GMinTraining Framework for 2017

[GMinTraining]

GMinTRAING 2017 FRAMEWORK

 

Despite my love for you know who - I think the Twins have an excellent chance to be respectable in the central division next year.  They have made a conscious effort to draft power hitters and power arms in recent drafts.  They have also gone out and signed free agent power bats over the last 5+ years.  It is my position that the Twins now need some coaches to cater to those particular players.  Whether it's a Jim Thome serving as a spring training instructor to offer insight from a power hitting perspective or another hire (hint hint) that understands how to prepare their young power hitters mentally for the new season.    The Twins need to help their young future stars maturation. 

 

As we look at the young power arms (Chargois; Light; Burdi; Reed; Z. Jones; Berrios; Duffy; Jay; Stewart; Hildenberger; Melotakis; etc.), we need to let them feed  off   of   each   other.  These young arms have risen through the minors together and challenged each other along the way.  While being successful in their efforts.   We often want to surround our young guys with veteran leadership and incorporate them 1 by 1 into the veteran world of baseball.   Times are changing and these young guys have more confidence when they have people around them that they can relate to.    Having that specific veteran voice is definitely needed, but it doesn't have to be a team of veterans who need to lead.   Let the leader emerge from the young guns and things will take care of themselves in terms of leadership (profound - I know).  

 

My game plan for the 2017 season is as followed:
TRADE
Brian Dozier;  Kyle Gibson;  and Glen Perkins

 

Yankees
Michael Pineda; & Starlin Castro

 

We have both guys for a few years at arbitration level.  They help us right now and provide veteran leadership while still being youngish.   Great # 3 or 4 pitcher with stuff. 

 

TRADE
Tyler Jay;  Miguel Sano;  Jose Berrios; Eddie Rosario and Pat Light

 

White Sox
Chris Sale;  Todd Frazier;  and Chris Beck

 

We get our ACE and a quality All Star third baseman (Frazier), while the Sox get younger and  better   for  the  future.    We have both at arbitration years thru 2018 and can always trade at another date if  need  be.   We are talking about one of the Top 4 pitchers in the game. 

 

It is my belief that we need to make our acquisitions thru trades because not many high level players want to come to MN in free agency.   A  starting rotation of    SALE - SANTANA - PINEDA - SANTIAGO & HUGHES,  along with a bullpen of:  May;  Chargois;   Duffy;   Pressly;   Kintzler;  Rogers;   Mejia;   Baxendale;  -  These are excellent arms with more waiting in the wings (Burdi; Melotakis; Z. Jones; Reed; Hildenberger; Stewart; Gonsalves)

 

FREE AGENCY
Rajai Davis -  offer   1 year  6  million  deal:    Davis is a great replacement for Rosario  in  LF  and is that veteran leader you need in  the  clubhouse.  He provides  speed  on the bases  and  can offer  that  occasional help   in  CF    as  Buxton  finds his way.    World Series know how and  is familiar with  Falvey. 

 

Jason Castro  - offer 2 years 15 million deal:    Castro offers a defensive presence and again offers  great   leadership for up and coming catcher,    Mitch Garver, as it  pertains  to  game  management.

 

INFIELDERS
1B / DH - Joe Mauer;  Kennys Vargas;
2B - Jorge Polanco
SS - Starlin Castro
3B - Todd Frazier
UT - Eduardo Escobar

 

Solid defensive line up that pitchers will appreciate behind them.  We lose the pop of Sano and Dozier, but gain better defense and still quality power in Castro and (home run champ) Frazier.    Polanco is a hitting machine and will come into his own in his natural position (2B).    Vargas adds full season power in his 3rd MLB season and should be more comfortable in his role.     Mauer is Mauer, but should prosper from being around veteran hitters who he can now bounce  ideas   off  of in  (Castro / Frazier / Davis).    Mauer has always been the person people look to for hitting advice and the idea of a veteran needing help from his teammates is often dismissed.    Now he has that outside soundboard for his own development.    Even veterans need someone to talk to from time to time (who is not a coach).

