Rosterman

Is a player any better than anyone currently on the roster or better than someone you might lose in the system (i.e. Jake Reed, D.J. Baxendale, Ryan Eades). There are some interesting middle infield candidates, but again, would we be better served adding someone who is just okay or seeing what we have in Gordon? Although Cron was a nice temporary pickup, I would only go after free agents (like a rotation arm, or a good bullpen arm) if we know they are a viable roster holder for at least three seasons. No matter the price. If not, just go with what we have, and maybe do some last minute dumpster diving if holes develop. The Twins are in rebuild mold...rebuilding in the image of players the current front office has sought and put into the organization, period. Anything else is smoke-and-mirror bandaids or figuring out ways to maximize the worth of players from the old regime.

I look at the 40-or-so over on the Twins page and try to plug them into 25-man roster spots for 2020 or 2021.

I would say Cron is one of those nice pickups that could be flipped down the line (shades of Morrison if he had produced and din't get injured at the last moment). Word is still out on out-of-options Austin who could be the next Chris Parmelee (or Kevin Maas) for all we know. Austin could play in an already packed outfield that sees the return of last years big three starters with names like Reed, Cave and Grossman looking for playing time, not to mention Wade (and maybe somehow Granite remains). Of course, Sano is still the elephant in the room. If he plays third, then we have a first baseman and a DH for 2019 and too many outfielders, and no one costing us a lot of money until the Twins decide if a Raley or Rooker or someone else is ready for a longterm look beginning in 2020. Would we rather see the aging Cruz at DH and pulling down about twice in salary (why not, the Twins have money to burn). Could the Twins get Santana? Was there ever really an interest in Goldschmidt> The Twins, if they cut Cron before x-amount of spring training games, are only in for a fraction. They saw that someone might be claiming him, instead of hoping he became a bonifide free agent and cost more (or less, shades of Trevor Plouffe). But in the other news, I might've gambled on $23 million for Donaldson instead and see if Sano is our future first baseman or just a forever DH (or the next Oswaldo Arcia) in 2019. Ah, well. who is still at second, or is it shortstop. And I don't know could still be third base.

Actually, looking at the bigger picture, you could probably extend both Odorizi and Gibson for the same amount owned Greinke for the length of the contract and still have monies left over for a pretty darn good relief pitcher on a 2-3 year deal.

You still have Raley in the first base mix, too. And maybe eventually Sano. The bigger question: If the Twins go cheap on free agent monies in 2019 (and possibly 2020), we know that anything NOT spent doesn't carry over into the future. Right? So is there anything wrong with spending the line this season. You still get to see how Goldschmidt does before even thinking of an extension, and always have the qualifying offer (or a draft pick return). Twins prospects are still a good season (or two) out and realistically, looking at 2021 as being the day the Twins MIGHT field a team with some of their in-house talent competing.

I Don't Know!

Where do players live when playing ball. Are there host families, or are they on their own, doubling or tripling up in low-rent apartments?

