DocBauer

Not to gush, he's still only an 18yo rookie, but big and strong with decent wheels, defense, power, great attitude, etc, etc, what's not to like other than improving walk rate? Other than being able to place him on a time machine and have him ready by the end of this season. Lol Very impressed with this kid.

One of the various invited OF in camp currently, or a waiver wire pickup during ST could very easily become the team's true 4th OF, IMO, replacing any thought of DanSan as the possible "13th" position player.

I know the prevailing thought is to have Mauer hit 2nd with Grossman doing so against LHP, playing some OF and DH. But I have also wondered about some combination of Buxton and Polanco hitting 1 & 2 with the Mauer/Grossman combination lower in the krder, possibly 6th or 7th to perpetuate and inning with their OB skill and to help set up the bottom of the order better.

I've said this before some time ago, but I wasn't sold on Gordon initially. Coming in to the draft, his numbers on the 20-80 scout scale were all around 45-55 if I remember correctly. (Could have been a 40 and/or a 60 mixed in there) But I have really come around on him the past year or so. His work ethic seems excellent. In interviews, he seems intelligent, direct and business like. (Also polite). I love the kind of guys he works with in the offseason, showing further evidence of his willingness to work and soak up knowledge. With his build and youth and yes, even lineage, I could easily see him muscling up some more. I am begining to think/feel more and more that we are talking about a solid defensive player who will hit well, have a solid OB%, and be a real threat for 30+ doubles and double digit Homer's and stolen bases every season.

I think you nailed it pretty well Seth. I really hate not seeing Duffy on the team, in the pen. And I just can't see Hughes as a lock yet until we see his full velocity and control back. I can get Berrios at Rochester to begin the season due to a "crunch" of options and then coming up early when someone gets hurt, etc. But for the future success of the team I think we just have to see both Berrios and May in the rotation.

If Giminez really could play a couple spots, and Garver could play 1B and has the better bat, could the Twins keep a 3rd catcher this season as the 13th player???

I agree with the general assessment that Gordon will be solid and all around defensively as well as offensively. What impresses me most about him is his attitude and work ethic. The guy just seems to "get it" and what it takes to develop and succeed. Gotta love a young SS prospect who works out with and gets advice from "Mr. Larkin" in the offseason.

Surprise here I know, (sarcasm alert), but I'm going to further defend Jay and his selection. At least for the here and now. The MLB draft is the biggest crap shoot in all of pro sports. Always has been, always probably will be. Jay's draft wasn't considered an especially strong draft. Regardless, in any draft, in any sport, you draft who you think is a talented player who can develop and help your team. In other words, what upside and potential reward can you expect to receive. A year and a half later, no-one can say at this point, especially when you expect a big draft hall to include all of 3 players to make any real impact. Benintendi may turn out to be a stud. He may not. If he does, then good for his team. But then again, other teams besides the Twins also passed on him. (The Trout arguement all over again). The Twins need pitching, especially starting Pitching, and saw a real live arm, from the left side, who was one of the top overall arms available in the draft. Right or wrong, they saw a college RP with big stuff and the ability to hone his 3rd and 4th offerings in to something good and solid that would allow him to become a quality starter. On most college staffs, Jay would have been a weekend starter, perhaps the #1 starter, but with a deep talent pool, they chose to make him their ace bullpen arm. There is little question he needs to build his body and arm up for endurance, and develop that 3rd and/or 4th pitch...but isn't that true for most any SP prospect...before he is ready. But even as a "prospect" still working on things, he throws in the low 90's consistently as a starter with a great slider. And he has the initial makings of a couple other solid pitches. Those come along how often? At worst, he moves back to the pen with a pair of outstanding pitches and maybe a 3rd or 4th "serviceable " pitch he can throw once in a while to keep hitters off balance. Just a couple years ago, weren't a lot of us complaining the Twins were drafting pitch to contact arms without the potential for real upside? (Wimmers for example). So they draft one just like that, and because he's still learning and developing after 1 1/2 seasons, only 1 as a SP, we want to say "bust"? Hold your horses, I say. Give him the entire year at AA if necessary to bulk up, build up, and learn the routine of being a starter. If he's ready for Rochester at some point, GREAT! But need and want at the ML level shouldn't dictate the development of any top prospect.

Love the post, as I usually do, and agree 100%. Buxton's only real problem is being a victim of his own success, talent and potential. When you are as gifted as he is, unless you skyrocket like a Griffen, Trout or Harper, you are suddenly labeled as a bust or under performer. He is still so damn young, and was really rushed through the system due to his performance, despite missing some normal developmental time due to injury. He was really a victim of his own success and team need. Despite big numbers, there is natural development and recognition that only comes through playing. Not being an all star by 22 or 23 is neither a crime nor an aberration for his career. He is more gifted than Hunter or Puckett, overall, and just needs time to play and harness his skills.

