Doctor Gast

Taylor accrued 3.2 WAR in '22 for what we gave up, I'm satisfied with the trade. I'd say we've got the best CF in MLB. Taylor hits basically the same against both LHPs & RHPs. Maybe the change of teams could unlock something in his hitting. Celestino can get some more seasoning in AAA. With all these OFers that can't be sent down, it looks like somebody has to leave unless they figure Gallo would spend some time at 1B.

PIT has been notorious of being able to spot good pitching throughout the years but not being able to develop them. Plus stressing to throw sinkers which wasn't their pitch & having to abandon their better pitches. Many PIT pitchers did better away from there. MN would have been wise to pick up on some of them. I believe there's a key that can unlock a poor pitcher into a very good one or a very good pitcher into an elite one. Johan Santana is a good example, he came to MN as a pretty good RP, He picked his circle CU in MN, the rest is history. HOU saw the key to unlock Cole. Castillo was bounce around MLB (2X at MIA) until he blossomed at the Reds. IMO properly profiling a pitcher & have him pitch inside that profile, is crucial. Rodon was tried to fit into a certain profile that didn't fit him & he was released. SF picked him up & used him in his right profile & he was awesome. Some make better closers than SPs, it's a matter of finding the right key. I agree with you Matt, "A player’s past hardly defines them" or can't always go by past stats you have to look at the underlying conditions & unlocked potential. The key is someone finding that key to unlock that player.

I agree with Mike's assessment. 4 flops, 3 great but unlucky prospects, having their seasons taken from them. I too hope they can complete their remaining time with a blast. Gordon is a staple on the MLB roster but he has been a disappointment, If he hadn't made that transition to OF he'd be gone. 1 traded with a lot of future potential, difficult to gauge how far he can rise. Lee is a fast riser that should make (but I doubt it, unless there's an emergency) his MLB debut. This year we have a great spot in the draft, which I'm hopeful for another fast riser. So after a bad start, we are on an uptrend. We won't always have these good draft picks but I'm hopeful that we'll have better focus on better athletes not on bats & be more fortunate.

Our CF was ranked 4th in MLB, I read someplace in TD or maybe heard from Nash Walker. Why do we want to change a good thing? I'm expecting Buck to be playing more this year. Because of the full spring training, new medical trainer (?) and believe he'll be just more fortunate this year, Maybe he'll be a MVP candidate at the end of the season. We don't need Gallo why would we spend on another CF? With the same CFers we had last year, Buxton healthier, Gordon have another year under his belt & Celestino take another step (I'm not against him starting out in AAA) I'd be tempted to bet they could be #1.

To add what has been said, Balazovic is the only pitcher hold over from TR and he's walking on thin ice. Most definitely '23 is make or break. I also see we have an over abundance of pitchers on the 40 man (we might need all of them). Thin in the INF & thinner at catcher

Love your article & metaphors, Alex. "We got a flaccid Buxton last year. An ambivalent playing schedule alternating center field, designated hitter, and off-days isn’t suitable for Byron Buxton or his performance. The less time he spends in the outfield, the more it feels like we’re declawing a jungle cat. He was born to roam the outfield and steal bases, so why deny it?" Couldn't agree you more. I've advocated against Buxton at DH all last season. If Buxton is healthy, play him in CF if he isn't, rest him or put him on the IL. Our focus shouldn't be to see how many games we can squeeze out of him during the regular season but to have him healthy for the post season. I'd love to see him healthy & let loose in the post season & see what this tiger can do. I'd love to see Buxton & Correa play off each other. That kind of electricity is catchy, I can see this team explode (rather than implode)

I don't see Gallo that much better than Gordon & I see Gordon better in CF. IMO Gallo's greatest value comes as 1B insurance on Kiriloff, if his wrist isn't 100% at least until Julien is ready to make that jump.

We have a plethora of internal options at DH especially with LH batters, since I believe that's what you are focused on. I'd like our internal options as many ABs as possible. My 1st choice is Gordon, I'd prefer him in the OF but not, I'd still like to find way to get him the game. I agree with GoergiaBaller that it takes a mature mindset to stay focus on the game when you're in it every few innings. It might takes some adjustment for Gordon. IMO he's a type of guy who'd want to be constantly in the game when he's batting.

