Jeremy Nygaard

Whether you knew it or not, this is the moment you've long been waiting for: You can now get your hands on the 2017 Twins Prospect Handbook. Just shy of 170 minor leagues are profiled in the now-available book. But that's not all! Prospect rankings, a wide-variety of articles and more are also included.Seth Stohs, Cody Christie and myself have spent countless hours on the ninth annual prospect handbook. We say it every year - and we'll say it again anyway - this year's is our favorite. We love it. We know you'll love it too. To meet your needs, the book is available in both paperback ($15.99) and as an ebook ($10.99). You also have the opportunity to purchase prior editions at an even further reduced rate. Oh, and if you haven't got that coupon code yet... there might be one hiding here. Thank you for your support of us and Twins Daily. Here's to a great 2017! Click here to view the article

The Diamondbacks traded Bronson Arroyo, who was recovering from TJ, and Touki Toussaint for a no-name prospect. Essentially, the bought Toussaint for the $10.1 million remaining on Arroyo's contract. Arroyo never pitched for them.

You're never going to find a "can't miss" pitching prospect. Alvarez would definitely come with more risk than JDL, but he also comes with a Jose Fernandez-type ceiling. And those are risks that are worth taking.

I think that is probably a really fair comparison, to be honest. Just my opinion.

I'd make that deal in a heartbeat. I don't think the Dodgers would even consider it. If Falvey/Levine could pull that off, they'd be the real deal.

Happy New Years! It may be the first you've heard of it, but it sounds like the Twins and Dodgers have been having trade discussions that revolve around All-Star 2B Brian Dozier. Oh, you have heard it? Of course you have. It's been an ongoing national talker and there's been no shortage of articles to read on the topic right here on this site.While no one knows how close we are to getting (or not getting) to a resolution in these trade talks, you can put me squarely in the camp that believes the Twins shouldn't move Dozier unless they're blown away. Sorry guys, trading Dozier for Jose De Leon in a 1-for-1 swap isn't blowing the Twins away. And trading Dozier for De Leon and Brock Stewart also isn't enough, in my opinion, to pull the trigger. So what's going to give? Did you hear? The 9th edition of the Twins Prospect Handbook is coming out on Wednesday. If you plug the code FWD15 in at checkout, you'll get 15% off. Want to buy a few? Get 20% off five or more books with the code SPACE20. Get Another Prospect or Two The Dodgers reportedly are holding steadfast in that they won't budge from not including other highly-regarded prospects like Yadier Alvarez or Cody Bellinger. But they've shown a "willingness" to include De Leon. A package that includes De Leon and Stewart is a good start. So who else could they look to include? Willie Calhoun - Calhoun is fashioned as a power-hitting left-handed-hitting second baseman. That might cause you to raise a red flag because that's ultimately Jorge Polanco's home. No problem, though, because Calhoun isn't going to stick at second base. His future is likely in left field, where he'd be limited by his lack of speed and arm, only because a 5' 6" first baseman isn't realistic. I wouldn't love Calhoun to be included, but his bat is an asset and assets are what the Twins need to close the deal. Jordan Sheffield - Getting another arm would be wise and Sheffield has a pretty powerful one (which includes a remade UCL). The Twins liked Sheffield - but didn't love him - coming out of Vanderbilt and there are questions about whether he profiles as a starter or not. But guys that can hit 98 don't just fall off trees and getting him as a third piece wouldn't be a terrible thing. Trevor Oaks - Oaks profiles as a groundball pitcher who could be a back end starter/middle relief option. There's nothing sexy about him but adding a (good) Nick Blackburn-type would be an acceptable third piece. Lottery Tickets - The Dodgers have been very active in international free agency the past few years and maybe the Twins could pry away either Ronny Brito, SS or Starling Heredia, OF. Just 17 and neither having made their US debut yet, both prospects have high ceilings but a long way to go. Brito is a defensive wizard who has questions about his bat. Heredia is a big-bodied power hitter who will end up in a corner. It might go without saying, though, that if the Dodgers were willing to include any of these guys and the Twins were willing to seal the deal with the inclusion of any of these guy that the deal would already be done. So now let's get more creative. International Spending Money - The new CBA revamps how and what teams can spend. Hard caps. Pools are much more even. For example, the Twins, despite having the #1 overall pick in the draft, get no advantage in the international free agent (IFA) market for being the worst team. Because they receive revenue sharing, they will receive a competitive balance pick and extra IFA money. Every team will have a pool of at least a minimum of $4.75 million. The Twins, who get an extra pick after the first round, will have a pool of $5.25 million. There are eight teams who have pools of $5.75 million. The Dodgers fit in the group that has $4.75 million to spend. So where am I going with this? The Dodgers are still stuck with the penalties of going over their spending limit in 2015. They can't sign any player for more than $300,000. Maybe they could send some money to the Twins? The Twins could add up to $3,937,500 to their pool. The Dodgers love to spend money, so maybe they'll just spend it all on $300,000 guys... or maybe they could cough up $1.75 million to the Twins, who would then have $7 million and the ability to throw their weight around in that market as the team with the most money. Rules prohibit pool money from being traded until the market opens on July 2, so it would have to called "future considerations." Take On Bad Money - The Dodgers will always flirt with the luxury tax threshold. With only 13 players under contract for 2017, they are already at $200 million in commitments. They have eight arbitration-eligible players who are projected to get around $16 million. If the four players who fill out the roster all make the minimum, they're looking at a payroll that is nearly $220 million. The way the CBA reads, the Dodgers would face a 50% penalty on the overage (the limit is $195 million for the upcoming season) which would cost them $12.5 million. In addition to that, they'd be forced to pay an additional 12% on any dollar over $215 million, which is another $600,000. And that's assuming the Dodgers payroll is only $220 million. It will likely be greater. At $240 million? More penalties. It could almost get to the point where the Dodgers are forced to pay $2 for every $1 they spend over $195 million. So a team, like the Twins, could take on $10 million dollars and save the Dodgers $20 million. You know what could encourage a team to take on money? More prospects. How could the Twins take on money, you ask? Brandon McCarthy - McCarthy has two years at $10 million each left on his contract plus a team option. McCarthy has only made 13 starts in the last two seasons due to having Tommy John surgery. He's only 33 and not too far removed from being a pretty good pitcher. Erisbel Arruebarrena - The Cuban shortstop is a defensive wizard but has been suspended for much of the last two seasons. He's owed $9 million over the next two years. I'm not interested in adding the player - mostly cause I don't know what his issues are - but I'd take on his money to add another prospect (like Sheffield). The Dodgers, in turn, would save up to nearly $18 million of dead-weight. Yaisel Sierra - Another Cuban, the right-handed pitcher has been a huge disappointment after signing a six-year, $30 million contract in February. He only lasted on the 40-man until the beginning of July and struggled at both high-A and AA. He's still on the hook for five years and $23 million. But he could still prove to be a serviceable arm. While that money is an albatross for the Dodgers - and costing them nearly $50 million - it could be worth taking on for the Twins... if the Dodgers are willing to throw more in. Of course, this is all based on the assumption that the Dodgers care about wasting money (and they might not). Brian Dozier (who's owed $6 million and $9 million for the next two years) for Jose De Leon, Brock Stewart, the contracts of McCarthy or Sierra and Arruebarrena (who are owed $6.5 million and $8.5 million the next two years), Calhoun and/or Sheffield and some IFA money in July would be a creative way to get a deal done. Is it enough? Is it fair? Click here to view the article

