Nick Nelson

If a Brian Dozier trade does not materialize in the remaining weeks of the this offseason – an outcome that is beginning to look increasingly likely – there will be reason for concern on multiple fronts. Yes, the Twins will be leaving at least one premier prospect on the table by holding onto Dozier, and they may never have a chance to recoup that same value in the future. But another factor in play is the short-term outlook for Jorge Polanco, who now sits in a state of flux. One would hope that this new regime has learned a few lessons from the previous one when it comes to placing important young players in these kinds of precarious situations.Dating back to the start of the 2016 season, only one of Polanco's three managers has seen fit to play him at shortstop. That would be Paul Molitor, who wrote the 23-year-old in at the position for 45 of 60 starts with Minnesota, including 39 straight to end the season. Prior to that, Polanco had spent zero time at shortstop with Class-AAA Rochester. And afterward, he spent zero time at shortstop in the Dominican Winter League, which recently wrapped up (per Mike Berardino). From any perspective, Polanco performed very poorly at shortstop with the Twins. He was rated atrociously by advanced defensive metrics. He piled up errors and posted a .942 fielding percentage, lower than every qualified big-leaguer at the position. He flunked the eye test as well, with a plainly visible lack of zip on his throws and an inability to reach tough balls. At best, he's an unfinished product. If you squint, you can see the adequate tools for Polanco to sharpen up and become a serviceable MLB shortstop, at least for a couple of years until Nick Gordon or Engelb Vielma arrives. But that takes a fair amount of faith and optimism. And it's not going to happen if he isn't even spending time playing the position during this formative period of his career. Granted, Molitor only chooses where Polanco plays when he's jotting the lineups. But the Twins obviously can dictate where he plays in the minors. And they surely have at least some level of input regarding how he's used on his winter league team. It is striking that his offseason program is essentially depriving him of the ability to work on strengthening his most important area of weakness. Defense is a vital component of the run prevention equation. Minnesota's forward-thinking new front office leaders are aware of this. And they also know that shortstop is the crux of a defense, perhaps the most important position on the field. There's no reason to believe Polanco can be an asset there unless he makes major strides. So what are we to make of the way things are playing out? It is odd to see the club proceeding without any clear plan at shortstop. At this point we're looking at three possible outcomes: 1) Dozier still gets traded Looking unlikely. Thad Levine told MLB Network on Sunday that he plans to have Dozier at camp in a Twins uniform, and that echoes the signals we've been receiving from all corners since the soft deadline passed for getting a deal done. But until the Dodgers pull off a meaningful move to add a second baseman, this option is going to remain in play. If that happens, the Twins are still in a tough spot with shortstop (and they likely skip to No. 3 below for a temporary plug), but at least they're doing right by Polanco. He gets to acclimate at what virtually every evaluator considers to be his future position. 2) Roll with Polanco at short and hope for the best This is the direction in which we are apparently heading. It means that not only will Polanco be potentially hurting his pitchers by missing plays, but also burdening himself with that knowledge while simultaneously trying to find his way offensively. Obviously it's not the same thing, but this has an ominously similar feel to the fiasco that played out with Miguel Sano last spring. Polanco is not as disastrous at short as Sano was in right field, but given the higher volume and importance of shortstop he could easily do much more damage. (Indeed, metrics like Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating suggest that Polanco had a far more negative effect on run prevention at short than Sano did in right, in roughly the same number of innings.) He's got to take that back into the dugout and the clubhouse with him. This can hurt the development of young players. It can hurt team chemistry. It's all-around just bad, and a pretty ridiculous Plan A. There is one more alternative option... 3) Sign a free agent to take over shortstop There are still some solid names out there on the free agent market. Erick Aybar is one we've liked from the start, and suggested signing in the Offseason Handbook. If the Twins were to trade Dozier, I think he'd be almost an ideal fit – a capable, experienced and inexpensive veteran to play between Sano and Polanco. But if Dozier stays, this doesn't really work anymore. Eduardo Escobar is already under contract at $2.6 million so he'll be on the roster, as will Polanco who is out of options. Signing someone like Aybar to slot in front of them would mean carrying both as backups that serve almost the exact same function. That is not anyone's idea of efficient roster management. But the alternative is heading into spring with minimal stability or assurance at a position of the utmost importance. It's a troubling scenario but one that Levine and Derek Falvey needed to be prepared for if they were going to be willing to walk away from the negotiating table. Now, we'll see how they adjust and proceed. Can the Twins and avert disaster? It might require some creativity. Click here to view the article

