Article: Roster Is A Jumble Heading Into Winter Meetings

[troyhobbs]

This roster is not exactly instilling a lot of confidence that 2016 is the year either. Plouffe is not worth experimenting with your MVP. Hopefully TR is just being slick and doesn't really think that's a good idea.

[dxpavelka]

EVERYBODY has questions at this point in the off-season.  The key is to have potential answers by April.  We're a lot closer to that than we have been most of the last half decade.

[TheLeviathan]

Heres annother angle, moving Sano to the outfield effectively makes Rosario our best left handed power threat by a significant margin

[sane09]

The Twins will soon announce their 2016 Spring Training Non-roster invitees.

Who will be on that list?

Pick your own list if you need an excuse to avoid your Honey-Do's. Below is the 2015 list:

RHP

Jose Berrios

Blaine Boyer

Tyler Duffey

Mark Hamburger

Adrian Salcedo

LHP

Ryan O'Rourke

Taylor Rogers

C

Eric Fryer

Mitch Garver

Tyler Grimes

Dan Rohlfing

Stuart Turner

IF

James Beresford

Doug Bernier

Argenis Diaz

Jose Martinez

Heiker Meneses

OF

Byron Buxton

Eric Farris

Danny Ortiz

Shane Robinson

[sane09]

This is my list for 2016 Twins Sping Training Invitees:

RHP
Jose Berrios
Nick Burdi
Loek Van Mil
Jake Reed
Kohl Stewart
LHP
Stephen Gonsalves
Aaron Thompson
Tyler Jay
Dan Runzler
C
Juan Centeno
Mitch Garver
Brian Navaretto
Carlos Paulino
Stuart Turner

IF
James Beresford
Buck Britton
Nick Gordon
Engelb Vielma
Daniel Palka

OF
Joe Benson
Zach Granite
Reynaldo Rodriguez
Shannon Wilkerson

[mikecgrimes]

Is Berrios good enough that I shouldn't be worried that the Twins don't even care about adding a top of the rotation pitcher?  It's funny compared to 3 years ago the Twins pitching staff is more then fine but we need to take the next step and 5 #3 and 4 starters isn't gonna get us there.  I do think with a healthy Perkins and a full year of Jepsen the bullpen is probably fine with a little tweaking. 

 

[kab21]

 

Heres annother angle, moving Sano to the outfield effectively makes Rosario our best left handed power threat by a significant margin

Not a very big concern for me.  They will have Rosario, Mauer and Escobar in the lineup and Arcia/Kepler are one of the first guys in if any of several guys get injured. 

 

I really don't see a jumbled mess on the roster.  There is uncertainty (jumbled mess tbh) as to where Milone and Nolasco will be.  There is uncertainty as to who exactly is in the bullpen and there is uncertainty as to who will be in CF.

 

I think the Twins are serious about Sano in the OF.  Santana and nunez are the 2nd and 3rd bench players (plus one catcher).  The 4th bench player is a bit of a mystery although I think it is likely Arcia.

[TheLeviathan]

 

Not a very big concern for me.  They will have Rosario, Mauer and Escobar in the lineup and Arcia/Kepler are one of the first guys in if any of several guys get injured. 

 

I really don't see a jumbled mess on the roster.  There is uncertainty (jumbled mess tbh) as to where Milone and Nolasco will be.  There is uncertainty as to who exactly is in the bullpen and there is uncertainty as to who will be in CF.

 

I think the Twins are serious about Sano in the OF.  Santana and nunez are the 2nd and 3rd bench players (plus one catcher).  The 4th bench player is a bit of a mystery although I think it is likely Arcia.

 

Last year the team was 26th in the league against RHP versus 14th against LHP.  I call that a place in need of improvement.  Having the husk of Mauer, the enigma of Escobar, and Rosario as your only left-handed bats is definitely worrisome.  

 

It's going to be hard to improve the offense without hitting right-handed pitching better and the ceiling for that improvement with the current lineup is pretty limited.

 

Granted, Arcia/Kepler are their own enigma, but I continue to believe this team is going to adjust things around Plouffe and Mauer until it blows up in their face.

