Seth Stohs

He's fine at 1B for a 20 year old in Cedar Rapids. He's 6-4 and 250 pounds, and he's not fast, so I just meant that he couldn't play in the outfield. He'll have to work on things to play 1B... and of course, with Sano's future in question and maybe limiting him to 1B... and Brent Rooker, and with guys like Kepler and Wade (who have both played some 1B in the past)... he'll have to keep working and improving.

It is strange... but a lot can happen this offseason, trades of prospects or current starters. Granite is left-handed, but he's had reverse-splits for years.

That's a fair comment and certainly makes me think... but then again, he wasn't really ever a big-time prospect until halfway through 2017. He's already been traded twice, once for a relief pitcher and once for a middling starter. He had a remarkable season, but I don't know that he's become a big-time prospect. Then again, we can all hope that he's the Corey Kluber, the non-prospect acquired in AA who becomes an Ace... Never know. I just don't think I can put him ahead of anyone I've got ahead of him right now.

Yup, Wade isn't as fast as Granite or Buxton, so he'll likely not have to play CF... but it's not like he's Chris Parmelee out there trying to play CF either. And yeah, he hasn't put up the power numbers I think he's capable of... But he's ranked #12, which means he's probably a 4th outfielder and if a couple of things happen in his development, he can be a starter. But his approach at the plate is very advanced.

Of course, pick 20 in the Rule 5 draft could be the 10th selection in the Rule 5 as lots of teams pass (though it makes little sense to me to pass). I think they just like the flexibility and are willing to lose those three (or others like Burdi, Eades, Bard, etc) to have that flexibility.

Tells me they plan to be active in free agency, particularly in the bullpen. It's important that they still have a few guys on the 40-man that could be DFAd without too much concern if they add even more players via trades or free agency. And, they could still take someone in the Rule 5 draft if they want to acquire more talent that way.

This is such a good point... especially four-year college guys. Especially four-year college guys who were drafted in the first couple of rounds - meaning they aren't advanced (like Rooker) and need more time to develop, need to go through the various steps up the organizational ladder.

I completely agree...

Correct, as presumably, all teams and all businesses do. They forecast revenues based on a number of factors. Things like TV and radio revenues are given numbers. Attendance for next year? Because of the winning this year, one would assume that they can project a 20-25% attendance increase (maybe more). And I'm sure there are other factors. Then they'll figure out a dollar value somewhere between 48-52% of those revenues and that's where they'll set the target. Then Falvey and Levine will be able to go to Jim Pohlad and ask for more if they want it and have to make a case. Then again, I'm sure every company does the same thing. I think they can jump to 120+...

