Cody Christie

It could be easy for Twins uber prospect Byron Buxton to approach this offseason with a big head. He is coming off of one of the best minor league seasons in Twins history. Baseball America recently honored him with their top award as the best minor league player for 2013. Buxton is being compared to super-star players like Mike Trout and that can make it tough to motivate yourself. When a player is considered head and shoulders above his peers, an attitude of complacency can emerge. Buxton destroyed the competition in the Midwest League and the Florida State League to show why the Twins were right to draft him with the second overall pick in 2012. He could look at the rest of the competition and be fine with the level he played at. Why make any improvements if you are already the best? In a recent video interview with the Star Tribune, Buxton discussed different parts of his offseason workout. He works on his hitting and route running on an almost daily basis. His father works with him for hours on some of the different parts of his game. Even though it's hard to believe, he could be getting faster as he recently set a new personal best by running a sub-4.40 40-yard dash. Buxton also saw different parts of his game improve throughout the season last year. According to the interview, he improve his approach at the plate and this helped him to get more comfortable in at-bats. He also mentioned that he got better when it came to pitch recognition. In the last full month of the season, Buxton posted his best OBP of the year so the numbers would seem to back-up his feelings at the plate. Another area he discussed as improving throughout the season was his ability to drive the ball to the gaps. While he might have believed that to be true, his numbers seemed to show that he was better at driving the ball in the first half of the year. He had a .559 slugging percentage with Cedar Rapids and that number dipped to .472 with Fort Myers. Even considering that his BABIP was very similar between the two levels (.402 in Low-A vs .404 in High-A). Situational hitting marked another area of Buxton's improvement. With two outs and runners in scoring position, Buxton hit .328/..430/.552 with eight extra-base hits and 24 RBI over 67 at-bats. Buxton also felt his teammates were able to drive him in on a consistent basis. His 109 runs scored with the second most in the entire minor leagues. In May alone, he scored 30 runs out of the 30 games he played in. As one reporter asked Buxton, "What do you want to get better at?" His simple answer... "Everything."

Josmil Pinto is one of the top prospects in the Twins organization. Make sure to order the 2014 Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook to learn more about the Twins minor league system. Click here to see more of what's in the book. After the Twins and Joe Mauer announced the All-Star Catcher wouldn't be playing catcher moving forward, Minnesota's name was rumored to be involved with many of the top catchers on the free agent market. AJ Pierzynski and Jarrod Saltalamacchia were two of the most talked about names but both of these player decided to sign with other clubs. This leaves Minnesota in a bit of a pickle. The club was impressed with rookie Josmil Pinto and his strong September performance. He hit .342/.398/.963 with four home runs and five doubles in 76 at-bats. This came on the heels of possibly his best minor league campaign as he slugged over .880 at Double-A and Triple-A. Minnesota might be fine with heading into next season with Pinto as the primary catcher. He will turn 25 at the end of March and the team could be ready for him to take over a full-time role. It would be nice for him to have more than 75 plate appearances at Triple-A but the club might be out of other options. Many fans will remember the poor start to last season by Aaron Hicks, another top prospect in the organization. Hicks was coming off a break-out season at Double-A and the team handed him the starting center field job after a strong spring. He would struggle through his rookie season and the team might now be questioning what his long-term value is to the organization. One of the advantages for Pinto is he already has some major league experience under his belt. His success at the end of last year is something he can build off moving forward. There could still be some struggles at the start of next season so what will be the back-up plan if Pinto needs some time at Triple-A? The Twins currently have two other catchers on the 40-man roster after the recent trade of Ryan Doumit to the Atlanta Braves. This leaves the Twins with little experience behind the plate. Chris Herrmann and Eric Fryer could also see some time at catcher. Herrmann offers some versatility as a corner outfielder while Fryer got a brief call-up at the end of last year. Some veteran catchers are still available on the free agent market even with bigger names already under contract for next year. The Twins have checked in on Kurt Suzuki, who hit .232/.290/.337 in 94 games with the Nationals and Athletics last year. Minnesota has also shown interest in John Buck. Last season, Buck played for the Mets and the Pirates and he has averaged 16 home runs the past four seasons. He has also worked a lot with newly signed pitcher Ricky Nolasco so that could give the Twins a reason to sign him. Before the Doumit trade, it seemed like Minnesota was comfortable heading into spring training with Pinto being Plan A with a veteran catcher not being part of the picture. The team will want Pinto to be an everyday player and adding a veteran back up might not be the best for Pinto's growth. The back-up plan at backstop seems to be one of the men on the 40-man roster but a veteran could be added in the coming days. This leaves the Twins hoping Pinto can continue his offensive success from the end of last year.

Over the weekend, word came out that the Twins would sign Mike Pelfrey to a two-year $11 million deal. This is the third free agent starter the Twins have added this season as the team already agreed to terms with Ricky Nolasco and Phil Hughes. With Kevin Corriea under contract for another year, Minnesota's starting rotation is filling up rather quickly but there are still some questions to about the final rotation spot. The Twins had one of the worst starting rotations in all of baseball last year. In order to remedy the problem, the team has done their best to be aggressive on the open market. There was even word over the weekend that the Twins were still aggressively chasing veteran starter Bronson Arroyo. If the Twins were successful in signing Arroyo, this would leave a packed rotation for the start of spring training. Minnesota has a handful of players under team control for next season and they have to be wondering what happened. Scott Diamond, Sam Deduno, Kyle Gibson, and Vance Worley were all part of the rotation at different points last season and it's looking more like a few of these players won't be with the organization when the team leaves Fort Myers. Scott Diamond, LHP After a rookie campaign where Diamond was the best starter for the Twins, his sophomore season was met with a slump. He walked more batters in fewer innings and struggled to keep the ball in the park. He looked better in his time at Rochester but he is out of minor league options. This could mean the Twins would have to try and sneak him through waivers and there is a chance another club would be interested in his services. Sam Deduno, RHP Deduno surprised a lot of people in his first year with the Twins as he tended to give up walks and hits but he found a way to get out of some jams. His second season with the Twins was even better as he lowered his ERA by half a run per game and his WHIP dropped from 1.54 to 1.35 over close to 30 more innings. Like Diamond, Deduno is out of options but it seems like Deduno would have the inside track for the fifth starter spot. Kyle Gibson, RHP There were high hopes for Gibson entering the 2012 season. The former first round pick had looked good in last year's Arizona Fall League and the club was hoping he could make an impact during his rookie season. Gibson struggled throughout his rookie campaign. He still has options remaining so it's looking like a lock for him to start the year in Rochester. His performance there will dictate when the Twins bring him back to the big leagues. Alex Meyer, RHP Considered by many to be the top rated pitching prospect in the Twins organization, Meyer will be knocking on the door to the majors next season. He pitched all of last season at Double-A and he culminated his year with a strong showing in the AFL. There is no need to rush him at this point but it could be hard to find a rotation spot for him unless a rash of injuries hit the guys in front of him. He has options left so the Twins will send him to Rochester for the start of the year. Vance Worley, RHP Last season's Opening Day starter struggled throughout his first season in a Twins uniform. His WHIP was almost 2.00 and his 7.21 ERA was tough to swallow. When Minnesota traded Ben Revere, Worley was supposed to add some depth to a struggling pitching staff. A year later and it is looking more like Worley might not be part of the organization. He's out of options and the Twins will likely put some of the names on this list ahead of him for the fifth starter spot. Put yourself in Terry Ryan and Ron Gardenhire's shoes. Who gets the fifth starter spot? Is the player currently on the roster? Leave a COMMENT and start

