Shane Wahl

Great post! That was informative and cleared up a lot for me.

I hate the prospect of Liriano have a great 2013 with the White Sox.

5.7 k/9 this year in the minors. It's good that he is still fairly young.

Very good job. Adding age, current team, and what pick (or round) would be even better.

Trading Denard Span goes toward "tearing this team down" though. Only Justin Morneau makes sense to trade out of that lineup (outside of Casilla and Carroll, but that's not likely to happen) in my view. Weakening the top of the lineup in order to get quality pitching that can be had on the FA market for at max $25 million is just not smart. I have said this elsewhere, but if I were promised that Joe Mauer would move up to the second spot and bring everyone else up with him, then I would be more willing to mess with the top of the lineup in this way. But . . .

On another note, Glunn, I really like Clayton Richard who turns 29 in a few months, is making 2.71 million this year, and who is under control until 2015. So that would be probably about a $8-10 million investment through 2014. He has been very good for the past 430 innings and has now seemed to fix his control issues.

Interesting. A few things. I don't get the Torii thing either. There are probably going to be about 1/3 fewer prospects coming back than what you have here. Marcum is *definitely* someone the Twins should go after, but I would imagine it is going to be at $10 million per year.

Good list. Bruce Pugh is pretty dominant right now. I am going to be moving him up my list quite a bit.

I like the idea of looking elsewhere than just contenders for trades.

Exactly. Mauer might end up providing more than $23 million in value this year. And the disastrous use of current spending on those pitchers is the true problem, the true bind, the true whatever on the Twins' payroll. Souhan be damned.

Here are a bunch of players who could see a promotion in the second half. I certainly do not think all of them will and there are likely a few others who will be promoted, but it is my intention to point out some strong performances, even in limited time in some cases. A few of them are likely very soon (Rhodes, Roberts, Atherton, Bromberg) and many others are most likely early August moves if they happen at all. DSL to GCL: Adonis Pacheco, OF Ernesto Ciprian, OF Junior Subero, SP Javier Vargas, SP/RP GCL to ELZ: Dereck Rodriguez, OF Aderlin Mejia, SS Kuo Hua Lo, SP ELZ to BEL: Romy Jimenez, OF Rory Rhodes, 1B Niko Goodrum, SS Jonatan Arias, C Taylor Rogers, SP Dallas Gallant, RP BEL to FTM: Eddie Rosario 2B/CF Miguel Sano 3B Matthew Koch, C Nate Roberts, OF Steven Liddle 1B/OF David Hurlbut, RP Tyler Jones, SP/RP Tim Atherton, RP FTM to NBR: Daniel Ortz, OF Jairo Perez, 3B Josmil Pinto, C Ricky Bowen, RP Matthew Hauser, RP/SP Jose Gonzalez, RP NBR to ROC: Chris Herrmann, C Aaron Hicks, OF Evan Bigley, OF Chris Colabello, 1B Deibinson Romero, 3B Andrew Albers, SP/RP Steve Hirschfeld, SP David Bromberg, SP ROC to TWINS: Sam Deduno Sean Burroughs Deolis Guerra Anthony Slama (pending return)

Here are a bunch of players who could see a promotion in the second half. I certainly do not think all of them will and there are likely a few others who will be promoted, but it is my intention to point out some strong performances, even in limited time in some cases. A few of them are likely very soon (Rhodes, Roberts, Atherton, Bromberg) and many others are most likely early August moves if they happen at all. DSL to GCL: Adonis Pacheco, OF Ernesto Ciprian, OF Junior Subero, SP Javier Vargas, SP/RP GCL to ELZ: Dereck Rodriguez, OF Aderlin Mejia, SS Kuo Hua Lo, SP ELZ to BEL: Romy Jimenez, OF Rory Rhodes, 1B Niko Goodrum, SS Jonatan Arias, C Taylor Rogers, SP Dallas Gallant, RP BEL to FTM: Eddie Rosario 2B/CF Miguel Sano 3B Matthew Koch, C Nate Roberts, OF Steven Liddle 1B/OF David Hurlbut, RP Tyler Jones, SP/RP Tim Atherton, RP FTM to NBR: Daniel Ortz, OF Jairo Perez, 3B Josmil Pinto, C Ricky Bowen, RP Matthew Hauser, RP/SP Jose Gonzalez, RP NBR to ROC: Chris Herrmann, C Aaron Hicks, OF Evan Bigley, OF Chris Colabello, 1B Deibinson Romero, 3B Andrew Albers, SP/RP Steve Hirschfeld, SP David Bromberg, SP ROC to TWINS: Sam Deduno Sean Burroughs Deolis Guerra Anthony Slama (pending return)

Yeah, Koch should be promoted, right!? I mean they have to see what he can do against high-A pitching.

