Updated 2014 Lineup Projection

[Chance]

2B Dozier

RF Herrmann

1B Mauer (3rd catcher)

LF Willingham

DH Arcia

C Pinto

3B Plouffe

CF Presley

SS Florimon

 

Bench

Parmelee

Escobar

Mastroanni

Collabello

 

 

I think they trade Doumit for a minor leaguer. I believe that, that is about all try do besides adding some minor league free agents. They do this because they will wait for prospects to come up in June/July.

 

What do you think?

[Monkeypaws]

No Hicks?

[Chance]

No Hicks?

 

No Hicks. I believe he will have to prove he deserves it in AAA first.

[iastfan112]

I think Pinto ends up getting called up in June and Doumit is traded then as well. I think Mauer still catches 50% or more of the time.

[Rosterman]

Let's look realistically.

 

DH - COumit or Willingham.

 

RF Presly or Parmelee or both.

 

Carbello will get a shot at first abse.

 

Doumit is still around

 

Arcia will be in the outfield, too young to be DH.

 

If they trade Doumit, then Pinto will get called up. No use having Pinto around unless he is going to catch at least 40 or so games at this stage.

 

Be interesting to see 40-man roster adds/subtracts before we get into line-up construction.

[killertwinsfan]

I hope your wrong, I see 2 maybe 3 with Dozier, major league players in that lineup. Howver I believe Hicks will be in the lineup and i'm betting we see Sano in 2014 with the possibility of Rosario as well

[Danchat]

Here's what I think:

2B Dozier

1B Mauer

DH Willingham

RF Arcia

C Pinto

3B Plouffe

LF Presley

CF Mastroianni

SS Florimon

 

C/OF Herrmann

INF Escobar

1B/RF Parmelee

OF Ramirez

 

The Twins will switch to 13 pitchers when the rotation implodes again. Hicks and Sano are not ready yet. Hicks gets a call in May and Sano gets the call in late June. I know what you're thinking - Ramirez is on the team? He can actually hit...somewhat. Plouffe is on his last straw. Parmelee is also on the hot seat, but gets to play 1B when Mauer rests/DHs/plays C. (Happy Gardy? We have 3 catchers now.)

[Mike Sixel]

Depressing..... I want the Cuban 1B at least. That lineup is pretty much this years, one of the worst offenses and defenses in the game.

[howieramone1406390264]

Mike, if the Twins scouts decide it's a go, I would like to take our best shots at both Abreu and Tanaka. I'm too lazy to go back and look, but IIRC the fun and games don't start until at least January. It's impossible to predict who will be successful, but I have little doubt the check book will be opened this winter. The past is not a perfect predictor of the future.

[Don Julio]

With the number of top prospects that could be MLB ready next year, it would seem the Twins would not want to start all of their clocks at the same time. Sano, Rosario, Buxton, Meyer, May, Tonkin, etc., are all projected to be very important pieces to the Twins. It would be problematic for the Twins if they were all entering arbitration and free agency at the same time. Therefore, why not call Sano up now?

[jorgenswest]

With the number of top prospects that could be MLB ready next year, it would seem the Twins would not want to start all of their clocks at the same time. Sano, Rosario, Buxton, Meyer, May, Tonkin, etc., are all projected to be very important pieces to the Twins. It would be problematic for the Twins if they were all entering arbitration and free agency at the same time. Therefore, why not call Sano up now?

 

Isn't it just as problematic if Sano is arb 2 or 3 when all of the others are arb 1? Ideally the Twins have as many of Sano's best seasons under team control as possible. Calling him up trades a month of his age 21 season for his entire age 28 season. Starting him in AAA next year is the wise move.

[ThePuck]

Isn't it just as problematic if Sano is arb 2 or 3 when all of the others are arb 1? Ideally the Twins have as many of Sano's best seasons under team control as possible. Calling him up trades a month of his age 21 season for his entire age 28 season. Starting him in AAA next year is the wise move.

 

Let's just wait to bring them all up at the same time. 2015, 2016. Are we just convinced we're only going to have these guys for their first 6 seasons and then they're gone?

[jorgenswest]

Let's just wait to bring them all up at the same time. 2015, 2016. Are we just convinced we're only going to have these guys for their first 6 seasons and then they're gone?

 

It is not a matter of being convinced. It is what baseball guarantees. Almost any star player would want to test the free agent market at first opportunity. It is even more likely when that player has fewer ties to the home town area.

 

The Twins are guaranteed 6 years service time before free agency. They should maximize what the contract provides and hope these players turn out to be stars.

[ThePuck]

It is not a matter of being convinced. It is what baseball guarantees. Almost any star player would want to test the free agent market at first opportunity. It is even more likely when that player has fewer ties to the home town area.

