mike8791

As others have noted, kudos to your well thought out proposal. You are a welcome addition to TD! Living in Chicago, I have particular appreciation for Rodon. He was arguably the best starter in the AL until his injury. Yes, he is higher risk because of his injury history, but he looked his old self in his late September return and would be a true #1 candidate for years to come. Sox have said they want to promote Kopech to the rotation, which might lessen their desire to resign Rodon. The Twins should go hard after this guy. He is a stud. Less enthusiastic about Rodriguez as #2 and Kepler trade. If Rooker and Larnach are starting corner OFs, our defense suffers, as does our lineup. Rooker is Sano-lite and Larnach might need a full year in the minors. So why trade Kepler for top prospects when the chances for landing one young starter from either Miami or Oakland(to name two) with a package of Arraez, Jeffers, and one or two of our top 10-20 prospects would improve the 2022 immeasurably more than add to our burgeoning prospect list? Lastly, your pen is too shaky for my taste. Hembree, Jax and Dobnak are filler material. We need help at the top. Tepera would be a nice add but he has never shown shut-down closer stuff here in Chicago. Must add an arm like Knebel, Graveman, Iglesias to offset continued uncertainty with Rogers, Duffey and Alcala. Bottom line, no way the Twins can have a $130MM ceiling and be realistic contenders without a lot of luck - from injuries to very rapid prospect advances to markedly improved coaching. Money won't completely mitigate such risks, but would almost certainly help to fill the inevitable holes inherent in a 162 game season.

If Cobb is best this FO can come up with, then the one positive should be their quick exit from the TC. a year from now. This team needs 2 top guys plus a Pineda-type(who I would prefer over Cobb in 3 spot). I have little faith in this org's ability to swing for the fences and a Cobb addition would unfortunately confirm my scepticism. With promises of a return to contention in 2022 and at least $50-60MM to spend, the FO/Pohlad have no excuses this time around, especially with the high quality of FA starters and some enticing trade candidates.

Nick, thanks for this very controversial proposal, but it sounds more like a rebuild, given the fact you have lost 3 of our top 4 offensive players with no immediate return. Why with all our supposed good prospects now do we add more? Wouldn't it be better to trade some prospects in a package for at least one young emerging starter rather than two middle rotation guys like E Rod and Kluber? Like addition of Iglesias but would rather keep Rogers and instead add two relievers from the group of Knebel, Tepera or maybe Yates. That is a major boost to a very middlin' pen. Baez addition would bring a spark, to the SS position, but as others have said, he is now an all or nothing hitter, probably more like Sano. Why not just keep Sano.? Your lineup overall is much weaker than present with 4 potential question marks: Jeffers, Kepler, Larnach and Miranda. Best part of your proposal is going big for Ray. We need an ace to be a factor in the playoffs, no matter what the cost. And bringing in a strong #2 starter via trade and a solid #3 guy(perhaps Thor or even Pineda) would greatly improve this team's chances for contention in 2022, assuming we do not lose 3 of our top 4 hitters. Sure I'd like to add a stud SS but without adding to your $130MM budget ceiling don't see how that's possible given our glaring holes in the rotation. If Pohlad is honest about a quick return to contention, he better be open to raising that "ceiling" so many on TD are fixating on. And I have to join the chorus, adding a big NO on trading our one true star, Buxton. This is not a contending team w/o him.

The reality is that none of us know his trade value, incl. ML Trade values, but their current rating for Arraez is 33. Adding Jeffers @ 20 and someone like Canterino(10) you have a "trade" for Lopez who currently has a 65 value. I would think that would be an enticing package for the Fish. This trade makes sense for Twins who have Garver as #1 catcher, Arraez without a clear position and Canterino a very promising but totally unproven prospect. Lopez does not have a long track record but by all reports, has the makings of a strong #2 starter who is controlled for several years. This is exactly the kind of trade the Twins Brain Trust should be all over!

