DocBauer

What does the bullpen need? It needs 2 guys, RH and LH. We have some really good young bullpen arms over the next season or two...we all know the names...but unlike last season, I, as the GM would not just sit still waiting for these youngsters to arrive. (which is what I think TR did last season) Assuming Nolasco is moved...and I think he will be...and assuming Berrios will initially begin the season in AAA...possible but not certain...I would sign one high quality RH FA for the pen. I would prefer a 1 or 2 year deal, but for someone like Soria or O'Day I'd seriously consider a third. There are various options, not going to go in to all of the various possibilities. Bullpen: Perkins Jepsen FA TBN Tonkin (deserves a shot, Pressly has an option) Fien (healthy, removed from high pressure 8th inning work, I like him still) Milone (I am liking the idea of him being a multi-purpose swing man) Runzler (bit of a fingers crossed here-but hopeful) When Berrios arrives, barring injury, someone has to move to the pen. Probably May or Duffey. (at least for the remainder of this season-unless you move someone) The team will have the option of trading/moving the weakest link in the bullpen at this time. Or, for once, trade from a surplus.

I feel, though it is somewhat unfortunate, that either May or Duffey will have to pitch from the pen this season. You want your best arms, and barring trade or injury, there just enough enough room for all of the young guns in the rotation as of right now. My fear is this not changing in 2017...if not sooner. And May may be the target here. I have changed my original thinking on Milone. I now believe he might make an excellent swing man reliever. After the past couple of seasons, perhaps physically he could hold up better. While we always think of relievers as being hard throwers, a softer tossing lefty like Milone, with experience as a SP, and having faced both righties and lefties in his career, could be used as a starter, long and middle reliever, and possibly an occasional LOOGY situation . (Assuming he isn't traded)

Actually, yeah. I should have been more precise.

You're right on Williams, he should be higher on the list. (I confess, I had almost forgotten about him until you had him on your recent prospect lists) But fully healthy, good stuff, a solid year, and virtually EVERYONE looking for LH bullpen help, I think he'd be gone and stay gone. There is a good chance he could help the Twins this season. He needs to be protected. I'd like to keep Michael. But if push comes to shove, I'd take the risk on losing him over other guys on the list. A 130 combined games in 2 years at AA or below, I just don't think he'd be a prime target for anyone.

#6...IMHO...May being moved to the bullpen. Not only should Pelfrey have been moved, (AND the Twins should have traded for a second reliever besides Jepson), but he may have actually found a real and successful niche in the bullpen. But the rotation would have been better with May in it. We might have even won a couple more games in the 2 month stretch where Pelfrey pitched just well enough to lose all of his decisions. And now, because of what he did in the pen last year, the Twins may be convinced they should put this talented young starter in the pen for good. I fully expect a bounce back from Hughes. Santana had a bad stretch, but otherwise pitched as well as I've ever seen him. But how awesome would it be to see Gibson, Berrios, May and Duffey all in the rotation together?

Oh man.....what a bummer. I wish I hadn't read the "good things" list first.

Barring some numbers crunch that I don't see at this time, there should be room for both Nunez as well as Santana. Santana will play INF and OF and PR. He still has tremendous athleticism and potential. He might even surprise one of these days. Nunez is OK glove wise, just not great, and Molitor himself commented this season on his improved leather. And he's got a solid bat with pop and decent speed. They are a nice combination off the bench IMHO.

For the most part, I agree with you. But I do have to put my two cents in. 1* This team needs another OF for depth and competition. Originally, with Hicks around, I had leaned toward a LF bench bat. Now, however, with Rosario, Kepler on the way and Arcia still probably in the mix, I think a RH bat to play, PH, etc, should be brought in. Chris Young would be excellent, but Ryan Raburn or Jeff Francoeur may be more practical. (Marlon Byrd for 2016's version of Hunter?) 2* Trade or FA, this bullpen could really, really use one more top arm for the end of the bullpen to join Perkins and Jepsen. This big three could/would give the Twins a very strong 8th & 9th. It would seem May or Duffey, more than likely, for the 2016 season but not necessarily beyond, would be in the pen. May showed his potential in the role last season and Duffey has extensive past experience as a reliever. With a bit of luck, Runzler will be a really nice signing. That's five. Tonkin? Pressly? Graham? Fien no longer an 8th inning guy? Solid options to work with there. Milone, Rogers, Darnell and O'Rourke offer other options from the port side. I believe there is the makings of a very nice bullpen with that one more addition and the likes of Burdi, Reed and others ready at some point. 3* Were this before the '14 or '15 season, Fister could be a smart move. But not now. Not with Hughes, Santana, Gibson, Berrios, Duffey, May, Milone and possibly Meyer available. (This doesn't include Nolasco who we may be stuck with)