Edited December 13, 2015 by TheLeviathan

[DocBauer]

Last year the team was 26th in the league against RHP versus 14th against LHP.  I call that a place in need of improvement.  Having the husk of Mauer, the enigma of Escobar, and Rosario as your only left-handed bats is definitely worrisome.  

 

It's going to be hard to improve the offense without hitting right-handed pitching better and the ceiling for that improvement with the current lineup is pretty limited.

 

Granted, Arcia/Kepler are their own enigma, but I continue to believe this team is going to adjust things around Plouffe and Mauer until it blows up in their face.

I wanted to like this, but I just can't agree with the "until it blows up in their face" part. I'm just not there yet.

 

We still have to find someone to help cover CF, allowing Buxton to begin in Rochester since that seems to be the plan as of now. I think that clears the way for Arcia to begin the season as the 4th OF. It gives us a dangerous LH bat off the bench and to play OF and DH, and allows time to see if Arcia can fully rebound. At least until such a time that Buxton and/or Kepler are ready for promotion, at which time some adjustments would have to be made.

[DocBauer]

What baffles my brain right now is what to do about CF. Davis, who is solid but unspectacular, is used to being more of a role player than full timer? Revere? A lot of people want to blast him, and he doesn't have much of an arm, but he's got real speed in the OF and on the base paths and was solid at the plate last year with a decent OB. That can't be said about a lot of the Twins bats last year.

 

Assuming they would have interest in signing, do you go heavier in your investment for Span or Fowler? They could play CF for now, then slide to a corner spot later. At the absolute worst, they see time as a multi position role player. They have to be interested in signing, and they would take more dollars and years, unless they are on a make good 1 year.

Edited December 13, 2015 by DocBauer

[TheLeviathan]

If the Twins signed Span that would help a number of fronts, but I doubt any legit CFer is coming here with Buxton in the wings.

[Linus]

If the Twins signed Span that would help a number of fronts, but I doubt any legit CFer is coming here with Buxton in the wings.

Correct and while they should be interested in someone on a one year deal they need to avoid anything longer.

[Linus]

My biggest concern is Park. He's going to dictate what happens to several players and I think there is a good chance he's going to struggle. But with the contract he's gonna play. I bet that one of Arcia / Vargas would match his production at DH. If true we would be far better off without him. And yes I really hope I'm wrong.

[kab21]

 

Last year the team was 26th in the league against RHP versus 14th against LHP.  I call that a place in need of improvement.  Having the husk of Mauer, the enigma of Escobar, and Rosario as your only left-handed bats is definitely worrisome.  

 

It's going to be hard to improve the offense without hitting right-handed pitching better and the ceiling for that improvement with the current lineup is pretty limited.

 

Granted, Arcia/Kepler are their own enigma, but I continue to believe this team is going to adjust things around Plouffe and Mauer until it blows up in their face.

The problem isn't specifically LH hitters though.  The team simply needs better hitters.  14th best is still average.  Sano crushes RHP.  Buxton doesn't have a significant MiLB RH/LH split.  These are two righties that will play big roles in the future that should be able to handle RHP.  Yes, it would be great if they had a .800+ slugging LHB in the middle of the order but I wouldn't make it a priority.

[kab21]

 

If the Twins signed Span that would help a number of fronts, but I doubt any legit CFer is coming here with Buxton in the wings.

I don't see this happening at all but definitely not if Plouffe is on the team and Sano is in RF.  If that is the case then neither Span nor any prospects have a position opening when Buxton comes up. 

 

I am not excited but I see Danny Santana and our next version of Schafer/Robinson competing for the CF spot if Buxton is in AAA.  My odds of Buxton being plan A are increasing by the day actually. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

The problem isn't specifically LH hitters though.  The team simply needs better hitters.  14th best is still average.  Sano crushes RHP.  Buxton doesn't have a significant MiLB RH/LH split.  These are two righties that will play big roles in the future that should be able to handle RHP.  Yes, it would be great if they had a .800+ slugging LHB in the middle of the order but I wouldn't make it a priority.

