ND-Fan

I think Fans were looking for even better signings than four listed above. Like Sanchez, Santanna, kuroda, and Brandon McCarthy ( not that good last year but still better than Twins pitching). If the Twins had invested in top of tier free agency pitching Say grienke and Sanchez the cost per year would have been 40 million per year seeming a lot of money but look we already have invested this year 20 million so far this year and if we add another free agent will put us close to 30 million. But these two pitchers would have provided us top number 1 and 2 pitcher for several years to come. If we go through another round of inflation on pitching it probably mean cost of these pitchers will start to look like a bargain. Both young pitchers that would be going through prime of pitching years. Also we wouldn't have given up any prospects to acquire this pitching. If figures were correct this would have put the Twins at little over 100 million with 30 million left to fill in other needs and Twins would have been competitive in this division. Also these contracts would be expiring at time some of better prospects would begin to start to cost us money. This still doesn't mean we couldn't trade these players down road for other prospects or needs in players. Tell me what the Attendance would have been with winning team this past year and also added tv revenue that would have come from being playoff team. Subtract that from their salaries and tell me what the excitement level would be around the Twins organization would be. How many season tickets would be sold, club uniforms and etc., and also tv revenue. Tell me how excited fan base would be with all prospects coming and team already able to compete. This is what Seattle is trying to do jump start their franchise and they are paying much more premium to do this with 10 year contracts instead of 6 year contract and 5 year contract. I think Twins are going to get their now but its much more difficult road they are traveling maybe little less risky. The Twins are not bottom small market team they are middle to upper middle revenue team if they get good product on the field. They have potential to draw substantially over 3 million,they have large fan base in the Midwest and spread over US, and this would also relate to Tv viewership and merchandise etc. Also this fan base is loyal and follows the Twins willing to travel hundreds of miles to watch them if they have good product to watch. The Twins are unique market in baseball their much more a regional team than most of other teams in baseball a smaller version of Red Sox. If you look at Tv market they have Twin Cities plus tv markets in North Dakota, South Dakota, large part of Iowa, parts of Montanna, as well as greater Minnesota. They also draw Canadians that like to watch MLB especially when Toronto is playing because its closest drive for many western Canadians to watch baseball. I think press in Twins Cities doesn't realize and many Twin City residents that the Twins draw is much larger than Metro area and this why it always amazes marketing people that Twin Cities can support four Pro teams to extent they do its because they are regional draw for pro sports. So much said of this The Twins have money if they so choose to spend it and develop a contending team. I think Twins if they invested so much back like they talked to into team from revenue could be a contending team year in year out if continued to develop players and uses FA to fill in gaps when they are unable to develop right kind of player.

The Twins maybe are looking to trade Doumit before season starts. It also give them depth at triple a for coming year.

I think business side of Twins finally got through to ownership that slow rebuild was not in the best interest of Twins brand and financial health of the Team. I think Twins have been doing internal evaluations and saw what loosing can do to revenue streams for baseball team. A prime example of this is Seattle where attendance has dropped 50% since they opened there new field in Seattle ten years ago. So now to get their brand back up they are buying players like Cano at very high prices and a lot of risk to the organization. Baseball has changed for Terry in that things have speeded up in that slow rebuild is two to three years not like they did in 90's where it took nearly 10 years to put a winner back on the field. The risk also has gone up and that's why there's such more money being spent on analytical side of baseball with saber metrics as well as scouting and wheel and dealing of players to maximize performance. I think Terry will adapt to this change and Pohlads have been good employers in that continue to keep people in positions if they are willing to adapt and change with organization philosophy. I also think Pohlads are changing as owners also they have been hiring internal studies to how to adapt this organization to compete and remain competitive year in year out. The bottom line for them is too remain profitable and continue to grow brand name Twins so it has more value each year. With this Brand name increasing in value it lets Pohlad family gain business with ever more businesses and crosses over into their other businesses ever increasing the empire they have built. Terry is right that spending totally on free agency to build club is disaster waiting to happen unless your one of couple of franchises with unlimited funding and even these organization are running into trouble if they don't develop their own players also. I believe NY is becoming example of this its getting harder and harder to fill their needs with FA and payroll with luxury tax has begun to even the playing field some. Its teams like Boston and ST. Louis that have used FA to fill needs that they have failed to do so with their farm system. The Twins failure these past three seasons is from reaction of FA when Twins lost key players to Free Agency or were about to loose players to Free Agency. They made series of Trades in which Twins lost talent and received little in return in the final end. Also their development players wasn't there either because of some bad luck or I also believe their unwillingness to spend more money on top line draft picks which had changed with some smaller market teams willing to spend more money here than on Free Agency. Some this has gone away now with new caps put in place by baseball. Because if you look now some of better prospects the Twins have now is because they did spend money like Sano signing. I do believe that Terry Ryan does feel pressure of getting talent back on the field and putting somewhat competitive team for this coming year. I also think its been harder this year because Free Agents don't believe they are close enough to be winners again and my guess were a lot closer to being a winning team that we think. Its just matter getting right talent assembled with prospects coming up and i also think we need to get a little lucky in that players start to also believe in that they can win.

