stringer bell

Concur with most of your thoughts above jorgenswest, however, a factual nit to pick: Plouffe was a Super2 Arb last year at age 27 and will FA eligible at 31, and could sign and play for another team at age 31. Dozier will be 28 a year from now when he is eligible for arb and like Plouffe could sign and play for another team at 31 (only six weeks into the season would be his birthday).

Agree with Hosken. Hicks hasn't pitched in seven years. No way is he going to become a pitcher now. Ankiel switched from pitcher to hitter, Tim Wakefield switched from minor league hitter to knuckleballer. There have been a couple others, but none that I remember switching at the stage of career Hicks is at. I am convinced that this still-young guy needs to master Triple A. Perhaps then he can move up to the majors and fulfill some or most of his potential.

I mostly agree that the pitching coach can't make chicken salad out of chicken s$#t. However, it seems that Anderson wasn't able to get expected performance out of a lot of guys recently. Perhaps he was too locked into his "pound the strike zone" philosophy, perhaps he wasn't able to communicate with his pitching staff, perhaps he didn't keep up with the way the game has changed. It was time for a change. Is Allen up to the job? Time will tell.

Do remember that most of Kubel's playing time came when the Twins were down not one but two regular outfielders. The Twins didn't have anyone ready to play corner outfield that was left behind because Kubel was in the lineup. He actually had a decent April, as well, IIRC. It didn't turn out that Kubel wasted too much lineup time at all IMHO.

I've seen the "good" Masterson pitch enough to believe that if he's healthy, he can be a far above-average starter. He throws hard enough and the sinker is an extremely effective pitch. He was very effective just one year ago. One year plus a team option sounds about right.

Precious few long term free-agent contracts for pitchers pan out and even fewer are good value in the last half of the contract (when the Twins are being assumed to be contenders). Going for the elite guys isn't the right move and isn't the Twins style. So, pulling Scherzer, Lester and Shields off the table, what is the best move to be made? I think a Masterson or Anderson short-term contract would be the right move to make. I've said this in other threads--I think there is a decent chance for the Twins to be relevant next year. They had a playoff-caliber offense, but need to improve their run suppression dramatically by improving outfield defense (Bourjos, Schafer, perhaps Rosario) and getting much improved production from three spots in the rotation (a healthy Milone, a healthy Nolasco, May, Meyer, Masterson, Anderson, and maybe Pelfrey). They don't have a lot of depth among the position players and they need to replenish their bullpen, but they have a chance.

After Masterson, Anderson is my second choice (Josh Johnson #3). Nice writeup by Nick highlighting his positives. I think an incentive-laden contract makes sense, because if he stays healthy, there's not much question he'll be worth pretty good money. Also, maybe a vesting option so that the Twins could perhaps get another year out of him if he's healthy.

I agree that it is a long shot for Rosario to make the team and further, it is probably best to go with veterans or at least have veterans available to play. I want to make the point that Rosario isn't Aaron Hicks. I also would point out that in 2014, Rob Antony said (paraphrasing) that Hicks hadn't done anything to win a spot with about two weeks before they broke camp. I would dispute the "All-World" description to both 2013 and especially 2014. The Twins thought they saw a foundation and maturity that wasn't there when the games started counting. Just because Hicks failed and then disappointed in two chances to claim a job doesn't mean that Rosario will follow the same script. As I said before, the Twins may have learned it is prudent to have a decent Plan B for a 23 year old rookie who hasn't played above AA. Hicks also had the legacy of Kirby, Torii and Denard weighing on him, as well as being the only African American on the team (I don't know if that effected him or not). The last thing I want to see is having a position handed to Rosario or Hicks. I think that Hicks absolutely has to go to AAA and master that level. I would be less averse to giving Rosario a chance on the team despite his poor season last year because he hasn't failed twice at the highest level.

