Cody Christie

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.

One of the questions facing the Minnesota Twins and their fans this offseason is the future of Joe Mauer. The All-Star catcher and face of the franchise didn't play a game after August 19th because of concussion related symptoms. With the Twins heading for their third straight 90-loss season, there was no need to rush Mauer back to the field. When the Twins head to Florida this spring, there will continue to be questions about how much time Mauer should play at catcher. Catchers are in the line of fire when it comes to repeated foul tips and collisions at home. In the past, Mauer has repeated his desire to continue to catch but one has to wonder if Minnesota can continue to allow this to happen. Two home plate collisions in the American League Championship Series brought out continued concerns about the men wearing the protective gear. As continued concern is raised about concussions and head related injuries, reports have some baseball officials believing home plate collisions could be banned this offseason. Moving forward the Twins might be more likely to let Mauer spend time catching if the front office knew the play at the plate was banned. Both of the Twins catchers from the Opening Day roster, Mauer and Ryan Doumit, missed time this season because of concussion related issues. These symptoms were brought on by foul tips to the mask so even cutting out collisions might not be enough to keep Mauer catching. In the last month of the season, the Twins used a combination of Chris Herrmann and Josmil Pinto at catcher. Pinto was impressive by batting .342/.398/.566 with nine extra-base hits. His shoulder had been a concern throughout the minor league season but he fought through this issue to have an impressive September. Herrmann batted .204/.286/.325 with 11 extra-base hits over 157 at-bats this year. If there are any concerns with Mauer's concussion related issues heading into spring training, the Twins will be forced to make a decision about his catching future. Even if collisions are out of the game, foul tips will continue to impact catchers until helmet technology can be improved. Minnesota has Mauer under contract until 2018 and they can ill afford to have him on the disable list for extended periods of time. Because of baseball's extensive history, it can be tough to change something, like collisions, that have been part of the game for so long. The time is right to ban collisions before another player gets seriously hurt. Catchers can be one of the most important positions on the field and it's time to protect them from future head injuries.

Plenty of Twins players will have things to reflect on this coming offseason. When a team has multiple 90-loss seasons in a row, changes are likely and some of those situations started to play themselves out. Minnesota needs pitchers to stand out in the final games of the season as the team tries to figure out the future. Liam Hendriks is one player on shaky ground for 2014. The team rushed him to the big leagues as a 22-year old and struggles followed him since he got called up. Next season, he will be 25 and there is a chance the Twins remove him from the 40-man roster. As Nick Nelson wrote here at Twins Daily, Hendriks might have run out of chances. Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Minnesota needs some semblance of a starting rotation for next season and there aren't any sure bets on the free agent market. This could leave a window open for Hendriks to get one more chance in 2014. It might not be a good chance but there is at least an opportunity. The Twins jerked him back and forth between the minor leagues and the big leagues over the past three seasons. With the Twins, he has never started more than eight games consecutively and that was at the end of last season. It would be a challenge to figure out big league hitters when a pitcher isn't given the opportunity to start consecutive games. His pitches are already bottom of the rotation material and moving him up and down hasn't helped. In 2011 at Double-A and 2012 at Triple-A, Hendriks was a very effective pitcher. He posted ERAs of under 3.00 and he averaged over six innings per appearance. Strikeouts have never been his specialty but he is most effective when he limits walks and induces ground balls. This hasn't happened at the major league level but he has shown these skills in the minor leagues. Another reasons to keep Hendriks around is the fact he won't be arbitration eligible until the 2016 season and he can't reach free agency until 2019. This means he will be a relatively cheap player on the roster and the Twins can use the money they save on him to spend on other pieces of the roster. Even in their recent down years, the Twins have found effective relief pitchers in various ways. One way to add to a relief pitching core is to shift starters into the bullpen. Minnesota has seen successful transitions from Glen Perkins and Anthony Swarzak and this could be a path to follow with Hendriks. Minnesota has already used him as a long-relief man at the end of 2013 and it could be a sign of things to come. Is Hendriks going to be a key piece to the potential Twins turnaround? Likely not but it still doesn't mean that it is time to give up on him. It would have been nice for Hendriks to get more opportunities at the big league level. The team has never given him a consistent shot at sticking in the rotation and most of this has come from his ineffective pitching. Hendriks might not be the answer to all of the Twins pitching problems and he deserves another chance to make it work in some kind of role for 2014.

