DocBauer

It's also not out of question that a pair of soon to be 26yo left side infielders could continue to develop and improve. Fact: Sano re-dedicated himself to slim down and get in better shape and improve his game. Fact: Sano had a weird, crazy injury that supplanted his ST and full readiness. Fact: In the Twins own history of 3B, forgetting anyone else, 2 of their best 3B, Gaetti and Koskie, started out as poor or questionable defensively. Fact: Polanco is a good athlete who is still growing in to the position not only because he is relatively young, but was also jerked around by the previous FO before Molitor just placed him at SS on a daily basis. Fact: Other than tweaking and learning a few things about positioning and just watching the darn ball in to your glove at times, Polanco's biggest issue was throwing. He found a new motion that seemed to make a difference and should continue to make a difference. Facf: Arraez is an instinctual ballplayer and was a rookie who should only get better with experience. We need a 1B, whoever it may be. Sano moves there..and I think he can be OK to good with time...only because there is a better option for 3B. Unless we blow things up at 3B with a major trade or FA target, 1B needs to be addressed.

Humor aside, affiliations change. Every holiday the past few seasons I look to buy a cap for myself and my father for a team we don't have yet. Hell, we have Rockcats and Lookout caps we display or wear at times. I promise you I will NOT be ordering any items from this ridiculous change.

I really wanted to write this a couple of days ago when Nash first shared his wonderful piece because it resonated with me, and because honestly, I felt it I waited too long, the article would just slide away amongst others. But work, life, trips to the hospital for my youngest son...things just got in the way. But I have to share. For those who have read some of my words before, indulge me. I was born a Twins fan. I was born and raised in South Dakota by a sports fan father who adopted the Twins as his team. (And the Vikings but that is a whole different and pained story, lol). My father helped coach a little league team in Brookings SD named the Tigers when I was about 4-5yrs old. His memory is better than mine, obviously, on the time frame. At the end of the season, we traveled to watch a double header at old Met Stadium between the Tigers and Twins. My 54yo brain has flashbacks, but remembers little from that day. But it doesn't matter as the Twins were ingrained to me virtually from birth. 57.0, Yankton SD was, and remains to some degree, a godsend to me. From car radio to transistor radio, I followed the Twins with my dad, and learned the game from him, listening to Herb call the games for the likes of Carew, Koosman, Goltz, Smalley, Wyneger and a plethora of players and games over nearly 50yrs. When visiting my grandparents farm, I used to help out with the evening milking, doing what I could feeding cows and calves, while monitoring the radio and calling out the play by play taking place. In my youth, WAY before the internet, I watched games on my grandma's cable TV. I grabbed ever issue, and past issues she saved for me, of the Tribune to read about the Twins. I read Baseball Digest, the Sporting News, and any rag I could get my hands on to hear about my team and milb prospects. I would sit in my car to listen through static to hear west coast games. I listened on my car radio the first game Puckett ever played. I watched the Twins beat the Tigers in '87 to reach the WS. And I am not a bit ashamed to admit I cried when they won that year. My only regret is my dad and I couldn't have watched it together. From approximately 1970 on I have seen 2 WS championships, great seasons and performances, different ownerships, tons of celebrations and tons of heartache. I've watched this team win 100 games and lose 100 games. I've been through it all. And while there a couple of TD fans/posters who have seen even more than me, I have been steadfast in my "fanaticism ". I admit there are times where it was just so bad I didn't listen, or watch, or check the before, but I have always been there. Still am. As is my beloved father. Once a week we huddle to talk Vikings and Huskers, but we always end up talking Twins at some point. No matter what, good and bad, the Twins are just in my blood.

Like the way you are thinking here! Agreed on checking out various LHRP options. My dream was Pomeranz on a 2yr $4-5M deal but that got completely blown up. Now, it's about who is the best candidate Johnson and the FO like. I kind of hate to say it, but I'm starting to wonder about Perez. I think his days as a SP option are gone, unless someone decides they can still "fix" him the way it looked like the Twins did the first couple of months last year. If he would accept a bullpen move, I find him interesting. With all due respect to Cave, who I like despite some rough edges and a play in the field here and there that left me scratching my head, I'd be very interested in a lower cost 4th OF who can play a legitimate CF. I don't care if he bats LF/RF necessarily, just a guy who can play good defense and be solid offensively. I just don't know who to target at this point. Catcher is weird and interesting. There are a couple guys I like...really liked Vogt...but still prefer to go status quo with Castro. Interesting I haven't heard a single rumor about him. Leads me to believe a re-sign is a strong possibility.

