TwinsDr2021

Everybody subscribes to this, I can't imagine anybody saying hey let the lesser pitchers pitch more. The issue with this is reality. Some guys are as successful as they are because they are limited to one inning some two. Look at Jax (and maybe Sands) when asked to do less they actually could do more. Some guys are really good pitching 4 or 5 innings full effort but have nothing left for the 6th and on. Some guys are building arm strength because of injuries or what not. You may not realize it but the Twins pretty much did this year what you are wanting. They felt Archer was better than anybody else they had for 4 innings (they tried for 5 and he didn't have it) they though Bundy was the best guy they had for 5 innings, With that said, I agree a right handed outfielder should be number 1 priority.

Is that the new legal PED?

27 pitchers pitched at least 180 innings last year, 8 pitched 200. If I was running a team the only guys I would pay 20+ is guys that average 6+ innings. And Rodon isn't one of them. Just my opinion.

Then don't pay big money for a guy, seems simple. Pay a guy like Bundy or use your prospects.

Unless SS has the name Correa or Turner, this could end up being the worst infield in the majors if things go array. If Arraez continues to hit and Miranda really, really improves and Gio is solid it could be one of the better. I would trade Polanco if and only if I signed Turner or Correa. There is no chance I am going into next year with Buxton's injury questions, Larnach/Ak questions, Miranda questions, question at 2B and all the health questions with the pitchers. Because if things go wrong it could be the end of this FO.

If I was running a team I would have a hard time paying 20 million plus for 180 innings. (Let alone 25-30)

Canterino will be 25 in December and has pitched 85 innings in the minors (since 2019) so I agree the odds of him becoming an Ace is probably low. DeGrom is a unicorn, he started out as a SS in college and moved to relief than starter. Didn't hit the minors until he was 22 and make the majors until he was 26. At no point should any team EVER think somebody would end up like DeGrom. Of course how great he has been he only has 82 wins and only 1326 innings in his 9 year career. (To compare Verlander had 83 wins by age 27, Cole had 84 by age 28)

Maybe Kodai Senga, but have no idea. The rest of them are just more expensive 5 inning pitchers, there isn't one on that list that screams to this FO/Manager let him go another inning, or ignore it is the 6th and the batter up is opposite handed but should be left in. The only starter that should be brought in should be the type that makes the FO/Manager veer off its philosophy.

Unless the plan continues to be only pitch twice though a lineup, then it seems like a huge mistake to pay big money to a pitcher to do that. Now it seems like it would even be a better idea to use your prospects for that and spend money on offensive.

? Just pointing out to people that it isn't cheap to get a guy from another team, let alone dumping your garbage off on another team and thinking they will jump at that opportunity.

Gausman and Ray signed 5/110 and 5/115 and Rodon make 22 last season. Can't see him settling for a 3 or 4 year contract.

The MLB trade simulator show to get Alcantara the Twins would have to give up Duran, Larnach, Lee and Ryan. You might be able to swap in Lewis or Miranda for Lee or possible Ober and Polanco for Ryan. Lopez would cost way less, something that has Lee/Lewis/Miranda and a Varland or SWR. Maybe Polanco/Arrez and a Ober with a throw in or two.

Unless the Twins plan on letting Rodon go further than he ever has and further than they let anybody go I don't see them playing 25 million for a pitcher. Ryan (147/27) = 5.44 innings Rodon (178/31) = 5.74 Otherwise I like your team.

Question, why would Colorado trade their 2nd best pitcher (15 million this year and either 16 million next year or 2.5 buyout) for Max Kepler (8.5 this year and either 10 million or 1 buyout) Would it just be money savings or do they have pitchers ready to take over his 181.2 innings? I am curious I don't know? Also where would he slot in the Twins rotation? Mahle, Ryan, Gray, Marquez? Leaving all the rookie types to fight for the scraps? (Ober, Winder, SWR, Varland) IMO it seems more likely they trade away a Gray then bring another guy in, but I don't know.

