How about something fun for a change? 2018 Twins.

[DocBauer]

OK, the Twins have now won 2 in a row and reached the 10 win mark. I guess that's something to be happy about. But with all the negativity surrounding this season, and all the various threads and discussions as to who should be fired, how to fix the Twins, etc, I felt it would be a nice change of pace to examine something more fun and optomistic. And to me, that is the 2018 season. Why pick this year, two years from now? The reason is pretty simple really. Forgetting all the debates and angst of who to trade or dump, etc., most contracts that draw all the various discussions and debates will be done, or almost done, regardless of what the Twins FO does for the remainder of 2016. It will also be, if I'm not mistaken, Mauer's last season, barring an early retirement announcement for whatever reason.

 

Further, considering the balance of the 2016 season still in play, young talents like Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Polanco, Berrios, etc, etc, should be established to one degree or another this season and next. Also, there are some guys like Walker already at AAA, and guys like Turner and Garver that should reach AAA in 2017 if not sooner, this also includes additional RP arms. Young talents like Gonsalves and Stewart should be at AA fairly soon THIS year. Gordon could be there later this year, potentially, and surely by 2017.

 

There are many ways to build a team, of course, and many factors. Do you sacrifice defense for offense somewhere, or vice versa? How does your RH and LH batting order stack up? Speed vs power at a position? Is your bench based on hitting/power, or speed-defense-versatility?

 

Part of my problem in building the perfect team is I always end up at a 26 man roster. I always end up with 5 OF, 2 utility guys, an extra bat, and 13 pitchers. Oh well, pretend GM's license I guess. You don't HAVE to keep your roster to exclusively current Twins players and milb talent, but outside additions are hard to predict. But put on your GM cap, play along, and tell us all what your ideal 2018 roster looks like.

 

ME:

 

OF: Rosario, Buxton, Kepler with Walker and Arcia/Palka. No true 4th OF, but I'm looking at bench bats, Mauer about done, and I have 3 guys starting who can play all over the OF.

 

INF: Sano, Gordon as a rookie, Polanco, Mauer/Park, Escobar and Santana. This one is hard. I'm banking on Gordon spending this year and next between AA and AAA and getting the gig at SS as a rookie in 2018. While some may not like it, I could see Nunez still around on the bench if the Twins hold Gordon back initially.

 

C: Garver and Turner. Murphy could sneak in here, and his poor start to this season is not why he's exclued. I just have a strong feeling about Garver and Turner. My gut says Garver ends up being the better overall player and Turner is a better version of Butera. And that's not a bad thing!

 

SP: Santana, Gibson, Berrios, Duffey and Gonsalves. I want Meyer in here, but my gut says Gonsalves is ready, Meyer is still in a bit of limbo land until we see more of him in 2016. He could replace Santana. Stewart is close, but Gonsalves is ahead of him.

 

RP: May, Chargois, Burdi, one of Tonkin/Pressly, Melotakis, Williams. This could go a few ways, obviously, depending on Meyer as a SP and Rogers could sneak in here. But I really like Melotakis and think Williams is flying under the radar.

 

Again, a 26 man roster, but I'm granting myself a 1 player exemption for now.

[Pardon My Dinger]

I've always been a huge fan of delayed gratification. Let that glory age like a fine wine!

[goulik]

C- Garver/Murphy (Turner a defensive specialist in AAA waiting for an injury)

3B Sano/Beresford

SS Gordon/Beresford

2B Polanco/Beresford

1B Mauer/Park

LF Kepler/Rosario

CF Buxton/Rosario

RF Arcia/Walker

 

I have to think more on pitchers