Capps and Doumit are almost certainly traded at the deadline. Hopefully Pavano and Liriano can be too (but they might both just be not signed instead). I hope Jared Burton has a market at the deadline too. Not sure if he will, but the Twins getting something back for him would be nice. We'll see about trading Valencia for something as well. I think Diamond will stick at the back end. And Gibson is on pace to pitch this season yet, so there is no reason that at least by June next year, he isn't in the rotation. Maybe Walters fills in during that time. A Dempster-Hendriks-Diamond-Gibson-Bromberg rotation might be what we are looking at by this time next year. A Bedard addition would be nice in there. Hopefully the madness around Slama will stop and he is inserted AS SOON AS HE IS OFF THE DL this year. I would prefer a bullpen of Manship-Burnett (though he could be optioned next year if he isn't this year)-Duensing-Guerra-Slama-Perkins-Oliveros (get the walks down!). Chris Herrmann and Pedro Florimon might be up as well.

Not bad. I would love the Dempster and Bedard additions. Unfortunately, I have to imagine only one of them will actually be signed. I disagree with those who think players won't sign with the Twins. Money speaks. And the Twins are not going to be as bad this year as last and not as bad next year as this. In the AL Central, that might mean the playoffs next year. A Dempster, Diamond, Hendriks, Gibson, Bromberg (we'll say for now) rotation is significantly better than the best rotation the Twins will roll out at any point this year. Plouffe/Valencia is interesting. I think if Plouffe continues doing what he is doing, the Twins are going to have to try to get something for Valencia. Something. I expect Plouffe to be playing third next year, and Carroll/Dozier in the middle. Doumit is very likely to be traded. Maybe Valencia sticks around as a DH, or the Twins play Parmelee/Morneau/Mauer at 1B/DH in a kind of rotation. Chris Herrmann and Pedro Florimon may be up instead of Butera and Doumit, then. I have to wonder if there is going to be a market for Jared Burton at the deadline this year. If they Twins can get anything for him, they have to make that trade. I also don't think much at all of Swarzak. Replacing those two I would have Manship and Slama.

Soriano is making, a ridiculous $18 million this season, 2013, and 2014! So there is nearly $50 million on that contract. The Cubs are ridiculous like that. They are clearly my second favorite team (and that's a problem!) and they are actually thoroughly worse as an organization than the Twins will ever be. I actually like Soriano for an AL team as the DH and if the Cubs are willing to eat at least half of that salary, someone will want him (Texas, Boston).

Soriano is making a ton of money through 2014, I believe. If they trade him, they are going to have to eat a LOT of the salary.

I hate forgetting someone. Pedro Florimon is about 35 or so. And there are a bunch of relievers at Fort Myers and Beloit right now that could be added at the bottom for now. While people may not like where I put Buxton, that could change after 100 plate appearances. The only player I went high on was Berrios, because I think he is a sleeper pick. I would rather generally be moving these guys UP after they start playing than having to move them down.

New draftees at 4, 7, 21, 28, 31, 36, 41, 44, 50, 55, and 59. That is a good draft. 2011's draftees are at 15, 17, 20, 26, 37, 39, 40, 43, 47, 52, 54, 56. The 2011 and 2012 drafts have gone a long way to re-stocking the system with talent. 8 of the top 28 prospects have been drafted in the past two years. A positional breakdown and prospect movement trends (part 2) will be soon in coming.

Parenthetical numbers are pre-season 2012 and 2011 rankings, respectively.

