roger

Important that everyone read today's Strib and the story about Buxton. In it, he makes it very clear that he wants to remain a Twin for life. Led me to believe that this negotiation is part of a process that will eventually get him to a long term extension...not final and he is gone.

Do you believe that all the injuries may have something to do with that, John? Canterino, Duran, Enlow? Not certain any are Top 100 material, but probably close. Based on what he did at AA, I would think Winder should be Top 100, but then he wasn't a high draft pick.

Can't agree with either of the Berrios trades. Forget the second piece leaving the Twins, the Twins should be asking about the return you suggest just for Jose...or more. He's the best pitcher available this July, he is a near ACE, he is young, durable and you have him for almost a year and a half. That's gonna cost you your #1 prospect, plus, plus. Wasn't it interesting what the Twins just got for Cruz after many were suggesting they would get little in return?

Agree that the Giants are not a good fit for the Twins. Or a good team to trade with based on past experience. Perhaps the Giants are getting even for the Nathan/Liriano/Bonser deal from long ago. Must disagree with one thing you have written. And that's when talking about what it would cost for their 19 year old shortstop. If the Twins are trading Berrios, he is as close to an ACE as anyone is going to find this July. So it wouldn't cost Berrios, plus someone like Rogers. Rather, if you want Berrios we are going to get your #1 prospect, plus one or two other pitchers. If you aren't willing to talk about that, hang up!

Thanks for another great article, Seth. I wasn't aware that his defense was as good as it appears to be. My question is about his speed. Is he fast enough to be a top big league center fielder? You never know when, but the Twins may have a permanent opening out there and soon. As a 2017 draft, he would have been Rule 5 eligible last November. What do you think his chances are to make the 40-man this year? 50/50? Better?

Good points, however, that's assuming there is a QO in the next CBA that will be in effect after next year.

Good, not great start from Jax. Not so good from Balazovic. Didn't he start against the same team on Tuesday? Gotta wonder if the hitters have an advantage seeing the same starter twice in the same week. With that said, seems like it was Jordan's lack of control that kept him from being his normal self. Looking at the Top 20 recap, think you missed Ober's great outing for the Twins. Very nice start from the big guy, unfortunately he got pulled one hitter too early...at least in my opinion. Sure is getting a great opportunity to pitch himself into the Twins' plan for next year. Something several others, Dobnak, Smeltzer, and Thorpe are missing.

Biggest week of the year coming up for the Twins. Hell, might be the biggest week of the decade. Most disappointing subject for me this week is the continual disappointment from Alcala. Kid just isn't progressing. Heck, he seems to be having worse results as the season goes on (don't know if that is true). The good news has been that players like Kirilloff, Larnach, Rortvedt, Gordon and Ober are getting valuable experience to build on for next year. Shame Kirilloff is out for the last two months, but considering he played all year with the injury think he proved that he is going to be special. Now time for the Front Office to get something done to help this team in 2022 and beyond. Loved what they got back in their first deal. Will they pull off a magical week? Or will they underperform and delegate the team to the bottom of the division for the foreseeable future?

In every negotiation, the two sides do not come to an agreement...until they do. Will that be the case here? Who knows? My only thought on the issue is that I think going for 7 years is a bit too long. Probably can offer a better 'per year' deal if the contract is shorter, ie, reducing total risk.

I see the Saints are 4.5 games behind Omaha. Is Omaha still in first place? A win today behind Jax would keep their momentum going towards catching the Storm Chasers. Saw your comment that Lin has been moved to the 60-day IL. He isn't on the 40-man roster, is he? Didn't know that there was such as thing as a 60-day IL in the minors. Every day I see Palacios name in these reports I think about the Odorizzi trade. That's one deal the Twins were the clear winners dealing with the Rays. Let's hope like heck they end up big winners in the Cruz trade. Seems like Ben Gross is going to be one of those guys we need to get to know a lot better. Really like how he has been pitching this summer. For whatever reason, haven't been a big fan of Wallner ever since he was drafted. But if he keeps hitting like the last few weeks that may change. Those Complex Twins sure don't win very often and their pitching staff gives up a lot of runs. I know that Rosario appears to have good speed as he has several stolen bases. Looks like he also has some decent power. May be the best pick of last year's short draft.

Because I believe no one is going to give the Twins what they demand for Berrios, I expect the best match with the Padres is Pineda. Could be solid part of their rotation going into the playoffs. Would expect they would get something similar to what they got for Cruz, maybe not quite as good or as close to being reading to pitch in the major leagues.

