laloesch

Agreed. That said, I just can't imagine the Nats would give up Giolito at all.

Would have been easier for the Twins to draft Giolito in the first place instead of Buxton. LOL

The Twins are going to try and use him as a starter in 2017. What more needs to be said? He is not the next Andrew Miller.

I'd do that deal in heartbeat. However it makes no sense for the Nats to make such a trade and thus it's not worth discussing really.

I don't want to be one of those "hate to say i told you so" people, but it's impossible to avoid the conversation. One thing Park did do well was strikeout like crazy. IMO he's a distant third in the trio of Mauer, Vargas and Park.

It depends on how much money and years they have to commit to him to get him here. If it's 3 + years, no way. If it's 10+ million a year, absolutely not! He's not good enough to commit starting dollars to IMO. Unless they have given up on Murphy and are so desperate that they are willing to sign him at all costs even if he ends up a backup to Garver. Those are my two cents. LIke i said, I just don't see the logic at this point given how bad the starters are.

Not really impressed with his stats especially on offense. Would rather go with Garver and see how it plays out this season.

I think the difference is that Hughes had a solid start to 2015, Santana as well in his limited starts due to the suspension, AND AND semi solid seasons from Milone and Gibson. That's why they made it to 83-79 in 2015 in my opinion. Fast forward to 2016. Milone and Gibson completely tank. Hughes is hurt the entire season and Duffey completely falls apart and Nolasco continues to surprise no-one with continued mediocrity. IThe ONLY way i see it happening is if Hughes comes back successfully and has a 2014ish season (next to impossible in my opinion), Santana picks up right where he left off in 2016, Gibson does a complete 180 and has a respectable season, Duffey masters a third pitch making himself an effective starter, Berrios progresses and May successfully returns healthy and transitions into an effective role (either starting or relief). Very difficult slope to climb back next season and that's not touching other issues like the infield and the bullpen.

I don't think they'll make it to 81-81. Not without substantial improvement to the starting rotation. I mean anything is possible i guess, but without a major rebound from Gibson, Duffey and a successful re-conversion of May to the rotation it's going to be hard to get there. This scenario would also require another solid season from Santana and some kind of progression from Berrios. Not factoring in Hughes at this point although he could be a factor if he comes back successfully.

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Agreed no reason to target more #4 types and pay big bucks for them at this point. Just doesn't make sense to me anyways.

I'm in the trading Santana camp as well. I think that long term in this rebuild he is way out of the picture. It's probably going to take at least 3 season for them to become relevant again and by then Santana is 36/37, a free agent and very possibly in decline. I think you sell high here. You have too. I also think the same thing with Dozier. For GODS SAKE sell high!

I would have made a move like this 4 or 5 years ago when we needed additional starters to supplement what we already had. These kinds of moves do not make sense for a rebuilding team that is early in the process. Just doesn't.

