Erock

Quite the day for Cedar Rapids. Buxton 4/5 with a 2B and 3B but he's being outshined by Walker who is 4/5 with 2 2Bs and 2 HRs.

Nothing wrong with signing Pelfrey to one year 4 million. It would look pretty great if it was paired with a Marcum or McCarthy signing instead of a Correia signing...

Or because a bullpen can be strengthened very easily during the season through trade if the team is a contender and relievers tend to be far over-valued when most starters can be average or above-average relievers. Investing in bullpen arms is a bad way to create a contender.

There's no reason for the 2013 Twins to sign a single reliever. We have no shortage of arms. Perkins, Burton can serve the late roles while Duensing, DeVries cover the lefties and between everyone else that we never gave a chance and Burnett we have enough decent righties. Also we have far bigger issues in the rotation and infield.

Don't like it, but I'm curious to see what Brett Myers is going to be signed for. If he signs for something similar I'm going to be upset. He has the ability to strikeout batters and slide in to the pen if he's struggling or someone is dominating AAA. If Correia struggles he's just going to be a road block or a sunk cost and if he does decently is it going to be that much better than what DeVries could accomplish over a season?

Oh my god. This is a pretty terrible deal for the Royals. If you asked me if I would give up Hicks, Gibson and Hendriks for comparisons sake I would have gave you a big old resounding "NO." and Myers is a significantly better prospect than Hicks and Ordorizzi might have more upside and is younger than Gibson. They just gave up the future for 2 years of a good #2 starter and a good reliver/#4 starter.

Here's how I see it. I'm going to eliminate Greinke, Sanchez, Jackson, Lohse, Haren from any possibility of being signed by the Twins. I think they will be in on Sanchez and Haren but won't be able to match the high-demand costs. The only top starters I think we have a shot at are Brandon McCarthy and Shaun Marcum. I'd give us about 10% shot at Marcum and maybe 30% at McCarthy and a good chance we don't end up with either. Ryan Dempster is also a possibility but I hope the Twins avoid him due to age and salary vs the time frame in which the Twins should be contenders. He's obviously someone who'd be great for the right deal, but I think someone else pays. This leaves with a bunch of far-less interesting options, but there is actually an abundance of mediocre pitchers that could stabilize our rotation somewhat. The two guys I would like to see are Brett Myers and John Lannan with Joe Blanton and Joe Saunders as alternatives. I pray they stay away from the Carl Pavano and Jeff Francis types if they are being counted on as starters. None of the top line pitchers are going to turn the Twins into contenders by themselves so adding cheap stability guys like the 4 I mentioned could actually be pretty good if Gibson and Hendriks pan out (in terms of us not sucking, I don't expect to make the playoffs next year). All of those guys are significantly better than Marquis and the Twins might be able to work out a fair deal after the big spenders go after the big names. If the Twins miss out on McCarthy and Marcum, I think signings of guys like Jair Jurrjens, Chris Young, Brandon Webb types can be great compliments to a Myers type. I'm not going to say I'm happy if the Twins end up with Lannan, Myers, Jurrjens, but I'll be content especially when we'll be seeing the numbers and years for good, but not by any means great starters like Edwin Jackson. What's the point of giving Edwin Jackson 13 mil + when you need multiple pieces in the rotation and a true ace. None of those guys can accomplish that. The Twins need to build a rotation and they need some pieces to glue it together, not one spendy number 3 starter. Additionally, the Twins desperately need someone like Eric Chavez, Stephen Drew, Kelly Johnson, Jeff Keppinger, or at the very least Jack Hannahan to help improve the pitiful infield. The Dream: Anibal Sanchez, Brandon McCarthy, John Lannan, Jeff Keppinger, Eric Chavez What I hope for: Brandon McCarthy, John Lannan, Jair Jurrjens, Jeff Keppinger What I expect: Brett Myers, John Lannan, Jair Jurrjens, Jack Hannahan Worst case scenario: Jeff Francis, Carl Pavano, Brandon Webb, Jack Hannahan These players can be swapped for equal players, I'm mainly predicting the quality and just kind of guessing what guys the Twins would be most interested in and end up with in the end.

3 years of an above average lead-off hitter/good fielding CF, a top 100 prospect, and an incredibly cheap set-up man for 2 years of a good #2 starter sounds like a terrible idea to me.

Gibson struck out 6 and only gave up 3 hits, 1 run and no walks in 4 innings. Very good to see. Sano with another HR as well.

