mazeville

I generally agree with this. If I'm the Twins I probably trade him. But I certainly make it SOUND to other teams like I'm perfectly happy going into the season with him in a Twins uniform because desperate sellers get worse deals. That said, in trading Dozier the Twins will open up a hole at shortstop, potentially, in that Polanco will move to second and then you're counting on Escobar who may or may not be a decent player at this point. So you definitely want a good return, without question. But yeah, Dozier's notorious in-season inconsistency makes me want to trade him this offseason. And his value won't get any higher.

For what it's worth, LaVelle also used the word "piqued" in his post on the Winter Meetings today ... http://www.startribune.com/day-1-for-twins-at-winter-meetings-brian-dozier-set-to-arrive/404783686/ Of course, he also said he doesn't expect the Twins to make a major move and "as of now" doesn't think that Dozier will be modeling a Dodgers uniform this week.

Depends on what they do with Dozier. If the trade offers just aren't there you keep him and use Polanco at shortstop until Nick Gordon is ready and hope Polanco can make the necessary adjustments to improve his fielding. Then, when Gordon comes up and assuming Dozier goes somewhere else in free agency, or gets traded next summer, you move Polanco to second and put Gordon at short. In that case, Vielma is your backup. If they trade Dozier, which seems more likely than not at this point, you insert Escobar at shortstop until Vielma is ready or hope he is solid enough to keep it until Gordon is ready. You do indeed open up a bit of a hole at short if you trade Dozier, which is the biggest reason for keeping him around and is why the Twins should only accept a real good package in return. But, that said, I remain convinced the team CAN get that sort of return.

Vargas had a 1.200 OPS v. lefties. That guy should be platooned, probably with Mauer.

I think the Kansas City news is interesting. With them potentially getting rid of some players, Detroit considering trades, the White Sox looking to trade Chris Sale ... the door could be opening for the Twins if Falvine can get some pitching and bolster the defense. And I don't know whether I'm confident or not that Dozier gets traded. There's an awful lot of smoke. But there are also a lot of "buts" involved, like "... but he's only there for a marketing commitment" or a "but it's more rumor than substance." Still, four or five teams suggests a modest bidding war that could get the Twins the package they'd want.

I would probably DFA Grossman and Santana. And if I'm being honest, I'd DFA a lot of guys. A team that lost 103 games needs a lot of new players.

As a secondary part of the deal I think Puig would be a great buy-low candidate. If the Twins pick up his full salary -- and they should -- then they could perhaps get the Dodgers to throw in some better pitching prospects.

Late replying to this ... First, Sano played half the season, which is why his WAR was lower that year. But his emergence in the second half of the season was THE biggest reason that team stayed in the hunt for as long as they did. And we DO currently have a third baseman. His name is Miguel Sano. He has not even had a full year's worth of experience playing third at the major league level, so he definitely needs the chance to get some time there. Also, he has an absolute rocket for an arm and once he gets his head on straight should be fine defensively. You can find decent first basemen all the time. The Twins could go into next year by platooning Joe Mauer and Kennys Vargas at first base and you'd have a pretty solid corner infielder there. Actually, you'd have a stud: Mauer had a .793 OPS versus right handed pitchers last year; Vargas had a 1.200 OPS versus lefties. Mauer is nearly gold glove caliber there, and I admit I don't know much about Vargas' fielding but I'll take some garbage for those games he faces lefties with that 1.200 OPS. First base is not remotely a problem for the Twins. How they use the assets they have there has been a problem. As for pitching, I agree they need several pitchers. But your pitchers get better with good defense -- by your own admission -- and you just do not tolerate bad fielding at shortstop. You don't. And, the best way you're going to be able to obtain good pitching is through a trade, because there are very few decent free agent pitchers out there. By far the Twins' best trade chip is Brian Dozier. While I would rather keep Dozier, he will not have any better market value than he does this offseason, and so if I'm the Twins I trade him to get that pitching. Polanco can fill in nicely at second, and you can run out a guy like Eduardo Escobar in the meantime or go with fielding and insert Engelb Vielma there, as Seth suggests, until Nick Gordon is ready for the big time. As for corner outfielders, give me a break. Those guys practically grow on trees. Shortstop is a much more valuable position than corner outfielders, and the Twins have a couple of decent prospects out there as it is.

I tender all of them. Santiago is the big decision because he'll be expensive and was not very good last year. But he has a good track record based on typical numbers and you can't get enough pitching. I might consider trading him in the right circumstances - adding him, say, to Dozier in a trade to the Dodgers or another team, for instance. But I definitely tender Santiago. Everyone else is a no-brainer.

Boy I don't know ... I'd rather give the at-bats to a young guy for now.

