Seth Stohs

I actually have no problem with Nolasco. I liked the signing then. He had always been real solid and the Twins needed 'solid' starting pitching. He should/could be a #3. I don't completely give up on him... I just don't think he should just get a starting job over any of the five I mentioned, or Berrios. Right or wrong.

I don't know if that was completely forgetting about him, or some sort of unintentional foreshadowing... I suppose, based on present roster makeup, he would slot in with the right-handed relievers, and probably take a spot from Ryan O'Rourke or Fernando Abad. They'd have to go with just one lefty (beyond Perkins).

There is a lot of groaning among Twins fans right about now. The Winter Caravan gets started next week. Twins Fest is just three weeks away. The Twins haven’t made a big transaction since early November when they announced three deals in three days. Last week, Nick wrote that there are still players out there that the Twins can go after. But, what if they are done? What does the Twins lineup look like, and what kind of depth do they have?Today, I’m going to go through the options, and very briefly (less than a tweet - which for now is still just 140 characters!) give their status on the Twins roster. Let’s start with the Hitters and then get to the Pitchers: HITTERS Catcher (2) - Kurt Suzuki/John Ryan Murphy - Suzuki has an option at 385 plate appearances. He won’t get that. Split time early, but I assume Murphy will get more playing time as the year progresses. First Base (1) - Joe Mauer - Mauer hasn’t been as good the last two years at the plate as he had been. He’ll turn 33 early in April. Third year back after concussion. Still strong on-base skills. Second Base (1) - Brian Dozier - Earned his All-Star spot with a great first half. Struggled mightily in the 2nd half. Defense is quality, even if the defensive metrics don’t show it. Third Base (1) - Trevor Plouffe - We’re all somewhat surprised that he is still around, but Ryan wisely won’t just give him away. 20+ HR power and solid defense makes him worth keeping around in the middle of the lineup. Shortstop (1) - Eduardo Escobar - One of the most difficult things in baseball is for a utility player to be seen as a starter. However, after playing really well once given shortstop duties the last two years, Escobar should be handed the job this year. Hopefully he runs with it. Left Field (1) - Eddie Rosario - Had a nice showing as a rookie, surprising many. Put up double digits in pretty much every offensive category, as well as outfield assists. Strong arm. Needs to get on base more. He should stay in left to cover all that ground in Target Field. Center Field (1) - Byron Buxton - I do believe that Buxton will be given every opportunity to start on Opening Day, but he isn’t going to just be (and shouldn’t be) handed the job. His defense is ready now. How long for the bat to adjust? Right Field (1) - Miguel Sano - The young slugger is being moved to the outfield. Of course, it will be an interesting transition, but he’s talented and athletic enough to do it successfully. He showed great power in 2015, and if he can make more contact, he will become an All Star quickly. Designated Hitter (1) - Byung Ho Park - Coming from Korea, no one can fairly project what Park can do in the short-term or long-term.. There is certain to be some adjustment needed. But the power potential is there. Can play first base too. Bench (4) - Backup Catcher, Eduardo Nunez, Oswaldo Arcia, Danny Santana - Santana, Nunez and Arcia are out of options. Nunez can play 3B, 2B, SS, LF and RF. Arcia can play LF, RF, DH and PH. Santana can play 2B and SS, but also is an option in CF if Buxton isn’t ready yet. DEPTH - There are several guys at AAA that could provide depth. At 1B, Kennys Vargas could provide some thump. At 2B, James Beresford deserved a call-up in 2015. He returns. Buck Britton at third base. Veterans like Darin Mastroianni and Joe Benson could be fifth outfielder types if needed. John Hicks and Juan Centeno have big league time as back-up catchers. PROSPECT DEPTH - Jorge Polanco’s had several cups of coffee. His ability to hit is much closer to big-league ready than his middle infield defense. Adam Brett Walker and his mammoth power should spend most of the 2015 season in Rochester. Max Kepler could be ready very soon after his strong showing in AA last year. He'll start in AAA, but could be up before midseason. PITCHERS STARTING PITCHERS Starter 1 - Ervin Santana - The veteran missed the first 80 games last year, and struggled a bit when he came back, but late, he showed he can be a reliable #3 type of starter. Starter 2 - Phil Hughes - 2015 was injury-filled and just poor, but 2014 was tremendous. Likely, he’s somewhere in the middle, which again makes him a solid mid-rotation starter. Starter 3 - Kyle Gibson - 2015 Twins Pitcher of the Year improved from 2014 to 2015. It’d be nice to see him take that next step in 2016 to being even more consistent. Can be a solid #3. Starter 4 - Tyler Duffey - He was about my #15 prospect coming into 