Rosterman

There shouldn't be a BIG rush on May. If you can afford that 8th bullpen arm, which may ne a necessity because of overwork, go ahead. But if you can option him to Rochester and let him get abck up to speed, no hurry until you start sorting out sellable assets as July rolls around. I picture Santana will be more than fine once he gets the work in. Finger is a lot different than arm or shoulder. He just has to shake off the rust, and hopefully the desire to be brilliant as he enters the free agent market again for one big contract will make him a light in a pennant run. Yes, the adding of Santana back in will be a mess...who goes and who stays. But things have a way of working themselves out (poor performance, disabled list, etc.). Sadly, if May stays at Rochester, means someone has to go, Yes, there are minor league free agents on the bubble, as well as vets like Baxendale and, perhaps, Slegers. Santana will involved a 40-man roster decision.

Yes. Especially with the number of guys who have contract runouts this season. But...they have to produce to draw worth and interest, although something in return, even an A-ball prospect, could be considered a plus. Catcher: we will be stuck with Castro for another season. 1B: Joe Mauer could refuse a trade. The bigegr question, should he retire, or should he continue. For the Twins? Elsewhere? Who's on first! Logan Morrison could have worth and anything you get would be a plus. I don't see him reaching his mutual option. Infielder: Escobar may be the hottest commodity the Twins have, but a team would need to have a position to use him. Again, being a free agent himself means a team would lose him come October. The joy of trading someone like Escobar, you may have a better option of bringing him back when he walks away from another team instead of yours. Would bring back a low-level prospect. 2B: Brian Dozier. It will be making the qualifying offer or letting him walk. I'm torn if the Twins WILL take the gamble. The chances are pretty good that Dozier MIGHT not take it...looking for a longer deal at age 32 rather than at 33. But if the Twins do trade him, then another team gets to make that decision, and the Twins could be back in the hunt and negotiate a contract suitable with other offers. But it would mean that they would have to be more than comfortable with Gordon and Polanco at 2nd/SS. Might be able to get another team's 40-man roster issue, or a low level prospect. ROTATION: Santana, Lynn and Gibson should all be on the shopping bloc. The Twins have May in reserve and the possibility of Gonsalves, Slegers, Mejia ready to step into the major league rotation. Of course, a couple of those mentioned names may not be here in 2019. But then we have Littell, Stewart, Jorge, and another name or two in the wind, too. I don't see any of our free agent starters coming back, and the Twins would be wiser to invest any monies in someone else at this point next season. Again, do you take non-roster prospects, or someone running out of options on another team's roster. The Bullpen: Rodney, Duke should both be dangled and sold. You keep Reed because of the contract and for experience. You may a call on Duffey and Rogers. You look at the depth and the extra seasoning another month might give you with names like Curtis, Bard, Moya, Busenitz and more. The Twins do have depth. The question is: who closes...Reed, Pressly? The Twins CAN AND SHOULD be sellers. They have replacements for the rotation free agents, bullpen free agents, backup infielder replacements, and could work a new second baseman into the mix. If they have a weakness (besides under performing prospects) is the first baseman or third baseman of the future, depending on the fate of Sano, who might be expendable himself or doomed to becoming a designated hitter who can occasionally play the field. Joe Mauer is still the elephant in the room. Salary and roster spot the question.

Castro will move to 60-day when May comes off. So don't need roster spot. But the decision with May will involve LaMarre/Grossman or Petit/Adrianza. I believe Petit would have to go thru waivers if he is sent down. Correct me if I am wrong, so the Twins may be looking at this loss. Not sure who they knock off the Red Wings roster. Featherstone, sadly, perhaps. But yes, let's delay Gordon more (who is also probably better at second base, right)?

The Twins need to decide on Mauer and Dozier....do they give Dozier a qualifying offer (which is doubtful unless he has a stellar second half). They need to make a decision to tie up young players. Yes, they have a rebuild of the rotation, but right now have Berrios, Romero, Odorizzi, Pineada and whatever. They would have monies to invest in a first-rate starter on a big up-front contract. They also could throw money at a couple of free agents, or absorb contracts from other tems for position players they need. There is Payroll Space to burn, so to say...unless this season tanks and they take a hit in attendance. Yes, they are still paying a player millions to play for someone next season, but saving a bit in the process overall. Do they need a catcher? Castro is still under contract for a season. This year Garver gets to show what he has. Yes, you worry about 2020, but that is...2020. With the way baseball operates, you can still pick up high-ranked draft picks from other teams one year or more after the fact. The Twins did good changing their international funs into a couple of picks with some showcasing. You go back and look at the number of guys that you draft each year and how many actually make the major leagues....what is it...3 or five or 10?

