time. Agree, FO whiffed badly on not bolstering the lineup with guys like Abreu or Hill, This offense looks average at best unless everything breaks right - limited injuries, bounce-back seasons, etc. I'd rather the FO concentrate on adding at least one needle-mover than someone like McCutcheon. That's a very tough job now at this stage of the offseason but the Wonder Boys put themselves in this spot. Nibblin' around the edges is not the ticket to restoring fan interest..

This has been said many times so forgive me for saying it again: what the Twins lack is a solid #1/#2 to pair up with Ryan for several years. As things stand for 2023 the Twins rotation has a number of #2/3/4s in their rotation, but only for 2023. Lopez is not an ace-in-waiting, which is why Miami is willing to trade him. If you are going to give up solid assets like Arraez, Kepler, Larnach, Kirillof, etc., go for broke or just add pitching depth like Wacha, Cueto, etc. to supplement a fairly solid, but injury-prone staff. If you think this is a make or break year for the FO(which it should be) they need to think big. Unfortunately, they failed to add much to a depleted lineup that lost 2 of their 3 top run producers. Picking up a Gallo is a pure crap shoot and there aren't any other impact bats readily available. So the only way to move the needle now is to overpay for a young, contollable pitcher like Gallen, May, Gausman, who can slot in for several years as a stopper. The Twins now have excess at corner OF, mid infield, and yes, even catcher. Adding in one or two of our top 10 prospects will also be necessary, but that's whats needed to give meaning to the word "contender".

Thanks Nick for your usual lucid explanations! While all of us might bicker with the exact final rankings, I don't think anyone can seriously quarrel with your logic. I'm particularly struck by your high rating on Ober as being astute. As with most on this list, questions on his health are legitimate, but he's shown enough to rank only behind Ryan in importance to a solid rotation in the next several years. Agree completely. And if I polish my crystal ball, I can envision your top 5 including Buxton, Lewis, Lee, and Polanco, as well as Ryan. These rankings would highlight several important points that I hope the FO will be considering in the trade mart: 1. Including Ober in any trade for another starter makes no sense. 2. Arraez looks like a solid sell high candidate, partly because he has no set position, does not fit as a typical power-hitting 1B/DH and plays at a position of strength in the current org. 3.While the rotation looks better on paper than it has in years, trading Gray or Mahle just subtracts from the 2023's playoff capabilities. Unless this FO truly intends to forego playoff contention this year, they should not be looking to weaken what is now a certain strength of the team. The only case where this would make any sense is if their inclusion in a trade resulted in a.) adding a #1 potential starter to pair with Ryan(see below) ; or 2.) adding a sorely needed cleanup hitter so lacking in today's lineup(relying on Gallo here is a fool's errand). 4. With no top-of-the-rotation pitchers in the organization except Ryan, trading for a high upside starter seems the best use of current trade assets. While it might take an Arraez, Kepler, one of Lee, Julien or Lewis, and Varland or SWR to grab someone like May from LA, Darvish from SD, Gausman from TB, or Gallen from ARI, they should be looking at this type of addition now. Such an addition would be much more important than grabbing an upgrade to Farmer for a short period of time. And one last thought. If trading Jeffers to land an ace-type starter should be strongly considered, as Vazquez is clearly the regular and addition of a defensive-oriented backup is not a high hurdle.

Can't quarrel with your list, Ted, but with one big cautionary note on Jax. Before he can be designated a late pen go-to-arm, he must make significant strides on probably the most significant stat for any reliever - Inherited Runs Scored(IRS). His 2022 rate of 42% was a tic below Duffy's at 44%, and higher than the much-lamented Pagan at 38%. Compare these to Thielbar(14%) and Duran at 22%. Which is why this FO needs to correct their gross negligence of last offseason by signing at least two back end relievers from a fairly flush FA stockpile still remaining. As things stand now, this is still an average pen at best on a team much too dependent on heavy usage of relievers in every game. But that's another story altogether!

