Twins Trade Gio Urshela to the Los Angeles Angels

Falvey and Levine better get this deal right. Gio was a steady influence in a team where everyone was hurt and he was an above average bat and glove. $9 million for one year shouldn't be the reason to unload him. We currently have no SS and 2 questionable 3rd baseman, neither is an every day 3rd baseman. Lewis won't be back til late June or July and he's now had 2 ACL surgeries. Management cannot screw this up

Miranda is projected for a WRC+ of 122 and Urshela 104. Miranda’s DRS and RAA at 3B were 0 last year and DRS was negative. He is young and can improve defensively. It is reasonable to believe they have a cost controlled top 10 third baseman in Miranda. 2023 is the time to find out.

It seems pretty simple.  I really liked Urshella but they got a guy with more defensive flexibility and an extra year of control for $3M less plus a prospect.  How can this be a bad move?

I'm late to this again but it's been fun reading through 90+ comments to get multiple perspectives.  For the last week my keyboard has been loading what I type really SLOW so I have to type 5 words and then wait for them to print.  If anything, it's forcing me to be more concise and less long winded, a benefit I'm sure you all will appreciate.

I was hoping for a little more than a 1-A ball pitcher as well and I liked Gio as a player and a teammate.  But this move makes sense seeing the logjam of 3B players the Twins currently have.  Aaraez and Miranda, with Lewis, Lee and Julien waiting in the wings.  Lewis won't be available until end June/early July and will certainly require a minor league stint at St. Paul to knock off the rust.  But I think Lee and Julien are pretty close.  And Farmer COULD be the SS depending on what happens on the Correa, Bogaerts etc...front.  

Here's something I believe I'm in the minority:  Kepler only has a BTV of 5.6.  He's a solid defensive OF'er whose offense has really disappointed the last 3 seasons.  With Kirilloff, Larnach, Wallner Gordon, and Kepler that's just too many LH hitters.  Something has to give.  Larnach has a 30.4 value in BTV.  I would keep Max around in 2023 as the 4th OF'er and a late inning defensive replacement.  I'd give him one more try to see if he can figure things out offensively.   I'd trade Larnach despite how much I like him because he has the most market value right now.  After 2023 you see how Kepler and Wallner did and reassess.  But I use Larnach as a centerpiece to acquire a true starting catcher (Danny Jansen) or a true #1 to head the pitching staff (Pablo Lopez, Brandon Woodruff). 

The Urshela move and corresponding  trade for Farmer is just the first move on the chessboard.  There are a LOT of moves to be considered and made yet to come.  Nothing should be judged in a vacuum.  

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1 hour ago, TopGunn#22 said:

I'm late to this again but it's been fun reading through 90+ comments to get multiple perspectives.  For the last week my keyboard has been loading what I type really SLOW so I have to type 5 words and then wait for them to print.  If anything, it's forcing me to be more concise and less long winded, a benefit I'm sure you all will appreciate.

I was hoping for a little more than a 1-A ball pitcher as well and I liked Gio as a player and a teammate.  But this move makes sense seeing the logjam of 3B players the Twins currently have.  Aaraez and Miranda, with Lewis, Lee and Julien waiting in the wings.  Lewis won't be available until end June/early July and will certainly require a minor league stint at St. Paul to knock off the rust.  But I think Lee and Julien are pretty close.  And Farmer COULD be the SS depending on what happens on the Correa, Bogaerts etc...front.  

Here's something I believe I'm in the minority:  Kepler only has a BTV of 5.6.  He's a solid defensive OF'er whose offense has really disappointed the last 3 seasons.  With Kirilloff, Larnach, Wallner Gordon, and Kepler that's just too many LH hitters.  Something has to give.  Larnach has a 30.4 value in BTV.  I would keep Max around in 2023 as the 4th OF'er and a late inning defensive replacement.  I'd give him one more try to see if he can figure things out offensively.   I'd trade Larnach despite how much I like him because he has the most market value right now.  After 2023 you see how Kepler and Wallner did and reassess.  But I use Larnach as a centerpiece to acquire a true starting catcher (Danny Jansen) or a true #1 to head the pitching staff (Pablo Lopez, Brandon Woodruff). 

