specialiststeve

Wish we would have kept Gio.. but I understand the reasoning. LONG way to go before opening day so saying "as of today" is kind of irrelevant. This team will have 4-5 different guys on the 40 before opening day...

Really haven't heard much about either guy so not sure I really have an opinion.. I would much rather go after a lefty that could help even out our bullpen... Keegen Akin to me would be the target. Likely would have to add a bit to Kepler but think it would be much more of an improvement to the bullpen than either mentioned. We have arms in the minors that would equal both but not much around that matches Akin.. Just my take.

I hope he does well... I really do... but He has more strikeouts that hits, runs, and RBI .... combined. Career .199 hitter... YUCK!!

Actaully not a bad idea but would make more sense to target Endy Rodriquez who is a switch hitter and having the left side of the plate option as well as Endy can fill in in the OF and 2B in a pinch... that is the direction if we were going there.... Maybe a blockbuster... Endy Rodriguez and Reynolds for Jeffers, Kiriloff, Celesto, Kepler and either Varland or Catarino ... Throw in a Yasser Mercedes as a lotto ticket if that would help get it done. We have minor league depth at C until Endy is ready which sounds like mid summer of a cup of coffee at the year and starting next year split the time with Vasquez ... Reynolds makes us better for the next 3 years... Bring up Julian to play 1st... if Arreaz can play there... pretty sure at 6'2" Julian can... and his bat will clearly play. Okay.. there is my trade ... tear apart... :)

Yikes! Not sure what else to say. I was one of the masses that were pissed when we heard of the pick up. Getting a player that Plays very good defense and hits home runs but KILLS our team in every other way... WOW. Given our logjam in the OF with Lefthanded bats.. Makes ZERO sense... Signing him for a 2-3 million dollar deal with 8 million in incentives ... fine... but throwing 11 million at a player that is a bench player "IF" he makes the team... YIKES!!

I would Target Harrison Bader from the Yankees for Kepler... should be attainable as they are about the same player with very good defense and have some pop with Bader being a bit more of a threat than we have on our roster for some stolen bases. Has the ability to play center in a pinch. Not sexy but would make some sense on both ends.

Reynalds is good but not a star... Mind you I like him and understand the Pirates spot of getting a haul but Pass at that cost. Kepler, Celestino, Martin and Winder ... Let it rip... Twins want Gray and Maeta to pitch to improve their trade value... will be gone by the deadline weather we are in the race or not. We have too many guys waiting in the wings that are pretty close in what they would produce. They might even get a good offer coming out of spring training for a team looking for a starter without having to pay huge.. I am in the camp that they are going to give Kiriloff every chance to be the everyday 1B as he clearly has the talent but health has always been an issue. I also think that Polanco should be the everyday DH.. Switch hitter... keeps him healthy and bat in the lineup. Give Gordon the chance to be the everyday 2B and if he drops the ball we have Farmer there and Lewis should be ready by midseason. OF is another story.... There will be some movement before the season starts... who.. that is another story..

This is the most OBVIOUS issue in our bullpen. Baldelli and the FO again looking at numbers instead of looking at the mindset of pitchers and KNOWING what their roll is... Duran should be the closer... period. Then set up the RH setup guy and a LH setup guy .... next in line and so on. Guys knowing their rolls and being ready mentally and physically for the job is completely lacking at this point. WASTING a pretty good bullpen by trying to get smarter than smart. ARGH

They should include... fundamentals by the players and the manager! We have lost our way or should I say the "Twins Way" with sound fundaments including Baserunning, situational hitting, fielding and managerial fundamentals of how to use a pitching staff!! Mr. Falvey... please address these as THESE are why we have been going the wrong direction. Thank you... Twins Fans.

I would be good with that... not sure the Twins would move Lopez in the deal but not sure why not as Rocco and our pitching coach had no idea how to run the bullpen last year.... I REALLY like Lozaro. I do think he could have ace stuff... and young. Would be nice if we could somehow move either Sonny or Maeta in a deal for an quality asset but am guessing they are going to put them in the rotation and "cash in" at the trade deadline with teams needing starting pitching. Right now the market for them is not great... come mid summer... they will have very good value...

My understanding when the new FO was put in place is we were going to try to build our pitching from within ala Cleveland. We have some guys that have had success and have some pretty good stuff. Ober has shown that he can not only pitch but pitch well at this level. At some point we have to let these guys move into rotation spots. Are they aces ... maybe not but.. maybe if given the opportunity. I do like Gallan and Burnes but is going to take a TON to get those guys.

