Rosterman

The logistics of baseball. Ploufee is not worth $8 million a year, or buying into free agency and giving him a multiple year contract. Why? Well, we have a logjam in the 3B/1B/DH and possibly outfield, so he is expendable. Yet we can pay $8 million for multi-years for a catcher. I'm not arguing against the catcher. Just the worth of the player. The team ahs to feel the guy is worth the money, otherwise why do it. He fulfills a need, so you can be competitive and maybe overspend to fgill a perceived weakness. But don't overpay if you don't have a place for a longtime employee.

With the Twins current situation, I'm not sure they really have to invest monies in expensive long-term bullpen arms. They have to develop and see what they have...get them up here. They have to make decisions (will Berrios stay a starter, as so Trevor May, or go to the bullpen). They need to look at Reed, Bard, Burdi, Jones, Hildenberger and others...and sooner rather than later. They need solid catching, not only at AAA (and AA) but the majors to work and develop these guys. Then you fill in the holes once you have a smidgen of a chance to be competitive (be it as early as 2018 or as late as 2019). Sadly, stockpiling funds the future is not something we have seen the Twins do, but at some point they have to go beyond revenue projections and play the marketplace again. But right now, they are on rebuild. Now the BIG job is to see if Dave St. Peter can earn his keep and sell this to the fans.

Avoiding the question of where do you play him if he can't catch, could the Twins have gotten WIlson Ramos for a similar price. And question #2. Is there anyone in the system that will step forward and be the Twins full-time catcher in 2018 or 2019, or even 2020. This buys us some time.

You always have to remember that there are 27 outs in a game and some players have to do those, often more than a couple a game. It's CAN THEY be productive on working counts, advancing a runner, or putting a ball in play when needed, besides making you strong in other areas (defense, framing, etc.).

With a bit of seasoning and catching ore of the future Twins, Garver could be a primary backstop. But he will still need to show some signs of hitting. He may buy a year with a mid-season callup as there aren't a lot of other choices, but at some point the Twins will have to make a longterm decision. He may become a top-flight backstop who gives you what you need as a catcher and a batter. But only time will tell. We do know the Yankees knew something when they allowed Murphy to go as they watched a couple of other backstops develop into someone they would rather have behind the plate...than Murphy or McCann. At this point, we can be glad Hicks didn't become an instant superstar.

He just became too expensive. Even though we do have someone else that is also too expensive and causing a logjam on the playing field. Sad.

Purchased.

Flipping is fun. They did it with Abad. Nunez they did good. But couldn't find anyone to take Ervin Santana (which was a surprise) and you can't always flip dregs. We still have Kintzler and Boshers. Basically, the Twins have to do a better job of moving assets that don't figure into longterm plans. They did good moving Meyer. But did they really get anything in return. They failed with moving Plouffe. They definitely put too much stock in Adam Walker and never utilized the possibility that he might have value. Sometimes YOU MUST do a major league showcase, even if it turns out badly.

I'm sure we are all going to be mad with the Twins Rule 5 (and it may be losses) when we had names like Boshers and Grossman, not to mention a couple more borderline pitchers, still on the 40-man. t this point, with the bullpen of 2017, I would rather put stock in someone like Baxendale. But, we wait and see!

We will all bemoan that the Twins got nothing for Plouffe, not that he seemed in demand. And we may have wanted a look at Adam Walker (shades of Mark Fundeburk) and had every chance to see him hit a home run in September, if the Twins had only called him up. I always question, in the case of Walker, the investment in a player and even adding him to major league possibilities, and then just cutting them loose. Especially when they don't seem to be absolutely horrible. But, players get passed on the depth chart all the time, and two NEW outfielders are added with more on tap for the future years. But, in the case of Plouffe, if they ahd cut him during the season, they could've resigned him (if needed)...but now, he won't have that chance. Which may be good for Plouffe.

And I sure wish they had taken a short look at Walker. It might have freed up a spot for Palka if Walker was totally lost at the major league level. Now we will have two corner outfielders/DH who could both be lost at the major league level taking up 40-man space.

Plus, you sometimes have to worry about the minor league portion of the draft, which is why you keep players coming off the disabled list or guys who suddenly had a surge in their play at A ball but not necessarily ready to add to the high minors (Rosario and Landa may be examples of that).

