Ted Schwerzler

Thought the same in the final comments.

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and while the American League Central division looks like a two-horse race, there’s plenty of storylines to follow. What are those most engaged seeing?We’re more than well versed on the Minnesota Twins but what does the view of this club, and those it competes with, look like through the lens of invested influencers from around the division? The Detroit Tigers became the Fightin’ Gardy’s for a minute, and now are stockpiling former Minnesota players. Realistically though, they’ve also got an incredible farm system and look for a return to relevance soon. Tales From the Central Series: ClevelandPaul Sporer is known around the baseball world for a handful of different pursuits. He’s a fantasy guru at Fangraphs, well versed in the prospect world, contributes at ESPN, and also streams MLB The Show on Twitch. Here’s what he had to say about where things stand currently: Twins Daily: Representing the Tigers in this series, what does your fandom look like? You write for Fangraphs and live in Texas, but what is the history and story behind falling for Detroit? Paul Sporer: I grew up just outside of Detroit in Allen Park (on the map now that the Lions train there!) so we were just a quick 20–30-minute car ride from Tiger Stadium and went there a few times a year. I've been a Tigers diehard my entire life, living through mostly a fallow period as I was too young for 1987 which was their last good year before the 2006 renaissance. The 2006-16 run for the Tigers - while it did include 2 WS losses - was the best sports experience of my life. I've had good periods of time as a Red Wings and Pistons fan, but the Tigers have always been my #1 so them being great for an extended period was amazing. TD: Obviously, we're on the downswing of Miguel Cabrera's career and in a lull for the organization at the Major League level. What are you most excited about for this team in 2021? PS: Definitely the young pitching. Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal got to debut in '20 and Matt Manning is close behind. Matthew Boyd has shown flashes for sure and if he and Michael Fulmer get back on track, all of a sudden, the Tigers could have a solid rotation as early as this upcoming season. That said, most of us have our sights set on 2022 as a season for marked improvement. I don't expect contention, but they need to start pushing toward .500 or better by then and use these next two drafts/int'l signing periods to deepen the cache of bats (though #1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson is VERY exciting and could be up relatively soon as a college product with great hitting ability). TD: Detroit has built a nice stable of prospects, and Casey Mize recently reached the majors. Who are you looking forward to seeing develop and do you think Detroit has the pieces on the farm for a return to relevance? PS: Mize gets the most attention as a former #1 overall, but I'm really excited about Manning. There are multiple outlets that believe he can be the better of the two and not because of any flaws with Mize, but rather excellence of Manning. Skubal is a pop-up prospect who has really seen his stock soar and is the lone lefty of the three. TD: If there was a prediction for Detroit regarding 2021 that required going a bit out on a limb, what would you throw out there? PS: That the pitching comes together, and they push into the mid-70s with wins. TD: Ending in 2014 the Tigers won four straight AL Central Division titles. They've now finished 5th in four of the last six and have done so in two straight. How far off is this team from getting back towards the top? PS: They're probably looking at 2024 before they become a dark horse favorite the way we saw CWS and SD get hype before they emerged in 2020. TD: Any team going through a rebuilding phase has hurdles, but what makes the 2021 season a success for the Tigers? PS: At the risk of repeating a refrain, it's stability with the pitching. Fulmer is a former Rookie of the Year, Boyd has had extended bouts of success, and the three mega prospects are on the verge. Seeing all five be consistently solid (ERAs under 5.00) would be great and if 2-3 are legitimately good (low-4.00s or sub-4.00s ERAs) that'd be huge. ERA on its own doesn't determine success, but I'm using it as a shorthand of success. Honestly, I wouldn't care what the ERAs are if the skills indicator metrics (like SIERA, for example) are those aforementioned ranges. TD: Wrapping this up, as a fan from a divisional opponent, what's your take on the Twins in 2021 and beyond? PS: I think the Happ move is solid, but it shouldn't be all they do. He essentially replaces Odorizzi. Another arm in that tier would be great as well as someone to replace Trevor May. The offense is diminished, but far from bad, especially if Alex Kirilloff hits the ground running. The White Sox are the class of the division and will be picked by most to win the Central, but Twins are still contenders. They have two studs atop the rotation, some major bullpen pieces, and a quality lineup. I think finally getting that 150ish game season from Byron Buxton would also be a major win. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

All offseason I’ve been preaching that patience should be exhibited in regards to the Minnesota Twins. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have earned the benefit of doubt and shown that they are sound decision makers. Tonight, that came to fruition. After *missing* out on Marcus Semien as one of the interested parties, they quickly pivoted to the best defender in this free agent class. Andrelton Simmons, formerly of the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Angels, the Platinum Glove defender makes a tandem of sorts with Byron Buxton. He’s been worth 191 defensive runs saved over the course of his career. Paired with Josh Donaldson on the left side of Minnesota’s infield, opposing batters will face a black hole. As important as signing Simmons is, it’s also what the acquisition does for the roster construction of the Twins that makes a bigger splash. Jorge Polanco has been miscast as a shortstop for the entirety of his big-league career. His range is limited, and the arm strength has been problematic. Moving him to second base, he brings an offensive prowess that the position is often void of, and he moves a career 121 OPS+ hitter in Luis Arraez to super utility. Minnesota satisfied two separate needs with this one decision. Sure, it’s Polanco’s move to the other side of the diamond that will draw the immediate interest but being able to deploy Arraez all over the field is a great boost for Rocco Baldelli. The favorite to win a batting title can now spell guys on a regular basis, play corner outfield, and fill in at both second and third base. Arraez was initially mentioned as a trade chip to acquire pitching, and while I do still think the Twins flip players for another arm, this role seems to perfect of a fit for him to part with. Now that there’s some roster certainty thanks to Simmons sorting out the infield, there should be little waiting for Minnesota when it comes to Nelson Cruz. The reunion has always seemed like a logical one, and the designated hitter has been reported as not being universal for the upcoming season. We’ve waited all winter for moves to happen, and this Simmons signing feels like a dam breaking decision that gets the ball rolling in terms of locking everything else up. The Twins may look at holdovers on the relief market, but I’d hardly be shocked if their DH and starting pitching options aren’t decided upon quickly. The White Sox raced out to start the offseason, and the Padres have taken plenty of the spotlight, but this is a move that puts Minnesota right back on top of the Central. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