There is less than a week left in the regular season and the Twins don't have a manager under contract for 2014. With Minnesota on their way to a third straight 90-loss, there are questions about whether Ron Gardenhire deserves another opportunity at the helm. He won 2010's AL Manager of the Year but things have been ugly since that season. Since Tom Kelly was hired in 1987, the Twins have employed two managers so change has been far from commonplace. Terry Ryan cleared out most of Gardenhire's coaching staff last season in an attempt to bring in some new voices to the clubhouse. Even with the coaching changes, there wasn't much improvement on the field. Gardenhire might not be out the door but the team doesn't have to bring him back. The Twins will have to make a managerial decision and they are reasons for and against each candidate. Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Ron Gardenhire Reasons For: He's a very well respected manager and he's been with the organization in some capacity through multiple decades. The Twins front office hasn't given him much in the starting pitching department. He knows the Twins way of doing things and the Pohlads have avoided managerial changes during their ownership. Reason Against: It's been a rough couple of seasons and it might be time for a new voice. Most of the veteran players on the roster have left for green pastures and this could mean a youth movement. It could help to bring in a different manager that has worked more recently with a younger core of players in the minor leagues. Fans have called for a change and it could be time. Paul Molitor Reasons For: The Twins like to stick with organizational guys and Molitor has held a few different jobs within the organization. He worked as the bench coach under Kelly and more recently he has served as a roving minor league instructor. His experience with some of the younger players could play to his advantage. Reasons Against: Molitor doesn't have any managerial experience and this could be one of the biggest strikes against him. There have probably been chances for him to enter the managerial ranks in the Twins farm system but the schedule of a minor league instructor fit his needs. The experience of the other men could make it tough to pick Molitor as the man for Minnesota. Jake Mauer Reasons For: The elder Mauer has built up a strong reputation during his time as a manager in the Twins minor league system. In his first year with the Cedar Rapids Kernels, he guided the team to what might have been the best minor league regular season in 2013. There were plenty of changes to the roster and the team kept winning games. He knows how to work with a young roster and to get the best out of up-and-coming players. Reasons Against: He lacks any experience at the big league level as a player or a coach. This could mean a tough adjustment as he looks to figure out life as a major league manager. His younger brother is also the best player on the team and that could lead to an interesting family dynamic. He has done some good things in the minor leagues but it might not be enough to earn him the job. Gene Glynn Reasons For: The Rochester Red Wings rallied under Glynn this season and earned a Wild Card playoff spot on the season's final day. Multiple coaches from his staff were brought up to Minnesota this season and this could make for an easy transition. He also has spent multiple years in different coaching roles at the big league level to give him the experience he would need. Reasons Against: He isn't exactly a flashy name and many Twins fans might not have ever heard of him. At 57-years old, he isn't exactly a spring chicken. In fact, he is two years older than Gardenhire. If the Twins want to find someone to work a young roster, Glenn might not fit the bill, as most of Rochester 2013 line-up was older minor league veterans. Experience is great but he might not be the best choice for the long-term.

