diehardtwinsfan

Sanchez - yes Demster - no way.

This is more encouraging... wonder if Parker can pick up some photos from his delivery during this timeframe...

2004 ALDS game 2.

That's about right... Gardy has done a terrific job managing the Twins since he started in 2002. He's the same person and the same manager that won an AL Manager of the Year award and finished second five times. But if it's going to be guys like Correia in his rotation or guys like we saw last year, there's not a thing he can do. No manager alive, even Larussa or Maddon could have won with the Twins issues (injury and talent) the last two seasons. It's the way baseball works, and it may be a change for change sake is good, but it won't be because Gardy suddenly became a bad manager. I'm not sure terrific is the word I'd use to describe him... In some cases, yes... but Gardy has some pretty serious flaws, in particular dealing with rookies and his game management skills... I'm not convinced Gardy would be the right person to develop the young talent that will be hitting the bigs in the next few years.

IE 9, windows 7. multiple PCs.

Why in the world would people suggest the Twins trading prospects for established players... This team lost 90+ games, remember? When that happens, you stock up on prospects, not trade them off.

Neshek was not promoted straight up from AA.. He was one of the ones that they let sit in the minors too long.

I think the biggest issue is your question as to whether or not we will need starting pitching in 2014. There's a saying among propsect hounds that there's no such thing as a pitching propsect. While I like both Meyer and May, I'd say that the odds are very good that one of those two never amounts to anything at the ML level (though I think at this point, both are far enough along to get a shot). I'm also not sold that Diamond will ever again come close to what he did this season. This is why I'd strongly suggest still prusing Sanchez or Jackson. Odds are good we will need at least one of them to help solidify the rotation come 2014/15. As well, Rosario will be in AA come 2014. He's not going to skip AA and AAA. Same with Sano. I do agree whole heartedly that the Twins are going to need to address the middle so that they have something come 2014/15. I'm not yet convinced just yet that Dozier is going to be a bust, but even if he's not, that's one of the two positions, and most likely 2nd. I like the Stephen Drew idea (I've said the same myself), but I'll be mildly surprised if he gets a 2 year deal, much less a 3 year deal, and whether we like it or not, there's not guarantee he bounces back. Personally, I'd be looking at drafting college pitching like Appel (or some other college pitcher) come June and stashing them in AA. I'd trade Morneau at the deadline for a strong MI prospect that can help in 2014. Trading Willingham is going to have more to do with whether or not Arcia, Hicks, and Benson are ready. Two of the three of them are going to have to be if Morneau gets traded (as Parmalee shifts to first), and all 3 will have to be ready to send Willingham away in 2014.

Given the youth movement coming up, the Twins can afford one or two big contracts at areas of need. Mauer has C all wrapped up. Having a nice SP or SS would helpful as well given that we will still need help there in 2014 as well.

I just don't see Hicks getting called up... Don't see Benson either. The Twins like both of these guys, and both could use some time in the minors. In Benson's case, there are some real question marks as well. I'd guess they will sign one other guy to work with Mastro... Mastro will also get every chance to build some value, as he could get flipped as well.

Sanchez is also the safest bet in my opinion. I'd give him a 5 year deal to frontline the rotation. If they have 20-25M to sign someone, I'd rather they go out and get him than sign a couple of lesser guys to 2/3 year 8-10M/yr deals...

I'd be fine with it if they didn't have to give up anything to get him (like they guy got for Danny Valencia for instance)... But trading real prospects to get starting pitching now doesn't make a ton of sense.

I'm trying to figure out why most of you would want established guys back.. Anyone trading for Mauer is doing so b/c they are trying to win now. I'd empty their farm system for him. I could see a catcher swap as part of the deal just so the Twins have someone to start at C, but there's no way I'd trade Mauer without getting at least 3 blue chip prospects that can slot into that 2014/15 timeframe... that's the only way this fan could stomach it, and as it is, the casual fans aren't going to like it one bit.

I'm not sure you can call either trade a "clear winner" just yet. It will take time to judge that. Worley could blow out his arm tomorrow and May could never make it, while Meyer turns into that ace...who knows. I agree that Revere brought back more quantity, which is good. Span brought back a better ceiling. I honestly didn't think Revere would get one decent pitcher, much less two.

Yes, the Redsox have the chips that I'd want to trade Mauer... but this has about as much chance happening as me hooking up with Kate Upton and my wife being perfectly OK with it. To answer your other question: Boegarts, Barnes, Lavernway, and Middlebrooks.

Yeah, I'm betting we have an OF on a 1 year deal and still pick up a pitcher or two this offseason... Hardly done, and way too early for this.

The correct question is why trade your future for a guy who will be both 40 and a FA when that futue is the present?

