MMMordabito

At least the Yankees were the first team pillaged in the Rule 5 Draft ... That's doesn't help much easing 0-16, but it's something.

Yeah, I should have read that first. I just immediately responded to the "left in the tank" part.

32 mill a year for someone that "might still have some left in the tank"? No thanks. It would have to be something like the Zack Cozart deal, only way bigger. Their pipeline blows, so they'd probably have to send a couple guys and cover at least 10 mill a year.

It's interesting how the FO has been so right on most of the guys they dropped or left unprotected that were mourned so heavily. A quick glance at the latest production from Chargois, Burdi and Rodriguez backs them up pretty well. Now, if you include MiLB trades, cough, cough .... Nick Anderson ... cough, cough, it doesn't look quite so shiny.

Rockies are extending Oberg. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/rockies-extend-scott-oberg.html Looks like a good blueprint for the Twins doing the same with Taylor Rogers, IMO. Might have to go 3/$15 mill with a $9-10 mill option in 2023, but I'd lock up Lefty Piece, if I could.

There were definitely some Thorpe moments, but Graterol disposing of Rendon and making him look silly doing it in one of those late season Nationals game was my favorite let's-hope-this-young-guy-becomes-all-he-can-be moments.

Great article! I'm as excited about Dobnak as any of the current younger players that debuted this past season or may this next season. Along with a mid-90s fastball and some very nice complementary pitches, he also has a mound presence and pace that makes him fun to watch. With all that said, I'm not sure I agree with the part about not bringing in another back end guy with experience to sweeten the deal for a top end guy. Dobnak surely has some seasoning ahead of him, and then you have the quarter of the season with no Pineda. IL stints will certainly come into play at some point as well. A one year deal or one year with an option on said vet to cover the possibilities that Dobnak busts or Odorizzi walks would probably be the best type of deal. Finding the right pitcher to sign that deal would be where the work needs to and hopefully is being done.

I wonder who we think he is at 9 figures. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/madison-bumgarner-reportedly-asking-for-nine-figure-contract.html

Great article. Thanks, Nick.

Chapman would likely cost Arraez, Kirilloff, Balazovic and Graterol with maybe someone like James Kaprielian coming back to the Twins to even it out. Has Oakland made Chapman available? I doubt it. If we want to go with the idea that everyone is available for a price, I think the ridiculous package above will be that price.

I love the signing as a one year deal. He's a left-handed vet backup that brings some valuable skills and knowledge. He should be good for helping to further develop Garver and Astudillo. Also, if Jeffers starts tearing it up at AAA, this isn't the kind of contract or situation that would block him. Astudillo could easily be optioned and Avila could be the 3rd guy down the stretch.

There goes my ammo for getting the older kids off SnapChat so that they actually watch the game. It also means the younger ones who haven't been to a game yet don't have to go through my old first game hazing ritual. That old "Here's a ball to the face, so you know what it feels like and pay attention" is sooo 2009. Time to reallocate some of the ice and dentist bill money to another part of the family budget.

That was fool money for Wheeler. Glad the Twins didn't go down that path. As Seth pointed out in his article, Berrios and Gausman have pretty similar career peripheral numbers and both are younger. I'd like to see an extension and a signing respectively.

Well, my Hamels wish didn't age well. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/braves-to-sign-cole-hamels.html

Of the rumors that were floated, Syndergaard was apparently going to require Buxton (not a prospect) and Stroman just wasn't the level of pitcher that would take you over the top. I can't really fault the team on not diving in head first on those deals. If there were other rumors, they escape me now. I understand your frustration, but I just don't think losing out on Wheeler is in line with the same old, same old. Not playing in the Cole and Strasburg market certainly is, but I'm already worn down to the stumps there and the lichen have already grown over.

They can't pigeon hole themselves into a {insert pitcher name (currently Wheeler)} or bust MO. I don't think that's the smart way in the Twins market. I can listen to the frustrations of cheapness around Cole or Strasburg. They are definitely the high end pitching studs to be bought. Buying an inflated Wheeler as his price starts to approach those two wouldn't be good business, IMO. I'd rather get Hamels, Gausman and Bundy (I think they can produce at least what Gibson, Perez and Pineda produced). Then I'd give a two year, get healthy deal to Sanchez. If the Twins are where we hope they'll be in July, then make a blockbuster deal for a stud on a team that had a year that didn't go quite right. There will be less players to contend with and the the Twins should have the prospect depth to compete with those that do contend.

Rangers appear to be out. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/rangers-out-on-zack-wheeler.html If the Twins are out, I hope he goes to Philly or Cincy. If he goes to the White Sox, then I'll end up rooting for a quick decline. I know I'm a horrible person. Edit: For me, 5/100 is the absolute ceiling for Wheeler. If it's more than that, then the Twins should just make a run for Cole or Strasburg.

I haven't, but I've seen Total Recall: "Quaid, start the reactor!"

Thanks for pointing that out. Now I can't look at it not that way.

Can we create a package around Edwar Colina that nets us Juan Soto too? Oakland isn't going to trade Chapman. He's exactly the type of player that a team with their budget constraints is going to continue to build around. 2018 25 Oakland Athletics $547,500 0.109 2019 26 Oakland Athletics $580,000 1.109 contract 2020 Status Pre-Arb Eligible, Earliest Arb Eligible: 2021, Earliest Free Agent 2024

A modest two year deal to any of the highlighted pitchers would be a good move, IMO. All three have high end talent, but the injury issues are concerning. The deal could be treated in a psuedo-Pineda way. Year one is all about health. IL until 100% or when it makes sense assuming a playoff push. I wouldn't sign more than one of those three though. Treinen and Buchter are both interesting. MiLB options abound in the pen, so more arms with talent are a good answer for the volatility. I'd kick the tires on Alex Claudio as well. Danny Hultzen on a minor league deal would be fine. It's a Rich Harden type of hail mary, but it's good to explore all options. No interest in Pillar here. It's just a name drop, although he has had some good games against the Twins. The Twins top four outfielders right now are all "capable" or much better than that. Give Jake Cave 628 PAs, and he'll match that homer total and do it with an OBP well above the .287 that Pillar put up. Hell, with all the articles suggesting a Rosario trade and using his .300 OBP as one of the main reasons to move him, I don't see what Pillar will bring that's any better. He might be cheaper, but why kill the clubhouse over 2-3 mill?

What if? That pic looks like Buxton doing his best Russell Westbrook impression. Reporter: "Byron, what if you didn't get injured last season?" Buxton: "What!? Bro, what are you talkin' about, man?" .... and so on and so forth

Good for Gibby, and he gets to go to the new Globe Life, instead of the old cracker box.