TwinsTerritory

Not necessarily him, but someone like him that has performed well and appears may have another level, is cheap, and (most importantly) is available. Not a lot of guys like that out there.

I should mention that the reason I said A- is because trading for Musgrave was necessary for an A. Still can't believe we wouldn't top the mediocre prospect haul that the Padres sent!

I'm hoping the payroll can be in the $130M range. If so, I would give the Twins an A- for the offseason if they: a. bring back Cruz for 1yr/$12M (include a club option for year two with a buyout if necessary, but don't guarantee 2 years) b. sign either Rosenthal, Colome, or Greene to a 2 year deal in the $6-8M per year range c. bring back Clippard at 1yr/$3M I know people will argue we need a starter (it would be ideal), but looking at the current roster and the likely budget I think we need a big bat and a couple relievers more than we need Odo or Paxton.

I did forget him when typing it up, but it totals $125M with him. Thanks for the catch!

I've enjoyed reading this thread. I'd love to see Cruz come back on a 1 year deal, but I'm intrigued by the idea of taking that money and spending it on the bench and the bullpen. I've been playing around with it and I really like a roster like this. It provides a lot more flexibility and I think this bullpen could be very good. C Mitch Garver 1.9M C Ryan Jeffers 0.6M 1B Miguel Sańo 11M 2B Luis Arráez 0.6M SS Jorge Polanco 4.33M LF Alex Kiriloff 0.6M CF Byron Buxton 5.1M RF Max Kepler 6.5M OF David Dahl 4M OF Brent Rooker 0.6M Utl Enrique Hernandez 7M Utl Ehire Adrianza 1M SP Kenta Maeda 8.15M SP Jose Berrios 6.1M SP Jake Odorizzi 12M SP Michael Pineda 10M SP Lews Thorpe or Randy Dobnak or Devin Smeltzer 0.6M RP Brad Hand 8M RP Archie Bradley 5M RP Taylor Rogers 6M RP Tyler Duffey 2.2M RP Jorge Alcala 0.6M RP Caleb Thielbar 0.65M RP Cody Stashak 0.6M RP Derek Law 0.6M Total Payroll $125M

I was actually on the site last night and knew that it says that my offer for Syndergaard comes up way short. While I think that website is a ton of fun, I question the value of players in some cases. I'm actually excited to see some trades happen and look on their website to see if they're very accurate or not.

If the Twins are going to add a starter, I feel strongly that it needs to be someone that would slot into our top 3 for the playoffs and have control beyond 2019. That's a short list of available pitchers. Relievers on the other hand could be rentals or have team control, I just want a couple guys that are pitching well this year. My two trades happen to be for relievers with team control in 2020. I'm curious to hear other opinions of my trade packages. Fair trade value is so hard to determine. Twins trade Brusdar Graterol, Brent Rooker, Nick Gordon, and Cole Sands to the Mets for Noah Syndergaard. Twins trade Jorge Alcala and Gabriel Maciel to the Giants for Sam Dyson and Tony Watson.

I’d love to see a trade for Sonny Gray and a late inning reliever like Ottavino or Allen. Throw in an extension for Berrios and I’d consider it to be a pretty good off season. If things go well, they’re in the race and if not, you have some decent pieces to sell and a lot of money to spend again next off season. ( My sources tell me that Nolan Arenado has always wanted to play for a smaller market, even colder climate team)

Having your list as a starting point made it much easier to reason through. Couldn't imagine how much more difficult it would be to start from scratch!

