Bob Twins Fan Since 61

Four Hall of Fame Twins: Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Kirby Puckett, and Tony Oliva. Cased Closed.

Four H

Great job Twins front office! Thank you has a long-time Twins fan and season ticket holder. Go Twins!

Anyone watch the MLB channel? There is a couple former MLB GM who are regulars. They frequently say, "There is no such thing as a bad 1-year contract". However, there have been hell lot of long-term contracts that teams have regretted over the years. Just saying while I drink my cold beverage.

I am just ready to move on from Correa. The Twins front office needs to move on too. It seems their focus on Correa has paralyses them this whole offseason. As a season ticket holder, I would like to see a competitive team next year. I am not feeling it all. I am hoping by Twins fest they will have made positive moves. If they have not, be interesting if they will hold Q&A sessions with fans as past Twins fests.

My thoughts are Kim would be solid add to the Twins infield. Especially with rule changes going into effect in 2023. He made solid improvements in his 2nd year in the U.S. Excellent fielder with both some power and speed for a middle infielder. I think he could take another step un in 2023. I would be willing to part with Trevor Larnach to get him. He is one year younger and has one more of year control than Kim. But we have a glut of left-handed corner outfielders. Maybe, a 3-team deal with Miami getting Larnach for SP Trevor Rogers and Rogers going to San Diego for Kim. Doubt Kepler will get Kim or Rogers. I would still move Kepler too. Since the Twins signed Gallo, Kepler almost has to go somewhere. Go Twins.

Enjoyed reading your article Melissa. Thanks for writing it. Happy New Year and go Twins!

Been to Kansas City several times before Targe Field for outdoor baseball experience. Leaving Target Field out of the discussion, my favorite big-league park. It is just a great ballpark to watch a game. The waterfalls in the outfield make it unique. I have been to 27 of them in my life. Some are gone now. Definitely agree the Negro League Baseball Museum is an absolute must for true baseball fan. Having a great barbeque meal before or afterwards is highly recommended too. Lastly, we always tailgated in the adjacent parking lot before games. Enjoy!

Love your optimism too. Sorry I cannot share much of it. There are still some options left to improve the team via free agents or trades, but it is starting to look more difficult has each day goes by. Just has big a concern to me is their strategies of player development and training that focuses on "Bomba" ball and pitcher velocity. Believe that is a major, root cause of their high level of players injuries. Plus, the new rule changes will have significant impact too. Which I do not believe playing "Bomba" ball will be effective. Have to hope the leadership sees it but the Gallo signing has me very worried.

I both on the block, we have glut of left-handed corner outfielders. All in the 25-30 age range, who should be in the big leagues and definitely want to be or on another team. It's what the Twins can get in return that worries me. The signing of Gallo before trading any of them. Did not put the Twins in a good negotiating position in my opinion.

Fantastic article Matthew, strongly agree with the conclusions. I believe that there is a correlation between the number of injuries with pitchers and their pursuit of velocity too. To squeeze more mph's out and higher spin rates requiring pitchers to throw at max-effort at a high level of frequency. Alternative would be to improve command of pitches for better control. Not requiring pitchers to throw at max-effort all the time to get hitters out. Hopefully, the Twins staff is willing to take hard look at it and address it going forward. Believe this is more important to future success than any free agent signing or potential trade by far.

I would be willing to trade Pagan for Escobar. Eduardo still has some pop in his bat. He could be the right-handed DH and back-up the corner infield positions. Beloved guy in the club house and fan favorite (including this one) when he was a Twin. Think Devers would cost too much. Believe Rendon is toast, wouldn't touch him. Last thought I think Miranda will become a decent fielding 3B. He has work ethic to become one. Plus, if he only required to play 3B, will allow him to really focus on 3B. Acquiring Escobar will reduce the need for him to play 1B too. Go Twins!

Wouldn't it be something if Correa does not pass his physical with the Mets? Him and Boras would be in real pickle. Actually, I would kind of like for it to happen. I still in the camp that the Twins own over-all number one draft pick Royce Lewis like Correa will be one hell of a shortstop. Brooks Lee has all the makings too. Go Twins and happy holidays!

Like to share your optimism, and hope Gallo does rebound. Since he is now with the Twins. I would have preferred Trey Mancini right-handed bat. He might have a lower ceiling, but Gallo's floor is lot lower. Biggest thing I don't like about the deal is the timing. Puts the Twins in weaker position trading Kepler. Other teams will take advantage of the Twins situation. They should have traded Kepler before announcing the Gallo signing. Could not his agent Boras have waited until the Twins moved Kepler? After he played the Twins with Correa.

