Loosey

The Twins are in a different position than most of the other playoff contending teams and buyers. For one, this is completely unexpected, two they are doing it with young guys who some thought wouldn't be ready yet and three they are overperforming. If the Twins make a trade they need to make a trade that not only helps them make the playoffs this year but also years into the future. This should be looked at like a bonus year. They need to realize this the going to be the first of hopefully many playoff contending years and they shouldn't do anything to jeopardize the future.

No, Nope, No way. Good Pitching is always needed. Berrios should be 100% off limits.

@Spycake, I'm on board with an extension now. Use a ramp up approach similar to Longoria, so Sano is getting more money now than he would without a new contract and give big bucks toward the end with hopes it's fair to both sides by guaranteeing Sano A LOT of money, but saving the Twins from possibly losing him or having to pay him something absolutely crazy to keep him in the future.

I stand corrected. Let's do it! Just add an inflation factor onto Longoria's.

May as well trade for Pierzynski too to upgrade the catcher spot while we are putting the band back together!

When I say "now" I mean like today 6 games into his Major League career. Longoria was well into his Rookie Season and was an All-Star selection I believe. Now, if Sano keeps this up for month or into September I would offer something like I posted. I don't know if Sano would be able to say no to $130M.

It's not realistic to extend right now, but if I were an over-ambitious GM looking to make a fair offer to a very young still unproven player I think will become a superstar shortly, here is what I would do: 2016: $1M 2017: $1.5M 2018: $4M 2019: $6M 2020: $7M 2021-2023: $10M 2024-2027: $20M That's 12 years $130M guaranteed money. He gets more than he would by a bit in the pre-arb years and gets less than he MIGHT get if he turns into the guy we all hope he does. That keeps him here for until he is 34. Then at 34 you negotiate one more shorter-term big $$$ contract if he lives up the the hype. In 2028 at 34 year old Sano would probably be something along the lines of 4 years $100M. So then all said and done he would have made $230M, and got $130M of it guaranteed when he was 22. It would be hard to pass up for Sano I would think. But in the same respect it would be hard for the Twins to offer. Usually if both sides like it and question it at the same time it is a fair deal.

Did anyone notice where Mauer was standing in the batters box yesterday when he laid down that perfect bunt? He was so far away from the plate he was almost outside box. I saw him up there and was wondering what was going on, then he laid that bunt down and I realized that is what he was doing. I'm actually surprised the Orioles didn't see that.

Pavano was hurt in NY too, no? But in Pavano's defense his was spending his DL time with Alyssa Milano. I'd have milked the injuries too.

There really isn't any other explanation. . .

I would take that. Maybe if something was bothering him/lingering it has dissipated or he has made whatever adjustment was necessary. I'm glad he is looking better at the plate. And I agree he will never be a 25 HR guy. But 10 HR with 35 doubles a .400+ OBP would be pretty nice.

Was glancing over a few things and noticed Mauer's BA is now firmly at .275. Two weeks ago he was hitting .256. since mid-June his OPS is up .60 as well. Is he just on a hot streak or do you expect to see a close to normal Mauer stat line by year end (.300/.400/.400)? I'm thinking he is approaching the AB's like he used to and will now take the hard outs to LF due to the shift and play his game and lose a few points on the average due to it. I hope I am right.

Look at the last 10 games record for every team in the AL Central as of today (7-7-2015). That is the definition of mediocrity.

I know it's impossible to tell just by looking at a TV screen but he looks much more confident at the plate. He always seemed to be guessing which pitch was coming, now he seems like he is waiting for his pitch and fighting off ones he doesn't like. I hope he keeps it up. Plus that catch was AMAZING last night. Didn't know it at the time but that was a game saving catch.