When the Twins left spring training, there were multiple Twins players in line to get playing time during their sophomore seasons. The second year can be a huge year for players trying to make their mark at the big league level. There can be positive signs during a rookie season but continuing those early impressions and making adjustments is key to solidifying a player's future. Two of these second year players were set-up for very different starts to the season. Scott Diamond had seemingly come out of nowhere to be the Twins best starting pitcher in 2012. Brian Dozier had struggled mightily during his first trip through the American League. Diamond was lined up to fit into the rotation for multiple seasons while Dozier had plenty of question marks around him as he shifted to a new defensive position. Early Season Impressions Diamond started the year on the disabled list after having a bone chip removed from his elbow in later portion of the offseason. This might have taken away from his offseason routine and this definitely showed up on the field. By the end of June, Diamond had an ERA of 5.40 with opponents batting .320/.355/.502 against him. It wasn't exactly a dream start to the year. Dozier didn't exactly start the world on fire at the beginning of the year. In the middle of April, he was hitting under .200 and things wouldn't improve in a hurry. For the entire month of May, he hit .190/.227/.286 while being limited to four extra-base hits. There were some positive signs at his new defensive position but his offense was still reminiscent of his poor rookie campaign. Mid-Season Changes Things would continue to go down hill for Diamond in the middle portion of the season. The month of July would be another bad month as opponents hit .264/.336/.500 with six home runs in five games started. Other teams were hitting the ball hard and Diamond's 1.538 WHIP continued to be tough to swallow. Minnesota decided to make a change and Diamond was sent to Rochester in August for the rest of the Triple-A season. While Diamond was busy trying to figure himself out in the minors, Dozier made some adjustments to put him on a record breaking pace. He would knock five home runs in June while boosting his batting line to .257/.389/.514. July would see Dozier hit 11 doubles, more than the first three months of the year combined. Ron Gardenhire had more faith in Dozier to bat near the top of the order and the second baseman made the most of this opportunity. Late-Season Adjustments Rochester needed every win the team could get down the stretch and Diamond helped to solidify their rotation. He would make six starts at Triple-A and he posted a perfect 4-0 record with a 2.40 ERA. Opponents hit .217/.259/.336 against him and he averaged almost seven innings a start. Minnesota had seen some positive changes in Diamond so they brought him back to the big leagues for the team's last handful of games. There are open spots in next season's starting rotation and Diamond needs to show that he deserves a spot. Dozier continued his hot hitting as the Twins season has progressed. August would turn into his best offensive month, as he became a power hitting threat. He hit .276/.333/.535 with six home runs, 11 doubles, and three triples. This outburst of power put Dozier on pace to set the franchise record for home runs from a second baseman. Minnesota had used Dozier at the bottom of the line-up, as a leadoff hitter, and now he has worked his way to the middle of the order. Focus on the Future Diamond has a lot left to prove to the Twins before the 2014 season starts. There is going to be some room in the team's pocket book to court some free agent pitchers. If the Twins pursue multiple starting pitching options, Diamond could end up back in Rochester. This seems like a long shot at this point but Mr. Diamond won't feel nearly as comfortable this offseason. Maybe it is better for him to have to earn a spot than to be guaranteed one. Minnesota has Eddie Rosario pushing towards the majors but Dozier looks to be blocking his path to the big leagues. Fans are going to want to see Dozier continue his impressive offense for another full season. It has been rare for the Twins to have a middle infielder molded in their own farm system and the team seems pleased with Dozier. He has slowly become a team leader and the Twins future plans seem more likely to include their current second baseman. Sophomore years can be tough but Dozier and Diamond have sure taken different paths in their second year in the big leagues. Diamond in the middle of a year long sophomore slump and Dozier showing that there can be some success in a player's sophomore season. Two different players... And Two Different Sophomore Seasons...

