Darius

They really need a catcher that can actually be a catcher, instead of some guy that just crouches back there. Anyone with moderate speed takes a walk in the late innings, and it's a free run. You can literally find guys off the street that can control the running game better than Suzuki.

They're not getting anything for Plouffe. At this point, he would just taking valuable MLB ABs from guys who should be getting then (specifically Vargas, who has been very good since his recall). If they are able to find someone to claim him in waivers, and actually follow through, which they won't, the return would be nothing of value. There is just no point in giving him at bats. But, they will anyway, because it's the Twins.

He shouldn't come up at all. If he absolutely has to come up, it should be Grossman or Santana. But, my money is they'll ship out Polanco or Vargas, because that's just what the Twins do.

Polanco, as an asset to the Twins franchise, has his value maximized at second base. Just look at the Sano example. You can't fit square pegs into round holes for the sake of getting player X or Y at bats. Polanco will get his chance at 2B (he should, at least). Dozier is on an extremely cheap contract through 2018. If he keeps up this production, he will have some serious value on the trade market. Polanco is a young kid with significant offensive upside at 2B. At some point, one has to be traded. They would be foolish not to capitalize on that over the next year or two. Whatever they do, they just need to stop jerking players all over the field at different positions. Develop the player at the place he has the highest value, and cash in, whether as a player on the team, or a trade. It's just like any other business. Always maximize value. When you start discounting things for short-term gratification....you end up killing yourself in the long run.

He hasn't been playing short all year. Throwing him back there at the MLB level isn't fair to Polanco. It's setting him up for failure. It's not fair to Twins pitching staff, who would have to deal with his poor defense at the most important position in the infield. Also, what do you propose they do with Escobar? He has earned a shot, IMO. Not a good message to send through the organization that it doesn't matter how you play, if you're not on a prospect list you'll lose your spot to someone who is. The team is finally starting to get some good mojo going. Why mess with it by forcing a fairly marginal prospect into SS? It's not like we're talking about Carlos Correa here. Polanco just needs ABs, that's the important thing. It's not his defense that's going to help this club. Get his bat in the lineup, and do what you can to hide his defensive shortcomings.

Yep, they're dead wrong. There is no reason why Joe shouldn't take third on that bobble. He wasn't paying attention. Very similar to the play in the first when assumed the guy was going to make a sliding catch, trotted back to first like its a D-league slow pitch game, and got forced at second. Not that it really matters, but his base running blunders are the reason why they're losing today. I'm as big of a Mauer defender as anyone, but when you're making 23 million, that's inexcusable.

I've never seen worse base running from a professional than Mauer today. If it's anyone but the Golden Boy they would've been pulled by now. Show some effort. Third time he's cost the team an out on the bases just today. If you're injured, then don't play.

I like the move, I guess, but it doesn't do a whole lot for me. Not the highest on Santiago, but it could be worse (and has been in the Twins rotation for years). Really just a mediocre/bad (generous, considering the FIP numbers) immovable rotation object replacing a slightly worse one (by immovable I mean from the rotation while on the team). The Meyer/prospect swap looks pretty close to 1:1, at best. I don't really care about dumping anyone's salary. There isn't a salary cap, and I could care less about the Pohlad's bottom line. If the money is put to good use next year, then I may start to care. Nolasco's salary should be a non-issue. It's kind of disappointing that fans of the team have been conditioned so thoroughly to think that it is. Or maybe people are confused with the NFL. It doesn't net a highly significant amount next year, but do they actually use the money for anything? Do they use it well, or hand out another terrible contract? Im not convinced we won't hear the same company lines next spring ("no takers on our generous offers," and "we think we'll compete with what we have."), and If that's the case, the trade effectively does nothing. Overall, I like that they're finally trying some things. It's refreshing. But, let's not get out of hand and say it's because Ryan is gone, or start a celebration over the turning of the worm. Its baby steps in the right direction, but I still need to see more. Too jaded at this point for it to move the meter.

Can't say anything bad about it. At least they're doing something. Nice return for a guy picked up off the scrap heap.

