DocBauer

BTW....welcome to TD!

Great post! Just about 100% exactly what I believe and the way I'd do it. 1* Even if he needs to hit lower in the lineup initially, I agree with playing Buxton in CF from day one...unless he just proves he needs more time. I believe the natural tools and work ethic will afford some on the job training. But I do note you do not have him listed on your roster from day one. 2* In addition to a high quality RHRP via trade or FA, I would target the best LHRP I can to give me something beyond a mere LOOGY for the 7th and 8th innings. 3* I am coming around on the Span idea. Previously, I didn't like it. (Though I have always LOVED Span) The reason? Simple...Hicks in RF/4th OF with Arcia available and Kepler in the near future, and Buxton as the eventual leadoff hitter. I have been more inclined to sign a power/RBI producer IF Plouffe were traded. But again, the Span idea is growing on me. No question our OF defense is excellent, and he solidifies the top of the order. Hmm........growing on me a lot. 4* Regardless of how the DH spot ends up...Arcia-Vargas-Pinto-Sano-Plouffe-Mauer in different combinations and possibilities...were he able to repeat his performance of last season, I would be in favor or trying Escobar in the 2 hole. This would allow Dozier, and his power and mid-lineup speed to drop down to a greater RBI production spot. (Buxton-Span in the top 2 spots could be outstanding...eventually, if not soon). Other than those couple tweaks of ideas, you and I are spot on. What's really encouraging to me is how this projected team, and these projected moves, don't require huge amounts of dollars to make happen, or overly complicated and involved trades.

I don't know the exact odds of a team having ANY players from ANY draft play significantly in the majors, but I know they are large. I read once upon a time where a team hopes each draft produces 1 star (type) player, 1 solid starter and 1 solid contributor/role player. I don't have a problem with losing the #17 pick in the draft, (we'll have 2 seconds this year), as there is so little cause to feel we hurt ourselves. I also have no problem paying a 30yo catcher 4 years and $15-16M per. I honestly don't expect him to regress so quickly that he is a negative, (even if value per dollar is down for year 4) I'd rather sign him, and his potential bat, than trade away a couple top players. My concern remains, what if he just can't hold up for 120 games due to his arm? Players come back all the time these days from TJ and play the field. Sano did this year. So I ask again, why did Wieters play so little behind the plate this year? Why not on consecutive days? I need to know he is 100% before I make this investment. He's just not a good enough to hitter to slide him somewhere else, like DH, and chalk it up to an "oh well." I've stated before I like AJ for one year if things don't come together. Then re-examine the FA and trade market next season, as well as our own catching prospects a season from now. But I've been thinking about another candidate; Alex Avila. Since his big 2011 season his numbers have been on a 4 year downward slide. But, his career numbers against RHP are .251/ .358/ .423/ .781. He will only be 29 in '16 I believe. His career CS% is 29%, but over 32% if the one poor season of 2013 is removed.

I just find this argument to be ridiculous. IF we had ANOTHER Sano that had arrived, or was arriving, then OK, got to make room for both of them somewhere, somehow. But other than MAYBE growing out of the position ONE DAY, all scouting reports say he can play 3B. What little I have seen of him at 3B, his size is not an issue, and he is actually quite fluid. Will he be a gold glover right off the bat? Of course not. But he will be OK, and get better and better, just like all the other 3B the Twins have had for the past 30 years starting with Gaetti. (in this reference) Rosario, Buxton, Hicks, Kepler, Arcia and Walker...with top young OF talent like that arrived and arriving and available, why on earth would you put Sano at a position that he hasn't even played before? Like Leviathan said, with his ability to play 3B and hit, he has all the versatility necessary.

I am on the "don't sign one" bandwagon. Note, I am NOT blasting Ryan for signing Hughes, Santana or Nolasco. (Haven't we been down this path before???) But the fact is, they ARE signed. Even if we can move Nolasco for SOMETHING and only have to pay half his salary, I feel we would absolutely have to then move either Hughes or Santana to not only afford our new FA "ace" pitcher, but to make room in the rotation. Then, how much better...IP, QS, etc...would this pitcher be over the displaced Hughes or Santana? Would it really be enough to offset improvements that really need to be made at catcher and the bullpen? I love having that true #1 guy to lead your staff. But he still pitches only once every 5th day. With Hughes, Santana, Berrios, May, Duffey, Gibson and even Milone available, I feel pretty good about what the Twins can march out to the mound EVERY day. I would rather go with what we have, let the kids develop, and focus on catcher and strengthening and deepening the bullpen.

Just can't get behind this move. As Stringer stated, there is enough unsettled in the lineup heading in to 2016 that unsettling another position, with the loss of Dozier, seems to weaken the lineup/team, not strengthen it. I do like Polanco. I do think he's going to be a very good ML infielder. I do think, under different circumstances, that he could replace Dozier now or in the near future. But while the team has a lot of young pieces, a lot of young offensive talent and potential, it hasn't had time to bloom yet. To remove Dozier, the second best power source on the team, just doesn't make sense to me at this time.