I thought I read it in passing, sorry I was wrong. Thank you for setting me straight.

I agree with you Karbo, last year too I advocated Ober for BP. Ober fits in the group of long relief/ spot start. In that role he'd have excelled and now because of lost innings, I'd still put him in that group. Some kind of piggy-back with Maeda would be ideal.

I believe we'll exceed those estimated projections (although I don't have much hope in Gallo). We still could find some good BP arms in FA, where we can add to our potential. Maybe in June we can trade both Gallo & Kepler for a pretty good RH OF bat.

I'm not a Reusse fan either, I'm not surprised that Arraez thought he was worth more than the Twins thought because he had Boras as an agent. And maybe the difference of opinion may have had something to do with him being traded. I don't trust Reusse's evaluations, by most ratings Reuse has overrated Arraez & underrated Lopez. and way underrated this trade. For getting this return for Arraez, this FO was able to convince MIA of what they thought of Arraez's worth, which was immense. All of us will miss Arraez, but this trade has filled a great need at front-line SP from a surplus of our 1B/ DH position. This trade is by far has been this FO best trade.

I don't see Lee coming up before Sept. unless Farmer or Miranda get seriously hurt early & Lewis gets a set back later. I too see Lee as our future 3B as early as '24. With a name like Brooks he has be a All-star 3B. Switching hitting Lee LH bat will come in handy at the left side of the INF. I'm very excited about our up coming prospects. I believe they all could be awesome.

I was big on Parada last draft & was hoping the Twins would pick him up because he was the highest catcher in the draft. But as it turned out I'm very happy to get Lee instead. I'm with you that we desperately need a high catcher prospect right now & I'm more than willing to trade for one. Parada is great hitting catcher but his defense leaves a lot to be desired & I'm not crazy about his arm. So I'd prefer a different one.

I'd prefer sticking with Garlick strictly against LHPs, until Kepler reestablish himself with the shift ban (not before) and or trade Gallo as soon he's available to do so. With the OF less crowded then we can consider any RH OF option.

Wisler was new to the Twins so the Twins were able to capitalize on the big change, off the bat. Yet Coulombe, Megill & Maeda has been in the system for a while. If there'd be any big change in repertoire IMO it'd have happened by now. Yet in baseball there's constant adjusting some change is inevitable. Maeda has never been a big arm to rake up innings or go long regularly in games. So IMO Maeda is bettered served in the BP, maybe eventually make it in the rotation later in the season.

Ist I thought this was going to be a spin off of a Abbot & Castelo routine. We still have a ton of options at 1B especially LH. Kiriloff would have 1st shot. Gallo is an option, 1B is Julien's best position & he's knocking on the door, less needed RH we have Miranda & Farmer. We probably have more that have 1B experience that I don't know of. Arraez slid over to 1B & it became his best position. We have more athletic players than Arraez that can make that transition much more easily if need be. Plus our organization is packed with 1B/ DH players.

He's not my pick. Let MIA have him.

I disagree that both have plenty in the tank. Cruz had eye problems that's fixed. Cruz knows how to take care of his body. Sano is young but his problem is doesn't take of himself & his SOs.

Friend, if I'm looking at only stats & tangibles I'd be willing to trade Lewis for Alcantara. IMO looking at intangibles, I wouldn't trade Lewis for anyone.

It'd be a nice friendly competition between Polanco & Buxton to hit those milestones. It'd be nice if they both hit that 100 HR milestone the 1st week.

It's hard to trade a player like Arraez but we needed a front-line pitcher and this was time to make a trade like this. Lopez is rated as a middle #2 SP, while S Gray is rated at low#2/ high #3. So Lopez should be our best SP going into the season. Salas & Chourio helps to restock our farm system with 2 athletic 2 way prospects.

Salas comes from a long line of baseball players. MLB (grandfather) Jose Gregorio, (father) Jose Antonio (uncle) Jose Gregorio (brother) Ethan, who was the highest international signing at catcher. So he has a lot of baseball sense. My preference is not to try to beef these guys up but let them keep their speed & play out at SS & CF. They can always beef up later if they can't maintain their edge

Quoting PseudoSABR, he believe it's 93.

Now we have 5. Salas