 

 

The Twins are guaranteed 6 years service time before free agency. They should maximize what the contract provides and hope these players turn out to be stars.

 

There is a huge, but huge list of players, including star players, that signed extensions well before they become free agents. Smart teams get it done early.

[glunn]

Are there really people who believe that? Very few people here believed that the Twins would be at all competitive this year. If Terry Ryan actually thought that then he must have blinders on that would fit a Clydesdale. (Oh, wait, the team that uses Clydesdales doesn't wear blinders). Maybe he found a Genie in a bottle he thought would grant every wish - this team was put together on a heck of a lot of wishin' and hopin' but that seldom goes far.

 

Terry Ryan OUGHT to be embarrassed about the mess of a team that this franchise fielded this year. Terry Ryan OUGHT to be embarrassed that he is so unwilling to spend money that he not only didn't improve the team measurably but arguably made it even more depressing (even if it finishes with a slightly better record than in 2012 but that isn't a sure thing). And Jim Pohlad OUGHT to be embarrassed, too.

 

Terry Ryan OUGHT to retire.

 

As for the line-up next year, the only thing I'm certain about is that it will be another merry-go-round with Dozier, Mauer, Willingham and Florimon the only relatively sure things (and even then, we could see regression in Dozier and Florimon and who knows where Willingham's health will be). Every other position is up for grabs.

 

I just hope that both the Manager and GM jobs are up for grabs too. (Oh, and if I were Joe Mauer, I'd be willing to waive my no trade clause in a heartbeat).

 

Please tone down the invective. It is understandable that you are angry and passionate, but you can say what you want to say without being so inflammatory and so dismissive of others. What you posted is borderline trolling.

[ashbury]

While glunn was writing his warning, I was deleting posts. There is no purpose in turning every thread into "what the Twins should do in the offseason" or "Terry Ryan: what do YOU think?". Please heed glunn's advice.

[freshinthehouse]

Here's what I hope:

 

1st: Abreu

2nd: Dozier (replaced mid-season by Rosario)

SS: Florimon (replaced by Dozier at mid-season)

3rd: Plouffe (traded/benched mid-season by Sano)

LF: Arcia

CF: Hicks

RF: Parmalee

DH: Collabello

[Pius Jefferson]

Not what I want, but what I think the opening day lineup.

 

C-Mauer

1B-Plouffe

2B-Dozier

SS-Florimon

3B-Escobar

LF-Arcia

CF-Mastroianni

RF-Hermann

DH-Willingham

 

 

[ThePuck]

I don't know how to project a 2014 lineup for the Twins without asking myself what Ryan should/might do in the offseason.

 

So I'll just say, they may have some players not on the roster right now, or they may not. Pretty sure Mauer and Dozier will be involved.

[Marta Shearing]

2b dozier

rf herrmann

1b mauer (3rd catcher)

lf willingham

dh arcia

c pinto

3b plouffe

cf presley

ss florimon

 

bench

parmelee

escobar

mastroanni

collabello

 

 

i think they trade doumit for a minor leaguer. I believe that, that is about all try do besides adding some minor league free agents. They do this because they will wait for prospects to come up in june/july.

 

What do you think?

 

lf arcia

cf hicks

rf parmelee/plouffe platoon

dh willingham

1b mauer

2b dozier

ss florimon

3b sano

c pinto

[Thegrin]

We'll play with what we've got now.

 

C - Mauer/Doumit/Hermann

1B - Parmalee/Colabello/Mauer

2B - Dozier ( Rosario in mid-summer)

3B - Plouffe ( Sano in mid-summer)

SS - Florimon/Dozier

LF - Willingham/Arcia

CF - Hicks/Presley

RF - Parmalee/Arcia/Hermann

DH - one of the above

 

I doubt any FA will be a starter. I doubt Buxton will be brought up until Sept 2014.

[CGNikolic]

This is pointless to do until at least the season is done, or even after depending on how the offseason is handled by our front office. I guarantee you we do not see any of our top prospects (Sano, Rosario, Meyer) until at the trade deadline; at the earliest. It will likely be another rough year, but hopefully the last(?).

[MichiganTwins]

Its not pointless if it gives us something to do with our lives while the major league team is destroying our moods. Also, you may be the only one saying none of the next wave will be up before the trade deadline.

[mudcat14]

I hope they give Pinto & Hermann abundant innings behind the dish from here on out this season. My hope is that they can prove to be a serviceable tandem, enabling Mauer to move full-time to 1B, fatten up and start driving the ball. With any luck, Joe has only hit about 1/3 of his career HR's so far.

