Where Are We Now? (New Years Edition)

The rotation will only improve if one or two of the rookies step up and force their way onto the starting rotation.  Marwin Gonzalez is utility, he should stay at utility.  As a starter Gonzalez is average - replacement level.  We need a first baseman.  The BP is not as solid as everyone wants to think - we need someone to rise to a level of dominance beside Rogers and Rogers cannot slip.  If Buxton is down again the OF is poor.  

We are not close to a team that the Yankees will fear in the playoffs. 

The part w/Graterol starting until Hill is ready to go is exactly what I thought when I heard of the signing. Hill’s numbers are fantastic, but money invested in a guy who is 40 AND isn’t ready until mid-season for a forearm injury? $3 million ain’t what it used to be.

Also, sign Donaldson already or let him go back to the Braves.

I feel as if anyone showing interest in us and hasn’t signed yet is being that nice person who can’t just tell us no.

Please sign a real SS and let Polanco play second. Arreaz can play third and suddenly we have some infield defense

So far 7 mlb contracts in they have maintained the status quo plus a bullpen upgrade and a flyer on Hill.  That should win them the division even with Sox improvements and Cle maybe selling.

I still don't feel there is a playoff series they are going to be favored in (maybe just contend in pretty please). 

-Sign Donaldson, overpay to get him here.  The contract is not that long even if he declines poorly the upside for at least the first two years is immense.  

-Trade for a top of the rotation starter, someone to pitch game 1 or 2 of a playoff series.  They failed to address this in free agency so now it costs prospects like Lewis/ Kirloff/ Larnach/ Balzovic.  It can be done at the all star break but that is a major gamble. 

We are in no better position to be competitive in the playoffs (if we make it).

Ergo.....failed off season to date.

I remain impressed with the FO's ability to draft and develop players as well has hire coaches but....

Continue to think that their refusal to take needed risk with either FA signings or trading top prospects will ultimately prevent us from being anything more than above average-ish

If the Twins sign Donaldson (other than making one wonder why they couldn’t open the check book for a SP), the lineup is going to be on par with having an arm that looks like Popeye’s after he eats spinach!

On the other hand their pitching arm.....will look something like mine....when I was 2 years old...

Graterol can pitch until hill is healthy. That should get Graterol close to the 100-120 IP limit

The start of last year I was very optimistic. We got some very good positional players. We had an awesome pitching & catching staff, the BP was good even Blake surprised me in the beginning.

 This year I was hoping that we`d be better but as I see it as of now we aren`t. Positional players we lost Skoop & Cron but gain Arraez. What gain in OBP we lost in defense & power. Pitching we lost Gibson & Perez, yeah they petered out at the end but they helped give us a commanding lead in the beginning . Catching we lost Castro so it`s hard to replace him as back up. BP is better. 

 But I was expecting to dominate the Central Division & win at least 1 game in the Post season not to just compete for the division

Am I the only one who thinks we have too many Taylor’s, Tyler’s, and Trevors in the pen? Probably. It looks like the Twins will yet again go offense first? I know it’s awfully hard to build an elite pitching staff, it generally has to start in house. Unfortunately I don’t think Berrios has turned out to be the "ace" many hoped for. The disconcerting thing about the yet again offensive bent to this team is that despite career or near career offensive years by a lot of players, the playoffs were remain nothing but a glorified exhibition series. That dynamic will not change until somehow they change the level of pitching and defense. I know bombas sell tickets, and win games during a long season. But we been dere, done dat. It’s time to up our game! 

On the “T” reliever first-name issue - It looks like the Trevor Hildenberger era is coming to. an end.

First, Happy New Year Seth.

I think the signing of Hill/Bailey means the Twins don't have to complete a trade for a top starter at a cost beyond fair value.  Should they find that opportunity, at a reasonable cost, I expect they will pull the trigger.  What is more likely, is they find a deal similar to the Odorizzi deal and trade a mid-level prospect (or two) for a pitcher with some upside that isn't a name you are familiar with.  In either case, they will then have one excess pitcher when Hill is healthy, plus all the young kids.