I agree with that. You'd think the Dodgers would be fine unloading him - and perhaps the Twins would be able to get some sort of additional return for taking on the contract. I think it'd be a worthwhile gamble on the Twins' part. But I agree he'd have to be a secondary piece.

Love it. I also like the take that the Twins should target a position player in a trade. I'd wonder if the Twins could coax better prospects out of the Dodgers if they take Puig and his salary. I still believe Puig has tremendous upside and would give the Twins a real personality alongside Sano while providing for an absolutely elite outfield defensive alignment of Kepler/Rosario-Buxton-Puig. A Dozier trade, if it happens, would be a major test of the new regime. We'll see how things go next week ...

I'd generally agree they're off to a strong start between the signing of Castro and the insistence that they're going to increase the size of the front office. The real test will come when they make trades, and what they get in return. That's been a major deficiency in recent years and it would be nice to win a trade or two.

On the first point above, that is absolutely wrong. Dozier had 2.4 WAR in 2015. Good. But it was easily his weakest season in the past three. No, the single biggest reason for the Twins' being in contention in 2015 was the emergence of Miguel Sano and his +.900 OPS that season, which was by far better than anything Dozier has done in his career. On the second, no, you do not simply insert a shortstop who cannot make the throw to first and say it's a "very small problem." It's a vital, up-the-middle position that requires solid defense. Getting a good shortstop who can field well is exceedingly important if this team is going to start winning. It is more important than 3B, RF and LF. And believe me, your four relief pitchers and four starting pitchers will have a MUCH easier time if their shortstop can field well. This team has stunk for most of the past six years. And a HUGE reason they've stunk for most of the past six years is the garbage they have put forth at shortstop year in and year out. So no, shortstop isn't a "very minor problem" and tolerating bad fielding at that position is not in any way something the Twins should tolerate.

The Twins lost 103 games with that genuine power hitter. I'd much rather keep him, too. But I also want to win and know that it takes far more than a single power hitter to win. If they're going to get better, they have to take the tradable assets they have and convert them into additional players. You're also forgetting that this team has Jorge Polanco ready to step in and be a solid, everyday player at second base.

I could literally care less about payroll this year. This team lost 100 games. Adding some high priced veteran isn't going to suddenly turn them into a 100-win team and I honestly wish people would figure that out. Even the Yankees -- the Yankees! -- are trading away high-priced veterans for prospects. The Twins need to develop a strong core of players who will be here for years. That's how you rebuild. I still believe they could have a quick turnaround with the right couple of moves, but in no way should they start throwing money at high-priced veterans just to appease the "We Gave You Guys A Stadium" crowd. Once this team starts winning games, then they can add some free agents or make trades for veterans to put them over the top. But it has to start showing promise first.

I think it's just a writer spitballing. But I like the idea. Especially if Giolito can do what he did in the minors. A rotation that starts with Giolito and Berrios is pretty solid in like two-three years ...

Good luck, Trevor. I liked him. But this needed to be done. Twins should have traded him for whatever they could have received a year ago. It would not have changed the result of the season, but at least they'd have a prospect.

Not entirely sure I get this rumor. Don't the Angels need pitching themselves?

I think Santana would probably be worth more in a trade at the deadline, anyway - though the Twins should absolutely listen on any offers for him this offseason.

Fully agree with Seth. Any Dozier trade to the Dodgers should START with DeLeon and go from there. No point in trading him if you're just going to ask for a couple of bullpen pieces.

This is the best one yet. I especially like the Vielma inclusion: If you're going to trade Dozier, give the defense a shot.

I take all coaching moves this offseason with a big grain of salt because Molitor is still around and Falvey just started. Give this another year and we'll see how things stand. Beyond that, it's clear that something isn't clicking with Twins pitchers in the minor leagues. And regardless of who is the pitching coach at the major league level it's difficult to craft a winning staff with young pitchers who can't locate a fastball.

I don't mind holding off on many major moves until the trade deadline. That is particularly true with someone like Ervin Santana who would likely fetch a better return at the time. And you're right: It'd be better to build the team's front office at this point. But the Twins have to look at trading Dozier in the offseason because there will be many more potential suitors now than there would be at the trade deadline. It is what it is.

I seem to recall a blogger or two - not Seth - being highly skeptical of Dozier and of members of the media who hyped him as a rookie. And then Dozier only went on to become an all-star and one of the best second basemen in the game. Good for Brian Dozier, who is by all accounts a great guy. One of the very few bright spots to last season. That said, he is at peak value right now. So I cannot imagine Brian Dozier would not attract some good, positive attention on the trade market. This doesn't mean you HAVE to trade him. But the Twins would be bone stupid if they didn't explore the idea. They need too many pieces to ignore that kind of a trade chip.