DocBauer

I agree, even though the 1.00 ERA is hyperbole. But you are on mark. In any sport, you have a team game and compilation of production to win. Same in baseball, no matter how individual a performance. You can have the best SP or position player in the land, but you can't win with just that. You need a complete team. And this goes back to what a lot of us are on our soapboxes for; the best and most complete team you can put together. I have no problem with the Twins making a major move to add a stud #1 SP with current players or a 2-4 top 20 prospect inclusion. I guess it all depends what you have, and where you are at. But is that 1 SP going to get you over the top? Again, it depends what you have and where you are at. We need some lineup questions answered. But there are a lot of ways to build a quality team. And as pointed out building a quality bullpen is one of those ways. There are SO MANY arms floating out there right now that you don't exactly have to break the bank. You can sign a couple to "big" deals and still bring in fliers, to augment what you have available, to build a quality pen. Berrios, Gibson, Odorizzi, Pineda, and others available, openers or not, there is something to work with here. And more coming up...soon. Work on the lineup, and depth and flexibility. Hope for the best from Sano and Buxton but create depth and options. (And there ARE options!). But build the damn bullpen!

A great point. I'm a Kepler fan and hopeful believer. In my mind, all that talent and potential is just about to break out and we'll see even splits, with power, and discipline. I could see him hit anywhere from 1-6 depending on final roster construction. I get we're unsure yet, and he could be a nice piece in a trade. But I'm hopeful he is back and we see in 2019 what he can be.

I agree with your viewpoint. Depth and competition and fighting for a roster spot should always be paramount. I also like what I saw from Austin. I believe in opportunity sometimes bringing out the best in players, along with a change of scenery at times. But just like 2B, there is a hole at 1B. The Twins, probably with input from Rocco, found opportunity and jumped on it. Only time will tell if it was the right move instead of a trade. But Rocco has watched him. His production was solid as a part time player, never exceeding 409 AB until last season. He reportedly tweaked his swing in 2018 to have his best season, with 500+ AB. Is he going to be as good in 2019? Who knows?! And we still have holes to fill! And I want competition, and the best roster we can put together. And even if I like what I've seen from Austin, do we really know what we have in him? The answer is no. If both excel, we have 1B/DH covered, with Austin, hopefully, proving he can play a little OF here and there to increase our lineup flexibility. And neither one of them carries any big salary or long term commitment. Now, work on the BP and the rest of the roster. If you get stagnate or too old school there, then I have a problem!

Were I the Twins, I'd be all in on Gonzalez to play 2B full time, knowing I can move him around if needed. My second choice would be Lowrie, banking on a drop in power, but still providing a quality bat, defense, leadership, etc, and the versatility to play 3B if needed. But Schoop is a fallback guy I'd strongly consider. I wouldn't expect his 2017 season, but his combined OPS for 2015-16 was .770 with solid overall numbers. That can't be dismissed easily.

Absolutely will not disagree with this post at all! But if you will permit me, I'm going to offer a small ray, or two, of sunshine. 1] Thus far, we have seen TWO record payrolls in recent history. Each coming on the heels of a solid season and hope for the next. At THIS POINT, there is no pattern. Even if the payroll does drop in 2019, somewhat, but some quality and smart moves are made, there is an aberration, but not necessarily a pattern. 2] The Twins efforts in their first big payroll climb, filled with hope, much like 2018, was de-railed by injury and poor performance. But it was also built more on a set and veteran roster, if my memory can be trusted at all. And there were a few guys with short term contracts. 3] Terry Ryan always stated the FO never placed hard limits on his spending and were open to payroll increases if it made sense for the team to move forward. To be fair, there were a few signings and trades here and there to add to the roster to suggest he wasn't just paying lip service. 4] Time has moved on, and there is a new sheriff and chief deputy in charge. The team has shown a more aggressive approach to change. Everything from re-structure, to using international dollars differently, to a new manager and staff, and to eating portions of contracts for better returns. Does any of this mean anything? Absolutely not! But if you want a little sunshine, I offer up a couple days of hope.

