Your 8/1 Twins

[Brock Beauchamp]

What is your desired roster on August 1st (or even September 1st if not all players are moved at the regular deadline)?

 

Here's what I'd like to see:

C - Murphy (having a good June)

1B - Mauer

2B - Polanco

SS - Escobar

3B - Sano

RF - Kepler

CF - Buxton

LF - Grossman (hold on to the guy and see if you've caught lightning... Rosario also an option)

DH - Park (maybe? not entirely sold on this)

 

SP - Gibson (though not out of the question to trade him)

SP - Santana

SP - Berrios

SP - May

SP - ???? (this could go several ways, really)

 

RP - Chargois

RP - Rogers

RP - Pressly/Tonkin/roster chum

 

I stop caring about the bullpen at that point. There are arms in the system, many of which can fill roles (albeit badly). There are also some pretty untradeable pieces, such as Jepsen. I won't speculate deep into the pen because I don't really give a damn. Burdi, Meyer, Wimmers... Let 'em fight it out.

 

Bench: I don't care. I don't. At this point in the season, the bench is an afterthought. Fill it with guys you either couldn't move or platoon various prospects to see what you have.

 

Trade pieces:

Milone

Plouffe

Dozier

Nolasco

Abad

Nunez

Suzuki

 

And then other very bad players like Tonkin, Jepsen, etc. Whomever is playing well enough to return anything better than a bag of balls should get consideration.

 

Not all of those players need to be gone on August 1st but I'll be *very* disappointed if more than half of them are still with the team.

[Vanimal46]

That would be an ideal looking August 1st roster. 

There's nothing I would change from your proposed lineup. Park I'm also not sold on, but whatever, he can still get the majority of at-bats. Vargas may be another DH option. 

 

SP - Berrios

SP - Santana

SP - May 

SP - Gibson (also would not be opposed to trading him) 

SP - Whoever the hot hand is between Duffey, Meyer, Wheeler, Dean...

Bullpen - 

 

Closer - who cares

Relievers that should get the lion's share of work: Chargois, Rogers, Tonkin. The rest can fill in every now and again. 

 

Trade pieces that needed to be gone yesterday:

- Milone

- Nolasco

- Plouffe

- Suzuki

- Jepsen (though a DFA sounds more likely)

 

Trade pieces for the right offer:

- Dozier

- Nunez 

- Gibson

 

On the fence about trading:

- Abad

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

What is your desired roster on August 1st (or even September 1st if not all players are moved at the regular deadline)?

 

Here's what I'd like to see:

C - Murphy (having a good June)

1B - Mauer

2B - Polanco

SS - Escobar

3B - Sano

RF - Kepler

CF - Buxton

LF - Grossman (hold on to the guy and see if you've caught lightning... Rosario also an option)

DH - Park (maybe? not entirely sold on this)

 

SP - Gibson (though not out of the question to trade him)

SP - Santana

SP - Berrios

SP - May

SP - ???? (this could go several ways, really)

 

RP - Chargois

RP - Rogers

RP - Pressly/Tonkin/roster chum

 

I stop caring about the bullpen at that point. There are arms in the system, many of which can fill roles (albeit badly). There are also some pretty untradeable pieces, such as Jepsen. I won't speculate deep into the pen because I don't really give a damn. Burdi, Meyer, Wimmers... Let 'em fight it out.

 

Bench: I don't care. I don't. At this point in the season, the bench is an afterthought. Fill it with guys you either couldn't move or platoon various prospects to see what you have.

 

Trade pieces:

Milone

Plouffe

Dozier

Nolasco

Abad

Nunez

Suzuki

 

And then other crap like Tonkin, Jepsen, etc. Whomever is playing well enough to return anything better than a bag of balls should get consideration.

 

Not all of those players need to be gone on August 1st but I'll be *very* disappointed if more than half of them are still with the team.

 

Pretty much with you at this point.  I'd add Melotakis to the RP list as he's on the 40 man.  Not 100% sold on trading Dozier, but not against it for a good offer.  I think Buxton needs to return to AAA.  I don't care much for Santana, but I'm fine letting him finish the season as the CF to see if by chance there was something more than luck to his 2014.  I think he's a decent utility guy, so I have no issues letting him run with that job giving Buxton more time to be ready. 