The 2021 Major League Baseball season is nearly upon us, and while the American League Central division looks like a two-horse race, there’s plenty of storylines to follow. What are those most engaged seeing?We’re more than well versed on the Minnesota Twins but what does the view of this club, and those it competes with, look like through the lens of invested influencers from around the division? In recent years, the Cleveland Indians have been among the best teams in baseball, nearly taking home a World Series in the process. Now they’re stripping it down and have spent this offseason dealing most of their notable names. I caught up with You Tube content creator Preston Miklich, better known as Fuzzy. Having started out as an MLB The Show content creator, he’s since branched into recapping big-league action and has always made it well known he’s a die-hard Cleveland fan despite living in Las Vegas. Here’s what he had to say about where things stand currently: Twins Daily: You are the chairman of the Grady Sizemore fan club but explain your Indians fandom as a whole. Living in Las Vegas, how did it start and what are some of your best memories concerning the club? Fuzzy: I was born in 1996, so at that point Las Vegas didn’t have any professional teams. This meant that I had the opportunity to pick and choose my favorite clubs. I chose the Indians due to the fact that my grandfather was born in Mayfield Heights, which is a city just outside of Cleveland. He gave me a Grady Sizemore jersey back in 2005, and the rest is history. I was able to fit into it up until the 2016 World Series, which ultimately translated into severe depression and weight gain. Needless to say, the jersey is no longer able to be worn. TD: It's been a tough offseason with so many key pieces dealt from Cleveland. What has that done to anticipation for the 2021 season, and how do you feel about the organization moving forward while drastically slashing payroll? F: It’s embarrassing, quite frankly, but it’s also the reality of life of being a Cleveland baseball fan. In my lifetime the Indians have lost or traded away Manny Ramirez, CC Sabathia, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Michael Brantley, Trevor Bauer, Corey Kluber, Mike Clevinger and Francisco Lindor. Those are some massive names, and to not have a single World Series to show of it is mind-numbing. I have a feeling that Andres Jimenez is going to be a stud. But also, Jose Ramirez might be out the door fairly soon. They received so many IF prospects in last few trades that it’s almost impossible to see a situation in which JRam plays past 2021/2022. So, unless Jimenez hits at an .850-OPS clip, and Oscar Mercado hits like he did his rookie season, I don’t have any reason to hope for even a top 20 offense. TD: Having only Jose Ramirez remaining on the offensive side of things in terms of star talent, who are some prospects you're hoping to see get a chance and run with opportunity in 2021? The pitching should still be impressive, what do you like there? F: Nolan Jones. Tyler Freeman. If those two dudes don’t get called up at some point in the season, I will seriously question the direction of this organization. I have faith though, as Terry Francona leads all AL managers in wins since he got the gig. We aren’t the Yankees, but we somehow seem to beat everyone in drafting star players. For my sake, let's hope Jones and Freeman see some action so we can gauge the future a bit better on the offensive side of things. I say that because I have zero doubt that Shane Bieber, Zach Plesac, Triston McKenzie, and Aaron Civale are going to be extraordinary for the next half-decade. TD: Cleveland has had a significant run of strong Postseason teams dating back to 2016. What was so great about those clubs and what could've they done differently to come up with a championship during that run? F: I would build a time machine and figure out a way to prevent that Game 7 rain delay. That’s all I got. The 2016 World Series MVP should have been Mother Nature, not Ben Zobrist. Other than that, the Indians were beat by better teams. However, I am super bummed that Emmanuel Clase was suspended, as I truly think he would have gotten Gio Urshela out in Game 2 of the 2020 Wild Card Series. We then would have scored 786 runs of JA Happ in Game 3 and proceed to go undefeated the rest of the playoffs en route to winning the World Series. TD: Starting a rebuild of sorts, how quickly do you see Cleveland returning to relevance and with an organization that has often excelled in developing prospects, could that impact how quickly they are once again a force? F: The White Sox look like world-beaters at the moment, so 2021 to me is basically a wash. I do think the Indians will be a better than average squad, but the offense will struggle with consistency. All I can do is cross my fingers and hope that Nolan Jones, Tyler Freeman and Bobby Bradley all figure it out at the Major League level. TD: As a fan of a competitor in the Central, what's your take on the Twins in 2021 and beyond? F: As of January 21st, I don’t see the Twins as a huge threat to the White Sox. I almost laughed when I read that the Twins had signed JA Happ, or as I call him, Home Run Happ. But hey, to each their own. I do believe that Alex Kiriloff will end up being a decent Major Leaguer, but nothing more than maybe prime Nick Markakis. Even then, that’s solid production. However, because of the D- to F offseason thus far for the 2021 Twins, I don’t have much to provide in regards to a take on future success. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

Earlier this offseason the Minnesota Twins started to reconstruct their bullpen. Losing Trevor May was always going to be a big blow, and there hasn’t been much in the form of names yet, but it’s a process the front office has earned trust in. A pair of big-name free agents with Minnesota ties have already come off the board but deals for either Liam Hendriks or Brad Hand always seemed far-fetched for the Twins. It’s not that they don’t have the money to spend, or need in relief, but nothing about either of those players fits the process of what this organization has done of late. Hendriks got $54 million from the White Sox over three years, while Hand got $10.5 million from the Washington Nationals. The last time Minnesota paid big on a reliever was Addison Reed, and it went up in smoke. It would be silly to suggest that every reliever be viewed through the same lens as the failed Reed deal, but more realistically there’s the reality of what Minnesota has done with less. Look at some of the names from recent seasons, and the ERA’s posted by players on deals all at $2.75 million or less. It’s not that the Twins purposely set out to be bargain shoppers, but instead identify outliers very well and get the most out of castoffs from elsewhere. This season Ian Gibault and Brandon Waddell were both claimed off of waivers at the end of October. They each claim a current 40-man spot and feature a slider. It’s a pitch that Wes Johnson and the coaching staff has targeted for some time, and it’s sensible to believe both are currently penciled into the bullpen. Hansel Robles is the lone larger expense thus far, and the former Angels closer was inked to a one-year deal paying him just $2 million. There’s probably at least one more spot open, and you can bet that Minnesota has a type rather than a name in mind. From my vantage point Trevor Rosenthal looks like the best option remaining, and I loved the fit last year as he returned from injury. He’s going to come with a price tag near the upper levels of single digits however, so that may not be the way they go. There should be a solid grouping of guys like Tyler Clippard and Alex Colome left at the end however, and those pacts should fall within the same range as the Colome deal. Dating back to 2015 Major League Baseball has shifted a pitching philosophy to a construction of an elite bullpen. How teams get there or create that though, are all made differently. The reality is that often times the mega deals for relievers go up in smoke (hello Wade Davis), and understanding how to best utilize what’s in front of you is the easiest path to success. There’s no denying that a group including Hand or Hendriks has a safer floor on paper, but it all comes down to execution. On their own the Twins organization has turned Tyler Duffey into one of the best relievers in baseball. Taylor Rogers has looked the part of a lock down piece, and it was his recent seasons in the pen that got Trevor May paid. Edwar Colina could join this group, and Jorge Alcala has already flashed that promise. Sure, Minnesota hasn’t made any big splashes for their bullpen, but it’s probably more about what’s going on behind the scenes and the execution of who the tab, rather than the exciting names, that get the job done. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

