The need for pitching regards playoff matchups, this staff is built to win the division behind the good offense.  Come playoff time Odorizzi/ Perez/ Gibson don't match up great as your 2nd starter.  Then pen is the biggest area of concern, they need a closer level righty to pair with Rodgers.

The need for pitching regards playoff matchups, this staff is built to win the division behind the good offense.  Come playoff time Odorizzi/ Perez/ Gibson don't match up great as your 2nd starter.  Then pen is the biggest area of concern, they need a closer level righty to pair with Rodgers.

Thanks for the comment! I do agree that playoffs are a different beast and that is one area where a guy like Bumgarner could be very valuable. His career postseason track record is HOF worthy. There’s no active pitcher in the game who’s performed better than him in the playoffs. Even still, like I mentioned in my post I’m not convinced it’s wise to give up high end prospects to get him on a rental with the hope he can rediscover his 2014 postseason dominance. Obviously Bum isn’t the only pitcher available but I’ve heard Twins fans throw his name out there a lot.

The pen is tricky too. Off top of my head I’m really not sure how many, if any, top level relief arms will be available at the deadline. Kimberl is the easy and obvious answer but I have a hard time believing that’s the direction they want to go.

To repsot something I put in another thread - How about one of the SF relievers? Agree on Smith, and Dyson, Vincent and even Melancon may make some sense. The price would be prospects and they need OFs so maybe a Jake Cave plus a prospect deal would do the trick. Cave would immediately start there and upgrade the OF assuming he hits like last year (I'd ignore this year's stats given his very limited and sporadic playing time). Might work for both teams if it was a Cave plus Littel, Mejia or Gonsalves, or maybe Cave plus a lower level prospect with a higher upside than those three guys. I say anyone is fair game except, Lewis, Kirilofff, Graterol, Thorpe, Alcala and maybe Smeltzer. Same with Arizona who also needs OFs. A guy like Andrew Chafin or even Robbie Ray might be available although their "good" relievers by stats are young and probably off limits except for Greg Holland who is definitely off limits.

Thanks for reading!

The only way a trade for Melancon would make sense is if the Giants eat most of his contract and even then I don’t know for 100% but I believe he has full no trade rights. Sam Dyson, Tony Watson, and Will Smith are the more likely candidates from their pen. I’m going to have to disagree with you on Cave, though. I really don’t think the Giants would have much interest in him. Left handed bats (Barry Bonds aside) have not done well in their ballpark.

The Padres also have some intriguing arms in their pen but they’re beginning to look like a potential contender if not this year then very soon so it’s probably unlikely they’re willing to part with any talented bullpen arms.

Overall though I think the reliever market is going to be very limited at the deadline. Outside of the Giants there’s really not many guys who fit the bill in terms of being trade chips.

In regards to their internal options I remain very optimistic about Romero. I know he’s struggled with his command this year but there’s no denying he has great stuff. High velocity fastball and effective breaking balls when he can actually throw them for strikes. I think he’s a guy who has a chance to develop into a weapon out of the bullpen.

It's only May 9th and there is a lot of time not only for the season, but until the deadline. At the moment, we are in a bit if a fantasy/projection vacuum. That being said, I agree with your post 100%.

With one exception.

Gibson is only the #4 SP because there was where he was slotted to buy him some time to build up endurance and feel. No matter how well Perez and Odorizzi have done...and I hope they keep it up, or pitch at least close...I dont feel Gibson is a #4 SP at all.

And I agree on Pineda as well. I believe he just needs a little more time to build up endurance and get his feel back in his first full season from surgery. History has shown us this, often with positive results. And Rocco has been nursing him a bit, which is smart.

Rotation depth is scary at the moment. But Littell is warming up. Gonsalves hasn't pitched yet, which is troubling. Thorpe started slow, exploded, then had a clunker. How will he respond next time out is important. Smeltzer looks like a guy who suddenly found himself. A month and a half from now, the depth situation could look entirely different!

But the pen is where at least one move needs to be made, no matter how solid/decent it has largely performed thus far. I am with you on the core four. But unless Romero can harness his great stuff the next month or so, or Reed suddenly surprise and become his old self, we need another quality arm that can be relied on. But we also need a 2nd lefty. Can Mejia take this time to accept his role and just trust his stuff and make a difference? Can Moya or Vasquez prove they can fill a viable role?

I also don't want to overpay for help, but there is enough system depth to make at least one good move to deepen the pen without mortgaging anything. (Two moves may be needed).

How much you give up, obviously, depends not only who is added, but how much remaining control is available. Here's hoping at least one of the aforementioned steps forward to make a difference.

It's only May 9th and there is a lot of time not only for the season, but until the deadline. At the moment, we are in a bit if a fantasy/projection vacuum. That being said, I agree with your post 100%.

With one exception.

