2017 Roster Game

[TwinsTerritory]

While we patiently await a blockbuster trade of Suzuki or Plouffe (sarcasm intended), let's see who can guess the 2017 opening day roster.  Below are the game rules and scoring.  Entries accepted until October 1st.  Winner receives a fake article on the Twins Daily forum naming them as the "2017 Most Intelligent Twins Fan of the Year".

 

1. List the 25 players on the opening day roster.

2. List the batting line-up on opening day.

3. List the starting rotation in order (opening day starter, game 2 starter, etc.)

4. Name the closer as of opening day.

 

Tie-breaker: Name the highest paid free agent the Twins will sign and include total contract cost (i.e. Wilson Ramos $90M)

 

Scoring

10 points for each correctly named player on the roster   (250 total points possible)

25 points for each correct spot in the line-up  (225 total points possible)

15 points for each starter in the correct spot in the rotation  (75 total points possible)

50 points for naming the closer to open the season  (50 points possible)

Total of 600 points possible

 

 

 

[TwinsTerritory]

I'll go first.

 

Roster

C--Suzuki, Garver

IF--Mauer, Park, Dozier, Escobar, Polanco, Sano

OF--Kepler, Buxton, Rosario, Grossman, Santana

SP--Santana, Gibson, Berrios, Hughes, Santiago

RP--Melancon, May, Pressley, Tonkin, Rogers, Kintzler, Boshers

 

Opening Day Line-up

1. Dozier

2. Mauer

3. Kepler

4. Sano

5. Polanco

6. Rosario

7. Escobar

8. Suzuki

9. Buxton

 

Rotation Order

1. Santana

2. Gibson

3. Berrios

4. Hughes

5. Santiago

 

Closer

Melancon

 

Largest Free Agent Signing (Total Guaranteed Money)

Melancon $37M  (3 years/$12M, plus option year with $1M buyout)

 

[Cory Engelhardt]

_{I have a couple of trades I would make. This is more of a dream scenario for me, but it isn't completely improbable. I also am going with the assumption that Plouffe and Suzuki were traded this August or early in the offseason. What comes back in those trades are hopefully decent prospects, but I can't imagine they would get someone who would be on the opening day roster.}

 

_{1st trade; Brian Dozier, Stephen Gonsalves and Kohl Stewart to the Angels for SP Matt Shoemaker}

_{Solid starting pitcher who could be top end for our rotation, controllable for 3-4  more years. Gave up some good prospects in return to help replenish their system and Trout could use all the help he can get.}

 

_{2nd trade; Eddie Rosario and Tyler Duffey to the Mariners for catcher Mike Zunino.}

_{Good young catcher who is finally showing he can hit. I don't know if the Mariners would give him up. Otherwise I think they could attempt to acquire someone like Cameron Rupp of the Phillies or Austin Hedges/Derek Norris of the Padres, but I'd try to lean on the younger side. Hopefully whoever they acquire can pair well with Garver/Murphy.}

 

_{Biggest free agents}

_{RF Josh Reddick, he is only 30 and is good defensively as well as has some pop. Plus the new GM may want to make a free agent splash that isn't known in these parts. And if trading Rosario was necessary to bring back Zunino, they could use another outfielder.}

 

_{Relief pitcher Brett Cecil, was nearly unhittable in 2015. He still strikes out a lot of guys and doesn't walk many, but his ERA is more than double 2015. He'd be a great lefty option in the pen}

 

_{I also will not pencil in Hughes or Perkins at all. If they come back and give anything that is gravy. I am not going to expect to see them at all.}

 

_{Opening Day rotation...}

_{Santana, Shoemaker, Gibson, Santiago, Berrios}

 

_Bullpen

_{Chagois, May, Tonkin, Kintzler, Rogers, Cecil, Hildenberger,}

 

_Roster

_{C Zunino, 1B Mauer, 2B Polanco, SS Escobar, 3B Sano, LF Kepler, CF Buxton, RF Reddick DH Vargas}

 

_Bench

_{C Garver, 1B Park, OF Grossman, UTIL Santana}

 

_{This is probably VERY wrong. Just thought I'd throw it out there. Thoughts?}

 

[mazeville]

Excellent.