The Twins continue to play out the rest of the 2013 season without their $23 million man, Joe Mauer. There is plenty of concern surrounding Mauer's concussion related injury. As Twins fans are well aware from recent incidents with Denard Span and Justin Morneau, head injuries can be tough to solve. This leaves Minnesota with an interesting situation behind the plate as the team looks to the future. No one knows when Mauer will be back on the field and if he will ever be able to suit up behind the plate. The Twins have been auditioning a variety of players this September in hopes of shedding so light on the situation. Will one of these new players be the Twins full-time backstop by the start of next year or will Mauer be able to solve the puzzle of his brain injury? Originally posted at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com Here's the breakdown of the men fighting for catching time in 2014. It is a mixture of young and old as the Twins begin to shift their roster to a more youthful core of players. Joe Mauer 2013 (113 G, 73 G started at C): .324/.404/.476, 11 HR, 35 2B, 62 R Concerns over Mauer's injury will be one of the biggest story lines entering spring training next year. The 2013 season was only the second time since 2007 where he has failed to play over 135 games. Justin Morneau is gone and this leaves a hole at first base. Mauer's power numbers don't exactly fit with the typical first baseman mold but the Twins need him to fit somewhere. Depending on how the offseason progresses, fans have to hope that Mauer will be able to do some catching, play some time at first, and even get into the line-up as a DH. This could be a wild dream at this point but there are multiple months until Opening Day 2014. Ryan Doumit 2013 (124 G, 41 GS at C): .239/.310/.386, 13 HR, 24 2B, 43 R With Mauer out of the line-up, one would figure Doumit would get some more time at catcher. This hasn't been the case and Doumit had his own concussion related DL stint earlier this season. Minnesota loved the production Doumit provided in 2012 and the team signed him to an extension. His offensive production dropped a little this season and there's a chance the team could try and deal him in the offseason. He will be 33-years old next season and in the last year of his contract. His does represent the lone veteran presence behind Mauer so this could give the Twins a reason to keep him around. Chris Herrmann 2013: (49 G, 22 GS at C): .218/.302/.361, 4 HR, 7 2B, 14 R Herrmann can't be a free agent until after the 2019 season and the Twins have been willing to use him in multiple defensive positions. His numbers dropped across the board as he struggled at the plate in Rochester and Minnesota. There were some good signs from him during 2012 at Double-A. One has to hope for that version of Herrmann to transfer to the big league level especially if Mauer is no longer able to catch. If he is able to make the right adjustments, Herrmann could end up taking over the role vacated by Doumit after next season. Otherwise, he is an adequate back-up catcher to keep on the bench. Josmil Pinto 2013: (11 G, 9 GS at C): .405/.463/.703, 2 HR, 5 2B, 6 R In his first taste of the big leagues, Pinto has made a quick impression on Twins Territory. The kid can hit the ball and he has continued to show this ability as he has moved through the upper levels of the Twins farm system. In the past, there have been some questions about his catching ability and this year there were concerns about his shoulder. He was able to throw out 29% of base stealers between New Britain and Rochester this season. At the big league level, he has caught three out of seven potential runners. Fans that continue to watch the Twins in September will keep their eye on Pinto because he might be getting a lot more time behind the plate next year. Fans might be worried about Mauer's future so it's good to have a future plan in place. Pinto has been impressive but it has been a small sample size and it's tough to get too excited before seeing a full season of play from him. It would be great for both men to be able to spend some time behind the plate next season but for now the future is a little cloudy.

Aaron Hicks had to be flying high at the conclusion of spring training this season. He had won the starting center fielder job for the Twins and he would be making his big league debut in front of the Target Field faithful. His 2012 minor league campaign was fantastic as he showed much of the promise the Twins had seen in him when they took him as a first round pick. The future seemed nothing but bright and there were comparisons being made to some of the best outfielders in the game. Those flowery thoughts didn't last too long as Hicks would struggle mightily on the offensive side of the ball. At the end of April, he had a batting line of .113/.229/.127 with a double being his lone extra-base hit. These were tough numbers to swallow especially with the expectations coming out of spring training. Switching the calendar to May helped Hicks with his power swing but the other numbers didn't follow suit. After one extra-base hit in the first month, he cracked 10 extra-base hits in the second month of the season including six home runs. This raised his slugging percentage almost 200 points from .127 to .315 and it lead some to believe that Hicks might have turned the corner. Throughout his minor league career, he had been praised as being a patient hitter but pitchers were able to attack him at the plate. In the first two months of the season, he struck out 49 times and he was only able to coax 17 walks. Combine his low walk total with the fact that he wasn't hitting the ball all that great and there were some red flags starting to appear. June would see Hicks trying to overcome his first extended stay on the DL. He would be sent to Triple-A