One Buy Low Candidate to Solve Minnesota’s Shortstop Need

Worth considering. I can see that the Yankees will feel pressure to grab a big free agent and push him aside. Any speculation on the nature of an undisclosed injury? We know that recovering ankles have propelled Polanco forward, but *another* infielder with bad wheels seems like the last thing we need.

I like it!

Have no interest in trading with the Yankees as they usually don't work out well for the Twins.  

Also, have no interest investing prospects to solve the shortstop question which should take care of itself a year later when Lewis/Martin should be ready.  Would rather see them do:  A) nothing, with Polo/Gordon/Arraez manning the middle infield spots; or .B) signing a veteran to a one year contract.

NO!

No, I'd rather have a glove at SS. Torres bat hasn't been good either , I don't care even if his bat improves. But trading for a SS isn't a bad idea if you can find a glove out there. I certainly wouldn't trade Kepler or any other player straight up.

I think the Twins still believe in Royce Lewis as the starter for several years but probably want to get him some time in AAA next season since he's coming back from a lost season.

There is a cheap, glove-first SS option who will be available as a free agent. Freddy Galvis has been as productive as Simmons with a much smaller paycheck.

are the Cubs still regretting trading him and their World Series win?

I want nothing to do with Torres, unless he has options.

You did not sell me on why he would fix SS.  One of worst defenders and subpar hitter.  Sure he may get better hitting like he did when first came up, but defense is rarely something that changes with teams, so I would not expect an uptick in that area. 

The mantra from the FO and the Manager has been a good SS glove helps our weak pitching. We need to rate SS defense highly and go there.  No to this option please!

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.

Not signing Simmons for Short Stop not as good as Simmons, WHY while losing a good outfielder, WHY?

Torres is not a shortstop .. His power has essentially deteriorated since 2019 ( juiced ball ).

If anything, I would be really interested in trading for Dansby Swanson. The Braves are thought to be considering going after one of the top SS in this upcoming FA class. Not sure what a package would look like but he is definitely an intriguing option.

I've seen a few comments now on different forums / blogs about the Twins having internal solutions at SS .. They quite honestly have none. Royce Lewis is not a shortstop and really hasn't done much to prove he has made any strides defensively at the position. 

Simmons is not a reasonable alternative for 2022. It seems like Polanco is the only in house option and count me among the crowd that wants him to remain as our 2B. Javy Baez or Story on one year make good deals? 

One thing is clear - there is plenty of work to do this offseason for the young Falvine duo. 

I'm a no on this kind of deal and Torres as a good fit for us. the FA market on SS is going to be a really good one this off-season and I'd rather get a guy there than buy low on a Yankee, especially one who is stretched at SS. we already have a bunch of guys who are stretched at SS; if we trade/sign a player for SS they need to not be stretched there.

(Trevor Story is the guy I really like right now, but I suspect someone will give him the 4 year $20M deal he probably is looking for...but if it's not there and he wants to go short term to build up his value again away from the Rockies? yes, please.)

Hard pass. We don't need a shortstop that can't hit, and we really don't need one that can't field. We further don't need a second baseman. I'd rather try Arraez at second and Polanco at short again than trade for Torres, and I don't really want to try that alignment again.

4 hours ago, jmlease1 said:

(Trevor Story is the guy I really like right now, but I suspect someone will give him the 4 year $20M deal he probably is looking for...but if it's not there and he wants to go short term to build up his value again away from the Rockies? yes, please.)

Story only wants 4 years at $20M each? Yes, please. That's a bargain basement price for a 28 year old who has played like an All-Star 3 of the past 4 seasons.

Interesting idea. And Torres is a young player with BIG bounceback possibilities.  But too many question marks and seems to MAYBE be Polanco part 2. Complete pass.

Despite being a fan and believer, I'm grudgingly going to admit the talented and athletic Kepler probably peaked in 2019. That being said, I think a slightly different approach,  through experience, maturity, and a change in the hitting coach that I think is forthcoming, I can still improvement of what he's done lately. Better health would help as well.

