LA VIkes Fan

I'm becoming less and less concerned about the Twins not trading for another starter. I agree with many of the other posters here, I think a combination of a lot of teams with interest plus the Twins signing Correa has raised the price significantly. I might be willing to part with two top 20 prospects for Montas for two years, but not for one year of Maneaa. When I hear Oakland might want three prospects and realize they are not going to be interested in any sort of veteran player like Arraez (too expensive, bad knees), Kepler or Sano (both too expensive), I lose interest quickly. I know we would like to maximize our window now while Correa is here for one year, but it isn't worth losing our long-term future to do that. My prediction is that the Twin will either sign Johnny Cueto or plan on Winder being the fifth man in the rotation. I am fine with either approach frankly depending on whether Winder is ready to go now or could use another month or two in AAA to refine his pitching. Either Bundy or Cueto will break down or be ineffective and there will be plenty of chances for Winder to come back if we sign Cueto. Still, part of me wants to just put Winder in the rotation and see how it goes during the first month or so since you get to carry extra pitchers anyway. We can also trade for another back end starter during the deadline if we really need one then.

I think you're right in the sense that this is it for Rooker. He either makes it this year or is included as a trade throw-in or waived. How has he looked so far in ST?

I don't agree. I think the design is clear if this is the roster. Kirilloff is the Opening Day LF and plays there most of the time with Sano at 1B and the DH spot a rotation between Arraez, Urshela, Sanchez, and guys getting a partial rest day. There is no room at the Inn to play Arraez and Urshela regularly, and really play Sanchez much at all, unless Sano is the primary 1B. The 4th OF is a tough call. Gordon could be the 4th OF/ 2nd IF utility if the team thinks he can continue to improve in the OF. He might be valuable because of positional flexibility with a 4 man bench, one of whom is the 2nd C, one is Arraez or Urshela, and one is Sanchez. Classic 3 catchers or an additional OF debate. Might be better to have a "true" 4th OF who can play CF and hit RH but we don't have that guy. I think the bottom line is that Kirilloff is the LF and Larnach and Rooker start the season in AAA or are part of a trade package for pitching. Gordon and Garlick fight it out for 4th OF unless we can pick up someone else.

I'm not quite as pessimistic as gunnarthor, but I'm certainly hoping that we are not looking at the final roster. We are a minimum of one starter short and that number increases f any of Bundy, Ober or Ryan blow up or someone gets hurt. I understand there talking to Johnny Cueto who is fine insurance, but not enough by himself. We need an established starter to stick in the number 2 hole. I think were done in the bullpen. I do remain hopeful. I think the FO earned some leeway with their moves this off-season. Let's hope they've got another one up their sleeve for pitching. Let's hope it's not signed Johnny Cueto go forward. Then we're really hoping that someone like Winder, Balazovic or Canterino is ready to go this year.

Cueto would be a smart fallback. This could also be a negotiating ploy; let Oakland know that the Twins are going to pivot to Cueto if Oakland doesn't take the offer on the table. I do think these negotiations get to a point where one team has made its "best and final" offer and the other team starts shopping to see if they can do better than that offer. I kind of wonder if that Twins are in that spot now and signaling to Oakland that if their offer is not accepted in a reasonably short period of time that they will simply withdraw the offer and move on to Johnny Cueto. They pivoted once before so that gives the team some credibility to say they would pivot again. Interesting times.

I live in LA and turned on the 11 pm Pacific time version of Sports Center on ESPN when they announced the move by teasing the announcement at the beginning. I actually stayed up to watch until about 15 minutes in the show to make sure I had heard it right. I then checked the sports websites to be sure ESPN wasn't pulling my leg and checked again in the morning to make sure it was actually happening. I'm still curbing my excitement until I read that Correa has actually put pen to paper and shown up at Spring Training. Good stuff. Now go get Montas.