for the first time as part of his rehab and it seemed like he might have gotten more out of staying at that level. Instead the team brought him back for the start of July and there were a few more baby steps in the right direction. Hicks batted .230/.292/.379 after returning from the DL. His batting average and OBP were the highest marks for any month so there were some positive signs. He was able to steal five bases while only being caught once. On the negative side, he struck out 26 times and was limited to six walks. The Twins decided it was time for Hicks to try and be successful at Triple-A and he was sent down for the remainder of Rochester's season. Things weren't much better for Hicks in limited action in the minors. For the season, he played 22 games with Rochester and posted a batting line of .222/..317/.333 with six extra-base hits but no home runs. He was able to draw 10 walks but he averaged close to a strikeout a game. There was no shining light at the end of the tunnel. Hicks wasn't among the Twins September call-ups and there are plenty of questions surrounding him after his first big league season. Should the Twins give up on Hicks in favor of stud prospect Byron Buxton? What is the future of role of Hicks with this team? Will he ever be able to be a consistent hitter at the big league level? Was this a lost season for the former top prospect? Everything seemed bright for Hicks under the color of the Florida sun but things quickly turned cold in the brisk Minnesota spring. It will be an offseason of reflect for Mr. Hicks and hopefully a chance to enter next season with the ability to forget what happened in 2013.

The calendar turned to September over a week ago and some changes can followa failing team in the final month of the year. Younger players continue to getmore playing time over veterans like Ryan Doumit and Josh Willingham. It is thetime of year for the Twins to see what the future can hold and changes likethis can bring up some other questions. During the last two seasons, the Twins have been able to see the value ofhaving a high draft pick. Byron Buxton and Kohl Stewart were added to the foldover the last two years to help bolster a minor league system that isconsidered one of the best in baseball. The higher a team can draft, the moremoney the club can spend, and the better prospects a club will likely receive. This can lead to some questions of tanking in the final month of the year. Over at ESPN's SweetSpot Blog, the idea oftanking was discussed since there is a cluster of team's battling to be inthe top 10 draft picks for 2014. For example, the Mets are trotting out a finalmonth rotation that includes Daisuke Matsuzaka and Aaron Harang. These aren'tyour father's "Amazing Mets." Minnesota hasn't signed a bunch of aging veterans in the last couple weeksto fill into their rotation but some might argue that was the team's overallstrategy during last offseason. Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey have pitched themost innings on Minnesota's staff and each man has an ERA north of 4.00. Onecould have expected this time of production from these two men and it doesn'thelp that other members of the rotation have failed to live up to expectations. At the end of 2012, the Twins finished with 96 losses but it wasn't becauseof terrible play in September. The club went 13-15 during the final month andtheir .464 winning percentage was their second highest for any month. June wasthe only month the club finished over .500 with a 14-13 record. Minnesotaentered the month in the fourth draft position and that's where they would finish. The month of September in 2011 was a little bit different story. Minnesotastarted the month in fourth place in the AL Central and they were in line toget the fourth pick in the 2012 draft. An awful final month saw the team go6-20 to post a .231 winning percentage. It was their worst record for any monthand the team would end up improving their draft position from fourth to second. As the final month of the 2013 season is underway, the Twins were inthe sixth position for next year's draft. There were only four games separatingthem from the Angels, the team that started the month positioned to get the13th draft pick. Entering play on Wednesday, Minnesota had accumulated a 4-4record for the month and they are now tied with Milwaukee for the fifth pick. There are plenty of benefits to having a top 10 pick in the draft.Obviously, a team gets more money to spend in their draft pool for next June.Also, a team with a top 10 pick has a protected first round pick. This meansthe front office can approach top tier free agents without fear of losing theclub's top draft pick. Some teams have run into this issue with the recentswitch in the collective bargaining agreement and it doesn't seem fair forclub's trying to rebuild. The Twins haven't been known to spend a ton on the free agent market so thiswrinkle in the free agent system might not be a huge issue. Willingham has beenthe club's biggest free agent acquisition in recent years and he wasn't in thetop tier. Other names like Doumit, Pelfrey, and Correia haven't been huge namesbut they have found their way in Minnesota. There are going to be plenty of openings in the starting rotation forMinnesota and it might be nice for the team to have the opportunity to go aftera top free agent. This would likely only happen if the team's first round pickwere protected. It has never been Terry Ryan's strategy to spend big money onpitchers but the club might have to change this trend to be productive next year. September can be a time to try out plenty of pieces for the future.Minnesota will continue to audition some of their younger players in order tosee what they have lined up for next year. The losses might continue to pile upbut the team isn't exactly in tank mode. At least not yet...

