ScottyB

It will be interesting to see where Greinke ends up. He hates the big city spotlight, but will be too expensive for almost everyone but Boston and New York. I wouldn't touch Blanton, his numbers in the NL suck and coming into the AL will inflate even further. He's not worth the $10M he's making now, let alone what the bidding will bloat his salary to. Sanchez is making $8M now, and he's been no better than some of our in-house options since coming over from the NL to the Tigers. I'm very leary of any NL only pitcher coming to the AL. Jackson has a good history no matter the league, but would like to stay put. I think the Nats will accomodate him with a 3-year deal. Which leaves Santana and Marcum. I believe the Angels will pick up Santana's $13M option. Marcum would be a good fit. He had a very good 2010 in Toronto, but I think he will be priced out of the Twins comfort zone. I'm intrigued by Carlos Villanueva and I'd be interested in Brandon McCarthy.

Dice-K not gonna happen - he's a Boras client, and Boras will ask way too much. Jackson is now looking for stability, probably a 3-year deal, and since he left the Boras agency might be signed for a reasonable contract. Villanueva wants out of Toronto and could be an interesting choice. There is concern about the number of innings he could pitch since he's mainly been a reliever. Marcum does have potential. One other guy I'd look at is Brandon McCarthy, and of course Baker on an incentive-laden contract with an option for 2014. I'd even consider Liriano back on the cheap. I would trade Span and Morneau this winter for high upside, lower level pitching prospects who might be in the rotation in 2014 or 2015. I'd sign 2 non-pitching free agents - Torii to a 2-year deal and Eric Chavez for the bench. My ideal team: Revere CF Mauer C/1B/DH Hunter RF/DH Willingham LF/DH Doumit DH/C/OF Plouffe 3B Parmelee 1B/OF Dozier 2B/SS Florimon SS Bench: Mastroianni OF; Hermann C/OF; Carroll IF; Chavez 3B/1B Starters: (Take your pick) Diamond; Baker; Gibson; Pavano; Markum; Villanueva; McCarthy; Jackson; Liriano; Hendricks; Deduno; De Vries Pen: Perkins; Burton; Deunsing; Fien; Burnett; (pick 2) - Swarzak; Waldrop; Guerra; Robertson; and Oliveros

This goes back to the beginning of the draft. In their entire history, Dozier's 84 starts at short rank him as 3rd on the list of most starts for the Twins by a Twins' drafted shortstop - 1) Pat Meares 742 games; 2) Danny Thompson 630 games and Dozier's 84 - how embarassing. Most other drafted shortstops have switched positions (ie Knoblauch and Cuddyer), or been utility guys.

You'd think that maybe they would attempt to try to help the crummy teams improve their chances by playing each other more. In the Twins case, we play 91 games against teams .500 or over and 71 against teams under .500. Twins play 7 games against the Yankees, TB, Texas and Oakland and six against Houston. The White Sox will have a huge advantage next season, playing 68 games against teams .500 or better and 94 against under .500 teams (of course they play 19 against the Twins, KC and Cle). In addition, they play 10 home games against 3 of 4 central opponents; a home & home series against the Cubs; a home and home against the Mets and at home with Atlanta; 6 games against the Yankees and Texas and 7 against the Astros. Detroit is more in line with a little less advantage. They play 71 games against teams with .500 or better records and 91 with teams under .500. They play 6 against the Yankees, TB, and Baltimore and 7 against Houston. Their 'regional' rival is Pittsburgh - home and home series. I don't know if the schedule will be changed, but the Twins, KC and Cle should play Houston, Seattle, Boston, and Toronto 7 times each for the sake of competitiveness.

My bad, you're right, it was Moorad. Lee ended up with Boras later.

"has posted an ERA under 3.00 with more walks than strikeouts." Make that more strikeouts than walks

1996 - Travis Lee. He didn't want to play for the Twins. He had Boras tell the Twins to hold off on contract talks so Lee could concentrate on the Atlanta Olympic Games. The Twins did as requested and then they filed for free agency because the Twins didn't send out a contract within 15 days of the draft. He was granted free agency. The Twins have shied away from Boras ever since. The only other Boras client I can remember the Twins dealing with was Joe Crede, and that was because Crede insisted on the Twins over the reccomendation of Boras.

I find it interesting that the Yankees are allowed to have a minor league affiliate in Tampa, with the Rays drawing so poorly, and yet MLB would be against the Twins affiliating with the Saints when they move into a new stadium.

I don't think they'll trade Benson. He was listed today as a probable candidate for the Arizona Fall League to get the bad taste of this season out of his mouth and to boost his morale.

Yeah I still don't get the Slama deal. Why was he taken off the 40-man? He was basically given no chance. His line last year 2 games, 2.1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0 H, 2 BB, 3 K, 0.86 WHIP. I'll take those numbers any day.

Bedard released today - I say take a flyer, let him get acclimated and see if we can get him on the cheap for next year. And if we do trade Span, see if we can get Torii for cheap. He'd fit in nicely in right field for a couple of years while we wait for Arcia/Hicks. Just saw that Iwakuma is a free agent this fall (he wasn't listed at MLB Trade Rumors). The Twinks had an interest in him when he was in Japan. I know that things didn't work out with Nishi, but I'd go after Iwakuma, he's looked good against the Twins.

Let's encourage Ullger to interview with the Astros (or maybe the Red Sox), that would open a spot.

Looking to free-agents for starters next year, there aren't a lot that can be trusted that might fit into the Twins budget. I would not select any pitcher who has spent his career in the NL (see Jason Marquis). But Bedard has had decent numbers in both AL and NL. And Edwin Jackson says he just wants to play somewhere for more than 1 season (he does like Wash), now that he has left Boras, he might be convinced on a 3-year deal for under the $20M+ a season that Boras would have asked. McCarthy didn't look great against the Twins, but compared to what we've got in the cupboard, might be worth a look.

