chopper0080

Players I would trade prospects for Cole Hamels Mat Latos Johnny Cueto Yu Darvish Elvis Andrus Desmond Jennings Matt Joyce Carlos Gonzales Wade Miley Ervin Santana Mike Minor Hisashi Iwakuma David Peralta and Giancarlo Stanton...who I would part with Sano and a 2nd tier pitching prospect for. The Marlins are quietly shopping him as they don't expect to be able to pay to keep him. I'm not sure if I would move Buxton for him, but I might. For the rest of them...pretty much every prospect would be available. I would probably deal highlight a deal with Meyer before Mays or Berrios. Maybe add a hitter as well. Essentially Miguel Sano, Eddie Rosario, Adam Walker and Jason Wheeler for Giancarlo Stanton Alex Meyer, Max Kepler, and Travis Harrison for Mat Latos Honestly, I'm not sure this would be enough to get these guys, and I might add more if that was the case.

It was the move that had to be made. That is the business of sports. Hopefully the Twins focus on building a staff to work with and develop young talent. That seems to be the direction that they are going.

The problem is that we have several rosters spots WORSE than Suzuki and Plouffe which is a problem. Yes, good teams have players like Plouffe or Suzuki on their roster, but they are the weak links and they are not counted on to win games. You can't expect to win when you are counting them to be consistent while your young, sporadic players like Vargas, Santana, and Arcia are going thru the ups and downs to breakinginto the big leagues. You can't have holes at SP, holes in the OF, holes at SS, and then say that you are counting on Suzuki and Plouffe with expectation that is is a winning formula. We need to add significant talent at some sort of mix of OF, SP, SS,3B, and C. If there is an upgrade over Suzuki at C, we need to take a hard look at it. If there is an upgrade available at 3B, we need to look into it. SP is the same. OF is the same. Now, not every position is going to have those opportunities in an offseason, but the ones that are, need to be acquired.

That fact that they weren't IS the problem, and pretty much the reason we are a 90 loss team.

Here is what I am comfortable with going into the 2015 season...Not saying they are going to be great or not regress, but I am either comfortable with their production or I am comfortable letting them develop IN the starting lineup. C-Not 1B-Mauer/Vargas 2B-Dozier SS-Santana (or Not if teams puts him in the OF) 3B-Not LF-Not CF-Not RF-Arcia DH-Vargas SP1-Not SP2-Hughes SP3-Not SP4-Gibson SP5-Not (though we can pencil in Nolasco because Twins won't eat his contract) CP-Perkins I count 7 positions that I am not comfortable with heading into 2015, and need to be upgraded in order to improve this team. One spot the Twins will eat because they will not cut Nolasco despite being terrible. They will hope and pray on that one. So that leaves 6 starting positions that need to be filled with better talent in order to compete for a title. I don't believe that will happen, I believe this team is comfortable trotting out players like Kurt Suzuki and Trevor Plouffe while they wait on their prospect pipe dream, despite that resulting in 90 loss seasons year after year.

Just to put my thoughts on this matter... What I know is that on our roster, only Mauer, Dozier, Hughes, and Perkins have produced at a high enough level over multiple recent years to be penciled in for a starting spot. I'm am not counting other bullpen arms. 1B-Mauer 2B-Dozier 2SP-Hughes CL-Perkins What I know is that on our roster, only Arcia, Vargas, Santana, Gibson, and May have produced enough to deserve a role on the team, but have the talent to earn a starting spot. However, there is a high possibility of initial regression in 2015. DH-Arcia w/ RF potential DH-Vargas w/ 1B platoon potential Util-Santana w/ CF/SS potential 5SP-Gibson w/ 3SP potential RP-May w/ 3SP potential I know we are committed financially to Nolasco, and he has shown to be a 5SP at best. Potential as a 4SP. I know both Suzuki and Pinto could be significantly upgraded at C. I know that SS is a hole, but the team has not commited to using Santana to plug that hole, and instead relied on mediocre talent to do so. I know that Plouffe is totally upgradable at 3B. I know that Santana has been our best OF in 2014 but may be the teams SS in 2015. I know that Arcia has excellent power potential but is not a great fielder. What I know leaves us with holes at C, 3B, SS/CF (whichever Santana doesn't play), LF, 1SP, and 3SP. Those are the holes that need to be filled. What do I know about filling those holes? I know that counting on higher level prospects to come in and contribute right away has had mized results. Gibson, Hicks, May and Arcia have struggled while Vargas and Santana have not. That leads me to believe that counting on Hicks, Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Berrios, and Rosario to contribute in 2015 is pretty foolish. Milone is a wild card, but the A's preferred a bunch of other SPs over him. MIght be an indicator to his overall talent level. I know that the Twins have revenue to add top FAs or take on large contracts in a trade. I know it is more likely that the Twins will be able to trade for a large salary player than sign one as a FA. In the end, we have lots of work to do.

Do one thing exceptionally well first, THEN learn to do everything else as well. You have to have something to build upon before you can become well-rounded. Let em learn. Let em grow.

re: Santana I don't really care if they keep in the OF or keep him at SS, but what I care about is that they have a plan. If he is going to be playing SS next year, get him there over the remainder of this year. Similarly, if he is going to be an outfielder next year, keep him in the outfield. Have a plan and work it.

Ok...after forgeting about Nolasco and forgetting the compensatory guidelines, I am putting myself in timeout.

Cespedes for Lester was a really smart move by the A's. Cespedes was not going to be re-signed, they are a serious World Series contender, and they will get a 1st round draft pick for Lester if he leaves. They still have good depth in the farm system and they still have movable pieces if they want to reload.

I sure did. Nolasco, Hughes, Gibson, Meyer, May and MIllone is not bad in terms of depth and stuff. Meyer and May will struggle and that is to be expected. Hell, maybe Nolasco returns to form and the Twins are able to unload him at the deadline next year.

So, in terms of 2015, Hughes, Gibson, Meyers, May and Millone is not a bad start. Probably need to add another starter into the mix because chances are someone will get injured or struggle. That isn't being negative, it is just that injuries happen. Add some outfielders who can run beside Arcia and maybe we don't lose 90. Santana and Dozier will hopefully man the middle. Also, I am excited to see how Vargas does though I expect he will struggle as Arcia has. Now we just need to get a ham sandwich for Suzuki, Willingham and Correia and I will be happy.