You can't look at the SS and say a great SS isn't needed, you have to look at the whole team. Do the Twins have Realmuto, Hoskins, Harper, Schwarber, Nola, Wheeler, Suarez, Alarado, Dominguez, Hand? Do they have Darvixh, Musgrove, Suarez, Garcia, Machado, Kim, Croneworth, Soto? Do they have Judge, Torres, IKF, Rizzo, Stanton, Trevino, Cortes, Colde, Homes, Tailon, King? Do they have Valdez, Verlander, Javier, Stanke, Garcia, Pressly, Montero, Neris, Alvarez, Tucker, Alltuve, Pena, Bregman? And the answer is the Twins have some players like that and need to add more, where is the easiest spot to add those type of players this year? It seems the FA starting pitchers is limited to Rodon (maybe Bassitt) and some others that aren't looking at the twins. The outfield has Judge and ???, 1B, 3B? and Catcher has Contreras. The Twins seemingly have money to spend and not much money tied up in the future, most players that are worth anything have multiple years before hitting free agency. So do the Twins get into a bidding war for the top starting pitcher who may or may not even consider the twins without some concessions on pitching philosophy. (My opinion completely) A game they have never won at, or focus on offensive with a current staff of Gray, Ryan, Mahle and a few guys that could easily start as long type relievers that could go 3-5 innings and get thought the last two spots in the rotation and earn a bigger role. (Ober, Winder, Varland, Maeda (possibly Duran), SWR, Padack (eventually), Henriquez. That could be the staff with Thielbar, Jax, Moran and go out and sign a Diaz? or Hand/Rogers/Fulmer/Robertson? Just my two cents.

You may not think 24 is old, but history tells us the later a prospect comes up the less chance there is for him to be an all star level player. Sure there are examples of players that come up at 24 or 25 and turn into an all star(few and far between) but there are thousands and thousands of examples that type of player doesn't make it or turns into a serviceable type player, which isn't bad teams need them as well. People seem to think the twins are the exception to this rule, not every player needs to be an all star/HOF type but it sure would help the twins to have a few more of those types of players. If you can't hit major league pitching by by 23 the odds are you will never be great at hitting major league pitching. Rosarios (23), Kepler (22), Sano (22), Polanco (20 but really 22 ), Arraez (22), Buxton (21 but really 22), Mauer (21), Morneau (22), Cuddy (22 but really 23), Hunter (21 but really 23) Lawton (23 but really 25), Walker (23 but really 25), Jacque Jones (24), Ford (26 really 27), Bartlett (25), Gordon(25) all serviceable major league players but not the solution to problems. These are just ones off the top of my head. Stepping though the minors doesn't make a major league hitter better, having the skills does. Arreaz went from A+ in 17 to playing 92 games in the majors in 19 would he be a better player if they would have moved him slowly? I am not saying Julien will or will not be an all star type player, but I would bet if he hasn't forced his way onto the Twins next year he won't be.

Besides SS there are basically 3 stars at the positions you mention (OF, C, P) Judge (Will be 31 in April), Contreras (Will be 31 in May), and Rodon (will be 30 in December and who since 2015 has pitched more 140 innings Twice). The rest of just regular major league players that will probably end up being paid more than they are worth or upside isn't much higher than what they have for much cheaper. Spotrac is projecting Rodon's at 31.6 and 32 year old 5 inning major injury risk Eovaldi at 17 million. People need to remember 31 year old Gausman signed a 5/110, 28 year old Berrios signed a 7/131, 30 year old Ray signed a 5/115 and Rodon signed a 2/44 on a bet on yourself contract and if he didn't opt out would be getting 22 million this year, he isn't taking less than Gausman or Ray signed for, unless it is another 1 year contract like he signed last year or something like Correa did this year. People have talked about Benintendi currently spotrac is projecting his market value to be over 17 million, others have talked about Haniger his is projected at 14.7. (now they may not get that but one would assume is is probably going to be at least 80% of that) Are the Twins going to spend 15 million plus to sign a 31 year old catcher to 115 games? Are the Twins going to pay Rodon 25 million plus to pitch 5 or 6 innings? Are the Twins really in the running for Judge? That leaves IMO two short stops (Correa and Turner) maybe Rizzo or Arenado opts out, 32 year old with injury concerns Haniger, or trades (who is left to trade, the pitching pipeline or a few prospect that actually have a shot at being more than just regular major league starters?) I will say this history doesn't say spend FA dollars on building a balanced roster it says spend your money wisely on good players.

