Thrylos

I think that Kepler might be a wonderful sell high trade chip at this point. I'd love to see the Twins try to package him for one of the Mets' starters.

Have you seen Buxton try to hit a curve ball. At any level? That is the reality and not what Trout could do or did whenever.

Thought you gave Rosario to the Brewers I really thing that the Duda + Mejia for Plouffe + Gibbons + does not make much sense. Not a fan of Duda. The guy is worse on the OF than Willingham or Arcia. Career -33.4 UZR/150 1900 innings. Compare to about -10 for Willingham in his Twins' years and -13 in 1700 innings for Arcia. And I'd rather have Vargas rotate with Park in the DH/1B role Duda is a stiff. Really. Willingham is a ballerina compared to this guy. Seriously. [] If the Mets want Plouffe, I'd start the discussing with Matt Harvey. Ryan has done enough dumpster diving and you have one day to repair that. And instead of Mejia who cannot start right away, I will ask for Hansel Robles. Better stuff, better make up and not afraid to throw inside And then see what the Mets want in addition to Plouffe. I do not see them needing pitching, so I would be more than happy to toss Kepler and Gordon their way. So Plouffe, Kepler, & Gordon +? for Harvey and Robles. Step 1 to fix the pen. Step 2: Move Phil Hughes to the closer position and Perkins to the LH Set up position, Robles to the RH set up role and Jepsen to the 7th. Now that start to look like a pen. Rotation of Harvey, Santana, Gibson, May, Nolasco does not look bad either, with a couple of decent arms in AAA. Milone is a problem that needs to be taken care of and I would try to get a low level prospect or two for him. However, The first thing I would do though, is to send home Mr Antony, Radcliff, Krivsky, Johnson, and every other baseball operations front office person who has been around more than 10 years and replace them with fresh blood with 21st century thinking. Second, I'd cut half the scouting department, and replace it with analyst types. And I'd combine scouting and analytics and have that headed by an analytics person. That would make certain that when Ryan came in the next day, he'd re-retire for good.

No love for Palka? Also I think that Minier will be mostly an OF from now on. Another name that is missing from the EST is that of CF Jean Carlos Arias who just turned 18 last week and dominated the DSL last season. Read in more than one reports from there that he is a true 5 tool player and look forward to have a look at him this Spring. I think that he will get Palacios-like helium this time next season

Great stuff! Good to hear that he is working on a fourth pitch. A cutter is not a pitch that many Twins or many lefties throw and it can be a nice weapon for him. Got to love the confidence.