Kepler/Twins need a quality RH hitting 4th OF via trade or FA. This is a MUST overshadowed by pitching needs that far too many dismiss. Barring significant growth/change, Kepler should start 120G, and will probably play in 140 as a PH or defensive replacement. He is good to very good used that way as a RF and backup CF option.

Call me crazy, but I think the offense is fine for 2022 with what we have, including Kirilloff healthy and Larnach being ready at some point. Not to mention Garver healthy and splitting time between catcher and DH and MAYBE a little 1B. The offensive approach just needs to find a little more consistency. 

I would be excited, as we all would be if the Twins made a major FA move at SS. But I think they are better served with concentrating on various SP/RP moves...long and short term...and said 4th OF and bringing in a SOLID SS option. Galvin is a guy I'm high on. But I also have to wonder what happened to Iglesias? Did he just suddenly lose it? He could be very interesting. 

Simmons will be back next year. ?

I know I will catch it for this, but I hope so.  He has the glove, and he is just as much a candidate for a bounce back season as anyone we are talking about here.  He is a lifetime .265 hitter who was doing alright until he came here.  I think he would do much better with a different hitting coach who has a different approach.  He would have to be willing to take less than 10.5 mil, but he most likely won't get that kind of offer anywhere else either, so he might listen.  And if an in house guy breaks out and proves himself better, we can celebrate; in the meantime, we need a stable infield and moving Polanco and Arraez around again doesn't accomplish that.  Just my extremely humble opinion.

I just shake my head at the "approach" many Twins hitters have at the plate.  And by that, I mean they DON'T seem to have any approach.  Kepler is a prime example.  The Twins need a new hitting coach in the worst way.  I'm not saying that will "solve everything" but it's obvious to me the current coach is not up to the task.  I agree with Doc that the offense has the "potential" to be fine next year and the primary focus HAS to be on pitching.  That said, a different hitting coach would help with the current talent that needs "improvement" that being Kepler, Sano (who has been better these last 4-6 weeks) Garver, Kiriloff and Larnach.  I do think a steady vet SS like Iglesias or Galvis as a bridge to Lewis/Martin or whoever,  is a good idea as well as a 4th OF'er who bats RH.  Those are minor moves but should be "on the list."  I like the fact that Torres was suggested.  It makes for a good conversation.  But I would vote "No" as well.  We need a glove at SS and that's not Gleybor.   

9 hours ago, DJL44 said:

Story only wants 4 years at $20M each? Yes, please. That's a bargain basement price for a 28 year old who has played like an All-Star 3 of the past 4 seasons.

He's struggled a bit at the plate this year, had a horrid July and been on a tear every since. But his OPS+ is sitting at 103 and takes into account park effects. He's probably going to finish with a bWAR of 3.5-4 but with with his D sliding back a bit from Gold Glove levels and the hot market for SS's...he might not get the deal he's looking for. Maybe he will, but if it's not there and he wants to show that he can get it done outside of Colorado at the plate...there might be a bridge deal available. Figuring out the SS market is going to be interesting, but there definitely should be enough options that the Twins don't have to trade for a guy like Torres.

8 hours ago, ashbury said:

Whatever deep pockets team gets Trevor Story will be disappointed in the .750 OPS he puts up once outside the warm embrace of Coors Field.

A 750 OPS is roughly a 110 OPS+. The Twins would be THRILLED to have that production at SS right now. Coupled with his above average defense you get a a 3 WAR SS (and you're being intentionally pessimistic).

I often get frustrated with the discussion here. The Twins need to get good players, not just get a bargain price for a player. It reminds me of my Scandinavian farmer relatives. They love to go to auctions and get "good deals". Then they end up with two sheds filled with junk nobody else wants. One of them is building a new shed to store some more of these auction treasures.

This team has the resources to run a $150M payroll. They play in one of the easiest divisions in baseball. Do they want to win in the playoffs or try to be the cheapest 85 win team in the major leagues? Do the fans want to see a team that wins a playoff series or a team that contends for the Wild Card until the end of September as long as nobody is a big showoff making lots of money?

They desperately need a shortstop and the free agent market is full of them.