TopGunn#22

One other prospect to consider (much more likely than Cavaco) would be Wander Javier. He either puts his name back near the top of Twins prospects this year, or he's basically done with the organization, moves on, and eventually is out of baseball all together. Sad, but that's the nature of the beast. He's got tremendous talent, but 2 completely lost years back to back put Javier squarely behind the 8-ball. Lewis may or may not be a SS. But there is little doubt he could be a REALLY good CF'er. With Donaldson holding down 3B for the next 3-years exclusively (more DH in years 4 & possibly 5) the Twins will have some decisions to make. Does Polanco figure it out and stay at short? Does Arraez become a better defensive 2B-man? What becomes of Javier? And finally, where does Royce Lewis end up? SS & CF seem to be the best spots to use his speed and athleticism, maybe he ends up at 3B.

Freeland is an interesting option. So are Montas, Lamet and Gallon. Look, Colorado and the D-Backs are probably going to be 15=20 games out of first place by the middle of June. That's Freeland, Gray and Marquez. With the D-Backs that's R. ray and Z. Gallon. The Padres may only be 10-12 games out, not sure what that means for Lamet. And no matter how bad I think the A's will be year after year, they just always overachieve. Especially in the 2nd half...that kind of takes Montas off the table. However...if the A's stumble, I'd put Montas at the top of the list.

I think Kiriloff will be a very good hitter. He may be better than Rosario quicker than people think. He will immediately see more pitches and be a tougher out than Eddie, but I'm not willing to just give Eddie away unless we get something VERY good back.

I'm kind of old fashioned. I like "table setters" at the top of the order so my "Big Knockers" can drive them in. Arraez gets on base 40% of the time whether it's a RH or LH starter. Him at the top with Donaldson hitting #2 against LHP's and Donaldson hitting 4th against RHP's with Cruz #3 consistently works for me. Honestly, Rocco is going to have a BLAST filling this lineup out. He's got good hitters everywhere.

Good article. If every major league team had that "crystal ball" nobody would make a mistake. Remember 1987 ? The Tigers probably had the best team in baseball that year and they traded for Doyle Alexander who went 10-1 for them down the stretch and was excellent. The Tigers gave up a young pitcher who was close, but not close enough named John Smoltz. Hindsight says the Braves killed it in that trade. But what if the Twins don't upset the Tigers and Detroit goes on to beat the cardinals in the World Series and Alexander is a big reason for that ? Atlanta still wins that trade, but every fan in Detroit would say "it was worth it." You can never have enough pitching or pitching prospects. That said, when a team has an abundance of talent at a specific position in the minors like the Twins have with outfielders, they simply have to leverage some of that. I'm a huge fan of what Kiriloff and Larnach COULD be for the Twins. One starting in LF and the other at 1B. But the truth is, one of them will probably get dealt (and should be dealt) to acquire a Syndergaard type pitcher. Matt listed 7 outfielders who are all close...within 1-2 years of possibly being able to contribute. The Twins can't keep them all. Make it 8 if Lewis ends up a CF'er. Whoever pointed out Nick Anderson...GREAT point ! Teams should never let a pitcher with THAT kind of potential get away. I thought the Twins should have been pushing the Nick Burdi types much faster. Instead, it was one arm injury after another and a whole list of guys like Burdi never panned out. MOST of the time, if you can deal "prospects" for someone who has a proven record of high success in the majors, especially if it's at a position of need (like pitching) you should do it. Especially if you have depth at the position/positions you're dealing from.

I think they are pretty well set for now. As we approach the trade deadline, survey the landscape and see who may be available and at what price. Who knows...a team that thought they'd contend may have flopped (Mets---Thor, Edwin Diaz, etc...) and some of our prospects may be having a great bounce back year (Wander Javier) that other teams may show interest in them.

Elliot, Iglesias signed with someone else. Can't remember who right now. I had a long post about this in the "5 third basemen the Twins could target" column. My point was that if shoring up infield defense was of paramount importance, but an average to below average hitter like Jose Iglesias wasn't of interest to the Twins, they needed to take a hard look at Trevor Story. It would cost A LOT ! But he's a Gold Glove SS with 30-HR power, speed and good contact skills. He's a top 5 SS in the majors. You're talking on a par with Lindor, Baez, Gleyber Torres, Semien, Bogaerts, That's 5 other guys. Semien has done it one year. Torres has tremendous potential, but other than Lindor, Story is better than all of them. He's a guy the Twins would build around. You want to make an IMPACT move for 2020 and beyond??? Make a deal for Story.