2020 brought us an unprecedented number of dead periods in terms of Major League Baseball action. We had a pause in Spring Training, a shortened season, and now into 2021 are in the midst of an offseason moving at a glacial pace. Thankfully, Topps has paved the way.As the exclusive license holder for Major League Baseball trading cards, Topps has reinvigorated a hobby that has seen peaks and valleys over the decades. Although baseball cards haven’t quite reached the heights of football and basketball cardboard, the New York based company has been a pioneer with innovation and that’s been no more evident than over the past 365 days. I caught up with Communications Manager Emily Kless recently to talk about the state of the hobby, Topps’ response during the pandemic, and what exciting ventures lie ahead. Twins Daily: We experienced some unprecedented events in 2020, and most notably for a company dealing with logistics, the hurdles a pandemic created. How did that impact Topps' ability to produce and create product? Emily Kless: 2020 was certainly a challenging one, but to see all departments at Topps flex their creative muscles and find a way to get product to collectors was encouraging throughout the entire year. Each internal team, from shipping to production, brand management to our Licensing group, were all affected in various ways. However, we were able to navigate the everchanging current to produce a successful 2020. TD: What is one of the biggest takeaways from the challenges 2020 created, and maybe what is a hurdle that now is being worked on to address for the future? EK: Between the combination of supply chain restraints, the influx of orders, new customers and popularity Topps has seen this year, our Customer Service channels have taken on a heavy workload. We understand this is the case and are proactively working to get our customer orders fulfilled as soon as possible to keep collectors happy. TD: There's a handful of different reasons to pin the resurgence of card collecting on, but what would you attribute the growth of the hobby to in 2020 and where do you see it going from here? Is there a worry things may change again as people return to other activities? EK: While the COVID-19 pandemic created a difficult year for so many, one thing that was able to bring people together was Topps cards. Many individuals rekindled their love for trading cards as they found themselves at home looking for things to entertain and delight the entire family. Old shoe boxes of baseball cards came out of the attic and feelings of nostalgia comforted so many with every 2.5” by 3.5” piece of cardboard. Putting 2020 aside, Topps has seen tremendous and consistent growth over the past decade, so while we can attribute the resurgence to a number of factors, one thing is certain: trading cards were hot before the pandemic forced the nation to shut down, and the hunger for Topps cards is not going away any time soon. TD: With a calendar planned months in advance, Topps created multiple new product lines this year. What were your favorite undertakings and were there any new brands that did exceptionally well or surpassed expectations? EK: A personal favorite of mine from 2020 was Allen & Ginter Chrome. The colors and design popped so well in our Chrome technology, and it quickly became a highly sought-after product. Of course, Project 2020 changed the game, reimagining what a trading card could be. Seeing the way collectors approached the set – from collecting all of a particular artist to all cards of a particular player – was especially encouraging because of the amount of conversation Project 2020 helped produce. Download attachment: 21TBB1_1004_FR.jpg TD: Looking ahead to 2021 and the 70th anniversary of baseball cards, how has the momentum gained in the past year helped to set up what should be an exciting milestone? It's kicking off with the Rip Party, can you tell us more about that? EK: If you’re looking for a night of big names and baseball cards, the Topps Series 1 Rip Party is a can’t miss event! We’re kicking off the official celebration of 70 Years of Topps Baseball with the Rip Party, where distinguished guests will open up packs throughout the decades of Topps (some from the decades in which they played), as well as highlight the 2021 Series 1 collection (a day before the product is officially released!). The Series 1 Rip Party will culminate with the first-ever Breaker Showcase, where four Breakers will battle it out in a three 10-min round competition to take home the prized Platinum Box Cutter. Collectors can also join a break from any one of our Topps Official Breakers in order to begin collecting Series 1 a day early. Select Breakers will be able to open Series 1 on their channels during “After Hours,” which begins at 9 pm ET immediately following the Rip Party. For more information and to see the full list of Breakers, collectors can visit: www.topps.com/rip-party, as well as follow @Topps on social media for the latest news and to watch the Rip Party! TD: Topps has long been a leader in innovation, and collaboration was the name of the game in 2020. Going from Topps Now offerings to the entirety of Project 2020 and curated sets, was that always an intentional direction or did the success of a specific product create that desire. Anything we should be on the lookout for this year? EK: Topps prides itself on innovation, and 2020 certainly saw a lot of it. With the success of collaborations like Project 2020 and Steve Aoki’s curated set, Throwing Cake, collectors can expect to see impressive names added to the ever-growing list of Topps partners in 2021. Topps is excited to continue the momentum, continue breaking the mold, and continue innovating and producing products that both rookie and veteran collectors will love. TD: If there's one thing about baseball cards in 2021 that you're looking forward to, what is it? A new product? The rookie class? Continued hobby growth? EK: Hitting me with the tough questions, Ted! It’s quite impossible to narrow down one thing in particular, but rather, I’d like to take a step back and appreciate that Topps has paved the way for baseball cards for 70 YEARS! To be celebrating our 70th Anniversary of Series 1 is something that is quite remarkable and hopefully gets collectors excited, because they, too, are a part of this history. This entire year will be a celebration of Topps, which you’ll see shine through in our various products. TD: Finally, as more people get curious about baseball cards and collecting in general, what would you tell them about the offerings Topps brings to the table as a whole, and where is a good place for them to start the adventure? EK: When we say there is something for everyone at Topps… there is something for EVERYONE at Topps! From dollar packs to high-end products, from MLB to WWE, Star Wars, and everything in between, Topps brings a unique portfolio of products at varying price points to appeal to all types of collectors. Topps.com continually offers new and exciting products, which is a great place to start a collection. We also encourage collectors to visit their local hobby shops, where they’ll find friendly faces with a wealth of knowledge who are passionate about Topps cards. Topps believes collecting is for everyone, and we encourage collectors to join in on the 70th Anniversary celebration fun by ripping open some packs and becoming part of the hobby community! MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