It's not just that he's coming off a huge season, it's that you're getting him for two years. I would bet this is the primary hold-up for MN's front office. If you're trading for the final year of Dozier's contract, fine, Jose De Leon on his own is a fair offer. But when you're talking two years of a star player, in his prime, at a good price, you can't do a 1-for-1 deal unless you feel the guy is an absolute can't-miss lock. I love De Leon but he's not that. He'll turn 25 this year and he hasn't thrown 120 innings in a season.

Can the Twins compete this year? The general response to this question is going to be no, given that Minnesota finished as baseball's worst team in 2016. However, one thing that would vastly improve their odds would be a return to form – of any sort – from Phil Hughes, who could join Ervin Santana to form a quality veteran tandem atop the rotation if his surgery proves to be smashing success. That, of course, is an enormous "if."One free agent I was very curious to follow this offseason was Tyson Ross, because of his intriguing parallels with Hughes. They are almost the same age (Ross 29, Hughes 30). In 2014, both were at the top of their games, ranking among the best starting pitchers in their respective leagues. Ross continued to pitch well the following season while Hughes dropped off, but chronic shoulder problems caught up to both right-handers in 2016. Ross made only one (terrible) start on Opening Day before missing the entire campaign and eventually undergoing thoracic outlet surgery. Hughes, as we know, fought through with a bad wing and pitched into June before being pegged for the same fate. However, in his case, the decision was made more quickly. Ross didn't go under the knife until mid-October – three months after Hughes, who opted for the operation shortly after his season ended on a line drive to the leg. I figured that the former Padres ace's market might prove telling with regards to how the league at large is currently viewing thoracic outlet surgery, a rib-removal procedure that has been relatively rare for major-league pitchers, at least up until recently. The track record for hurlers who've been through it isn't great. But we've also seen an unprecedented number of high-profile players – including Royals reliever Luke Hochevar and Mets superstar Matt Harvey – elect the surgery within the past year. Earlier this week, Ross signed with the Texas Rangers for $6 million plus incentives. The fact that he ended up with not only a major-league contract, but a reasonably high guaranteed sum, tells us that there was a fair amount of competition for his services. The Rangers aren't the only team believing Ross, who will be only four months removed from thoracic outlet surgery when he reports for spring training, can be a productive starting pitcher this year. (Incidentally, Texas subsequently signed Dillon Gee – another recent TOS survivor – to a minor-league deal a few days later. Does Thad Levine's former front office have some unique enlightenment about this surgery?) Now, there are a few factors worth noting here. Ross has a sturdier history, with a more prolonged run of success in San Diego before getting hurt. And he was one of the lone upside plays in a very uninspiring free agent crop, which surely elevated his appeal. But Hughes will be three months ahead in his rehab, and he has already started throwing bullpen sessions here in mid-January. My observation is that most Twins fans have either forgotten or dismissed the righty's first season in Minnesota, having watched him scuffle along at some fraction of full strength ever since. I can still recall the wave of enthusiasm I felt in spring training of 2014 when I first saw Hughes throw. He was pitching in a side game on a minor-league field, but still, it was obvious the guy had it. He was attacking with vicious stuff, hitting his spots, strutting off the mound. He was young, and he had the confidence you would expect from a guy with his résumé: first-round draft pick, top prospect, dominant setup man for a World Series champ in 2009, 18-game winner in 2010. I wrote at the time about the buzz surrounding him in camp, and included a vintage Ron Gardenhire quote regarding the new acquisition's outing on that fenced-in side field: "Hughesy threw the [expletive] out of the ball." The early positive harbingers were proven valid when the right-hander went on to set the all-time MLB record for K/BB ratio, and turned in arguably the best performance by a Twins starter since Johan Santana's departure. Hughes doesn't need to get all the way back to that level to be a quality rotation piece who helps turn around Minnesota's run prevention woes. The question is how close he can get. And unlike his friend Glen Perkins – who faces a much steeper climb in his return from labrum surgery – I think there's significant reason for optimism this year with Hughes. The widespread interest in Ross, who is a half-season behind Hughes in his rehab, only reinforces that. Click here to view the article