[alarp33]

I agree with everything you wrote, I think it is very very unlikely Dozier is traded though

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

On the fence about trading:

- Abad

I'd definitely trade Abad. As we've seen with Jepsen, non-elite relievers are volatile and prone to collapse at any moment.

 

Abad is riding high but isn't elite. Get what you can for him and move on.

[howieramone2]

 

What is your desired roster on August 1st (or even September 1st if not all players are moved at the regular deadline)?

 

Here's what I'd like to see:

C - Murphy (having a good June)

1B - Mauer

2B - Polanco

SS - Escobar

3B - Sano

RF - Kepler

CF - Buxton

LF - Grossman (hold on to the guy and see if you've caught lightning... Rosario also an option)

DH - Park (maybe? not entirely sold on this)

 

SP - Gibson (though not out of the question to trade him)

SP - Santana

SP - Berrios

SP - May

SP - ???? (this could go several ways, really)

 

RP - Chargois

RP - Rogers

RP - Pressly/Tonkin/roster chum

 

I stop caring about the bullpen at that point. There are arms in the system, many of which can fill roles (albeit badly). There are also some pretty untradeable pieces, such as Jepsen. I won't speculate deep into the pen because I don't really give a damn. Burdi, Meyer, Wimmers... Let 'em fight it out.

 

Bench: I don't care. I don't. At this point in the season, the bench is an afterthought. Fill it with guys you either couldn't move or platoon various prospects to see what you have.

 

Trade pieces:

Milone

Plouffe

Dozier

Nolasco

Abad

Nunez

Suzuki

 

And then other very bad players like Tonkin, Jepsen, etc. Whomever is playing well enough to return anything better than a bag of balls should get consideration.

 

Not all of those players need to be gone on August 1st but I'll be *very* disappointed if more than half of them are still with the team.

You and our favorite team are going in different directions. No way the fan board wins this one.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Not 100% sold on trading Dozier, but not against it for a good offer.

To be clear, I feel the same way. A trade should be explored but it doesn't need to happen.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

You and our favorite team are going in different directions. No way the fan board wins this one.

Yeah, I'm going in the direction of "I don't like 100 loss seasons, a feat the Twins have accomplished all of once in their 55 seasons of baseball".

[Vanimal46]

 

I'd definitely trade Abad. As we've seen with Jepsen, non-elite relievers are volatile and prone to collapse at any moment.

 

Abad is riding high but isn't elite. Get what you can for him and move on.

I can certainly be talked into trading him and won't lose sleep if they do. I also think there's still a fit on this roster to have a LOOGY. Not sure what his arbitration number will look like, but if it's around the $1.5 million range, I wouldn't be opposed to offering it to him and seeing what happens. 

[Dr. Evil]

Baresford UIF

Grossman UOF

Murphy C

Vargas 1B

AB Walker DH

Escobar SS

Sano 3B

Polanco 2B

Kepler LF

Rosario RF

Buxton CF

Centeno backup C

 

May

Santana

Berrios

Gibson

Not Sure

 

Pen-

Duffey

Chargois

Presley

Abad

Rogers

Meyer

guy in trade

guy in trade

 

Gone-

Mauer

Plouffe

Dozier

Milone

Suzuki

Park

Nolasco

Jepsen

Tonkin

Hughes

Perkins

The hot dog vendors

Terry Ryan

The Pohlads

[howieramone2]

Brock, you can come up whatever you want, and get the fan board all riled up, but that's not the way TR is going. Why not put the same effort in trying to figure out how to revamp the starting rotation prior to the end of the year?

 

We have not yet lost 100 games, much less 115+, and Ryan has every intention of our favorite team contending in 2017.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I can certainly be talked into trading him and won't lose sleep if they do. I also think there's still a fit on this roster to have a LOOGY. Not sure what his arbitration number will look like, but if it's around the $1.5 million range, I wouldn't be opposed to offering it to him and seeing what happens.

