Article: Real Deal: What Would It Take To Get J.T. Realmuto?

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Of course, my point is why would the Marlins want him as a centerpiece of this deal? He's a 24 year old who hasn't pitched in the majors yet and has a ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Realmuto isn't getting traded for that. 

 

That's fair. Though to be fair to Gonsalves, he has shown up in multiple top 100 lists. He's not a bad prospect. Getting two top 100 guys for Realmutto would certainly get the Marlin's attention. I think we both agree that we'd rather have Graterol/Romero at this point, as the upside for both is higher. 

 

My point was that I didn't understand why those guys would be on the table and Gonsalves was not. If the Marlins wanted him, I'd include him.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I think you’re reading that wrong Mike and your original interpretation was correct, they do have 3 seasons left after this one. They are FA after the 2021 season, a.k.a. going into the 2022 season. For instance BR lists Mauer as a FA in 2019 even though 2018 is clearly his last year.

 

I'm kind of curious how long both need to be in the minors to extend that by a year. I certainly wouldn't fault the org for keeping them down for that reason given how poorly they've performed at the major league level.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Fair enough ... Do you honestly think the wise path is a path that largely depends on Sano and Buxton being elite players. It would be one thing if they were building toward elite status in at the MLB level but they have both been sent back to the minors and Sano's conditioning alone could be reason to not bet on him long-term. This is also overly simplistic. Should we not also consider the fact we have one good SP signed past 2019 and a poor bullpen when considering pushing our chips in? 

 

I also don't agree that either we go all-in or start over. Without looking, I think we have 4 years of control after this year. Why can't we wait until this winter? Why not see how Buxton/Sano/Romero/Gonsales/Busenitz/Gordon, and the entire ML system look like at the end of the season. Why does this need to be decided today? 

 

The question I'd like to pose to you is what you think Buxton and Sano will do in 2019. I get the long term approach, I do. I was advocating it for most of the last few years. But this window is open right now. Then central is ripe for the taking, and young players like Buxton and Sano can take huge steps forward (just look at the Eddies or Berrios), and both have demonstrated well above average MLB production at varying points in their career, so assuming they will not is as dangerous as assuming that they will. So what do you do?

 

Doing nothing about catching is certainly going to hamstring the 2019 roster. It will setup guys like Buxton and Sano to fail, putting more weight on their shoulders. I see no way around doing something, and there's no help in the minors for 2019/2020 either. The best option right now is Rortvedt, and to be fair, I think breaking north with the team in 2021 is probably optimistic. The FA market is pretty weak too.

 

So do you punt on 2019? That's what you're advocating. Given the young core on this team, I'm not sure that's wise. We may find ourselves upset in 2019 looking at wasted seasons from our core because of a few black holes in the lineup. I saw way too much of that in the mid-2000s for my taste. 

 

 

[alarp33]

 

 

 

My point was that I didn't understand why those guys would be on the table and Gonsalves was not. If the Marlins wanted him, I'd include him.

 

Definitely agree with that. I'm just not sure I see a scenario where the Marlins trade Realmuto to the Twins and it doesn't include a hitter named Lewis or Kiriloff, and a pitcher named Graterol or Romero.  And I think if they somehow were interested in a Kiriloff/Graterol package, you are probably adding in a pretty good 3rd piece as well. 

Edited July 13, 2018 by alarp33

[Major League Ready]

 

The question I'd like to pose to you is what you think Buxton and Sano will do in 2019. I get the long term approach, I do. I was advocating it for most of the last few years. But this window is open right now. Then central is ripe for the taking, and young players like Buxton and Sano can take huge steps forward (just look at the Eddies or Berrios), and both have demonstrated well above average MLB production at varying points in their career, so assuming they will not is as dangerous as assuming that they will. So what do you do?

 

Doing nothing about catching is certainly going to hamstring the 2019 roster. It will setup guys like Buxton and Sano to fail, putting more weight on their shoulders. I see no way around doing something, and there's no help in the minors for 2019/2020 either. The best option right now is Rortvedt, and to be fair, I think breaking north with the team in 2021 is probably optimistic. The FA market is pretty weak too.

 

So do you punt on 2019? That's what you're advocating. Given the young core on this team, I'm not sure that's wise. We may find ourselves upset in 2019 looking at wasted seasons from our core because of a few black holes in the lineup. I saw way too much of that in the mid-2000s for my taste. 