Ever since first stepping into their roles leading the Minnesota Twins baseball operations department, both Derek Falvey and Thad Levine have been talking about the big picture. So how would keeping Brian Dozier, whose value is at a high point, align with the future-focused approach that this regime has espoused?In their early days on the job, the new CBO and GM were clear about their intentions to build a foundation for sustainable success, acknowledging that it might be a gradual process. Falvey laid out his vision for a "data-driven" collaboration. Levine spoke of making "thoughtful decisions that are designed for the future of this organization." On the surface, trading Dozier – a veteran star in his prime, who is highly unlikely to play on a championship-caliber team here during the two remaining years on his contract – would seem to be the very definition of such a move. But as we discussed late last week, Minnesota's front office has been stonewalled in its efforts to extract ample value for Dozier. Clearly, the newly installed executive duo entered this offseason with a specific valuation of Dozier, unshaded by familiarity with him as a person or his intangible value to the franchise. Clearly, suitors have been unwilling to meet it, for reasons outlined in last week's post. In the comments section for that article, some readers opined that the Twins should simply lower their sights and take what they can get for Dozier, which at this point appears to be Jose De Leon and not much else. It's a reasoned take because, in the big-picture view, De Leon has a much better chance of contributing to a contender in two years and beyond. But there's another big picture to look at, framed within Target Field and its many offices and operations. Beneath the new leadership structure, there are many returning employees, including the players on the roster. They are forming their own opinions of Falvey and Levine, who are both assuming top decision-making roles for the first time. Respect is earned, not given, and in the eyes of longtime Twins people who were loyal to Terry Ryan, these relatively inexperienced successors have big shoes to fill. How is it going to look if their first major trade involves shipping out the team's best player for a return that blatantly falls well short of expectations? How does it look to the guys in the clubhouse if their exemplary leader, viewed as a linchpin in efforts to rebound and return to contention, is removed and replaced by a rookie with no record of big-league success? How will the "Screw 2017, we'll do whatever it takes to get better in three years" approach be received by Paul Molitor as a lame duck manager who desperately needs to improve, in short order, to keep his job? And how much are these perceptions worsened if De Leon's shoulder flares up in the spring, or his initial struggles carry over to his first full season, or he ends up in the bullpen? If the Twins aren't getting back any additional pieces, there's no alternative opportunity to recoup value. Falvey knows about the importance of bolstering your odds. He comes from an organization that benefitted greatly from receiving quantity in these blockbusters. When the Indians traded CC Sabathia to the Brewers back in 2008, it wasn't headliner Matt LaPorta who ended up achieving star status but rather the "player to be named later" rounding out the package, who turned out to be Michael Brantley. When Cleveland traded Cliff Lee to Philadelphia a year later, four prospects of similar standing came back but only one truly panned out: Carlos Carrasco, who was a staple in their division-winning 2016 rotation. Of course, playing the odds works both ways. Any realist needs to acknowledge that the odds are very much against Minnesota making a dramatic jump and actually competing for a postseason spot in 2017. In the scope of long-term rebuilding, keeping Dozier is counterproductive in two important ways: it deprives the system of a top-tier talent in De Leon, with a lesser return likely if they make a deal down the line, and it forces Jorge Polanco to keep playing out of position at shortstop. Falvey is a calculating and analytical guy who earned a degree in economics. With the Indians, he learned under some of the game's most revered negotiators and evaluators. Same goes for Levine, who served as Jon Daniels' right-hand man in Texas. If Ryan were still in charge, I could see a stronger case for the Twins irrationally overvaluing their own asset. Such instances were not uncommon during his tenure. But the individuals charged with this Dozier decision are coming into the situation with clear eyes, and no inherent illusions about the current state of the organization. Tying this scenario to Falvey's area of speciality, there is an oft-cited concept in economics called opportunity cost. It is defined as "the loss of potential gain from other alternatives when one alternative is chosen," or more simply, the benefits that you give up by choosing one option over the other. In our present situation, the Twins are evidently prepared to leave a major prize on the table, as they've judged the positives of holding their ground and hanging onto Dozier to outweigh the value of acquiring De Leon. You can argue with the merits of their conclusion, but I don't think you can deny it's a thoughtful decision that meshes with a data-driven mindset. Click here to view the article

