PseudoSABR

I don't get the flexibility argument. If we had cut Tonkin and Nolasco we'd have less flexibility by not having them available at all. Sure we could replace them with more flexible options, but the well with which we could draw from would be two-pitchers short. In any case, if veterans prove ineffective the Twins will utilize the DL or even cut bait. IMO, there's more flexibility with Tonkin and Nolasco starting on the roster, then the other way around. (Though the argument of entrenched mediocrity argument does make some sense, there's too many other variables for that really to become a problem. If Nolasco is league average this year, and no other starters get hurt, isn't that a very good problem to have?)

I hate to quibble, but if it has nothing to do with smoking pot, why would you say that the other person lacks integrity? I'm not sure why we need to judge this other person at all, we'll never know what exactly happened, or how much culpability each person acted with. These were high school kids -- that Gonsalves was ever put the in the position of attesting to another adolescent's actions is what gets my goat.

Are we really advocating cutting people out of your life for smoking pot? Gonsalves probably thought about that, and in his estimation, believed his punishment would be less severe than to his friend or more likely refused on principal to speak up. It's for him decide, not you. I seriously doubt Gonsalves is some victim of this crazy pothead highschool athlete imposing his pot-smoking on those around him. I say good on Gonsalves; it shows self-belief and integrity.

Unless those are the players who end up injured. The Twins are in a far better position to deal with injuries than the Whitesox because their success isn't buttressed by star power (outside Sano).

Something that's been overlooked and will play out significantly is the Twins have way better depth both in the rotation and on the field to deal with injury, failure, and regression.

I don't either. But there are passionate people at the fringe of consensus that commit something close to doublespeak in regard to free agent spending and prospect promotion. Not that you or Chief are among those people. But like I suggested in my post, there's refrain of compliant here.

There is a point where the supposed difference-maker is cost prohibitive given his likelihood of difference-making. Are O'Day or Soria difference-makers vis-a-vis their costs? Is a set-up guy really ever a difference-maker? I understand the notion that cost prohibitive shouldn't be in a revenue-making team's vocabulary, but I think the Twins can still get value in regard to the reliever market. The Twins actually do have Perkins and Jepsen; they aren't looking to makeover the bullpen, they need to fill it out (and only *perhaps* until arms in the farm arrive). While the Yankees address the back of their bullpen and ignore everything else, I'm still glad the Twins aren't in the bull's market on relievers. There could be a time where they should be, but given so many unknowns going into the season (with all the hope there is), the Twins should be reserved in spending on what looks like part-time players--that third-best reliever, or that center-fielder who eventually must get displaced by Buxton.

* On the hand you have: "Berrios should start in the rotation, the Twins were foolish to give out long term deals to Hughes, Nolasco and Santana" * On the other hand you have: "The Twins shouldn't let future prospects stop them from signing what could be stop-gap players to long term contracts" * (These are old refrains; substitute positions and players/prospects to fit other past and future scenarios). * I think many of the same people are professing both these contradictory beliefs. I, for one, am glad the Twins aren't interested in handing out long term contracts to relievers (or another OFer for that matter), especially after the market for relievers blew-up this winter.

Kepler? Buxton? The minor league depth has flaws to begin the season for sure. The Twins need to buy themselves a couple months until one or both could be ready. But they shouldn't overpay for it. The outfield defense will go from being a net negative to a net positive with Buxton in center, which is an eventuality. The problem is real on opening day, but ultimately ephemeral.

I know that this post wasn't addressed to me, but I have a different take here. Not only did the Twins not give Sano any games in the OF for last September, they also (supposedly) forbade him from playing the outfield in the Winter League during games, but (supposedly) he practiced the outfield. My reading is that the Twins want to ease Sano into outfield without the risk and the pressure of live-games. There's also been talk (I think from the Twins themselves) of Sano shedding some weight in preparation for Spring Training--after a year of DHing, he might not have been in the best shape to avoid injury given the responsibility of so much ground to cover. On Plouffe, I think the Twins overlooked the guy becoming a plus defender at the hot corner, which has a lot of value, especially with Escobar's limited range (even if he's generally steady).

I just want to make a couple of points. 1) Upside isn't a fixed phenomenon. It is fluid. Hicks' present upside is probably not considered the same as his upside pre-2013; similar point on Bentacourt. Once players became exposed, the rosiness of their supposed upside certainly waned. The reverse point for Murphy, a guy switching position to catcher, who had infrequent playing time at young age - as it became clear that he could be an above average defender and that he wouldn't be a hole with the bat, his upside is probably greater than when he was minor leaguer. 2) Upside is ethereal, while a player's floor is concrete. While betting on a player's floor isn't as sexy as betting on their ceiling; it's certainly risk adverse. Sometimes it's better to have a known quantity, even if a middle of the road option than it is to bet on former prospect's upsides and end up with no value. (In my opinion, the Twins sold high on Hicks' one month of glory. He was unlikely to get much more playing time to further improve (or diminish) his stock.) 3) Making deals early in the offseason always invites a hindsight analysis based on what other teams end up doing. Because we are Twins fans, I think we often refuse to acknowledge just how many other teams fail to address their own needs by waiting the market out. In terms of catchers this offseason, very few options existed right at the outset, and the Yankees catching excess would surely have been sought after if not by us. The Twins could easily be without any young catcher at all. The reality of previous Twins' offseason's would have netted us the likes Tyler Flowers.

The low annual salary makes Park an excellent trade chip in the future (even if Park turns out to be an average player), as the posting fee will have been paid. If it becomes clear that Sano can't play the field, or other prospects emerge, Park's contract won't be a hindrance in any deal.

Aberration is the new mean.

I like seeing Perkins here.

For weeks, I haven't been able to stomach watching the Twins play. But I do pay attention to game day (out of perverse curiosity, surely); and moments like this make me glad I pay enough cursory attention to flip on MLB.tv . I only have to watch the watchable moment to get all the warm fuzzies.

LaVelle E. Neal III ‏@LaVelleNeal 2m2 minutes ago Twins will send Rays Chin-Wei Hu and Alexis Tapia Hu is too much, damn. Jepson is arb eligible again this winter, but I feel we could have gotten a better RP for him. I think this is a seller's market for sure.

Right. There's also August, if the Twins remain competitive. Though we could use that bullpen arm, now.

He's better than anyone else in the bullpen beyond Perkins. The deal is contingent on what they gave up. Given the price of difference makers, I'm glad the Twins aren't overly eager to deal from their minor league depth. (And this is colored by my belief that the Twins are really only pseudo-competitive, and really wouldn't ahve much playoff longevity even if they make the wildcard.)

Ken Rosenthal ‏@Ken_Rosenthal 53s53 seconds ago Source: Kevin Jepsen to #Twins. Something

Tulo's going to the Blue Jays Ken RosenthalVerified account ‏@Ken_Rosenthal BREAKING: Tulo traded to #BlueJays.

Thanks, I was wondering.

For clarity's sake, [redacted]. The video is evidently from May of this year; see below.

Yet, every journalistic prognosticator predicated that a Top 10 team would draft him... It's not just the Twins who disagree with your assessment, I think it's everyone in the industry.

Jay was consistently projected into the Top 10/Top 5 by nearly all publications, so the notion that most see him--or even some see him as a only reliever--is just false.

Has there been any question from actual scouts about his capacity to start? I certainly haven't heard any.