Ray

The thing I always loved about baseball is that any one no matter size or weight can be successful at it if they put in the work. Being 6'6 doesn't automatically mean you're a good player and being 5'6 doesn't mean you're automatically a write off like in a lot of professional sports. Nice to see guys like Altuve, Stroman, and Betts dominate the game.

Sets the price on a guy like Estrada. #22 prospect in the Twins system.

I'll say this: To go to any team and say not only do we want you to pay a 32-year-old Josh Donaldson $20 million + for 1 year, we also want your top prospects in return is a tough bargain no matter how good he is. The Donaldson trade looks good on paper and he's clearly worth top prospects, but sometimes trades on paper don't make practical sense. 3B is a stacked position around the league as it is, and it's true that Donaldson's bat will play anywhere, but a huge part of his value is derived from playing a premium position on the field. Realistically, which team: A) Has the prospects to afford Josh Donaldson? Has the salary and payroll to afford Josh Donaldson? C) Has a clear need at 3B or the infield? D) Is going to be a contender in 2018? Add that to the fact that Machado might also be available in the offseason who's younger and going to be cheaper. You've got Frazier and Moustakas as free agents who can play a competent 3rd for any contender. The stars seem to be aligning against trading Donaldson because the market might not be there. And if you realistically can't move Josh Donaldson for a return that makes sense, it only makes sense to try and contend and not waste his final year.

I'm estimating Donaldson gets close to ~$20 million next season, but that may be low. He is making ~$17 million this season. A $3-$4 million raise in arb4 sounds about right. Also, maybe I'm underestimating first year arb. How much are guys like Stroman, Sanchez, Osuna, Pillar, and Travis expected to make in their first years combined? I'm not advocating for it. I just think he's a possible front office target. There was speculation we wanted him in the off-season. I could see us revisiting him and Jay Bruce (which almost seems destined at this point)

I could see us making a play for JD Martinez. We targeted him in the offseason and he can't receive a QO either now that he's been traded. Lance Lynn would be fantastic. Stroman-Sanchez-Happ-Lynn would be a hell of a top 4.

So for all intents and purposes, this front office seemingly has their minds on competing next season. Whether you agree with that or not, that's probably what's going to happen. I think the more productive conversation would be what FA/trades we should target in the offseason/trade deadline. We do have a lot of money coming off the books for next season. Even with all the arb salaries, it should come out to roughly ~$95-$100 million giving us around $65 million to spend (assuming payroll is the same as this season). $65 million to spend on two starters (or 1 if you want to go with Biagini or an in house option), a RF, and bullpen pieces. Perhaps even a good backup INF for Travis/Tulo/Donaldson insurance. Thoughts/suggestions for FA or trade targets?

Justin Smoak leads all 1B in wRC+ http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=1b&stats=bat&lg=all&qual=y&type=8&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=17,d Yes, even better than Joey Votto, although just barely. Also worth almost as much fWAR as Votto.

Borucki absolutely incredible in his first AA start against a tough Trenton Thunder offense. There's more reason to get excited for him than Greene or Harris at this point.

Darvish is gonna be on a plane to LA any day now.

Ryan McBroom traded to the Yankees for Rob Refsnyder

Orioles' Duquette says team in market for pitching, won't give up on season Link: https://www.thescore.com/news/1337458 Count your blessings and be glad that no matter what happens, this team isn't run by incompetent morons like Duquette and Angelos

Chris Rowley with another good start in AAA: 7.0IP 5H 1BB 0ER. That's 3 straight quality starts in a row. Drops his ERA to 2.27 for the season. I suspect we'll be seeing him in some capacity in September. Warmoth keeps on hitting in Vancouver: 3/5 with a triple. Might have to catch a Canadians games in person soon.

I'd say they have 2 options right now. Retool for the 2018 over the offseason and make a run of it for one more season with Donaldson, or concede the 2018 season by trading Donaldson and Happ for near major league talent ready that'll hopefully be ready to contribute in 2019 when guys like Bo and Vlad will be ready. Either way, this "rebuild" does not need to be a long and drawn out process. Worst case scenario you should be right back in the race in 2019.

I was optimistic about, but to say the Morales signing has been bad so far would be an understatement.

Kevin f***ing Pillar is the only reason Salazar isn't no hitting us right now.

This entire team sans Stroman and Smoak has basically mentally checked out.

Stromans a beast

#17th ranked prospect in the Twins org according to MLB.com I think we can get better for Estrada if we eat salary.

Logan Warmoth: 3/5 with a triple. Kacy Clemens: 2/5 with a homer.

Half a season of JD Martinez who's been a significantly better hitter than Jose this season netted the Tigers pretty much nothing. Can't see us getting better than that, even if we eat significant cash. That said, I would still trade Jose. Better than letting him walk for nothing at the end of the season, and you never know who pans out when it comes to prospects. This front office has done a pretty good job with minor league scouting so far. I trust they can find a diamond in the rough somewhere.

Our 'pen has been incredible too. By fWAR, 6th best bullpen in the MLB and 5th in the AL: https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=rel&lg=all&qual=0&type=8&season=2017&month=0&season1=2017&ind=0&team=0,ts&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=18,d Not that far off from the Indians. 4.2 bullpen fWAR for us vs. 4.4 bullpen fWAR for the Indians.

Sean Reid Foley tonight: 6.2 IP 4H 1ER 2BB 12K. Drops his ERA to 4.48 Gurriel and Danny Jansen both 2/3 so far.

Reid-Foley tore it up tonight in AA. 12K's through 6.2 IP. Only 1ER and 2BB

Jaime Garcia close to being traded to the Twins. He'd be a good measuring stick to see what we could get for someone like Estrada.

Jordan Romano: 5IP 3H 2BB 7K 0ER Drops his ERA for the season to 3.13 through 18 starts. I'd love to see him get promoted. Not a spring chicken at 24 and he's had a good enough run at High-A at this point. Time to see if he can stick at AA.