I'm in agreement with those of the opinion that unless you bring in someone who will have a major impact...let your young talent battle it out. I'm also in complete agreement that if the "goal" is to improve infield defense, you have to address that UP THE MIDDLE. The Twins missed out on a SS who has a great glove and a semi-decent bat in Jose Iglesias. The guy to make a serious inquirey into is Trevor Story. The only way you do that is by having honest internal discussions about the future infield alignment. Polanco just started in the All Star game for the A.L. But he's not a great defensive SS. He will probably never start another All Star game for the A.L. ever with the emergence of Gleyber Torres. The Twins have Royce Lewis and Wander Javier in the system as future possible SS's. How likely are both to stick at SS and how long will it take them to get to the majors ? Lewis may end up somewhere other than SS and that may not be a bad thing. He could be a Gold Glove CF'er depending on what happens with Buxton. Javier was once a top prospect and has had a nightmarish last two years. Even if he crushes it this year, he's not a factor until 2022 at the earliest. Trevor Story is simply one of the best 5 SS's in the league. He's 27 years old. he's an IMPACT guy. He would cost you prospects but he's also someone you could build around for many years. And he doesn't just hit at Coors Field. The Rockies TOP prospect is SS Brendon Rogers. You wouldn't have to give up Polanco to get Story. There are some who don't think arraez could be an average 3B-man. I saw him start a triple play last year from 3B with a sensational play. He may never be a Gold Glover, but he could handle it. He probably didn't play much 3B in the minors because 2B and SS are premium positions. Besides, what position a guy plays is sometimes a mystery. The Phillies had Ryne Sandberg playing 3B in the minors, the Cubs trade for him, shift him to 2B and he won several Gold Gloves and was a Hall of Famer. Arraez could handle 3B. If Josh Donaldson DOESN'T happen, put a package together for Story and get the ball rolling. The Twins would never regret it.

Use Tony-O as a recruiter. It certainly can't hurt. I think Colas would be impressed to see how revered Tony Oliva is in the Twin Cities and throughout the state. He could see that kind of future here for himself.

Great Series !! This will surely generate a lot of discussion (it already has). We can all quibble on the specific rankings but taken as a whole, this gives all of us a pretty good idea what the layout is. This is similar to ranking who has the biggest trade value. For example, Kiriloff was rated WAAAAY ahead of Eddie Rosario even though Eddie has accomplished much more than Alex at this stage of their careers. And I get that. Have we seen Eddie's ceiling and he will be getting more expensive. Kiriloff on the other hand projects to be a much better hitter than Eddie (I think he will, but it's all POTENTIAL at this point). Thanks for laying this out so well.

Well, it just sort of posted before I was done. And it didn't allow for the spaces so you can discern between the 2 lineups so here we go again: 1 Arraez 2B 2 Polanco SS 3 Cruz DH 4 Donaldson 3B 5 Kepler RF 6 Garver C 7 Rosario LF 8 Sano 1B 9 Buxton CF 1 Arraez 2B 2 Polanco SS 3 Cruz DH 4 Kepler RF 5 Garver C 6 Rosario LF 7 Sano 1B 8 Gonzalez/Adrianza etc.. 3B 9 Buxton CF Buxton could still steal a ton of bases because a hitter like Arraez coming after him seeing so many pitches without power would make running Buxton more attractive for Rocco. I've always wanted Buxton to be the leadoff hitter, but with the way this lineup sets up, he's REALLY go as a power/speed guy at the bottom. (and this is why I would consider trading Buxton to the Mets for Syndergaard because even though I know Buxton is more than that, he's your #9 hitter !!

My brother and I talk about this all the time. Not just who should hit leadoff but how the rest of the lineup should be positioned. Doc Bauer is right, there is a tremendous amount of flexibility for Rocco. Here's what i would do WITH Donaldson and WITHOUT Donaldson. 1. Arraez 2B Arraez 2B 2. Polanco SS Polanco SS 3. Cruz DH Cruz DH 4. Donaldson 3B Kepler RF 5. Kepler CF Garver C 6. Garver C Rosario LF 7. Rosario LF Sano 3B 8. Sano 1B Gonzalez/Adrianza etc... 9. Buxston CF Buxton

