Physics Guy

I have seen enough from Vargas to think he warrants a chance to get 450-500 AB this year. He's had decent numbers in partial play over the last three years. It is not easy for a young player to come up and not get consistent AB's. This is the perfect year to give Vargas a shot and if he isn't successful, put Park in as the DH. I would prefer a platoon system where Mauer, Vargas and Park fill the 1B/DH slots. Sit Mauer at least 1-2 times a week, especially against tough LHP.

Nope, it simply means I would rather give the guys we have a chance than to give up a high draft pick to sign Trumbo for money that would be better spent elsewhere.

Is there any value in trading Polanco? Maybe include him with Santana?

They should be looking to trade any of those players at any point during this season, not just if they get off to a bad start.

Can you point me to where I would see these defensive metrics? I'm not sure why the defense should have been so poor in 2016 as compared to 2015. Middle IF is also my biggest concern if Dozier sticks around since it likely means Polanco starts the year at SS. One positive is that all of those young players at least stand a chance at improving their defense. If I remember correctly, Kepler wasn't rated very well. In watching him, I have a hard time believing he won't at least be average in RF.

I don't want Trumbo any more than I want Bautista. Too many DH/IB players on this roster already. Give the job to Vargas/Park and improve areas that need it more like SP and RP. This lineup works fine for me if they keep Dozier: Dozier - 2B Mauer - 1B Sano - 3B Vargas/Park - DH Kepler - RF Polanco - SS Rosario - LF Castro - C Buxton - CF If Polanco or Buxton can handle leadoff, put Dozier in the #3 spot and slide everyone down.

Which it appears they may be content to do unless the Twins take the offer they've been given.

I will go on record as saying I very much want the Twins to trade Dozier. Trading him for SP prospects could help improve an area that has hurt the Twins for much of the recent past. At this point, the Twins have to realize that the market isn't what they had hoped it would be, but I also don't want to trade Dozier for one pitcher who hasn't proven anything more than Berrios. I am OK with the Twins walking away from a JDL+filler trade. It is very possible they may regret it, but it is also possible the Dodgers may decide that they need to upgrade their offer sometime in the next month. I am OK with gambling that the market improves even if the downside is that they don't trade Dozier at all. I support Willinghammer's statement that the Twins' rotation should improve next year without major changes. Their starting staff in 2015 produced an ERA just above 4.00 with Gibson 194 IP, Pelfrey 164 IP, Hughes 155 IP, Milone 128 IP, Santana 108 IP, May 83 IP (as a starter) an Duffey 58 IP. Outside of Gibson having his best season, nobody had a great year (maybe Duffey but only for 58 IP). I think that some combination of Sanana, Gibson, Santiago, Hughes, May, Berrios and Meija has a decent chance to produce between a 4 and 4.50 ERA this coming season.

Yes, we probably disagree. Shouldn't LA be looking for a way to improve their WS chances? Outside of two years of control, Dozier's fit gives them exactly what they should be looking for IMO. If he is still producing in two years, they can resign him since they will have a number of large contracts coming off the books at that time. This trade just makes too much sense, I just with there was one other team out there that would increase the demand for Dozier enough that our FO could find a trade they can accept.

Fair enough, but who do you think could become available that you think has higher value? I'm not sure I can think of anybody that would have more control, would be made available in trade and would produce near Dozier's level.

My impression was that the Dodgers probably would avoid Kinsler due to their impending luxury tax situation. Kinsler would certainly fit the "more of a track record" your mentioned in a previous post more than Dozier, but he is 36 I believe. Utley would fit that bill as well, but the Dodgers seem to pretty clearly be interested in an upgrade from him. Isn't three years of 20+ HR and .750+ OPS a pretty good track record? The other guys that would fit a longer track record are most likely not available.

Are you really trying to argue that Dozier = Nunez/Coomer/Suzuki???? If you want hyperbole, throw in Dave Engle as well.

Considering how much I see people arguing semantics in these forums, I'll throw out one as well. I would change the word "many" in the last sentence to "some". Vazquez was good, but I wouldn't call him HOF worthy.

Most years I would agree with this, but I am inclined to go with both Park and Vargas on the 25 man roster to start the year. I want to see the Twins use an optimal 1B/DH platoon with Mauer, Park and Vargas. I also don't see a huge need for more the 4 OF because I would like to see Rosario, Buxton and Kepler all get about 600 PA this year. If we find out one of them isn't a full-time regular, make a change in mid-May or June 1.

He could probably still be a LOOGY. He's only 59 (retired from Twins at 46).