There are some benefits to Minnesota's finish near the bottom of the AL for the third straight year. Later this week, the Twins will have a top five pick in this year's Rule 5 Draft. For those not familiar, the Rule 5 Draft allows MLB teams to claim players not protected by their parent club on the team's 40-man roster. There obviously some rules to this process. Players first signed at age 18 must be added to 40-man rosters within five seasons or they become eligible to be drafted by other organizations through the Rule 5 Draft process. Players signed at 19 years or older must be protected within four seasons. A team that selects a player pays $50,000 to the team from which he was selected. The receiving team must then keep the player on the Major League 25-man roster for the entirety of the next season or offer him back to his original club for $25,000. Prospects that fit a certain type of mold in the Rule 5 Draft are more likely to stick with an organization. Power arms that have above-average velocity so they can slide into a bullpen role. Teams are always looking for left-handed pitchers. Speedy middle infielders and center fielders can be used as defensive replacements and pinch runners. Corner outfielders and first basemen could provide power off the bench. In recent years, the Twins have used Rule 5 Draft picks on Ryan Pressly, Terry Doyle, and Scott Diamond. Pressly stuck with the Twins for all of last season and proved himself to be a valuable piece of the bullpen. Doyle didn't pan out with the Twins and he was offered back to the White Sox before he headed over to Japan. The Twins worked out a trade with the Braves to keep Diamond in the organization and this way he didn't have to stay on the 25-man roster for the entire season. Here's a look a few of the players the Twins could be targeting on December 12th: Junior Arias, OF, Reds: He doesn't have a lot of experience in the higher levels of the minor leagues as he finished last year at High-A. He would turn 22-years old before the start of next season and he offers a unique skill set. He hit 15 home runs last year and stole 60 bases. This combination of speed and power could be valuable to multiple clubs. Fit with Minnesota: He could be used as a defensive replacement in the outfield, a late-inning pinch runner, and he has enough power to be a threat off the bench. Danny Burawa, RHP, Yankees: Control is the biggest issue for Burawa but he definitely fits the mold of a power arm. He missed all of 2012 due to injury and pitched fairly successfully out of the bullpen at Double-A last year. He has a three-pitch offering but his secondary pitches need some work. Burawa had a great second half of last season and his mid-90s fastball could be enough for a team to take a chance. 
 Fit With Minnesota: He could slide into the bullpen much like Pressly did in 2013. The Twins relief pitching is strong but another power arm could always help. Marcus Hatley, RHP, Cubs: Hatley has already made it to the Triple-A level with some success out of the bullpen. He's a monster on the mound at 6-foot-5 and his fastball can hit into the mid-90s. There are some issues with his command as he walked 35 batters in 60.2 innings this season. Although, the 25-year old did have a 11.0 SO/9 rate to cancel out some of his control issues. 
Fit With Minnesota: His advanced experience in the minors makes him intriguing. His strikeout ability could be added to the bullpen and become a valuable piece moving forward. Stephen Kohlscheen, RHP, Mariners: Kohlscheen seems to fit the mold of pitchers the Twins have looked for in the past. He has a low-90s fastball but he was dominant at Double-A last year. Over 66.2 innings, the 24-year old struck out 11.5 batters per nine innings. His 6-foot-6 frame is opposing on the mound and he could fit into a rebuilding team's bullpen. One would have to wonder if he would be able to strikeout batters as consistently at the big league level. 
Fit With Minnesota: His success last year in his first full season at Double-A could signal a sign of bigger things to come. Minnesota could add him to the bullpen and hope his success continues. Fred Lewis, LHP, Yankees: He's left-handed and he throws in the low-90s so this should be more than enough to get a team interested in his services. Lewis has been used as a reliever and a starter but his path to the big leagues is likely out of the bullpen. The Yankees sent him to the Arizona Fall League this year but it still wasn't enough to protect the 26-year old. Most of his innings this past year were at Double-A Trenton. 
Fit With Minnesota: The Twins have other left-handed arms in the bullpen so he might not be the perfect fit. The potential is there so it might be worth taking a chance just because he is left-handed. Who would be the best fit for the Twins? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

