Seth Stohs

Today we present another Q&A with a Minnesota Twins minor leaguer. Clark Beeker was the Twins 33rd round pick in June. He was a fifth-year senior out of Davidson. The North Carolina native had Tommy John surgery his sophomore season but says it may have been a blessing in disguise. Learn more about the right-hander today when we have a chance to Get To Know Him.Clark Beeker was kind enough to answer some of our questions about his two-month pro career and what led him to this point. Thank you Clark, for your time and thought-filled responses. Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in North Carolina, what was your favorite team to follow? Who were some of your favorite players? Clark Beeker (CB): To be honest, I’ve never had a favorite professional baseball team. I would watch Braves games since they were the closest team to North Carolina and often on TV, but I mainly enjoyed watching certain players. I loved watching Derek Jeter and Pedro Martinez play because of how they carried themselves and the way they played the game. SS: What were some of the better memories of your high school baseball career? Did you play other sports or were you involved in other activities? CB: Playing in the state playoffs every year was an awesome experience, just because of the impact of a win-or-go-home playoff scenario and the intensity of the crowds. My best memory was signing to continue playing at Davidson College and knowing that I would get to continue playing at a high level. SS: What was the recruitment process like for you out of high school, and what was it about Davidson that made you want to go there? CB: Davidson was really the only school that I strongly considered for playing baseball. I received interest from schools in the Northeast, but being able to receive an education at one of the most prestigious schools in the country, the opportunity to contribute early on, and playing in front of my family was the quintessential perfect situation. SS: What were a couple of your highlights from your college years at Davidson? CB: Having Tommy John surgery during my sophomore year (2013) was actually a blessing in disguise. Surgery allowed me the chance to come back for a red-shirt fifth year, which ultimately led to my best season and being drafted. Being named All-Atlantic 10 First Team and All-Academic Team were also terrific honors, but being a part of the winningest season in Davidson history and elevating the program to a new standard were the things that I will take away the most. SS: Did you have the chance to speak with many scouts before the draft? Did you have any idea where in the draft you might be selected? What was your interaction with the Twins scout? CB: I filled out a handful of questionnaires for various teams and spoke with a few scouts that wanted to gauge my interest in signing later in the draft. I spoke with Ricky Taylor after he saw me in my second-to-last start, but I was uncertain of my standing going into the draft. I knew that going undrafted was a definite possibility, but I tried to remain optimistic. SS: The Twins took you in the 33rd round. How did you find out that you had been drafted? How busy was your phone at that moment? CB: I was actually following the draft online; I had the audio of the draft tracker playing in the background as I was watching TV. I heard my name called, and it took a second before I was able to process this was actually happening. The next thirty minutes or so were such a whirlwind. My phone was blowing up from text messages and phone calls. Telling my brother (also plays baseball, freshman at Swarthmore College) that I had been drafted was something I’ll never forget; the excitement in his voice was well worth the wait. SS: What has the adjustment like for you, from the college game to the professional game, both on and off the field? CB: Going to college definitely prepared me for the talent level in professional baseball and being able to adapt to unfamiliar situations. The learning curve was shortened, but it is impossible to dismiss the talent and ambition of each player to some day play in the big leagues. SS: You pitched well out of the GCL bullpen and then made two solid starts in Elizabethton before the season ended. Have you had a chance to reflect on your first season in pro baseball? CB: You obviously remember the outings you struggled or the pitches you didn’t execute, but I was pleased with the results of my first season in professional baseball. The next step is making sure to limit negative outcomes and build on any success. SS: At this very early stage in your career, what would you say are your biggest strengths? What pitches do you throw and what do you consider your best or out pitch? CB: My biggest strength would have to be my ability to get ahead in counts with a variety of pitches. I throw a fastball, slider, curveball, and a changeup that I feel comfortable throwing in most situations. I’ve always felt that a well-located fastball is difficult to hit and probably the pitch I rely on most. SS: What are the areas of your game that you would like to spend time working to improve? CB: I would definitely like to improve on my ability to read hitters and their approach in the batter’s box. You can learn a lot about a hitter’s strengths, holes, or philosophy based on their stance or approach to certain pitches. Being able to accurately read a hitter can significantly improve my mental edge over the hitter. SS: What was your major in school? What do you do to get away from baseball? CB: I majored in political science and minored in communication studies. I’m an avid college basketball fan, I enjoy reading, and like most 23-year-olds, binge watching TV shows. SS: Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? CB: There is no telling how many hours my parents have spent driving me to practices over the years or making the hour-long trek to Davidson to watch me play. My brother shares the same passion for baseball, and we’ve been each others number one fan and critic. My pitching coach in high school, Greg Simpson, provided me with the foundation for being a successful pitcher and Dick Cooke, my head coach and pitching coach at Davidson, showed that being a professional in baseball and other walks of life are not exclusive of each other. SS: Favorite baseball movie? CB: The Sandlot, hands down. A big Thank You to Clark Beeker for taking the time to respond to our questions. Please feel free to ask questions and comment below. Click here to view the article

We're already pushing it in getting two MLB starters. What are the odds that they would add anyone with potential upside as the third option?

I think getting a platoon outfielder as the 3rd guy in a trade where you get two MLB starters (one with big upside) is a steal. They do have to play this season and I'd like them to be somewhat competitive.

I didn't include Grossman. Though I don't think Scott Van Slyke is a burner either. But again, Rosario (and Kepler) can play CF if needed. Another option would be giving a guy like Rajai Davis $8-9 million.

I knew I forgot someone. I put Duffey in the bullpen. His two-pitch mix should work well in short bursts. That leaves us with just one lefty in the bullpen, but I'm OK with that.

