Article: Competition Shuffling Twins Landscape

[Ted Schwerzler]

As the Minnesota Twins approach the trade deadline in 2017, we’ve often read that there was some disbelief in regards to this club being this competitive. Chalk it up to a lackluster AL Central, some good luck, or a breakout first half, but the Minnesota Twins are in it at the halfway point. What now becomes interesting, is how the home nine attacks the next few years as the divisional landscape changes.Recently, the Chicago White Sox made another blockbuster trade. When giving up Chris Sale to the Boston Red Sox over the winter, it was apparent the AL Central foe was going into a rebuild mode. The expectation was that other big pieces would be moved as well. When Jose Quintana was sent across the city to the Cubs, the Southsiders put everyone on notice. As things stand currently, the White Sox have one of the best farm systems in baseball, and they’re stocking up on near ready talent.

 

So, how does a move like that change the landscape for the Twins? The long and short of it is that it shouldn’t. It’s far from a good practice to allow an opposing organization to dictate how yours is run. That being said, the AL Central is a division in flux as it stands. The Cleveland Indians are built for sustainable success, while the Twins remain an up and coming challenger. As the White Sox rebuild, the Kansas City Royals may soon be faced with that same decision. Detroit keeps getting older, and could soon find themselves struggling to keep up. With that blueprint, it’s the Twins that seemingly have the greatest opportunity.

 

In 2017 the emergence of Miguel Sano as a true power threat, the blossoming of Jose Berrios as a frontline starter, and the growth of Byron Buxton, have all helped to shape the Twins future. That group will be the key trio that leads the organization back to the Postseason, and gives the Twins a realistic chance at deep runs into fall baseball. What a move like that of the White Sox does for the Twins however, is remind them that the window for error is not a wide one.

 

There’s no reason to believe that all prospects work out, and despite the White Sox loading up on top tier types, the reality is that some of them will flop. Knowing that they have a good amount of chips in their corner however, Minnesota can expand their opportunity to take over by supplementing what they already have going. At some point, top Twins prospects close to making an impact will be called upon. Nick Gordon, Stephen Gonsalves, and Fernando Romero all look like difference makers for a big league club. What’s worth exploring however, is who from the outside can take the organization to the next level.

 

Whether the Twins operate on the trade market in 2017, or look to free agency prior to the 2018 season, there hasn’t been a time in recent memory that looks more like a “go for it moment” for the organization. If that means spending big on a top tier starter, making a splash to get a superstar in return, or rounding out the 25 man with some A-list pieces, it would seem that now appears the time to do so.

 

Baseball is not a sport in which one player significantly advances the overall prognosis of a club. Despite being the best player on the planet, Mike Trout has watched the Angels wrestle with futility for the majority of his career. Asking the Twins to spend money at any point since at least 2010 seems like an avenue for wasting dollars to improve by a marginal value at best. Now however, one or two big additions could be enough to have this group take the next step.

 

There’s arguments to be made on both sides of the coin, do you make moves in free agency or flip players through the trade market. We’re going to see how Derek Falvey and Thad Levine tackle a real opportunity, and knowing a new front office is in charge of that scenario is something worth being excited about. If there’s a window for the Twins to be exploring, it’s beginning to crack, and they can choose to kick it wide open.

 

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[Doomtints]

This team deserves its props for being where they are and with the pitching situation as it is. Most team would have thrown in the towel with the pitching.

 

The front office is on the record as wanting to build for the future and not for this year. That's the right decision, there is too much left to build to start gutting the prospect pool.

 

But I will say it again, it's a head scratcher that the team did not address this at all during the offseason. Building a team is a constant process and the Twins are still lacking 3/4 of a pitching staff....

[KirbyDome89]

"Minnesota can expand their opportunity to take over by supplementing what they already have going. At some point, top Twins prospects close to making an impact will be called upon. Nick Gordon, Stephen Gonsalves, and Fernando Romero all look like difference makers for a big league club. If that means spending big on a top tier starter, making a splash to get a superstar in return, or rounding out the 25 man with some A-list pieces, it would seem that now appears the time to do so."

