DocBauer

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.

In theory, yes, AAA Rochester could be loaded. I think they'll be good, but not loaded. Park will be with the Twins. I believe Buxton will be with the Twins from day 1, even if it's hitting at the bottom of the order for now, playing great defense, contributing offensively where he can, and learning on the job. Berrios could break with the Twins, but should be up a month or so in the season...probably. Really, really hoping Kepler will only need a half season before being ready. But then again, we thought the same thing about Rosario last year, and look what he did.

Not saying they WOULD do it. But the reasons would be shaving a bit of payroll and gaining rotation depth. I'm sure they are familiar with a healthy Nolasco from his days in the NL previously. He is a pretty strong candidate for a bounce back, if finally healthy, and in a pitchers park to boot. (to be fair, I haven't really spent any time looking at SP options currently on the Padre's roster)

I would honestly consider this move. Nolasco is a solid ML SP when healthy. And, sooner or later, he will be. His run of bad luck has to end at some point. It's possible the Twins are taking the bigger "risk" in this deal. But the reward could be OK to good, seem so on fill a partial need at least, and there is little to no need for Nolasco due to rotation depth.

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.

If he returns to form...that is, 2014 version with a bit more consistency...how much crazy fun would it be trying to assemble all of our young pitchers on to a roster? May, Duffey, Berrios, Gibson and Meyer. Wow.

The Twins need to, and will I believe, pick up a RH hitting OF to partner with Arcia. Not that that has to be his sole purpose. And they will also pick up a top reliever to join Perk and Jepsen. Now, whether either or both of these are acquired via trade or FA is debatable of course. I don't know about the big front line pitcher addition, as mentioned. We already need to move someone, probably Nolasco. And if we did sign someone like Zimmermann, we'd have to move someone else. And we already May have the good problem of too many potential starters for 5 spots I have to add, while Zimmerman is quality, he's not an "ace" by most definitions, and I don't know that he's any better than Hughes or Santana.

I had previously mentioned Nolasco, Milone and cash...($12M up front or $6M over 2 years, however). The Nationals may need some pitching help losing Fister and Zimmerman both. (Reportedly) A healthy Nolasco is experienced and proven in the NL, Milone is LH and solid and the Nats are very familiar with him. The Twins get another top bullpen arm. The Nats get a pair of starters for about $11-12M, shed the unhappy Storen and his $9M.

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.

I honestly don't know why more guys don't accept it. Now, if you had a nice year and every indicator tells you that a guaranteed market exists for you to be X years and X dollars, then you have to explore all of your options. If nothing else, it forces the home team to re-think things and up their strategy, bumping their commitment, even if they are hoping for a home town discount. But there have been more than a few players the past few seasons that have rejected their offers, banking on a big payday only to be left in the cold. Wieters has been a bit down due to injury and recovery...gets to stay home and keep his wife and kids home...gets a huge payday...and can up his value to the Orioles or anyone else with a solid year. To me it's a win win. IMO...this seems to indicate the big 4 year deals for $16M clearly didn't appear to be there.

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.

Yep. But you also have to pick/realize who the right guy is, then bid for him against other teams and hope you are the winner. In a trade scenario, you are acquiring the player you want without getting in to a bidding war, and very possibly gaining a lower cost control situation. And in some cases, a younger player than a veteran FA.

Just no way to pick the exact specifics, but I believe we will make a move for a really nice back of the bullpen arm. A trio of Perkins, Jepson and "TBD" could do wonders for the bullpen. I have to say, Plouffe to the Angels makes a lot of sense. The Twins have been tied to Storen, from the Nationals, at various times previously. He seems to have fallen out of favor there, for whatever reason. I don't think Plouffe fits there however. Not entirely sure what does. But it would seem they may be interested in pitching. Something like Nolasco, Milone and Burdi plus cash work?

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)

Stringer...you and I are in agreement about 95-99% of the time. That's part of the reason I like you so much. Lol And I agree with you about Nunez as well. (Actually almost giddy about a duo of Nunez and the athletic Santana as out utility guys!) But I am going to disagree with you about a veteran OF addition. As the roster appears to be constructed now, it appears the Twins have two distinct directions to go. 1* Rosario in a corner, Buxton in CF, (I think we're totally in sync on this, along with a lot of us), and add a veteran OF like Span, Aoki or Fowler to hit at the top of the order and provide insurance for Buxton not being ready for the job. And to possibly join him at the top of the order when he is ready, Dozier moving down obviously. (I have only recently come around to this way of possible thought) 2* What I think the Twins intended is what I think they will actually do. And that is, acquire a solid, veteran RH bat for the OF to work with the enigmatic but very talented Arcia. You are absolutely right that he deserves another chance. And I believe the reason the Twins were so interested in bringing Hunter back for one more season was not just for attitude and leadership, but because they wanted insurance, and a partner to compliment Arcia. I am still a big fan of Santana and his potential as a valuable and talented utility player who may yet find his niche as a starter somewhere, but I don't think he is ideal as Arcia's complimentary piece, (though he can and will play and help in the OF) I don't have the right name at this moment, but I think that veteran RH bat and late inning defensive replacement piece would really help solidify a 4 man OF. (Sano, Escobar, Santana, Nunez, Dozier, Mauer and Parks as your obvious INF)

Will quibble about one item. Santana will be a nice utility INF/OF for the club. But if the team is going to give Arcia a real shot...and his LH power and potential would be welcome...they need to bring in a RH counterpart to face LH pitching and be a late inning defensive guy. Now, Robinson could sort of be that guy. But he would be better as a AAAA guy and they should look for someone a little better via FA or trade.

So what does the OF look like now? Rosario is in one of the corner spots for sure. I have maintained that Buxton has a very good chance of breaking with the club, and I think it's even more a sure thing. I say again, his talent will allow him to build on his experiences of last season so that even if starts a little slow, he will be a defensive asset while hitting at the bottom of the lineup. Obvious, the sooner he starts to become a real offensive asset at the top of the order the better. I think this may open the door further for Arcia. I don't know that the trade was done with this in mind or not, but it is a result. There is no question his LH bat would be welcome to the lineup should it return to past standards. However, someone would be needed as a RH partner and late inning defensive replacement. Robinson? Now...this is primarily because Kepler will almost certainly need at least a little time at AAA before being ready. Does this open the door to a significant FA signing? I think only Ryan knows at this time, but I have warmed to the idea of Span, or someone similar, to play one corner and hit at the top of the order as insurance for the developing Buxton...OR...to team with him. This move would be better defensively, put Arcia on the bench, (if kept), and allow Dozier to slide down to a lower spot in the order where he would have more RBI opportunities, and his speed would still be a real asset.

But....but.....they're the Yankees!!