Minnesota Twins Talk

https://www.startribune.com/twins-will-move-griffin-jax-lewis-thorpe-to-bullpen-this-season/600156321/ Nice to see some clarity here. No doubt Dobnak would've appreciated that last year. This would be Thorpe's only chance to make it and last chance. I had already given up on him but let's see what happens. I like his quotes especially if you read them with an Aussie accent. Jax could blossom in this role, I wanna see what his fastball looks like now.

With the A's trading both Olsen and Chapman, will we need to include Miranda in any trade for Montas? I think a package of Rooker or Larnarch, Miranda and a SP like Varland would be a good package for Montas and fill needs for the A's. but that would weaken our future as well. what do you think? and what are some good trade proposals for Montas?

Carlos Correa, eh? Well then... ...so last week after the Donaldson trade, I proposed a trade (contingent on the Twins signing Story to a long-term deal) getting Matt Chapman and Sean Manaea from the A's, sending away Royce Lewis, Simeon Woods-Richardson, and Gio Urshela. Obviously, a lot has changed since then. Not only is Chapman gone, but it's Correa, not Story, and he's on what is effectively a one-year deal (as long as he doesn't get hurt). Which means that basically takes Lewis out of the equation for any trade as he's presumably still viewed as the Twins SS of the future (post-Correa). And if they REALLY want to take advantage of having Correa manning short fo…

Lets hope they can find a way to seal a deal

I will start out by saying No. Injury prone is injury prone and he is getting older (believe it or not) not younger. I set the goal low on purpose and he still probably won't make it. No blame, just unfortunate state of affairs.

What’s the status here? Could we please get Big Mike signed before nothing’s left out there? Everyone in baseball is in the hunt for the A’s pitchers, which probably means we won’t get either. If Chi Chi Gonzolez is the best we can do, I’d feel safer with Pineda. We also need a shortstop ASAP.

Four teams remain in the race for SS Trevor Story. This includes the Giants, Red Sox, Twins and Mariners. The article can be found here.

LOVE IT. The most personality I’ve seen out of Buxton. We all know he’s personable. Maybe that new contract fits him well.

So we know the moves the Twins have made recently make no sense if there isn't at least one big splashy move coming (I mean, they could just be trying to cut payroll, but if so, why bother getting Gray? But I digress). We know the Twins are communicating with Story, and we also know there has been trade talks with the A's centered around either Sean Manaea or Frankie Montas. My unfounded personal feeling is that Falvine doesn't do the Donaldson trade, which basically leaves them with no SS and a 3B of questionable quality (not to mention an incomplete rotation and a notable downgrade at catcher), unless they are reasonably convinced they can deliver on said big splashy mo…

Unreliable sources report that the Yankees will have former Twins third baseman Josh Donaldson and Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole will be roommates this season during road trips. Baseball insiders remain skeptical due to Donaldson’s and Cole public feud in 2021. After MLB began cracking down on illegal sticky substances like Spider Tack, Donaldson publicly questioned if it was a coincidence that Cole had an immediate drop in spin rate and movement. After the controversy went public Donaldson went 0-6 with four strikeouts in their two 2021 matchups. Donaldson is 0-9 lifetime versus Cole, tied for his longest hitless streak against any pitcher. Yan…

In other role preparation news…

So I'm watching part of the spring training game between the red sox and the twins. Jeffers is catching and Sanchez is the DH. So in that scenario, which I am assuming should happen quite often this season, who will be the backup catcher on the bench in case of injury etc..... I hear all kinds of stuff about Story etc... But who are they going to have as that back up dude as they don't have Rortverdt, Garver, or Astudillo anymore?

With Spring Training opening, how many wins do you think the Twins will have this season with the current roster?

The Twins appear to be eyeing up Free Agent SS Trevor Story a day before the beginning of Spring Training. This thread is for updates and discussion on the Twins’ chances to get Story.

Not directly baseball related but the Twins' Spanish interpreter, Elvis Martinez, became a US citizen! (I met him at a Twins Caravan stop a couple of years ago. He was a real nice dude.)

It appears it's not airing on BSN. Any other options out there?

