Trending (3/31): Setting the Roster

Ricky Nolasco, Fifth Starter

It’s probably unfair that we turned Monday into a Nolasco vs Duffey competition for the fifth spot in the rotation considering that Duffey was facing major league competition and Nolasco was facing a group of high-A minor leaguers. But that’s essentially what happened. Because Duffey wasn’t very good, Nolasco’s decent performance against inferior competition was enough to convince the team brass that Duffey would be better in Rochester while Nolasco gets another chance to secure a rotation spot. (Or at least that’s how it appeared publicly.)

It was only last Wednesday when Ricky Nolasco kept the door open to make the rotation with a performance that included six scoreless innings in which he struck out seven and only allowed three hits (no walks).

While many point at the two years and $25 million remaining on his contract as the reason that Nolasco is in the rotation, let’s not forget that he is only two seasons removed from having pitched 185 or more innings in five of the last six seasons. If he can get his BABIP closer to his career average (.319) instead of .354 and .392 he’s allowed in his two seasons as a Twin, he could be more than a serviceable back-end piece.

At the end of the day, though, Nolasco set the stage for a showdown with the team’s decision-makers when his agent stated publicly that he didn’t want to pitch out of the bullpen. But instead of lying down and putting himself in a situation for that showdown to happen, he went out and performed well enough to earn - at a minimum - a handful of major league starts to prove to the Twins - and other teams around the league - that’s he’s still capable of taking the ball every five days.

TRENDING: Into the rotation (though that isn’t guaranteed to be the case a month from now).

Kurt Suzuki, All-Star Catcher

What? He was. Though we haven’t seen that Suzuki much or consistently lately, the Suzuki that showed up to spring training has performed at a very high level offensively. Yes, it’s only 26 at-bats and, yes, it’s only eight hits. Four of those hits, however, have been home runs. (He hit five all of last season). Having an alternative at the catching position in John Ryan Murphy - and an incentive to not let Suzuki appear at the plate 485 times - we could see a better-rested Suzuki make a better offensive impression in 2016

TRENDING: Towards less playing time, but more impact while in the lineup.

David Ortiz, Diarrhea of the Mouth

We get it Papi. You felt like you were wronged by the Twins. And that treatment created an enormous chip that you filled with PEDs, World Series rings and a future in Cooperstown. It also provided you with an apparent avenue to rip on the Twins on multiple occasions… while mentoring some of their more impressionable youth. Your act has grown tired and the whole population is an agreement that you should just shut up and play out your career before drifting off into the sunset.

TRENDING: Past annoying.

Daniel Palka, Next Babe Ruth?

Palka has gotten a handful of at-bats with the Twins during spring training and he’s turned three pitches around and deposited them into the seats. Before we anoint him the next anything, though, he’s still got a lot to prove and he’ll get the opportunity to do that in Chattanooga. Palka, along with a number of others in the organization, has 70+ power, but he’s the only one that offers it up from the the left side of the plate. Palka, expected to be added to the 40-man roster in November, has a decent chance of leading the organization in home runs this season.

TRENDING: Towards everyone's Top 20, even before he's played a meaningful game.

There you have it. Another week and more players to discuss. Who's trending in your mind?