YourHouseIsMyHouse

First off, I'm not sure how you can say Johnson's was more of a fluke than Jimenez's. Jimenez has already proven 2012 was a fluke with 2013 and Johnson is still a question mark. I'm not sure it's such a big difference. I can argue that since Jimenez has pitched more innings than Johnson over the past few seasons, that he's had a more difficult challenge than pitching to the East. I'll take a 4.00 FIP (Jimenez average) with 547 IPs* over a 3.54 FIP (Johnson average) with 333IP. *Jimenez has 547IP in the past 3 seasons and hasn't missed any significant time in his career. Johnson has 333IP in the past 3 years.

I'd say Jimenez is a easily the best pitcher on the market. Jimenez 2013: 3.43 FIP, 2012: 5.06 (Fluke), 2011: 3.67 2010: 3.10 Johnson (injury concerns and noticeable trend) 2013: 4.62 FIP, 2012: 3.40 2011: 2.64 2010: 2.10 Santana (hasn't outperformed Jimenez since 2008) 2013: 3.93 FIP, 2012: 5.63 2011: 4.00 2010: 4.28

Byron Buxton Miguel Sano Eddie Rosario Alex Meyer Trevor May Jorge Polanco Max Kepler Travis Harrison Adam Brett Walker Josmil Pinto Danny Santana Jose Berrios Kohl Stewart Lewis Thorpe Hudson Boyd Decent, but probably not included: Jason Wheeler-performance is good

He'd probably better fit at the bottom, but he's really only 2 from lack of a better option. If Gibson or Meyer were to emerge and if Deduno could stay healthy, I'd be comfortable putting him below them. Ultimately, you have Diamond and Worley as last resorts in Rochester or you can hold onto Correia.

I see the points that are being made about Duensing, but I'm just really skeptical that he'll be successful here. Last season was definitely a mixed bag. I'm just thinking maybe you cut a corner here on an unimportant LOOGY role. Perhaps you try Ibarra (fluke?), Darnell, or someone along those lines. The bullpen is a strength and Duensing is the weakest part of it outside of Pressly who'll be battling Tonkin for a spot. 2 million really isn't that bad, but I don't feel like he's earned it.

As for 4b, I REALLY like what I see from him on youtube. I think his stuff looks good enough, but it doesn't help that Korean batters are hitting against him. The price for him doesn't seem too risky and I'd like to see the Twins take a stab at it. I'd probably use Burton over Pressly or Tonkin as well. With 5 this caught some attention

This seems like it's putting contention further away. You're basically throwing the towel in on 2015 since the 2014 team doesn't see much improvement. I'm not sure why you like Pelfrey after he pitched miserably in his extended tryout for us, but there's some optimism. This relies truly on the farm, when I think you need to take some more chances with free agents.

I'd have Stewart as untouchable too. Even if he has proven nothing.

Should I have included Sano too..? Really I might consider that for Walker though. It would be great to get a pitcher with ace potential before they actually become said ace. Pitchers with lots of team control are what the Twins need. Maurer obviously isn't a good enough pitcher and Meyer alone in that is better than him. But still Charlie Furbush is a beast by the way.

I'll take my turn in the "blueprint" posts and suggest my own. Critique at your own whim, I'm open to all opinions. 1. Purge B.J Hermsen, Darin Mastroianni, and Chris Parmelee from the 40 man roster 2. Add Kennys Vargas, Alex Wimmers, Jorge Polanco, and A.J Achter 3. Tender Anthony Swarzak and Trevor Plouffe;Non-tender Brian Duensing 4a Sign SP Ubaldo Jimenez to 4 year deal worth 64 million 4b Sign SP Suk Yin-Moon for 4 year, 24 million 4c Sign 1B/OF Corey Hart to 1 year, 8 million 5. Trade 2B Eddie Rosario, SP Alex Meyer, SP Trevor May for SP Brandon Maurer and RP Charlie Furbush. (High risk trade for either team; value seems okay both ways to me at least) 6. Trade SP Kevin Correia for whatever before the trade deadline Since the opening day roster will be worse then the 2nd half if certain prospects advance, I will use the post ASB one. This really only assumes Sano, Hicks, and Gibson are there. Lineup Depth Chart: Catcher: Joe Mauer, Josmil Pinto, Ryan Doumit First Base: Trevor Plouffe, Joe Mauer Second Base: Brian Dozier, Eduardo Escobar Third Base: Miguel Sano, Trevor Plouffe Shortstop: Pedro Florimon, Eduardo Escobar Left Field: Josh Willingham, Aaron Hicks Center Field: Aaron Hicks, Alex Presley Right Field: Corey Hart, Oswaldo Arcia Designated Hitter: Oswaldo Arcia, Ryan Doumit, Josmil Pinto, Josh Willingham Total Position Players: 13 Rotation and Bullpen SP1 Ubaldo Jimenez SP2 Suk Yin-Moon SP3 Samuel Deduno SP4 Brandon Maurer SP5 Kyle Gibson RP Michael Tonkin RP Ryan Pressly RP Charlie Furbush RP Anthony Swarzak RP Caleb Thielbar RP Casey Fien RP Glen Perkins These are some big plans, but in order to turn this team around we are going to have to gamble. Maurer, Yin-Moon, and Hart are tough signs to pull the trigger on, but I think they'll all be worth it. Hart was known for consistency prior to 2013 and there is a good chance he can rebound. Maurer still has some great potential and he should be able to figure things out soon enough. Then there's the added bonus of having Maurer pitch to Mauer. I feel Jimenez is the safest bet despite the potential thought that 2013 was a fluke. His FIP has been under 4 every season since 2008 except in 2012. This is a team that can start to get the Twins to take a step towards the playoffs. I think 80 wins looks possible if there is more positive than negative. It's a bit of a cap hit 30m a year though