Will this have been Berrios' last start as a Twin? Add me to those that don't think so. Berrios is probably the best pitcher available to any contender as he is as close to being an ACE as one can be without being one. When reading his comment in today's Strib, seems to me that he is 100% open to extending with the Twins....for the right price. Expect the Twins believe they can get him extended this winter if they are willing to meet his demand for 'market value.' Expect they are holding firm on their demand for a boat load of talent in any trade. That begins with telling teams they want their best prospect, plus a couple other pitchers along the lines of what they got for Cruz. And that means that none of the inquiring team's expected superstars can be off the table. If they don't get that, they sit down with Jose this winter and get it done

Will join those saying yes to a minor league contract. Twins have lots of talent that needs to be added to the 40-man this year. With the state of their pitching, should be able to get him interested on a minor league deal with an invite to spring training.

Is Sean Gilmartin the same pitcher who passed thru Target Field four or maybe five years ago? Sabato struck out four times? Four? Ughh!

Thanks, Seth. Now he gets another chance to put his injury behind him and show us what he has. If he can limit his K's to around 30+%, his power just might give him a nice career. We will know a lot more come October 1.

Hadn't thought about this, but yes, it makes some sense. Hopefully, Rooker will get a chance the rest of the year to DH on a regular basis and perform as well as he did in his brief appearance last summer. If that brightens his star, yes he may be a part of a big trade for a middle of the rotation starting pitcher.

Looking at your daily recap of the Top 20. When this trading binge is over next week, will you be updating the list to include those top prospects joining the organization?

Great night down on the farm for the Twins. In a 1-0 win, Javier was 1-5 in an eleven inning game. Urbina got a hit and A. Pena was 2-2 with a walk, extending his run of multi-hit games. Was going to comment on Varland's great start for Cedar Rapids, but then noticed that your link to the box score takes us to Wednesday's game. Don't know what to think about Vallimont. Seems to have a great game like last night, then follows up with a real clunker like last time out, if I am not mistaken. Expect the new guy from Tampa should be inserted into the Saints rotation, with Ryan joining him as soon as the Olympics are over. Saw that they are ranked by MLB as the sixth (behind Canterino) and thirteenth (behind Winder) prospects in the Twins organization. Hopefully, at least one of this duo will be stellar for the Saints and solid with the Twins for the next six years. Isn't it great adding two quality AAA pitching prospects to the organization. One related question, however, does this mean that Balazovic will remain at Wichita for the finish to the season?

As someone who feared Cruz was at the end when signed by the Twins, what a ride. Fantastic stay at Target Field by a better person. But these two pitchers appear to be a bigger return than any of us could have hoped for. And they both are very good starting pitchers. Hooorah!

Target Field didn't cost a 'billion dollars.' If memory serves, it was in the mid-$400M with Hennepin County paying around $350M+/-. It was the Vikings Stadium that I believe was well over a billion. Since opening, the Twins have paid the vast majority of the dollars put in to improve the ballpark which I believe has been the better part of $100M.

Got to agree with most of what you have written, Ted. Although I cringe when reading the information about Mauer's value. Have a hard time believing any/all of these statements about what Player X is or should be worth. In a free market system, value is what is paid for a service, not some calculation of what it could/should be. Sometimes there will be great deals, other times an overpay. Also agree that Donaldson is performing at or near what should have been expected, although a defensive whiz he no longer is. With his aches and pain, not certain what the next two years will bring. But as Tom Kelly said, "you are only as good as your next day's starting pitcher," Donaldson ain't a pitcher. And that is what this FO seems to have forgotten, that pitching wins championships. With Berrios out the door, not a clue how they solve this mess. Still hoping they sign Buxton and if I could understand what was written about Jose the other day, hopefully they will pony up market dollars and extend him during the offseason. If they need to remain in the under-$150M club, they may have to cut loose a few of the bad contracts currently on the club, with Donaldson being the biggest. I keep shaking my head when thinking of what the Rays do every year with a payroll that is what, less than two-thirds of the Twins. Can you imagine how dominant the Rays would be with the Twins payroll? Time for the front-office to get to work and be better than they have these last several years.

Watched a couple innings of the Saints while flipping back and forth to the Seattle expansion draft. Saw Winder's first tough inning when everything seemed to be hit hard, real hard. Looking at the box score, see that Moran also got roughed up a bit. Welcome to AAA where they have the opportunity to fail and learn from it. Although the Kernels didn't score, saw that Javier had one of their five hits. Also see that Urbina had another triple. Seeing him with frequent doubles or triples is an indication that he must have good speed. What do those who know more about these pitchers feel about Sands? Does he have mid-rotation or better talent?

Expect the Twins and Birdsell may have another conversation once they get the Top 10 signed and know how much of the pool money they have available to spend. Probably have a limit they don't want to go over and that may be $200K. But nothing will be final until what is the date, August 15?

Liked what I read about Birdsell. Expect he is going back to Texas Tech with the hope that a big spring will get him into the top couple rounds and much bigger money. What I read in the Strib was that most (all?) of the picks, other than Birdsell, were already in Fort Myers and official signings were ongoing.

Hopefully, with the surgery he will be 100% come spring and can put this behind him. I don't recall, did he also have surgery in 2019? It was the same wrist, wasn't it? In any case, I assume his season is over.