Minnesota Twins Talk

Not much to say. I don't want to sign a big free agent SP. I'm going after a big name SS. I'm not sure what it would take to get Haniger, but $10mil seemed close. I'm not especially in love with Narvaez, but I just want a credible 2nd catcher in that price range. Same with Fulmer; just give me a veteran RHRP. I think there's some room to trade for Pablo Lopez or Brandon Woodruff if the opportunity arises. C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Gio Urshela ($9.00M) SS: Xander Bogaerts ($25.00M) …

One season all in. Some of the FA signings are probably a little low. Arraez not really bench but moves around and sees more AB than anyone. I'm not a Rodon fan at all but the options are limited. I don't see PHI declining Nola's option and Kershaw and Verlander aren't going anywhere. DeGrom is wooed by the promise of letting him pitch deep, much like Archer was last year by the promise of shorter outings. 1 Arraez 2 Buxton 3 Judge 4 Correa 5 Abreu 6 Polanco 7 Contreras 8 Miranda 9 Kiriloff 1 DeGrom 2 Rodon 3 Gray 4 Mahle 5 Ryan CL Diaz SU Lopez SU Duran Everyone else used as needed Sometimes you just …

C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) 1B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Jose Miranda ($0.70M) LF: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Max Kepler ($0M) DH: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M) Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M) SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M) SP2: …

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/10/offseason-outlook-minnesota-twins-12.html

C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) 1B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Gio Urshela ($9.00M) SS: Carlos Correa ($40M) LF: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Max Kepler ($8.50M) DH: Jose Miranda ($0.70M) 4th OF: Kyle Garlick ($0.70M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M) Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M) …

Earlier this year, Twins beat writer Do-Hyoung Park finished second to bazillion-time champion Amy Schneider, but apparently he scored well enough to make it into the Second-Chance Tournament, which aired Wednesday night in my market. (Spoiler alert, in case you haven’t seen it yet — a summary of the results is below.) “Honestly, I was just way too adrenaline-hyped after the game ended to be too upset about it,” said Park about his first-time experience, when being interviewed by host Ken Jennings. “I thought it was just the coolest experience. But then after a while it was kind of tough — I thought it was my one shot. Once I got over it, I was like, ‘I’m ready…

C : Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) 1B: Alex Kirilloff ($.7M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Jose Miranda ($.7M) SS: Jose Iglesias ($5.0M) LF: Trevor Larnach ($0.70M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Matt Wallner ($.7M) DH: Luis Arraez ($4.5M) 4th OF: Kyle Garlick ($0.70M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M) Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M) Backup C : Sandy Leon ($1.0M) SP1: Tyler Mahle ($8.00M) SP2: Joe Ryan ($0.70M) SP3: Sonny Gray ($12.00M) SP4: Kenta Maeda ($9.00M) SP5: Jhoan Duran ($0.70M) RP: Bailey Ober ($0.70M) RP: Josh Winder ($.7M) RP: Griffin Jax ($0.70M) …

Upside with risk. I don't do a lot but what I do costs a bunch of money. I retain Correa with a front-loaded contract, starting him at $40m over the next few years. I sign Rodon. I don't love Rodon but I think he's a gettable name that's better than almost all of the Twins internal options. I trade Kepler. I know the minimization of the shift might help him in 2023 but I'm done with Max and can no longer expect him to make the necessary changes to improve upon his half-a-dimension approach at the plate and dishing him to another team allows me to keep the payroll in check. And then I run out a bunch of guys who could tank the season, particularly in th…

In 2010, as Target Field was set to open its first season, Jim Pohlad was quoted about the Twins future payrolls relative to the previous season's 95 million dollar payroll: “We’re not going to spend the money just to spend the money,” he said. “It wouldn’t hurt if it dropped below, in my opinion, occasionally. But we’re going to try to put the best team on the field in the most prudent financial way. I think we accomplished that this year. At least on paper, we’re getting our money’s worth.” In 2022, when asked about his franchise's payroll, San Diego Padres principal owner Peter Seidler had this to say: “This is about baseball for me and our organization. Fans neve…

Didn’t have that on my bingo card… Carlos Correa also a nominee for SS, and Max Kepler for RF.