I appreciate the time and thought Nick puts into his list. With his top 5 being fairly easy to guess (unless he has a man-crush on Willians), I'll take a shot at my list using his criteria as best I can. 20. Jake Cave, OF--insurance if Buxton/Kepler can't stay healthy or take the next step. 19. Michael Pineda, SP--including him in my top 20 because I see value as a potential top of the order pitcher, extension candidate, or trade candidate 18. Adalberto Mejia, LHP--he throws with his left hand and will probably have a decent MLB career, but not sold it will be with the Twins 17. Stephen Gonsalves, LHP--see Mejia, but with more team control and hopefully a higher ceiling 16. Nick Gordon, SS--I placed him a little higher as I still see a potential above average middle infielder and that has value 15. Wander Javier, SS--Appears to have a higher ceiling than Gordon, but is also a lot farther away 14. Trevor May, RHP--Can he stay healthy and find a role that gives him high value? Last fall was promising 13. Taylor Rogers, LHP--Has been pretty dominate for the past 2 years, excited for the future 12. Mitch Garver, C--if he can stick behind the plate (a fairly big if), his bat could make him an above average catcher and those are hard to find 11. Kyle Gibson, RHP--Hopefully last year was a sign that he has turned a corner and the Twins can lock him up for a few more years 10. Max Kepler, OF--really like him, but there are definitely concerns that his ceiling isn't as high as once hoped 9. Fernando Romero, RHP--has nasty stuff, but the Twins need to find a role that will allow him to show it 8. Miguel Sano, 3B--as seen in the forum, he is probably the most polarizing name on the list. I put him a little higher as I still see that 40 homer potential 7. Brusdar Graterol, RHP--sounds like he has all the tools to be an ace, but he's still a ways away 6. Eddie Rosario, OF--even if we've seen his peak, I'll take an above average corner outfielder for the next few years 5. Jorge Polanco, SS--see my comments above about middle infielders. He probably shouldn't play SS, but that bat will play at 2B 4. Byron Buxton, OF--I'm with Nick here. Even if he never reaches the full potential at the plate, that glove and those legs will keep him playing CF for a long time 3. Alex Kiriloff, OF--Hard to not buy in when every expert seems sold that he's the real deal. 2. Royce Lewis, SS--If the Twins play in a World Series in the next 10 years, it's probably because he is the face of the franchise 1. Jose Berrios, RHP--At the top of the list because he's made it to the show and seems to be getting better each year. I believe he can still become an ace and they are probably the hardest thing for a medium or small market franchise to find.

I wouldn't be willing to tack years on, and maybe that would be the end of the conversation. However, maybe Grienke would look around and see that Arizona has decided to rebuild and he'd waive his no trade clause.

Let's think big and try to win the division! 1. Sign David Robertson to a 2 yr/$22M deal with a $11M vesting option for year 3. Robertson would solidify the back end of the bullpen and if the third year is a vesting option, the Twins would reduce their risk. 2. Trade Nick Gordon, Blayne Enlow, Lamonte Wade and Tyler Austin to the Diamondbacks for Zach Grienke, Eduardo Escobar (and $44.5M to help cover Grienke's salary). I have no idea what the Diamondbacks think they'll get for Grienke or how much money they're willing to eat, but adding Grienke to the top of the rotation with Berrios would solidify the starters and replacing Austin on the roster with Escobar would provide a ton of flexibility that the Twins currently don't have with the Cruz signing. Line-up 1. Eduardo Escobar 3B/SS/2B 2. Jorge Polanco SS 3. Nelson Cruz DH 4. Eddie Rosario LF 5. Miguel Sano 1B/3B 6. Max Kepler RF 7. Jonathan Schoop 2B 8. Byron Buxton CF 9. Jason Castro C Bench Mitch Garver C C.J. Cron 1B Ehire Adrianza IF Jake Cave OF Starting Pitchers 1. Zach Grienke 2. Jose Berrios 3. Kyle Gibson 4. Jake Odorizzi 5. Michael Pineda Bullpen David Robertson Trevor Hildenberger Addison Reed Taylor Rodgers Trevor May Fernando Romero Aldeberto Mejia

It's a bit of driving and time, but I started in the Bay Area and saw Oakland and SF and then drove down to LA for an Angels game, SD, Arizona, and then back to LA for a Dodgers game.

Completely agree with your comment about there being a big group of mediocre ballparks and they are difficult to differentiate between. As I started my list, I put ballparks in 3 groups. I ended up with 8 at the top, 7 on the bottom and 15 in the middle that I would consider mediocre.

Thanks to those that have posted. I enjoy reading the comments. It's always interesting to hear what others think. The comments about the Metrodome are also interesting. While in Toronto, I spoke to a few people and they really like Rogers Centre (although they still prefer to call it Skydome). I believe how you feel about a ballpark can vary greatly based on your experience. If I was at Rogers Centre for a Jose Bautista bat flip in the playoffs, I'm sure it would have been a much different experience than a 5-0 shutout in a lost season.

