thxfrthmmrs

I’m just highly skeptical they are giving up on Mazara already and relegate him to the bench. Plus he’s a better hitter against RHP than Puig. If Mazara starts, I don’t see Puig or NC coming here for a platoon role. Heck, I think a popular platoon name like Pillar will either more money or a bigger role elsewhere.

I hope you have paid attention to cost of starting pitching this offseason and who is available the next one. Anytime you could trade a prospect at the least valuable position for TOR type pitcher you’d do it. Also I like Clevinger better the next 3 years than a guy who just scored a 7/$245M deal. Also I forgot to preface my previous post, I would not trade Collins even after this signing, let him start in Charlotte and see if he hits well enough to serve as the 1B/DH of the future and make Vaughn expendable.

We're now the envy of baseball?? What a turn of event after hitting rock bottom just 11 months ago!

Fully aware of his age, but he has low mileage on his arm and will still be in his prime when he hits free agency. Unfortunately with cost of elite starting pitching through the roof, that's the price you have to pay. The inclination against divisional trade is real though, Indians also do not want to trade us Clevinger. Also I just realized Dunning will not be ready by the start of season, so it going to cost us other prospects we don't want to part with.

Now that EE is on boarding I think RP is next. I am onboard with McHugh and Vizcaino. Viz is hurt too much and he's gonna only cost a low base salary with heavy incentives. Something like $1M base salary and up to $3M with incentives. As for the remaining bench piece, I slightly prefer Asdrubal Cabrera over Pillar - switch hitter and UZR grades him pretty well at 2B/3B/SS last season, and his bat is going to be more reliable than Pillar (also crazy to see that he quietly put up 27.5 fWAR over his career). McHugh 1/$7M Vizcaino 1/$3M, with 2020 team option. Cabrera 1/$3.5M Payroll adds up to about $136M.

If Vaughn continues to his ascend as a top 15 prospect, Dunning regains his top 100 status, would a Vaughn/Dunning/Stiever package be enough for Clevinger deal mid season?

If he's not traded he's starting the year in Charlotte and be the first man up whenever there is a need at 1B/DH/C. If he shows he could hit consistently again in Charlotte we could make him or Vaughn available as a trade chip then. There is no reason to trade him for an RP now if we could go sign one for $4-5M.

Anyone checked in on the Twins subreddit?

I absolutely hope these moves DONT back fire. But if they do, I know Hahn will get crucified even though most here are happy with these moves.

He’s got a Hawk like thing for Mazara. If Avi could be a 30/30 CF why not Nomar!

We’re at $122M and likely not done. I think we will still have a couple more one year deals left and end up at $135M. I’m fine with leaving enough flexibility to reassess the needs next year.

Mazara is not a CF and Collins is not an RF. Lay off whatever you’re on.

So we significantly shored up the offense and starting pitching without significant long term commitments and mortgages minimal future assets. I wonder what the negative nancies will find to complain about next.

What do you put in your eggnog for Christmas?

Good teams also have great bullpens. With 3/5 of the rotation not going deep in games, we need bullpen help more than ever.

What if Moncada gets hurt? Anderson? Or Giolito? Who’s their backup at those positions? Collins is a much better backup then whoever is filling in for those guys. If defense is what you’re worried about, they could easily bring in a defensive catcher sitting on someone’s bench. And as Dick Allen had said, if Grandal is out for a significant period of time this team is screwed anyways.

He's 32 and STEAMER projects that he's at least worth his contract value the next 2 years. He's hardly the bad player you're making him out to be.

He's finally getting one right.

Always winning an argument when you have to resort to OPS.

You do realize 5 out of last 6 seasons he's worth way more than that AAV. He had one bad year in 2018 and bounced back nicely. It was a fair, low risk contract for a player of his value, hardly dodging a bullet as you have suggested.

What are you talking about. Coming of a 2.5 fWAR season he's a bargain at $8M AAV. I think many here would be happy with his modest production and defense than a gamble on Mazara.

I thought that was yesterday.

I will go out on a limb and say EE signs today. His market is shrinking by the day and it makes a lot of sense to get the deal done before Christmas.

I know what you mean with the comp, Mendick is someone who could be a versatile piece playing a bunch of positions and be the jack of all trades. But mind you Taylor was a 4.8 fWAR player in 2017 and 3.2 in 2018. He also had superb contact ability back in the minors (.312 BA vs .259 for Mendick) and made a swing change to tap into his power in 2017. I think a good ceiling for Mendick is probably 2019 Taylor, but I don’t see him being beyond that.

I keep seeing a need for Mazara platoon come up and I dont know if we really need one with an EE signing. With EE at DH this team will be pretty stacked offensively so I'd rather any platoon for Mazara bring versatility, speed and defense to the table in addition to being capable vs. LHP. I don't know if anyone left out there fits the bill better than Leury or Engel. Our potential bench is looking like McCann, Leury, Engel and Mendick. I wouldn't mind bringing in Asdrubal Cabrera in as the backup IF if they don't think Mendick is ready. Cabrera being a switch hitter and playing average or better defense across all 3 IF positions brings more value to the table than say a Puig/Souza/Pence/Santana as the Mazara platoon.