I think Detroit grade is way to harsh. Detroit is going to be much faster and athletically team this coming year and I bet much better defensive team. I willing to bet there not done adding bullpen strength yet and I wouldn't be surprised they still make a move yet this year to improve there offense. If you look back at last year Fielder had pretty much lack luster year for what he was being paid. I am also betting they did some of this for better club house chemistry. If Fielder continues to decline that trade is going to look amazing for Detroit. The one I would grade poorly is the Fister trade on short run but may be a great trade on long term if pitcher they acquired develops into top starter in couple of years and they are able to sign scherzer( sorry about spelling) to long term deal. Cleveland can't be graded yet they usually make their deals after Winter meetings so a correct grade would be incomplete. KC I think needs to do a lot of tinkering their losses are going to be harder to be replaced and I think they are going to decline this coming year. Just to many spots that need filling and not enough money or ready talent available . My Grade would be a C. Twins moves so far this year would give them C grade if nothing else was done. I think they have added probably at least 6 wins to this club. Mauer moving to first will guarantee Twins offense improves because he's going to much healthier and rested adding more hitting to the Twins. Also like Cleveland there grade is incomplete but I would bet by opening day the Twins will have addressed some of their weaknesses and club will be improved. If they do address pitching and offense some more they could easily be 76 to 82 game winner. Not quite ready to make a playoff run but with Kids coming up should start to be contention by 2015 or 2016,

You could be right and the Twins go out and sign whole starting pitching rotation this year. Its sounds incredible but then again some of Terry Ryans quotes of saying that pitching has to be dealt with and improved is priority and at the cost of others may be telling tale. I also don't think Twins want to go into all star game out of contention and not spent money on this team. I also think that cost of loosing is showing up in their financial projections and hurting the value of the brand. I think the Twins want to get this team to 76 to 82 win team and the improvements they have made so far are only get them 68 to 72 win team. If they can get pitching to 76 to 82 win team with this offense they will have this year it means when these young prospects arrive and learn to produce this team could shoot to 87 to 92 win team in real hurry. It will also mean that they won't loose first couple of years when these kids are cheap and very good because the pitching talent isn't here to help them win. It looks to me the pitching talent is couple years behind the offense talent coming. So locking up pitching for next 3 years is priority if they are going to get extended run with these highly valued prospects.

I doubt the Twins will give up a draft pick for Drew. Only circumstance would be his value has fallen far enough that giving up a pick is worth it in Terry's mind and like I say Red Sox will retain him if value drops that much.

The recent article interviewing Jim pohlad I found very informing and I Think the Twins are in process updating and improving organization but in their very quite way of changing things. I always have thought Terry Ryan knew baseball and was good boss to work for in that ne always respected people under him and never did things improper . Pohlads at least seem to stay arms length away from baseball operations but it does appear they like to set organizational philosophy and management structure on the big picture. Also they are concerned to keep team brand a valuable commodity and loosing like they have in long run wrecks this team brand and value. What I liked about this article from Pohlads is they are concerned they are competitive team in longterm not bunch of up and downs. They are studing this and trying to correct this in systematic way without large turnover of personnel. I think the future is bright for the Twins and for Mairners I think this is ship heading for crash and burn.