Just think if they would have bought out a free agent year (or two) or had a team option (or two).

I'd definitely add Granite. He's got the skills to stick - pinch-runner, defensive replacement - and has the potential to be a starting outfielder.

Scherff's a guy for sure. I ran this group by a number of scouts and most agreed on the four... one said they had a few more preps up high and Scherff and Adell are likely two of the prep pitchers.

Thanks. I appreciate it. And I hear it enough to know it's worth continuing. (On a completely different note, I am going back to school for another degree... so my time is being spread thinner. I'll still be around - but likely less active - on Twitter and here. I'll still try to bring #KnowledgeBombs from time to time.)

I remember talking to a scout about Stewart very early in the process and the word "risk" came up a ton. He was a prep right-handed thrower who was still learning how to pitch. The ceiling was incredibly high and the floor was pretty low. Greene is different. He's been working his whole life to be a major league baseball player. He could be a Greinke-like pitcher. There's also a chance he could be a Correa-like shortstop. Like Stewart, his ceiling is super high... but his floor is much higher than Stewart's.

You put new leaders in charge and then you let them evaluate what they have over the course of a year. If scouts leave, I anticipate it being because they have other opportunities rather than being forced to go.

I guess we'll see. But I'd also guess you're wrong.

His most recent appearances (with USA baseball) were high 80s. He was low 90s during the season. Probably had to do with workload. He got hit pretty hard in the regionals.

Cole and Bauer went 1 and 3 a few years back. I'm not sure if any school has ever gone 1 and 2.