This afternoon the Minnesota Twins made their first big splash of the winter in signing former Yankees starter J.A. Happ. He’s nothing flashy by any means, but the $8 million pact will move the salary needle. Here’s the deal with Happ, he was passable in 2020 and his Baseball Savant metrics paint a prettier picture than a 4.57 FIP can (even with a 3.47 ERA). He was victimized by the longball at Yankee Stadium more often than he has been previously in his career, but he’s just a modest strikeout pitcher. Ultimately, he takes the place of Rich Hill on the 2021 Twins club and there’s nothing wrong with that. If Wes Johnson can utilize Happ as a 5th starter that eats innings and keeps the offense within striking distance, he’ll make turns all season long. If he posts a 5.00+ FIP a la 2019 he could be a candidate to be bumped when Randy Dobnak or one of the other prospects force their way into the picture. It’s not glamorous, but it doesn’t preclude them from making any other moves. Minnesota still needs a better arm in the rotation, and I have made the point since the beginning of winter that a trade seemed likely for a rotation arm. With Happ in the fold, I’m more confident than ever it will happen. Assuming Nelson Cruz is eventually brought back as the team’s designated hitter, plopping down $12 million or so on Jake Odorizzi becomes less feasible. A controllable starter still in arbitration can be had for less, and the prospect capital is where the spend comes. I don’t think Derek Falvey and Thad Levine will fill out their bench solely with internal options, and at least one other relief arm still needs to be acquired. By allowed something like $14 million after a Cruz deal, there’s enough left on the bone to make a handful of different directions work. Right now, just one of the four open spots on the 40-man roster has been utilized, and there could be more opened up with a player in that group sent as part of any package. There’s less than a month until Spring Training is supposed to kick off, and I told you it would be busy. For more from Off the Baggy, click her. Follow @tlschwerz

Despite being less than a month from Spring Training (or at least as it’s presently scheduled) there’s still something like 75% of eligible free agents unsigned across baseball. Huge names like Bauer and Springer are homeless, and the Minnesota Twins specifically have four empty spots on their 40-man roster. Moves are coming, but who and when? I’ve thrown out a handful of names in this space as well as on Twitter this offseason, and now I’ll put some pen to paper. Using the Twins Daily created TwinsPayroll.com I plugged in names to a roster matrix. This would probably be a mix of what I’d like to see happen, and what I think is feasible. Starting Lineup Ultimately, I believe Nelson Cruz is back as the Twins designated hitter. That worries me as time is undefeated and he struggled down the stretch against fastballs in 2020. However, the fit is there, and I don’t know that we see a universal DH in 2021 (which is too bad). I’m hoping Minnesota avoids a two-year deal, and maybe an option for 2022 is enough to get that done. If it’s not Cruz, I’d prefer a two- or three-year pact with Marcel Ozuna or Michael Brantley. Both of them have positional flexibility, and a bit more long-term belief. It should be a no-brainer that Alex Kirilloff will take over for Eddie Rosario in left field. Sure, the Twins could play the service time game, but that would be short-sighted given their window of contention right now. Allow him to make his $600k and roll with your best option out there. There’s still plenty of reason to believe that Trevor Story could be a very good fit for this club through trade, and someone from the pool of Gregorious, Semien, or Simmons makes sense as well. I like the idea of one-year deals with the current roster construction, and there’s no reason why moving Jorge Polanco off of shortstop is a bad thing. Bench Ryan Jeffers is about the only player I’m confident in from this group. He and Mitch Garver should create a very solid backstop tandem, even if they’re both right-handed hitters. Jake Cave would make sense as the fourth outfielder, although I’d like to see Brent Rooker’s bat somewhere. Minnesota needs a utility player and signing either Kike Hernandez or Tommy La Stella is a good get there. I like Jurickson Profar the most of that group, but think he’ll get paid more than he’s ultimately worth. If you’re filling out the roster with an additional utility type, Travis Blankenhorn makes a lot of sense internally. I have no idea how this front office views former first-round pick Nick Gordon, but it would make sense for him to be in the conversation as well after a solid second season at Triple-A. The missed time in 2020 did him no favors, however. Starting Rotation There should be no pushback on Minnesota needing to acquire a fourth starter. The top three are solid and set, but another arm is a must. From the jump Jake Odorizzi looked like the second-best starter behind Trevor Bauer on the free agent market. He’s still out there, and there’s been buzz from other organizations having interest, but it would be nice to see him return healthy to the Twins. I still wonder if there’s not a good bit of reason to believe this arm could be acquired via trade, and anyone from Jon Gray to Sonny Gray could be exciting. Randy Dobnak has pitched himself into the conversation for earned starts, and whether that begins 2021 in the big-league rotation or as a first man up type, he should see plenty of work. Minnesota will likely unveil one or both of Jordan Balazovic and Jhoan Duran this season but pushing all of those arms back a bit with starting depth seems necessary. Bullpen Although he’s the hometown guy, I’m not necessarily particular to Brad Hand. I do think someone of that ilk is a must though, and Trevor Rosenthal fits the bill. There are probably just three spots left to fill out the relief corps, and Cody Stashak should absolutely claim one of them. Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have targeted a few waiver claims in the form of Ian Gibault and Brandon Waddell but there may only be room for one. Looking for this year’s Matt Wisler, the spring slate should sort that out. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

