roger

Can't imagine he will have a better season than last. Wasn't that a pleasant surprise? I see him returning to a super utility role, only that he will play more in the infield than outfield. At least during the first half of the season before Lewis is ready to take over at short.

Got a question as I haven't dealt with multi-state tax returns for several decades. In some states it used to be you filed and paid your tax in the other states. Then you filed in your home state and paid tax on your entire income at their rate, but received a credit for the dollars paid to the other states. So yes, it is complicated. Maybe there are some tax guys on TD today that can clarify if this is still done and if so, in California?

I am beginning to wonder how smart Boras really is? Carlos is going to collect $65M more from the Giants, yes. But the California top tax rate is 13.3%, whereas Minnesota is 9.85%. Yes, Minny is among the highest, but California is the highest. And that extra 4.45% (over $15M) is no longer deductible on your FED return. Add the fact that over 35% of the $65M will go to the FEDS, and another +$22M is gone. So after calculating the tax effect, the difference in Carlos' pocket is a mere $27M or so. Now add the cost of living in SFO compared with the Twin Cities and the difference is even smaller. Gotta believe that he could get that proverbial mansion out on Lake Minnetonka for $3-$4M. I believe $3-$4M in SFO gets you something a little nicer than a fixer upper. Expect a comparable house is gonna cost him at least $10M. Also expect the cost of buying something from the Dior store in downtown SFO is going to be higher as will all his clothes which is taxed in California. If he really meant he liked it here and wanted to stay, he may end up regretting he or his agent's need for the biggest, splashiest contract.

Interesting post, Seth, thanks and have a merry Christmas. I was among a tiny minority who was happy they didn't sign Correa. I am happy with Farmer manning short until Lewis is ready to begin his HOF career. I also am happy with the starting rotation. I expect their #2 thru #5 starters will match up with most teams 2-5. I believed they needed to make three moves during the offseason. First, a better than Jeffers catcher to start 100 games. Second, a very good late inning reliever to pair with Duran and Lopez. And third, a good veteran catcher to a minor league contract to work with the young arms in St. Paul and be available for a callup when Jeffers is injured. They got #1 and there remains time for #2 and #3. I value Keps more than most, however, with the Gallo signing I can accept he may be going. But I will be hurt beyond repair should they trade Luis. Waiting for his next 10 pitch at bat is one of the main reasons I stay around for all 9 innings of many games. Take care, Seth, and enjoy your Holiday.

Three absolute studs, Duran, Miranda and Arraez, and another four who are solid big leaguers, contributing to the Twins last year. Add those four who were injured last year and you have 11 of 30 that are good to great Twins players with a couple more who still may make it someday. To me, that is way more than I would have expected. Note: I didn't include Graterol and others who are gone, knowing that a few returned meaningful players in return. Looking at this coming spring's Top 30, hopefully we will see the same come 2027.

These signings are always interesting. And all teams sign guys like this to fill out AA and AAA rosters. Every once in a while, lightening strikes and one contributes to the big league club. Most interesting to me was De Leon. I believe he was the untouchable prospect when the Twins were talking about trading Dozier to the Dodgers. Believe a lot of people, here and elsewhere, were very high on this kid at that time. Didn't he eventually get traded to, was it Tampa? Good example that you just never know what a prospect is going to do.

Feel much better about this signing after reading this, Nick, compared to the 500 or so comments last night that were less than favorable. Still gotta wonder if the Twins overpaid, but it was Boras they were dealing with, wasn’t it?

Who won the trade in 2022? I would say no one won, but Minnesota lost. Long-term, good chance that Minnesota gets some value from Paddack. That would give them the long-term win of a bad deal.

Agree with the above comments that I would be shocked that Maeda has enough value to merit a trade at this time. On the other hand, I expect to see the Maeda of 2020. Unfortunately, his innings are going to be somewhat limited. Maybe he starts for the first four months, then moves to long relief in the bullpen around the time Paddack returns. Gray on the other hand could be interesting. I know we don't know how happy/satisfied he has been being part of this team? I assume the coaches and FO does. If he isn't 100% on board with the style of Rocco's management, he isn't likely to sign an extension. In that case, I could see moving him, although I would want a top return. If it isn't available, move him in July.

I knew nothing about Gallo, but was happy when I saw his signing. Thought he was that power hitting first baseman who played for the Reds, or was it the Rangers. Then I read the comments. Had no idea he was Kepler good defensively, although I will have to see it to believe it. After seeing what the Twins got for Cruz, I would like to see them sign a free agent bat every winter to restock the minor league system come July. Maybe he can be that for the Twins. If not, after reading the comments this move is scary.

See that is where you are missing my point. I don't really care who starts for the Twins against the other team's ACE. If they have a true ACE, you sacrifice game 1. If they don't have an ACE, Gray stands a chance of winning that game. But you have developed a strong #2-#5 which will match the other team's #2-#5. My point is that it is a heck of a lot easier, and less costly, to have a strong 2-5 compared with going all out and taking additional risk to get that ACE. Heck, I have always wondered why a team doesn't start their #5 in game 1 of the playoffs (or #4 if they are only using 4 starters.

Hear what you are saying. Being ultra conservative, however, I wouldn't take the risk of the big dollar guys in hopes of getting the one deal, Sherzer, that worked out so well. I also am of the opinion that they have their #1 guy, Sonny Gray. With the next four slots filled, I see no need to spend big dollars in an attempt to make a small improvement in that #1 starter. Will agree, however, that if they did and everyone moved back one spot they would be stronger.