It gives the Twins more flexibility with Payroll, since Hughes will be coming off the books next season now. Looking at the catching depth, the Twins probably should be looking at drafting a catcher, but what would be available comparable in the 74th round. The Twins seem to be in a win-win in a couple of recent drafts, as well as some solid pickups for international monies, so, in hindsight, the farm system has to be sitting pretty good. If you start looking closely at the system, they have too many players right now in the upper ranks (Fort Myers and above) as well as some real promising prospects below. Yes, they all don't pan out...but decisions have to be made on advancement and protection. Right now, catching is a black hole. If the guy is halfway decent, it can be a win for the Twins.

No Morrison, LaMarre and Petit are hitting...shouldn't they get at least an at bat? Sano third? At least the K king didn't get a fifth at bat. Line-up construction sucks, but what WOULD be the perfect lineup?

So who is this Paco Rodriguez guy? Looks like the Twins chose to part ways with Brock Stassi and that Kenny Vargas will be turning up the heat, to draw attention from the Twins, of perhaps another suitor. Sad for Aaron Selgers. Ups and downs. Speaking of ups and downs, is Kohl Stewart still a prospect to watch?

Young players are a work in progress. At what time do you see enough and cut loose (think Aaron Hicks) or move forwards (see Bene Revere and Carlos Gomez) or just move on (see Denard Span). Centerfield has been the vacuum hole for the Twins. So many guys who have had moments, but nothing consistent, nothing that would make you pay superstar millions. You could even say the Twins passed on THAT opportunity with ol' Torii Hunter, too. And what do they still have in the minors, another quality centerfielder, at least two seasons away, but he could be advanced. And then there is Sano. The big questions for the Twins...who to extend and for how much.

If Garver IS the catcher of the near short-term future, he should be playing more...60% to start and maybe up to 75%. Yes, Castrop should be back next year, so you could still split services (depending on offense). So, this is the year for Garver to shine, to show that he MIGHT be able to handle behind-the-plate duties for the next few years. Catching is a weak spot for the Twins. They an switch out Wilson, but in doing so (no doubt, if they did, they would remove him from the 40-man) they would weaken Red Wings catching...unless Navaretto or Olson are ready to advance. There just isn't the depth. Or if the Twins sign some AAAA available guy better than what they have, okay......but I don't see them going bigtime with a fulltime replacement catcher especially since they are on the hook for another high-priced season of Castro Now, again, back to Garver. The guy should, for sure, catch Berrios and Romero, the guys who will be here next season. Probably add Odorizzi into the mix. Let Wilson catch the potential free agents, at the most. You need to call a game and stay durable. Check Garver. You need to throw out runners. Check Garver. You need to hit. Check Garver. I just dread the thought of Garver going down with a short-term injury...then what do the Twins have? Well, on offense, it could only be better than Castro. Bring abck Drew Butera?

Colon is enduring. Good for him. He found a team with a weak rotation and is pitching his heart out. Phil Hughes can probably do the same. He is guaranteed a pretty high salary and, unless he wants to retie, he has nothing to lose by going to the bullpen. Vis velocity is not there to be an elite closer, but stranger things do happen. He has two years that he can leapfrog around to teams, if he choose, including stints in the minors. His almighty question is, can he see himself still pitching past 2020 and what does he need to do to get a major league contract after that season.

The question is prospects leap frog. Will Wade jump ahead of Cave and Granite at some point. With the Twins sitting on a bunch of pitchers on the 40-man who may/may not see major action this year: Jorge, Curtis, Thorpe, Moya, Busenitz, Littell and others stagnating who won't probably get a chance like Mejia and Slegers, there is a new crop of guys who could possibly see a September callup...if there were 40-man roster spots. The off season will be interesting, to say the least. If Garver can make Castro expendable...then the Twins will be seeking a lot of fielding people next season. Mauer and Dozier and Escobar are free agents. Grossman doesn't have to return. Ehire is still Ehire. Who knows if Morrison will rech the option. So, at some point, the Twins need to look at who is on second, who is playing short, what to do with Sano, and is Mauer worth a reinvestmen t at first, or do you fast track Rooker with names like, say, Carter in reserve. I pity an outfield prospect for the Twins. The three are somewhat firmly established, but at some point they have to sign longterm or the Twins move on. Even then, one doesn't see anyone with regular play coming in before the end of the 2020 season. The bullpen is showing that the oldtimers were probably a wiser choice than going with the youngsters who might not get a chance in 2018 or ever, and that the Twins did have a bevy of guys who they could actually move away from (Rogers, Duffey, just to name two). Of course the rotation ahs Santana, Lynn and Gibson...none will return. Pineda is in the wings for next year. May should be a starter (or closer). We have a lot of young arms, but hate to relese them all upon the world at once. Happily the Twins have a couple double-headers for looksee, but sadly Aaron Slegers may be the odd many out, with just his one day in major league limbo being his service time for 2018. The life of a baseball player...always someone pushing you from behind. But when all was said and done, I would have rather seen Nick Gordon getting plays at shortstop than Petit and Ehire, while Sano was down. It would've been a great opportunity to get the guy some experience, and...well, would he have been worse or better than what was on the field. Polanco will be back, but Dozier and Escobar will be gone. So, start thinking about the play for 2019.