Jan. 14 is perhaps the most significant day in recent Minnesota sports history. In 2018 it was the date of the Minneapolis Miracle, and two years later it would host the signing of Josh Donaldson. That was the end to a busy offseason. Now, it’s just the beginning.When Derek Falvey and Thad Levine inked Donaldson to a four-year deal that will pay out a franchise free agent record $100 million, he was the 41-player tied to the Minnesota 40-man roster. With minor league additions and veterans brought in before him, a move would need to be made in order to accommodate his presence. It was ultimately Ryne Harper that was DFA’d in order to clear room and the roster would then be set. Although 2020 would not commence on schedule as planned, Spring Training got underway without a hitch and the 2019 Bomba Squad knew what they were bringing to the table. In 2021 we’re a month away from the slated Spring Training report date, and despite not yet having concrete rules, Minnesota couldn’t be less in order from a roster standpoint. As things stand today the Twins have just 36 players on their 40-man roster. There are a few spots that could probably be finagled with if need be, but four openings is a massive amount for a team with legitimate Major League holes to fill. Maybe the incomplete nature of the roster is bad news, but then the good news is that roughly 80% of free agents are still unsigned and available. In other words, buckle up. We have seen a certain process play out for this front office over the course of their time in charge. They have been patient, calculated, and methodical. It’s a processed based approach that looks for the fit to happen within their developmental process rather than fitting how Minnesota now does things around a specific player. With that being said, there’s any number of logical trade fits that could make sense based on roster construction. On top of that, it remains a matter of when they’ll dip their toes into the waters of free agency as well. Earlier this week I considered the process of future financial flexibility being a possible workaround to monetary constraints in the season ahead. It doesn’t necessarily decrease payroll from a bottom-line perspective but acquiring players on one-year contracts in an unprecedented situation feels much more workable than the grudgingly accepted scenarios both Logan Morrison and Lance Lynn found themselves in a couple of years ago. Rounding out a team of heigh ceiling reinforcements could make a lot of sense if there’s a hesitancy due to money or an expiring CBA in 2022. We’re still going to be in a wait and see pattern for the Twins right now, but every indication suggests a flurry of moves are being loaded up for. Exactly one month ago Jeff Passan suggested Minnesota was seen as a team to watch. Although it’s still hard to fathom a seamless and traditional Spring Training in just four weeks, time for player acquisition is coming to a head. Falvey will begin to utilize those open roster spots if for no other reason because logic says that’s how it must play out. Given the glacial pace of the offseason, an average of an acquisition per week would be a breakneck pace. This winter Major League Baseball has done itself no favors when it comes to staying in an otherwise stale sports news cycle. With the ability to dominate the headlines through player movement, there’s been just a handful of teams that have made any sort of noise. It’s easy to crown teams’ champions of the offseason, but that holds even less weight when so many have yet to fie any of their ammo. We’re about to see what the Twins have been waiting for, and that along should be quite the appetizer for a season that will reintroduce a chief rival and look for a much-needed Postseason victory. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

As things stand right now the Minnesota Twins have what can be considered an incomplete 26-man roster. There’s work yet to be done, as there is for most teams in baseball, and the front office may find favor in one-year agreements for 2021. The reality right now is that teams are using the lack of traditional revenues as reasons to spend less for the 2021 Major League Baseball season. On top of that, there’s uncertainty regarding the 2022 season due to an expiring CBA and the previous history between the league and Players Association. While the Twins may see reduced payroll as a way forward in terms of financial flexibility, one-year deals may be an outlier allowing them to still maximize a competitive window. It’s a pretty hard sell for the Pohlad’s to suggest they are committed to winning while instructing Derek Falvey and Thad Levine to take their foot off the gas in the midst of developmental emergence. This organization signed their biggest free agent in history just last offseason, and not pairing him with more talent as the home-grown group has emerged would be a head-scratcher at best. While it wouldn’t necessarily reduce the bill for 2021, removing future monetary commitment is a practice that makes some sense this time around. Think back to 2018 for a moment. Minnesota made a splash with Spring Training already underway. In a less than ideal market for both players, the secured the services of Lance Lynn and Logan Morrison. Both players came in a bit disgruntled at the process they witnessed over the winter, and their output left plenty to be desired. At that time, the suggestion of hired hitman brought forth the discussion as to whether chemistry was ever truly able to be established. With a different set of parameters this time around, a similar plan could be truly beneficial. Thus far the only deal of consequence for Minnesota has been the acquisition of former Angels closer Hansel Robles on a one-year deal. Internally, he joins Michael Pineda as a free agent following the 2021 season. There’s a sunk cost already with Josh Donaldson, and then much of the Twins roster is on team-friendly extensions, or just into the arbitration process. In short, there’s not much of a massive monetary leap year over year from what’s already committed to. Enter the onslaught of one-year deals. Kris Bryant for $18 million, yep, sure. Trevor Story at the same price, why not. How about Sonny Gray for just over $10 million, or Jon Gray coming in just under $6 million. The reality is that while all of those players are substantially more costly than a prospect at the league minimum, the future financial fear is off the table. You could add Nelson Cruz and his $16 million ask to this group as well. The point isn’t that the money is inconsequential, but that you’d be maximizing your opportunity while still having flexibility in the seasons ahead. For years Major League organizations have seen record growth and financial dividends. 2020 provided an unprecedented halt to those trends, but the reality for the vast majority of the league is that a profit was still turned. Having the ability to regain that opportunity in the near future remains a priority for ownership, and this would give them a clear vision to see that come to fruition. Players in the final year of contracts, and especially those with hefty price tags, should not require a ransom be paid in exchange for their services. The Rockies Story is an elite talent, but plenty of Minnesota’s system should stay intact. Bryant would seemingly have even less of a required package, and the same could be said about Colorado’s Gray. I don’t know how Falvey and Levine will navigate these waters when they finally dip their oars in, but this seems like a plausible path forward. In a traditional cycle I’d be less interested in a team full of short-term reinforcements. If it means that talent is bolstered and payroll flexibility is still to be achieved, this could be a blueprint that satisfies all needs. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

