sweetmusicviola16

I'm not a Jim Pohlad fan and I won't waste a whole lot of everyone's time telling them how I really feel about our teams ownership. I don't agree with every move our present FO has made in the 2 plus years they have been here. But I can honestly say they are doing very good things overall. And I count this Cruz signing as one of them. Take a look at our top milb prospects. That tells us of the great progress they have made in a short time. The Cruz signing of 14.3mill guaranteed will have no bearing on future signs. He wouldn't have been signed at all if past signs were having a bearing.

I have to disagree as it can't be both. Its one or the other.

Three things come into my mind with the Cruz signing. 1. The club wants to create some excitement in the fan base. That is happening. That has to be taken into account from the perspective of the FO. 2. They see something about Rooker and others that tell them he is not ready yet for the show. Hence the Cruz and Cron signings. Cruz and Cron or anyone else for that matter is not in Rookers way, he's just not ready yet. 3. The FO sees 2019 as a window of oppurtunity, which they should and it is. The established Cruz bat makes our lineup sooo much better. 2019 in AAA and Rooker could well be ready. Cruz has a great 2019 and with his option becomes a great trade piece next Nov. Cruz has a bad 2019 and is washed up and he costs an additional 300k. Cut ties. This is really a no lose signing.

And what of rushing a player to the Big's? Lewis is only 19. Kiriloff just turned 21 but missed a whole season of ball. Rooker has only 2 seasons of pro ball under his belt but is 24. So I could see him being close. But considering Cron is also in the picture Rooker could still be a mid-season callup and Cron/Austin traded. Rushing a player to the ML's can cause a lot of damage. A late season call-up for all of these guys isn't going to hurt us present or future imo. A year of Cruz is the best thing for our future and present. His very sweet contract also makes him a very valuable trade piece should the team fail as well. Win Win

They need a ton of help in the pen. Britton, Herrera and Brach signings would change my outlook on 2019. Also, go out and trade for a better than what we have SP. We have our vaunted deep minor league system. Part of the strategy of having one is to use some of them for trades. Or sign Keuchel. We don't win with last seasons pitching staff imo.

Don't forget about Astudillo. He should be and needs to be on this team.

Thanks Mike. I've been a regular TD reader for years. I was a regular poster on twinsdotcom but for some reason I among others can no longer post on that site. Will Smith as a return for taking Kemp would interest me a lot.

Lots of clamor for Cruz. Why not talk to the Dodgers about Kemp? He's only 1 year left at 19.25mil. Still a solid bat who can play the field in a pinch. Dodgers need to move him for a shot at Harper. We take on the whole contract for 2019 and get a top prospect thrown in the deal. Smith/Lux/May type. Kemp is another RH bat but so is Cruz. Kemp however is only a one year commit.

I don't think there is anything to Ramos or Cruz at all. We are stuck with Castro taking up a spot already for the year. We already have Garver. We also have Astudillo who can float around to other positions. Very valuable asset to have when bench's are as short as they are. Cruz is strictly a DH. We can't afford that luxury. With that in mind I see the need to go after a player who has versatility. That could be Marwin Gonzalez.He can play OF and multiple IF positions. Our positions already look like this: Buxton, Rosario, Kepler and Cave in the OF. Cron, Schoop, Polanco, Sano and Adrianza/Torreas in the IF. Castro and Garver at C. That's 11 players already. Would we go with a 12 or 13 man staff? I'm in the 12 man staff camp. That would allow us Astudillo and to go after Gonzalez. Imo Austin only makes the team if we go with a 12 man and if no other upgrades are made. As for Cahill, I'd rather they went after Happ myself. If they fail on him then go with what they have. I'm fine with Soria if he's not the biggest signing for the Pen. I want to see one of Familia, Robertson or Britton in addition to Soria. Or Kelvin Herrera instead of Soria. To sum my thoughts up lets sign Gonzalez, Happ, Familia and Herrera. These would probably cost according to industry projections 40-45mil in 19 and 20. We now have the payroll space and I honestly think we could compete very well with Cleveland with these moves. Standing pat shouldn't be an option, unless the org could care less about 2019 and 2020. I would hope that would not be the case.