Yankee's based on 189 million for payroll if they have 30 million tied up for fill in players for pitching and infield they can have 8 other contracts at 20 million average. This 189 million is self imposed limit to not pay luxury tax and I believe if they can get down under it again for year it reduces tax also if they exceed again. I think they have been paying 40 percent rate on their payroll so if they have been at 200 million plus the tax they have been used to paying a payroll of 280 million. What they can spend on players puts them in another league than what most of other clubs in baseball can spend. Only Dodgers, Angels, and maybe Texas can spend close to these levels. They have spending level double to triple what the Twins have paid. Like said before this is contract that makes better right now and they don't worry about out end. They need to win to keep their tv and attendance up if they don't loss revenue from that will far exceed the amount of loss they could have on this contract. Its ridicules but that's how baseball is structured they want these dominant franchises for selling baseball to tv. Smaller franchises worry about tv too but they need sell their product to get people to ballpark create their largest stream of revenue to the team fans that come to park and buy whole experience when there.

Some of this can also be attributed to the Twins for some reason have not produced many strike out pitchers in last 20 years. The above named pitchers were were above average strikeout pitchers and I believe in those years were the years they produced most strike outs. Its something I have stated on forums before the Twins need to look at scouting and what they do in developing pitchers because we never seem to get that top of line power pitcher that dominates and strikes people out. The ones we have developed usually have started out in another organization and we have trade or rule 5 drafted them. I look at different organization like ST.Louis , Tampa Bay, and Atlanta have developed so many top line pitchers and I wonder what they are doing were not doing. It would seem to me I would be study these organization and see what there doing were not and doing changing our organization to get similar results. But so far in last 20 years it seems business goes on as usual because Twins had to again trade for top line prospects from other organizations. I don't if its scouting process, or business side where they don't want to spend money for these picks, or if philosophy of pitching to hit strike zone not try to be power pitcher to strike people out. I would think it would be great story for reporters that follow the Twins to write about if they would do there research and also report what other people in baseball think of way Twins draft and develop players.

I would rather have too much pitching because that can always be solved if that is case. I see these projected rotations but nobody has put in anybody getting hurt or not developing as fast as projected. Look at last three years we had projected prospects and veterans get hurt and loose 1 to two seasons. I am willing to bet this continues we have several pitchers that get hurt in next three years and we will need extra pitching. Starting pitching is at premium very few teams have excess pitching and if they do its used acquired new prospects or player needed right now to win. I look at some of big spending teams Yankees are going to need pitching this year and again next year what are they willing to pay, Angels same thing, and Dodgers are stockpiling pitching. So any quality starter the Twins can sign and is in budget now should be done. To be contending team it takes pitching and Twins have prooved this past 3 seasons with poor pitching they have lost 90 + games. So any reasonable young pitcher they can sign to 3 to 5 year deal needs to be looked at. I am quite confident that Twins prospects are going to provide enough offense in the future and defensive ability with exception SS for all fielding positions. Twins history on developing pitching is limited the better pitchers they have develop mostly have come after trades or rule 5 drafts not from their drafting of pitchers. Like Viola, Santanna, Milton, Liraino, Nathan, Lohse, and Tapani and Twins pitchers they drafted came up as starters were Radke , Baker, Garza, Blackburn, Mays and S. Erickson but the Twins pitchers drafted and became quality relief pitchers list is long of Hawkins, Guardodo, Mahomes, Romero, gutherie, Rincon, Balfour, Crain, Neshek, Mirjares, Swarzek, Duensing, Burnett, and Perkins. Like I have said Twins history on drafting pitching there have been very few big successes in past 20 years of producing starting pitching so anytime they can obtain quality pitching they should go for it.

I kind of wonder these deals for seven years is like deferred contract instead paying it like in 5 year deal they do 7 years and money paid out at end after inflation is not what it would have been if they paid dollar value out in 5 or 4 year deal. I it gives them control of that player if they do age out better than they anticipated for extended years. Also the last years of the contract I have seen where they trade the Player and pay excess of salary to another team and they move on to another player. Remember in Money Ball when Billy Bean tells David Justice he's only paying so much he's worth now and Yankees are paying rest of his salary. I think this is how Yankees approach these deals they are always playing to win now and if they do win its makes franchise worth more and continually increases revenue to continue to pay these salaries. Inflation and continued growth covers what they overpay and value of Yankees just keeps increasing because of this and strokes ownership ego's in that their always considered a winner. That's big difference between baseball and football where they all teams share revenue and work under salary cap spent on players you don't get this big difference on how teams spend on players all are pretty much equal.

