Who are our building blocks of the future?

[Joe A. Preusser]

Strategy-wise, we should be adding, not subtracting. We have a young core of hitters that is scoring runs at a playoff team's pace and will only get better. Add pitching through FE. Only trade prospects or 1B/DH MLB players since that's our one true position of redundancy. This team has been horrible obviously this year, but much of the turnover has already happened. SWitch out 2 BP arms, add someone to the back end, and add two mid range starters and we're competing next year. I don't get the "blow it all up and start" over mentality, and I don't get why we would dismantle the one area of our team that is playing at a high level (the offense).

[Mr. Brooks]

Strategy-wise, we should be adding, not subtracting. We have a young core of hitters that is scoring runs at a playoff team's pace and will only get better. Add pitching through FE. Only trade prospects or 1B/DH MLB players since that's our one true position of redundancy. This team has been horrible obviously this year, but much of the turnover has already happened. SWitch out 2 BP arms, add someone to the back end, and add two mid range starters and we're competing next year. I don't get the "blow it all up and start" over mentality, and I don't get why we would dismantle the one area of our team that is playing at a high level (the offense).

I think we'd all like to have our cake and eat it too.

But, have you looked at the free agent crop of starting pitching this offseason?

There isn't much there.

 

Also, I'm not sure 2 mid range starters is enough. What is a mid range starter worth, 3 or 4 WAR?

Does 6 or 8 more wins do much for us?

And this bullpen needs a lot more than 2 swaps, IMO.

Sure, you can project some improvement from the young players, but let's be careful there. That is what the Wild were banking on last year, and as they found out those improvements don't always come right away.

[howieramone2]

 

Strategy-wise, we should be adding, not subtracting. We have a young core of hitters that is scoring runs at a playoff team's pace and will only get better. Add pitching through FE. Only trade prospects or 1B/DH MLB players since that's our one true position of redundancy. This team has been horrible obviously this year, but much of the turnover has already happened. SWitch out 2 BP arms, add someone to the back end, and add two mid range starters and we're competing next year. I don't get the "blow it all up and start" over mentality, and I don't get why we would dismantle the one area of our team that is playing at a high level (the offense).

I agree, this isn't 2012, 2013, or 2014. Many of our horses are already at Target Field, and the pipeline isn't anywhere close to drying up. Buy what we need in free agency, and open up the farm system and trade to fill any additional needs. If our billionaire owners are serious about contending, and it appears they are, time to get the checkbook out. 

[Twinfan & Dad]

I think we have already tried signing mid tier starting pitiching over the past and it just doesn't work. Inning eaters are one thing but when they give up 5 runs each outing it puts too much pressure on your offense. Pelfry, Hughes, Nolasco, Correia,Hernandez and on and on are recent examples. Santana is the one signing that has worked but he isn't a #1 starter. We need at least one or two more studs and maybe one will come internally but we also have to look out in free agency or the trade route to get the other. As previously mentioned the free agent class is bleak for starting pitching so if we are serious about improving this area a trade is the only route. Our biggest asset is Dozier and is replacable with Polanco so why not see what he can bring back in a return along with one of the young assets.

[ScottyB]

Does Park have any future or value (remembering he may have had a bad wrist most of the season)?

[stringer bell]

Does Park have any future or value (remembering he may have had a bad wrist most of the season)?

I guess it should be an open competition between the two 1B/DHs. Vargas is younger, a switch hitter and performed far better this year for the Twins. The team has a lot invested in Park, but that should only give him a mulligan for 2016.

[mickeymental]

former building block oswaldo arcia is an unfortunate 1-for-31 so far this month with san diego. still only 25 but i bet it's no fun being his steering wheel on the way home from the ballpark these days.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Does Park have any future or value (remembering he may have had a bad wrist most of the season)?

 

Doubtful.  Reality is that they can find a way to keep Park, Vargas, and Mauer next year.  Not sure I want that to be the permanent arrangement, but they should be able to do it.  If he and Vargas both hit, then you have a real problem (the good kind).

[Platoon]

Sano, Buxton, Kepler, Polanco (only if you trade Dozier), Berrios. Vargas would be close, considering the Mauer leg issues, and assuming Sano plays the field somewhere. (Park goes) I also would be hesitant to trade a couple of guys in th BP, (don't laugh) Chargois especially. Maybe with some SP into the 7th inning, and a manager who has let's them know what their pecking order is, some of those younger arms will play out. Buddy won't last forever! Santana has to stay, at least to start the year.

[Blackjack]

Sano, Kepler, Buxton are your untouchables until you are a serious contender and one player away from a championship -- think Kansas City and the Wil Myers trade. Until then you need to play all the young position players -- add Polanco, Rosario, Walker, Garver, Vargas, etc. to the list - and let the pitching prospects catch up.

 

Trade only from a position of excess, Polanco/Dozier would be a good example.

[ashbury]

I guess it should be an open competition between the two 1B/DHs. Vargas is younger, a switch hitter and performed far better this year for the Twins. The team has a lot invested in Park, but that should only give him a mulligan for 2016.

Park's contract is a sunk cost, so unless he's blocking a better DH/1B prospect coming up, let him work out his troubles in AAA if he can, unless or until he proves he has a chance to outperform Vargas at the major league level. Then work out a trade in any of several possible directions.