Terry, thanks for reemphasizing need for signing 3 pitchers who can really move the needle for this team. You've shown how a $130MM budget is inadequate for acquiring such talent. $140MM is a floor for contention in 2022. As to your selections, Ray would be a clear ace on this team, but likely to get a QO. With a #8 first round draft pick, just can't see FO pulling the trigger. Ditto with Rodon and probably Gausman. Stroman looks like best bet but it would take out-bidding some big market teams to land him. Alcantara would be a fine addition but Twins could not afford to give up 3 starting offensive players. They must be prepared to give up Garver or Jeffers(I would think the fish would be more interested in the younger Jeffers) and either Arraez(better) or Kepler plus one of our top pitching prospects. Too many questions in the OF(even if Bux resigned) to trade Kepler, Celestino better as reserve OF, not a starter. Lopez might be more attainable. And finally, Pineda would be a solid #3, at least for a year, but would prefer a trade for someone like Gallen or Manaea with higher upside. Thor would be a great fallback signing, but again, question of QO.

The two assumptions: 1.) return to contention in 2022 and 2.) a $130 MM budget limit are incompatible. Your projected roster is proof of that, IMO. Yes, you have filled the rotation with 3 veteran starters, but none are front-of-rotation types, except possibly Verlander and he is 39, coming off a serious injury and is a one year signing. Why not spend that money(or slightly more) on a longer term starter, like Rodon, Ray or Stroman? Jon Gray might be a solid #3, but I'd prefer a more known quantity like Pineda who would probably cost less and for two rather than 3 years. And why give up Kepler for one year of Manaea, a pitcher probably no better than Pineda(at least for next year)? Would much rather put together a package for Alcantara or Lopez, two young, promising pitchers who could anchor this staff for 3-5 years. Marlins are desperate for a catcher and OF help. We have "excess" in both areas, together with some expendable top pitching prospects, Jeffers, Arraez/Kepler, plus a top prospect not named Ryan or Ober seems fair. I would give up Kepler reluctantly, as two holes in the OF would handicap the rebound, but for of either of these 2 would be worth it. The pen needs more help than you show. Yates could be a great turnaround bargain, but certainly can't be counted on to return to his former closer level. Neris is no bargain if he continues his falloff from his earlier success. We can and should do better. Certainly think two shutdown types are required on a contending team - one that might even advance a round in the playoffs. Rogers and Duffey are good but their recent decline(as noted by their % Inherited Runners Scored) necessitates addition of at least one shutdown reliever. My preferences : Ryan Tepera and Corey Knebel, two FAs who shouldn't break the bank, that is, if Kimbrel is unavailable. And, yes, Buxton must be resigned if talk of returning to relevance in 2022 is really the goal. You list his compensation package at $14MM, but since the two sides reportedly agreed to base of 7 years@$80MM, chances are you're looking in the $20-25MM range for 2022, depending on GP. So it looks like payroll should be a minimum of $140MM - and that would be tight. Nick, your plan for 2022 could work if 2 or 3 of our pitching prospects were contributing above league averages in 2022/23 and beyond. I just think with this org's history of pitching development failures, that would be like pulling an inside straight. Maybe 1 or 2 of the current crop could mature into dependable starters, but I'd rather hedge my bets by having at least two outside acquisitions that have a higher probability of being an elite pitcher than Ober, Ryan, et. al.

Buy Low = Continued Mediocrity. I'll pass!!

Agree with Knebel. Do not want another project, i.e., Bradley. Get Ryan Tepera or Graveman though the latter is going to be pricey. What Twins really need is a hard thrower who can get the K with men on base. Other than Duran, no one in the minors fits this description, nor do present bullpen arms, with possible exception of Alcala. Twins' failure to date to develop such arms is major factor in the pen's horrific inherited runs scored %. That has to change!!