Unto itself, there is nothing wrong with bringing in Cron. It still depends on how he performs and how the rest of the team is set up and performs. There is nothing wrong snapping up a bargain or two late in the process. And that includes some of the recent non-tenders that have just hit the market. But I 100% agree the market and Twins finances are set up perfectly to jump the forefront for a couple moves that you designate as priorities and real wants. After that, you can play the wait game and look for other options.

I don't dislike the Cron signing. And clearly the FO likes him, and I'm sure Rocco had some advice/input as well. What I do now find frustrating is other options that may be presenting themselves. Of course, at the time of the claim, there was no way to know about any of these other options. But still, did they have to actually sign him? Couldn't they have just offered arbitration and kept their options open for now? Again, I dont dislike Cron. I just hope they got this one right.

The market for FA was depressed last season and has seemed slow to get cranked up this year. Also, seems like a few of these non tender moves were very much cost related. This all bodes well for our Twins. We need to make a couple serious moves. But taking on a couple of the guys here would not be "dumpster diving". They would just be wise moves.

Got to be honest, I'm intrigued by School a little bit. Not a bad career. If you really felt you'd get close to the 2016-2017 version you'd jump on him. Also really interested in Solarte as a versatility utility guy. Escobar-lite/like with the bat and tons of experience at 2B and 3B with time at SS and the OF. He could make a really nice bench player with starting experience.

Perfect! Absolutely agree 100%! Every sport is a team game. Whether basketball, football, etc, or baseball, it's a team game. In most sports, you can make substitutions. In baseball, when you are out of the game, you are out of the game. Your Trout example is a good one. He can absolutely make an impact and be a difference maker. But with no protection, nobody on base, and a pitching staff who can't limit the other team, how much impact can one man make? The Twins need the deepest, most balanced team they can field. I would love an ACE, but he's no good if the other 4 SP behind him are mediocre to poor. Or the pen blows games all the time. Or the offense, and 1 or 2 big bats aren't supported. Left, right, power, speed, etc, give me a balanced team that can do a bit of everything, with a pitching staff that gives me a chance every day, and I'll show you a winning team that can contend.

I liked your post and really can't disagree with you. And Grossman does offer value. I just don't feel he offers enough value to keep around, especially with the addition of Cron, which I happen to like. I'd be more in favor of keeping Grossman if Sano and Buxton were coming off solid seasons. The lineup would seem so much mkre complete we could afford to keep Grossman as a role player. I just feel he's too one dimensional to fit at this point. We need to find improvement to the roster in different ways. Note: were he to agree to a much smaller contract, or be released and re-signed on a small, or even milb deal, I wouldn't be entirely opposed to him being brought to camp.

Some great arguments back and forth regarding a trade for Thor. And I see merits on BITH sides of the argument. Nobody asked me for my opinion, but I'm going to throw mine out there anyway, lol. I believe the team needs to make moves to "move the needle forward" absolutely. And if the Mets are really motivated to sell, I'd be interested in buying. The reason is simple, a quality arm at the top of the rotation for 3 more years. Obviously, it also depends on the cost. While still prospects, I don't include Lewis or Khirilloff but anyone else in the system and MOST of the 40 man is open. (Trading Berrios or Gibson to net Thor doesn't really make sense). This includes, as I mentioned earlier today, maybe a package that looks something like Kepler, Romero, Gordon and 1 or Gonsalves, Thorpe or Graterol. Perhaps a 5th top 20 prospect. The counter, of course, is for the Twins and their new staff to work with the talent on hand, openers or not, and further look at and develop existing potential for at least half a season before making a big move. And if we're truly looking at building from the ground floor up and sustainable success, this makes a ton of sense to me. Especially with the new staff in place. At least for now. While we have a lot of truly frustrating unknowns, Buxton and Sano amongst them, this team is not good of talent and potential. And you can talk all you want about a late surge in 2017 to reach the playoffs, but they DID do so while winning 85 games. (Reminder, the Indians didn't look so great until a surge either). There is no reason to extrapolate the FA moves of last season blowing up even though they looked smart. Not again. But if we all knew before the 2018 season started that Santana would be a complete non factor, that Castro would be the same, and Buxton, and Sano almost as bad, that Polanco would miss half a season, that Dozier would be average to awful for the entire season, how many of us might have predicted a 100 loss team vs 84 to the bad? This team needs a couple smart additions still, and there is opportunity to do so. It also needs some guys to be healthy and take a step forward. But from the top down, all is nkt pure doom and gloom. Thor for 3 years with Berrios and Gibson looks pretty good to me. You add a couple nice BP arms and continue to work with what is on hand, you have the makings of a really nice staff. Decisions on Odorizzi and Pineda can be made later. You have to make the call to see if you have a match. But while still "prospects", you have to consider the talent and potential of both Lewis and Khirilloff and what they could mean to the franchise in the next year or two.

