Cody Christie

Twins Daily has running through the top prospects in the Twins organization. Those profiles are a combination of multiple rankings from the different writers at the site. My own top 50 list was recently included in the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. There will always be differences when deciphering which prospects are the best. Should a person give a higher rank to the player with the most potential? Should it be the player with the most tools? Maybe, it should be the one who has a lower ceiling but a higher floor? Over the next week, I will release my top 20 prospects. Here is a look at prospects 11-20 with multiple players who could impact the big league roster during the 2017 season.20. LaMonte Wade, OF Age: 23/ Highest Level: Low-A Wade showed an advanced approach at the plate this season by getting on base over 40% of the time. He has strong baseball skills and showed them throughout the 2016 campaign. He might not have the tools of some of the other higher ranked prospects but he has shown the ability to play multiple outfield positions. Depending on how rosters shake out this spring, he could end up back in Fort Myers or he could get bumped up to Chattanooga. 19. Lewis Thorpe, LHP Age: 21/ Highest Level: Low-A Thorpe is an intriguing name even though he hasn't made a professional appearance since the 2014 season. Baseball Prospectus has included him in their top-101 prospects prior to the 2014 and 2015 seasons. He was the youngest player in the Midwest League back in 2014 so there is still time for him to develop. Fans will need to be patient as he returns to the mound. If he shows that he's ready this spring, the Twins could start him at Fort Myers. 18. Huascar Ynoa, RHP Age: 18/ Highest Level: Rookie Ynoa pitched all of the 2015 season in the Dominican Summer League with a 2.70 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. He made his stateside debut in 2016 and lowered his WHIP by almost 20 points as he allowed 18 fewer walks. He also increased his SO/9 from 7.5 to 9.0. His three pitch mix (fastball, curveball, change-up) could all turn into above average pitches. He's added some weight to his frame the last couple years and this should only help him to add velocity. 17. Ben Rortvedt, C Age: 19/ Highest Level: Rookie Minnesota used a second round pick in last year's draft to select a Wisconsin high school catcher. He struggled in his first stop in his professional debut as he hit .203/.277/.254 in 20 GCL games. Things improved in Elizabethton as he averaged jumped over 45 points and he got on base almost 35% of the time. Since he is 5-foot-10 and 190 pounds, he has some room to grow into his body. He will need to do this if he wants to stay behind the plate. Most likely he will start 2017 in extended spring training before heading back to the E-Twins to start the year. 16. Engelb Vielma, SS/2B/3B Age: 22/ Highest Level: Double-A Even though he was two years younger than the competition in the Southern League, Vielma posted an OPS that was almost 20 points higher than his career average. His defensive skills continue to be very strong at shortstop and this ability might be his ticket to a big league career. There will likely continue to be offensive struggles as he moves closer to Target Field. If he can continue to make small offensive improvements, he could become a consistent MLB regular. 15. Nick Burdi, RHP Age: 24/ Highest Level: Double-A When the Twins drafted Burdi in the second round of the 2014 Draft, there were high hopes that he would move through the system quickly. These hopes haven't come to fruition as he has spent each of the last two years at Chattanooga. During the 2016 season, Burdi was limited to three appearances after he suffered a bone bruise. There were set-backs along the way and he wouldn't make it back to the mound. If he's healthy, Burdi could spend time in Chattanooga and Rochester with a chance of him making his debut in 2017. 14. JT Chargois, RHP Age: 26/ Highest Level: MLB Chargois dominated the upper levels of the minor leagues on the way to making his MLB debut in 2016. His debut was a disaster as he allowed five earned runs in less than an inning of work. However, he came back in the middle of August and posted a 2.82 ERA over his final 24 appearances. In the minor leagues, he averaged over 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. He will need to get closer to that mark at the big league level in order to be a more effective relief pitcher. 13. Mitch Garver, C Age: 26/ Highest Level: Triple-A While the Twins signed Jason Castro to be the catcher of the present, Garver is setting up to be the team's catcher of the future. His emergence allowed for the team to expose Stuart Turner to the Rule 5 Draft. Barring any major injuries, Garver will likely spend most of 2017 at Triple-A. This will give him the opportunity to work with some of the team's pitching prospects as they look to make the jump to baseball's highest level. 12. Daniel Palka, OF/1B Age: 25/ Highest Level: Triple-A Palka displayed some impressive power during his first season in the Twins organization. Across the Twins two highest levels, he smashed 34 home runs and posted an .848 OPS. The Twins have other MLB ready options at first base and DH so his path to the big leagues might be in a corner outfield position. If Max Kepler or Eddie Rosario sputter at the beginning of the year, Palka could be an intriguing early season call-up. 11. Travis Blankenhorn, 2B/3B Age: 20/ Highest Level: Low-A Blankenhorn was profiled as the Twins Daily number nine prospect. He's shown an advanced approach at the plate despite being younger than the competition. In 2016, he took positive strides on offense. After being drafted as a third baseman, he was mainly used at second base during his second professional season. There's a good chance he is a top-10 prospect by mid-season. Who is too high? Is anyone too low? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

