DocBauer

Patience is important, and no two prospects develop exactly the same. Which is part of the reason I get frustrated, and almost laugh at times, when I read things about how Buxton, Berrios, etc, should be moved or given up on already. The truth is, we as fans need a different kind of patience than was required the past few 90+ loss seasons. Before, we were impatient with injuries, poor trades or not making flip trades, poor to mediocre FA choices or no FA choices, etc, while eagerly awaiting the arrival of a wave of talented prospects. NOW, we have a new FO in place and we already here about some changes and expansions they want to make. But it won't all happen overnight. Further, with young talent in place, and more coming, this different form of patience must be exercised. At least now, it feels as though there is a new and hopefully forward moving plan taking shape.

What I think we just don't know for sure is whether the back issues were directly caused by his being in the pen. He was effective there in 2015. But he was also showing signs of turning in to a solid SP that year before the bullpen move. For a team so much in need for starters, and so many interesting bullpen arms close to contributing, how can you not let May do what he has always done before and start? He was a quality SP in the minors, which us why he was acquired in the first place. His BB went down in '15 and a partial season in the rotation isn't enough to make any final judgments.

I get not protecting Turner. He still has some potential as a hitter...some power, doesn't completely stink as a hitter, makes some contact, reportedly works counts, etc...but even playing a premium position, I doubt another team drafts him or stashes him all season.

Not sure I have THE answer, but my answer would be two fold: 1* As Seth stated, you need guys on the roster you can delete via trades and FA signings, and you can't delete guys just added. 2* The Twins still need to field a competent team next season. Arguements could be made against keeping D Santana, but Boshers actually pitched pretty well when healthy, and O'Rourke has been solid when used right. Grossman has a useful bat. Of course, a month from now, this could all be a moot point anyway.

Always been a Plouffe fan and supporter. I liked him as a Twin. But for all involved it really was the right move. I wish him the very best.

I have to say, I like the Van Slyke addition in this deal. I've advocated a solid 4th OF for some time, and you're right Seth, he doesn't have to be a CF type. He needs to be someone who can hit LH pitching, and be good enough to start for stretches. I mentioned a few in my blueprint, but hadn't considered someone in a trade scenario like this. I like it. Still having a tough time on Vielma jumping straight from AA at this time.

In theory, this is all a very good idea. But IMO, I'm not sure it fits where the Twins are now as an organization. To sign an OF or SP in hopes of catching some lightening and making a flip sounds like a good idea. But you also have to play and start those players enough to build that value. Now it's impossible to predict how good some of the Twins young players will turn out to be ultimately, or even how good they will be in 2017, but do you really sit one of our talented OF or a rotation candidate like May or Berrios hoping for a successful flip candidate? Just not the direction I'd go, or think the Twins should go at this time. I'm more interested in a few solid guys to augment holes on the roster...quality 4th OF and another quality infielder with Dozier traded...who could be potentially smaller scale but solid flips. Similar to Abad this season. Where I DO like the idea is a closer, and Feliz is probably my first choice, and maybe a LHRP on the rebound, or a failed SP being converted.

A solid blueprint Seth. Not much different than mine, but with a name change or two. I'd be fine with Castro, but a 4th year would shut that idea down, IMO, and I think he'll have multiple suitors. Not sure I buy Vielma at this point. I still think a FA or smaller trade for a SS/utility guy is in order here. I'm not in a hurry to trade Santana either, and have no problem starting the season with him. I also don't think Santiago is bad at all. I think he just got off on the wrong foot (arm?) with the Twins last season. But with an arm for Dozier, if not two, and May, Berrios and Gibson, I'm not sure it's necessary or prudent to keep both Santana and Santiago. And as someone else asked, where's Duffey?

The more I see, hear and read about Garver, the more I like and believe in him. I've been saying for a while now that I'm not sure the Twins best move wouldn't be to sign the very best AAAA level catcher they could find, preferably who hits LH, maybe someone either squeezed out elsewhere or has disappointed somewhat, and just roll with what we have. I'm not saying don't sign Castro, or that I wouldn't be happy to have him, or that he couldn't help the staff as well as impart knowledge and experience to Garver/Murphy. But would the team simply be better going the direction of youth? Or maybe a 1 year deal on someone like Avila? I understand his limitations, but he could provide knowledge and experience, some contact and OB, while working with Garver and or Murphy.

I've been watching Garver since he was drafted, along with Turner, but the more I see and read, how can you not be excited by him? He may not be the next Mauer, but how few are or ever will be? We may have a legitimate, quality 2 way catcher right on the precipice of making it to The Show. And I dont want to hear he's almost 26. Catcher is a premium position which sometimes takes longer to develop. There aren't that many early 20yo's like Mauer or Rodriguez that show up. He came from the college ranks and has made steady progress.

