Lonestar

I would be surprised if Garza signs before the Tanaka outcome is known. IMO he's better value than Ervin Santana or Ubaldo Jiminez, especially when you figure draft pick compensation. I would be surprised if he gets 5 years. I would not be surprised he gets $17 AAV.

I like the idea of Ryan Hanigan. His BABIP was terrible in 2013 but I think he would match AJ's offense next year when adjusted. He gets on base and plays much better defense. He would cost less in terms of money (but that would only save the Pohlad's money). He would be a better mentor for Pinto. So what would it take to trade? Would Ryan Pressley and/or Vance Worley get the deal done?

No need to trade for anyone with two or fewer years before free agency at this time. Free agency is the place to turn this year. I agree with Garza -- a frontline starter for hopefully 4 years. Kazmir for 2. I would have added Randy Messenger for 3 years.

Possible trade chip. Inside track to resigning him for 2015.

Well done. I think your prices on Hughes and Johnson are low. Personally I don't care what kind of spring Sano has, he is going to get more seasoning in the minors.

How is Romero's defense at 3B?

There are huge differences. The Red Sox only had 8 starts by starters with an ERA as bad or worse than the Twins average starter ERA of 5.26. As you noted, the only starters the Red Sox added were Dempster (who had a 4.64 ERA pitching half of his games in Fenway) and Peavy. They got huge turnarounds from Bucholtz, Lester, and Lackey. The Red Sox already had in place Ortiz, Pedroia, Ellsbury, Saltalamachia and Nava (who was a surprise, at least to me). To that mix they added Victorino, Drew, Napoli, and Carp. They got above average production from every position but 3B. The Red Sox had many more piece in place than the Twins do. Some will say the difference between the Twins and BoSox will be payroll. But besides the number of pieces in place, the difference seems to me to be the willingness to maximize the roster. If you want to know what it would look like if the Twins this off-season like the BoSox did last year, read some of the threads on this site.

Before the rosters expanded I looked up the AL contenders. The only one that had a 13-man pitching staff was the Red Sox. The rest had 12-man pitching staffs. Except Tampa Bay which had 11. I would advocate for the TB model. edit

In either case we are talking SSS, but there seems to me to be a special cause, just like last year's thumb injury. It could be another injury. It could be the Biogenesis distraction -- given his friendship with Ryan Braun. [i don't mean to muddy the waters with PED speculation.] Plouffe stopped hitting after July 3. Perhaps he has restarted hitting now. [TABLE=width: 255] [TD=class: xl65, width: 83, bgcolor: transparent] BB/AB [/TD] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent] K/AB [/TD] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent] BB/K [/TD] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent] BABIP [/TD] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent] Iso P [/TD] [TD=class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent] 0.086 [/TD] [TD=class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent] 0.188 [/TD] [TD=class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent] 0.459 [/TD] [TD=class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent] 0.281 [/TD] [TD=class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent] 0.188 [/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 83, bgcolor: transparent] 0.058 [/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent] 0.284 [/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent] 0.204 [/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent] 0.265 [/TD] [TD=class: xl66, bgcolor: transparent] 0.137 [/TD] [/TABLE] I am optimistic about Plouffe. 2014 will essentially be his age 27 season since his birthday is June 15. Let us see what he can do. Josh Willingham didn't get a regular gig in the major until his age 27 season.

It seems like your heart is very much in synch with your head. My head and heart are in agreement. This is the same Terry Ryan who thought his greatest trade was Scott Erickson. Not a good thing. I don't see a master plan.

What's the scouting report on Sam Gibbons?

Sign Sin-Soo-Choo 5 Years/$105M

Byron Buxton says Hi! Sorry. I couldn't help it. We all have our own preferences. What's not to love? There's no question that he stays at SS. His only weakness being lack of power = low double digit HR's (not bad for a SS. Or a Twin). More walks than strikeouts for a leadoff hitter who turns walks into triples. Raves about his makeup. Scout.com: 2014 MLB Draft Preview: College Hitters Seems like a high floor and a stratospheric ceiling. Much less risk than a pitching prospect and reward that might fit with Buxton, Sano, and Rosario.

Will Diamond and Worley have options left next year if needed/wanted?

Romero is 101 days younger than Plouffe. How does his defense compare to Plouffe's? Can he play the outfield? Can he make Plouffe expendable while we wait for Sano? Should he be considered for the 40-man roster? I know Kvasnicka is 24 in A+ ball. The question is: How much was his offense held back by trying to play 3B and catcher? Should he try that again? He might make a heckuva super utility player.

Aren't your first and second reasons the same? You want to do what's best for the player. You sometimes have to do what's best for the team. That's what's saddening/maddening about Hicks situation. As far as payroll flexibility, the Twins payroll could be less than $70M next year without a youth movement. The kids won't get expensive until Mauer's contract runs out. That might be a moot point because Mauer is one of us [sometimes]. What would Mauer's value be this year if he was a first baseman?

