High heat

We still saw last year that pitching wins. Not a lot of pitchers on this list. Many times high end pitching prospects never pan out and a lesser prospect figures something out and is extremely effect. The central the next decade will depend on who can develop pitching. A lot of young hitting on the horizon, the Twins are no exception.

If Walker was healthy he would have or will get an MLB deal. I like the idea of being Danny Salazar who Dalvey is familiar with and I still like Aaron Sanchez as a guy who can cover later in the season if we have injuries or ineffectiveness in the rotation.

Garver worked hard on his defense and the power came. I think many thought he would have to move off C and the bat doesn’t translate. Rogers is one who succeeded moving from starter to reliever adding mph and ditching the change. Also sticking with the fourseamer and pitching philosophy. also to consider would be Duffey, many called for him to be cut this time last year. Now people consider him one of our top set up men. Ditching the big curve and command of the fastball. how about Adrianza, he didn’t come up in our organization, was seen as a solid glove but never hit. Comes to the Twins bat develops and is a guy who can hit when he doesn’t play everyday. Something valuable that many good hitters can’t do.

At this time no. Royce Lewis seems to uncertain the bat transfers to the majors. Kirilloff has a down year with the bat and doesn’t play a premium position, does the bat bounce back lime many think. Is he a corner outfielder or a 1B. Makes a big difference $ wise.

At this time no. Royce Lewis seems to uncertain the bat transfers to the majors. Kirilloff has a down year with the bat and doesn’t play a premium position, does the bat bounce back lime many think. Is he a corner outfielder or a 1B. Makes a big difference $ wise.

baseball is all about adjustments, some guys can make them and make them quickly and some are one trick ponies. Oswaldo Arcia could crush low pitches, because he dropped his hands and hip. There was tons of these power hitters in the league and coming up through teams systems. Pitcher figured out high fastballs and breaking balls away and in the dirt. Coudnt adjust his swing to catch up to the high heat so he hurried it and was susceptible to the breaking ball. Very similar to Sano in early 2019. Sano adjusted hand placement mid season and mashed!!!!! Arcia never could adjust. Putting a 280lbs infielder who never played any OF with limited ST time to practice in RF was a terrible idea and a terrible position to put Sano in. Romero had a ton of late life on his fastball and a very nice slider. Control was always an issue. Not sure if he was trying something different mechanically that just didn't work or an injury or just lost his delivery. The twins kept him on the 40 so he will have a decent shot to make the team if he has the stuff back and some control. Not completely lost yet but guys out of options with stuff like that are going to stick in your system if you cant keep them on your roster.

due to last collected bargaining agreement each team has a set amount of $ they can spend on international free agent under 23 yr old. Which means if he waits until after July 1st to sign the Twins literally have zero chance of signing him. The $ is equal so the big name play will sign in a city that can offer the most advertisement and locational incentives. Like ohtani he will not even consider the twins because they cannot offer anything he cant get someplace else in a better location. He will either be a Yankee, red sox or Marlin.

I really do not like the defensive metrics. Defense to me is an eye test thing, and like you stated Sano doesn't pass! With all the shifts and 3B moving to traditional SS puts a premium on defense at 3B, and the need for greater lateral movement. I think a lot more balls get hit and hit hard there and the opportunity to make plays is significant. I think a move to 1B is perfect for Sano. Sano is an athlete, I know moving him ot 1B takes away his best asset, his arm, but a lot lets hard hit ball and a lot less asking to cover significant ground. With a good amount of time at spring training working on footwork and scoops I think Sano will be fine full time at 1B. Having the need to just knock the ball down and flip to pitcher and staying home at the corner will help. I think Sano will look ok at 1B and wont seem to be such a liability improving the pitching and defense significantly.

I think more and more that the Twins are set on moving Sano to 1B giving him a full spring training to work on his footwork and defensively there. Maybe they look at a middle infielder and move either Polanco or Arraez to 3B

I don’t want to over pay for Donaldson giving ownership excuses to not pay for pitching later. I have a feeling they are already set on Sano going to 1B. I think with a solid ST of work at 1B I think he will actually be pretty good defensively. If they don’t land Donaldson which seems likely maybe they go after a middle infielder putting Arraez or Polanco at 3B. Best way to improve pitching now is to improve defense.

What if the Twins are dead set on moving Sano to 1B and we are way off on targets? I really like the Trevor Story idea maybe the Rockies will burn it down and complete rebuild. Maybe we look to bring in a good fielding SS like Jose Iglesias or even Addison Russell. Improve pitching by improving the defense.

We pay all 30 million of it in 2020, 20 million in 21 and 10 million in 22. We also receive Red Sox top pitching prospect Jay Groome while send Red Sox Brent Rooker. Rooker can fill an opening at 1B for the Sox and getting the Sox under the luxury tax with room to fill holes for this season. we receive a top prospect and David Price. Allows us to use recourses now with payroll flexibility later.

Yes please to taijuan Walker. Hill and Wood I don’t see the upside. Before the off season started the front office talked about targeting and bringing in “impact arms” Walker and in my opinion Aaron Sanchez are both potential impact arms. They appear to have good to potential great stuff, with tweeks to delivery or pitch selection/sequence or mechanics to get more consistency. That’s coaching and scouting. I know we swung and missed on the high end tier 2 starters but I’m not sure that the best of that group isn’t still out there with the right situation and health concerns behind them. maybe I’m drinking to much Koolaid but if the Twins want impact starters coaching and identifying those who have it but have harnessed it maybe the best and only way we find it.