One of the benefits of being a bad team for multiple seasons is the fact the Twins have been able to replenish some of their farm system with high draft picks the last two years. Add these players into a group that already included some top-notch talent and the future of the Twins organization continues to look bright. Throughout the offseason there will be plenty of prospect lists released by a variety of media outlets. There are always differences between how people view the particular talent in an organization. Does a pitcher with more upside in the lower levels of the minors rate higher than someone at Double-A? Should a slugger with terrible defense rate higher than a light-hitting middle infielder? Those questions and more are all things to consider compiling a list like the one you see below. At the beginning of last week, I released the first portion of my top 20 list so make sure and check those out. 1. Byron Buxton- OF 2013 Team(s): Cedar Rapids Kernels, Ft. Myers Miracle 2013 Stats: .334/.424/.520, 19-2B, 18-3B, 12 HR, 77 RBI, 55 SB There were questions and doubts about Buxton as the season started. Could he consistently hit? Would he be able to generate enough power? How good was his defense? All of those doubts and more were taken care of in his first full professional season. He is widely regarded as the best prospect in the game and the sky seems like it's the limit for this young man. There are other hurdles to jump before he gets to Target Field but Twins fans have to be excited about his promise moving forward. 2. Miguel Sano- 3B 2013 Team(s): Ft. Myers Miracle, New Britain Rock Cats 2013 Stats: .280/.382/.610, 30-2B, 5-3B, 30 HR, 103 RBI, 11 SB For the first time since the inception of this blog, Miguel Sano's name isn't at the top of my offseason top 20 prospects list. He didn't do anything negative to move down a spot but Buxton was just that good. Sano's defense continues to improve at third base and he might be the best power-hitting prospect in the minor leagues. Fans will likely see Sano at Target Field in the next year and the hope is that he can stay there for a long time. 3. Kohl Stewart- RHP 2013 Team(s): GCL Twins, Elizabethton Twins 2013 Stats: 0-0, 1.35 ERA, 0.85 WHIP, 20.0 IP, 4 BB, 24 K Minnesota entered the 2013 Draft looking for a starting pitcher who could change the course of the franchise. This is a lot of pressure to toss on an 18-year old kid from Texas. There were some impressive signs from Stewart in his professional debut and there is a long road ahead for this young man. He has all the tools and ability to be the ace fans have craved since Johan Santana was traded away. The only question remaining could be, "How fast can he get up to Minnesota?" 4. Alex Meyer- RHP 2013 Team(s): New Britain Rock Cats, GCL Twins (Rehab) 2013 Stats: 4-3, 2.99 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, 78.1 IP, 32 BB, 100 K When the Twins traded away two-thirds of their starting outfield last offseason, the acquisition of Meyer signaled a shift in the Twins system. The team needed talented arms to rebuild a franchise coming off of some terrible seasons. Meyer missed a little time in 2013 with a shoulder issue but he built up some innings in the Arizona Fall League. He will likely start the year in Rochester but this means he is one injury away from making his big league debut. 5. Eddie Rosario- 2B/OF 2013 Team(s): Ft. Myers Miracle, New Britain Rock Cats 2013 Stats: .302/.350/.460, 32-2B, 8-3B, 10 HR, 73 RBI, 10 SB Rosario has been in the news lately but for all the wrong reasons. He will be suspended 50 games at the start of next season for taking a painkiller while he was recovering from an injury. This is a tough blow for one of the best hitting prospects in the organization. Rosario was on pace to make his debut in 2014 but this could get pushed back because of his suspension. His defensive transition to second base continues to take form and the club will need to decide if Brian Dozier or Rosario is the future at that position. 6. Jose Berrios- RHP 2013 Team(s): Cedar Rapids Kernels 2013 Stats: 7-7, 3.99 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 103.2 IP, 40 BB, 100 K The small stature of Berrios doesn't fit the normal profile of a starting pitcher but that doesn't take anything away from what he has done since being drafted by the Twins. He continues to prove he could team with Meyer and Stewart to form a formidable top of the rotation trio. Berrios will likely spend most of 2014 in Fort Myers and it will be interesting to see how he fares in a league that is considered tough for hitters. 7. Jorge Polanco- SS/2B 2013 Team(s): Cedar Rapids Kernels 2013 Stats: .308/.362/.452, 32-2B, 10-3B, 5 HR, 78 RBI Minnesota is desperate to develop some middle infielders in the organization. Polanco fits this mold and he is slowly working his way into the organization's long-term thoughts. He continues to improve on the offensive side of the ball but there are still a few wrinkles to iron out defensively. This was one of the main reasons he continues to see time at both middle infield positions. His bat is for real and he was able to prove this in a full season league for the first time this year. 8. Josmil Pinto- C 2013 Team(s): New Britain Rock Cats, Rochester Red Wings, Minnesota Twins 2013 MILB Stats: .309/.400/.482, 32-2B, 1-3B, 15 HR, 74 RBI 2013 MLB Stats: .342/.398/.566, 5-2B, 0-3B, 4 HR, 12 RBI This is the name on the lips of many fans as the organization has decided to move Joe Mauer to first base. His outstanding offensive numbers in the month of September make it easy to get excited about his future. He put together some very good numbers in the minor leagues as well and this has helped him move up prospect lists. His defense continues to improve but the Twins will likely want him to get more seasoning at Rochester before they will hand over the starting catching spot. 9. Max Kepler- OF/1B 2013 Team(s): Cedar Rapids Kernels 2013 Stats: .237/.312/.424, 11-2B, 3-3B, 9 HR, 40 RBI An arm injury cost Kepler part of this season but he still showed some promise in 61 games. His batting average wasn't the greatest but power is still part of his game. He was used primarily as an outfielder in his first three years in the organization but the club shifted him to spending more time at first base. With a healthier 2014 and some graduations off the top of this list, he could see his stock rise in the coming years. 10. Adam Walker- OF 2013 Team(s): Cedar Rapids Kernels 2013 Stats: .278/.319/.526, 31-2B, 7-3B, 27 HR, 109 RBI, 10 SB Walker burst onto the scene with a power-packed performance in 2013. He led the Midwest League in home runs and he made improvements to most other offensive areas. If he can continue to improve, Walker could turn out to be a steal as a third round pick. He'll jump to Fort Myers next year and the Florida State League will test his offensive chops.