He did say "By next July". It's possible that Rosario and Sano and Buxton are ready then. Call them up when they are ready to develop at the MLB level.

What is the scouting report on Albers? This is the Scout.com's scouting report from 2010 Albers features a fastball that sits in the high-80s and works off its impeccable command – forcing hitters to put the ball in play. He loves to throw inside, particularly to right-handed hitters in order to get their feet moving before going soft away. He throws both a four- and two-seam fastball, working the four-seam inside and the two-seam and its sink away. He has better control of the four-seam fastball and can place it to both sides of the plate. The two-seam has natural run arm side and is used to induce ground outs. Coming into the system, Albers threw both a slider and curveball. The slider is his better pitch, showing some good depth. He needs to work on tightening it up and getting consistency within the strike zone. The hammer is loopy and long – a pitch that will likely be dropped if it does not show concerted improvement. Albers also has a plus changeup that was a show-me pitch in college. He really found a grasp of the pitch when he entered the system after not using the pitch very often in college. A different grip allowed its natural movement to race to the forefron. It has the makings of a true out pitch. Scout.com: Scouting Padres Prospect Andrew Albers

What is the scouting report on Albers? This is the Scout.com's scouting report from 2010 Albers features a fastball that sits in the high-80s and works off its impeccable command – forcing hitters to put the ball in play. He loves to throw inside, particularly to right-handed hitters in order to get their feet moving before going soft away. He throws both a four- and two-seam fastball, working the four-seam inside and the two-seam and its sink away. He has better control of the four-seam fastball and can place it to both sides of the plate. The two-seam has natural run arm side and is used to induce ground outs. Coming into the system, Albers threw both a slider and curveball. The slider is his better pitch, showing some good depth. He needs to work on tightening it up and getting consistency within the strike zone. The hammer is loopy and long – a pitch that will likely be dropped if it does not show concerted improvement. Albers also has a plus changeup that was a show-me pitch in college. He really found a grasp of the pitch when he entered the system after not using the pitch very often in college. A different grip allowed its natural movement to race to the forefron. It has the makings of a true out pitch. Scout.com: Scouting Padres Prospect Andrew Albers

Downs is a 37-year-old LOOGY. Not the same as a 30-year-old All-Star closer.

I appreciate the insight regarding limiting Mauer's innings catching. I still wish the Twins would try him at 3B even with Sano on his way. Of course I wouldn't start Mauer at 3B until the off-season. Remember Parmelee has only had 510 MLB at bats. Let him reboot in Rochester, make room for him on the 25-man roster before the July deadline and see how he does. I think he will be better than Colabello or the post-concussion Morneau. BJB, I don't think Sano can play in the AFL because he is Dominican.

Andrew Bailey for Josh Reddick

I was just about to post the current 2014 draft order when I saw this thread. [TABLE=width: 330] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]Order[/TD] [TD=class: xl66, width: 119, bgcolor: transparent, align: center] after 7/10[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]W[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]L[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]PCT[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]GB[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]6[/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 119, bgcolor: transparent]Seattle[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]40[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]50[/TD] [TD=class: xl69, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]0.444[/TD] [TD=class: xl70, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]15.0[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]5[/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 119, bgcolor: transparent]Minnesota[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]37[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]50[/TD] [TD=class: xl69, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]0.425[/TD] [TD=class: xl70, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]16.5[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]4[/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 119, bgcolor: transparent]Milwaukee[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]37[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]52[/TD] [TD=class: xl69, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]0.416[/TD] [TD=class: xl70, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]17.5[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]3[/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 119, bgcolor: transparent]Chicago Sox[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]35[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]52[/TD] [TD=class: xl69, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]0.402[/TD] [TD=class: xl70, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]18.5[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]2[/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 119, bgcolor: transparent]Miami[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]32[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]57[/TD] [TD=class: xl69, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]0.360[/TD] [TD=class: xl70, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]22.5[/TD] [TD=class: xl65, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]1[/TD] [TD=class: xl67, width: 119, bgcolor: transparent]Houston[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]32[/TD] [TD=class: xl68, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent, align: center]58[/TD] [TD=class: xl69, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]0.356[/TD] [TD=class: xl70, width: 64, bgcolor: transparent]23.0[/TD] [/TABLE] I agree with Twins Fan From Afar.

What is the gist of what Parks said about Josmil Pinto?

It depends on how you view catchers -- as a key up-the-middle defensive position or as a backstop. The Twins used to see catcher as a key up-the-middle defensive position. Witness Drew Butera, Henry Blanco, and Tom Prince. Now they trot out Ryan Doumit -- the ultimate backstop. What makes Ramos so dear was the much weaker cohort he was in, the comparison with Butera, and the fact that the Twins gave him up for Crapps (who they then resigned). Pinto is doing just fine on the player development curve for a catcher, especially since he has demonstrated signs of becoming an average defensive catcher and has a much better hit tool and plate discipline. My two cents worth.