Anorthagen

If it were me I would wait to see how well Meyer and Gibson are doing in the minor leagues, around June or so then, if both are ready to be promoted, trade Correa and bring up Gibson and Meyer. Win win situation

How come the picture you guys have/use of Pinto is of him with his mask turned the wrong way?

Arroyo is going to turn 37 in January, so I set his age for when the season. Sorry I should have mentioned that. And Hughes had a 6+ ERA in '12.

According TwinCities.com the Twins are reportedly interested in pitchers Phil Hughes (Yankees), Bronson Arroyo (Reds), and Jason Vargas (LA Angels). Hughes and Arroyo are expected to receive multi- year deals and large sums of money in that contract, which could scare off the Twins when trying to sign these guys. Phil Hughes, 26, RHP, is coming off an acceptable year that would be a definite upgrade for the Twins if they were to sign him. In 2013 he went 8-3, with a 3.52 ERA, and 87 IP, 75/21 K/BB, and a 1.20 WHIP. Overall he is coming off a year that looks great on paper and on the field. If he were to sign with the Twins I could see these numbers improve as he would move into a larger ballpark, in Target Field as compared to Yankee stadium. According to Twins Daily offseason Handbook, Hughes is estimated to receive a 3 year $30 million deal, which is more than reasonable for the Twins, especially at his young age of 26. Bronson Arroyo, 37, RHP, who for his age pitched in 202 innings in 2013, in those innings he had an ERA of 3.79, which isn't terrible but would be something worth looking at if he were to come over to the American League. He also got paid $16.5 million last year and is now, according to the Twins Daily offseason Handbook, looking for a 2 year $24 million deal. Something the Twins could afford, along with the Hughes contract, giving us two front of the rotation guys, that would only take up $24 million a year. Jason Vargas, 30, LHP, compared to the other two pitchers listed he has the highest ERA of 4.02 in 150 innings. Also In the middle of last season he was removed due to a blood clot in his shoulder, which is something I hope the Twins don't get themselves involved with. Coming off of a one year deal with the Angels, in which he started 24 games, he is most likely looking for another one year, at my best guess, around $4-6 million in that contract. Overall I could see all three of these pitchers wearing a Minnesota Twins jersey Opening day, but the best options for the Twins would be to sign pitchers Phil Hughes and Bronson Arroyo. For Hughes, it is his age that is most attractive and with a new home in Target Field there is no reason why he shouldn't be more successful here. As for Arroyo It is his innings pitched that grabs your attention the most, and they should for his age, being 37 years old it makes it even more likely the Twins could sign him for a cheaper value compared to other pitchers. As seen on http://upnorthbaseball.blogspot.com/2013/11/hughes-arroyo-and-vargas.html

Will the handbook be availbe tomorrow, if not today?

Is Frankie going to implode in the 4th, like he did with us?