 

I don't have a clue RIGHT NOW what Buxton and Sano will do in 2019 and neither does anyone else with any reasonable degree of certainty. This is part of the point. It's a lost season but we have almost a half of the season left to see if they can turn it around. 

 

Not advocating to sign Realmuto or any other player requiring us to give up our best prospects at this moment is very far removed from “punting 2019. Most everyone who is an advocate suggests we are in a window of contention based on control of Buxton and Sano. I am suggesting that it does not make sense to trade key prospects to build a team around two players who are performing so badly they are in the minors. At a minimum take the rest of this lost season, make a more informed decision at the end of the season and act accordingly in the off season.

 

Part of the difference in opinion here is some of the posters have indicated the goal is to win a weak central division. If that’s the goal, I can see the point. I have said before that I believe the goal should be to construct a team that’s on par with the top teams in the AL. In other words, a team that has a 50/50 shot of winning a playoff series. If the goal is to build an actual contender, I have seen nothing written here that indicates any of the trade for Realmuto supporters have considered what it would take to build a contender and what is the best path to that goal.

 

We are on pace to win 75 games. Even if Buxton and Sano come back to be 5 WAR players and we add Realmuto, we are still not close to competitive with the 4 teams on pace to win 100 games and those teams are all built to be good for several years. What do we do about SP? We have one proven SP signed beyond 2019 and the existing staff is not going to be adequate to contend next year. Mike has pointed out the FA market for SP is weak. What would we have to give up to get a front of the rotation SP with 3+ years of control? Ops, we still need a whole lot of help in the BP. Oh, we are forgetting replacing Mauer and Dozier.

 

So, what I am hearing is let’s push are chips in the middle because our window with Buxton and Sano is closing. First, we extended Mauer so it’s certainly not a forgone conclusion we would lose them both. Secondly, they are failing so spectacularly that they have been sent to the minor. Neither can stay healthy. We should ignore the fact that our SP is not nearly at the level of contention and we have one good SP signed beyond 2019. Let’s ignore the bullpen needs almost a complete overhaul. Let’s ignore we have to fill 1B and 2B.

 

Someone will have to show me how we fill all of these holes, especially by opening day 2019. While you are at it, explain to be how a team of a 75 win pace with all of these issues is in a window of contention.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I don't have a clue RIGHT NOW what Buxton and Sano will do in 2019 and neither does anyone else with any reasonable degree of certainty. This is part of the point. It's a lost season but we have almost a half of the season left to see if they can turn it around. 

 

Not advocating to sign Realmuto or any other player requiring us to give up our best prospects at this moment is very far removed from “punting 2019. Most everyone who is an advocate suggests we are in a window of contention based on control of Buxton and Sano. I am suggesting that it does not make sense to trade key prospects to build a team around two players who are performing so badly they are in the minors. At a minimum take the rest of this lost season, make a more informed decision at the end of the season and act accordingly in the off season.

 

Part of the difference in opinion here is some of the posters have indicated the goal is to win a weak central division. If that’s the goal, I can see the point. I have said before that I believe the goal should be to construct a team that’s on par with the top teams in the AL. In other words, a team that has a 50/50 shot of winning a playoff series. If the goal is to build an actual contender, I have seen nothing written here that indicates any of the trade for Realmuto supporters have considered what it would take to build a contender and what is the best path to that goal.

 

We are on pace to win 75 games. Even if Buxton and Sano come back to be 5 WAR players and we add Realmuto, we are still not close to competitive with the 4 teams on pace to win 100 games and those teams are all built to be good for several years. What do we do about SP? We have one proven SP signed beyond 2019 and the existing staff is not going to be adequate to contend next year. Mike has pointed out the FA market for SP is weak. What would we have to give up to get a front of the rotation SP with 3+ years of control? Ops, we still need a whole lot of help in the BP. Oh, we are forgetting replacing Mauer and Dozier.

 

So, what I am hearing is let’s push are chips in the middle because our window with Buxton and Sano is closing. First, we extended Mauer so it’s certainly not a forgone conclusion we would lose them both. Secondly, they are failing so spectacularly that they have been sent to the minor. Neither can stay healthy. We should ignore the fact that our SP is not nearly at the level of contention and we have one good SP signed beyond 2019. Let’s ignore the bullpen needs almost a complete overhaul. Let’s ignore we have to fill 1B and 2B.

 

Someone will have to show me how we fill all of these holes, especially by opening day 2019. While you are at it, explain to be how a team of a 75 win pace with all of these issues is in a window of contention.

