Having zero inside knowledge, it still seems abundantly clear there were major differences in opinion between Falvey and ownership.  Usually this comes down to profitability vs winning. Just look at the waves of speculation. Speculation can always be wrong, but some speculation was based on facts.

Initially It was anticipated that the Twins would move potentially multiple players. 

Larnach was expected to have been moved. Larnach is a redundant peice yet we then pivoted to signing him to nearly $4.5M. This may have made sense if you were thinking of signing him to trade for some sort of value vs simply DFA him.  Yet there has been zero juice on him. So are we “stuck” with him as we have multiple young OF about ready to step up.

Ryan was initially portrayed as a disgruntled Ace who wanted out at last years deadline. He has immense trade value so it seemed like the Twins would trade him.  Then came the announcement shortly after investors were named where it was stated none of the Big 3 would get moved.  OK then, if they aren’t being moved then you would think you would secure them.  but then comes the deadline to exchange ARB salaries, and the Twins secure deals with everyone except Rayn, and are only $500K apart., so maybe Ryan ISNT that vital to the team??? where you risk alienating over $500K coming off the last year plus???  The Twins typically do not continue negotiating with players, but then a bit later out of the blue they agreed to a 1 year deal at the midpoint. The ebb and flow of this is just not normal.  SO what side of ownership wanted what? WHo wanted him signed and who wanted him traded?  I guess we will see, but I guess Ryan is now traded.

Josh Bell & Victor Caratini signed for a combined $14M this year.  Spending $14M could typically signal we are looking to add.  And while they could be decent signings, do we really look significantly different than we did prior to those signings?

Falvey had done nothing to build excitement for the upcoming season. Was that because of him? or ownership? hard really to tell, but regardless there is still little to no excitement.  There was a small boost when Joe was ousted, but that really did not sustain itself,

 

While I am a Homer, and yes I do think Royce Lewis can turn it around and bounce back, and I do think Wallner can bounce back and I hope that Buck can have back to back good years, and i have hope that Keaschall is not Juline 2.0 and can continue his small sample size,I still wanted something of a jolt this offseason to bring it all together, and while Bell is solid that alone does not cut it.  Interest and ticket sales have been sluggish at best, that is on Falvey (unless handcuffed). 

The Twins right now need something BOLD, even if just for the sake of being bold.  That boldness needs to be trading Joe Ryan.  and the Twins need to go big game prospect hunting.

* Would the Rangers have interest in Ryan if the price included Sebastian Walcott?

* Would the Giants have interest in Ryan if the price was Eldridge?

* Would the Phillies have interest in Rayn if the price included Justin Crawford?

The Twins need to identify a singular priority. Power, Speed, avg, defense, whatever it is. and maniacally go after that.  Even if overpaying from a pitching standpoint.  Ryan is a good pitcher, a winning pitcher, but does keeping Ryan put butts in seats? No,  Would a 40+ HR 1B in Eldridge, or a top of scale speedster in Crawford, or a top overall exciting player in Walcott put butts in seats?  YES.  and they would contribute to W’s just as much as Ryan would.

As mentioned the Twins need to be bold, build excitement. Moving Ryan for a MLB ready or near MLB ready player like mentioned above is the first step. There are “seat fillers” still out there in FA. They may no longer be in their prime, but you offset Ryan by Signing Verlander, back it up with also signing Scherzer, and they are Seat Fillers who will easily bridge the gap to some of our up and coming potential starters.  That shows we are not trading top players to slash payroll, and we are not trading top players for a long rebuild.

We have 1-2 top prospect OF on the way who will be here this year. Pair that with another young top prospect in Eldridge, Walcott, Crawford or the like. and now you can sell the hope of a Royce and/or Wallner rebound to pair  with Buxton, Jeffers, Keaschall, even Bell, and that is a lineup that can fill seats.  you have a rotation with future HOF Verlander and Scherzer to go with Lopez and young arms and that is something that could fill seats and compete.