jeffn48

I think that was 2017 based solely off of this article: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.draysbay.com/platform/amp/2017/12/12/16769076/rays-jelfry-marte-twins But we voided the deal and then used it to acquire the guys from the teams who were trying to load up on Ohtani money I think.

Because I was interested and bored, I decided to keep digging on the 2016 IFA class: Top bonus went to Wander Valdez (3B / DomRep / 495k) - he's not doing much currently in the DSL. Junior Navas is a Venezuelan pitcher who got 275k. Looks like hes in the GCL right now, only 2 appearances but no runs and 2k's. Didn't allow an earned run last year in the DSL as a 17 y/o. Previously noted Jesus Feliz got $260k as gunnarthor mentioned. Showing well in DSL. Prelander Berroa is a Dominican pitcher who got $200k, currently in the GCL. Starting and showing alright for someone who turned 18 recently. Dominican CF Felix Reyes got $200k. He has 7 AB's in the DSL this year, so maybe he's in EST? Don't know. Victor Heredia apparently generated some buzz at a showcase before the signing period in both BP and the game. The Twins gave him $180k. He's listed at 6'2 230 and is raking in the DSL. Scouting reports don't indicate a high probability to stick at catcher so he needs to hit. Domincan OF Francisco Martinez got $175k. He's 6'5 220 and showing nice power in the DSL, but striking out more than 1/3 of the time. Can't imagine stats like that transition well. Estamy Urena got $130k, currently in the GCL. Showing decent discipline at the plate and not much else in a smallish sample. Scouting reports indicate he showed good instincts at SS, but he's playing 2b/3b and making a fair number of errors currently. Yeremi Garcia, pitcher from Venezuela, got $100k. Mediocre numbers in 11 DSL IPs this year. https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/international-reviews-minnesota-twins-1/

Thanks. Even last year as a 17 year old, Heredia seemed to hold his own. I did notice almost everyone was Venezuelan. I'm trying to find some comps - current top prospects or MLBers who played in the DSL and it's not easy. Most seem to skip the DSL which makes sense because at 18 or 19 they've already established themselves as top prospects stateside. From the Twins, Jorge Polanco played there as a 17 y/o for a little bit, without much success. Among current top prospects, Willy Adames posted a 245/419/370 slash as a 17 y/o. Leody Taveras (Texas) raked as a 17 y/o in 11 games. Ditto for Jesus Sanchez (TB). Estevan Florial, same. The trend seems to be that top 100 guys are really putting up great numbers here as 17 year olds and then moving on and continuing to put great numbers in the low minors - or just skipping the league altogether.

I was looking through some DSL stats and noticed a couple of interesting players. Victor Heredia (18) - slashing 366/404/611 in 131 ABs Jeferson Morales (19) - 308/464/439 Brahiap Carrillo (19) - 313/398/475 Jesus Feliz (18) - 303/339/532 Anthony Escobar (17) - 49 IP, 1.10 ERA and 41/5 k/bb Are any of these guys legit prospects? I don't specifically remember any of them as big bonus guys. Heredia, Feliz and Escobar seem promising given their ages and production.

That's true, I wonder how long it would actually take for Plouffe to rebuild his value to the point where he could actually fetch something of value in return. I suppose you are right that the value obtained from assessing whether those guys you mentioned are viable options might outweigh the value Plouffe would return in trade, and it certainly would if he doesn't bounce back.

Plouffe at $9m might seem like a lot, but he was worth ~3 wins in both 2014 and 2015. That's worth well over $9m on the open market and a contender would likely give up something of value to acquire that. Factor in deadline premiums, and it's possible the return could be worth well over $9m. http://www.thepointofpittsburgh.com/mlb-prospect-surplus-values-2016-updated-edition/ Hitting prospects ranked 75-100 have an approx surplus value of $20.6m and pitchers 75-100 are worth $15.6m and those values are likely to go up next year. At $6m (we'd actually pay him less than $9m because it wouldn't be for a full season - so let's say $6m), return on him wouldn't really need to be all that great at all in order to justify keeping him. And if he continues to be replacement level, where else is that money going to be spent? EDIT: Look at it this way... if Plouffe was a free agent right now, would a 1 year $9m contract really be a bad thing? I would be in favor of signing as many of these types of guys as possible. The risk is minimal, and you can try move them for ANYTHING you can get. You definitely don't let them block anyone, but taking these guys and flipping them for prospects is a decent strategy.

