Alex

Darin Masroianni is probably the happiest person on the earth about the Twins offseason. I don't see how he doesn't start in CF this year. They may need a #4 OF to back him up because I can't believe they'd call up Hicks to sit. I wonder if a fourth OF could be part of a Morneau trade. I don't think we need to worry about the top of the lineup. Carrol has a better OBP than either and Revereo or Span, while Mastro has good plate discipline and is a more interesting hitter than Revere.

Nice article. I am wondering if the higher cost of FA SP is going to mean the Twins are going to back off starting pitching from even what was intended when John Bonnes interviewed Ryan. Even pitchers like Edwin Jackson may be asking too much for them. However, it's not like the market will be cheaper next year. If they aren't going to delve as deeply this year, they will pay a price in that people won't show at the games. There's also no reason to keep Willingham and Morneau, and they'd need to trade them now. There's still some time left, but the quotes do seem ominous.

Well, his last year in the minors was far more impressive even a very good 2011 stint or 2010, his second best season. In 2013 posted a 1.24 ERA (2010 was 2.20, so he knocked off a full point there). His K/BB in 2012 was 3.11 vs. 2010 2.31, and his K/9 was 13.9 vs. 2010's 10.9. Those are massively improved numbers. He has never pitched a lot of innings, so he might be avoided, but I'd be a bit surprised (and disappointed) if someone doesn't give him a go. I mean, what else can he do to deserve a shot? It's almost impossible to pitch better than that.

Appears to be the market so far. Hope it doesn't stay that way but it is somewhat surprising considering the number of pitchers out there.

It would be a huge mistake to bring someone in someone that they would honestly consider playing in front of Plouffe. I have no problem if they tell him it's his spot for a single year, but there's no reason not to give him that chance.

I read a quote and now can't find it about the Twins saying some FA pitchers weren't being realistic, and some here have mentioned the concern about overpaying. However, at some point, maybe it's not them, maybe it's us. It may very well be that the price of starting pitching (and maybe players in general) has gone up. Based on what we've seen so far, I think the Twins have been allowed themselves to be priced out of that second tier of starters.

Totally understandable and I've enjoyed several of those hard nosed discussions. It might be worth noting, though, that a host should be aware that his audience might include listeners from Twins Daily before taking a negative approach to the comments here as a whole. Again, I say this while very much looking forward to the next podcast.

Quarterbacking lost us this game. It has resulted in other losses this year and should've lost us several others. Yes, the WR are not good, but Ponder is a large part of that as well. This is on him, stop making excuses. IMO, the problem with excuses is when they focus on one element/player when a lot of other areas are lacking. I personally would have liked to see Webb this game. Heck, at this point, I wouldn't mind any other quarterback because it would make things more clear as to how much is the quarterback and how much is about other elements of the passing game. I point out the offsides because they were also ridiculous. A couple of times, they allowed third downs to become more manageable and then beconverted, leading to a score. With regard to the receivers, Aikman even made a comment that it would be hard for any quarterback to make them look good, and he also criticized the exact same throws that you mentioned (and I agree with). I mentioned the missed field goal, but Walsh has actually been one of the few bright spots besides Peterson this season. So, I can agree that Ponder cost them the game, but there are plenty of issues with this team that even changing a QB isn't going to fix.

In the spirit of your post - this is an excellent point if you ignore the fact that he twice threw interceptions in prime scoring areas, missed several open players with terrible underthrows, never set his feet for a throw the whole day, had a player give him 200 yards on the ground and constant 9 man fronts, and several his completed throws were off-target and took borderline heroic efforts to avoid further interceptions. That and the defense held their own with the best QB in the league. In other words, your post is stupid excuse making. My point was this team has a lot of other problems, too. He's one of them right now for sure, and with a passing game they win, but there are plenty of ways for this team to lose right now.

Definitely one of his worst games at QB, but the fact he also jumped offsides 5 times, missed a field goal, couldn't get open to catch a pass, and let the Pack go on an eleven minute drive in the fourth quarter make him the worst player ever.

I normally agree with Aaron's take, but that part of the podcast was downright arrogant and insulting to anyone who participates in TD. He actually came across to me (tone) in the same way reporters come across to him when they criticize bloggers.. Of course, he then used those "D" comments as part of his evidence for why John's take on Meyer was wrong (something about TD reaction when John posted that Meyer was a C prospect). Honestly I love the podcast in general and was looking forward to this one, but it may have been one of the toughest to listen to and still haven't finished it.

I'd bet agents, and some teams, are factoring in next year's additional money for everyone (they'd be crazy not to if they are signing multi-year deals). So, I think the numbers here are, in general, low.

There's also this guy named Buxton, too, though I realize he's a ways off and no sure thing...But the Twins have 2-3 players behind Revere who could play CF (3 if you count Joe Benson). If Hicks and Benson don't work out, Buxton could be ready by the time Revere starts to get expensive. The point is, there are 2-3 players (again, Benson needs to rebound) could be better than Revere, so there's a good chance that one of them works out. If they bust, you can do as Jorgenwest says and consider re-signing him at that point. It's just not worth it right now.

