Thrylos

Here is BA's list Phillies Brody Colvin is a very intriguing possibility if the Twins can fix him. Just 23 next season and twice a top 100 prospect

Evidence? No, because it is speculation and risk management. Just a red flag that gets much bigger if you look at the fact that his dad broke down after his age 32 season.

Short answer: No way.

If the Twins trade Arcia, can someone name the OF of the near future like 2015? Or a LH power bat? I guess Parmelee might break through, but...

Not sure. See the example I gave above re: Indians. Even in their own sport.

This on the surface looks totally funky. Even in baseball, there are minor league teams with the same name as other, non-affiliated MLB teams. The International League Indianapolis Indians (Pirates' affiliate) and the Northwest League Spokane Indians (Rangers' affiliate) come to mind. One the other hand, the Indianapolis team were the Indians when the Cleveland team was the Bluebirds in the turn of last century... It must have something to do with the trademark part and the way the trademark application was written, which might make the Twins think that WWE-Twins products might be confused with the MLB Twins products and cut into revenue potentially. Interesting to see what was filed...

Good stuff. It would be great for the Twins to get Zimmerman but it would take a lot. At this point, I would not trade Meyer for any pitcher, he might be better than all of them in the list. If they could (and cannot until mid summer 2014) I'd rather see them trade Steward because he is a good 3+ years away (in this organization.) Would anyone be interested in Berrios? Can you build a dual head centerpieces with someone like Berrios & Rosario/Dozier? Toss in Kepler? Is that enough? Would Berrios, Rosario and Kepler bring back Zimmerman? I doubt it. Maybe adding Gibson would, which is an intriguing thought...

It is too early indeed. Give it until February Interestingly enough, I remember hearing the same thing (even after the winter meetings, a bit later than now) before the 2010 season. Then they closed a couple of holes with signing Hudson and Thome at the late January/February time frame and things happened... Not that this team is only a couple players away, just that there is still time and most of the pitching target they have been connected with are still out there. I take TRs recent comments to mean a. Last year's rotation was horrible and we got Johnson who is better than Diamond and might be ahead of the horribles and b. because it was so horrible, if Duensing and Swarzak won to win a rotation spot at ST, let them at it. Now if come mid-late February the Twins have done nothing or additional bottom feeding, we shall discuss it then

The real news in this story is that (unlike some potential rumors out there) it sounds like the Twins will offer arbitration to both. As far as starting goes, I think that Duensing needs to stay in the pen, but Swarzak has been spot starting anyways and cannot be any worse than anyone not named Gibson or Correia or Pelfrey from last season's rotation so it would not hurt to give him a few starts at ST to see what he does. Another point of view here is that both of the guys are just entering arbitration and starters make more $ than relievers, so I suspect there is some pressure from the players to start, to which the Twins say, "sure, we don't close the door" in order to be fair to them.

More of an Antoan Richardson/Denny Hawking clone At least Clete could hit the ball out of the park on occasion

Hold it He was cut from Boston in the middle of the 2011 season and went to Kansas (IL) to finish the season. Several of his College (Wichita St) teammates were playing there and he knew the place so he chose to go there. This is not a guy who could not find a job and went to the ILs. Signed with Pittsburgh next winter. Not a Colabello/Thielbar/Albers story by any means.

Yeah but that split deal he signed (like Tim Wood last season) meant that he has to be on the 40-man roster at least until opening day. Not sure I agree with what they did, but...

Nope. Vargas was. And he was added. Darnell too. And he was added. Achter? Not that sure.

How many LHSP on the MLB-ready level who throw 94 mph do the Twins have?

Today the Puerto Rican press published an interview with Rosario. You can read details here. According to him, the substance he tested positive for was in a pill he took to treat pain in his throwing arm. Also, it was the same substance he took (and was prescribed to him) to treat the pain when he was hit on the face by a pitch when in Beloit. No PEDs. "Street drug" likely prescription painkillers. That one should take as is ok to take with a prescription and likely he did no have on this time. He is appealing so we will see where this will go... No PEDs

Jack Morris a. was ancient history, b. was towards the end of a very successful career (he was 36 in 1991 and played 3 more seasons) and c. Gardyn'Andy were playing ball back then. Nothing to resurrect.