Originally published at The Tenth Inning Stretch --- I am trying something new this year. Instead of summarizing the top 40 Twins' prospects list, I am doing some actual analysis as well, which I believe might be telling for the system. This is the last segment in this series. You can find the introductory segment in this series, including my criteria for eligibility to be a prospect and the list of the 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here. Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference. You can find players 36-40 here, players 31-35 here, players 26-30 here, players 21-25 here, players 16-20 here, players 11-15 here, players 6-10 here, and players 1-5 here. Here are the top 40 with position indicated and 2015 rank in parenthesis, along with Estimated Time of Arrival : 1. Jose Berrios RHSP (5), 2016 2. Tyler Jay (--) LHSP, 2017 3. Nick Burdi (6) RHRP, 2016 4. Stephen Gonsalves (13) LHSP, 2018 5. Lewin Diaz (9) 1B/DH, 2019 6. JT Chargois (--) RHRP, 2016 7. Wander Javier (--) SS, 2020+ 8. Jermaine Palacios (36) SS/3B, 2020 9. Nick Gordon (12) SS, 2019 10. Mitch Garver (17) C, 2017 11. Levi Michael (22), 2B, 2016 12. Mason Melotakis (--), LHRP, 2016 13. Kohl Stewart RHSP (7), 2017 14. Travis Harrison (14), OF/1B, 2017 15. Amaurys Minier (6) OF/1B, 2019 16. Jake Reed (16) RHRP, 2017 17. Lewis Thorpe (11) LHSP, 2019 18. Daniel Palka (--) OF, 2017 19. Adam Walker (21), OF, 2016 20. Felix Jorge (29), RHSP, 2018 21. Rainis Silva (24), C, 2018 22. Jean Carlos Arias (--), CF, 2020 23. Engelb Vielma SS (20), 2017 24. Luis Arraez IF (40), 2019 25. Ryan Eades RHSP (30), 2017 26. Lachlan Wells (--), LHSP, 2020 27. Huascar Ynoa (--), RHSP, 2020 28. Brusdar Graterol (--), RHSP, 2020+ 29. Brandon Peterson (27), RHRP, 2017 30. Taylor Rogers (--), LHR/SP, 2016 31. LaMonte Wade (--), CF, 2018 32. Kolton Kendrick (--), 1B/DH, 2020+ 33. Chris Paul (--) IF/OF, 2018 34. Fernardo Romero (37), RHSP, 2019 35. Yorman Landa (--), RHRP, 2018 36. Kuo Hua Lo (--), RHRP, 2018 37. Niko Goodrum (--), CF/IF, 2017 38. Travis Blankenhorn (--), 3B/1B, 2020 39. Trey Cabbage (--), IF/OF, 2020+ 40. Emmanuel Morel (--) IF, 2020+ Here is a full list of subtractions from the 2014 off-season list (that ranking in parenthesis) : Graduated: Miguel Sano 3B (1), Jorge Polanco SS (2), Byron Buxton OF (3), Alex Meyer RHP (4), Eddie Rosario OF (8), Max Kepler OF/1B (12) Traded: Chih-Wei Hu RHP (18), Alexis Tapia RHP (25) Released: Tyler Kuresa 1B (38) Retired: Mat Batts LHP (35) Dropped: Jorge Fernandez C (19), Mike Cederoth RHP (23), Max Murphy OF (26), Stuart Turner C (28) , Aaron Slegers RHP (31), Randy Rosario RHP (32), Zach Larson OF (33),Todd Van Steensen RHP (34), Moises Gomez RHP (39) For a total of 19 players, so a good 47.5% turnover from last season Here is the list by position: 1. Jose Berrios RHSP (5), 2016 13. Kohl Stewart RHSP (7), 2017 20. Felix Jorge (29), RHSP, 2018 25. Ryan Eades RHSP (30), 2017 27. Huascar Ynoa (--), RHSP, 2020 28. Brusdar Graterol (--), RHSP, 2020+ 29. Brandon Peterson (27), RHRP, 2017 34. Fernardo Romero (37), RHSP, 2019 2. Tyler Jay (--) LHSP, 2017 4. Stephen Gonsalves (13) LHSP, 2018 17. Lewis Thorpe (11) LHSP, 2019 26. Lachlan Wells (--), LHSP, 2020 30. Taylor Rogers (--), LHR/SP, 2016 3. Nick Burdi (6) RHRP, 2016 6. JT Chargois (--) RHRP, 2016 16. Jake Reed (16) RHRP, 2017 35. Yorman Landa (--), RHRP, 2018 36. Kuo Hua Lo (--), RHRP, 2018 12. Mason Melotakis (--), LHRP, 2016 10. Mitch Garver (17) C, 2017 21. Rainis Silva (24), C, 