Minnesota Twins Talk

More pitching depth, no it's not Garrit Cole. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/twins-sign-jc-ramirez-to-minor-league-deal.html

I think that the Twins don't have a lot of room to make cuts from their 40-man roster, although they managed to outright Lewis Thorpe yesterday. That said, just about every year a non-roster player or two makes the team forcing another player or players off the 40-man roster. Even with the abbreviated schedule of games for this spring training, several non-roster players have seen a lot of action. I'll mention a few here and ask the faithful readers if they think there are others with a chance to go north with the team, or failing that, to get called up sometime during the season. Pitchers: Juan Minaya pitched very well for the club in 2021, but was non-tender…

Interesting article on FiveThirtyEight -- https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/al-central-preview-the-twins-are-looking-for-a-bounce-back/ Here is an excerpt -- The Twins are in a really interesting spot heading into 2022 because they were really good in both 2019 and 2020 — with an average winning percentage of .612 (which equates to 99.1 wins per 162 games) across those seasons — yet they were also really bad in 2021. Suffering a stunning collapse in both pitching and defense, Minnesota won just 73 games and finished dead last in the AL Central, behind even the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals. So looking ahead, we now get a fun experiment in projecting …

The Twins, in the last week of the offseason, made several big moves, such as the trade for Sonny Gray and signing Carlos Correa. There has been some speculation around the Twins trading for Frankie Montas and Sean Manaea. Opening day is roughly a week away, and while we have been looking for one of those moves to be made, that bears the question, “Will it actually happen?” I’m really not sure what to think about this.

From Phil Miller, today the Twins - specifically Bailey Ober and Gary Sanchez - tested a new PitchCom system designed to keep teams from stealing signs. https://www.startribune.com/technology-to-stop-sign-stealing-gets-tested-by-twins/600160469/ So what do you think? I'm not a fan of the obvious nature of the college technology worn around their belts. This is, as I'm just hearing about it, pretty simple, pretty noninvasive.

Mostly overshadowed by the Correa press conference on the same morning, Seth reported last week that six minor league pitchers were optioned. Blayne Enlow was included in that group, after I had earlier suggested that wasn't possible due to Enlow's injury status (he is still recovering from Tommy John surgery). I was mistaken! As a general rule, most players can't be optioned while injured -- that much is correct. However Enlow falls into a small exception. Here's the explanation from that fantastic roster and transaction rule resource The Cub Reporter: Restrictions on Optioning/Recalling Players to/from the Minors Enlow fell into that group for the Twin…

I know trades within a division are rare...like, incredibly rare. But what if... Would you make this trade? Jose is under contract for two years at $26 million total. He is 29. To Cleveland: Arraez, Royce Lewis, Trevor Larnach, and Blayne Enlow A package like this might be too good to pass up for CLE, and this might entice Correa to stay for a bit longer...at least a second year?

What Could Have Been - A Look At The Smoke And Mirrors Job The Pohlad's Pulled On All Of Us. 2021 Payroll - $120,084,606 - 2022 Payroll - $110,859,524 - Difference ($9,225,082) 2022 Payroll - $110,859,524 - 2022 League Average Payroll - $133,435,408 - Difference ($22,575,884) Now let's take a look at some pitching rotation and bullpen signings the Twins could have made and still be at, or below, the league average payroll. The only 2 assumptions here is that if the Twins sign a high(er) end SP then they don't take on Dylan Bundy at $4,000,000 and the Twins still make every other trade they already have done. Scenario 1 of what the Twins could have d…

According to an article on the Twins official website the idea came from Scott Boras.: "Considering all of those factors that could lead to Correa's success and potential to win in Minnesota, Boras reached out to Twins leadership on Friday with a more creative proposal that wouldn't involve the extreme long-term commitments that would take the Twins out of the picture. Instead of the more anticipated megadeal over a decade or so, the sides ultimately ended up with this current structure -- a three-year, $105.3 million agreement with opt-outs after each of the first two seasons." Also, Boras is quoted as saying this about the Twins: "It was very easy to expl…

Well, the Correa signing claimed it’s first casualty for the Twins. Ralph Garza Jr. was claimed by the Red Sox and will head down the road to the Red Sox spring training site.

I re-watched the Correa media intro, and something jumped out to me. Scott Boras said Correa had a +1200 OPS in Minneapolis. Does that mean he sees the ball well, or Twins pitching is that crappy. Would like to hear thoughts. If this has already been a thread, sorry.

I'll go first.

Must-see TV, perhaps?

Miguel eschews the in search of https://www.twincities.com/2022/03/21/twins-miguel-sano-sheds-25-pounds-in-an-effort-to-be-better-than-yesterday/amp/

Shut down for now, likely won’t be on the opening day roster:

Yeah, this is a bit late. But who cares, right? The Twins made a huge splash yesterday signing Carlos Correa, arguably the best SS on the market going into the offseason, to a 3-year, $105.3M deal, with several opt-outs. What do you think of the signing?

