DocBauer

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.

What a boost for the team and the rebuild if they could add a, relatively, young 2 way catcher.

And I would say his "prove it season" was highly encouraging. I think we'd all like to see a little more velocity, and he's so young that I think he's still projectable. I don't know if he's an eventual #2 or #3, but I'm impressed and encouraged. I think he's going to be a fixture for some time.

I sure hope does stick at SS. Haven't we heard that he's still filing out more and a little more power might still be coming? I don't pretend to know a lot about these guys, except for what I read of course, and don't have near the knowledge of Seth and others, but it sure sounds like Gordon will bring a decent bat and overall performance numbers wise.

Actions speak louder than words, of course, and it will take time to see the results of the actions taken by the Twins' new leaders. But they sure are saying the right things to this point! I'm getting excited!

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.

Sorry, I have to disagree with you on this one. I don't know if Wyneger is the right choice or not, (though I have, in the past, heard mention of him here and there as an up and coming coach in various baseball circles), but his being a former Twins player has no bearing here. Butch hasn't been with the Twins since the early 80'stages unless I've missed something.

Interesting comments, if a bit tongue in cheek. I'm not entirely sold on analytics myself, as it's still players playing the game, and not just computer simulations. And while the game of baseball itself hasn't changed much, there is simply more information available now to build and utilize a roster. So my initial response to response to making better use of this information, especially after a 103 loss season would be....DUH. lol Wynegar as hitting coach? Call me intrigued.

I like your idea for a return, but I wonder if it's a little steep? I say this not because I don't believe in Dozier's value, plus a cheap 2 year contract to whoever would get him, but after reading Seth's article on the top performing 2B for last season, I wonder if the sheer number of quality 2B out there doesn't lower his value a bit. Of course, that's not to say all of these other guys are available! I would be very content with that top, young SP who is ready, or has had hisome initial cup of coffee even, and is projectable, plus a top pitching prospect in A ball. A throw in from the Twins, maybe one of various relief prospects perhaps, might improve or solidify said lower level prospect.

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.

I don't want to start another "never should brought him in because we already have too many 1B/DH types" arguement. I'm just asking a question. Is there room for all 3 of Mauer, Vargas and Park on the roster? I mean, you could go 4 OF, 4 INF, 2 C and keep all three of them. One is a DH, one starts at 1B, and the odd man out gives you a good bench bat but limits flexibility.

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

wouldn't mind Dean and Darnell back as fillers. Wimmers is the one gut I'd like to see back. I'd like to think Wheeler, Mejia and Gonsalves would be starting in AAA. Slegers could be there. Not certain after that.

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.

What I don't know yet, and none of does yet, is just how much trade power Dozier has. Is he worth that top young SP who is ML ready, preferably with at least a cup of coffee already? Or that guy and maybe another quality AA or A+? Or is the team better off sweetening the pot with a solid milb arm SP or RP to bring back said ML SP and stud A+ caliber also in the deal? I wouldn't trade Escobar. He's still relatively young and has skills. I'm not on board with the "trade everyone over such and such an age" when some guys could have 2,3,4,5 good years in them. He could be a solid starting SS for us, or a heck of a nice utility guy who plays a lot. We're already going to be down one infielder with a Dozier trade.

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.

HILARIOUS! Love it! Guess I gotta save something for later.

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*