Rosterman

Always like the AFL. Means players are sone step from the majors, more often than not.

Roster spots will open up with Castro, Schoop, Romo, Gibson, Odorizzo, Pineda leaving. The Twins have to make decisions on Wade, Romero, Gonsalves. Is Kohl Stewart a starter or a bullpen ar,. Do they think Poppen, Smeltzer, Dobnak are part of the futrue (not to mention Diplan). Hildengerger could be on the bubble, as might Harper. Do the Twins pickup options on Cron and Perez? Is Adrianza arbitration value still useful? There isn't a lot of wiggle room on the roster, in reality. Anyone that departs WILL be aprt of another team in baseball. Anyone they add they have to ask if that person MIGHT contribute in some way during 2020. Most of the names mentioned above NOT on the 40-man would probably still need seasoning, so to speak, in the minors.

Regarding Gibson and Odorizzi (and Pineda)...it is money. What will $30 million for starting pitchers buy you in 2020. How many years can Gibson and Odorizzi get (remember, Odorizzi is a five inning starter who dazzled THIS year). Can you sign someone equally as good as either of those for less years and less money (seems to be the manta of ANY Twins front office). No, the Twins will NOT go with three rookies anchoring the rotation in 2020. The hope it that they will add two pitchers via free agency, and let Perez fight-it-out with rookies for two spots. This WAS the trading deadline for the Twins to do soemthing BIG. (Or maybe next deadline). I look and see a lot of names that are going to be shoved to the wayside because their time is up in the Twins organization, or the Twins will play the musical chair game, but you will have to remove someone at sometime from the 40-man and they will be claimed (amazed that pretty much everyone the Twins removed from the 40-man, pitching wise, was gobbled up by another organization, and got major league reps in the process). The Twins are still where they were at the trading deadline. They need a top flight veteran starter. They need another solid arm in the rotation with some control (that could push Perez to the pen). They need a closer. They GOT the setup guy (Dyson). Romo doesn't could as he was just a patch. Going into the off-season, they also will need a backup catcher or depth at AAA if Willians can play 1/4-1/3 of the time behind-the-plate.

Interesting. When I heard the Mets wanted Buxton I went "whoa....maybe, maybe. Part of the issue with Buxton (three more years of control) and Rosario (two more years of control) is how high will they go in arbitration contracts (usually more than the season average you MIGHT get as a free agent for one of the years) or the total cost of extending them comapred to gambling on the crop in the wings. And there are outfielders in the wings. Cave and LaMonte Wade are still around. Neither I would think is a longterm star. Raley and Rooker are on the verge, but are corner guys. Kiriloff and Larnach are one full season away from coming on board, but may be slow out-of-the-gate once playing fulltime. There are another 3-5 names, but ALL are at least a season away of minor league pay before even getting a glimpse, and there is the old 40-man protection thing...you can only have so many folks in position to play ball in the majors. But, yes, Rosario may be worth the msot ever, especially if he can pull together a fine September. He may even be better next season and the season after, or maybe just the same, or possibly more average. Gamble you take. It all comes down to money, or what someone offfers you. But back to Buxton...I almost wish the Twins had pulled the deal with the Mets. Kepler in center for a year? I could live with that. Buxton and a couple ofpitchers you can't protect for a mainstream starter, a bullpen arm and some low-level talent.....in a second. Buxton may be a superstar, but if you can't come to an agreement on contract, he will still be a superstar for another team.

I see Schoop playing the free agent marketplace. He is having a decent year, still young, and should get a multi-year conract. The Twins will pick upo Cron. No reason not to at this point. Castro will walk and be grabbed for a decent salary by someone else. Depending on how Willians does in a few at bats in September will also see where the Twins go with a backup plan. Maybe they just get better caliber at AAA Richester, although I do see them fast trac Ryan Jeffers. Sano will play another season at third base. Arraez will be given very opportunity to play second. Gordon will also get a chance, but will probably start again at AAA. The infield looks good and solid. Interesting to see what the Twins do with Rooker and Raley. Adrianza,too. How much for the backup, especially when alredy paying Gonzalez. Any idea who hs to be added to the 40-man roster fur sure?

Trevor May ahs been lights out of late. He still manages to make things intresting by allowing a base runner. But I feel he ahs the stuff to be a closer. He jsut has to continue to work at it. It would be ncie to have another lefty in the pen. Littell has ben a revelation, too. Be interesting to see who the Twins recall, and good use of the pen last night letting the rookie get a couple of innings in the blowout, so to speak. Keeps the other arms rested. Find it interesting the amount of innings the Twins have used relief. Of course, our rotation has been pretty solid going five innings for the most (and a few more) over the entire season. We forget that we have had a great number of so-called quality starts. I just hope, with the off-season departure of Romo, that the Twins do see fit to invest in at least one "quality" bullpen arm, rather than a half-dozen from the AAAA piles.