The Urshela move and corresponding  trade for Farmer is just the first move on the chessboard.  There are a LOT of moves to be considered and made yet to come.  Nothing should be judged in a vacuum.  

I will agree to disagree. It is waaaayyy past time to move Kepler so yes you are in MY minority anyway. Unless you want 2023 to be another stepping stone to pushing the window another year down the road there is no reason to keep him. 2 reasons... #1. He's had the last 3 years to prove himself and he's failed. I'm tired of giving him chances. We don't need another Sano that we keep around for 2 or 3 weeks of production while he founders the rest of the year. #2, If Kepler is "on the bench" as you suggest as a 4th outfielder 'for defensive purposes" that is too much of a temptation for Mr. Analytic Rocco to use him every game against a right-handed pitcher instead of as the 4th outfielder. You know and I know, Rocco won't use him the way you want him to be used. All Kepler will have to do is hit a HR or drive in a couple runs and Rocco will have him in the lineup for 2 weeks straight even if he doesn't get a hit for the next 12 games. I also don't trade Larnach. He's the future and could very well be the hitter that you hope Kepler would have been. Why do you give Kepler another chance but throw in the towel on Larnach? Doesn't make sense. Using your idea as Larnach as the centerpiece for a Lopez or Woodruff would require at least 1 or 2 more types of centerpieces that they can't afford to keep trading away. I get the trade value thing, but I think it's time for the Twins to quit trading away their best young players when they can fill those holes in Free Agency with just money.

19 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Yeah, I was thinking if Marwin too. Whether it was Farmer or Urshela, I didn’t peg this player as a starter anyway. 
 

But dang, the Twins and Reds sharing an office these days? They do a lot of swapping.

At least we are getting the Reds better players back.  

Twins Trade Gio Urshela to the Los Angeles Angels

  What are supposed to call this team?

   California Angels....Anaheim Angels....Anaheim of Los Angeles Angels...Los Angeles Angels ....should there be more specificity,  like the Platinum Triangle Neighborhood of Anaheim in the Vicinity of Los Angeles Angels Who Are Not the Dodgers---

  IDK, to me, I say LA and think of the Dodgers. Anaheim of LA is like the drunk uncle of the SoCal baseball family nobody wants to talk about. They need an identity.

15 hours ago, ashbury said:

Fooey.  Started to say something, then fact-checked and it's not worth trying to save.  Never mind.

I agree 100 %. 

1 hour ago, Game7-91 said:

Twins Trade Gio Urshela to the Los Angeles Angels

  What are supposed to call this team?

   California Angels....Anaheim Angels....Anaheim of Los Angeles Angels...Los Angeles Angels ....should there be more specificity,  like the Platinum Triangle Neighborhood of Anaheim in the Vicinity of Los Angeles Angels Who Are Not the Dodgers---

  IDK, to me, I say LA and think of the Dodgers. Anaheim of LA is like the drunk uncle of the SoCal baseball family nobody wants to talk about. They need an identity.

Los Angeles de Los Angeles.

Wow. I am Impressed this got so much feedback from the fans.

On 11/18/2022 at 8:04 PM, tarheeltwinsfan said:

Miranda looked OK at 3B to me when he played there this last season.

I think it was 240 innings, not really enough to know.

If this is the route, I am hoping so.

If history is any indicator, my guess is this trade is so that not only will this open the door to play Miranda full time at 3rd, but also frees up about 9 million.  Also - it is my  next hunch that the extra $9M will be added to make our 'biggest free agent contract ever offered ' now 9 million more and still end up as only his 4th best offer when Carlos signs elsewhere.

Farmer will end up at SS, Miranda at 3rd, and still sitting on that extra $9M with no one to pay it to.  

I don't like this move.  I hope I'm wrong.  I think Gio was a good value at that price.

Trading solid bats for a questionable A pitcher is not how you win! Unless the Twins think they can turn hi. Into a decent SP, this is a horrendous move for next year. Hard to believe they couldn't have shopped him for better assets 

On 11/18/2022 at 4:03 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Rebuild? The guy was signed for 1 more year, and they have Miranda, Lewis, and Lee available for third, maybe Arraez. What says rebuild about this at all? On what planet is there even a rumor of Polanco going?

Umm, there's been talk about moving Polanco for awhile.