Rosterman

I would think the Twins could easily match this, and probably given the Orioles someone even closer to pitching in the majors. Lots of uncertainity in all those young arms.

People say two years and $15. So why didn't the A's sign him. Use him as a flippable themselves. The other interesting fact: the A's were offering him to any team willing to take the aribtration salary, and also give the A's something in return. That, in itself, is a warning sign.

4 young pitchers.

Sorry to see Hildenberger leave. Not sure why now and not earlier, or still keep him on the roster to remove when you add a free agent. Of course, then they might have to pay him.

The only drawback, I seem to remember, is that Mauer was out for most of the 2004 season and we were stuck with Henry Blanco (who played the best he has ever played) plus Pat Borders and Rib Bowen. Nathan was lights out. Boof and Francisco didn't show up until 2005.

There seemed to be a lot more marketing of players and their teams, as well as players in the major league baseball orbit. That ash changed with litle or no loyalty on both ends, sadly. But back to records. Have changed with the times, numebrs of games, way the game is played. Especially team records. But soemthin to alk about who bring recognition to a certain stat. My gripe is talking about being "such and such" against the Tigers last year, or the record of the Twins against the Yankees. The teams change so much, even in a year now, that you can't judge how that guy pitched or played against last year's version of any team, so why do it?

I am surprised that there isn't "radio" between the dugout and catcher/pitcher. Instead of the catcher looking to the dugout sometimes for a pitch call. Errors. Happens if a bad throw from the catcher to a base which allows for an advancement of the runner. The passed ball is essentially an error, but still not an error unless a runner scores. It's when the catcher looks to have control but misses the ball. Yes, don't understand why NOT just call it for what it is. Boy, not only does a catcher have to know all about a batter (as should the pitcher), but ahs to work in conjunction with the pitcher for a throwing plan. And what happens when a new pitcher comes in? Which is why you see more and more catchers lined-up with specific rotation arms. Imagine doing the squats of a catcher, having to watch the game thru a mask, keeping the arm in shape to throw back 140 times to the mound. The catcher throws more pitches, per say, than the pitcher in a game. Just doesn't need the speed or pinpoint control. I can live with the electronic umpire. So the catcher doesn't have to play the games with their glove so much. Maybe eliminate some wild pitches and passed balls, too.

There is little reason the Twins shouldn't be the same or better overall (current player-wise) in 2020. Everyone is still is sorta prime playing years. The ball may not bomb as far, so the Twins need to work on advancing that extra base. The bullpen looks pretty strong. Hopefully money spent will replicate the rotation which started the majority of the season games with just five arms in 2019. Arraz will have a bit less pop than Schoop, but a full season from any numebr of players or positions might help offset that. Do the Twins need speed on the bases? Is fielding still an issue? Can they WIN in Target Field? Those are the questions I see in 2020.

People don't get excited about the signing of minor league free agents, and in the past it was reported as Big News, but now seems to gets hedlines at MLBtraderumors. You would think that with around 150 players in your organization, one wouldn't need to sign players to mostly play at AAA ball (with a few starting their next turn at AA ball). Can you explain to all of us the reasoning behind minor league free agents, the reason an organization will spend extra money to bring in players looking for a comeback or stalled then jettisoned by a team, or reflect on some gem moments you might remember of such signings in, prhaps, the past decade?

The Twins have added pitchers Mitch Horacek, Ryan Garton, Blaine Hardy, as well as catcher Juan Graterol as minor league free agents. ALl should start the season at Rochester.

An interesting takeaway with the Gibson signing by Texas. This is something the Twins would do in the past...sweep in and possibly overpay just a bit for a mid-line starter, early in the process. Blow someone away, maybe, to come to Minnesota. Be interesting to see if the new regime can actually playball with the big boys, remembering that $110 million to play for New York, Boston, Chicago or maybe a few other teams is as good as the same offer from Minnesota. The only way the Twins win is (1) More Money (2) More Years (3) Prving that they really are competitive now and tomorrow.

Okay. 2020 will be a year that Pineda ahs to prove that he is worth a long-term contract. I picture him going into spring training still looking for a job, unless someone blows him away with dollars. He has to prove that he can throw well in spring training, be added to a 40-man roster so he can be suspended on Day One. Those roster spots are priceless. He is suddenly faced with being in a position of having to bump someone from the 40-man, or find a team that, after next week, has an open roster spot. Let's assume the Twins do have a full roster. You sign Pineda and jettison Hildenberger or Harper or who? He then sits for acouple of months, doing some workouts (permitted) at the Ft. Myers complex, or does he have to do that outside of the Twins organization, at a neighboring college or facility, on his own dime. Pro-rated contract signing, too. If he pitches well in 2020, he should easily match Kyle Gibson's three-year contract. But right now, what spot do you put him on a roster. When suspended, you add another player back into the mix. But then you also have to remove a body when he comes back (and, yes, you will probably have a DL move or one of those AAAA guys rotating in-and-out). I'm not really sure that any team will be eager to sign Micahel. I may be wrong. His agent may be working the phones (for his commission). But Pineda has a lot to prove. The best bet is that he will pitch his heart out in 2020 looking towards the future. So that could be the one plus!a