We need to get past the idea that Brian Dozier's production was somehow not valuable because the Twins lost 100 games. That's a very shallow way to look at it. The Twins were terrible because of catastrophic issues preventing runs – issues which will require a lot more to fix than adding one rookie pitcher. The offense was good enough to compete, in large part because of Dozier.

^^ Great comment! Very good questions.

I don't really understand why the Twins and Dodgers would not both be amenable to a De Leon + Buehler package. Seems like such a logical compromise to me. Maybe that's where the two sides eventually meet in the middle, if they ever do.

Wouldn't shock me. Noteworthy: BA released its Top 10 Dodgers prospects today. #1 on the list: Bellinger. Behind him, Alvarez. THEN De Leon. http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2017-los-angeles-dodgers-top-10-prospects/#Y8HVp9Ct12FqYPE8.97

This isn't a new development. Local reporters were mentioning Bellinger's name very early on, suggesting the Twins viewed him as a potential Mauer successor. Jon Heyman wrote this in mid-December: "The Twins at one point sought Dodgers’ top minor-league prospect Cody Bellinger, the slick-fielding first baseman, but those efforts apparently were rebuffed."

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2016/9/24/12932956/top-100-prospects-end-of-2016

Are the Twins and Dodgers moving on from Brian Dozier trade talks? It's beginning to look that way. Let's break down the latest developments and potential ramifications.Earlier this week, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports reported that the two sides had reached an impasse in their negotiations with "no momentum toward deal." That's an ominous sign at this late stage of the offseason and Rosenthal later wrote that the Dodgers were "back to square one in their search for a second baseman." Derek Falvey and Thad Levine took over the Twins front office with a tremendous opportunity to leverage a high-quality player at peak value in order to bolster the organization's lackluster pitching corps. But it appears that timing may have been against them. For one thing, they've been unable to develop much of a market for Dozier. The list of contenders with high-caliber young arms and a need for an impact hitter at second base was short to begin with, and shrunk when the Mets decided to bring back Neil Walker. Los Angeles was a very obvious fit from the start but unfortunately, no others really emerged. While a few clubs were loosely connected with Minnesota, it was evident all along that no one was going to press hard enough to create a bidding war. This placed the Twins at a rather disadvantageous negotiating position. Beyond these isolated circumstances, there is a larger trend at play. Baseball teams, in general, seem to be losing their thirst for power. It's the name of Dozier's game, but the home run doesn't carry the same appeal it once did. Consider this: Most expected Edwin Encarnacion, who ranks second in baseball since 2012 in both homers and RBI, to land a deal in excess of $100 million as a free agent this offseason. Instead, he settled for $60 million from Cleveland. His former Toronto teammate Jose Bautista, another of the game's premier power bats, has yet to find a job. Same for Mark Trumbo, whose 47 bombs led the majors in 2016. In other years, it would feel crazy that a second baseman coming off a 42-homer campaign wouldn't generate an aggressive market. In this current environment, though, it's kinda par for the course. Every report on the matter has made sure to emphasize that trade discussions are not considered dead. Levine said this week that a point might come where the Twins would stop initiating calls, but they would never stop listening. However, Rosenthal's note about how the Minnesota front office "wanted to give Dozier a heightened peace of mind about his status with the club" matches a similar relay from Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press a week earlier. Reading between the lines, one can infer that Falvey and Levine have informed Dozier he'll be back in 2017 barring an unforeseen development. They're wise to keep their antennas up but at this point, it's tough to see what would change to precipitate a deal. More than a month after discussions began, there has been little in the way of evident progress. The Dodgers might feel they've done their part by offering up Jose De Leon, who is viewed by some as a top five prospect in the entire game. The Twins, meanwhile, are understandably opposed to giving up their best and most popular player for a single lottery ticket whose future could be thrown into question with a reoccurrence of his shoulder soreness, or an extension of his initial big-league struggles. It looks like the trenches that have been dug here. And while it's odd to see no accord despite such a natural match, it's not like either team is in a corner. Dodgers president Andrew Friedman, who gained notoriety while running operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, understands as well as anyone the value (and fickleness) of cheap young pitching talent. He'll be content keeping his full arsenal of young hurlers and looking elsewhere for an offensive boost. Maybe someone like Bautista could be an option. Meanwhile, the Twins can hang on to Dozier, who still doesn't turn 30 until May. He's in his prime and the possibility exists that we still haven't seen his best campaign. With two years left on his contract, he figures to retain strong value going forward, and if Minnesota surprisingly jumps out to a competitive start this season, he'll almost certainly be a big reason for it. That's a precarious gamble, though. Outside of adding Jason Castro, the Twins haven't done much to meaningfully upgrade a 100-loss team. It's reasonable to expect significant improvements from a contingent of returning players, but gaining 20-plus wins on that basis is a tough sell. If the shiny new front office brings back a largely untouched roster in 2017, the luster is going to quickly wear off in the eyes of fans and season ticket holders. So if Dozier stays, what's the plan? Spend some money to supplement the team around him and hope to catch lightning in a bottle? That definitely would not jibe with Falvey's initial talk of building for the future and looking at the big picture. But then again, you've got to work with what you've got. All that the Chief Baseball Officer and his GM can do is play the hand they're dealt. Now, we'll see if they push in their chips or continue to slow-play and straddle the line between trying to rebuild or retool. Click here to view the article

