Trevor0333

IMO the way to go is go after 1 guy who can be a legit top of the rotation guy or solid ground ball types who will sign 2-3 year deals.

Anyone putting Worley/Hendriks in the rotation over GIbson are quite remiss. I think it's safe to say both Meyer & Gibson will be in the rotation at some point next year but will have innings limits.

Those wanting Hughes he wants a 1 year deal, he is an extreme fly ball pitcher & the OF next year will be Willingham/Presley/Arcia can you say 6.00+ era

Why invest 12-15 mill in a catcher when Pinto has shown obvious signs of being ready to take over. With the extreme need for SP all available $ needs to be used there for craps sakes.

1st Tanaka is not signing here, even if they make the highest bid he has the option to choose between the 3 highest bids. It's either going to be a contender or someone on the west coast. Can we please get off Phil Hughes, even when he has been healthy he hasn't been good. He is a extreme fly ball pitcher & there are plenty of band boxes in the AL central. Also both Johnson & Hughes have said they want 1 year deals to establish their value.

Capuano gives up way too many homers, moving to the AL that could go bad quickly.

Thank you on Phill Hughes! Although besides Plouffe, who is a half season away from a bench role the middle infield defense is quite good.

Its the new rage, everyone has an opinion, why not all blueprint it. Besides I enjoy reading everyones thoughts and debates following. Im going to go with a bit of a 2 part as I see some big changes being made midway through the season. Offseason: The Twins have holes at 1B, DH, & glaringly at starting pitching. I would love to see them move Dozier to bring back an Alex Meyer type but don't see it happening. Given they have Rosario back in OF in the AFL & Kepler playing a lot more 1B it's obvious they intend to keep Dozier atleast in the short term. Other than Homer Bailey who the Reds are probably open to moving but it will be steep price for 1 year rental. Brett Anderson is really the only other attractive SP option. The A's obviously don't intend to resign him & want to get some value in return. The 4 pitchers I would target looking to acquire 2 or 3 of the 4. Bret Anderson, Josh Johnson, Tim Hudson, & Ricky Nolasco. Corriea gave the team some much needed consistency albeit average consistency. Its still something thats needed at the back of the rotation. Especially with a young staff overall. I'd hope to add 1 consistent arm & take a flyer on a high risk high reward guy. Sign either Ricky Nolasco to a (4Y/$55M) deal with a 5M buyout on the 4th or Tim Hudson to a (3Y/25M) deal with 2.5M buyout. Trade Pat Dean or Tim Atherton & Levi Micheal to the A's for Bret Anderson or sign Josh Johnson to a (1Y/7M) deal with up to 5M in IP incentives. Trade Kenny Vargas & Danny Ortiz to the Mets for 1B Ike Davis. 2014 opening day roster Starters Nolasco/Hudson Anderson/Johnson Corriea Deduno Albers/Gibson/Diamond Bullpen Perkins Fien Burton Swarzak Theilbar Duensing Welker Lineup C Mauer/Pinto DH Pinto/Mauer 1B Ike Davis 2B Dozier SS Florimon 3B Plouffe LF Willingham CF Pressly RF Arcia Bench Mastrioanni Escobar Doumit Hermann I want to see Sano, Rosario, Hicks, & Meyer as much as the next guy opening day but they are so young that I really want them to start the year in AAA and build some confidence & get in a nice groove. Also Willinghammer needs to rebuild some trade value. I would look to move Willingham, Doumit, Corriea, Burton, Fien, & Duensing mid season. There is an abundance of bullpen arms ready to be the next wave. Opening up spots on the roster for likes of Sano, Rosario, Hicks, Meyer, & May while also delaying their service time closck by a year. 2014 mid season roster Starters Nolasco/Hudson Anderson/Johnson Deduno Meyer Gibson Bullpen Perkins Swarzak Theilbar Albers Welker Tonkin/Pressley May Lineup C Mauer/Pinto DH Pinto/Mauer 1B Ike Davis 2B Dozier SS Florimon 3B Sano LF Rosario CF Hicks RF Arcia Bench Pressley/Mastrioanni Escobar Hermann Plouffe September callups: Byron Buxton time!!! Zach Jones, Danny Santana, Angel Morales...

I can understand the hesitation to give Johnson 10M/year, he had a few moments but was not very good for most of the year. That does happen often the 1st year back from surgery which is why I have no interest in Billingsly even though I always thought he was under rated. Offering him 5-7 base with Innings pitched incentives up to 10-12Mil is what should be done. Everyone talks about getting Hughes, who is a EXTREME fly ball pitcher getting out of Yankee stadium. Guess what, if your trying to be good your going to have to beat the Yankees at Yankee stadium. Comerica is a is the same way, Kaufmann & the Tigers stadium arent exactly pitcher friendly anymore either. Im just not nearly as high on Hughes as most anyone esle. I wouldnt want anything near 5/80 for Nolasco & I do think he would be a good fit on the team. 4/55 with a 5 mill buyout on the last year is about the ceiling on him IMO. How is Tim Hudson not getting more love? He wants to go back to the Braves being his hometown but they are not wanting to give him multple years he wants. He is the type of bulldog attitude pitcher they need on the staff. He was having an very good year until breaking his ankle on that freak play & you wouldnt have to give him the years you would other SP's.

While obviously an agent rarely going to to rip a organization you have to read between the lines a little. It's obvious this agent is someone who is looking out for what his client wants more than purely what suits the bottom line for their firm or putting their client in less than suitable places opurely to eek out every last dollar. The Twins have a good organization and I very much agree with their philosophy as a whole. However I feel they stick to that to strictly almost to a fault. You still need to take some calculated gambles from time to time. For all the crap Bill Smith got and most deservedly so, he atleast had the gumption to go out on a limb. The Young Garza swap for example. Gutsy move that needed to be made to address the lineup. It can be reckless to give out large FA contracts but you have to augment the weak parts of your team from time to time. Even if that means over paying, you keep the years down. You dont want to put yourself in a position where you dont have the payroll available to keep the guys you want to resign.