2018 5. Lewin Diaz (9) 1B/DH, 2019 32. Kolton Kendrick (--), 1B/DH, 2020+ 33. Chris Paul (--) IF/OF, 2018 38. Travis Blankenhorn (--), 3B/1B, 2020 39. Trey Cabbage (--), IF/OF, 2020+ 11. Levi Michael (22), 2B, 2016 24. Luis Arraez IF (40), 2019 40. Emmanuel Morel (--) IF, 2020+ 7. Wander Javier (--) SS, 2020+ 8. Jermaine Palacios (36) SS/3B, 2020 9. Nick Gordon (12) SS, 2019 23. Engelb Vielma SS (20), 2017 14. Travis Harrison (14), OF/1B, 2017 15. Amaurys Minier (6) OF/1B, 2019 18. Daniel Palka (--) OF, 2017 19. Adam Walker (21), OF, 2016 22. Jean Carlos Arias (--), CF, 2020 31. LaMonte Wade (--), CF, 2018 37. Niko Goodrum (--), CF/IF, 2017 Clearly Catcher and LHRP are the weakest positions as far as quality prospects go. As far as LHRPs, some of the starters in this list, primarily Taylor Rogers and Lachlan Wells, could end up as relievers. As far as catchers go, John Hicks, who is ineligible for this list, will likely be the first one called up if need arises. Stuart Turner, who dropped from the list, is about a season or two away and Carlos Paulino, who did not make this list, can also help this season if needed. Definitely Catcher is a position in need and one the Twins should probably target at some point. Here is the list broken down by ETA: 1. Jose Berrios RHSP (5), 2016 3. Nick Burdi (6) RHRP, 2016 6. JT Chargois (--) RHRP, 2016 11. Levi Michael (22), 2B, 2016 12. Mason Melotakis (--), LHRP, 2016 19. Adam Walker (21), OF, 2016 30. Taylor Rogers (--), LHR/SP, 2016 2. Tyler Jay (--) LHSP, 2017 10. Mitch Garver (17) C, 2017 13. Kohl Stewart RHSP (7), 2017 14. Travis Harrison (14), OF/1B, 2017 16. Jake Reed (16) RHRP, 2017 18. Daniel Palka (--) OF, 2017 23. Engelb Vielma SS (20), 2017 25. Ryan Eades RHSP (30), 2017 29. Brandon Peterson (27), RHRP, 2017 37. Niko Goodrum (--), CF/IF, 2017 4. Stephen Gonsalves (13) LHSP, 2018 20. Felix Jorge (29), RHSP, 2018 21. Rainis Silva (24), C, 2018 31. LaMonte Wade (--), CF, 2018 33. Chris Paul (--) IF/OF, 2018 35. Yorman Landa (--), RHRP, 2018 36. Kuo Hua Lo (--), RHRP, 2018 5. Lewin Diaz (9) 1B/DH, 2019 9. Nick Gordon (12) SS, 2019 17. Lewis Thorpe (11) LHSP, 2019 15. Amaurys Minier (6) OF/1B, 2019 24. Luis Arraez IF (40), 2019 34. Fernardo Romero (37), RHSP, 2019 7. Wander Javier (--) SS, 2020+ 8. Jermaine Palacios (36) SS/3B, 2020 22. Jean Carlos Arias (--), CF, 2020 26. Lachlan Wells (--), LHSP, 2020 27. Huascar Ynoa (--), RHSP, 2020 28. Brusdar Graterol (--), RHSP, 2020+ 32. Kolton Kendrick (--), 1B/DH, 2020+ 38. Travis Blankenhorn (--), 3B/1B, 2020 39. Trey Cabbage (--), IF/OF, 2020+ 40. Emmanuel Morel (--) IF, 2020+ Even though six out of the top 12 prospects from the 2014 list have already graduated, it is great to see that there is a good pipeline of top 15 talent MLB-ready (ETA 2016) and close to MLB-ready (ETA 2017) in a variety of positions. The Long Term (ETA 2018, 2019-2020+) is sure to change and some of those players might move up the ranks and might arrive faster than it is thought. It is also certain that additional players not on the list (or even in the organization) today, will be able to be top contributors from 2018-2020. Another impressive and even serendipitous situation is that the Twins' weakest point, the bullpen, likely has the strongest immediate and short term pipeline. Looking forward to see these prospects play this Spring and throughout the season. It has been some work, but very enjoyable work for me to do these lists. http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg

Sure. The PAs were organization/manager choice. He worked with what was given to him.

Arcia is 24. I think that there is plenty of room for improvement with the glove, if the Twins stick with him in one position. He already is better than players like Willingham/Parmelee/Young et al. who have been trotted out there. Plouffe was horrible with the glove. He improved in a couple years. Arcia deserves that chance. And a set position, being left or right. Give him a position and let him play there. Without Arcia this team will get neutralized by RHPs, especially hard throwing ones, exactly the type that Arcia has been feeding off most of his career.

Speaking of Arcia and disasters, here is a comparison of 2015 MLB numbers: Torii Hunter: .240/.293/.409, 89 OPS+ ; belongs to the Hall of Fame Shane Robinson: .250/.299/.322, 70 OPS+ : Solid player Byron Buxton: .209..250/.326, 55 OPS+ ; best thing since sliced bread. Oswaldo Arcia: .276/.338/.379, 96 OPS+ ; disaster, let's throw him to the Lions (not the Detroit ones) Arcia had nothing to prove in AAA and played like it. Kinda hard to see people who perform worse than you (few names up there, plus Suzuki, plus a bunch of pitchers) getting longer leashes at the mlb-level, especially when the team is supposedly competing. What Arcia did in Rochester does not matter. He should have not been there in the first place. I will start believer the Sano to the Outfield hoopla, if Plouffe is still with the team by Spring Training reporting time. Before that, I take it as a Public Service Announcement.