But based on them coming off of a 103-loss season, I don't think they're in all that bad a situation. They have a lot of Top 100 type of talent, with several other key prospects in situations. (Like, Chargois, Rogers, Melotakis, Garver, Rosario, Reed, Burdi, Hildenberger, etc... weren't Top 100 guys, but they can be very good role players on a good team still.) I get that I'm a glass half-full guy. I get that they don't all pan out. I'm OK with that, but the sheer number of potential big leaguers who are now getting an opportunity is encouraging. I could see this being a fairly competitive team in 2018. Obviously a lot would need to go right for that to happen.

In my original, I had Trevor May in the starting rotation. But once I made the (non-real) trades and had two more starters, I decided to say that he's just going to work out of the bullpen. I think he can be a decent starter, a #3 or #4, but I think he can be a very good reliever. The injuries have been a concern, but maybe all this new medical information will help with that. I think the Park/O'Rourke needing to perform is a given. O'Rourke would know that Mason Melotakis is getting close, or really any of the relievers. Also, the health of Glen Perkins factors into that as well. I guess I refuse to just give away Santana, and I do like the idea of a couple of veterans on the pitching staff. Santiago is from Puerto Rico, which is where both Berrios and De Leon are from. I see that as a positive, and I think Santiago can be better than what we saw last year. Santana is just a good, solid #3 starter. Very reliable. Has always been durable, and with the market for bad starting pitchers being so high, the Twins should be able to get something good for Santana. They shouldn't settle. At the trade deadline, they can evaluate where the team is.

