I agree it is beyond the time to get off the pot. We had the SS problem solved, but then 35 hours later, the FO traded K-F to the evil empire, for a second string catcher and an average 3B (remember Miranda is due a shot at 3B, based on his performance last year). We fans all thought there must be a plan to sign Story, but we were mistaken. Apparently there was no plan to sign Story, just a wish and a prayer. 

Who knows, maybe this new catcher they picked up off waivers can play short, and start a game here and there, and in a pinch can come in from the pen.

This is the wrong time to play the waiting game with so many holes. We came into the off season again with an  impressive core. All we had to do was to trade Arraez in conjunction with other less painful players to obtain a front line pitcher like Montas and focus to quickly fill our holes. I think we could have still pursued Story w/o dumping Donaldson. Even if they didn't want to, I'd rather sign comeback candidate Simmons for $4MM than dump Donaldson and lose Garver and Rortvedt than pursue Story and put the team in limbo. So far this FO has created as many holes than filled while losing precious spring training time.

So far we got a good #2 pitcher, downgraded 3B, starting and back up catchers. We still could use a frontline pitcher, glove at SS, back up catcher and CF (those are the premium positions, which is very sad). FO has plans for Arraez to play here, to me that means that he's off the trading block. So if we get Montas, it'll be with valuable prospects.   The clock is clicking, why do you paint yourself into a corner which could lead you to make more mistakes than you've already have?

I was really excited with the first two moves.  Gray and Kiner-Falafa plugged two holes at minimal dollar cost.    Then the Donaldson debacle.  Essentially Garver, Donaldson, Rortvedt and taking on about 14M for two useful but not particularly needed players in order to dump 7M, 21M and 8M over the next three years.   I hope like hell that this doesn't signal a retrenchment and Pohlad getting cold feet about the aggressive foray into the free agent market with Donaldson.  Trevor Story?  Not a big fan.  Damn, Kiner-Falafa was exactly the kind of shortstop we needed.    

I think those remaining pitchers are waiting to see who loses out on Montas to see if they can up the dollars teams might be willing to spend to add them to the roster.  If the Twins are in on Montas and Pineda would like to pitch for the Twins then he likely has to wait and see if the Twins do manage to get Montas.  If they do then my guess is big Mike signs elsewhere if they don't then I assume he will be looking for another multi-year deal.  Probably the same for the other pitchers as well.  When the Montas trade is done things should start moving real fast for the rest of the free agent pitchers left on the market.

5 minutes ago, Heinie Manush said:

Damn, Kiner-Falafa was exactly the kind of shortstop we needed.    

I feel the same way. He was my favorite new Twin, and I didn't even get to see him take a spring training AB. Decent bat, very solid glove - we had an infield on the rise. Now ... not so much. Wonder if Falvey and Levine had an offer for Story that they thought was going to be accepted, and then Story's agent saw the trade and realized the Twins could be squeezed for a lot more.

 Maybe the FO is done….

As much as this FO likes spin rates, they always seem to be behind the curve. IF they had acted last fall to sign a top pitcher, Ray just as an example, we would now have two top pitchers in Ray and Gray, to pair with Ryan and Ober.  So, if they were to add Montas, the rotation would be in excellent shape and maybe even better if a couple of young guys proved themselves.  And, you would have the top 3 pitchers for two years and Ray for more.  But, they wouldn't move until they unloaded Donaldson's contract, and now it is too late to sign anyone.  If they assumed a little more financial risk, we could have an excellent starting rotation, Donaldson, Kiner-Falefa, Polanco and Sano/Kirilloff in the infield with Arraez filling in, and Jeffers and Rortvedt at catcher.  We could have rotated at DH between Sano, Arraez, Donaldson, Miranda, and others, had Buxton, Kepler and Kirilloff, in the outfield, with a fourth outfielder to found internally or in free agency.  Even if we were to add Story, I would prefer that lineup to what we will be fielding.

I never saw a 200-300 million dollar player coming here so I have no expectations for Story or Correa.  Unloading Donaldson really did cost us Garver and Rortvedt. Shows you how much in demand he was. But it got us more playing time for Arraez and Miranda. I wouldn't be surprised to see Sanchez unloaded, there is no reason to eat his contract. I still see 2022 as a year long try out camp.

Obviously they're waiting to see Royce play exactly one game in spring training before pulling the trigger on a shortstop.

Sanchez is up for arbitration, can Twins just release him without having to pay salary like Twins did with Rosario? Or sign him for significantly lower than 8M arbitration estimate.