Protect the pitchers along with the obvious Sano and Rosario. Position players are very tough to keep if they're not playing and there is a 12-13 man pitching staff. Stashing a pitching prospect in the bullpen (in long relief) is a much more viable plan (it worked for both Johan and Pressly). I can't see a team keeping a Goodrum or Michael for a whole season.

I'm going against the grain and I am pretty optimistic about the 2015 club. I think the Twins added several players who are part of the future, and adding a good starter and perhaps a strong reliever and an outfielder could improve the club greatly. From the OP, I don't agree with Colabello on the bench. He's had his chance and except for a hot month of April, he hasn't done the job in the majors. He's not really a left basher and he can only play first base (I never want to see him in the outfield!). I guess I mostly agree with the rotation and understand that a couple of runners-up will end up in the bullpen. Milone does have an option remaining, and if he doesn't make the rotation, he should be optioned. BTW, Escobar missed out on arb by a couple of days, so he won't make anything close to $2M.

While I don't totally disagree, I think Rosario's sharp fall has papered over most of his disappointing regular season. For him to advance he needs to show maturity that some believed was lacking before his suspension. He also needs to show he has the tools, the temperament, and the production to succeed as a major leaguer. As far as his at-bats in Spring Training, I don't think they are "irrelevant" for a player trying to make an impression or make a team. It will go much deeper than Rosario's (or anyone else's) batting average. Hitting against big-league pitchers or candidates late in Spring Training is much more important than rapping a couple extra-base hits against a Double A pitcher who only was throwing fastballs during the first week of games. A lot has to go right for Rosario to make a run for a spot out of Spring Training. Since the minor league seasons ended, he has done what he needed to do. He would have to continue good performance at the plate, plus field his position well, plus demonstrate his attitude and off-the-field problems are behind him. If he is one of the three best outfielders in Spring Training, he should make the club. Still a long shot, but something that could be done.

Rosario did what he had to do to undo his disappointing regular season in New Britain. Most would agree that the quality of play and players in the AFL is a step up from AA and he had a good turn of about 115 plate appearances. There are gaping holes in the outfield and I still believe that Eddie could stick with the major league team this spring.

Certainly, the years of poor production have limited what is reasonable to expect for him. What he supplied to the Twins in 41 games was certainly serviceable. The team, of course, needs to have a backup plan. I think that he can provide such a contribution again. The speed and base-stealing is an elite tool. To me, that is the difference between him and a guy like Tyner, or actually Mastroianni, for that matter.

Talking about location of fastballs, certainly optimum location of a specific pitch is across the board, depending on the pattern and the batter's strengths etc. I would say that keeping changeups and breaking stuff down makes sense. I have yet to see a pitcher be effective throwing those pitches in the top half of the zone. That said, Bert and most commentators say "he got it up" on about every hard-hit ball. I sometimes chuckle that a perfect pitch is the exact same location and speed as one that is hit 400 feet, according to what I can see on my TV screen.

Kepler has great tools and his "disappointing" 2014 doesn't look so bad with his strong finish in the FSL and now a good performance in the AFL. Walker has had great production, despite a low BA and OBP as he has advanced up the ladder in the Twins' system. He has excellent speed for someone his size, and a good arm. I don't think his future is as a DH. I am hopeful that Rosario can recover his top prospect status by the conclusion of spring training. He has been successful in the AFL, and that is step one. If the Twins don't retain Schafer, I think Ortiz' chance of debuting with the Twins, maybe right out of spring training, is enhanced greatly. He's probably a fourth OF, but can play all three OF positions doesn't have any superior tools, but doesn't have any real weak areas either.

Very nice write-up. Santana broke out last year and we can expect a bit of a sophomore slump, but he looks like a solid major leaguer. I'd like to see some reduction in strikeouts to make up for what almost certainly will be a lower BABIP. I'm also concerned that his RH numbers will regress more significantly than his LH stats.