Shortstop has been a revolving door for the Twins for the greater part of the last two decades. Minnesota is set to enter the 2017 season with Jorge Polanco as the newest member of the Opening Day shortstop club. As I wrote about last week, the spot is Polanco's to lose. However, the Twins blundered with Polanco's development during the 2016 season.Throughout his professional career, Polanco has played over 3300 innings at shortstop. Unfortunately, he didn't play an inning at short to start the 2016 season. Before being called up in July to take over the Twins shortstop role, he started 64 games at second base and two games at third base. Twins manager Paul Molitor was asked about Polanco's handling during the 2016 campaign. He told the Star Tribune, "I wish I had a better explanation for you. But I think myself, a lot of other people, realized we didn't handle it the right way." To be clear, this shouldn't be something Molitor has to worry about or apologize for in the press. His job is to run the major league squad on a daily basis. There would be reports coming from the minor league level but a directive for positioning of players would need to come from the front office. As the Twins were getting close to calling up Polanco, the team was also in the midst of firing general manager Terry Ryan. It was also nearing the trade deadline when the Twins would make multiple moves. Polanco's positioning at Rochester might have gotten lost in the shuffle but this still shouldn't be an excuse for it falling through the cracks. Polanco isn't a perfect shortstop. There are questions about his arm at the position and whether he has the range to make all the necessary plays. In over 400 MLB innings last year, he committed 11 errors in 189 chances (.942 FLD%). This fielding percentage was 10 points higher than his professional average. Some of his defensive flaws at shortstop show up in some of the other defensive metrics. Defensive runs saved (DRS) had him at 8 runs below average. Ultimate zone rating (UZR) was even lower as it put him at 10.9 runs below average. These numbers will obviously need to improve for him to stick at shortstop through the coming season. There are benefits to having infielders who are versatile. However, it also helps for players to get as much experience as possible at the position that could be their ticket to the big leagues. Polanco was in his age-22 season and he lost half a year of development at shortstop. Polanco's 2016 season might have included an organizational gaffe but spring is a time to turn the page. The Twins might have blundered but he will get every opportunity to prove he can stick at shortstop. Who's to blame in the Polanco blunder? Should Molitor have been monitoring more of the minor leagues? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

Man, does it feel good to finally have real baseball news coming out of Florida. At the beginning of the week, Glen Perkins threw off the mound for the first time on his way back from injury. Phil Hughes might turn his removed rib into jewelry. I also ran through multiple headlines fans could follow as pitchers and catchers reported to Fort Myers. Many position players are already in camp but their official reporting date will be this weekend. Here are some headlines to keep an eye on in the weeks ahead. Sano Starts At Third Minnesota's attempt to use Miguel Sano in the outfield was a disaster. His offensive numbers also took a dip after a tremendous rookie campaign. Sano will start this season as the team's Opening Day third baseman. As a prospect, there were questions about his defensive skills at the hot corner. With Trevor Plouffe no longer on the roster, Sano should get every opportunity to prove he can handle playing on both sides of the ball. It will be interesting to see if he starts to get any reps at first base since Joe Mauer's contract expires after the 2018 season. Dozier Tries To Replicate After a huge offensive season, Brian Dozier will try to prove that 2016 was not a fluke. He's been a very streaky hitter throughout his career. Let's not forget that last season he was barely hitting over .200 with five home runs through the season's first two months. I've been critical of Dozier's defense for the better part of two seasons and it's getting late in his career to make some major improvements on that side of the ball. It seems unlikely for Dozier to crank out another 40 home runs but he still can show some improvements by avoiding long offensive slumps and playing better defense. Young Outfield Pieces The Twins could enter the year with Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, and Eddie Rosario as their starting outfield. This is a very young outfield core that is lacking in the experience department. Buxton showed some improvements in the last month of 2016. Kepler had an up-and-down rookie year as the league adjusted to him. Much like Sano, Rosario came back to the pack in his sophomore season. If these players can reach their full potential, this group might be the key to leading the Twins back to the playoffs. Battling For DH and First Base With Byung-Ho Park clearing waivers last week, this might leave the door open for other players to make the Opening Day roster. Joe Mauer will likely be penciled in at first base or DH for most of the season, Kennys Vargas is an intriguing option after he hit double-digit home runs for the first time at the MLB level. It also sounds like the Twins are interested in adding a veteran bat and the list includes former fan favorite Justin Morneau. Other players will likely get some at-bats in the DH spot as the Twins try to figure out their best offensive and defensive alignments. Polanco's Spot To Lose Minnesota's revolving door at shortstop will likely continue in 2017. All indications are that Jorge Polanco will be given the opportunity to start at shortstop. This would leave Eduardo Escobar as a utility player off the bench. Escobar would be familiar with this role. In each of the last three seasons, he has played the most games at shortstop but there was only one season where he was the team's Opening Day starter (2016). It seems likely for Polanco and Escobar to both get plenty of opportunities this year. However, Minnesota needs to decide if Polanco can handle shortstop as the team waits for other prospects, like Nick Gordon, to develop. What position player headlines will you be watching this spring? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