I could see Gene Glynn becoming the new manager of the Twins

In a year of ups and downs the Twins will, without question, finish in the bottom half of the standing for the third year in a row, and end the season with possibly more questions than answers. Going into the year many wondered if this would be Morneau's last year, if Dimamond could repeat and lead the rotation this year, if Plouffe could tear the cover off the ball as he did the year, could Hicks excel at the majors, how long the middle infield would last and if the rotation got any better. Well now going into the final games of the season some questions got answered and some didn't. Such as Morneau eventually did get traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates who are only two game back of the St.Louis Cardinals. Even though it was sad to see him go after so many excellent years with the Twins. It was time to move on. But now the question lies, who is going replace him? This I could see Parmelee or Colabello taking over. With the occasionally Mauer over there as well. Diamond, who started the year on the DL and was never the same. He ended up going back to AAA, only to return as a September call-up. Where he looks like he hasn't changed from earlier in the season. Over at 3rd base Plouffe has been inconsistent all year, has battled injuries every now and then and has been about average defensively. Overall he won't be the third baseman of the future as Sano comes up, he will most likely be the opening day starter but will be benched by June or July. From there he will most likely become a super utility guy. Now as if Hicks can ever succeed at the major league level, I don't see a reason why shouldn't be able to in the future. He is, after all a five tool player and hopefully can be the opening day centerfield for next season. Which I could see happen, if he can show his talents in spring training. Dozier, unlike Plouffe, has started to make a name for himself this season. Out of all the players on the team Dozier is defiantly the most improved. Hitting for a slightly higher average than he did in years past, along with becoming a solid run producer, especially in the home run category, setting the record for home runs by a second baseman in a Twins uniform. Should have no problem making the team next year. Florimon, similar to Dozier, has shown off his skills over at short, lasting the entire season in the majors and could be the starting opening day shortstop for the Twins as no one seems to be knocking on the door for shortstops in the farm system. Last year after completing the second straight losing season the Twins knew one thing had to be fixed and that was the starting rotation. So in an attempt to fix it they traded away Denard Span for pitching prospect Alex Meyer, who will mostly be called up next year. Also trading away Ben Revere for, major league ready pitcher,Vance Worly who was a 2ed or 3rd pitcher at best. Who got pushed into be the opening day starter and never lived up to the high expectations. He I could see in the rotation next year as the number 2 or 3 starter. The other pitcher who the Twins acquired in the trade with the Philles was pitching prospect Trevor May who started the year in AA, New Britain and came up to AAA Rochester to join the bullpen in the playoffs. He also should join the Twins in the 2014 season. Pitchers such as Kevin Correia, Mike Pelfrey, Liam Hendricks, Andrew Albers, P.J. Walter, Samuel Deduno, Pedro Hernandez, and Kyle Gibson are all different stories, yet all of them have made a start for the Twins this year. Mike Pelfrey who signed a one year deal with the Twins over the offseason shouldn't be back next season simply because he has given the Twins no reason to re-sign him. Correia, who signed a two year contract, will be back in the starting rotation most likely at the number two or three spot. Hendricks, Hernandez and Walters I don't see coming back to the majors leagues any time soon, unless for a spot start or as a long reliever. As for the others, Deduno ,Albers and Gibson I could see in the major league rotation next year and hopefully making an impact. Here are my 2014 Opening Day Predictions (if the Twins don't sign a big name free agent) : And the Starting Rotation 1.Samuel Deduno 2.Kevin Correia 3.Scott Diamond 4. Vance Worly 5. Kyle Gibson As we near the end of the 2013 season some will stay and some will go. Share with me of who you think will stay and who will go. As seen on http://upnorthbaseball.blogspot.com

Once Arcia and Mauer get healthy again to go along with Willingham and dozier i could see myself tuning into games that are meaning less as long as they get 4 at bats a game.

In the recent news of the Justin Morneau trade the Twins have welcomed aboard a new outfielder to an already crowded outfield. Alex Presley is one (and now two, second is RHP relief pitcher Duke Welker, who also came from AAA) of the two players who will come over to the Twins organization in this trade. Out of all the articles I have read over the past few hours about the this trade I have always found myself saying the same thing after reading them, Who is Alex Presley? And why did the Twins get him specifically? First off Alex Presley was drafted in the 8th round of the 2006 Amateur Draft by the Pittsburgh Pirates, at the age of 21. From there he spent 4 years in the minor leagues to then make his debut on September 8, 2010. He was what he is now, a September call up. In 2010 he played in 19 Major League games to have only 6 hits and an OPS of .596. After that he returned to the minor leagues to start the season. Then would be called back up again to the Majors and would go on to play in 52 games and have 64 hits with 4 home runs and 20 RBIs. Following that season, going into 2012 at the age of 26, he would play in 104 games with the Pirates, batting .237 (as compared to .298 the year before) with 10 home runs and 25 RBIs, this would turn out to be his make or break season for Presley. Now most recently in 2013, starting the year at 27 years old now at 28, his career seemed to have taken a wrong turn. He started the year in Triple-A, where he had a modest stat line of .298/.376/.427 , in 89 games for Louisville. Then In the middle of that season he had been called up to the Majors once again at the age of 28. Playing in only 29 games for the Pittsburgh Pirates batting a little over career average of .264. After his short stint there he found himself back in Triple-A on August 12 only to be traded away 18 days later to the Minnesota Twins organization. Because of him being traded one day away from September 1st he will be a September call up, and will be given a chance to prove himself to the front office and the dugout on why he should be included in next years opening day roster. Also I believe the Twins choose him in this trade to take over for Thomas in the centerfield until Hicks or Buxton are ready to take it over in Minnesota. Once that time comes I think he will either be a fourth outfielder for the Twins or be the starting center fielder for the Rochester Red Wings. Whatever may happen it was defiantly a steal for the Pittsburgh Pirates, getting a former MVP who is now starting to get his swing back. As seen on http://upnorthbaseball.blogspot.com/?m=1 P.S. After watching the movie 42 I can't help but think of Mauer and Morneau having this conversation. Mauer: Where'd you get traded? Morneau: Pittsburgh!!!

