beckmt

I think Alomar jr or Espada. Twins need a manager to connect with the Latin players, and this may work. It is worth a try. Both are good baseball men, but do not know philosophy of this front office.

This is more a wish list, but will show how the Twins can proceed if they decide to spend the money. Mauer Retires Many of the lower end 40 man list is released or not offered contracts. Signings Corbin 5/110 Ryu or Evoldi 4/60 - 70 Herrera - 3/42 One or two more RP types mid range 2/15 each Oderizzi traded probably would have to absorb part of contract - other choice would be Oderizzi + Kepler for a decent starter and sign AJ Pollock 5/100 - 110. (This also protects the Twins against Buxton not making it). Sign a second baseman or SS or a 1 - 2 year contract until Lewis arrives (or another middle infielder). 2/12 - 14 This gives the Twins a decent starting lineup plus pitching Catchers - Castro, Garver 1B Austin 2B FA or Polonco SS Polonco or FA 3B - Sano OF Rosario, Pollock, Cave or Rosario, Buxton, Pollock Bench Garver Austiddo, Cave or Buxton, Adrianza Pitching SP Berrios, Gibson, Corbin, Ryu or Evoldi, Trade or a winner of spring training battle RP May, Rogers, Herrera, Hildenberger, FA1, FA2, Drake or loser of young starting pitching battle Payroll Depending on extention signings around $130 - $150 million (talking of adding 60 - 80 million before arbitration signings) Have at it.

I am hoping the Twins extend Rosario and Berrios adding between 15 - 20 million to the payroll next year. Plus adding some top line relief arms to the picture. That is where the $90 - $100 million payroll is coming from. Do not expect the fill in middle infielder (unless Escobar) will be that expensive.

Agree we need to pony up for one of the top relievers, not sure it is Britton I want. There are several though, so Twins have choices.

I have outlined in an earlier post how the Twins stack up with a minimalistic approach to next year. This is my attempt to show what will happen with a mid range payroll - looking in the neighborhood of $100 million. Departures: Mauer - retired Santana and Morrison - bought out $2,000,000 total Not offered contracts - Forsythe, Petit, Magill, Belisie, Slegers, Busnetiz, Duffey, Gimmenez, Gaterol - This should clean up a lot of 40 man space. It is possible some of these might be retained and see if they can be traded, most have little or no value. Reenstated to the 40 man Castro, Mejia Added to 40 man Thrope, Gordon, Wade - they are a couple more that may be close Jay is the one I am questioning, but am almost sure a bad team would take him in the rule 5 if not added. Try to group and trade to a rebuilding club for a better starter - Gonsalves, Littlel, Moya, Curtiss Possible others not offered a contract Field and Grossman Roster Catcher - Castro Inf - Sano, Polonco, Austin, FA either SS or 2B spend around $10 million a year (this means we are taking from close to the top of the pile (after many) Outfield - Rosario, Buxton, Kepler Bench - Garver, Autudillo, Cave, Grossman, Adrianza DH - rotation of non starters Spend for players - around $30 million $35 million if Twins can sign Rosario to a longer term contract (expected for this scenario). Starting Pitching - Berrios, Gibson, Pineda, Oderizzi, Stewart/Fa/Romero - spend $32 million counting $8 million for year 1 of multi year Berrios contract. Not counting trade or FA which could push this to around $45 million Relief Pitching - May, Rogers, Hildenberger, Drake, Mejia, FA1, FA2 spend $30 million - counting at least 1 top end FA reliever and a second very good 2nd tier reliever. This is not counting trades - expecting more than 1 to send some depth pieces with potential to a rebuilding club for a #3 type starter or a very good reliever who will not be needed on a rebuilding club. I am expecting Twins will pick this path - I may be an optimist.

It seems like the Aaron Hicks message has not been received here. Buxton and Sano need to step up, but giving up on them too soon and selling low is a recipe for disaster. It is also a good way to get fired. If these two players do not produce, we are back to a rebuild in place if not worse.

Molitor was dealt a bad hand this year, no fault of his own. Comments I have seen said this move was planned last week when Pohlad didn't block it when brought to him. This has some silver linings: 1. The FO is now on their own, Pohlad probably did not like this, but the FO now is totally responsible for the package. They have about 2 years and if the Twins are not contending, they will also be looking at pink slips. 2. The feeling the young players who had the farm system ranked in the top 3 for 3 to 4 years in a row, where not progressing. This is probably the major reason Molitor was let go. It is easlier to replace the manager than the players. 3. Lack of accountability. Do not know what went on behind the sceans, but it seemed like the better players where not punished for their mistakes. 4. Maybe we will see better pitcher management now that Molitor is gone. Maybe he was more resistant to change then we know. Molitor's overuse of the hot hand, and he was slow to react when a reliever hit a bad stretch, had a lot to do with it. Hildenberger closed for longer than he was effective in that role, and he did not move either Pressly (before he was traded, or May into the role until several failures where noted). 5. He seemed to be outmanged by better managers, this is a perception issue, but his record in one run games was abysmal. Next manager will be judged on the strides made and this will be one very telling measurement point.

