Cory Engelhardt

So do you have Sano as your most talented defensive DH? Or who is to say he wouldn't be the best fielding 1st baseman on the roster? That said, I like the idea of Polanco at 2nd. I don't know what that means for Dozier.

% chance that Melotaksis and Burdi are in the bullpen opening day, switching out for Abad and Meyer (potentially.) Higher than 0, right?

Polanco will more than likely start the year at AAA Rochester, and probably do well. He more than likely won't be brought up outside of injury to either Dozier or Escobar, or complete domination by Polanco. That said, I would totally be in the trade Dozier camp as well, if a good opportunity arose and Polanco was showing he could hit a little and take a walk. What would a Dozier trade look like? He is, in a way, the face of the team right now (or one of them) and if the Twins are doing well, that would be tough to trade him away, even if statistically it is the right move.

Jorge Polanco, your thoughts? Where does he go from here?

I'd go 2 years, with a 3rd year option if he hits certain escalators. Yes, all of the minor league guys have potential, but Bastardo is someone you can count on and IS solid. If all of the guys in the minor leagues (or even 4 of them) in a year or more absolutely are out-performing Bastardo, you can trade him then. But all of these guys, none of them could absolutely work out. You never know. It would be nice to have certainty, and Bastardo would help with that. That said, I am still holding out hope for a Jake Mcgee or a Will Smith trade. That is probably naïve.

C Murphy, 1B Sano, 2B Polanco, SS Gordon, 3B Escobar, LF (not on this team yet, we trade prospects for a good veteran outfielder, but I'll throw out Ryan Braun or someone like him) CF Buxton RF Kepler, DH Park. Bench will have Mauer who will still play 3-4 days a week. Bench will also have a catcher, like Navaretto/Turner/Garver (whoever can help the team the most at that point) and probably Vielma and maybe Walker. I don't see Arcia making it through 2016 spring training, let alone staying with the team until 2018.

Thank you for this interview. It was great to be able to hear a little about him and his thoughts. Sounds like a great player. I saw him play at Cedar Rapids a couple years ago, and he was impressive defensively. He also looked like he weighed 90 pounds soaking wet. Hopefully he can become a great player.

Am I the only one that thinks it would be best for Arcia to move on regardless? Even if his bat comes back to 2013 form, he is such a net negative in the of, (especially if Sano has to also be out there) that the team would be worse off with him attempting whatever he calls defense. The team would give up way less runs with him manning a corner spot, and dh-ing, for another team and having Buxton/Rosario/Sano and Davis cover the field. No? I mean, if the best reason to keep him is because he is out of options, is that really worth it?

I can see this line of thinking. At the same time, isn't this the highest Plouffe's ceiling, in terms of value in a trade, will ever be?

So, they should not sign a good free agent bullpen arm, like a Tony Sipp or Antonio Bastardo? I would be disappointed if they didn't attempt to get better with real true strikeout guys. Assuming that Darnell will become a good reliever against lefties doesn't mean he will become that.

Maybe Benson as the 4th outfielder, until Kepler is ready. Unless of course Arcia can hit again, then he'd be 4th of and bench bat.

Corey Williams and Felix Jorge, to me, seem like better adds than Pat Dean and either Rosario or Landa. But what do I know.

I'd shoot for a big time strikeout guy too, if possible. Will Smith, Carter Capps or even sign a free agent like Shawn Kelley. All had k%'s over 30%, and that would be a welcome addition to our pen. I would guess Kelley would be the easiest to acquire (being a free agent) but I'd for sure talk to Milwaukee about Smith and just see what it would take. Polanco and Kohl Stewart, maybe? Is that too much? - But yeah, the Plouffe trade I think is announced about 10 minutes after the Park signing is official. My first thought is to target Cam Bedrosian of the Angels along with a low minors arm with upside. Otherwise if the Twins can get a low minors arm with upside (think Alex Meyer type at Low A somewhere) that would be ideal. - I am afraid of counting on Rosario/Buxton/Kepler/Arcia to be the outfield from day 1. Even Danny Santana. Not all of them will work out and be good right away, and really I only have faith that Buxton and Kepler will become great. I'd love to target someone in free agency to play solid defense and hold down an outfield spot for a few months at least. I'd love a Denard Span signing, as I think he could hold down a spot for at least 1 year (granted he is healthy) and then let players take over who are the best at that point. - I don't want to target another #4 pitcher. I could see Fister being a good option a few years ago, but now they have more quantity than quality in the rotation. Berrios and Duffey will be up at some point, otherwise the Twins have to hope to develop an ace. And really, Santana, Hughes, Gibson and Millone should be able to hold down the rotation, along with Duffey, until Berrios is ready to (hopefully) dominate and injuries happen. Nolasco is a sunk cost unless he comes to spring in shape, then he makes his way into the rotation, possibly over Millone. C Murphy, 1B Mauer, 2B Dozier, SS Escobar, 3B Sano, DH Park, LF Rosario, CF Buxton, RF Arcia/Santana platoon, or a free agent like Span, who would switch to left field and Rosario in right Bench Suzuki, Santana, Nunez, free agent 4th of? Rotation, Santana, Hughes, Gibson, Duffey, Millone Bullpen, Perkins, Jepsen, Will Smith, Shawn Kelley, Trevor May, Pressley, Meyer Nolasco I won't list. If he is healthy and ready to contribute he will be in place of Millone, who is traded. Berrios starts at AAA and when someone is injured, or he has 5-7 starts and is just too good, then he comes up and other changes are made.

Or even Bedrosian and Victor Alcantara. Huge upside arm who hasn't pitched much about low A, but he did throw in the futures game. Would that be too much for Plouffe back? We would get a potentially good late inning arm, and a high upside prospect arm to start at Fort Myers and see where it goes.

You don't see Plouffe headlining a trade for a Derek Norris/Austin Hedges/Kevin Plawecki or similar catcher? That would solve the catching issue as well, and be a good haul for a good-but-not-great hitter in Plouffe.

So when does Kepler make an appearance at Target Field? The Twins could use offense any way they can get it.

You realize Mauer's contract is not in the way AT ALL for the Twins spending money, right?

I like where you are going with this. My dream is to sign someone like Jiminez and then figure out a trade for Homer Bailey (with resigning him) and the closer to spring training picking up a few guys on minor league deals to give a shot (like Kazmir last year) although I don't know who that is.