The first wave of top Twins prospects has already reached Target Field. This has allowed for more recent draft picks to find their way into the Twins top prospect list. Many of the players might not be of the same caliber as Byron Buxton or Miguel Sano but they all have the potential to be everyday players as the Twins fight to get back to their winning ways.Age: 20 (DOB: 8/3/96) 2016 Stats (RK/Low-A): .293/.348/.502 (.850), 12 doubles, three triples, 10 home runs ETA: 2020 2016 Ranking: NR National Top 100 Rankings BA: NR | MLB: NR | ESPN: NR | BP: NR What's To Like Blankenhorn has been at least a year and a half younger than the competition at every level. Even with this age difference, he showed an advanced approach at the plate. As a left-handed hitter, he has a good approach and can take the ball to the opposite field with authority. After hitting under .245 during his professional debut in 2015, he raised his average by almost 50 points. He posted a .900 OPS during his 34 games this season in Elizabethton. Even after that good start, he was able to raise his OBP from .342 to .356 in Cedar Rapids. He reached base safely in 13 of his first 15 Low-A games while batting .348/.403/.530 (.933). Blankenhorn destroyed right-handed pitching this season with a .990 OPS. He also came up big in some high pressure situations. With two outs and runners in scoring position, he got on base over 40% of the time and compiled a .543 slugging percentage. When the Twins drafted him, Twins scouting director Deron Johnson said, "He's a really good athlete. He's a strong, powerful kid. We really like his swing and think he has a chance for power. He profiles in any corner." Since joining the Twins organization, he has shown some defensive flexibility. He played shortstop in high school and was drafted as a third baseman. During the 2015 season, he made the majority of his appearances at third base while also appearing in games at first base, shortstop, and left field. Last season, he started 38 games with 35 starts coming at second base. Overall, he is a hard worker. This strong work ethic should help him to continue to improve and move closer to Target Field. What's Left To Work On Blakenhorn has just over 300 professional innings at second base. If the Twins intend to keep him there long-term, he is going to have to work on many skills at this position. His instincts will improve with more playing time and this should help him add to his range. Left-handed pitchers controlled Blankenhorn for most of the season. In 74 plate appearances, he hit .209/.274/.239 (.513 OPS) with a 19 to 6 strikeout to walk ratio. He averaged more than one strikeout a game so it will be crucial for him to continue to work on his pitch recognition. As he transitions to full-season leagues, the pitching will continue to improve. There are hopes that he will continue to develop more power. He will be younger than the competition so continual adjustments will be critical as he advances. The big jump in his batting average this year was a good sign but his on-base percentage didn't take a similar jump. He's also struck out in over 22% of his professional at-bats. His 2016 season also ended on a sour note. Blankenhorn ended the year by hitting 3-for-25 with nine strikeouts and two walks. Following some positive strides throughout the season, this wasn't the best ending to a breakout season. What's Next Blankenhorn will be entering his age-20 season in 2017. After a late-season promotion to Cedar Rapids, it seems likely he will start the coming season in the middle of the Kernels' infield. He's played at two levels in each of his first two professional seasons so he could potentially be promoted to High-A by season's end. During Instructs this year, he was able to continue to work on his defensive game at second base and third base. Earlier this off-season, he told Twins Daily that he was "just trying to become the most versatile player" he could be. He went on to say that he continues to work with the coaches on putting together good at-bats. He is still an unpolished product but Blankenhorn made many important strides in 2016. His work ethic and baseball ability could make him a regular fixture in the Twins' line-up for years to come. Click here to view the article

Twins pitchers and catchers report at the beginning of this week. With the Twins coming off the worst record in franchise history, there are plenty of decisions that need to be settled this spring. Here are five pitcher and catcher headlines to watch this spring:Can Castro Make An Immediate Impact? Minnesota's biggest off-season move was signing catcher Jason Castro after parting ways with Kurt Suzuki. Castro comes to the Twins with a reputation for being a strong defensive catcher. Minnesota's pitching was lackluster in 2016 and the new front office hopes Castro can make an immediate impact on the staff. Castro will get his first chance to work with Twins pitchers this spring. It might take a good chunk of the season to notice the "Castro Effect" but a shift should start in the weeks ahead. May Moves Back To Starting Even before the new regime took over, it sounded like May would be moving back into a starting role. This plan became even more evident at TwinsFest as the new front office and May talked about the transition back into the rotation. When the Twins were in the 2015 wild card race, May pitched very well in relief. So well in fact, that the club left him there for 2016 as he dealt with an injury plagued season. Minnesota hopes that normal days off between starts will keep May healthy and help him to earn a starting spot for years to come. Hughes And Perkins Coming Back From Injury Phil