Many of you have taken the 40 seconds needed to download the Twins Daily Offseason Handbook. In it, you were able to read the run-downs on free agent options, some trade ideas and much, much more. In the end, you saw our consolidated blueprint for the Twins offseason. Today, I am going to post mine. I don’t expect you to agree with each aspect of it. In fact, I may not agree with all aspects of it. What I do encourage you to do is think about what you would recommend the Twins do this offseason and write up a Blog posting or post it in the forum to get feedback from others.We’ll start with the 40-man roster decisions (which will be made on Friday) and work through the arbitration decisions, free agency and a couple of trades. In the end, we’ll see what kind of payroll we’re looking at for 2017. 40-Man Roster Decisions Earlier this week, I wrote an article showing the top ten players (or more) that the Twins have to consider adding to their 40-man roster or risk losing in the Rule 5 draft. The team is currently sitting at 36 players on their 40-man roster. At this time, I would remove Juan Centeno, Danny Santana and Buddy Boshers to reduce that number to 33. I would then ADD pitchers Fernando Romero and Felix Jorge, catcher Mitch Garver, shortstop Engelb Vielma and outfielders Daniel Palka and Zack Granite to the 40-man roster. That puts the team at 39, allowing them to make a Rule 5 draft pick. Arbitration Decisions Trevor Plouffe ($9M): Decline. Certainly I would try to trade him, or include him in a trade first, but I think that it makes the most sense for the Twins to non-tender him. Hector Santiago ($8M): Accept. Not an easy choice, but Santiago posted ERAs of 3.75 or less all four years from 2012-2015. 2016 didn’t go as well, but I’ll take my chances. Again, the Twins need pitching, and he’s been solid. Eduardo Escobar ($3.5M): Accept. Really a pretty easy choice, but I like the fact that he’s a great team player and has found success in a utility role. The fact that he can play a solid shortstop also is valuable with question marks at the position. Kyle Gibson ($2.5M): Accept. He was the Twins pitcher of the year in 2015, and injury and ineffectiveness and inconsistency all describe his 2016. So, 2017 is a big year for the right-hander. For the price, worth the time to find out. Brandon Kintzler ($2.5M): After missing a lot of 2015 with a knee injury, Kintzler came to the Twins on a minor league deal. He was up with the Twins within about a month and ended up their closer. He may not be the prototype for a closer, but he hits 94, throws strikes, lots of grounders. Again, for the money, no reason not to bring him back. Ryan Pressly ($1.5M): Former Rule 5 pick frequently hit 96-98 on the radar gun a year ago. Pitched way too much early and it certainly affected him as the season went on. However, his stuff is good, and definitely worth keeping around. FREE AGENCY CATCHER I’m in agreement that the Twins should sign a catcher. I just have a hard time handing out a long-term, big money contract to a catcher who either is, or is about to reach, 30 years old. So, count me out on the likes of Wilson Ramos and Matt Wieters, and I’m thinking that the market for Jason Castro will cause him to potentially get a fourth year or more per year than many think. So, what do I want in a catcher? Ideally, I’d like to see a good defensive catcher. With John Ryan Murphy and Mitch Garver in the picture, I would like to see a left-handed bat on a one-year contract. Enter the likes of Dioner Navarro and Alex Avila. Give me Avila on a one-year deal with a base between $2-2.5 million with some incentives based on playing time. He’s a smart catcher who plays good defense. He also knows the American League Central well. I would like to see nearly a 50-50 split between John Ryan Murphy and Alex Avila to start the season, taking advantage of platoon splits as appropriate. Mitch Garver is close, so he can be recalled if (or when) there is an injury. Murphy is good defensively, and he will (most likely) hit much better than he did last year. Plus, he’s still going to be 25 years old until the middle of May. BULLPEN First, I hope Glen Perkins comes back and becomes the reliever we remember. I also feel that assuming that will happen is a little naive (maybe) and should not be relied upon, at least not to start the season. So, I won’t include him, and I will hope really hard that he is able to come back. Second, I believe in the young arms that are working their way up. However, as we have seen, it doesn’t always happen as fast as we want. AA and AAA aren’t necessarily easy, and despite college or low-minor league level success, adjustments need to be made and lessons learned. Of course, injuries also factor into the timeline. JT Chargois, Mason Melotakis, Nick Burdi, Zack Jones, and others have all missed significant time due to injuries. Trevor Hildenberger missed August with an elbow injury. So, as much as I would like to see these guys all come up and become what we think they can be, we need to have alternate plans. That said, I am hopeful that we will see Burdi, Melotakis, Hildenberger and Jake Reed by midseason. So, I want to bring in one hard-throwing, strikeout reliever. I’ve been a big fan of David Hernandez since well before his 2013 Tommy John surgery. In 2016, he struck out 80 (and walked 32) in 72.2 innings for the Orioles. His overall numbers aren’t great, so I’d offer him a 1 year, $3.75 million deal which includes an option for 2018 at $4.5 million (with a $250,000 buyout). I would give him the opportunity to close, along with Ryan Pressly and JT Chargois. TRADE I am not a fan of trading Brian Dozier. At all. Losing him would certainly hurt the team’s offense significantly. Moving Jorge Polanco to second based and putting someone else at shortstop will hurt offensively especially. So, in order for me as GM to deal him, I will have to receive a top young starting pitcher. Someone who is right up there with Jose Berrios (or higher) in prospect rankings but also at or very near the big league level. And more, since as we know, there is no such thing as a pitching prospect. Recently, it was reported that the Dodgers are exploring the idea of acquiring Ian Kinsler from the Tigers. Kinsler has a no-trade clause, and he’s five years older than Dozier. Certainly the Falvey/Levine regime has already had some sort of discussion with the Dodgers regarding Dozier. One of Nick’s ideas in the Offseason Handbook for a Dozier Deal involved Jose De Leon. Like Jose Berrios, De Leon is a right-hander from Puerto Rico. He was the Dodgers 24th round pick in 2013 out of college in Louisiana. MLB Pipeline currently ranks De Leon as their #32 prospect, the 6th best right-handed pitching prospect in baseball. This is the same range that Berrios was a year ago. It would take a bit more for me to pull the trigger on the deal though. I would like Ross Stripling, who turns 27 next week, who had a solid debut in 2016. He