While I am not exactly thrilled with the acquisitions regarding the starting pitchers I don't exactly hate it.

The Twins are putting a lot of hope into their younger pitchers and that is pretty much the norm with this team. The rotation given that we play in a weak division looks just as promising as last year's which isnt saying much but we should still compete.

I think one of the huge additions would be Donaldson. If they won't spend on pitching, spend on people who can mash the ball.

Hopefully the pitching staff can buy us time and we can make a move for pitching in June or Julu.

Not mentioned anywhere but Wisler also has some starting experience. It did not go well but would be an option depending on how he is throwing... 

I would like it if they spent the "Donaldson money" on more veteran BP help. If that is possible [don't have anybody in mind]. Not that I would turn Donaldson away....but he isn't coming here.

Solve the 3B problem by signing a glove at SS [as has been suggested in this comment section]. Move Sano to 1B, Polanco to 2B [where he started his career], and Arraez to 3B [he is a rookie...he will embrace it].

The starting staff is now better than how we ended last year. Not saying much....but it is better.

Seems like management has made a conscious decision to leave Krillof, Lewis, Larnach, Rooker, Duran Balazovic Gordon and Jeffers. in the minors to ripen making sure they are MLB ready when they come up next year and fill the holes with veterans. But other than a potential acquisition of Donaldson (which I give only a 20% chance at best). 

The fact we can't get top tier talent to sign with us leads me to believe we are better off with developing the team from within where the players have no choice and are under team control for years. It also makes me believe that next year, although promising, is not going to be our year to break through which I'm fine with.

We still only have tow starting pitchers signed for 2021 and one through 2022. Probably an open position at first base. In 2021 Andriansa, Austudilla, Avilla and Cave are all expendable and Gonzalez' contract will run out. That's 5 open slots that can be filled by Krillof, Larnach, Jeffers, Lewis and either Rookers or Gordon. 

And 3 open starting pitching spots for Graterol, Balazovic and Duran with possibly Acala for the bullpen. That would be a dramatically different team with the potential to break the glass ceiling in say, 2022.

I hope this is the long term plan as I for one am willing to wait for it to play out. Taking down a team like the Yankees is no small task and to think we are ready next year I think is wishful thinking. 

I would put the Twins odds of actually signing Donaldson at 15%.  I'd take him in a heartbeat but that's what I think our chances of actually getting him are.  I would still like to see a blockbuster with the Red Sox to get Chris Sale but...???  If we DON'T get Donaldson, I know it would cause a LOT of infield shuffling but I'd go get a slick glove-man for SS like Jose Iglesias, move Polanco to 2B, Arraez to 3B and Sano to 1B.  A glove like Igesias would tighten the "D" across the board in the infield.  It would also leave the Twins tremendous payroll flexibilty to get an ACE at the trade deadline depending on who is/is not contending and who is available at the right price.  My other idea/wish has been to work a deal with Colorado for Trevor Story.  First, it would give the Twins another TREVOR...but it would also allow the Rockies to put their #1 prospect at SS (Brendon Rogers).  I really can't see Colorado contending with the Dodgers in 2020.  Story is a great glove, and a power bat who doesn't need the thin air of Colorado to be an impact offensive player.  He's flat out a better player than Donaldson, younger, and he plays a premium position.  Depending on how Lewis and Javier progress, Story would be the kind of player I'd shell out some serious $$$ to keep in my core of players like Kepler, Polanco etc...going forward.  Woudl Colorado do it??  Ask and you get...don't and you won't.  

With regards to SP help, i keep telling myself to be patient, that these guys are smarter than I am about baseball, that they know which, if any, SP prospects are ready.  Then I look in the mirror and I'm rolling my eyes at Tuesday's signings.  Seems like a lot of things will need to fall into place for this team to be in position to challenge the Yankees or Astros in October.

Seth, Chris Sale would be.  Gotta believe the Red Sox REALLY want to keep mookie.  What do YOU think it would take to get Sale if we took on all 5 years and $145 million of his remaining salary ??