Hughes and Glen Perkins were two of the most important pitchers on the 2015 squad. Perkins made his third straight All-Star Game and Hughes led a rotation that was in the playoff hunt until the season's final weekend. Hughes has been throwing bullpens and the hope is he enters spring training with no limitations. Perkins has all ready experienced renewed discomfort in his throwing shoulder. With a set-back, it's likely that Perkins won't be ready for the season to start. Brandon Kintzler should open the year as the team's closer. Berrios Back To the Minors Minnesota's starting rotation looks crowded as the team heads to Fort Myers. Ervin Santana and Kyle Gibson might be the only locks as camp opens. If the aforementioned Hughes is healthy, he would be the third rotation member. This leaves two spots for the likes of Hector Santiago, Tyler Duffey, Trevor May, and Jose Berrios. Berrios has been dominant in his time in the minors and it seems likely for him to start the year in Rochester. This leaves him one injury away from making it back to the big leagues where he will hopefully find more success. Crowded Bullpen Because of some poor starting pitching over the last couple of years, Minnesota's bullpen has been taxed. This leaves an opportunity for a few new faces to earn their place. Brandon Kintzler should enter the year as the team's closer. If May shifts back to starting, there will be a lot of open spots to fill. The Twins just signed Matt Belisle to join returning arms like J.T. Chargois, Buddy Boshers, Ryan O'Rourke, Ryan Pressly, Adalberto Mejia, Taylor Rogers and Michael Tonkin. There isn't going to be room for all of these arms so the weeks ahead will decide who fills each role for the club. What pitcher and catcher headlines will you follow in the weeks ahead? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

Pitching continues to evolve as teams try to find the right balance between starting pitching and relief pitching. During last year's playoffs, pitchers like Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman took on even more important roles. For the first time in the World Series, no starting pitcher threw more than six innings. With pitching continuing to change, the hunt for a 200 inning pitcher can seem like trying to find Bigfoot.When the Twins Winter Caravan stopped in Fargo, ND last week, the focus of much of the discussion was on the Twins finding a pitcher to toss 200 innings. Current television announce Bert Blyleven was one of the guests along with right-handed pitcher Jose Berrios. Blyleven is from a bygone baseball era when Tommy John surgeries weren't commonplace and starting pitchers threw well into the late innings of games. Berrios has spent his professional career in a time when pitchers seem to get hurt more often than in the past and some go through multiple major surgeries. Over most of the last decade the number of pitchers throwing over 200 innings has steadily declined. From 2010 through 2016, there were 227 pitchers who reached the 200 inning mark. Two of those players, Phil Hughes and Carl Pavano, wore a Twins uniform. The downward trend in numbers of 200 inning pitchers continued through most of the 21st century. From 2000-2006, there were 298 pitchers with seasons of 200 innings or more. This means there were 71 more pitchers reaching this mark in the first seven years of the century than in the last seven years. Throughout Twins history there have been 97 occurrences of pitchers throwing at least 200 innings. Bert Blyleven accounts for six of the top 12, including a team record 325 innings in 1973. Jim Kaat and Dave Goltz are the only other Twins pitchers to surpass 300 innings in a season. In recent Twins history, 200 inning pitchers have been few and far between. Phil Hughes pitched almost 210 inning through his record-breaking 2014 campaign. Before that, Carl Pavano had back-to-back seasons when he threw over 220 innings. Scott Baker and Nick Blackburn both topped 200 innings in 2009, the Metrodome's final year. And Johan Santana had a stretch of three seasons (2005-2007) when he averaged over 228 innings. A young Johan Santana isn't walking into Target Field. Does this mean the Twins won't have another 200 inning pitcher? Ervin Santana was the closest Twins pitcher to 200 innings last season. Across 30 starts, he threw over 180 innings. In five of his 12 big league seasons, he has thrown over 200 frames so there is a chance for him to hit that mark again in 2017. Phil Hughes is coming off major surgery and no one knows what version of the pitcher will arrive in spring training. He's the most recent Twins player to accomplish the feat but 2017 doesn't seem like a year where he will be able to pitch enough to reach the 200 mark. Other pitchers, perhaps Jose Berrios and Kyle Gibson, could make a run at 200. Berrios has never pitched more than 166.1 innings during his professional career. A jump to 200 would be quite the leap for 2017 but it could be a reasonable expectation for the following year. Gibson threw almost 195 innings in 2015 so it's not out of the question for him to get back to that level. Minnesota's pitching staff has struggled for multiple seasons, so a lot of miles have been put on bullpen arms. In the long run, a 200 inning pitcher might not be the most important thing in the world, but in any event the Twins need starters to pitch further into games to take some strain off the relievers. If a 200 inning pitcher (or two) emerges, consider it a bonus. Will the Twins have a 200 inning pitcher again? Who do you think could be the next player to accomplish the feat? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

Darren "Doogie" Wolfson just told me on Twitter that Jackson's agent reached out to the Twins but there wasn't any interest. https://twitter.com/DWolfsonKSTP/status/824361390790021121

Last night at the Winter Caravan stop in Fargo, Dave St. Peter said he wouldn't be surprised if the Twins added more pitching before spring training. He went on to say that he would expect it to be relief pitching.