Drew Butera. And make sure you offer an option pick-up, just in case he shines!

Plus, Mr. Jones? Will he head to the Twins?

The Twins will definitely be remaking their bullpen from within. What is interesting is that Adam Walker wasn't one of your call-up choices (yes, Granite WILL be on the list before Walker, unless the Twins DO sort out the Vargas/Sano/Park/Mauer/Plouffe mess. And we do have to put Palka in the mess. You also leave out Mejia, who will be the first starter called up if he doesn't break camp with the Twins. But I start to wonder about WHY the Twins added Landa and Rosario to the 40-man last season, now that they would be exposed to loss if removed, compared to just sitting in the minors this year and still going thru the Rule 5 and not being chosen (last year they could've been lost, I believe, in the minor league portion of the Rule 5...which is partly why they were protected). But neither looks to make an inning in 2017. I'm still waiting to see how the 40-man breaks out. There aren't a lot of names that truly need protection, unless they need it from the minor league portion, and THAT puts restrictions on in-season roster movement. Baxendale? What about Wheeler?

Bruno did have success in the minors. Not sure what they are looking for, considering you have Hernandez and Vavra, not to mention Molitor to give batting and base-running advice. I would love to see Bruno be the system hitting corrdinator, if possible. Chad Allen might be the call-up? The next season will be nteresting to see what happens with field management and coaching, and if the Twins stay within (people like Mauer, Dougie M., Tommy Watkins and all the other former Twins getting jobs from Valentin, Dinkleman, Toby Gardenhie and such). If the problem is the minors, then do we have a house-cleaning of the minors THIS YEAR!? Also, who sets the standards for batting? How much say does Molitor, who has a pretty good idea on how to hit, have in the matter.

There is nothing wrong with having a professional designated hitter on a team. Just think, the Twins could've kept Ortiz and paid him less than they are paying, say, Joe Mauer. In the end, imagine what that would've given THIS team. H appily keeping Matt LeCroy as the main DH in two of the three years since Ortiz worked, because LeCroy could also catch. Would it be bad to have Sano DH for 15 years? (Or even, Arcia, at one point).

There IS something about over-managing, and not trusting the guys you DO have on your roster. If you can't play them, why are they there? The big one was the third strike bunt attempt. And, of course, you have a bullpen full of relief pitchers and you think about starters doing the job instead, yet you don't have enough faith in your starter to let him throw more than 63 pitches. Geez. (Arrieta was also warming up at one point). Cleveland was the same. Short start. They used ALL their other pitchers yesterday in the loss. Yet your bullpen needs to be more than three overworked guys, plus bringing in your closer early rather than Shaw (not to mention bringing Shaw back out after a rain delay). Trust in your guys. Like the Cubs in the 10th. You have to trust that Edwards will see this as the game opportunity of a lifetime and pitch well, but not over pitch. The inute he does, turn to the situational guys. But suddenly you might have a long extra inning game and THAT is when you want a Lester, say, coming out of the pen to save the day in the end. The Indians had Bauer and looks like he was going to be a 2-3 inning guy at the least. Very over-managed. At some point, you have to trust your players. Inspirational when the Cubs held a quick meeting in the weight room during the rainout. It wasn't the greatest game ever, far from it. Too many errors. Badly over-managed by both sides. Some bad umpiring behind-the-plate. It's not a great game when you allow the other team to tie when you pretty much could be considered to have the game in the bag. What did make it great, it started all over again in the 9th inning, and was a brand new game after the rain delay...with lots and lots of tired players on the field giving their all!

Well, you have to have veterans to trade (we have Ervin and Dozier). It's nice to have prospects in the minors (for the rotation we have Berrios, Gonzalves and Stewart). You need to spend some money on free agency (is there a catcher available). Of course, the management team needs to be part of the management team on the field and hire who they think will work wonders. You can have the best pitchers in the world, but lousy pitching coaches. You have to be prepared to spend money in advance to put a winning team on the field (which generates more money in the coffers). Don't base your 2017 budget on your 2016 results...please. Have a five year plan. Really, know your organization!