The historic parks are the toughest to rank. If you built something like Fenway or Wrigley today, it would be mocked (or in the case of ivy on the wall or a giant green wall 250' from home plate, not allowed by MLB). I had Wrigley much lower after my first visit, but I've enjoyed it more in recent visits.

On Tuesday evening, I was able to take in the Twins-Blue Jays game from Rogers Centre. This was my first visit to Rogers Centre, but more importantly it was my final stop on my journey to visit the ballpark of each of the 30 Major League Baseball teams. Here is my ranking of the 30 ballparks (plus a few extras). I'd love to hear feedback from those that have taken a similar journey. Before I get to my rankings, below was my very non-analytical criteria. I have been to some of these stadiums more than once, but for many of them I made only one trip so may have them ranked higher or lower based on where the team was in the standings, how the weather cooperated, or other unique reasons. 1. Ballpark architecture--how is the ballpark designed, views of the field, views out of the stadium, concourses, etc. 2. Ballpark neighborhood--where is the ballpark located, activities outside the ballpark, parking 3. Ballpark history--does the ballpark have a historical significance 4. Ballpark atmosphere--does anyone in the stadium actually care about the team Now that you know where I'm coining from, here is my list. 1. PNC Park I have been to this park twice and I love the stadium, the location on the river, and the view. I've moved around the stadium and have yet to find a bad seat. It's Target Field in a better location, with a better view. 2. AT&T Park I went to two games on back-to-back days. Beautiful weather in a great location on the water. 3. Fenway Park I've only been here once, but it was on the 4th of July with a giant flag draped over the green monster and fighter jets overhead during the anthem. Add in the atmosphere around the park, the history, and the lack of empty seats and it all but makes up for the fact it looks like the concrete may crumble at any time. 4. Oriole Park at Camden Yards I've only been here once, but I loved the ballpark, the location, and the food. Took a tour before the game and was able to see the workings of a MLB park on game day. 5. Wrigley Field I've been here a couple times with very different experiences. The first time I froze on a chilly June day in the shade down the first baseline where I couldn't follow the ball in the air. The next time it was 95 and I was in the bleachers having a great time. The history and the area around the park sneak this ballpark into the top 5. 6. Target Field I'm sure I'm a little biased, but the actual ballpark itself is as good as any. The only thing pulling Target Field down is the location. 7. Petco Park Like AT&T, I attended games on back-back days in San Diego and the park is almost as good as Target Field, but with better weather. 8. Kaufman Stadium I've been here a few times and it's great how this stadium has held up over time. The renovations have grown on me. Overall, a great place to see a game. 9. Safeco Field The view of Seattle is great and the field is pretty well designed. The area around the park can be fun. The determination of the ushers to keep people out of the good seats even when the stadium is empty and it's the bottom of the 8th was interesting. 10. Dodger Stadium Another stadium with some history that has held up over time. A somewhat different design, but a good view. **10.5. Old Yankee Stadium It was crumbling and smelled a little like urine, but there was so much history and it seemed like a real ballpark (vs. the behemoth of a building that replaced it). 11. Sun Trust Park I'm not quite sure why they had to replace Turner Field (other than greed), but Sun Trust was well-done. The atmosphere was fun. 12. Busch Stadium There's not a lot that stands out about the ballpark, but the view of the arch and the knowledgeable fans made for a good experience. 13. Comerica Park I've been here twice and while nothing in particular stands out, the seats were good and there were some fun bars around the field. Just don't stray too far from the ballpark area! 14. Coors Field It's been 18 years since I was at Coors Field (and 23 year old me may have had a few too many beverages), but I remember a solid stadium with good views and hard working beer vendors. 15. Citi Field I've only been here once and my expectations were low since there weren't a lot of positive reviews, but I was pleasantly surprised. Good views and decent food. 16. Yankee Stadium The field itself looks similar to the old stadium, but everything else was done BIG. Wide concourses are good, but feeling like you're walking through a mall is not. 17. Citizens Bank Park I've only been here once and I'll be the first to admit I need to go back to rank it fairly. I was on a baseball tour and our seats were in the nosebleeds. I'm not afraid of heights, but if I was the walk to our seats in the 3rd level wouldn't happen. 18. Progressive Field The ballpark was nice, but nothing really stood out other than a lot of empty seats. **18.5 Turner Field I thought the ballpark was fine although traffic in Atlanta can be a challenge. Amazing that it was built in 1996 and is no longer a MLB park. 19. Miller Park Tailgating in the parking lot, Bernie Brewer, and the sausage race were the highlights. Not a fan of roofs, even retractable ones. Roof was open when I was there, but my seat still felt indoors. 20. Nationals Park Probably another park that didn't get a fair shake. Was on a tour and we watched a few innings before a 2 hour rain delay. Due to bus driver sleep time, we left after 2 hours of waiting in the concourse only to get back to the hotel and see they resumed playing. Walked from the National Mall to the park and the area around the park felt slightly unsafe. 21. Angel Stadium Nothing terrible about the ballpark, but nothing stood out as great either. 22. Great American Ballpark Probably another ballpark that I should visit again, but nothing really stood out. 23. Globe Life Park There wasn't anything wrong other than the fact that it was really, really hot in Texas in mid-August and I had spent all day sweating at Six Flags. Not really much of a view or atmosphere. 24. Marlins Park Definitely the most colorful ballpark in baseball! The Marlins were terrible, the fans apathetic, and the roof leaked a little when it rained. The bobblehead museum was cool! 25. Minute Maid Park It was 105 and after sweating through a game in Texas the night before, I was thankful for air conditioning. However, when it comes to baseball, I want to be outdoors. Everything felt very "rectangular". 26. Guaranteed Rate Field I've been here twice and wasn't impressed either time. In a sketchy neighborhood, no view, and not much for atmosphere. 27. Chase Field Another ballpark that probably needs a roof due to the non-stop heat, but it doesn't make for a fun baseball experience. 28. Rogers Centre Unfortunately it rained so the roof was closed and José Berríos shut down the Blue Jays so the fans were bored. It does set a record for the amount of blue in a stadium and there are some fun things to do in downtown Toronto. **28.5 Metrodome I hate to rank it this low because this is where I watched my first 25 or so MLB baseball games, but there is no getting around the fact that it was a giant bubble that was better designed for watching a Vikings game or monster truck rally. 29. Oakland Alameda Coliseum I loved the passion of the fans, but the ballpark wasn't designed for baseball and I felt the need to hustle to get on the BART and get out of town after the game. 30. Tropicana Field Have I mentioned that I like outdoor baseball? This is the Metrodome, without the history of 1987 Kirby Puckett or 1991 Jack Morris. How did I do? Please leave comments or ask questions. I promise I won't be offended.