I think Sabermetrics have their place and can make baseball more fun to follow but they aren't the be all and end all of a player's value. Reading those stats helps you understand why some guys are more or less valuable than one would think from the naked eye and helps the players do things that maximize their contributions to the team. Where I strongly disagree with the stat heads is that they sometimes forget that these guys aren't robots, they're human beings. Their true value to the tam cannot be quantified by statistics, not matter how robust or analytical. They have to be treated like the flawed humans they are (like all of us), and be managed with due regard to their egos, psyches, and spirit to allow them to reach their full potential. The sum of the whole can be greater than the individual parts added together and these stats sometimes miss that. Advanced Stats have their place as part of evaluating players but they are only part of the puzzle and, in my view, less than half of the full picture. Fun stuff and part of the data that can lead to the answer, but Sabermetrics are not the answer by themselves.

Two really great qotes in that article. The first is from Polanco saying we are going to be a really good team. That’s buy in from your BEST player and a guy who can lead the others. You start there and now this team is going to expect to win, not just hope they can win. Second is from Lewis saying he’s not upset but it would be a different story if he was on the big league team. That’s a guy who wants to OWN the shortstop position and thinks that he’s good enough to play with the likes of Carlos Correa. That’s the kind of guy you want as your best prospect. It’s amazing how getting a player like this can improve the outlook and attitude of your entire team. Now, let’s get a pitcher!

This is unbelievable! I live in LA and was just getting ready to go to bed late last night when this came across my phone. I have to congratulate the FO on this. Now the Donelson deal makes sense. Yes, we still need at least one good starting pitcher and probably one decent to good reliever to make this work but at least there’s hope. As for the lineup, I have a slightly different take: 3B Arraez CF Buxton 2B Polanco SS Correa LF Kiriloff DH Urshela IB Sano RF Kepler C Jeffers By the way, I think there are two more moves coming. One is to trade prospect capital for a starting pitcher either with the A’s, Marlins, or maybe even the Reds. The second is to sign another outfielder to either start in left field or be the fourth outfielder. I think that Michael Conforto, Kevin Pillar, and Tommy Pham are all still available and I’m guessing prices are starting to come down since they haven’t yet landed that contract. May not happen, but after last night a guy can dream….

Amazing! I just heard the news on ESPN SportsCenter here in LA. I’m shocked! Now get a starting pitcher and this is starting to make sense.

Saw that. Guess trading for starter must be in the works?

Detroit is singing Michael Pineda. Another possible starter bites the dust. I hope this trade with the As thing is real...

Chi Chi Gonzalez! Things are so bad that we're signing old golfers now? Oh, wait, that was Chi Chi Rodriguez. Never mind... Still, he might help us more...

By the way, I just saw that Ryan Tepera signed with the Angels. Another possible relief pitcher comes off the board. Do we have a single thread that deals with free agent signings and trades outside of the specific one for Trevor Story? Just curious. Would love to see people's comments on these kind of comings and goings.

We wouldn't actually start the season with Garlick, Rooker or Cave in LF, would we? Please, Dear God no. Cave and Rooker belong in AAA, and Garlick is at most a RH part of an outfield platoon and only then if there is a decision to play a younger, breaking in LH hitter in LF that we want to take some pressure off of. I pity the team that has any of those 3 guys on the opening day roster with an intent to play them any significant amount of time. Kirilloff is in leftfield. Sano is the 1st baseman. If you want to pair Miranda with those 2 in kind of an overall platoon where he is to play a couple days a week to break in, okay, but not the other 3 chumps. The DH spot is a rotation that includes off days for people plus Gary Sanchez. Any of those 3 getting any significant playing time would be enough for me to lose a little hair I have left.

I hate to ask this but I'm a work and can't watch. Does Gordon look like anything resembling an MLB shortstop? I'm afraid of the answer . . .

Guys, I think we're in the same place with these deals that we were Monday. If the trade of Donaldson, IKF and Rotvedt freed up payroll that we spend on Story, someone like him, or helps us extend a Montas type to a 3-4 year deal after trading for him, the Yankees trade makes sense. If we wind up with what we have now, the trade doesn't make much sense other than lowering payroll. Ben Rotvedt is a glove first 2nd or 3rd string catcher IF he improves his hitting. Right now, he's AAA depth and unlikely to be more unless he hits better. He's not the issue. The issue is we need another Starting Pitcher and a SS. It's starting to look more and more like those 2 are tied together in the sense that Story may not want to come to the Twins unless and until they sign another quality Starting Pitcher because he's tired of being on a losing team. I don't know that he has a lot of other options but it does strike me that Houston has an opening at shortstop and I suspect others might have an interest. Whether or not trading our prior 3rd string catcher, aging 3rd baseman on the downside of his career but still a quality player for the roughly 100 games year he can actually play, and a decent but not great shortstop we had for a day in return for a decent but not great 3rd baseman and a backup catcher/DH who hits home runs but strikes out too much was a good idea depends on the next step. I went to the garage and found my torch and pitchfork but I haven't yet looked for or found the lighter. In another few days I'll find the lighter. In another week to 10 days I'm ready to storm the castle but not until then.