Taylor Rogers and the Twins agreed on a $7.3MM salary to avoid arbitration in Rogers' final year or arbitration eligibility. The great news here is the Twins must expect Rogers has fully recovered from his pulley tendon sheath injury, meaning it's likely Rogers made the right call by not having surgery it seemed like the Twins were pushing. This is a major boon for the Twins' bullpen; let's just hope Rogers' pulley tendon holds together this season and he can officially put the rare issue behind him permanently. https://www.startribune.com/twins-and-taylor-rogers-settle-at-7-3-million-avoid-arbitration/600158459/

I am intrigued by the positional flexibility of many of the Twins players. I wonder who the real options are at shortstop if Correa is out for a long period of time (more than a week). It also probably would shed some light on the future for the Twins. Six choices are listed, three of whom are unlikely to be on the Opening Day roster.

MLB will have the ghost runner rule for extra innings again in 2022. It wasn’t stated whether the free base runner will be instituted for the tenth inning or whether in comes in play later in the game. Also of note, 28 players will be on the active roster until May 1.

There's still time, I get it, but I can't help but continue to wonder the direction with pitching still awful. Am I wrong to say that they are currently one of the 5 worst staffs in baseball (starters and relievers)? At any moment Montas and Manaea could be traded to one of the many other teams looking for pitching. Also, waiting until the final pitchers possible is not the smartest move for value (and we know Falvey is obsessed with a good deal). They have a legit chance to be really good this year, but don't seem willing to part with the prospects and they weren't willing again to sign free agent pitching. My thoughts are that the Correa signing and in smaller part…

Erhard, MN – A local litter of puppies is reluctant to get excited about the Twins 2022 season. The litter’s spokespuppy, the only pup awake during the interview said, “To quote Walt Whitman, I sound my barbaric yawn over the roofs of the world.” The spokepuppy stated he had no name as he has yet to be sold to a young, urban couple who will likely give him an embarrassing name. “And I’ll be really bummed if I get sold to some Cubs fans,” he whispered. “We didn’t see the 2021 Twins, but mom has been a huge Twins fan for over 60 years,” said the spokespuppy. “Mom says the 2021 Twins were dog meat by June 1, and she’s not sold on the 2022 Twins either. Mom a…

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/mariners-sign-andrew-albers.html

In the wake, and literal waking of myself in this historic day in Twins Territory, I wanted to revisit an off-season blueprint that I think Mackey and Judd's "Write that down" session would have been proud of. Was it a perfect parlay in the quest for Correa, Gray, and Bassitt--no; however, I think this is an approach worth revisiting especially when two stretch predictions came true.

The Twins appear to have four major leaguers to man the three infield positions and some flexibility. Polanco will be the second baseman, but he has logged 495 games as a shortstop. Correa figures to be the fixture at shortstop. Urshela is a third baseman with experience at short and Arraez is experienced at second and third. Barring injuries, I don't see many at-bats for a fifth infielder. If the Twins do choose to keep another infielder, they could go in several directions. As I indicated in the first paragraph, they don't really need a guy that plays shortstop. Top prospect Miranda could back up at third, second and first, but he hasn't even played his first maj…

Dan Hayes of the Athletic reports the Twins have been in touch with Story’s agent. MLB Trade Rumors had projected Story would get six years, $126mm. Maybe the Twins could get him for 5/110? With Donaldson and Kiner-Falefa gone, the left side of the infield is wide open…for Jose Miranda and Trevor Story (and some Gio Urshela.) Story posted a (BBRef) 4.2 WAR last year and 6+ WAR in 2 of his 6 seasons, finishing top 11 in the MVP voting in 2018, 2019 and 2020. He excels at defense and offensively as well. if the Twins sign Story, the madness of the past three days begins to make a whole lot more sense…

Does anyone else here know of other quality starting pitchers available?

Duran will probably have problems with his arm as a starting pitcher. With his plus fastball and secondary pitches I think he would be a realistic pitcher this year in the majors. He has pitched in all parts of the minor leagues. What does everyone think?

Twins added a veteran arm to their bullpen with the signing of Joe Smith. I'll let Baseball Trade Rumors give you his recap. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/twins-to-sign-joe-smith.html The pen is an interesting world looking at it from the outside. The Twins still have no viable closer. So it looks like a return with Rogers in that roll. Thielbar and Duffey, for all intent and purposes, will be the setup guys. Smith has a veteran chance of making it, and the Twins will stay with Alcala (who might be a closer in the future). That leaves pick-up Cotton, to battle it out with Thorpe, Jax, Garza and maybe Stashak for three jobs…

Gonna be a wild next week with transactions and potential trades.

In the event that we do not sign Story or Correa (which is quite possible), it will be interesting to see what the FO does with the Donaldson savings. How would you use the money? My strategy: Keep the crazy-move momentum going. Let's play unorthodox baseball for a year or two until some of our prospects are up and we have other FA/trade options. TRADES: Rolls Royce, Trevor Larnach, Urshela($6.5), and Winder for Matt Chapman($9.5) and Manaea($10) or Montas($5). A's appear ready for a complete makeover. NET: +$10-$15 Gary Sanchez, Blayne Enlow, and Cole Sands for German Marquez. Gary gets to hit in COL...either as C or DH. German under control o…