 

they won't be as good as those teams in the next three years w/o major trades and / or major FA signings. The Twins will be w/o Mauer and Dozier (most likely), with no replacement for either that looks even close to those two at their peaks. They have no catcher that will be really good in that time frame. They have one or two starting pitchers. 

 

They might never be as good as the Yankees if the Yankees keep cranking out prospects and keep signing / trading for great players. Houston and Boston ad NYY are younger and better, and have better prospects in AAA. 

 

What is the strategy to ever be as good as them in the Buxton/Sano window?

[alarp33]

 

they won't be as good as those teams in the next three years w/o major trades and / or major FA signings. The Twins will be w/o Mauer and Dozier (most likely), with no replacement for either that looks even close to those two at their peaks. They have no catcher that will be really good in that time frame. They have one or two starting pitchers. 

 

They might never be as good as the Yankees if the Yankees keep cranking out prospects and keep signing / trading for great players. Houston and Boston ad NYY are younger and better, and have better prospects in AAA. 

 

What is the strategy to ever be as good as them in the Buxton/Sano window?

 

Well the Buxton / Sano "window" isn't really even open yet, since they are both in the minor leagues. 

 

But getting rid of Kiriloff or Lewis certainly doesn't bring you close to the Yankees in the next 2 years, and then Realmuto is a FA

[Mike Sixel]

 

Well the Buxton / Sano "window" isn't really even open yet, since they are both in the minor leagues. 

 

But getting rid of Kiriloff or Lewis certainly doesn't bring you close to the Yankees in the next 2 years, and then Realmuto is a FA

 

Of course, those would not be the only two things that happen, either......

 

How does not adding talent help them get closer?

[alarp33]

 

Of course, those would not be the only two things that happen, either......

 

How does not adding talent help them get closer?

 

We've gone round and round on this for weeks. Noone has said they should not add talent. 

 

Realmuto does NOT have to be THE talent added. You keep insinuating its trade for Realmuto or give up and thats just simply not the case. 

Edited July 13, 2018 by alarp33

[Nick Nelson]

 

I don't think anyone is over-valuing Gonsalves. I was perplexed why Nick took him off the table. If they wanted Gonsalves, I would be more than happy to include him, especially over Graterol or Romero.

Yeah, I definitely didn't mean to take him off the table, I just don't see him moving the needle as a second piece/top arm. I'd love to do Kirilloff/Gonsalves as headliners if Miami was open to it. Can't see it.

[Mike Sixel]

 

We've gone round and round on this for weeks. Noone has said they should not add talent. 

 

Realmuto does NOT have to be THE talent added. You keep insinuating its trade for Realmuto or give up and thats just simply not the case. 

 

actually, I've been clear just a few posts above that I'd be ok if they went a different route.....just a couple posts up.

 

But, pick a route, that isn't the middle "do nothing" path that either doesn't add minor league talent, or doesn't add ML talent.

[alarp33]

 

actually, I've been clear just a few posts above that I'd be ok if they went a different route.....just a couple posts up.

 

But, pick a route, that isn't the middle "do nothing" path that either doesn't add minor league talent, or doesn't add ML talent.

 

Heres the thing you're missing that myself and other posters have written. There is no reason to "pick a route" today. This season is very likely over. Sano/Buxton are in the minor leagues. You don't know what free agents you can potentially attract, who will be available in the trade market. 

 

Your asking to make a decision today on something that is incomplete, and I'll have a lot clearer view of in 4 months. 

 

If you want to know what I would do in July, it's trade Dozier, and others with value. Hope that Buxton / Sano show signs of life by end of season. And then find ways to maybe open a window next season

Edited July 13, 2018 by alarp33

[Major League Ready]

 

Definitely agree with that. I'm just not sure I see a scenario where the Marlins trade Realmuto to the Twins and it doesn't include a hitter named Lewis or Kiriloff, and a pitcher named Graterol or Romero.  And I think if they somehow were interested in a Kiriloff/Graterol package, you are probably adding in a pretty good 3rd piece as well. 

Thanks for that dose of reality. 

 

Let's take it a step further. Realmuto alone does not even get us close to the top teams. We have money for free agents but it has been pointed out the SP market is weak. What do we need to trade to get a front of the rotation SP. Are we going to get another guy with two years of control and go all-in for 2019-20 and then punt the next several years beyond 2020?

 

Can we fill the BP holes, 1B, & 2B with our only FA dollars or do we need to trade even more prospects?