No.... i understand your post quite well and read the entirety of it. Much of what you are stating is contradictory and there are plenty of inaccuracies and generalizations backed up by nothing. First of all police do not prosecute ANYTHING. They enforce the law and make arrests based on laws broken. The judicial system prosecutes broken laws whether it's criminal or civil. Domestic violence IS a straight forward crime like DUI's, murder, etc in the eyes of the law. There are clear laws on the books AND criminal penalties for such acts. HOWEVER, in the case of domestic abuse (unless it's made in public in front of witnesses), it's up to the victim (in most cases and most states) to press forward with charges and provide timely proof of the act. Now some may see this as an unreasonable expectation, but the law is written this way to protect the innocent until proven guilty. Without it you have vengeance not justice. Remember, innocent until proven guilty. And what do you mean DV punishments aren't really a solution? Without laws enforced by punishment we have anarchy as a society. On a side note, I realllllyyyy don't understand people who object to capital punishment for serial murderers and people who commit barbaric heinous crimes. You are enabling their behavior because the penalties are not stiff enough. Jail time plus court ordered counseling is very common for such cases that are prosecuted. You obviously haven't been to a court room recently. Counseling is a legitimate treatment method, but obviously not everyone can be cured in every situation and it's not enough in many scenarios. It's also an impossible expectation for the state to cure all of these cases. If there are better solutions by all means state them here. #1 Don't act like the player's union has no blame here. For years if the league even hinted at toughening up on them regarding drug testing or labor conditions Ken Moffett and Donald Fehr had those guys threatening to strike. They are just as to blame as the owners themselves. But that's irrelevant. The league has to choose like any employer what is except able conduct on and off the diamond. If they are stupid like the NFL was with Ray Rice (what he did was absolutely appalling and disgusting), then they will suffer the consequences at the box office. My opinion, he should have been suspended without pay for at least a year as a minimum. In fact given the presence of such damning video evidence i would given him a multi year ban. #2 Actually a "heartless victimize" who violates a restraining order will be found in contempt of court and thrown in jail immediately for such acts. And when a judge issues a restraining ordering is also respects the victims children too. Not sure of your logic here. #3 Look harder. DV is the #1 police dispatch call. #4 What stats say 8 out of 10 never result in charges being filed? Please provide sources saying so. I think you meant to say 8 out of 10 charges filed were not prosecuted because the victim either failed to press charges or the perpetrator made a plea bargain in court with the prosecution. Who ever said that verbal and physical violence are not two different things? Now you are really getting lost in the weeds on this one. I don't think ANYONE here is arguing that "slamming someone's head off the wall" is justified because she was screaming at her significant other.

I don't agree with this post on many levels. Employers punish or terminate employees all the time for such crimes and it's not just because of PR pressure. However, MLB does appear to be the exception though and that is likely due to their obstinate Player's Union. Similar to the long time resistance to drug testing, etc. They are slow to deal with such issues because they feel they don't have to. "We have a logical set of punishments for DUIs but don't for domestic abuse because it's not as black-and-white of a crime. If we send abusers to jail, their families often suffer right alongside them. Mom might have to enter a workforce she is not trained for and children suffer without a parent around. And even if Dad gets out of jail a changed man (doubtful since prison is about punishment, not rehabilitation), he's going to have a hard time finding a job with a blemish on his record. That's a big reason why charges are so rarely pursued - everyone involved has an incentive to keep the abuser out of jail because jail solves nothing and can often create larger or different problems. The system society has set up actively promotes women to stay with abusers because they can't afford not to." I disagree with so many parts of this post. Not only is this a miscaricaturization it's simply not true much of the time. Domestic abuse is a crime clear as night and day. There are plenty of laws on the books including assault charges of various degrees, domestic abuse charges,etc. You can get a restraining order from ANY judge in Minnesota at the drop of a dime if you claim domestic abuse (especially if the perpetrator is male and the victim female). The #1 call that police dispatchers receive is domestic abuse calls. Some of the most commonly hear cases in court is typically domestic abuse or child abuse cases. Unfortunately, shows such as Law & Order romanticize such crimes and create the impression that KNOW ONE presses charges because the abuser is the "bread winner," and that the victim feels they will be left helpless if they pursue. This simply is not true much of the time. Most honest physiologists will also tell you that the relationship of abuser and victim is not always as simple as "black and white" or "right and wrong" as you put it. Often times police receive dozens and dozens of repeat calls from the same address and sometimes repeatedly arrest the perpetrator only to have the victim not press charges. The explanation is often times not a simple one like the "bread winner argument". More often then you think it's two people choosing to CONTINUE to engage / enable a tit for tat abusive relationship. Keep in mind that this is no justification for abusive behavior but it is a common scenario that takes place.

Amen to this post! the blatant stupidity of the Twins Front office and coaching staff before Falvey's arrival the last couple of years was just mind numbing. One would hope that he goes through and purges the existing brain trust to maximum extent possible. .....This may involve significant doses of ipecac with standing room orders that all front office staff, scouts, coaches and players hit the showers and prepare to hug the closest porcelain bowl.