While Major League Baseball free agency has done its best to resemble a pace that would make even a glacier blush, the reality is that the regular season is just around the corner. The Minnesota Twins still have holes to fill, and at least one trade still seems likely.Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have shown a patience during their tenure with the Twins, and whether picking a right spot for a swap, or jumping in late on a free agent, they’ve been extremely calculated. The market as a whole has really worked to feel players out, and Minnesota’s front office should be expected to continue a similar process. This duo has had success on the trade market though and finding a dance partner matches up in plenty of key areas heading into the 2021 season. Knowing there’s both offense and pitching needs to address, here’s the top five players the Twins could trade for in order of impact. 1. Colorado Rockies Trevor Story Francisco Lindor was going to appear in this space as well, but he's reportedly headed to the New York Mets. A trade within the division of that magnitude always seemed unlikely anyways. Story can come over from the National League however, and would give the Twins one of the best hitting infielders in baseball. He's no slouch with the glove, but it's the power bat that puts up gaudy numbers as well. There's always a slight concern leaving the elevation of Coors Field, but D.J. LeMahieu has certainly had no issues. 2. Cincinnati Reds Luis Castillo or Sonny Gray Both from the same team, but with substantially different ramifications. Luis Castillo looks the part of a Cy Young pitcher waiting to happen. He’s just 28 and should be entering his prime, while having already evolved into a strikeout machine with some of the best peripherals in baseball. He’s under team control through the 2023 season, and you can expect to break the prospect bank in an attempt to acquire him. It seemed likely that a resurgence was to be expected for Gray once he got out of the Cracker Jack box that is Yankee Stadium. He’s ratcheted up the strikeout tallies each of the past two years but has always danced around some free passes. 31 and with a team option in 2023, Gray has more of a monetary commitment but is a pitcher that would see at least an equal payday on the open market. With the Reds clearly motivated to move assets, either option would represent a substantial rotation upgrade for the Twins. 3. Pittsburgh Pirates Joe Musgrove Down in the middle of the list only because of what he’s done thus far, Musgrove looks like a pitcher waiting to be rescued from the Pirates keep. He just recently turned 28 and isn’t a free agent until 2023. The strikeouts took a huge leap in 2020 and his FIP has always outperformed what the defense behind him has allowed. Matched with a mastermind pitching coach in the form of Wes Johnson, I’d hardly be shocked if Musgrove didn’t end up being one of the best arms in baseball. He’s not going to turn into Gerrit Cole, but he may be the next best thing. 4. Chicago Cubs Javier Baez or Kris Bryant If the Twins are intent on dealing for infield help, there’s no reason not to call the Chicago Cubs. Javier Baez had a dreadful 2020, but he was coming off two seasons of a combined .865 OPS prior to that. He’s a premier shortstop with an incredibly high ceiling at the plate. He’s not cheap in that he’ll make somewhere around $11 million in 2021, and he’s set to become a free agent after the year. Still, as a brother-in-law to Jose Berrios, pairing those two together in Minnesota could be a nice bit of roster construction. The allure for Bryant is more based around assumption than present reality. You absolutely have to believe he’s not cooked and that the shoulder will hold up. If that’s true, there’s an offensive stud here and he acts as insurance for both Josh Donaldson at third base, and Alex Kirilloff in left field. Despite seeming to have drawn ire for quite some time, 2020 was his first down year, and his health has been the chief concern. The former Rookie of the Year is a free agent following the season, but the Cubs selloff could make him more available than expected. 5. Colorado Rockies Jon Gray There was some belief that the Rockies may simply non-tender Gray and allow him to be a free agent. That didn’t happen and the former first round pick is back after posting a 6.69 ERA last season. The 4.18 FIP dating back to 2018 isn’t going to open many eyes, but that number was 3.46 through his first 58 MLB starts. Gray has been a consistent strikeout pitcher with a heavy fastball and a change of scenery could be what is necessary to unlock his full potential. German Marquez has figured it out in Colorado while Gray has not, plucking him a year before he heads into free agency could be a nice move with him banking on building value. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

I'm not sure he's worth more than Nola, but believe that was the stance when the Phillies gave him that deal. He's definitely worth more than Severino. I just think this is probably the last offseason you can lock him up, team friendly or not.

Coincidentally I am writing this on the exact same date I suggested a similar result last year. The Minnesota Twins have not effectively developed a starting pitcher in quite some time, and with Jose Berrios being the best thing to happen in that period, locking him up long term makes some sense. Last year the suggestion came on the heels of extensions for the Phillies Aaron Nola and Yankees Luis Severino. Those were both four-year extensions and paid $45 and $40 million apiece respectively. Going into 2021 Berrios is entering his second year of arbitration eligibility. For 2021 he’ll pitch for $5.6 million, just over a $1.5 million increase from his 2020 salary. With a final year of arbitration eligibility in 2022, he should see a number get very near the $10 million mark. Coming off somewhat of a down season, Berrios posted a 4.00 ERA for the first time in his career. It was just a 12-game sample size and the 5.92 ERA through his first five turns really did him in. From that point he posted a 2.79 ERA across 38.2 IP and allowed opposing batters just a .598 OPS the final seven times he took the mound. Over the past few seasons velocity has been a chief concern regarding Berrios’ output. Having focused on an offseason training regimen that builds endurance to withstand the rigors of a full season, Minnesota had keyed in on their Puerto Rican starter being able to avoid his August and September swoon. We never got to see that in action during 2020 due to the truncated season, but the 9.7 K/9 was a career high, and a 94.9 mph average fastball velocity also topped the charts. Jose is still just 26 years old and will turn 27 shortly after the 2021 campaign gets underway. He should just now be entering his prime, and looking for him to take another step forward remains a key focus for the Twins. If that should happen, he could find himself among the Cy Young conversation for the first time in his career, and knocking on the door of a big payday, that’s hardly a bad resume builder. Minnesota has recently locked up Jorge Polanco, Max Kepler, and Miguel Sano. Although there’s been suggestion of a slightly decreased payroll, future cost certainty is always of importance to organizations, and Berrios provides a very compelling opportunity. Both Kepler and Polanco took what appear to be team friendly deals. The Twins had to rebuild some favor with Jose and did so in the form of a $500k incentive this offseason. Maybe there’s a middle ground where the two sides can hammer out something more substantial. Even if Jose Berrios never develops into a bonafide ace for the Twins, pitchers of his caliber don’t come around too often, and he’s going to get paid handsomely on the open market. If there’s a way for Derek Falvey and Thad Levine to keep him around long time, exploring that option this offseason makes a good deal of sense. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

