Thrylos

Not when they are not competing. It took Koskie and Morneau 2 seasons each to master their positions. They got to give Sano and Polanco the same chances, esp. when they are not competing.

His .308/.400/.654 slash line against actual game pitching begs to differ. .346 isoP is "without power"? Mercy...

Those are conflicting statements Polanco should be given the opportunity to be the Twins starting SS for a full year. He really needs stability to improve his fielding and if he does not get the opportunity to do so, it will not happen. Now if Dozier for some reason is traded, that's a different discussion. But I would agree with the first statement and not the second above.

Do you remember when Buxton was considered the number 1 prospect for the Twins months after he was drafted? Nothing unusual at all. As a matter of fact, I suspect that Kirilloff, who has less potential than Javier and the same experience as a pro, will be ranked higher than Javier. And nobody will blink, because he was "a first round draft pick". Same way that nobody blinked about Buxton's ranking back then.

The price for relievers has really risen. If you compare Brach's numbers to those of Belisle and Kintzer (other than saves, which is a worthless stat), you can see that Brach even at that $ is a huge bargain...

Three things: 1. You got to see this. Need to follow up on that fiance part, Seth. They are now married 2. Living in the Mid Atlantic for a while now I would think that someone named Domenick Carlini would be a NY/NJ/PA maybe CT guy. But Mississippi? wow. 3. Good luck to him. Hopefully he knows that it is uphill from now on. Look forward seeing the 2016 draftees and the kids who made it over from the DSL in Fort Myers next month.

But 2016 counted, so 2 more seasons before arbitration? That takes him to 2021 inclusive, just like Buxton, and a year after Sano and Rosario. Correct? Hard to keep track

Huge if your double play partner and/or your catcher in your MLB team is not around in the WBC practice. Try to work infield shifts as a team in WBC and see how well that translates to the MLB...

If that were the case, I would suspect that they would play games in countries underrepresented now. I am not convinced that the game will get more popular in Israel because a bunch of Jewish American ballplayers are wearing an Israeli uniform or in Italy because Italian immigrants' grandchildren are wearing that uniform. WBC is popular in Latin America, Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Australia. Places where baseball is already popular. And in places where Soccer is popular (eg. Brasil, Argentina) you see zero attempt to even field WBC teams. It is a pride tourney for (let's say) Dominicans to brag that they are better than the (let's say) Koreans. And that I value way less than having all the Twins get ready for the season at the best circumstances possible.

In the expense of MLB? Why? If the whole idea is to develop local talent, have that talent play instead of MLB players.

They can do it this time of the season, but everyone on an MLB 40-man roster should be excluded. That will solve the problem.

I did not say that. They care more about their Countries (or Commonwealth in the case of Puerto Rico) than they care about the success of their professional teams. Actions speak louder than words. Playing at the WBC is optional.

Exactly. It also shows to me that the Twins are not his number 1 priority. Every Twins player should be there working 100% to turn the 103 L team around instead of following personal interests.

As far as the pen goes, I'd say the there are 3 locks: Kintzler, Belisle, Pressly I think that May will be in the rotation I think that Santiago will end up as the long man in the pen. So you are looking for 3 more and at least one of them a lefty. I also think that in addition to May, either Vogelsong or Haley will make the rotation. The other one will be the second long man in the pen. Pick either. Two more, and at least one lefty. And I will be surprised if that lefty is not Breslow. (and if someone is keeping score, this means that 2 40-man spots need to open.) One more position among Chargois, Rogers (*), Melotakis (*), Tonkin, Boshers (*), Duffey, O'Rourke (*). I do not see any more non-40 man roster making the team. If I were to bet, I'd say that the best one of the former Rice co-closers will make the pen and likely that would be Duffey. Sorry out of options Mr Tonkin, you are DFA'd along with Mr O'Rourke for those 40-man roster openings. Still I will be surprised if all of those players listed are with the Twins when camp breaks...

I'd say that Mejia should probably be a bit ahead of Santiago as far as the pecking order for LHSP goes. 20.4 K-BB% in Rochester and 18.6 K-BB% in the PCL are pretty impressive numbers (and numbers that Santiago never hit in his career at any level.) And his ceiling is not that much lower than Gonsalves's at this point. Might not realize it by looking at their careers but Mejia is just one year older than Gonsalves.