 

CATCHER
Jason Castro
Mitch Garver
Murphy  (starts back in AAA)

 

Having a veteran back stop who knows how to handle a staff and frame pitches is important for any staff, but especially a staff with so many young arms.   The nice  part,   is that these young arms have some swag and confidence in them.   The pitching coach (Allen) is a guy who has had success working young players.    His approach moving forward might be just what this new management team needs.    Having   a  veteran catcher in Castro and a younger catcher (Garver) who has caught most of the young arms,  is exactly what the Twins need in 2017.

 

OUTFIELDERS
Byron Buxton (CF)
Max Kepler (RF)
Rajai Davis (LF)
Adam Brett Walker II  (4th)

 

This OF position is the cornerstone of the Twins future.  That cornerstone is Byron Buxton and Max Kepler.   The loss of Sano in the line-up  changes   things offensively,  but not defensively.  Both players should become excellent hitters with  diverse 4 to 5  tool skill sets.   2016  showed  great promise for both players.        Adding Rajai Davis,  brings speed and solid defense to the line-up.   Davis is no spring chicken but still offers productive results.   He has some pop and brings a versatile skill set to the club.   Davis led the  American  League in stolen bases in 2016.   His leadership in that area could and should help Buxton  moving forward as  well.   Guys sometimes need that outside voice other than their Hall of Fame manager.    Grossman becomes expendable as that right handed bat off the bench with the addition of Davis as well.    Grossman was not helpful defensively and actually played for  Cleveland  and    Favley   last  spring.    Cleveland moved on from him in 2016 and I'm predicting new management  will move on from him again.  

 

That brings me to ABW II (Walker) as the 4th OF option.    I know Walker has serious issues with strikeouts,  but I also think he can learn from the veteran bats of Todd Frazier and Davis.    What he brings, is game changing power off the bench.    MN has rarely had that kind of power on their bench.    He is old enough now (25) that we don't need to wait, to let him develop in the minors.    He plays hard when he plays and hits when he hits.    But when he hits - HE HITS.    His defense is better than advertised (according to his AAA manager/ Quade)  and  he has shown much improvement in that area in 2016.    Walker has played the outfield in 86% of his career minor league starts.   He has played in more minor league games than any other minor leaguer in the Twins system over the last 4 seasons.    That should   earn  at least  an honest spring training assessment from  non believers.    Not many people can say they saw him this season and were turned off by his overall defense.    Walker's   minor  league  teams  have won  4  championships  in   4   years   and  held a  60+%   winning  percentage  while playing outfield.    He is faster than  Grossman too    (43 for 56 in stolen bases & 20 triples).   If Walker fails to produce, then I bring up  Palka to add that lefty pop in the same mindset.

 

SUPER UTILITY PLAYER
Niko Goodrum  (IF/OF)
Has always been an OBP guy and provides great speed and great arm.   Goodrum serves as this year's Danny Santana, but with better on base skill set.  Depending on his spring training performance - I might take a chance on Goodrum  (just a gut feeling).

 

 

RELEASED or OPTIONED to start season:
Byung-ho  Park - starts in AAA
Trevor Plouffe - Released
Robbie Grossman - Released
Danny Santana - Released
Juan Centeno - Released
Ryan O'Rourke - Released

 

My GMinTRAINING framework puts the Twins in position to challenge for a playoff spot immediately and doesn't leave the cupboard completely empty.    We have some key players still under arbitration years and some others not scheduled to get there for some time.    We acquired possibly the best pitcher in the game and although giving up a potential GREAT hitter and GREAT pitching prospect,  we did acquire ready-made talent and defense.    We didn't spend too much extra money and can always flip people as needed or sign playoff help as needed.    Pitching addressed!  Defense addressed!  Leadership addressed!  Speed addressed!  Catching addressed!

[GMinTraining]

I probably should have added Polanco to that cornerstone group.  Great hitter and solid 2B defender.  He will be at the top of the order for many years to come, because he can just hit.  What he does.

[Pardon My Dinger]

You will sorely regret trading Sano to a division rival. Especially for a slightly built SP with a ticking time bomb for an elbow. I would rethink that. 

[TheLeviathan]

We mortgage a lot to become an 80-85 win team.  I just think that's a poor strategy at this time, but I appreciate the effort you made to keep those deals semi-realistic.

[Doomtints]

I don't know that I would release position players who are under contracts.