Good for Kyle. I seem to remember back a couple of years when Twins fans were clamoring for the team not to even offer him arbitration. It is still somewhat amazing that the Twins did win last season, with Kyle imploding, Pineda getting suspended, and throwing together a patchwork of arms around Odorizzi and his 5-inning spectaculars. The Twins need two pitchers, better than anything they put on the field last season. Is that possble? Plus, a real closer. Then the arms are set!

Orioes cutting loose Jonathan Villar. Is he a possibility to switch things up between 2B SS 3B? Fives the Twins some needed stolen bases, plys a solid bat (few too many K's). - ?

But prospects come and go. You have 3-5 yeras to really make a decision. You draft according to perceived weaknesses on your team in that time period, but then you go and sign someone, or someone rises in the system, and suddenly you have a slew of outfielders or starting pitchers that looked to be blocked, no matter how they rise in your system, but decisions have to made on how they could possibly fit on your roster this season or next, or who are they blocking further back in the system that needs the sesoning and will probably help you more in the future than these guys now. Who saw Arraez pushing forward. He won't be the Real Deal until the Twins see the need to pull a Polanco and longterm him. But Gordon was definitely ahead of him as a middle infielder, and Lewis and Javier were considered more in the mix. But he managed to change the overall picture, and suddenly you are sitting with a top prospect (Gordon) and no where to put him. What was Gordon worth at the end of the 2017 season comapred to 2018 or now. Today you ahd to make a decision on Javier or risk losing him. If Polanco is your curent longerterm shortstop, does Lewis become expendable because you signed an equally intriguing Cavaco who might step into the fray in 4-5 uyears. Or is Polanco a palce holder and tradebait with Lewis the Real Deal, which means a good long career (you hope) and thus Cavaco will become an asset if he proves his prospect status the next 2-3 years.

A stupid stupid rule. If you are using a pitcher for one batter, youa re hurting your opportunities anyway. If a guy just doesn't have it, why let him load the bases. What is the penalty if you don't follow this rule?

A team needs a place for a prospect to play. That is job one. Even if they cut down the number of minor league teams, teams will still be able to field 150 prospects in their organization, with a third of them basically playing pickup ballgames at the Ft. Myers training site. We can argue about why millions are paid out in the draft when so few players actually make it to three years in the system Let's go back to 2014. Look at who the Twins drafted. How many are still in the organization, or in pro ball. https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?team_ID=MIN&year_ID=2014&draft_type=junreg&query_type=franch_year Went back even further, Pulled up an anynymouse list of the Twins Top 20 (these are always fun, from this site, or Baseball America). The Twins Top 20 in 2010 were Hicks, Revere, Gibson, Ramos, Salcedo, Bullock, Angel Morales, Valencia, Parmalee, Sano. Hummmmmm....not a bad beginning. But look at the next 10: Carlos Gutierrez, Benson, Bromberg, Hermsen, Tootle, Slama, Bashore, Stuifbergen, Manship, Tyler Robertson. Lots of recognized trade bait that the Twins didn't trade. Many just walked away from baseball. In the end, how many players do you funnel thru a team during the year. You have the starting 25. Might have a couple of arms at the end of the rotation or back of the bullpen. Maybe a new name on the bench. Nice if you can add a rookie for regular play, but you can't necessarily do that every year. How many of the approx. 15 "other" names that show up during the year will play another year for the team.

Depends on the future of Rosario. Depends on the longterm contract of Buxton. What the Twins do with Cron. No Cron, then Rooker could be in the mix for a callup. Not on the 40-man, they won't add him until they have to add him. 2019 was a lost season for him and Raley. If both were healthy, they could've come up in September and taken the at bats we gave to LaMarre et al. Larnach, too, is the future. Unless we have a major major injurt to two guys, him and Kirilloff will play AAA ball all season. Remember, you won't have unlimited callups this year in September. Waiting to see what minor league free agents the Twins sign. They always sign more than a dozen, losing a few in spring training. In any other season, I would see giving "youngsters" a starting chance. If the Twins truly put together a competitive team (depends on the rotation), we can argue about how much prospect depth they truly need in the minors.

Whatever is best for the club. It wouldn't be ahrd to find a rental. Then we have to sort out the whole Gordon, Lewis, Polanco and more mess.