I do wish we had gotten a chance to see Rooker or Raley hit major league pitching. Those two, along with Gordon being on the IL at Rochester, have setback their progress towards the Twins, hurt any trade value, and we may see them passed in the rankings early next season. Sad.

The Yankees are closing in on the record, too. A fantastic month of August with lots and lots of homers (imagine their total if Stanton had been playing all year). They've been within 8 of the Twins. Might be there after tonight's game, too. The Twins have played 3 less games...so maybe that will work in the Twins favor. I want Cave to play more (looks like he will because Buxton ain't coming back soon) and get to 10 and break that mark.

Odorizzi, Gibson and Pineda haven't given the Twins consistent innings. How much would you pay? Would you take Pineda for less that what he is getting paid this season for one or two years, thinking he will improve a year out of surgery? Odorizzi and Gibson, replaced by better pitchers at the same price as contract extensions. The Twins got an extra year on Buxton alst season. Both Sano and Buxton shouldn't break the bank in arbitration, but the Twins should figure out what it would ake to keep Sano and make an offer. If he refuses, trading block sometime next season or next off-season. Same with Buxton. Rosario, too. Like Delmon Young who had a decent season, take a chance that Eddie will fliunder and actually go down in value? That is assuming you can't sign him to your terms longterm. The Twins have lots of outfield possibilities. I'm more curious to see how the Twins justify keeping Stewart, Thorpe, Poppen, Stashak, Gonsalves, Dobnak, Smeltzer, Romero, Diplan all on the 40-man. Any of these guys cut will surely be grabbed by someone else. No one seems to be dominant. What do you think. That's nearly 1/4th of a 40-man roster for a team that is NOT rebuilding...yet.

I wish Falvey ahd ben less cautious at the trade deadline and actually traded ffor some pieces that could be here in 2020, especially more pitching. The rotation will have two starters and 6-8 guys on the 40-man with limited experience but no one lights out. There are a couple of prospects, but expecting any of them to throw 150 innings is a dream. The Twins still have no true closer. Again, there might be a surprise arm or two in the minors, but no one stepping into fulltime work. Romero could find a place because he has to stay and if he works his butt off could shine. But who knows. The Twins need to replace a catcher (Willians), a second baseman (Arraez or Gordon). That's it. Everyone else returns a year older. No place for a Rooker or Raley yet. Still have an abundance of outfielders (but not in the 40-man). Do you resign Odorizzi, Pineda or Gibson? Depends on the price. Romo will walk. Not sure if you need him back. But the uncertainity of the rotation and no closer puts the Twins a tad behind this season, where they opened with five dependable starters (who have pitched the majorty of their games) and a depth of #6-10+, which was completely remake from the original group that included Mejia, Slegers, Littell, Gonsalves, Stewart, Thorpe. We lost Jay, but Jake Reed is still around, isn't he?

Cut pitchers and go with batters. For a five game series you need four starters at best. Having Arraez, Gonzales, Castro, Adrianza and maybe Cave gives you lots of possibilities. Most of all, though, you want all bodies to be ready to play everyday at their position. If even the slightly injured, elt them rest the series. The Twins have the depth. Best bullpen. But keep arms fresh somehow in case you want to switch out Smeltzer for someone, or maybe Hildengerger does deserve a moment. Gonna be interesting to see how the Twins play this stuff. Hell, September I would go the opener route more often than not if you are advancing Smeltzer, Stewart, Thorpe, Stashak to the team. Then I wouldn't be said f my "real" starter only gives us five innings. The Twins could really push this concept and let starters only throw 75-80 pitches and not face the top of the orer three times in any game.

Both Romero and Gonsalves have become dead wood in the system. How much stock do you put that you could carry either on the roster next year and they would produce better than anyone else "behind" them in the pecking order, but suddenly ahead. The Twins have Stewart and Thorpe and Poppen and Stashak and Dobnak and Littell and Smeltzer all holding 40-man sports and a better chance of making the Twins than two prime prospects from the past (with no trade value). Which kinda makes the trade deadline lackluster for a team that HAS too many players to protect come 2020 or 2021 and not enough spots. You talk about losing Romero to waivers if he doesn't make the team out of spring training. Hell, you could cut him in late October and still lose him, too. Or trade him for anotehr low level prospect. Or hope he has seen the light and him and Gonsalves will take one of the MANY open spots this team will have in the rotation OR bullpen in 2020. So, yes, there is still hope.

