Hard to speculate any more that you have.  It does slow down the call ups of younger players and it also helps the development of guys like Miranda. I don’t want to see Arraez traded and I doubt the FO is going to give up on any of their young player development.  They are playing money ball with all the $700k salaries on the roster.  We are a very young team with a ton of multi position athletes in Mpls, St. Paul and Wichita. With CC, we will be a contender for years playing money ball with the next kid up. This year, it will keep Julien, Lee, and Martin out of MLB. 2024 will be a different look when guys like Kepler and Polanco and Gallo will all be gone. 

The main focus of this team needs to be, is to field the best team while building for the future. Right now there is a gaping hole in a fragile infield. With Polanco solid offensively & defensively at 2B, Farmer is solid defensively & offensively against LHPs, not so much against RHPs. Miranda has flashed a lot of potential with his bat but is unproven & not profiled to be a great 3B. If anyone gets hurt we have absolutely zero quality back ups, the result will be devastating, and the season would be lost from the beginning. Nobody can guarantee to me that none of these 3 won't get hurt or needs a rest or that Miranda will settle in at 3B.

So it's essential that we go outside the organization to fill that hole whether it's  Correa or a different solid SS (Guillorme) that can hit RHPs. Then Farmer can fill that much needed hole of capable utility. Farmer is a temporary place holder for Lewis, next year he'll be gone or possibly traded at the deadline. The difference between Correa & Guillorme is that it'll be difficult to trade Correa for multiple years blocking the progress of Lewis, Lee & Martin but Guillorme can easily be traded with a potential increase in trade value when those prospects are ready to take that step.

The person who is really blocking our young players is Gallo. W/o Gallo, we have Gordon in LF, Buxton in CF & Kepler in RF and then we have either Larnach, Kiriloff or Garlick as 4th OF depending on health & schedule, with Celestino & Wallner in AAA for seasoning. That's potentially 5 OFers vying for the 4th OF spot later in the year. Now with Gallo that makes 6, IMO forcing us to trade someone. We can't trade Buxton, Gordon was our most reliable OF last year with still a lot of upside & availibity left; it's not practical to trade Larnach, Kiriloff or Kepler because of down year. Celestino still has a lot of upside; that's leaves Wallner but most likely it'll be Kepler for a couple of low lotto tickets.

Arreaz is dispensable no matter what we do with Correa. We have great bats that can play 1B/ DH in Kiriloff, Miranda, Julien plus many others who can slip in like Arraez did. The problem unfortunately is Arraez isn't much good anywhere else. Arraez could be used together w/ others to help fill areas of need. With the development of players Polanco & Miranda could also unfortunately be expendable to trade in the near future.

And this is why one of our LH hitting OF'ers and Arraez/Polanco need to be packaged for a solid SP.  Gordon could handle 2B.  Julien is ready, and I'm anxious to see him get a chance.  Correa would settle the entire infield down as the Twins would build around him.  

I agree with much of your thinking.  That said, assuming the Twins package players to acquire a frontline pitcher, I hope they would then focus on keeping positions open for our youngsters.  You can never have too much talent at SS and Correa does seem destined to play 3rd base in the next couple of years.

The Malins signing Cueto now adds to a already stacked rotation without even bringing the other 3 arms in the minors they have that would prolly start for the Twins.   The boy brainiacs should be on the phone this second offering up Keplar / Araez / Pagan and one of the lh hitting corner of's for a one or two of the Marlins starters on the trading block.

I'm not sold on Correa long term.   Sure he'd be good for a couple years at the high price. But when he needs to go to 3B or 2nd base his salary will be sky high. Premium pay is fine while he's at a premium position such as SS...... Offer him a 5 year deal he can opt out of in 2 years or we can opt out of in 4 years.  Give him 30 million a year.

3 minutes ago, HoskenPowell said:

The Malins signing Cueto now adds to a already stacked rotation without even bringing the other 3 arms in the minors they have that would prolly start for the Twins.   The boy brainiacs should be on the phone this second offering up Keplar / Araez / Pagan and one of the lh hitting corner of's for a one or two of the Marlins starters on the trading block.

 

I'm not sold on Correa long term.   Sure he'd be good for a couple years at the high price. But when he needs to go to 3B or 2nd base his salary will be sky high. Premium pay is fine while he's at a premium position such as SS...... Offer him a 5 year deal he can opt out of in 2 years or we can opt out of in 4 years.  Give him 30 million a year.

Correa wants a long term contract that he can 1. Compete for a WS on the regular and 2. retire from baseball from. He will never sign another short term deal. 275Mguaranteed over 10 with incentives to 325M. Just because he was broken 8 years ago as a kid doesn’t mean he will break again or fall off a cliff at 30-32. He has as much chance as being a great DH into his mid to late 30s as anyone in the game today. Just pay him. 

