Twins Twerp

Randall Delgado is not for sale. Did we not cover the fact that teams are not willing to trade prospects nowadays...much less a major league ready STARTING PITCHER with high upside. We would have to give up Span, Burton or Perkins, and at least Hicks or Arcia, plus one or two C prospects for him. I would even think about going for a trade like that, but this just will not happen. Teams overvalue pitching close to the Majors.

Doumit is a dude, Carrol fills a great need as a bench player who can play anywhere and shows leadership in the clubhouse, lets face the fact that he could be Sano and Buxton's father

Here is what I would do. I would punt. We can't afford to bring in the pitching necessary to win in this league. It will cost too many good young prospects to trade for an ace. I think we trade our MLB assets and shoot for 2014. Terry Ryan has got an eye for talent. The Doumit and Willingham deals were brilliant last winter. Not to mention the under the radar signing of Deduno (might not have a future but overperformed expectations) and Burton were pure genious. My blueprint will assume the interim tag is removed and TR will be able find some of these guys this summer. The blueprint is as follows: 1. Sell Willingham for young pitching prospects- if we have to throw in some filler prospects go ahead and do that. Willinghams value will never be this high. He could be a stud DH for a contender for years to come. The next 2 years of his deal, we will be a doormat in the worst division in baseball. If a team offers a high ceiling OF'er, tell him were to go (hell). If they offer a stud middle infield prospect, then you can listen. But what we really need is some pitching in our mid to lower levels. Getting MLB ready pitching is next to impossible, so you go for some younger studs. The rumors this summer were teams like Cinci and Toronto. Those systems are full of pitching and say we jump at it. 2. Trade Mornie- Getting rid of his salary would be nice, but the goal is to get some more young pitching prospects in the system. Again, goal is 2014. I know he is a Twins Royalty, but so was Cuddyer. 3. Trade Span- I know, trade all three you say? Yes! Span's still an above average Lead off guy and an average fielder. This will allow for Span to move to center and let Mastrianni play left or right, doesn't really matter. The other outfeilder can be a AAAA guy like Carson or someone TR brings in on the cheap. Again, I am of the mind set you need to blow this thing up for the future. 4. Keep Hicks, Arcia, and Gibson in AAA until mid June- I'm not sure how many AB's or innings you need to keep rookie status or to stay under team control for an extra year, but I would make sure they don't use a year in 2013 for these three. Our farm system is starting to turn around and these three are straight dudes. 5. Use the money we save in trades mentioned before to sign a 27 to 28 year old mid rotation type guy- An Edwin Jackson or Shawn Marcum would be a great signing. We need to start building that rotation for 2014. We aren't getting the guys on top, and probably can't afford Marcum, but we need to spend that extra 10-15 mil on a pitcher. 6. DON't TRADE MAUER-this guy is the only thing selling tickets and will still be a crucial aspect to our 2014 coming out party. 7. Draft Appel- This guy shouldn't be that hard to sign. If he doesn't sign for slot where will he go? I know he is a Bor-ass client but he will be the best pitcher in the draft and could be up as soon as 2014, the year we will be vying for the pennant. 8. Hit the waiver wire and hit it hard- Pick up some rejects from other teams and turn them for some young prospects. We need to build that farm system up so that we can keep filling our big league team with quality young players. We went with the Yankee-Red Sox blueprint for awhile (meaning we didn't draft well and we traded a hot prospect for a now need). We need to start using the Small Market blueprint that the Astros are now using. I don't think we are as far off as the Astros and think we could be the Rays of the Central within 2 years. Go Twins/Bison!!

Ok Twins fans, football season has started and our Twinks are about as out of it as a team possibly could be. Next year looks like it could be tough as well. This summer is crucial for the future of the Twins Organization. Terry Ryan had some great signings last summer spending a small amount of cash. What will he do this summer? More importantly, what SHOULD he do? What would you do?