I don't think Plouffe will be around much longer his contract this year will be 2 million and probably heading higher next year. For the Twins to keep him he needs continue improve in his defense and hitting. Statistically he has shown improvement but what doesn't show up is his poor at bats that he gave away by not working pitcher to favorable hitting situation but swinging freely until he dug whole for himself. Same thing in his fielding he can make a great play and then he gets beat by either being out position or not making correct decision on what to do with ball. I think Twins have given ample opportunity to prove himself and I believe this make or break year for him for the Twins and if he's going to significant baseball career. I get feeling he can get cocky when he's one his streaks and forgets he needs to keep doing all little things and he doesn't need to do that because he's star. If he grows up and learns to be professional all the time playing baseball he could have very good career in baseball.

I agree with you on that because talent coming up is going to surely pass them quickly. Also both pitchers have trade value. The reason for Plouffe hate is that he has a lot of talent and has shown flashes of it at time to time. Then he seems like space cadet forgetting what he needs to do become top player having poor at bats to playing poorly in the field this makes him frustrating to watch. I guess he reminds me of kid never had to work hard because his talent always could carry him but now in the majors he needs that talent but also work ethic and intelligence he's never had to do before and I wonder if he can develop it.

I like the Twins signings I think they are fair offer for quality of pitcher were obtaining and I believe there is some upside potential for Twins. I like idea that they are still in market for pitcher because the Twins can't be over stocked on starting pitching. Pelfry I think is still possibility even if you and Gleeman disagree. I look at last years statistics and I think Pelfry could become significant starter if he continues improve from his surgery on short term basis. I think all people got to hate Pelfry because of his slow pace at the games but I think that can be corrected some. I still would like see the Twins sign SS or acquire one through a trade for the future. The Twins don't have anyone they would be blocking if acquired SS. Also signing of Catcher would be good in case Pinto regresses this year. I think the Twins could use a platoon system in right field with Plouffe and Parmelee if Sanyo makes the team. But I don't think twins brain trust would ever use that. Also then they could trade Doumit and let Arcia and Willham fill left and DH. Then they could bring up Hermann to be backup outfielder and 3rd catcher.

I was one that did not think much of signing last year because I thought we needed much more than him to repair our pitching staff. In that regard I was right but Correia did better and did fill roll in last years pitching staff. If we would have had additional signings like this year I would not have been so upset. I think last year sticker shock cost the twins from signing additional pitching. The second year of correia contract was I believe reaction to the sticker shock and was way of locking up pitcher to eat 180 innings a year. I think Twins also trying to sign Pelfry again is mold of last year The Twins want to sign another pitcher lock up another 150 innings for the coming year and next year at reasonable cost and they believe that Pelfry is going to pitch more like he was when finishing the season. The sports reporters just hated way pelfry pitched because of his slow pace but haven't looked at how he was improving as season progressed. Terry Ryan is good at evaluating talent but is more conservative on what he's willing to pay for talent. Ryan and staff did good job with Correia getting what they expected better than we expected. Picking Free agents is just like drafting players except risk is higher because of the committed contract.

The Twins will keep all players with options unless they can acquire somebody off waivers with more value than they perceive in these players. Diamond, Worley, and Hendricks my guess is that they keep Diamond because he's left hander. Worley is going to have impress Twins to stay on roster or they might try to see if they can get him through waivers. Hendricks I have kept thinking he would turn the corner but when he gets to big league he's is such disappointment. He may need change of scenery and different pitching philosophy then he will come back haunt the twins. Of all these players I betting that most will not be here in year with the twins I am betting the new wave will be here and these players have had their chance will either be traded or released. Also some additional players will be added to like Plouffe, Florimon, Williham, Pressely, and several more pitchers. I bet by time we get through 2015 season Twins starting team will be 1st. Mauer, 2nd. Dosier,3rd. Sano, SS acquired player in future, Catcher Pinto if he cuts this year, Center Buxton, LF Hicks, RF Arcia, DH ?, reserves Escobar,Herman, and ?. Pitchers will be Myer, Nolasco, Hughes, Gibson, and Diamond-?, with Perkins, May,pressely,?, ?,? and?. The Twins will also get some prospects or fill needs from some on the roster but this team that's going to compete again.

My guess would be from 72 to 76 wins next year but things will really start to look up I think by end of year. I think we will have seen Sano, Hicks again, Myer, and maybe Buxton by end of year. Also I think Arcia will begin to figure out how to hit in majors on more consistent basis, and Dosier become more of quality second baseman. I also think the Twins probably will trade for prospect shortstop or very young shortstop before the year is over to set table for 2015. Also we should get idea if we have catcher of the future or will need to aquire one for coming years. I also think some of prospect pitchers of last coupe years are going to step up to now since there's less positions available with these signings. This is the beginning of turn around but still think were at least one to two years away from making run for the playoffs.

