Manager, Coaching staff,pitching staff ,lineup,Free Agents

[Brandon27]

I would like to hear from everyone on what if the Twins don't bring back Molitor and the Coaching staff who would they bring in to manage and coach the team. If they do bring back Molitor what changes to the coaching staff would you make. How to fix the Bullpen and rotation and how the lineup would look like next year with either trades or Free agents.

[The Wise One]

I don't think Molitor is going anywhere

I think the pitching coaches are 

No clue on free agents, one would have to see who gets offers first.

They can trade any and all of the minor league pitchers they tried this year as starters for one good one.

[LFRGary]

I don't have an opinion on whether  Molitor should be signed to a new contract. I have a fierce opinion that James Rowson should be brought back. He's fantastic.

 

One thing that's needed is a is a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, the younger the better. I've seen the list of FA pitchers. It isn't worth it. Trading a prospect or 2 for the right pitcher should be a priority for Falvey & Levine.

 

As for the bullpen, we've got the start of an impressive bullpen with reinforcements waiting in AA & AAA. Starting pitching is what we need most, IMHO.

[yarnivek1972]

If someone out there knows what minor leaguers will need to be added to the 40 man this offseason or exposed to rule 5, that would be helpful info to have. I know the list is pretty long. And it is a foregone conclusion that the Twins will probably lose at least one guy with considerable upside. That is definitely part of the decision making process this offseason.

 

Perhaps the list is already here somewhere?

[amjgt]

If someone out there knows what minor leaguers will need to be added to the 40 man this offseason or exposed to rule 5, that would be helpful info to have. I know the list is pretty long. And it is a foregone conclusion that the Twins will probably lose at least one guy with considerable upside. That is definitely part of the decision making process this offseason.

 

Perhaps the list is already here somewhere?

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/26999-article-rule-5-addition-discussion/?fromsearch=1

[yarnivek1972]

 

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/26999-article-rule-5-addition-discussion/?fromsearch=1

 

 

I figured it was here somewhere.  Interesting info to say the least.  

[gunnarthor]

The Twins will hire a new manager but I have no idea who. Probably someone with connections to one of Falvine.

 

As for FA, they'll probably sign a guy like Jaime Garcia for 4/48 or so and maybe a bullpen arm like Belisle. This team doesn't have the payroll to do much more than that.

[Vanimal46]

I'm guessing Molitor is gone, and that was the plan all along unless the team went on a miracle WS run. Don't have any idea who it will be. 

 

The top priority is finding a pitcher better than Ervin to anchor the rotation. Berrios may develop and be better than Ervin next season. If so, great! Find one more, and Ervin could be a sneaky good #3. FA doesn't appear to be the best route, as I'm not a believer in Arrieta. Nor do I think it's realistic Ohtani, Tanaka, or Darvish signs with Minnesota. Trade from the surplus of middle IF prospects to get a legit SP. 

 

A shut down reliever (or two) is also needed. 

[Shaitan]

 

One thing that's needed is a is a top-of-the-rotation pitcher, the younger the better. I've seen the list of FA pitchers. It isn't worth it. Trading a prospect or 2 for the right pitcher should be a priority for Falvey & Levine.

 

This is the hardest thing to acquire, though, as every team in baseball wants this. Most teams want 5 of them.

 

Not that I disagree.

[USAFChief]

This is the hardest thing to acquire, though, as every team in baseball wants this. Most teams want 5 of them.

 

Not that I disagree.

This is why when a Verlander becomes available, you don't wring your hands about giving up minor leaguers, wet your pants over paying his salary, or fool yourself into waiting for your system to develop its own ace.

 

You put on your big boy pants and go play with the big boys.

[Seth Stohs]

 

If someone out there knows what minor leaguers will need to be added to the 40 man this offseason or exposed to rule 5, that would be helpful info to have. I know the list is pretty long. And it is a foregone conclusion that the Twins will probably lose at least one guy with considerable upside. That is definitely part of the decision making process this offseason.

Perhaps the list is already here somewhere?

 

Check here: 

http://twinsdaily.com/articles.html/_/minnesota-twins-news/minnesota-twins-minor-leagues/rule-5-addition-discussion-r5921 

[DocBauer]

STAFF: Not sure about Molitor, and frankly, I'm a bit torn. But, based on 2 out of 3 seasons, showing improvement IMO, and seeing how the team seems to play for him, I think I'd keep him. Not 100% sure on some of the coaches. Really like Rowsen and Pickler though.

 

SP: Not opposed to a trade but prefer the FA route. Quality, doesn't have to be a true ACE, keep prospects for depth, competition and future trades. Right now, I want to add but also horde. Lol

 

BP: Really like one good quality proven arm to help lead the staff. Maybe a decent second option. I hate to sound like I'm digging for fools gold, but I don't want to over-sign here considering some of the current arms and others getting close.