Nice work - you have some interesting ideas, particularly picking up Corey Knebel as a potential closer. Add Ryan Tepera to the pen and you've markedly improved a glaring weakness. And you're on the right track in trading Garver to Miami for rotation help, but there's no reason to shoot so low(not that Sanchez is not a top prospect, but we have enough prospects). We need top-of-the rotation starters, like Alcantara or Lopez, while the Marlins need OF help in addition to catching. What about Garver(or Jeffers who I think would garner more interest from a young team on the rise) and Kepler(or Arraez). Throw in one of our top 10 prospects or Larnach, and I think the fish would bite. Can't get too excited about Gray as our top FA signing. Instead of a pricey FA SS like Seager, spend the money on a Rodon or Ray or Stroman or Gausman. We can fill the shortstop hole with a good fielding SS for a fraction of the price Seager would cost, leaving $25MM/yr for one of the four listed above. Either Thor, Gray or Pineda(in that order) would slot in as a solid #3, giving us one of the stronger rotations in the league. Of course, if the FO has no intention of contending in 2022, then your plan is more likely(sans Seager) but do you really think the 2023 Twins would contend for the playoffs? I just don't have enough faith in this org's prospect development program to count on at least 3 of our young pitchers to all be positive contributors in a 2023 playoff push. You have to remember that our lineup for the next 2-3 years is competitive with Bux, JD, Sano, Polanco, Kirillof forming a pretty solid core. Why waste this core in another rebuild?

Nick, nice summary as usual!! To put some meat on the bones, would suggest we need answers to 3 critical questions: 1. What dollars are available to spend this offseason? Glee-man in The Athletic laid out a scenario where the amount ranges from $45-60MM, depending on whether budget is $125MM or $140MM(which he posits as likely upper limit). 2. Is ownership really committed to contending again in 2022? If taken at face value, budget had better be in $140-160MM range to come close to this goal. 3. What is FO position on Buxton - resign, trade or status quo? Can anyone logically argue that Buxton is not the key piece to rebounding in 2022? If resigned, likely that Gleeman's $8MM amount for Buxton is far too low. As most on this post have noted, Bux's incentives likely to push his 2022 salary to $20MM + if resigned. So let's assume available dollars are in $50MM range. Now let's review your 6 key questions, keeping in mind that the FO's sole goal this offseason is have a contending team next year: 1. Lewis is a big unknown. Not only because he's missed 2 straight years, but because his ability to handle SS is questionnable, at least from most scouting reports available. This leaves Twins uncertain at this critical position, so FA would seem the way to go, but if the Twins play their usual waiting game, chances are they will not be able to fill this position long term; instead, a second level, but good fielding SS who can stay for 2-3 years is much more likely. There simply is no one in Twins farm system that appears anywhere near ready. As Nick points out, this second tier is a big dropoff from first, but offense should withstand an average batter, good fielder at this critical position if current offensive keys like Donaldson, Sano, Bux, Polanco and Garver remain. 2. Pretty obvious that Twins need to add three top rotation pitchers in offseason. Pineda would seem logical as a #3. The top two spots can be filled by FA and trade. They should shoot high for a stud. Ray, Rodon, Stroman - appear best bets if they do not get QO. Guys like Thor or Gausman have more injury risk, hence lower cost. In either case, for the FO to be successful in acquiring a front end arm, they would have to strike fast at onset of FA instead of waiting around the edge of the pool to see who is left. Figure $20-25MM alone. The #2 arm should be a fast developing, young established major leaguer like Lopez or Alcantara. Such an arm would require an overpay, but Twins have excess in the catching dept.(Jeffers), in mid IF(Arraez, Martin or even Lewis)) or OF(Kepler) plus some good young pitching prospects not named Ryan or Ober. I would not hesitate to include a Balozavic, Duran, Strotman or Woods-Richardson if one was needed to clinch a deal(I would not give up Winder or Canterino who look like the highest ceiling pitching prospects now). 3. Yes, Rogers should remain as a key cog in pen, but his inability to keep inherited runners from scoring should preclude him being the closer. The FO obviously felt the same way, hence signing and starting Colome as the closer. So addition of one shut down closer seems a necessary add for a contender. Sure, a guy like Alcala could move into that position eventually but do you base your pen's success on a guy whose HR rate is almost 2 per 9 inn? Kimbrel at $15MM might become available; if not, there's a second tier incl. Melancon, Iglesias, and Jansen, who should slot in nicely as a closer-type. 4. The rest of the pen showed improvment, albeit in the later part of 2021 when the team was far out of contention. But guys like Duffey, Alcala, and Thielbar look solid enough, along with some newer arms like Moran, Coulombe and perhaps Duran to reduce number of needed outside additions. Still, I would bring in one or two low cost FAs to build much-needed depth. In any case, other than a closer, the pen should not take more than $5MM to upgrade. 5. The DH should be a rotational position, filled by position players as Donaldson, Sano, and Garver who need occasional days off. The hope is Miranda, Kirillof, and a FA catcher would be competent fill-ins for these guys. 6. We've already talked about Buxton. If he is unsigned or traded, all ownership/FO credibility on contention in next couple years is a pipe dream. That's how important Buxton is to near term success of Twins. Looks like a $150MM budget, bolstered by a couple of shrewd trades could vault us back into the discussion. Building a championship team will take longer because its formation is largely dependent on successful development of prospects into major league contributors. And a few lucky breaks along the way wouldn't hurt!!

