Stew

One position we need pretty soon would be a good hitting first baseman. We are not deep at that position. I think sabato will have a O.P.S. in the mid 700's range. Maybe even the 800 range. That should be good enough to be on the forty man roster. And we likely will trade some players by the deadline. I can't believe we will hang on to all the outfielders we have.

Dobnack shows some promise. But he might split time between AA/AAA this year. I count 12 starters between AAA and the majors. I think he needs to restart his trip up the ladder. It's most important to get his health in check. Then the rest could fall into place.

I agree maybe we could get another arm. Maybe we are waiting for a trade to clear room on the 40 man. I'm sure management is still talking to teams.

If we are getting nuts , I like C.j cron at first, Reynolds in right, chafin in the bullpen. And God forbid what I'm going to suggest. Trevor Bauer added to the staff. I guess I'm playing with the idea of what would give us a chance to steal a championship. The easiest part to get would be Chafin an Bauer. They are both free agents within our price range. Chafin might be one that could happen. Bauer probably over Management's dead bodies. The other two could make us a solid team. And certainly win the division. How would we get both? It could take more than we would like to give. Names that would be up for trading would be,Gray,Mahle, Maeda, Pagain, Fulmer, Martin, Lee, Richardson, and of course Kepler. We would not lose all of them but enough to make us cringe. But if we kept the right pitching we would contend. Like I said its a crazy out out on the limb suggestion. Or if you really want to dream , hang on to everyone and go for the big prize from the angels next year.

The twins will have to pay 20+ million to compete for a proven good starter. To me it seems expensive to do it that way. Pitchers don't want to come to Minnesota. First it's colder than some of the other destinations. Next we have the playoff losing streak. Also the stadium is a little bit of a hitters park. And lastly most in the league don't think the twins can spend enough. Added that you also have to have stars around them. There are two approaches that I can see. Tell me if I'm missing something please. The first approach is to develop good young players at every position. And then ad to it players who are free agents who are premium grade. The problem with that is timing the development of your young men so you have the most positions covered by them for a low cost in payroll. Then we have to put bid for a player or two. We will have to spend 2 or 3 million more than others. The other direction is to do some of what we been doing and compete on every level. That will require us to spend upwards of 175 million or maybe more . We could have gotten one premium pitcher and one great bat added to what we have. Our current approach is to go with young's and add to that players who are ready to hang up there gloves soon.

I'm not sure weather we look for one of those options or weather we explore some kind of trade possibility. We are thinking of trading Kepler. We also could include farmer who was just brought in for insurance. I would also think that pagain could be included. That wouldn't be enough to get a star, but maybe a slightly better option than the names mentioned. I do think there are teams that needed a shortstop that tried to get one of the premium ones early and missed out. Farmer may have had ok value to them had the twins not signed him before the best ones were gone. Or we could use our trade material to upgrade our bullpen. We will see which way they go.

We are making a large assumption that at thirty eight and half year old that he can have a rebound season. I'm not sure that he isn't on his way out. Besides sportec lists his value at 11.5 million dollars. I think we could use that money for b.p. help.

Rodgers had more saves in the first half of the year than anyone the twins have had in a few years. He ended up with more than 30 saves. Almost all with sd. How many did our staff have total. Dont count the 20 plus that Lopez had with Baltimore.

I don't like them grabbing players that have known issues. If they would have used the money available for Mahle, paddock, pagain, they would have had 19 million to spend on one starter. And they could have kept Taylor Rodgers. That in retrospect would have been enough to win there division.

What would everybody think if in the next two years or so he hit .400. I know that crazy and probably never done again but he still has time to improve. He will never be as valuable as a Judge, but one writer said he would even be better batting in front of someone like judge. His pluses , he gets on base, he puts his bat on the ball more than most , he hasn't had a full year of our best hitters batting in front and behind him, because of injuries. And at least lately he's been healthy. I would go for a trade with him , keeper, Martin and maybe a pitcher like Richardson. But that much for Alcantara and a top ten minor leaguers in there organization.