Agree with much/most of what you say 2wins87. Where I take a different turn with most is the need for a #1/ACE. There are so few of them out there not everyone is going to get one. Add that the ones in free agency have a lot of risk, too much IMO, as they are getting older and you are paying huge dollars for their previous success. So often teams are stuck with a big name that is well past his prime and has a huge contract for several years. So I appreciate the fact that they are losing out on these big names who carry too much risk. After all there only is one Verlander out there and he also may have had his last great year, or not. Rather, I want them to continue doing what they have and you alluded to. That is build a rotation with an excellent trio of #2-#3 starters to fill the 2-4 slots in the rotation. Add another #3 or #4 caliber starter for the #5 slot and they are set to be competitive, pitching wise, in every series they play. It looks like they also finally have a couple of very good young arms who will be ready to fill in for injuries early this summer. I believe the above plan is a way that mid-market teams can compete and expect the Twins to do so this summer. Now the one player I really want to see them get this off-season is a top late inning bullpen arm to go with Duran and Lopez. Get that pen like the Royale's had back whenver.

Isn't that the key to being a successful small/mid-market team, DJL44? Decide which of their own players will likely be top long-term members of the team and extend them a couple years before free agency. If they don't get extended, then trade them a year or so before FA for good prospects, such as Berrios. The fact is that mid-market teams can't play with the big boys in the deep water of free agency. So they have to be smart managers, make good trades and do a better than average job of identifying talent in the draft, International market and from other team organizations when talking trades.

Thanks, Jack for a fascinating glimpse at the real world of baseball, it is appreciated more than you know. And count me among the few who didn't want the Twins to resign Correa. Sure, I would love having him as our shortstop, but not at the anticipated dollars and more important, years. The back end of even the contract they offered would destroy this team right at the time they will need to extend many of these young kids arriving last year and next. I also believe that Royce Lewis will and should be the Twins shortstop, beginning this summer and that five years from now they would rather have Lewis than Correa.

Shocked at how many of you are assuming Keps is traded. I hope like heck you are wrong. Also don’t agree with those comments saying he is often injured. If memory serves, he was their iron man until the last year or two. And his injury wouldn’t have lasted anywhere near as long last year had the Twins not needed to play him early while injured. I expect Max to be a Twin next year and with the shifts not messing with his head the results are going to be more like 2019 than 2022.

Expect you are awfully close to what it will be, Cody. I would move Gordon from outfield to infield as he is the team's only backup at second and short. Have maintained since the end of last season that their second biggest need, catcher 1a was first, is another big arm for the late innings. Believe they need to get quality over quantity to get a shut down bullpen Will this team be better than 2022? Yes, it could be much better unless the injuries are as bad as last year, which isn't likely because of the normal winter and spring training.

I sincerely hope that the front office isn't as far off reality as you are with this suggestion, Nick. Seriously, add me to the list of those who want the Twins to pivot off shortstop and fill a few other holes in the roster. Am 100% ok with Farmer being their shortstop until Lewis is healthy and begins his HOF career. Moves that I hope the Twins make are: 1) Find that top notch late inning reliever to make the bullpen stronger; 2) Sign that veteran third catcher, preferably to a minor league contract and be available when Jeffers is injured; and 3) Find a solid right handed bat to fill in someplace, could even be the primary DH. What I don't want them to do is panic and trade Arraez, any of the top prospects, or even Keps. I also could care in the least if their opening day payroll is significantly lower than last year. If they feel they gotta spend it, then I would be ok with overpaying Rodon...but not for too many years.

Love this signing. Have believed since the season’s end that catcher 1a was their #1 need this winter. Hopefully, they will split game,s with Vazquez getting about 110 and Jeffers 52. Seeing they don’t have that exciting prospect a half season away from being big league ready, they need to find a veteran who will sign a minor league contract? You know, a vet who will work with the young pitchers at St Paul and be available to be called up when either catcher is injured. Is Sandy Leon still available?

None of the above for me, Nick. Expecting his contract to be 300M, plus, and 10 or more years I didn’t want the Twins to have anything to do with him. Would have been disappointed had they taken the Twins 285M offer. Why, paying out 28M in those last 3-5 years would destroy the Twins just when they were looking for dollars to extend Lewis, Lee, Rodriguez, SWR, Varland, Priellip, et.al. Heck there is a real chance Lewis will be better than Correa three or four years from now.

Question Ted. You stated that they made offers to Rodon, Correa and Christian Vazquez, but have yet to get a Yes. Didn't Vazquez sign with the Twins for $30M over three years? Was that reporting false?

That’s why I suggested they wait until late spring training to see about health.

True. I differ from most as I don’t care whether this year’s payroll is the same as last year, $25M over or $40M under. All I want is a competitive team on the field. Farmer at short until Lewis is ready makes sense to me. Taking Correa’s dollars in future year’s and using it to extend three starters is smart, IMO.

There is one way they can and should spend a good chunk of that money. Sign two or three of Gray, Mahle or Maeda to extensions. Might be best to wait till spring training, but this year’s rotation looks so much better than any since Santana and Radke were here. Let’s keep them together for a few years.

That million or two million dollar mansion he would have bought in Minny is going to cost him ten million in the Bay area. And when he goes into the Dior store, prices are going to be a lot higher than the store here, is there one? Don't have twitter, but count me amongst those who say we dodged the bullet. Minnesota sports fans know all too well how 13-year contracts work out, just ask the Wild.