Before the Hicks trade, I felt the club could really use a veteran LH bat for the bench and occasional play. Now, it looks like Arcia should have a pretty good shot at some playing time again, at least until Kepler is ready, or unless the Twins make another big move. In the case of Arcia, or the eventual Kepler, a RH hitting OF off the bench would now be a prudent move. Arcia is too young, has too much natural talent, to just be dismissed. And while he will never be anything more than average in the OF defensively, he does have a strong arm. He shouldn't be written off or dismissed because of the bad year. Vargas still has options, and is still only 25 I believe. I would keep him at Rochester. Injuries can occur. Mauer could suddenly retire. Vargas pretty much skipped AAA the first time around. And while he may not be a top prospect, a big strong power hitting switch hitter should be held on to. Selling his rights overseas at this point just seems like a wasted opportunity for Vargas and the Twins both.

I don't want to jinx it, but right now, Burdi is looking like a serious bullpen contender. Now, whether that is day one or 30 days in I don't know. But man is he getting it done.

Very valid points! Good or bad, I think TR looks for guys like this not just because it can be smart with high reward, but its ingrained in him from the older, cheaper dome-days. You give him a $150M budget, and I think he still makes at least one move/signing like this just because it's smart.

First, I agree the corner OF thing is kind of overblown. You put together the best overall roster you can. Sometimes one position is not ML average OPS wise, or better than, but you may be better than average at another spot. (Dozier, for example) In regard to both sides of the Hicks yes/no debate: In fairness to Hicks, he was jumped past AAA when his history suggested, like most young players, that he might be better off taking every milb step along the way. There were times when his playing time was a bit sketchy, and perhaps playing more continuous would have benefited him. He did appear to be a very different, more confident and aggressive ballplayer in 2015, at the plate and in the field. And he does still have an awful lot of talent to tap in to still. In fairness to the Twins, Hicks still can't seem to hit RH pitchers very well. While appear to be that different ball player in 2015, his numbers are padded by a month hot streak. There have been incidents of seeming to lose track (or interest) of what's going on around him. He has had, more or less, 3 years to step forward and be something close to the top prospect and top 100 player he was supposed to be. I wish Hicks the best. I really thought we should have kept him until mid season. But we do have a lot of talented kids here, or close. We did/do need to upgrade the catching spot. You can't really compare an OF and a C directly in relation to offensive production. But most importantly...what is really important...does Murphy help the Twins? Other than when the Yankees play the Twins, what Hicks does with them going forward is pretty irrelevant.

This signing may not work out at all. Too bad...but it isn't a major trade or FA acquisition, etc, etc. But this is not a milb washout, non-drafted wannabe who has clawed and scratched his way to becoming an interesting option through independent ball. (to be fair, some of those guys turn out to be nice pick ups!) Instead, Runzler is a former top prospect who made the major and excelled for a time before injuries began to mess with his body, and it sounds like his head as well. Healthy in body and mind, a step back out of any spotlight for a time, he might be ready to re-harness his stuff and return to a prominent role. HUGE pickup for the Twins if this is possible. And FWIW...while I don't want high BB totals either, I can live with a few if BA against is low and SO's are high.

Yeppers. FA RP probably a bigger crapshoot than any other position. But the Twins DO have a need. Especially, IMHO, one more big late inning arm to join Jepsen and Perkins. Trading for one is probably safe, probably more cost effective, but it will cost players. You keep players/prospects in the FA route, but you almost certainly spend more and increase your risk. The key, obviously, is being smart enough to make the right choice/investment. Sipp is a great example. I think I'd absolutely target success over time, or, that successful over time player coming off a down year, not the other way around.

Very low cost. Potentially high reward. This is the kind of signing that TR probably does as well as or better than most.

Agree on Buxton, but am unsure about Kepler. Certainly he has tons of natural ability and potential. We've known that since he was signed at...17? I forget his exact age but am thinking I am right. But the entire issue has been his lack of experience initially, not just being young like any high school kid drafted, or central american youngster, but the level of competition and coaching in Germany while growing up. So I don't know about a direct jump from AA, despite what a great year it was, and despite others who have done it. I'm still thinking he might be better served with at least a partial year at AAA just to get that more natural flow. (though I'd be tickled pink if was the opening RF day one!) As a result, It would give Arcia a little time to see if he's rebounded. But yeah...eventually...sooner rather than later hopefully...what an OF!!

