Catastrophic?  Comeon...  Catastrophic would be something like a brain aneurysm, stroke or TBI.  But a concussion is mild compared to many brain injuries.

Concussions lead to CTE, that is pretty traumatic. 

Yes, but most teams would keep it in house instead of having the press do their dirty work AND making public statements about it.

I don't think that reflects reality. There's dirty laundry aired on all clubs, especially if they are losing.

 

I don't think that reflects reality. There's dirty laundry aired on all clubs, especially if they are losing.

I respectfully disagree.

I respectfully disagree.

I've heard dirty laundry the last year on Arizona, Colorado, San Diego and LA Dodgers, and I stopped thinking about it after the NL West.

A franchise usually needs to be good and leadership in place for a while and stable, and even that won't always stop it.

 

I've heard dirty laundry the last year on Arizona, Colorado, San Diego and LA Dodgers, and I stopped thinking about it after the NL West.

How many of those were about the best player on their respective teams?

 

After looking at Sano's stats regarding how many games he has played in both minor and major, I just dont think you can sign him to any megadeal without first seeing if he can actually play a full season and be able to justify the kind of longevity and price some of you are talking about.

Don't forget that minor league seasons are shorter.

 

In 7 pro seasons to date, Sano has played "full" seasons in 5 of them.  He's only been on a disabled list twice: June 2016 (hamstring strain during the RF experiment), and his 2014 TJ season.  29 starts in a row to begin 2017 too.

 

There are reasons to question some of the bigger mega-contract proposals we've seen on this thread, but durability doesn't seem to be one of them.  Especially now that we're committed to him at 3B/1B/DH.

Edited May 10, 20179 yr by spycake

What happens if Buxton ends the season with a .750 or better OPS? Who do you prioritize this offseason?

And no, you can't say both. It's possible the Twins could lock up both but who do you target first and most aggressively?

 

What happens if Buxton ends the season with a .750 or better OPS? Who do you prioritize this offseason?

And no, you can't say both. It's possible the Twins could lock up both but who do you target first and most aggressively?

 

Sano, and not close. His comparables (Harper and Machado) are going to sign monster free agent contracts after 2018. This is the pretty much the last chance to lock him up.

 

I still wouldn't mind more information on Buxton, though in your hypothetical scenario I would certainly be open to an extension.

 

What happens if Buxton ends the season with a .750 or better OPS? Who do you prioritize this offseason?

And no, you can't say both. It's possible the Twins could lock up both but who do you target first and most aggressively?

 

Sano. IMO, he's a lot less risky as a hitter. And, he doesn't run into walls 2-5 times a year. 

Concur, I say Sano is the priority to sign this off-season. He's already becoming a star this season, and will only get more expensive the longer he proves he can play 3B or 1B. 

 

Sano. IMO, he's a lot less risky as a hitter. And, he doesn't run into walls 2-5 times a year. 

Yeah, Buxton's all-out play is something to consider. I don't believe the Twins should tell the guy to reel it in but the way he runs into things, injuries are always a concern.

 

Yeah, Buxton's all-out play is something to consider. I don't believe the Twins should tell the guy to reel it in but the way he runs into things, injuries are always a concern.

 

right, don't hold him back, but that injury risk is legit, imo.

 

I've heard dirty laundry the last year on Arizona, Colorado, San Diego and LA Dodgers, and I stopped thinking about it after the NL West.

 

This is not unique to the Twins, I don't care what anyone says.

 

Concussions lead to CTE, that is pretty traumatic. 

 

Yes, like anything else one thing can lead to another if repeated.  Catastrophic is a buzz word in this scenario, not reality.

Edited May 10, 20179 yr by laloesch

 

What happens if Buxton ends the season with a .750 or better OPS? Who do you prioritize this offseason?

And no, you can't say both. It's possible the Twins could lock up both but who do you target first and most aggressively?

Buxton is more valuable long term, but could be done after 2018.  Sano window is shorter, I would start  with Sano.  Buxton's contract will also be less, possibly much less and probably only cover 1 to 2 FA years, to me Sano is the new face of the franchise, let's pay him.  Also his skill does not diminish as fast as other skills.  His hitting could well last to between 35 - 40 depending on how well he took care of himself.

