DocBauer

Really not sure I have more to add. NOBODY WANT the Twins to trade Dozier. But we have a talented youngsters ready to take his spot, better (potentially) in some ways, not as good in other phases. And while the Twins actually do have some interesting arms coming up, not all will turn out. You need additional options. And BD is a real, viable trade chip to bring in some additional, high quality options. That's it. Simple. End of story.

Some heavy duty reportage here! Thank you. From what is said here, Guillon would clearly be the easy choicenough. Not that he's ready gym any means, being kept while jumping from high A ball. But there is room for another LH in the Twins pen. A really good change may be the hardest pitch for any young pitchers to truly develop a feel for. This could be a Johan Santana type move; be used sparingly in the pen and continue to develop and maybe some day move to the rotation. But even if he just develops as a really nice LHRP, there is real value there.

Vielma has potential, no doubt. Even with injuries hampering him last season he didon't suck at the plate. He shownever enough to think he could hit a little, get OB a little, provide some speed, etc. But he is by no means the answer for next season. You want someone who hits a buck eight to maybe two hundred at the ML level, then fine. But give the kid a chance to be healthy again and grow. In both '14 and '15 Escobar proved he could do the job. Maybe not elite, but both offensively and defensively he showed he could do the job. Before 2016 began, I felt he could be THE GUY as long as he got breaks to prolong his ability/production. You can't just give a "baçkup" the job over a whole season and just cross your fingers. I don't blame a so-so season last year on him with injury and intermittent playing time. But with/if Dozier gone, you HAVE to make a decision of sorts. You either comit to Escobar at SS ànd bring in another quality utility guy, OR, you bring in another legit starter/challenger for the spot, even on a 1 year while preparing for Gordon/Vielma.

Great post! Right there with you!

Despite an apparent "glut" of quality 2B in the league right now, a high quality player is still a high quality player. And Dozier is that. Plus, even if such glut exists, that doesn't mean those players are actually available. So even if Urias is off the table, it doesn't mean you have to settle for the 3rd or 4th pitching prospect available. You turn to other offers at that point. I'm OK with Puig as a lottery ticket in the deal as a sort of "buy back" from the Dodgers to make the deal happen, if necessary. But IMO, he'd be, at best, the 3rd piece in this trade to just help the Dodgers out, and maybe entice them to sweeten the pot overall.

Personally, I have a couple thoughts on Stewart. The second..reverse order i know...is that he just may not be what we hoped and what scouts envisioned when he was drafted. Highschool pitchers are the most tantalizing prospects available, and the ones with the biggest question marks surrounding them. One is that I'm actually higher on him now than I was a year ago at this time. His work at high A last season was very encouraging, and even while his numbers at AA weren't as good, he wasn't bad, and still showed potential and "weak contact" projectability. And I believe Seth stated once he only faced one or two batters in his AA time that were actually younger than him. He hasn't astounded anyone, or put up amazing numbers, but he has shown flashes and growth. My option is he is still learning how to be a PITCHER and not a thrower. He didn't concentrate on baseball until he signed with the Twins. He's also had a few mild injuries that have slowed him a bit. I read that the velocity and the "stuff" is there, despite limited K numbers, etc. He's still quite young. And from what is whispered here and there but not really said out loud, I think there is a maturity issue with him, IMO. I am not saying not to include him in a deal, but my suspicion is that if he just grows up a little more, and can embrace learning, that he could very well be "late" bloomer who turns out to be a fine pitcher. "Late" meaning 24 or 25 when we hoped for 22-23. On a side note, I see you are also from the Big Red state and here in Omaha! Didn't catch it until today.