2015. Rough debut, but after that, he was arguably the Twins top pitcher over the final two months of the season. Killer curveball. He deserves to start the season in the rotation despite just ten big league starts. Starter 5 - Tommy Milone - Because he doesn’t touch 90 often with his fastball, he is often overlooked, but he has been a quality #4-type of starter for several years. He needs pinpoint control, but most times out, he has it. PROSPECT DEPTH - Everyone wants to know when JO Berrios will be ready. Soon, and very soon. As much as the Twins should play the service time game with him, their precedent is that they won’t. However, because there are five guys who do deserve a spot to start the season. However, it’s amazing how these things tend to work themselves out over time. Also in AAA will likely be lefties Taylor Rogers and Pat Dean. BULLPEN Closer (1) - Glen Perkins - An All-Star the last three years, Perkins really struggled in the second half of the 2015 season. he was also injured in the second half of the 2014 season. Hopefully that trend goes away in 2016. Right-Handed Relievers (4) - Kevin Jepsen, Trevor May, Casey Fien, Michael Tonkin - Jepsen came to the Twins a year ago from the Rays at the deadline. He ended up doing a terrific job as the Twins closer. Trevor May will get an opportunity to start, but with the five mentioned above, plus Berrios, May will most likely be in the bullpen from the start of the season and has a chance to be dominant. Fien was dominant in 2013 and 2014 for the Twins, but 2015 was an injury-plagues season for the right-hander. If healthy, he provides some strong innings. Michael Tonkin is out of options, so he will have to remain with the team or be placed on waiver and could be lost. He should get a shot. DEPTH - There is quite a bit of depth here. From inside the organization, former Rule 5 picks Ryan Pressly and JR Graham will likely be in AAA (though if the Twins were to start the season with 13 pitchers, Pressly has a good chance). Alex Meyer had ups and downs after his move to the bullpen last year. Brandon Kintzler has pitched a lot of games and a lot of innings over the last six seasons in Milwaukee. He was hurt last year, so he came in on a minor league contract. Of course, Ricky Nolasco factors into the pitching staff still. We just can't be sure how. PROSPECT DEPTH - The names we heard a year ago as possible options for the 2nd half of 2015 are the same names that we’ll again here in 2016. Hard-throwing Nick Burdi, JT Chargois and Jake Reed could all get time in the big leagues in 2016. However, Minnesotan Brandon Peterson has been one of the better relievers in the organization the last two years and spent the 2nd half of 2015 in AA. Left-Handed Relievers (2) - Fernando Abad, Ryan O’Rourke - This is the area where the Twins have been most vocal about looking this offseason. To this point, the top free agent southpaw signing has been Abad, who came in on a minor league deal. He was not good in 2015, but was good for a couple of years before that. O’Rourke was a nice story in mid-2015 when he was called up. He has always dominated left-handers, and did so again in the majors. DEPTH - The Twins added a couple of lefty relievers who spent time in independent leagues in 2015. Buddy Boshers and Dan Runtzler both have big league time in the last few years, but were signed to minor league deals out of an indy league. Both are long-shots, but intriguing. PROSPECT DEPTH - Though Taylor Rogers has started throughout his pro career, Rogers posted very good numbers against left-handers in AAA in 2015. At 25, he could be considered a potentially dominant lefty reliever because of a good fastball and a devastating slider. Logan Darnell had a strong final month in Rochester and was called up, though he got pneumonia and couldn’t pitch. Mason Melotakis missed the entire 2015 season after having Tommy John surgery late in 2014, he impressed in the Instructional League, hitting 97 with his fastball. The Twins could be cautious, but he if he proves himself healthy, he could be ready quickly. So there you have it. My current projected roster, along with depth in the form of veteran minor leaguers or prospects who are on the cusp of a big league call up. What does this show? The Twins one need is a 6th or 7th inning reliever. That’s about it. Their lineup is pretty close to being set. Centerfield is really the only job that would be open in spring training. The bullpen is really solid in the late innings, but just needs another reliable arm. However, there are a lot of guys now in the organization who could thrive given an opportunity. It helps me feel good about sticking to my opinion that the Twins shouldn’t dig on the fringes. When middle-of-the-road relievers are making $3-5 million, and they’re not as good as internal options, there’s no reason to sign those guys. Trading for a Will Smith or a Jake McGee, for the right price, makes sense. As much as it is more exciting when there are transactions, they have to make sense and make the team better. Click here to view the article

