MNT1996

The Sano era is going to end a lot sooner than 2024

Arraez is definitely more versatile than just playing 2B and DH. I think the Twins will have him play some at LF, 3B, SS, and 2B in 2021. He'll basically take Gonzalez's position.

Winning is fun. He'd have fun in MN if the FO would decide to actually take a risk and cut some splashy deals so the Twins can actually win a playoff game.

There's the big move! Amazing job, FO

Ah the good ol' Twins I know and love. Never trying to make a big deal and always playing it safe and cheap. I can't wait until the Twins sign Marwin Gonzalez to a multi-year deal and then sign a couple more minor league players to round out the AAA team! Let's keep that playoff streak going!

I highly doubt it. I think they'll stay true to form and make a couple small money moves to bolster their bullpen and maybe add another cheap starter. I don't see any big splashes happening.

If the Twins can sign Cruz to a similar deal to what they did in 2019 I think they should do it 100%. Cruz provides a very valuable, steady presence to the lineup. Look at all the hitters around him in the lineup in 2019 and 2020. Did any of them provide consistency even close to what Cruz did? Kepler went from .252/.336/.519 in 2019 to .228/.321/.439 in 2020. Sano went from .247/.346/.576 in 2019 to .204/.278/.478 in 2020. Buxton provided some offensive stability in those 2 years going from .262/.314/.513 in 2019 to .254/.267/.577, but everybody knows about Buxton's injuries and his inability to consistently play long stretches of games. Let's look at Cruz's numbers in those 2 years. 2019: .311/.392/.639. 2020: .303/.397/.595. Forget about being the Twins best, most consistent hitter in those two years, he was also one of MLB's best, most consistent hitters in that time frame. Is he old compared to the league average? Of course. Was he old compared to the league average in 2019 and 2020? Yes he was. The Twins need a stable presence in their lineup especially now when they have some rookies coming up and they have other guys who have shown they can't replicate their numbers year over year. History shows Cruz can provide that stable presence. Resign him.

Twins should not trade Larnach. I really think he's the Twins RF of the future. Kepler is a career .237 hitter with a career OPS of .763. Those are not extraordinary numbers and I think Larnach will be able to match and even surpass those numbers after a year or two in the MLB. Give Kepler one more year in RF to potentially boost his trade value after a terrible 2020 and then shop him.

I don't think Kepler will be a Twin in 2024. It's going to be Larnach in RF, Kirilloff in LF, and either Rooker or Sabato at 1B.

I think Kirilloff starts the year in AAA and Cave + a cheap Gonzalez-like utilityman that the Twins will sign this offseason will share left field duties. I could see Rooker and Kirilloff spending time at 1B in AAA because the Twins will want to move away from Sano sooner rather than later. I think both Kepler and Sano will have average to above-average years in 2021 and they both will be traded in the '21 offseason. Hopefully getting a decent starting pitcher in return. Larnach will then replace Kepler in right field in 2022, and Rooker/Kirilloff will share 1B/LF until Aaron "Babe Ruth Jr" Sabato comes in and takes the 1B spot.

There it is. Now the Twins are a World Series team!

I really want to hear the rationale behind putting Kepler ahead of Cruz and Buxton in the team MVP rankings. lol

I'm actually in favor of trading Arraez. I want the Twins to go after LeMahieu and the Twins would need to free up the 2B spot for that to happen.

I'm learning towards the "case for" camp. He has a career OPS of .763 and a career BA of .237. I would bet good money that Larnach and Kirilloff will have better numbers than those. I say give Kepler one more year so that Larnach and/or Kirilloff can find their stride and then trade him. Hopefully Max has a decent season in 2021 so the Twins can sell high.

The Twins getting Donaldson kind of disproves your claim that they want low intensity players

I think the Twins getting eliminated early from the playoffs is less about Cruz and more about all the other guys around him in the lineup. He was literally the only offense for the Twins in the playoffs this year, and he was really the only consistent producer the lineup had this year. I think the Twins should sign him an identical contract to what they signed him for in 2019. 1 year guaranteed and another year option.

Another question: What do the Twins do in regards to the closer role? Rogers looked terrible this year. He failed in big spots. I think they should go out and get a better arm. Maybe look at Liam Hendriks or Colome. Rogers should be a 7th inning guy. I think the Twins need another impact bat, and I think they should go after DJ LeMahieu. He's the perfect leadoff hitter and 2B/Utility guy for the Twins. This would also mean that the Twins move on from Arraez. LeMaheiu is going to require a lot of cash, so the Twins need to dump a couple of contracts. I think they should get rid of Kepler and Rosario. I also wouldn't be opposed to trading Sano if Larnach looks MLB ready. Yes the lineup might be a little shaky at times with possibly 3 rookies, but I really think the Twins need to move on. Kepler, Rosario, and Sano had their chance, and they didn't show up when the stage was the biggest in the playoffs. Dream 2021 Lineup: 1) LeMahieu (2B) 3) Donaldson (3B) 3) Cruz (DH) 4) Kirilloff (1B/RF) 5) Buxton (CF) 6) Sano (1B) or Larnach (RF) 7) Rooker (LF) 8) Polanco (SS) 9) Jeffers © Bench: Garver Adrianza Cave Blankenhorn

It would ease the pain a little bit to see the hitting coach fired immediately

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for the guy, but what on earth is this move? The Twins had plenty of chances to bring him up during the regular season with a lot of regulars going down with injuries, and now they're going to throw him in the lineup during the playoffs?

Perfect outcome. Bring on the astros

Cruz picked a bad time to look lost at the plate

My thinking last week that the Twins should tank so they don't have to face the Yankees is looking pretty silly now

I agree with #1 & #2. No way should Rogers be #3 though. I'd put Wisler, Clippard, and Romo ahead of Rogers.

I agree with this point, but the Twins also did win both games in this series without Cruz. When everything is clicking, the Twins have great depth.

I was not expecting the Cubs to look that lifeless this series