The Twins are, in reality, a very young and rebuilding team. Young at the core, of course, with a few older veterans, a few of which may not even be on the team next season. And I am all about keeping the most young talent around we can to continue the rebuild. Some will never make it, of course, and some will be role players, but that's OK, you need those too. And some will become anything from solid starters to potential stars. But I do wonder, once in a while, if we fret too much over the 40 man and the rule 5 draft as, usually, only a couple guys are selected from any one team, and most simply aren't kept due to the 25 man roster constraints. We also don't know how much we don't know, as in, how the new regime sees these young prospects, or their intentions for 2017. They might not even fully know at this point! That being said, without getting too immediately wrapped up in how many spots are open due to those let go and the such, I do have strong feelings about a few guys. Romero, Garver, Palka, Jorge and Granite are all definite, IMO. A potential stud pitcher, a potential solid pitcher, for a pitching starved team are no Brainerd. As is a potential 2-way catcher, a LH power source who could possibly play three spots as well as DH, and a defensive OF with BA and OB skills who can run like the wind and play good defense. After those 5, it gets a little harder to figure out. I wouldn't want to lose Vielma, or Goodrum. Vielma has the great glove and speed, but was also shackled a bit this season due to injury. More or less the same with Goodrum. But are either really a risk to be drafted and kept on a roster for the entire season by someone? I'd keep Wheeler if at all possible. He may posses nothing special that is overly projectable, but he's LH, can start, fast tracked his first year or so before a bad 2015, and then pretty much kicked it at AAA last year. Do you really want to risk losing a decent arm like him? I think we can all agree he's already surpassed the likes of Dean and Albers, and I'd hate for the Twins to NOT give him a shot somewhere along the line. Baxendale is the same way. His solid work at AA as a SP wouldn't get him drafted. But to take his game to a different level in AAA as a RP? Despite other quality candidates available, I'd rather not take the risk. As previously pointed out, it's easier to hide a decent arm as the last guy in a bullpen than a position player. Turner is the guy I'm the most mixed about. From all reports, he is a fine defensive catcher. By all reports and numbers, he will work an AB and has some pop. He may yet surprise and develop a better hit tool, at least a good enough one to be a solid reserve catcher. But his bat is still lagging/lacking, and he has yet to play above AA. Even if selected, are we really in danger of losing him permanently? So I have 5 definite. 4 that I'd like to keep, especially the 2 pitchers. And 1 that I think I'm willing to risk exposing, despite catching being a premium position of general need, including by the Twins.

I echo Hughes and Park as good bounceback candidates. So is Plouffe, but for another team LIMO. I also can't call for a "bounce back" for Rosario, Sanyo or Berries. Not in the classic sense. These guys are so young and still developing that I have a hard time classifying them as bounce back. Rosario and Sano still have less than 800ML AB. Rosario was much better after his recall from Rochester and Sano was still one if the team's top sluggers. I put these guys in a "step forward" colum.

Yes, I agree with this. Garver could learn a few things from himy as well. You can still be getting younger and younger, hopefully better in the long run, but still augment the roster for better all around performance with a quality veteran or two, even if they are role players. As I've suggested here and there such as 4th OF, SS or utility for now, etc.

I agree with this. A new direction from a new FO, even after such a horrible season, has to make a player look at a team like the Twins differently. (Winning in 2015 probably doesn't hurt either) And I would think a player, such as Castro, would have to be intrigued not only by these changes, but would have to be somewhat excited to seexpect guys like Sano, Polanco, Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, etc, and see a positive future he could be part of. Considering he plays a premium position, the team has the financial room for him, will probably shave payroll with a trade or two and a non-tender or two, I would feel OK if they went the $10M route. I just don't think I would go any higher than that.

Been really hoping for a couple seasons now that something would click with Goodrum. Not all that long ago there was talk of him being the Twins SS of the future. Somewhere along the line, the Twins didn't seem to think so as they began to play him just about everywhere but SS it seemed. While his 2016 was short, he seemed to hit well overall while showing some pop and speed. And he seems to be continuing that this winter. I really hope he can keep this up and make himself a valuable role player with the Twins in the near future.

anyone else just deplore auto correct after you re-read some of your own posts? lol

You know, as disappointing as last season was, as poor as the pitching appeared to be, the truth is I'm not sure we know enough about Allen to make an accurate judgement. We didn't have a problem with him in 2015 when we won/were competitive. Injuries and some weird personnel decisions along with poor performance all lead to a horrible 2016. But how much falls on Allen's shoulders is probably hard to say at this time. I don't know how long a leash Allen has, but his doctrine says some good things. And I'd like to believe Garvey and Levine know more ML personnel than just those on their past teams. Perhaps they simply know more about Allen and some of the decisions made last year than we do. You have to hope so at least.