Just sign another quality pitcher and I think Hughes could be that pitcher he's young and will pitch better out of Yankee stadium. The Twins top of line pitchers are coming up through the minors and should be here with other prospects when they arrive and develop. The Twins need pitching now to compete and show some improvement. They can't go another season of 90 to 100 losses and keep fan support and teach this young group how to win. The Twins have shown that they have nothing that's ready for major leagues in next year or two or they would have been here. Also some veteran experience would help some of young kids pitching now.

I believe the Twins are going to sign another pitcher besides Nolasco my bet its Hughes or Garza and I also think they will resign Pelfry also. This would give them staff of like Nolasco, Hughes -?, Pelfry, Correia, and Gibson starting the season and possibly Diamond. With Dudeno, Worley, to fill in if anyone of these would falter. It would also give them a pitcher to trade later in the season for prospect and quality of the prospect would be how well one of the bottom pitchers are pitching. Also we could see Myer enter picture in middle to late summer depending on the season he is having. A funny thing when pitching talent gets better some of these bottom pitchers will get better to from the competition to make the squad. I think by end of season we could see how this team is going to turn the corner because I believe a lot prospects will be called by end of next season. A lot of the names we have had on this team last two years will no longer be with the Twins.

I have been wondering if Terry Ryan is receiving pressure from ownership and Dave St. Peter to rebuild this team on faster time line than way he has in past. It seems to me if interest drops both in attendance and Tv viewership that is going to cost the Twins dearly in the future. This is something different than Terry experienced being in Metro-dome where they were doing business as low cost operation and built team on cheap by developing it from the farm system. Now there costs are much higher in Target field but if they get attendance and viewership rewards are much higher also. I guess to put into nut shell there in much more expensive poker game and I wonder if Terry can adapt to this new game.

Signing of Pelfry I think will be a good move but what would be terrible if this is only or best pitcher they sign. The Twins are going to need couple of pitchers like Pelfry and I think two year is not big financial risk and gives them control for probably 3 years if option is added. The cost of pitching is going up look at last year Correia contract looked terrible and I was one posting to the effect and now this year its considered a bargain. The Twins need to fill starters and this is a start. This will give them Pelfry, Corriea , and if healthy Deduno for 3,4, and 5 Starters. If they sign a good number 2 starter and say somebody like Hughes for number 3 Starter with others listed above twins would have much improved starting rotation. Then add in Gibson which I think could still develop into good number 3 starter and Myer coming along they would have quality pitching staff for next couple of years without a lot of money spent. Then add all good young prospects that will come up in next couple years and Twins could have really competitive team. I just wish Twins would stop being so tentative and get the job done. They know baseball and can see the talent they have and now they have money to spend to get to where they need to get its just pulling the Trigger. If they don't do this ownership got intervene set the direction and speed of rebuild to management. Otherwise I would hate to have Dave ST. Peters job of trying to sell this product and keep revenues up for the Twins. He would have baseball side of business controlling costs to point that everything they save is being lost because the Twins Brand is becoming worth less each year with decreasing revenues from gate to Tv to sports merchandise. Something that not easy to build up and also loosing of generation of fans to other sports.