I know it's been said that Arraez has very little power. And most think that makes a huge difference However, we still need people on base to drive in . Also the best starter impacts 30 to 35 games. A great hitter who gets on base is a treasure. Someone has to be on to get driven in. Also the Twins didn't lead the league in rbi's or runs. I remember alot of solo home runs. Sure they are exciting and a thing of beauty. But who other than Correa has a great batting avg. , Ops, obp. I mentioned that our weakness as a team is undeniably avg and on base percentage. It hasn't been power. So we get a guy like gallo who batted around .200 last year and didn't break an home run records.

The biggest point to be made is that the league avg. for batting average was .244. To which the twins were right at the avg. A point of note , Arraez was .316 that's .72 above that figure. He also was the top of the twins for on base percent. It seems like we had enough players who couldn't hit to get on base. Sano, Kepler, Jeffers,polanko, even Buxton. You can always tell what a team needs based on what they do t do. So why would we lose our best overall hitter?

This could be the case with any team. Take the top two players and play them both half a season. Chances are they are no longer serious contenders. However if our top two players can give us 130 or more games each and be healthy for playoffs. Lookout!

I like trading for cron at first. Profar would improve left field. Lopez would be my top pitcher to get. I would try to hang on to arraez if possible. But Kepler, larnach, pagain, farmer and some minor league players could be traded. Bring back Fulmer and add chafin to the bullpen. Try to keep kirloff and gordon. I think that would improve the team.

It depends on how long he plays at a high level. How far the team gets. Do we see two world series? That would make him the best in my book.

Add to that list pagain, paddock and dobnack. Have little faith they will both stay healthy or perform at high levels. They may not have great value , but will be ok ad ONS to deals. And open up our 40 man roster.

Chafing and Fulmer. Then trade for Lopez. Or if you feel crazy pick up bauer on Friday when he's a F.A. Cruz if he's less than 7 or 8 million cost?

I would say no to him. But I would hope the twins don't consider him a project like the broken down pitchers they pick up. He after all would only cost them 720,000 dollars. I would think that the problems would be to great. However I did see an article that listed some of the teams that might take him. And if they would win it all, would there be a lot of regrets?

Go after Lopez with everything you've got. We have 15 starters from last year minus Bundy and Archer. We are going to lose to free agency at the end of the year. Why always hange on to players till most of there value is gone. We also have a gluten of infielders and corner outfield. Trade and get a number one starter.

Buxton should be at the top of the list. Based on last year he would have , 40+ homers , 65+ extra base hits, 90 runs , almost 90 rbi's and plus 10 sb's. Not in the top 2 of mvp but not far behind.

Trade arraez. Add in one or two minor leaguers. Not Martin , not lewis, not lee.twins could then swing another deal or two. With Kepler maybe another pitcher like winder or Richardson, and pagain. Bring back Fulmer. And with the other guys get someone good like another starter or bullpen guy. Or another good bat.

I Know someone who could do that for the twins. But can we keep him healthy and play 140 games. Come on Buxton ! One great season before your bones fall off. And they sweep you off the field.

I wouldn't spend a ton now. But think Hand , Fulmer and Smith would be good add ONS. Shouldn't take more than 22 million to sign the three. Leaving 20 plus million left over. Would either trade players asap. Like Kepler , pagain, maybe others. Or wait till trading deadline to see what might be available.

Bull, the Kansas City team won the world series. With average starters. Good but not great fielding and hitting. The only way a small to mid market team will win again is if they get 4 or 5 bulldog relievers like the royals did. They give guys with confidence. And no ego. They did whatever that was asked . They covered several innings when needed. We are unwilling or unable to compete for the big players.

I don't believe it's a good idea. He may be a better fielder than farmer. But farmer is clearly a better hitter. Plus farmer is younger. Also we don't need a ton of one year deals.