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Heres the thing you're missing that myself and other posters have written. There is no reason to "pick a route" today. This season is very likely over. Sano/Buxton are in the minor leagues. You don't know what free agents you can potentially attract, who will be available in the trade market. 

 

Your asking to make a decision today on something that is incomplete, and I'll have a lot clearer view of in 4 months. 

 

If you want to know what I would do in July, it's trade Dozier, and others with value. Hope that Buxton / Sano show signs of life by end of season. And then find ways to maybe open a window next season

 

Gibson loses a lot of value if you wait another half year to deal him. So, yes, I'm asking them to make a decision with imperfect information. 

 

I've looked at the FA list, it's not actually all that pretty......

[Mike Sixel]

 

Thanks for that dose of reality. 

 

Let's take it a step further. Realmuto alone does not even get us close to the top teams. We have money for free agents but it has been pointed out the SP market is weak. What do we need to trade to get a front of the rotation SP. Are we going to get another guy with two years of control and go all-in for 2019-20 and then punt the next several years beyond 2020?

 

Can we fill the BP holes, 1B, & 2B with our only FA dollars or do we need to trade even more prospects?

 

If that's what you really think, then they should blow it up, right? Didn't you just type you don't think they can compete next year?

 

IF so, fine, trade Gibson and anyone else not part of 2020 or beyond.

[Nick Nelson]

 

Thanks for that dose of reality. 

 

Let's take it a step further. Realmuto alone does not even get us close to the top teams. 

Outside additions won't do it, period.

 

The ability of this team to enter the top-tier will be entirely dependent on players like Buxton, Sano, Kepler and other upcoming talents driving the charge. If that happens, Realmuto definitely helps push this team over the hump. No one is suggesting he's some singular solution to their ailments. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I'm kind of curious how long both need to be in the minors to extend that by a year. I certainly wouldn't fault the org for keeping them down for that reason given how poorly they've performed at the major league level.

Sano passed 3 years service time just before his demotion, unfortunately.

 

Buxton is 13 days short of 3 years service time right now, so we'd have to keep him in the minors (or on the minor league DL) pretty much the rest of 2018 to get that extra year of control.

[alarp33]

 

Outside additions won't do it, period.

 

The ability of this team to enter the top-tier will be entirely dependent on players like Buxton, Sano, Kepler and other upcoming talents driving the charge. If that happens, Realmuto definitely helps push this team over the hump. No one is suggesting he's some singular solution to their ailments. 

 

I agree with everything you have written, which makes me wonder why we are even having a conversation about trading for Realmuto when the team is 7 games under .500 and Buxton and Sano are in the minor leagues.

 

I frankly at this point don't even know if there is enough time left in the season to get enough of a clue on Buxton/Sano and their likely 2019 production to make it worth even discussing a trade for Realmuto this winter... 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

I don't have a clue RIGHT NOW what Buxton and Sano will do in 2019 and neither does anyone else with any reasonable degree of certainty. This is part of the point. It's a lost season but we have almost a half of the season left to see if they can turn it around. 

 

Not advocating to sign Realmuto or any other player requiring us to give up our best prospects at this moment is very far removed from “punting 2019. Most everyone who is an advocate suggests we are in a window of contention based on control of Buxton and Sano. I am suggesting that it does not make sense to trade key prospects to build a team around two players who are performing so badly they are in the minors. At a minimum take the rest of this lost season, make a more informed decision at the end of the season and act accordingly in the off season.

 

Part of the difference in opinion here is some of the posters have indicated the goal is to win a weak central division. If that’s the goal, I can see the point. I have said before that I believe the goal should be to construct a team that’s on par with the top teams in the AL. In other words, a team that has a 50/50 shot of winning a playoff series. If the goal is to build an actual contender, I have seen nothing written here that indicates any of the trade for Realmuto supporters have considered what it would take to build a contender and what is the best path to that goal.

 

We are on pace to win 75 games. Even if Buxton and Sano come back to be 5 WAR players and we add Realmuto, we are still not close to competitive with the 4 teams on pace to win 100 games and those teams are all built to be good for several years. What do we do about SP? We have one proven SP signed beyond 2019 and the existing staff is not going to be adequate to contend next year. Mike has pointed out the FA market for SP is weak. What would we have to give up to get a front of the rotation SP with 3+ years of control? Ops, we still need a whole lot of help in the BP. Oh, we are forgetting replacing Mauer and Dozier.