TIRED of the CC drama!! Really need to MOVE ON & spend the $ on Free Agent depth.

CUETO/WACHA (pick one)

FULMER/CHAFIN/HAND (pick two)

McCUTCHEN (consider)

Is 2023 brighter with CC or an additional experienced depth arm (moves Maeda to the Pen) - along with 2 solid relievers - along with decent defensive outfielder at 36 & bench presence - RH hitting option in front of Garlick?? Which option is a BETTER TEAM?

Outfield: 

Gordon (LF/CF/2B) - Buxton (CF/DH) - Gallo - McCutchen - Garlick

Unless Gallo is really productive, he & Garlick are gone by Aug 1 & combination of Lewis/Walner/Lee are ready to go.

Walner in St. Paul playing RF every day

Kepler & Celestino are traded

Larnach at DH & LF

Infield:

Miranda - Farmer - Polanco - Arraez (1B/3B/DH) - Kirilof

Catchers:

Vazquez & Jeffers

Sounds like Cueto is signed:

Kepler - Pagan - Celestino - López to Marlins for a starter.

2 upside OF for Fla.

2 re-work relievers with good stuff for Fla

Yields them 2 guys on roster with 2 more potential guys all for $16 million……might be too much money? 

Let's pretend for a moment we had signed Verlander to a multi year contract.  Would we be asking what it means to every other pitcher on the 40 man roster?  Of course not; we would be amazed and thrilled we had a top of the order pitcher who could take us to another level.  So why are we asking how a player like Correa would affect every other non pitcher on the 40 man?  Why couldn't we just be glad we locked up a premier player at a position that we have been lacking for years?  

I don't really expect to have this happen, but if it did, and we had a premier SS come into our fold for several years to come, would any one of the other 31 teams be worried about how it affects the other 25 players?  Every one of them would figure out a way to incorporate a premier player into the roster; but we couldn't?  Of course we could, and I hope we have to figure out a way.  

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

TIRED of the CC drama!! Really need to MOVE ON & spend the $ on Free Agent depth.

CUETO/WACHA (pick one)

FULMER/CHAFIN/HAND (pick two)

McCUTCHEN (consider)

Is 2023 brighter with CC or an additional experienced depth arm (moves Maeda to the Pen) - along with 2 solid relievers - along with decent defensive outfielder at 36 & bench presence - RH hitting option in front of Garlick?? Which option is a BETTER TEAM?

Outfield: 

Gordon (LF/CF/2B) - Buxton (CF/DH) - Gallo - McCutchen - Garlick

Unless Gallo is really productive, he & Garlick are gone by Aug 1 & combination of Lewis/Walner/Lee are ready to go.

Walner in St. Paul playing RF every day

Kepler & Celestino are traded

Larnach at DH & LF

Infield:

Miranda - Farmer - Polanco - Arraez (1B/3B/DH) - Kirilof

Catchers:

Vazquez & Jeffers

TIRED OF CC DRAMA - sounds like it’s over!!

TWINS WIN?? Correa to the Twins for 6 years @ $200 million. On The Herds bottom line.

Super - done - enough said. Probably, get OFF THE FO’s back!!!

Kepler - Celestino - Pagan - some farm system guy for a Starting Pitcher

Sign a reliever - please. Fulmer/Hand/Chafin….go get one!!

In my opinion--you take the best players you can and plug them in to make your team.  You don't pass on better players because it may create obstacles in the pipeline.  Everyone can't stay on the field, but whomever gets beat out---does not play!  You can't build a team and slot in prospects before they have made it to the bigs and can force their way onto the field.  Is Miranda better than Royce Lewis (moved to) 3rd or Arraez at 1B?  You don't move him to the outfield!  From my point of view, Kirilloff and Larnach are damaged goods until they can prove they are durable enough to stay in a lineup.  

If young guys/prospects come up and beat out a Vet, trade the Vet.  The only way to have a really good team is to have competition for positions.  You don't prove yourself in the minors, you only get a chance to play in the Bigs---and then you need to bump someone out.  Isn't that what Spring Training is for? Play yourself into the position and play someone else out.  In the end, cut out the footsie and accommodation--you put the best players on the field

Holding spots for "prospects" and "stopping up the pipeline" has no place in the conversation at the Twins level----unless---Royce Lewis is equal to or better than CC.   If he is, then LET'S GO!  If not, I think names like A-Rod, Trevor Storey and others have changed positions before.

this one will come back to bit the Twins going forward.....we just cannot have bad contracts that go years into the future.....He's a good player but not a franchise player........

11 hours ago, Mark G said:

Let's pretend for a moment we had signed Verlander to a multi year contract.  Would we be asking what it means to every other pitcher on the 40 man roster?  Of course not; we would be amazed and thrilled we had a top of the order pitcher who could take us to another level.  So why are we asking how a player like Correa would affect every other non pitcher on the 40 man?  Why couldn't we just be glad we locked up a premier player at a position that we have been lacking for years?  