The worlds of analytics and sport are increasingly merging, a fact celebrated by MinneAnalytics on Tuesday with its inaugural SportCon event at the University of St. Thomas. Two members of the Minnesota Twins front office who perhaps best embody this dynamic – Derek Falvey and Jack Goin – were fittingly on hand as panelists.The wide-reaching conference, which featured an exhaustive array of executives, experts and entrepreneurs from every corner of sports and tech, offered plenty for baseball fans to like. During a panel on Sports Analytics in the Media and Pro Sports Organizations, Goin sat alongside ESPN VP of Stats & Research Jeff Bennett, Inside Edge cofounder Jay Donchetz and Milwaukee Bucks Director of Basketball Analytics Michael Clutterbuck. Goin, of course, is Director of Baseball Research for the Twins, and has spearheaded the team’s growing analytics department for years. (And as John notes today, he'll also be a Q&A guest at Winter Meltdown later this month.) He and Clutterbuck both spoke about the challenge of filtering and prioritizing an endless stream of emerging data and measurements. They talked about the nuances of communicating information without overwhelming, and the recognition that different players and coaches will be receptive to differing levels of input. The most interesting portion of this session, in my view, came toward the end, when panelists were asked what they saw as the biggest area for a potential breakthrough in their respective fields. Goin indicated that he'd like to see some advancements in the use of data to better manage injuries. Losing key players for indefinite stretches, and trying to make disabled list decisions based on limited information, are among the most significant pain points (pun intended) for major-league teams. Perhaps in the coming years, integrating analytics can help make the inexact science of sports medicine a little less... inexact. "If anyone's got any ideas on that, come see me after," Goin joked. (Though, given the setting, maybe it wasn't such a hopeless inquiry – a few local start-ups in that vein such as Prevent Biometrics and Player's Health had presented earlier in the day.) It's nice to see Goin taking on a more visible role with the organization. Perhaps that comes with the territory of a "Director" title, which he received a year ago, but it also seems related to the franchise's distinctly more outward analytical leanings under Falvey, who stepped in as Chief Baseball Officer in November. Falvey participated in a later panel titled "The Use of Data and Analytics in Baseball Coaching and Advance Scouting." This, for me and probably every other seamhead in attendance, was the highlight of the day. During the Q&A, WCCO's Mike Max discussed a variety of topics with the Falvey and former Minnesota third baseman Corey Koskie, as well as Pat Casey and Ty McDevitt, who serve as hitting and pitching coach for the Gophers baseball team. We shot a couple videos, which you can check out below. In this clip, Falvey discusses his background and analytics and his focus on actionable insights: In this snippet, Koskie amusingly talks about how he developed a lifelong aversion to statistics after a bad gambler's fallacy experience at the roulette table, until one memorable moment of redemption. In addition to all the panels, speakers and presentations, the SportCon event also included a tasty lunch, a midday mascot rampage (including good old TC Bear), and plenty of networking opportunities. It was really well put together and serves to further illuminate and elevate the burgeoning world of sports tech. Kudos to MinneAnalytics for knocking this one out of the park, and to the Twins for stepping up to the plate. Click here to view the article

Don't get me wrong, I like Escobar. But he had a terrible year on both sides of the ball. And right now if Dozier gets traded he is the sole option at shortstop. Bringing in someone like Aybar gives you a decent plug-in if the struggles continue, and a versatile veteran backup if Esco returns to form.