This is the first REAL off-season for management to show their stuff. They did a GREAT job patching holes last season with a host of free agent signings. Sadly, few of them worked out as all but Rodney underperformed. Kudos that they managed to stock the system with some quality pieces. The system. They are all prospects until they get to the majors and show they have the spunk to play major league ball. The biggest and bestest numbers mean nothing when a new season begins, and it all changes when you keep facing higher level talent. Somehow looking at the upside, the Twins pretty much have talent in the minors that is equal or better than anyone on the current roster which, sadly, speaks ill of th current roster. When your three highest paid players are Pineda, Reed and Castro...you have problems. Scratch all three from the 40-man and what have you lost. Nothing, but you gained $24 million pay one quality player (and, again, just paying someone money doesn't mean they will produce bigtime, look at Lynn who had everything to gain and lost a lot...or Santana...be interesting to see the contracts they get this off-season). Yes, out of all the players in the system, why Jake Reed? Isn't he better than Busenitz (shipped to Asia), or Duffey, or Magill....he has to be. I'm still uncertain on Curtiss. Hope he is more than the second-coming of Chargois. We will see. But the twins spent last season on three free agent arms and Duke and Rodney did contribute...sadly we are stuck with Reed but he CAN come back, strong. The Twins have strength in the rotation. Job one: Do you longterm sign Gibson AND/OR Odorizzi. Is Gibson signed out of team loyalty? Unfortunately, the team will probably lowball him and Gibson might see 2019 as the chance for a big payout. But if he bombs, the Twins lose on two fronts: untradable, and dogged a longterm bullet. Odorizzi is a $9 million contract. Can they find better for that amount, or a longterm with someone else for a similar amount? Pineda is a gamble (wish got to see a few innings out of him last September). Berrios has matured. We can hope Romero follows in the footsteps. Stewart did well. Goncalves learned. The Twins also have DeJong and Slegers, who should be hungry, and Mejia. A lot of names there. How many do we want to see pitch for the Twins in 2020 or 2021 is MY Question. If you don't see them with the team that long, start dangling them to fill holes in your batting order. The Twins need to make a hard and fast decision on Sano. Is he a third baseman or do the Twins need a third baseman. Do they trust him at first (or swinging in 2019 with Austin between first and DH). I would put my money almost more on a Donaldson fr the next few futures. The Twins also need someone at 2B/SS. Hell, if he really strikesout in the free agent market, I would bring back Dozier for a season. Maybe flip him again, if he improves. Or, go with Gordon and see what he ahs. Push the envelope. But in every other way I would fasttrak Lewis, and also push Wander Javier. Cave deserves backup, and maybe even a start in center if Buxton's act isn't together...yet. Astudillo? Do you want him on the bench of Grossman, although Grossman still has an uncanny ability to sometimes get on base. Sano is the screwup here. You have a bench of four guys if you short the bullpen (and I don't consider just having 7 bullpen arms short...don't know why you need 8). Willians, Robbie, Garver, Adrianza. But then Cave pushes one out if he is the 4th outfielder. Almost wish we could live without Castro. Gad, I hope Sano is the second-coming of David Ortiz rather than the once-and-future Oswaldo Arcia or Delmon Young. Then again, could Falvey and Levine be Billy Beane and totally tear apart the roster as it stands. Make up to 10 changes on the 25-man. Ship off prospects on the cusp or really will be bypassed by others after another season, move any perceived depth the Twins have in rotation arms or outfielders or shortstops for arbitration-eligible players who improve the team, and maybe one or two expensive free-agent signings. Like I said...this is their off-season. They have their manager. They have their coaches. The minor league staff is pretty much re-worked. They have added lots of prospects thru trades, drafting, grabbing from others. They have a lot of money to work with. The Twins have placed SECOND, yes second-place IS better than fourth or fifth or LAST (even if it is just the Central Division). Other teams would like to call themselves so lucky. The good news, don;t see it as a great expense to attend a Twins game in 2019. Baseball is baseball. You can't predict who will win or lose. I find it a fun game to watch, especially in the sun.

I would ask them to throw in Grienke for a couple more bodies. The question, though, is what 25-man player would you include. What one or two starting prospects should you include. Do you ship one of your minor league first base prospects (who is higher now, Raley or Rooker). And what other prospects in the depth rich lower minors would be tantalizing. I would go after both. I would dangle Kepler. I would dangle Goncalves. I qould consider Stewart if you could ge Grienke, too. I wish Javier had played in 2018 as he could be a trade chip. i would also be ready to make a decision on Gordon if someone wants him.

Anderson is one of those aging minor league guys on the cusp. You can ask "should he get a shot with the Twins" instead of, say, Matt Magill. But, yes, better to get someone you don't have to protect for someone you have to protect who is further down the pecking order than you think.

Man, don't see the need for all the outfielders. Like the starters also on the 40-man (although I consider the ceiling higher on those guys than the second rung of outfielders...Cave, Reed, Granite, Grossman, Wade. Not sure the need for more than two at this moment, since you also have Tyler Austin in the mix. I also don't see a big need for any Rile 5 guy who might still be a year away. The Twins have enough of those types of players in their system. Better to go after the minor league fee agent market for temporary fixes. The Twins need to do more of a 40-man housecleaning of guys they are already putting on contract, and make realistic decisions on what they do have in the system. You have to ask: why gamble on a castoff from another organization rather than someone of equal quality in your own system?