GREAT article !! I've been banging the drum for a Sale trade and before that Thor. We have enough firepower. We need an ACE to front our starting rotation. For 2020 and beyond. First---Chris Sale. He's only 30-years old with 5 years and $145 (29-mil per year) left on his contract. I don't give up Graterol. I think he will work out. I offer to accept the ENTIRE contract for Sale. Boston would value THAT more than any prospect if it allows them to keep Mookie Betts (which it would). We can give up Jeffers in a Sale deal because we have a young catcher in Garver and we still have a developing Rortvedt. I'm not as concerned about Sale's health. He'll be fine and an ACE for most of those 5-years up to his age 35 season. Next: Thor I must admit, as much as I like Byron Buxton, I would give him up in a deal for Syndergaard. Lewis could be our CF'er in 2021 (or Celestino). It's very possible. But I only offer Buxton and a little sweetner to get it done. I do NOT offer the Mets Buxton AND Kiriloff. Thor is younger than Sale and does not have any health issues. But you get Sale for 5-years and Thor for just two. I love the idea of taking a run at Blake Snell. He's the younger, left handed version of Thor. He would be expensive, but worth it. Guys like Boyd, Archer, etc...just don't move the needle. If I'm facing the Yankees in the playoffs I want Sale, Thor or Snell facing off against Gerritt Cole. What would it take to get Snell? What do the Rays need? I would part with Kiriloff because we have Larnach and they are both LH hitting corner outfielder/1B-man guys. Having BOTH Kiriloff and Larnach makes it easier to let one of them go in a blockbuster. I'd offer Kiriloff, Jeffers and hopefully a pitcher not named Graterol or Balazovic but if the Twins are serious about building for 2020 and beyond, a name like Blake Snell should and MUST be considered along with Sale and Syndergaard.

I just don't see the Twins improving much with "Meh" signings Guys like Moreland, Thames, Frazier are just not gonna move the needle. The Twins have been so "frugal" this off season that it's not unreasonable for fans to expect something BIG could still happen That said, I give us a 10-15% chance of signing Donaldson so why not go big ?? What would it take to get Trevor Story? The Rockies top prospect is a SS (Brendan Rogers) and they have a good 2B prospect that played a good deal of 2B last year (Garrett Sampson). What would it take to get Trevor Story ? He's 27 years old and is 2nd year arbitration eligible. He's a guy the Twins could build around no matter what develops with Lewis, Javier or Kela.

Bell is an interesting target and a switch-hitter in the middle of our lineup would be solid. But his defensive short comings and his ability to only play 1B doesn't really help the Twins as much as you'd like. I'd give up more to bring in Trevor Story. Lock down a Gold Glove worthy SS with a big bat and make Story one of my cornerstones going forward. Yes, it would cost more to get Story, but he helps the Twins so much more. Colorado's top prospect is SS Brendon Rogers. Another highly thought of prospect is Garrett Sampson, a 2B. They could afford to give up Story. They are NOT unseating the Dodgers this year or next. What would it take to get this done ??

Seth, Chris Sale would be. Gotta believe the Red Sox REALLY want to keep mookie. What do YOU think it would take to get Sale if we took on all 5 years and $145 million of his remaining salary ??

I would put the Twins odds of actually signing Donaldson at 15%. I'd take him in a heartbeat but that's what I think our chances of actually getting him are. I would still like to see a blockbuster with the Red Sox to get Chris Sale but...??? If we DON'T get Donaldson, I know it would cause a LOT of infield shuffling but I'd go get a slick glove-man for SS like Jose Iglesias, move Polanco to 2B, Arraez to 3B and Sano to 1B. A glove like Igesias would tighten the "D" across the board in the infield. It would also leave the Twins tremendous payroll flexibilty to get an ACE at the trade deadline depending on who is/is not contending and who is available at the right price. My other idea/wish has been to work a deal with Colorado for Trevor Story. First, it would give the Twins another TREVOR...but it would also allow the Rockies to put their #1 prospect at SS (Brendon Rogers). I really can't see Colorado contending with the Dodgers in 2020. Story is a great glove, and a power bat who doesn't need the thin air of Colorado to be an impact offensive player. He's flat out a better player than Donaldson, younger, and he plays a premium position. Depending on how Lewis and Javier progress, Story would be the kind of player I'd shell out some serious $$$ to keep in my core of players like Kepler, Polanco etc...going forward. Woudl Colorado do it?? Ask and you get...don't and you won't.

I want Chris Sale, not David price. HOWEVER...if the red Sox would include Eduardo Rodriguez in a trade if the Twins took on ALL of Price's remaining contract I'd do it. I've read several times that the Red Sox may have to include E-Rod in any Price deal. I can't believe Boston would do that. But I keep seeing it written about. Smarter people than me must know something. If no E-Rod, I'm not interested in Price at all. Let the White Sox have him. Trade me Chris Sale. All 5-years and $145 million. Twins get Sale for years 31, 32, 33, 34, & 35. At $29-$30 million per year. For a true ACE. I would give them Rooker and maybe a young pitching prospect (Enlow? Smeltzer?) for all 5 years of Sale.

My only quibble with your order is that I would flip-flop Clippard and Romo. The thing that is so encouraging to me is that Trevor May FINALLY started to look like the guy I felt he could be and when I watched Duffy throw, I thought he was a right-handed version of Taylor Rogers without the control. BAM !!! Last year his fastball and curveball just SNAPPED. I know bullpens can be kind of tricky from year to year but this bullpen looks to be what truly separates the Twins from the Indians and White Sox in the division.