Why do I have a bad feeling that 2013's starting rotation will include Pavano coming back on a contract similar to the one he signed in 2009 - $1.5M base with a whole bunch of incentives. Of course, if he is in fact healed, he might be tradable at the dealine next year.

As much as I would have liked Colby Lewis, I wouldn't go after him at this point. A torn flexor tendon is just short of Tommy John, and with the Twins history of waiting too long, I see no way of Lewis returning before June of 2013. Remember, this is what Baker had before he ended up needing Tommy John. I wouldn't trust the current Twins medical corps to treat me for a hang nail. All undiagnosed - Baker, Wimmers, Zumaya, and Gibson in the last year alone. If Lewis was brought in I have no doubt that he would need another surgery under TwinCare.

It's not such a far-fetched idea. I think that Sano eventually moves to first, with Plouffe staying at 3rd. But I wouldn't think he would bring back much - about the same as the Paul Sorento trade in '92. Sorento showed power as well, but was unproven like Parmelee. For Sorento we got Oscar Munoz - 10 games for the Twins and Curt Leskanic - a journeyman pitcher who never pitched for the Twins, but spent 11 years in the majors as a mediocre middle reliever.

I wouldn't release him with $3M left for next year. Instead I would send him to Fort Meyers or maybe the Gulf Coast League. Embarrass him enough and he will leave his contract and go back to Japan. He isn't even a AAAA or AAA player. Then use that $3M to add on to a decent pitcher for next year.

1. You're the idiot who wants to trade Sano at age 19 for an expensive starting pitcher for this team right now. As I said, an expensive starting pitcher will not turn this team around. They aren't a player or 2 away from contending. This would be throwing money out the door. 2. Not sure what you consider to be above average, but Hicks is on the same timeline that Hunter and Span were on and yes I do consider them to be above average. Sano and Rosario are 19 and 20 and yes I believe they will be good ballplayers as well. If none of these guys turn out to be good ballplayers, then let's throw in the towel for the next decade. 3. Other than the heat exhaustion that caused Span to come out of the ballgame on Saturday has he shown 1 concussion issue this season? If so, please point it out to me, 'cause I haven't seen it. And yes, the Nats are looking for help in CF and a leadoff hitter and he would fill the bill nicely for them. 4. Lombardozzi is currently playing in the outfield for the Nats, if they got Span, he would be a spare part. Casilla would take his place as a utility guy. Obviously your contention is that no prospect will ever make it to the majors so trade them for proven players. As they said in ET this is reality - not science fiction. Why would the Twins get rid of prospects who they will have control over for umpteen years at low salaries for players who will cost millions. You just don't have a payroll where all players are veterans at the same time, it makes no sense - especially not for the Twins who have always been frugal. 5. Where in my comment do I say that the Twins should trade Morneau to Washington or that the Nats have an interest in him - answer: I don't. And I don't think it's unreasonable that Span and Casilla might bring back some prospects who will be ready in 2014-15.

This. Do we really want to trade a prospect with an 80 power rating on the 80-20 scale for a pitcher to help this current team? One veteran pitcher will not turn this team around this year or next not even Felix or Price, these guys would be a waste of money at this time. Let's hope they are banking some money to bring in a veteran presence in 2015 when the next group of prospects - Sano, Rosario, Hicks, Arcia, etc will have more experience and can join Dozier, Plouffe, Mauer, Diamond, Hendricks, Perkins, Parmelee and Revere. Now is the time to trade veterans like Span, Liriano, Morneau and eventually in August Pavano and Capps. Use guys like Casilla and Valencia as sweeteners for trades now. I personally would like to see Span traded to the Nats with Casilla for Lombo Jr., and 2 of Robbie Ray, Kylin Turnbull, and Daniel Rosenbaum. Lombo is young enough to start at 2B now, batting second after Revere and versatile enough to become an outstanding utility guy when Rosario is ready for 2B. Ray, Turnbull and Rosenbaum are 3 lefty starters due to be ready for the rotation in a couple of years.

Capps does have an option for next year

I was thinking a nice trade might be Span and Casilla to the Nats for Lombo Jr. and 2 of the following - Robbie Ray, Kylin Turnbull, and Daniel Rosenbaum. Lombo is currently starting in left field and backing up at 2B, 3B and SS. He would slot in nicely batting 2nd after Revere and starting @ 2B. Span takes his place in the OF with Casilla a utility guy. Ray, Turnbull and Rosenbaum are 3 lefty starters. They don't have huge upsides, but I believe they could slot into the rotation in the next couple of years. Turnbull would have to be a PTBNL, as he signed last August.

Which earth continuum are we talking about?

Tcrose3636 - I could go for Saunders as well. After Joe Nathan had Tommy John, it took him a season and an half to be decent (about midway through 2011), this year he is back to normal - and he had one of the most stringent rehab stints of anyone. I don't see Baker being his old self until at least July of 2013, and Gibson not much before that. Docsilly - If you think Edwin Jackson will sign for that little with Scott Boras as his agent, you're dreaming, not to mention this Twins regime signing a pitcher like Zack Grenke to more than a 4-year deal. I don't see them spending much more than $10M a year for any pitcher. It's one of the reasons we're in the predicament we're in now.

How are Tigers in either category? If they can sign Fielder, plus huge contracts for Verlander, Cabrerra, et al, I can't see why they're eligible. I guess I don't understand the Cardinals either. Even though we have more revenue because of Target Field now, I would think we are still a smaller market than Detroit or St. Louis.

Let's see, if we could get Lombo Jr. from the Nats and Bedrosian from the Halos - that would give us 3 kids of former world champs (to go with Butera) - any other former Twins kids available?