Johnny Ringo

Polarizing? No, he wasn't. On Pagan, everyone was on the same pole.

Randy seems to be too nice of a guy to make jokes. But if he ever misbehaves, I've got some teed up. Mauer is going into the Twins' HOF this year. Rumor has it that Dobnak's agent is going in in 2024.

Apparently, the Reds grabbed Kennys out of the Mexican League because Jake Taylor was unavailable. That club is dangerously close to becoming the Guardians out of the movie Major League.

I think this is a short discussion. Gio had a 3.1 WAR last year. Miranda is an uncertain but likely an averagish defender at best at third. Trading Urshela for a bucket of balls was a screwup. Especially given that they purportedly had much higher trade interest than that in Kepler at one point. (That seems to have evaporated for now.) Keeping Max and ditching Urshela in that context and given their outfield options makes no sense. But you take the good with the bad. I think the Arraez trade (and I love Louie) was flatly a great one.

Isn't this how we got Pagan in the first place?

I love Nellie but I think the FO has arrived at the spot where the full-time DH doesn't make much sense anymore, particularly on this team where Buxton and Correa need time out of the field and Arraez is best leaving his glove at home. Also, Cruz has had a magic career but Father Time seems to be waiting for him. The Cutch move seems good for him and good for the game. If the Pirates can catch 10% of the Pujols 2022 magic it will provide some boost to their box office.

I am delighted to have Correa back. I also think this is a great contract for the Twins. Despite his trash can indiscretions, Carlos is just, full-stop, one of the position players in the game. But dumb luck is not a front office strategy and this is all this was. I didn't get the game plan last week and I don't get it now. But one one asked for my understanding or consent. Go get a right-handed bat and let's roll.

Fair enough, but at his age, the first year of this deal would probabilistically be his best. Also, he was signed after a huge number of chips were off the table. I think the Gallo signing is agnostic to the "compete now" consideration. Whatever the Twins can get for Kepler is worth more than the $1 million delta in their salaries (including Kepler's buy-out). That can be viewed just as good portfolio management (whether it works or not).

I have to say I have totally lost my understanding of the strategies of the front office. The Vasquez acquisition is a "compete now" move but there is nothing to suggest that we can compete. For instance, I think people don't appreciate how nightmarish our infield defense might be. Is Miranda even potentially an acceptable third baseman? Polanco is OK but is coming off a serious string of injuries. Farmer is pedestrian. I love Luis but he is at first because he has no place else to play. Signing Wacha would be another head-scratcher. It almost feels like a move to boost and simultaneously apologize for our payroll. Grandma gave us a twenty so we will spend it on something in the gift shop.

McCutchen is one of my favorite players of recent years and by all accounts a great guy, but the sun is setting on his terrific career. Doesn't if make sense to trade one of our seemingly endless supply of left-handed hitting corner outfielders for a young counterpart who is right-handed? However, if that trade capital is needed to get a quality shortstop, I would prioritize that. I am sure San Diego would part with Park at the right price. I wish people would let go of the "Lewis will be ready to go by June" mantra. The truth is we have no idea if Royce is a major leaguer let alone a long-term solution at shortstop. If he becomes the man than we have a high-class problem. But quality shortstops can always be flipped if Park becomes superfluous.

Is there any reason to believe the Twins really offered CC 10 years/$285 in the first place? Boras has every incentive to let that rumor live. He wants deep perceived interest for every client, whether it's real or not. Kate Upton was going to marry us if Verlander hadn't intervened. On Carlos and Kate, we need to move on folks. The business model is clear. Try to be 500ish, get in the playoffs if possible, sell beer and make money. I'm an ardent fan but I don't feel good about being complicit in the plan.

Same old. Down to stems and seeds again.

If Gleeman's long-suffering girlfriend does not want to know the future then she should not attend the Meltdown.

The Correa episode confirms that the Pohlad boys view the club as the family Italian restaurant they inherited. They will just keep shoveling out the same mediocre spaghetti and meatballs and they are convinced that Minnesota fans will continue to eat it.

Fun fact: Nick Punto had the exact same career WAR (15.5) as Twins' Hall of Famer Dan Gladden. The only difference? By all reports, Nick is a really nice guy.

Anyone who played in the majors for 12 years did not, in any respect, have a mediocre career. That is an amazing career.

