Rosterman

Two things. You want the player to be their best in a season from now, at the least, to benefit the Twins most, as well as a couple of seasons after that. Second, the player will have to want to play in Minnesota. You can argue that the Twins have overspent on many of the free agents they have signed, including Santana, Nolasco, and the ilk. SHould he Twins go all out and get the BEST free agent possible? Rather than overpay what someone else might underpay?

So Lance Lynn shuts out the White Sox for 7+ innings with only one walk and 9Ks. Go figure.

Player to be named later and they might have to include some cash.

I'm going to argue here. AAA ball is fine. A step up from AA ball. But the difference between AAA and major league is light years. Many of the people you face in AAA ball, or play with on the field, are on par with the bench bats, substitutes, people looking for their own comeback. Just because you tear up AAA ball doesn't mean you are going to crush the majors. You can jump from AA ball to the majors. You can perform well in AAA ball. A lot of it is being able to recognize and work in a less threatening environment. But things can change. You listen to major league coaches. You try harder. You learn that it is a lot of ahrd work. Give Gordon a shot, a 20-30 game taste of the Big Leagues. Challenge him. Then have him work even harder in the off-season.

There's 16 guys that could be gone from the current 40-man. About 4-5 can be the bubble guys to get rid of in case you do sign a free agent (Duffey, Grossman, Rogers, Slegers, et al). There is no one in AA and below that you have to feel threatened to lose in the Rule 5 draft. You might lose a couple of guys in the minor league portion. You have to make a decision on those that might be minor league free agents: Baxendale is one. Brian Navarretto is another, I believe. But looking overall, the system is ricj in guys not expected to break camp out of spring training, and only a couple of names that might crack the 40-man come September (Rooker is one). Again, if the Twins take a hit, it may be in the minor league portion of the draft.