I see the Gonsalves thread hasn't been updated since his promotion to Fort Myers. Since I am also quite high on him I will give a brief update since he clearly deserves one. I hope I am not stepping on your toes MinnFan4Life, if I am, just let me know and I'll back off your prospect. Stephen's first two starts were a little rocky compared to the gems he was pitching in Cedar Rapids, but that was to be expected getting bumped up a level to high as a 20 year old pitcher. In his first outing he gave up 3 runs in 5 1/3 innings while walking 3 and only striking out two while giving up only his 3rd HR of the season. His 2nd start was a little rockier yet only making it 3 2/3 innings and again giving up 3 runs. He again walked 3 batters, not sure if he was pressing facing the tougher competition after having impeccable control in A- ball. In his third appearance he was cruising along until he got into trouble in the 5th. He gave up 2 runs in 5 innings on the day walking 4 while only striking out 2. However, in start number 4 things seemed to start clicking. He went 5 innings striking out 5 while only walking 2. He gave up no runs while scattering 5 hits (4 singles and a double). And now yesterday Gonsalves pitched his finest game for the Miracle going the furthest he has since he was with Cedar Rapids. 7 innings, 3 hits, 7 K's, only 2 walks and most importantly 0 runs allowed. Over his last two starts he has allowed 0 runs in 12 innings while striking out 12 and only walking 4. Now in 5 starts in Fort Myers, Gonsalves has a 2.77 ERA in 26.0 innings with 18 strikeouts and 14 walks. As he continues to improve the K/BB ratio should continue to rise as he figures out the Florida State League. In my opinion I would say his time in Fort Myers has been successful so far. An adjustment period to start, but beginning to shape into the pitcher we saw in CR. I expect he will stay in FM the rest of the year and build up that confidence he had early in the year, while continuing to work on the breaking ball he will need as he moves up the ladder. Edit: - I forgot to mention he is also doing this while 3 years younger than the average competitions age in the FSL.

I'm sure Atchison's agent had the memo expressed to Terry Ryan. And it worked. He's like an addict when it comes to washed up old guys with no upside. He just can't say no.

Plus no team will Take Duensing unless the Twins pay his entire contract. Even then I doubt a team would trade for him because if the Twins are will to pay his contract they would most likely be willing to release him and said team could pick him up and not give away a low-A scrap heap player.

The Brewers say no first. But the Twins should not be making this type of trade right now. Lucroy is very good, but by the time the Twins will really need him (when they are competing for real) Lucroy will most likely be gone and so will some of our mid-tier prospects we traded for him. I am super intrigued by what the Twins have in Kepler. They have put 6+ years into a 16 year old German kid and have turned him into a real life MLB prospect. I don't see them just giving him away without seeing him have adequate time with the Twins before they move him or keep him.

Sano was October of 2009 as well. Sano, Kepler and Polanco in one international signing period!

What Year was Kepler? 2009?

Unfortunately if you can see that Pelfrey is going to turn into a pumpkin soon, so can other Major League baseball team executives. IF, big IF the Twins traded Pelfrey my guess is the return would be a low level prospect or if they get a ML ready talent that player would not be an improvement over any player currently on the roster. I think the Twins know this as well. So for now we just have to hold on tight and enjoy the ride until Pelfrey blows up again. Plus his last outing really did not help the cause for trading him.

Agree. The Twins actually have too many unproven Outfielders at this point and not enough big league playing time to go around for each of them to prove if they have the ability to be a good Major League player. I think the Twins need to honestly assess their minor league assets this off season and decide who really is a part of the future and who they are just hanging onto hoping they turn into something they thought they once had.

Totally agree on D. Santana being swapped with Hicks. I know you mentioned the moving guys up and down messes with their confidence but the Twins are sort of at a crossroads here where they need to know who is going to be in their future and they won't know until they try them all out over extended periods. And by that I mean they need to bring up Polanco again or move him to AAA as well.

I just don't see the team releasing Duensing as much as it probably should happen. They like him too much on a personal level I feel. That being said if I was making $2 mil I wouldn't be sad if someone told me to take the rest of my salary for the year but don't come back to work.

Now that the big one is out of the way what are the next roster moves the Twins make? Santana is eligible on Sunday so once he is cleared who is being sent down? My guess is Meyer or Thompson goes down and Milone/May gets a move to the Pen. However, there still is the issue of Hicks in AAA, Buxton on the DL and Arcia starting to hit a little bit better. Additionally, Max Kepler is due for a promotion to at least AAA and no spots appear to be available there for now. At what point do teams start clearing rosters of "filler" position players in order to promote prospects to where they should be. For example Wilkin Ramirez is what he is, should he be holding a roster spot over someone who is considered a prospect still?