There IS room for all of Mauer, Vargas and Park, though it leaves Grossman out. IMO, Grossman is the potential 5th OF/DH/PH. The Twins absolutely should be looking for a quality 4th OF type, my first choice is probably Austin Jackson if possible, which I mentioned in my offseason blueprint post. Would love to see Palka as a 1B/OF/DH option eventually. But we have to be real here, he has less than half a season at AAA and will begin 2017 almost certainly at Rochester. I'm not gung-ho on Grossman, but I think he's valuable in the role I mentioned. So it comes down to overall value on the team: Grossman vs keeping both Park and Vargas. However, but caveat, with Mauer's injury history, it could be a moot point at times with room for all of them and Mauer on the DL.

DodgersDodgersDodgersDogers....every single indication seems to indicate this is the best match for BOTH teams. Not saying not to play it up or look around, but this is anot almost perfect fit. BOTH teams have to give up what they don't really want to, but are better off in the end because of it. Puig is NOT a part of this package up front. He is a talented, potential lottery ticket who is a problem and headache in LA, and may be a problem here, but someone who the Twins could take back as the 3rd or 4th player in a deal, to rid LA of a problem at a reasonable salary, who could possibly find fit and freedom and fun again in Minnesota. It's an interesting idea, and I like it. But I absolutely balk if he's any sort of #2 piece in this trade situation.

Do you work for Google? LOL

Ugh! This one just killed me! On a 103 loss team you felt you had to audition an OK defensive journeyman who is a AAAA player with limited bat for what reason? So you could consider him as a viable 4th OF candidate on your young and rebuilding 2017 team? Again with a massive UGH! You didn't even have to promote anyone else, just let other guys on the roster play and see if they could show something. Sheesh! And this team could easily afford to go out and sign one of a few potential solid 4th OF types. (Doc bangs head against wall)

I know this thread is about Landa, and I don't want to hijack it. But since Dan San and Grossman have been mentioned...... Like most all the Twins minor leaguers, I followed Dan San's career with interest. And I admit a bit of a man crush on him after his rookie season. He really didn't play poorly in the field, especially being rushed, and being spooned in to an unfamiliar position. I saw the quick wrists, a good arm, speed, some pop, and all around athleticism and was very intrigued. I felt his BA would certainly come down, but experience and natural progression would see at least some rise in contact and BB ability. I thought he had a chance to develop in to a nice, sometimes dangerous, and exciting, versatile role player. But it just hasn't happened for whatever reason. But it still could. But at this point, he has to be one of the first guys to be taken off the 40 man to make room for a FA signing or traded for player. He COULD still find the right team, maybe bounce around for a year or two, and be what I hoped he'd be for the Twins, but I'd be willing to live with that. However, if he went unclaimed, I'd sign him to a milb contract in a heartbeat. Grossman is a different story. Look, the times I saw him play defense last season wasn't always pretty. I'm sure some of you saw him more than me. I saw him play OK, and I saw a couple really bad plays as well. I'm still not sure how good or bad he is defensively. But I do know this, the guy can be dangerous against LH pitching. He has a potential role on this team as a 5th OF, OCCASSIONAL OF, PH and DH. I'd like to keep him. We complain over and over again the Twins have too many 1B/DH types...TYPES...but we are still unsettled there despite numerous options. We have Mauer...a shell of his former self, but good defensively, solid OB and still around. We have Vargas, who I still argue needs an opportunity, and not just playing a couple times a week or being discarded after a bad week, to see what he can really do. Park is solid defensively, has potential, but also needs to be healthy. Vargas and Park both have options, which is good. But we'really really not sure yet what and who we have in this glut of 1B/DH situation we always talk about. I think Grossman is a decent "option" to have in the mix for now.

To me, and I'm not speaking of Landa directly, I'm not overly concerned with a prospect...with good live stuff mind you...that walks 4-5 per 9. Is a concern? Definitely. But everything in regard to pitching takes time; gaining control of breaking stuff, feel for a change, setting up hitters, etc. Learning better control, walking fewer, repeating motions, etc, is part of the learning process. I don't say to automatically rush someone just because he has a good arm, but I do believe you need to challenge guys sometimes. And at each level, they should learn more as they are exposed to better and better hitters. In fact, they should end up challenging themselves in the process. And in that process, they should not only learn, but they may learn something different about themselves from themselves, as well as their next pitching coach.