pitched for Chattanooga in 2013 before missing the entire 2014 season and the first half of the 2015 season following Tommy John surgery. Another year post surgery and there is a chance he can be a mid-rotation starter. The other player I would ask for is veteran Scott Van Slyke. The 30-year-old outfielder has been a part-time player throughout his career. However, in his career, he has hit .262/.366/.479 (.845) against left-handed pitching. I would like to see him platooned with Eddie Rosario in left field. With Rosario and Kepler able to play centerfield at times to give Buxton a day off, the Twins don’t really need a traditional fourth outfielder. Van Slyke is in his first year of arbitration. His 2016 season ended in early August with a wrist injury. (If the Twins can get Van Slyke I would DFA Robbie Grossman. If the Twins can’t get Van Slyke, Grossman remains the 4th outfielder.) I would add Michael Tonkin to the deal as well. (Don’t get me wrong. I fully admit that if Tonkin isn’t traded in the offseason, he would be removed from the 40-man roster, if it were me. But a deal to the Dodgers would at least send him to a winning team in his home state. With Justin Turner potentially being lost via free agency, the Dodgers may have interest in Trevor Plouffe. And if I don’t get a top, near-ready pitching prospect and a second-tier, near-ready starting pitching for him, I have a hard time trading him. I would happily keep him on the roster. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Before getting to my Roster Blueprint, be sure to download a copy of the Offseason Handbook so that you can create your own Twins blueprint. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Seth’s Blueprint Roster HITTERS C - John Ryan Murphy - $0.5M C - Alex Avila - $2.5M 1B - Joe Mauer - $23.0M 2B - Jorge Polanco - $0.5M 3B - Miguel Sano - $0.5M SS - Engelb Vielma - $0.5M LF - Eddie Rosario - $0.5M CF - Byron Buxton - $0.5M RF - Max Kepler - $0.5M DH - Kennys Vargas - $0.5M IF - Eduardo Escobar - $3.5M OF - Scott Van Slyke - $1.3M PH/1B - Byungho Park - $2.75M HITTER TOTAL - $37.05M The theme is much more defense-minded, which should also help the pitching. Murphy and Avila will help behind the plate. Polanco should be better at second base than shortstop. The outfield is young, has great range and good arms. Finally, the name that stands out is Engelb Vielma. Will he hit? Will he hit for power? Nope. Don’t even think about it. Will he play great defense, showing hands, range and a big arm? Yes. The offense will take a step backwards, but the defense should be leaps and bounds better. Except at third base where it will be all about the offense. There are several platoon opportunities including first base DH and left field. Having Escobar will be important as Vielma transitions to the big leagues. PITCHERS SP - Ervin Santana - $13.5M SP - Hector Santiago - $8.0M SP - Kyle Gibson - $2.5M SP - Ross Stripling - $0.5M SP - Jose De Leon/Adalberto Mejia/Jose Berrios - $0.5M STARTING PITCHERS TOTAL - $25.0M Weird things seem to happen, whether it is injury or poor performance. Having plenty of depth at starting pitcher is important. At some point, De Leon, Mejia and Berrios will be part of the rotation. Trading Santana this winter doesn’t make sense to me, but I would consider trading him at the deadline in July. The same can be said for Santiago. The five starting pitchers who began the season in Ft. Myers and ended in Chattanooga (Stephen Gonsalves, Kohl Stewart, Tyler Jay, Randy Rosario and Felix Jorge) along with Fernando Romero likely won’t be ready until at least 2018. This gives them a chance to develop at their own, appropriate pace, while the three (or four) younger starters mentioned above get their shot in the big leagues. RP - David Hernandez ($3.75M) RP - Brandon Kintzler ($2.5M) RP - JT Chargois ($0.5M) RP - Ryan Pressly ($0.5M) RP - Taylor Rogers ($0.5M) RP - Trevor May ($0.5M) RP - Tyler Duffey ($0.5M) BULLPEN PITCHERS TOTAL - $8.75M In the bullpen, there are some solid arms with a lot of talent and velocity who need innings and situations in the big leagues. That will soon be the case for others, like Pat Light, Reed, Burdi, Hildenberger, and Melotakis who should all surface in 2017 as well. The bullpen could be dominant in 2018. I would retain Ryan O'Rourke as the guy ready to come up when the Twins are ready to face a lot of lefties or just need an arm. Also under contract - Glen Perkins ($6.5M) and Phil Hughes($13.2M). Total Roster Salary - $90.5M SUMMARY $90.5 million. Yeah, that’s right. And when some read that, it will not be taken well. But I’m thinking 2018 and 2019 more than I’m thinking 2017. So I have a mix of youth with a few veterans. But it’s all about development of the young players, whether that is at-bats or innings pitched in the big leagues, or allowing a little extra time in AA or AAA to be more ready. Think about a 2018 rotation that includes Jose Berrios, Jose De Leon, Adalberto Mejia and Stephen Gonsalves, all guys who could be Top 100 prospects sometime between 2016 and 2017. Add in the potential of Fernando Romero and the pitching staff has the ability to be different and exciting by the second half of 2019. While the focus was mostly on defense with my moves at catcher and shortstop, the offense should be OK, even with the losses of Dozier and Plouffe. Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario, Kennys Vargas and Byungho Park could all be better offensively too. I strongly considered Jason Castro, but it seems like he is going to wind up getting more than the three years, $21 million that we predicted. His defense is great, but his offense isn’t worth the extra year or extra annual salary he will get. I couldn't justify that for a guy who will turn 30 during the middle of year one of such a deal. I did also consider Ian Desmond as a free agent signing at shortstop. He had a nice 2016 in his one-year, make-good deal with the Rangers. He played in the outfield and hit pretty well. But, he isn’t a great defensive shortstop and his offense went downward for three straight seasons before 2016. So, four years and $60 million (or more) seemed too much. If he would sign for two years and $32-35 million, I would strongly consider it. It’s not the time for the Twins to sign one of the not-so-great starting pitching options. It doesn’t make sense to spend a ton of money on a closer. It’s time to let the players that Terry Ryan and his regime developed play in the big leagues. In doing so, it’ll likely mean ten to 15 more wins than in 2016. And, maybe spend that extra $10 million adding to the front office staff, the analytics team, the medical staff and other areas in need of being beefed up. So, what do you think? 2017 is about improvement and development. It’s an opportunity for Derek Falvey and Thad Levine to evaluate everything, from the players on the field to the size and functionality of the front office. Click here to view the article