***simply shakes head***

But the Twins offered Darvish over $100M and if I recall correctly, the same annual $. It was the 6th year Chicago tacked on that got the deal done. I see no reason why the Twins wouldn't go to the $100M for Wheeler. Now, if the numbers go to $25M per yr or 6yrs, I can see them walking away and looking at the next couple of guys. (Which reports say they are). I think comparing Darvish and Wheeler might be a little unfair, which is why I didn't initially. But a couple years apart, they are at least comparable as one of the top FA SP available.

Really liking the idea of Shaw on a rebound 1yr deal. While nothing outstanding, his precious 3yrs average out nicely. And there is. the versatility factor. I could be sold. But we are talking INTERNAL options. IMO, that still includes Cron despite the latest roster move. Offense and defense, I still think he might just be the best 1yr option available. But my crystal ball is still in the shop and I just know how his hand is going to be come time for ST. If not selected in rule V, Wiel and Raley would be the best 2 options to battle it out initially. I see Rooker needing a little more time for polish and to get in a groove and similar for Kirilloff, who I agree could be up quickly. Sticking strictly internal, and Cron not ready/available, I'd bet on Raley as the guy to start the season.

I could get behind Shaw. While nothing spectacular, I would take his mean for the 2016-2018 seasons and be pretty happy. I don't recall his poor season last year. Was he injured?

I'm afraid this is going to turn in to yet ANOTHER Sano to 1B debate and that really shouldn't be the case. Not directly. What should be discussed is simply what makes the 2020 Twins best overall. Of course you don't make a commitment to Cron right now. I have little doubt he'll be sitting there come mid to late January simply because of his surgery and recovery. IMO, a healthy Cron at 1B and Sano at 3B is the most productive combo we could have. Without Cron, who else do you get? Kendrick? Moreland? Thames? So Sano maybe moves to 1B and you sign Moose, not because Sano can't play 3B, but simply because that combo may simply be the better and more dangerous option available to you. That will cost you another $5-6M than keeping Cron, but that cost is not prohibitive in the grand scheme. I still like Cron, but the more I think about his injury and recovery, and I read comments about his injury being "significant", you have to pick a direction and move with it. You can't just sit and wait on this one.

Not comparing the two guys directly, but coming off the WC season a couple years ago the Twins offered Darvish over $100M. Now, coming off a 101 win season and plenty of financial room, there is no reason not to expect a major signing. Now exactly who is hard to predict. There are other teams offering and the pitcher has to decide he wants to play for our Twins and can see success coming here. Not sure how anyone couldn't see impending success at this point.

I don't believe Cron was rostered this long for anything other than more time to evaluate after surgery, continue to plan, and maybe even discuss finances with he and his representatives. But I never expected arbitration. At this point, unless there was an easy compromise on a deal, you let him test the waters. As much as I actually like him and think I want him back...healthy...I would let him sit for a bit and see what happens in the market. $7.7 bump from $4.8 while being injured for about half a season and then having surgery just sounds like too high of a jump to me. I'm with Mike on something around $6M for 1yr.

I think all 3 "what ifs" are valid points. (I still don't understand the Jays not playing the Mets against the Twins and looking for a counter. Ridiculous!) When a team has such a good season and wins 101 games and sets records, it's a little hard to play the "what if" game over the context of a full season. It does, however, hold a little more weight when narrowed down to the post season. I'm a little tired of hearing how the Yankees had it so bad but overcame odds to have a good season. Good for them. But the Twins run of injuries happened the second half of the season, along with the Pineda suspension. And some of the guys who played in that series were hurting or at least rusty. An excuse? No. Just a fact. To me, both teams, healthy were a very even matchup. The Yankees had more post season experience and were healthier at the time. They won. Now to tweak a very good team and get 2020 going and get back to the post season again!

Agree with your thoughts. But will disagree with you from a perspective analysis. The Twins may simply get lucky by signing Wheeler at this time due to experience and stuff coming to fruition as he gets ready to turn 30. Major injury now 2yrs behind him, there is a very good chance his best 3yr+ window is going to open. Additionally, sometimes a change in scenery, that different coach and analytics dept will see just a small tweak or 2 that leads to greater success along with what I mentioned above. You know, 2" over on the rubber, little more this pitch, little less this one, etc. Optimistic on my part? Perhaps. But I think optimism is warranted all things considered. At worst, still a really solid arm.

After Grandal, there were a couple quick and even surprising moves made. So far, I haven't even heard a rumor regarding Castro. To me, that says nobody is breaking down doors to offer him multiple years, $8+ and a starting job. So until something breaks, I'm still saying $5-6M per for 2yrs. It's a perfect fit and win/win for both sides and eases "pressure" to rush Jeffers or Rortverdt.