Minnesota’s biggest off-season move was signing Jason Castro to a three-year deal worth $24.5 million. The team had a clear need at catcher and Castro was the 13th best available player according to ESPN.com. But are there other free agent fits after a 103-loss season? Here are five names the Twins could still be considering.Jason Hammel, RHP Hammel posted a 3.68 ERA and a 1.16 WHIP over the last three seasons in Chicago and Oakland. With other Cubs’ starters ahead of him, the team could afford to let him go. The Twins need more pitching and he would slide into the rotation nicely. He might be a good candidate to sign to a one- or two-year deal so he could recoup some value. At the start of next season, he will already be 34-years old so he will not have many more opportunities to be a free agent. Doug Fister, RHP Fister is only two-years removed from a terrific season in Washington where he threw for a 2.41 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP. He has posted ERA totals greater than 4.15 in each of the last two seasons. Fister is younger than Hammel and he has pitched 237 fewer big league innings. He has pitched over 160 innings in each of the last four seasons where he was used exclusively as a starter. Like Hammel, there is an opportunity for him to produce a bounce back season. Scott Feldman, RHP Feldman was one of the players I targeted when completing my 2016 Twins offseason blueprint. I would offer him a two-year deal with some incentives since he has shown some positive signs since joining the bullpen. Minnesota’s bullpen has been overused in recent years so a new arm could add some life to a worn-out group. If he continues to make strides in the right direction, the Twins might be able to deal him for prospects at the trade deadline. Stephen Drew, 2B/3B/SS Drew will be entering his 12th big league season and he has shown the ability to play multiple positions around the infield. He could provide some insurance with young players like Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco scheduled to start. He got on base almost 34% of the time last year. His .864 OPS was his highest total since his rookie season. Drew could take over the role vacated by Eduardo Nunez while providing a veteran voice in the clubhouse. Austin Jackson, OF Minnesota is scheduled to start the year with Byron Buxton, Max Kepler, Eddie Rosario, and Robbie Grossman as the team’s outfielders. The young trio of Buxton, Kepler, and Rosario all have things to prove. Jackson would add a veteran bat who can play all three outfield positions. If any of the young core needs more seasoning in Rochester, Jackson could take over the starting duties. Derek Falvey, the Twins Chief Baseball Officer, told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, “The reality is, we’re standing here today with players still available in free agency that I don’t think any of us would have predicted in October. Things change.” Regardless of whether the front office pursues any of the names listed above, it looks like the Twins are incredible longshots to make it to the World Series. Mytopsportsbooks.com, which already has MLB Futures odds posted, lists them at 200-1 right now. While the odds seem to be against a World Series run, it seems likely for the Twins to head to Fort Myers with a player or players who are not currently on the roster. Who would be a good fit with the club’s current direction? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

This part of the deep offseason can be full of a lot of downtime for baseball fans. Lucky enough for readers of this site, I have been offering up profiles of some of the worst players in the history of the Twins franchise. So far, the series has covered Butch Huskey, Rondell White, and Scott Klingenbeck. Huskey offered some entertaining moments in his brief Twins tenure. White had an All-Star career but his time in Minnesota was lacking. Klingenbeck showed some positive signs in the minor leagues before bottoming out at the big league level. In all three of the previous posts in this series, I have asked for readers to chime in with their picks for the worst Twins of all-time. This week's featured player got plenty of votes over the last couple weeks and it made it tough to ignore his terrible time with the Twins. Introducing, the latest installment in the "Worst Twins of All-Time Series"... Matt WalbeckWalbeck was drafted into the Chicago Cubs organization in 1987 as an eighth round pick. The California native joined the professional baseball ranks straight out of high