Have to disagree on Baez after watching him play here on the north side for many years. Two reasons for a negative vote: 1.) On offense he is an all or nothing batter, K or HR; we need contact hitters! and 2.) love his spirit but not sure he's a good fit with laid-back, dispassionate Twins. Of course, he would be an upgrade over Simmons and if the budget was ample enough to resign Buxton, add one top rotation piece, and two back-end relievers, with money (probably at least $15-20MM for a one year contract) left for signing Baez, then go for it! Since this would necessitate a $150MM + payroll, what are the odds of this happening? Slim to none, IMO. It's just not in this org"s DNA to go on a spending spree.

He presents another one of the many dilemmas this offseason. His natural position is CF. He probably does not have enough power for the corners. If this team has any chance to contend in 2022, they must resign Buxton. If a rebuild is in order, then trading Buxton would be the choice. So far, ownership says they have no intention to rebuild, in which case resigning Buxton is a must. Celestino's maximum value might be as a trade piece for much needed pitching. Much easier to get a 4th OF from one of Lewis, Martin, Gordon or even Refsnyder. I'd see what the demand is for Celestino outside the organization.

Nice wish list, Nick!! It would be great if it happened, but highly improbable. I just hope the FO doesn't go into the offseason expecting Ryan to be a #2 starter or Lewis being the team's future star SS or Jax being a valuable member of the pen - that is, if they truly want to retool this team into a contender in 2022, as reported. I like Ryan a lot, but as a two pitch starter, his ceiling might be limited. His IP were very limited and we just can't draw too many conclusions from his two starts each against 2 of the worst offenses in baseball(Cubs and Cleveland). He is undoubtedly our top pitching prospect as of now, but have to look at 2022 as a learning process. Coming off surgery, Lewis is unlikely to be of much value next year and all the scouting reports indicate he is not the long-term answer at SS. If his best fit is CF it means replacing Bux, and that would be a big downgrade! As for Jax, his HR tendencies would seem to preclude him from being anything more than a mop up reliever. We have plenty of those types. We need shutdown closer-types to move the needle! Best chance is Kirillof being a major contributor. I only hope he can be servicable in a corner OF, at least until Sano's contract has ended. Many say we could trade Donaldson or Sano, but this lineup would look very pedestrian without either one of these guys. Until Larnach can prove he belongs, Kirillof should be pencilled in to LF(or RF if Kepler helps bring back a #1 or 2 starter). But his upside is pretty encouraging, as you stated. This hopefully is a pessimistic take, but if the FO is staking their future jobs on such advancements, rather than add outside players to the present squad, I think we'll all be in for a disappointing season.