[Chance]

My reason for thinking this thread was appropriate is because I don't think the Twins should sign a bunch of free agent position players this offseason because they first need to know what they have in prospects coming up. It will be another tough year but we need take the right steps to assemble a quality, consistently competitive team.

 

What position do people want us to sign a definite starting player, long term, at that won't be blocking our prospects? 1B I think will be Mauer the majority of the rest of his career. SS would be a good one. Maybe Catcher?

[Mike Sixel]

Well, I am not convinced hicks will ever hit, so ellsbury. And pitching, lots of starting pitching. High upside guys to 1 year deals that can be flipped if they do well. Or tanaka, or the Cuban 1b....can always DH him ......any SS.

[shs_59]

Channeling my inner Aaron Gleeman here maybe, but who gives a flock about the 2014 Twins roster? the 2015 Twins is what REALLY matters, particuallry in the second half.

 

1. DH Eddie Rosario

2. 2B Brian Dozier

3. 1B Joe Mauer

4. 3B Miguel Sano (rookie yr, i believe)

5. LF Oswaldo Arcia

6. RF Trevor Plouffe (hoping for an Alex Gordon lite like Turn-around)

7. C Josmil Pinto

8. CF Aaron Hicks / Alex Pressly [platoon]

9. SS Danny Santana / Pedro Florimon [platoon]

----

 

bench:

 

Florimon

Pressly

Herrmann

Collabello or Parmelee or Vargas or FA type....like a Kubel, Reynolds, or Scheirholz type.

 

SP 1 Brandon Morrow 3 years $16.5 M per with option for 4th + incentives; 50 million dollars. 68 Million if 4 years.

SP 2 Kyle Gibson

SP 3 Alex Meyer (could be actual rookie yr, if spends lots of time in AAA in 2014)

SP 4 Colby Lewis (replacement for Correia)

SP 5 Scott Diamond

 

RP 1 Glen Perkins

RP 2 Michael Tonkin (please oh please God)

RP 3 Jared Burton/ or Casey Fien

MR 4 Ryan Pressly

MR 5 Caleb Theilbar

MR 6 Trevor May

LR 7 Andrew Albers (spot 6th starter)

 

(some top guys in AAA)

 

Byron Buxton*, Daniel Ortiz, Evan Bigley, Nate Hanson, James Beresford*, Matt Koch.

Zach Jones*, Zach Jones, Zach Jones, Alex Swimmer Wimmers? , Jason Wheeler, Liam Hendriks*, Vance Worley*, AJ Achter. + Dakota Watts*

 

(some top guys in AA)

 

Travis Harrison, Jorge Polanco, A.B. Walker, Max Kepler? , Stuart Turner, Jorge Fernandez, Aderlin Mejia, Jose Berrios, Miguel Sulbaran, Mason Melotakis, Tyler Jones, Tyler Duffy, Taylor Rogers, Luke Bard?

 

I think Kohl Stewart will start 2015 in High A Ft. Myers but ya never know.

[Marta Shearing]

LF Arcia

CF Hicks

RF Presley/Parmelee/Plouffe

DH Willingham

1B Mauer

2B Dozier

SS Florimon

3B Sano

C Pinto

 

Make Rosario an outfielder again. Rosario (RF) and Santana (SS) midseason call ups.

 

LF Arcia

CF Hicks

RF Rosario

DH Willingham

1B Mauer

2B Dozier

SS Santana

3B Sano

C Pinto

 

In 2015 swap out Buxton for Willingham and lets roll!

 

CF Buxton

LF Rosario

1B Mauer

3B Sano

DH Arcia

2B Dozier

RF Hicks

C Pinto

SS Santana

[stringer bell]

How many people thought at the start of the year that Brian Dozier would be the surest thing among the position players for 2014? How many thought that Dozier would hit the most homers for the Twins in 2013 (Quite likely, but not certain)?

 

Starters: Dozier 2B, Hicks CF, Mauer 1B, Willingham DH, Arcia LF, Plouffe 3B, Parmelee RF, Pinto C, Florimon SS. Bench: Herrmann, Escobar, Mastroianni, Presley

[ThePuck]

How many people thought at the start of the year that Brian Dozier would be the surest thing among the position players for 2014? How many thought that Dozier would hit the most homers for the Twins in 2013 (Quite likely, but not certain)?

 

Starters: Dozier 2B, Hicks CF, Mauer 1B, Willingham DH, Arcia LF, Plouffe 3B, Parmelee RF, Pinto C, Florimon SS. Bench: Herrmann, Escobar, Mastroianni, Presley

 

Dozier isn't the surest thing among the position players, Mauer is...but my belief in Dozier hasn't waivered. I've been a Dozier fans since before ST of 2012.