Who makes the 25 man roster?

[AZTwin]

Here is my guess:

 

C: Castro

1b: Mauer

2B: Dozier

Ss: polanco

3b: sano

Lf: Rosario

Cf: buxton

Rf: Kepler

DH: park

 

Bench: Escobar, Murphy, Santana, grossman

 

Sp: Santana, berrios, Santiago, Phil Hughes and Kyle Gibson

 

Bullpen: perkins, boshers, kintzler, Presley, rogers, tonkin, may.

 

First pitcher to be called up id say Meija. First player depends on who gets hurt or goes down. My guess is between Vargas and vielma

[Oldgoat_MN]

Drop DanSan and add Vargas and I'm right there.

 

I believe that Vargas and his career .834 OPS against LHP (1.262 in 2016) makes the team and is joins a Mauer/Park/Vargas platoon at 1B/DH.

 

Unless something dramatically changes I cannot see DanSan on an MLB team. It's too bad, but he hasn't even had a good month since 2014.

 

FanGraphs predicts Duffey will have a better year than Mejia, but I think you're right.

[Oldgoat_MN]

On second thought...

 

Hughes pitched 59 innings last year. It may take most or all of this season to 'stretch him out'.

Move Hughes to the bullpen and see if May can start.

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Here is my guess:

C: Castro
1b: Mauer
2B: Dozier
Ss: polanco
3b: sano
Lf: Rosario
Cf: buxton
Rf: Kepler
DH: park

Bench: Escobar, Murphy, Santana, grossman

Sp: Santana, berrios, Santiago, Phil Hughes and Kyle Gibson

Bullpen: perkins, boshers, kintzler, Presley, rogers, tonkin, may.

First pitcher to be called up id say Meija. First player depends on who gets hurt or goes down. My guess is between Vargas and vielma

I'd swap Santana for Vargas as well.  We don't need two middle infielders.  Still not 100% sure Dozier doesn't get traded yet this spring, but that's a different issue. 

 

On the pitching side, May I suspect will be in the rotation.  Berrios or Hughes will not be there unless there's an injury that was unexpected.  Perkins will be on the DL most likely, which puts Chargois or Melotakis in the pen along with (most likely) Hughes.  If Hughes in the rotation, you may see both of them or a Hildenberger dark horse pick. I'm not sure Boshers will be there either. Not too excited about that personally.

 

I'd probably roll with the following pen (assuming Perk is on the DL): Kintzler, Rogers, Pressley, Tonkin, Chargois, Melotakis, and Hildenberger.... yeah, that's 3 rookies.  I'm not expecting much anyways and may as well let these guys take some lumps.  Wouldn't be surprised if there's a bit of a Rochester shuttle going on with them, but I really don't see the point in handing Boshers a spot over any of those 3.

[DocBauer]

Of course, subject to change for all the normal reasons, including the fact that a FA signing or two is still a real possibility. And I think it's still going to happen. But as of now:

 

C: Castro

1B: Mauer

2B: Dozier

SS: Polanco

3B: Sano

LF: Rosario

CF: Buxton

RF: Kepler

DH: Park

 

Bench: Escobar, Vargas, Grossman and Garver.

 

Other than Escobar, DH and bench are the most unsettled, IMO. From everything we have seen and read, as long as he gets decent, regular days to play, just not sure how you don't choose Garver over Murphy at catcher. With questions remaining about Park and Vargas, and each having options, I could see an arguement for a veteran bat/DH being brought in, just like I could see another OF signed to allow Grossman to DH more or not even make the team. (I think I'd prefer status quo here to really give Park and Vargas a shot, but I won't be upset)

 

SP: Santana

SP: Santiago

SP: Gibson

SP: Berrios

SP: May

 

I'm not including Hughes because we just don't know enough about him at this point. Will he even be full strength by opening day? Just 1st? Will he have the ability to reach previous velocity and maintain it? Is he better in the pen under the current circumstances?

 

RP: Kintzler

RP: Pressly

RP: Chargois

RP: Duffey

RP: Haley

RP: Rogers

RP: Boshers

 

The team doesn't have to keep 2 lefties, but I'may thinking they will. I think guys like Reed and Hildenberger will have a shot, but will begin the season in AAA. I get the feeling they picked up Haley for a reason and will keep him.

