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Stephen Drew > Pedro Florimon. But, this doesn't mean you hand over 12 million a year + a 2nd round pick. Pedro Florimon + 12 million + 2nd round Pick > Stephen Drew If you want to upgrade SS, I think you have to do it through a trade or wait until the right player comes along in FA. It seems there is a lot of chatter about how we can improve our team right now for this season. The best way to improve right now would be to... Sign Matt Garza for 3 years 50 Million. Trade Glen Perkins, Pedro Florimon and Casey Fein for JJ Hardy, Eduardo Rodriguez(LHP) and Michael Ohlman©. Sign Grant Balfour 1 year 9 million. (trade him in July promote Tonkin to CL) Trade Kevin Correia, JO Berrios and Kennys Vargas for Chris Denorfia (OF), Dale Thayer(RP) and Jace Peterson(SS) Lots of work to do, and if anyone strongly disagrees with the value of trades, I'm not a GM, so throw in some minor players either direction to even things out. These trades give us 3 players that are better than the 4 players we are giving up, sans Perkins. We replace the 2 strong bullpen arms we are giving up, improve at SS and our outfield defense. We also add a potential C, SS and LH-SP. I believe we would be selling Berrios at a good time. -April 2014- Starting Lineup: (44.5 Million) 2B- Brian Dozier (850K) 1B- Joe Mauer (23 million) DH- Josh Willingham (7 million) RF- Oswaldo Arcia (450k) SS- JJ Hardy (7 million) LF- Jason Kubel (2.5 million) 3B- Trevor Plouffe (750k) C- Josmil Pinto (400k) CF- Chris Denorfia (2.25 million) (4) Bench: (6.3 Million) Kurt Suzuki (3 million) Eddie Escobar (600k) Alex Presley (400k) Chris Parmelee (700k) Rotation: (43.5 million) Matt Garza (16.75 million) Ricky Nolasco (12 million) Phil Hughes (8 million) Mike Pelfrey (6 million) Scott Diamond (750 k) Bullpen: (16 million) Grant Balfour(9 million) *Trade at deadline for nice prospect if possible. Jared Burton (3.5 million) Dale Thayer (600k) Brian Duensing (1 million) Anthony Swarzak (700k), Vance Worley (600k) Caleb Thielbar (400k) Overall Payroll: Right around 110 million. June-July-August-September 2014 or May, June 2015 (each guy is going to be ready in their own time) We will eventually look like this. SP: Garza Nolasco Hughes Meyer Gibson *Pelfrey either traded or bullpen or just being "Blackburn'd" Pen: Tonkin Thayer Duensing Worley Thielbar Swarzak May(could be short or long term in pen) Lineup: CF- Byron Buxton 1B- Joe Mauer 3B- Miguel Sano DH- Oswaldo Arcia SS- JJ Hardy (extended or at worst offered qualifying 1 year offer) C- Josmil Pinto 2B- Brian Dozier LF- Chris Denorfia ( 2 year extension - til age 36 season) RF- Aaron Hicks Bench: Alex Presley, Eric Fryer, Trevor Plouffe, Eddie Escobar *** Willingham either traded or not re-signed, Kubel not re-signed, Burton let go, Diamond let go. If this pitching staff were to meet expecations, we would have a very nice ball club. If our young offense meets expactions, we would have a championship caliber club. Other than 3B and C Defense, (both are unknowns) our defense would be extremely strong. Great range in OF + strong Defense up the middle. If my math is correct, we would be under 90 million in payroll for 2015 after losing Willingham's 7 million, Balfour's 9 million, Kubel's 2.5 million, Suzuki's 3 million, possibly Pelfrey's 6 million, Burton's ~3 million and add in general raises plus a pay raise for Hardy and Denorfia. It leaves plenty of money to either fill holes, or sign a couple young guys(if they prove it) to a contract to buy out some years of FA ala Evan Longoria. All of this plus we still would have guys like Rosario, Kepler, Ohlman, Peterson, Rodriguez, Stewart, (2014 high 1st rounder), Polanco, Santana, Turner still developing in the minors and getting closer. Only guys that to extend that are close to FA would be Dozier and Plouffe(not happening unless he starts to hit more as UTL guy). Sorry for the long post that is somewhat off-topic and on the wrong thread, but is something that would help our organization out, even though it won't happen. Have a nice ice-cold week folks!