Harper worked between AA and AAA last season. One of those guys that might plug into the bullpen like a Matt Magill, if the opportunity arises.

The official beginning of the Hot Stove season is when the AFL-season ahs been completed, all rosters have been cleansed of players and reset with additions, and the Rule 5 happens as owners met for the Winter Meetings, this time the first week in December. You have some action then between the holidays with everything falling into place as January rolls around. We end the World Series, see what players declare free agency and celebrate the various awards like Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, MVP and Managers of the Year.

I always wondered what coaches were paid, and amazed that they do make less than your beginning major league player. A professional where the average salary of the playing employees is bigger than that 90% of the people running the ship. Go figure.

I always wondered what coaches make at the major league level. Wes Johnson is getting paid a bit more than at the college job, but you would think a college job might have more stability. But a wonderful opportunity.

You forget that it is Arizona shopping Greinke, an overpaid aging starter. A team needs to have payroll space. You have no idea how he will produce in 2020 let alone 2021. Arizona would take salary themselves, and someone like Odorizzi would be a fine choice. Or would you ship Gibson and let Arizona worry about longterm negotiations. Either way, you are swapping the guy for one of our regulars. The Twins could easily ship one of Stewart, Goncalves or Lettell. In current A+ level and below the Twins could add a player or two. It could be done. Depends on what the Twins want to get the salary down to.....$25 million a year for 3 years? What kind of player compensates for the extra $20 million or so.

Tyler Austin IS out of options. He has to break camp with the team. He ahs shown punch, but getting Santana means you leave Sano at third and have Santana and Austin split between first and DH, which might not be bad. But if you move Sano off first, then Austin becomes a bench bat and the fifth outfielder. The minus side is that Austin has no track record (remember Chris Parmelee) or might be a bust (remember Kevin Maas). But we don';t know that, fer sure. The Twins have the money. Santana could be had for 2-3 prospects with the highest being in the 10-20 range, or depends on the worth you put in Stewart, Goncalves or Littell to be a Twin. Hey, maybe we can also get Neshek back in the trade!

Addison Reed was an interesting signing last year. The Twins got a deal on Fernando Rodney, and Reed seemed to be a set-up man addition who could step into the closer role if needed. Zach Duke was a fine single-season signing. The Twins managed to flip two of the guys, and no doubt would've flipped Reed if he wasn't coming off injury. Reed is an option as closer out-of-the-gate for 2019. I wish the Twins ahd given more closing innings to Trevor May, but sometime next season the Twins have to make that decision on Trevor and sign him for longterm. The rotation question: Do you sign Kyle Gibson for 3 years and an option. As with Jake Odorizzi (due $9 million) is either an alternative for long lasting starts, or do you cut one loose (Odorizzi) and let the other play out with hopes of a mid-season trade. I imagine it all comes down to money. Pineda is interesting. It would've been wonderful to see him egt in a few major league games last September. At best, he produces well enough to flip. At worse, the Twins discover they have a real gem and strike a longterm deal. This will be an interesting off-season, to see the stock the front office is putting in players already on the roster. If they don't do anything with the vets, then we see them rebooting the team in their own image. Of course, Buxton and Sano threw a wrench into the system, still longerm unknowns. And the number of arms in the wings is pure staggering. Especially hen you consider that you can readily go out and but arms for $10 million dollars a season. Mejia, Slegers, Goncalves Littell, Stewart, Romero...in the wings Thorpe, Graterol and others. Whew. Right there are eight arms that could see play in 2019 and none of them are guaranteed a multiple start roster spot ion the majors. Go figure.

What veterans?