Duran and Graterol have a higehr ceiling than Jax. Smeltzer, Poppen and Thiroe are ahead of him. A good story, the military guy drafted and able to play during his service time. Some team will grab him. The Twins have add to an abundance of outfielders. Decisions have to be made on Cron and also the status of Rosario. So Raley protect them as someone ready to step up, if you feel Cave and Wade aren't the future. Celestino could be the future and one would like to think that he could come north as a fourth outfielder if injuries happen...playing the corners OR centerfield. You want a free $4 million player...grab Javier and make him your 26th. Cheap investment for Rule 5 monies. Who knows, out of the gate he might surprise a non-contending team that can take the chance putting him on the field.

Considering Brian Dozier got a bigger contract with Washington, the Twins did pretty good. The thought of Schoop being more than a stopgap...naw. At best, he could've been a tradable asset in July, but because of the team's standing it didn't happen. He is still young and rebuilt his career a bit. Should be able to land a decent multi-year contract, but not with the Twins. A good signing. Didn't cost you anything but money.

I would work Garver into being a first baseman of the future, depending on the worth you put on Rooker of Wiel. Also, the palce where Sano might end up. You could forego Cron in 2020 and have Garver, Gonzalez and Sano at first, and Sano/Gonzalez at third. Which means you put a bigger emphasis on getting a secondary catcher...one for multi-seasons, unless you see Jeffers and Rortvedt coming on board sooner rather than later. You also have to ask if you want Garver to share positions or become exclusively a first baseman. I think we msot all can agree that the chances of Garver catching 120 games a season are moot. You don't flip Cruz. You can still rest him and put others in that role. But you got him for a season. The message you would send would be horrid. Of course, if the team tanks, you can trade him. But with the option of siging him or not keeping him for DH, you don't sign him jsut to flip him. Plus, he is almost another coach. I'm hoping there is an extended realtionship between him and the Twins in the future. But Garver at first might just solve some issues. No need for Cron. You have three guys to split two positions. Garver could catch. You are looking to add a viable catcher. Willians could be the 26th player. Bingo.

Right now he is a team friendly guy. Considertion can be given depending on Buxton results and what happens to Rosario. But see his status as improving.

I wonder if facilities like the St. Paul Saints would move into the realm of consideration of a minor league site. Most interested to see what happens to the current indy league scene, with major league abseball wanting to take some conrol of these low-pay tryout teams. Also interesting to see what does become of the real intro short-season teams that basically spring from training facilities, which usually house a third of a teams prospects who play games amongst themselves. I keep wondering if there is gold in being a minor league team host city, or is it just civic pride and smoke-and-mirrors in a strange competitive world where you are fielding a team at the whim of the majors and while you may start showing some sucess, that can be quickly dashed as players move around a team's system. And what will be the importance of collegiate teams. With the Twins emphasis on adding collegiate coaches to their rosters, and hearing that many collegiate talents make higher wages than salaried coaches at the major league level, will abseball become a more major endeavor for college recruitment?

Polanco and Kepler are both like Span, decent contracts that could easily be moved, no matter their production, if the future pushes forward. Buxton isn't a superstar. He could be another Carlos Gomez or Aaron Hicks. Or maybe Ben Revere. Contracts are always give-and-take. The player has age on their side in this case, as well as in the case of Sano. Rosario reminds me of Delmon Young. You should trade when he shows value rather than roll the dice that producton will continue. If he produces at the same rate, you can at least say you aren't overpaying for that rate. Berrios reminds me of Liriano. Maybe thinking too much about the future. (Remember Frank Rodriguez, similar thought - or Matt Garza). You aren't a sueprstar until you are a superstar. Berrios will be good. He may even be great. But I don't see the Twins hitting $200 million for a pitcher in the next decade, even if home grown, sadly. In the game of baseball, you use and discard. Hopfully you have a good pipeline, trading savy, or can attract suitable free agents. The Twins have long been hit-and-miss in trades, free agents aren't lining up to come here, and I think of all those pitchers the Twins drafted high, as well as getting in the trades of Revere and Span, and shudder. I do wish the Twins would advance players sooner rather than late, as 20-21 year-olds (shades of Brusdal Graterol). Are Kirilloff and Lewis the real deals? Or Larnach. Yet unless youa re willing to get a good 10-year deal with the guys right out of the box, truth be told they will leave once they reach free agency, and slowly moving them up, playing for a couple of half years, might get you 7-8 years of play with only a modest highend expense at the end. What would you do on a Sano contract today? Or a Buxton? Netter yet, Berrios? Would you sign Rosario for $75 million today? Could you get him for $45, or even $60 mil and would you want to?