Andrew Brackman, Chris Young, Jeff Niemann, Doug Fister, et. al. would beg to differ

Got to love anything that has "Pavano" and "Meltdown" in the same sentence

This needs to be highlighted: “There was never a conversation about, ‘This is what we’re going to do,’ ” Perkins said. “It was, ‘Everyone is going to be prepared to throw at whatever point.’ “For me, coming back from being hurt and not pitching to not having a routine, not having a role that was solidified, it was tough on me.” It just bugs me that: a. he does not seem to get the fact that his performance was a major reason the Twins did not make the post-season last season, b. even though he sucked and lost his closer role, he did not accept it and acted like he did not have a role apparently and c. he whines about it, instead of taking accountability about the horrible second half he had, two years in a row... And if your closer (or your left had set up guy) melts down in a 93 L team, does not matter as much as if he melts down in a competing team. Not sure what the Twins think, but Perkins is a liability for a contender....

Don't know about you all, but I think that it is kinda of silly for the Twins to give up on the only guy in the organization with true ace potential, as far as stuff goes...

Results. Same age in Etown: Gordon: .294/.333/.366 Palacios: .336/.345/.507 Quick. Pick. One. Gordon has yet to crack .700 OPS in the pros as a 5th overall draft pick, while (at least) 3 players who were drafted below him are on their way to stardom as major leaguers. He cannot help that fact, but...

The press? Do you remember the pressure by the press when the Twins had Liriano lights out in AAA while Livan was stinking up the place in the majors in 2008? The "pressure" was from some fans (not the majority) and by Liriano's agent. The press does not pressure the Twins. And there is a large (thankfully smaller after 99+96+96+93) portion of the Twins' fanbase who think that the front office is knowing what they are doing and Terry Ryan can do no wrong...

The question you are trying to answer for 2017, is similar to the one I have been trying to answer for 2016, since most people's prospects for 2016 have graduated my list, as they have played in the majors. I posted 6-10 today, and 1-5 tomorrow (so go there in a day to see it,) and will let that stand as an answer. The only additional comment I have is if Buxton has not graduated as a prospect already, I see Berrios and Kepler having hard time graduating as prospects with the same criteria. Kepler will not be a fourth outfielder and Berrios will not be in the pen. And a lot of changes, including trades and/or injuries will have to happen for those two to make the Twins in 2016, before the "consider a prospect" deadline...

It's more than PAs. Bastardo's BBs are of the 4-0, 4-1 variety. I'd give the hook after 8 balls in a row and the Catcher should know what is going on as well.

Payroll numbers are good to see, but they do not really mean that much. As a matter of fact, I'd rather see them have Burdi and/or Chargois than Fien in their pen for considerable savings and for better results. And I'd rather see them have Melotakis or Rogers than Bastardo for considerable savings and for better results. On the other hand, I'd love it had they added someone like Chapman or Heyward or Price. you can have an $100 million payroll with 25 players at $4 million each or with 3 superstar players at $20 million each, supplemented with 3-4 good veterans at 10 million each and cheap good young players. The second way is way more effective in my book than targeting mediocrity just to say that you spent $.

Twins' next Hall of Famer? Tony Oliva Veteran's Committee.

That does make sense, but some pitchers like Bastardo will have 3 great games in a row and in the fourth they will walk 3-4 in a row. That was his biggest issue in Philly. Of course, if he does not have "it" one day, it should be obvious to the manager that he does not and get him out of there long enough to make enough damage (which was not always the case in Philly; and based on the way Perkins was handled in the second half, I suspect will not be the case with the Twins.) You cannot really see this in cumulative numbers, other than individual game performances...

Cannot compare Bastardo to that whole slew of pitchers, because, y'know, most of them are righties. The Twins need a lefty set up guy. Three ways to skin that cat: a. Go outside the organization. If that is the case, I would be talking to the Rays about Jake McGee who apparently is available, before I sign Bastardo (and I have seen enough of Bastardo with the Phillies and their AAA and AA affiliates to say, that I'd rather see Duensing than him.) b. hope that one of Rogers/Melotakis or the 4 LHRP MiLB they signed wins the job in Spring Training c. Hand the job to Perkins and look for a closer. It it were me making the decisions, I'd go for c, but the Storen bird flew and there are not many in play, other than the aforementioned McGee (and Boxberger; and he scares me). (And McGee scares me for that -3 mph too). So: Hand the closer job to Phil Hughes (remember he was lights out setting up Rivera for a year), have Perkins and Jepsen as the LH and RH set up men and b. above, hope that one of those 6 arms has an amazing Spring.

