DocBauer

In addition to the comments I made about Sano above, why can't Polanco continue to develop and grow defensively? Like Sano, I believe he will only be 26yo next season and now has a relatively consistent 2 1/2 seasons in as a full time ML SS. He is a fine athlete with a new throwing motion. I believe he graded out about average defensively last season. There is still room to grow for both of them.

Great post AZ! Makes me giddy to just talk about all of the good stuff that is the Twins right now! Was actually thinking about this very thing yesterday. At some point this offseason, mid next year, or next offseason, I fully expect a couple of players/prospects to be moved. However, with the $ available at this time, it is very conceivable the Twins could add Wheeler, let's say, bring back Pineda and Cron, add 1 more pen arm, and re-sign Castro or bring in a different catcher while leaving both the roster and farm intact for the time being. And still be a better team in 2020. For all the debate about trades and guys swapping positions, etc, IN THEORY, the Twins could be looking at Jeffers close to ready at catcher by the end of next season and beyond. They could realistically be looking at an infield that contains Kirilloff, Rooker, Arraez, Gordon, Blankenhorn, Polanco, Lewis and Sano. Raley and Larnach could join Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Cave, Wade and the afformentioned Kiriloff and Rooker as OF options. How about Duran, Ober and Balazovic as young rotation pieces to join Graterol, Thorpe, Dobnak and Smeltzer? I'm sure I'm missing a guy or two. And again, I'm sure a couple of the guys listed will be moved at some point. But look at the young talent knocking on the door at least by the end of 2020. I am very excited! Brian, I don't think that is a breeze. I think it's a gust!

I hate to beat a dead horse, but everyone who is so worried about Sano's defense needs to take a step backk for a moment. He has a rocket. His hands are at least decent. He charges the ball well. He is solid on pop ups and foul balls. The only thing he really isn't is "range-y" laterally. Depending on which article you read and which defensive metric, he was average or slightly below average last season. Despite it seeming as though he has been around forever, he will only be 26yo in 2020. He had a nightmare of a 2018 and a very good 2019, overall, after a rough start. Hopefully, no more setbacks for this slimmer, better conditioned and harder working Sano. For those old enough to remember, Gaetti came up with hands of stone. A few years later he won a Gold Glove. When Koskie came up, he was too tall and stiff to play 3B. A couple years later he was one of the better defensive 3B around. Why, oh why can't Sano continue to improve, at least a little? Shouldn't we at least give him 2020 to see?

Agreed. Wheeler and Pineda and then swing a deal for Bundy as your #5 option. Blocking prospects you say? There is room in the bullpen and at Rochester and guys always get hurt or dinged at some point.

Very happy for him and wish him success. Guy was all class with the Twins. But really, really surprised by that deal!

So we should bring an average defensive 3B to move to Sano to 1B and replace Cron's offense with an aging and less powerful/productive veteran or a couple of guys with zero power and production who are best used as utility players? Holt...maybe...as a replacement for Marwin on the utility level so he can start full time at 3B. I just don't get this at all.

He was one of my top choices to replace Castro if he's not back.

I've always felt beyond your prospects at AAA, you should spend a little more to bring in a handful of AAAA guys that might be a cut above for insurance. You just never know what can happen. From what I have watched, I have no problem with Astudillo behind the plate. And I absolutely agree with previous post that if he can just lay off the crazy outside stuff, he has the ability to be a solid and productive hitter in a fill-in role. But I like him best as my 3rd guy with someone a little more experienced to play with Garver. Again, I'm hoping for Castro. But there are other guys of interest, though losing Vogt as an option is disappointing. But your AAA pitchers need and deserve someone quality to work with and provide the parent club with an extra, viable option.