One can agree with everything you say, except on the free agent dreams. Or trade dreams. Not sure the Twins really have tradeable pieces that other pieces demand. Not sure if the Twins do need to sign any longterm free agents until they have a better idea how they might compete going into 2020, or will it be 2021. The Twins HAVE to put many many names on waivers wire in August. The decision to let them go is threefold. (1) Is it still beter to keep the guy and play out the contract because they will contribute to the team winning games as the season winds down (remember, we still have a third of the season left) or the player will be a part of the team in 2019 (Adrianza, perhaps Grossman). (2) Do you want salary relief from the contract (Addison Reed could be a BIG move here, ridding yourself of his $8 million in 2019 - wait, we are talking guys on the field, sorry). (3) What to do if NOBODY wants our players? Brings us back to #1. If you are paying them, do you keep and play them, or eat the salary. I like your comment "we don’t always know how a player will react to the majors, and that scouting is not a perfect art. Therefore, I believe that you can gather data at the major league level about ability, and that players need time to adapt. I want both to happen this year." But then you say you don't want Gordon up here in 2018 and don't see him starting out-of-the-gate in 2019. Well, if the choice is Forsythe (or Polanco/Adrianza) playing out of position, I would rather take a flyer at Gordon, no doubt limited to the #9 spot in the batting order unless Bobby Wilson is catching) and seeing if he does up his game now that he is getting major league meal money. How will you know. You have an opportunity to play the guy 30-40 games. Can he hit .200? I say, go for it. The outfield is set. We do have to look at Buxton again, perhaps. We also have to make a decision on Granite, although Wade has probably passed him by. Right now we have four outfielders (counting Grossman). If Grossman IS NOT part of the plan for 2019, then he shouldn't be playing. But he is one of the 4-5 guys that will remain on the 40-man and might make it to spring training. We want to see LaMonte Wade, but he won't be added until the of-season at this point as there is no need to play him. Yes, I would rather see him, perhaps more than Granite or Grossman, but it ain't going to happen. Can Kepler play first base? Why, we may ask. Sure, he did play it a bit in High A-ball, I believe. Remember, But is he the first baseman of the future? Right now, Tyler Austin has stepped into that role (pas Kennys Vargas who will be able to return to Cincinnati if they want him, remember the mess last spring) who would replace Logan Morrison, whose time has come and sadly gone. Heck, I would rather see Kennys, but no need now. Austin is out of options next season, so he becomes the next Kevin Maas or maybe a solid bench bat. Brent Rooker is now blocked to coming up anytime before next September, unless injuries cause him to be reconsidered. Of course, the lack of ANY talk during the trade deadline of people inquiring about Joe Mauer means Joe will be back at first base in 2019 if salary can be met. I'm looking forward to see if Joe DOES GET any offers in the offseason. This will be amazing to see what his drop in income will be. We know that there are very few names to add to the 40-man mix in the off season of guys that we will lose in a Rule 5 draft, so ocne again the Twins will be sitting with 20+ pitchers on the roster and barely a fielding staff. Willians Astilludo is an interesting name. Do we want to see him back up and actually catching, as a bench bat, and a guy who can play other positions (except never pitch again). Will he ramain for that reason alone? Because next season we still have Castro behind-the-plate as the vet and a much improved Garver. Garver SHOULD get 2/3rds of the starts fer sure. Maybe. Do the Twins find a way to look at Juan Graterol? Wynston Sawyer? Jordan Pochardo (sp?) or anyone NOT named Navarretto (Brian, I think, will need to be considered for the 40-man, but doubt that he will be grabbed by anyone, but he could change organizations himself, or so I think). Polancho is he shortstop (although people have said he is a second base guy). Sano is at third for now. Adrianza is still a cheap infield alternative. Do the Twins need Field or Motter or Forsythe (or Petit) come the offseason? I imagine Field will come up because he is on the 40-man. But he is also one of those 4-5 guys on the bubble that may remain come the off-season. We know the Twins won't do anything like bring up Royce Lewis to play shortstop. Not that people can't make that big of a jump to major league life. And they don't want to use up options. Or start service time. All those stupid reasons not to be extreme. So the only BIG NAME is Nick Gordon, who so many say is slipping in the Top 100 rankings due to play at Rochester and being called "not deserving" of getting a shot at a basic vacant position on the team, plus he isn't on the 40-man. But if he is a viable prospect being groomed to make the majors at second or shortstop and is now at AAA ball, which is the cusp of being a major league consideration, is it so BAD to bring the guy up and give him a solid audition on the field and at the plate, albeit at the bottom of the order. You know what you have. And like hoping Polanco has a great second half like last year, cementing himself with the organization, and Sano getting 40+ games at third base to prove he bellongs on the team and maybe, maybe at third base instead of someone else (if he doesn't, you make a play for Escobar in the off-season after he sees what he is worth). No to free agents. If nothing else, the team does some patchwork like they did this yer..some one-year contracts from people wanting a job that you might be able to flip. But only if you aren't willing to do a corresponding view of the guys you have. 2019 will be a rerun of 2018. The people we wanted to see get better like Kepler, Sano, Buxton will be given at least another half-year. Gordon MAY/MAY NOT get a chance to join the club, and again I say - if he isn't a prospect, then good. But if he a prospect, you have a chance to look at him and at least see what he needs to work on and he can start 2019 in AAA ball all the better with a chance to really make an impact on the club. He can't be any worse than Buxton 2018. ADDED to the 40-man. Nick Gordon is it. Maybe Navarretto, if you think he will work as a backup in 2020 and beyond. LaMonte Wade. And there are more than enough deductions to cover these adds today or in the off-season.

At the rate the Twins are going, they might FIRMLY be a second place club in the Central Division. Unless they truly want to tank because of a higher draft pick, they need to look at bodies for the future and evaluate who they have. By Labor Day the Twins should've made a decision on Ervin Santana. Is he someone you want to try and keep for 2019? If not, see if someone wants his salary before September 1. Kohl Stewart will be added to the 40-man. Is there any reason to not add him early (no). He will either be brilliant in the next season or fodder for the waiver wire. No Twins pitcher will be searching for a strikeout or ERA or a wins title. You can go with a six-man rotation. You can limit your guys to five innings. You can have the 15 or so guys you have on the roster ALL up and pitching (maybe not Thorpe). You have to make decisions on Slevers. You have to decide of Rogers and Duffey are keepers. You need to decide of Magill is the real thing Pitchers like Drake and Belisle need to be replkaced by people like Bard or Baxendale for a looksee. You ahd these guys in your organization for awhile. Do you want them anymore? September is decision month. You also think about Addison Reed before September 1. Would you rather respend his $8 million from next year or keep Reed. Decide in August! I like the Twins starters for 2019. Berrios, Gibson, Odorizzi, Pineda, Mejia with Romero, Goncalves, :Littell, Stewart, De Jong in the wings, maybe Slegers still, and Thorpe prepping for the 2020 season. Considering that right now Gibson, Odorizzi and Pienda would be free agents come 2020, you need arms getting experience. So the "Mejia" spot would be a swing spot, depending on Pineda. Signing a free agent will only complicate things. Having Santana s the grizzled vet would complicate things. You rebuild and hope the yougsters surprise, or you don't. And remember, all these youngsters that were supposed to produce this year will be given another chance next season (Sano, Buxton, Garver, Polanco, Kepler, Rosario, who ever is on second - Gordon - and Mauer, with possibly Austin - or Grossman again - as DH).