Assuming the Mets want to shed payroll and get ML talent, or close to ML talent back, I'm just tossing this out there: Kepler, Gordon, Romero and 1 of Gonsalves, Thorpe or Graterol. (Graterol is RH and further away, but has an even higher ceiling). Kepler starts in CF/RF and still has a ton of upside. Gordon could be ready mid year. Romero is ready now for some role. And they get their choice of another good young arm.

I can absolutely see Romero ending up as a RP, and probably a very good one, whether in the traditional sense or in a new age, multiple IP way as discussed. And I want the best STAFF we can put together. But right now, still developing and with the potential he has...and let's be honest, since getting healthy has been promoted fairly aggressively...I'd still begin 2019 with him in the rotation. With or without an opener, I want a little more time to see if he can build on what he flashed last season.

Used correctly, DH much, much more than in the field, and hitting at the top of the order to replace Mauer there, as well as PH duties, he has some value. Especially if the next 3-4(5) hitters are quality and in place. But where the roster is now, absolutely no room for him. Not to mention the FO isnt done yet. At least, they sure better not be!

THIS 100%. And something I've been arguing for as well. What's wrong with 5 good OF? Play the guys that deserve to play. Move guys around to get your best players on the field and in the lineup. 5 man OF too much? Not if Austin doesn't cut it, or Astudillo begins 2019 in the minors, or someone is hurt, etc.

Sorry for the double and confusing post. Sometimes I get this big blob with no breaks and I edit and it comes out OK the second time. For some reason, I got this mess tonight.

Great article with sound thinking! Going to agree and disagree with the following: 1] Kepler, with his pure athleticism at 1B just makes so much sense we shouldn't even have to debate it. I remain a steadfast believer in his potential and truly feel 2019 will be the year his splits even out, and his rocket line drives will lead to the production we all hoped for. Not saying a career year, but we will start to see what he can really do. Regardless of any further acquisitions, (FA OF I pine for), this increases roster and lineup flexibility. 2] Romero. Nope. Nada. No way. His stuff and potential are just too good to place him in the pen at this point. You stated the argument yourself as to him missing 2 seasons. And yet, he has vaulted to a ML debut, practically passing AAA initially, and flashing his potential. My goodness, he's still ,learning how to pitch! 3] May was badly mishandled by Gardenhire. He was showing real promise, despite 1 Really bad start, when they/he made the misguided decision to move May to the pen instead of Pelfrey. Fast forward, the Twins were smart to put him back in the rotation for 2017. And he looked really good in ST before his elbow gave out. Back in 2018, he actually requested he go to the pen as he felt he could perform and contribute better there on his comeback. And then and there he was outstanding, and largely the same with the Twins. This reminds me of Aguillera. Traded for as a SP, he moved to the pen, was moved back again to the rotation, but was meant to be a RP. I think May has the stuff to start and be, at least, solid. But I think time, opportunity, and his own mindset now has him as a reliever. 2018 was still his recovery year! Imagine how good he could be fixated on a pen role in his first full year back. 4] Astudillo. Said it before and will say it again, his biggest problem has always been other teams didn't realize what they had simply because he didn't fit some idea of what they wanted him to be. He has averaged .300+ for his entire milb career with contact. He showed/shows some budding power. I watched at catcher and 3B for the Twins in 2018 and wondered what could possibly be wrong with this guy? (I never got to actually see him play 1B, 2B or OF). Unless he actually starts/plays every day somewhere, I doubt he gets 500AB. But his hit tool is legit. His defense seems solid, at least. I believe in depth, and competition for roster spots. But right now, I would be fine with him and Adrianza as my utility players.