You can really make a case for any infield spot (outside of 1B and C, of course). Sano should be a DH/1B. Just let the guy hit baseballs. How long is he going to stick at 3B, realistically, at his size anyway. 3-4 more years at best? Mauer is to the point where his name shouldn't be on the lineup card in stone. More days off would do him good. He's very good defensively, but at 1B, that doesn't mean a whole lot (relative to other positions). Plouffe could be shipped out for peanuts in August. Polanco could then find a home at 3B. Escobar is a nice player, but he's not a potential offensive difference maker like Polanco could be. He's not a bad option to have off the bench to give Polanco days off/DH duty. Maybe start figuring out how to be a super-utility like Nunez. Whatever the case, unless you're prepared to say Escobar is the long-term plan at shortstop, there's no reason you can't pull the trigger and start him at short every day. With all that said about 3B/SS, I don't really want him playing either of those, if at all possible. He's a liability defensively. If his arm-strength is questionable now, and he has rock-hard hands, it's not likely to improve with better competition. Also, he hasn't been playing those positions regularly for some time now. Why throw him back there at the ML level? That leaves 2B. Dozier, IMO should be traded now. His value, whatever it may be, is as high as its ever going to be. You never know when he's going to go into one of his season-long slumps...and never come out of it. His defense is overrated by many, and wouldn't be missed as much as some think. Get some nice prospects for Dozier while you can (if you can), and slot Polanco at 2B.

I like it. Currently eating my shoe because I didn't think they'd make a trade like this. The return, being a decent LHP prospect, is great. Also, its not within the division, or even league. I think it's well done.

They're not making any significant trades. They never do. They're too deluded into thinking "we're going to compete next year," every year (that's the excuse they use, anyway, it's impossible that they actually believe it), even with Ryan gone. It doesn't help that "compete" in the Pohlad/FO world doesn't include anything beyond the wild card round of the playoffs. Certainly not the World Series. That was proven beyond a doubt in the 2000s. This franchise is desperate for a change at the top. Unfortunately, it's not happening any time soon. The ownership/operations ground is still rife with incompetence. The dismissal of Ryan means nothing. They've already hamstrung themselves on serious GM candidates by saying Moli and Antony stay on regardless of the GM. Hiring a search firm is nothing more than PR, IMO. They'll go outside of the organization to save some face, because they know if they don't the villagers will get out pitchforks and light torches, but in the end they'll just go find another yes-man. I'll eat my shoe if the search firm goes out and finds who they believe to be the best possible candidate to run baseball operations, and they hire him/her. I'm starting to come to terms with something: A Minnesota MLB team would win a championship sooner if the Twins were contracted/moved years ago, and we sat around and waited for an expansion squad to come back under new ownership. I still love the team, and watch on tv because I can't help myself (IMO, if you're going down to that ballpark, you're a sucker), but they are an embarrassment, and have been for decades now. There's just no way to sugar coat it anymore.

They'll do nothing of significance again, which is almost comical for me at this point. Wake up. Trade Santana for a decent return along with Dozier, Nunez, Suzuki, Kinzler, and whoever else can be shipped out. If you're serious about competing, don't be so Godawful cheap, take that 13.5 you ship out with Santana, tack another 15-20 onto it, and go sign a couple of guys like Moore, Cashner, Gio Gonzalez to go along with Berrios, Gibson, and Duffey. Go sign a Neil Walker, Prado, or Escobar for the infield. Sign some competent guys for the pen, (or get Chagrois, Hildenberger, etc up at the beginning of the year, instead of pinching another year of service). After you bring in a some decent prospects and adequately replace the departures you'll have more ammo to beef up the roster for a playoff run without raving your while system. If you're on your way to another 90-loss season, you unload this year's signed replacement for more prospects, and on goes the cycle until you find a winner. You have your main guys like Berrios, Buxton, Sano, Kepler, etc to build around. I'm of the belief that they have to maximize the value on some of these guys that have contributed to 5 years of futility, if at all possible.. By value I don't mean in terms of the Pohlad's bank account as much as what can be done to set this team up next year, and long into the future.

Those aren't bad moves, but they're certainly not going to help this team get back in contention anytime soon. It's still clearance shopping at Wal-Mart while others are are shopping the Galleria. Sure, every once in a while you'll find a decent pair of socks/underwear, that the public should never really see anyway, but your never going to find any Hammermade. I don't know if the these moves are a reflection of TR's exceptional skills as much as an indication that he couldn't properly fill out the roster in the first place. Nobody should be pulling guys off the scrap heap to close games in the middle of the season. The take-away for me: Sometimes, you can make terrible decisions, and cut corners, and you still may get really lucky and have it work out somewhat positively (even though I wouldn't consider a potential 100 loss club positive in any way).

I assume the title is a sarcastic/rhetorical question. They've been the worst franchise in baseball, and it's been the same group of people in charge for 25 years.

