Shane Wahl

Herrmann has been mashing at AAA since his demotion.

Anderson and Gardenhire need to go. I still do not understand how there is no accountability in this organization. It's just like a damn governmental or educational bureaucracy where administrators keep their jobs even though performance sucks.

Assuming no Buxton and Sano for at least awhile in 2015, I imagine it could start something like this: Santana Mauer Vargas Arcia Dozier Add Buxton and Sano and Dozier could drop to as far as seven, which is remarkable.

I didn't know that about Landa, R. Rosario, and F. Romero!!!

I agree completely. It is now just laughable to watch this Eric Fryer show while Pinto mashes in AAA. He doesn't need playing time "every day" he needs to be up facing big league pitching and working on catching big league pitchers. Anyway, it would be nice to have 13 good position players. It seems like we as Twins fans have become complacent about the bench and the last 4-6 roster spots. The Twins finishing the season next year with bench options like Pinto and Plouffe? Yes, please.

SD, I can't think of anyone who really fits the A ball Kepler/Polanco role this year. Michael was just promoted to AA. And man, he is doing well. I doubt that he would be selected, but a good AFL (has to go there, right?) could change that. Salcedo is someone I have always liked. It amazes me that after everything he has been through he is basically right where he should be in AA (though no longer starting). I think he might be safe from selection this time around, though.

I want to see Dozier batting 5th between Vargas and Arcia next year after Sano arrives. For right now, with Santana leading off it is absurd to not put him after Mauer.

Ok, I see. That's a dumb spot to bunt. There are all sorts of ways of moving runners over. A hit is also one of them!

I agree about bunting for hits. Sacrifices are often silly. I didn't watch the game. What was this Santana situation? And no sign? Further clarification, please!

Well, putting Rosario on the 40-man roster is still a no-brainer. He is still very young and at AA.

He wasn't known to be such an abomination behind the plate in the minors. Not good, but certainly passable. The Twins can rotate Mauer, Vargas, and Pinto a little bit to give Pinto DH time and he can start behind the play some too. Suzuki is a question mark next year as well.

No one needs to preach to this choir about Pelfrey! It is just another Blackburn situation right now. Maybe he replaces Deduno (if they are paying for Pelfrey anyway!). Some good points above. I would probably keep Parmelee out of those three.

Nunez is not a replacement. Escobar still has utility guy written all over him. Rosario is mediocre, at the moment, in AA. If Santana moves over, then there is a hole at shortstop. Florimon will never happen again. Polanco is still finding his way in AA. No trading of Dozier.