Looks like we're FINALLY getting some benefits from those Australians.

Not a lot of exciting names in this bunch. More of an older group, but I like where all these players are at! I don't see overwhelming potential in any of these guys. Although, a few may beg to differ with Bard. I think if just one of these guys contributes (positively) in any way to the MLB team it would be a success. Sort of ditto with the recent posts.

Mid-rotation potential always belongs in a top 50.

Mauer catches 50, goes as 1B/DH for 80. That's what I'd like to see. No reason to explain it since everyone has their mind made up.

At least we didn't get last. Yay?

I agree with you and was hesitant, but I think we have to pull the trigger. I've never been a fan of Jimenez, but I checked his fip and xfip and both are actually very good career wise (even in his down years). It would be such a relief to have just one above average pitcher and I'm 50/50 he can provide that. Tanaka is a long shot and after him I think Jimenez is the best choice. Kazmir put a slightly above average season, so a Correia-like payday (better performance, higher risk) seems fair and I'd like to think this wasn't a fluke. Josh Johnson is coming off of one really bad year and right now he'd be a bargain. Can't forget he had a 3.81 ERA in 2012 with 180IPs. Injuries are his biggest concern for sure.

1. Ubaldo Jimenez, 4 years 60 million 2. Scott Kazmir, 2 years 11 million 3. Samuel Deduno, - 4. Kevin Correia, - 5. Josh Johnson, 1 year 6.5 million Gibson in the wings to replace who struggles (and I'm sure one these guys will).

About a dozen more when he's #6 in Twins WAR?

I really like Slegers. More than Turner despite draft position. You could make a top 50 every month, Seth, and I'd still read it every time. I love top prospect rankings. Love em. Love em.

Radke is just about twice the player Arroyo is if we go by WAR, but their peripherals are sort of similar and they make a good comparison. Arroyo wasn't a career Red, Pirate, or Red Sox so there isn't a team that would really be best retiring it anyway. HOWEVER! Arroyo is a very good pitcher and one of the most underappreciated (at least not monetarily) in the MLB. Right now, Arroyo is the best at the "control game" method of pitching and that Radke was much better than that is cool I guess. My argument is that Radke was a borderline elite pitcher (never an ace) who spent his entire career as a Twin. In my book, the standards for number retiring don't start with HOF. It's these types of players that should also make the cut. Besides Puckett and Killer (not technically, but basically), there isn't one HOF Twin that spent all their seasons here. A career of very good, borderline elite to me is pretty close value to a HOF with a majority of time in Minnesota.

I agree with that and I hardly put any value on them either unless they stick out like that season. Wins aren't an impressive stat, but when you get wins in nearly 1/3 of your teams' games, that is impressive.

Like right now?

Random tidbit since we're talking about him. Bronson Arroyo is basically a poor man's Brad Radke. And he makes 10 million+ a year. Sure contracts aren't a good metric, but it's something to consider. Especially because Arroyo earns that money.

Radke's numbers in games he won 1.97 ERA, .923 WHIP, 4.35 K/BB, 4 CG

The Twins also lost 10 games where Radke provided Quality Starts. Only 2 of those being the bare minimum 6IP, 3 ER. Actually that's 2004, forgive me.