With so much attention being devoted to the ongoing Brian Dozier saga, which figures to conclude within the next few days one way or another, there has been rather little discussion of Minnesota's other roster needs. Outside of signing Jason Castro, the front office hasn't made any significant moves to upgrade a 103-loss team. What else might we expect, beyond the Dozier dealings?People have wise-cracked throughout the offseason about the reigning worst team in baseball facing so many "roster crunches." However, the Twins legitimately find themselves in such a situation. As a rebuilding club with no shortage of talent in the organization, their foremost imperative is evaluating what they have on hand. Which players are going to be part of the next contending Minnesota club? This year, fresh eyes will be making those assessments. There are only so many opportunities to go around, and I suspect Derek Falvey and Thad Levine will focus on looking closely at what they have before making a ton of acquisitions. With that said, let's take a look at places where the Twins could theoretically still be looking to add, irrespective of a Dozier trade: Shortstop I'd say this one ranks at the top of the list. It's the one position on the field where the Twins still do not have a clear and obvious starter. Presumably that'll be Jorge Polanco in the event that Dozier stays, but he'd be a major defensive weakness at the infield's most important position. (He has been playing primarily second in the winter league, which is telling.) If Dozier is dealt, then Polanco goes to second and Eduardo Escobar returns to short. Escobar was, of course, very bad in 2016 and he barely played shortstop during the final months. The Twins remain confident that Nick Gordon will eventually take over this position, but he's a couple of years away. It makes all the sense in the world to find a veteran on a short-term deal who could compete for a starting gig or serve as a quality backup/fallback. In our blueprint for the Offseason Handbook, we suggested Erick Aybar for this role. He's still out there, and probably not very expensive. Another potential option would be Daniel Descalso, who spent the last two seasons playing for the Rockies and is coming off a career year at the plate (he took over after Trevor Story went down). Late-Inning Setup Man It's unrealistically optimistic to expect that Glen Perkins, coming off shoulder labrum surgery, shows up at Fort Myers throwing well enough to reclaim the closer job. There are others who will be in play for that title, including incumbent Brandon Kintzler and potential long-term heir JT Chargois. But the Twins would do well to bring another contender into the mix, because quality late-inning arms are always needed. Drew Storen was one buy-low candidate I liked, but he signed for one year and $3 million with the Reds last week. That's exactly the kind of no-risk gamble the Twins should be pursuing. Neftali Feliz is a name I've had my eye on, though he's coming off a good year in Pittsburgh and will require a larger commitment. Greg Holland would be a bigger splash with higher upside. Joe Blanton could be a dark horse. As we approach mid-January, there are still so many free agent relievers out there that some of them are going to have to start settling for less than they want. That's where the Twins can strike for a good value. Left-Handed Reliever Heading into this offseason, I