If Joe decides to retire, I think Jake would be a viable candidate. He was ranked as the best of the Twins minor league managers before he left. And he left to be closer to his family.

Jake Mauer, good internal option who left. Outside, maybe someone from the Cubs or the Astro's.

Only note, Twins have about $100 Million to reach last years payroll, probably about 80 - 90 after arbitration and raises. Depends on whether Twins are able to extend either/or Rosario and Berrios. They would need to extend both I feel to come close to a $90 million payroll in 2019 in this formula.

As the Twins 2018 season ends - this is my attempt to prodict what the Twins will do for 2019. Assumptions: 1. Joe Mauer retires 2. The FO decides the Twins are too far away to put a lot of money into next year. 3. With Gibson, Pineda, and Ordrizzi all having expiring contracts at the end of next year Twins decide to see what they have coming up, rather than throwing a lot of extra money into trying to catch lightning in a bottle and Cleveland at the same time. 40 man roster: Twins let a number of players depart. Belise, Slegers, Morrison, Forsythe, McGill, Pettit, Gimminez, Granite, Gratarol This should leave plenty of room to move pieces around as I now have 10 openings on the 40 man. Adds from 60 day DL Mejia, Pineda Adds not on 40 man. Thrope, Wade, Gordon (they may be others I have missed) Free agents: One mid level or 4/5 type to compete for a starter job, 1 significant FA (upper range 3/36 range) reliever, 1 - 2 mid level relievers to compete for jobs next year. One FA to play MI on a 1 - 2 year contract or maybe Escobar (this may take 3/30 type money give or take). Other choice would be to send 1 - 3 of starting pitcher depth for a #3 type on a bad club with 2 - 3 years of control (Duffy - but this is just an example). This leaves us with: Starters: Berrios, Gibson, Pineda, Oderizzi, Stewart(or FA) Bullpen: FA1, FA2, May, Rodgers, Hildenberger, Drake, Reed Catcher: Castro Infield: Austin, Polonco, Sano, FA Outfield: Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Cave (Grossman, Wade) Utility: Adrianza, Garver, Astudillo Spend: Depends on whether Twins sign Berrios and/or Rosario to long term contracts and spend on FA pitching. My guess based on this roster would be in the $80 million range (less if no current players are extended). Other assumption is that Buxton makes the team (otherwise have room for both Grossman and Wade in this scenario. Have a desire to have players that can make a pitcher work and less swing and miss (they tend to strike out in key situations). Having stated this (have at it). Will hope to post a balanced and a higher spending assumption later this week.

Great job by Berrios, hopefully he keeps improving to at least a #2 starter.

Some of the guys on the list may be looking for a 1 - 3 year contract with an op-out if they do really well. Three names stand out on the list Herrera, Britton, Familia. Twins need at least one of the three and maybe two to compete with the better pens. Familia will probably be too expensive and a better club looking for a closer may well overpay for him. The other two are possible, maybe Britton will have less money(but also higher risk) than the others. Rest are throw darts at, but the Twins need at least two relievers off that list and hope they pick the correct ones.

I think Stewart has the best chance to be a starter. To me Gonsalves is a typical AAAA type and Littel needs more development. Still need the starting pitcher depth so my guess is that Gonsalves, Romero and Littel start in AAA (along with maybe Stewart depending if we sign or trade for a better starter). Cave will be either a starting outfielder or the 4th outfielder depending on Buxton's health and if he starts next year in Minnesota. Kepler will probably play multiple postitions depending on how Austin hits and if Mauer retires(which I suspect he will). Astudillo could well be here, unless they sign Escobar as the super utility player and bench bat. I like him as he seldom strikes out and maybe not walking is an issue, but Twins have too many players who strike out in key situation too often. Plus a third catcher could let Garver play 1B on some days, or maybe as a part time there if Austin does not pan out.

1. Cleveland does not have unlimited funds, bullpen fix will not be easy and they will be bidding on the same relievers as the Twins. 2. Twins need to find out how the young starters play out, but I would trade 3 of them for a decent mid range starter (out of Littell, Gonsaleves, Duffey and maybe Stewart or Mejia). 3. Escobar could play 2B with Polonco at SS for next year. 4, Need to figure out where Sano will play. And he had better hit.