Are some thinking that he'll become an All Star? Odds are that he can be an OK regular and an idea platoon/half-time player. For that, 26 isn't a big deal. And yeah, there's an outside chance he becomes more. But I don't think anyone's expectations should be real, real high.

I'd say it's a long shot. I've written before that Melotakis has been on the Chargois route, and that worked perfectly. So, I think he's a guy that could be ready mid-season. Curtiss spent most of this season in Ft. Myers after spending April in Cedar Rapids. So, he's a little further out (drafted later and missed a bit of time with injury in 2015). We'll see how free agency treats Falvey/Levine, but Garver is close. No question.

I'm with you on this, and age means nothing to me at the position. If he comes up and spends most of 2017 in the big leagues and becomes really good, he'll be a free agent at 32. That's 6-7 years. No reason for that to be a negative.

Jaylin Davis was the Twins 24th-round pick in the 2015 MLB draft out of Appalachian State. He had a strong career there, but injury in his junior year made him fall in the draft. The Twins saw (and see) a lot of potential, a lot of power potential, in the young man from Greensboro, North Carolina. His 2016 season began in extended spring. Then he went to Elizabethton where he hit seven home runs in 12 games before moving up to Cedar Rapids where he helped the Kernels down the stretch and in the playoffs. Recently, Twins Daily caught up with the powerful prospect to get to know him.Seth Stohs (SS): Your season has been done for a couple of months. Have you had a chance to reflect on your season? In doing so, what are your thoughts on your first full season as a professional baseball player? Jaylin Davis (JD): Yes, after being home for a while and getting a chance to settle down a little I've had time to sit down and talk to my family about how I thought this season went for me. Although I thought I had a pretty good season I can still take some things from it to help me better myself for next season. SS: Growing up in North Carolina, who were some of your favorite players and teams? Do you follow other professional or college sports teams throughout the offseason? JD: Growing up I would have to say some of my favorite players of all time were Derek Jeter and Ken Griffey Jr. The only other professional team that I really follow would have to be the Carolina Panthers. College wise I'm a big TarHeel basketball fan and I still follow our baseball and football teams at App State. SS: What were some of your highlights while playing at Appalachian State? I would think the two homers off of Carlos Rodon would be right up there. JD: I would definitely have to say my first game/at bat of my freshman year was one of my biggest highlights at App State. First pitch, three-run homer off of Rodon and we ended up winning that game 5-3. The second one would have to be breaking the single season triple record my sophomore year. And also being named the third freshmen All-American in App State history. SS: You got hurt your final season. What was the draft process like for you? Did you talk to a lot of scouts? JD: After getting hurt the draft process for me was a little hectic. Don't get me wrong it all ready was before but the thought of not knowing whether someone would take a chance on me was always on my mind. It was probably about a month or so after my surgery before I started hearing back from scouts again and them informing me on how they were willing to take a chance on me and help me finish up my rehab. SS: Did you follow the draft to see where you might be selected? Where were you and how busy was your phone after hearing your name? JD: I had told myself that I wasn't going to follow the draft. I was just going to wait to see if I got a call, but that didn't last very long. I was actually on my way home when I started getting texts from friends and old teammates saying congrats on being drafted and at the time I still didn't even know by who. Shortly after that I got a call from the area scout saying the Twins had drafted me. SS: Was it frustrating having a dream fulfilled (getting drafted), but then not being able to play last year? JD: Not being able to play my first year was definitely frustrating; in fact that was definitely the longest year of my life. Being away from the game that long sucked,but at the same time I think it helped me out also. I felt like that it strengthened me physically and mentally and better prepared me for the next level I was about to take in my baseball career. SS: What was the transition from the Appalachian League to the Midwest League for you? Difference in pitching, ballparks, atmosphere, etc? JD: The biggest transition for me would have to be the atmosphere. Playing in Etown was fun, but going to Cedar Rapids and playing in front of the big crowds made the experience even better. The only thing different about the pitching was that the off-speed pitches were a lot sharper and they threw them more often. SS: You got to play in the Midwest League playoffs… What was that experience like? JD: Playing in the Midwest League playoffs was a great experience and the group of guys I got to experience it with made it fun. The atmosphere in the dugout didn't really change much. We kind of brought that same high level of energy that we had trying to clinch our playoff berth. SS: How would you describe yourself as a player? What are your strengths? JD: If I had to describe myself as a player I would say my biggest strength is being able to hit for power and my versatility in the outfield. SS: Were there specific things you were working on in instructs this year? JD: The biggest thing I worked on this year in instructs was trying to be more consistent at the plate and cutting down on my strikeouts. The one thing that helped me the most with that was getting ready earlier and not missing my pitch early in the count. SS: You’ve been home for a couple of months. What have you been able to do to get away from baseball? JD: Basically just being at home with my family and getting to spend sometime with my little brother has helped me get away from baseball a little bit. I also went back to school and visited some old teammates. SS: At what point do you not only start thinking about the 2017 season, but when do your workouts and preparation begin? Do you think you’ll do anything new or different after going through a full season? JD: Well right now I'm working out with a group of guys from my area that play with different organizations at Carolina Acceleration with Carmine Pagano. I felt like working out there really got me ready for last season so I don't think I'll be changing anything. SS: Did you learn anything about yourself, or did anything surprise you about working through a full season? JD: I pretty much knew what to expect after talking with some of the guys that have been there for a while. The biggest thing I think I learned about myself was that I was actually more physically and mentally ready than I thought I was. SS: There are probably some high school baseball players reading this. What would one piece of advice be that you would share with them, or share with a 14-year-old Jaylin? JD: I would tell them to work just as hard off the field as they do on the field to have that balance (good grades along with the skills) because that balance will open doors that will create more opportunities to take it to the next level. I would also let them know that there will be a lot of sacrifices that will have to be made. And to just have fun playing the game. SS: If there was one thing about yourself that you would want Twins fans to know, what would it be? JD: That I have a true passion for the game on and off the field and that I'm very thankful for the opportunity that the Twins have given me to live out my dream. Thank you for Jaylin Davis for taking time to thoughtfully respond to our questions. Feel free to comment or ask questions below. Click here to view the article

I don't think that's a bad take. We often fret about losing players that weren't protected. Each year there are 2-3 guys that we think have a real chance of being taken. Last year, Felix Jorge and Zack Jones were two of them. They lost Jones and ended up getting him back. Most years, they don't lose any, or maybe one. Granite and Vielma could be types that are selected, however. Rule 5 guys don't have to play much to stay on a roster, but they have to be able to contribute something. Granite and Vielma can both fly. They could be used as pinch-runners. They are also good defensively so they can pinch run and be defensive replacements in addition to a start a week or something.

I wouldn't say Insane. However, one important thing to remember is that whoever they add must remain on the 40-man roster (unless traded) until spring training. If they plan on signing any free agents to MLB contracts, they have to keep some guys on there that they can drop at that time. So, it's kind of a risk-reward type of thing. I would remove Juan Centeno like 2 months ago, but if they sign Jason Castro, they need someone to DFA at that time, and if they fill up the 40 man, it's much harder to do.