[mikelink45]

I am anxious for Spring Training and some more to work with.  This is good speculation and I have no idea how accurate it is.  I did not like the Santiago signing, I do not expect Santana to be as good, Hughes is a big and costly question mark, Gibson has peaked and I do not have faith, today I read, again, that May is going to be a starter.  Park, Vargas, Danny Santana????????????????  At least it will be interesting to see what develops, but I do think that your starting lineup is as close to a lock as we can get. 

[Riverbrian]

Based on today there are some reasonable 25 man guesses

 

However... I believe we have all recently received a promise of sorts from the front office that there will be some last minute activity in the next few weeks.

 

Joe Smith?

Mike Napoli?

 

IDK... Papelbon... Blanton... Hernandez... Hochever... Jepsen... Valbuena... Aybar... Pagan????????

 

 

[drjim]

I think two guys are on the opening day 25 man that aren't in org yet.

[beckmt]

At the current time, though I agree one or two players who are on the 25 man roster are not Twins yet.

C - Castro

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

SS - Polanco

3B - Sano

LF - Rosario

CF = Buxton

RF - Kepler

DH - Park

 

Bench Grossman, Murphy, Escobar, Vargas

 

SP - Santana

SP - Santiago

SP - Berrios

SP - May

SP - Hughes

 

RP - Duffey

RP - Kinzler

RP - Rogers

RP - Pressley

RP - Haley

RP - Chargois

 

I expect the pitching staff to be a revolving door for most of the year, as pitchers are traded, cut, send down,etc.  Hopefully by the end of the year, pitching staff will come to where it will be for a few years.

[AZTwin]

I like Santana because of his versatility. Think he makes the team for that reason alone.

[Physics Guy]

 

I like Santana because of his versatility. Think he makes the team for that reason alone.

Santana is versatile, but not good at one single thing. He can play almost anywhere in a pinch, but don't see the value on this team. Escobar can play 2B, SS and 3B.  Whoever is 4th OF doesn't matter because Rosario or Kepler can play CF the few time (hopefully) that Buxton is out of the lineup. DFA Santana and send him to AAA as emergency call up. I don't see him getting claimed and I doubt we miss him if he is. I am really disappointed about the way he fell off from his promise in 2014. I would love to have that guy back. The guy he has become is not worth a spot on the 25-man roster.

[Thrylos]

Hard to tell, because the last couple of spots will be determined in the spring, plus I think that the Twins will bring a couple more players on board.  If it were to happen today, I pretty much agree with:

 

C: Castro
1b: Mauer
2B: Dozier
Ss: Polanco
3b: Sano
Lf: Kepler
Cf: Buxton
 

I see Rosario with a spot as a 4th OF/starter against RHPs

I see Escobar having a spot on the bench

Grossman likely has a spot on the bench/platoon with Rosario/Kepler

The back up catcher will be a 3-way battle between Murphy, Gimenez & Garver, with the losers going to AAA

The DH/1B position will be a battle between Vargas, Park, and Paulsen for one position.

The losers of that battle will battle with DanSan and Palka for another position
 

Rotation:

 

Santana

Gibson

Santiago

Hughes (if healthy)

May/Mejia/Haley (If Mejia loses in AAA, the other in the pen, if Hughes not healthy then 2 spot battle here.  Vogelson has an outside chance to make the team)

 

(Berrios will join the Twins the earliest on 3/18, so he will likely star the season in AAA)

 

Pen

 

Chargois

Duffey

May/Haley

Rogers

Kintzler

Pressly

 

Last spot for grabs  Tonkin/Boshers/Melotakis, etc.

 

Perkins has (thankfully) thrown his last pitch as a Twins' player

[Platoon]

Here is my guess:

C: Castro

1b: Mauer

2B: Dozier

Ss: polanco

3b: sano

Lf: Rosario

Cf: buxton

Rf: Kepler

DH: park

Bench: Escobar, Murphy, Santana, grossman

Sp: Santana, berrios, Santiago, Phil Hughes and Kyle Gibson

Bullpen: perkins, boshers, kintzler, Presley, rogers, tonkin, may.