This week, the Twins made some decisions on several minor leaguers. Some were added to the 40-man roster, and others were left unprotected from the 40-man roster. Others remained on the 40-man roster. Today, we continue this review of my Top 50 Minnesota Twins prospects by looking at prospects 11-15. While we have seen the depth of the Twins farm system in prospects 16-50, it is in the Top 15 where we can start to see some players with more ceiling. There are a lot of guys in this system that could get to the big leagues and even play a role. But today’s prospects being outside the team’s Top 10 prospects shows just how talented the system is.As you read about these first Twins prospects, be sure to start thinking about where they might rank for you. Who are the players that will be in my Top 10 and how would they rank on your own personal Top 15 prospect list? This group contains a three 40-man roster guys, and two more that have fairly high ceilings as well. Be sure to ask questions and leave comments in the forum below. #15 RHP Zack Littell The Twins acquired Littell (and Dietrich Enns) from the Yankees in exchange for Jaime Garcia in late July. He went 9-1 in High A with the Yankees before going 5-0 at AA with Trenton. After the trade to the Twins, he went 5-0 in Chattanooga, and he won a playoff game too. While wins and losses aren’t the be-all, end-all, going 20-1 means that you’re doing something right. Littlell is 6-4 and 220 pounds. He was originally the 11th-round pick of the Mariners back in 2013 out of high school in North Carolina. He will be 23 years old throughout the 2018 season and was added to the 40-man roster on Monday. photo by Kelly McGlohon #14 C Mitch Garver Garver had another strong Garver-esque season in 2017 in Rochester. The 26-year-old hit .291/.387/.541 (.928) with 29 doubles and 17 home runs. He won his second Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year award (previously won in 2014 at Cedar Rapids). He even ended the season with six weeks in the big leagues and a spot on the Twins playoff roster. After four years at the University of New Mexico, Garver was the Twins ninth-round pick in 2013. His defense behind the plate was questioned earlier in his career, but he’s become at least a very solid defender with a rocket for an arm. With Jason Castro around the next two years, Garver should be the backup, though he should get a lot of playing time against left-handers or maybe at first base or DH too. I think he can be an above average starting MLB catcher. I just wonder (and hope) if he'll get that opportunity at some point. #13 LHP Lewis Thorpe Thorpe first became a household name in 2013 when he debuted in the States and posted a 2.05 ERA in the GCL. In his 44 innings, he walked six and struck out 64. A year later, he was an 18-year-old pitching well in the Midwest League. Unfortunately, in his final start he hurt his elbow and missed the next two-plus seasons. He returned in 2017, with a promotion to Ft. Myers. He posted a 2.69 ERA and in 77 innings he walked 31 and struck out 84. He also made one start in Chattanooga. While he hasn’t pitched a lot as a professional and obviously very little over the last three years, the Twins added him to their 40-man roster this week. The left-hander has a fastball in the 91-93 range with a good curveball and a changeup. #12 OF LaMonte Wade Wade was playing well in the Arizona Fall League when his season came to an abrupt ending due to a collision in the outfield that gave him a concussion. Wade was the Twins ninth-round pick in 2015 out of Maryland. Since signing, he has been consistently productive. He has an incredible eye and approach at the plate. He’s walked more than he’s struck out at every level including AA Chattanooga this year (77 BB, 71 K). He has posted an OPS over .800 at every level he’s played at. I also believe that he will hit for a lot more power than he’s shown to this point in his career. It’s there. Defensively, he is capable of playing center field, though the Twins have a pretty good center fielder right now so Wade will likely play one of the corner spots. Wade will turn 24 on New Year’s Day. #11 1B Lewin Diaz Signed to a seven-figure bonus back in July of 2013, Diaz has worked his way up the organization one step at a time. At 6-4 and 250 pounds, he has great power and immense power potential. In 122 games with Cedar Rapids this year, he hit .292/.329/.444 (.773) with 33 doubles and 12 home runs. He uses the whole field. He could hit for average and power. He’s got room for growth as a player. Defensively, he’s more athletic than his size might indicate. He played some outfield before signing with the Twins, but clearly, first base is his position. He just turned 21 earlier this week. Diaz was left unprotected by the Twins this week. While I have said repeatedly the last couple of months that Diaz is a Top 10 Twins prospect, I wind up placing him 11th (though the difference in ceiling from 7-11 is pretty minor). So there you have it, my choices for Twins prospects 11-15. Next week, we’ll return with my choices for the Top 10 Twins prospects. Part 1: Prospects 41-50 Part 2: Prospects 31-40 Part 3: Prospects 26-30 Part 4: Prospects 21-25 Part 5: Prospects 16-20 Click here to view the article

Football may be an option for him still. It really could be. But, if not, he can't be a free agent until after the 2020 season... he's too talented to let go, so just keep working. Keep developing. Maybe the new regime's pitcher development plan can bring it out of him.

That is probably true of the pitchers who are closer, maybe... but San Diego took three really young guys last year. They could take a shot with a guy like Diaz or even Stewart.

Yeah, I believe you are right... Forgot about that... Still, he's got 2 options remaining... Either way, I'm not just letting go of a 6-10 starting pitcher with good durability, tremendous control, a fastball 91-94 and good secondary pitches. No one is saying he'll be a star, but there's definitely enough there, and he's 25, to keep around at least until there is a reason not to.

He can be on the 60 Day DL, but there are a certain number of days that he has to be on the active roster. If he is on the DL longer than that, the rules would bump to the next season.

I'm not going to question the strategy, but injuries happen and the Twins have been bitten by injuries to Chargois, Reed, Burdi, Melotakis. Hildenberger is the one who has stayed healthy for the most part to this point. But I do think that these decisions are very much telling that this offseason the Twins will be adding a couple of spendy relievers. I mean, there are a ton of those 3 year, $21-24 million types available this offseason.

No one is saying they would be taken by contending teams, but there are a LOT of teams that are competing for losses and acquiring as many prospects as they can in whatever ways they can. It's very possible none of these guys get selected, and that's great...