While 60 is a big number, there are still guys left off this list who are worth watching. Here are my top 60 Twins prospects following the 2012 draft: Note: Liam Hendriks, Brian Dozier, Chris Parmelee, and Rene Tosoni would have appeared on this list, but I am cutting their prospect status off. 1. Miguel Sano (1, 2) 2. Eddie Rosario (4, 19) 3. Oswaldo Arcia (3, 10) 4. Byron Buxton (NR) 5. Aaron Hicks (2, 1) 6. Liam Hendriks (5, 7) 7. Jose Berrios (NR) 8. Joe Benson (6, 8) 9. Kyle Gibson (7, 4) 10. Adrian Salcedo (8, 12) 11. Chris Herrmann (13, 35) 12. Alex Wimmers (5, 11) 13. Max Kepler (12, 13) 14. David Bromberg (19, 11) 15. Travis Harrison (16, NR) 16. Niko Goodrum (17, 24) 17. Hudson Boyd (18, NR) 18. Lester Oliveros (NR) 19. B.J. Hermsen (22, 18) 20. Levi Michael (20, NR) 21. Luke Bard (NR) 22. Deolis Guerra (29, 39) 23. Manuel Solimon (15, 16) 24. Angel Morales (14, 5) 25. Matt Hauser (28, NR) 26. Madison Boer (21, NR) 27. Danny Santana (33, 50) 28. Mason Melotakis (NR) 29. Jairo Perez (26, NR) 30. Nate Roberts (23, 27) 31. J.T. Chargois (NR) 32. Tom Stuifbergen (27, 32) 33. JaDamion Williams (24, NR) 34. Carlos Gutierrez (25, 15) 35. Lance Ray (30, 41) 36. Adam Walker (NR) 37. Tim Shibuya (38, NR) 38. Pat Dean (31, 23) 39. Corey Williams (36, NR) 40. Matthew Summers (37, NR) 41. Tyler Duffey (NR) 42. Tyler Robertson (34, NR) 43. Josh Burris (NR) 44. Lee Mazzilli (NR) 45. Logan Darnell (39, 48) 46. Danny Ortiz (41, 21) 47. Matthew Koch (NR) 48. Bobby Lanigan (40, 40) 49. Bruce Pugh (46, 34) 50. Zachary Jones (NR) 51. James Beresford (48, 30) 52. Angel Mata (44, NR) 53. Josmil Pinto (NR) 54. Kuo-Hua Lo (NR) 55. Jorge Fernandez (NR) 56. Steven Gruver (NR) 57. Dakota Watts (47, 29) 58. Jorge Polanco (50, NR) 59. Christian Powell (NR) 60. Michael Tonkin (NR)

While 60 is a big number, there are still guys left off this list who are worth watching. Here are my top 60 Twins prospects following the 2012 draft: Note: Liam Hendriks, Brian Dozier, Chris Parmelee, and Rene Tosoni would have appeared on this list, but I am cutting their prospect status off. 1. Miguel Sano (1, 2) 2. Eddie Rosario (4, 19) 3. Oswaldo Arcia (3, 10) 4. Byron Buxton (NR) 5. Aaron Hicks (2, 1) 6. Liam Hendriks (5, 7) 7. Jose Berrios (NR) 8. Joe Benson (6, 8) 9. Kyle Gibson (7, 4) 10. Adrian Salcedo (8, 12) 11. Chris Herrmann (13, 35) 12. Alex Wimmers (5, 11) 13. Max Kepler (12, 13) 14. David Bromberg (19, 11) 15. Travis Harrison (16, NR) 16. Niko Goodrum (17, 24) 17. Hudson Boyd (18, NR) 18. Lester Oliveros (NR) 19. B.J. Hermsen (22, 18) 20. Levi Michael (20, NR) 21. Luke Bard (NR) 22. Deolis Guerra (29, 39) 23. Manuel Solimon (15, 16) 24. Angel Morales (14, 5) 25. Matt Hauser (28, NR) 26. Madison Boer (21, NR) 27. Danny Santana (33, 50) 28. Mason Melotakis (NR) 29. Jairo Perez (26, NR) 30. Nate Roberts (23, 27) 31. J.T. Chargois (NR) 32. Tom Stuifbergen (27, 32) 33. JaDamion Williams (24, NR) 34. Carlos Gutierrez (25, 15) 35. Lance Ray (30, 41) 36. Adam Walker (NR) 37. Tim Shibuya (38, NR) 38. Pat Dean (31, 23) 39. Corey Williams (36, NR) 40. Matthew Summers (37, NR) 41. Tyler Duffey (NR) 42. Tyler Robertson (34, NR) 43. Josh Burris (NR) 44. Lee Mazzilli (NR) 45. Logan Darnell (39, 48) 46. Danny Ortiz (41, 21) 47. Matthew Koch (NR) 48. Bobby Lanigan (40, 40) 49. Bruce Pugh (46, 34) 50. Zachary Jones (NR) 51. James Beresford (48, 30) 52. Angel Mata (44, NR) 53. Josmil Pinto (NR) 54. Kuo-Hua Lo (NR) 55. Jorge Fernandez (NR) 56. Steven Gruver (NR) 57. Dakota Watts (47, 29) 58. Jorge Polanco (50, NR) 59. Christian Powell (NR) 60. Michael Tonkin (NR)

Nice. I have very similar experiences growing up in Bemidji and watching the Cubs during the afternoons.

Exactly! Great article.

I have never liked the return to the TC as opposed to the M. The TC looks cooler on the caps, but it's the MINNESOTA Twins, right? The TC is already repped in the "Twins" name. But I lived in northern MN, so what do I know . . . OBP still matters a whole bunch. It isn't the end-all, be-all of baseball, but it matters a lot and that is why Joe Mauer needs more respect. He understands that while many, many Twins fans apparently don't.