The Twins were doing their own shopping over the busy Thanksgiving weekend. According to multiple reports, starting pitcher Ricky Nolasco will sign a four-year, $49 million contract. When this deal is finalized, it will be the largest free agent contract in the organization's history. Minnesota had been rumored to be pushing hard for Nolasco and they were able to land their man. The Twins didn't stop there as reports surfaced on Sunday night of the Twins agreeing to terms with Phil Hughes. Reports have Hughes signing a three-year, $24 million contract. Starting pitching was the Twins biggest offseason need and adding Hughes and Nolasco was a fast paced start. As the old Twins campaign slogan stated, "Get to Know 'Em" Ricky Nolasco- RHP Last Season: 3.70 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 165 SO, 46 BB, 199.1 IP Last 3 Seasons: 4.29 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, 438 SO, 137 BB, 596.1 IP His Story: Nolasco pitched his entire big league career in Marlins organization until a trade in the middle of last season sent him to the Dodgers. According to Baseball Reference's version of WAR, Nolasco was good for a 1.8 WAR in 2013, the second highest mark of his career. His best season by this metric was in 2008 when he pitched 212.1 innings with a 3.52 ERA. Since that season, he's averaged 192 innings a year with 161 strikeouts and 43 walks. The Contract: In a market with pitchers like Ervin Santana and Matt Garza, Nolasco's signing was a big step for the Twins. This is a deal unlike any other in the history of the club because of the value and the fact the Twins haven't signed a free agent starter like this before. He can be in the middle of their rotation for the life of the deal as the club waits for younger organizational talent to mature. He won't be a Johan Santana but his career numbers are similar to Brad Radke and that's an improvement to next year's starting rotation. Phil Hughes- RHP Last Season: 5.19 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 121 SO, 42 BB, 145.1 IP Last 3 Seasons: 4.85 ERA, 1.37 WHIP, 333 SO, 115 BB, 411.2 IP His Story: Hughes was supposed to be a budding prospect in the Yankees organization but things didn't work out that way. His fastball doesn't have a ton of movement and he keeps it high in the zone. At home run prone Yankee Stadium, this can be a recipe for disaster. According to Baseball Reference's WAR, he was worth a -0.7 WAR last year. His best season in relation to WAR was 2009 when he was worth 2.6 WAR and he pitched 86.0 innings with a 3.03 ERA. New York can be a tough pitching environment and a move to the Midwest could be good for Hughes. The Contract: In my offseason blueprint, I had the Twins signing Hughes for two-years and $16 million. His actual contract will be for one more year and $24 million so around the same amount per year. It's tough to know where the Twins and Hughes will be at the end of this deal. Minnesota hopes to be contenders by 2015 or 2016 and Hughes might not be able to be in the rotation of a contending team. That being said, there can be some value in switching organizations and he is only 27-years old so fingers are crossed that he will be able to figure it out with the Twins.

One of the benefits of being a bad team for multiple seasons is the fact the Twins have been able to replenish some of their farm system with high draft picks the last two years. Add these players into a group that already included some top-notch talent, and the future of the Twins organization continues to look bright. Throughout the offseason there will be plenty of prospect lists released by a variety of media outlets. There are always differences between how people view the particular talent in an organization. Does a pitcher with more upside in the lower levels of the minors rate higher than someone at Double-A? Should a slugger with terrible defense rate higher than a light-hitting middle infielder? Those questions and more are all things to consider compiling a list like the one you see below. This is just the first grouping in my top prospect list for this offseason. Check back next week to see how I rank the players near the top of the list. 11. Lewis Thorpe- LHP 2013 Team(s): GCL Twins 2013 Stats: 4-1, 2.05 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 44.0 IP, 6 BB, 64 K The 17-year old burst onto the scene this year and surprised many with his performance in the GCL. He was wiping out batters left and right and he never faced a batter that was younger than him. Left-handed hitters struggled by hitting .071/.093/.119 against Thorpe. He might be the biggest surprise from last season and he is definitely a name to watch. 12. Travis Harrison- 3B 2013 Team(s): Cedar Rapids Kernels 2013 Stats: .253/.366/.416, 28-2B, 0-3B, 15 HR, 59 RBI Harrison continues to show the power potential the Twins saw in him when they drafted him in the supplemental first round. There are still questions about whether or not he will be able to stay at third base but his power potential still projects him as a middle of the order bat. He got walked a ton this year and the Twins hope he can continue to improve at the plate. 13. Trevor May- RHP 2013 Team(s): New Britain Rock Cats 2013 Stats: 9-9, 4.51 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 151.2 IP, 67 BB, 159 K May joined the Twins last offseason in the Ben Revere trade. Minnesota had May repeat the Double-A level and he would lead the Rock Cats in many statistical categories. He is an innings eating pitcher as he threw 135 innings or more for the fourth consecutive season. There have been inconstancies throughout his minor league career and this makes it tough to put him in the top 10 at this point. If he can make some adjustments at Triple-A, he could be one piece of the Twins starting rotation puzzle. 14. Danny Santana- SS 2013 Team(s): New Britain Rock Cats 2013 Stats: .297/.333/.386, 22-2B, 10-3B, 2 HR, 45 RBI, 30 SB Santana continues to be one of the best hitting middle infield prospects in the organization. The Twins continue to trot him out at shortstop to see if he can work through some of his defensive flaws. With Brian Dozier and Eddie Rosario locked in at second base, Santana is going to need to improve defensively so he can stay at shortstop. His batting average was almost 20 points higher than his career mark so the kid can hit. 15. Kennys Vargas- 1B 2013 Team(s): Ft. Myers Miracle 2013 Stats: .267/.344/.468, 33-2B, 1-3B, 11 HR, 93 RBI The Florida State League is suppose to be a tough hitters environment and Vargas did his best to make that look like a myth. His 33 doubles were near the top of the leader board and his 93 RBI were tops in the league. About a third of his time was spent at DH since he accumulated 11 errors over 758 chances at first. With previous concerns about his weight, it was good to see him play a career high 125 games in 2013. He's got a powerful swing and he should be making his mark on New Britain next year. 16. Niko Goodrum- SS 2013 Team(s): Cedar Rapids Kernels 2013 Stats: .260/.364/.369, 22-2B, 4-3B, 4 HR, 45 RBI, 20 SB Much like Santana, the Twins want Goodrum to try and work out his defensive kinks at shortstop. He played a career high 81 games at the positions this year and had 24 errors in 404 chances. In his first year in a full season league, there were some up and down moments. In June, he hit over .315 with a .875 OPS but he followed that with a dismal July where he hit under .200 with a .539 OPS. 17. Jorge Felix-RHP 2013 Team(s): Elizabethton Twins 2013 Stats: 2-2, 2.95 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 61.0 IP, 18 BB, 72 K After brief stints in the DOSL and the GCL, Felix made a strong impression in the Appalachian League this year. He raised his SO/9 rate from 8.7 in 2011 to 10.6 in 2013. His 2.7 BB/9 rate was the lowest of his career and he ranked third in the league for strikeouts in less innings than both the players in front of him. He's only made it through the rookie leagues but there is plenty of potential in Felix's right arm. 18. Ryan Eades- RHP 2013 Team(s): Elizabethton Twins 2013 Stats: 0-0, 4.60 ERA, 1.60 WHIP, 15.2 IP, 12 BB, 13 K This year's second round pick didn't get a lot of time to make his mark as he pitched 15.2 innings over 10 games for the E-Twins. He boasts an impressive college resume at LSU which plays in the tough SEC. He isn't going to strikeout a ton of batters (78 K in 100 collegiate innings this spring) but his college experience could make him a fast mover in the years to come. 19. Stephen Gonsalves- LHP 2013 Team(s): GCL Twins, Elizabethton Twins 2013 Stats: 2-1, 0.95 ERA, 1.02 WHIP, 28.1 IP, 11 BB, 39 K Minnesota's fourth round pick from this past June made appearances with both rookie league squads while starting five games out of his eight appearances. In limited action, he compiled some very impressive numbers including a 12.4 SO/9 rate. At 6-foot-5 and 190 pounds, there is a little room to add some weight and this could make him an even more effective pitcher in the future. 20. Michael Tonkin- RHP 2013 Team(s): New Britain Rock Cats, Rochester Red Wings, Minnesota Twins 2013 MILB Stats: 2-4, 21 S, 3.47 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 57.0 IP, 16 BB, 66 K 2013 MLB Stats: 0-0, 0 S, 0.79 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 11.1 IP, 3 BB, 10 K Since switching to being a full-time bullpen arm in 2012, Tonkin has worked his way from Low-A to the MLB level. He's shown the ability to be a powerful strikeout arm and this could translate to him being an important part of the Twins bullpen of the future. Glen Perkins seems to have the closer role locked up at this point so Tonkin could turn into the set-up man of the future.

