goulik

Pinto has proven as much as Plouffe, Parmalee, Hicks, Colabello and Gibson. That means he has been good as a minor leaguer but not proven it yet at the MLB level. Septembers sample shows he has potential but not that he should be anointed the long term catcher with no competition. I have no problem with bringing him up and giving him a shot. I have a problem of not having a viable catcher and if he fails, we do not have one at all. The point is it can't hurt, it does help, so why not? If you were talking more than two to three years I would question it. I just don't see a problem with having two good players at a position forcing you to trade one. Ladies and gentlemen, that is a good thing not a problem! Sign him! That is what good teams do! They don't wing it on the prayer that the prospect will pan out!

The Twins do not have a can't miss prospect at most positions and especially not catcher. People concerned about financials and signing a 10 million dollar position player need to take the time to research the financial situation, salary commitments and available money over the next 5 years before complaining that we need to save it for pitching. I am tired of that arguement every time a non pitcher is discussed. We can sign three starters at 15 million each and still sign this guy and be within budget and not harming future...

Here's the list of non-roster invites with stated position listed so far SS Doug Bernier SS Jason Bartlett 2B James Beresford RHP Deolis Guerra CF Jermaine Mitchell RF Wilken Ramirez LF Chris Rahl RHP Lester Oliveros C Dan Rohlfing 3B Debinson Romero LHP Aaron Thompson

On the Twins Transactions page, they are now showing non roster Spring Training Invites. http://minnesota.twins.mlb.com/team/transactions.jsp?c_id=min#month=11&year=2013&team_id=142 Thought that little change was kinda cool and something to share here.

The best thing about America is that Everyone is entitled to an opinion...

See the Where did the Like button go thread

It seems to me through casual observation that a higher percentage of Hispanic MiLB players are testing positive. Is this true league wide, only for the Twins, or a completely false take?

I thought he was a former number one who is this old upon reaching the majors because of injuries... This is someone that sounds like he is a minor upgrade over some of what we have already got. I will never complain about an upgrade and do not understand the vitriol exhibited here. What have we lost? Nothing!! Did we gain much? No, just a little but it is a gain. I personally prefer a 94 MPH fastball over 88 which is what has gone out there at times recently... Just trying to say take a deep breath and chill a bit.

like!

As long as Sano, Buxton, Meyers, Stewart are not in the trade, I would give up 3 Prospects for an MLB ready SS who is still Arb/Pre-Arb. How many would depend on years of control before FA but yeah! Get er done!!

*Like* over half the teams in MLB have signed an MLB free agent and several have signed three. I know many of these were their own free agents but still, there should at least be offers on the table. The optimist in me says there has to at least be offers out there that we don't know about right!?!? *sigh* its like coming to TD and the like button being gone, seeing lots of complaints, staring your own thread about "where's the like button", and hearing it'll come back...but a week later "chirp, chirp" Give us some Mojo TR And TD!!

Spending 40 to 50 this off season allows for this plus some. Also, some of that 40 to 50 could be under one year contracts creating even more flexibility. To me it is really exciting that there is this much room for FA spending and I will be as disappointed as being swept by the Yankees in the playoffs if the Twins do not break the Willingham record FA contract and hopefully they do it twice!!

exactly!!!

You are correct on DeVries being a free agent, he did some relief previously and my prediction calls for him resigning first. I forgot Hendricks was out of options so I guess they just have to move him straight to the MLB bullpen and trade Someone

The obvious reason is after the first losing season, Bill Smith was fired for ruining our organization and the official line is that it's not Gardys fault the talent has sucked. Regressions and poor performances are putting that theory in question and I would not hate a change in coaches, I am just agreeing that there is a good arguements. tR is getting deserved heat for the third season but grace because we see the minors have been rebuilt by him the past two years. That grace is run its course and this off season makes or breaks him... It has to translate to the MLB level. This year.