Agreed. Except for the bunt less arguement. It is, unfortunately, become a lost art, which is a tremulous shame, as it can be such a dangerous weapon. If Buxton could become adept at it, I wouldn't stop using it.

Some meat on his bones and time to refine his off speed stuff and adjust is paramount. He absolutely needs time. And by time I mean another full season. Knowing what you have a a reliever is sort of a "safety net" that you can fall back to at almost any time.

Hard to rank him this high, IMO, simply due to age and limited DSL appearances. But he does fascinate and capture attention for his skill set and scouting reports. He is definitely one of the most intriguing prospects in the entire system. Overall, there are a couple of position player prospects in the upper levels I will be watching, along with a plethora of pitching prospects. But I think it's fair to say the real interest, fun and excitement will be watching the lower affiliates this season.

I firmly believe Sano will surprise people with his defense at 3B. He will NOT be a finished product when the season ends, but he will show ability and a future there. IMO, Polanco is the bigger concern. But we can't forget he has played a lot of SS until recently (minors I mean) and he is athletic. I firmly agree with Thrylos that he needs opportunity and stability. He is probably not the future, but if he can just be solid/average defensively, with his bat, he could be a real cog for the lineup.

With his frame, even a small tick up in velocity, a bit more refinement of his breaking ball, I'm not so sure Gonsalves couldn't be a #2 one of these days.

I like your post. And I agree with it for the most part, but also have to disagree a bit. I agree there is a bit of a logjam for the rotation. Not including fringe guys like Vogelsong or a sudden, unexpected promotion of a minor leaguer, a healthy Hughes, (at some point), Santana, Gibson, Santiago, Haley, May, Duffey and Berrios give 8 legitimate SP options. So you are correct there is a bit of a logjam, and I'm actually glad we didn't invest in any additional FA options. But we are uncertain on Hughes, for now. Berrios is still very young and has options if it's decided to go another right to begin the season, and a couple of these guys could also see themselves in the pen. Which brings up the second point. I absolutely agree that an end of the season rotation of Jay, Berrios, May, Gonsalves and Mejia would be excellent and exciting. And I see a lot of possibilities of both Santana and Santiago being moved at some point to contending teams needing additional pitching help. It would make sense not only to clear dollars and maybe get a decent prospect or two, but to make room for at least one prospect, and create a better roster opening in 2018 for a prospect, major trade acquisition or FA signing. But the counterpoint would be: 1] Hughes is untraceable at this point. We're he to come back to form..at some point at least...he could be more valuable to keep. 2] Almost ditto for Gibson, though less of a post-injury concern. But again, healthy, back to his 2015 form, perhaps even better, while trade able, he could also be more valuable to keep. Especially considering its a little hard to simply graduate multiple pitching prospects, with any success, all at once. 3] While Jay offers a TON of potential...and I simply don't understand those that are down on him so soon...he has only a single full milb season under his belt. He is still developing a feel for being a starter and building up endurance. I think he's a full season away, at least, and I'm OK with that. I expect, and hope, that by the end of the season, we are looking at a rotation of Hughes, Gibson, May, Berrios and Mejia with an appearance for Gonsalves. Now ask me how excited I am with those 6 in the fold for 2018, with more on the way, and the possibility of a major trade or FA signing?

Agree with you in theory here. And I hate to state the obvious...but I will, lol. It's not the money, it's the veteran experience. I agree Mejia seems to have more upside. And I know this is a rebuilding team needing to look at their young talent. But while not a stud, Santiago has proven to be a solid, decent, serviceable ML SP. He was good for the Angels last season, crappie when he came to the Twins, but then finished strong. Meanwhile, Mejia is still young, has, I believe, only about a half season of AAA under his belt. So I can see Santiago higher on the pecking order for now, with Mejia getting the call during the season, and Santiago possibly traded mid season.

Not going to disagree with you. I think Haley, pitching well, has a shot at the end of the rotation since Hughes is such an unknown and Berrios has options. However, I think if Berrios really shows progress, options or not, I could see him in the rotation and bumping Haley to the pen. I get we need to look at young starters, but Berrios has even better stuff and probably more upside than Haley, so it would make sense to place him in the pen initially. I also agree to no on Vogelsong. I think he's at AAA if he shows anything as a potential call up. My best guess: Kintzler, Belize, Chargois, Pressly, Duffey and Haley with Rogers from the left side. From there, one of Breslow, Boshers or O'Rourke. Now, that makes 8, which could happen, but I expect a 7 man pen. So who goes? That's what I can't answer. But not only do these things "sort themselves out" but invariably someone pulls something, has some tightness, etc. So I am going to cheat and name 8 for the pen for now.