If Span gets dealt this off-season, I think Parmelee and Mastroianni can hold RF until Hicks or Arcia are ready to come up (which may not even be next year, but hopefully one will). At that time, we evaluate the 1B situation and either deal Morneau or extend him and figure out what to do with Parmelee.

Twins- Hendriks, Parmelee Rochester- Hicks, Benson, Arcia, Hermann, Gibson, Hermsen, Bromberg New Britain- Michael, Santana, Pinto Ft. Meyers- Rosario, Sano, Vargas, Salcedo, Melotakis, Zach Jones, Boer Beloit- Kepler, Harrison, Polanco, Goodrum, Walker, Jimenez, Berrios, Boyd, Bard, Baxendale, Taylor Rogers, Duffey, Chargois Rochester, Ft. Meyers, and Beloit are all going to be exciting to watch next year. I think Beloit will be the most interesting to watch as we see the hitters try and prove their Eton numbers and Berrios, Boyd and Bard is finally a group of starters that have potential.

The Twins aren't going to splash in free agency this year, but that doesn't mean they aren't going to sign people to the rotation, but if all of the Jackson, Marcum, Sanchez, McCarthy types demand too much money than I imagine the Twins will settle for Scott Baker, Joe Blanton, Jeremy Guthrie and god knows who to try and put something together.

Twins have no pressure to trade Span. It's a good sign that the Reds declined, rather see that than the Twins getting bullied around. Maybe he still gets traded today, but he's valuable to us as a player for his remaining contract and he'll be valuable in the off-season and next season for trades too.

If Deduno, DeVries, Walters, Manship, Herandez and Blackburn take up more than one spot, I will be kinda pissed. Diamond can have a slot, Hendriks or Gibson can have one, the rest of the bunch (probably Blackburn) can have another, one I guess. We need AT LEAST 2 pitchers from outside the organization.

Shaun Marcum, Colby Lewis, Anibal Sanchez, Edwin Jackson, Chris Young, Brandon McCarthy, Rich Harden, Scott Baker, Joe Saunders. These are the guys they go after, probably whoever is leftover after the first wave of signings. They probably end up with Scott Baker and someone worse than the people on this list.

Yeah, he deserves ballot votes, but that's about it. He has had a pretty good season, but other guys have had MVP seasons.

There is always the offseason and next season, but I think now is probably the best time to trade him.

This is just a swing in the dark, but I wonder if the Rays would be interested in a Span + Liriano for Shields + specs. This helps them in their race this year, gives them a cheaper CF option then Upton, plus they will get the picks (which they love) for offering Liriano the 12 million. Meanwhile, we stabilize our rotation while adding pieces that can benefit our team and come up around the same time as the Hendriks, Gibson, Benson, Hicks, Arcia, Rosario, Sano train comes rolling on through in the next couple years. Something like.. Denard Span and Francisco Liriano for James Shields, Chris Archer, and Ryan Brett and some lesser valued prospect with marginal upside.

Berrios is not comparable to Dylan Bundy. He's throwing from the bullpen to keep his innings down, I'm guessing. Maybe he'll get a few starts later, but there's no problem with starting him in relief role. They aren't going to keep him there.

Which strengthens my point, but I think Sano is in Minnesota at some point during 2015. Harrison likely 2016 or later depending on his development, we really have no idea at this point.

The Twins will pay for starters next year. Pavano, Liriano, and Baker are all off the books. Blackburn is the only actual cost they have left. They will get one REAL starter at least like a Colby Lewis or Edwin Jackson.

Sano and Harrison aren't coming up until 2014 (at least) and neither might be capable 3B fielding. Leave Plouffe at 3B where he's played well. Parmelee, Doumit, Mastroianni handle RF until September call-ups where one or 2 of Benson/Hicks is up. Shouldn't be a problem.

No, you don't move Plouffe. He's been comfortable at 3rd and is more valuable there than in the corner. Don't wanna mess up a good thing when you got it. Plus Danny V has done nothing to warrant being called back up.

Hicks needs AAA, Arcia might still be at AA, Benson will need to start next year AAA given his injury has set him back this year. Torii Hunter makes perfect sense as a stop gap for 1-2 years, he can start at RF and move around as needed, and gets to retire as a Twin. Has value has dwindled a bit and he's going to be 37 years old.

Where did you hear this? I've heard that Arcia is a pretty good defender with a great arm, but just isn't quick enough to play center. He should be solid in the corner.