The twins didn't need to cut Bundy or Archer to bring up Varland (not sure SWR deserved to be brought up earlier than he was), Varland could have been brought up earlier and slowly developed, they could have had him and Archer piggy back 3 innings each, maybe let Varland go a little longer each start. It was pretty obvious from day one if Archer wasn't ever going to give them 5 innings consistently. Remember was Varland was on his way to be minor league pitcher of the year 2 years in a row and was already 24. Bundy went 5.1 in two of his last 17 starts, basically was a long relief pitcher, that didn't or shouldn't have stopped them from bringing anybody up either.

If you are buried behind a 27 year old utility player, a 26 year old with 130 games and has been injured for two years, a 25 year old with less games than the previous and basically been hut since 2019, and a back up outfielder with a career OPS of .592 you really aren't much of a prospect. Him and Lee should be the starting middle infield for the AA team and if and when they get hot they should be brought up and inserted into the lineup somewhere and if they don't well Lee is still young enough to overcome that, Not so sure Julien has that luxory.

He will be 24 on April 30th, what is the talk about having him spend another year in the minors just because? Just like Lee if he starts out hot, get him up and move the person that is cold down. It isn't like it is hard to find at bats for guys playing well.

I feel pretty confident they Twins aren't spending 25+ million on a starting pitcher unless they change their pitching philosophy next year. Also I am not a fan of another light hitting left handed hitting outfielder

What do you think Rondon and Contreras are going to sign for? Do you think that Rondon is taking less than Gausman/Berrios/Ray? All over 20 and 5 years. Stroman is over 22 only for 3 years. What about Contreras? he made 9.6 last year, don't you think he will be asking for at least 5/90 or at least something like Perez (4 -82) and Realmuto (5 -115), Grandal (4-73) Also Haniger made 7.75 last year, you don't think he will be looking to double that? Are contracts like that going to age well? And how much money does that really leave over if you are paying 40 plus for those two? I am not really disagreeing with your idea, but you also need to be realist when you are basically talking about paying 2 of the top 3 free agents on the market. (Minus the short stops of course)

If Brooks Lee starts the season hot he should be up with the team instantly I don't care if it is SS/3B/1B/DH. There is no reason he needs to be in minors if he proves his bat is for real. Same with Lewis after he is ready to play get him minors and if he is playing well get him up. Guys like Celestino/Gordon(27)/Larnach(26)(if not hitting well)( can be demoted or cut if need be they are more than likely not in the teams plans as everybody players anyway. Neither of these two players make me shy away from the Correa or Turner.

(Question in general not attacking your post) Ready for what is the question I have? Ready to play baseball, ready to go to the minors? ready to take over full time? What if Royce struggles in his return from injury? What happens if they put Urshela or Gordon there and gets hurt. Haven't we seen enough of a really crappy Plan B approach? IMO they have to look outside of the organization for a SS for 23 and it makes the most sense to pay cash for one and not prospects, didn't they trade enough of them last year? So the options are sign one of the big 4 to a huge contact and not worry about SS for a while or pay a Simmons type again and hope Lewis/Lee/? do so well that they force their way into the starting lineup this year so this isn't an issue again next year. If they go stop gap route they better improve their offense in others places because they can't go into next year with questions with 2 outfield positions (hitting wise), Miranda and catcher.

Sure they may not have spent huge money of SS, but there have stars all around the diamond and pitching staff, can the Twins say that? Also which ace are you hoping to sign? Bauer, Price, Sale, DeGrom, Verlander, Syndergaard, Kershaw, Carrasco, Manaea, Gibson, Minor Heaney, Kluber, Bassitt, Rondon? Also which serious bat is available in FA besides Judge? maybe Arenado opts out or Rizzo? Turner, Bogaerts, Belt, Hosmer, Turner, Abreu, Sano, Bell,......?