BREAKING NEWS: Jason Castro Out for the Year

  On 5/17/2018 at 3:14 PM, Mike Sixel said:

To those not wanting to add a great catcher.... Where do you see the team adding players in the next three years while Sano and Buxton are here? Where do you see them getting better?

Realmuto is controlled for two years it this one. He's no rental.

I see them getting better with the guys that they would have to trade just to get Realmuto. 

  On 5/17/2018 at 7:34 PM, cmoss84 said:

We have so many young pitchers who are with us now or who are about to be with us in the very near future. Does Garver's (average to just above average?) bat provide more value to us than a veteran catcher who can help groom these young pitchers? Do you guys trust Garver with all of these young pitchers?

I can agree with this thinking. However, Trading for Realmuto or Swihart isn't acquiring a wealth of experience either. At least with Garver... he has probably already worked with these young pitchers. 

  On 5/18/2018 at 7:22 PM, Riverbrian said:

I see them getting better with the guys that they would have to trade just to get Realmuto. 

Gordon will be better than Dozier or Polanco?

  On 5/18/2018 at 2:42 AM, jorgenswest said:

I look at the Yelich deal where Brinson was often top 25 plus three others. Catcher is more scarce than centerfield. They have to expect to get better for Realmuto even when comparing 3 years of control against a possible 5 for Yelich.

Gordon is seen by many as a 2B which is not a position of high value and Gonsalves as a 4th starter. They are good prospects with a major league future. It will take a great prospect. Is there anyone willing to trade Lewis or Romero for Realmuto.

Note. Low ceiling does not equate to mediocre. A likely future starting 2B and 4th starter are not mediocre prospects.

Let's say it cost us Royce Lewis to acquire Realmuto. 

If you were going to trade Royce Lewis? Wouldn't he be the type of talent that could bring back even bigger offensive production. The type of production that dents the scoreboard... or legitimate pitchers with big K/9's. 

  On 5/18/2018 at 7:35 PM, Riverbrian said:

Let's say it cost us Royce Lewis to acquire Realmuto. 

 

If you were going to trade Royce Lewis? Wouldn't he be the type of talent that could bring back even bigger offensive production. The type of production that dents the scoreboard... or legitimate pitchers with big K/9's. 

Assuming you like the OFers they have, and the 3B they have, and Polanco.....that leaves C, 1B, DH, and one MIF spot to "fix" in the next three years.

You aren't trading Lewis for a DH only type....so that leaves C, 1B, and one MIF spot. If you trust Gordon at all....maybe no MIF spot.

Now, you could deal for a RH OF, and deal one of your existing OF......sure. But, how much does that help? All three are likely 2 WAR (or better) players the next few years. 

It really comes down to C, 1B, and 2B.....and who has a great 2B available that isn't a contender?

  On 5/18/2018 at 7:30 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Gordon will be better than Dozier or Polanco?

It only matters to me if Gordon is productive and the jury hasn't even taken it's seat to hear those deliberations yet. 

Dozier may be gone next year. Polanco might come down with a year long case of the Chicken Pox. I'm hoping that Gordon will rise to the majors and shine because we will need him next year and beyond to stay competitive. 

I will never pretend to know which prospects are going to pan out and which ones are not and I know that a bunch don't. I do know this. Long term success for the Twins will depend on those prospects panning out and that strategy will depend on strength in numbers to work and that's because a bunch don't pan out. 

My fear is that acquiring a Catcher like Realmuto will be cost prohibitive in terms of prospects. I think he is going to painfully expensive because of his talent and position scarcity.

If I'm giving up a Lewis. I wan't better than typical Good Catcher stats in return. I want a banger if I'm giving up a #1 draft pick. 

  On 5/18/2018 at 7:38 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Assuming you like the OFers they have, and the 3B they have, and Polanco.....that leaves C, 1B, DH, and one MIF spot to "fix" in the next three years.

 

You aren't trading Lewis for a DH only type....so that leaves C, 1B, and one MIF spot. If you trust Gordon at all....maybe no MIF spot.

 

Now, you could deal for a RH OF, and deal one of your existing OF......sure. But, how much does that help? All three are likely 2 WAR (or better) players the next few years. 

 

It really comes down to C, 1B, and 2B.....and who has a great 2B available that isn't a contender?

This isn't going to work with me. I'm not a starting 9 guy. I don't care if we have Trout, Harper and Yelich in the OF... I'll still bring in Judge if given the opportunity. 

There are way too many injuries, slumps and suspensions in Baseball to put things in neat little boxes of having a guy for each position. 

From 2015 to today....JT Realmuto is number 2 in catcher WAR in all of baseball....

From 2016 to today....number 2 in all of baseball....

From 2017 to today....number 3 in all of baseball (Sanchez, who I begged for the Twins to trade for 2 years before he hit the majors, is number 1)

That's a huge positional advantage for his team....and will make him expensive.

  On 5/18/2018 at 7:50 PM, Riverbrian said:

This isn't going to work with me. I'm not a starting 9 guy. I don't care if we have Trout, Harper and Yelich in the OF... I'll still bring in Judge if given the opportunity. 

 

There are way too many injuries, slumps and suspensions in Baseball to put things in neat little boxes of having a guy for each position. 

Youd give up Lewis for a 4th OFer?

and, Judge isn't coming for Lewis......JT isn't as good as Judge.

  On 5/18/2018 at 7:54 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Youd give up Lewis for a 4th OFer?

 

and, Judge isn't coming for Lewis......JT isn't as good as Judge.

Mike... You are simultaneously taking me too literally and not literally enough at the same time. 

I used Judge as an example... I don't believe it is realistic to acquire Judge. I also don't believe it would realistic to acquire Harper or Trout or Yelich so I'm not sure why you chose to focus on Judge.  

They were all extreme examples to make my point that if I were to trade Royce Lewis, I would want top of the line production for him. Good production for a catcher is not what I would trade Lewis for. 

My thoughts as nut-shelled as possible. Catchers require more rest so they don't play as much as other position players, Outside of Sanchez and Posey, the best offensive catchers probably produce at the plate as much as average players at other positions. Catchers who can produce are rare so I assume that they are expensive to acquire because of scarcity. So... If I'm going to trade top prospects... I'd rather do it for someone who will produce bigger stats than what catchers produce... that way you get more bang for the buck. 

As for what position this big bang for the buck guy plays. I don't care... I'm not a starting 9 guy. Just bring people on who can hit. 

It was kind of a long day, ya, that was obvious when you explain it! Appreciate the respectful conversation we are having, even if you are wrong....

  On 5/19/2018 at 12:34 AM, Mike Sixel said:

It was kind of a long day, ya, that was obvious when you explain it! Appreciate the respectful conversation we are having, even if you are wrong....