Who's to say the Twins wouldn't pay that price? Maybe, just maybe, all these pitchers would rather play for teams that haven't finished last in two straight years. I think Ryan would be a fool to pay that price. Like Dave said, he's been over 115 innings once in his career. You don't hand a guy like that 16M on a guaranteed contract.

Achieving .800+ is hardly the bar for stink or not-stink. No, it tends to be the bar for pretty decent hitters. I'm not sure what to think about their chances in 2013 right now unless they go still go out and get some guys, but the offense isn't going to be terrible (sans injuries of course).

I'm not sure what the point of going after 2 year guys is... I'd go after 1 year upside guys and go after guys who will be in the rotation for 4 or 5...

I agree with your first point, though I think there are 5 guys who have a shot of cracking the .800 mark. Mauer, Morneau, and Willingham should do it relatively easily. Parmalee and Plouffe are question marks, but it is hardly a given that these guys will stink...

One_eyed... I'm pretty sure that given most people have said this is a pipe dream should tell you that this is a fantasy. There's a lot of reasons why it won't happen. Part is that I think Boston will want him for cheap (which shouldn't happen) and part is the NTC. Where it is fun is that Boston's top 5 actually fits well into places of need for the Twins. Boegarts is a SS in AA. Barnes is a top flight starter. Lavernway would be the future cather, and Middlebrooks plays 3rd.. Boston would be stupid to do that... and the Twins would have the best farm system if they pulled it off. but it's fun to fantasize. Almost as fun as fantasizing about Kate Upton...

I don't disagree with you, but the bullpen is getting awfully crowded: Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Fien, Burnett, Swarzak, Robertson, Roenicke, DeVries?, Pressly? I guess that doesn't bode well for Slama's chances, not that he had any. There's a lot of yawners in that list. Perkins, Burton, and Duensing are really the only ones I have any confidence in being some sort of shut down reliever. I do think Slama deserves a shot and hope he gets it, especially if 2013 is considered a "punt" year. Pressly is similar. I think he can be a decent reliever now, at which point they try to do a Santana and send him down to start in 2014 at Rochester... not a bad plan... hopefully Cuellar can teach him some magic while he's here too..

I think that is reading to much into it, I mean one of the largest free agent pitching signings this year went to the Royals. I think he just meant "we put some legit offers on the table, and those players haven't signed yet" which for the most part is pretty damn true. It was a rather quiet winter meetings when it was all said and down, **** the Twins were probably the biggest "mover and shaker" of the bunch this year! IMO none of the top 7 or so free agent pitchers are even off the board yet (or even close), let's give it a little more time before we declare no decent pitchers want to come to Minnesota (unless you think we truly missed out on the Feldman's etc of the world) On another note not related to your comment: As far as Blackburn goes, jesus people, stop reading to much into his comments. He basically expressed the fact that he would like to see Blackburn succeed again. Multiple other times he said that he needs to go out and sign some more pitchers for 2013, in fact he said basically all the rotation he now has, currently is Diamond and Worley. He isn't counting on Blackburn even closely at this point. With that said, Blackburn has struggled, a ton, but unlike a guy like Chone Figgins who is a clubhouse cancer, the Twins like Blackburn's attitude, which is exactly why instead of cutting him (and eating the contract anyways) they are going to let him pitch in AAA to try to "reprove" himself for the club. I don't see how anyone can really be against this, especially with the supreme lack of SP we have. For as "crappy" as we all think Blackburn is, it should be pointed out that in 3 of the 4 years prior to 2012, Blackburn posted an ERA that was perfectly acceptable for a #4 or #5 in the AL. Criticizing Ryan for "rooting" for Blackburn to succeed this year is pretty petty to be honest. Either way, Ryan doesn't count on him being a solution to the 2013 rotation anyways. Well said, this idea that "no one will come here" is based on some sort of ridiculous insecurity. If the Twins offer the most money, free agents will come here, especially pitchers who know this won't be their last contract as pitching in TF provides them a boost. And again on BlackBurn. We all HOPE he bounces back. He's not on the 40 man anymore, so he's going to have to earn it if he does bounce back... The reality says that the odds of this happening aren't very good, but none-the-less, we can hope that he returns to the 2008/2009 Nick B... I don't get the angst b/c Ryan said he hopes for Blackburnto bounce back. I'd be worried if he didn't.

Gausman isn't available in a trade b/c PTBNLs have to be named in 6 months. They could pull this off in spring training or at the deadline in July, but not before then. I'd be quite happy getting Gausman for Morneau, but I have a tough time believing Baltimore would bite on that... not right now at least. If they are contending at the deadline, maybe... That said, if I were Baltimore, I'd be looking forward to the days of having Bundy and Gausman fronting a rotation... That's 2 potential aces there. Given that much of this season was luck, I think they'd be foolish to trade either of those guys away.