diehardtwinsfan

Yeah, I think there's going to be an overhaul... the real question is whether or not it's coming from the outside or inside.

13 home runs in June? That's insane.

Then why is Buxton still up here?

I'm still POd at Gardy for 2004 game 2 ALDS.

we have to trade them before our record starts to improve

so the question begs, would you be willing to put Meyer/Duffy/someone in AAA for a 1 year make good deal on someone else? I'd probably let the kids figure it out personally, but if you signed someone, they are going to play if they're ready.

always darkest before the dawn??? Hope that's the case, though I'd probably punt on 2017 at this point and let those rookies take their lumps... Problem is that 2017 will suck.

I'm probably higher on Duffey than Meyer, but truthfully I'm ready to write off 2017 and just let them see if they can stick (though in Meyers case I hope can come back yet this year and log some innings in AAA). But as it is, dumping Milone and Nolasco leaves us with a few of the younger guys, but still 6 starters for 5 spots and that assumes Hughes is in the pen (and that would be my plan in 2017). I think most of those guys have pretty good upside. Not sure who at the end of the day sticks, but that gives guys like Romero, Stewart, Gonsalves, and Jorge some good experience at AA/AAA not to mention some insurance in AAA in Wheeler and Dean. If the offense comes around in 2017, then I think you go get the big FA or start packaging some of these guys for established help. Not sure I'd go too big this offseason other than maybe a higher upside make good type deal that can be flipped at the deadline.

I would expect BD to bring home a nice haul, especially given his resurgence. I've waffled back and forth on this, but a 2B with a >.800 OPS and above average defense is worth a lot, especially with 2+ years of cheap control. I'd think a top 100 prospect would be the starting point here. I might have been willing to negotiate down a few weeks ago, but he's hitting quite well and I'd want value for him. Given the team's situation and long term outlook, he really doesn't fit going forward, so a trade makes sense... but no t a dump just to make room for Polanco.

Slowey was also looking like he was going to be a really good pitcher until he took that liner off of his wrist. I think we forget about that, but he was never the same after that injury.

It's in the minor league forum.

Not against Ramos. C is pretty thin right now in the high minors. The team is going to need help there for a while, and getting a guy like Ramos, even if he's expensive makes a ton of sense there. I'd probably strongly consider a 1 year make good FA contract in CF as well as well as some pen help. I don't think we should be making plans for Gordon just yet. I think Dozier should be shopped as I don't see this team competitive in 2017. The soonest is 2018 which is Brian's final year. That frees up room for Polanco who I think will be a decent 2B. Not sure he'll be as good as BD (at least not at first), but he can be above average. Honestly, I think Escobar is a candidate to lock up for a year or two beyond FA. He's not expensive and has enough upside that if he simply maintains what he's done, he's tradable when Gordon is ready and if he does well he's a coveted asset. He'd also be relatively cheap to DFA if he falls flat (which I don't think he will at this point). Truthfully, I'd rather go with a rotation of Santana, May, Gibson, Berrios, and Duffy/Meyer than pick up a FA. Hughes goes to the pen in that scenario and Milone/Nolasco are no longer with the org. There's at least some upside there and if they run with an OF in 2017 of Rosario, FA CF at first supplanted by Buxton at the trade deadline, Kepler. Defensively, that should be a decent OF which will help the pitchers. Honestly, with the exception of 3B/2B, it's a pretty decent defensive alignment in general. That is what my 2017 plan would be. I think you'd see some hope at least, though I wouldn't be surprised if there were some frustrating bumps in 2017. I'd shop Dozier, Nolasco, Abad, and Milone heavily. Might part ways with Nunez for the right deal, but I don't mind him as a part of a 2B/SS/3B platoon. Everyone gets a day off every 4th game in that scenario and there's usually a decent PH option on the bench. The same could be done with Vargas/Mauer/Park at 1B/DH, though Vargas gets the lions share of the bench time in that scenario.

didn't Felix Jorge just get bumped to A+ (or am confusing him with someone else)? If so, I'd probably wait on that one. Arraez on the other hand has been in CR all year and absolutely raking. He's really young (turns 20 in April), so I can see some merit to leaving him there, but he's got a really nice OPS for someone 3 years younger than his league average and has done so all season. Only big knock that I see thus far as that it is largely being driven by a high BA. I think a bump for him at some point makes some sense, if for no other reason than to give him a taste later this year of what he's going to see most of next year. Should also note that his power numbers haven't really shown up yet. He's got a decent amount of doubles, which is encouraging for 19 year old, but not much in terms of deep power thus far.

it bounced off of his glove... that's what it looked like when it slowed down. Probably took some of the force off of it, but that had to hurt. Hope he's OK.