Here is the link to the 2010 version. That year, I worked on it with MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo, and we tried a different site. It didn't go as well.

Here is the link to the 2009 version and 2011-2016: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/sethspeaks

I agree... and again, I don't think the Twins PR department should say anything about it.

I guess I don't get it... Per that article, he's working 6 hours a day at the Twins facility in the Dominican. They Twins have staff there and can monitor it. He can do the same drills there as he can in Ft. Myers. Do we want or need some sort of hour-by-hour breakdown of what he's doing? I guess I don't need to know the specifics. Having been the spring training in recent years, I know some of the fundamentals they do there with outfielders. These aren't things you would spend six hours a day on... If he's working on outfield drills for an hour a day... Shagging in the outfield for an hour a day. Hitting for an hour a day. Work at 3B for an hour a day. Conditioning/Lifting for an hour or two a day. That's a pretty busy, effective day. I guess I don't know what more the PR department is supposed to tell us.

It appears that Miguel Sano (and Tyler Duffey and likely one more player) is at MLB's Rookie Symposium. It's usually a 3-4 day thing in DC.

Agreed, and you can't spend 6 hours taking fly balls, so I'm glad to hear that he's also still working at third base. And 6 a.m. is crazy!

Well, if it's about experience, then guys like Corcino, Diemer, Larson and Murphy all have a year or two more of experience.

Cedar Rapids had outfielders and were in the playoffs... E-Town had a playoff chance until late. As soon as their season was over, he moved up. That first pro season is about a lot more than baseball. But, each year 1-2 college draft guys get moved up to Cedar Rapids.

Plouffe was one of those prospects that bounced a little bit, up and down. Span was another.

I thought I'd share my 2011 Top 10 Twins Prospects list as well (since Cody mocked my 2008 Top 4, I figured it was fair...)... Note - you can find all of our Top 30s from previous books. I have mine back to 2005, in the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook.