Word is slowly starting to trickle out about a 50-game suspension that will be handed down to Twins second base prospect Eddie Rosario. He apparently told the manager of his winter league squad that he wouldn't be able to play because of his pending suspension. The official suspension won't be announced until the league can resolve an issue on their end. Rosario is a converted outfield who by most accounts is top ten prospect in the organization. His quick wrists have helped him to become one of the best hitting prospects in the organization. In a recent poll I took of seven different Twins bloggers for the Twin Minor League Handbook, he ranked as the second best hitting talent in the team's farm system. This past season Rosario encountered some rough patches at Double-A while dealing with some injury related concerns. According to the reports, he took some pills during his rehab that lead to his positive test. If this is the case, it is a tough pill to swallow for the organization. Rosario positioned himself to make his big league debut in 2014. With a pending 50-game suspension, there is a good chance this won't happen next year. It's certainly a tough blow for a player on the rise. When it comes down to it, there is going to be some finger pointing that occurs in the next couple of weeks. Who is to blame for the suspension of one of the team's best prospects? Here are some of the men that should shoulder the load. The Player Word of Advice: "Don't put anything in your body. Especially strange pills." Most of the blame should be put here. There can be a lot of pressure on athletes to perform at the highest level. This can be especially tough when minor league players are trying to return from injury and make their way towards the big leagues. Unfortunately, this can mean taking some shortcuts and it sounds like Rosario made a mistake. At this point in his career, it's a big mistake because it will impact his debut and the point when he will be eligible for arbitration. Don't do drugs, kids. The Training Staff Word of Advice: "Keep a close eye on the organization's star prospects." Obviously, the training staff can't watch over a player 24-hours a day but it sounds like Rosario's incident happened while he was trying to recover from injury. Maybe it's a case where the training staff can continue to remind players of what they can and can't put into their bodies. Team's put a lot of money into their younger players and it's important to keep these men on the field and working towards the big leagues. The Coaching Staff Word of Advice: "Continue to monitor players as they come back from injury" As outsiders, we don't know what goes on behind closed doors. New Britain wasn't in the playoff hunt so there wouldn't have been pressure to get back on the field to help the team. There can be a lot of pressure on managers to take care of the day-to-day on-field tasks. Even Ron Gardenhire gave up on giving injury up-dates this past season and he left this to the men in the front office. With everything on the plate of the coaching staff, it would be easy to delegate one of the coaches to be in-charge of checking in with injured players. The Front Office Word of Advice: "Makes plans to stop this sort of thing from happening in the future" Accidents are going to happen and the world of drug testing is far from a perfect science. There can still be things done within the farm system of an organization to teach players about the right way to take care of their bodies. The overall theme should be to not ingest any unknown substance. Posters should be hung up in locker rooms and lectures should be given to players throughout the season. By having an organization take the right approach, this sort of thing doesn't have to happen again.

There are plenty of questions for the Twins to find answers to in the coming months. One of the biggest conundrums swirling around the team is trying to figure out who will make up the starting rotation. Kevin Correia seems like the only lock for a starting job but the Twins don't really want him as the staff ace. So what direction should the team go? If the season started today, the Twins would likely enter the year with a rotation composed of Kevin Correia, Kyle Gibson, Scott Diamond, Vance Worley, and Sam Deduno. This isn't exactly the most exciting group of players and it would seem like the team would be destined for another less than mediocre year. Luckily, the team does have some money to spend. If the Twins are allowed to get back to their 2012 payroll level of $100 million, the club has around $30-40 million in annual value to spend. This could leave the team will the allotted money to go after a couple big name free agents. It certainly doesn't mean the club has to give away money but they have some flexibility. Another solution to add depth to the Twins rotation might be an in house option. Alex Meyer, the man most likely to get a chance in next year's rotation, just finished pitching in the Arizona Fall League. Last offseason, Meyer joined the Twins organization after being traded from Washington for Denard Span. Only one year later and he could be ready to make an impact at the big league level. Meyer pitched most of last year for New Britain in the Eastern League. He was limited to 78.1 innings because of an issue with his shoulder and that was one of the main reasons the club wanted him to build up some innings in the AFL. His 11.5 SO/9 rate was the highest of his career and he recorded 100 strikeouts or more for the second consecutive season. The Twins were looking for a few things from Meyer in his time in the AFL. His secondary pitches needed some work and the team wanted to see some better command from a pitcher they feel is a front of the rotation arm. He would end up finishing second in the AFL in strikeouts but he did this in three fewer innings than the league leader. Reports on his fastball were good but his command and secondary pitches still don't sound like he is ready to make the jump to the big leagues. This likely means Meyer is headed to Rochester to start next season with the potential to make his debut at some point in the second half of 2014. There are some kinks that still need to be worked out and the Twins don't need to rush Meyer. Minnesota hopes Meyer will be a boost to the rotation at some point in the near future but he needs to continue to work on command and his secondary pitches. This will help him to be a more successful pitcher at the big league level and the Twins need as much help as they can possibly get in the starting rotation.

