Shane Wahl

Great stuff, overall. Interesting as well. I am done with 11-20, but haven't posted it yet. I do not get the hot love for Ryan Eades right now. I guess I might just be way wrong.

Thrylos, I honestly don't really have a problem with flipping those two. I get the point. They are top 3 prospects OVERALL in baseball. That discussion was interesting. If Sano just harnesses his skills at fielding the ball, he could amount to an average or above average defender there.

I honestly think that Pinto and Herrmann should be the catchers in 2014. I don't think they get a lot by being catchers in AAA, at least not in terms of preparing for the 2015 season as major leaguers

Other than the Buxton/Sano switch, I like this top five.

I want to see Sano in a Twins uniform in 2014. There is no way I am trading him. No way. Imagine having a third baseman put up .250/.340/.570 numbers basically immediately.

Arroyo is the only one of these guys that I would bother with.

Colon has to want a contender. He would be nice no that one-year deal and then be trade bait at the deadline (with Correia).

I don't think I am crazy in saying this: Davis is an improvement over Presley, Mastroianni, all the minor league filler of the past few years, and potentially Parmelee and Colabello. Now that alone still might not be enough for me to want him, but if Willingham is to be dealt (please, seriously), then Davis is actually a cheap upgrade over much of the nonsense we have seen the past two years. I don't think the Twins have the right idea in mind, but whatever. I would trade Willingham, play Davis in a platoon with Presley or Parmelee, and start Hicks in CF.

The speed is good, but he can't be a leadoff hitter. I like the potential defense of Davis-Hicks-Presley/Parmelee to begin the season, certainly. An OF of Willingham-Davis-Arcia is possible, however, and that would be disturbing. Davis is good and I like him as an actual 4th OF.

Ok, that is a pretty legitimate defense of the possible acquisition.

No. Just no. He isn't even, you know, um, good. The power has fallen off a cliff.

About various rumors: Now I like Arroyo, but not three years. I would rather overpay for one year with an option, and hope he does well to be traded at the deadline (Correia too). John Buck. I have zero interest in him. It's as bad as Navarro. Give the job to Pinto and Herrmann. Davis. I don't like it unless: Willingham is seriously being shopped, or the Twins are paying to get Clete Thomas+++ instead of hoping on Clete Thomas types, or Mastro is going to be DFAed (and the last two have to be taken together, actually). He's fast and steals bases, but he is just a terrible leadoff option. Probably worse than Presley in that regard. But I am one who thinks they should have Hicks starting in CF and leading off against lefties, so who the hell am I to judge?

No there is no reason for this unless Willingham is gone and the Twins plan on dumping Mastro. Multiple years? What the hell? This would look to be a straight up replacement for Mastro, given the steals that Davis (the only thing he is good at) can bring. If kept at that, it's fine. But I only like it if Willingham is seriously being shopped.

A Gardner-Buxton-Hicks OF is pretty enticing, but no.

I don't really want to get involved in such a trade, but Gardner is, without a doubt, significantly better than Alex Presley. They aren't really that close. Gardner has averaged about 3.2 WAR in 6 seasons.

Willingham (+ a bit of his salary), Harrison, and Baxendale.

Can't believe I am saying this, but I would rather roll with Eric Fryer than sign aging, mediocre John Buck.

He will be claimed and optioned. Easily. Eric Fryer, though, Eric Fryer.

Weird. There are a few other candidates for such a move . . .

I would rather wait on some of these position player prospects and see what happens with Plouffe and Sano, Hicks, etc. before doing much on the market.

Jokin, in my ideal scenario, it's just Pinto and Herrmann as the catchers. Herrmann improved over his 2012 brief stint, and I think he can provide average defense there, above average defense in the corner OF, and still be a potential .680-710 OPS guy overall. He just has to limit the strikeouts. How much of the 2013 season was spent with a 13-man pitching staff? They absolutely should not have to do that this year. At all.

I haven't read this entire thread. So, sorry about that. Right now, I think that Eric Fryer is going to be the opening day catcher. You know that I despise this idea, but there it is. There. It. Is. I think they might be really cautious with Hicks, Arcia, and Pinto, and all start in AAA. Willingham-Presley-Parmelee, with Doumit DHing, Mauer at first, Dozier at second, Florimon at SS, Plouffe at third, and, ahem, Eric Fryer catching. Here are two alternative scenarios that I would do instead, depending on Willingham/Doumit trades: 1. Willingham and Doumit start 2014 with the Twins: Dozier, 2B Mauer, 1B Willingham, DH Arcia, RF Plouffe, 3B Pinto, C Hicks, CF Presley, LF Florimon, SS with Doumit, Herrmann, Escobar, and Parmelee on the bench. 2. Trade Willingham and Doumit (preferred) Arcia is primary DH, but still gets OF time. D. Romero replaces Doumit. Colabello is added. "Shane, we have these good starters now . . ." Well, the starters add 4 wins, hopefully. I think the Twins might get over 75 wins. I think asking for a fully competitive team is silly in 2014. I have never taken this attitude before. Anyway, I would rather have young guys play RIGHT NOW to get their act together now. The veteran pitchers are there into the future and the young pitchers will be arriving soon. There is no need to clog the 2014 roster with aging position players who aren't going to be on the team after 2014! That is the opposite of what should occur. 2014 can now be seen--as opposed to another total disaster like 2012 and 2013--as the year of actually building a foundation for the team of the future. This future team has Sano, Buxton, Arcia, Hicks, Rosario, Dozier, and Pinto surrounding Mauer. It has Meyer, Gibson, and May/a fast rising starter surrounding Nolasco and Hughes.

I like the uniqueness, generally, here in your countdown. But Koch that high?

A Plouffe/Parmelee platoon is in order in RF or LF if Parm can play that damn position. Like Parmelee, Plouffe could prove to be an average or better defender. It's all temporary, of course, but still. Or I would like this damn team to get rid of Doumit and Plouffe can be a primary DH, and batting cleanup against lefties.

Well the Twins have to continue on blocking/slowing the progress of players in their system. Don't sign Fryer to that deal, protect Achter, and never bother with such scrub pitchers? Is that so much to ask for?