LaMonte Wade turned 22 years old on New Years Day. He was the Twins ninth- round pick just last year out and had a terrific pro debut in Elizabethton before joining the Cedar Rapids Kernels for their deep playoff run. Recently, he spent some time chatting with us, and letting us Get To Know him.Wade grew up in Maryland and was one of the best baseball players in the state coming out of high school. He went undrafted and stayed home, choosing to play for the Maryland Terrapins. He played mostly first base his first two college seasons. Coming into his junior season, he looked to be a Top 5 type of pick and was playing his more natural centerfield, but a broken hamate bone cost him a lot of playing time. He returned late in the year and played well. The Twins were fortunate to be able to select him in the ninth round. He began his pro career in Elizabethton. In 64 games, he hit .312/.428/.506 (.934) with eight doubles, five triples and nine home runs. He was also 12-13 in stolen base attempts. However, in his final 31 games with the E-Twins, he hit .333/.478/.514 (.993) with three doubles, two triples and four home runs. One of the most impressive things, however, was that in that time, he walked 31 times and struck out just 13 times. Following the Elizabethton season, Wade moved up and played in four games for Cedar Rapids. He also played in the outfield for the Kernels throughout their playoff run and had a couple of big hits. Thank you to LaMonte Wade for taking time to give us such thoughtful answers. -------------------------------------- Seth Stohs (SS): Growing up in Maryland, who was your favorite team to follow? Who were some of your favorite players? LaMonte Wade (LW): My favorite team to follow growing up was the Baltimore Orioles. I would watch their games when I would return home from school every day and occasionally get to a game or two. My favorite player to follow was Ken Griffey Jr. SS: You had a fantastic high school career. What are some of your best memories from those days? LW: My best memory from high school happened my senior year when my brother and I both were a part of the varsity team. Being able to play alongside my brother was a very special moment for me and my family. SS: You made the decision to stay at home and play at the University of Maryland. Was that a difficult decision? LW: The decision for me to attend the University of Maryland was an easy choice simply because I always wanted to be a Terp. My dad attended the university and would always take my brother and me to basketball games. I fell in love with the university at a young age so when the time came for me to choose a school it was an easy call. SS: How frustrating was it to miss weeks of your junior season with injury? LW: When I broke my hamate bone in the middle of the season, I was very disappointed because I knew I was going to miss a lot of games during a point in the season where we were playing a lot of good teams. Being sidelined, not able to help contribute on the field and not traveling with the team was the worst experience of my baseball career. SS: Did you have the chance to speak with scouts before the draft? Did you have a sense for where you might be drafted? What was your interaction with the Twins scout? LW: I did have the chance to speak with scouts before the draft, however, I did not really know where I might be or if I would get drafted. The conversation never came down to that question and answer. I had a meeting with Mr. Wilson (Twins scout, John) before the season and then didn't hear from him again until the draft. SS: The Twins took you in the 9th round. How did you find out that you had been drafted? How busy was your phone at that moment? LW: I found out that I had been drafted by the Twins when Mr. Wilson (Twins scout) called and told me, and I was also following the draft online. My phone was constantly ringing from scouts, my agent, and my parents. SS: What was the adjustment like for you from the amateur/college game to the professional game, both on and off the field? LW: Going from college ball to pro ball, I would say, the biggest adjustment was getting used to playing every day of the week. In college, we played three games on the weekend, along with one game during the week. Whereas in pro ball, we would play every night so my mind and body had to adjust quickly. As far as off the field, I had to get use to communicating with Latin players which was new to me, along with getting used to living with a host family for such an extended period of time. SS: You put up remarkable numbers at Elizabethton, walking a lot and showing power. Then you got the opportunity to play with the Cedar Rapids Kernels in their playoff run. How would you assess your professional debut? LW: My first year with the Twins I would say was very enjoyable and exciting. I met a lot of good people from players to coaches and staff. I was able to be apart of a playoff run in my first year and learned a lot along the way. SS: At this very early stage of your career, what would you say is your strength? LW: I would say my biggest strength is to be able to have a short memory and never get too high or too low after a good performance or a not-so-good one. SS: What is the area of your game that you would like to spend time working to improve? LW: I will like to improve on every aspect of my game and become a better all-around player that can help contribute to his team in a variety of ways on a consistent basis. SS: Who are some of the people who have helped you get to this point in your career? LW: My parents, first and foremost. Without them, I wouldn't be where I am today. They have always supported me and given me the best opportunities to succeed on and off the field. Also, my college coaches I feel have really prepared me and coached me to become a better player and person. SS: How has the offseason been? What do you do when you’re not playing baseball? LW: The offseason has been great. I work out with my brother every day, preparing for spring training. When I am not playing baseball, I like to spend time with friends and family, playing basketball and ping-pong. SS: At what point do you start your preparation for the 2016 season? LW: I took two weeks off after instructs, and from that point on, the preparation begins. I look forward to this upcoming season. SS: Favorite Baseball Movie? LW: My favorite baseball movie is Angels in the Outfield. Again, a big Thank You to LaMonte Wade. He is certainly one to watch in 2016! Feel free to comment and discuss below. Click here to view the article

I think they've had such a focus on pitching in the last 2-3 drafts. Also, They have Mauer, Park, Sano, Plouffe and probably others who can play 1B. I'd say, unless you get a great, great hitter, might as well wait. Get the athletes, hope a couple can stick at SS or CF and move the rest around.

Morneau won a batting title in his 3rd year back from a concussion. That's where Mauer will be in 2016, third season. And, why object to numbers? They're just numbers.

