Vanimal46

What?

If they don’t and the prospects remain in AAA purgatory I’ll be driving the “pipeline is a myth” bandwagon.

I disagree. If Gray and Maeda are kept the entire season, there is another season down the drain not seeing what the prospects can do. Opening day rotation if they acquire Lopez (order them how you please): Ryan, Gray, Mahle, Maeda, Ober, Lopez August 1 rotation: Ryan, Mahle, Lopez, Ober, one of Winder/SWR/Varland/Balazovic

They also seemed to stall on offense after the scripted first drive or two. That needs to improve moving forward

I don’t think we’ll be blowing the doors off the AL Central. That doesn’t really matter with these 2 pitchers anyway. They’re on expiring contracts and highly unlikely to be extended. I’d rather get something for them and by July 31, hopefully one or more of SWR, Varland, Winder, or Balazovic is ready to take a rotation spot.

I’m not sure we are on the same page Doc. I think Gray and Maeda are both gone by the trade deadline. Mahle I agree is the wild card and I’m happy to extend him if his shoulder holds up. Mahle is only 28 so I’d be more than happy to extend him 4-5 years. Knowing that there is ample room in the rotation coming up in the next 7 months, we can take on another mid rotation arm and wait for one of SWR, Winder, Varland, Balazovic, etc. to be so good it’s impossible to ignore them getting a call up to the majors.

What about them? One of them can be a long relief arm out of the pen right away. If they’re blowing the doors off in St Paul they’ll find their way across the river when it’s time. Probably. I’m not thrilled about extending a 33 year old Sonny Gray. Kenta Maeda if he rebounds will be dealt by the deadline too.

Seems to me that’s what we’re going for here. Having 5-6 options that are considered mid rotation guys. Not a bad strategy since we won’t be in the mix for a unanimous front of the rotation pitcher.

I’m good with keeping the 3-4 scheme. We just need the players to make it work. Which obviously we didn’t in 2022 due to poorly constructed contracts by Spielman. Even if we were in a 4-3 this year it wouldn’t have made much of a difference. We’ve been a bottom 3 defense in the league for the last 3 regular seasons. It’s a talent issue, not scheme.

23. Minnesota Vikings: Deonte Banks, CB, MarylandBetween now and the draft, I’m sure we will hear plenty of quarterback talk surrounding the Vikings. But they also need help on defense, obviously, including in the secondary. A cover-and-clobber corner, Deonte Banks has rangy speed and ball skills. Several NFL teams have second-round grades on the Maryland corner, but others believe he can crack the first round.Here are his 3 trades:1. Indianapolis Colts (via Chicago): Bryce Young, QB, AlabamaProjected trade: No. 1 for Nos. 4, 35 and a 2024 first-round pick5. Carolina Panthers (via Seattle): C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio StateProjected trade: No. 5 for Nos. 9, 93 and a 2024 first-round pick15. Detroit Lions (via Green Bay): Anthony Richardson, QB, FloridaProjected trade: No. 15 for Nos. 18 and 48

Agreed. The best days are behind them with the current long term core of Kendricks, Harry, Hunter, Thielen, and Cook. A good indicator of the Wilfs still meddling in roster decisions is if Dalvin Cook remains on this team. A true analytics guy won’t have a $10+ million RB approaching 30 years old on their roster.

If the Wilfs are still dictating how the roster is constructed, we have big time issues. And KAM isn’t the right person at GM.

Let’s hope the Wilfs don’t meddle with roster personnel decisions and allows Kwesi to do his thing.

Gotta start overhauling the defense. We need talent upgrades at every position group on that side of the ball. It’s also time to say goodbye to some long time veteran players in order to clear cap space. Guys that I predict are released or traded: Offense: - Dalvin Cook - makes too much money. - Alex Mattison - let him go to free agency - Adam Thielen - He’s lost 2 steps. - Irv Smith Jr - Maybe he comes back on a 1 year cheap prove it deal. Wouldn’t offer him anything more than that. - Garrett Bradbury - No interest signing him long term. Defense: - Eric Kendricks - Lost a step. No longer good in coverage. Never was a fit for the 3-4 scheme. - Jordan Hicks - Way too slow - ZaDarius Smith (trade) - Feels like he’s a one and done here. Faded big time in the last 8 games. - Danielle Hunter (trade) - If we stick to the 3-4 scheme, he’s another guy that doesn’t fit the bill. Get a 2nd round pick and move on. - Pat Peterson - Will likely go chase a ring elsewhere. - Cam Dantzler (trade) - Feels like something is up with him and we end up moving on from him for a mid round pick. - Harrison Smith - Tough call but he’s at the end of his effectiveness. Gotta get younger and faster in the secondary. Other trade candidates: - Ezra Cleveland - I’d try to trade him to a team that needs either tackle or guard. Not really interested in extending him long term. A mid round pick will do. - Harrison Phillips - Didn’t really see him make too much of an impact this year.

I expect a massive turnover on defense this offseason… The entire starting LB group can be released or traded. Kendricks and Hicks are easy releases. Kendricks has lost a step and can’t make the tackle until a player is 8 yards downfield. Hicks was already slow and got torched in coverage all year. ZaDarius Smith had a temporary boost to the defense and faded in the last 8 games. I would trade him if possible. Danielle Hunter is out of position in a 3-4 defense. I’d trade him for a 2nd round pick. Pat Peterson likely goes to chase a ring elsewhere. I’d trade Cam Dantzler for a mid round pick. Chandon Sullivan is gone. I am on the fence with Harry the Hitman. Is he open to a restructure again?

It’s a shame that Kirk built up so much clout this year taking control of the offense more than any time in his career. Then when the season was truly on the line, he throws to the check down who had a 0% chance of getting the first down. Might as well take the sack, because he chose the least likely option to extend the game. The pressure was no different than what he saw all season long. He could have rolled out to his right to extend the play. Instead he became a statue and checked down. Season over. Both scenarios can be true. The defense was awful all year. And Kirk Cousins failed with the season on the line.

He did not literally carry the team this year. And you don’t tear down everything including young OL because you don’t have the long term QB on roster.

The pass short of the sticks on 4th down is why you move on from Kirk. He has a mental breakdown passing beyond the sticks.

Kirk is gonna have the box score stats to say he’s not the problem. But he decided to check down to a 3 yard pass with the season on the line. Sorry, I’m done with him.

It will be close either way. The Vikings haven’t shown the ability to stomp on the throat of their opponents all season long. New York doesn’t have the fire power to blow out a team either. I’m gonna say 30-28 Vikings win.

Staley should get canned after blowing a 27 point lead. Classic Chargers choke job.

Their method of player identification in acquisitions and player development is enviable. The rest of their operation is a bad look for a growing league. I don’t know why Manfred has not been more assertive towards the Rays and A’s to get a new stadium under construction. Oakland’s stadium has been a dump for 30 years. Tampa’s situation isn’t any better.

Best case: Paddack recovers fully from his 2nd TJS and provides immense value for the Twins. Worst case: He becomes minimal dead money like Randy Dobnak.

I like reunion stories for players on their last legs in the MLB. Good for McCutchen to go back to where it all started for him.

All we need to know. Good.