I think they should keep him down in AAA until mid June and shut him down around 160 innings. This is the new way of doing things. I don't care if we are contending or not, we have a lot of invested in Kyle and we need him in the future. Our situation is much easier than Washington's because we will not compete. Now if we spend some money and bring in an Ace type pitcher, or at least spend some big money on a pitcher, I change my philosophy. If you think you are going to compete, have him up early in the season. Put him in the bullpen until mid June or early July and THEN start him. His innings will be good low and he should be able to pitch in the playoffs (in the off chance we actually make it). If we do not spend big or trade for some descent pitching, then you punt on next season as well. There is no reason to bring him up and waste a year of service/big league money on him. We should already be 2 years into rebuilding mode, which is another story for another thread. P.S. Isn't it poopie that we will have the same conversation next year about Alex Wimmers (our other first round tommy j hurler). My guess is we draft Appel with the 3-4th pick next spring...he throws well and then...needs tommy j surgery too because Stanford abuses pitchers. Sigh, at least we will have the best outfield in the majors for the rest of time. Go Twins!!

The points system is not just flawed, it is wrong. The more I think about this ranking stuff, the more it makes me angry. But they wouldn't do it if we didn't read it, we have ourselves to blame. I am not going to lie, when I check that website at least 70 times during the baseball season. Everytime a trade rumor comes out, I go there and look at certain teams systems to see who we could get (Reds and Blue Jays especially). The website site up is super easy and very nice and Mayo updates frequently. I would like to know where the two new cats from Chicago would rank?

Did you see him announce the twins pick (Buxton) at the MLB draft last year, I thought he said "Baseball Baseball." Seriously, I know more of what Sano is talking about when he speaks Spanish than when Tony speaks English...and I don't speak Spanish.

1. Sano 2. Buxton 3. Hicks 4. Rosario 5. Arcia 6. BERRIOS 7. Harrisson 8. Gibson 9. Harrison 10. Max Kepler This would be more like it.

I don't have a huge problem with Arcia not being in the top 100. I don't understand the organization records. To have Kyle Gibson so low is understandable. But JO ranked behind Salcedo? Doesn't make any sense. And then to keep Herrmann out and put in Alex Wimmers, who hasn't done a darn tooten since he signed, is absurd. I understnad he has to do a lot of teams and he actually did a pretty good job other than those few things I mentioned. Mayo is a legit minor league analyst and needs to be recognized. Hey Jon, nailed it bud.

Such as getting caught leaning off of 1st base 20 times a season ala span?

Yes, another toolsy outfielder with a high ceiling. I am so glad we have a million of those in our farm system that we can pass on guys like...Mike Trout. Nice!

Revere is a much better hitter (for average) than Span. Revere has better baserunning skills and covers more ground than Span. Revere is solid. I would also agree that Span's value is much lower than Revere. Revere's lack of arm strength is super overblown. Span's injury put the cabosh on getting traded. Now look for Mornie and/or the Hammer to get moved this offseason.

Beause after living in the US for 40 years he still can't speak English.

Haha, this is what is come too. You know you're in loserville USA when the conversation on how a AAA reliever, who has never been looked at as a prospect, who is tearing up AAA at age 50, is the topic of the town. *The vikings season is already over. *The Gophers mind as well commit mass suicide as to evade total embarrassment. *The T-Wolves are...the T-Wolves. *The Wild are in full on NHL lockout mode after spending eleventy billion dollars this offseason. *The Lynx still are playing while wearing clothes, call when they aren't. *Gophers hockey still isn't Souix Hockey *And the Minnesota freakin' Twins have resorted to mass conversation about ANTHONY, 39th round pick, SLAMA. God has smiled upon us with the great gift of Slama, and we hath turned our backeth on him by not giving him a shot at 7 innings of middle relief work...oh the humanity.

Great words of wisdom TK. The move Mauer debate needs to be brought up in full force this summer.

How great would that be? Except if we were get Ricky Romero, WE would have to be the ones kicking in a pitching prospect (upside if we could find one, which we do not have). Romero is having an obviously horrible run right now, but he still has more value than an average firstbasemen with a well documented history of concussions and other random (wrist) injuries. As far as Greike goes, no chance. I think he would dominate in a small/medium market like Minnesota, but the price tag would be too great. Probably over 20 mil for at least 8 years. I don't see TR putting that kind of money into one guy (unless he's a catcher). The name that I like is Marcum. But he won't be cheap either. TR is going to have to spend at least 15 million to get a decent, top to mid of the rotation kind of guy. Whether he is willing to do it is the question.