I expect anyone to come back from TJ surgery and perform at a normal level. Look at Sano for instance. But if Wieters arm wasn't bothering him, then why did he catch so little? Why no 2 days in a row? That just makes me really paranoid that his recovery hasn't been 100%.

Suzuki is only a must through 2016, so the $20M price tag for catcher would only be for a single season. For the right move, a move that really helps the club, I feel a whole lot better losing a 17th pick than a top 10. (which we can't really lose anyway) And while I hated not signing our 2nd round pick this past draft, we get a compensatory pick this year in place, so if we did lose our 1st rounder, we would have two 2nd's. So those aren't real issues for me. And despite being a catcher, there is nothing in particular to suggest Wieters will suddenly regress over the next 2 to 4 seasons to the point where he is a liability. Again, it's a defense first position, and you look for the best offense you can get. What does bother me is the arm. Did I hear correctly? Something about catching less than half his team's games the past 2 seasons and no games caught back to back last year? His agent, naturally, will spin it as precautionary, how he is now 110% and ready to roll every day with no issues. Could I get excited about this signing? Yes. But 4 years at $15-16M and reservations about his arm and longevity to stay behind the plate as a result...I just think I have to say no.

Not saying you are wrong...and I haven't had time to look up career numbers against RHP, but a career .260 AVG .300 OB .651 OPS leave a lot to be desired. Puts me back in the mind of AJ or Soto again.

Agreed on Soto. I still rank AJ number 1 for various reasons. But I really like Soto as my second option. Experience, defensive chops, and an OK bat with real bpuncback potential IMHO

The Twins, and many teams, have a history of carrying 2 utility players, as opposed to just a single. Especially if one can fill in the OF or 1B, etc. There is room...and I say reason...for the Twins to keep both. Multiple roster constructions I put together sees room for both.

Two years with Mauer on the bench or taking a day off? Lineup construction could vary slightly, but yeah, Walker 8th due to Avg/contact issues that will persist to some degree. And an attempt to break up LH/RH through the lineup. 6-7-8 could move around.

Flight of fantasy? Or, impending reality? Buxton Gordon Kepler Sano Dozier Vargas Rosario Walker Garver/Turner

I would be in favor of this move based on a trade of Plouffe...(otherwise we are full up)...and if the commitment is short. No more than 2 years, 1 would be preferable. Also, the cost has to be worth it. I just don't know if sacrificing a quality #3 SP with #2 potential is worth it. I very much like the idea of a powerful veteran bat in the heart of the lineup to work with Sano. But the team also needs to continue getting younger. Arcia and Vargas just aren't guaranteed at this point, and Kepler will need a bit more time. This proposed moved would be nice insurance for the lineup pending someone stepping forward. But I just don't want to block anyone ready or close to it.

I almost started this post with a whole bunch of sarcastic, "he's an obvious bum, throw him to the wolves" horse hockey. Guess I am just in a mood. But seriously, age 22 at AA; .297/ .333/ .386/ .719 with 22Dbls/ 10 Tpls/ 2HR/ 30SB After that, he spent a whopping 27 games and 108 AB's in 2014 at AAA as a 23yo. He was placed in CF as the Twins primary option there, with occassional work at SS. In a season of extreme disappointment, he was an unexpected spark plug for the Twins. He hit and produced, kept on hitting and producing, got hurt, came back, and continued to hit and produce. I was so impressed, such a fan and believer, that I actually wasn't worried about him going in to this past season. I knew and expected some regression. But I also believed he'd improve in some areas even as he regressed in others. He had shown outstanding talent, resiliency and confidence previously. Not only should/could he build on experience, but he was going to now return to his natural position. I don't know if it was pressure to perform, pressure to do more, or what. But at the ripe old age of 24, with the talent he possesses, flashes he has already shown us, we should be EXCITED about his potential on the roster as a utility role player, tons of potential and bounce-back potential without the same pressure, instead of tearing him down as just another guy.

No.....the horseless headsman!

I guess I'm just going to echo a lot of the same things already said. He may not be the hitter he was in 2014, but he is also not the hitter he was in 2015. Too much talent, too much potential, too quick of hands, and a decent milb track record of hitting/offense indicates he should produce at least some. That little hitch in his swing looks just awful. Makes him look like he's swinging all arms and not using his hands at all. I've never understood the idea that a utility player has to be good field bad bat. Back in the day, Ron Washington, for example, wS an excellent utility player for the Twins. He played all across the diamond and was an OK defender with a solid bat. He "helped" the club by being able to fill in for guys or give them a day off and perform adequately with a decent bat. Santana has that ability, plus the ability to play the OF. I proposed months ago that Santana be turned in to a multi purpose utility player. And I believe that is exactly his role for NOW. With the Twins, or another club, he still has the youth and potential to settle in as a dynamic player at a couple of positions. But if he could be something close to Tony Phillips...previously mentioned...wow!