Can you think of anyone who went to Minneapolis for a year and resurrected a career?

Saying that Johnson is an independent league product and a journeyman is not fair. He pitched half season of independent ball after he was let go from the Boston organization in 2011. He pitched for the Kansas team where he went to College and several of his college teammates played. The next season he signed with the Pirates where he has been since. Two organizations a journeyman do not make. He is as much of a journeyman as Morneau And his stuff is better than any LHSP the Twins have in AAAA/MLB right now. He can hit 94 miles with his fastball (I think the only other LHSP in the organization that can do this is Melotakis) and has a plus change and a curve. That is better than what Diamond and Albers have. So he is pretty much on the top of the depth chart of LHSP in the organization (not potential of course.) Is he a game changer? Likely not. Is he better that what the Twins have? Yes. That was a small but very good move.

Let's think about that: If you were not affiliated with any team or location in any way, where would your rather spend your Aprils, Octobers and Winter Carnival days: In Minnesota or in San Diego? Location does matter as well.

It is official. Even for a day. When you are suspended you have to start the season at the level you were. I think that was the reason that Vargas missed have season. He had to start at E-town instead of Beloit...

Nope. He has 3 pitches. A fastball that can kick up to 94 and averages around 92, a very deceptive change in the mid 80s and a slow curve. At this point he is on the top of the Twins LHSP depth. Better stuff than Diamond and Albers for sure. Great move.

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- In the first trade of the 2013 off-season, the Minnesota Twins returned RHRP Duke Welker (whom they acquired in the Justin Morneau trade) to the Pittsburgh for LHSP Kris Johnson. Johnson (6'4", 190, 28 years old) is a former first round draft pick of the Boston Redsox (2006) and signed as a minor league free agent by the Pirates 2 years ago. He was listed as the Redsox' fourth best pitching prospect in 2008 by Baseball America. This season he had a breakthrough performance in Independent (AAA) league, pitching 135.7 innings, with a 2.39 ERA (3.43 FIP), winning 10 games and losing 4. His strikeout rate was 17.1% (6.34 K/9), his walk rate 7.8% (2.85 BB/9, 2.19 K/BB). His WHIP was 1.17 and achieved with a .279 BABIP. He throws a 91-94 mph fastball, a slow low 70s curve and a mid 80s change/cutter/slider type of pitch that is very effective against righties. As is, he will be the most polished Twins' left hand starter (compared to Scott Diamond and Andrew Albers) and will likely fight for a spot in the Twins' rotation out of Spring Training. He has relieved before, so the pen is also an option potentially. All in all, the Twins turned a hard throwing but enigmatic (think Hoey) righty reliever to a polished lefty starter with true back of the rotation stuff who is at his prime. I think all in all it is a good move for the Twins, since they lack depth in the minors esp. from the left side. Johnson had a cup of coffee with the Pirates (10.3 IP) this August, which means that he has only 2 options left. What does this mean for the Twins? Johnson automatically goes on top of the LHP starting depth ahead of Diamond and Albers at this point, and if they do not sign someone like Scott Kazmir, he might wear a Twins' uniform next season. Additionally, he will potentially challenge for a spot in the bullpen, especially if Thielbar regresses. This trade gives the Twins more options than they had before (plently of hard-throwing relievers and Michael Tonkin made Duke Welker redundant in the system) http://binaryapi.ap.org/913b31dff82647e2b2c20d2ac4fbe617/940x.jpg

I think that the Twins need to ingrain their minor leaguers not to take anything even if their relatives or friends give it to them without checking with the Twins' doctors. I'd love to know what kind of substance it was.

Because he is 2-3 years away from the majors and will just have to sit on the bench. The kid is not even ready for AA.