Last offseason, the Minnesota Twins traded two of their most important outfield pieces, Denard Span and Ben Revere. There were plenty of reasons for doing this but the main reason was the team needed to add some pitching prospects to their minor league system. The club also felt Aaron Hicks was close to being ready to take over the everyday center field job. It's nearly a year later and things might already be falling apart for both of these players in their new organizations. Reports have begun to surface that the Nationals and the Phillies might be willing to part ways with the center fielders they've had for all of one season. There are a variety reasons each team wants to go in a new direction. Denard Span- Washington Nationals 2013 Stat Pack: .279/.327/.380, 4 HR, 11 3B, 28 2B, 20 SB Last Season: In his first season with the Nationals, Span played over 150 games for the first time since 2010. He was a National League Gold Glove nominee for his continued strong defense in center field. His shift to Nationals Park helped him to collect a league high 11 triples. Span also stole 20 bases for the first time in three seasons. Trade Talk: The Nationals are now interested in signing free agent center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury and this could make a deal for Span imminent. Ellsbury is a Scott Boras client and the Nationals have been a landing spot for some of his free agents in the past. It will be interesting to see if the Nats are able to sign Ellsbury before they trade Span or they could end up with multiple lead-off men on their team for next year. Contract Situation: There is some value left in Span as he as a couple years remaining on his current contract. In 2014, the 29-year old will be owed $6.5 million with a $9 million club option for the following season. Span also played very well in the second half of the season and this could make other teams very interested in his services. Ben Revere- Philadelphia Phillies 2013 Stat Pack: .305/.338/.352, 0 HR, 3 3B, 9 2B, 22 SB Last Season: A broken foot just before the All-Star break cost Revere a big chunk of his season. He was on fire before the injury as he hit .407 with a .909 OPS in the 29 games. It looked like the Phillies might have finally unlocked the Revere puzzle and he could provide some solid value for the club in the years moving forward. Trade Talk: It can be tough for a player that relies on speed to make it make all the way from a broken foot. This could mean some tough decisions ahead for the Phillies front office. Revere likely won't have a ton of trade value in the coming months as teams try and see if he is healthy. Philadelphia might try and add another outfielder to the mix for next year and this could mean a Revere trade. Contract Situation: Revere earned Super 2 status under the arbitration system and this makes him eligible for arbitration for the first time. He will likely get a slight bump in pay but he is still very affordable for the next handful of seasons. The first year Revere will be eligible for free agency is 2018 so it seems likely for the Phillies to hang on to him for right now.

The Twins made it official on Monday... Joe Mauer's days behind the plate are over. After consulting with doctors at Mayo Clinic, it was felt that Mauer needed to avoid the chance of re-injuring himself at the roughest position on the baseball field. Even though Mauer is now symptom free and able to go about his regular offseason routine, the club felt this was in the best interest of the team and their star player. The move away from catcher has been something Mauer has tried to avoid in the past. Even after missing most of the 2011 season because of leg issues, Mauer wanted to prove he could handle the rigors of being a full-time catcher again. The seriousness of his concussion in 2013 must have been enough to convince him the time was right for a move. In my offseason blueprint, I listed Mauer as the primary first baseman for the 2014 Minnesota Twins. It seemed likely for the club to give him more time at first base especially with the exit of Justin Morneau and the rise of Josmil Pinto. These two players are just part of the ripple effect of Mauer's move to first. Pinto's Chance to Start The Twins were impressed with the performance of Pinto in the final month of the season. Over 21 games, the rookie backstop batted .342/.398/.566 with four home runs and five doubles. His defensive skills might not be as good as Mauer but he did throw out 33% of base runners with a .982 fielding percentage in his eight seasons in the minor leagues. Minnesota could always add a veteran catcher but Pinto deserves a chance at some point next year. Morneau Won't Return Within the inner circle of Twins Territory, there might have been the hopes of a return of their former MVP. As Mauer shifts to first base, it seems as if there is no spot for Morneau on the roster. It probably didn't make sense for the Twins to spend money on Morneau with other first base options currently under contract. This allows Morneau to try and find a spot on a team that can contend before his career is complete. Parmelee and Colabello Left Searching for ABs Both Parmelee and Colabello have put together impressive numbers at Triple-A in the last two seasons. These performances haven't translated to the big leagues and this leaves question marks about them moving forward. Parmelee got some time in the outfield last year and this might be his best chance at sticking with the team long-term. Colabello's independent baseball story was great but he might be more of a organizational player. Sano's the Future at Third With a full offseason to prepare, Minnesota could have moved Mauer to third base. They didn't because Miguel Sano is making his way to Target Field. There is a small chance of Sano starting the year with the club so Trevor Plouffe will keep his place warm at the hot corner. It seems a waste to use Mauer's athletic ability at a lowly position like first base but Sano has one of the best arms in the Twins system and the spot should be saved for him. What other ripple effects are there from Mauer's move to first? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