Romero still has 1 option remaining. I thought he was also out but I was corrected a few weeks ago. FWIW

The nature of RP and thus the bullpen in general are volatile and unpredictable in nature. That doesn't mean the Twins have a problem, it's just a fact about most pens and most relievers. Track history and experience mitigate that, to some degree. Personally, I feel pretty good about our pen at this point. I feel really good if they make a couple of moves: re-sign Romo (or equivalent) and sign a LH they believe in. I'm on the Pomeranz bandwagon myself. This time last year we didn't have the new and improved May and Duffey. We didn't have Littell and Stashak looking like real potential fixtures. In his brief work, Poppen looked solid. Alcala could be really close. What if Romero suddenly repeats his delivery more consistently and just throws instead of aiming? While you don't want to "waste" a SP option in the pen, and you always need depth, rotation pieces like Thorpe or Smeltzer, etc, can still lend a hand, even if it's temporary. I feel pretty good.

Watching him his entire career, Vizquel is 2nd only to The Wizard when it comes to SS and SHOULD BE a lock for the HOF. He didn't have Ozzie's flair, but was just as dependable and maybe had the better arm. Like Smith, he was a defense first and foremost player who developed in to a very nice offensive player who did a bit of everything. I can be a typical Yankee hater, but I have never disliked Jeter or disparaged him in any way. I will say, however, that part of his reverence, IMO, comes from being a Yankee and his post season success. That success is important, relevant and can not be denied. But if I were building a dream team tomorrow and had my choice of a SS in his prime, Ozzie would be my #1 choice. I'm not so sure I wouldn't pick Vizquel over Jeter. I want to agree that Bonds and Clemens deserve it regardless due to their greatness before all the PED conversations and taints. I watched their entire careers. The problem is, NOBODY, except the players themselves and those closest to them, know exactly when the PED usage took place. Was it from day one? When they hit 30? 31? 32? Whether you agree or not, there is a stigma there. They will be included at some point. It may be further down the road, and with an asteric by their name, but they will be there one day. But it won't be now.

Considering all factors, to me the decision is easy. Moose. With all due respect to Donaldson, every projection has him at twice the $ as Moustakas. Living in Royals country here in Omaha, I'm pretty familiar with him and his career. While not elite defensively, he's turned himself in to a decent/quality 3B with a consistent stick. I have been honestly and shockingly surprised how he has bounced around considering how solid a player he is and his consistent production. IF the Twins were serious about making a change at this point, I would jump at a 2yr $12M per vs what Donaldson would seem to command. He's been healthier and is 2yrs younger as well. His cost would be about $5-6M more than keeping Cron. Again, much less than Donaldson, and that $ influences pitching moves/additions as well. If you really like Frazier's glove, and really believe he can at least duplicate his 2019 season, then be comes much cheaper on probably a 1yr deal. But unless you really feel good about those things, Sano/Cron sounds like a better alternative to me.

Personally, I think catcher has often been undervalued except for those guys who have good to elite bats. Everything from defense to just working with the staff and making everyone comfortable are skills that can't be measured by any 100% statistic. Regardless if you are a fan of Castro or not, he is respected and carries a solid resume and is experienced. While not a great hitter, and prone to streaks, he is an "OK" hitter who takes professional AB and has double digit HR power. Those are all positives. The negatives are age creeping up, his injury in 2018, and the fact he wasn't a full time starter in 2019. Is there someone out there who really believes he's worth a 2-3yr deal for another $8M or so? I'd really like him back in a 2yr $12M deal. What he has done with the Twins when healthy, the arrangement he and Garver had last season and what it produced, his familiarity with the staff and team, I could be convinced to go an additional $1M per grudgingly. But I'd really like to think the 2 and $12 should/could get it done. I am very optimistic about Jeffers and how much the Twins seem to like him. But IMO, half a season at AA doesn't get it done for me. Offense and defense, there is still growth to be made and a learning curve. I feel so much better with Castro on board for 2 more seasons with Austudillo as that 3rd option. If the numbers just don't make sense, I'm interested in Stephen Vogt and Robinson Chirinos as experienced options on lower cost 1yr deal options.

