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The Twins can't possibly go into the season with Sano, Sanchez and Rooker all on their roster, can they?

Lets hope like heck, Seth, that we get the Mariners version, eh? Seems the front office likes to wait until the weekend for things to heat up and do deals. The bigger question is where are the 40-man roster spots coming from as I believe it was full before the Correa signing? Can they transfer players, Maeda and Enlow, to the 60-day IL? Or can they not do that until later in spring?

Now the Twins have about eight months to focus on recruiting the best AL shortstop to stay. If things go well with him and the team, there is nothing saying they can't rework his contract later this summer or at year-end. Also, no reason to be concerned with Lewis. There are other positions he, and Martin, can play. Wouldn't an infield of Kirilloff, Polanco, Correa and Miranda look awfully nice? Both in the field and at the plate? And we could be seeing that in a couple months....I like it!

Holy crap! There has to be more deals coming as they have too many players suited best to DH, Sano and Sanchez, and infielders. Expect one of the Yankee infielder or Arraez, plus a couple prospects, is going elsewhere for a good starting pitcher. WOW!

One word, Nick....Ouch! I was a huge Rortvedt fan and believe he will become a solid hitter to go with his top defense. I don't understand what the FO did after they began with two really good trades. Did they destroy this year's team to save Donaldson's dollars? We have been hearing there were more deals coming. Well, after three deals in a couple days it is now four days later and silence. Unless there are at least two more deals, including one for a young catcher (the guy they signed isn't the answer and is a waste of a 40-man roster spot), I really don't like this team right now.

Began following this kid during his 16/17 year old winter when he was one of the best pitchers in the Australian Winter League. Kid was fantastic. Since then he has missed so much time, including a couple years ago when everyone was thinking he was part of the team's solution and ended up taking time away during spring training. The result, as you said, is that he is on his last chance with the Twins. If this is to be a Cinderella year for the Twins, they need a couple pitchers to step up and be wonderful surprises. No one could end up being that more so than Thorpe. I don't know if anyone is expecting it to happen, but it would be wonderful if it did. And yes, it will begin with his fastball getting up to 92 or better.

This article may be only half of the story. Remember those comments from Levine last fall? That the Twins would be looking at some type of piggy-back (my term) plan with starters this year. With so many young starters without a lot of innings the last few years, seems like a smart option. Moving two starters to the pen with a comment that they could go one to three innings two or three times a week sure looks to me to be a step towards that piggy-back situation. Getting them into that role from day one of spring training also makes a ton of sense. Will both be successful in this role? Will one be?

Couple questions and a comment, Cody. First, is the rule still in effect that they have to keep 13 position players on the 26 man roster? If so, they can only keep 13 pitchers. Second, I know Rooker played first base when in the minors, but has he player there at all for the Twins? If any of these outfielders see time at first I would guess it would be Kirilloff, not Rooker. I was a huge fan of Thorpe since that wonderful winter down under when I think he was still 16 years old. Did he pitch at all last year? If so, it was very little. Although he could surprise the Twins and have a great spring, I just don't see it. Whether he is released, DFA'd and eventually in St. Paul, or included in a minor trade remains to be seen. I just don't see him being part of this Twins pitching staff.

One cannot read any posting here and elsewhere without seeing Story's name mentioned in probably more than half of the comments. I ask, what is the love affair with Story? The numbers I have seen indicate he is average to mediocre away from Coors Field. If that is true, why would the Twins want to tie themselves to a contract both bigger and longer than Donaldson's? I just don't understand the love affair many of you have with this guy and hope like heck the Twins don't sign him.

I am both confused and disappointed. Although a big Garver fan, I understood the Texas trade and really liked K-F as our shortstop for the next year(s). And I was ok at catcher with Jeffers and Rortvedt, although I thought they should bring in a veteran backup so Ben could play every day at St. Paul for a few months. I keep reading in the paper and elsewhere references to Jeffers as a defensive first catcher. What? Did I miss something? I also keep reading that with the Donaldson trade they have a ton of payroll available and more moves are coming. Well, it has now been a day and a half and spring training is in full swing. The Twins need some type of catcher you would be comfortable putting into a game this year, preferably a young prospect like Rortvedt. They need a shortstop, unless the Yankee is their guy until Lewis is ready and they feel that will be this summer (I don't know how they could know that two days into spring training). If they want to compete this year, they need one more starter, although I would be ok with Gray, Bundy, Ryan, Ober and Dobnak (I know I am in a small minority with this opinion). And yes, they could probably use one more good bullpen arm. And after looking at Story's numbers away from Coors Field, I really hope he isn't their big move. That's a lot of needs and so little time to get it done.