We are sitting here remembering that Joe Mauer is a lock at first base where so many current names could play (be it Sano, Park or Vargas). We talk of Dozier be moved as solving our problems. But we are still a ways from having Gordon at shortstop. Dozier talk (should he be moved, why isn't he being moved) is similar to the talk of Trevor Plouffe who, for all intent and purpose, is still in the Twins mix. And can any of them play the outfield, and where does that leave our three prospects of Rosario/Kepler/Buxton, not to mention names in the wings like Palka, Walker and Granite. And then you do start to look at the worth of ANY of the above names. We feel Dozier has worth, yet any team looking at him has to have a second base need (where else can he play) and do they think he is a viable player to resign in 2019 and beyond. I don't think we can move Park or Vargas or even Plouffe. Escobar is fumes. Teams would rather gamble on trading for Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Polanco at this point. Rosario is on the bubble. Santana is a placeholder. Anyone really feels Grossman is needed with Palka/Walker/Granite in the wings? The team is a mess in pieces to send elsewhere. As a general manager, I would just wait to see who the Twins jettison, and worry about trading pieces with other teams, who may fulfill my needs equally if not better than the Twins, or just waiting for those waiver wire moments that may see more Twins than any of us imagine.

Yes, the biggest complaint is giving at bats to Schafer instead of Walker, both on the 40-man (or Schafer was actually added). You can argue that the Twins should find places for the pitchers who MIGHT be added to the 40-man, or give a look to other pitchers of the same quality as Dean/Albers (they did add Wimmers for a looksee and have to make a keep or go decision on him). Wheeler was the one who could've gotten a look to see if he was worth even considering for the 40-man in the off-season, or just going after as minor league depth. You could argue that instead of Beresford, the Twins should've elevated Goodrum, perhaps. Someone to consider keeping in the organization (they have, but he is still eligible for the Rule 5). But the Beresford reward was nice and he might stay with the team another season as minor league experience and depth, and speak highly of the Twins to fellow Australians. My problem is guys like Landa, Rosario and Melotakis. They were still unlikely to appear with the Twins in 2016. Now they also appear unlikely to appear in 2017? Yet the Twins lost Zach Jones (who they got back) and kept Pat Dean, and added Andrew Albers. Sheesh. A lot of names that went nowhere fast. At what point do you fear losing that 3-year player who still has dues to pay before reaching true prospect status.

So that means the Twins could spend upwards of $130 million on payroll, which they won't, in 2017. They have Mauer on the books for two mroe seasons. They also have Santana and Perkins for two more years and Hughes for three, and that's about it. You might expect a considerable drop in revenue next season, but if the Twins can excite the fan base, maybe not. Still, whatever isn't spent one years doesn't seem to carry over to other years (why not). And, thusly, you have to weigh your prospects well, signing some sooner rather than later with the longterm gamble. But the question will always remain, do you ever again make someone a franchise player (like Mauer) and do you ever overspend for mid-level talent longterm (like most of the rotation of late).

Not totally. They could have Park back there at first base. Goodrum could be an infielder. Beresford could return. I would hope you would advance D.J. Hicks, Ryan Walker, Engelb Vielma. Levi Michael needs to show his stuff (or might just be released). I would keep Wilfredo Tovar if he would resign. You'd think Nick Gordon MIGHT make it that far next season. But, yes, sadly NO TRUE third baseman at this time.

There is not enough upside for a team to grab a Thorpe, unless they think they can carry him for the season (they can't). Wait to see what happens to him and remember, because of high draft picks,the Twins may still have difficult roster decisions for 40-man adds for a couple more years!

The Twins have a number of pitchers who could just walk away if not kept on the 40-man - Wimmers, Boshers, Light. With their performances last year, and the number of same/significant arms in the system, almost want to say so long. The only tough choice is Wheeler. Should you or not. Baxendale MIGHT be grabbed, but I would take the chance that he won't be. The truth is that the pitching staff is a shambles and can be rcreated with same bodies out of the 2th or 41st men that msot teams will elt walk in the off-season with hopes that SOMEONE from the minors will fill 2-3-4 of the holes sometime in 2017. There is zilch trade value from all bodies except for Santana. Even Kintzler. there seemed to be no biters during the regular season. Sad that you have to think about protecting these guys.