beckmt

I would add Thorpe and Jones. Tonkin would be a goner and would look to trade or possibly non-tender Gibson as his spot is needed for new pitching talent. Don't know if we need both Boshers and O'Rourke. I would keep Wimmers for the time being as the long man in the bullpen. Given you add Romero and Jorge maybe you take the risk of losing Rosario(this is close). Landa could be a health issue, but that would make him easier to stash on a major league roster. Lots of tough decisions, that will make this forum fun for the next month or two. I could see the Twins losing several prospects in the rule 5, so maybe you cut a few more close players and keep some of the more talented further away ones.

I expect Polonco to be the shortstop unless we trade Dozier. By 2018 - 2019 it should be Gordon. For those who want Cozert, Vielma may not hit as much, but would be as good or better defensibly. also would not cost us assets.

Found article quoted from the Pioneer Press about Neil Allen's take. I found it to be interesting. Think it is time to look not only at stuff, but command of that stuff, which the Twins do not seem to be following. Maybe we find a pitcher that not only has stuff, but some idea how to use it. They will be closer to the major leagues, but not a pitch to contact type.

Nothing breaks confidence so fast as leads not held in the late innings. Spend the money, build a bullpen by signing a front line closer, you have 4 or 5 to chose from.

I would sign any of the top 3 or Holland or Feliz who might be cheaper. Twins will not be able to repair the starting rotation in one offseason, so lets build a bullpen from the backend out. Other choice would be to obtain a closer in waiting plus a starter for Dozier. That may be a too tall order, since I would like a major league ready, young pitcher who has #1 or #2 written all over him.

Would add Thorpe and not bother with Wheeler as he is just another type #4 or #5 starter. would also flip Goodrum and Escobar, this might make my roster closer to 40. but would seem to have plenty of spots for trades.

Wimmers needs to get a look see, as nothing else but a long reliever for the time being. Do not think that either Santana or Santiago will bring much in return. Therefore if I could not trade Gibson, I might look at doing a DFA on him so I have room for the young upcoming starters that hopefully will need spots by midseason next year.

After further consideration Gone: Milone, Plouffe(if he cannot be traded), Kintzler, Schafer, Albers, Boshers, Dean, Beresford. Tonkin, Gibson(if he cannot be traded) and maybe Danny Santana Already gone Suzuki that should clear enough room to put Hughes and Perkins back on the 40 man and also protect Garver, Vielma, Granite, Palka, Romero, Jorge. and Thorpe and maybe Zack Jones. Hopefully Dozier can be traded for some close to major league ready assets so this list could change.

I am on board with Holland or any front line closer. The best way to fix a bad starting staff is to have a lockdown bullpen. Twins are a ways from that, but a front line closer will shorten the game and give you a better chance to win. If that fails you can always trade the closer at the dealine for a nice haul of assets. Check what the Yankees got this year.

I also prefer Park to Vargas. But depth is not a bad thing, you never know.

Long time to go, but I would like to see the Twins take the highest rated college starter if he is rated to be a #1 or a #1/#2 type with stuff. Twins window will be opening shortly and need to find extra good pitchers to be here no later than 2019(hopefully 2018)

Gonslaves and Garver may be here next year. Gordon looks to be 2018. This fall will tell if Gonsalves or Garver gets a full chance to open with the Twins in 2017. Good luck to all.

Dozier should be traded for the right offer(you should be able to find a right offer this offseason). Plouffe you need to move on from, even if that is a non-tender. Mauer still has value and dumping him would have issues with trying to sell homegrown talent to stay here for less money. Reducing his AB's can and should be done. He is more of a 4 to 5 days a week player now to get best value out of him. Santana I would trade for the right offer(hopefully that comes later in the winter, when clubs really find out how bad the pitching market is). If you do not get the right offer, hopefully he pitches well and you move him at the trading deadline if you are out of contention.