2017 showed there might be a contention possibility, all depended on how Cleveland played the off-seson. To reach the Wild Card...wild thought. But the Twins did try to expand on the momentum of being in a weak divisiion without handcapping themselves by trading away prospects and, especially, locking into longterm contracts. The division IS weak and Cleveland is running away in the division with a poor record. You can look back and say that is the Twins had Mejia instead of Lynn, would they be five wins to the better than now? If Ervin Santana wasn't out for nearly four months and just out for one, would they have done it? Of course, no one predicted that EVERYONE would falter. Polanco gets suspended. Buxton and Sano get demoted. Dozier has holes in his bat. Kepler improves in one area and falls apart in tow others. They lose a veteran catcher. And Joe Mauer just contributes. They made decent signings/trades/ Got a first-rate closer who also keeps games exxciting. Two setup guys. They added a started on a one-year deal and another in trade. They got a 1B/DH with some power. All brilliant and economical signings. So economical that we now question WHY did they bother to sign the guys themselves for a bargian because didn't they think there was a reason every other team was hemming and hawing about these guys. We will now enter 2019 same as 2018. Same prospects hoping to make it big. Joe Mauer still there. The difference is that the aging vets will be gone and the choice needs to be mae to bring in another run of one-year lowballers, or just go with youth and what you can stuff in the cracks. They can pretty much fill the 40-man with guys on the team and in the organization. Can they improve? Sure, you can spend money and improve every position. But this is also the time to start closely evaluating the farm system. You will be trading pieces this coming season, and more than likely the next year, in hopes of getting more than decent team controlled pieces to strength true weaknesses.

Do the Twins know something we don't know? Both went thru waivers. Okay, only a small percentage of American League teams passed, But, throwing away money. We still have Motter and Petit at AAA. Is Belisle finally leaving? What does this move say to folks like Duffey, Curtiss and Busenitz?

You have to think ahead, if it means promoting guys before their time. Makes them better for spring training and next season. Right now the Twins have Berrios, Gibson and Odorizzi for the rotation. Mejia is showing some life. Romero got some experience and should only be better next season. There is an option of Ervin Santana being back. And Michael Pineda should egt some innings in September. Add in that you have Goncalves and Littell sitting ready in the wings for a chance, looks pretty good, doesn't it? You also have Thorpe, De Jong and Slegers. Castro should be back behind the plate with a much improved Garver. By all account Joe Mauer will return. You will still have Polanco and Sano and Adrianza. The Twins need to let Gordon come up and flounder if he must. You can always make a decision, then, for a short-term bandaid, not like him at all, or whatever. Depending on Sano and his remainder of the year you can start thinking of his place with the Twins. Is he a first baseman? A DH? Should you make a play again for Escobar? And then you also have Austin as the bench bat who can play first or the outfield. The outfield is set with Rosario, Kepler, Buxton and Cave. Twins lucky this year, they got more time or lower longterm salary for Buxton AND Sano. Lamonte Wade is in the background. The Twins could keep Grossman. The fate of Granite is up in the air. Rodney could be back as closer. He has the stuff. He keeps the game interesting. How many saves does a truly rebuilding team need? Can he suffice? Addison Reed could be acak, as he IS signed for $8 million for another season. Youc an assume that Hildenberger, Curtiss, Busenitz and Moya are in the mix. The fate of Duffey and Rogers can be determined. Magill is a possible Keeper. May is there. You have these arms for consideration from the minors: Jake Reed, Nick Anderson, D.J. Baxendale, Luke Bard, Tyler Jay...and Kohl Stewart will be added to the 40-man. Looks like the Twins have a team for 2019. WIll they be good? You don't know...it is up to the players. Your questions are 1B/3B/DH and can Gordon handle 2B (or do you move Polanco there). DO you stay young or keep the presence of Ervin Santana for another season. And the Field Staff. Do you make changes?