If we got out of the basement, it would be important how we did it. If we did it because our young guys start to turn corners and really show significant strides in development then that would be great. I would enjoy watching that team win. I wouldn't care to see a team carried by veterans who should have been traded for future value while our young guys continue to ride the pine climb into 4th place, that would just make me mad.

I don't mind the idea of trading Dozier, but the problem is that there aren't a lot of contenders that really need a 2B. I don't think it makes sense to force a deal, because he is under control for the next few seasons and it still showing he can produce. Find a time when the demand is exceeding the supply and move him then. Definitely need to move Nunez though, his bat, speed and positional versatility would be welcome on almost on any team and Polanco can take that role for the short term.

Looking more and more like LaMonte Wade is a legit prospect. Obviously SSS at High-A, but the strike zone control is still there and he's showing some pop in a tough hitting environment. Should be fun to follow him at AA next year.

Here's a name I like: Jason Mcleod - senior VP of player development with the Cubs. Obviously understands the player development side of things. Has been involved with the Red Sox and now the Cubs. Is likely 3rd in the chain of command in Chicago behind Epstein and Hoyer so he might like a little more authority. Chicago's player development has been awesome lately. Hopefully guys like him are candidates and we aren't looking at someone like Dave Stewart.

I agree with you, if we look like we have a nucleus that can contend and can get an actual ace at that time then sure. I know Cueto looks good this year, but I think his contract may be a bit of an albatross towards the end of it. It all depends on who is available, who wants to come to Minnesota and the budget. Rather than sign an aging pitcher with questionable stuff to a long term contract, the rental option might be better off. Based on what I'm seeing now, I don't know that Minnesota is going to be a destination pitchers are going to want to go to in 2018. Things change, but I just don't want to see them signing guys like Nolasco, Hughes, Santana again and trot them out there on opening day. Not a bad option in the #5 spot, but not top 3.

If their strategy in 2018 is to "sign an ace", then the entire front office needs to be let go. It's going to take close to 40 million a year to sign the aces that are possibly available that year (Kershaw, Jose Fernandez) and you'll be going up against every big market team. The rest of the free agent pitchers are going to be guys who are getting too old and aren't that great and will just be a repeat of the Hughes, Nolasco, Santana situations. We need to be buying up every prospect we can. This is how the Braves rebuilt their farm system, eating salary to get better prospects. If our strategy is going to be to improve the team via free agency instead of through the farm we are going to be looking at very dark time.

The fact that Gordon is increasing his offensive output in the FSL is a really good sign. In the past this has been an extremely pitcher friendly league. His OPS puts him in the top 20 in the league as a 20 year old where the average age is 22.7.

I hate the MLB blackout policy so much. I live in Buffalo and subscribe to MLB.tv so I can watch the Twins. We don't have a team here, so naturally MLB has decided we are the home territory for the Yankees, Mets, Pirates and Indians. Whenever we are playing any of these teams, I can't watch the game on MLB.tv. To make matters worse, only the Yankees are actually on TV here. It's particularly annoying because we play the Indians so frequently. It's funny though because I spend a good amount of time in Toronto and I can watch the Jays on MLB.tv when I'm there.

Not sure, but I'm guessing this FanGraphs article from a month ago was brought up somewhere about Taylor Rogers: http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/instagraphs/lefties-cant-touch-taylor-rogers/ He's still got a chance to be a #5 starter and O'Rourke is doing a fine job now as the LOOGY, but with his K rate it seems less than probable that he'll be an asset as a starting pitcher. Maybe his stuff would play up in the bullpen. His minor league numbers seem fairly similar to Perkins' at a glance.