After the Minnesota Twins signed veteran reliever Hansel Robles to a Major League deal this offseason, their 40-man roster was down to just four openings. Needing significant reinforcements still, it’s a good bet that addition by subtraction could be coming. By my estimation Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have no less than players yet to acquire, but a more comfortable reality is probably in the ballpark of six. With that in mind, a shortage on 40-man spots becomes a reality, and swinging a deal including a player from that group makes some sense. As things stand today, with Minnesota having made virtually no moves of any real substance, I’d think they need no less than two infield/utility types, another relief arm, and at least one starting pitcher. You can push the argument for a second starting arm, as well as another reliever, and the designated hitter vacancy still must be filled. That’s anywhere from four to seven fresh faces. So, what happens next? There’s been plenty of talk regarding the Twins making a move for a shortstop. In that scenario Jorge Polanco can either become a utility option, or he assumes the role of starting second basemen and Luis Arraez goes into flux. I like Arraez moving around a bit more, though he’s also been noted as a trade chip. Regardless of how it shakes out, there’s two 40-man players currently waiting on standby. When looking at the arms, it’s hard to see many that won’t fit. Both Ian Gibaut and Brandon Waddell we’re claimed off waivers and are penciled onto the big-league roster as of now. It’s fair to believe one of them could be upgraded, but neither should be looked at as a trade chip. Both top pitching prospects Jhoan Duran and Jordan Balazovic are on the 40-man, so if either are swapped for a veteran asset, that’s one way to create a net-zero addition. There’s little incentive to outright LaMonte Wade and Gilberto Celestino has had plenty of positive talk the past few months among outfielders. Willians Astudillo isn’t really a catcher despite being included in that grouping, but Ben Rortvedt may not be an ideal leap from Double-A being more of a defense only asset at this point. If there’s a position player not expected to be on the Major League roster that gets included in a trade, I think it’s former first round draft pick Nick Gordon. Over the course of his pro career Gordon has followed a pretty consistent path in that he’s succeeded the second time through a level. He’s no longer much for prospect status, and he’s not a shortstop anymore either. Gordon won’t bump either Arraez or Polanco off second base, and I don’t know that his bat does enough to be the utility guy. I believe there’s a legitimate big-league player here but have contended for a while it will come in a different organization. Now may be the time. When the dust settles, I think the most likely position Minnesota trades for is starting pitching. Jake Odorizzi would be a good addition, but they aren’t getting Trevor Bauer and everyone else has their own warts to consider. Plucking from another organization and swapping prospect capital looks like a pretty good fit. I’d be surprised if we saw just a straightforward addition of four new players and throwing a trade in allows a good opportunity to tweak the 40-man openings. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

It is often suggested that World Series championships aren’t won in the offseason, and that remains to be a tried-and-true statement. The Padres are the cream of the crop this winter, and Minnesota has no reason not to follow their lead.Just two years ago the San Diego Padres won just 66 games. Jump ahead another season and they won 70 in what seemed like a promising year, a second straight campaign with 90 losses. In a pandemic altered 2020 they leapt forward to the tune of a 37-win tally, or what can be extrapolated to a 99-win pace over 162 games. They had arrived, and then General Manager A.J. Preller decided he wanted more. For the past few seasons San Diego has developed and drafted their talent. Fernando Tatis Jr. is a superstar. They have among the best farm systems in the game. Supplementing took place in the form of Manny Machado. Once it became clear they were ready, Mike Clevinger, Blake Snell, and Yu Darvish were all added to the mix while keeping the bulk of their prospects intact. Call Preller a magician if you must, but what he’s really doing is orchestrating opportunity. Enter the Minnesota Twins. After an ugly 103 loss campaign in 2016, the Paul Molitor-led group responded to win 85 games a year later. While a step forward, it was clear Molitor wasn’t the man for a front office led by Derek Falvey and Thad Levine, so waiting for their opportunity made sense. In 2019 the group went gangbusters in year one under Rocco Baldelli, setting offensive records and winning 101 games. They signed Josh Donaldson in the offseason and now were pushing chips in. Following 36 wins a year ago, questions surround the offseason and it’s becoming time for some answers. The markets in Minnesota and San Diego are not all that dissimilar. Back in 2019 Statista reported revenues for the Padres of $299 million. The team directly behind them? Minnesota, at $297 million. Last year the Padres prorated payroll checked in 11th in baseball, at $73 million, while the Twins came in 17th (just below league average) at $55 million. A year before that however, San Diego was 24th at $104 million while Minnesota was 18th at $125 million. Winter is hardly over, and to be quite frank we don’t even have agreed upon rules for the 2021 season at this point, but the reality is that it’s time for the Twins to step up. There’s been rumblings that Minnesota is lurking and ready to make some splashes, but that absolutely has to turn into reality. Marcus Semien would be a great addition. The return of Nelson Cruz makes sense. Jake Odorizzi could be a fit and swinging some deals for more starting pitching should be on the docket as well. For teams in mid-market capacities as the Twins are, there is an importance to have prospects pan out. The cost certainty and effectiveness of pre-arbitration money is necessary. What makes be perfectly executed however, is understanding which prospects contribute to a window and which ones bring benefit as tradeable assets. It’s hard to stomach dealing names like Alex Kirilloff, Royce Lewis, or Trevor Larnach. Unless they coincide in the midst of similar opportunity however, their value becomes one of diminishing returns. The idea for the Twins is not to swap out every top prospect for proven commodities, but instead to dissect, deploy, and disperse those unproven assets in the most effective way. Preller accomplished talent acquisition at an extremely high level while still holding onto the greatest parts of his farm system. Minnesota doesn’t have the same top end or depth as San Diego, but there’s definitely pieces that would warrant a real and substantial return. I have no problem with the front office believing in their infrastructure; they’ve proven that it can bear fruit. I can believe in Ian Gibault or Brandon Waddell becoming the next Matt Wisler because of the track record the staff has established. What has to happen beyond there is the acquisition of already high ceiling players that can then shoulder the load and potentially take more steps forward. Baseball is not a sport in which one or two players can carry an entire club to a championship. Minnesota has one of the stronger groups in the sport prior to making these necessary moves. Adding more top end talent, even if that comes at the cost of future prospect production or additional payroll commitments, is where this club finds itself needing to execute. It won’t be on Royce Lewis or Jordan Balazovic to end a Postseason skid a couple of years from now. The opportunity to make a real run with significant talent is right now, and commitment is something necessary to be seen from the Pohlad family right on through the front office. San Diego has created their opportunity and are now pushing the envelope. It’s not something that Minnesota is out of their league in doing, and it’s best they get out of their element and do it. MORE FROM TWINS DAILY — Latest Twins coverage from our writers — Recent Twins discussion in our forums — Follow Twins Daily via Twitter, Facebook or email Click here to view the article