By the end of this week, the Minnesota Twins will have to add players to their 40-man roster. The Twins currently have 36 players on their 40-man roster. So the Twins could add as many as four players to the roster unless they remove more players from the 40-man roster, which I assume is likely. Most likely, they will add three to four players. In the Twins Daily Offseason Handbook, we discussed many of the potential transactions that will happen throughout the offseason. Today, I’ll post the players who are most likely to be added to the Twins 40-man roster. We’ll start at #1 with the player most likely to be added, and get through the top 10. Of course, these are just my opinion, so I’d encourage and welcome your thoughts below.Let’s get started… but first, who is eligible for the Rule 5 draft if not protected on a 40 man roster? Players signed at the age of 18 or less in 2012 (signed before end of minor league season)Players signed at the age of 19 or more in 2013Players signed under the first two categories in previous years.A player needs to be evaluated based on 1) his talent and ceiling, and 2) his likelihood of being lost in the Rule 5 draft and kept by that team throughout the season. Here are the ten players I believe are most likely to be selected, in order of likelihood. #1 – RHP Fernando Romero The Twins, and every team in baseball, are looking for ace, power pitchers. If there’s one guy in the system who could be that, it is Fernando Romero. He missed two seasons due to Tommy John surgery and a knee surgery, but h came back in May this year and was tremendous in Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers. He’s got a mid-to-upper-90s fastball, a slider and a changeup. This is the easiest choice of many good choices right now. (He was my #2 Twins prospect after the season.) He signed with the Twins in November of 2011 from the Dominican Republic. #2 – C Mitch Garver Catchers are incredibly valuable too. As we know, it’s hard to find catchers that can hit and field, and Garver fits into that category. He’s always been able to hit. He was our choice for Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2014 in Cedar Rapids. In 2015, he played well in Chattanooga and in Rochester. Where he has made the biggest strides is defensively. It showed up this year in the pitch framing stats and in his caught stealing percentage. Like Romero, adding Garver to the 40-man roster is a no-brainer. He was the Twins 9th round pick in 2013 out of New Mexico. #3 – OF Daniel Palka Yes, he strikes out a ton, and he hits for tremendous power. His 35 homers between Chattanooga and Rochester in 2016 make him a pretty easy choice. He appears to be a left-handed version of Adam Brett Walker. Palka came to the Twins a year ago at this time from Arizona in exchange for Chris Herrmann. Herrmann had a terrific 2016 season for the Diamondbacks but the Twins have to feel good about the trade so far. He was Arizona’s 3rd round pick in 2013 out of Georgia Tech. #4 – RHP Felix Jorge Jorge is still just 22. He signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2010. Since a tough 2014 in Cedar Rapids, Jorge has been remarkably consistent. In 2015, he completed six innings in 19 of his 22 starts and never went less than five innings. In 14 starts for Ft. Myers in 2016, he went 9-3 with a 1.84 ERA and a 0.93 WHIP. He worked six or more innings 13 out of 14 times. In 11 starts in Chattanooga, he worked six or more innings in eight of 11 starts (including his final six starts). He went at least five innings in all 25 of his starts.He has a very easy, smooth motion and delivery, but he can surprise hitters by throwing 93 at times. He throws a ton of strikes and mixes his pitches very well. He was left unprotected a year ago. If he is this time, he’ll very likely be lost. #5 – OF Zack Granite Granite was the Twins choice for 2016 Minor League Player of the Year. He was the Twins 14th round pick in 2013 out of Seton Hall. After an injury-plaqued 2014 he began 2014 in Cedar Rapids. After a month, he went to the Miracle and played all right. It was somewhat surprising when he began 2016 in Chattanooga, but he took advantage of it. He was their everyday leadoff man. He puts together terrific at bats consistently and profiles as a leadoff hitter. His 56 stolen bases led all of minor league baseball. He can play center field and has great range, though his arm (and Byron Buxton) would push him to left field. (He had a Rock Solid 2016. Here are his thoughts on the season.) #6 – SS Engelb Vielma Vielma signed with the Twins on September 8, 2011, out of Venezuela. Had he signed a week sooner, he would have been Rule 5 eligible last year. Instead, this is the first year he could be added. The rail-thin shortstop is one of the better defensive shortstops in minor league baseball. He’s got the range and a powerful arm and great instincts. He is also a leader in the infield. Will he hit? That is the question. After hitting .270 (.617) in 2015 in Ft. Myers, he hit .271 (.663) in AA Chattanooga this year. Vielma has very little power, so he will need to find a way to get on base. But his defense is his calling card. (A year ago, he did a Q&A for Twins Daily) #7 – C Stuart Turner Not all that long ago, catchers were completely defense-minded. As we know, catcher depth is very important to a team. Turner does a terrific job behind the plate, working with pitchers, calling a game and controlling the running game. He spent the last two seasons in Chattanooga. In 2015, he hit .223 (.628) and in 2016, he hit .239 (.686). He did so by increasing his power. He went from 13 to 22 doubles, and he went from four to six homers. At 6-2 and 220 pounds, Turner generally puts together quality at bats and does have the potential to hit some. But, defense is what matters most behind the plate, and Turner has that ability. He was the Twins 3rd round pick in 2013 out of Ole Miss. (Here's a Get To Know Him article on Turner from March 2014.) #8 – RH RP DJ Baxendale Baxendale was the Twins 10th round pick in 2012 out of Arkansas. He signed shortly after the Razorbacks’ College World Series run that year. He’s been a starter most of his career. After an all-star first half in Chattanooga this year, he moved up to Rochester and into their bullpen. It was at that time that he took off. As a starter in AA this year, he struck out 6.6 per nine innings. Out of the bullpen in AAA, he struck out 10.3 per nine innings. He’s got a good fastball in the low-90s and a terrific slider. With those two pitches, he could develop into a good reliever. #9 – LHP Jason Wheeler Wheeler, the Twins 8th round pick in 2011 out of Loyola Marymount, was added to the Twins 40-man roster two years ago. Late in that season, he was removed and pitched the Lookouts to the Southern League championship. That’s where he began again in 2016, but he was good for four starts and the Twins had three AAA starters already in the big leagues. Wheeler went to AAA and pitched very well. He was the International League’s starting pitcher in the AAA All-Star Game. He posted a 3.53 ERA in 145.1 innings with the Red Wings. At 6-7, Wheeler has good size. He doesn’t throw real hard, though occasionally hits 94. (Here is a Get To Know Him article on Wheeler from May 2014.) #10 – RHP Aaron Slegers Slegers is the tallest member of the Twins organization. The 6-11 right-hander has progressed at a steady pace since the Twins selected him in the 5th round of the 2013 draft out of Indiana where he was the Big 10 Pitcher of the Year. He spent a year in Cedar Rapids, a year in Ft. Myers and he spent the 2016 season in Chattanooga. With the Lookouts, he went 10-7 with a 3.41 ERA. OTHER ELIGIBLES: RHP Nick Anderson, RHP Luke Bard, OF Edgar Corcino, RHP Ryan Eades, OF JJ Fernandez, RHP Sam Gibbons, RHP Miguel Gonzalez, IF/OF Niko Goodrum, OF Travis Harrison, 1B Dalton Hicks, LHP David Hurlbut, RHP Zack Jones, 2B Levi Michael, 1B Amaurys Minier, RHP Alex Muren, RHP Brandon Peterson, RHP Williams Ramirez, RHP Dereck Rodriguez, LHP Lewis Thorpe, 2B Rafael Valera, RHP Todd Van Steensel, 2B Ryan Walker. Of that group, Lewis Thorpe is intriguing. He’s got the talent and upside, but he hasn’t pitched for two seasons. Dereck Rodriguez is certainly one to watch. He’s got upside, but despite being 23, he’s still very raw as a pitcher. Zack Jones was drafted a year ago. He’s a candidate to be selected again, though less likely than a year ago. Amaurys Minier signed a big bonus, but he hasn’t even played full-season ball yet. For me, I’d think the first six are the ones that will likely be added with Turner and Baxendale right on the bubble. Looking at it this way is interesting because it’s easy to say “I would protect (this guy) or (that guy),” but it’s hard without factoring in who would need to be removed from the 40-man roster to make room or which other guys need to be added. What do you think? How many do you think will be added? Click here to view the article