I don't really expect to have this happen, but if it did, and we had a premier SS come into our fold for several years to come, would any one of the other 31 teams be worried about how it affects the other 25 players?  Every one of them would figure out a way to incorporate a premier player into the roster; but we couldn't?  Of course we could, and I hope we have to figure out a way.  

Who says I aint glad?  and YES we would be asking how it impacts other pitchers.  We would for instance assume that possibly one of the current top 5 gets moved to the bullpen to boost the bullpen.  then of course if there is current junk in the pen they would be gone.  talking about how one player might impact other players is not griping about signing "The Good One"!!!  It is wondering (excitiedly) how the rest of the team will fill out to build out the best championship contending team possible.  again what makes you think this discussion is about whether we would WANT to incorporate him?   I think you misread the tome/meaning of this post.

You think there weren't discussions in New York about what signing Correa would mean for Brett Baty? and Eduardo Escobar? and what the potential shift of Baty to the OF would do for THAT group? And how it would have sucked to lose a fan favorite in Escobar? Even at the expense of getting a much better player?

I WANTED Correa, and I am EXCITED he is here ( I wouldn't have been if it was 10 years).  And I am excited to talk... ok ramble incessantly and incomprehensibly... about the myriad of possibilities the Twins could do to field the final lineup. 

Aint gonna apologies for that. :)   GO TWINS!!!

10 hours ago, GeorgiaBaller said:

In my opinion--you take the best players you can and plug them in to make your team.  You don't pass on better players because it may create obstacles in the pipeline.  Everyone can't stay on the field, but whomever gets beat out---does not play!  You can't build a team and slot in prospects before they have made it to the bigs and can force their way onto the field.  Is Miranda better than Royce Lewis (moved to) 3rd or Arraez at 1B?  You don't move him to the outfield!  From my point of view, Kirilloff and Larnach are damaged goods until they can prove they are durable enough to stay in a lineup.  

If young guys/prospects come up and beat out a Vet, trade the Vet.  The only way to have a really good team is to have competition for positions.  You don't prove yourself in the minors, you only get a chance to play in the Bigs---and then you need to bump someone out.  Isn't that what Spring Training is for? Play yourself into the position and play someone else out.  In the end, cut out the footsie and accommodation--you put the best players on the field

Holding spots for "prospects" and "stopping up the pipeline" has no place in the conversation at the Twins level----unless---Royce Lewis is equal to or better than CC.   If he is, then LET'S GO!  If not, I think names like A-Rod, Trevor Storey and others have changed positions before.

Again I think another person missing the point.  I agree with all... ok MOST of your points.  BUT...

Again I NEVER said to PASS on Correa., and I am not sure I saw any other commenters saying to pass on Correa.

Would you say it is fair to say that there was most likely a plan in place for how we would be moving forward at SS prior to Correa becoming available again? and would it not be fair to say it most likely involved playing the person they traded for (Farmer) initially? and would it also not be fair to assume that our top 2 prospects who both could be on the team come September would have come in to play as potential long term SS plans? And would it not be fair to say that Correa is more than likely better than them? and that as a a result there is a chance he could be playing the position that they otherwise might be playing? and as a result would it not be fair to ponder on how that would impact their futures and how the Twins would now use them?  ALSO, would it also not be fair to say that if 2 teams who REALLY wanted him but were concerned about his health, and as a result he said he would switch positions presumably to stay healthy for the long run (or maybe it was just to play in NY and that was the only place he would switch to 3B) then would it not be a fair question to ponder on if him moving to 3B for the Twins would also make help keep him healthy in the long run? And if so then what impact would THAT have on the presumed otherwise starter at 3B?

Of course you "slot in prospects".  Especially on a team that has historically been fiscally conservative. contracts matter.  Yes you have to earn playing time, primarily in Spring training. But I honestly do not think someone has to OUTPLAY Kepler to get the job. If the Twins think they can get EQUAL contributions from any of Larnach, Kiriloff, Wallner, etc  then they will trade Kepler and save the money.  Secondly, even if you "beat someone out" in Spring Training, that is still just Spring Training,

Where is anyone saying to pass on better players???

I guess maybe I should have phrased the question... and what I hoped would be fun debate, would be "How do you put together the best team surrounding Correa if we are lucky enough to sign? And golly gee willickers that sure would be swell if we could!"

Another aspect of building a team is/are option.  If one player has options left and the other does not, then more often than not... and even on the best teams, the player who has options left gets sent down.

And actually, your very first sentence hits to the point of this thread, You say... "n my opinion--you take the best players you can and plug them in to make your team."

Who are you best players? and where would you play them?  it is FUN to speculate!!  :)