I'm doing this a bit different than others have as we've all seen the proposed salaries and expected names listed over and again. I thought about waiting until the WS was done to see if there were any surprises in cuts made by other teams in the post. But I don't see enough said surprises on the horizon to make an impact. A couple brief notes: 1] I DON'T see a payroll cut. The current payroll MO of the Twins has been to stay about dead center of total team payroll the past few years. And while finances and inflation issues could be discussed, there's an awful lot of $ still flowing in to MLB and I seriously doubt we see any league wide cutting of spending. In fa…

I decided to improve the catching, not pursue a shortstop, and bulk up the bullpen. I also opted not to include trades. It's a tad over budget but Pohlad can skip Starbucks once a week. C Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) 1B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Gio Urshela ($9.00M) SS: Jose Iglesias ($5.00M) LF: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Max Kepler ($8.50M) DH: Jose Miranda ($0.70M) 4th OF: Matt Walner ($0.70M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M) Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M) Backup C Mike Zunino ($10.00M) SP1: Sonny Gray ($12.00M) SP2: Tyler Ma…

After his year in NY, Kiner-Falefa may not be offered a contract, or will be available for a lottery ticket. I think he is better than the other cheap options at short for one year. Merrifield has one year before free agency, so given the talent level in Toronto, I think he would be available cheap. He hits right handed, and like Kepler, can spell Buxton in center and even Polanco at second. Christian Vasquez is a decent catcher with some offensive upside even against righties. I would sign Bassitt as he has less of an injury history than Rodon. I love Rodon, but would go safe here given we don't know about Mahle and Maeda for sure. Ober or Maeda could fill the lon…

The payroll tool leads me to a lot of wishful thinking. Things like the Pohlad's double down on spending and the FO signing pitchers to multi-year contracts. With that said I added a 6th year to Rodon to outbid others. Meada translates and convinces Senga he'll love Minnesota. Xander because the Pohlad's will only go so far on payroll and Vazquez because to many hitters' parks in the NL central for those catchers' numbers to translate to the AL central parks. Montero replaces Pagan for a little more $. Bell because who doesn't need a switch-hitting 1st baseman. Arraez, Polanco, Bogaerts, Bell, Buxton, Kepler, Miranda, Kirilloff/Larnach and Jeffers/Vazquez 1-9 sh…

Jorge Polanco has been a core part of the Minnesota Twins infield for years now but over the past year or two, he seems to be an overlooked or at least under discussed part of the team. I believe he is an under appreciated star of the team overshadowed by the super star talent in CF. The often discussed Center Fielder and his injuries take the spot light off Polanco. He was locked up early with a contract that runs through 2024 with a team option for 2025 meaning there is just less to talk about with him. We just know he is there making solid production and glove work and we move on to other topics. His salaries the next 3 years would be $7.5 in 2023 and $10.5 in 2024. Th…

I posted this elsewhere but want the topic. You should change your underwear because you never know when you get caught with your pants down. If you keep specialists on your roster. What happens when you need them to be much more than what they are? Every. Single. Year. Injuries. Happen. If someone is on your 26 man roster, they can't be hid because injuries are going to bring them into the light and you will NEED THEM. It happens every. single. year. Every year... injuries are going to pull your pants down. Change your underwear because the whole world will see that specialist if you don't. Gilbert Celestino was a defensive specialist. His hitting…

First, I am not saying we should or should not sign Correa to a long term deal. I expect he will be seeking an 8 to 10 year deal, around 30 mil or more a year. When thinking about the expected contract it got me thinking about Joe Mauer and his contract he signed with Twins, his 8 year 184 million, for 23 a year. Not top the of market back then, but pretty high. Correa is expected to seek top of market. When we signed Joe, just about every fan was happy, but after the first couple of years, when injuries set in, and natural age regression, many fans started to get upset that he was making so much but producing so little, which when you sign a guy into mid-30's …

Position Player $ (in Millions) Position Player ($ in Millions) C Jeffers $ 0.70 SP1 Nola $ 20.00 1B Arreaz $ 4.50 SP2 Gray $ 12.00 2B Julien $…

C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) 1B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: Gio Urshela ($9.00M) LF: Alex Kirilloff ($0.70M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15.00M) RF: Max Kepler ($8.50M) DH: Jose Miranda ($0.70M) 4th OF: Kyle Garlick ($0.70M) Utility: Nick Gordon ($0.70M) Utility: Gilberto Celestino ($0.70M) Backup C: Omar Narvaez ($3.50M) …

Taylor Rogers debuted with the Twins in 2016 at age 25 and made an immediate impact on the big league club pitching 61.1 innings to the tune of a 3.96 ERA, 107 ERA+, 1.288 WHIP, and over a strikeout per inning pitched. In total, Rogers compiled 314.2 innings showing an excellent SO/W ratio and an all-star appearance in 2021. With one year left before free agency, the Twins traded Taylor Rogers to the Padres who then traded him to the Brewers. It seemed a big blow to the Twins bullpen at the time of the trade and seemed even more painful after losing Paddack for most of 2022-2023 and the performance of Emilio Pagan. Did San Diego or Milwaukee do any better? Did …

...just got hired by the Rangers. Bruce Bochy.