figured this would be a priority of sorts. The collective major-league experience of Minnesota's returning bullpen lefties is dauntingly thin. But after taking a closer look at the 2016 relief corps, I'm convinced that they don't really have a need here. Taylor Rogers, Buddy Boshers and Ryan O'Rourke all showed enough to deserve longer looks. Each of them effectively dispatched left-handed hitters and that's the name of the game with these specialist roles. Adding an experienced southpaw means taking away opportunities for one of these guys. Backup Outfielder Eddie Rosario, Byron Buxton and Max Kepler are tentatively penciled in as the starting outfield trio. Robbie Grossman could vie for a job, but might be better suited as a backup and DH based on his defensive shortcomings. With a focus on run prevention and a pitching staff that figures to remain fly-ball heavy, finding a defensive specialist who plays all three outfield positions would make sense. Danny Santana has been filling that role, but he has also been one of the worst players in baseball over the past two years, and you have to squint to see his upside at this point. J.B. Shuck was signed to a minor-league deal last month, and he's renowned for his glove, but he's considered weak in center. Defensive whiz Peter Bourjos is still out there and would fit the bill quite nicely. Desmond Jennings, still only 30, might be available on a minor league contract. Starting Pitcher Strange as it is to say, I don't see any reason for the Twins to pursue players here. The market is thin on quality and there are already so many starters that will come to camp deserving of an honest chance to win a job. That list presently includes Ervin Santana, Hector Santiago, Phil Hughes, Kyle Gibson, Jose Berrios, Trevor May, Tyler Duffey and more. Obviously the Twins will welcome any high-caliber young arms coming back in a Dozier trade, which will only further crowd this picture. Why add more veteran mediocrity to the mix? If there's an opportunity to take a flier on a boom-or-bust guy then sure, but those players will find more amenable situations elsewhere. Are there any other areas you feel that the front office should be making additions as we count down the weeks until spring training? Click here to view the article

Right. Being that Dozier's career year is also his most recent year, it's more relevant than others to assessing his current value. There's no reason to be contorting and doing logical somersaults to suggest Dozier's power is not elite for his position. You can quibble with the sentence construction (my bad) but it's not a disputable conclusion. Dozier is THE power hitting middle infielder in the majors right now. He just came like 2 HR short of setting the all-time record for HR by a second baseman, geez.

Over the past four years, Dozier leads all middle infielders in home runs by double digits. What's wrong with that description?

Well said. I think this is a really important dynamic. For better or worse, this could easily be the defining trade for this regime, with long-lasting implications.

Right. This was more or less addressed two paragraphs later. I meant it in more of a general sense. Days left until this self-imposed deadline, a few weeks until TwinsFest and Diamond Awards, spring training kicking off shortly thereafter. The clock is ticking.

I think we can say with a high degree of confidence that this is not the case.