://Kluber/Thor, Ryan, Pineda, Ober and Dobnak work for me as their opening day 5. That rotation would lead to another 90 loss season. I can see Ryan and Ober as maybe being a decent back end of the rotation, though more likely only one will be successful. Pineda would be a decent middle rotation guy. Can't rely on Dobnak for anything. The league seems to have figured him out and to count on him in the rotation on a contender takes a big leap of faith at this stage. With all that said, its the top two arms that will make or break the FO's designs on contending next season. Kluber is simply too high a risk to be counted on; he fits more in the Happ/Shoe category of a Hail Mary at this point in his career. The twins need to shoot for an ace-type, either Rodon or Ray head the list, with Stroman, then Thor being good alternatives. As many others have mentioned a trade of some surplus players(Arraez, Garver/Jeffers?) should bring back a young, controlled major league pitcher. FO must utilize a two - pronged approach - sign one of top FA pitchers and add a #2 via trade route. This should allow enough money to also add a much-needed closer, as well as a FA SS. This is a team full of holes; half way measures will never work.

Cody, once again an informative article. Thanks! Have to say your C- grade might be on the high side for following reasons: 1. Lack of fundamentals. Why did he wait to institute daily practices until after trade deadline? While individual coaches are responsible for day-to-day training, the manager has to be held accountable for his coaches. Why couldn't this group push the automatic runner on second over a base? Why didn't the hitters adapt to the shift any better? Bullpen managment? Arraez in the OF? The list goes on and on. 2. No fire. No semblance of leadership(maybe he should have been shown videos of TK in action). This team has been "soft" for many years, as evidenced by 18 straight playoff losses. I'm afraid Rocky fit right in to this "don't -rock-the-boat" mindset. 3. While the Twins managed to play .500 ball after mid-May(and also after the trade deadline), there was no pressure on this team after their early season collapse. Hard to give the manager much credit for this "turnaround". Did anyone think this was a .500 club before the season started? Whether you feel his grade is a C or D, does anyone think Baldelli is the man to lead this team back to contention? Sure, the offseason moves of the FO will be critical in this determination but even if they succeed in pulling off some successful moves, does Baldelli have the chops to capitalize? Based on his record in the playoffs, his lack of discipline and fundamentals, and lack of leadership, the answer should be clear: give him(and the FO) a very short rope in 2022.

So for the dubious distinction of navigating a first place team to last in a weak AL Central Division, Falvine gets rated a B. Talk about Minnesota Nice!!! While some apologists on this board can blame the abbreviated 2020 season, injuries, bad luck for this miserable season, what about the accountability factor? Someone should be held responsible for what is the most disappointing season since 1961. Pohlad is clearly delusional, or just doesn't care, but I"m surprised so many serious fans on TD are so generous in their ratings. Walter's article clearly illustrates the fundamental problem here - ownership is content with mediocrity, resulting in sticking with his FO picks far too long. Yes, give Falvey one more year to right the ship, but without a clear directive from JP, how many think a quick rebound is in the offing?

The only encouraging thing about this year's pitching staff is the late emergence of Ober and Ryan as likely members of next year's rotation. Up until yesterday, Ryan has appeared to have the highest ceiling of any of our prospects. I'm not panicking over one stinker, but unfortunately, this is it for 2021 and Detroit is not one of the better offenses in the AL, albeit a little better than Cubs and Indians. Not having seen the game, what went wrong yesterday? I know the rx to this question is "don't panic" but still shell-shocked over this abysmal year, I'm wondering if Ryan is the real deal?