Overall, you can do nothing but be impressed. Dozier, may be worth more, but he has issues which is why the Twins weren't able to trade him for anything of substance in the past, and he actually went to a team that DIDN'T need to start him for the rest of the season, as either the Twins were asking too much to begin with, or there were others players more suitable for even a short term rental out there (and there were and they went to other teams). Pressly is a loss. He has been badly overworked this season and may just mellow out in the contending bullpen of the Astros. Always felt he had closer potential (like Jesse Crain) and that the Twins were fools to rid themselves of the player. But they got a nice return for someone who they grabbed in a Rule 5 draft. The Twins got a bench bat for next season who can play first, DH or work in the outfield, probably better than Grossman/ They got a pitcher who will bebattling Aaron Slegers for a spot on the 40-man come the off-season and who should get a looksee come September to see if he can handle long elief. They got waaaay too many outfielders, young outfieledrs. But we have to begin to question what the Twins will do with Kepler, what is the longterm spot on the team of Buxton, and CAN the Twins deal Rosario after maybe getting him on a team friendly extension. All deecisions that need to be made more towards the end of next season. But by 2021, expect the Twins outfield to look very different. What they didn't get...viable middle infield help, although they have that in the minors. Also, no catcher, but they MIGHT have two coming up towards 2020/2021. Now the question is what kind of movement do we see in the minors, how many free agents (including minor league free agents) do the Twins go after in 2019. But the system looks pretty darn good, especially with rotation arms.