The FO moves to this point are inexplicable to me. Trading Urshela for a bucket of balls (I am talking the ones I keep in my garage) with Kirilloff's health uncertain and Miranda's defensive at third even more uncertain? Re-signing Pagan because his stuff is better than the results? Last year's results were not an aberration. That's who he is. I do guarantee that those who think the shift ban will be a silver bullet for the Kepler types will be sorely disappointed. If I were defending him, I would just put the left fielder in short right. Get ready to score three 7-3s. Should they trade Kepler? It depends on the health of Larnach and the faith in Wallner. Will they? Got a coin? You can flip.

Unless they have extended him a $300 million contract (highly unlikely) there is no reason to set a deadline because he ain't coming. There is no reason to wait up. Sleep well FO.

San Diego drew 1.2 million more fans in 2022 than the Twins and their TV contract makes ours look like tip money. Their total revenue is at least $100 million a year more than the Twins. The size of the market, as measured by population, (hint: see the Green Bay Packers) means less than a Dan Gladden statistic. Ps. I am bummed that the Fire Dan Gladden moniker is taken. If you want arrogance, incoherence, bad grammar; Dan is the smorgasbord for you. I can only figure that Dan got into the Twins HOF because a) they were desperate to sell tickets and b) they had to bump Wally the Beerman for specific reasons.

But all counts Pagan is a nice guy but this feels like your ex-wife showing up at your family reunion. Sure there were some good times but in the moment you can't remember any of them. Pagan can't be on this roster next year. He just can't be. He, for some legitimate reasons and some illegitimate ones, is the poster child for the Twins' historic collapse last year. At times, the FO seems woefully out of touch with fan sentiment. It is an odd and oddly funny thing. DSP " Why don't they like us?" Really Dave? Really? But this they must know. If they can replace Pagan with a reliever of equal (dubious) talent, they must do that. The only palatable explanation for this is that they think they can sign and flip Pagan for positive value. Lets hope that is the plan. Lets pray that is the plan.

Correa is an unicorn; a rare superstar that actually wants to play for the Twins (if the money is right). Minnesotans don't want to hear it but there is a "tax" on the local team for many players. Bad weather, bad history, historically bad playoff metrics and actual bad taxes make it a resort of last stop for many players. Fans rail at this statement. But unpleasant things are often true. Verlander sign here? Kershaw? Please. The Twins need to sign him even if the contract is a little uncomfortable. If he signs, other free agents may reconsider the prevailing notions that bedevil the team. The team has the money even within their self imposed budget. The Twins are helped by another abundant bounty of available shortstops. He will bend the bank but he won't break it. There is really no excuse to let him go elsewhere.

Correa was a free agent. Shohei is not. Carlos "only" cost money. Ohtani would cost similar money, every farm hand we have, a few major leaguers and perpetual Executive Producer credits on all future Pohlad movies. For a rental player I might add. I am channeling Dana Carvey doing George Sr. in saying, "Not gonna happen."

You forgot anyone who wants to get paid anything for more than 1 year.* * Randy Dobnak is excluded from the foregoing.

All players should be trade candidates always. It is simply a matter of what you can get for them. In Polanco's case, given his injury history, that won't be much. Some teams (not ours of course) care about that sort of thing. Perhaps he would fetch a couple of good(ish) prospects, a middle reliever; something like that. Polanco as the 2023 shortstop should be plan Z. Kepler should be moved if for nothing more than salary relief to sign a viable shortstop or (heaven forbid) a top of the rotation starter. We have more corner outfielders than Bonnes has favorite brew pubs. Middle infield continues to be a staffing challenge for the Twins. If someone is in love with Arraez's batting average, I would move him too. I love the guy but he is essentially a singles hitting DH. That does not age well. The Twins need to shake the tree or next year will be grim. You lose a 6 WAR shortstop and a bottom feeding schedule and suddenly the world is a cruel place. Though listening to Gleeman's season post mortem with Falvey and it seems like more of the same this off-season. It's discouraging. But all players should be trade candidates always. Forever and ever. Amen.

The Twins never make a splash in this regard and this is not the group to inspire them to break that habit. They will hobble together a rotation out of their massive inventory of broken toys. History doesn't always repeat itself but it often rhymes.