Most guys not named Barry Bonds do. (OK, OK, you just made a typo and meant OPS.) Ironically, a lack of SLG likely affects the OBP. Without power, he surely faces more pitches in the strike zone, since his opponents will think "why risk walking him, if he gets a hit he's only on first base anyway." I'm sure stats exist that confirm or disprove that guess. Admittedly, guys like Jamey Carroll have the same profile and do manage to work pitchers for some walks, so Ben would do well to pick Jamey's brain, but I have to believe there's a limit when you absolutely won't hit it over the fence when the pitch is down the middle and even ringing doubles are scarce. Honestly, with his speed he should be getting doubles just through hustle, so it's evident that the ball is coming off his bat so weakly that no pitcher has to fear giving him pitches in the strike zone. Span is no masher, but demonstrates enough power that pitchers must be careful, and his OBP reflects this, making him a very valuable major league hitter. Exactly. This isn't like the AJ trade that was made in order to get an even better player into the lineup. This is to accept a hopefully small downgrade at one position in exchange for a larger upgrade elsewhere - in this case the "where" being "elsed" is also along the time dimension as well as the playing position. Yeah, you caught me. Meant OPS;) Lack of SLG AND lack of OBP affect OPS, as you mention both directly and indirectly. If he were a .350 OBP guy (Span's range) his OPS looks a little better, but I really just use OPS (or meant to) as a reference point. If he adds either doubles (like 20-30 of them) or walks to his repertoire, his value becomes much improved, and they would certainly go hand in hand.

Not sure what you're getting at. No, I don't really expect that of him, but that's why I said he has his drawbacks (referring to why people are critical of him). In 553 PA, he had 13 doubles...I've got no problems with him replacing Span for now, but I'd like more than a .700 OPS out of an outfielder and hitting .294, he should have a better OBP than he's got. I think he can hold down a starting spot on the Twins as they currently stand. Whether he's something you want long term out there may be another question, but his defense and at least acceptable bat allowed for the Twins to get something out of Span and not throw in the towel for next year (as some are saying they've done).

It's because players like Revere tend to have short careers that end brutally. I'm not against Revere as a stopgap; what I'm against is having him through his late 20s and then paying him a bunch of money just as he falls on his face (see Figgins, Chone). The Twins can keep Revere for a year or two but if they're smart, they'll ditch him the moment his value is high and they have someone else to play the position. I like Revere, but I'd agree he has his drawbacks. He slugs below .700, and his OBP needs to improve. I'd choose Span over him for sure, but as mentioned, it's less about him than it is about depth in the outfield behind him.

It's easy to forget because of what he did late in the season, but Parmelee wasn't playing well early in the year. Revere needed at-bats as well and had done more to deserve a more permanent promotion. Revere was hitting well much of the season, so I think he had earned it for the full season. Revere was also the safer bet because his defense would have made up somewhat for a lack of offense and can play any OF position. Parmelee has no such fallback or utility (yes he can play 1B, but so can Doumit and Mauer).

One thing is clear from this trade, and that's what Span's actual value is to GMs around the league. Those thinking that he was going to get a young but MLB ready mid-front of the rotation starter are disappointed. I'm actually surprised he got the pitching prospect he did as I didn't think he'd be valued enough to get even that. He might have been able to get an older, more expensive starter that would have been solid for the Twins, but that wouldn't have made sense. So, from my perspective, assuming they got the best young player they were offered, I think this was a solid trade from that alone. Provided they also use that $4M on more pitching, I think it's a good move for the Twins. Additional benefits are that it frees up spaces for other players to get at-bats, we assume Parmelee right away but also more time for some of those young OF that might get called up later this season. That said, I think it's a fair perspective to say that if that's the best offer they got, they should have kept Span. I don't agree, but I think it's a fair perspective. What I don't think is fair, or realistic, are the opinions I've heard more from fans at large but a bit less here, is that what the Twins and Ryan "should" have gotten for Span (IE "A middle infielder AND a prospect, a young ML ready front of the rotation starter). From the rumors it sounds like the Twins were asking for more, but teams weren't willing to pay it. Span just wasn't worth what those folks thought -- that's not really Ryan's fault.

Ken Rosenthal reported that the Braves were interested in both Upton and Span but talks with Twins failed to progress.

They already dropped a player.

Might the Phillies be looking for a CF as well?

Myers has been a fly ball pitcher in hitters' parks. His k/bb ratio is good and he strikes out more hitters than most Twins pitchers. Looking at him more closely, I actually think he might be a decent fit for the Twins in Target Field. Obviously there are risks involved and his last season could be a bad sign or it could be a pitcher in a role he's not used to, or it could be a good thing not a lot of mileage went onto his arm. If they can get him for $5-6M for no more than two years it wouldn't be a terrible signing, though I'd agree I'd hope they'd still get another pitcher or two.

Even if you are right, is 3.5M *2 that big of a deal? It's one thing to argue the Twins should have traded Willingham or Morneau but Doumit's return and contract are far more insignificant.

So what should they do? Not spend the money and give ABs to Drew Butera? What does that accomplish? I believe we are back where we started. My comment on Myers was to sign him to a one year deal and flip him at the trade deadline. That is what I would have done with Doumit instead of extending him. That's fair, but do we know what was offered for Doumit prior to the trade deadline? What do you think he was worth? I personally don't believe the the Twins could have gotten much for him and that his contract is a good one for the Twins and his skillset fits in pretty well with the team.

At the point that we talk about moving Morneau along with one of our own prospects and cash, I think it becomes a bad trade unless someone is silly enough to give up a young starting pitcher for it. Veteran starting pitching in exchange for Morneau+prospects just doesn't cut it where the Twins are right now. The Twins should be happy enough to clear Morneau's salary and then apply that to pitching needs. That wasn't the original topic, I realize, but I tend to agree with what people have said regarding his value here.