I believe the Twins can compete in 2019 and need to plan accordingly. 1. Trade Dozier, Lynn, Duke, Morrison, and Rodney for whatever you can get. 2. Listen to offers on Gibson, Escobar, and Pressley, but only trade if you get blown away by an offer. 3. DFA Grossman, Wilson, and Belisle. 4. Replace traded/DFA players with guys on the 40-man that may contribute in 2019. Dozier=Gordon Lynn=Romero Duke=Moya Morrison=Sano Rodney=Curtiss Grossman=Buxton Wilson=Adrianza Belisle=Busentiz 5. Attempt to extend Rosario, Berrios, & Buxton (if the price is right). I would also consider extending Gibson if the price is reasonable. 6. Call up Granite, Thorpe, Gonsalves, Little, May, Moya. Basically anyone on the 40 that has a future. 7. Sign a couple guys in the offseason and hope that Buxton, Sano, etc. figure it out because otherwise you'll be looking for a new job in two years.

I don't know that they would go for that, I just wanted to throw something out there as a starting point. I think I may value Javier a little more than you do. I see him as a borderline top 100 prospect. Maybe the better question is, what is McCutcheon worth to Pittsburgh? He has one year on his deal. If he has another mediocre year like 2016, his value is pretty low and Pittsburgh probably lets him walk at the end of the year. Or he has a decent year like 2017 and they can't afford to resign him unless he takes a "hometown discount". In a different post, I mentioned taking back Span in an Archer trade as a way to maybe save Tampa some money and lessen the prospect load heading to the Rays. In this case, I'd be willing to increase the prospects going to the Pirates if we could get McCutchen as well as Cole. I'm of the opinion that Kepler or Rosario are the guys we should be trying to use to headline a package for a top end starter.

