bap3141

Huh?

As down as I have been feeling lately about the Twins' off-season, a quick glance over at San Francisco Giants Twitter makes me feel less bad. Man, those fans are (rightfully) ticked off.

Time to dream big? Nah... done enough of that this off-season. Seriously though... the Yankees? I dunno... just seems odd to me.

Farmer at SS wouldn’t bother me if they could have landed a few big FAs at other spots.

That's just it. I don't care if they win the Central with 86 wins. If they're going to just get swept again in the wild card series or ALDS by some team with double their payroll, then I'd rather they just miss all together. Save me the heartache.

I think they still can, but they need a lot of things to break right. Their front office and ownership didn't do the team any favors.

I'm not assuming they "dodged a bullet" any more than I'm assuming the Giants simply has buyer's remorse. I read somewhere today that the Giants did intend to renegotiate and then went quiet and the Mets swooped in. If he doesn't pass the Mets' medicals, then, I think we have something.

All other teams should be outraged by this spending spree. But it won't be until the Dodgers and Yankees are that anything will change. And I see them more likely to join the fray - especially with Ohtani on next year's market. And really what would MLB do about it anyway? Another work stoppage.? I dunno what's worse for PR. That or allowing super duper market teams to outspend the rest of the league. They're hurting the game and they don't care. I hope the Mets get bit by the injury bug and/or team chemistry woes in 2023 and miss the playoffs. $807M is beyond ridiculous.

Definitely encouraging for a few of those guys, although there are many things that can break a player's hitting career beyond hitting the ball hard -- health, for one. I think approach at the plate is just as important. Funny about Arraez, but makes sense. He's a unicorn in today's game. I think Tony Gwynn would have also been one of those low exit velocity guys too, but I could be wrong. Ichiro, also. Thanks for sharing.

Great thoughts all. Thanks for sharing. It looks like we all have a similar concept of what a needle mover is, but perhaps differ a little in scale. I like the thought that context is important. So let me follow up with y'all with this question... Would Correa have been a needle mover? He wouldn't be an upgrade on himself.

I didn't think Joe Ryan would be good.

I see several people mention that a player is not a "needle mover" and it prompted me to think (maybe over think) this idea. I think there are magnitudes by which you can move a needle towards (or away from) progress. I have a two part question that I would love to read the group's thoughts on: 1. What is a "needle mover" for you? 2. Is Nathan Eovaldi one for this team? I suppose a third question would be, are there any "needle movers" left in free agency based on your perception of what moves the needle for the Twins?

Oh... you forgot the most important part... He took Greg Maddux's daughter to prom. On the same day that he pitched a no-hitter, no less. Ha!

He could DH, easy. Spell Miranda at 3B. Unless they make another move, the extra OF is going to be a DH also. And just because they have extra money, doesn't mean you overpay for a player like Gallo. Honestly, I would have rather had J.D. Martinez over both of them.

I think the team does improve, by a lot if they stay healthy -- however, enough to offset the loss of Correa? Possibly, but highly unlikely. Good teams often have good luck with injuries as well. However, that is a LOT to ask -- because every team has injuries, and now this team has a lot of guys with injury history. And their biggest impact bat is lucky to play 100 games. I guess there is room for optimism if they stay healthy, but, again that is a big "if" and... they still needed to add a bonified ace, shortstop, and right handed power bat in free agency. In my opinion, they just don't have enough horses. They NEED everyone to play at their peaks and have career years and health. Long odds. In order to do that, some of these guys need to rebound (Gallo, Kepler, Polanco, even Vazquez on offense, Pagan), have better health (Gray, Buxton, Kepler, Maeda, Ober, Alcala, Kiriloff, Mahle, Jeffers, ) and break out (Kiriloff, Garlick, Larnach) and continue to improve (Gordon, Miranda, Thielbar, Jax). And then young breakouts like Joe Ryan and Jhoan Duran and Miranda need to continue their high production.

I know Turner is old and started out really slow last year, then came on hot in the second half, but I would rather have him by a mile. Admittedly, I hate the Gallo signing, but still -- give me Turner any day of the week and twice on Sunday. I believe the Twins overpaid by a lot on Gallo.

I agree with this, to a point. I don't like selling low on Max Kepler and I think he'll benefit from the shift ban -- as others have written a lot about (a quick Google search should find it). I don't think he'll ever rebound to 2019 levels, but I recall reading a piece -- maybe in Fangraphs? that highlighted how he was a top 5 RF, despite his offensive struggles last year. I'll see if I can find the article. Anyway, while I don't see 2019 returning, I think he can be a valuable piece either for the Twins or in a trade. I certainly wouldn't give him away and would much rather keep him or trade him in season. EDIT: Oh goodness, I was way off. It was our own PP, and they posited that he was the best RF: https://www.twincities.com/2022/09/02/is-twins-max-kepler-baseballs-best-right-fielder/ While I wouldn't go that far, I do think he has value and if the Yankees, as rumored, are sniffing around, they know it also. I'd like to see what else they would need to get Gleyber, who the Yankees were shopping last year (though for starting pitching, I believe).

I wonder what extra it would take to get Gleyber Torres. I know the Yankees have attempted to move him, but I suspect they would need a lot more than Max Kepler.

I think we are all unified in disliking the Gallo signing ... though there may be some that don't mind it. One thing I don't like much about today's game is all the swing and miss. And Gallo is the poster boy for it.

Haha, yeah he got $19.5M I believe so he was probably out of the Twins range anyway, sadly.

I'm not missing any point. I know he can't hit. But citing batting average as your sole evaluation of Gallo is lazy. In addition to "not being able to hit", he strikes out a crap load, walks, hits HRs and plays decent defense. So, yeah, citing batting average is missing the point of Joey Gallo. And it's lazy. And, btw, I hate the signing as I've stated in other threads.

No, try again. My "implication" is that you cannot evaluate Joey Gallo based on batting average alone, like a few in this thread have done.

Oh wow, how insightful of you. I didn't say squat about the value of batting average now did I?

Joc Pederson accepted the Giants qualifying offer a month ago.

If you're citing batting average with Joey Gallo, you're completely missing the point of Joey Gallo.