Okay, I was just thinking about this and looking at some of the names the Twins MIGHT have to add in the off-season. Names like Kohl Stewart, Tyler Jay, LaMonte Wade, Nick Gordon, Jake Reed, Brent Rooker (no need to add, by the way), Nick Anderson. Really, there aren't as many in the high minors that require adding that I would fear losing in the Rule 5. Oh, that new guy Jorge Alcala would also have to be added. The ptential of any of the above names, except Nick Gordon, starting the season on the major league roster at this point are probably slim to none, although ALL could see playing time in 2019. The Twins could take another looksee at the following: Juan Graterol as an additional catcher (there really is no need to bring up anyone playing at AA or below, including Brian Navaretto, who would have to be added, perchance, to the 40-man in the off-season as I suspect he is a six-year vet - correct me if I am wrong). You might also want to take a look at Luke Bard, Kennys Vargas and D.J. Baxendale (a southpaw) who can all walk after this season anyways. Better yet is looking at the current 40-man. You have two empty places, but you might just keep one open because Pineda looks like he will be coming back, at least when roster expand come September. And it looks doubtful that either Rochester or Chattanooga will be playoff bound, even though they could just fill rosters with guys from lower levels...of which there are now too many with the recent addition of nearly 10 folks in trades.Okay, August question marks. There is a slim chance that the Twins could trade or allow to walk to a claim Logan Morrison and Fernando Rodney, just to escape the salary. Even Ervin Santana could be in the same boat. Of course, a reason for keeping ALL three around is that you can roll over options with them if you wish. But you also have Tyler Austin, who will be out of options in 2019 and will be the 1B/DH/OF candidate for the roster. He will have to be up in September. Same could be said of Addison Reed. If the Twins wish to escape his $8 million next season (highest paid player), they could also allow him to be claimed and NOT get much (player to be named later) in exchange. Of course, will be interesting to see what else happens in August now that you can always throw international signing bonus money into a deal. There are two fellows, possibly three, that the Twins really don't need taking innings or at bats from anyone. You can talk about Bobby Wilson and his veteran presence behind-the-plate. And the fact that he is just taking up roster space THIS year and that Jason Castro will return next year and there are NO catchers in the wings to take his place. So for that fact alone, you keep him to the end of the year? You also have Willians Astillido, still a youngster of sort with a bat and the ability to play every position (it seems) and maybe even pitch (okay, I made a joke). You also have Matt Belisle, the closer in waiting if the Twins get rid of Rodney. To say that I would rather stick with Rodney than chance Belisle says something about Belisle. Why is he here taking innings from Busenitz or Curtiss is beyond me, both of whom shall be here for the month of September. Come September, do we want Logan Forsythe (or Ehrie Adrianza_ playing second or Nick Gordon up here getting his feet wet. And don't tell me we need to add back in Taylor Motter and Gregorio Petit. Other pitchers that the Twins have to view and make decisions on before the off-season are Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey, Matt Magill. All three could very well be gone and not missed. All three will probably stay on the 40-man, as you do need potential names to drop if you sign a free agent. All three will line-up against any other "minor league free agents" you search out and sign for the Red Wings in 2019. Are they on the bubble? Will Duffey get some reps? Maybe those Belisle innings. That leaves those wealth of starting arms: Romero, Gonsalves, Littell, Thorpe and...Aaron Slegers. An enormous number of roches here. But not enough innings. Maybe it will be time to shut down Romero. We got a look and can like. Gonsalves needs to get a couple of starts just to see how he looks. Littell and Thorpe can start 2019 in Rochester (unless they push in spring training). We need to make a decision on Slegers, if he can do long relief or what. Those Belisle innings look more valuable now, as well as work you give to Duffey or Rogers or Magill. And we also have De Jong. Keep or let walk (shades of Forsythe). Is he worth a 40-man keeper thru the off-season. More on that it a minute. Then we have Robbie Grossman, our designated hitter, and the underdog in the minors, Zach (or is it Zack) Granite...not even the card companies can get it consistent. The speedster had a wasted year in the minors. Enough promise to be a keeper, or is he being passed by. Should he get a look in September (we couldn't do it for Adam Walker or Dan Palka in years past). Or just let him fade away to some other organization. So, I don't see many 40-man necessary adds. Nick Gordon is about it. Maybe another catcher for a looksee that you don't have to keep. If there is a third name for September...well we can find it from the above list (Willians, Belisle, Forsythe,) Do Luke Bard, D.J. Baxendale need a look in a Twins uniform? Should we care anymore about Kennys Vargas? Or do we move on and let these guys find life elsewhere. And then, for the off-season, we have Joe Mauer. His roster spot will open, but probably be filled, at some time, by Joe Mauer...who will probably see what anyone else might pay him compared to the Twins and the Twins will have to match (or come close). Can he be a year-by-year? Do they still want him? More than enough bodies to look at from the 40-man. Have to give innings to Trevor May to see if he's a keeper or to possibly define a role going forth. And haven't even considered a place for Buxton in the scheme of things. Let's just say that there are at least 14 names on the 40-man (current) that don't NEED to be here come spring training 2019. That's a lot. The Twins might need to only add 7 or 8. They could still grab 4-5 free agents, like they did this year, to temporary make them a possible better team (and let me say, I thought the signings this season were solid signings and expected better results than reality). I'm also curious to see the coaching staff new manager Joel Skinner will have helping the Twins move forth.

Not sure why no one grabbed Rodney. 98mph! Whew! I think Trevor May should be pushed as a closer candidate, if nothing else. Try it. Better than...Belisle. Yes, Logan Morrison nees to get claimed out of the chute in August. Of course, most teams will think that maybe the Twins might jsut let him walk. Then they have to pay most of his salary for the year. And Austin is the heir, out of options next year.

Is Nick Gordon ready? Perhaps not. Would Brent Rooker be challenged at the Big League ;level? Probably. Should both get added to the 40-man roster this season instead of waiting until a later date? Why not? Right now, you have litle to lose having bpth of these guys in the majors taking some regaulr at bats for more than the month of September. Sure, the recent trade with the Yankees has set a temporary block on the arrival of Rooker, , but we are talking the future. Don't, front office, drag out Adrianza or Motter or Grossman to play as regulars. We NEED to give some exposure to the future. Let them take some licks. You can always send them back to the minors. The tell will be who closes for the Twins. Sure, Addison Reed is signed for another season and you have Belisle. But in rebuild mode, let Reed go on the August waiver wire and save $8 million next season. Let us see if Curtiss or Hildenberger or maybe even Trevor May can be the closer of the future? You have to make some 40-man decisions. Look at Kohl Stewart, Busenitz long and hard, maybe Luke Bard. Or move on. Is Zack Granite totally out of the picture? We know Buxton ain't. Don;t do waiver wire claims yourself. You can do all those for spring training invites ()look over the many many names that have since departed Twinsland, if you get a chance, of folks who didn't produce for Rochester or Chattanooga). Of course, still can't wait to see what happens with...Joe Mauer. And, of course, the Field Staff.

