Squirrel

They can still talk, as I said, but until the lockout is lifted no one can go back to work, no one can be at their team’s facility, there is no communication with players. I’m not even sure how this affects the process of getting work visas, but I think all of that doesn’t happen until the lockout ends. The players are barred from everything. It signals an unwillingness.

Well, I have been involved in many labor disputes ... it actually doesn't take much to come to an agreement once you want to come to an agreement. Usually both sides agree in principle to things, but the actual document takes a while to come together as the 'wordsmithing' between lawyers is worked out. We've used stenographers in our negotiating sessions so the note taking of who said what and who agreed to what is clear for the process of lawyers actually hashing out the document. Work can go on when there is an agreement even if the actual document isn't ready for a couple of months. But ... both sides have to be willing. And, the owners need to end the lockout. It doesn't matter if you believe the players refused to negotiate, the owners still called the lockout, so they need to end it. There can be talks, but the owners have to agree to end the lockout. And both sides have to be willing to come to the table and willing to negotiate in good faith. They could be headed toward an agreement tomorrow, if they wanted, and the players on the field the next day, if they wanted.

Yes

You need to add a choice 'Yes'

They're getting closer ... not close enough yet ... but ... hopefully before too long ... like a prospect, will they make the jump to the majors this year? https://apnews.com/article/mlb-sports-los-angeles-dodgers-baseball-625898797547e5d4de140755ba9cd0ee?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=AP_Sports&fbclid=IwAR3QLj-vX6Y8XE0KcfSFQJW4jidr9eL_v9VGvgumJQN2QnEmMQ37vQp2sgo

I can't choose just one ... I really can't ... Killebrew ... but there is always a place in my heart for Eddie Rosario ❤️

A Rosenthal article in The Athletic. "If it happens, the outcome will be inexcusable for Major League Baseball, a sport competing for market share in an ever-expanding entertainment universe. Fans will gladly turn to other leagues and outlets if what was once a $10 billion industry cannot get out if its own way. And the antipathy toward baseball will be particularly acute in the middle of a pandemic that has lasted for nearly two years, exhausting the patience of millions of people in the process." https://theathletic.com/3078169/2022/01/19/rosenthal-the-pressure-is-mounting-mlb-cannot-afford-to-lose-games-this-season/?source=user_shared_article&fbclid=IwAR0cegpm8r-vP50KzIDJJpoXZqXTkpT8gHTGLc_bEcuqZT8rYP65vsfXDGc

One of TD’s strong points is talking about prospects and the minor leagues. No other site has this much comprehensive coverage and Seth et al do a really good job at it. Some of us like to follow these kids from start to finish, so to speak, so we really look forward to these off-season rankings and in-season coverage so when one of them finally gets there, we already know as much as we can to cheer them on. I get your ‘complaints’ about the Twins needing pitching, but honestly, this is where it starts. Or, we use these prospects to make a trade. It’s a huge part of the game. I suggest, for your own peace of mind, when you see an article with the word ‘prospect’ in the title, you ignore it. With nothing happening right now in baseball, this is pretty much all we have to read and discuss.

This thread isn't about Simmons. Stop it.

I edited my post to say LV or SLC … but lots of ifs in all of my ‘planning’. I just think expansion needs to make sense geographically, too, as well as a host of other things

If the cities would and could support a MLB team, I’d look for places that would fill in a geographical map. I don’t think we need more teams in the NE, SE or upper Midwest. I’d look to expand to Portland and Las Vegas (or SLC). But, again, these would have to have owners and a population to support this. Then I’d create 4 divisions of 8 teams. With that you could develop a playoff structure … maybe the top 2 or 4 from each division, and figure it out from there. Universal DH would mean no inter league play. Divisions would look something like this. West: Seattle, Portland, Oakland, San Francisco, dodgers, angels, San Diego, Phoenix central west: Las Vegas (or SLC), Houston, Arlington, St. Louis, KC, Minnesota, colorado, Milwaukee central East: cubs, ChiSox, Detroit, Toronto, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburg, Philly east: Boston, Mets, Yankees, DC, Baltimore, Atlanta, Miami, Tampa Edit to add … but before this, baseball needs to solve some of its other more pressing concerns first

He’s in the HoF as a Twin. I think that gets him his number retired.

Well, I'm not convinced it's a full rebuild. And yeah, we could be going into a partial season, but so far, I'm just going with the assumption, which could be wrong, that we will play most of the season. Given that those are my parameters, I don't think now is the time to move JD. There will be no takers for him unless we eat a ton of his salary, so moving him does not give us salary relief. If someone is willing to take on the salary, then I listen, but then we get nothing in returns. So I still think moving him midseason, hoping he performs well, is the best option for the best return. We don't know yet how Miranda's offense and defense will translate once he reaches the bigs. Until we do, it would be short-sighted to move JD now. Miranda is likely going to start the season in AAA and play the up and down shuffle until someone is traded - whether it's JD or Arraez. And since this is a thread about Arraez, and trading him, I think he is the best option to get someone decent in return, giving a space for Miranda. If we play the whole season, this is what I'm looking at. We can disagree, but this is how I look at it.

I still think, no ... the time to trade Donaldson is mid-season, especially if he's doing well and we're not. Miranda will have his opportunities going between the Twins and the Saints to start the year, unless we move Arraez. Donaldson was/is a big part of our offense. You cannot expect Miranda to just step into that ... RoY if he does, but that is not something you can expect. You keep Donaldson to start the season. Frankly, I really think these discussions that Miranda is the 'next coming for 3rd base' are premature. Let him get his feet wet at the big league level first, then decide what to do with JD, not before, and potentially be left with a gaping hole. That's my opinion, and I'm sticking to it!

Fully concur ... welcome to the boards!

I disagree, strongly. First, are we in a full-blown rebuild? Second, the time to move JD is midseason, especially if both he and Miranda are having strong seasons.

Trade them for what? Seriously ... do you expect to bring back pitching that will amount to anything, which is what we need? Honestly, this is really short-sighted. We don't know if Miranda will be major league capable, and yes, we need to get him in there. The time to trade Donaldson is mid-season if both he and Miranda are performing. Sano ... I have no answer for that one, but he will bring back nothing of need in a trade.

ftfy That's the cynic in me. To keep the fanbase engaged requires two things ... players fans want to root for and a winning team. Without pitching doubtful the latter will happen. While Arraez is a fan favorite, so are Polanco, Buxton, Donaldson (at least for me), Garver, Ryan and Ober ... and I think some of the up and comers could fill that void, too ... Miranda, for one. But I think the common point most, including you, are making ... depends on the return. And it does.

I thought we should have traded Arraez after his first season. If we are going to make a trade for pitching, we are going to have to give up someone and Arraez, in a package, is probably the best player to bring back something. But he is a favorite of many, so it would definitely hurt, but a great return could soften the blow

Rachel Balkovec becomes the first woman manager of the Yankees low-A team. From reading about her, it sounds well deserved. Congrats, Rachel ... you may be the first, but I hope not the last. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/every-mlb-teams-best-free-agent-signing-ever-ichiro-randy-johnson-barry-bonds-and-even-a-minor-league-deal/

It was honestly a rhetorical question because I believe it to be zero as well

What are the chances the Times keeps it as is?

I don't want to derail this thread, but you can check it out in another thread here.

This will be interesting to follow with the lawsuit filed against MLB