Personally, full seasons next year from Rosario, Buxton and Kepler have me believing our OF will be good to excellent. Now go find a quality, versatile 4th OF in the market somewhere. Mauer, Park, Vargas is fine at 1B. I have every confidence in Polanco being solid and becoming good at 2B. Sano may not be good at 3B in 2017, but he will be OK and continue to get better. Better cknditionjng, more work, and being allowed to play the spot daily and concentrate on it will all help him improve. I do question SS. I like what we saw of Escobar in 2014 and 2015 with both glove and bat. Injuries and inconsistent playing time hurt him last season. Now, IF he is THE GUY there, and it's possible he could be, can he do it over a full season? We need another solid utility guy brought on board. I'm sorry, I find Vielma exciting and interesting, and I'm even more excited about Goodrum as a really nice and versatile utility guy. But I think it's just naive to expect either to jump to the ML level and perform at this time. We either need another nice option to spell people...I mentioned Drew in my blueprint...or we need to find a real, everyday defensive SS and let Escobar be that really nice utility guy. Either way, we need another infielder, even short term, with Dozier moving on. Some combination of Castro, Murphy and Garver will give us better all around catching than we'very had in some time. Needs: quality 4th OF and another infield option.

Just off the cuff my answer would be yes. I know wins and ERA don't tell the entire story, but Santiago actually has some quality ML experience and some decent numbers, far superior to Dean or Albers. Is he a long term solution? I would say absolutely not. But we don't know about Hughes at this point. I think the world of Berrios and his potential as well as his future, but he's still young and getting his feet on the ground. I feel good about a HEALTHY May. But we don't know for sure if Santana will be kept, or traded now or during the season. Same for Dozier. Mejia isn't probably ready just yet, nor is Gonsalves. Our other prospects will be in AA and AAA to begin the season. We need starters for now, options, and during ST, or before depending in trades, or during the season someone like Santiago may be moveable.

Kintzler is the only question mark for me. I've been advocating signing one of a few bounce back potential closer options and still believe it's a good idea; shores up the pen, buys time for the prospects, helps the Twins actually win the games theyou can, may be flippable, etc. I don't think you need/keep Kintzler if this is the case. But then again, doubt this happens quickly enough. Escobar is a yes, He showed what he is/may be capable of in 2014-15 and could be a solid everyday SS for now, or a high quality utility guy. Pressly showed me enough to believe he will be solid if not overworked. Also a pair of yes's to Gibson and Santiago. Unless/until a Dozier trade we need the arms and we can afford them. Gibson's previous two seasons were solid. I know Santiago pitched lousy when he first came over, and is no savior, but his previous three seasons were solid with an all star appearance mixed in. For now, at least, we need arms. There can be trades made later if we, gulp, actually find ourselves with depth via Hughes, May, Berrios, traded for TBD, etc.

He provides a veteran presence and possibly leadership and a big power bat to offset the lost of Dozier. I doubt he'd be overly expensive or long term. But absolutely nit unless you are going to somehow, someway move Mayer-Vargas-Park for something. Grossman can also DH some. Just doesn't make any sense unless there is some house cleaning taking place.

The Dodgers almost makes too much sense. I agree to seek out other options and play up keeping BD in the media, but this is an ideal match. Bollinger, one of the top pitchers ML ready and another lower level prospect would be fine with me. It's one thing to hoot for the moon and another to capture it. I also think Santiago makes sense to be included here, though I wouldn't be adverse to maybe a relief arm of AA SP included. But I had this crazy notion last night of all 3 traded and go ahead and toss Puig in the deal as well. Twins trade 3 and come away with 4 or 5 in a good old fashioned blockbuster of sorts. Both teams are inexpensive payroll wise by doing this, the Dodgers rid themselves of a headache, Puig gets a fresh start, and the Twins end up with a not too expensive reclamation project of sorts that could pay off big.