If we can't sign Darvish, we've all heard a lot about what it would take to get Archer. I'm curious what the asking price would be for Cole and McCutchen. Would the price be less than Archer? How much less? How much should we be willing to give up for 1 year of McCutchen and 2 years of Cole? I'll throw out an idea and you can all rip me to shreds! Max Kepler, Wander Javier, Tyler Jay, and Kohl Stewart for McCutchen and Cole

Here would be my top 25 guys ranked, but also split into 5 groups that might help decide who to trade if you're looking at winning in 2018 and who our trade partners would be interested in. If I'm the Twins, I don't trade any of the top 4 to get Archer, Cole, or any of the other available starting pitchers. If I'm the Rays, I'd want one of the the top 4. However, maybe they would consider a package of one of the top 3 from Group 3, one of the top 3 from Group 4, and someone (other than Lewis) from Group 5. Maybe if we take back Span and the money he's owed, that might lighten the amount the Rays would need. Would this get it done? Should the Twins offer this much? Kepler, Romero, and Javier for Archer and Span Group 1--Young, core MLB players that are basically untouchable 1 Byron Buxton 2 Jose Berrios 4 Miguel Sano Group 2--Experienced, core MLB players that would only be traded if we are out of it in July 8 Ervin Santana 9 Brian Dozier 13 Jason Castro 22 Fernando Rodney 23 Eduardo Escobar Group 3--Young, core MLB players that we could probably replace if traded to get a pitcher 5 Eddie Rosario 6 Max Kepler 7 Jorge Polanco 14 Adalberto Mejia 15 Trevor Hildenberger 24 Kyle Gibson 25 Zach Granite Group 4--Prospects that will likely contribute in the next 3 years 10 Stephen Gonsalves 11 Nick Gordon 12 Fernando Romero 18 Tyler Jay 20 Brent Rooker 21 Mitch Garver Group 5--Prospects that are more valuable after 2020 3 Royce Lewis 16 Alex Kiriloff 17 Wander Javier 19 Blayne Enlow

Putting odds on this is tough, but it's sure fun that none of the 4 teams would be put at less than 15%! I imagine 12-13 months ago, the odds would have looked completely different! My October 2016 odds Wild 40% Vikings 40% Wolves 10% Twins 10%

1. Extensions I would consider offering extensions to almost all of the Twin's young core, but these two would be my priority: A. Byron Buxton 7 years/$75M B. Jose Berrios 7 years/$44M The others still have something to prove in my mind (Sano-health, Rosario-consistency at plate, Kepler-ability to hit LH pitching, Polanco-able to stick at SS and continue to hit) and unless they are willing to take less than market value, I'd hold off. I wouldn't consider an extension for Dozier at this time because I feel we have some depth up the middle and I think there's a good chance we could sign him after next season if we feel we need to. 2. Trades A. Send Wander Javier, Tyler Jay, and Brent Rooker to the Reds for Raisel Iglesias. I'm guessing that this might not be enough for Iglesias, but it would provide the Reds with 3 of the Twin's top 12-15 prospects, including a potential high end bullpen arm, a long term prospect at SS, and a potential big time power hitter in that ballpark. B. Attempt to trade Robbie Grossman & Kennys Vargas for C-level prospects. If they can't be traded, I'd consider releasing them. 3. Free Agent Signings A. Sign Alex Cobb to a 4 year/$52M contract. A solid #2/3 starter that you can pair with Santana and Berrios. B. Sign Brandon Kintzler to a 2 year/$14M contract. Can serve as closer while using Iglesias in tough situations earlier in game. C. Sign Eduardo Nunez to a 2 year/$14M contract. A solid bat that has some versatility and comes cheaper than some other DH options. Also doesn't clog the DH spot in case Sano has to spend significant time there. 25-man Roster (w/ 2018 salary) C: Castro $8.0M 1B: Mauer $23.0M 2B: Dozier $9.0M 3B: Sano $0.55M SS: Polanco $0.55M LF: Rosario $0.55M CF: Buxton $1.0M RF: Kepler $0.55M DH/UT: Nunez $7.0M C: Garver $0.55M UT: Escobar $5.0M UT: Adrianza $1.0M OF: Granite $0.55M SP: Santana $13.5M SP: Cobb $13.0M SP: Berrios $0.75M SP: Gibson $4.5M SP: Mejia $0.55M RP: Kintzler $7.0M RP: Iglesias $5.2M RP: Hildenberger $0.55M RP: Rogers $0.6M RP: Pressly $2.0M RP: Busenitz $0.55M RP: Duffey $0.6M Other Contracts Hughes $13.2M Park $6.0M May $1.0M Total Payroll: $126.3M I know this is probably above what most people expect for payroll, but in my mind the Twins need to make a push while Santana and Dozier are around and the young guys are still cheap.