Check this out. Mixing 1987 & 2016 performance (for the ones still left with the team) : E.Santana 124 ERA+ Stracker 106 ERA+ Gibson 82 ERA+ Smithson 78 ERA+ Santiago 75 ERA+ Niekro 74 ERA+ Hughes 70 ERA+ Duffey 65 ERA+ Berrios 52 ERA+ And add Viola and Blyleven to the '87 team Take heart?

Yes. Corner infielder and outfielders are fine but not in excess like middle infielders and relievers who can be trade bait.

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch ---- You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2016 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here. Here is my 2016 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference. This is the countdown for players ranked 51-55th in the system. You can find players 56-60 here, players 51-55 here, 46-50 here, 41-45 here, 36-40 here, 31-35 here, 26-30 here, 21-25 here, 16-20 here, 11-15 here, 6-10 here, 1-5 here, and all segments in the series here. There are detailed profiles, scouting reports and analysis about each player, so if you are interested in a particular player in the list, they might be useful. The 2017 off-season Twins' top 60 prospect list looks like this (in parenthesis the 2016 ranking, followed by position and the ETA) : 1. Wander Javier (7) SS, 2020 2. Tyler Jay (2) LHP, 2017 3. Lewin Diaz (5) 1B/DH, 2019 4. Fernardo Romero (34), RHP, 2018 5. Nick Gordon (9) SS, 2018 6. Stephen Gonsalves (4) LHSP, 2018 7. Daniel Palka (18) OF, 2017 8. Alex Kirilloff (--) OF, 2020 9. Adalbelto Mejia (--) LHP, 2016 10. Mitch Garver (10) C, 2017 11. Luis Arraez IF (24), 2019 12. Nick Burdi (3) RHRP, 2017 13. Brusdar Graterol (28), RHSP, 2020+ 14. Engelb Vielma SS (23), 2017 15. Travis Blankenhorn (38), 3B/1B, 2020 10 BA 16. Ben Rortvedt (--) C, 2020 17. Kohl Stewart RHSP (13), 2018 18. Mason Melotakis (12), LHRP, 2017 19. Amaurys Minier (15) OF/1B, 2019 20. Huascar Ynoa (27), RHSP, 2020 21. Justin Haley (--) RHP, 2017 22. LaMonte Wade (31), CF, 2018 23. Felix Jorge (20), RHSP, 2018 24. Akil Baddoo (--) OF , 2020 25. Jake Reed (16) RHRP, 2017 26 Niko Goodrum (37), CF/IF, 2017 27 Trevor Hildenberger (--) RHP 2018 28 D.J. Baxendale, (--) RHP; 2017 29 Lachlan Wells (26), LHSP, 2020 30 Lewis Thorpe (17) LHSP, 2019 31 Jermaine Palacios (8) SS/3B, 2020 32 Rainis Silva (21), C, 2019 33 Michael Theophanopoulos, LHP, 2018 34 Dereck Rodriguez - 24 – RHP – 2019 35 John Curtiss, RHP; 2018 36 Jean Carlos Arias (22), CF, 2020 37 Travis Harrison (14), OF/1B, 2018 38 Aaron Slegers (--), RHP 2018 39 Jaylin Davis, (--) OF 2019 40 Levi Michael (11), 2B, 2016 41 Brandon Lopez (--) SS, 2020 42 Brandon Peterson (29), RHRP, 2017 43 Zach Granite, (--) OF, 2017 44 Humberto Maldonado (--) OF, 2020+ 45 Pedro Garcia (--) RHP 2020 + 46 Tyler Benninghoff, (--) RHP 2020 + 47 Nelson Molina, INF 2020 48 Taylor Clemensia (--) LHP 2020 49 Eduardo Del Rosario (--) RHP 2019 50 Jordan Balazovic, (--) RHP, 2020+ 51 Jason Wheeler (--) LHP, 2017 52 Andrew Vasquez (--) LHP 2019 53 Zander Wiel, (--) 1B 2019 54 Tyler Wells (--) RHP 2020 55 Cody Stashak -(--) RHP 2019 56 Colton Davis (--) RHP 2019 57 Williams Ramirez (--) 2019 58 Tanner English (--) OF 2018 59 Aaron Whitefield (--) IF/OF 2020 60 Michael Cederoth (--) RHP 2018 Players who were on the 2016 list (then a top 40) and are not in the 2017 are: Emmanuel Morel (40) IF Trey Cabbage (39), IF/OF Chris Paul (33) IF/OF Kolton Kendrick (32), 1B/DH Ryan Eades RHP (25) Adam Walker OF (19) Players who graduated from the 2016 list are: Jose Berrios (1) RHP JT Chargois (6) RHP Too good to exclude, but I had to, because of his circumstances: Griffin Jax RHP. His stuff is there to merit inclusion in this list, and likely within the top 40. However his commitment to the US Air Force, which already resulted in him missing professional baseball commitments, including the whole 2017 Spring Training, is a big unknown, regarding his career as a baseball player. Unless this conflict is resolved, I will have a hard time including him in a prospect list. His Air Force assignment starts in late May after graduation and it is at the Eglin Air Force Base