We don't know what will work out. But we are more than a year away from contending. Some of you from this post would have given up on the Twins position players in the late 90's that developed into a decent group by 2001. I think you should trade Dozier and maybe Santana if you get a good offer including near MLB ready pitching. In the bullpen I am ready to give a great number of youngsters a chance. 2017 is going to be a lost season(hope not but that is the probable reality). Only major pitching piece I might sign would be one of the 4 major closers available. You can flip them in July if you get a great offer and pin a bullpen on them since you will contend during their good period. Rest of this years pitching a going to get overpaid, avoid it. Trading Dozier(and or Santana) for a major league ready pitching prospect or two is the way to go. Dozier needs to be traded now as his value will never be higher, and are you going to sign him for 4 big dollar years at age 32? But not for a group of A or A+ very good prospects who are 2 years away. I would not offer Gibson a contract as I feel he is not more than a 5 starter and Twins have too many of those. Twins will have a crunch in the next 2 years of players eligible for the rule 5 draft and you need to see which ones will succeed. IF you do not this board 3 years from now will be on the fire the GM line after one of the players missed turns into being a star who was lost for $50,000. Yes next year might be painful, but you also might get lucky. The position side of this team is not that bad and improving. It is the pitching you need to fix. Not all of the position players will succeed, but you have enough players already in AA or AAA to fill holes ans see if someone else can do the job(Palka, Walker, Gordon, Vielma, Granite, Garver, Murphy,Park). For this to work Sano has to play 3rd for the next 2 years(unless Mauer retires or can be bought out to retire). So Plouffe is an extra and needs to be flipped or non-tendered. Between Plouffe and Gibson, you will have the money to sign a big closer, without changing payroll by that much and fixing the back end of the bullpen. Perkins could also be done and you could get even more salary relief there.(injury retirement).

I think you save money this year and not invest in questionable pitching. You may need to add a reliever or two, Greg Holland is a good thought. Give plenty of the young pitchers chances to succeed or fail. They spend in 2017 offseason on front line pitching if you did not get some very good youngsters by trading Dozier.

Zuke should have been gotten rid of last year. Pitchers ERA was much lower with Murphy catching. Would be interested on how Garver and Turner will rank on this at the major league level. Stopping runs and helping the pitching staff should rank higher for a catcher is they can be passable with the bat.

Garver looks a little low to me. I would rank him ahead of Turner, who to me now looks like a light hitting backup catcher. Maybe start Garver at AAA, but may need to get him here quick.

It is hard with this staff to figure out if it is the coaching or are they all bad. Agree the changing now and then later if Molitor is fired next year is not good. Probably would leave things as they are, except maybe replace Bruno with Chad Allen as many of the younger players have worked with him.

Would also have picked McLeod. Think it will depend on money Pohlad will spend. Need an ace plus two end of bullpen pieces to give kids time to develop. Bullpen this year, ace next winter. That will be pricey.

Most of these are watch and see if they develop. Unlike other organizations, a few of these have a real chance. Great list and fun players to watch.

I wanted McLeod, so this was disappointing. Hope it works, will take a wait and see attitude, hope this is not the one person outside the organization who would allow the restrictions placed on him.

I feel Santana alone will not bring back the assets you need. More likely a high A player with decent upside from a club that wants to contend now. That to me is spinning wheels as you keep trading good assets for A ball prospects. The note about combining assets to a club that wants to contend now is still valid.

Scary thing is that the Twins are 1 bad hire away from being irrelevant for the next 10 years. You are probably not going to be able to fix the pitching staff in 1 year. Trading Dozier gives you hope if you pick the right team and right assets to give you a chance in 2018. Santana you will probably not get you want you need unless you package with Dozier and I would rather package Gibson as it gives you more clubs that might make a deal for some real assets. Both are not paid what they could command, which gives you a better list of clubs to deal with. Dozier still has 2 years of control, which is great for a win now small market team. Dodgers, Pittsburg, St. Louis and maybe one of the Mets, Yankees or Red Sox have the minor league assets(near major league ready) to target. There may be another club, but these are at the top of my list. Going forward Pohlad may have to spend money to make money and if the is buying an ace in the 2017 offseason go for it.

Trade or nontender.

McLeod and let him pick the GM. Though Piccolo is the last of my out of organization candidates.