Agree with you on this stuff... But again, if the Twins go out and sign a Jake McGee or another lefty reliever, Boshers can be DFAd then. I'd keep Slegers until absolutely needing a roster spot. He can be a solid back end of the rotation guy at least early in the year until Gonsalves and crew are ready. And, well, he's got three options left, so having a 6th/7th starter in Rochester is always valuable thing...

Reed and Burdi much more likely to be selected than Bard, they're just younger, but I do think Bard could be selected if the right team sees the right numbers. He's got some good stuff.

So that they've got guys to drop when they need to later in the offseason. I'd keep Slegers, but I'm shocked Boshers is still rostered.

He was #4 in my list of 4 givens... I'm much more surprised that Jake Reed was left unprotected... I'm as confident that Reed will be selected in the Rule 5 draft as I was in Zack Littell getting protected. It's gonna happen... or I will again be shocked if it isn't. Consider Zack Jones got selected two years ago, and Reed is a far better prospect now than Jones was then... Nothing against Jones, but Reed is more of a prospect, much more ready for the big leagues.

Fair point... they could probably still add more, but if that's the case, there was no reason to announce these three players now. So, I would guess not.

I guess I was wrong on Lewin Diaz... and I wonder how likely it may be that he and Jake Reed and Nick Burdi and even Kohl Stewart might be selected in the Rule 5 draft next month.

On Monday night, the Minnesota Twins (and teams around MLB) needed to add players to their 40-man roster. By adding these players, they will not be eligible to be selected in the Rule 5 draft next month. They will be at Twins MLB spring training. The Twins added left-handed pitchers Lewis Thorpe and Stephen Gonsalves and right-handed pitcher Zack Littell.Pitching was the theme of the Twins 40-man roster additions. Adding three pitchers to the roster continues the front office's theme of finding and retaining quality pitching. Stephen Gonsalves was the easiest choice of the group. The lanky left-hander from California has been the Twins Daily Minor League Starting Pitcher of the Year in 2016 and 2017, and he was the runner-up in 2015. He was invited to spring training in 2017. He had a 9.7 K/9 rate in 2017 in AA and AAA. He will be 23 years old through the majority of the 2018 season. Gonsalves was excited to learn that he had been added, but knows it comes with more work. He told Twins Daily, "I'm very thankful for the call I received this morning, but this is only a stepping stone to my dream to become a big leaguer. Now it's time to push even a little harder and fight for a jersey." The Twins acquired right-hander Zack Littell from the Yankees in a late-July trade for Jaime Garcia. On the season, he went 20-1. He went 9-1 with Tampa in the Florida State League. He went 5-0 for Trenton, the Yankees AA team, and then he went 5-0 with Chattanooga. That's 19-1, so I included a playoff win that he got to make it an even 20. His combined ERA was 2.69 and he averaged 8.1 K/9. Littell will be 22 through the 2018 season. Littell was also excited to learn that he was added to the roster. "It’s awesome to get this news, and I couldn’t be more excited about this year. Obviously this isn’t the end goal, but this step feels really good to have accomplished and motivate me even more to keep going." Injury always makes 40-man decisions interesting, and the Twins had a couple such decisions. One made the roster. Lewis Thorpe was a Top 10 Twins prospect as a 19-year-old after a nice showing in Cedar Rapids. Unfortunately, he missed over two seasons due to a Tommy John surgery and a bout with mono. He returned this year, and moved up to Ft. Myers, and he looked good again. He posted a 2.94 ERA in 77 innings in Ft. Myers. He walked 31, but he struck out 84. Thorpe will turn 22 on Thursday. Thorpe was a little surprised when he got the call today. "It felt awesome when I️ got the call today. I️ was in shock and was just so excited." He continued, "After having two-and-a-bit years out of the game, it’s just a relief they still believe I’ve got what it takes to still get there. I’m very excited for 2018, to see what it has to offer me. I’ve still got to work hard because I️ haven’t made anything yet." So, there are several players who are more likely to be selected in the Rule 5 draft including Nick Burdi, Jake Reed, Lewin Diaz, Kohl Stewart, Luke Bard, Ryan Eades, Brian Navarreto and Mason Melotakis. What do you think of the Twins decisions tonight? Click here to view the article