Not taking away from Miranda's extraordinary year, but isn't it premature to anoint him "an emerging star"? Without major league experience, it would be foolish to trade either Sano or Donaldson on a team that has been offensively challenged this year. If we can trust Pohlad's assertion that 2022 is not going to be a rebuilding year(big ??? there), then expecting Miranda to step right in to the starting lineup on Day 1 would be foolish. Let's ease him into the lineup rather than adding more pressure at the get-go; after all, this guy has had one great season after several of mediocrity. If he continues his 2021 performance, they'll find a spot for him. This lineup has lots of holes!!

http://Which free agent pitcher do you think the Pohlads should commit 5 years and 125 to 150 million of their dollars to? There are 4 FA pitchers who are young enough to slot in as top starters : Rodon, Stroman, Ray, and Gausman. They deserve at least 4-5 year, $20-25MM/yr contracts. Frankly, I can't see the Sox, Jays, or Giants not resigning their guys, which leaves Stroman as most likely available. Another arm I'd be all over is Thor but consensus seems that Mets will offer him a QO. If none of these guys are possible, then I'd go after more of a stopgap like Greinke or Verlander and hope that our young bloods would be ready to lead the staff in 2023. That's it for starter FA signings. There are too many other needs on this team to go big on two big FAs. At least one closer-type should be signed(Kimbrel would be my choice @ $15MM/yr). A second proven reliever in the $5-10MM range would be a nice add, given Rogers injuries and Duffy's wildness. As many have said, signing a FA SS would be nice, but clearly we can't sign one of the top ones, given our multiple pitching needs, so either we get lucky with someone like Baez willing to sign for a modest short term or we go with a fielder-first FA. While I agree with LA Vikes on need for a #2 rotation arm, reality says we have to go the trade route. A combination of Arraez, Garver or Jeffers or Kepler, and one of our good MI or pitching prospects should pry a young major league with #2 potential. Levine should already be talking to Miami who has an abundance of pitching and holes in their lineup, perhaps San Diego who might shed someone like Clevinger, Snell or Darvish, or even the Dodgers with a huge surplus of both top end arms as well as A prospects. It can be done. Just not confident that the current org. up to the task.

Terry://Remember that the front office cannot just "lasso" two top starters. The pitchers have to be willing to play in Minnesota. Recent history has suggested that many top pitchers are using free agency to move closer to their roots or to fulfill a need to be near horses. C'mon Terry! This is a lame excuse for past inaction. Sure, there are guys like Wheeler, Ohtani, etc. who prefer certainn locales, but FA is all about the money. This ownership has to open their wallet, authorize the FO to spend what they think they need this offseason, and then the Wonder Boys must decide who among the FAs they need to head up a rotation on a contending team, followed by a quick strike(as opposed to waiting for the dust to settle to pick up a bargain) and be willing to overpay for the right pitcher. Aren't you tired of all the feints this and past FOs have made to "bid" on a desired FA, with the all-too-predictable non-result.?

Ted, understand importance of depth, but for a contender, it must be quality depth - pitchers who can step in and at the very least, give the team at least a reasonable chance of a W. Unfortunately, there is not one on this list who seem able to do this, at least based on their minor league /brief major league performance. At best, these are all AAAA players who will do nothing to move the needle. #6-10 "starters" will have to either come from the bargain basement bin or from our strong current prospect list, e.g, Winder, Woods-Richardson, Balazovic, even Varland. With that said, if August/September performance is a decent indicator of future performance, Ober and Ryan look like pretty good bets to at least be #4/#5 starters next year, and Pineda should be resigned to slot in the middle. I for one have a little more confidence now in next year's rotation than I did at the trade deadline, even though the loss of Maeda is huge. The big question is whether this FO has the chops to lasso two top starters? They have the payroll space to add one of the top FA starters and excess positional players/top prospects to land a #2 starter via trade. With an improving pen and a couple of astute moves, I feel contending in 2022 is more of a possibility now than 2 months ago, but relying on the names above should not be in the plan going forward.