Thanks, Mike. Wasn't someplace I went to before. So unless there is another deal in the works with a team who wants one or both of these guys, this has to be viewed as a way to unload Donaldson's salary. Unfortunately, on the surface this appears to me to the Yankee's taking our FO to the woodshed.

Does anyone know what each of the incoming Yankee's salaries are and how long before free-agency? I saw that Urshela will make $6.5M this year, but how long is he under contract? I think I saw that Sanchez is a free-agent this year, but what is his salary?

Never is awfully definite. I believe in him, thus I guess we will have to agree to disagree on this one.

Unlike many, I really liked the deal that brought K-F here. Loved his defense, speed and the fact he got on base, albeit with singles. Loved the fact we finally had a shortstop who appeared to want to be with the Twins. Loved the deal that brought Gray over, even if the cost was Petty. In the big picture, the best use of #1 picks taken late in the first round may be to flip them after a year in the organization. Works well especially if there is a boatload of top prospects at the same position who are near ready. Absolutely hate the Yankee trade, which I consider to be a HUGE loss for the Twins. We gave up that defensive shortstop and again have a big hole at the most important infield position. Have never liked Sanchez, who seems to be injured more than Donaldson (I don't know if that is true, just seems like it to me). And our catching depth and defense took a huge hit when Rortvedt was included, who I believe will become the Yankee's regular catcher for the next decade. Yes, there is now a ton of money available. Will they use it to sign a shortstop...there are two available? And what will they do for catching depth, both this year and beyond? We all think they need at least one more starting pitcher. Well after late last night they also need a shortstop and catcher. Was really happy when I went to bed. Flat out threw up when reading the Strib over breakfast. I pray that they aren't done and there will be at least three more deals (sign a shortstop, sign/trade for a young catcher, and sign/trade for another starting pitcher) today and tomorrow, please!

Thanks, Seth. Some here won’t be happy, but have a feeling Cave will becomingnorth with the Twins.

You say there are 18, then list only 15. Guessing the other 3 are outfielders?

OK, that makes sense...I think. I read it as the top 300 picks, or the first ten rounds. Do you know how they will define the top 300?

There isn’t much difference between K-F and Palacios? Seriously? A year ago K-F was coming off a gold glove year at third base, whereas Tampa had released Palacios. K-F started all year for Texas while Palacios was a pleasant surprise in AA. We don’t know if Palacios will ever make those next two leaps to even get to the “show.”

And that TopGunn is why I see zero credibility in those trade value numbers whenever someone uses them here. I have previously stated that in my dreams I saw Petty as the next Dwight Gooden, minus the baggage. If he becomes that, huge win for the Reds...but it will be four or five years from now.

Will be interesting to see how he does. But he was pushed to AA as a 21 year old (or was he 20 last summer) after having an off year due to COVID. For me, that's encouraging. Great third piece in a trade that seemed to need one. Although I will miss Garver, I am beginning to like this trade versus being so-so about it.

Interesting. And I had been wondering what the logic was for this change. Thanks!

Some of us still value batting average, Chief. Personally, I don't even know what OPS+ is. What I do know is that last year only three Twins had averages higher than .271 (not counting two pitchers and another guy who all had 6 ab or less), Cruz, Arraez and Polanco. And two of the three had less than half his ab and Polanco had substantially less. I am not saying he is going to be their top hitter. What I am saying is a guy who hits .271 and plays every day ain't an offensive liability.

So many are referring to K-F as a light hitting or no hitting shortstop. I understand that he doesn’t hit for much power. But didn’t he play almost every day last year with a .271 batting average? How many Twins hit better than .271 last year?

I have a feeling Riverbain that the Twins are much higher on Rortvedt than you and many here. I will confess that I may be too optimistic about the young man, but I believe they are fine with he and Jeffers. I will agree and wonder about their catching depth now and couldn’t guess who the next man up is.

Where the 75% of slot hurts is signing a senior in the 9th round and paying him $15k, then using the extra to go over slot on another pick.