Vargas was never much of a prospect for a reason - several reasons - offensively or defensively. He can get a hold of one at times. We may have seen his peak in that final two months of 2014. But just 25, no reason to just drop him. Good depth.

Realistic season from Mauer is probably .300/.375/.450 (.825) with 40 doubles and 12-15 HR. He'll continue to likely be rested more because of his age and legs. More likely... .280/.355/.415 (.770) with 35 doubles and 10 homers.

He should probably have been included here. I included him with the corner outfielders, but he did play quite a bit of first base. He'll be in Chattanooga, so he'll be in that mix.

Very kind of you to say! Thank you! If others want to share their comments/thoughts on the Prospect Handbook, that would be great!

Yesterday, I began posting my thoughts on the 2016 Twins Roster Projections by considering the catchers in the Twins organization. Today, we move from behind the plate to first base. The Twins first baseman is set through the 2018 season, and with Byung Ho Park signed through 2019 (with an option for 2020), it’s possible the Twins have their first baseman set for the next five years.If anything goes off of plan, who are some of the options to fill in at first base in the coming years, and are there any prospects with the potential to be impact players down the line? Read on and see what you think, and then let’s discuss below in the comments. MAJOR LEAGUES Joe Mauer enters his third season as the Twins first baseman. The last two years have been frustrating for the St. Paul native. In his first ten seasons, Mauer caught. He was a six-time All-Star, a five-time Silver Slugger, a three-time Gold Glove winner, a three-time batting champ and the 2009 MVP. In those ten years, he combined to hit .323/.405/.468 (.873), an OPS 35% better than the average player. His last two seasons, he hit a combined .270/.348/.376 (.715), the OPS is just 1% better than average. Defensively, most of his metric would call him an average or slightly better than average first baseman. Byung Ho Park will be the primary DH, though he was a Gold Glove winner at first base in the Korean Baseball Organization (KBO). He will likely get some time at first base as well. We have learned that the Gold Glove in Korea is more of an offensive award. The Twins brought Park in for his bat. In the last two years, he has hit a combined 105 homers and driven in 270 runs. Over his last four seasons in the KBO, his OPS were .954, 1.039, 1.119, and 1.150. He will turn 30 in May. There is likely to be a learning curve early in his season. MINOR LEAGUES Rochester Red Wings Kennys Vargas is kind of the odd man out with the signing of Park. He is a first baseman and a DH. Vargas came up from AA on August 1st of 2014 and hit ten doubles and nine homers in 53 games, mostly as the Twins cleanup hitter and DH. 2015 was a frustrating season for the slugger. He began the season in the big leagues. He was sent down to AA. He came back up, but at the end of June, he was sent back to AA, and Miguel Sano was called up. Vargas played well the rest of the way and moved to AAA and came back to the Twins in September. In 58 total games, he hit .240/.277/.349 (.626) with four doubles and five homers. There were rumors about him being sold to Korea, but that would make little sense. He’s still just 25 years old and has an option year remaining. With injury possibilities, and the possibility of Park needing a little time in the minor leagues, having depth will be important. Vargas can also be an intimidating bench bat, due to his size. Reynaldo Rodriguez is 29 years old and 2016 will mark his 11th professional season. After spending time in the Red Sox and Yankees, this will be his fourth in the organization. It will be the first time he has an invitation to big league spring training. In Rochester in 2015, he hit .255/.307/.446 (.753) with 34 doubles, 16 homers and 80 RBI. Chattanooga Lookouts Dalton Hicks was the Twins 17th round pick in 2012 out of Central Florida. He was in AA with the Lookouts in 2015. In fact, he was our choice for Hitter of the Month in April. However, he was hurt most of the rest of the season. He spent it in Ft. Myers rehabbing. He did return to the Lookouts late in the season. He will be 26 years old at the start of the 2016 season. In 2013, he led minor league baseball in RBI with 110 (1 more than teammate Adam Brett Walker). At 6-5 and nearly 250 pounds, Hicks has good power. Bryan Haar was the Twins 34th round pick in 2012 out of the University of San Diego where he played third base before moving to first base to accommodate a third baseman named