 

So, what I am hearing is let’s push are chips in the middle because our window with Buxton and Sano is closing. First, we extended Mauer so it’s certainly not a forgone conclusion we would lose them both. Secondly, they are failing so spectacularly that they have been sent to the minor. Neither can stay healthy. We should ignore the fact that our SP is not nearly at the level of contention and we have one good SP signed beyond 2019. Let’s ignore the bullpen needs almost a complete overhaul. Let’s ignore we have to fill 1B and 2B.

 

Someone will have to show me how we fill all of these holes, especially by opening day 2019. While you are at it, explain to be how a team of a 75 win pace with all of these issues is in a window of contention.

 

To be clear, I don't think adding a 5 WAR player simply adds 5 wins. That's a complex approximation that provides some context around results, but hardly an absolute value. Adding good players top through the bottom of the team will certainly make the results greater than the sum of the parts. But I'd add that you would still need to makes some sort of move at 1B/DH, which in this market is oddly enough, cheap to do. That's also a big reason why I'm advocating keeping Escobar.

 

Pitching, I agree is still weak, though I'm not sure how you figure we have 1 SP. I'd say there are two pretty good ones right now in Berrios and Gibson. There's a slightly above average one in Odorizzi, and wild cards in Pineda (who could be very good), Romero (who is probably a lock for 2019), May, and some of the AAA guys. I'd also argue that the pen can largely get figured out in this lost year. There are plenty of guys on the 40 man who need shots and Molly needs to play them...

 

So no, I wouldn't punt on 2019. And regardless, you'll still need a catcher. If things don't pan out, you can trade Realmutto or take the comp pick when he leaves absorbing the risk for his potential injury. The flip side to all of this is that if you do nothing, and Sano and Buxton make strides, we wasted 2019 as well.

[yarnivek1972]

Certainly reasonable options. Given position scarcity, they'll cost around 15-20MM per year....ready to pay that?

It makes more sense to me to pay that than pay $6 mil and $10 mil the next two years to Realmuto in arbitration AND lose top prospects. This organization needs more prospects, not fewer. Their core is always going to be built around homegrown talent. Frankly, that’s the case for most teams.

Edited July 13, 2018 by yarnivek1972

[Mike Sixel]

 

It makes more sense to me to pay that than pay $6 mil and $10 mil the next two years to Realmuto in arbitration AND lose top prospects. This organization needs more prospects, not fewer. Their core is always going to be built around homegrown talent. Frankly, that’s the case for most teams.

 

Has anyone argued otherwise, on that last point? I sure haven't.

 

Do you think it likely they will outbid all the other teams needing catchers? I can't think of one time they've outbid teams for the top talent in FA....they are good at getting the "efficient" plays....

[alarp33]

 

 

 

So no, I wouldn't punt on 2019. And regardless, you'll still need a catcher. If things don't pan out, you can trade Realmutto or take the comp pick when he leaves absorbing the risk for his potential injury. The flip side to all of this is that if you do nothing, and Sano and Buxton make strides, we wasted 2019 as well.

 

To get this all straight;

 

Last season he Twins with a much worse pitching staff, a still green Buxton/Sano, who had up and down 2017 seasons, made the Wild Card with Jason Castro at Catcher. 

 

But IF Buxton and Sano make big strides in 2019 (with a much improved staff), the Twins will have "wasted 2019" because they didn't trade their top prospects for Realmuto. 

 

As for your other argument on getting a comp pick for Realmuto.  I pray the Twins front office has more discipline than to think trading Royce Lewis away on a flier season will be ok either way because they can always get a comp pick back

Edited July 13, 2018 by alarp33

[Mike Sixel]

 

To get this all straight;

 

Last season he Twins with a much worse pitching staff, a still green Buxton/Sano, who had up and down 2017 seasons, made the Wild Card with Jason Castro at Catcher. 

 

But IF Buxton and Sano make big strides in 2019 (with a much improved staff), the Twins will have "wasted 2019" because they didn't trade their top prospects for Realmuto. 

 

As for your other argument on getting a comp pick for Realmuto.  I pray the Twins front office has more discipline than to think trading Royce Lewis away on a flier season will be ok either way because they can always get a comp pick back

 

With Dozier hitting 40 bombs, and Mauer having his best year in the last four....both of whom may not be on the roster.

 

And, as pointed out by you and others, not even close to competitive in the playoffs.