CF- Buxton 3B- Arraez 2B- Polanco 1B- Sano DH- Sanchez RF- Kepler C- Jeffers LF- Larnach SS- Gordon SP- Sands Looks like this will be the lineup for ST Game 1 tomorrow. Interesting to note that Martin is listed as the 2nd SS for tomorrow.

Tom Verducci posted a provocative article yesterday in SI addressing MLB's issues, those addressed in the CBA negotiations, and those that are not. https://www.si.com/mlb/2022/02/22/baseballs-greatest-threat?utm_source=recommendations&utm_medium=in-article&utm_campaign=end-of-story An exec summary can be summed up with this quote: "The players are now fighting to recover from a system they didn’t see coming in 2016: an analytics-driven, risk-averse, youth-leaning game that is built on keeping the ball out of play. Their beef should be framed less against “greedy owners” and more against the front-office efficiency experts who over the length of this CBA usurp…

Breaking: Twins have acquired SP Sonny Gray for Chase Petty. More to come...

Bullet dodged. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/03/cubs-to-sign-andrelton-simmons.html

Okay here’s my dream for Twins moves to improve: First, sign Trevor Story for SS Trade: Kepler, Lewis, Varland, Enlow to Reds for Luis Castillo Trade: Arraez, Larnach, Dobnak, Stotman to A’s for Frankie Montas Trade: Sanchez, Woods-Richardson, Winder to TB for Tyler Glasnow (out for another year) Sign Wilson Ramos as backup catcher Sign OF’s Joc Pederson and Kevin Pillar Sign RP Collin McHugh That gives us our SS, an Ace in Castillo, a solid starter in Montas, a pair of OF’s to surround Buxton (who can also back him up replacing Kepler and Larnach), a reliable backup catcher, another nice piece for the bullpen, another potential ace…

https://www.fangraphs.com/standings/playoff-odds/fg/div Surprisingly enough, the Twins are projected to be an 80 win team right now with no SS and half of a starting rotation.

WHATTTTTTTT THIS IS MADNESS

The Twins have reportedly traded Mitch Garver to the Rangers in exchange for Isaiah Kiner-Falefa (and a throw-in). What do you think of this trade?

The Twins finally made a significant addition to their pitching staff, acquiring RHP Sonny Gray from Cincinatti. Gray’s contract extends through 2023 (assuming the Twins pick up his 2023 team option). Sonny Gray was not cheap as the Twins gave up first-round pick RHP Chase Petty from last year’s draft. The topic of this thread? Grade the trade!

Prior to the season, Derek Falvey was on record as talking to Austin Martin about the potential for Martin to play shortstop at the MLB level with the Twins this year. The link I found wasn't as direct about it as another one I read, but these things are tough to find! https://sports.yahoo.com/neal-royce-isn-t-ready-224900472.html That said... Austin Martin has almost universally been scouted as an unlikely shortstop. Range and arm strength are both considered questionable for a starting shortstop at the MLB level, but a lot of that can be overcome with the shift. See one Andrelton Simmons. Simmons had the reputation of an elite shortstop; however, he's never ha…

BTV values prospects, J T Ginn (10.3) & Adam Oller (.7) Total 11 for Bassit Total (17) . The Twins could have done better. Hope the A's are motivated to deal Montas to the Twins likewise.

It looks awfully likely that the Twins will be well below their recent payroll numbers this year. Is that a response to lower revenues the last 2 years or the much more concerning situation of treating Buxton's incentives as guarantees when assessing their payrolls? Buxton's contract is great for the Twins, but only if they're willing to risk losing some profits if/when he hits his incentives. I don't like it, but I can understand them lowering payroll this year after the last 2 years with attendance being restricted and all. It feels like they're targeting 100-110M as a budget this year and I hate it, but can at least understand it if it's a 1 year thing. But if thi…

The lockout is over. Falvey said that did what they wanted before the lockout. It is now going to get exciting and fast. March 12 - the poll on TD says who are we going to sign first. The answer is getting easier. The cubs signed Andrelton Simmons - next up on the SS list? The Giants signed Rodon - who is the next Ace on the list? BIG NEWS - we resigned Juan Minaya! Stay tuned - more tomorrow. Tomorrow has come and we traded our primary catcher - Garver for Isiah Kiner-Falefa who will not we our SS since Texas signed Seager to be theirs. What I am surprised by is that Garver is at as premier a position as SS our new SS was scheduled to b…