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Finish the Roster - Trade for Reynolds and Sign Chafin or Fulmer


LA VIkes Fan

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We're close to a contender. We still need a middle of the order bat and another quality reliever. How do we do this? Here's a radical plan. Four simple steps:

1. Trade Larnach, Ober, and either Salas or Emmanuel Rodriquez to the Pirates for Bryan Reynolds. Add in Martin or Reyes if you have to but then Pittsburg throws in a real A or A+ ball pitching or catching prospect, not filler, especially if you add in Reyes. Reynolds goes to LF every day, hits 3 in the order. The trade for Lopez and the emergence of SWR and Varland allows you to do this. 

2. Sign Chafin if you can. If not, sign Fulmer. Bullpen done. 

3. Trade Kepler for prospects, AA or lower and prioritize pitching or catching. Target the Yankees, Dodgers, or Cardinals as partners. They all need OFs now to better contend and have realistic hopes to contend. All 3 have decent or better systems.   

4. Extend two of Mahle, Lopez, Maeda and Gray to ensure rotation stability. I vote for Lopez and Mahle if they are healthy. Also ok with Gray. 

Roster is now complete. The OF is Buxton, Gallo, and Reynolds, backed up by Taylor and Gordon.  Starting IF is Kirilloff, Polanco, Correa, and Miranda, backed up by Farmer and Gordon. Catchers are Vasquez and Jeffers, Find another UTL for the last spot, maybe Willi Castro to start off with, or a 3rd Catcher. Don't sign a RH 1B/DH only type; get someone versatile. This is a placeholder for Lewis or Lee. Rotation is P Lopez, Gray, Ryan, Mahle and Maeda, with Varland, SWR, Balazovic, and Dobnak in the Saints rotation. BP is Duran, J Lopez, Jax, Chafin/Fulmer, Theilbar, Pagan, Moran, and Alcala, with Coloumbe, Stashak, Sands, and Megill at AAA for fill in duty or as a replacement if someone struggles. Batting order is Polanco, Correa, Reynolds, Buxton, Kirilloff, Miranda, Gallo, Vasquez/Jeffers, Gordon (as DH). 

This adds a bat for the middle of the order (albeit at a high cost), strengthens the bullpen, and still leaves us with a solid rotation with some depth. Big bet on Kirilloff but 1B could be Miranda with Farmer/Gordon/Lewis/Lee at 3B if Kirilloff doesn't hit or can't stay healthy.  What do you guys think? 

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 I agree with your general line of thinking. I do think we can’t pencil in Kirilloff for 1B, never established and wrist is a ?. If he breaks through, great but I’d like to see them trade for CJ Cron or if not possible, sign Gurriel for 1B, one year removed from a batting title.

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I think we’re done.  May pick up a highly discounted bullpen arm as we near spring training at most.

I think Kepler is staying.

The chances of us giving up what it would take to get Reynolds is 0%.  Even if we were willing to come up with a package the Pirates would take, which I doubt, Reynolds isn’t asking out to get shipped off to an equally inept franchise in terms of playoff track record, and one that won’t give him the monster contract he’s likely looking for (hence the trade request).  He wants to go win, and get his big payday instead of getting strung along in low ball arbitration on a loser.  The chances of him coming before Correa was nearly 0%.  After signing Correa, it’s just as likely we reanimate the corpse of Willie Mays to play LF.

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It sounds good but everything would have to work out perfect for it to be successful.  After last year's injuries I think it leaves us a little thin in quality starting pitching.  I also agree that prying Reynolds away would be difficult at best and we've already traded away too many prospects that we cannot afford to make our system weaker.

Lastly, if this could be accomplished, I would want to ensure that we somehow lock in Reynolds.  You did not mention how many years he has left before free agency, but if we are to give up the capital to get him we need to be confident regarding retaining him long term.