Max is who he is. After 6+ years in majors, he has not shown much improvement. With the Twins dire needs for pitching, his greatest value now is a trade piece in procuring a young, major league pitcher with some demonstrated success in the bigs. No, he would not be the centerpiece, but a vital cog in a package deal. While our OF situation is far from settled, assuming Bux is resigned, we have a promising backup in Celestino, and a bevy of prospects like Kirillof, Larnach, Rooker, and even Gordon now who can play a decent corner OF with at least the same offense that Max has provided. Withb a great fielding CF like Bux or Celestino, the Twins can afford to sacrifice some corner defense if it leads to overall team improvment. If this FO is agressive, a Kepler, Arraez or Jeffers/Garver + one of our 10 good pitching prospects should yield a top arm. Could Kepler go on a tear in the future? Sure, but unlikely. He is a much more valuable trade piece - relatively young, cost controlled, ability to play multiple positions with decent power. That combination is still worth something. It's up to the FO to Max -imize this value.

Nice work, Bean. While it's certainly easy to quibble with some of your grades, I would guess most of us would agree their 5 years of drafting have been well below average. Yes, we can give them the benefit of the doubt on certain circumstances, e.g., one year of development was lost, it takes more than 4 years of minor league ball to establish a player's chops at the big league level, etc., etc..... But there is no rational argument for this FO's failure to develop at least one bullpen arm in 4+ years. This is a pretty low bar, but Falvey can't even pass this one. We each have our pet peeves, like you, and frankly they lost me when drafting Lewis #1 overall, in a year with several "can't miss" rotation arms( Gore, McKay, Pearson, Wright) Lewis might yet develop but his clock is running out and he appears to have whiffed on his chance to fill the all-important SS position, that is still a black hole 4+ years later. Throw in two other highly questionnable # 1 picks in Cavacao and Sabato, and no wonder there is so much grumblling from the fan base, especially when you add in their massive failures in FA. As many have said before, give these guys one more year, but its sink or swim time. One other point not addressed and that is the ability of the scouting director. Sean Johnson was promoted 2 months after Falvey took over. The former Head Scout, Deron Johnson, was kicked upstairs after 10 years in charge. While D. Johnson had some terrible drafts, especially among pitchers, he did well in 2012(Buxton, Berrios, Duffy, Rogers) and 2016 (Kirillof, Rortvedt, Jose Miranda, Akil Baddoo, Jax, Balazovic and Rooker). Yes, these players have had longer to develop(and some are still prospects), but those two years alone put him ahead of the current Johnson. My question: with scouting so critical to building a repeatable contender: should Ryans' scouting system have been more thoroughly overhauled? I realize hindsight is always 20;20, but the failure to keep the window open, especially for a mid-market team, starts with the draft and the scouting director in charge of the drafts.

If any of these above moves represent the biggest trades this FO makes in the offseason, color 2022 a rebuilding year(and likely the the last year Falvine is associated with the Twins). As others have said, these guys are all projects similar to some of our top prospects. What we need to be significantly more competitive next year are top-of-the-rotation pieces. We have the money for one top FA and position players to trade for another established, young pitcher. Nothing wrong with these type of posts, but I sure would like to aim a bit higher. This contentment with mediocrity, after 19 straight playoff losses is frustrating to an old fan who well remembers the excitement of 87/91. Do I think this FO will make the moves necessary to return this team to a contender in 2022? No, nor do I consider their employment beyond next year a step in the right direction. Hope I'm wrong, but I'm afraid it's just not in this organization's DNA(from ownership on down) to take the necessary risks to do what should be done.

Have to add my No to the chorus here. Why give up a starting, albeit average, corner OF for a guy who is not a quality SS? Our list of middle IF prospects who fall short as SSs goes on and on - Polanco, Gordon, Lewis(if scouting reports are accurate), nor do Miranda or Martin seem to fit well at arguably the most important defensive position. Might as well resign Simmons for another gap year while we hope one of younger SS prospects emerge as a long term answer. If I'm trading Kepler, I want to use him as a key piece in acquiring as young, controlled starter who has already shown potential to be a #1 or, at worse, a #2 next year. That is a far more pressing need if FO really intends to return to contention next year.