I think the shuttle between the Twins is, more or less a given isn't it? Guys get hurt, even minor injuries, and Rochester should be pretty loaded with guys awaiting their turn.

Well....Santana can't really hit a lick either.

I am not saying Hughes will come back in 2017, or at some point in '17, to be the same pitcher he was in 2014, but what a boon to the team if he could? Big time prospect who flashed on the big stage but also showed inconsistency. He comes to the Twins and has the best overall season of his career. And a combination of age/maturity"experience and a change of scenery does this for some guys. (Age as in maturity, not old). A return to that previous form, and the Twins acquiring a top of the rotation starter via trade or FA, with Hughes at #2 could be huge! A bit of wishful thinking on Hughes, but also not unreasonable, IMO.

As prospects with upside, I think you'd have to go with Jay and Gonsalves ahead of him. Still a solid #3-5 LHSP is nothing to be sneeze at. In an ideal world, you'd have 2 lefties in your rotation, 1 at or near the top, and a second quality one lower in your pecking order. The Twins currently have 3 to fill 2 spots. That's not too shabby. When encourages me is the seeming improvement of the last season in which he seems to have improved despite climbing higher levels. Is it conditioning? Refinement? A combination of both? Who cares as long as he's actually showing improvement.

I was off the Stewart bandwagon before 2016, to be honest. But the weak contact, the solid ERA, the number of solid starts and bump in K's the first half of last season at Ft Myers, plus his young age, got me re-thinking about him. Call it a hunch I guess, but those positives, with his build and frame and athleticism, tweaks and consistency to his delivery...which will hopefully happen with experience and some fresh approaches implemented by the new regime...have me encouraged and thinking he'said just one of those guys who is going to bloom later than originally expected/hoped for. Keep in mind, "later", in this case, means knocking on the ML door as a 23 or 24yother. Not exactly old by any means.

I agree on Burdi. He's so talented and at any moment you just feel he could simply take off. And miswing last season is frustrating for all involved. But I feel AA IS appropriate to not only begin the season, but because of the number of solid to very good options at AAA. I love the potential of Melotakis and think he's going to be good. He also could jump very soon, but his progress has been very similar to Chargois and I'd hate to rush him. I looked again at the prospect list as listed above. Give me that top 5 and 2 more of Rogers, Pressly, Duffey and probably Haley and I'm happy enough to do the Snoopy dance!

Interesting that 13 players are listed as possible bullpen options, at least initially, for 7 spots. And this doesn't even include one of the AAA arms really stepping up. IMO, I would remove May for the rotation, and I see Vogelsong as a AAA SP to begin the season with an outside shot at the 5th starting spot. I also think Perkins a very long shot to begin the season with the Twins. Take away those 3, and there are still 10 pretty viable options to work with, again, not counting anyone from the AAA really stepping forward. Outstanding? No. But there are some arms to work with there. I still would have gone for a closer bounce back vs Believe. There is something to work with here, at least, some potential, and further hope from a possibly loaded Rochester bullpen: Reed, Hildenberger, Melotakis and possibly Baxendale and Busenitz.

Personally, while still a bit disappointed yet again that a ttye 4th OF wasn't found, I feel that the new FO did pretty much what I expected and believed they should do. Or, in some casss, not do. The youngsters need to play, daily, and develop. IMO, signing a big HR hitting DH would be fun and entertaining, and could possibly something to look at next season. (Though Palka could provide a nice internal option). But with Mauer, Vargas, Park and Grossman all available for 1B/DH, once again, you need to se what you have. (Vargas and Grossman are still pretty young). Plus you have off dayseason or half days off, for others to take a turn at DH here and there. I thought one good RP, and maybe a flyer not a veteran LH arm was right for the pen. They sort of accomplished this, but I would have rather they sign a bounce back closer type. There are, potentially, some solid arms in Chargois, Pressly, Duffey and Haley in the pen, plus Rogers. And there are several interesting arms getting very close. The rotation is still a huge question mark. But I didn't want to eek it further muddled by signing older FA when Berrios and May need opportunity, there are a couple guys who could debut later in the year, Gibson has value for the Twins, or possible trade, but only if he pitches and pitches well. This doesn't even take in to account Hughes, Santana or Santiago. The team is being addressed from the inside out for 2017, players and personnel are being looked at from top to bottom, new programs are being put in place. The roster will turn over some during the season, and after the season. And not only will the FO have a better idea of who to keep, and who not to, but they will have $ to work with after this season, and even more coming off the books after 2018. I can quibble about the 4th OF and closer situation, but I see what is taking place and can't really disagree with it.