Can the Pitching Staff Compete in 2022?

[old nurse]

7 hours ago, D.C Twins said:

Um... It would be business malpractice for Buxton's agent (and himself) to say anything other than he 'wants' to return. You NEVER purposefully remove a potential bidder for your services just in case they drive up the price from somewhere else where you want to go.

You cannot take what someone tells you at face value... almost anywhere (insert ANY cable news show here). Remember, even your parents told you Santa Claus was real

There were A LOT of people on this site pontificating about how Berrios could/would be signed to an extension by the Twins... so I'm not sure that it is very fair for you to tell them that they were really not doing much thinking

 

My parents never said there was a Santa Claus. Once again, Wrong.

A lot of people were pontificating of an extension. I did not accuse them of not thinking. However, claiming that Berrios wouldn't sign would only take reading the right articles over the last few years. I am sorry that I accused you of reading other sources

[Major League Ready]

18 hours ago, Greglw3 said:

Best I can determine the recent White Sox FA signings or extensions to ward off FA are:

Adam Eaton 
Jose Abreau
Liam Hendricks
Dallas Keuchel
Lance Lynn
Yasmani Grandal
Gio Gonzalez

Eaton is a replacement level player so how is he an example of a great addition.
Abreau was an extension, NOT an addition.  
How is Gonzales an example of a good sign?  He was below replacement level?

Dallas Keuchel and Yasmani Grandal were two years ago.  Hendricks and Lynn were this year.  So, yes they made a couple good signings in successive years.  They did not even remotely close to what you are suggesting in a given year.  Actually, no team outside the top 10 revenue markets have ever done anything close to what you are suggesting and I doubt even the top revenue teams have ever added the number of impact players you are suggesting in a given year.  You do understand there are 30 other teams competing for these players, right?  
 

[TopGunn#22]

I believe no one knows FOR SURE what the Buxton situation will eventually play out to be.  Therefore, I'm approaching any off-season plan with the #1 goal of signing him to an extension that satisfies both HIM and the Twins.  Because to trade him now would be selling extremely low (Kepler is valued on MLB Trade Values at about 34.0 points, Buxton at about 25.0 points and something that both sides can live with is certainly attainable.  This task is the first big test of the current FO and ownership.  If they can't accomplish this, it will be a major FAIL.  Once Buxton is securely in the fold the FO needs to devote the vast majority of resources to acquiring 3 SP's and at least one BP arm that would be our clear CLOSER to solidify the back end.  At least one major expenditure for a front line starter be that Rodon, Ray, Thor, Gausman---whatever.  Then either two trades or one trade and another FA acquisition to fill out #2 & #3.  Ober is penciled in as the #4  and the young-guns fill in as the #5 throughout the season.  A stop-gap SS like Iglesias or Galvis will not break the bank.  Depending on what you'd need to give up for Sandy Alcantara (Jeffers & Kepler or Jeffers and Larnach) the Twins MUST find a way to get more out of either Kepler or Larnach, whoever remains,  and Miguel Sano in 2022.  It's been encouraging to see Sano the last couple of weeks.  The potential is there.  Can he just be a BIT more consistent.  Kepler just exasperates me.  He's got talent.  It's just not being coached properly.  I'd love to keep him, but maybe a change of scenery (Miami??) would help.  

[Danchat]

On 8/29/2021 at 5:15 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Ober. and Um.....hmmmmm. no other starter right now? 

In the bullpen, Duffey, Gant, and Taylor Rogers.

Most likely Jax or Dobnak in relief / AAA. Alcala in AAA to start the year. 

After that? Anyone's guess.

Thielbar is likely going to be in the pen again, for better or for worse. If they weren’t planning on bringing him back they likely would have shipped him out at the trade deadline.

[Mike Sixel]

52 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Thielbar is likely going to be in the pen again, for better or for worse. If they weren’t planning on bringing him back they likely would have shipped him out at the trade deadline.

Right, I always forget him for some reason.

[KirbyDome89]

On 8/30/2021 at 5:16 PM, TheLeviathan said:

I can get behind that.  Though I'm not sure even with good moves this team was going to be in a better position with Buxton hurt most of the year and just too many things going wrong.  I mean, you can't bat 1.000, so even if half the moves they made were better where does that land us?  To me, still in a reset/retool position, but maybe I'm just being pessimistic.

I definitely agree it seemed to come faster than I would've thought a year or two ago.

Probably a bit pessimistic. If their FA signings aren't literally league worst at their respective positions, (there are lots of ways to slice that) it wouldn't be shocking to see this team at least sitting where Toronto is right now. Maybe injuries, particularly Maeda, would've derailed them this half but given how bad the division is even remotely competent pitching coupled with the offense should've at least had them fighting for a WC spot. 

[TheLeviathan]

20 minutes ago, KirbyDome89 said:

Probably a bit pessimistic. If their FA signings aren't literally league worst at their respective positions, (there are lots of ways to slice that) it wouldn't be shocking to see this team at least sitting where Toronto is right now. Maybe injuries, particularly Maeda, would've derailed them this half but given how bad the division is even remotely competent pitching coupled with the offense should've at least had them fighting for a WC spot. 

It's all hypothetical, but in the pure hindsight article the best we could do is 72 wins which, yes, is in the WC, but that's best case scenario.  I think that assuming not-league worst, but averagish, is more like where Cleveland sits.  Maybe you can argue that's WC contention.  I don't think I would.

Too many injuries and things went wrong this year.  I think that the root of those problems may be closer to 2 years old rather than 1.

[KirbyDome89]

23 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

It's all hypothetical, but in the pure hindsight article the best we could do is 72 wins which, yes, is in the WC, but that's best case scenario.  I think that assuming not-league worst, but averagish, is more like where Cleveland sits.  Maybe you can argue that's WC contention.  I don't think I would.

Too many injuries and things went wrong this year.  I think that the root of those problems may be closer to 2 years old rather than 1.

I wouldn't argue Cleveland is either, I think the Twins would've been a little better, but "tomayto, tomahto."

Agreed, this is a culmination, not a recent development.