I agree gmarais, he is not elite. He is very good, but elite would be an 80 like Trout. He has an above-average to good arm. He is all around still a solid player and would be a good pick-up for any team, if he were healthy. But the fact that we are going into the offseason with him on the DL for a second straight year, I don't see his value very high. I used think that he was a lock to get traded, but I see TR keeping him. What is the harm in keeping him until early next summer. Hopefully, he brings up his trade value while we let Arcia and Hicks develop slowly. I don't think you get anything better than a B+ low minor level prospect. I would also like to point out, that if traded, I would be very ok with Mastrianni being in the mix for right fielder until Arcia and Hicks get enough at-bats at AAA. Or until the arbitration deadline is passed. The guy is a dude who in a full season could hit for decent average, play just as good defense as Span, and is a much better baserunner than Span. He obviously has less value, but we have him for another 5 years before arbitration and he might be our 4th outfielder for the forseable future (all this said assuming Parmalee is at first and Mornie is traded as well). Go Twins.

Geez la weez do you guys love Slama. The guy is down in Mexico, probably Cabo, working out getting ready for winter ball. All everyone can do is go crazy about how he deserves at most a 5 inning september call-up. If the other guy, peridimo is poopie, we don't bring him back next year. Slama IS coming back. Do we know that we are not "shutting" him down after the injury he had that kept him sidelined for half the summer?

If he shaves the mustachio, I am in. If he does not, he can stay and room with Buxton when he gets to Rochester...(with the way we move prospects through our farm system, 2017 looks like a bit of a stretch).

Too bad Span going on the DL killed his trade value. Hopefully he gets traded, Revere fills in at Center, and Hicks can take his time in AAA. Revere is an abover average centerfielder. WIth Span, we could have an outfield of Hicks in Left, Span in Center, and Revere in Right. Arcia could DH and play the Kubel role. The hammer could be San Fran or anywhere and we could get some great pitching prospects. Boy for the 3rd worst team in the league I sure am giddy with excitement... Now lets go out and spend 30 million on a pitcher or 2 and we will be good for 3rd in the Central

According to reputable and always spot on bleacherreport.com, Michael is a bust. Put a fork in him, he's done.

Can you really say this list is a crapshoot with Berrios and Gibson in the 6 and 7 spot? Personally I am extremely excited about Berrios' potential as a starter, and his K/BB ratio is ridiculous! Gibson isn't putting up quite the "video game esque" numbers, but is a legit starter that will be a favorite for a spot in the rotation next year. I see where you are coming from. I maybe should have said six as I also like JO. But Gibson is going to be 25 and probably starting out at AAA. He is also going to be 2 years removed from surgery. He could still be a solid pro but I don't see him as a hot prospect anymore. I am not on high as JO as everyone else seems to be. I still think he could become a great pitcher, but his size scares me. You just don't see a lot of those skinny short type of pitchers starting. I know that some will put out the 'freak' and Trevor Bauer. But the freak is just that, a freak. JO's floor is pretty high too. At the very least, he will be a late inning reliever. When the rankings come out this spring from all the National mags/websites/columnist/etc. I think the reviews on JO will be all over the map. It is nice to have some pitching to look forward to in the future. Go Twins

Really like the list. I am guessing most national scouts will put Buxton ahead of Sano. Saying that I agree Sano should be number one. I would also leave Benson out. He had a terrible year. I hope he can have a good comeback next year. I see him as a good fourth outfielder with all the outfielders we have. All in all it was a good list. After the top 5 it is kinda of a crapshoot. Hopefully we can bring in a few arms with next years draft (and the haul we take in trading Mornie and Span).

With the Dodger's and their crazy Yankee like spending spree you could double the amounts. Agreed. And with Bundy and the two kids from Pittsburgh, we're looking at about 200 mil because there salaries are cheap for years. But with the money the dodgers are putting out, it would be almost comical.

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