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Larnach, Ober, and Salas (or Martin) would be a pile to trade for Reynolds, but Pittsburgh says no. The phone call and discussion should have taken place already and Reynolds would fit in left field. No harm in asking questions of Pittsburgh. I would also wonder what the Pirates  require for Endy Rodriguez.

Chafin seems like a guy who should already have been signed by someone. I wonder if the Twins feel the money Chafin requires is a little too rich and they are feeling good about their relievers already on the roster. Fulmer .... same mol.

Max Kepler still has value and I don't see any reason to send him away for a poor return. If the Yankees want to send Loaisiga .... interesting..

The Twins might like Maeda going forward with similar price to the current deal. Gray and Mahle will want to explore their value as free agents. Neither projects as a player to offer a big contract (above $15M) and years may be an issue as well. I'm not sure if the Twins will put a qualifying tag on either but that seems quite possible. Pablo Lopez is a different case and the Twins will want to discuss what he has in mind for a four or five year contract. Remember that Dobnak and Paddack are the Falvey pitching contracts handed out thus far for three or more years. 

The Twins are projected by any number of pundits to win 78-86 games this summer. The variables are greater than normal because the team has so many players who have question marks due to injuries. The Twins depth looks far stronger to me. A significant trade or two is quite plausible in July, for more more than was acquired last summer. The ability to complete trades at this time are hindered by the hopes that all teams have entering the year. By mid July there should be better clarity on the direction of  clubs, including the Twins, which opens up trade possibilities.

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If we are getting nuts , I like C.j cron at first, Reynolds in right, chafin in the bullpen. And God forbid what I'm going to suggest. Trevor Bauer added to the staff. I guess I'm playing with the idea of what would give us a chance to steal a championship. The easiest part to get would be Chafin an Bauer. They are both free agents within our price range. Chafin might be one that could happen. Bauer probably over Management's dead bodies. The other two could make us a solid team. And certainly win the division. How would we get both? It could take more than we would like to give. Names that would be up for trading would be,Gray,Mahle, Maeda, Pagain, Fulmer, Martin, Lee, Richardson, and of course Kepler. We would not lose all of them but enough to make us cringe. But if we kept the right pitching we would contend. Like I said its a crazy out out on the limb suggestion. Or if you really want to dream , hang on to everyone and go for the big prize from the angels next year.

 

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Reynalds is good but not a star... Mind you I like him and understand the Pirates spot of getting a haul but Pass at that cost.  Kepler, Celestino, Martin and Winder ... Let it rip... 

Twins want Gray and Maeta to pitch to improve their trade value... will be gone by the deadline weather we are in the race or not. We have too many guys waiting in the wings that are pretty close in what they would produce. They might even get a good offer coming out of spring training for a team looking for a starter without having to pay huge.. 

I am in the camp that they are going to give Kiriloff every chance to be the everyday 1B as he clearly has the talent but health has always been an issue. 

I also think that Polanco should be the everyday DH.. Switch hitter... keeps him healthy and bat in the lineup. Give Gordon the chance to be the everyday 2B and if he drops the ball we have Farmer there and Lewis should be ready by midseason. 

OF is another story.... There will be some movement before the season starts... who.. that is another story..

 

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I'd love to have Reynolds, though there is 0% chance of it occurring. The truth is our offense is not very good. How has that been improved this offseason? By the trading of Arraez. Our everyday lineup is about a bunch of hope fors. Hope Buxton is healthy, when has he ever been. Hope Kiriloff is healthy and can hit ML pitching. Larnach hope he is healthy and can hit ML pitching. Hope Gallo is better than 2022. Hope Kepler can beat the shift. Hope........

AS far as trading with the Pirates I would like to see them go for milb C Henry Davis.

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On 1/30/2023 at 9:11 AM, Beast said:

I think we’re done.  May pick up a highly discounted bullpen arm as we near spring training at most.

I think Kepler is staying.

