Only One Spot to Address for 2015?

Dave Martinez.

 

One of Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Yazmani Tomas, or Nic Markakis (if he makes it to free agency).

 

One of Max Scherzer or Jon Lester.

 

I'd kick the tires on Hanley Ramirez.

 

I'd ask the Dodgers about a trade for one of their outfielders if they're looking to dump salary.

 

I'd ask Cincinnati about Latos.

 

Just off the top of my head. Obviously they're not going to do all those, but the point is, talent will change teams this winter. Go get some.

I think Scherzer and Lester are wishful thinking for a team in the Twins revenue class, don't want Cabrera or Cruz (for the contracts they'll get), don't think Markakis gets to free agency.

Beyond that I would certainly be on board with this plan. I do think Ramirez gets a mildly shocking contract.

I endorse Martinez. I would go after Tomas. I do think Latos could be had, but not sure what it would take. I highly endorse the Dodgers idea.

I still would be hesitant to move a top ten prospect this offseason other than Rosario, and I don't think he has much value. The exception would be for a starter to control for at least three years.

this made me laugh out loud in pleasure, thank you.....

 

Again, I was responding to someone saying "it can't be as bad as last year", as did two others, I note....

 

I have not spent hours researching minor leaguers and rosters, so I can't really offer a good trade scenario.....but I'd certainly consider dealing for a SS, LF, CF (shorter term), 3B, C (I don't believe in Suzuki), SP.

 

With the information I have:

I'd probably actually roll with the starters they have, IF I knew more about Meyer and his readiness. Since we have no actual clue if he's ready for the majors (if only there was a way to gather that data this year.......), I'd sign someone at least as good as Shields. I'd prefer to go more elite, but I'd settle for Shields or better. I'd offer 3-5 years, depending on which guy it is, and I'd offer the going rate for that quality.

I'd sign Melky Cabrera to play LF. 

I'd gut the bullpen other than Perkins and, um, not sure 2 others, your choice, and replace them with guys from the minors, or players from other teams that HAVE OPTIONS so I can manipulate my roster better. Frankly, it is time to see Guerra, Tonkin, Oliverous (sp?), Acther, and???? up here in the pen. I'd certainly hope Burdi is ready next year.

I'd promote Alex Meyer day 1. 

Day 1 rotation: New guy, Gibson, Hughes, Meyer, Nolasco (alphabetical listing)

I'd see if Boston wants to deal one of their spare OF for a minor league pitcher in the Twins system (not Stewart or Berrios). The only reason to collect excess pieces is to deal them ......and prospects are worth more before they have their warts exposed.

I'd promote Pinto and have him catch 40-50% of the time.

I'd decide if Santana is a SS or CF this year, and play him AT THAT POSITION now, and next year.

I'd either cut, trade, or move Pelfrey to long relief or another BP spot.

 

with what I don't know:

If they think Sano or Buxton is not here next year.......I'd probably roll with Plouffe, but not be thrilled about it. I'd keep Santana in CF, and when Buxton does come up (if Danny has been good or better) move him to LF.

i'd promote Hicks ASAP, and see if this improvement looks real, I don't care about the minor league playoffs

If Meyer is not ready in their mind, I'd consider signing another SP in addition to the really good one.

 

That's off the top of my head....I am at work and all......and, if I really had control, I'd probably do more, but I was trying to be somewhat realistic....as if it was the Twins, and not the Twins with Mike in charge (which would likely be a disaster).

I like the casualness of stating "I would consider dealing for a C, SS, CF, 3B, SP". The Twins and every other team in baseball...

And the "I would settle for Shields". That is good stuff. Good to know you would settle for a top 20-30 starter in the game.

One likely fact that has yet to be offered here is that the Twins are going to likely be losing nearly 50% (if not more) of their season tickets holders moving into next year, including me in that list. Thus, the revenue streams from tickets sales will be drying up and the last thing the Pohlads will look to do is spend more money. Scherzer, Lester, Price, or any other potential top of the rotation starter isn't coming here. Especially after this Nolasco debacle.

After the All-Star game, this club simply has nothing to offer the fans except the hope that they've been ramming down our throats for the past 3+ years. And until they put some of that hope on an actual MLB field, the fans are even less likely to care. If you field that same lineup listed in the intro to this discussion with the same current manager, be prepared to see crowds of 10k at Target Field and another 90 loss season.

Brock, what does this line mean, if not "I don't think they are winning 80 games next year, or probably the year after".....

 

"You trade prospects when you're an 80 win team pushing for the playoffs"

 

I am trying to understand that part of your statement, and align that with not making a trade of prospects. And, since most prospects don't work out, and the team is flush with money, why not trade for a more certain thing in a MLB player? If the system is really 15+ good prospects deep, I'd think they have an excess they can deal from.

I think this gets down to the actual value of prospects and what they can get in return.

Generic things like "prospects are overvalued" doesn't really say much. In a sense they are, but in a sense they really aren't. The top prospects (Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Berrios) are valued (rightly) very high, but guys like Stewart, Gordon, Thorpe, Polanco, even though they will be highly ranked in the offseason, really aren't going to bring back much in return because they are far from the majors, and a team that is rebuilding, like the Twins, are wise to keep them in their system instead of flipping them for a year or two of a corner OF. Guys ranked lower than that are guys that get half a season of a bit piece at the deadline or maybe a full year of a guy with a little too big a contract (or are third pieces of a bigger trade).

Trade a prospect for a player? OK fine, sounds good in a vacuum, but what does this actually look like to you? To get a legitimate player that has more than a year of control, it starts with one of the big 4 and then needs another couple of guys as well.

Note that I am not in favor of trading prospects right now. At least not the very top, clearly. That said, redundancy could be a factor, and that is why I mention Rosario, Harrison, T. Jones, and Duffey.

I'll buy Rosario to a limited extent, but those other guys really aren't bringing anything back of substance. Depth guys that are third pieces to a trade or might get you a year of an overpriced corner bat.

Actually, last year at this time, Mauer was largely considered a "set" option at catcher, just temporarily shelved.

 

At that time, plenty of people here also thought Florimon was an asset going forward at SS.

 

And lots of people here also said we shouldn't bother getting a new OF for 2014, because we had guys in the corners and our CF of the future would be up by midseason (perhaps he was, just not the guy people were referring to ).

 

Last year at this time, people were also probably asking, how can we improve on ~105 OPS+ at 1B?  Sounds like this year too.

 

The rotation outlook was indeed worse -- god bless Phil Hughes! -- and I like our position player mix better now, but there are some similarities.

Fair enough, flip C and 1B, but the point still stands.

I don't think Florimon was ever thought of as a set answer, perhaps a body that was acceptable until a replacement was found, but not someone who couldn't be replaced. Just an overall lack of options.

Who was the other corner other than Arcia?

And yes, people (like me) were arguing against signing a long term CF but certainly weren't opposed to a stopgap, just acknowledged the fact that player didn't actually exist.

So yes, I think there is a misremembering of what people were saying at this time last year.