I would like more uniformity between all the umpires and their zones/calls. But I'd also like more uniformity in football regarding pass interference calls and the such. But I also don't want a computer making that kind of determination or even a guy in the booth playing big brother and overseeing every single play either. (Except as replay dictates) I still want and enjoy the human element. Sports is played by humans with rousing success and utter disappointment both. I believe humans should control the game as well. But it's also inexcusable in today's world of information sharing and technology for MLB and other sports not to review and instruct and preach as much uniformity as possible.

I buy the value of both Dozier and Santiago to the Dodgers but don't buy Perkins. Unless there are some good reports and expectations on Perk that we haven't heard yet, like mid-season healthy return or similar, I'd almost think including him and his contact would hurt the Twins side of the deal. I want to say it was Seth who mentioned including Van Slyke in a Dodger deal to add a solid veteran 4th OF. I find that idea interesting. If Bollinger is a no-go in the deal but Van Slyke was included to deepen the OF along with the listed pitchers, I still think I'd make that deal. But I confess to not knowing enough about De Jong and Estevez to know how this proposal shakes out on the Twins side.

Great first move! I hope there is more to come. Not going to sort out the rotation this way, but a bullpen arm, a quality 4th OF and an infielder after the expected Cozier trade are on my list.

To me its clearly another bench bat/platoon bat. Even in today's baseball world, most teams, IMO, would carry 12 pitchers and 13 max. But the benches are getting pretty short these days. The 3rd catcher idea makes sense to a degree, but would make more sense if that 3rd catcher was also a DH/1B/OF. I just don't know day in and day out if a 3rd catcher who would seldom play is wise usage of the spot.

Really, I think I'm being dispassionate in this debate when I say I'd absolutely go for Dozier over Kinsler if I were the Dodgers. No knock on Kinsler, who is an outstanding ballplayer, but you have to get him to bypass his no trade, which probably brings about more guaranteed money, and he's already making far, far more than Dozier. Even a team with the pockets of the Dodgers have to recognize value and financial restraint at some point don't they? Dozier is younger, less likely to see sudden regression in the next couple of years, and may be slightly easier to pluck from the Twins, prospect wise, if Detroit's demands are to be believed. Not saying the Twins shouldn't shoot big or settle, and thee difference in prospects/players traded may be minimal, but is Kinsler that much better...short and long term...than Dozier? I'd think not. Even straight up trade value to both teams, Dozier is younger and cheaper.

Agree with your sentiment here. But I'm going to take the opposite stance. Yes the team is rebuilding. And yes we have a number of really nice looking arms that are ready/close and need to be looked at. But I still believe the Twins can be a better, more competitive team, without necessarily blocking anyone, but upgrading where they can, including the bullpen. In my blueprint for 2017, and in other threads, I've argued for a couple bullpen arms to be brought in. And remember, typically there are 7 spots to fill here, and I'm not sure it's prudent to just open the door and have a bumrush of prospects filling out said spots. There are a couple really interesting bounce back closer options out there that could settle the back end of the bullpen, at least for a time, and could be flipped later, OR, re-signed as they are young enough to keep around. Wouldn't we all like to see the young, rebuilding Twins actually win games they are in? How about a LHRP on the rebound, or a failed SP being converted to join Rogers from the port side? Let's say you sign said closer and a lefty to team with Rogers, Chargois and Pressly. Let's put Duffey in the pen as well. That's still a young group, especially for a bullpen, IMO. You still have a last spot for the last man standing coming out of ST. Guys like Hildenberger, Jones, Burdi, Reed and Melotakis are still coming out of AA. You improve the pen, you may have a flip candidate or two, nobody has to be rushed straight from AA so they get at least some AAA exposure, and injuries and ineffectiveness always happen. I think there'should room here to make said moves without breaking the bank or holding anyone back. Sorry...got a little off topic here.

Confession time, never noticed that section or looked in to it before. Am I missing out here?

Star Trek, episode "Miri". And I'm not getting any younger myself. Lol