First pitcher to be called up id say Meija. First player depends on who gets hurt or goes down. My guess is between Vargas and vielma

I am not sure where Hughes is as far as actual effective recovery, but I would not be surprised to see him on the roster. That said I would be surprised to see him succeed. I am not as confident of Perkins chance to head north. As for Park, he is in that, "we gotta find out what we got" category, and if he can walk upright to the plate will get his chance. But O Lord, spare us from Robbie G! Either put a big bat with no glove on the bench, or a big glove, with elite speed and no bat. Yes, I know Robbie is part of both those categories, but I don't think that's what's meant by the term "versatile"!

[Platoon]

Hard to tell, because the last couple of spots will be determined in the spring, plus I think that the Twins will bring a couple more players on board.  If it were to happen today, I pretty much agree with:

 

C: Castro

1b: Mauer

2B: Dozier

Ss: Polanco

3b: Sano

Lf: Kepler

Cf: Buxton

 

I see Rosario with a spot as a 4th OF/starter against RHPs

I see Escobar having a spot on the bench

Grossman likely has a spot on the bench/platoon with Rosario/Kepler

The back up catcher will be a 3-way battle between Murphy, Gimenez & Garver, with the losers going to AAA

The DH/1B position will be a battle between Vargas, Park, and Paulsen for one position.

The losers of that battle will battle with DanSan and Palka for another position

 

Rotation:

 

Santana

Gibson

Santiago

Hughes (if healthy)

May/Mejia/Haley (If Mejia loses in AAA, the other in the pen, if Hughes not healthy then 2 spot battle here.  Vogelson has an outside chance to make the team)

 

(Berrios will join the Twins the earliest on 3/18, so he will likely star the season in AAA)

 

Pen

 

Chargois

Duffey

May/Haley

Rogers

Kintzler

Pressly

 

Last spot for grabs  Tonkin/Boshers/Melotakis, etc.

 

Perkins has (thankfully) thrown his last pitch as a Twins' player

. Would you thus move Kepler back and forth between LF and RF? I don't want to waste a nice Sunday bashing Robbie, but he cannot play RF with that arm. But I would put Kepler in LF and Rosario in right, and see if his arm helps make up for some of his routes.

[ashbury]

I am really disappointed about the way he fell off from his promise in 2014. I would love to have that guy back.

We would all like to have guys for whom 40% of batted balls in play fall in safely. Unfortunately, this is not a repeatable level of ability, for practically anyone.

[Oldgoat_MN]

 

I like Santana because of his versatility. Think he makes the team for that reason alone.

 

Because he can do everything poorly?

So can I.

[AZTwin]

Because he can do everything poorly?

So can I.

I compare him to Denny hocking with a better bat. That helps off the bench and give guys days of rest. More valuable than a 3rd guy who can only play 1st or dh

[D.C Twins]

Good luck to you Dan San in your next organization. Escobar at SS to start the season with Planco at super utility (4 starts a week) until a market hopefully opens for Dozier by the trade deadline (and planco can slide to 2B)... If no trade by the deadline.....well I don't want to talk about that.....

[Mr. Brooks]

I compare him to Denny hocking with a better bat. That helps off the bench and give guys days of rest. More valuable than a 3rd guy who can only play 1st or dh

He only has a better bat than Hocking if you include his unrepeatable and luck driven 2014. His last 2 seasons OPS+ have been well below Hocking's career OPS+.

 

And, he's a far, far worse defender than Hocking.

Hocking was essentially replacement level on defense (-0.4 dWAR).

Santana has already managed to rack up negative 1.5 dWAR in just 3 seasons.

 

I guess technically you can call a guy who can play a few positions horribly "versatile", but I don't think it's the kind of versatility we want.

[Vanimal46]

C - Castro 

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

SS - Polanco

3B - Sano

LF - Rosario 

CF - Buxton

RF - Kepler 

DH - Park

 

Bench: Escobar, FA OF to replace D Santana, waiver wire IF to replace Grossman

 

Notable: Vargas starts in AAA - Park gets first crack at DH

Rotation: 

- E Santana 

- Gibson 

- May 

- Berrios 

- Santiago 

 

Notable: If Hughes thrives in the bullpen they keep him there and Mejia becomes the next man up to get the call to Minnesota. 

 

Bullpen: 

- Hughes (long relief, 1st call to rotation for injury / poor pitching) 

- Haley (rule 5) 

- Kintzler

- Duffey 

- Chargois 

- Rogers 

- Pressly 

- Open competition

 

Notable: Tonkin experiment is over and he's removed from 40 man - Perkins doesn't make the full recovery and retires - Chargois or Duffey wins closer job out of spring training. 

