SwainZag

You could say this about any prospect though, not just look back at the ones who haven't progressed forward.

I say no, no, no to Shields. He turns 33 in the off season. He will hit 200 innings for the 8th straight year, that's a lot of strain on an arm. His K/9 are the lowest they have been in 6 years. His FIP is right around career norms at 3.80. Someone will overpay him ace money on a 4-5 year deal, probably with the last being an option and pay him well into 37-38 year old season. Hughes has been a much better pitcher than him this season and it's just my guess Shields gets 13-15M per season. These are the type of FA's that IMO the Twins need to stay away from

Regardless if he didn't hit many HR, in his last season for the Twins he was still average 1 HR per 20 AB, which comes out to 30 HR per full season. He was always often injured while in a Twins uniform, it's too bad they didn't try and stick with him. Either way, I'm hoping that Arcia and Vargas get to start for the rest of the season and see what kind of numbers they can put up with regular at bats.

.328/.413/.451 9 HR, 85 RBI .324/.404/.476 11 HR, 47 RBI Examine the 2 lines. Yes, the 2nd one had 160 less PA. One of them is 2008 when he was a "great" player in his 1st 5 years and the 2nd is last year when he is in his "decline." I would rather think that Joe started this year in a slump, got hurt and is just now coming out of it than think the slow start is just simple decline.

Meh. I believe it's more of Twins management over "Mauer and his agent." The majority of the time he has missed since 2011 has been late in the season when the Twins were far, far out of a playoff race and there was simply no need to rush him into the lineup. I truly believe if the Twins were in the thick of a playoff race down the stretch the past couple years we would have seen Mauer activated and back on the field a lot sooner than he had been. People, especially on this board, love to criticize Mauer's approach at the plate. The approach that has him at a career split of: .320/.401/.461. An OPS+ of 133 and even this year, one of his worst statistically he sits at 101+, still above average. His carer with RISP: .328/.451/.474 in 1497 PA. He has driven in 541 runs in those situations. His numbers are even better with RISP and 2 outs. Blame his lack of RBI on simply not getting the AB's with runners on. Joe gets a lot of criticism for not swinging at the first pitch. Though for his career when he does swing at the 1st pitch he is hitting .434. That tells me his being very selective has paid off very well. Yes, he is having a down year and only has half a season worth of AB right now. but give me the selective hitter that is going to get on base 42-45% of the time and is statistically better when runners are on base. 2009 and 2011 though very different, really put a hamper on Joe's career. He was simply too good in 2009, he was 26, probably the peak of his athletic ability and had a great year, but he set the bar too high for some people. With his injury riddled 2011 season to go along with his big contract just allowed people to doubt and criticize him. 2012 he led the league in OBP, played in 147 games and knocked in 85 runs, but you don't hear much about that season. Even last season, which was a lost one from the get go for the Twins, Joe quietly put .324/.404/.476. Over career averages across the board, but there was just more criticism because he was shut down and missed half of August and September of meaningless games where the Twins were so far out of 1st it wouldn't even matter. It's obvious I'm a Mauer supporter. Yes, I do think it's a shame that injuries have cost him a lot of time, but I really think people overlook and take for granted the numbers he has put up while he has been in a Twins uniform.

You need to learn about paragraphs my friend As much as a middle of the order hitter would be great to have, if the team isn't contending next year I don't think signing a veteran just to have someone hit there is needed. Both Arcia and Vargas both seem to have budding power, and Arcia can play the OF. As much as I'd like to see Morneau back in a Twins uniform, with Mauer manning 1B and Vargas DH'ing...we really don't have a slot for him.

Why are there so many options that include Mauer just casually moving to the OF? This seems as realistic to me as the Twins signing Lester and Cruz in the off season.

To me it's a risk not worth taking. I don't see any way the Twins are truly competitive next year. Better than this year? Yes, but not a contender quite yet. To sign Shields I would guess it would take 12-15M per or so. Like you said he has been a workhorse over his career. Career ERA of 3.74, career FIP of 3.78 and to me anyways he is in no way an "ace." Why pay him ace money? His K/9 is the lowest it's been in 5 years, which for a pitcher soon to be in his mid-30's with a lot of miles on his arm.....I would think hard about offering that kind of coin.

Besides Scherzer and Lester who are your ace options? Shields is there and will be 33 next season, you really want to give him a 5 year contract? What's the realistic chances they give out over 100M contract to bring in Lester of Scherzer? I would say the chances are slim to none.