Overall a good post and i agree. I don't want Falvey to bring in a new GM that goes out and spends a bunch of money on free agent starters to try and patch quilt the rotation back together. First of all, the Twins won't spend the money to get premium talent here in the first place and second no seasoned quality starter wants to go to Minnesota after the train wreck season they just had. The Twins need to focus on trading from positions of strength to acquire what they need in prospects. That means Santana, Dozier and Plouffe should all be on the block. Switching gears to some of your other points. I'm not high on Gibson. Guy just doesn't have "killer instinct" on the mound and the mental toughness to go with it. He BARELY makes it through 5-2/3 innings on a good day and spends most of his at-bats trying to clip the outside corners of the plate instead of attacking the hitter. Very annoying to watch considering he has halfway decent stuff. In his third full season he got substantially worse, not better, worse. I've seen enough. He's almost 29 years old and a bottom of the rotation starter at best on a good team. Case closed. Duffey. I agree with you that he needs to control his FB better and develop a third pitch (changeup), but I would add that he needs to control his curve ball better. It has great 12-6 snap out of the zone, but he rarely throws it IN the strike zone to keep hitters honest. That's how Bert was able to dominate. He essentially was a one trick pony starter, but had fantastic control of his curve. Duffey has the movement on the pitch, but doesn't appear to be able to vary it's drop in the strike zone. Without another strong secondary pitch he's a reliever. Plain and simple. Hitters know it's either the fastball (hack away) or curve ball (stand fast). Why the Twins didn't flip him and May earlier in the season is anybody's guess. I'm guessing it was stubbornness of Paul Molitor and Ryan, but who knows. As to the rest. I think you start the season with Santana (unless he's traded) Gibson (nothing to replace him so tender him a contract for now) Santiago (kinda feel the same way about him as i do Gibson) May (cross your fingers he's able to successfully transition back to a starter... yeah thanks Terry) Berrios, Duffey and possibly Hughes? Other options: Meija, Gonsalves (by mid season hopefully), and Wheeler (he was a starter before)

Why bump this thread?

Yeah..... but usually if your that good at one position you pick one or the other not both. I played sports in high school and college and that was very rare, at least the schools i went too. I mean if the team was a stinker it was much more common and it also depended on the sport too.

The other thing too is the lack of specialization here. He's a pitcher but also a potential shortstop or vice versa? This to me is red warning flags. I mean what is he? A pitcher or an infielder and why the dual tract? Has he not decided which direction he wishes to go? Just smells fishy to me. People are always wooooed and wowweeed by the the headline "elite prospect throws upper 90's!!! Potential 95-120 mph fastball", in flashing neon lights. To me this is hook line and sinker and really a sign that the prospect is a make work project that needs tons of time in the minors developing due to lack of control. The Twins have a very poor record of developing guys like this (Alex Meyer comes to mind).

I'm weary of another high school pitcher. Unless he absolutely knocks your socks off and you REALLY think he's the one, I would shy away from using the #1 pick on him. I'd be looking at the best college pitcher available . If the idea is to try and get better pitchers up here soon and complement the young core before they get to far along (Sano, Buxton, Polanco, Kepler, etc.) we need to draft college level starters that are more refined and could make it in the next two seasons. A high school pitcher (unless he's an enigma) is going to toil away in the minors for 4 or 5 years at least (realistically) due to age and maturity differences. That means your #1 draft pick high school starter will like not reach the bigs until 2020 at the earliest. Too long IMO. Go with either the best position player available or best college starter available.

"Derek Falvey will face as GM" Wait i'm confused. Is Derek Falvey also GM in addition to executive vice president and chief baseball officer?

Haha, that would be a good predicament to be in by 2018.

I'd fire the manager because as GM or President of Baseball operations (Falvey), i have that authority over you (part of the chain of command) and you better dam well follow my orders or your finished.

Yep. And the Twins are gonna have to start making difficult decisions this off season beginning with Vargas and a few others. I too would like to see what Walker could do at the major league level next year at some point. I know some here just can't stand him which is understandable, but i think he's a diamond in the rough. Sure he strikes out a lot, batting average isn't ideal and his plate approach could still use significant improvement but if the Twins could further develop him besides the raw power which he was drafted and signed for as a prospect in 2012 they could have something here. The home runs and incredible power have always been there just the plate discipline that has held him back. If he could continue that progression at the next level it would create roster flexibility for the major league team and possibly allow them to move Kepler to first if Vargas doesn't work out or trade Rosario.