Schafer/Hicks no. Schafer/RH hitting major league center fielder--okay. Aaron Hicks is still a prospect and he shouldn't be riding the bench for 110-120 games. He is not a good backup plan in the event that Schafer would revert to the less than replacement player he was in the NL. Hicks needs to go to Triple A and master it before he gets a last chance with the Twins. The Twins need to acquire a plus-plus defensive center fielder to platoon with Schafer who could step in full-time if Schafer reverts to what he has been. If Hicks earns a promotion on merit, that is a bonus. As for Rosario, I think his strong performance in the AFL has put him in the conversation. He would have a chance to compete for an outfield spot in spring training.

Is Aaron Hicks injured? He hasn't played in Venezuela in more than a week. BTW, he is hitting .220 with a .661 OPS, not exactly making a claim.

I I was with you until the last paragraph. I don't think Hicks "showed potential" with a .658 OPS in September. He hasn't hit above AA yet and needs substantial time at Triple A. Schafer did well, but has a track record which invites skepticism about his future. Schafer does have the elite tool of base-stealing and there is no prospect status to protect.

Especially with Eddie Rosario close, I like the right handed hitters. Denorfia would be a pretty valuable and versatile three-position OF, with a good glove. Rios would be pricier and would be a regular. He only hit four homers last year, in HR friendly Texas. The Twins' vacancy is in LF and Rios has only played a few innings there, none recently. Both guys are past 30 and shouldn't be signed long-term, but could be helpful in 2015

If Dozier keeps his OBP as high as it was this year, I don't mind if he never hits .250. I think he's easily a Top Ten second baseman in all of baseball and hence shouldn't be traded if the team believes they will be competitive this year or next year. Since he had over 700 PAs, it would figure that Dozier saw a lot of pitches and he was third in bases on balls.

Most are predicting a one-year deal for Masterson to rebuild his value. If the Twins are convinced they are going to get the "good Masterson", I thought maybe they could have a team option at a relatively higher number (maybe $13M).

I've commented on other threads that I would like to see the Twins pursue Masterson. He's been better more recently than most of the rest listed. Most of the other names listed are intriguing as well. Getting a lefty would be nice, although I haven't totally given up on Tommy Milone.

On Mauer, I have really mixed feelings about him. He is somewhat unique as a catcher who has been by far the best hitter on the team. While having him behind the plate maximized his value, his bat was essential, so he was used frequently as a DH. Gardenhire protected his best player, seldom playing him behind the plate in day games after night games. Mauer never vocally protested when he wasn't in the lineup. I always had the feeling that Gardy was being ordered to protect Mauer by the front office and did so grudgingly. Beyond that, Joe has had more than his share of long recoveries from somewhat mysterious injuries, all the way back to his rookie year when he seemed to be a week away from playing all the way through the playoffs. I thought his recovery time for the oblique was on the long side and then Joe said that it still bothered him a bit. Maybe the guy just does heal slowly. I understand that a Colabello would hide an injury. I also understand that no player wants to labeled "injury prone" or worse, "soft". Players think they can perform when they really shouldn't even try. Nolasco said that sometimes his injury was minor and sometimes he just couldn't get loose. Sounds suspicious, but I have a shoulder that ranged from merely bothersome to extremely painful, seemingly at random. Other things to consider--If a team is in a pennant race, it makes sense for guys to play. If the race is over, why jeopardize one's career for a few meaningless at-bats or innings? If a player is in the walk year of a contract, they probably have to be dragged out of the lineup. If a guy has a batting average a tick below .300 with a week to go, he is in the lineup until he gets over the barrier. I will settle for players reporting injuries when they happen and for them to know the difference between dinged and injured or perhaps hurt and injured. Players and the management staff need to communicate and figure out what is best for the player and the team.

Re: Masterson, I favor a one-year contract with a relatively expensive team option (maybe $9M with a $14M option). While it would restrict the player a bit, he is still young enough to cash in big if he pitches well. The Twins would get to keep him for a decent AAV, but be protected if 2015 was 2014 redux.