The Twins have two issues. (1) Miguel Sano. Where does he play. (2) Are you going for the moment or longterm. The Twins do or don't have 40-man roster problems. They have too many people like Robbie Grossman, who is adequate in the shortterm, but if you add a Matt Adams, he does. If you add so-and-so, who they replace in the scheme of the 40-man roster? The Twins have an abundance of starter arms on the 40-man, equal to the amount of bullpen arms. These will have to be jettisoned and IF they is any trade value there, they need to make it, as well as make hardcore decisions on people like Odorizzi and Gibson (can you get someone you feel is more reliable for the same price or even less). If you add anyone, they take the place of a lesser player, or someone who will be passed by someone else in the system next season. Names? On the bubble have to be Busenitz, Duffey, Slegers, Granite. Secondary are Adrianza and Grossman. The Twins have to make a decision on Dodrizzi and Gibson. They would love to get rid of the contracts of Reed and Castro. AMongst starters you could part with Littell, Mejia, Gonsalves and perhaps Stewart in the right trade. 2-3 still have to be moved for 40-man adds. No one wants Reed or Castro. Are Gibson and Odorizzi worth $9-10 or should they be extended 2-3-4 years.

The evils of baseball. When you have the opportunity to garner a spot as a pitcher, Slegers and Mejia both come up lame, and Felix Jorge has disappeared from the Twins system. I always wondered if Zack Granite might've roved exciting in centerfield and his chance to shine would've been 2018. But he hit the disabled list and has now been passed over. He could remain a Twin, but he might be best to seek job opportunities elsewhere.

They could still be the second coming of Carlos Gomez and Delmon Young, only playing for other teams.

So it all comes down to Sano, now. Is he the third baseman of the near future? I want to say, no. He will still be on super secret probation next season and the Twins will go in 2019 where Buxton and Sano take them. Is he a first baseman longterm? Also probably no. Will he be the Twins answer to David Ortiz, playing a string of seasons at whatever is a decent major league salary (say a decade at $20 million a year). That would be the dream. But at some point, I do wonder if the Twins want to just move on. And Bryant would be a fine choice if they want to spend money and an sign him for something big for 4-5 years with an option for a sixth. Not sure what that number would be. But who do you trade? Any ideas?

The more I think about it, the Twins would be best served by not offering arbitration to Doorizzi and Grossman. That money could be better spent elsewhere. Of course, I would not rule out the trade value of either, but I don't see Odorizzi getting $9 million in the free agent market place. In that case, Astudillo then gets a spot on the Twins. I like the guy because he can catch and also play a lot of positions adequately and also be a solid bench bat...maybe. There are still questions, but like what I saw. I think the Twins are pretty much stuck with Jason Castros. He is a plus if he can catch more often than not and work with the younger pitchers on the staff. Let Garver catch Gibson and Pineda, if need be. I would like to hope that the Twins could pull some trades for middle infield, maybe a DH bat. We will see. Otherwise, they could spend big on a one or two year deal. Actually, when you look at where the monies are tied up with the Twins (Gibson, Pineda, Odorizzi, Reed, Castro), the Twins really don't need any of those salaries if they could find takers. But, again, why would anyone WANT these players for their going rate when they can find sufficient replacement value players at a better discount.

The question is: Who's on Third. Is Sano the third baseman for at least three more seasons, until the Twins see if any on-the-fringe names of prospects, can play the position? Third base is NOT a strength in the organization right now.. Really. It isn't. At least in a player of the quality of Donaldson or with the expectations of Sano. Is Sano better suited to first base and designated hitter? At this point hate to make Sano JUST a designated hitter. We can't really answer the question if Sano stays in the game better if in position on the field rather than as a watcher from the bench. And, today, right now, the Twins have at least Tyler Austin who should fill the power needs at first until the Twins see if Rooker or someone else steps up to the plate. Three years at $75 million? WIll he bring stability to the order and the team? Is the salary too high that he isn't flippable at some point if the Twins would like to move on, even if absorbing part of the salary? Will he be willing to even look at the Twins and field an offer? The Twins do have the funds. It wouldn't break the bank, assuming Mauer isn't coming back. No doubt the Twins will try and low ball if possible, depending on interest, but they should make a competitive offer for his services.