I said it, hah!

With Rajai Davis off the board, The Twins already have short-term CF options. Hicks and Pressly. Hicks could actually be an answer for that position until Buxton arrives. Don't give up on the guy. He has struggled his first year at each level his entire MiLB career. Pressly appears to be a serviceable 4th OF.

Not sure how you could view it is anything other than good news if the Twins aren't calling to offer more years. If we sign Garza and the deal is 3 years and 45 million, I'd be EXCITED. Only issue would be the rest of our starting pitching, I'd be upset that we signed Pelfrey already. SP: Garza, Nolasco, Hughes, Correia, Pelfrey RP: Perkins, Burton, Fein, Duensing, Diamond, Worley, Swarzak Twins would just use options for Thielbar, Pressley, Tonkin and Deduno would open up on the DL to rehab from his surgery.

Good move by TR. I'd be content if we are done shopping, but hope for a trade for a SS or SP and sign a bat.

Everyone just stop about the money. It's truly about the roster spot, 40 man and 25 man. Doumit didn't hit well enough last year to deserve to be on it, considering the current level of the team. He has NO defensive value. This team is trying to get better, to get better we need to see what our younger players can do. Not watch Doumit stink up the place. Much respect to Doumit for this 2012 season as a hitter, but last year he was atrocious. Find out what Parmelee can do, give DH at-bats to either better hitters or better prospects. I'm very excited that they did this deal. If anyone remembers, I was ready to just cut him on Monday. Terry outdid me even if Gilmartin stinks. I didn't think there was a market for Doumit. I think we'll end up like this. LF: Arcia/Willingham CF: Hicks/Presley RF: Pressley/Kubel/Parmelee DH: Willingham/Kubel/Arcia Mastro and Colabello gone. In September or sooner it'll be LF: Presley CF: Buxton RF: Hicks DH: Arcia/Kubel If we add a 1B/3B I think Parmelee will be included in a trade, like someone else stated.

I agree, he won't be cut. I disagree though and say he should be, if they sign Suzuki.

There is money available I believe, but who is left worth signing for a bat? Suzuki isn't going to be expensive, Stephen Drew would be some of that money, but he costs a 2nd round pick in a "deep" draft pool. I think he would be worth it for 3 year deal, as long as it isn't over 12 mil per. Slide Florimon into a utility role, would be pretty good slot for that guy. Punto with a little pop in the stick, but probably a little less defensively.

It's odd that he hasn't signed yet. He should sign somewhere before the Tanaka frenzy begins. If Tanaka gets posted, Garza gets less money IMO. It's risky, because if Tanaka doesn't get posted, Garza will get a considerable amount more.

If we sign Suzuki and intend on platooning him with Pinto, it makes even more sense to cut Doumit. Potentially we are looking at a roster of Doumit/Pinto/Suzuki/Kubel/Willingham/Parmelee for DH at-bats. It'd be wise to eliminate one of those options. Pinto needs to play more than the 80 games he will catch if we are planning on signing Suzuki and splitting their time behind the dish. Yeah it stinks to waste 3 million dollars, but we have done it before. I just can't see how carrying 3 catchers would be a good option considering one of them would be Doumit. I'd rather see Parmelee/Kubel/Pinto getting his DH at-bats with Herrmann as the 3rd catcher(if they need one).

As I just said, I'm okay with writing off Doumit period. He is not a part of this teams future after 2014. If he hits the crap out of the ball, he still won't be back, IMO.

If Twins sign Suzuki, would you guys be upset if we just cut Doumit and kept Fryer on 40-man? Even though I think he is terrible, the Twins apparently do not. Knowing that, doesn't Fryer actually have more value on the 40-man roster? (controllable, cheap, younger, better defensively) I guess I am just really at the point if we can't throw Doumit in a trade to give him away, I'd rather us just eat that money and give the at-bats to someone else, since this is a year it will be acceptable to see what we have in some guys. Agreed?