Kris Bryant. At 6-3 and 220 pounds, Haar is a good athlete with some pop in his bat. He played in just 68 games in Ft. Myers in 2015, largely due to injury. Ft. Myers Miracle Trey Vavra played less than two months of the 2015 season, but he was very good with the Kernels. In fact, when he was hurt in late May, he was leading (or top three) the organization in most offensive categories. However, he suffered an ankle injury that later was determined to be a broken bone in his foot. He had surgery and missed the rest of the season. He has spent this offseason playing for the Melbourne Aces in the ABL, alongside his brother Tanner and playing for his father, Joe. It was an opportunity for him to make up some at bats. Assuming he gets to spring training and 100%, he should be pushed to Ft. Myers. Minnesotan Blake Schmit will also likely be given an opportunity to start the year with the Miracle. A late-round pick in 2014 out of Maryland, Schmit began 2013 in EST. He moved up to Cedar Rapids, but he was hit in the face with a pitch and missed a couple of months. He returned in a utility role for the Miracle. He can play all four infield spots. Cedar Rapids Kernels Zander Wiel will turn 23 next week. He played for three years at Vanderbilt. Last year, he hit .316/.406/.571 (.977) with 19 doubles and 15 homers. The Twins took him in the 12th round and he signed following the College World Series. Wiel is a very good athlete, tall and strong. After signing, he played in just a couple of games before being hit in the hand with a pitch. He missed a month. He is an advanced hitter and should jump straight to Cedar Rapids. Amaurys Minier was the Twins big international signing in 2012. He signed for about $1.5 million. He spent 2013 and 2014 in the GCL and improved his OPS from .707 to .925. He began 2015 in the GCL, but just two games before moving up to Elizabethton. The only reason for that is because he was again hurt late in spring training and rehabbed through extended spring training. He hit just .194/.279/.280 (.559) with nine doubles and two homers in E-Town. Don’t be surprised if he starts in EST again, but he should spend time in Cedar Rapids. Extended Spring Training In July of 2013, the Twins big international signing was outfielder/first baseman Lewin Diaz. His body type is often compared to David Ortiz and Ryan Howard, so first base was always the place he would most likely play. He spent 2014 in the Dominican Summer League. He came to the States in 2015. He played in 33 games for the GCL and hit .261/.354/.369 (.724) with seven doubles and a homer. He moved up to Elizabethton for the final 14 games and hit just .167 but hit three home runs. Power will be his game. He is most likely to spend the year in Elizabethton. Kolton Kendrick was the Twins eighth round pick in 2015 out of high school. He was regarded as the most powerful high school bat in the draft, compared to the likes of Mark McGwire and Josh Hamilton by Baseball America. He’ll strike out a bit, and may not hit for real high average, but his power potential is great. Unfortunately, after signing, he came down with mono and played just 24 games. He hit .200/.371/.271 (.642) with three doubles and a triple while regaining strength. He will go to extended spring training and could go either to Elizabethton or stay in the GCL. SUMMARY Joe Mauer is the first baseman. Byung Ho Park is the designated hitter. They can flip-flop once or twice a week as needed. If either gets hurt, Kennys Vargas is just Rochester away. In the lower levels, there is a lot of big power potential. Hopefully Dalton Hicks and Trey Vavra can return to their early 2015, pre-injury forms. Zander Wiel has power potential. Amaurys Minier, Lewin Diaz and Kolton Kendrick are all very raw, but have very big power potential. First Base Prospect Rankings: Byung Ho Park,Lewin DiazAmaurys MinierKolton KendrickTrey Vavra Click here to view the article

I always enjoy prospect lists... They're fun to debate... For instance... you have Jay at #3. I have him at #9... I can say you have him too high... you can tell me I have him too low. Ha! There's no way I could have Jay ahead of Kepler. I considered Kepler for #2 but went with Berrios again. 1-3 (Buxton, Berrios and Kepler, are all elite in my mind. I think Gordon is close to a Top 50 guy as well. I have Rogers at about 17-18 because as a starter, he's a #5... but as a reliever, he could be good, more than just a LOOGY. That's valuable. So, in that case, it might be the case where you rank him a little high and I rank him a little low. Mine is also a little different because I included Park and Javier as well. Good list!