Is Alex Kirilloff Expendable?

Doesn't sound like the Mets think they match up as well with the Twins as some other teams. Would still be possible to get a deal done, but I'm guessing it would start with one of Lewis/Kirilloff + one of Graterol/Balazovic + a 3rd piece maybe Jeffers/Enlow type level. For a team such as the Mets that seem to want to compete soon/prefer close to major league talent they may have to overpay since their prospects are a little further out.  

I'd say no to either Lewis or Kirilloff. We suffered thru some bad seasons to get these guys, so let's keep them.

Technically I would say Kirillof is expendable as Larnach is somewhat comparable in skill set.   Granted I think Kirillof has the better bat but Larnach might have the better arm and better eye at the plate to take walks.  

While I don't know a ton about pitching I don't really love Thor's stats.  and while two and half years of control is nice I have to give up a likely All-Star bat that will have 6 years of control and more prospects to boot.  The value is definitely on the Met's side in a trade like this but we do have a need for immediate pitching help so that is the price you pay.

I would be torn but could see them lose Kiriloff and not having it impact them too much in the future since Kepler and Buxton look set for a while as does Rosario. They would still have Larnach to step in and they have other guys coming up in the next two to three years to offset anything lost for outfield depth.

It is certainly something they could afford to do.  Whether it is the RIGHT thing to do or not I am not sure.

Re: Rosario, you said "The 23-year old is still arbitration eligible and the earliest he can reach free agency is 2022."

So yeah he's 27 I think. Almost 28.

Yes. Kirilloff is expendable, but that doesn’t mean he should be sold off at a discount.

Exactly. He’s expendable just like Noah Syndergaard is expendable. My biggest pet peeve here lately is the double standard some people have here.

I'd say no to either Lewis or Kirilloff. We suffered thru some bad seasons to get these guys, so let's keep them.

Kiriloff was drafted 15th after the Twins had a decent season, but I get your point.

If the new regime is willing to not rely 95% on the prospects to field the major league team then, sure, he can be on the table. as can anyone. Kiriloff is still 2-3 years out and has no guarantees attached to him.

Kirilloff not in the Pensacola line up tonight....

Seems that this article was written as an encouragement to trade Kirilloff. I’d rather trade Lewis, if we have to. Kirilloff is an elite hitter. I don’t think he’s blocked by the current OF.

You never know what’s going to happen- maybe Rosario’s contract demands make him expendable.

Is it possible that Lewis is the one that is actually blocked? Seems to me that the middle infield could be set for years! And the idea that Lewis could end up in CF is undercut with Buxton’s emergence.

Hey, I love both these guys. Kirilloff is just more of a sure thing to me.

Here’s an honest question: How many teams don’t have their own Kirilloff?

I would suspect almost every team has a high impact bat, corner type under 25 with at least 5 years of control remaining that is projected to be MLB ready within two years.

Kiriloff as a headliner in a package for Syndergaard? Sure, I'd be up for it. Lewis and Syndergaard plus more? Heck no!

I have always preferred building through drafts.   Its why I look at the minor league report.  You hear about these guys and watch them develop.   At some point many here wanted to trade almost our entire team.   Berrios, May, Gibson, Sano, Polanco, Arrraez, Garver, Buxton, Rosario, and Kepler all went through our system and now it is paying off but pitching is lacking and finding a spot for Lewis, Kiriloff and others will be a challenge.   I would trade Kiriloff and another lower top 10 for a stud pitcher.   Is Thor still a stud is my question.   So Kiriloff, and Enlow maybe.    Seems like more than Toronto just gave up for Stroman an hard to make the argument that Thor is better than Stroman at this point.  At least if  run prevention is the goal to pitching.

I’ve read of concerns about how his at would play once he saw advanced pitching more than once. Not saying it’s right or wrong, but there were some prognosticators out there who saw the dip in production coming (or guessed it was coming).

Now, it goes without saying that injuries could be cause. Especially wrist-related injuries.

Is it a bad idea to hang onto him with the hopes that he breaks loose again once fully healthy? No. Is it a bad idea to trade home for the appropriate return in the hopes of winning a World Series? I don’t think so.

Is Kirilloff going to be such a transcendent offensive force at 1B that he couldn’t be replaced by Larnach or Wallner (or Sano or Garver on extension)? So far ahead of any other option that it’s not worth a run at a World Series right now? The more I think about it, the more I’m OK with letting him go if we’re getting someone like Syndergaard back.

1. Kirilloff

1a. Larnach

2. Rooker

2a. Jaylin Davis

Take a 1. & take a 2, then throw in Graterol and AAA pitcher. You’d think that would be enough.

I have always preferred building through drafts. Its why I look at the minor league report. You hear about these guys and watch them develop. At some point many here wanted to trade almost our entire team. Berrios, May, Gibson, Sano, Polanco, Arrraez, Garver, Buxton, Rosario, and Kepler all went through our system and now it is paying off but pitching is lacking and finding a spot for Lewis, Kiriloff and others will be a challenge. I would trade Kiriloff and another lower top 10 for a stud pitcher. Is Thor still a stud is my question. So Kiriloff, and Enlow maybe. Seems like more than Toronto just gave up for Stroman an hard to make the argument that Thor is better than Stroman at this point. At least if run prevention is the goal to pitching.