Have seen several good points made in this post. I have a few more to address. 1. Cleveland is not that good. Why punt when you can go for it without hurting us down the road. 2. Absolutely sign 2 good relievers this offseason, Twins cannot afford to be throwing out the relievers we have this season. 3. Only May, Rogers and Hildenburger should feel they have spots next year, make the rest of the relief staff earn their positions. 4. Twins need to trade some of their starter depth before the rule 5 draft, otherwise the closer we get to the rule 5 the more teams just wait and see who the Twins will have to make available. 5. Need to find a short term SS and move Polanco to 2nd. Adrianza may work out, but Escobar would help a lot. 6. I agree Twins need to find a big bopper for the middle of the lineup. Too many rallies are dying with bad AB's by some of the Twins players. Twins can afford to make the effort to contend next year, while not punting the long term. Do not know if it will work, but they have the money and the core to give it a try.

We should be able to tell where the Twins are going next year by the end of the year. If next year is sort them out, then Oderizzi should be send packing and Gibson either extended or traded. You have 8 candidates for one starting slot and that is unworkable. Otherwise you should package a few of them for a better midrange pitcher and sign a #1 or #2 starter plus a least a couple very good relievers. We will know soon.

Seems like Seth left out Stewart and Mejia (or does he have inside information on them that they are not in the Twins plans going forward). Interesting group and more interesting is what the Twins plan for next year with only one spot open at this time.

I do not have the list I saw in front of me, but I believe Kimbal and Andrew Miller are available. Also Dolittle, Herrera, and some othere. I do believe Kimball and Andrew Miller will be in that range (assuming Miller can prove he's healthy). Doolittle, Herrera, Famela and some of the other will be between $9 and $12 million a year. If you have not looked relief pitching prices are going up. Clubs are learning the value of great relief pitching (they are cheaper than starters and can affect many more games when you are ahead). Twins need to get with the program.

Reed will be back, just do not think the Twins can count on him for next year to be used in high leverage situations. I also am in favor of the Twins signing a closer type, just hope it is the right one.

I do think it is likely Gimenez will be a coach somewhere next year. I also feel the clubhouse was not great this year (don't know if it was toxic, but probably was close). Twins may have to do a better job of monitoring the players offseason. It may not be possible but Twins cannot afford Sano to show up way overweight and out of shape and Buxton not to have spent a lot of time working on his batting and his approach to hitting (maybe a month or two of winter ball will help), if not maybe it could be a reality check for him.

Twins starting pitching will not match Cleveland in the next couple of years, that is a given. However the Cleveland bullpen is no prize and getting worse, unlike a couple of years ago. Trading Pressly (which was the one move I had doubts about) has cost the Twins as they would now be on their way to a shutdown bullpen(if not one close). With Rodgers and Hildenberger and a couple of more pieces, this would be a bullpen you would have to respect in how you manage the game. Rant warning This is one of my biggest issues with Molitor. He does not seem to recognize that you have to play a different game against the clubs that have shutdown bullpens, you have to play to score early and often and to be ahead(by as much as possible) after 5 innings. Tampa Bay has figured this out, and their bullpen has masked many other issues with that ballclub. Until Molitor learns to manage differently against different clubs, Twins will never by a well above .500 team(no matter what their talent level. Just change the Twins record in one run ballgames and they would be close to .500 despite all their other issues. Unlike some of the other posters here, I do feel with some additions in 2019 and some recovery to close to form from some Twins players Twins will be competitive in 2019. Indians outside of their starting rotation and some key regulars are not better than the Twins. I do not underestimate pitching, but given some improvement our offense should be better than Cleveland in 2019. Twins have the money to spend (between $60 and $80 million) they should be able to accomplish something. 1. Sign one more starting pitcher(but only if #1 or #2 starter), otherwise they may be no better than some of the youngsters the Twins need to try. 2. Find 2 bullpen pieces to help put together a shutdown pen. This will require some money as the better ones will be expensive ($12 - $18 million a year). 3. Find a 1B and a (2B or SS) to play for the next 2 years (1B may only need to be 1 year). This is not an impossible task list. Let's do it.

Outside of Pressly( which is looking like a mistake, though he is an FA I believe after 2019), none of the players traded were going to be here without resigning after this season (maybe Rodney). Most were the old getting something for nothing (and you hope that maybe one of the new players or more hit).

The jury is out, but the last two drafts have me very hopeful for the future. The only reason the Twins farm system is not in the top 10 is because most of the better players are 2 - 4 years away. I expect them to jump up in the rankings over the next year. The new FO started with a low Farm system, because when they took over most of the top talent had already graduated to the Twins and you can say what you want, but TR drafties and signings have produced 5 starting players for the current Twins. This does not count the pitching staff. Not a horrible set of years considering where he started from.

Very close and decent watch list, will see how they develop when most of them go to Cedar Rapids next year.