Just not interested in Lemahieu. And not just because I'd have to learn how to spell his name daily, lol. As mentioned, I don't like his splits and the market is flooded. Glad I don't have to make the final decision, but please, make the right call here. I don't care if its Lowry at 2B, (but my preferred choice), or someone else, or Iglesius and move Polanco to 2B now. Just spend the $8-10M on the right guy! I'm just not excited about Gray, though maybe he could be a steal for someone away from NY. I want to see Berrios continue to develop, lock up Gibson with something fair, see what Pineda and Odorizzi do, and roll through/audition Romero, Gonsalves, Stewart, Littell and Thorpe. It's time to see what we have here, for 2019 and beyond. I actually like a healthy Pineda. Nothing spectacular, but solid career numbers when you look at them. No to Gray. Roll with what we have. Develop what we have. Re-evaluate mid-season to see if the right opportunity is there, or hold out until next offseason.

100% this! Adding Cron does not mean you can't continue to add and improve the roster/lineup and depth/options. Is Cron a needle mover? I'd say yes, slightly at least. And every nudge forward is a good one. We still have money to spend, there are tons of options on the market, and we still have all our prospects at this time for trades. (Whether now or later).

Agreed! But there is upside and opportunity. Still depends on the rest of the moves made. At this point, of course, I'm still looking for a quality infielder and a couple top BP options. But clearly the team is looking for depth and opportunity. They are not simply handing the 1B job to Austin. And I think that's a positive. If both rake in ST, you have a nice problem to consider. This is NOT the bat I wanted or considered. It doesn't mean it's a bad move, or that we are committed to either Cron or Austin for anything. I would STILL sign McCutchen or Brantley and let Rocco sort out the team and lineup from strength.

I am also optimistic about Rooker. There is a reason the Twins drafted him twice. And the early returns have been encouraging and enticing. He's shown a really good bat with power and the ability to make adjustments. And his age doesn't really bother me because of the production be has shown and his adaptability only a season and a half in. AA pitching is way above what anyone sees in college. Especially on a daily basis. Now, if he suddenly stagnated, then I will worry. But I've always felt he was looking at a cup of coffee in 2019 with a possible breakthrough in 2020. They say the biggest adjustment is to AA ball. If that's true, even with a late season slump, he could be ready mid-season 2019. Let the staff work with him and find a place for him at that point.

Nick, to me, you sort of answer your own question whether this move is pro or cron...errr...con. They ARE different players, and should be treated as such. If Morrisson had actually been fully healthy, maybe we aren't even having this discussion right now. Even had Morrisson just performed to his career averages, he would have been useful, and maybe/probably in the incumbent 1B for 2019. Of course, that's not the way it worked out, unfortunately. And who knows, maybe Morrison will sign a small deal somewhere, be 100%, have a nice season and we'll all be lamenting woulda, coulda, shoulda. I like what I saw of Austin and am intrigued by change of scenery and opportunity. But he remains an unknown. Cron is not a big sexy acquisition to be sure. And I absolutely believe his signing came with the approval of Baldelli who has watched him. None of his previous seasons were great, though not bad either, but Rocco was there to watch him "break through" in 2019 with hjs first season with 500AB. Do we get the same guy? Who knows. Maybe the BA and OB go up but the power slides some. But even though $5M is an amount most of can't conceive of, it's small in the market of MLB. And the team is not committed to either he or Austin moving forward. For goodness sake, we are paying Hughes as much or more NOT to play. It's a smart move with no downside. Now to move to an infielder, the pen, and I'm still hoping and wondering about a BIG bat to deepen the OF and all kinds of possibilities.

Just to add, as I did a short time ago in this same thread, isn't this the perfect opportunity to add someone like McCutchen or Brantley to the mix? Add another big bat, especially with Cron being so inexpensive, and build your roster from depth and strength. Let Rocco figure out how to use "too much talent" and have the depth for trades, injuries, etc. In addition to a prime infield addition, or course. There was a whole thread recently about the Brewers adding and subtracting from their OF depth. Couldn't this be an option for the Twins at this point?