Arraex right now should be batting leadoff. We have another year of Cron. So maybe Sano will be at 1st base in 2021...if the Twins sign him long term Can Gordon, Polanco, Lewis, Arraez play third base? Do you want them to play third? Any names in the system strike as third abse material? At this point, we can say the Twins are pretty set for second base with Gordon maybe offering a challenge to Arraez for 2020. Lewis is still 2021 at the earliest. You can also trade Polanco (or Gordon for that matter). Then, again, some have talked of Lewis as an outfielder.

You can argue about Andrson and why he wasn't kept yet we did kept Mahill, Morin, Mejia etc. etc. Always a numbers game. Always a call on poential. Hy, we kept Slegers and De Jong, too. But names like Burdi and Rodriguez have also walked (or been claimed). Somehow we let Hendriks get away, although could've had him back easily (as wella s every otehr team in baseball).

I do feel good abut prospects. Raley is also a good choice, if we don't become too heavy withoutfielders in 2021 and beyond...which makes me wonder how badly the Twins do need to extend, say, Buxton and Rosario. We still have Nick Godron out there, a man without a position in the future, unless Arraez or Polanco could swicth to third when Sano makes a move to first. And the pitching depth amazes me. A couple of High-end hard throwers is all we need, plus one shutdown arm for the pen. I think they MIGHT be there. Of course, with 150+ players to choose from, msot having make-or-break seasons in 2020/2021 or 2022 or be gone...you never know.

The Twins have a problem in the outfield. Who to extend and for how much. Rosario IS an atractive trade chip. At his best. You don't want to take the chance that he will flop in a season or two, and yet you have to figure that he will demand more than you might be willing to pay in a multi-year contract. Part of that issue is that you have Kiriloff and Larnach in the wings, not to mention Rooker and Haley and any number of other names. The Twins signed Polanco (making Gordon a luxury) and Kepler (so he is secure, or could be traded a la Span in the near future). Just like the twins approaching the offseason and wondering what it would take to resign Gibson, Odorizzi and Pineda, they also need to decide if they can find suitable pitchers for less money and longer control (they can, I'm sure). So it will be interesting to see where the Twins go this off-season with Rosario, Buxton and Sano, not to mention Berrios. They can easily just do arbitration for anotehr season and hope that none of them tank and are still suitable trade chips come the summer or next off-sesaon. Or they can extend and, thus, push aside prospects that they could've trded to upgrde the rotation and bullpen in the pennant drive this season. Is Cave longterm> Not necessarily. But he could make a good consideration for the job if the Twins do table Rosario for the next month. But with Buxton back, the Twins will still need to find regular playing time for Arraez, Gonzalez and Cave. (Hey, felt the Twins needed to dangle Schoop at the trade deadline, but the front office still seemed unsure about Arraez - at least they can let Schoop walk as they have Gordon or Arraez as possibilities for fulltime in 2020). But the Twins do have an abundance of riches in the outfield. But we still have to be sold that Buxton is a superstar possibility or just anotehr solid otufielder, and that Rosario is the real deal for the longterm.

I hate that he's not removing pitchers. Put two on, you are gone. Let someone else give up the homerun.

Killebrew was one of the nicest guys ever. He played hard. He also played a variety of positions well. He would strikeout bigtime, but his homers were beautiful to watch...from soaring fly balls to line drives over the fence. He was the kid who made good in the game. Harmon's only faults, he end his career with the Royals....and maybe sat on the bench tor weak Senator teams. Kirby was excitement, hard play, and tragedy. He ahd the smile. He hed the warmth. Like a couple of curent Twins, you wouldn't think he was the apckage to play great. But he did. Tony Oliva is also a face of the franchise, and continues to be. Still butchering English, you have never seen anything if you haven't watched Tony pitch wiffle-ball at the Minnesota State Fair to kids. Be interesting to see how Joe Mauer ends up in Twins lore. Hometown kid. Plus player. Hardest working guy in baseball. He could be a geat ambassador for the team (and the sport) in years to come.

You just never know. I hope the Twins do their homework on the pitchers and make adjustments as the game goes. What I fear the msot is the rotation NOT being able to get to five innings. Other teams are learning that the Twins like to NOT throw strikes (see what happened when Pineda did it, he got 7 innings). They also need to manufacture runs. No one bunts. The stolen base is dead. Putting pressure on the opposing pitcher or fielders to make a bad move happens more as a fluke.