 

Catcher is one of the few spots where they can clearly upgrade, from "meh" to good or better. They'll either need to trade to do so, or will have to outbid the other teams for the 2 good FA catchers. I'm not saying they SHOULD trade for Realmuto, I'm saying it is one of the few opportunities to get an elite player they have.

[Major League Ready]

 

To be clear, I don't think adding a 5 WAR player simply adds 5 wins. That's a complex approximation that provides some context around results, but hardly an absolute value. Adding good players top through the bottom of the team will certainly make the results greater than the sum of the parts. But I'd add that you would still need to makes some sort of move at 1B/DH, which in this market is oddly enough, cheap to do. That's also a big reason why I'm advocating keeping Escobar.

 

Pitching, I agree is still weak, though I'm not sure how you figure we have 1 SP. I'd say there are two pretty good ones right now in Berrios and Gibson. There's a slightly above average one in Odorizzi, and wild cards in Pineda (who could be very good), Romero (who is probably a lock for 2019), May, and some of the AAA guys. I'd also argue that the pen can largely get figured out in this lost year. There are plenty of guys on the 40 man who need shots and Molly needs to play them...

 

So no, I wouldn't punt on 2019. And regardless, you'll still need a catcher. If things don't pan out, you can trade Realmutto or take the comp pick when he leaves absorbing the risk for his potential injury. The flip side to all of this is that if you do nothing, and Sano and Buxton make strides, we wasted 2019 as well.

 

I did say we only have one good SP.  I aid we have one good SP signed past next year.  In other words, if we have any inclination to look beyond next year through this "window of contention" we will need to trade additional assets or the trade for Realmuto means little if we don't have the pitching to contend. There is a lot of work to do in the bullpen as well. 

 

Basically, you are trading away very valuable assets on the bet ......

 

Sano will straighten out his pitch recognition issues, stay healthy and get in reasonable shape.

Buxton will hit above average for the position and stay healthy.

One of the SP prospects steps up to at least a 3 next year.

We can acquire another front of the rotation SP next year.

We can pretty much rebuild the bullpen from the start of 2019.

We can replace Mauer and Dozier next year..

 

This would be an extremely rare feat.

[yarnivek1972]

With Dozier hitting 40 bombs, and Mauer having his best year in the last four....both of whom may not be on the roster.

 

And, as pointed out by you and others, not even close to competitive in the playoffs.

 

Catcher is one of the few spots where they can clearly upgrade, from "meh" to good or better. They'll either need to trade to do so, or will have to outbid the other teams for the 2 good FA catchers. I'm not saying they SHOULD trade for Realmuto, I'm saying it is one of the few opportunities to get an elite player they have.

The Twins are just as likely to get outbid for Realmuto as for a FA because they lack high end prospects that they can afford to lose.

[Mike Sixel]

The Twins are just as likely to get outbid for Realmuto as for a FA because they lack high end prospects that they can afford to lose.

Of course they are. Thats a problem for sure.

[alarp33]

 

 

 

Catcher is one of the few spots where they can clearly upgrade, from "meh" to good or better. They'll either need to trade to do so, or will have to outbid the other teams for the 2 good FA catchers. I'm not saying they SHOULD trade for Realmuto, I'm saying it is one of the few opportunities to get an elite player they have.

 

Have you seen the bullpen? The idea that the Twins are "wasting 2019" by not getting either Realmuto, Ramos, or Grandal is beyond absurd. Since when did catcher become the position you have to have a top guy or you can't win?

 

[Mike Sixel]

Have you seen the bullpen? The idea that the Twins are "wasting 2019" by not getting either Realmuto, Ramos, or Grandal is beyond absurd. Since when did catcher become the position you have to have a top guy or you can't win?

I'm done. It's almost like we are ignoring all the posts here. Enjoy.

[alarp33]

 

I'm done. It's almost like we are ignoring all the posts here. Enjoy.

 

What am I missing here? Did you not write they have very few holes but catcher? Have you not said they are wasting Buxton + Sano if they don't fix catcher? Did the other poster you defended in your last comment to me not call 2019 a waste without getting Realmuto? You said the option is that, or sign Ramos or Grandal?

 

How about teams like the A's, Diamondbacks, Nats, Red Sox, Indians, Mariners, and Brewers all competing this season with catchers who have wRC+ below 80? How have they done it?

[alarp33]

22 catchers had a fangraphs WAR between 1.0 and 2.7 last year. The idea that this is the position this team HAS to fix - up to and including trading a talent like Lewis and/or Kiriloff makes zero sense to me. None