With Justin Morneau's exit from the club in the last week, the Twins are searching for someone to take over his leadership role in the clubhouse. This seems to be a reoccurring theme for the Twins in recent years as the club shifts away from veteran leadership to a more youthful roster. A couple of years ago Michael Cuddyer and Joe Nathan were considered among the team's strong voices and both players left in free agency. Morneau filled the void left by Cuddyer and it seemed like a smooth transition from the outside looking in. There probably won't be a breaking news story to say who takes on more leadership behind the closed doors of the Twins clubhouse. For fans, it might be more of a talking point in a season that seems destined to be heading for another 90 losses. Here are just a few of the names that will be asked to take on more leadership this season. There are pros and cons with each player involved so it will be interesting to see who becomes the new voice of the Twins. Joe Mauer, Catcher Pros: He is the highest paid player and the face of the franchise so it would make sense for him to be the leader of the clubhouse. Mauer is a quiet but he has been known to approach younger players when something doesn't go right on the field. In the past, he has been a leader because of his strong play on the field. He leads by example and this can be very beneficial to future Twins players. Cons: Since Mauer is a catcher, he can be very busy with his catching related duties. There are extra meetings for him to confer with the pitching staff and he spends time studying video to learn more about opposing hitters. This is all time where he is not in the clubhouse with the other players. Injuries have also forced him to miss time and he can't be a leader if he isn't traveling with the team. Glen Perkins, Closer Pros: Much like Joe Nathan before him, Perkins can become a leader because of his importance to the bullpen. The Twins have him signed for multiple years and beyond Mauer, he is the longest tenured Twins player. He came up through the Twins organization with a few bumps and bruises but he found a way to be successful at the big league level. His involvement in the community continues to grow and this is an example for other players to follow. Cons: Since Perkins is a relief arm, he spends time during the game out in the bullpen. This keeps him from being able to speak to non-pitchers on the bench for different parts of the game. Also, he isn't an everyday player so his impact on a daily basis might not always be seen on the field. He has only been a full-time close for the current season so he might not have built up the respect he needs. Brian Dozier, Second Baseman Pros: He is in the middle of a breakout season and this has helped him to become a leader on the field. Media members have cited him as always being available after wins along with tough losses. During his minor league career, he showed some leadership skills and this seems to be translating to his big league career. Dozier has been performing with his bat and his glove and this can help him to continue to gain respect in the locker-room. Cons: While Mauer and Perkins have been with the club for multiple seasons, Dozier is still relatively new to the scene. He has less experience and less of a track record than the two names mentioned above. There are also some questions about how long he will be with the team. Eddie Rosario is slowly working his way to the big leagues and he plays the same position as Dozier. Right now, it looks like Dozier could stay at second for multiple years but it is hard to know what the future will bring. Josh Willingham, Outfielder Pros: Throughout his career, Willingham has played with multiple organizations and he has seen what leadership means to different teams. He is the oldest player on the team and his experience is well respected by the younger players around him. His monster season last year gave him respect on the field and he has tried to play through some tough injuries this season. Younger players can approach him for advice on a multitude of topics since he has spent time playing in both leagues. Cons: There is only one year remaining on his contract with the Twins and the team could trade him at some point in the coming year. Much like Mauer, he is a quiet leader so sometimes it is tough to notice the work he is doing for the clubhouse. His play has fallen off this year and he has missed time because of injuries. If a player isn't on the field or even with the club, it can be tough to build rapport in the locker-room.