There are plenty of ways to go about trying to fix the Twins team but some patience might be required as the club waits for some younger pieces to work their way through the minor leagues. The Twins Daily crew put out some solid information in the 2014 Offseason Handbook. One of the best parts to read about this document is the blueprint plans put together by the writers. There are plenty of options for the Twins but here is how I would go about trying to fix the team. Some of these ideas will happen and some won't but that's what makes this fun. Starting Line-Up C- Josmil Pinto- $0.5 million 1B- Joe Mauer- $23 million 2B- Brian Dozier- $0.5 million 3B- Miguel Sano- $0.5 million SS- Pedro Florimon- $0.5 million LF- Oswaldo Arcia- $0.5 million CF- Aaron Hicks- $0.5 million RF- Trevor Plouffe- $2.0 million DH- Josh Willingham- $7 million ------------------------------------------------- $35.0 million committed to nine hitters Breakdown: Sano has an impressive spring with the major league club and earns the starting third base job. Mauer's concussion concerns are enough to make him spend more time at first base than catcher for the first time in his career. He could get some playing time behind the plate but the Twins need to protect their most important asset. Willingham's injury concerns last season make it much easier to move him to full-time DH to take some of the wear and tear off of his legs. The outfield can be a little shaky with a couple of young players. Hicks has the entire offseason to toil over his terrible 2013. This should give him the drive to earn back his starting job in center field. Plouffe has to shift to right field with the emergence of Sano. Bench C- Ryan Doumit-$3.5 million IF- Eduardo Escobar- $0.5 million 1B/OF- Chris Parmelee- $0.5 million OF- Darin Mastroianni- $0.5 million ------------------------------------------------- $5.0 million committed to four bench positions Breakdown: Parmelee and Mastroianni will likely get at-bats at first base and in the outfield so they will be semi-regular players. It could be a make it or break it year for Parmelee with some young prospects making their way towards Target Field. It would be nice to add some veteran catching depth but I think the Twins will use Pinto, Doumit, and a sprinkling of Mauer behind the plate. Escobar is a nice piece to have and he has the ability to fill-in at multiple positions. Starting Pitching 1. Josh Johnson- $7 million 2. Phil Hughes- $8 million 3. Kevin Correia- $5.5 million 4. Kyle Gibson- $0.5 million 5. Johan Santana- $1.0 million (+ incentives) Johan insurance: Scott Diamond, Vance Worley, and/or Sam Deduno ($0.5 million each) ------------------------------------------------- $22.0 million committed to top five/ $23.5 million with Johan insurance Breakdown: Target Field would be a perfect place for Johnson to rebuild some value on a short-term deal. Hughes signed as part of a two-year, $16 million deal to earn his place as a top of the rotation arm. Correia and Gibson can fit nicely in the middle part of the rotation with less pressure to perform as top of the rotation guys. Does it make sense to sign a guy like Santana coming off his second shoulder surgery? Probably not but it would still be fun to see him back in a Twins uniform. Also, the team has other guys that could fit into the fifth spot if Johan doesn't work out. Bullpen Righties: Jared Burton, Casey Fien, Anthony Swarzak, Michael Tonkin- $5.5 million Lefties: Caleb Thielbar, Brian Duensing- $2.5 million Closer: Glen Perkins- $3.75 million ------------------------------------------------- $11.75 million committed to seven relievers Breakdown: The bullpen was the best part of the 2013 team so there is no reason to make any drastic changes. It could make sense for the club to non-tender Duensing but the team might like having another lefty to go along with Thielbar. Tonkin has a chance to turn into a late-inning pitcher of the future but the Twins can rely on Burton and Perkins for the time being. If Minnesota can get any trade value for one of their veteran righties, the team could let Duke Welker take over a bullpen spot. Minnesota Twins 2014 Checkbook Starting Line-Up: $35.0 million Bench Players: $5.0 million Starting Pitching: $22.0 million Bullpen: $11.75 million ------------------------------------------------- $73.75 million committed to Opening Day 25-man roster

The Minnesota Twins struck out 1430 time last season, the third most strikeouts in the history of the game. On the offensive side of the ball, the team scored the third fewest runs in the American League while the pitching staff allowed the second most runs to be scored. The club also left the third most runners on base of any team in the AL. There needs to be some changes to the roster and the pitching staff is the biggest priority. Numbers like the ones discussed above make it clear that the offense is in need of a boost. The outfield has some open starting spots for 2014 and reuniting with a former player could solve some problems. Jason Kubel has become a free agent after the Cleveland Indians bought out the remaining part of his contract for $1 million. The former 12th round pick by the Twins became a mainstay in the club's outfield from 2007-2011. As a free agent, he headed to Arizona in 2012 and socked 30 home runs with a 120 OPS+. The 2013 season saw him suffer a quadriceps injury and flounder to his worst professional season. Before his injury filled 2013, Kubel had been a consistent offensive player. From 2007-2012, his OPS+ ranged from 105-137 and he averaged 21 home runs a season. Those kinds of numbers would have ranked him near the top of the Twins team in 2013. Even though there were some concerns from hitters in the first two years of Target Field, Kubel didn't seem to mind hitting in the Twins home ballpark. In 2010, the inaugural season for Target Field, Kubel posted similar .746 and .753 OPS marks at home and on the road. Kubel slugged .377 at home and .476 on the road in 2011 but he had 63 more at-bats on the road. While Oswaldo Arcia and Josh Willingham should be penciled in as starters, there are some decisions to make in the outfield. Willingham was hurt for most of last season and he could probably use some more time at designated hitter. Chris Parmelee didn't impress last year and he might need to play more at first base. This leaves an opportunity for the club to add a veteran bat at a corner outfield spot. The confetti has hardly settled from the Red Sox championship parade so the free agent hot stove has just begun to get warm. Other teams might be interested in Kubel and there could be better offers on the table than anything the Twins are willing to shell out. For now, it is interesting to think about what he could offer to the club on a short-term deal. If Kubel's injuries are behind him, he could be poised for a bounce-back season at a discounted price. Minnesota could be just the team to offer him this possibility because of his history with the club. An incentive laden deal could help their former player to regain some value and he could help Minnesota with some of their offensive woes. It also helps to know that he isn't opposed to a reunion tour with his original organization. Would signing Kubel to a free agent deal make sense for the Twins? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