 

I like the pitching staff update (even if they seem a bit Bill Smithesque).  I think the position player moves would, at best, result in the same caliber of offense but with less youth (i.e., less of a future).  Defensively you mostly upgraded.

 

Overall I like what you did here but this plan would be impossible to pull off.  Most of the other plans stuck to moves that are somewhat possible.  

[Cory Engelhardt]

Gibson and Perkins don't have any current trade value, and I would feel pretty bad about trading Dozier for a pitcher who is eligible for free agency after 2017, and a 2nd baseman who is being put at short who is a)not good defensively and b)doesn't walk or get on base, and c) is more expensive than Dozier will cost going forward. If/when they trade Dozier it will be for younger players who have more years of control.

I do not like your 2nd trade either. Sano is cheap and controllable for a while, and I am excited for what Jay can do, among others

[ashbury]

Plan A showing Hughes in a rotation spot is an exercise in wishful thinking, IMO.

[Mr. Brooks]

Plan A showing Hughes in a rotation spot is an exercise in wishful thinking, IMO.

As is trading Perkins. Perkins is a guy that you'd have to throw in a good prospect or two just to get the other team to take him.

[USAFChief]

ABW III huh?  

 

Interesting...tell me more.

[70charger]

 

ABW III huh?  

 

Interesting...tell me more.

 

Never heard of him. Someone should start a thread.

[jimmer]

 

Never heard of him. Someone should start a thread.

Or three ;-)

[nicksaviking]

I think this thread hit its moritirium on Adam Walker discourse. Let's try to refrain from making it a big thing.

[GMinTraining]

 

I think this thread hit its moritirium on Adam Walker discourse. Let's try to refrain from making it a big thing.

I for one promise not to mention ABW again in this thread.  I do like my other  ideas though.  Only way we will ever get a top tier true ACE is through a trade.    Sale seems like the type of player who could stay loyal to the Twins if things go as well as expected in near future.  

 

Thoughts:

What about my Rajai Davis acquisition? 

[Linus]

I wanted Davis a couple of years ago but not now. Especially after seeing his defense in the WS

[Mike Sixel]

I'll say this, this is the gutsiest plan yet. I need time to think about it, but I wanted to compliment you for your willingness to go big.

[Mike Sixel]

One thought.....if you get Chris Archer for Sano, I probably like that more. Much more control....even if not the same quality pitcher. Last year, imo, was an aberration for him.

 

Plus, he's fiery!

[GMinTraining]

 

One thought.....if you get Chris Archer for Sano, I probably like that more. Much more control....even if not the same quality pitcher. Last year, imo, was an aberration for him.

 

Plus, he's fiery!

I like Archer a lot, but think he and Sale are at 2 different levels.  Sale is Kershaw good and Archer is better than E. Santana good IMO.  Sometimes you need radical change to make things happen.  I think my framework is outside the box thinking and doesn't hurt us long term.  We might spend more money in the near future, but nothing crazy.  

 

As far as Starlin's defense - I think Castro's (SS) hitting, definitely outweighs his fielding woes at SS.  Besides we have chips to trade as needs become evident next season.

[jimmer]

No one is Kershaw good, except Kershaw.

 

It's Kershaw, then there's a next level.  And so on.

[Mike Sixel]

Turns out Sale is controllable for 4 years, if I am reading things correctly. That makes me much more likely to do what you propose. Much.

[Vanimal46]

 

Turns out Sale is controllable for 4 years, if I am reading things correctly. That makes me much more likely to do what you propose. Much.

Not that Spotrac is right all the time, but they say 3 years at a very reasonable rate. 

[GMinTraining]

 

Not that Spotrac is right all the time, but they say 3 years at a very reasonable rate. 

 

Mike Sixel, on 14 Nov 2016 - 10:52 AM, said:
Turns out Sale is controllable for 4 years, if I am reading things correctly. That makes me much more likely to do what you propose. Much.

 

 

The Trade of the Off Season - Imagine Chris Sale as the Twins Ace for the next 3 years?  

[Mr. Brooks]

The Trade of the Off Season - Imagine Chris Sale as the Twins Ace for the next 3 years?

For what it would cost to get him, it would probably look like the White Sox the last 3 years.

 

I don't think we are close enough to contending to warrant a move like this, although I do appreciate the ambition and imagination.