MLBTR projected Abad's arb award at $1.5 mil this past winter. I'd guess he gets at least $2 mil, perhaps $2.5 mil if he final numbers are pretty good.

[jimmer]

Ryan can say he has every intention of the Twins contending in 2017, but often his actions don't align with his words.

 

He said he would do everything possible to greatly improve the rotation and that everything possible turned into: Worley, Correia and Pelfrey. 

 

This team doesn't have the talent to contend next year and no way he gets enough in the offseason for it to happen (kind of like this offseason).

 

Some people who think we were true contenders last year and, before this season started, thought we would be this season still defend his inaction this offseason even though that scenario is exactly the time to go for it in the offseason.  Can't claim we were true contenders last season and would have been this season too, and not be ticked off royally that our offseason was mostly nothing unless the goal is just to back up Ryan no matter what.

[Hrbowski]

Why would anyone want to sell low on Gibson, Dozier, or Plouffe? Especially Gibby?

[dxpavelka]

Love seeing Murphy & Polanco in those slots although I don't see us moving both Plouffe & Dozier.  Not sold on the SS spot.  I'd sell high on Grossman & roll with Rosario although I would not be averse to giving Rosario a shot at the 2B job until Gordon is ready and sliding Polanco over to SS.  MUST get May at least a half season audition in the rotation.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Why would anyone want to sell low on Gibson, Dozier, or Plouffe? Especially Gibby?

Why do you think Dozier is selling low? He's on a hot streak and his 2016 OPS is just north of his career mark (and trending upward). That's not a sell low guy, that's a guy performing at his expected level given his age.

[Hrbowski]

 

Why do you think Dozier is selling low? He's on a hot streak and his 2016 OPS is just north of his career mark (and trending upward). That's not a sell low guy, that's a guy performing at his expected level given his age.

If he can keep it up go ahead and shop him, but I think we would be better off hanging on to him because the Royals are the only contender who would be a fit.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Brock, you can come up whatever you want, and get the fan board all riled up, but that's not the way TR is going.

Then it's probably time for TR to go.

 

This team is bad for three reasons:

1. Regression across the board. That's on the players (mostly).

 

2. Bad roster construction, particularly at the corners and in the bullpen. That's on the GM.

 

3. Young players failing to progress (and regressing almost across the board). That's on coaching and, by correlation, the GM who picks the coaches.

 

The GM needs to take it on the chin, admit he made some serious mistakes, and correct course. That means you get what you can for the players who are causing the poor roster construction, and retool the team into something that has a chance to win baseball games in the future. If the GM won't do that, the GM shouldn't have a job.

[DocBauer]

Pretty much right there with you. That last SP slot is hard to call. And I'm still in the came of probably keeping Abad. He shouldn't be very expensive to hold on to and he's solid with a solid history, save the one season.

 

As mentioned, I wonder about a return to the Big screen for Vargas?

 

And unless I get a surprise offer, I'm keeping Nunez. Yes he's playing out of his mind this season, but he's just a solid ballplayer to have around, especially if Plouffe and Dozier are gone.

[jimmer]

Dozier's numbers this year almost mirror his numbers last year and are pretty much in line with his career numbers.  His BA and OBP is actually higher this year than last.  This is pretty much who Dozier is.  Plouffe has taken a step back.  Other than that, not sure how many people are really under-performing based on what you'd expect them to do 9as opposed to having career years).  This roster just isn't good.

[jimmer]

Fangraphs has an article up entitled, 'How the Indians Made it into first place' 

 

First, for me, I picked them to win the division and have KC get  wildcard, so I'm not surprised, but that's not really what I want to share.  The first three sentences crack me up (when read as a whole).

 

'The Indians lead the Royals by two games in the Central. They lead the Tigers by a little more than that, and they lead the White Sox by a little more than that.  The Twins are also a baseball team.'

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Dozier's numbers this year almost mirror his numbers last year and are pretty much in line with his career numbers.  His BA and OBP is actually higher this year than last.  This is pretty much who Dozier is.  Plouffe has taken a step back.  Other than that, not sure how many people are really under-performing based on what you'd expect them to do 9as opposed to having career years).  This roster just isn't good.

