tony&rodney

Donaldson's sore calves would really look good hitting second.

A nice little piece of writing that details in a different fashion why the Twins should sign Donaldson if they are after a 3B. Additionally, a great signing of Sano and agreements with everyone except Berrios, and there may be negotiations ongoing there. Looks like the Twins came in below forecasts on arb guesses as well, which means ... throw a little pile towards JD.

I like it - good job. Lots of room for discussion and arguments about placement, etc., but well constructed and reasonable at every level. Thanks.

"I think I’ll pass" - ewen21 Why? The team has the money. The other players won't be jealous. There isn't much committed for next year. Adding JD doesn't prevent the Twins from making trades. It may even help open some trade possibilities. Donaldson would most certainly make the Twins better. I never had JD on my radar until there wasn't any other free agents left. But he is available and nobody else is right now. Why not JD when the money makes no difference at all?

Sano is a fearsome hitter and i think he could really step forward. Experience, fitness, health, focus, and happiness could congeal to help the big man deliver an MVP level performance (please remember that MVPs are for Trout). I'm a fan.

The Twins won 101 games last year, but were swept aside in the playoffs. The quick defeats to NY were in part due to failed offense, but untimely pitching mistakes were exasperated by poor defense. Is it necessary to disrupt the lineup? Switching Polanco to 2B, Sano to 1B, and Arraez to 3B leaves the team without anyone playing SS and three players learning positions on the fly at the major league level. It could work, but it seems dubious. How can this change? If the defense is to be upgraded some trades would need to happen because there isn't anyone sitting at home waiting for a call to play SS in the majors. Trevor Story? Colorado would want something that makes their team better. Are the Twins willing to gamble on a major trade? Colorado will not be looking for prospects. Any ideas? Berrios, Arraez, and Rosario for Gray and Story? Hmm. The team defense does need to improve but the manner to do so is difficult.

Losing out on JD at the above number would be a shame.

Less than 0%? Don't gamble with those odds. Is the unicorn named Verlander? I agree - the Twins are a cautious bunch.

This is a well done series, thank you. My personal feelings are that Sano is underrated. I guarantee pitchers would rather face just about anyone else in baseball than Sano. He hits the ball so hard. It is not the distance it's the velocity. My judgement is that a secret poll of MLB pitchers would place Sano in the top dozen in all of baseball for fear factor. He is respected. That said, this year is a big year for the big man because he must stay on the field, stay focused, and produce consistently.

The manner in which I wrote the post you responded to was not clear. Sorry. To the last post - I too am very high on Graterol, but he is not going to throw too many innings this year. The Twins should put him out there though. I'm hoping for 125-140 innings this year.

Nothing major, especially between Gray and Alcantara. Things such as age, service time, innings pitched, baa and a few other things. There doesn't seem to be much reason for Arizona or Colorado to trade if they are going to compete. Alcantara is the youngest and seems to be possibly available (maybe not) and improving, while it would likely take more of the Twins top prospects to pry away Ray or Gray now. I have been thinking that July may be a time when trade options expand. I wonder what San Diego would ask for Paddock? Lewis and Larnach? Not likely. Two teams need to find a common goal and I don't know what that formula is. We already have a bunch of one year contracts. My thinking is that a major trade of prospects should bring a controlled player back.

Josh Donaldson is worth what he is asking for right now, if it is $100-110M. The Twins definitely have the money with only $21 million committed in 2021. Now the front office can put the ball right back in his court by that offer (above). Then we see if JD really objects to MN money and will only play for Atlanta. This seems rather simple.

Josh Donaldson is a risk. However, he is less of a risk than any of the other options discussed this winter. The Twins are only on the hook for slightly over $20 million for next year. The money is available. If JD doesn't want to play for Minnesota or the front office has him evaluated much lower for some reason, fine; we have to agree to disagree (unhappily) with their decision. If the front office believes Donaldson has value, then they need to force him to make the decision. The Twins should have the best offer. Price, Sale, Archer, Gray, Ray, and others are just not seeming to be very balanced decisions based upon multiple risk factors, such as price, injury, prospect cost, and statistical peripherals. I would not trade any of Lewis, Kirilloff, Larnach, Graterol, Balazovic, or Duran for that crew. If there are other combinations that work using lesser valued prospects, do it. In June or July there will be a new alignment of values for available pitchers and the prospects. This is looking like the time for a decision. Mitch Moreland for @$4M and Alex Wood for @$4M are my only remaining options. There is a good chance that some of the Twins young prospects will provide the performance and value we are hoping for this summer. They will be watched closely this Spring.

Most of the pitchers being touted are either too risky (Sale) or have poor peripherals (Archer, Ray, Gray). The Twins should be open to trading anyone if that acquisition is a tipping point. The Cubs giving up Gleybar Torres to run for the title was an extremely risky and still controversial trade, but an example. Most of the top pitchers are simply not available, at any price and others have the same present value in a game as players like Thorpe. Lewis and Kirilloff are or have been rated as top ten prospects and should bring back a haul or held. Looking through the names and numbers, only Alcantara looks promising and a possibility for picking up in a trade. I do not think Snell, Paddock, Castillo, Bieber, or E. Rod are available. Will Miami consider trading Alcantara? What would be fair? Larnach and Enlow? Some combinations of players maybe, but Miami has a good system and are not looking for numbers of prospects in place of quality. There is a better likelihood that the trading environment is improved in June or July.