We’re about to close the book on one of the craziest years in my lifetime. At 30 years old, I’ve hardly seen as much as the next person, but to say this calendar was filled with unprecedented events would be putting it lightly. Through it all though, we had baseball, and that was a distraction I know that I needed. I remember many months ago now, waking up from a nap and looking at my phone. There was an alert from ESPN noting that Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter accident. As I processed that, it didn’t hit me as to what the magnitude I’d feel from that event would be. Kobe was a cultural icon, more than just a basketball player, and despite being a Jordan guy he was an athlete I respected. From there, things got worse. I’ll never forget sitting in Pott’s Sports Café in Fort Myers, Florida on March 13. The night before Rudy Gobert had tested positive for Coronavirus and the NBA effectively closed its doors. Covering the Twins Spring Training, things seemed ominous that morning as teams had already gone to distancing fans from players with roped off areas. By noon, Major League Baseball had put a halt on all operations. I hopped a flight and headed home. Since that day, I have not returned to the office for my day job. We’ve dealt with closings of restaurants, public spaces, wearing masks, and plenty of other new versions of normal. Minneapolis experienced extreme racial unrest as the city turned into a warzone. There’s been political and social unrest, and countless other prominent figures that have now left us. For a brief four-month period though, there was baseball. Leading up to the regular season we watched as the commissioner and ownership groups publicly tore down their players in an effort to squeeze profits through what would be a different year. There was uncertainty as to whether a season would be played at all and writing about the sport took a different turn. There was no minor league action to cover, and in months there typically would have been action, an ability to get creative was necessary. As the dust settled though, we had the resumption of a game. Teams were diligent in their efforts to avoid Covid-19 outbreaks, the play on the field checked in at a high level, and the Los Angeles Dodgers won a World Series. Back in early summer, none of that seemed remotely possible. More than any other year, I needed this out. I lost my grandpa to cancer in August, and the day following his funeral my 59-year-old father died in a car accident. I’ve spent more time in a cemetery over the past three months than I have during the entire duration of my life. I know that my challenges in 2020 are not alone, and that this year has been trying on so many. Financial distress, learning to cope with new working situations, understanding how to handle a certain level of social isolation, the totality of it all is not lost on anyone. At the end of the day though, it was this, a child’s game, that provided a reprieve. We’ll have baseball again, the world will heal, and we can all be better and stronger people for what we have overcome. It will forever be a passion to break down the effectiveness of Jorge Polanco at shortstop, or whether Jose Berrios will round into a bonafide ace. Even if you take away that type of consumption though, the purity of a game, the crack of the bat, and the smell of fresh cut grass will always be an inviting escape. Thank you for venturing on this journey with me, and I look forward to a more consistent level of normalcy in the months ahead. Below you’ll also find some of my favorite pieces from this season. Women in Baseball Series Kobe Was So Much More than Basketball Byron Buxton's Next Great Act Art Proving Unexpected Outlet to Fill the Baseball Void What's Happening at the Alternate Site? For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz

I don't think the Twins land Bauer, which means I'd agree with you. Ultimately I'd like to see Odorizzi and a trade for Musgrove, Gray, Castillo, or Sonny Gray

Update: It appears that the Padres will be also landing Yu Darvish from the Cubs. While that takes a target away from the Twins, they have less competition on the Reds front. Arms like Joe Musgrove and Jon Gray also remain enticing. Late on Sunday night the market for starting pitching pursuits took a drastic change. After the Tampa Bay Rays had announced they’d make Blake Snell available, the San Diego Padres decided to cap off their Christmas weekend with a blockbuster trade. This provides a blueprint for the Minnesota Twins, and also removes some potential competition. Thus far during the offseason things have been quit from the Derek Falvey and Thad Levine camp. Minnesota has made a few smaller moves on the reliever front, but they have not addressed their rotation or lineup. For what seems like weeks we’ve now heard about the Twins being a team potential waiting in the weeds and ready to strike. One big name discussed has been that of Marcus Semien, but it remains true that starting pitching is a must. You can probably bet on veteran Rich Hill not being a guy brought back for 2021, and while Jake Odorizzi looks like one of the best arms not named Trevor Bauer, he will have some options. For Minnesota, sustainability could be the key and finding a trade partner with an arm having some team control could be as enticing as anything. Although it’s not known to what extent Minnesota may have been intrigued by Snell, the reality is he’s a good pitcher and was available. At the very least that made the two organizations a match. Following that logic, the Cubs and Yu Darvish as well as the Reds and their arms Luis Castillo or Sonny Gray could all be fits. Darvish comes with the hefty price tag, while both Gray and Castillo are more affordable options that should command a premium in prospect capital. It’s fine to still call this relatively early in the offseason, but the reality is that we’re over the halfway point. Despite the fact that Rob Manfred still hasn’t solidified the 2021 Major League Baseball schedule and we still have no idea what the exact set of rules are going to be, time is not waiting, and Spring Training will soon be around the corner. Minnesota’s front office hasn’t been afraid of being a last-minute suitor, but getting guys acclimate could hold some weight given how the Lance Lynn and Logan Morrison moves ultimately worked out. When the Padres decided to spring for Snell with a package centered around their second-best pitching prospect, they effectively took themselves out of any discussion regarding another deal. The money is still there for them to target Trevor Bauer, but they don’t seem likely to move Mackenzie Gore or C.J. Abrams, so swapping for another top arm would be difficult. This benefits the Twins as it’s one less club vying for the same prizes. Given the organization he played for it was probably a near-guarantee that Snell would be moved. I think Chicago still flips Darvish, but Jed Hoyer will want to get his first big move right. Castillo and Gray don’t necessarily need to be shipped out, but Cincinnati appears intent on tearing it down after a one-year run at going for it. Asking Minnesota to be engaged on all of those fronts is hardly a leap. It’s not yet clear where the Twins will turn, but I’d bet a decent amount that they have plenty of irons in the fire, and it’s clear there’s a decent amount of smoke. Having a better bargaining position than they did yesterday, and also a representative idea of a framework, Falvey and Levine have more clarity now than they may have a few days ago. For more from Off The Baggy, click here. Follow @tlschwerz