I want it now for the following reasons: 1. As young talent comes up, you want them to be in a culture of winning not 90+ losses per year. Are they going to be winning 90 games a year? Probably not but you want them to be in a better culture than what we have had the last 3 years. 2. If we do not bring in a better product, attendance will sink even more, the budget will shrink and we won't have as much money to spend down the road. 3. Free Agents will be just as much a crap shoot down the road as this year so it is good to bring them in sooner than later so you can weed out the bad now instead of when you want to be winning World Series rings 4. The future budget will not be hurt by current spending because WE ARE THAT MUCH UNDER BUDGET RIGHT NOW! The 52% that has been thrown out says we have about 65 million to spend and I have yet to see a blueprint that spends 50 million AND we have 17 million (?) coming off the books next year. There should be NO fear of future budgets less than 5 years from now. 5. A more competitive team next year will make it easier to convince free agents to come next off season and put us over the hump. There are probably other reasons I am not thinking of...

My predictions, not what I want... 1. The Twins will be out bid for the services of Garza and will get either Nolasco or Arroyo on a four year deal but not both (oh, they'll try). They will then sign a reclamation/hope they do what we wish they should in Hughes or Josh Johnson type pitcher to a one year deal and a total flyer on a minor league contract to a Johan type that can opt out by June. 2. Joe Mauer will hit 10-15 home runs, be a real good defensive 1B that Minnesotans will say got robbed when someone else gets the gold glove, set a career high in stolen bases, and be in the running if he doesn't win another batting title. All Star game? Not sure about that at 1B... 3. Willingham will rebound to 2011 numbers as will Doumit and both will be traded Long with a couple relievers, and either Plouffe or Parmalee all for minor leaguers to varying degrees of arguements on TD of who got robbed and TRs intelligence. (Someone will call for his head) 4. 100%agree on the Pinto prediction. 5. & 8. Arcia will start in the majors and ride the growing sea of popularity with the fans, crush 30+ homers and never look back. Hicks will begin in center have a shaky June causing fans to wonder if he needs more time but turn it around after the All Star break. 6. Completely disagree on Fien and Thielbar, they will be part of the heart of a very strong bullpen which allows us to trade some of them away as converted starters Hendricks and DeVries get called up. 7. Buxton comes up for a Cup of Coffee when the New Britain or Rochester Playoffs end. He never sees a minor league field again as a player. 9. Sano kills spring training and begins the season at target field. He fades in late May and gets sent to Rochester for two months refinement to work on some things. September he is a freak of nature hitting home runs but concerning fans with some bad fielding errors, a base running mistake and an extremely high strike out rate. TD fans will argue that we are rushed him to much. (They will be wrong but they'll say it) 10. Doziers continued success will lead to a Rosario trade and TD will argue the wisdom of that trade for the next 20 years as he goes on to be a HOF player for someone else with a stop in PinStripes along the way.

Ahh, Thank you! HEY EVERYONE, THEY WILL TRY TO BRING BACK THE LIKE BUTTON! IT WILL BE OK!

On a separate note, I'd hoped the Twins would put Hernandez on the 40 man and hone a 2-3 inning set up man out of him. Bummed he's gone.

I saw the trade as the Twins trying to get something for him before we lost him and ended up with what the White Sox have now. I do not think we had any chance of resigning him. If that is true we traded Nothing for something.

Without Mauer catching and Doumit being who he is, this is a no risk move that adds competition to the prospects at catcher. What the heck, why not? As long as we don't end up losing a real prospect in rule V, why not?

A perfect example of a VERY good argument on why not to sign him.

Many have commented all over TD about the missing LIKE button but I have seen no explanation of why it is gone... Where did it go, can you bring it back, can a dislike button be added (mostly sarcasm but once in a LONG while some people deserve no more response than 20 dislikes) I think many of us would like at least an explanation if it is gone forever. thank you for listening to my complaint.

My blueprint included signing Drew. There are good arguements for and against the move but my primary thinking is that Florimon has not and will not carry a good enough bat to be the starter.

P.S. To the Moderators/rulers of TD... Please bring back the Like Button.... please!!