school. For his first season in the minor leagues, he was only 17-years old and he did well in the rookie leagues. Over the next three seasons, he tried to find his swing at the Low-A level. After playing over 90 games in 1988 and 1989, he missed a chunk of time in 1990. An injury-plagued season meant he made it into only 25 contests but he was now 20-years old and it was time to move up. The Cubs consistently moved him for the next three seasons and he made his MLB debut in 1993. In 11 games with the Cubs, he hit .200/.226/.367 with one home run and two doubles. He had put together decent numbers in back-to-back years in the minors so there was some hope for the future. The Twins liked what they saw in his minor league numbers and they traded for Walbeck and Dave Stevens in exchange for Willie Banks. Walbeck became the team's primary catcher over the next two seasons by playing in 97 and 115 games. There were some struggles at the plate as he tried to adjust to being a full-time player at the big league level. In 1994, Walbeck hit .204/.246/.284 with 17 extra-base hits over 359 plate appearances. Not exactly the best start for the Twins' new backstop. He made some adjustments for the 1995 season and he compiled some of his best numbers as a professional. His 115 games played were a career high and he batted .257/.302/.316. It was the only season of his career where he compiled over 100 hits. The 1996 season was the last for Walbeck in a Twins uniform. He lost the designation as the primary catcher to Greg Myers and he still struggled to make consistent contact. At the end of that season, he was hitting .223/.252/.298 and it was time for the Twins to part ways with Walbeck. During the offseason, the Twins sent Walbeck to the Tigers for Brent Stentz. It was an interesting journey for Walbeck during the rest of his career. The Tigers used him sparingly during the '97 season before being sent to the Angels in a deal that included future Twins player Phil Nevin. He made it into over 100 games in the next two seasons and put up numbers that were higher than his career average. His career ended in 2003 after spending his last two professional seasons back with the Detroit Tigers. There were plenty of problems in those last couple years for a catcher with a lot of miles on his knees. His last season he batted .174/.197/.239 with six extra-base hits in 144 at-bats. Walbeck makes this list of all-time worst Twins because of his ineptitude in the batter's box. He had a negative WAR in all three seasons with Minnesota and this added up to a -2.0 WAR for his Twins tenure. In all three seasons, he hit .230/.271/.300 but there were some positives on the defensive side of the ball. He had a positive defensive WAR in each of his three years and he led the AL in base runners caught in 1994. Since his retirement, Walbeck has turned his attention to being a manager. He got his first job with the Low-A Tigers affiliate and he guided them to the 2004 Midwest League title. His team would again win the Midwest League in 2006 and it was time for a promotion. He was bumped up to the Tigers Double-A affiliate, the Erie SeaWolves, in 2007 and things really took off from there. The Eastern League named him Manager of the Year for 2007, a great honor for the former catcher. He was also named 2007 Minor League Manager of the Year by Baseball America. Following that season, the Texas Rangers hired him as third base coach. This job would be short-lived, as the club fired him after one season in the position. He landed back on his feet with the Pirates organization 2009. He was sent back to a familiar league, the Eastern League, to resume his managerial career. He drove the Altoona Curve to the 2010 championship and he was named EL Manager of the Year for the second time. In a surprise move, the club fired him after the season. It seemed there were some disagreements about his managerial style. His most recent coaching job was with the Rome Braves, an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves organization. He led them to a terrible first half record and he was fired in the middle of the season. This was the first time the Rome Braves had made a midseason change at manager. Walbeck now runs the Walbeck Baseball Academy in California. With only a few more weeks until pitchers and catchers report, who else do you want to see profiled? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

The HOF announcement is tonight. Who's getting in? It looks like Bagwell and Raines will be locks. Pudge, Hoffman, and Vlad all have a shot.