When a team has lost 90 games in three consecutive seasons, there can be plenty of finger pointing. For the Twins, there are questions to ask about how this current roster was created and what the team can do as they try and move forward. Where are the holes in this roster? What needs to be done this offseason? Are there internal options to help remedy the situation? All of these questions and more need to be answered before the team heads to Florida for spring training. Let's take a look at each position and try to figure out how the Twins can get out of this mess. A fishing bobber ranking will accompany each position. One bobber means the position needs to be addressed, two bobbers means the position is steady, and three bobbers means the position is looking good going forward. Catcher 2013 Starter: Joe Mauer Other Options: Ryan Doumit, Josmil Pinto, Chris Herrmann There are questions about Mauer moving forward from his concussion related issues. Doumit suffered from some concussion issues of his own. At the end of the season, Pinto looked great but can he sustain this kind of production at the big league level. This should be a position for the Twins not to worry about but Mauer's concussion issues bring down this ranking. Ranking: One Bobber First Base 2013 Starter: Justin Morneau (Out of the Organization) Other Options: Joe Mauer, Chris Colabello, Chris Parmelee Mauer's head troubles could mean a change of position and first base might be his new home by the beginning of next season. Colabello and Parmelee have shown success at Triple-A but it hasn't translated to the big leagues. This could be a spot where the team looks out of the organization for help since there are three left-handed bats and plenty of question marks. Ranking: One Bobber Second Base 2013 Starter: Brian Dozier Other Options: Eduardo Escobar, Eddie Rosario In a breakout season, Dozier made Twins fans forget his disastrous rookie campaign. He seems to have locked up second base going into next season but Rosario is close to knocking on the door. Rochester will be Rosario's home to start 2014 but a falter from Dozier could mean Rosario's rise to the big leagues. This position battle will be one to watch moving forward. Ranking: Three Bobbers Third Base 2013 Starter: Trevor Plouffe Other Options: Miguel Sano, Deibinson Romero Plouffe struggled for most of 2013 but ended the year with a strong month of September. The Twins are going to want to see Sano at the big league level sometime in 2014. After Hicks' terrible 2013 season, the club will probably take it slow with Sano. A hot start in Triple-A from Sano could mean the end of Plouffe's tenure at third base. Ranking: Three Bobbers Shortstop 2013 Starter: Pedro Florimon Other Options: Danny Santana, Eduardo Escobar Last season, Florimon showed his defensive prowess but his offense continues to be offensive. In the minor leagues, Santana continues to hit but there are giant question marks about his defense. Florimon is the likely starter but Santana's offensive ability is something to watch. Overall, shortstop is a tough spot in the higher levels of the organization. Ranking: One Bobber Left Field 2013 Starter: Josh Willingham Other Options: Oswaldo Arcia, Trevor Plouffe Willingham followed his tremendous 2012 season with an injury filled 2013. Arcia had some up and down moments in his rookie year but he still showed the power stroke he had been known for in the minors. As the team looks to the future, it might make sense for Willingham spend more time at DH. Plouffe could see more time in the outfield when Sano arrives. Ranking: Two Bobbers Center Field 2013 Starter: Aaron Hicks Other Options: Byron Buxton, Alex Presley When the Twins handed the starting center field job to Hicks last year, they hoped the young man would take the position and run. Lucky for Twins fans, Buxton burst onto the scene in 2013. It could still be a couple years before Buxton makes it to the big leagues and this leaves a hole in center field. The future looks bright with Buxton but there are still questions about what Hicks will be able to do in 2014. Ranking: Two Bobbers Right Field 2013 Starter: Chris Parmelee Other Options: Aaron Hicks, Darin Mastroianni The Twins could be searching for options at this position moving forward. Parmelee and Hicks had disappointing seasons and Mastroianni was hurt for most of the year. Arcia could see some time at this spot if the Twins continue to use Willingham defensively. If Hicks can fix his offensive woes, this could be his spot when Buxton arrives on the scene. Ranking: One Bobber What kind of bobber rankings would you give the Twins position players? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

As part of the Twins Daily preseason preview, I took an in-depth look at Chris Parmelee and Trevor Plouffe as they headed into the 2013 season. Going into the season, both former first round draft picks figured to get extended playing time. The hope for Twins fans was for each of these players to show some of the potential they had shown while playing at the Triple-A level. Plouffe showed some impressive power in 2012 with 24 home runs and 19 doubles. He had a career high .756 OPS and it looked like the Twins might have found someone to be an offensive threat in the second half of the line-up. At the beginning of 2012, there was talk of him moving into the outfield but he found a new home at third base. There was hope of improvement from Plouffe as the team headed to Florida for spring training. Minnesota wanted to bring in some competition for Plouffe at third base during spring training but this never happened. Plouffe was penciled in as the starting third baseman and he started 118 games there. Over the course of the season, his batting average rose to the point where he hit .330/.369/.417 in September. He posted a positive defensive WAR for the first time in his career but his other defensive numbers were lacking. It's hard to know what the role of Plouffe will be going forward. Stud prospect Miguel Sano will enter spring training with a chance to take over the starting third base job. This could mean Plouffe spending more time in the outfield or keeping Sano's spot warm while he gets some seasoning at Triple-A. Injuries impacted different parts of his 2013 season but Plouffe is surely going to feel the heat from Sano entering 2014. For Parmelee, there were high expectations after his strong September call-up in 2011. Justin Morneau was a giant question mark at first base and the Twins fan base thought Parmelee could take over the role of starting first baseman. In 2012, he received sporadic big league playing time and this might have been the main reason for his struggles. Minnesota was going to find more at-bats for him in 2013 and this meant a move to the outfield. The power Parmelee showed in Triple-A and in his September call-up has continued to be absent. His OPS dropped this season and he had the same OPS+ as in 2012. Left-handed pitchers owned Parmelee by holding him to hitting .172/.250/.276 in 58 at-bats. Even his time at Triple-A was unimpressive (.231/.318/.370) following a year where he was a force in the minor leagues. If the Twins are going to have to find playing time for Joe Mauer at a position besides catcher, it will likely be first base. This takes at-bats away from Parmelee and the outfield might start to fill-up with more viable options. Josh Willingham, Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Arcia, and Ryan Doumit all need playing time and this could leave Parmelee without regular at-bats. It's looking more and more like Parmelee will be the odd man out. The Twins need their first round draft picks to make it at the big league level. As I said in the article from the beginning of the year, "It takes a lot to become a regular on a major league ball club." The hope was for Parmelee and Plouffe to be part of the long-term solution in Minnesota. At this point, that is starting to look more like a dream than a reality.