Considering there are no big name free agents other than Garza left on the market that the Twins will go after that do not cost a 2nd round pick, it appears the Twins have left room to add a big FA next off-season if needed. Just like RocketPig suggested they should..hmm correlation? I think not. RP is TR/JR. Seriously though, if this rotation pans out and Correia is gone at the end of 2014 and we add in Meyer, that would be an upgrade in our rotation for 2015. If Hicks and Arcia figure it out a bit more this year. If Pinto shows he is good enough and we bring up Buxton and Sano late in the year and they show enough good signs that they can be the go to option out of ST in 2015 we should be set up fairly nice. If that is the case: Rotation: Set BP: Set Lineup: CF Buxton 2B Dozier 1B Mauer 3B Sano DH Arcia C Pinto RF Hicks LF SS LF/SS would be the only holes although we would still have Florimon for SS and Rosario for LF if needed. I could see a nice little package of one of our SP- Hughes/Nolasco/Pelfrey + Rosario or Dozier + Perkins to grab a SP/SS/OF/C depending on who doesn't pan out this year. We might not need a SP back in the deal if May and Meyer both come on strong this year. Next year could be an interesting off-season. Then whatever we didn't fill in that trade we could sign the best available FA that would come here. C- Soto? SS- A. Cabrera? OF- Gardner? Hunter? SP- lots to choose from as of now.

Exactly. The only times would be at beginning of season, after All-Star break and at beginning of Post-Season. Also occasionally after an off-day, if you were to skip your fifth man, but how often would that actually work out that way? Overall, it seems there is a benefit, even if it is small, to having good RHP over LHP at TF, but at this point who cares which arm they throw with, just get good pitching. Also, the 3 good LHP in the pen will serve you better than making sure you have a Lefty in the rotation.

PS it isn't changing anytime soon. Worley and Deduno are more likely to be in Opening Day rotation than Diamond or Albers are. Also, The pitching prospects we have that are near the bigs, are RHP as well. (Meyer, May)

I'm actually perfectly fine with an entire rotation full of RHP. Let me break this down for you: As a generalization, Target Field has been a little harder on Left-handed hitters, correct? We have talked about every LHB power disappearing at TF sans Thome. We have come to the conclusion, it is better to be a RH batter if you are going to try and pull homeruns out of TF (See Josh Willingham). So if RHB seem to have more pop at TF, doesn't it make sense to have RHP help combat that? (generally speaking, RHB struggle more against RHP than they do LHP) Having all RHP, will cause opposing managers to: A) If they are employing a platoon, use the LHB, which may be less successful putting the ball out of the park. Force managers to have lots of R-R match-ups, which should decrease overall success of opposing offenses and keep homerun numbers allowed by our staff down at home. Anyone on the same wavelength with me here?

I'm okay with the move. They aren't counting on him, so anything he can do is a bonus. Now is the time for TR to strike a deal. We need to get rid of some of these log "toothpick" jams, or whatever you guys are calling them now haha. Deal a prospect a couple relievers, Diamond, Doumit and find a back-up catcher and a hitter or SP.

Well I'm not taking it to that extreme. Diamond was a rule-5 guy that we gave up no one really(Bullock) to get. Deduno was a FA. Worley is really the only one i'm concerned about. TR obviously saw something in him if he was willing to give up Revere for him and May. If you think Worley was sort of a throw-in on the deal, I'd say you are wrong. The Phillies would've loved to have him this past season(without knowing how he ended up faring in Minnesota)

I don't hate Pelfrey or the move, I hate that this could end up costing us Worley, who I actually has potential to be pretty good for us. Maybe that's the "I don't want us to end up losing Revere for nothing" in me, but I just don't feel the upside of Pelfrey is worth losing Diamond, Worley, Deduno...