Soon it will be time to consider who should be dropped and added to the Twins 40-man roster for next season. This time there could be more of an upheaval than normal as the Twins hopefully look to enter the next phase of the organization's rebuilding project. Some opening remarks I have to believe that the following players could or should be removed from the 40-man roster for next season: Jared Burton Sam Deduno Brian Duensing Edgar Ibarra Yohan Pino Anthony Swarzak Caleb Thielbar Eric Fryer Chris Colabello Pedro Florimon Eduardo Nunez/Chris Parmelee/Jordan Schafer I am sure that there are legitimate reasons for keeping each of these players except for Burton and likely Colabello. There are three lefty relievers in this group, but none of them are really overwhelming talents. Most of these players are getting on in age and there are a number of younger replacements waiting in the wings. The triple slash at the end would probably depend on what is valued most: a righty bat, a lefty bat, or speed. Supposing no new additions Let's suppose for now (because the speculation derails this entire issue) that the Twins do not add any free agents to compete for 40-man roster space (though James Shields or Ervin Santana could be nice additions). This is probably unlikely because it would seem that the Twins would add somebody but it doesn't really matter for now, especially since I am leaving one spot open. Two spots taken back Add Mike Pelfrey back from the 60-day DL (that ridiculous contract is going to mean he is involved somehow, likely as a long relief option replacing Deduno) Also keep in mind that the Twins might like to keep a spot open on the 40 man, so we are talking about adding nine players to the 40 man roster. Keeping one spot open makes sense for making waiver claims or other transactions without having to remove someone else already on the roster. Top eligible players for consideration Here are 21 players that I would say are the most likely to be considered as additions: A.J. Achter, Jason Adam, James Beresford, Sean Gilmartin, Niko Goodrum, Deolis Guerra, Tyler Jones, Cole Johnson, Mike Kvasnicka, Brett Lee, Aderlin Mejia, Alex Meyer, Levi Michael, Lester Oliveros, Danny Ortiz, Deibinson Romero, Eddie Rosario, Adrian Salcedo, Miguel Sano, Jason Wheeler, and Alex Wimmers Sano, Rosario, and Meyer are locks, so this knocks it down to six of the remaining 18 players. I think that some of these players are quite safe from being taken in the rule 5 due to either age, level, or performance issues (or both/all). They are: Goodrum, Kvasnicka, and Mejia. Another group that would seem to be safe would be Beresford, Lee, Michael, Salcedo, Wheeler, and Wimmers. The first group are players with glaring issues to be worked out and the second group, while having some big names, just doesn't have anyone who I would think teams would use for a 25-man roster spot for the season. Salcedo and Wimmers could be exceptions, but that would be pretty risky for teams to stick them in the bullpen for an entire season. Who's left? There are then nine players left to consider: Achter, Adam, Gilmartin, Guerra, Johnson, Jones, Oliveros, Ortiz, and Romero. The Twins are likely going to just risk Romero again and not worry if he gets selected. He is a good hitter, but is behind Plouffe and Sano right now. I also think that the Twins keeping Tyler Jones in Fort Myers will keep him safe as teams would be shy from taking that risk. There are then seven players to consider. On the Johan Santana trade principle, I think the Twins protect Guerra and give him a rotation spot trial in spring training. A.J. Achter, then, is the most likely candidate to be risked since the Twins seemingly don't like him all that much. The Nine The nine players that I see the Twins adding are Miguel Sano, Alex Meyer, Eddie Rosario, Sean Gilmartin, Danny Ortiz, Lester Oliveros, Cole Johnson, Deolis Guerra, and Jason Adam. There are two super prospects and one very good prospect. Gilmartin and Adam are solid 6th starter options who are still young and could improve. Ortiz is a 4th OF candidate for the Twins and for other teams, and the Twins cannot afford to lose any more OF prospects at the moment. Guerra is Johan trade material and on that principle alone should get a chance to replace a Jared Burton. Oliveros and Johnson (lefty) are striking people out this year and should be making the team out of spring training to replace Swarzak and Duensing. Personally, I like Beresford and Romero and would rather risk relievers, but I am trying to provide a balance here between what I would do and what the Twins will likely do. Conclusion I think this leaves the Twins in a good position. This would make for 39 players on the roster and sheds some aging replacement level players for actual prospects and actual young minor leaguers who could move up prospect lists. Lester Oliveros and Cole Johnson could join Michael Tonkin in anchoring the bullpen with Fien and Perkins (leaving Guerra and Pelfrey to fill the bullpen out). Sano, Meyer, and Rosario are close enough to not worry about option years at all. Danny Ortiz is a viable 4th OF option. Gilmartin and Adam provide depth for the starting rotation. There will be more changes coming if players like Byron Buxton, Nick Burdi, and J.O. Berrios emerge next season, but I think this provides a nice framework for understanding how the 40-man roster could shape up in the offseason.

I bet he starts 2015 in Fort Myers.

It's another thing to think about when considering prospects and promotions. If a player is being nagged with injuries, it is likely not very wise to have him potentially struggle with that while also dealing with a new level of competition. I don't think that fully applies in this case, but it is something to consider.

Thank a whole bunch, Jim! This was really helpful for understanding what is going on with Williams this year. It has been a lost season up until now.

I still can't get over this Dozier situation here. He was basically the only non-Mauer legit leadoff candidate until Danny Santana emerged. Santana emerging right now as a leadoff hitter doesn't mean that Dozier bats second. That's stupid. Dozier, right now, should bat third behind Mauer. Fifth and eventually sixth will be where he ends up, but for now, third please.

I have said all along that he was a very bad draft pick. The K/BB is not good at all. But there were obviously red flags going into the draft.

176 plate appearances in Rochester and his OPS is up to .860. Yesterday he homered and doubled in the first game of the double header. Herrmann looks to finally be developing that doubles power.

In 155 plate appearances for New Britain, Herrmann has posted an .838 OPS and is now splitting time between catching and RF. For what it's worth, he has thrown out 40% of runners this year, keeping with his minor league average.

Mejia is batting .378 in his last 10 games. He has 16 stolen bases and a 36/34 BB/K ratio in Fort Myers.

Post All-Star break next year, the Twins OF could be Hicks-Buxton-Arcia, with Ortiz as the 4th OF and Herrmann as the 5th. Parmelee's time is in doubt now.

Pitcher is a lefty.

Shields or Santana. Making that happen would be stellar.