If talking about "early" arrivals, meaning sooner than expected, I would say Vielma or Gordon. I don't have a ton of faith in Polanco at SS. (I also don't have a ton of faith that Molitor agrees with me, but that's another story.) Vielma and Gordon would seem the logical options if he doesn't pan out (besides Escobar of course). The same could happen if Dozier is traded and Esco doesn't work out as a full-time SS. As a fourth OF, I could definitely see Granite making it a little sooner than expected. From what I've read he is a solid CF which would make him a good option.

Kennys Vargas had a better OPS last year than Bautista and I MIGHT argue that he has a better chance of improving his than Bautista. I might also be terribly wrong, but I want to find out. Figure out how to maximize your use of Mauer, Vargas and Park at 1B and DH and leave Rosario in LF. I would rather find out if Rosario, Park and Vargas have a chance at helping us in the future.

Bourjos only helps the pitchers if Buxton isn't playing, which should be very rarely. I can handle Rosario or Kepler in CF for a handful of games that Buxton doesn't play. I'm hoping we have a better hitter as our 4th OF.

The only spots I really see is SS/Util and RP (and maybe 4th OF). Aybar and Feliz make sense as they could fill roles I don't see occupied by young players needing to play (assuming Dozier is dealt). Here's what I could see: C - Castro 1B - Mauer 2B - Polanco SS - Escobar/Aybar 3B - Sano LF - Rosario CF - Buxton RF - Kepler DH - Vargas Bench - Ryan, Park, Util IF (Esco or Aybar), 4th OF (Grossman, Schuck, Palka, Granite) SP - Santana and 4 among: Gibson, Santiago, May, Berrios, DeLeon?, Hughes RP - Feliz, Kintzler, Pressley, Perkins, Rogers/O'Rourke, Duffey/Chargois Does anybody know if May has options left? If so, he could work on a conversion back to starting in AAA. I suspect Hughes will be in the rotation if he is healthy or maybe as a long reliever out of the pen. I wonder if the Twins aren't waiting to trade Santana depending on what they get for Dozier.

Elite: noun 1. (often used with a plural verb) the choice or best of anything considered collectively, as of a group or class of persons.

I was hoping somebody else remembered this. I still can't believe it happened.

I am 46 years old, married for 20+ years and live in Lakeville. We have two boys, one in HS and one in MS, so I spend most of my summer coaching baseball. As a result, I don't get to participate in the game threads as much as I would like. I am a HS Physics teacher and coached HS baseball for about 20 years. I have been following the Twins since I can remember. I remember having a black and white 13" TV that my parents used in our RV and putting it in my room so I could watch as many games as possible (back when they televised less than half the games). I remember being devastated going to my first game on a Sunday in '78 and seeing Craig Kusick playing 1B instead of Carew. I think I almost started crying when Calvin starting selling off the boys (Ford, Wynegar, Smalley, Carew,...). Our extended family (probably 20 or so) made a road trip to KC for a series in 1988 (everybody else in the family were suddenly interested in the Twins ). One of my favorite memories of watching Twins games was watching Cristian Guzman hit a triple. I don't think he was as fast as Buxton, but man could he fly around the bases. I think my favorite memory was Guzman scoring on a squeeze bunt. Big deal you say? Well, Guzman happened to be the batter. He was coming to the plate with a runner on third and less than two outs. I remember thinking that the Twins should squeeze bunt with Guzman up. Imagine my surprise when they actually did it! Guzman put down a good bunt, the fielder rushed his throw and threw it past 1B. I was watching the game with one of my friends and recall saying he might score. The ball ended up in the RF corner, the RF didn't play the ball well and Guzman came all the way around the bases to score. My favorite players: Carew, Castino, Puckett, Koskie and Guzman. The first blogger I probably read was Gleeman and then I migrated to Bones, Hageman, the Nicks, Seth and TwinkieTown. I started reading Twins Daily from the start and started posting in Oct 2012. I visit nearly daily, especially during the offseason. I truly appreciate what this site has become and enjoy reading the articles and forums immensely, even when they sometime devolve into somewhat silly/petty arguments.

I know he's no longer a young player (turned 30 in July) but what about Scott Van Slyke as a 4th player. He doesn't play a ton for the Dodgers and has good splits against LHP as a ptotential RH combo with Rosario or Kepler.

Unless of course you are the Rays trading Young and Harris for Garza and Bartlett. They were smart to trade him at max value, just like the Twins will be if they trade Dozier.

From KLaw Chat: Jeff: Speaking only in terms of fit, and not expected cost to acquire, is Logan Forsythe, Brian Dozier or Yangervis Solarte the best option for the Dodgers current roster? Klaw: Dozier’s a legitimate all-star, and if they can acquire him without giving up Bellinger or Verdugo I’d do it. Those two kids are close to major-league ready with huge upsides, and I don’t think I’d part with either for Dozier’s age-30 and -31 seasons.