Free Agency

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I'm also pretty surprised Michael Pineda hasn't been re-signed yet. If he's not brought back, then you have to criticize the front office for not dealing him last summer when he likely could have brought back a mid-tier prospect. If the decision not to deal him was because you thought it would strengthen chances of bringing him back, then fine, but get a deal with him done already.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Twins route to being relevant this season is pretty much tied to their ability to trade for a frontline starter -- preferably Tyler Mahle or Frankie Montas -- AND signing a veteran innings eater -- Michael Pineda would be convenient. That's about the only thing left to hope for if you're wanting to watch a playoff contender. If that or similar doesn't happen, then strap in for a lot of losses this season.

[Monster]

I'm also pretty surprised Michael Pineda hasn't been re-signed yet. If he's not brought back, then you have to criticize the front office for not dealing him last summer when he likely could have brought back a mid-tier prospect. If the decision not to deal him was because you thought it would strengthen chances of bringing him back, then fine, but get a deal with him done already.

I thought it was pretty much assumed he was gonna re-sign with the Twins. I wonder if something changed. Maybe big Mile got bigger or idk but yeah.

As for trading him...what I remember hearing from Roy Smalley was that many teams just didn't think he was gonna stay healthy and the prospects a team would have given up were not much to get concerned about. Maybe they still sign him but they are looking for other options in case it doesn't happen which might be why they checked in on Cueto.

Also I have a hard time calling Pineda an innings eater when I would be thrilled if he pitched more than like 120 innings because he struggled staying healthy. If the guy could stay healthy he would be looking at a pretty nice contract. If I knew he was gonna give the Twins exactly what he did last year 110 good innings overall I'd be willing to pay 8 million on a 1 year deal easy.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Twins trade 2021 first-round pick Chase Petty to the Reds for 32-year old Sonny Gray.

I would have preferred the younger Tyler Mahle from Cincinnati, but I'm sure the asking price would have been higher.

This is a pretty good move for Minnesota, in my opinion, given their depth of intriguing and talented young arms in the farm. Gray is a legit top of the rotation arm.

[Jester1534]

Twins trade 2021 first-round pick Chase Petty to the Reds for 32-year old Sonny Gray.

I would have preferred the younger Tyler Mahle from Cincinnati, but I'm sure the asking price would have been higher.

This is a pretty good move for Minnesota, in my opinion, given their depth of intriguing and talented young arms in the farm. Gray is a legit top of the rotation arm.

I think the key is it's two years of control. From my calculations they still have 25 million to spend. Probably 5-10 mil for innings eater and I'm guessing 2-4 mil for a veteran back up catcher.

I would also trade for Frankie Montas so everything is on same time line. To bad Maeda got hurt because I actually think a Gray, Montas, Maeda, Ryan and Ober staff can win the central. I see the White Sox pitching staff really regressing this year. Plus Giolito number were atrocious after the crackdown of substances on the ball and I think Rodon leaving is big deal as well.

[FNG]

The Petty/Gray deal is a surprising one to me, because it signals that Fal-vine is thinking they are contenders this year...you don't trade last year's first round pick for a 32-year-old starter if you think you're rebuilding. Petty looked very good to me with his mid-90's fast ball and wipe-out slider, but I still like this deal. At least we now know who our opening day starter is.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Twins trade 2021 first-round pick Chase Petty to the Reds for 32-year old Sonny Gray.

I would have preferred the younger Tyler Mahle from Cincinnati, but I'm sure the asking price would have been higher.

This is a pretty good move for Minnesota, in my opinion, given their depth of intriguing and talented young arms in the farm. Gray is a legit top of the rotation arm.

I think the key is it's two years of control. From my calculations they still have 25 million to spend. Probably 5-10 mil for innings eater and I'm guessing 2-4 mil for a veteran back up catcher.

I would also trade for Frankie Montas so everything is on same time line. To bad Maeda got hurt because I actually think a Gray, Montas, Maeda, Ryan and Ober staff can win the central. I see the White Sox pitching staff really regressing this year. Plus Giolito number were atrocious after the crackdown of substances on the ball and I think Rodon leaving is big deal as well.

I'd pursue Frankie Montas as well, but I have limits as to what I'd be willing to offer for him. I think it's more likely they'll sign a veteran starter -- perhaps Michael Pineda or Johnny Cueto -- and roll with that rotation.

Also, I'm not so sure they'd be this aggressive on the trade market for starters if Kenta Maeda was healthy. That hasn't been their way.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

The Petty/Gray deal is a surprising one to me, because it signals that Fal-vine is thinking they are contenders this year...you don't trade last year's first round pick for a 32-year-old starter if you think you're rebuilding. Petty looked very good to me with his mid-90's fast ball and wipe-out slider, but I still like this deal. At least we now know who our opening day starter is.

Well, 12 teams will make the playoffs this year after the rule change. They probably should be a little more aggressive knowing that. I also think they should feel a little bit on the hot seat. This front office fumbled not one, but two opportunities with a playoff team. They couldn't afford to do nothing this off-season even though it was beginning to look like they were going to.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

OK. I'm convinced. Based on Austin Martin not being plate-ready, Lewis' health, and Henriquez' potential as a reliever, this is a good trade.

That being said, they won 73 games last year, had the 13th best rotation, 12th best bullpen, traded away their best SP, won't have their new best SP until (at least) late August, and traded away their only good hitting catcher. Unless everything goes right with Thorpe and about 5 other guys, it's going to be a tough year, right?

I have to admit your take is the most reasonable one, Jason, and it matches the way the national pundits see us. But while I admit I'm generally too positive about the Twins' chances, I think they will be a surprise team this year...and especially if Buxton can stay healthy (and I know that's a big ask). I think they will hit and be very strong defensively, the bullpen will be good (as it was late last season) and Ryan and Ober will have breakout years. I don't like Bundy much and have him as our 5th starter at best, so it's reasonable to question who #3 and 4 are going to be. I'm going to go out on a limb and say we are going to channel Tampa Bay for once and give some very promising youngsters a chance, and they will step up. I'm looking at Josh Winder, and think he will make a big contribution this season....he looked terrific last season. And I also like Balazovic, Cantorino and Duran Duran. Yeah, I'm way out there on that limb, but I'm excited about this team.

It's ok to be positive. Some have said that I'm too positive about the Vikings

I think Buxton will be fine. All of his injuries are from laying out for flyballs only he could catch, and fluke injuries like getting hit in the hand by a pitch. Now that he is contractually obligated to play, you will see him curtail a lot of that.

The bullpen was very 15th until having good Augusts and September. Some of that is other teams that are out of it getting looks at more players, some of that was "Welfare Adrenaline". The distressing part was that most of them were older players and not young guys finding their way. That really needs to be a point of contention.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

JJIIMM. JJIIMM. This is the Ghost of your Father. $12m for a starting pitcher? Do you know how much breakroom coffee you can buy with that?

You will be visited by three ghosts tonight. The first is Ebeneezer Scrooge, who went back to his old ways after about a week. The second is Leona Helmsly. The third is that Koch brother who got really pissed when he saw that John Litgow sounded just like him. We are all looking forward to Donny getting here to help us with the workload.

I am being told you are still a starting pitcher short. You know who else was a starting pitcher short? Every Twins team from '93 to '00. You'll be fine. Hire extra escorts for the walk to your car. You'll be fine.