Get Buxton done now, while you still can.  

 

Like, RIGHT now.

 

What happens if Buxton ends the season with a .750 or better OPS? Who do you prioritize this offseason?

And no, you can't say both. It's possible the Twins could lock up both but who do you target first and most aggressively?

Lock them both up.

The problem with saying, extend Buxton NOW before he pulls too far out of his slump, or "we should have extended Sano last year", is that players and agents know the ebbs and flows of player performance too.  Guys generally aren't going to sign super-team-friendly deals at low points of performance.

 

That said, I do hope the new front office is keeping an open dialog with realistic expectations in these situations, something I was not confident the old front office was doing.

Frankly, for their sake, I hope they both get PAID. I don't care about the Pohlads having more money. The only reason I want an extension is so they get PAID, and the team has them around longer. But I want them to get their fair money.

 

What happens if Buxton ends the season with a .750 or better OPS? Who do you prioritize this offseason?

And no, you can't say both. It's possible the Twins could lock up both but who do you target first and most aggressively?

I'd lock up Sano first.  He's pretty much established whereas Buxton, while proving to belong now, still has a bit more to prove.  I think locking up Sano now and Buxton the next offseason (if not also now) would be a prudent move.

 

Frankly, for their sake, I hope they both get PAID. I don't care about the Pohlads having more money. The only reason I want an extension is so they get PAID, and the team has them around longer. But I want them to get their fair money.

 

Couldn't agree more. It's better for the organization and the fans when 2 young, lovable, good players are locked in for a long time... Haven't seen that since the Mauer and Morneau days. 

I had a bigger picture thought here too. Assuming the Twins don't collapse and actually stick and end up in the 75-80ish win range, I would consider going extension crazy.

 

Sano, Buxton, Dozier, Kepler, Polanco. I would do them all. Build off the momentum of an improved season, new front office, and push this as the next great core.

 

Sano, Buxton, Dozier, Kepler, Polanco. I would do them all.

"One of these things is not like the other..."

 

Dozier is 5 days shy of his 30th birthday. Unless you know something beyond the public statements he has made (about how important it was that his contract didn't buy out any free agent years), I don't see how extending Dozier is going to be a good deal right now.  Especially not when you're extending Polanco too and your top prospect is Nick Gordon.

 

They can always bid on him after 2018 under the right circumstances.

"One of these things is not like the other..."

 

Dozier is 5 days shy of his 30th birthday. Unless you know something beyond the public statements he has made (about how important it was that his contract didn't buy out any free agent years), I don't see how extending Dozier is going to be a good deal right now. Especially not when you're extending Polanco too and your top prospect is Nick Gordon.

 

They can always bid on him after 2018 under the right circumstances.

I wouldn't expect a discount on Dozier. Second contracts almost never are.

 

I had a bigger picture thought here too. Assuming the Twins don't collapse and actually stick and end up in the 75-80ish win range, I would consider going extension crazy.

 

Sano, Buxton, Dozier, Kepler, Polanco. I would do them all. Build off the momentum of an improved season, new front office, and push this as the next great core.

 

On that list, this would be my priority:

Sano
Buxton
Kepler
Polanco
Dozier

 

I wouldn't even talk to Dozier until the first 4 are locked up. 

Yes, but most teams would keep it in house instead of having the press do their dirty work AND making public statements about it.

 

Right... I forgot that those big market fans and media outlets are so much mite forgiving. Wait... exactly the opposite.

 

On that list, this would be my priority:

Sano
Buxton
Kepler
Polanco
Dozier

 

I wouldn't even talk to Dozier until the first 4 are locked up. 

 

My order too, fwiw.

 

I wouldn't expect a discount on Dozier. Second contracts almost never are.

Then why do it?  Sounds like you are committing considerable resources elsewhere (with some discount), and it's not at all clear that 2B will be an area of need for us in 2019 and beyond (or whether Dozier, at age 32+, will be able to capably fill that need).

 

Then why do it?  Sounds like you are committing considerable resources elsewhere (with some discount), and it's not at all clear that 2B will be an area of need for us in 2019 and beyond (or whether Dozier, at age 32+, will be able to capably fill that need).

 

Because he's good, and I want to keep good players.