in Pensacola, FL. Organizational Strengths: Shortstop/middle infield: The Twins have 3 players on the top 15 of the organization that are about a year away from each other as far as readiness go, in addition to former number 2 prospect, Jorge Polanco in the majors with 4 more seasons of team control, which will bridge with the ETA of the current number 1 prospect Wander Javier, while players like Nick Gordon (5th , ETA 2018) and Engelb Vielma (14th, ERA 2017) could be stopgaps if necessary, slide over to second base, or be trade bait. Jermaine Palacios (31, ETA 2020) and Brandon Lopez (41, ETA 2020) are two additional players that can stick at shortstop and make quick gains. Luis Arraez (11, ETA 2019) looks like the Twins' second baseman of the future, estimated to be ready when Brian Dozier's contract expires, so there is also a nice bridge there. If Dozier is traded, current major leaguers Eduardo Escobar and Ehire Adrianza, in addition to Polanco and Vielma will battle out for his replacement and the starting SS position, with Gordon added to the list in 2018. All in all, middle infield is a strength in the organization allowing for potential trades down the road to plug other holes. Relief Pitching: There are 32 pitchers in the list, several with ETA of 2017 and 2018 and only two, LHPs Stephen Gonsalves (6, ETA 2018) and Adalberto Mejia (9, 2016), are unquestionably starters. Pitchers like LHP Tyler Jay (2, ETA 2017 as a reliever) and RHP Fernando Romero (5, ETA 2018), the only 2 pitchers in the organization who are potentially top of the rotation starters, can help the Twins' pen soon, in addition to RHP Nick Burdi (12, 2017) who has closer potential and the best pure stuff in the organization, LHP Mason Melotakis (18, 2017), Rule 5 draft pick RHP Justin Haley (21, 2017) and RHPs Jake Reed (25, 2017) and D.J. Baxendale (28, 2017). Former 6th overall prospect JT Chargois is in the majors, along with his college co-closer Tyler Duffey, who has had setbacks as a starter and belongs to the pen, and along with the current pipeline, supplemented by another half dozen pitchers who are projected to be ready in 2018, they can anchor a strong bullpen for the Twins for the years to come. Organizational Weaknesses: Catcher: The only major-league ready catcher in the list is Mitch Garver (10, ETA 2017) who projects as a two way major league average catcher at this point, and will battle for a back up to defensive wizard but light hitting, especially against lefties, Jason Castro. There are only 2 more catchers in the list, Ben Rortvedt (16, ETA 2020) and Rainis Silva (21, ETA 2019) who have as much promise as they have question marks. Former 28th best prospect in the 2015 list Stuart Turner was selected on the Rule 5 draft and might return, however he is a glove first catcher who profiles as a defensive back up in the majors at best at this point. This is a position that there is practically no pipeline and the Twins should address at the draft and/or with trades Starting pitching: As mentioned only LHP Tyler Jay (2, ETA 2017 as a reliever) and RHP Fernando Romero (5, ETA 2018), are the only two prospects with top of the rotation projections, but they both bring a lot of unanswered questions about durability and whether they can transition to starters in the majors. Add to this the fact that the current Twins starters in the majors are at best number 3s or 4s in a competitive team, and the situation looks a bit dire. RHP Brusdar Graterol (13, 2020+) and LHP Lewis Thorpe (30, 2019), could be part of the discussion, if proven healthy, but they are at least 2 seasons away. LHPs Stephen Gonsalves (6, ETA 2018) and Adalberto Mejia (9, 2016), are close to ready or ready, but project as a mid to bottom of the rotation starters. So do RHPs Kohl Stewart (17, 2018) and Huascar Ynoa (20, 2020). The rest of the pitchers in this list project as relievers. The Twins will have to address this problem with the draft where they have the number 1 overall selection as well as with trades, and potentially free agency down the road, in order to compete.