Does anyone know why we got a outfielder in the first place, we already have enough with Willingham, Arcia, , Thomas, and Mastro. To me it doesn't make sense unless they plan on trading Willingham later on.

Just wrote about this: Willingham placed on waivers - Blogs - Minnesota Twins News & Rumors Forum

According to Phil Miller of the Star Tribune Josh Willingham has been claimed by an unknown team through waivers. The Twins now have until Friday to either trade him and his $7 million salary or pull him back and keep him for the rest of the year. Knowing that Willingham is now back healthy and starting to pick up the pace offensively it would be a smart move for many contending teams to take a bid at the 34 year old left fielder. With waivers it would start with the American league, then if no team in the American League has claimed him, it then would then move over to the National League. Assuming he has been claimed by a contending American League team, a team that would need a right handed left fielder, in my opinion are the Rangers, or the Rays. At the begining of the season the Rays had the 3rd best farm system while thr Rangers had the 4th best. If he had made through waivers in the American League and was claimed by a National League team he could have been claimed by the the Arizona Dimanondbacks. Who I think is the most probably option due to Jason Kubel being designated for assignment. The Diamondback had the 13th best farm system at the beginning of the season. The Daimondbacks also have the 6th best prospect in Archie Bradley. UPDATE: The Star Tribune and the Baltimore Sun report that it has been the Orioles who have claimed Josh Willingham off of waivers. No deal has been made yet. As seen on http://upnorthbaseball.blogspot.com/?m=1

I think I finally got the link to work.

This past series,and the next, Mauer will be watching his teammate,from home, as they get ready to face the Kansas City Royals. A month ago us fans were hoping by now we would be ahead in the standings looking down on the Royals and maybe even the Indians. And after having 23 games in the month of August against central division opponents this isn't the case. The Twins only ended up winning 9 out of those 20 games (3 left to be played against Kansas City). After going onto the 7-day Disabled-List with a concussion the Mauer-less Twins have gone 3-3, a steady .500. Now it has been nice to see some rookies play as of late, such as Herrmann or Colabello. But nothing compares to the high average, low strikeout catcher that is Joe Mauer. On the radio the other day, I heard some say that the Twins are just fine without Mauer just as the Vikings were with Percy Harvin. Rather there is no need for the Twins to pay so much for so little of what he is doing. See what this is, is just a misunderstanding, nothing more. Mauer's presence in a major league lineup is something that is rare and something very few teams have in a catcher. He is something the Twins can't live without at this moment, he is the only good offensive player the Twins have right now. Sure they can score runs without him, but very few of them. Mauer's value to this team is needed yet it is limitless. Mauer has the abilities to play catcher, his one true position, first base which is most likely his future position or even the occasional right field, something that he and I hopes never happens again. Yet the only and main reason that he plays in different positions across the field is so that his bat can stay in the lineup. No matter if he bats second or third. No matter who follows him in the lineup, weather it's Morneau or Willingham, he is going to make an impact in the Minnesota Twins lineup. His bat is what makes him who he is, yes he has won some gold gloves in the past, but who knows if he will win any over at first base. His offensive potential has been reached and met by people's expectations back when he was drafted first overall in the 2001 Amateur Draft. Because of his offensive abilities his WAR is an outstanding 5.2 this season which ranks best across the league for catchers. He also leads all catchers in At Bats this season with 445 along with having the 2ed best average in the league. So he's not just healthy this year, but he's consistent as well. Right now no one can replace Mauer's ability to play the game of baseball, not Herrmann, nor Doumit, or Sano or even Buxton. Sure we all think Buxton and Sano will be superstars one day but right Mauer is the bigger man in the Minnesota Twins organization. He has shown us day in and day out that he can hit a Chapman's 100-Mph fastball, Sabathia's Curveball and whatever Verlander has to offer. The point is that he can and he will hit for average at an exceptional level that Buxton and Sano quite possibly may never reach. So embrace his value now, while he's in his prime years of his career. ~as seen on http://upnorthbaseballl.blogspot.com/ ~