 

I'll disagree here (on Dozier at least not really with everything else you said).  It's easy to site career norms, but Dozier has shown that he can be much better for far more than a month.  He was never the highly sought after prospects b/c at the end of the day, he probably has to work a bit harder to get the results.  I wouldn't just offload him, as I think he's a valuable piece.  I suspect other GMs are going to agree there, though whether or not they will offer what it is worth to part with him is a different issue.  I wouldn't trade him for nothing. 

 

Plouffe on the other hand... sell.  I don't really care if the return is less than a Topps 1992 baseball card set.  They rolled the dice hoping they could get a better return at the deadline.  I don't see that happening at this point (and I highly doubt they had decent offers on the table in the offseason). 

[Mike Sixel]

I don't know what to do about Polanco / Dozier.....and that's on the FO. They are out of options next year, and no one has an idea if he's a MLB player or not.

 

I wouldn't be mad if they dealt Dozier, I wouldn't be mad if they kept Dozier.

 

To me, the BIG changes I want to see:

 

Sano at 3B

May in the rotation

Chargois in the bullpen

[Dr. Evil]

 

Baresford UIF

Grossman UOF

Murphy C

Vargas 1B

AB Walker DH

Escobar SS

Sano 3B

Polanco 2B

Kepler LF

Rosario RF

Buxton CF

Centeno backup C

 

May

Santana

Berrios

Gibson

Not Sure

 

Pen-

Duffey

Chargois

Presley

Abad

Rogers

Meyer

guy in trade

guy in trade

 

Gone-

Mauer

Plouffe

Dozier

Milone

Suzuki

Park

Nolasco

Jepsen

Tonkin

Hughes

Perkins

The hot dog vendors

Terry Ryan

The Pohlads

Spike you are a moron. You could have just said gut the core and go young. Sheesh......

[jimmer]

 

I'll disagree here (on Dozier at least not really with everything else you said).  It's easy to site career norms, but Dozier has shown that he can be much better for far more than a month.  He was never the highly sought after prospects b/c at the end of the day, he probably has to work a bit harder to get the results.  I wouldn't just offload him, as I think he's a valuable piece.  I suspect other GMs are going to agree there, though whether or not they will offer what it is worth to part with him is a different issue.  I wouldn't trade him for nothing. 

 

Plouffe on the other hand... sell.  I don't really care if the return is less than a Topps 1992 baseball card set.  They rolled the dice hoping they could get a better return at the deadline.  I don't see that happening at this point (and I highly doubt they had decent offers on the table in the offseason). 

I didn't even mention trading him.  I'm saying, Dozier is performing, at least offensively, about how one would expect him to.  Even his best year offensively is pretty close to what he's doing this year, at least his slash numbers. His defense, on the other hand...

[TwinsTerritory]

My 10 goals for the next few months if I'm GM.

 

1. Trade Plouffe, Abad, Nolasco, and Jepsen for whatever you can get.

     *These guys have no value heading into 2017.  (Edit: as I've typed, Nolasco and Jepsen have pitched today.  Just release both of them, no one will give us anything)

 

2. Test the trade market for Dozier, Nunez, and E. Santana. 

     *No point in giving away Dozier, Nunez, or Santana, but if you can get the right package pull the trigger.    

 

3. Move Sano to 3B (5 days/week) and DH (2 days/week).

    *He's not an outfielder and never will be.  Find out if he can handle anything other than DH.

 

4. Stretch out May and get him in the rotation by August.

    *We know he can be a pretty good reliever when healthy.  Find out if he can be a pretty good starter because they have more value than pretty good relievers.

 

5. Continue to give playing time to Buxton and Kepler.

    *I know Buxton is struggling and Kepler will slump eventually.  They need to play through it and gain experience.

 

6. Call up Murphy, Polanco, and Rosario.

   *Figure out a way to get them in the line-up 4-5 days a week and try to figure out what they can do.

 

7. Get Berrios at least 10 more major league starts.

    *I don't see why he can't work on the same things whether at the ML or AAA level.