Nice article Lou! You've summarized the current state of the Twins pipeline succinctly : and then there were two. In the 7 years of the Falvey reign, his pipeline has turned into a trickle. Other than the 2 mentioned, there is no one else in the org. who looks primed to step up and fill a starting position in '23 or '24. And while SWR and Varland are good prospects, they have not yet been rated "elite" by any of the scouting services. When you add the fact that not one drafted pitcher by Falvey has developed into a late-inning stopper, this whole pitching development program looks more and more like System Failure 2.0. The one bright side to these 7 years has been their ability to fill some of the holes by trade. Starting with trades/FA pickups like Odorrizi, Pineda, Maeda, Ryan, Gray, and Duran, the FO has shown the ability to unearth some pretty good talent. The problem is there is no clear ace on the current roster, nor do Varland/SWR look the part. After having punted again in the FA sweepstakes, the regime is now counting on improvement by trade or bottom feeding in the FA market. The problem is the Twins have 3 of their starters coming off the books next year, leaving the cupboard bare(unless they are willing to sign Gray and Mahle to bigger, long term contracts). What are the chances of that with this risk-averse FO? So what sort of a trade might provide the long-sought "ace" who could be expected to be a stopper? On Zone Coverage, you introduced 3 trade targets who, more than the Lopez's of the world, have more top-side potentiaL: Gausman(TB), May(LAD), or Montas(NYY). Are any of these 3 really available and can we put together a package that might nab one of them without sacrificing top prospects like Lee, Lewis, SWR and/or Varland? Would you put Ober in a package or is his value to the Twins not worth the risk.? Your ideas are intriguing but are they at all realistic? Looking forward to hearing your ought processes.

Before we look at budget concerns, let's look at the 3 FAs the Twins could have signed; Rodon, Abreu, and Contreras. Yes, they would have vaulted the Twins over budget($160MM vs. 140-150 expected). But if this team was serious about contending again in 2023, how do you feel about a lineup that included Abreu and Contreras and a staff ace with Rodon? Ya think this team would be a favorite for AL Central title, at the very least. Instead, this FO foolishly tied themselves to a CC signing that was never to be and in so doing, blew their chances for adding needle-movers. Now, signing Vazquez instead of Contreras was not the killer, but missing out on a true ace and a middle-of-the-lineup guy sorely missing at present(unless you think Joey is the answer) seems to have sunk this team for next season. Having missed out on a very good FA class, the talk is now of improvement by trades. While this FO has done fairly well in the trade mart, does anyone think they can pick up difference makers without giving up same in guys like Arraez, Polanco, Gray or Mahle? Color me sceptical. The one thing the FO should be doing from here on out is fortifying an average at best pen. After Duran, what shutdown relievers can we count on? The 3 FAs who could really have helped, Jansen, Robertson, and Kimbrel are gone and with this FOs aversion to invest in established relievers, do we think next year's pen will be much improved over 2022? Where we sit now, if the FO passes on reliever additions, they will be just as guilty of malfeasance as last year - a big reason we failed to advance to the playoffs. Counting on injured players to produce solidly next year seems to be this FOs MO and with that continuing mindset, 2023 should mercifully be their last year in the TC.

I'll have what Nick's drinking. Really, why is everyone so down on Farmer? He is a perfectly acceptable fill-in until one of the rooks is ready, that is providing the Wonder Boys fill in several gaping holes that still exist.

Might as well chime in here even though I have no personal anecdotes to share. I'm sure Jim is a good person at heart, but he never exhibited any sign of leadership, unless you regard his statement of "a total systems failure" as leadership. True, it needed to be said, but why did it take him so long(six years after our last playoff appearance) to say this? If Joe is truly representative of a new generation and new thinking, here is what I would like to hear from him: "I am here to win! Thirty one years of no championship is unacceptable. As is 19 straight consecutive playoff losses. Falvey has had six + years to right the ship. As we go into the seventh year I have directed him that 2023 is a must win year. If he needs an expanded budget, he will get it.. The Twins are not a big market team but we are committed to bringing a winner to the TC and it is on Derek and company to deliver this year. He will have ownership's full backing to succeed. If he does not, changes will be forthcoming. This is my pledge to the loyal and long-suffering Twins fan base: no excuses for failure!" I'm not holding my breath, after all he has the Pohlad genes coursing thru his body, but at least now there is some hope that this ownership group is taking winning seriously , for a change. At least, one can hope

