I dunno, Johan Santana, Torii Hunter, Cuddyer...all were traded or let go because money was an issue. Even Ortiz was let go to avoid arbitration and the inevitable raise it would have brought.

 

SAntana, Hunter and Cuddy (as well as Morneau, Mauer, Nathan, Radke and others signed long-term extensions before free agency so the Twins were able to keep them around a bit longer. 

 

Ortiz's $2-3 million arbitration decision was not based on money at that time... Couldn't stay healthy in the Dome. 

 

Yeah, I agree that the problem hasn't been losing players. In the year or 2 before Target Field was built up to today, they've resigned Morneau, Mauer, Perkins, Dozier... As well as giving out unwarranted extensions to Suzuki and Hughes. 

Since the ballpark opened, there hasn't been anyone else worthwhile to re-sign. 

 

If anything, they've been too liberal with their money, spending it on bad extensions.

 

Yeah, I agree that the problem hasn't been losing players.

 

Because there were not any good players to loose, to begin with, after TF was built

Re: breaking the current young core:

 

If the current core (Sano, Berrios, Kepler, Polanco, Buxton) develop to be the players we want them to be, they will required contracts at the $20M/annual value a head.  Will the Twins spend $100M+ a season for 5 players only?  Highly unlikely.

 

They will have to break that core.  Pure math.

Edited June 12, 20179 yr by Thrylos

Welp. I guess it's time for me to make a call. There really doesn't seem to be a right or wrong answer this year. All these guys are pretty close. I would pick Hunter Greene.  He throws in the high nineties and can throw strikes. That's a rare combination. If he develops a plus secondary pitch and an average one he's an ace. If not he's a closer or a shortstop.

I'm fine if they take Mckay or Wright as well. In that order.

I really like what Lavelle was saying today on the FAN.  If they pick McKay, his arm is probably going to get shut down anyway for the year.  Let him go down to E-Town and let us get a good gauge as to where he's at as a hitter and at first.  Maybe do a spot out of the bullpen here or there to keep him in tune from the rubber as well.  I'd love Hunter Greene, but he'd take what many people are out of right now, and that's PATIENCE.  We wouldn't see him in the pros for more than likely another 3 years minimum.  Where as if McKay is truly that no.1 overall caliber and out of college, we'd possibly get to see him around 2019. That's if he progresses enough in building up to 150+ innings.  When it's all said and done, it's not the NBA.  It's not the NFL.  The development of arm strength for pitchers is so beyond my realm of comprehension, I wouldn't know where to begin.  I just really really REALLY don't want a 1-1 bust.  That's where I'd love Greene.

E-town? sigh. He's 22 and the "best hitter in college" how about A ball for a change?

I really like what Lavelle was saying today on the FAN. If they pick McKay, his arm is probably going to get shut down anyway for the year. Let him go down to E-Town and let us get a good gauge as to where he's at as a hitter and at first. Maybe do a spot out of the bullpen here or there to keep him in tune from the rubber as well. I'd love Hunter Greene, but he'd take what many people are out of right now, and that's PATIENCE. We wouldn't see him in the pros for more than likely another 3 years minimum. Where as if McKay is truly that no.1 overall caliber and out of college, we'd possibly get to see him around 2019. That's if he progresses enough in building up to 150+ innings. When it's all said and done, it's not the NBA. It's not the NFL. The development of arm strength for pitchers is so beyond my realm of comprehension, I wouldn't know where to begin. I just really really REALLY don't want a 1-1 bust. That's where I'd love Greene.

It doesn't seem to me that sending an advanced college hitter to ETown is going to tell us ANYTHING about him as a hitter. We already know he can hit that level, he's probably facing significantly better pitching now than he'd see most days in ETown.

Why has the value of pick 1/1 dropped over a million from last year? I feel as though Twins are getting screwed on their bonus pools.

This theory of quickest to the Majors so they can help the corp group is short sighted to say the least. I remember people saying the same thing to justify picking Jay a couple of years ago. That didn't exactly work out. McKay reminds me of Jay. The fact he can play in the field and pitch suggests to some he is a safer pick. The safety picks often turn out to be unsafe. I have my fingers crossed for anyone but McKay. If he is the pick I hope I am wrong.

oh how we forget last time the twins drafted high they didn't take the Lebrun James of baseball they took the next Willie Mays, the next Barry Bonds. How is that playing out?

 

 

http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2012/6/3/3060244/amateur-draft-profile-byron-buxton-of-appling-county-hs-georgia

 

Baseball is trying its darndest to appeal to a certain demographic of people. MLB spends-multi millions every year promoting the sport and building state of the art stadiums free of charge in that demographics neighborhoods. How many articles have come out over the last 3 to 5 years about the "shockingly" low number of AA's playing the sport collegiantly and professionally.

 

truth be told though the MLB draft is a crap shoot, unlike the NBA or NFL where the top 5 picks usually result in top tier talent.

 

Maybe the twins should draft the safer pick without the "huge potential" seemed rightfully so when the Astros drafted Correa over Buston

oh how we forget last time the twins drafted high they didn't take the Lebrun James of baseball they took the next Willie Mays, the next Barry Bonds. How is that playing out?http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2012/6/3/3060244/amateur-draft-profile-byron-buxton-of-appling-county-hs-georgiaBaseball is trying its darndest to appeal to a certain demographic of people. MLB spends-multi millions every year promoting the sport and building state of the art stadiums free of charge in that demographics neighborhoods. How many articles have come out over the last 3 to 5 years about the "shockingly" low number of AA's playing the sport collegiantly and professionally. truth be told though the MLB draft is a crap shoot, unlike the NBA or NFL where the top 5 picks usually result in top tier talent. Maybe the twins should draft the safer pick without the "huge potential" seemed rightfully so when the Astros drafted Correa over Buston

Correa wasn't considered the safe pick that year. Mark Appel was, and he's a bigger bust than Buxton could ever dream about.

Also, the book has yet to be written on Buxton- he is only 23 years old, just 2 years (to the day, actually) older than this year's "safe pick", Brendan McKay is.