MLBTR posted its top 50 free agents predictions, which include contract predictions and the individual writers' guesses at the team to sign each player:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/mlb-trade-rumors-top-50-free-agents-predictions-2022-23.html

All 4 of their writers guessed the Twins will sign a high-end position player: one predicting they'll retain Correa and one each for Bogaerts, Swanson, and Willson Contreras.

They collectively didn't predict the Twins for much of the higher-end pitching, but that's a small group with a lot of teams looking to sign them, so I guess it's not really surprising that a sample of 4 writers would pick other landing spots. One of the writers did have the Twins signing Bassitt, and another had them getting Kenley Jansen for the bullpen.

One writer predicted the Twins for José Abreu as well. That doesn't seem like the best positional fit, but I wouldn't be upset if it happened.

Overall, while these writers are just making guesses with perhaps more industry sources than the average fan, I like that they predict the Twins aiming for a few players at the top end of the market, rather than supposed "value" deals at the back end.

Wow 

TX traded for exTwin Odorrizzi. It's seems like TX 1st move is to get an exTwins pitcher & retread them and it works. Example Lance Lynn, Kyle Gibson, Martin Perez & now Jake Odorrizzi.

The Astros re-signed Rafael Montero.

Three years, $34.5M. He's someone I would have been happy to see the Twins pursue, but that's a chunk of change for a relief pitcher.

16 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

BRENT ROOKER is gobbled up by the A's. Twins lose out on chance to big a right-handed outfielder/first prospect with an option year left back into the fold.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/athletics-claim-brent-rooker-waivers-royals.html

Bottom feeders gonna bottom feed.

Cody Bellinger was not tendered arbitration. What a strange career trajectory he’s had. 24 year old MVP in 2019 to completely broken 3 years later. 

16 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Cody Bellinger was not tendered arbitration. What a strange career trajectory he’s had. 24 year old MVP in 2019 to completely broken 3 years later. 

A really bad team should take a flyer for sure. If he somehow comes back, gold. But no contender can take him on at this point, I don't think. Not on a major league deal.

1/$10 for a #5 starter. Yikes. 

Now 3/$40 for a guy who was moved to the pen during the playoffs. 

I ‘m glad the Twins still have Polanco as he so much more value than Wong.

Old friend Jason Castro has retired. 

On 12/1/2022 at 6:15 PM, Vanimal46 said:

Now 3/$40 for a guy who was moved to the pen during the playoffs. 

Yeah, I’d rather see Ober/Varland/SWR/Winder.

But it’s the Rays, so he’ll probably end up winning the Cy Young next year.

deGrom got five years, 185M?

Id love to have him but that seems like about 10M per start. Texas doesn’t seem to do anything right these days. With that in mind, my condolences to deGrom for never wining a playoff series again. Maybe we can start a club.

 

That is insanity money. 

KYLE GIBSON signs with...The Orioles! There goes another #5 starter! 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/orioles-agree-to-one-year-deal-with-kyle-gibson.html

ZACH BOVE leaves Twins minor league system for The Royals!

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/royals-hire-zach-bove-as-assistant-pitching-coach.html

7 minutes ago, Rosterman said:

ZACH BOVE leaves Twins minor league system for The Royals!

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/royals-hire-zach-bove-as-assistant-pitching-coach.html

This was already reported here:

https://twinsdaily.com/forums/topic/59842-twins-assistant-pitching-coordinator-zach-bove-takes-job-with-royals/?_rid=7

 

Congrats to Fred McGriff getting into the HOF. He was one of those players who came on the scene just when I was startng to memorize the back of baseball cards, and he was a great player until right at the end. If you would have polled voters in 1999, they probably would have said he was a sure fire HOFer. But retiring in 2004 was different as his eligibility and career stats got caught in the wash of the PED scandals.

 

Interesting to see the speed of deals pick up a bit today - Bellinger, Bell, Heaney. Not players I would have wanted the Twins to get (maybe, maybe Bell) but a few deals getting done in an afternoon could get the market moving more rapidly.

Also a quintessential Boras groaner pun about Bogaerts negotiations with the Red Sox: "Everyone around them understands the Sox without X are So-So."

Looks like the Rule 5 draft (the major-league part) is complete:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/12/2022-rule-5-draft-results.html

Half the teams made picks in the first round. Mostly pitchers. No team made a second pick. The Twins didn't lose anybody.

Interestingly, even with only 15 picks overall, the Red Sox, Dodgers, Yankees, and Guardians lost 2-3 players each.

Wow - Darvish is set to sign a 6-year extension (the first year replaces his contract this season, so it's five new years) with the Padres:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/02/padres-extend-yu-darvish-six-years.html

He'll turn 42 when the contract ends. I thought that if the Twins were ever to break their precedent to sign a top free agent pitcher, Darvish at the end of his current deal would be a good target for that, with his wide variety of pitches making him a better bet to age well. Seems like the Padres thought so too.

On 2/9/2023 at 11:31 AM, whosafraidofluigirussolo said:

Wow - Darvish is set to sign a 6-year extension (the first year replaces his contract this season, so it's five new years) with the Padres:
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/02/padres-extend-yu-darvish-six-years.html

He'll turn 42 when the contract ends. I thought that if the Twins were ever to break their precedent to sign a top free agent pitcher, Darvish at the end of his current deal would be a good target for that, with his wide variety of pitches making him a better bet to age well. Seems like the Padres thought so too.

Pretty sure they are spreading the money out....I can't imagine they expect him to be good at 42