I'd suggest it be Colabello. I'm disappointed with this signing though. Not sure we needed to rush to get him, should've let things work out with Arroyo or Garza first. This still leaves us with quite a bit of money, so it'll be interesting to see what other moves we make. I just hate to lose either Deduno, Diamond, Worley to have a guy like Pelfrey in the rotation. Oh well, still lots of off-season left to see what TR has up his sleeve.

I'm not sure if you read anything I wrote at all, but I never compared it to having Garza or Worley/Deduno in the rotation. The fifth spot is where it's Worley/Deduno/Diamond/Gibson/Meyer competing. I highly disagree with you about Gibson being handed the #3 starter spot heading into the season. As the Twins have done in the past, and ALWAYS WILL do, the Veterans without options will have the right to that #5 rotation spot until proven otherwise in the regular season. In other words, if the Twins sign another SP, and 1 of Diamond, Worley, Deduno are healthy in ST, I'd bet 100 Dollars Mr. Gibson is in AAA to begin the year. I'm not even sure he has a chance if we don't sign another SP.

Love the idea of adding Garza for 4 years with option if it's under 75 million total. Colon is a great get on 1 year deal regardless of his 2014 performance. Arroyo is a nice move as long as it's 2 years. I really dislike the idea of bringing back Pelfrey, but would live with a 1 year deal, 2 year deal for him really makes me question the upside of giving him 2 years. Adding one more SP really doesn't have much effect on this year's promising pitchers. If we have 4 set starters going into the year that is great. Gibson and Meyer both have things they can work on in AAA. Once they start dominating and we have no open rotation spots for them, that is a GREAT problem to have. Now as for the other 3, that are all out of options. Here's my 25 cents. #1 Worley- I think he is the one we should be wanting to keep the most. Probably has the best consistent stuff, when healthy. I think he should have the best shot at winning and KEEPING the 5th spot in the rotation. I believe the comments that he was out of shape and not healthy last year. Could be long man in pen if loses out to other guys for starting spot. This guy is young and controllable. Don't give up on him. #2 Deduno- I like this guy, I really do. Electric stuff in comparison to other starters. He can't go to the pen. I think the Twins can find a way to buy more time for Worley by DL'ing Deduno to start the year. He had fairly serious surgery over the Winter, so it wouldn't raise any eyebrows. Heck, he might not even be ready by Opening Day regardless. If that happens, it probably buys Worley a month of starts to prove he is healthy and capable. If Worley fails, Deduno comes off DL to take his spot. If Deduno can't do it, hopefully Meyer or Gibson is ready in AAA (this would likely be June or July in the timeline.) #3 Diamond- I don't think the Twins really are too worried about what happens with him. Should they be? I don't think so either. If he makes the bullpen, fine, if he doesn't win #5 spot, adios or Rochester, if he accepts. If Diamond wins the 5 spot, it means we have either given up on both the others or they have been DL'ed. If they were both on the DL to start the year, things would get quite tricky. Either way, I don't like Diamond to win rotation spot, more likely gone or bullpen IMO.

Just think though, if all those things happened and they added a SP like Arroyo for 2 years, would've gotten Salty to C/DH and a spark plug guy like Rajai Davis to be the platoon/4th OF. Could've been neat. If if's and buts were candy and nuts what a Merry Christmas we would all have. Random thought: How sad is it to think about Carlos Gomez/JJ Hardy? We would've looked so smart in the Santana trade if we would've just kept one or the other. Can anyone imagine an outfield of Gomez/Buxton/Hicks/Arcia? (Hicks in RF against LHP & 4th OF vs RHP.) If ifs and butts were candy and nuts what a Merry Christmas we would all have.

Sadly, our offense just wasn't good last year. The only thing we have done to improve that is move Mauer to a position where he can play 160 games. This helps, but does't help enough. Need rebounds from Willingham, Hicks, Doumit. Need arrivals of Sano and Buxton. Need Pinto to repeat success to a lesser degree obviously. Need Dozier to prove he can be the 2nd half hitter he was. Not A TON to ask, but still not easy to get all of those things to happen.

I agree 2 year deal would be beneficial. The trade thing sounds easy, but when you are paying 10-12 million per year, not that many teams want to take that money when the quality they are receiving isn't that great along with it.