 

8. Call up Chargois and Meyer.

    *They're 25 and 26 years old.  Let them sink or swim.

 

9. Don't let Suzuki get to his vesting option.

    *I don't care how good he's been for the past 2 weeks, he won't be a part of the next Twins playoff team so there's no reason to have him here in 2017.

 

10.  Figure out 2 or 3 free agents that can help the Twins win the next few years and be aggressive early in the offseason.

     *This is a very week class, but maybe Ian Desmond and Kenley Jansen.

 

 

My August roster assuming that Plouffe, Abad, Jepsen, Nolasco and Nunez are gone:

 

IF: Murphy, Suzuki, Mauer, Park, Dozier, Escobar, Sano, Polanco

OF: Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Grossman

SP: Santana, Gibson, Berrios, Duffey, Milone

RP: Meyer, Pressly, Chargois, Boshers, Rogers, Tonkin, Ramirez, Kintzler

[TwinsTerritory]

My last roster spot went to Park, but he could certainly go to AAA for a month or two and be replaced by a 13th pitcher or Danny Santana. 

 

 

 

 

My August roster assuming that Plouffe, Abad, Jepsen, Nolasco and Nunez are gone:

 

IF: Murphy, Suzuki, Mauer, Park, Dozier, Escobar, Sano, Polanco

OF: Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Grossman

SP: Santana, Gibson, Berrios, Duffey, Milone

RP: Meyer, Pressly, Chargois, Boshers, Rogers, Tonkin, Ramirez, Kintzler

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

Note that Meyer is hurt right now.

[Rosterman]

8/1 heading into 9/1

 

I would like to see Vargas get a shot when Park is sent down for some AAA seasoning. I want to see 40-man guys Polanco and Rosario back up here. I expect Chargolis to get a better shot. Murphy should be here no matter what. Hopefully there is a need for Berrios in the rotation because of openings.

 

In September, I expect to see Alex Meyer, Adam Walker and Melotakis.

 

Anyone else from AAA deserves a look and an add if a 40-man spot opens? Of course. Let's see Beresford and even Wilfredo Tovar. Both will walk if the Twins don't see anything in them after this year. They can be flex 40-man spots going into the winter or just plain cuts.

 

I want to see Wheeler, Wimmers, Baxendale get early shots. If Gonsalves pitches halfway decent, let's give Stewart and him a looksee, too.

 

If 40-man spots are available, we need to look at Wimmers,otherwise he is gone. O'Rourke could be a promising guy still (hey, we have Pressly, Rogers and Duffy already on the roster...ugh - any of whom can be jettisoned along with Dean). No need to look again at Logan Darnell unless you are thinking long relief. 

 

I also feel the Twins should give strong consideration to an advance look at Reed and Hildenberger, as well as Vielma as a short-term alternative at shortstop (you can always play Polanco games with him).

 

Considering the guys on the 40-man that shouldn't be here come late summer or before next season: Abad, Dean, Duffy, Jepsen, Kintzler, Milone, Nolasco, Pressly, Ramirez, Rogers, Santana, Tonkin, Suzuki, Nunez, Dozier, Plouffe, Mastro...and we probably can't count on Hughes or Perkins for next season (really). Gibson is tradable if he gets his stats up. Man - believe it - half the 40-man roster wouldn't be missed, folks. We can do better. And that's even keeping some names like Danny Santana, Boshers, Escobar, Vargas, Centeno around. All you can ask is "why these guys are considered the near future or current play" of the team.

 

When you start looking at names going forwards...we are rebuilding bigtime with a lot of major salary losses that the team HAS to write-off. 

 

 

[mazeville]

Agree with 100 percent of this.

 

The Twins should be aggressive when it comes to making trades over the next month. They are not contending. They have a very bad roster imbalance and some serious shortages of catchers in the organization, among other pieces.

 

I would probably make for a four-man outfield of Grossman-Buxton-Kepler with Rosario rotating in quite frequently. 

 

I'd trade Plouffe sooner and send Park down to get some confidence and play Nunez at third. You could make James Beresford your utility guy and Danny Santana sort of a fifth outfielder/reserve infielder guy.