Goodrum remains very intriguing. He's a great athlete. He's still very young. He does take good at bats and isn't afraid to walk. He can play all over the field, which is never a bad thing. Scouts talk about his high waistline and believe that he still will develop power. He's very strong, and his genes indicate he's going to keep getting stronger. I'm really glad they were able to re-sign him.

Not worried about walks (lack of) for Arraez. I mean, no one really worries about the actual stats of these guys, just that they're making some adjustments and getting more development at bats. He may never walk a ton, but it would be good to see more. But, he has such good contact skills. He doesn't swing and miss often.

Last night (Saturday), Daniel Palka was 1-2 with 2 walks.

Here is your weekly update of how Twins players and prospects are performing in the Winter Leagues. With the conclusion of the World Series, several players have become free agents so these reports are a little bit smaller than they have been the last few weeks. As the Twins sign players to minor league deals, we'll keep you updated. Continue reading to see who performed well in the Winter Leagues the past week.Venezuelan Winter League Report Luis Arraez has been a story all year, since the 19-year-old put together an incredible season in Cedar Rapids where his .347 average led the Midwest League. He was a multi-hit game machine. He had 34 two-hit games, 13 three-hit games, three four-hit games, and a five hit game. In the first two Kernels playoff games, he had a three-hit game and a four-hit game. He's kept it up in the Winter League. Through games on Friday night, Arraez has played 27 games. He is hitting .358/.386/.519 (.905) with seven doubles and five triples. He has 15 RBI and 21 runs scored. He doesn't like to walk (6), but he also doesn't strike out (6). In the past week, he played five games. He went 13-21 (.619) with two doubles and a triple. Over his last seven games played, he has five three-hit games. He's had multiple hits in seven of his last nine games. Niko Goodrum has now played 28 games in Venezuela. He missed the first half of the 2016 season with a stress reaction in his foot, so these at bats are really good for him. He's hitting .297/.368/.450 (.818) with eight doubles, three triples and a homer in 124 plate appearances. He's struck out a fair amount (28 times), but he's also walked 13 times. In this past week, he has played in six games. He's 9-23 (.391) with a double, two triples and a home run. He had four straight games multi-hit games in the middle of the week. In one game, he was a single short of a cycle. Ryan O'Rourke's Venezuelan season started out very poorly, so it's taken some time for him to bring his season ERA down. Overall, he has a 7.82 ERA and a 1.89 WHIP in 12 games and 12.2 innings. He has made two starts. This past week, he pitched twice and made a start on Friday night. In it, he threw four shutout innings. He gave up four hits walked none and struck out three. Victor Tademo and Edwar Colina did not play during the week. Dominican Republic Winter League Report Daniel Palka was our choice for Twins Daily Minor League Hitter of the Year. He has now played 15 games in the Dominican. He is hitting .217/.266/.367 (.632) with three doubles, two triples and nine RBI. He has walked four time and struck out 19 times. This past week, he played in four games. He had two hits in 13 at bats (.154). Both hits were doubles. Leonardo Reginnato made his Dominican debut last Friday night. In his seven games so far he is hitting .227/261/.227 (.488) with a walk and a run scored. However, in his past three games, he is 5-11 (.455). Confesor Lara has pitched nine games so far this winter. In 8.2 innings he has a 2.08 ERA and a 0.83 WHIP. Over the past week, he worked in one inning of one game. Puerto Rican Winter League Report Kennys Vargas has played in nine games already. He is hitting .188/.297/.344 (.641) with two doubles and a homer. He's got seven RBI and four runs scored. He's walked five times with eight strikeouts. In the last week, he played in five games. He had just four hits in 18 at bats (.222). He had a double, and on Friday night he hit his first home run. JJ Fernandez has also played in nine games. He is 7-29, hitting .241/.290/.483 (.773) with two doubles, a triple and a home run. In six games this past week, Fernandez is 3-18, hitting .167 with a double and a home run. Juan Centeno has played seven games so far. He is 4.28. He's hitting .143/.226/.179 (.404) with a double. This week, he went 3-14 (.214) in three games played. He hit the double and drove in both runs. Nelson Molina had just one plate appearance during the week. He drove in a run with a sacrifice fly. Lean Marrero went 0-2 over the two games he played. Dereck Rodriguez is yet to give up a run in his three outings. In 6.2 innings, he gave up two hits, walked one and struck out four. He has a 0.45 WHIP. He pitched in just one inning this past week. He gave up a hit, walked one and struck one out in a scoreless inning. Please feel free to ask questions. Click here to view the article