I agree that building through the draft is really the only way a team like the Twins can get a championship core in place.

At some point you have to supplement that core with MLB ready talent from elsewhere. Nobody has won with a roster sourced 100% from their farm club. Even the Astros and Royals traded for Verlander and Cueto.

We have the core. It’s time to top it off and win something for once.

Personally, I'd give up Lewis & Kiriloff if the deal netted both Syndergaard & 
Diaz.  They are two experienced yet controllable, dynamic, young arms that could thrive outside of the NY spotlight.   Plus they fill glaring needs on a potential World Series team, right now.

Kiriloff, Javier, and Thorpe for Syndegaard.

Granted this thread is about Kirilloff, but right now, it's almost impossible not to include Lewis in any discussion as they are intertwined in many ways as we approach the deadline.

It doesn't matter, for discussion purposes, that we don't WANT to trade either one. For purpose of discussion...NOW, or even next off season...ONE of these guys would have to be included in a major deal for a front of the line SP. Just being realistic, BOTH are available if the right deal is in place. Period. And either would not decimate the system, or the future of the franchise. Again, period.

1] Kiriloff: I believe he is a special bat. He reminds me of Larry Walker and our own Max Kepler, though probably a little less speed than Kepler, especially if he continues to muscle up. Blocked? Hardly! Even if the Twins keep their OF intact for the next 4-5yrs, and I hope they do, there isn't room for Kirilloff to play 1B as well as some OF? I kinda laugh when I read things about how a corner OF or 1B are a dime a dozen. Maybe they are if you just want someone league average. The Twins were both lucky and smart with Cron.

However, the arguement can be fairly made they could be smart and lucky again. Further, while I feel Kirilloff could be special, there remains Rooker and Larnach available in the pipeline, as well as an eventual move of Sano to 1B. [More on that coming].

2] Lewis: This kid is super talented, and probably more highly regard in some ways as he has legitimate SS potential. He has all the tools in the world to be a legitimate difference maker. (I also laugh when a stud athlete at 20yr old is "uncertain" to remain at SS). Polanco has become, is becoming, everything I hoped and thought he would be. And he is still developing! Some, in the past, have blasted me about the idea of Lewis, with all his talent and a good arm, about playing 3B. I've been told that would be a "waste" of his talent. How? How could it EVER be a waste to have a supreme talent at ANY position on the field and in your lineup?

However: Polanco, again, is a young and controlled stud who will only get better. We may have already found our next 2B in Arreaz. Despite being a bit of an enigma, Wander has, probably, as much talent and potential as either Polanco or Lewis. And while their are differing opinions on Sano at 3B, (I like him there), there is no immediate need to replace him.

So you tell me, because I don't have the answer, which of these 2 are "expendable" if the right deal is available?

Personally, I'd give up Lewis & Kiriloff if the deal netted both Syndergaard & 
Diaz.  They are two experienced yet controllable, dynamic, young arms that could thrive outside of the NY spotlight.   Plus they fill glaring needs on a potential World Series team, right now.

You add Thor and Diaz to this team right now, and we are absolutely top-end for at least this year and next.  Giving up prospects 1 and 2 is tough, but as an earlier poster noted, this is why we stockpiled position players (or at least took BPA) so that we could deal from positions of strength to fill holes. 

And then we'd have two years to fill a DH and 1B spot when Cruz and Cron depart (and yes, I trust Larnach, Rooker, Wade, Jaylin Davis, plus every free agent, waiver claim, and available trade to fill those holes).  Sign Big Mike to a 2-year deal and hope Graterol is ready sooner rather than later, and we are solid around the diamond - Garver/Astudillo, Cron, Arraez, Polanco, Sano, Rosario/Buxton/Kepler, Cruz - Berrios, Thor, Pineda, Graterol, Perez/someone - maybe Gibson on a QO and then trade him mid-season next year when Graterol is ready.  I think one nice thing that we've seen this summer is that we have enough depth to fill a 5th starter role as well as some long relief and maintain flexibility in the pen without inking long-term relief pitchers.  Frankly (and I've said this before), I'd rather have 3-4 BP stalwarts and a rotation of 12 others filling the last 4 slots. 

To answer question: yes Kirilloff is expendable. The reason is the Twins have another high rated corner outfield/1st baseman in Trevor Larnach who also is in AA right now. I mean it’s unlikely both Larnach and Kirilloff will be key contributors to the Twins in the future so it would be wise to sell either Kirilloff or Larnach while their stock is at its highest.

Except Rosario isn't signed long term, nor is Cron.

Could put one in LF and one at 1B eventually.

I don't care very much for the term "expendable". In the right deal, any player is expendable. It makes the term next to meaningless.

 

...Kirilloff's not expendable. But he's one of the few conceivable chips to use if going after the top end pitching talent that we didn't think we could obtain reliably in the draft. There's no sense in waiting forever. The window of contention is open.

Why must everything be so contentious when it comes to windows being open or closed?