Yes, Cron has a poor season his first season back from surgery on the other hand, yes, he has to come back successfully from this surgery. But I also think it's a bit unfair to say the results will be identical. Let us further remember, despite the fact he ended up non-tendered after, when Cron finally got 500AB for the first time in his career in 2018 he had a very good season. He was even better the first half of 2019 in most all categories before this latest injury. And if you watched him play he was FINE defensively. Despite rumors the Twins are looking at available 3B...and doing due diligence they should be...I'm not convinced they are ready to move Sano off of 3B this soon. Not until they see this slimmer, more dedicated version gets another full year at the position. But let's say they are seriously considering the idea. Considering we still need 2 more SP, is Donaldson really an option? I say no. That leaves Moustakis and who? Frazier? I like Moose, but he's going to cost about $12M per, which I'm OK with. But after adding a pair of SP, we still need a catcher and one more good RP, preferably a LH one. On top of that, I have to ask honestly, does this actually improve the defense enough, at this time, to make a difference? I think Sano has more than enough athleticism for a big man to develop in to at least a decent 1B. For various reasons, I'm not sure this is the right time to make the move permanent. I think a healthy Cron is a very solid piece to the puzzle. I am not convinced he "deserves" a bump of $3M for 2020. If the Twins have a plan in mind to switch things up and mkve on, I'm OK with that. But I also don't want a rookie being handed 1B for a team with post season expectations, or a complete revolving door at 1B either. The team can afford Cron at $7.7M. But non-tendered after 2018, coming off surgery, I'm guessing he is back on a $6-6.5M agreed upon deal.

Maybe it's the WS wins or the players and find remembrance, but my favorites were the pin stripes. Just thought they were classy.

*sniffle*

Really don't understand Blankenhorn not playing more 3B. If he can't hack it defensively, the obvious move is to 1B or the OF. But while he has played a lot of LF, he's also played a lot of 2B. So good enough for 2B but not 3B simply does not compute unless his arm is weak or wild.

The thought of Raley possibly platooning in some manner with Cron at 1B never honestly occurred to me. Could be a smart move. Of course, works that much better if he's your 4th OF as the 26 man spot could easily be a RP or Austudillo, etc. I disagree on Chalmers moving to the pen so soon. His primary issue...other than injury...is gaining control of his stuff. With his limited IP, I'd have him start for now. More opportunity to throw, throw some more, and work on his control. Later in the season, then shift him to the pen due to IP if nothing else. His future can be determined in the offseason based on what everyone sees.

Can't say I am a fan, or that I hate them. Mixed bag for me. Mostly because I really do like the nostalgia around them.

IIRC, the original hat was red with a blue bill. Not complaining, just remembering.

I absolutely believe a trade involving one of these guys is possible. And depth is nice, between these 4 as well as Cave and Wade. But I kind of chuckle when I hear we have too much depth and simply must move someone. While I love Buxton and completely believe in his potential and hope for the best, what if the injury bug bites him hard again in 2020? Now Kepler is in CF and one of these guys could be your RF. What if Cruz is done after next season? What if Cron is brought back and gone after next season? Rosario, while I love him, only has one more season of arbitration after this one, and could be traded and then replaced by one of these guys. Who is up first? Just taking a guess here...Raley or Rooker as they are the most ready but Raley is probably better defensively and Rooker sometimes the season a little cold. Raley is first up.

Might be a little high on Raley's HR potential. And I believe he can also play 1B.

Read the article and found it...interesting. I guess on paper it makes some sense. Some. But why not keep our prospects and use our payroll for different guys, including Hamels or Pineda for that #4 spot? I'd like that much more than Price at this point. And we wonder why the FA market hasn't been so crazy about high $ and long term.

If this is factually, they should be writing up the contract even as we all blog here. I actually think this is just about right for his value, which has me slightly confused because I've just felt certain it was going to take a slight overpay at $20M per. Do this, Twins, and let Johnson work with him. Do it now.

Barring trades, of course, it is not out of the question that ALL of these guys are part of the 2021 team and most, if not all, debuting at some point this coming year.