There has to be somebody who can watch him and talk to him and determine if young Master Kirilloff is ready for a shot at The Show. Torii, Tony, Rod, the coaches and scouts. Alex wouldn't be the first player to arrive swinging. He wasn't my first choice for 1B in October, but it's January now.

Re: Garver and trade value. From a Cody Christie post 18 November - Posted 18 November 2019 - 12:24 PM "What would Garver bring back? Grandal, Avila, and others could be signed. Of course we love a contract controlled slugger like Garver, but what would other teams offer? Atlanta? Cincy? San Diego? If not FA signings the Twins must explore all trade ideas." I have wondered about Garver's value since October. I have no idea though and nobody seemed to think this noteworthy. My idea was to gamble early for an ace dangling Garver plus. I was curious to know what the market was at the time. Still am.

Rooker, Raley, and even younger - let us see what they can do. Gonzalez, Garver, etc. are there to back them up. With the solid core the Twins have in their lineup it is ok to trot out a rookie.

... So What's The Plan Now?" I think this is the thread. We have a little bit of the working class people adoration for billionaire profits arguing with disgruntled fans who might have thought that something big should happen this offseason. Baseball is entertainment and we read this junk to keep abreast of trends, thoughts, and various ideas. There have been many - that's good. I want to refer back to the thread idea and suggest that this season could be a very exciting one for Twins fans. Garver has emerged as a strong MLB player and even with regression will see more time on the field and be productive. It is easy to see Arraez, Kepler, and Rosario having equal or improved seasons this year. Cruz is a professional and DH can be covered by many players. Gonzalez has to be better. I expect Buxton and Sano to bust out and be around for the entire season. That leaves Polanco, the AL starting SS last summer. Read that again. How did we get to complaining about an all star shortstop. Polanco is not Mark Belanger in the field, but neither is Buxton Paul Blair. The pitching staff could be middle of the pack and that should be pretty good as the Twins break in some young pitchers. I would argue that a 91-95 win season is doable with the current squad. I wanted to add Grandal at $20M, Cole at $38M, and a few adds like Pineda and Alex Wood. The only player they added on my list was Avila. Now we can move forward and hope the kids get their chance to play and do well with their opportunities. Who knows, maybe Donaldson wakes up tomorrow morning and has had dreams all night long about batting with Buxton and Kepler on base. Whatever ... the Twins front office has apparently encountered some difficulty and I am not enamored of that at all, but still that should not obscure what should be a rising, exciting, and competitive team. The kids are next, in full support of a solid core.

At this point the available starters are not looking any more likely to be successful than those already on the roster. Roll with what you have until July when a team that expected to compete has failed. Another conversation worth having is a query with Boston concerning Betts. They may actually have ideas other than all the Twins top prospects.

Kepler - Donaldson - Polanco - Cruz - Rosario - Sano - Arraez - Garver - Buxton. No JD. Betts - Kepler - JP - NC - ER - MS - LA - MG - BB. No MB. MK - JP - NC - ER - MS - LA - MG - Marwin Gonzalez - BB.

Bunting will always have a place in baseball. A player with elite speed, especially one without Troutlike hitting talents, should absolutely attempt to become skillful at bunting. In addition to breaking slumps, it helps slow the game down and brings the 3B in, opening up both the baseline and the 5-6 hole. Buxton, and hopefully Lewis soon, create havoc when on the bases. How many slow curveballs or sweeping sliders are thrown with Buxton on base? Bunting and speed are still valuable weapons in baseball in 2020.

I'm down with our kids filling in while Pineda and Hill are resting in a warm climate and getting prepared to be good from late May for Big Mike and after the All Star Game for Richy Rich. Forget Gray, Boyd, Archer. Think something better in July (unlikely). Meanwhile, get Donaldson, or as someone else suggested ... Betts. We still have three months more (thinking hopeful) of winter.

If you want Kepler go to 1B, then trade for Betts. Set in RF and covered for CF. Graterol and Celestino? Lineup goes, Betts, Kepler, ... we win. Think positive in 2020.

Nothing. However, it is possible, even if not based on past practices, that the Twins view 2020 as a year to change their stripes. Buxton, Sano, Berrios, and Rosario could all easily follow Cruz, Gonazalez, Odorizzi, and others out the door in a few years through free agency, refusal to sign, or demand. Sometimes there is a tipping point and I'm thinking that a failure to attempt strategies different than prior years will cause an unfortunate return to sub mediocrity. 2019 had a very positive vibe for the team and I thought the team enjoyed the games and each other. A push can occur. The question remains - will it happen?

The opportunity to sign a top pitcher has passed. I'm hoping that Bailey is a marked improvement throughout the season from Perez and am especially hopeful he gets off to a strong start in April and May, although not necessarily as strong as Perez was to June. A season of a 4.30 ERA and 180 IP would be a plus.