 

Any trade discussion for pitching is going to start with those three. I don't see any way in which they're able to bring in talent and hold onto their top young players. Actually spending $$ in FA would be great, and it would save this team prospect depth that it desperately needs, but I'm not holding my breath waiting for it to happen. 

 

"Whether the Twins operate on the trade market in 2017, or look to free agency prior to the 2018 season, there hasn’t been a time in recent memory that looks more like a “go for it moment” for the organization. Asking the Twins to spend money at any point since at least 2010 seems like an avenue for wasting dollars to improve by a marginal value at best. Now however, one or two big additions could be enough to have this group take the next step."

 

There NEVER is a perfect moment to "go for it." The post above said it best, building is a constant process, and acquiring talent is a massive part of that. If the Twins had gone the route of slashing payroll for a few years, trading off all valuable veterans, drafting smartly, and cornering the international market (they did do this to an extent,) and then signing proven MLB players supplementing the team with the youth acquired then I would've been behind withholding on signing FAs. That clearly wasn't the case. We've watched the payroll drop over the course of 6 season now but the team has been filled with AAAA players and washed up veteran signings over that time period. I guess they get credit for dabbling in the mid level FA pitching market even if it didn't come up roses. Honestly, there is no excuse for being that bad over 6 seasons; and they're still dealing with the same issues in the 7th season! 

[Mike Sixel]

I guess I don't see how it could change their plans, because the WS are doing what everyone knew they would, KC has not changed its plans, and neither had Detroit or CLE. I'm not sure what's changed, really, other than they've won a few more games than "planned" probably.

[Rosterman]

The Twins have to take a hard look at who would need to be added to the 40-man not only this Fall, but also next year...and do they have the spots for them. Looking further out, you suddenly do have players with potential that MAY NOT find a home with the Twins organization and may be ripe to include in a package of prospects. 

 

Yes, if you do a trade, you do have to dangle a couple of guys in your top 20, as well as a few more in the next 20. But in the grand scheme of things, do you add 8-10 players a season to your full roster? And two years from now some of the names drafted today will be on the cusp of consideration.

 

But it also has to start with recognizing the current needs of the team, mulled by the time you still need to hive to a Kepler or Buxton and continued looksee at Polanco and Rosario, amongst others, and it will start all over again with whomever you bring up currently on the 40-man (Palka, Garver, Vielma). 

 

You have to seriously decide who will be here in 2018 and beyond, and who you do think will be a wise investment. Can you grab someone from another team, and still keep control? Do you lay out BIG money in the off-season?

 

And then you have the Joe Mauer factor. How much do you pay this guy and where do you play him, and is he worth it in the long-run. Could MAUER be a difference maker for any team right now (of course, he is injured) and going forward, do you really need to worry about any p.r. fallout not having him a Twin would bring?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

I guess I don't see how it could change their plans, because the WS are doing what everyone knew they would, KC has not changed its plans, and neither had Detroit or CLE. I'm not sure what's changed, really, other than they've won a few more games than "planned" probably.

I think hat's changed is that Cleveland was supposed to dominate the division, and hasn't yet. Agreed with those above, can't really go "all-in" but need to improve the rotation and bullpen for this year and 2-3 years to come.

[mikelink45]

Keep developing the minor leaguers who can be major leaguers.  Keep moving forward and move those that are not part of the future.  But lacking the assets of the cubs and a few others don't get caught up in trades.  Free agency is our best opportunity to add. 

[strumdatjaguar]

Agreed.   The Twins should not make a trade like the one the Cubs did for Quintana (unless it's the other way around for Ervin Santana - if the Twins lay an egg in the next two weeks)..   The Twins need to add talent to the minor leagues, not deplete it.

[HitInAPinch]

I don't believe that moves by other teams really affect the Twins.  Falvey and Levine have enough on their plate right now in just getting them back to respectability.  

[yarnivek1972]

I don't believe that moves by other teams really affect the Twins. Falvey and Levine have enough on their plate right now in just getting them back to respectability.

Maybe it doesn't alter their long term strategy but it certainly will affect the Twins. A division rival is stockpiling elite controllable talent. That is certain to affect the Twins in some way over the next 6-10 years.