I see no reason where a former first round draft pick, with 2 consecutive seasons of >.800 OPS in AA should have to a. threepeat AA or b. have playing time taken away from a utility player like Beresford. Micheal should be the starting Rochester second baseman and, unless Polanco makes it as the Twins' starting SS out of ST, he should be the starting SS in Rochester. Beresford can give them breathers and play a bit of third base and OF and stuff.

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 2015 top 40 players who graduated as prospects or are not in the system, here. Here is my 2015 Twins off-season top 40 prospects list (summary of 1-40) for reference. You can find players 36-40 here, players 31-35 here, players 26-30 here, and players 21-25 here. 20 Felix Jorge RHP (29) DOB: 1/2/1994; Age: 22 Positions:RHP Bats: R, Throws: R Height: 6'2", Weight: 170 lbs Acquired: International Free Agent 2/21/2011 Professional Experience: 5; Highest level: A (2014, 2015) Felix Jorge was signed as an amateur free agent from the Dominican Republic in 2011 for $250,000. He has been moving along the Twins organization, about a step a season, until 2014 where he had major issues in Cedar Rapids and had to return in Elizabetheton. He started 2015 agains in Cedar Rapids and was the Kernels' best pitcher, pitching 23 games (22 GS) a team tops 142 IP, had 32 BB (2.03 BB/9) and 114 Ks (7.3 K/9 and 20.3%,) for a 2.79 ERA (3.54 FIP) and 1.056 WHIP (2.67 BABIP). Jorge came in the organization as a 16 year old with a rare 3 above average pitch mix. He has a low 90s fastball with good downward movement, which the hitters have a hard time picking up. Above average slurvy curveball and change up. He commands all three pitches well, has good control and he mixes pitches well. One might see his 2015 results and think that Jorge had a break-through season, but his biggest issue surfaced again: endurance. In the first 11 starts Jorge pitched 70 innings resulting in 2.44 ERA, .195 OBA and 0.90 WHIP; the second half of the season (12 games, 11 starts) pitched 72 innings with considerable drop in performance: 3.13 ERA, .253 OBA and 1.21 WHIP. Not that his second half was bad, but it was not as good as his first. He does have mid-rotation potential, but time will tell whether he will have the endurance to be in a major league rotation. Likely 2016 path: In the Miracle Rotation ETA: 2018 19 Adam Walker OF (21) DOB: 10/18/1991; Age: 24 Positions: LF/ RF Bats: R, Throws: R Height: 6'4", Weight: 225 lbs Acquired: 3th Round Draft Pick 2012 Professional Experience: 4; Highest level: AA (2015) There probably is a lot of dissapointment with this ranking, especially by the ones who count the quality of a baseball player based on home runs and RBIs, because those at the things that Walker excells. His career minor league slash line has been .254/.311/.488 and has been mirrored every season at a new level. In 2015 in AA Chattanooga, Walker hit .239/.309/.498 with a career high 31 HRs and 106 RBIs, but also career high 34.8 % K% and career low batting average. He did show an improvement in the base paths hitting in a career low for full season ball 8 double plays and stealing a career high 13 bases. Another issue with Walker is that he has problems in the field and a relatively weak arm. To see whether his fielding improves, the Twins switched him last season to Left Field instead of Right, with very similar results. Walker is a single tool player and it is a good tool; the Twins were afraid that someone might be intrigued by it to select him in the Rule 5 draft that they added him to the 40-man roster. He really needs work on the plate and on the field to take the next step. Maybe First Base or DH is where he should be, but those two positions are spoken for in the organization for a while... It is not out of the question that he will not have a break through season if something "clicks", but it has not clicked yet. If it doesn't his ceiling will be Steve Balboni, and that is if he cuts down considerably on the strikeouts. Likely 2016 path: In the Rochester OF mix, might make a September call up or earlier depending on injuries and performance. ETA: 2016 18 Daniel Palka OF (--) DOB: 10/28/1991; Age: 24 Positions: RF/1B Bats: L, Throws: L Height: 6'2", Weight: 225 lbs Acquired: Trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2015 Professional Experience: 3; Highest level: A+ (2015) Daniel Palka was acquired by the Twins from the Arizona Diamondbacks this off-season for C/OF Chris Herrmann. Palka was the Diamondbacks' third round pick in the 2013 draft. If the Twins' fans want a comparable, that would be Adam Walker. Palka is 10 days younger than Walker, has been climbing a step a year in the organization and power is his best tool. Drafted a season after Walker, his highest level was high A instead of double A, and he hits and throws left. Palka is a converted first baseman and he is still learning to play the outfield. Last season in the high A Visalia he hit .280/.352/.532 with 29 HRs, 90 RBI, 24 SB, 56 BB and 164 K (28.5 K%) in 576 PAs. Going back to the 1980s, never a Twins' prospect has a season with 29 or more home runs and 24 or more stolen bases. Palka is a very interesting prospect who might be ranked a bit too low, but I have not seen him play in person, and I am concerned about his strikeouts, which are not as bad as Walker's but definitely a concern point. An additional concern is that LHPs neutralized him (.213/.285/.352 against LHPs; but he destroyed RHPs .301/.374/.589) which may indicate that there is a possibility that Palka might end up in the strong side of a platoon at some point. Likely 2016 path: In the Chattanooga outfield or first base conversation, likely both. ETA: 2017 17 Lewis Thorpe (11) DOB: 11/23/1995; Age: 20 Positions: LHP Bats: R, Throws: R Height: 6'1", Weight: 160 lbs Acquired: Signed as an International Free Agent on 7/12/2012 Professional Experience: 2; Highest level: A (2014) Thorpe was signed on July of 2012 by the Twins to the largest bonus ever given for an Australian player, $500,000. He spend half of 2014 resting and rehabilitating his left UCL, which eventually required Tommy John surgery that cost him all of 2015. Thorpe has 4 pitches, including a plus mid 90s fastball and a plus change up, but 2014, even before the injury was somewhat of a disappointment, showing considerable control issues (a career high 4.5 BB/9) and was fairly ineffective (4.52 FIP). Not much to say about Thorpe at this point, other than wait and see how his elbow turns out, but there is high enough raw staff and potential to be included in the top 20 prospect list at this point, regardless the many question marks. Likely 2016 path: In the Cedar Rapids rotation, with an outside chance to make the Fort Myers rotation, depending on the elbow and performance ETA: 2019 16 Jake Reed (16) DOB: 9/29/1992; Age: 23 Positions: RHP Bats: R, Throws: R Height: 6'2", Weight: 190 lbs Acquired: 5th Round Draft Pick 2014 Professional Experience: 2; Highest level: AA (2015) Reed's 2015 season was a take of two halves: First 35 games in Chattanooga where he pitched 47 innings with 21 BB (4 BB/9) and 39 K (7.5 K/9, 17.6 K%) resulting in a 6.32 ERA (4.20 FIP) and 1.617 WHIP (.340 BABIP) and his last 10 games in Fort Myers and 10 more in the Arizona Fall League. where he regained his control (0.7 BB/9 in Fort Myers, 3.4 in AFL) and got hitters out (0.730 and 0.938 WHIP) but still had strikeout issues (5.1 and 8.4 K/9). Part of his dominance in 2014 and his gain in command and control was due to simplification in his mechanics in comparison to his College days'. Reed has a dominant fastball, but not much else. Maybe part of the reason of his numbers' decline was that he was working on improving his change up and breaking ball. Maybe those are pitchers he will never command. Hard to tell where Reed will be this time next season, and it all depends on the development of at least one above average secondary pitch that he can command well. He was invited in the MLB Spring Training as a non-roster player this Spring. Likely 2016 path: Repeat Chattanooga, potential to break into the majors' bullpen depending on development of secondary pitch(es) and the Twins' needs. ETA: 2017 http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5152/7098789651_02fb66b359_z.jpg

Sub "Kepler" with "Rosario" and I think that you are about right. Kepler is not a centerfielder any more (but the Twins used Parmelee and Cuddyer at CF...)

Got to remember that Milone's and Fien's and Nunez' contracts (Plouffe's too, but that's another story) are not guaranteed, so the Twins can cut them during ST without any precautions. I would be surprised if all 3 are with the team come April.