It is still exciting to watch and we can hope that they do break the major league record, although what would the Yankees be doing this season with Stanton in the batting order. Hoping the Twins can pull it off, maybe all-the-way to 300 dingers. Most notable is the few homers that the staff has given up!

The problem is the Twins have ONE space on the 40-man roster. Of course, they could move Buxton to the 60-day. Looks like Astulido and Wade are both in rehad and could be brought back. They will end the month with an option to Rochester but could be expanded to the major league roster come September 1. Astulido is a surefire add. He is the third catcher. He will remain as the second catcher once Castro goes into free agency. Wade could be up-in-the-air. Would you swap out de Aza or Miller for him right now? Of course, if Eddie is disabled, you need anotehr outfielder. The Twns also have infieler Gordon out there, taking up IL space with Rooker and Haley. I doubt that the Twins would cut loose Gordon. But, sadly, he is missing an opporunity to play and may not be in the pecking order. But he will hold his 40-man spot. The Twins should definitely promoto Smeltzer, Stashak, Stewart and Littell. They MAY NOT do Stewart. But if they don't, it tells you where he is in the Twins organizations eyes. The Twins have to make a decision on Romero and Hildenberger, both who could be promoted. If not, again, we will see thatthey have lost standing in the organization. Could eitehr be cut from the 40-man roster now? Gonsalves needs to pitch. Do you bring him up as an occasional arm in September to give him a few innings? Or has he, too, fallen off the radar...becoming a question mark for a 40-man spot. Seems the Twins wouldn't part ways with him...yet. Poppen is currently on the IL. Along with Dobnak, both could sit out September and come in strong, looking to fulfill some role in 2020. The Twins suddenly have A LOT of similar arms and have to make some longer-term decisions. They have one spot, basically, to add a player. Do they go with the youth and speed of Graterol, or worry more about keeping him in the system and off the 40-man for the proper amount of time. Can Ryan O'Rourke shine shine shine and become the situational lefty, albeit NOT keeping a 40-man spot no matter how well he pitches, sadly, in the short term. Oh, of course, they have Marcus Diplan holding down a spot. Who? With Gibson, Odorizzi, Pineda, Romo, Castro, Schoop opening up six spots...we see the Twins with 4 players (Cave, Astulido, Wade, Gordon) with the bat, and a whole host of pitchers that are worth keeping (Smeltzer, Stashak, Stewart, Littell, Gonsalves, Poppen, Dobnak, Romero, Hildenberger. Thorpe). That's 1/4th of the roster with basically unproven arms. I'm sure if anyone of them was waived off the 40-man, another team would grab them for their own 40-man. But the Twins can use the pitching, with starters making five innings at most. They actually have a logjam in the batting order, needing to play Gonzalez and Arraez every game, Cave coming back strong, Adrianza needing time in the field. Buxton and Rosario hurt could be tragic, but right now the Twins have an abundance of rich bats. I see them keeping Thorpe, adding Littell, Smeltzer, Stewart, Stashak, Romero, plus Astulido. I do picture them swapping out Wade and losing him, and adding O'Rourke, although it just might be for the end of this month to see how he does in 2-3 games...so we could still see Graterol. Of course, Diplan could also be swapped out and...surprise...a 100 mph arm added for September.

Well, you just never know. You could face the front-end of a poor team's rotation, not just once but twice. Especially if your rotation has been dismal (wasn't there some starting pitching available before the trade deadline)? Losing teams, at this point in time, can have new players, playing for the future. Plus, you don't have a lot of film = unpredictable. I like a comment made...that the Twins aren't playing as well at home as on the road...which accounts for why we lose two of three to the White Sox. Okay, the Twins had a pretty good lineup out there Thursday. What went wrong with the bats?

I know it wouldn't happen, but if the Twins culd've added a Grienke.......

Plus they could've traded six or so prospects for Grienke. Imagine what he would mean to the rotation these past two weeks?

Cruz being injured is a blessing, it ahs allowed the Twins to cycle guys thru the DH role. But if you decide to replace Cron at first, you should be looking at Sanop. You can have Gonzalez play third. Or, better yet, Arraez. You have to keep that bat in the lineup. And speaking of Cron, you also have to address Schoop. Both bring power to the lineup, but frankly Arraez and Adrianza are playing better ball overall. A luxury of the Twins offense. Too much and not enough poisitions to play everyone that is producing.