We're well into the offseason and a few big trades have happened, while a few high priced free agents have come off the board. So far the Twins have made only one big move with the signing of Jason Castro. What do you think the Twins do next? What does the opening day lineup look like? I'll take my best shot. Off-Season Moves 1. Trade Brian Dozier and Brandon Kintzler to the Dodgers for P Jose De Leon, P Yadier Alvarez, C/2B/3B Austin Barnes and SS Ronny Brito. The Twins need to sell high as Dozier's value will likely never be higher than it is right now coming off a 40+ home run season and under multiple years of control. Kintzler did a great job last year, but the Twins have young guys that need a shot. De Leon slides right into the rotation and with continued growth may be a #2 starter in a year or two. Alvarez is a top 100 prospect that is a bit of a lottery ticket. If he pans out, he will help the next Twins playoff team. Barnes is an excellent option as a utility player that can compete for the backup catcher spot while also playing some infield. Brito is a lottery ticket at 17 years old, but he provides some insurance in case Nick Gordon doesn't develop. 2. Sign Neftali Feliz to a 2 year/$13M contract. Feliz provides some stability and experience while the young bullpen arms get their feet wet. 3. Sign Rajai Davis to a 1 year/$8M contract. Davis can platoon with Rosario, while also giving Buxton and Kepler a day off. Great weapon off the bench as well as a pinch hitter and base runner. 4. Sign Daniel Descalso to a 1 year/$2.5M contract. Descalso is versatile (played 5 positions last year) and from all accounts would be just the kind of guy needed to work with some of the young infielders. 2017 Opening Day Roster C Jason Castro $8.2M 1B Joe Mauer $23.0M 2B Jorge Polanco $0.5M SS Eduardo Escobar $2.9M 3B Miguel Sano $0.5M LF Eddie Rosario $0.5M CF Byron Buxton $0.5M RF Max Kepler $0.5M DH Kennys Vargas $0.5M C JR Murphy $0.5M IF Daniel Descalso $2.5M OF Rajai Davis $8M OF/IF Danny Santana $0.5M SP Ervin Santana $13.5M SP Kyle Gibson $3.5M SP Hector Santiago $8.6M SP Jose De Leon $0.5M SP Jose Berrios $0.5M RP Neftali Feliz $6.5M RP Trevor May $0.5M RP Taylor Rogers $0.5M RP JT Chargois $0.5M RP Ryan Pressly $1.1M RP Tyler Duffy $0.5M RP Justin Haley $0.5M Others on DL or in AAA Glen Perkins $6.5M Phil Hughes $13.2M Byung Ho Park $2.75M Other Money Owed Ricky Nolasco $4M Total Payroll: $111.65M

I'll go first. Roster C--Suzuki, Garver IF--Mauer, Park, Dozier, Escobar, Polanco, Sano OF--Kepler, Buxton, Rosario, Grossman, Santana SP--Santana, Gibson, Berrios, Hughes, Santiago RP--Melancon, May, Pressley, Tonkin, Rogers, Kintzler, Boshers Opening Day Line-up 1. Dozier 2. Mauer 3. Kepler 4. Sano 5. Polanco 6. Rosario 7. Escobar 8. Suzuki 9. Buxton Rotation Order 1. Santana 2. Gibson 3. Berrios 4. Hughes 5. Santiago Closer Melancon Largest Free Agent Signing (Total Guaranteed Money) Melancon $37M (3 years/$12M, plus option year with $1M buyout)