Inside Schrödinger’s box, the 2021 Twins are both - and neither - buyers and sellers

Speculation among some high-level MLB beat writers has been circulating that the Twins — with their MLB third-worst record of 18-29 — are going to be sellers in the upcoming mid-season trade market. 

Let’s dive in.

On one side, those who want the Twins to pull out a winning season are, of course, biased. The defending division champions aren’t sellers. Minnesota finally has a winning team. Sure, they have issues, but they are statistically underperforming. A winning season is still within their grasp.

On the other, those who push the “seller” narrative are veteran beat reporters, and they wouldn’t publish anything without the highest level of editorial scrutiny! They most certainly are not using anonymous sources and the purest cut speculation only to garner clicks and online clout.

Dudes like Morosi don’t just float specific things randomly. They gather information behind the scenes and strategically deliver it to the public. You can definitely disagree. But I wouldn’t just scoffingly dismiss what a credible journalist floats.

— Phil Mackey (@PhilMackey) May 19, 2021

OK, sure, Mark Feinsand’s latest piece (“The Twins? Sellers? Here's why they could be”, published May 23) cites only anonymous NL and AL “executives,” and those execs would no doubt have a vested interest in acquiring pieces from a selling Twins team, thus making their comments explicitly biased, and the reporting and propagating of these comments on a national level at best unreasonable.

But you forget that Feinsand’s article uses the word “could” nine times. Considering his experience, he COULD be right! And you, my friend - you could be made a fool.

Unfortunately, this piece itself, as well as those calling the Twins potential sellers, will be retconned to satisfy the future outcome. If the Twins are sellers in a month, I’M the idiot! That so-called “speculative” reporting was legitimate! These beat writers know what they’re doing! Egg on my face! 

This is why I won’t take a stance — other than saying those pushing the “seller” narrative could be total buffoons who think speculative, anonymous-sourced reporting should at all be considered more than that. 

Inside Schrödinger’s box, the Twins are both buyers and sellers simultaneously. They are also neither of those things. Play ball.