What do the Twins need to do?

[freshinthehouse]

Sign Shields to a 4/80 deal

 

Take a good hard look at Tomas.  If you think he can be a middle of the order bat for the foreseeable future, sign him.  I've got a hunch that Twins brass may not believe so, sign a stopgap corner OF like Hunter to a one year deal.  None of the corner OF that will demand multi-year deals interest me that much, so put a bandaid on it for now and make it a priority after the 2015 season.

 

Move Nolaso.  Offer to pick up 3-4 mill of each remaining year of the contract.

 

Start the season with this lineup (batting order can be adjusted).

 

Santana - SS

Dozier - 2nd

Mauer - 1st

Vargas - DH

Arcia - RF

Plouffe - 3rd

Suzuki - C

Hunter - LF

Hicks/Schafer - CF

 

Bench:

One of Hicks or Schafer

Escobar

Pinto

Nunez

 

Rotation:
Shields

Hughes

Gibson

Mays (we need to let him get some innings next year)

Pelfrey/Milone (with Meyer up to replace them at any time)

 

 

I'd also love to see us look at trading some vets, whether it be off-season or mid-season.  If we get any decent offer for Plouffe, move him.  It may be best to wait and see if he can start out well and move him around the middle of the season, hopefully in time for Sano to take his spot.  If not, let Nunez take over at 3rd until Sano is ready. 

 

I also want to us to look at moving Suzuki.  We need to give Pinto a chance behind the plate.  There is too much potential there just to waste it away.

 

If Polanco looks like he is progressing, I'd love to see us see what we can get for Dozier.  I like Dozier, but if we can get some serious value for him I think it would be worth the risk.  Let Escobar man 2nd, and hopefully Polanco is ready to force the issue in the a year or so. 

 

And if Pelfrey defies all odds and is worth something, move him.  If the stopgap LFer plays well, move them as well.  Hopefully Rosario is ready to fill that spot by midseason.

 

Lets get our minor league ranks loaded up with talented young arms.  Trading these vets should help with that goal.

[Physics Guy]

I think of this statement of General Patton: "Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity."

 

Seems applicable to baseball, too.

And there are so many ways to go about it.  Hopefully Ryan figures one of them out.

[B Richard]

Trevor Plouffe - Lewis Thorpe - Eddie Rosario and AB Walker for Dellin Betances.  It would give the Twins a young ready made MLB pitcher (All Star) who could easily move into a starting role for the Twins.  The Yankees get immediate help at 3rd base with Plouffe and another left handed hitting 2nd baseman with Rosario.  Thorpe could be better than Betances  in 2-3 years and Walker could be the Power Right fielder they desperately need back in NY.  Thoughts.............

 

Re-read the benefits of the Yankees' side... this is an absolute landslide in their favor.