How embarrassed am I??? Immediately after posting this the Twins make a move to solidify everything. I guess I should have just trusted that Falvine know what they are doing. I cant wait to hear the Chant starting on opening day going right on through to the World Series... "Chi- Chi!!!  Chi-Chi!!! Chi-Chi!!"

1 hour ago, Nashvilletwin said:

 Maybe the FO is done….

They'll sign Pineda or Cueto. That's it. They're done. The payroll will be less than $100 million and they'll finish last. There's no excuse for it. Either fire Falvey or sell the team, Jim. Preferably both. 

1 hour ago, RJA said:

As much as this FO likes spin rates, they always seem to be behind the curve.

Okay, as much as I applaud that we're on the same page in our critiques, this little line just needs a curtain call. Midseason form on the baseball wordplay. Keep it up.

Trade rumors says we are "maybe" one of 4 teams waiting for Trevor Story to make a decision. He reportedly is willing to play another position, and is willing to sign a short term high AAV contract.

I get the anxiety, but I can be a little more patient. It seems like all parties involved are trying to get maximum value from the situation.

Story's hoping his price only goes up the longer he waits, and the A's have been leaking out news of every team in the AL Central trying to get their pitchers in an attempt to sweeten the deal, it seems. The Twins can be cheapskates sometimes, but right now they're just in a situation where they can't control the timeline unless they make a deal that we'd likely hate even more than standing pat.

4 hours ago, 4twinsJA said:

Sanchez is up for arbitration, can Twins just release him without having to pay salary like Twins did with Rosario? Or sign him for significantly lower than 8M arbitration estimate.

Sanchez has already been tendered a contract for 2022, so we’d have to pay him something. 30 or 45 days termination at his arbitration rate, maybe? Not sure with this truncated spring.

I always wondered why Pineda didn't draw any trade offers for the Twins lst season.

Still need a shotstop, left fielder, at least one rotation arm, and - of contending - be nice to have a real closer, although at this state in walking the aisles of the market, stuff looks like it may be expiring soon.

I',am starting to look at the Twins roster, now, as guys who need to play here or at the top level available to them, and the Twins should be pushing that. And cut bait with any of the AAAA hanger-oners.

The Twins have $50 million to spend. Not a lot that I would want to blow away with now with my money. I guess betetr to go into full rebuild mode. Maybe some pieces will be tradeable come the deadline to further stock the farm system. Maybe not. 

I was actually excited when they got the shortstop from the Rangers. Ready to buy a short=game season ticket when they signed Gray. Not sure how much I care to see Beckham, Gonzalez, Godoy - not to mention the short-term pickups of Sanchez and Gio.

I would almost rather keep prospects, then I look that the Twins are overflowing with potential starters, msot of them from their own system, for both AAA and AA. Maybe just let the guys take some bumps in 2022, go back and forth to work things out, and pray we have studs going forwards...minus Chase Petty.

3 hours ago, Otto von Ballpark said:

Sanchez has already been tendered a contract for 2022, so we’d have to pay him something. 30 or 45 days termination at his arbitration rate, maybe? Not sure with this truncated spring.

The contracts of arbitration players are now guaranteed. The Twins will have to trade Sanchez, Urshela, and others to get out from underneath their salaries. 

At least the FO signed Buck. I blame the FO for signing Donaldson in the first place. He and Rocco may have very different approaches to being a productive team member. But now I am wondering why in the world the FO gave up the potential of Petty for 2 years of the veteran, Sonny Gray,? It just makes no sense, if the team was not going to use the Donaldson money to sign Story.  Even if that was the plan, you sign Story first, then you shed Donaldson, or you enter into one or two contingency contracts. But with no Trevor Story signed, then the Yankee trade doesn't make sense at all. Someone is really confused here, and I beginning to worry that I'm not the one who is confused.  

Detroit is singing Michael Pineda. Another possible starter bites the dust. I hope this trade with the As thing is real...

5 minutes ago, tony&rodney said:

The contracts of arbitration players are now guaranteed. The Twins will have to trade Sanchez, Urshela, and others to get out from underneath their salaries. 

Oh joy.

2 minutes ago, LA VIkes Fan said:

Detroit is singing Michael Pineda. Another possible starter bites the dust. I hope this trade with the As thing is real...

What trade with the A's? 

Just now, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Oh joy.

Did not mean to discourage anyone .... just wanted folks to know that the Twins cannot just release Urshela and Sanchez to save some more money,  as it seemed some may have not been aware of the rule.