 

The problem certainly is partially that, though.  At this point our offense is banking on Buxton and Park being better than Hicks and Hunter.  That's not encouraging.

 

Moving Sano takes away a position much easier to fill with an impact LH hitter.  Or an impact hitter of any kind.  In the name of Plouffe/Mauer.  I truly believe that's going to hurt this team until they choose a different path.

[Halsey Hall]

TR was just on the radio with Sid and Dave.  Some of the things he said follows. 

He's still high on Kepler.  May will go into spring training competing for the rotation.  Hunter could come back in some in some way (not as a player).  He will sign an outfielder and relief help. 

 

The starting rotation as of now are Gibson, Duffy, Hughes, Santana and pretty sure he said Nolasco.

Edited December 13, 2015 by Halsey Hall

[TwinsTerritory]

Interesting that he said he'll sign an outfielder.  I'm guessing it will be some sort of defensive guy like Robinson/Shafer.  Is it insurance in CF if Buxton needs time in AAA?  Does it mean we've given up on Arcia and/or Santana? 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Yes, it would be great if they had a .800+ slugging LHB in the middle of the order but I wouldn't make it a priority.

You have just described Arcia. All you need to do is play him against righties. There's nothing to prioritize, as he is already on the team!

[Halsey Hall]

 

Interesting that he said he'll sign an outfielder.  I'm guessing it will be some sort of defensive guy like Robinson/Shafer.  Is it insurance in CF if Buxton needs time in AAA?  Does it mean we've given up on Arcia and/or Santana? 

He also mentioned Santana and wasn't sure why he had the problems he did at SS but hoped being back in center he would get back on track.  He also mentioned a lot of guys are doing good in winter ball. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

You have just described Arcia. All you need to do is play him against righties. There's nothing to prioritize, as he is already on the team!

 

Maybe we can hope Arcia has a big camp and DH is a platoon or a 50/50 share?  

[sane09]

 

 

The starting rotation as of now are Gibson, Duffy, Hughes, Santana and pretty sure he said Nolasco.

I hope that what sounded like "Nolasco" was TR sneezing.

[USAFChief]

Interesting that he said he'll sign an outfielder.  I'm guessing it will be some sort of defensive guy like Robinson/Shafer.  Is it insurance in CF if Buxton needs time in AAA?  Does it mean we've given up on Arcia and/or Santana?

 

I'm guessing it means he realizes he's going into 2016 with zero proven OF options. One if you count Rosario, which I think is stretching the definition of proven.

[sane09]

 

"Yes, it would be great if they had a .800+ slugging LHB in the middle of the order but I wouldn't make it a priority".

 

"You have just described Arcia. All you need to do is play him against righties.

There's nothing to prioritize, as he is already on the team!"

Oswaldo Arcia in 2015 vs. RHP =  .220BA /.277OBP/ .402SLG/ .678OPS

Unless you were describing his brother, Orlando Arcia, your description is bleeped!

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Oswaldo Arcia in 2015 vs. RHP =  .220BA /.277OBP/ .402SLG/ .678OPS

Unless you were describing his brother, Orlando Arcia, your description is bleeped!

Nope, describing Oswaldo.

 

I just clicked on career splits. His career OPS vs righties is .807 so it must have been even higher. I think we should forgive his 2015 season!

[sane09]

 

Nope, describing Oswaldo.

I just clicked on career splits. His career OPS vs righties is .807 so it must have been even higher. I think we should forgive his 2015 season!

No problem. I'm all into forgiveness.

[sane09]

 

Nope, describing Oswaldo.
 

I was sure you could tell them apart.

Orlando is a very good baseball player.

Oswaldo is a guy with a bad haircut.

Orlando is a long shot for the HOF. (Hall of Fame).

Oswaldo is a slam-dunk for the HOF. (Haircuts of Fools)

[sane09]

I guess I am having a hard time forgiving Oswaldo's haircut, but just give me a little more time....

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I guess I am having a hard time forgiving Oswaldo's haircut, but just give me a little more time....

I forgive you

[sane09]

 

I forgive you

Thanks, I'll get better, although it may take a 12-step program.