jhoffman

h20face: you need to look up Maeda's 2019 stats and compare them to Wheeler, Madbum, Ryu, Keuchel, Syndegaard, and Gray. His K/9 is better than all of them, he has the 2nd lowest WHIP of this group, and his ERA is in the same range (except for Ryu) who had a career best in 2019. Did I mention he's the least expensive of this group? Just sayin hold off on the negativity until the season plays out.

Falvey & Lavine to BOSOX: you're not winning the East with the Yankees getting Cole, so we'll take on half of Price's entire contract if you give us Devers for Kepler and you guys figure out third base! Bosox get Bett's replacement for right and trade Betts to shed salary and gain prospects. Twins move Sano to 1st and get a great third baseman for a lot less money than an aging Donaldson, and one of our "can't trade" Kirilloff or Larnach prospects goes to right.

If the A's extend Semien, they won't have the Moneyball to extend Chapman too. Trade that prospect capital for the best third baseman no one is talking about! He's a lot younger and cheaper than Donaldson and just as good if not better.

Thor- should be their top target, Buxton, Gordan, & Duran might get it done. Sale- on the decline, same with Price, I'll pass. Archer- that's not enough to get him, but I would add a "throw in" from AA . Boyd- Tigers will want more and I would give it to them, add Romero who's out of options.

Sign Donaldson, trade Sano for Gray, sign Moreland for 1st base. All we have is middle to back of the rotation starters compared to the Nats, Astros, and Yankees. Not sure Berrios would start a playoff game for any of these 3 teams and he's our number one.

I like a Story and Gray deal better with the Rockies especially if we could get Donaldson. (I would prefer to have Aranado over Donaldson but I don't believe that the Twins are willing to swallow that contract). So here's how I would go about swinging a deal for Story and Gray. The Cubs are willing to trade their all-star catcher Contreras, and they want to move Baez to SS.So trade Arraez and Thorpe for Contreras. The Rockies need a catcher so flip Contreras and package Contreras, Rosario, and Duran for Story and Gray. This allows the Twins to move Polanco to 2b which greatly improves their middle infield defense with Story at short, and adds a quality starting pitcher. Cave or Kirilloff goes to left to replace Rosario.

Eat Price's contract and swallow hard, then trade these "throw in" prospects and include Gordan, then you may be able to get Jon Gray and lets go!

If Kirilloff, Larnach, or Rooker are really as good as the Twins front office thinks they are, there should be no hesitation to trade Rosario for Alcantara. What about Thorpe as the added piece?

"Strike when the window is open"... what if the best shortstop in baseball can be had for Arraez, Lewis, and Rooker? Who can offer the Indians a better prospect package that is expendable with Lindor fixing both short and second long term by moving Polanco to second? If Sano is the 1st baseman of the future, Rooker is certainly expendable also. Instead of spending foolish money on marginal free agent pitching, extend Lindor for 7 years at 35 million/year (and spend the 35 million all the experts expect the Twins to increase their payroll by) and Lindor gets the money now instead of in 2 years and he doesn't risk a career ending injury. Then trade Rosario for Jon Gray, extend him for 3 years at 15 million/ year and roll the dice with either Kirilloff or Larnach in left. Sign Thames for first and leave Sano at third. Twins have 6 candidates for a 5th starter until Pineda comes back with Grateral, Smeltzer, Littell, Thorpe, Dobnak, and Romero and back ups at AA or AAA with Balazovic and Duran which is why I wouldn't spend the money on free agent pitching. One of them is bound to be very good.

#1 I agree, Jon Gray should be the target. 6 million for 2020 and arbitration for 2021. (see below for trade proposal) #2 I agree, I prefer Teheran for 3 years at 12 to 15 million per year if necessary. #3 I disagree about Donaldson, too high risk. Move Sano to1st. #4 I disagree, the bullpen will be fine by adding 2 quality starters and wait for the 2020 trade deadline before making a deal for this volatile commodity. #5 I don't know most of the names so "no comment" instead of pretending to be smart! Trade Proposal: The Rockies finished 20 games below .500 and have Jon Gray who is a good starter, and a shortstop in Trevor Story who would be an upgrade at short and allow the Twins to move Polanco to 2nd while improving both middle infield positions with Arraez moving to 3rd and Sano to 1st. I propose giving the Rockies Lewis, Larnach or Rooker, Gordan, and Thorpe. Your thoughts?

OK, I take it back. I forgot the A's traded for Profar for 2nd base (which is why I suggested Arraez and Kirilloff) which would have given them a starting 2nd baseman who is much cheaper (the A's and Ray's are cheap) and our top outfield prospect and a couple of AA prospects that don't include our top pitching prospects.

Donaldson, but for a 2 or 3 year deal at 20-25 million/year, I propose a better long term solution for third. Offer a prospect package that includes Arraez and Kirilloff to the A's for Chapman. This opens up 2nd base for Polanco and fill the hole at short with a good defensive shortstop. Buy out Chapman's arbitration years with an Alex Bregman type deal like 7 years/70 million.

Sign MadBum to a 5 year deal for 100 million with Twins buy out option for year 5 (if year 4 doesn't produce 150 innings or 30 starts). Trade Rosario for an elite pitching prospect, and deal the elite pitching prospect (or one of ours) and Nick Gordan to the Rockies for Jon Gray.

Trades not free agent pitchers: Polanco belongs at 2nd making Arraez the odd man out as trade bait. Package Arraez, (he's not Carew yet) Rooker, Duran, and Gordan for Trevor Story and Jon Gray. Trade Kepler to the Rays for Glasnow (ace in waiting) and the Rays top pitching prospect. The Rays need offense and Kepler is cheap for the low budget Rays. Move Rosario to right and sign Alex Gordan for left on a 1 year deal until Kirilloff or Larnach force him out of the starting lineup as a late inning defensive replacement. Sign Moustakis for third and move Sano to first. Now the Twins will have the cash to sign their core players including Story and Gray to long term deals that are a lot less expensive than paying 20-25 million per year for pitching. 1.Berrios 2.Glasnow 3.Gray 4.Odorizzi 5.Grateral lf-Gordan cf-Buxton rf-Rosario 3b-Moustakis ss-Story 2b-Polanco 1b-Sano c-Garver dh-Cruz

I like this idea but Ray is a free agent in 1 year (which is why they probably won't trade Dinkel) and I'm not sure why the D-backs would want Rosario. I think the Angels would trade a couple of their top prospects for Rosario which would give the Twins more trade chips to aquire starting pitching because everyone is going to be bidding their top prospects for Gray. The Twins will have to include either Kirilloff or Larnach to get him.