Gibson is only the #4 SP because there was where he was slotted to buy him some time to build up endurance and feel. No matter how well Perez and Odorizzi have done...and I hope they keep it up, or pitch at least close...I dont feel Gibson is a #4 SP at all.

And I agree on Pineda as well. I believe he just needs a little more time to build up endurance and get his feel back in his first full season from surgery. History has shown us this, often with positive results. And Rocco has been nursing him a bit, which is smart.

Rotation depth is scary at the moment. But Littell is warming up. Gonsalves hasn't pitched yet, which is troubling. Thorpe started slow, exploded, then had a clunker. How will he respond next time out is important. Smeltzer looks like a guy who suddenly found himself. A month and a half from now, the depth situation could look entirely different!

But the pen is where at least one move needs to be made, no matter how solid/decent it has largely performed thus far. I am with you on the core four. But unless Romero can harness his great stuff the next month or so, or Reed suddenly surprise and become his old self, we need another quality arm that can be relied on. But we also need a 2nd lefty. Can Mejia take this time to accept his role and just trust his stuff and make a difference? Can Moya or Vasquez prove they can fill a viable role?

I also don't want to overpay for help, but there is enough system depth to make at least one good move to deepen the pen without mortgaging anything. (Two moves may be needed).

How much you give up, obviously, depends not only who is added, but how much remaining control is available. Here's hoping at least one of the aforementioned steps forward to make a difference.

You’re absolutely right that Gibson being the #4 is more about his health going into the season and less about his ability as a pitcher. I don’t think anyone, Perez included, expected him to be this good. His cutter and 3-4mph increase in fastball velocity seems to be a huge turning point for him, which is great to see. The fact that Gibson is slotted as the #4, regardless of the reason why, just highltits the depth of their rotation.

The rotation lacks household names, other than maybe Berrios but even he’s not a well known name to casual fans of other teams. I think that plays into fans’ perception of the rotation because there’s no Chris Sale, Justin Verlander, Clayton Kershaw, Max Scherzer, etc. type guy. Last note on the rotation, Wes Johnson deserves a lot of credit for their success. He’s clearly figured something out.

The bullpen is going to be tricky. Right now it looks like the reliever market is going to be very limited at the deadline. Simple supply/demand economics would indicate that means any arms that are available will likely demand above market value given the scarcity of the market. I remain optimistic about Romero. He’s certainly struggled with command but he has electric stuff and I think he could develop into a weapon out of the bullpen.

Thanks for reading and let’s keep the good times rollling!

If Madison Bumgarner is what it takes to get the Twins deep into the playoffs, I could honestly care less if one of Graterol, Kirrilloff or Lewis never plays for the Twins. 

I think fan bases tend to overvalue and overproject their own prospects and players. I get excited about prospect potential myself and love following the MiLB daily. However, I would get much more excited if there was a real possibility of World Series games being played at Target Field.

I would personally want to see Bumgarner pitch for a couple more months before doing anything.

It's fun watching how well Perez and Odorizzi are pitching right now, but it's way too early to pencil them is as playoff load-bearers at this point.  Also, neither one of them has ever cut open a rattlesnake, rescued digesting rabbits and nursed them back to health.

If Madison Bumgarner is what it takes to get the Twins deep into the playoffs, I could honestly care less if one of Graterol, Kirrilloff or Lewis never plays for the Twins. 

 

I think fan bases tend to overvalue and overproject their own prospects and players. I get excited about prospect potential myself and love following the MiLB daily. However, I would get much more excited if there was a real possibility of World Series games being played at Target Field.

 

I would personally want to see Bumgarner pitch for a couple more months before doing anything.

 

It's fun watching how well Perez and Odorizzi are pitching right now, but it's way too early to pencil them is as playoff load-bearers at this point.  Also, neither one of them has ever cut open a rattlesnake, rescued digesting rabbits and nursed them back to health.

Don’t get me wrong, I love me some MadBum! Who doesn’t want to see him blowing snot rockets, staring down umpires after a bad call and being an overall badass?

If Perez or Odorizzi regress back to their career normal level of production then the possibility of acquiring Bumgarner becomes very real.

It’s also very likely they can get Bum without giving up Lewis, Kiriloff or Graterol. He turns 30 in August, he’s a free agent after this year and he’s shown signs of not being the same guy he was back in 2014. A player like that doesn’t typically warrant a return of a top 10 overall prospect.

The need for pitching regards playoff matchups, this staff is built to win the division behind the good offense.  Come playoff time Odorizzi/ Perez/ Gibson don't match up great as your 2nd starter.  Then pen is the biggest area of concern, they need a closer level righty to pair with Rodgers.

I agree that's it's way to early to talk about the deadline.

But it's never too early to talk about making the team better. And often, the best way to get a deal, is to make that deal before the market gets hot.