Nick "If you wanna play that "what if" game you'll never sign an elite free agent in the entire existence of your franchise. They'd be betting on their ability to develop cost-efficient pitching, but I'm okay with that. Even at a 150M payroll, I'm good with allocating $55M on two up-the-middle superstars in their prime in Correa and Buxton and building around them." Nick, while I can agree with your statement on playing the "what if" game, you are missing Steve's point here. With some glaring holes in the lineup, the pen, and perhaps top of the rotation, there is no way the Twins should be putting all their eggs in two baskets. $40MM to Correa precludes any other significant upgrades with a $140MM budget. We had Correa and Buxton(and his standard diminished playing time) in 22. How did that work out.? And has this FO shown the ability to develop an internal pitching pipeline? Yes, Ryan and Duran are very promising, but who else, after 6 years of drafting and development, can be counted on? And yet, you want to rely on this FO's track record? Concentrating on resigning Correa is a fool's errand unless it is combined with ownership's pronouncement that they are committed to breaking our playoff drought by giving the FO a clear directive that the only goal of 2023 is to win or else, and back this statement up by raising the budget to a $160-180MM range this offseason. I would have zero expectation of Jim Pohlad ever uttering such words, but there is always hope that the new generation will be different. C'mon Joe, let's pony up and get serious for a change! Twenty years without one playoff victory has made this franchise a laughingstock.

I still contend that the Twins lack dependable middle-of-the-order bats who have a strong clutch gene, evidenced by their RBI production. The Twins are sorely lacking that and would continue to be even if they sign CC(note: look at last year's run production). Abreu was the perfect fit as a 1B/DH and cleanup hitter. But for a 3 year/$20MM/yr contract, I can see why the Twins would pass. Time will tell who's right here, but without a significant bump in the budget to $160-$180MM(are you listening Joe?) too many holes would be left unfilled. Yet the need still exists for an offensive upgrade. Two( and preferably 3) of the following should be hard targets for the FO: Contreras, Haninger, Bell, e.g. The Twins should make very competitive offers for at least 2 of these guys, trade Kepler in a package for a proven starter(Lopez would work nicely) and have money left over for a couple of proven arms for late inning relief. And if Joe really wants a playoff team, he should up the budget to be able to sign one of the top 4 SSs. Now that would be a wonderful Xmas present for all us suffering Twins fans!!

Spot on Nick! I've watched Abreu here in Chicago for years. He is Mr. Clutch, as you noted, great leadership abilities, and an iron man, to boot. For a team with supposed above-average offense in 2022, 66 rbis to lead the team is a joke. All the stat heads can sneer at RBIs but someone has to drive in the runs when the opportunity exists. That's the definition of a cleanup hitter - a position sorely lacking in 2022. Abreu would be a great replacement for Cruz! All this hype about resigning Correa is just mystifying. For a bit more than the price of Correa we could probably sign Abreu, Contreras, and Haninger - and having an adequate starting SS in Farmer. In any case the Twins have at least $50MM to spend - enough to sign these 3. While I think Rodon should be our #1 priority, the likelihood of this particular FO running that "risk" of adding him for a minimum of $130MM over 5 yrs. seems remote. The offense needs attention and signing at least 2 of the 3 named above would go a long way to catapulting this lineup into a top 3rd in the league. With trading some of our excess like Kepler, maybe Martin and one of our younger starters like Ober, Winder, etc,, they should be able to land another front line starter, albeit not an ace. The offseason is one of choices. With all the current holes in the rotation, the pen, and the lineup, I would hate to be in Falvey's shoes this offseason. He needs to pull an inside straight to get this team back into legitimacy for the playoffs. But this is where he's put himself after 7 years of failure to build a pipeline.

Practically, Scenario A makes the most sense, which is why this was a smart transaction. Farmer is a perfectly good interim fit at SS until someone is ready to take over full time. I liked Urshela as much as anyone but with Miranda needing playing time, Gio was expendable. With the usual limited budget and many holes to fill, signing one of the big 4 SS would probably yield no better than a .500 club(see 2022). With the money "saved" the Twins should be able to fill gaping holes at the top of the rotation, at catcher and adding more offense to the OF/DH. Filling one of these open slots by trade instead of FA should allow for bolstering the bullpen, as well, Their failure to do that last offseason was a principal reason for their late season collapse. In a Pohlad-less world, sure, it would be great to see payroll in the $160-180MM range, enabling a top 4 FA SS to be added, but that's a pipe dream, so let's just hope the whiz kids see the way clear to adding quality at a number of positions rather than one big name.

