Front Page: Twins Offseason Status Update: December 8th, 2019

[Nick Nelson]

In the hustle and bustle of a busy offseason, it can be tough to stay on top of all the Twins news and developments – especially if you're not following along obsessively (how dare you).

 

To keep folks up to speed, we'll be running occasional offseason updates on the 2020 roster, payroll, and big-picture progress.With Michael Pineda and Alex Avila now added to the fold, here's a snapshot of the 2020 roster and payroll as they stand today:

 

Download attachment: roster12719.png

Figures in blue are arbitration estimates via the Offseason Handbook, so the $98.5 million number isn't precise, but it should be in the ballpark. This means the Twins are still $25M short of their 2019 Opening Day payroll, and $40M short of the target John Bonnes reasonably set at the beginning of the offseason.

 

There's plenty of flexibility to sign or trade for a high-priced starter like Madison Bumgarner, AND make a big splash elsewhere (say, signing Josh Donaldson?).

 

The Winter Meetings get underway this week in San Diego.

 

TWINS COACHING STAFF

 

The major-league coaching staff had three different members poached – hitting coach James Rowson by Miami, assistant pitching coach Jeremy Hefner by the Mets, and bench coach Derek Shelton by Pittsburgh. The Twins promoted minor-league field coordinator Edgar Varela to replace Rowson, but is still seeking to fill the other roles. Here's the present staff makeup:

 

Manager: Rocco Baldelli

Hitting Coach: Edgar Varela

Assistant Hitting Coach: Rudy Hernandez

Pitching Coach: Wes Johnson

Assistant Pitching Coach: [VACANT]

Bench Coach: [VACANT]

On the surface, Bill Evers seems the most obvious choice to replace Shelton. A 65-year-old longtime baseball man who served as the eighth MLB coach on Baldelli's staff this year, primarily assisting the catchers, Evers was bench coach in Tampa Bay during Joe Maddon's first two years as manager (2006-07). Evers also managed Baldelli as a minor-leaguer in the Rays system.

 

Additionally, the Twins are working to replace a few departures from their minor-league instructional ranks, and have infused some new personnel throughout the org. Michael Salazar came aboard as head athletic trainer after serving in an assistant role for San Diego last year. Mark Moriarty, who is "widely known for using cutting-edge technology to successfully develop pitchers," was plucked out of a small private university in North Dakota to run the Twins' minor-league pitching program. More recently, the team hired a coach from Yale named Tucker Frawley to become their Assistant Field Coordinator/Coordinator of Skill Development.

 

TRENDING OFFSEASON TOPICS

 

Check out some of the latest and greatest articles on Twins Daily covering key storylines:

• Wheeler’s Gone, But Bumgarner Would Give the Twins Plenty to Work With
• Free Agent Faceoff: Madison Bumgarner Is Not Who You Think He Is Edition
• Twins Villains: 3 Free Agents Who Love Terrorizing Minnesota
• Just How Good is Blake Treinen, and Should the Twins Sign Him?

 

Click here to view the article

[beckmt]

Another article on this site claims the Twins are after Ryu, who would require less years and money than Baumgarner.  Than Donaldson might be more in play.  Would like the Twins to also extend Berrios and possible Buxton.  Sano might also be an option, so will have to see how this plays out. 

I am guessing 1 - 2 extensions, one SP upgrade, and a first baseman in the 4 - 5 million a year range.  You could also see if Oderizzi would do a 3 year contract in the 15 million a year range.  Then next year you have Cruz coming off the books (probably but he could have another great year), Rosario decision to be made, along with the Sano issue and whether you can get Buxton to sign an extension or possibly trade him at a high value if you feel you cannot resign him.