TWINS PAY HALF OF LYNN'S SALARY FOR REST OF SEASON. Is Austin as good, right now, as Logan Morrison? Is he a better choice to have as minor league depth, a bench bat than, say, Kennys Vargas? We will find out in 2019. Remember, who plays first if Mauer goes parttime and Sano fails. (Yes, Rooker is in the wings). Prtty much means we won't see Rooker this year, though.

Any issue with De Jong is he 40-man roster space he commands. He does have options, but if you remove him, you could lose him. He's 24, still has options, and at some point you have to ask is he a better keeper than Tyler Duffey or, say, Aaron Slegers, who could be used in long relief, too. You also got a corner infield prospect with some power for postotns that are weak (unproven) in the minors, third and first base. If nothing else, if power develops, he could be a nice bench-bat in the far future who can also play the field. Yes, he is pushing Robby Rinn for a spot in the organization come 2019. The $75,000 seems a laugh, especially when the inherited salary for Duke is next to nothing, and I'm pretty sure any team would've taken Duke for just giving the Twins salary relief come August. Worthwhile pickup. The Twins will have a lot of bullpen openings if the purge continues with Rodney, perhaps Addison Reed, the loss of Belisle (please) and a decision to be made on names like Taylor Rogers (and even possible replacement Tyler Duffey).

Mejia and Moya should be able to shine in the same role for the remainder of the season! Rodney, Morrison, Lynn, Dozier should still be gone sooner rather than later. Then thoughts on Ervin Santana and the Twins also reliving themselves of Addison Reed's second year of contract, or is he worth keeping? Then we start looking at the need for people like Bobby WIlson and Matt Belisle. And then the question: who moves to Rochester!

LOADS OF INTERESTING COMMENTS. Some Back -- You don't wait until the last minute to sell. Your players aren't the only ones out there. You do it when the opportunity arises. It would be wonderful to trade assets like Lynn, Dozier, Morrison, Duke, Rodney. But there are other equal, if not better, players floating out there. A team has to WANT this player for their contending roster. Your next step in the August waiver wire where a team HAS to take the player if they claim them, which can offer you salary relief and the potential to play someone in future plans, if you choose to let the player walk. You might be able to get a very minor prospect back in a deal. Again, the end of July dedline allows you to play teams against each other, or MAYBE you have to pay some of the outstanding salary to lose the player. Paul Molitor is a Hall of Fame person. That he can't take a couple of days to do festivities in Cooperstown, promoting the great game of baseball, should never be questioned. I'm sure arrangements are made, and the fact that the Twins are on a roadtrip close to the area also comes into play. This is an extended family thing. That he is still on the field for a team is a plus for the team, as well as baseball (although many of us MIGHT wish that he was not the field manager anymore). Should the Hall of fame have a better schedule for their induction ceremonies? Probably NOT on the final days of trading in July. Yes, maybe it should happen on the last day of the All-Star break, or the weekend before the All-Star game. whatever. But Hall of Famers is a unique club of a small amount of players and allowing them ALL to gather, if able, is a plus for baseball! People seem to forget that the Twins could have a decent rotation in 2019. They have Berrios, Gibson and Odorizzi. You forget that Pineda may be coming back for some innings in September. That three of these guys will be in walk years is the bigger question for the front office in the off-season. We also have Romero, Goncalves, Slegers, Mejia, Littell in the wings. And he potential exists that Ervin Santana could have his option picked uo for a modest $14 million. And, finally, how much stock should you always put in minor league numbers? Would nick Gordon flounder if he came up? Would Bent Rooker be in a chase game of "who strikes out the most" with Sano if he would jump from AA ball, a jump that has happened repeatedly in the past in the Twins organization? Would a player be hungry enough to shine shine shine if given a chance in the majors for more than a game or a week? And, then, will the coaches work and the players be willing to work to become a better player at the major league level? You don't know until you give it a shot.