I don't think the Twins should be adding SPs in FA at all... you have May (moderately high upside), Berrios (high upside), Meyer (high upside but with some serious questions) all being blocked, though Meyer is injured right now. I wouldn't be adding any FAs even if Santana was traded. They need to part ways with Milone and Nolasco for sure. I could see Hughes sticking around in the pen in 2017, but that also makes for the occasional emergency start. So I'm with you in that I wouldn't mind Santana staying, but that still pretty much leaves one of the three I want in the rotation out when you factor in Duffy and Gibson.

I seem to remember the Hu/Jepsen reaction being a bit mixed. I thought it was a pretty high price... but we needed the help. I didn't know much about Tapia, but I liked Hu. I don't think that Tampa's get in the deal was far from exorbitant. Trades mid season are expensive as the seller doesn't have to sell and the buyer usually needs to buy. There's probably a bigger issue in that the pen was an obvious weakness that was never addressed. That was something that should have been done earlier on, and something that should have been done this season (though in the FO's defense, a better pen would have added what, a few more wins to this abomination of a season?) Let's try though and get things back on topic just a bit. It's our turn to hopefully have some leverage. I'm not as confident as I should be, though this team has by far been worse than any of the previous teams at this point so perhaps they have the sell confirmation they need... I sure hope so. Other than Dozier, I'm not expecting any big names, but by all means, we should be picking up pieces where ever we can.

Tony Fiore had a palm ball...

Buxton needs to go down now... and it has nothing to do with Sano being ready. He needs to get more time working on minor league pitches and cementing those habits that he quickly got away from when he came back up here. In my perfect little world, Plouffe gets traded. I'm probably asking too much there, so Park would be my second choice.

I still think Park was a good move... It never hurts to add talent... Problem is how they handled it post (not trading Plouffe, though I'll defend them a bit given the returns on much better options this season). The problem though is what they realized when they bid on Park... he needs work. He got off to a decent start and pitchers adjusted. He has to adjust back. That's going to be harder for him as he hasn't had to face that level of competition, and AAA might be the answer there. DFAing Arcia certainly was not, though I doubt you disagree there. The correct decision at this point would have been some time in AAA. I think he'd benefit from that. But yeah, I'm with you on the leadership... I think there's a change coming this year, and I don't think TR is going to be able to pick his successor this time. He may very well get the respect of being able to retire, but I wouldn't be surprised if that gets announced in September so they can start looking for a replacement. Something I've heard on the minor league forums is that scouts in the Twins org are legitimately concerned they will be employed next year. Lots of people are worried, and they should be. When the owner uses the words "total system failure" that pretty much means total failure. My real concern though is that I don't think scouting is where the org's problem is. I think it's development. That's why I wanted Gardy's replacement to be one with a good reputation working with the kids... I'm not happy with what I've seen from Molitor in that respect, and one point I have to think TR needs to step in. I admire that he is fairly hands off for the most part... that is usually a good quality in a manager, but there's a time to step in too, and TR has clearly shown that this isn't something he will do.

Flattery gets you no where

I'd also add that these guys aren't exactly win now type players either (except maybe Sano when comes back)... There's some pieces that should generate some interest. Dozier's resurgence just might do that in particular. OPS is over .800 now and he's doing what he did before... flat out mash.

I maintain there is and was always room for both on the team. No reason why Arcia couldn't start 3 out of every 4 games with some creative platooning, especially with Sano out... same with Park. He got DFAd for Milone, who probably (hopefully) won't be a Twin in 2017.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head. I'd give him his shot. He deserves it.

they were rumored to be all in at some point, and that had confirmation from national sources... I don't like seeing though that they aren't connected to anyone. That's not a good sign.

Perhaps they changed their position on it after David Ortiz castigated them rather publicly for it? Who knows.. I tend to agree... those are things I work on when I'm taking swings, and I'm far from major league quality.