 

I'm going to assume some trades, but I won't predict a return - theorizing that most of the trades will net people in the minors. That pretty much puts me at a disadvantage from the get-go. 

 

 

Three trades I'm predicting: Ervin Santana, Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe.

 

I'm also assuming -- hoping? -- that the team doesn't dive into the free agent market much this offseason when it comes to catchers and relievers, even though I'd probably be fine with a pickup of someone like Melancon as has been previously mentioned. I just tend to think that those markets are too expensive and you're better off with either trades or development.

 

Ultimately, some of these guys are different because I'm assuming trades for Dozier and Santana net a prospect or two. I also believe the Twins will right a wrong and put Trevor May back in the rotation where he belongs. 

 

The risk in trading Santana is that you're hoping Hughes makes a full comeback, along with Glen Perkins. But Mejia could provide some insurance in AAA. 

 

Here I go ...

 

C: Garver, Cenento

IF: Mauer, Vargas, Polanco, Escobar, Sano, Beresford

OF: Buxton, Kepler, Rosario, Grossman, Santana

SP: Hughes, Berrios, Gibson, Santiago, May

RP: Perkins, Chargois, Kintzler, Pressly, Tonkin, Boshers, Rogers

 

Lineup:

 

Polanco

Mauer

Kepler

Sano

Vargas

Rosario

Escobar

Garver

Buxton

[Cory Engelhardt]

I completely forgot about Pressly for some reason. Switch him out for Hildenberger for me at the start of the year.

[goulik]

Mauer, Dozier, Polanco, Sano, Park, Escobar

 

Garver, Centeno

 

Buxton, Rosario, Kepler, Grossman

 

Santana, Santiago, Gibson, Berrios, Mejia

 

Light, Tonkin, Chargios, Pressley, May, Rogers, Hughes, Kintzler

 

Polanco

Dozier

Mauer

Sano

Kepler

Rosario

Park

Garver

Buxton

 

Closer: Hughes

[Mr. Brooks]

_{I have a couple of trades I would make. This is more of a dream scenario for me, but it isn't completely improbable. I also am going with the assumption that Plouffe and Suzuki were traded this August or early in the offseason. What comes back in those trades are hopefully decent prospects, but I can't imagine they would get someone who would be on the opening day roster.}

 

_{1st trade; Brian Dozier, Stephen Gonsalves and Kohl Stewart to the Angels for SP Matt Shoemaker}

_{Solid starting pitcher who could be top end for our rotation, controllable for 3-4 more years. Gave up some good prospects in return to help replenish their system and Trout could use all the help he can get.}

 

_{2nd trade; Eddie Rosario and Tyler Duffey to the Mariners for catcher Mike Zunino.}

_{Good young catcher who is finally showing he can hit. I don't know if the Mariners would give him up. Otherwise I think they could attempt to acquire someone like Cameron Rupp of the Phillies or Austin Hedges/Derek Norris of the Padres, but I'd try to lean on the younger side. Hopefully whoever they acquire can pair well with Garver/Murphy.}

 

_{Biggest free agents}

_{RF Josh Reddick, he is only 30 and is good defensively as well as has some pop. Plus the new GM may want to make a free agent splash that isn't known in these parts. And if trading Rosario was necessary to bring back Zunino, they could use another outfielder.}

 

_{Relief pitcher Brett Cecil, was nearly unhittable in 2015. He still strikes out a lot of guys and doesn't walk many, but his ERA is more than double 2015. He'd be a great lefty option in the pen}

 

_{I also will not pencil in Hughes or Perkins at all. If they come back and give anything that is gravy. I am not going to expect to see them at all.}

 

_{Opening Day rotation...}

_{Santana, Shoemaker, Gibson, Santiago, Berrios}

 

_Bullpen

_{Chagois, May, Tonkin, Kintzler, Rogers, Cecil, Hildenberger,}

 

_Roster

_{C Zunino, 1B Mauer, 2B Polanco, SS Escobar, 3B Sano, LF Kepler, CF Buxton, RF Reddick DH Vargas}

 

_Bench

_{C Garver, 1B Park, OF Grossman, UTIL Santana}

 

_{This is probably VERY wrong. Just thought I'd throw it out there. Thoughts?}

That's way too much to give up for Matt Shoemaker.