Not saying I don't find Walker very intriguing. I do. I've remarked how consistent his production has been at every level thus far, and how valuable his production could be at the ML level if he could somehow continue his consistent level of production. I'll have to go back and look again, to be fair, but I recall Palka having a better BA over the past few seasons. And really, I don't have any facts to support Palka over Walker defensively other than various reports and comments read. I just never seem to hear anything positive about Walker defensively. So on my end, just call it a feeling.

Well thought out and very logical. I will not argue the logic of your plan, or the fact that big FA moves are not what this team really wants or needs right now, not that there are a ton of difference makers out there, particularly rotation wise. I also agree that this team should be better than last season, just because a lot of bad things happened last season, and they'd almost have to be better than last year "just because". And with the new FO taking time to implement their new organizational direction, and needing time to really get to know what they have in the system player wise, I could see this scenario play out. But I do have a few issues and comments: * Tejada is a guy I considered when I listed my framework, and almost went with him over Drew. Not a bad choice at all. * I also considered Soto as my veteran, short term catcher. And he could be an interesting bounce back candidate. He's just been so hurt and hardly played the last couple of years that I just wasn't sure there would be a point to signing him. * It would be a huge boost to this team of Hughes could make it back, especially all the way back, but I just can't bank on it, especially to start the season, so I put May back in the rotation. I don't get the Mejia idea at this time. Not dismissing him as a prospect and eventual rotation member, but again, why not May when Mejia probably needs more time at AAA? * I still absolutely don't like Sano at DH. Maybe he ends up there one day. Maybe he becomes the full time 1B in another year or so. But I still don't give up on him at 3B yet. Could better conditioning and a little harder work be necessary for him at 3B? But he also needs time and opportunity to play there, especially being able to concentrate on the position. I've watched guys like Gaetti and Koskie with the Twins have to develop at the position, Plouffe more recently. I watched future HOF Boggs struggle with Boston, and others similarly. Cabrera with the Tigers has never been accused of being a strong defender, but he's adequate with his big bat. I still don't move Sano off 3B yet.

Can't disagree with either you or Thrylos, though I don't know being ranked in the top 100 is that big of a deal in the long term. It's a little like college football recruiting and giving high school players star rankings. Not showing big time power, sharing time with Turner, and the one so-so season sandwiched between two good seasons may hold back his rankings. And maybe I'm just optomistic. Lol But I really do have a good feeling about the guy.

I love Castro being brought on board, with some trepidation he could end up blocking Garver at this point who appears close to being ready. Still don't have a total handle on Garver's full defensive acumen, but never heard anything negative, he can sure throw, and he looks to be a better than average hitter for the position with some power. If Castro's price tag gets too high, or too long term, or simply doesn't want to sign with the Twins, (I'm betting he has more than a couple suitors), I still like Avila to play solid defense, provide experience, and hopefully hit a little while sharing time with Garver.

While it's true the BIG NAMES we've all been following and waiting for the past few seasons...Sano, Buxton, Rosario, Kepler, Berrios and Chargois...have "graduated" to the big league level, there's still a lot of talent scheduled to arrive soon. Honestly, I'm almost as high on Gonsalves as Berrios. I'm high on Jay's potential and just feel really good about Garver. It's unusual for a buzz to be created about relievers, Chargois became an exception, but there are a couple really, really nice arms on this list that should debut sometime in 2017. I would add Palka to this list as well. He hits better than Walker, seems to walk more, and may be able to play or cover 3 positions as well as being able to DH

Agreed on Turner. He still has potential, but even with catching being a premium spot, I find it difficult to believe he would be selected and stashed by someone. If the Twins keep him, I'd be inclined to start him at AA again to begin the season. His bat still has a little potential and a little pop, but AAA could easily have one of Murphy or Garver, perhaps Centeno or another AAAA type like Hicks last year.

shot*

First off, I like the Castro idea quite a bit. I do think he'd help the team as a whole, pitching and defense. Overall, his bat would probably equal Suzuki. Perhaps he'd find a resurgence with the Twins? Assuming his demand and thus options wasn't overly high, and the Twins could actually sign him, my concern isn't even his age or the cost. My only real concern is Murphy rebounding and Garver getting a fair shot at some point. No question he could help the club, and his experience could be welcome, but on a team rebuilding and getting younger all the time, when do we give someone like Garver a ****?