Good point on the innings pitched, that isnt counting the Arizona fall league innings or the rehab similated games etc innings either. Although that probably only amounts to another 20-30 innings pitched.

You lost me at Arcyalater... Some good points & he is one of the few legitimate trade chips the team has but he is just scratching the surface. With Buxton coming sooner than later I think Hicks would be a better option to move over Arcia. I'e always thought Billingsly was under rated but Im leary on taking chances on playes the year removed from TJ. A guy like Colby Lewis who is 2 years removed from major arm issues now would be better bets IMO. There were the reports that the Rangers were very happy with the way Cruz handled the whole suspension sitaution. Even sticking around the clubhouse to support the team while he was out. I'd imagine a resigning with a lil hometown discount is inevitable.

I don't think they would want Uggla. Given they have plenty of payroll available that will definitely not all be used in the next 2 years. I see it as a way of adding value to the package by eating the contract rather than adding talent. Enabling the team to get another young MLB ready top of the rotation starter in Wood. Maybe I am over valuing how good Wood is?

If you want speed I'd rather float a Hicks for Billy Hamilton swap in the Reds ears... That would probably seal Dozier staying & Rosario going back to the OF but if neither of Santana or Goodrum take charge why the heck not. Hamilton at #9 folllowed by Buxton would be comical amounts of speed back to back. Rather than make a move for a SS they have invested in a lot of middle infielders lately, I think I'd prefer to see what becomes of Dannay Santana & Niko Goodrum next year before making a deal for another SS.

Meyer being injured early on really kept him under the radar, the Arizona fall league has been a blessing for his stock. Rosario is going to be so much better than people are realizing IMO. He is a perfect #2 hitter who could be a #3 even. I wish a Dozier/Perkins trade for Uggla/Alex Wood could happen. It would set up the team beautifully. Buxton, Rossario, Arcia, Sano set up as such a perfect 1-4 Then having Alex Wood & Meyer anchoring the rotation.

This sounds like an advanced baseball stat

They have plenty of #5's, Im not sp sure about #3's. He is much better than Correia. I'd liken him to a durable Scott Baker, he would also instantly be the teams best SP althoiugh thats not high praise given their current crew.

The posting rules are different this year, Tanaka can choose the team he wants to sign with from the top few bidder's. With so many playoff ready high payroll teams that will be all over him this year he is not going to choose the Twins. Twins fans need to move on from Tanaka...

My untouchable list would prob be 2 tiered. Tier 1 - Nothing is getting these guys Buxton & Sano Tier 2 - Your only getting these for young high upside MLB ready SP Meyer, Stewart, Rosario, Berrios, Thorpe

That is an incredible price for Maurer, Meyer is an equal if not stronger prospect & only half a year behind Maurer in mlb readiness.

Hello Jack, Thanks for doing this, fans really appreciate it! We often hear how the team intends to be active/aggressive on players but then is shocked at what teams throw at these players. I find it suprising that the FO would have such a continual issue with guaging the upcoming markets. With Jim Pohlad remarking how they need to be more aggressive this year & payroll definitely available. Do you feel there is a better understanding of what the value of cotnracts the FA market will be garnering this off season considering the new TV money being available to all teams as well? When there is a scenario like this last season where there was payroll available but went unused. Why isnt there an effort to restructure contracts or sign players to front loaded contracts so as to not tie up as much money in future payroll that would hamstring the team from resigning the players they want to keep around?

Interesting tidbit about Nolasco/Johnson/Messenger from their shared agent. Sosnick reps not only Johnson, but fellow free agents Ricky Nolasco and Randy Messenger. He says that the Twins seem to have interest in every member of that trio, but his "sense is they're most interested in Nolasco." Also the Twins wouldnt have to give up their 2nd round pick to sign him either. Rumors have the Dodgers possibly looking to go all in on Tanaka & make a run at David Price could indicate they won't chase Nolasco. He would be a great signing if the Twins could get him.

I just think they would probably keep Dozier at 2B & slide Rosario back to LF over making a move on Balentine. There are new rules on the posting system where the player can choose between the top 3 bidders, also if he is not signed the runner up team in the posting fee has a chance to sign him. So even if the Twins fork over the 60+ mill it will take to be in the top 3 what Japanese player isn't going to choose LAD, NYY, or the Texas over the Twins.

Really interesting tidbit from Radcliff about Johnson Twins VP of player personnel Mike Radcliff threw some cold water on the possibility of a move on Johnson, Berardino further reports. Radcliff said that Johnson is coming off of a "horrible" year and "if he wants $10 million, we're not going to be involved with that To which I would agree whole heartedly!

I would love (LOVE) for them to go after Tanaka. Thats just not the type of move Ryan makes. The Yankees are going all in on Tanaka especially now that they believe they can get out of A-Roids salary, plus the posting fee will not count towards the salary which they are determined to get under 189Mil to reset their luxury tax %. Yoon I can't imagine costing more than a few million for the posting fee & salary. Somewhat low/cost low/risk with some upside kind of move Ryan aalways falls back on after his sticker shock FA contract heart attacks. Messenger is in the same boat with a bit more predicitability I suppose is the best word that comes to mind. Arcia/Hicks/Buxton is the OF of the future & nearly here. I can't see Ryan paying to get a guy out of a contract when they have guys who should be ready by mid season2014-2015.