Brian Dozier posted some incredible numbers in 2016. Despite a very slow start and missing games at the end with injury, he hit .268/.340/.546 (.886) with 35 doubles, five triples, 42 homers, 104 runs scored and 99 RBI. On Thursday, the Silver Slugger Awards were announced. Jose Altuve of the Houston Astros won the Award for AL Second Baseman for the third straight year. They don't give any ranking for the awards, but it's possible that, despite his remarkable numbers, Dozier could have finished as low as third among AL second baseman. Long considered a defense-first position, second base has become a position where offense matters. This isn't necessarily new. Altuve, Ian Kinsler, Dustin Pedroia and Robinson Cano have been putting up strong offensive numbers for most of a decade. This year, however, ten American League second basemen posted an fWAR of at least 2.0.There's no real 'analysis' to the below. I'm just going to post the Top 10 rankings among American League second basemen in 2016. What's remarkable to me is that 22-year-old Rougned Odor of the Texas Rangers knocked 33 home runs in 2016 and isn't among the Top 5 in other categories and he's not in the upper half at the position in most categories. Read below to see where Brian Dozier ranked among American League second basemen. In the Twins Daily Offseason Handbook, Nick wrote an article on Dealing Dozier. It's well worth the read. You can download a copy of the Handbook right now at no charge (or you are welcomed to give a donation if you choose). Top 10 (Runs Scored) Ian Kinsler - 117Jose Altuve - 108Robinson Cano - 107Dustin Pedroia - 105Brian Dozier - 104Jason Kipnis - 91Rougned Odor - 89Jonathan Schoop - 82Logan Forsythe - 76Starlin Castro - 63Top 10 (RBI)Robinson Cano - 103Brian Dozier - 99Jose Altuve - 96Rougned Odor - 88Ian Kinsler - 83Jason Kipnis - 82Dustin Pedroia - 74Starlin Castro - 70Logan Forsythe - 52Devon Travis - 50Top 10 (Doubles)Jose Altuve - 42Jason Kipnis - 41Jonathan Schoop - 38Dustin Pedroia - 36Brian Dozier - 35Robinson Cano - 33Rougned Odor - 33Starlin Castro - 29Ian Kinsler - 29Devon Travis - 28Top 10 (Home Runs)Brian Dozier - 42Robinson Cano - 39Rougned Odor - 33Ian Kinsler - 28Jonathan Schoop - 25Jose Altuve - 24Jason Kipnis - 23Starlin Castro - 21Logan Forsythe - 20Dustin Pedroia - 15OPS+ (100 is average)Jose Altuve - 154Robinson Cano -138Brian Dozier - 136Ian Kinsler - 124Dustin Pedroia - 124Logan Forsythe - 113Devon Travis - 108Jason Kipnis - 107Rougned Odor - 105Brett Lawrie - 99Top 10 (bWAR - Wins Above Replacement by Baseball Reference)Jose Altuve - 6.7Robinson Cano - 6.0Brian Dozier - 5.9Ian Kinsler - 5.8Dustin Pedroia - 5.2Jason Kipnis - 4.8Logan Forsythe - 2.8Devon Travis - 2.5Rougned Odor - 2.0Jonathan Schoop - 2.0Top 10 (fWAR - Wins Above Replacement by FanGraphs)Jose Altuve - 6.7Robinson Cano - 6.0Brian Dozier - 5.9Ian Kinsler - 5.8Dustin Pedroia - 5.2Jason Kipnis - 4.8Logan Forsythe - 2.8Devon Travis - 2.5Rougned Odor - 2.0Jonathan Schoop - 2.0Of course, FanGraphs also assigns a value in dollars to their WAR calculation. For 2016, that value was approximately $8 million. So just for fun, that would mean that Altuve's 2016 season was valued at $53.4 million. Cano was valued at $47.6 million. Brian Dozier's 2016 season was valued at $47.2 million. Before the 2015 season, Dozier signed a four year, $20 million contract. In 2016, he more than earned his $3 million salary. Since joining the Twins during the 2012 season, he has been valued at $124.5 million to the Twins. For some context, Joe Mauer's 2009 season was valued at $48.4 million. (7.6 WAR at about $6.4 million per) Mauer's 2009 season was the only season in which he eclipsed Dozier's 5.9 fWAR of 2016. Mauer had seasons with 5.8 fWAR () and 5.7 fWAR () and he accumulated 5.3 fWAR in 2013 when his season ended six weeks early with his concussion. Brian Dozier had an incredible 2016 season, one of the best in organization history. He had an incredible season, historically, for a second baseman. In a year of many great second basemen, Dozier was right near the top. ------------------------------------------------------ Again, the Offseason Handbook can be downloaded now at no charge (or, name your price). Click here to view the article