Sorry, if the Twins are going to build a competitive pen, no one on this list should be counted on, at least in 2023. And if you think the Twins pen is solid as of now, look again. Aside from Duran(who has one great season), there is not another reliever on the roster who we can count on for the last 3 innings of a close ballgame. As many have noted, Lopez may or may not be a flash in the pan, and yet he is arguably next in line to Duran. Jax is way overrated, as evidenced by his low ranking in the all important IRS ranking. Thielbar pitched well but is by no means a shut-down reliever. The rest are all mediocre long shots. Having whiffed badly last season in the FA reliever market, the FO must step up and sign at least two of the top of the 2023 FA reliever class, e.g., Suarez/Robertson/Jansen/ Kimbrel if the Twins are going to take a big step up in competitiveness. Argue who is best going forward, but this is a major hole that must be filled externally.

Nice article, Cody. If the Twins are going to win in '23, guys like Garlick, Celestino, Cave, etc. should not be around by next spring. We need a solid RH OF with good enough defense to slot in at a corner. Trading from minor league depth does not seem realistic. That ship has sailed, leaving FA the only way to go. Guys like Larnach and Kirillof cannot be counted on and even if these two erstwhile stars can overcome injuries and previous erratic perrformances, relying on either at thisd point is more a dream than reality. Wallner is a possibility but has defensive deficiencies, bats LH, and has far too slim of a major league record to be counted on. The good news is that corner FA OFs are usually plentiful so help is available here if the FO takes off their rose-colored glasses and recognizes the need for improvement..

Go big or go home, Nick. Right now the Twins have 2 reliable starters and same number of relievers. The FO should be tarred and feathered for this state of affairs. Just unbelievable they have not acquired one decent reliever after last year's s....storm. Getting Gray was a plus but if they really were serious about contention this year, Bundy/Archer?? Really. But Nick is proposing they go for it with 5 trades within the week. Let's step back and see what they really need to hold on to the division and yes, even win a playoff series. First and foremost, they need 2 legit starters. Begin with a #1.(neither Ryan or Gray can be depended on to shut down a playoff team in a Game 1. Montas, Castillo, Rodon or Lopez would do, followed by a pickup of Blake Snell, now a clear choice over Thor. Two top arms for the pen are just as important. Guys like Robertson or Bard would be a nice start but there are a number of other relievers out there who would slide right in back of Duran. Finally, a veteran backup catcher would be nice but not the priority of the other 2 groups. The Twins have excess offense players, like Sano, Steer, Waller, Gordon, and loads of hi and lo-minor pitchers to offer. Do I think this FO is capable of shooting for the moon here? No, but it is possible given our excess OF and IF depth at the minor and major league levels. Hell, what was the sense of signing Correa if you don't follow through with trades for a first place team. But no nibblin' this time! Go big or.....

I've always loved Thor but sadly, the 2022 version seems a pale shadow of his former self. I think most of us want this FO to go all in for a #1 or 2 starter by Aug. 2. To do otherwise would not only be irrational after signing Correa and trading a #1 draft pick for Gray, but a slap in the face to Twin players and fans. The idea of looking for perhaps a top of rotation guy who might be undervalued is a good one and squares with this org's MO. Thor is not that guy, but perhaps Snell or Rodon is. Snell has been a big disappointment, but recent starts have been encouraging and his stats are still well above average. Most importantly, he is on a team with surplus pitching but lacking offense. I would think Sano would be of interest to the Pods, providing we throw in some $. Darvish would be a better add, but doubt the Pods can afford to let him go. The Twins whiffed on Rodon when the strike ended. No surprise there. This FO is risk averse, but Rodon has proven himself this year so the risk level is less now and the uposide higher. Yes, unlikely SF would want to unload him, but now that he is able to opt out of his contract, the possibility of a trade could be more enticing for a team with a high salary structure. He would likely cost much less than Castillo or Montas in terms of prospects but would fit in above Ryan and Gray in our shaky rotation. This FO has focused on pitching retreads and the results speak for themselves, yet somehow this team is into the running for a playoff berth. Go big or go home!