Otwins, the Rockies #1 prospect is SS Brendan Rogers. They would probably consider trading Story because they would plug Rogers in. Polanco could be a 2B-man for them if they decided to play Ryan McMahon full time at 1B but they also have a young, speedy 2B-man named Garret Hampson so Polanco probably wouldn't have the same value to them that he would to us. I would expect the Rockies to want some young pitching if they were giving up Story and Gray.

Signing Donaldson also gives you the option of trading Sano in a blockbuster for starting pitching. In this scenario, you sign Donaldson, trade Sano to the Rockies in a blockbuster for Trevor Story and Jon Gray and move Polanco to 2B. Arraez becomes your super utility guy at 2B, 3B, and LF and you either sign a stop gap 1B-man like Moreland (Gold Glove quality) or rotate Garver, Marwan, etc...at 1B. Your lineup is BETTER. You have Gold Glove quality infielders at 3B, SS & 1B with Polanco probably being above average at 2B. Pitching staff: Berrios, Gray, Odorizzi, Pineda, Dobnak (possibly a trade deadline arm). Bullpen---DEEP and GOOD. Lineup: Kepler RF Polanco 2B Cruz DH Story SS Donaldson 3B Rosario LF Garver C Moreland 1B (Marwan, Adrianza etc...) Buxton CF The bat who is missing is Arraez. He would play a LOT and would typically be at the top of the order. The hole is at 1B but do you play Arraez or Polanco at 1B ? But everything is better with Donaldson, Story and Gray.

I would also like the Story/Gray deal. Solves a lot of problems for the Twins. I don't think you can make a trade to "hopefully" make another trade though (Arraez for Contreras). You can't count on that. Three team deals don't happen very often in baseball. The idea that Gray is a comp for Gibson is laughable. Come on. But weather the deal is for Story or Arenado with Gray the deal makes the Twins a MUCH better team. Story and Arenado are FAR better hitters than Sano. Gray, at worst, becomes our #2 behind Berrios. BOTH Arenado and Story make your infield defense much better. Arenado and Story are Gold Glove 3B and SS. Moving Polanco to 2B and Arraez to 3B (if we got Story) would go a LONG way toward improving the infield "D." Sano, LaTortuga, Thorpe work. Who is the 5th player in the trade? Maybe Cave. They don't need Rosario with Dahl & Blackmon. They need a CF'er. but is Cave better than Tapia ?? Maybe throw another minor league pitcher their way...?? One other note: The Dodgers may need an on-base type of guy but with Gavin Lux, Max Muncey, Corey Seager and LOTS of other guys, they don't need a 2B/3B type of guy. I don't trade Arraez. The Twins NEED a .400 OBP guy at the top of their power laden lineup.

If Buxton is healthy enough to play 140+ games it will be him. I feel like he's right on the cusp. I agree that Max Kepler has another level...IF he can find it. That would be him still hitting 30 HR's but batting .280 or so with an OBP of .380-.390. I think last year's team MVP was Nelson Cruz. Not only was he a tremendous influence on the entire lineup (I just gotta believe Buxton, Sano, Kepler, garver etc... saw his AB's and something started to click for each of them---I don't mention Polanco, because he was already the guy with the best approach of our young-en's). But look at the season Cruz had !! As we used to say when I was a kid, "I can't wait to see Cruz's Strat-O-Matic Card !!!" Doc Bauer makes a great point---These guys are all still really young! And they've got hitters like Kiriloff, Larnach and Rooker who are VERY close. But, it's Buxton. Yes MikeLink, we all all WISH it, because we all know, if Buxton ever plays 140+ games he is capable of doing some truly wonderful things.

The Tigers and Royals will be bad. But Cleveland still has tremendous pitching and has added pop to the lineup. If they trade Lindor, they will get some good young players but Lindor will be sorely missed. The White Sox have had a fabulous off season and look to be in the mix. It will be a 3-team race between the Twins, Indians and White Sox for much of the year. The Twins still need to make some noise. A starting pitcher who would be our #1 and make an impact (Chris Sale, Blake Snell) will require a trade. I'm not hoping for half measures with this trade. I'm looking for a blockbuster.

I also agree with Dantes929. I think 100 pitch limits are stupid. 100 is a nice round number, so hey, let's limit a SP to 100 pitches because...yeah, whatever. The same with innings limits. Everything Dantes929 laid out I agree with. These are arbitrary numbers more decided upon by "feelings" than anything researched and/or provable. Just listen to Jim Kaat or Bert Blyleven or Jack Morris opine about this. Hard to disagree with their logic.