 

DH: A move here deepens the lineup. But when I look at the starting 8,adding another bat falls way behind adding to the staff.

[yarnivek1972]

What do people think the payroll will be in 2018? It was around $108 mil in 2017. Mauer, Hughes, Santana, Dozier and Castro is roughly $68 mil.

 

My personal guess is that a max figure is $125 mil. I would consider that going “all in” from the Pohlad’s perspective.

 

As always, it will be key to get bang for the buck.

[gunnarthor]

 

What do people think the payroll will be in 2018? It was around $108 mil in 2017. Mauer, Hughes, Santana, Dozier and Castro is roughly $68 mil.

My personal guess is that a max figure is $125 mil. I would consider that going “all in” from the Pohlad’s perspective.

As always, it will be key to get bang for the buck.

I think that's pretty high and likely closer to 110 or 115m. The highest payroll this team ever had was 113m and that was the year after TF opened, huge attendance and a 96 win season. 

 

I think, after arbitration and min salaries, our current payroll will be at 90m, giving us roughly 20m to spend.

[Riverbrian]

Staff: I won't touch that one with a 10 foot pole. I have no idea if they are good or not. I leave these decisions to those responsible for such decisions. 

 

Bullpen: Go sign 3 or 4 Top End Closer capable guys and let them know that they will be competing and given fair consideration for the closer job. Choose from Reed, Neshek, Gregerson, Clippard, McGee, Shaw, Minor, Kintzler, Smith, Petit and Morrow. Maybe Minor or Petit or Morrow could return to a starting role ala Pomeranz or Peacock.

 

The Yankees, Astros and Indians are DEEP in the bullpen... 5 6 or 7 shutdown arms in the bullpen. The Twins also need that. 

 

 

This of course will cause excess in the bullpen and the 40 man but you can take that excess and package it in a trade for a starting pitcher hopefully. 

 

Starter: Trade for one using the excess after the bullpen acquisitions.

 

DH or Anywhere: Find a bomber to hit behind Sano.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

I think that's pretty high and likely closer to 110 or 115m. The highest payroll this team ever had was 113m and that was the year after TF opened, huge attendance and a 96 win season. 

 

I think, after arbitration and min salaries, our current payroll will be at 90m, giving us roughly 20m to spend.

it might have been Terry Ryan setting that 113 mil cap, more than Jim Pohlad. Agreed, might not be 125 mil, but might be 115-120, who knows what a post season birth might do to loosen up the purse strings?  

[gunnarthor]

 

it might have been Terry Ryan setting that 113 mil cap, more than Jim Pohlad. Agreed, might not be 125 mil, but might be 115-120, who knows what a post season birth might do to loosen up the purse strings?  

Smith was the GM at the time. Many people feel that he was fired the next year because he wanted to increase payroll again.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

Smith was the GM at the time. Many people feel that he was fired the next year because he wanted to increase payroll again.

how could I forget that it was Smith in '13?

[gunnarthor]

 

how could I forget that it was Smith in '13?

2011.  

 

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/american-league/minnesota-twins/

[yarnivek1972]

I guess if I were Falvey I wouldn’t have taken the job without assurances of a commitment to spend. 2016 revenue was roughly $250 mil. Attendance was up about 100,000. A good rule of thumb for max payroll is 50% of revenue. Indeed, the year payroll was at $113 mil, revenue was about $220 mil. Payroll hasn’t kept up with revenue because there was little reason to spend on a rebuilding team.

 

So, no, I don’t think $125 mil is an unrealistically high “cap”. As I said, I think the Pohlads would consider that going all in. Are they ready to do that? We’ll see I guess. But, unless they intend to resign Mauer after 2018, I could see the Twins going “all in” in 2018.

[Doomtints]

 

I guess if I were Falvey I wouldn’t have taken the job without assurances of a commitment to spend. 2016 revenue was roughly $250 mil. Attendance was up about 100,000. A good rule of thumb for max payroll is 50% of revenue. Indeed, the year payroll was at $113 mil, revenue was about $220 mil. Payroll hasn’t kept up with revenue because there was little reason to spend on a rebuilding team.

So, no, I don’t think $125 mil is an unrealistically high “cap”. As I said, I think the Pohlads would consider that going all in. Are they ready to do that? We’ll see I guess. But, unless they intend to resign Mauer after 2018, I could see the Twins going “all in” in 2018.

 

It's too early to go all-in. The Twins are still rebuilding the pitching staff and the Twins already spend more on pitching than they do for position players.

 

They should continue rebuilding the pitching (or start, really, since they did little to nothing last offseason to address the problem), and go "all in" at the trade deadline if the magic is happening. The worthwhile pitchers tend to move at the trade deadline anyway.

[Linus]

When you look at the free agent threads I get really worried. The Twins are going to have a 4 year window of affordability for their core. The pitching does not match up and the free agent market I'd dismal.