 

[nicksaviking]

 

C - Castro 

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

SS - Polanco

3B - Sano

LF - Rosario 

CF - Buxton

RF - Kepler 

DH - Park

 

Bench: Escobar, FA OF to replace D Santana, waiver wire IF to replace Grossman

 

Notable: Vargas starts in AAA - Park gets first crack at DH

Rotation: 

- E Santana 

- Gibson 

- May 

- Berrios 

- Santiago 

 

Notable: If Hughes thrives in the bullpen they keep him there and Mejia becomes the next man up to get the call to Minnesota. 

 

Bullpen: 

- Hughes (long relief, 1st call to rotation for injury / poor pitching) 

- Haley (rule 5) 

- Kintzler

- Duffey 

- Chargois 

- Rogers 

- Pressly 

- Open competition

 

Notable: Tonkin experiment is over and he's removed from 40 man - Perkins doesn't make the full recovery and retires - Chargois or Duffey wins closer job out of spring training. 

 

I like it, though there isn't a backup catcher that I see. I'd agree with lineup, the bench and the rotation, however do expect a free agent reliever to be added, even if he's unexciting. I'd also expect another lefty in the pen. So if the free agent is a lefty, my prediction would be Duffey and Haley fight it out for the seventh BP spot. If a free agent right hander is added, I'd predict both Duffey and Haley to lose their jobs. I'd guess Santiago and Mejia battle for the spot for the token lefty in the rotation with the loser taking on Boshers for the second lefty gig in the pen.

 

And I predict Hughes wins the closer job.

[Vanimal46]

Good call. I forgot to put Murphy on the bench! I think he rides the pine as Garver plays every day in AAA. If Castro were to be injured, Garver plays every day in the majors. 

[Platoon]

C - Castro 

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

SS - Polanco

3B - Sano

LF - Rosario 

CF - Buxton

RF - Kepler 

DH - Park

 

Bench: Escobar, FA OF to replace D Santana, waiver wire IF to replace Grossman

 

Notable: Vargas starts in AAA - Park gets first crack at DH

Rotation: 

- E Santana 

- Gibson 

- May 

- Berrios 

- Santiago 

 

Notable: If Hughes thrives in the bullpen they keep him there and Mejia becomes the next man up to get the call to Minnesota. 

 

Bullpen: 

- Hughes (long relief, 1st call to rotation for injury / poor pitching) 

- Haley (rule 5) 

- Kintzler

- Duffey 

- Chargois 

- Rogers 

- Pressly 

- Open competition

 

Notable: Tonkin experiment is over and he's removed from 40 man - Perkins doesn't make the full recovery and retires - Chargois or Duffey wins closer job out of spring training.

 

I would not give up on Tonkin yet. Molitor rode him pretty hard last year. I think he still has a chance.

[Twins33]

C - Castro

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

SS - Polanco

3B - Sano

LF - Rosario

CF - Buxton

RF - Kepler

DH - Vargas

 

Bench: Escobar, Murphy, Grossman, Park

 

 

Rotation:

Santana

Gibson

May

Berrios

Santiago

 

 

Bullpen:

Hughes

Haley

Kintzler

Pressly

Boshers

Rogers

Chargois

 

Perkins on the DL. I'd like Blanton signed as the closer, but doing this list without him.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

C - Castro

1B - Mauer

2B - Dozier

SS - Polanco

3B - Sano

LF - Rosario

CF - Buxton

RF - Kepler

DH - Vargas

 

Bench: Escobar, Murphy, Grossman

 

 

Rotation:

Santana

Gibson

May

Berrios

Santiago

 

 

 

Bullpen:

Hughes

Haley

Kintzler

Pressly

Belisle

Rogers

Duffey

Chargois

[iTwins]

C: Castro 

1B: Mauer

2B: Dozier 

SS: Polanco

3B: Sano 

LF: Rosario

CF: Buxton

RF: Kepler 

DH: Vargas 

 

Bench: Grossman, Escobar, Murphy or Gimenez (Picked based on spring results) 

 

SP: Santana 

SP: Gibson

SP: Berrios 

SP: Santiago 

SP: May 

 

Bullpen: 

Pressly 

Rogers 

Belisle 

Kintzler 

Tonkin 

O'Rourke 

Chargois 

Haley