Stewart's biggest issue is mechanical inconsistencies in his delivery that severely effect his command and are responsible for the undesirable BB%. What people do not generally realize is that Stewart was a star QB at High School and received practically zero pitching instruction before he turned pro. And then the instruction he received has been from the Minnesota Twins Pitching Factory... He is fixable because the raw stuff is there, but he needs fixing and someone should do it. Every single pitching coach he had, plus the pitching coordinator have proven that they cannot do it....

Maybe. Lower fielding percentage than Sano at RF this season and fewer stolen bases as well. Kirillof's fielding tool is not that great either....

It is complicated and it is turned into a saga of sorts. This is the latest. The park is owned by the City. Even the GM of the team is a city employee. The Twins threatened of leaving and the city finally approved $3.2M for the renovations necessary (read: Pretty much a whole rebuild) but there is still back an forth and whining from the locals. Interesting story to follow. The Twins will play there in 2017, but nothing is set in stone for 2018. Part of the problem is that Elizabethton is a small town of 15,000 people or so.

That's a euphemism for "has not been good enough to stick at third so they wanted to see whether they can find a position for him". Kind of hard to peg him with the bat as well. Look at Cedar Rapids: he managed a .286 BA only out of a .403 BABIP, which is really horrible. For comparison, Cedar Rapids' other second baseman, Louis Arraez, (same age btw) managed a .347 BA from a .382 BABIP. So something is due for a correction there. There is still hope, but as long as he is in the same team as Arraez, he will not play second base consistently (because Arraez is by far the better player), something that he needs to do, otherwise there will be problems because his bat will not play at a corner position. Maybe they need to hold him back a bit to get those reps...

Here is the problem with Romero: The most innings he pitched in a season was last season and it was 90-1/3. The second most was in 2013 and it was 45. To consider him close to big leagues he needs to get close to 150 innings. And he will not get there in 2017. Too big of a jump. Maybe he will get to 120 innings or so, depending on health, but they will keep a watch on his arm. Very similar situation with Jay who he only pitched 83-2/3 innings last season. Do not expect these guys in the majors, as starters, any time soon.

I think that a lot of it depends on how Hughes is and whether or not he can pitch competitive by the end of Spring Training. There is no way I see Berrios starting the season in the majors. He is behind May, Vogelsong, Haley, Santiago, Mejia (and maybe even Duffey whom the FO might give another chance as a starter, since they have adopted a wait and see approach) in the depth chart, plus he chose to miss at least a month of Spring Training (along with Santiago, which puts both behind the 8 ball a bit.) If Hughes is healthy, I see the Twins rotation as Santana, Hughes, Gibson, May, Vogelson/Haley with the one who does not make it follow Santiago in the pen as long/swing men. Mejia, Berrios in AAA with the one who is pitching better getting the call up if necessary. Too much congestion in AAA again. I suspect that about half of those guys listed, if still with the team after ST, will pitch in the Rochester pen... Starting pitching is an organizational glaring weakness. Only 3 players with top of the rotation stuff, two of whom might end in the pen (Jay and Romero) and the third is so far away and raw that nobody knows how he will end up (Graterol). Everyone else, including Berrios after last season, mid to rear of the rotation in a competitive team ceiling. The Twins really have to address this..

Santiago was mostly a reliever in 2012 with the WSux (42 G, 4 GS), then mostly a starter in 2013 (34 G, 23 GS) and 2014 (30 G, 24 GS). He is a swingman. Swarzak material. As a matter of fact, if you ignore his ERA and look at his FIP, He has been pretty consistent. His career FIP is 4.73 and has been +/- .60 all his career. FWIW, Swarzak's career FIP is 4.30, as a comparison point. Gibson was off (and hurt) last season, but pretty consistent the previous 2 seasons (3.80 & 3.96 FIP). I'd take that and 180+ IP from him. Solid number 4 type.