Yes. Production, and proven producers are to be taken seriously and are of great value. (Anywhere) Some bash a stat like RBI, for instance, in regard to measuring a player's performance. Which makes sense from the standpoint that there are multiple factors involved in a player's total production. But if anyone could produce big numbers and lead their team and/or league, then everyone would do it. Walker is a legit talent and legit producer. And he should be commended and anticipated as a result. But he's also not a bad athlete. Sooner or later, he needs to play at least a decent OF. I wish I knew for certain, buts reports on his defense are not complimentary. And sooner or later, preferably sooner, the contact numbers simply have to improve. Would he be dangerous, productive and valuable hitting in the .240's at the ML level with a ton of SO's with 30+ doubles and 30-ish HR's? Absolutely! But that Avg and that production will never happen at the ML level without contact improvement. So......yes.

I know it's easy for us as fans to get wrapped up in reports, projections, rankings, hope, etc, and maybe become a little sun blind to the golden glare of prospects' various status and projectability. For those of us that have been reading various prospect lists for 10, 20, 30 years and can remember the likes of Banks, Gasser, Marte, Sontag and many others, we know how fickle a mistress fate and projectability can be. But as I look at this top 10 list, other than Stewart who I have some real questions about, the only real "flaw" or concern I have is contact from Walker. Even a little improvement, and I see he and the rest of the group as ALL making the majors and contributing, if not reaching regular/star status.

It seems to me the last draft was a bigger grab bag of unpredictability than normal, injuries, poor years, split opinions on potential, etc. And with the Twins not expected to be picking at the top of the draft for the near future, I argued it was the perfect year for the Twins to take a chance on the biggest upside they could find, preferably a SP since no catcher was viable. That being said...or re-stated...I really liked the Jay pick. Some would call it a safe pick, any maybe it was; proven college career, can/should be a quality reliever if starting falls through. And there is real value in that. But quality LHSP with real upside is one of the hardest things to find. Gordon has surprised me. I am no scout. I read and learn. But I just didn't see Gordon as a top 5 pick when I read scouting reports. It seemed like nobody was overly impressed with any specific skill, and his scale numbers all seemed to linger around 50, maybe one 60, and compared to other recent picks and signings, I just wasn't sure he was really a top pick/prospect. Clearly, I mis-read or the reports were just very conservative. He clearly looks like the real deal. But man...if he could add another 15lbs or so of man muscle over the next couple of years, we might actually witness the best overall SS in Twins history. Granted we're talking so back breaking limbo of a bar here, but still.....

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Polanco in the last top 100? I'd think his season should warrant inclusion. What about Gonsalves? Is he just a little too young at this point to make the list? Or do you think he's got a shot?

I have maintained that one smart addition to the team would be a veteran LH hitter off the bench to help with PH duties who could also DH and play a spot on occasion. Unless there is sudden improvement, (hopefully), Mauer would be perfect for this role. But just not gonna happen. Morneau was mentioned as a possibility recently. He could be that player, even perhaps a full time/mostly full time DH if his head and body are OK. Would he take less and be OK with a bench/part time role at this stage? How he feels about that might be more important than how he feels.

Brian Duensing should be rated higher because.........................................................................Brian Duensing.

An excellent rebuttle. One that I can't dismiss. Actually sounds like something I would say. Lol But let me clarify my comments somewhat, using some a couple points you have made here. In my personal opinion, probably by mid-season it is very likely we see a roster of Suzuki and whoever at catcher, Sano, Escobar, Dozier, Santana, Nunez and Mauer in the infield with Rosario, Buxton, Hicks, Arcia and Kepler in the OF. Even with Plouffe gone that's a full 13 man roster. As you state, we're not going to get him for Nolasco, and he's going to earn in excess of $12M for a role player. I'm not saying he couldn't help. He could, in exactly the ways you stated. But contract and roster crunch, no matter how much I love Cuddy, he just doesn't fit.

Michael Cuddyer is absolutely in my top 5 all time Twins players. I was pretty well devistated when he left. I wept for days! OKokokokokok....I exaggerate...somewhat. But in truth, he really is one of my favorite, top 5 all time. He might even be #1. And I would not be depressed were he brought back and could still play a little. I'd probably even be a little bit tickled. But the reality is he just doesn't fit here. IMO...defense, talent, and the ability to play/perform at at least a "decent" level at the bottom of the order to begin the season, Buxton will be with the Twins from day one. Rosario will also be starting. Hicks has the option of starting, working as a sort of quasi-platoon with Arcia, (meaning there doesn't have to be set parameters), or even being a 4th OF should Arcia surprise and thrive. And before too long, Kepler will make his appearance as an OF/1B. Even if Plouffe is traded, allowing Sano to play 3B full time, DH could still be Vargas or Arcia, Pinto as a darkhorse. There is also a different spare OF once Kepler arrives. This is before we even consider a veteran to fill the role. That is the one area where Cuddyer could have actual value. But other than that...assuming he were even available and wouldn't cost much via trade chips...he just doesn't fit.