No. I'm not going to tell you it was a Twins scout. I'm also not going to tell you it wasn't.

Beer was the best player in America... but he struggled with USA Baseball. You're right though, he's the next big thing.

Give it more time to play out. He's much different than those guys. There are probably teams out there - in fact, I'm sure there are - that prefer Greene in the field.

JJ Schwarz from Florida. I really like his bat, but he kinda fell off a bit in his sophomore year. He's definitely someone that could re-emerge with a strong season.

For the first time since adding Joe Mauer in 2001, the Twins are going to be first on the clock when the 2017 draft kicks off. It’s exciting. The opportunity to add the best amateur player to an already strong, young system is an encouraging step for an organization with a new leader. But before we examine the top five candidates to hear their name called at the top of the draft, we should look at some of the uncertainties that need to be cleared up before the draft happens in eight months.Ch-ch-ch-changes Terry Ryan was in the draft room, but wasn’t making the calls. Deron Johnson had the final say and many others had their voices heard. Ryan is out, obviously, and Derek Falvey has been named Chief Baseball Officer. Johnson is still in (for now), as is the entire scouting staff. But what role will Falvey play? How involved will his GM be? How many of the scouting department will he retain? How many will take jobs elsewhere? My guess is that Falvey will be more involved than Ryan, but that a majority of the scouting department remains unchanged. I don’t know what the future holds for Johnson, but I think there’s a chance his role changes. Many scouts stayed in the organization for as long as they have because of Terry Ryan. We could certainly see more changes than we’ve seen in the last few years. (Which isn’t saying much, because there have been hardly any changes in the last five years.) New Rules When poking around for information, one thing that continued to come up was the expiring Collective Bargaining Agreement. Having the #1 pick - and the draft bonus tied to it - has been an absolute benefit, one that many teams feel is unfair. Many expect the current rules to change and the benefit to… well, become less of a benefit. If the CBA rules doesn’t change, one A.L. scout told me the first pick would be “the guy who takes the best deal” before warning me to see how the new agreement shakes out. The Candidates It’s early. Really early. It’s likely not all four of these guys will be first-rounders, let alone the top four picks of the draft. It’s also extremely likely someone not on the top-four radar will be a top four pick. But as of today, here are the four I’ve been hearing tied to the first pick of the draft. Hunter Greene, California HS RHP. No right-handed prep pitcher has ever gone first overall, so despite the fact that Greene is the best prospect, there’s no guarantee that he’s going first overall. But he’s good enough to break that trend. Up to 98 on the mound, profiling as a potential ace, Greene also has legitimate two-way tools as a shortstop. How many prospects come around like this? Not many. But before you get too far ahead of yourself... no, he’s not Bryce Harper. But he is a pretty special prospect. Jeren Kendall, Vanderbilt CF. Kendall wasn’t a huge name coming from a Wisconsin HS, but Vanderbilt doesn’t just take anybody… and now Kendall’s a future star in a five-tool package. After helping Vanderbilt to the College World Series as a freshman, batting .332 with a .964 OPS as a sophomore and being the biggest run-producer on the collegiate national team this summer, Kendall has surfaced as the best draft-eligible college position player in the nation. Alex Faedo, Florida RHP. Faedo was named Baseball America’s top prospect from the collegiate national team. Faedo is a big guy (6’ 5”, 220) with top-of-the-rotation stuff. He recently underwent arthroscopic surgery on both knees, but is expected to fully recover by the spring. Faedo features a low-to-mid-90s fastball, a mid-80s slider and a change-up. Kyle Wright, Vanderbilt RHP. Wright was arguably the best pitcher in the SEC last year in a stacked conference. He showed well over the summer, featuring a high-80s heavy fastball and a plus curveball. He’s developing a change-up. Another A.L. scout told me that if he was making the call, he’d take Wright first overall right now. Other names to watch: J.B. Bukauskas, UNC RHP; Jo Adell, Kentucky HS P/OF; Trevor Rogers, New Mexico HS, LHP. Who do you take? Click here to view the article

Is it crazy to think the Twins go into next season with Murphy and Garver as their two catchers?

I am fairly certain you're going to be disappointed. The impression I get is that most of the employees think they'll probably be retained for a year. I'm sure there will be more changes than a typical off-season, but there won't be sweeping changes... yet. The scoreboard operator might be the only person that Falvey comes in and immediately gets rid of.

John's the fun parent that lets you throw a party... but then watches everyone like a hawk to make sure they don't have too much fun. I'm just kidding. By the time John makes it to the game, he won't remember his own name... let alone his rules.