Actually I did address his defense which is clearly why he continued to play... but... there are a ton of great defensive players in AAA.. Doesn't mean that they should be starting in the majors. He is just not a good hitter... That is just a fact.. I REALLY wish I was wrong...

As evidenced by What? 9 HR... .227 Ave... .318 OBP.... 348 SLG? Or the 19 HR .. .211 Ba.. 306 SLG the year before... He seems like a very nice guy and is a very good fielder but this is the Major league Boys... Those are "Back ups" numbers... as he should be. If there is something out there that can help us in a package deal fine.. if not a decent prospect would be fine. Wallner and Larnach can match that without much of a problem. Would rather have them out there learning and getting their AB's than knowing what we are getting and being delusional that he is "good"... he is not. Time to move on....

I do think that is worth discussing... which was my point.. We have options at 2B to use and let Polanco DH against RHP and let Buxton do the left handers as a Rule for a day off. I think it is time for Gordan to earn an everyday job or share with Farmer and let Polanco keep his health. An occasional start here and there as needed but losing Polanco's bat hurts WAY more than his glove at 2B.

4 hours ago, specialiststeve said: You somehow .. completely missed my point.. If all we are talking about is opening day what is the point of the article? I was talking for the "bulk" of the season. We NEED both of these guys healthy in order to compete at a high level. I playing 3/ 4 days a week in the field and the other part DH "should" keeps them healthy enough to play 150 games... would not that help this team win... I think so. If all we are talking about is opening day... respectfully who cares.

Kinda stunned you missed the obvious.. Polanco and Buxton... Both should share the DH Roll as both have ongoing physical issues. Want to keep their bats in the line up while keeping them hopefully healthy.. this would be the best way.

Not happening .. nor it should. We have too many options for 1st.

Actually ... We traded a very good bat for a very good arm.. a very good prospect bat and a very good lottery ticket bat...

Unless you are getting someone that has the potential to be an ace... Cabrera AND Luzardo... we should not be moving Arreaz. Clearly we would have to add pieces for that but An Arreaz, Kepler, Martain and a lower level guy should get that done. Lopez is a good pitcher ... I saw him pitch in Miami on a baseball trip and he is good.. not an ace.

Bingo! Would not give up Arraez for "just" Lopez but with Luzardo who is "controllable" and has top of rotation stuff... and win in the playoffs... that would be something to seriously consider.

Have been a Twins fan for 50 years... we have had our share of good and bad managers. But... After having Kelly and Gardy we know that we were clearly spoiled. There used to be a saying around baseball... The Twins way... meaning playing great fundamental baseball, running the bases well, good suituationaly hitting, Good pitching and quality back end pitching. At this point we are 1 for 5 ... maybe ... giving that the starting pitching is good but not great. I think we have the back end pitching but Baldelli and the pitching coach completlely mismanged. I clearly am a bit old school but in looking at the great teams around right now .. other than the talent disparity ... thy all play "old school" fundamental baseball. The game has been aound going on around 150 years... those that think they can outsmart it are actually doing a disservice to the game and the fans. Pretty much why all the rule changes. The analytics and metrics that everyone seems to be enamored with are numbers... that is it... they are intended to assist a manager in making quality decisions... not "be" the decision as it clearly appears is the case as we watch Baldelli. I feel bad for Baldelli as it shows a lack of trust from the FO or lack in trusting his own baseball instincts. Whatever the case unless we get back to the traditional "Twins Way" we are in for more of the same... NOT GOOD!!

Not even in the ballpark for Lopez....

Okay with Correa set up for SS one would think that Farmer would be on the move with his very resonable 3.15 mil contract... Or keep him and move "several" 2B. Polanco should be moved right now as he still has a reasonable contract and should get good value in a trade. Gordon should take over at 2B... still young and has shown he is capable. Playing there everyday should improve his defense ... On the Market "should be" Farmer, Polanco, Gordon, Martin, Larnach, Kiriloff, Cellistino, Walner, Gallo..... not all should be moved but .... Go get and upgrade in the pitching staff.... or at very least clear the deck and get quality prospects .. 7 guys for 2 spots makes little sense for the infield or the OF. Boston is needing IF... that might be a place to start...

Throws with a "short arm" motion... never going to be a full time starter and survive. Best suited for the pen.. basically a lottary pick but possibly ready to help now... which I am sure is why they picked him up. But as stated by some.. likley to be DFA'd if another players comes up with better talent. No big deal.

Sweet! That helps a TON... Opens up some options for trades ... Too many IF for spots... Move for PITCHING PLEASE!!