Plouffe is gone, (and I'm a fan) with Sano at 3B. The Twins sign a RH hitting, solid vet OF to platoon with and late inning replace Arcia. (*no disrespect, but Robinson is a AAAA, 5th OF, fill-in) Trade or FA, we need one significant bullpen addition to team with Perkins and Jepsen. For 1 year, May or Duffey will probably be in the pen to make room for Beerios, and to help the bullpen of course. But it just doesn't make sense to place such a young and potential filled starter in the pen permanately. Injury or trade, at some point in 16 or for 17, whichever one should be back in the rotation. I have changed my opinion on Milone, and I really like the idea of him as a multi purpose swing man in the bullpen. So 1 OF and 1 quality RP and that's about it. Otherwise I think you pretty much nailed it.

An opinion and a thought: First, I believe the Twins have a great deal of faith in Turner and Garver as catchers of the future. Personally? I believe Garver will emerge as the starter and Turner an excellent backup. Second, Garver and Turner are not yet ready. Murphy is still young and has options, I believe. Suzuki needs help and is only guaranteed one more year. Fryer and Herrmann are gone. I don't believe the Twins will just toss Pinto aside. But questions remain. Are we so sure the Twins are done looking at the catcher position?

Great post. More or less what I attempted to say earlier. Neither guy is exactly proven as a finished product yet. The whole "winner-loser" thing is kind of moot at this point. And you're right, Murphy and Hicks should not have their numbers compared to one another. They are different players at very different positions. ( and with very different criteria as to what is average vs above)

Yes. Thought "one way or another" was clear, as were other points made earlier in the post. If not, then I guess I chose my words poorly.

This is not critical of any person, or any opinion. Simply a generalization that getting worked up one way or another at this point my actually be premature.

Couple thoughts: 1* Kepler could join the OF at some point, possibly as early as mid-season. Personally, I would say Kepler would be an upgrade over Hicks, overall. 2* For now, this may open up a spot for Arcia in a corner spot and his LH power bat, as long as someone is available to spell him against LH's and provide late game defensive replacement. (Robinson?) 3* As "sudden" as Ryan is acting, it sure seems like there is more yet to come. And there was definatly interest...right or wrong...in keeping Hunter. Does this now open up a spot for a FA OF? Span? Aoki? Fowler? Someone that won't break the bank but help the top of the order and provide fine defense. At least until Kepler is ready. It would provide insurance for the young Buxton, and could provide a great 1-2 punch at the top of the order. 4* I STILL don't buy Sano to the OF.

I can't read pages 3 & 4 for some reason right now, so forgive me if I miss something pertinent while posting this. I don't know enough about Murphy to really comment on him or make a final decision on the trade AT THE MOMENT. However, I think it is a bit silly and perhaps disingenuous to attempt to criticize the deal at this point. Hicks is young enough and talented enough to continue developing, and in a couple of years, we may regret giving him up. On the other hand, Murphy is even younger, a former 2nd round pick, and obviously possesses some skills/talent to work with. Neither is overly experienced, Murphy the less so. You have to look at the trade as a NOW, because that's all we can base it on, and is reality. Despite big improvements from Hicks last season, his bat and power potential remain question marks. Right NOW, he's good defensively with a little pop, good speed, and can hit lefties but not righties very well. Murphy fills a need...though he's not exactly what I was hoping or expecting. But if he is bright and good at calling games and working with pitchers, it's not inconceivable he could frame better, throw better and hit better than Suzuki right now, with room to grow. (And I say this with respect to Suzuki who is a real gamer and respected by his teammates) Have an opinion, please, but I think we have a surplus of OF overall, have a need at catcher, and this early on, it's a bit naive to attempt to grade a move like this.

Kepler and Walker would only be moved if it was a pretty major deal to improve the ball club. I think Kepler could be a key piece in the future. I don't really see him moving unless it's an absolute "have to". Mauer is NOT going to be extended. Vargas kind of depends on Mauer, and Mauer's health as well as productivity. You always need reserves and AAA fall back options as well. I have not given up on Vargas being a contributor. Perhaps even a major one.

There have been a lot of infielders, top draft choices and prospects even, that have converted to the OF and had very good careers. Danny Tartabul, Gary Sheffield and just recently Alex Gordon are just a few that come to mind. (Wasn't Albert Belle a 3B when first signed?) Even the Twins Michael Cuddyer is, of course, an example. And, of course, there are many others. Including some who moved to the OF later in their careers, such as Robin Yount, due to injuries or to help prolong careers. But most of these moves were made because there was a quality bat or potential involved, but a definite lack of everyday infield defense. There is nothing, no report from anyone, stating that Sano can't play defense, and can't improve his defense. He could, in fact, develop in to a very good OF and huge hitter. But his bat, at 3B, is like finding another Mike Schmidt...potentially. Why on earth wouldn't you want that kind of bat at 3B vs the OF?