This roster blueprint was thrown at the wall with the idea that this team has some legitimately promising depth, but that depth is highly volatile due to inexperience or injuries, so some stability, reliability and experience is needed. The idea was to raise the ceiling of the roster with at least one big move, and to raise the floor in several other places. Big move: Carlos Rodón, 4 or 5 years at $21M/year He's answered a lot of the health questions that surrounded him this year and the Twins supposedly have engaged with him as a free agent before. Adding to this rotation makes more sense to do at the top than the bottom. This move still feels like a gamble on Rod…

2022 Twins Diamond Award Winners

Sign Correa to a 7 year, 215 million dollar deal. Sweeten the deal by front loading it (45 mil in 2023, 40 mill in 24). This lessens his salary at a time when hopefully our young players are looking at extensions. I am fully convinced that the Pohlads are going to demand a lower payroll this year. I'll sweet-talk them into keeping a payroll around $135, with the promise that we will move a lot of the vets unless we are looking really good at mid-season (which frankly I dont think will happen). I'm looking at this as a bridge year. Start letting Duran pitch longer and longer relief outings until we have him stretched to try his hand at starting pitching by mid-…

Catcher- Acquire Omar Narvaez, who will evenly split time behind the plate. Infield/DH- Biggest question mark is SS, My blueprint has Iglesias…he’s older, but is a place holder for Lewis, Martin or even Brooks Lee. I have Miranda at 1st while having Arreaz DH (but moving him around the infield to rest other players). Gordon on the bench. Outfield- Hopefully, Kirilloff is healthy to begin the season, but Wallner is a nice replacement and may compete for the position. Kepler is traded away for a bag of balls or a lower level minor league prospect. Wallner & Celestino are on the bench. Starting Pitching – Bringing in an upper echelon SP is my 2nd highest q…

This blueprint will be of a team going for it all this year before they lose some pieces Basic rundown Decline options on Sano Bundy and Archer DFA/non tender Coulumbe, Sanchez, Stashak, Contreras, Garlick, Billy Hamilton Sign Narvaez 1 year 6 mill. Sign Taylor Rogers 1 year 5 mill Sign Correa to 8 year 280 mill deal Send Larnach, Cole Sands, Trevor Megill to Marlins for Pablo Lopez Henriquez spot could be filled by a waiver claim or Minor league FA C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.70M) 1B: Luis Arraez ($4.50M) 2B: Jorge Polanco ($7.50M) 3B: …

Mitch Haniger, Edwin Diaz and Brad Hand added as Free Agents To add some speed. Jorge Mateo acquired in a trade with Baltimore for Cody Stashak. Still have Royce Lewis ready to go when he's ready to go. Otherwise... I'm going to let the starting pitching keep bubbling up. C: Ryan Jeffers ($0.7M) 1B: Jose Miranda ($0.7M) 2B: Luis Arraez ($4.5M) 3B: Gio Urshela ($9.00M) SS: Jorge Polanco ($7.5M) LF: Trevor Larnach ($0.70M) CF: Byron Buxton ($15M) RF: Mitch Haniger (…

I have a signed baseball from a pitcher but I don't know who it is, It's a pitcher from the late 90's.

The Twins need a shakeup. They need an aggressive strategy for building a deep and reliable corps of both hitters and pitchers. That means setting the bar higher than they have in the past, and it means spending more money than they have to this point. It means trading a lot—here, swapping Polanco, Kepler, Garlick, and Kirilloff for Jansen, Swanson, and Canario—in addition to shelling out over $80 million in 2023 alone for free agents Correa, Bell, Drury, Stripling, and Robertson, with significant commitments to each of the first four beyond that. But this would yield the kind of team that could seriously compete immediately. C: Danny Jansen ($3.70…