Kyle Lohse has put together nice career since leaving Minnesota. His record since leaving the Twins 78-52 with 3.96 ERA, Whip 1.227 and strikeout per 9 of 5.7. Compare to the Twins record of 51-57 with 4.88 ERA, Whip 1.447 and strikeout per 9 of 5.6. His best years were with St. Louis where they seemed to get best results out of him of any team. It appears that ST. Louis has ability to develop pitching talent and get best out of them look at this years team again. The National league may account for some of better statistics for Loyse but he has had good career overall. The trade prospect we received for Loyse was not much and I think it was done out frustration from bad blood that had developed between both parties. The Twins have had trouble keeping pitchers happy and wanting to stay in the organization like Loyse, Santanna, and Garza. It appears pitchers that want to challenge batters with their fastball and are aggressive have harder time fitting in with the Twins. Also Twins don't seem to get many of these pitchers in their minor league system hard throwing power pitchers so it must go against their philosophy of what they draft and sign in minor leagues. This is one of areas that I think Twins should be looking at seriously on how improve talent they are selecting for pitching and finding Short stops. They have excellent record on finding out fielders, Catching, and first baseman. To change philosophy of organization so they find talent to fill needs of what they are weak in takes time to move and add necessary people to the mix. I think Twins are light years behind on Sabermetrics not that I am totally sold on whole deal but I sure think it could help scouting system and developing talent. I have been frustrated to point of its hard to sit down and watch A Twins game because of talent that they have put out on the field. The players they have played you can see they are not capable of competing ever at major league level to become winners. These are not young kids making mistakes and you can see that their going to get better this is what they got and you can see were over matched most nights. I don't see how any manager could win with this group of players. Yes there are some things they could improve some production of the players by platooning but if management is dead set against it its not going to happen. I sure hope the young talent coming up can compete but they are going to have to learn to win and that takes time. Look back at Twins in 80's it took time for that group to learn to win and compete they had few setbacks and poor years. It looked like in 84 they were on there way then 85 and 86 had few setbacks until 87. Then again it took until 91 and then it was accomplished by Free agency signing of Morris , Chili Davis, and Mike Paglirulo and bringing up rookie of Chuck knoblauck. Which today I doubt that Terry Ryan would have accomplished because of his philosophy and I like Terry Ryan I think he knows his baseball. Its that he's such principled man that he can't take short cuts or alter his long range plan he looks at being competitive year in year out. I believe he thinks that using free agency is short cut and will destroy moral in system of players they are developing and people in organization will get sloppy because they can use free agency as way to not work hard developing players for the future. That's why I believe that next year will be terrible year with us just seeing beginning of turn around late in year with young talent coming up just to get a taste of big leagues. 2015 will be development year where we still are going to loose a lot of games but you can see where we can become a pretty good team. 2016 will be year where we will begin to win and maybe make the playoffs and then we ge to 2017-2018 where we should be competing to get to the world series again. At least that's what I see.

The Twins are need of SS and Stephen Drew probably is best available through free Agency. I suggested that could be one of signees for free agency on another thread because Twins are in such serious need of quality short stop. Historically when twins have had good shortstop play they have gone along ways in postseason. The 65, 87, and 91 Twins had probably two of better SS stops that have played for the Twins. The Twins other option is trade for highly reguarded prospect SS but that cost doesn't come cheaply either. I would like to see the Twins fill this need now with longterm solution and at least this would show they are serious of rebuilding this team to compete 2015 and 2016. They have time to fill this need but sooner the better. I can't wait for 2014 season to get over with at least first half until we start seeing prospects hit the Twins line up. Next year is going to be dreadful season my guess is were going to be out the race by mid May. It should give us another round of quality draft picks but that sure won't offset another year of poor team. I just hope second half of season some prospects are up we see some hope for the future with these new players.

This is just beginning of transition of Twins for 2015 and 2016 seasons. Colabella, Parmlee, Plouffe, are at the beginning of season to have roster spots but as season goes along they are going to be replaced by Sano, Buxton, and few other of twins prospects. This coming year could be worst of records for the Twins in that they could come close to loosing 100 games. They are gambling on All Star game to attrack attendance for beginning of the season and they will market these prospects in latter half of season and for next season. Only thing that could keep down the loses will be if Twins were to sign some significant pitching talent but I am betting they are trying to get by again see what magic in the bottle they can get out they have and let youngster develop pitching at end of season. Then they will look maybe next year at trading for some pitching but I wouldn't hold my breath on that either. The Twins are going to do this hard way by doing it internally by signing and drafting and occasional trade for some prospect to fill a need. Its sad that as fans we have to compete as bottom feeder organization when by revenue stream, possible attendance, and ownership that is able to sustain financial setbacks we could be upper middle tier team. I think this organization has not caught up with the fact they are not lowly Twins with poor ownership, poor stadium, and no revenue equality in baseball. They need to think of themselves as upper class team and winning is imperative to keep this in place for the future. They are not team they were 20 years ago when a lot of people working for this organization worked there fannies off to save the franchise but organization that can compete financially with most teams.

The Twins should also look hard at signing Stephen Drew from Red Sox if he becomes a free agent. He would immediately secure the middle of infield with Dozier or Rosario who's pushing on making it to major league level. He young enough to still be effective with young kids coming up in next few years and he wouldn't be blocking anyone because the twins prospects for SS are few years away. This would put strong up middle defense for Twins with Mauer at catcher, Dozier at 2, Drew at SS, and Hicks or /Buxton on verge making the Twins.