AWOLNATION_11

I wonder if Justin Turner would make sense as an alternative. I'm not sure what kind of contract he's looking at next, but a productive bat and could play some 3B and 1B creating a bit of a 1B/3B/DH rotation with others also mixed in here and there.

Strike zone awareness and pitch recognition seem to be his best assets on the offensive side of the ball, with limited power to this point in his career. These are the guys that seem like the best candidates to consider mechanical adjustments to try get more out of their contact. Easier said than done, but at this stage of his career it might be worth a try.

I'd rather they make changes such as this to the playoff format and leave the actual game itself alone. I don't think having a few more playoff games is going to change how I watch/appreciate the game, but too many rule changes may.

I feel like this would be a situation where the Twins offer a bump of $1-2 million on his 2020 salary now to secure a team option for 2021 with a little more guaranteed money for Mr. Cruz via a buyout if the option isn't to be exercised.

I don't get the sense that if Donaldson doesn't sign that the front office will be working hard to acquire a different 3B. I think Donaldson's availability as a free agent has the Twins considering moving Sano to 1B to accommodate the acquisition, but beyond Donaldson aren't that involved in the 3B market.

I get the feeling the front office will just fill 1B with an affordable deal for someone like Neil Walker, Eric Thames, Mitch Moreland, Justin Smoak. Uninspiring.

I doubt the front office will want to be too aggressive on a DFA. I wouldn't be surprised if it just turns out to be someone else getting an IL stint, whether it is a significant injury or something less severe that in other circumstances would likely be a day-to-day thing.

Does make you wonder the qualifications for fandom. I know a lot of folks who I'd consider big fans, but their knowledge of the business of baseball is very limited. Love their Twins, but have no real idea how the roster is constructed. I like coming to read Twins Daily, because I find myself in live conversations with these types, and have to really dumb things down for those chats.

1.) Where are you from? Raised in Milroy, MN. Currently live in Marshall, MN. 2.) Age Range? Late 30’s 3.) What brought you to Twins Daily? Can’t recall, but know that once I found it I really liked it and made it part of my daily internet stops. 4.) Highest level of baseball/softball played? Two years in college. 5.) Favorite Twins Player = liked Dan Gladden as a kid for some reason. Favorite current Twins player = Eduardo Escobar. 6.) Favorite non-Twins Daily site/authors? FanGraphs, MLB Trade Rumors, whatever site Jon Heyman’s weekly ‘Inside Baseball’ column gets moved to. 7.) Favorite Twitter follows? Ken Rosenthal, Jon Heyman, Eno Sarris. 8.) Other interests outside of baseball. Hmm, seems after my daughter was born all these kind of evaporated. 9.) Favorite part of Twins Daily... Dig it all. 10.) Tell us what we can do better. What features or other topics would you like to see in-season or out of season? Keep on Truckin’ 11.) Have you been to any of the Twins Daily "events?" Not yet, but would like to some day.

Agree with this. Also, between the options they have on Romero/Gonsalves/Mejia and the 10-day DL, they could manipulate a lot (Dodgers do a lot of this).

Like He-Man?

I'm not so much concerned that they wasted $417,000, but glad that they have the type of relationship with Pohlad that they could pivot to Lynn even though it was a waste of $417,000.

Some interesting takes at Fangraphs about defense in this age of increased three-true-outcomes and fewer balls in play as well as fly ball revolution. Maybe an adequate defensive SS with a better bat is becoming easier and easier to run out there every day.

I hear you. Obviously it isn't an offer commensurate with historical standards for a pitcher of his caliber, but this offseason hasn't really gone the same as in the past either. Morrison's deal probably would have been seen as insulting in prior years too given he's coming off a 38-homer season, but that is where the market is these days and the Twins signed him because they made the offer.

I'm just not buying it that the Twins were pushing hard to sign him and then came in with this low-ball insulting offer.

And then he signs for 2/20 with another team because that is where his valuation is coming in.

I doubt it was spitballing either. I'm sure the front office has done their valuations on these guys and that is where they were/are with Lynn.

Maybe the 2/20 was prompted on their end. Asked the Twins if they'd be willing to make an offer. Being less than overly excited about Lynn the response was we'd be in at 2/20, which was then a non-starter from Lynn's side. I can't imagine the Twins were aggressively pursuing him and then only come in with a 2/20 offer.

I'm fully on-board with Morrison, but I do feel bad that this likely means Vargas is not around for the games in his home country of Puerto Rico.

I don't see much else in the free agent pool. Maybe they'll consider Trevor Cahill for cheap to be deployed as a multi-inning reliever?

I trust Falvey, Levine, and crew know what they are doing. I'm sure they place a value and acquisition cost (dollars or prospects) on everyone and are sticking to it. I don't think anyone around the game thinks that Falvey, Levine, or some of the nice front office hires are 'clueless.' Can't force Ohtani or Darvish to come here. Can't force the Pirates or Rays to take a package they don't want for their guys. Also, a quick note on the free agent pitching market, only 1 (Darvish) of the consensus top 4 is off the table. Lot of free agents still out there. I would like to see how the rest of the market shakes out.

I've said it before, if the Rays are truly motivated to trade Archer I just don't see the Twins being the team that comes up with the best offer. Nearly every team in baseball will be interested in him on that contract.

I just can't imagine that if the Rays make Archer truly available that the Twins make the offer that gets it done.

I don't think the ideal right-handed bat is out there on the free agent market, and I think with the switch-hitters on the roster it isn't a must. It will be interesting the next few weeks to see if the market develops. If the 1B/DH market lags I would like to see the Twins try and swoop in on Logan Morrison if they can get him on an affordable deal. I know he is left-handed, but I'd take him over Vargas in a heartbeat, and if we're talking strictly replacing Vargas as the left-handed side of a DH platoon, then I'd take Lucas Duda or Adam Lind over Vargas too if the price for this type of player stay low.

Twins might not be in on any of the top talent next year anyway. My understanding is those relationships are built in advance of the signing period and the likely destinations for most of those kids are pretty well known in advance.