When the Twins signed Joe Mauer to the largest contract in team history, fans were excited to see what the future could hold. He was coming off an MVP season where he rewrote the record books when it comes to offense from the catching position. Minnesota was annually in the playoff hunt and optimism was running high. Flash forward six seasons and that optimism has run out. Mauer is no longer behind the plate and Minnesota is in the midst of one of the franchise's worst stretches. So what can fans expect from Mauer with two years left on his monster deal?Mauer will turn 34-years old during the first month of the coming season. He's slowly moving out of his prime and many Twins fans might argue that he's already past his prime. There are still two years remaining with Mauer in a Minnesota jersey and there have been glimmers of hope when it comes to the offensive side of the ball. During last March/April, Mauer got off to a fast start as he hit .321/.453/.440 with seven extra-base hits and a 20 to 9 strikeout-to-walk ratio. By the end of April, he hit for five home runs and posted a .741 OPS. The season was off to a strong start. The season's middle months didn't go so well and a quad injury bothered Mauer starting at the middle of August. He still ended that month hitting .337/.419/.533 with 13 extra-base hits. However, the injury continued to bother him into the season's final month. He posted a .111 batting average and a .468 OPS while being limited to 12 games during September/October. There was good in 2016, like Mauer sharing co-American League Player of the Week honors with rookie teammate Max Kepler. There was bad like the month of June where he hit .223/.308/.287 with 22 strikeouts and 12 walks. There was ugly as he tried to fight through the final month of the season and posted the number mentioned above. When Mauer's quad injury was originally reported, he was hitting .284/.384/417. Those are numbers most fans could handle especially since his defense at first base ranked among the best in the American League. So what version of Mauer will show up in 2017? Over the last three seasons Mauer has combined to bat .267 with a .733 OPS while averaging 40 extra-base hits per season. FanGraph's ZiPS 2017 Projections predict Mauer will hit .262/.350/.378 with nine home runs and 23 doubles. Injuries will tell the tale of Mauer's future. If Mauer has other nagging injuries, those numbers seem accurate. If he can stay healthier in 2017, I'd expect those numbers to be higher. Mauer's final year under contract will be an interesting one. Is he going to want to continue to play? Does he want to finish his career in Minnesota? Do the Twins want to keep him around into his late-30's? Earlier this off-season, I projected the 2020 Twins line-up and it didn't include Mauer in the picture. In fact, another current member of the roster has taken over for him at first base. Trying to make predictions can be a murky proposition especially in the baseball world. Mauer was one of the best hitters in the game before concussions and injuries took something away from him. Even if these are his final two years in Minnesota, I am going to continue to appreciate him every time he steps up to the plate. He's one of the best players in team history and he deserves fans' respect especially if his tenure with the Twins is concluding. What are your expectations for Mauer over the next two seasons? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

While the Hot Stove has cooled down on any Brian Dozier rumblings, news out of the Twin Cities has the Twins interested in adding other depth to their roster. MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger is reporting the Twins have touched base with multiple agents for position players and this includes former Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista. A conflicting report from the Star Tribune's LaVelle E. Neal III says the speculation surrounding Bautista needs to cool down. He's "hearing the Twins aren't interested in him." So which report is correct and does signing a free agent slugger fit with the Twins' current direction?For a rebuilding organization, it might seem like a bold strategy to add a veteran player. Last winter, reports had Bautista seeking a contract extension of over five years and $150 million. The 36-year old made multiple DL stints this year as he battled toe and knee issues. He played in 116 games but he saw a decline in his power and his defensive skills continue to be an issue. This was the third time in the last five seasons where Bautista failed to play over 118 games. Back in 2011, he led all of baseball in slugging percentage (.608) and OPS (1.056). However, those totals have dropped in recent years as he batted .234/.366/.452 in 2016. It seems more likely for Bautista to stay with an AL squad where he can spend some of his time as a designated hitter. Minnesota already has the likes of Miguel Sano, Joe Mauer, Kennys Vargas and Byung-Ho Park potentially getting at-bats at DH. Adding Bautista to this mix could make this a little crowded. Minnesota's current outfield projects to include Byron Buxton, Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler. All of these players are young and there's no telling what kind of performance the team will coax from their young core. Bautista could provide some insurance in the corner outfield and a veteran voice in the locker room. KSTP's Chris Long interviewed Derek Falvey about the possibility of adding Bautista to a rebuilding organization. "We'll continue to monitor all potential avenues for players, whether it's free agents or trades," he said. "I wouldn't shut the door on any player out there right now, even if it was slightly unconventional." In recent years, players like Nelson Cruz and Dexter Fowler have been open to unconventional deals. Both of them signed one-year contracts to increase their value before becoming a free agent again. It sounds like Bautista would be open to this idea but he'd want the one-year deal to be worth more than the $17.2 million qualifying offer he turned down. Since he rejected Toronto's qualifying offer, Bautista also comes tied to a