I am passing on Eovaldi too. Not worth his projected cost for the risk. Would definitely be interested in Adames except for what I believe his cost would be. Agree with others the best play is Farmer for short term until either Lewis or Lee are ready to take SS position over. Pretty convinced one or both will be star players for the Twins.

Thanks for writing the article, Seth. Happy holidays too. There are still some free agents unsigned that the Twins should be in on. Two right-handed hitters I liked are Brandon Drury and Trey Mancini. Won't be happy has Twins fan if they don't sign one of them at least. Would pass on Eovaldi, just don't see he is that big upgrade over our current starters. He also will cost draft capital, since the Red Sox gave him a qualifying offer. I would like the Twins to resign Taylor Rogers for a reunion. Believe he still a solid bullpen arm and would make our bullpen a strength. Got to get Lopez pitching like he did for Baltimore last year. See if could trade Kepler to Yankees for IKF (Kiner-Falefa) and RH pitcher Clark Schmidt. Probably need to send Farmer with Kepler but fine with that. The Yankees are supposedly interested in Kepler. Plus, want to move IKF supposedly too. Schmidt is the key component I want. For the cost, risk and upside I like him over Eovaldi. Like IKF over Farmer to hold down the SS position until Royce Lewis or Brooks Lee are ready. Who are critical players for the Twins future. I think they are really going to be good too. Due to the economic structure of major league baseball. The best way the Twins and other non-big revenue teams compete is drafting wisely and developing young talent. Only using free agency and trades to augment that talent. Last thought, moving up in the draft lottery to #5 gives the Twins an opportunity to draft a future Ace #1 starter. There are some quality college pitchers that one of them should be there at #5. That a lot better way to get an Ace than spending huge $$$ for one in free agency. Go Twins!

Add to Roger's take of solid right-handed bat. Three to consider and in order preference are: 1) Trey Mancini 1B-OF, 2) Brandon Drury 1B, 2B-3B, and 3) Brian Anderson 3B-OF. The first two could platoon with some with Arraez at 1B. Who splits between left and right-handed pitchers is pretty significant. Would allow trading one of the left-handed outfielders for upgrade somewhere else.

Japanese pitcher Kodai Senga is someone I would be very interested in pursuing. He has a track record as one of the best pitchers in Japan in recent years. He also won't be subject to the MLB-NPB posting system since he accrued enough service time. He is 30 years old. It's been reported he will trigger an opt-out in his contract. Definitely someone the Twins should consider. I am hopeful too that our younger pitchers (Ryan, Ober, Varland, and SWR) will continue improving going forward. Much better solution them trading prospect capital or signing expensive free agents to long term contracts.

Add me to the group that it is time to move on from Rocco. He isn't totally to blame but I would prefer to move on to someone else. One potential replacement that has piqued my interest is Joe Espada, the current Houston Astros bench coach. His resume is very impressive. It is much more impressive than Rocco's was for a 1st time big league manager. Yet he is only 48 years old. He is Puerto Rican and manager of the Puerto Rican national baseball team for the World Baseball Classic. Which could have an impact on Correa returning and attracting Puerto Rican free agents in the future. I would want him to have final say on the hiring of his staff. Which my observation is Rocco did not have. Some of the recent hires have been questionable. One example would be the young hitting coach hired for this season. Expecting him to jump from low A to a big-league coach? Espada is most likely going to have multiple teams interested in him. I see him has a big upgrade from Rocco. Would feel lot better making the change from Rocco to Espada for 2023.

Sucks for Alex and the Twins.

I am with the ones who like the trade for many of reasons stated. Good baseball trade for both teams. Really like Kiner-Falefa's glove and speed. Bonus, he can be the emergency 3rd catcher too. Goodbye Turtle for sure. I'm pretty confident that Jeffers and Rortvedt will be fine too. I am thinking too that adding an excellent fielding SS won't hurt in trying to sign free agent pitchers. Especially with SS being a black hole for coming season without trade. Lastly, with coming rule change in 2023 limiting shifts middle infield defense with range becomes more important.

Great article and great guys. I have been on the journey with them has a lifelong Twins fan since the beginning 1961. Only got one big dream left one more World Series Championship run. 1987 and 1991 was long time ago now, I want my grandchildren to have that experience. Target Field deserves a World Series. The guys deserve it too, their passion shines through their work. All the best!