I am all about re-signing Pineda. When you look at stuff, age, what he did last year, where do you find a better value or fit? His suspension only carries about 30 more days. As I understand it, he can fully participate in ST and gets a couple weeks to ramp up in the minors before he is activated. Not sure if he can remain at the Ft Myers complex during the suspension or is forced to work out on his own. I don't like to have to cover that first 30+ days, but over the course of the entire season, again, he's a perfect fit.

1] A solid argument could be made for Ryu and Bumgarner being equal to or better as a signing than Wheeler. But what you banking/projecting on Wheeler is 30yo come May with legit mods 90's velocity combined with normal experience and 2 yrs removed from surgery. A change of scenery with a new staff and you could easily be looking at the best 3yrs or so of his career. Yes $20-22M ish is too much. But that's probably what it is going to take. As of now, not only can you afford it without compromising the roster, but he would be the only large and long term deal on the books. 2] As to Castro, his coming back makes too much sense for both parties. You can say the Twins may not be overly anxious to bring him back, and that's fair. But he hasn't signed anywhere else yet, and we've seen a couple surprising signings at the catcher position so far. To this point, I don't think I've ever heard rumors of anyone else interested. 3] Not sure about Sano to 1B yet. But the FO would be foolish not to consider all avenues to improve the team. I don't feel they are pushing that move yet. But if you aren't sold on Cron being 100% at this time, you obviously look at all contingencies at your disposal. 4] Bullpen wise, they really need a LH without moving Smeltzer or Thorpe. They need to stay starting for now. But if you look at what's available, sure seems like low 1yr deal options and fliers. But then again, that has proven to work many times, while tossing money at FA RP in recent years hasn't usually worked very well. That being said, I think Romo comes back on a 1yr $3M deal.

And I keep preaching the same thing. Absolutely no reason to move Sano off of 3B at this time.

As a whole, there is nothing to argue with. They are fair projections overall. With health, I think all are a little low. Nut none of them show any extreme regression or disappointment. Interesting Gordon wasn't mentioned as getting an appearance. I'd think he's near the top of the list.

Not sure about staying in Ft Myers, but I'm quite sure he can participate fully in ST. Once the suspension is over, I believe he gets 2 weeks of milb time to ramp up.

Agreed. I'd still like to keep Jax if possible. Getting long in the tooth, but that's a result of circumstances and not on him. I really dont know how much upside he has left, and he could easily be passed by this year. But I just have a feeling there is more to come with him. I'd like to fund out.

To me, Pineda is about as close as you can get to a no-brainer. Obviously we need a big addition such as the oft-mentioned and speculated Wheeler. While not impossible, it would be very difficult to target and sign 2 of the top FA targets. Not that they are unaffordable, but because other teams are competing for signatures as well. I'd really like Pineda on a 2yr deal, but agreed he may only want 1. Regardless, if you have doubts about him as a 4th SP...not a 5th...look at his numbers last year and especially from June on as listed. Guy was getting better and better the farther away from his surgery. Not uncommon. He would be as good nor better than about anyone else you could bring in barring a large trade situation. And those are not always easy to make. This move costs $ only. I wish he wouldn't be missing the first month of the season, but being focused on the season as a whole entity, I'd love to have him back.

Javier makes so little sense on so many levels. Are you really going to stash him for an entire season just so you can send him back down to A ball in 2021 to continue much needed development for a guy suddenly down 1 option? Jax makes sense for someone to take. He's probably kept as well as I could see him easily stashed as a long/middle man if he shows you anything at all. Clay and Reed are in similar boats. There is enough velocity and SO numbers for a non contender to take a flier. Whether either shows enough to stick is a different story. I would think Wiel is a strong candidate to be picked. His career has not been stellar, but it's been solid and he's probably comjng off his very best year. I understand the argument about 1B/OF/DH types being a dime a dozen. And they probably are. But ones who can actually perform are not. Wiel is relatively young and controllable with power. I would think someone will like that combination. They won't all's be selected. Anywhere from 0-2 probably. But there are valued arguments for a few tombs targeted.

Sorry Carol, but the dog is the most important person. Kudos to you! You get it girl!

The recent raid of the staff tells me Falvey and Levine or aggressive, progressive, and good at identifying quality people. The losses are a form of compliment. I hate losing these guys, but have confidence they will do an equally good job of hiring/promoting replacements. Remember when nobody knew who Rowson and Johnson were?

Thankful for so much in my life, but being a life long Twins follower and fanatic, I include TD, and all the contributors here amongst the things I am grateful for. Surely, one of the top team sites available anywhere! A smaller and not quite as fancy spread at my place, but Turkey, ham, sweet spuds, cheesey hashbrowns, brocolli and cheese, corn, apple and pecan pie and some Stella to help was it down. Happy Thanksgiving to ALL and Bless!