The chances of us giving up what it would take to get Reynolds is 0%.  Even if we were willing to come up with a package the Pirates would take, which I doubt, Reynolds isn’t asking out to get shipped off to an equally inept franchise in terms of playoff track record, and one that won’t give him the monster contract he’s likely looking for (hence the trade request).  He wants to go win, and get his big payday instead of getting strung along in low ball arbitration on a loser.  The chances of him coming before Correa was nearly 0%.  After signing Correa, it’s just as likely we reanimate the corpse of Willie Mays to play LF.

Willie Mays is alive and well unless I missed something. I don’t think we’re done -several needs including 2 relief pitchers 1B that is a proven major league talent and preferably a DH who we can use like Cruz though he’d unlikely be as good as Cruz. Yuri Gurriel is who I had in mind. Perhaps another outfielder. If Kepler stays, it’s a blow to Twins chances, IMO.

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12 hours ago, Stew said:

If we are getting nuts , I like C.j cron at first, Reynolds in right, chafin in the bullpen. And God forbid what I'm going to suggest. Trevor Bauer added to the staff. I guess I'm playing with the idea of what would give us a chance to steal a championship. The easiest part to get would be Chafin an Bauer. They are both free agents within our price range. Chafin might be one that could happen. Bauer probably over Management's dead bodies. The other two could make us a solid team. And certainly win the division. How would we get both? It could take more than we would like to give. Names that would be up for trading would be,Gray,Mahle, Maeda, Pagain, Fulmer, Martin, Lee, Richardson, and of course Kepler. We would not lose all of them but enough to make us cringe. But if we kept the right pitching we would contend. Like I said its a crazy out out on the limb suggestion. Or if you really want to dream , hang on to everyone and go for the big prize from the angels next year.

 

CJ Cron.... Been there, done that!  Bauer👎 Don't need the headache 

 

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If the Pirates are seeking controlled starting pitching the Twins can’t compete for Reynolds unless they are willing to part with Ryan. Some team will offer better than Ober.

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Ober could be a #3 or #4 starter for this team as Maeda and Mahle have to prove themselves after injuries. I'm not sure why so many think Gallo is such an answer. He's good defensively and hits homers but is a hole in the lineup. I'd keep Kepler and sign Fullmer. Still, it's a long way to the start of the season and we'll see. Reynolds would be a nice addition but I'd rather trade prospects that proven big leaguers right now. You don't really know how prospects will turn out. And I can't agree that we would trade starters at the deadline if we are in contention.

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Keep Everyday roster static & sign Chafin or Fulmer.

This, to me, is very realistic & should happen w/o an issue. Reynolds isn’t that special IMO & he displaces Larnach & Gordon in LF going forward & they both provide plenty of offense V. righties.

Gordon - 28 doubles & 9 HR in ‘22 (1st full season) with 405 AB’s & .750 OPS…….if he walks once more a week & strikes out once less a week, he’s a star in the making!!

V. LH starter:

Taylor CF - Buxton DH - Correa SS - Miranda 1B - Polanco 2B - Farmer 3B - Gordon LF - Jeffers C - Kepler RF

I think this line-up with 3 platoon guys with solid splits against LH pitching looks good!

V. RH starter:

Gordon CF - Polanco 2B - Correa SS - Larnach DH - Kirilof 1B - Vazquez C - Kepler RF - Miranda 3B - Gallo LF

I think this line-up will have Buxton in Center 60% of the time but looking at it here with 3 left handed hitting Outfielders. Shows we can get Larnach & Kirilof in the line-up & still have 3 other LH guys in OF, plus Polanco.

Keeping Larnach for 50% of DH at bats vs. RH pitching & maybe 40 games in LF. Keeping Kepler because Gallo may be our Opening Day first baseman??? Kiriloff & Buxton are health wildcards. I’ve seen enough of Celestino in our MLB outfield - need the depth.

If we choose, based on how things are going, we trade Gallo or Kepler with pieces at the break to fill a hole in the Staff & to get Lewis on the roster.

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