Interesting idea. I would actually be fine with the Twins winding up with DeJong at SS if we can't get Story.

I just saw Villar signed with the Cubs. I don't see any other stopgap type SS out there any more, just Story and Correa. I hope we get Story. If not, we really will find our if Gordon or Urshela can actually man the position.

Bryant's contract may just have pushed Story to a higher number that the Twins won't pay. I am now less optimistic that he will sign with us. Also, the addition of KC and the NYY (among others) into the mix for Montas and Maneaa coupled with the reds saying Castillo and Mahle won't be traded makes me less optimistic that we will trade for another starter. Michael Pineda may be our best shot and we'll have competition there. We may be looking at the Twins roster going forward this year. Ugh. By the way, what is up with Colorado? They won't re-sign Story and give Bryant a $182m contract. Huh?

I'm in. I also subscribe to the Athletic and read their comments after the articles. Not only are the article here just as good as they are there, the quality of the commentary here is much better than the noise in the comments there. I learn a lot and it's a fun group of guys to talk Twins with - knowledgeable, friendly, and informed. Kind of like talking to your brother or to a good friend over a beer or, in my case, a scotch. This is a great site and deserves our support. By the way, I see the subscription comes with a ticket to the Winter Meltdown. I live in LA now, and no offense guys, the chance of me coming back to Minnesota in mid-winter are somewhere close to the chances of me dating a supermodel. Hey, it could happen. If you want to, give the ticket to somebody fun and expand the group.

I agree with farmerguychris completely. Trevor Story is a good player, maybe a great player but at least a good player. He plays a position of need. We now have a chance to get him by freeing up payroll from paying Donaldson on the downside of his career. Analysis over. Try to sign Trevor Story and even be willing to overpay a little necessary to get him. You now have a shortstop for the next four or five years. Lewis and Martin (I had to avoid saying Martin and Lewis to avoid thoughts of Laugh In, or do I have that backwards? )? Both are interesting players, and great prospects. They are not in the way of signing Trevor Story and should not really be a consideration. If they make it as shortstops, great trade chips or stars with Story being traded. If they movedto another position and excel? Same analysis, different names. The idea that signing Story to a multiyear contract is in any way impacted by their timelines is simply poor roster management. Adding real talent to the roster at a position of need is almost never a bad idea. Story is real talent. We can find a place for Lewis and Martin when and if the time comes.

I just saw that the Reds (!) traded Amir Garrett for Mike Minor. The trade makes no sense from the Reds standpoint; they let Wade Miley go on waivers and he's better than Mike Minor with almost exactly the same salary for the same term. Amir Garrett actually has some value so why treating him for a guy is worse than someone you could have simply kept? I have this sneaking suspicion: this is the front and of a trade with the Twins. We are going to get my Minor and somebody else, hopefully a starter but may be a reliever, in return for prospects. The Royals would never trade Minor to us directly since were in the same division. Not sure if I like this idea or not, but I think this may be in the cards.

I just saw that the Reds (!) traded Amir Garrett for Mike Minor. The trade makes no sense from the Reds standpoint; they let Wade Miley go on waivers and he's better than Mike Minor with almost exactly the same salary for the same term. Amir Garrett actually has some value so why treating him for a guy is worse than someone you could have simply kept? I have this sneaking suspicion: this is the front and of a trade with the Twins. We are going to get my Minor and somebody else, hopefully a starter but may be a reliever, in return for prospects. The Royals would never trade Minor to us directly since were in the same division. Not sure if I like this song or not, but I think this may be in the cards.

I agree and would add in Castillo or Mahle from the Reds to the list of pitchers who could make this all come together. Sign Story, trade for one more starter, trade for Lou Trevino from the As, and find one more RP. We fill LF internally and now you have a team.