Wow, Bonnes. Wow.

All Walker does is deliver in the clutch. I don't care what metrics and ratios say about how he projects at the major league level, I think he'll end up being a valueable part of the major league club. I'd like to see him get some at-bats in September, if not sooner.

Unfortunately, Ryan is probably more likely to extend him than trade him. I've watched him operate long enough to have learned to never get my hopes up in these situations. We go through this every year, and nothing significant ever happens the deadline, whether he is running a winner (which is almost never), or a loser.

Gonsalves could replicate last nights game in every outing between now and next June and he wouldn't be called up. We're still talking about the Twins, here. Not saying he should be. But, if they wouldn't give a guy like Berrios a shot last fall, with awful starting pitching and a chance to sneak into the playoffs, what makes anyone they'll bring Gonsalves along any faster? That's just not the Twins style with starting pitching (position players have been a different story as of late....but let's be honest....it was pure desperation to our butts in the seats). They let it age in the minors like they're aging a fine wine. Look back at guys like Santana (different story in the bullpen, but also similar in that they kept him there longer than they should have), Garza, etc. With guys like Gibson and Berrios expected to be in the rotation next year, and Santana, Hughes (who will pitch again eventually), and Nolasco on big contracts, May possibly being moved back into the rotation.....we're not seeing Stewart, Gonsalves, Jay....insert favorite pitching prospect...anytime soon. I don't put any stock in TRs "trade" talk. It's the same story every year on that front.

Many would've still said it was a bad trade at the end of last September. A marginal reliever equates to a promising SO prospect in terms of value under no circumstances. We were never talking about Mariano Rivera, here. A guy like Abad could've came in and filled in equally well in the most overrated position in the game, in terms of value. The not way this can be defended is if the Twins thought the guy would never make it to the majors, which then brings into question their evaluation processes....again....

I like the fact that Jay is getting some starts (or start) in Chattanooga. I wouldve rather had him finish out his innings as a starter in FTM and shut it down early, then work with trainers, than be a mop-up guy in AA. Is it time to start giving Granite serious consideration as the Twins lead off hitter of the future? The guy has been unbelievable. Jaylin Davis has me intruiging. It looks like they may have found something there. Nick Gordon seems to be performing offensively well enough , which is encouraging (BA almost at .300, .750 OPS, showing some XBH pop--I know power was a concern). In his last 10, he's got 15 hits, 5 multi-hit games (.341 BA). I see his K:BB could use some work, but encouraging overall. Does anyone have any word on him defensively?

With the good number of solid SP prospects (Berrios, Stewart, Gonsolves, Jorge, Romero, Jay, etc), a guy like May who should be a starter, young guys like Gibson and Duffey in the rotation, and the Twins realistically not being anywhere near being a real contender for the next couple of years, it would be idiotic not to trade him of you can get some decent pieces in return.

If he has had a debilitating injury since May, the powers at be knew about it, and wasn't DL'd, I find that inexcusable. They could've given Arcia more ABs, and maybe not have let him walk for nothing. Apparently, your ability to do a job has nothing to do with you holding that position for as long as you'd like...,,in the FO or in the field (unless you're Arcia, Berrios, Rosario...or any other young Latin player not named Sano....or somewhat inexplicably, Danny Santana.

Kind of hard to blame anything on Jepsen. It's not like the guy sandbagged it. Terry Ryan, on the other hand, for riding him into the ground, should be rightfully criticized. Molitor deserves some also for not moving him into a lower leverage role months ago. I better not criticize too much, the mods seems to think that's unacceptable. Although, if I showed up to work and was doing my job horribly for two decades, should that not be criticized by the powers at be and my customers who aren't getting what they pay for (also in this scenario, those customers payed for my office building).

Are we really inserting Grossman into future plans here? The guy had a few good weeks, and will come back to earth (arguably, he already has). If he maintains that 1.000 OPS another month, I'll start getting serious about him. But, I'm not ready to have him block Rosario, Buxton, or even Walker quite yet. I know they can't....but if they could swap him for a serviceable veteran defense-only catcher for next year (hopefully in a back-up role), I would strongly consider it. This is one of the front offices major, and one of many, flaws. They keep these scrap heap guys who have a couple of good weeks around way, way, way, way too long, and block prospects. I'm guessing it all comes down to some ego-driven "we coached them up when nobody could" attitude, with a little Pohlad penny pinching sprinkled in.