I think Trevor May could give you about the same results in the rotation as Shoemaker. I'd rather just move him to the rotation and keep Gonsalves, Stewart and Dozier.

[GMinTraining]

 

I'll go first.

 

Roster

C--Suzuki, Garver

IF--Mauer, Park, Dozier, Escobar, Polanco, Sano

OF--Kepler, Buxton, Rosario, Grossman, Santana

SP--Santana, Gibson, Berrios, Hughes, Santiago

RP--Melancon, May, Pressley, Tonkin, Rogers, Kintzler, Boshers

 

Opening Day Line-up

1. Dozier

2. Mauer

3. Kepler

4. Sano

5. Polanco

6. Rosario

7. Escobar

8. Suzuki

9. Buxton

 

Rotation Order

1. Santana

2. Gibson

3. Berrios

4. Hughes

5. Santiago

 

Closer

Melancon

 

Largest Free Agent Signing (Total Guaranteed Money)

Melancon $37M  (3 years/$12M, plus option year with $1M buyout)

 

I am amazed that so many would rather pay 3 to 4 million a year on a guy as opposed to a home grown draftee who has similar numbers for less.

 

PARK - .225 BA & .301 OBP  &  4.9% BB rate & .214 BABIP in Rochester

ABW - .243 BA & .310 OBP &  8.8% BB rate & .355 BABIP in Rochester

 

5th year in a row leading his minor league (Appy; MWL; FSL; SL; IL;)  in home runs.  He is also 3rd in league in XBH's.  Why more hope for Park?  If you had to choose between both?

[Mr. Brooks]

I am amazed that so many would rather pay 3 to 4 million a year on a guy as opposed to a home grown draftee who has similar numbers for less.

 

PARK - .225 BA & .301 OBP & 4.9% BB rate & .214 BABIP in Rochester

ABW - .243 BA & .310 OBP & 8.8% BB rate & .355 BABIP in Rochester

 

5th year in a row leading his minor league (Appy; MWL; FSL; SL; IL;) in home runs. He is also 3rd in league in XBH's. Why more hope for Park? If you had to choose between both?

The stat you conveniently left out is the reason.

What are their k rates?

Also, Park having a low babip and Walker having a high babip means that Park is the one more likely to improve on his numbers.

[Pardon My Dinger]

This is as much fun as it is time consuming. Well done. 

 

My projection is 50% what I think will happen, 50% what I would do, and 100% crapshoot. I decided to put myself in the GM's chair, because after all, until I hear otherwise from our search committee, I'm still in the running. 

 

Roster: 

C - Cervelli, Garver

IF - Mauer, Sano, Polanco, Escobar, Beresford, Vargas

OF - Kepler, Rasmus, Rosario, Grossman, Santana

SP - Santana, Urias, Gibson, May, Mejia

RP - Chargois, Rogers, Pressly, Hughes, Light, Tonkin, Boshers

 

Lineup:

1. Polanco - 3B

2. Mauer - 1B

3. Kepler - RF

4. Sano - DH

5. Rasmus - LF

6. Rosario - CF

7. Escobar - SS

8. Beresford - 2B

9. Cervelli - CF

 

Rotation:

1. Santana

2. Urias

3. Gibson

4. May

5. Mejia

 

Bullpen:

Hughes - Long

Boshers - MR

Tonkin - MR

Rogers - MR

Light - SU

Chargois - SU

Pressly - CP

 

How we got here:

 

1. Biggest Free Agent Signing: Colby Rasmus 3 years/$36M. I'm not a huge fan of this move. What was I thinking? Oh well. 

 

2. Other FAs: Francisco Cervelli (instead of Suzie) and also some other ML Tryout crap that doesn't work out in the Spring. 

 

3. Yuge Trade: Dozier, Berrios + (maybe Walker or Gonsalves and some other stuff), for Julio Urias. Dozier and Berrios are Dodgers now. Deal with it. This team has needed a young ace, and I'd give up damn near anything just to get one. 

 

 

4. Miscellaneous: Glen Perkins isn't coming back (at least not immediately). Milone is gone. Burdi is hurt. Santiago is gone, as if anyone really thought he'd be back. Plouffy got traded somewhere for a basket of muffins. Buxton is in AAA (or hurt). Duffey is in AAA. Park is in AAA. John Ryan Murphy is alive and well.