loss of a draft pick. Minnesota's first overall pick is protected but the Twins would be forced to surrender their next highest pick. That pick would be the fifth pick of the competitive balance round between the first and second round. Under the old regime, Minnesota was willing to do this when signing Ervin Santana. Conventional wisdom would have to think Bautista is searching for a big payday. After an unconventional path to the big leagues, it took him until late into his 20's and early 30's to establish himself as a consistent MLB regular. As an aging slugger, this could be one of his last opportunities to sign a multi-year free agent contract. For Twins fans, Bautista has been a nemesis since Target Field opened. He's hit .349/.429/.895 with 14 home runs and five doubles in 21 games. His 1.324 OPS at Target Field is his highest mark at any ballpark where he's played more than five games. It doesn't seem like Bautista would be a perfect fit in Minnesota, even on a one-year deal. With a draft pick tied to him and Bautista continuing to age, it would certainly seem unconventional considering the Twins current state of affairs. What are your thoughts on a potential Bautista signing? Do the Twins need more veteran players? Is he worth giving up a draft pick? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article

It's no secret that Minnesota's pitching was poor last season. Twins' starters ranked last in ERA and K/9, with a -13.95 win probability added. However, there may be an even deeper problem at the heart of the Twins issues Even with pitchers performing poorly, the Twins also had trouble on the defensive side of the ball. Miguel Sano struggled during his time in the outfield while other players played below average at their natural positions. So what's at the heart of Minnesota's defensive woes?Defensive metrics have come a long way over the last decade. With organizations and other private companies tracking every batted ball, the amount of information available to fans is at an all-time high. The Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) has developed the SABR Defensive Index (SDI). According to SABR's website, the SDI "draws on and aggregates two types of existing defensive metrics: those derived from batted ball location-based data and those collected from play-by-play accounts." Here's a look at how Twins' players stacked up in the final 2016 SDI rankings. Pitcher: Ervin Santana Final SDI Ranking: -0.7 (32nd in the AL) Santana was the lone pitcher to accumulate enough innings to appear on the SDI rankings. Defensively, pitchers have very little reaction time and sometimes it is best for them to just stay out of the way. Santana only scored better than 12 pitchers that qualified for the SDI and he's the first of many Twins on this list to score in the negative range. Catcher: Kurt Suzuki Final SDI Ranking: -7.2 (12th in the AL) Suzuki isn't exactly known for his defensive prowess. He struggled to throw out runners along with other defensive aspects (pitch framing, etc.). The only AL catcher he scored better than was Dioner Navarro of the White Sox. Newly signed catcher Jason Castro had an SDI score of -0.7 which ranked him seventh in the American League. First Base: Joe Mauer Final SDI Ranking: 1.6 (4th in the AL) Around the All-Star Game, Mauer only trailed Mitch Moreland in the AL SDI rankings for first base. By August, he would drop to fourth place and that's where he finished the season. This was a vast improvement over the 2015 season when he posted a -0.1 SDI. Only three first baseman scored lower than him during that campaign. If he can continue to make strides, he might be able to sneak into next year's top three. Second Base: Brian Dozier Final SDI Ranking: -1.3 (6th in the AL) I've been critical of Dozier's defense since last off-season but he began to make some improvements during the second half of 2016. At the mid-season mark, only Johnny Giavotella of the Angels ranked lower than Dozier with a -4.5 SDI. That came on the heels of finishing with a -6.1 SDI in 2015. Dozier improved his SDI by 3.2 points in the second half to finish sixth in the AL but he was 8.1 points behind a power four (Cano, Kipnis, Kinsler, Pedroia) at the top of the rankings. Shortstop: Eduardo Nunez Final SDI Ranking: -1.2 (9th in the AL) Nunez did not finish the year in a Twins uniform but he still compiled enough innings at shortstop to appear in the rankings. It's no secret that he was below average at shortstop but the Twins were able to deal him at the deadline. Now the Giants can use Nunez at other positions since Brandon Crawford is scheduled to be their everyday shortstop. Left field: Eddie Rosario Final SDI Ranking: -0.6 (5th in the AL) During his minor league years, Rosario played all over the field including all three outfield positions and one season playing second base. With Rosario's skill set, I expected him to score better on the SDI. His quickness helps him to track down balls and his arm is fairly good. This is a far cry from the Delmon Young and Josh Willingham days. I wouldn't be surprised to see his ranking improve in 2017 if he is given the opportunity to be a full-time player. Right field: Max Kepler Final SDI Ranking: 1.4 (7th in the AL) Kepler compiled the Twins' second highest SDI score as he trailed only Mauer by 0.2 points. The AL right field rankings had quite the duo at the top with Adam Eaton (21.4 SDI) and Mookie Betts (19.3 SDI). Kepler was one of nine AL right fielders to score positive in the SDI. He did all of this while starting only 100 games in right field including 97 complete games. Much like Rosario, I expect his SDI total to increase in 2017 with more playing time. Luckily, multiple players on this list won't be on Minnesota's roster for this coming season. Suzuki and Nunez are already gone and Dozier could be on his way out the door. This would leave the Twins with an entirely new middle infield for 2017. With the switch, there will hopefully be some defensive improvements. Who's ranking surprised you? Who will have improved defensive seasons in 2017? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion. Click here to view the article