I actually though Aaron Sanchez was a solid trade for at the deadline last year. If he is over his shoulder issues and the blisters are behind him. He looks like a guy who could fit the Wes Johnson system and could be a Odorizzi pitch style guy but be much more dominate. Throws upper 90's with solid secondary mix. I think would be a good gamble one a deal similar to what Perez got last yr.

Both I think would cost more then they are worth. What do you think it would take to get Danny Duffy? Might be a good bounce back candidate

I like bringing in Hamilton on a minor league deal. I feel like our outfield depth is solid as it looks right now. IF you trade Rosario and/or Cave Pillar and Maybin make sense. as we sit right now we have Rosario, Buxton Kepler Marwin and Cave all at the big league level with Wade Riley and Blankhorn at AAA. But if your going to sit around and wait, then finally move Cave or Rosario late in Jan or Feb and you don't bring in a 1B or 3B and have to pencil in Marwin at 1B. Now you get caught with your pants down and we are think depth wise.

Buxton and Kepler kind of go hand in hand. Buxton in CF is great defensively on his own but also pushes Kepler back to RF were he is much better defensively (though he is alright in CF he is borderline elite in RF) I think Berrios is what he is at this point. His delivery and release is funky trying to generate that power from a small frame. it gets out of wack and everything flattens out. I think he struggles with that his whole career. We need a young starter to step up I think Thorpe has the best chance of it. Graterol maybe getting it going right away and by mid May he is up and dominating. Have to find starting pitching and it looks like it isn't come from outside the organization. Sano, can he stay focused and have a bat like he did the second half. If he is asked to move to 1B can he get the footwork down and put in the time defensively. I think he has the kills to be above average defensively at 1B but has to be committed and put in the work there.

Thorpe has to step up, has MLB stuff but needs to refine his control. not sure what to think about Dobnak he doesn't pass the eye test of sustainability to me, but did it long enough late last summer to get another opportunity. Smeltzer is a AAAA pitcher there have been tons of these guys come through the twins organization over the past few decades. If he can't figure it out in the bullpen he is a 6th or 7th starter if a few guys go down. Graterol has to be the guy we finally develop into a top of the rotation starter. He isn't there yet and may need till mid June to get there or even longer.

So the kid needs to quiet his hands and reduce the stride. Look at Javier Báez he has a big leg kick minimized his stride after yr one and isn’t to bad of a player. Sano mid season worked his hand placement and made that adjustment. is he ready probably not but don’t need to coach out all that talent

These guys just throw **** to see what sticks to the wall. Fan graph has your best prospect who has a season at double A and an Arizona fall league MVP is 2 years away? same time as a SS who hasn’t hit at low A? based on what the Indians got for Kluber Twins should be able to get Price or take on payroll without giving much in prospects.

Well we are unwilling to pay the cost for the best. I think now you need to identify pitchers outside the organization that you and wes Johnson believe can teach or make adjustments to turn into that “ace”. i know it’s easier to say then do but it’s going to be the only way to get the pitching we need. you did it’s to a less extent with Penada and Odo and even Martin Perez for a couple months.

I wouldn't mind bringing in Seager assuming Donaldson is extremely expensive and we have lost out on better options. As the roster sits right now Seager make this team better. Assuming you are getting Seager for basically free or even getting prospects to take him. Improving infield defense is badly need and Seager helps that. You have to find a way to improve this team, bargain bid shopping doesn't look like its going to work like it has the last 2 seasons. You have saved $ the last few years maybe taking on contracts for player who are overpaid but still help your team and you feel can thrive here is a way to get better. Twins need to do something, and cant get caught with there pants down. if it comes to spring training and we signed a couple #5 at best starter and our payroll sits at $100 mil. and they give us the same old lame excuses. You saw last summer, that this town loves baseball who you can put an exciting product on the field night in and night out.

Like every young player (meaning limited mlb experience)in the league he has to make adjustments. If he can adjust and pick out better pitches to swing at And lay off the ones you can’t hit well he will succeed. Especially before you have 2 strikes. Inconsistent at bats and limited playing time doesn’t help. I think he has to stick and show he can be a serviceable catcher defensively. The defensive versatility is nice but his ability to catch will keep him in this league. he has an option year left go down and be the everyday catcher at AAA. Work on strike zone management be ready when injuries occur. We won’t have 2 catchers who stay completely health again like in 2019. I believe in him and more then a fun “gimmick” make an adjustment work at it and your be great

Drew Smyly intrigues me he is a guy, that potentially could dominate if he can figure out the long ball. Wouldn't mind throwing pinada's starts at him to see if he stuck. But he would have to take Pineda's $ hes returning to use. The other 2 no thanks. The free agent starters are getting picked over quickly, if we were bargain bin shopping again all the good ones are going to be gone before Xmas.

I don't see the Marlins wanting Rosario due to cost and only 2 years of future control. Lamon I would really like Alcantara, they may be more interested in guys like Lamonte Wade, Cave and/or Luke Haley. Combine them with a Brent Rooker, maybe you have enough future parts to get him away from the Marlins.