The joy is that in a rebuild you can try players at different positions. But, like Polanco playing shorstop insteadd of second, then you have Nick Gordon, supposedly a shotstop being moved to second. Well, until the guy actually gets on a major league field and gets in the faster game mode (so to speak), you don't know. Remember, Cuddyer was ALSO an infielder and played around the diamond before settling in the outfield. He could still play 2B and 3B in a pinch. And then we have Willians who is a catcher and played CENTREFIELD, third base and PITCHER...but didn't catch an inning (which, by the way, didn't the recall come for him to the majors to give Sano a few more days (weeks) at AAA Rochester?). I think the Twins HAVE pushed players to do multiple positions at times. I seem to remember that Max Kepler was getting first base rotations at A ball. Rpsario, like you said, started as a second baseguy. The Twins are making Logan Morrison more valuable by playing him in the outfield. Yet guys with great talent (Joe Mauer) can shift from catcher of the outfield at times, but not third base? Anyways, good piece. I would go with Rosario as a third baseman for awhile and see what happens, as the Twins have many many outfielders in the system (adding three just this week) and you have to decide if his defense at third would rival his olay in the outfield. And then, where to put Sano? Of course, try the guy at first. But a professional designated hitter one he conquers his bat swinging will be his home (be it with the Twins or in another uniform).

What kind of moves will be forced in the minors, especially three potential starting outfielders who neded to be plugged into the low minors. Will the Twins start cutting some folks alredy on rosters? And with the potential of more to come? Sano NOW needs to produce, and by playing third base. Motter stays at Rochester. Okay, fine. but, again, here was a strange move by the Twins. You were, in all matters, moving infielders. So, when you bring back Santana...you keep Belisle? Of course, Belisle will be the closer if the Twins move Rodney, right? Instead of auditioning people in the organization for the long haul. ANy news on where Felix Jorge is hanging out?

A possible back-of-the-rotation arm and a couple of promising outfielders. What makes the additional outfield talent a plus is that you aren't tied into extending Kepler or Buxton yet if you don't wish, and you can dangle Rosario out there next season, if you wish (and the comments we all make about his bat and glove seems like someone we don't trust). I can almost say for certain that the Twins had no intention on making a qualifying offer to Escobar. I doubt that they wanted to spend $25 million over three seasons to extend him. Now they will have the opportunity to enter the bidding war for him in the off-season if Eduardo doesn't resign with Arizona right away. Our question now is: can Sano come abck sooner rather than later and play third.

I'mthinking NONE of the guys need to be put on the 40-man roster. And the chances of any of them being grabbed in a Rule 5 draft are pretty slim at this point, if any of them do need to be grabbed. Pressly has shown a flair in his work for the Twins. Like Jesse Crain years earlier, he had closer written all over him, although, like Crain, it may never pan out in the long run. One thing we know. 51 appearances. Molitor will now have to find someone else to overwork.

Unfortunately, many of the pieces that would be nice to jettison (because they will be walking at season's end) are not only NOT VALUABLE to other teams, but NOT contributing much better than a replacement value. Dozier, Morrison CAN be replaced. Lynn CAN be replaced. Rodney and Duke and Reed can basically be replaced in roles by pitchers already here and we HAVE to get competent quality outings of possible arms at AAA. If the guys are going to walk AND not contribute much, if anything, to the current season, then they are taking away roster time, space and money.

Who's on third?

Is he the closer of the future (I would like to see Trevor May put in this position). Is he valuable to another team? He has already pitched in 51 games this season and does show signs of overwork. Does that hurt his value? Are the Twins still thinking possibility of contention for the division? I mean, the REAL ultimate outlook of the Twins in the front office is to do whatever is necessary to SELL tickets for THIS SEASON. A white flag means people have to just come to the ballpark, which diminishes as the summer winds down with the State Fair, back to school, last run to lake cabins and other activities in town. Paying Twins prices to watch a team in rebuild take a back seat. Of course, the limited number of season ticket holders will sell off their seats for pennies on the dollars, which IS good for the cheap fan. But still, less concessions. Lots of empty seats. No jerseys being sold. Plus, lots of OLD player jerseys for sale at the State Fair yard sale. But, in some ways, the Twins CAN jettison many potential free agents and also some fringe guys and replace them with FUTURE prospects right now, who would be expected to play at least better than teir counterparts, which shouldn't be hard as the only players the Twins team have performing above expectations that could be moved elsewhere are Gibson, Escobar and Pressley.