You could always move Romero to the bullpen. Except you probably do ant him to start. If he keeps pitching, there is no reason to move him elsewhere. Of course, we don't know how well Santana will pitch coming back. Lance Lynn can keep things complicated if he pitches like he did last night. Suddenly we have too many pitchers. What is the status on, say, Magill and Petit. Do the Twins have the ability to options them back to the minors, or do they have to go thru waivers and can be lost. That's the problem with minor league free agents. But, also, Rochester has a pretty loaded roster right now and the Twins will have to make some changes throughout the minors once the draft happens and short-season ball begins. I thought for sure Granite would get the short callup. I like LaMarre, he seems to be eager and hungry to play in the majors. Which is a plus. Cave is additional depth. So you start to wonder why on Grossman, especially when you still have Granite in reserve as well as the possibility of LaMonte Wade, who will need to be 40-manned next season anyways. I'm hoping Garver can hold down the catching spot, and that he does catch ALL the pitchers that will be with the Twins next season (let Wilson catch Santana, Gibson or Lynn if push comes to shove). If Mauer is out, I would like to see Sano work in at DH, keeping Petit and Ehrie as shortstops and let Escobar continue to shine at third base. Sano needs to cut back on his free swinging. Will this be the end for Joe Mauer? If so, he can go out gracefully this season because of concussion issues. No contract wrangling. No fear of him going elsewhere. He would end a fine career. The Twins can go forwards without having to find a place for him and his bat in the lineup...both would be missed..... Logan Morrison, it is time for you to shine!

Considering that the Twins do have to make decisions on ALL three of their outfielders, and people like Wade (and Granite) could psh someone away if they become too expensive in future sightlines for equal productivity, yes, he could be more than a fourth. You might have to add him to the 40-man next season, but really don't have to worry about playing him until 2020, if you wish, which means you have six years of control. But then, who is pushing him in the lower minors?

Mr. Park has played 19 games with a .290 average. Five dingers. 18BB/15K.

Man, talk about an undistignuished lineup. Dozier, followed by Grossman.

Carter or Vargas. Are the Twins worried about Sano at DH? can Morrison handle first? Is it time for Mauer to quit because of concussion fears> Interesting pickup, but, yes, doesn't speak well for Vargas...who isn't doing much at AAA, sadly.

If nothing else, Dozier has to have a career year, but with a changeover happening in the Twins infield for 2019, you have to ask...do we care? Of course we do...a powerful hitting Dozier means the Twins win. But come 2019, who is on first, what is playing second, who is the shortstop, and where is Sano. Mauer could be gone as well as Dozier from free agency. Escobar, too. Whew?! Contemplate that for a moment. Glad Gordon has been called up to Rochester. Maybe he will see sometime in the major in September grooming his way to start somewhere in the infield in 2019.

Someone mentioned trading, when a guy is coming off a career year. In hindsight, more often than not, that should be a positive move (think if the Twins had moved Delmon Young after his one super season with the Twins). Utimately, it shows the chancs you take with big contracts or extensions. Sometimes they make a player more valuable and you see it in the Denard Span trade. But you also see who the Twins got for Span, lots of promise but basically no success. Will that be the future of major league baseball, overpaying (rewarding) for a solid season or two and then eating a contract, or constantly flipping players when possible and signing low-to-mid-range guys with the hopes of being somewhat (appearance) competitive on the field. The other elephant in the room is pitching tonight for the Twins. All they have invested in a one-year free agent contract, so will be interesting to see the length of the leash when time comes to add May (who will probably start in releif) and Santana to the rotation. In Lynn's case, it is only money already spent for the season. It would be a hit, but no more than having to pay a guy to be, say, on a disbabled lsit all season. Do we need hughe's 40-man spot? Not really, as some point Castro changes out for one of the current returnees. When the Twins shuffle Sano back in, someone else will also be leaving the roster (and possibly organization). Hope that someone dos take a flyer on Mr. Hughes and lets him work yo see if he can comeback. It won't cost them anymore than the major league minimum for this sesson and next...so expect there to be some lucky team out there with a spare roster slot.

Looks like Mason has been picked by the Colorado Rockies and assigned to Albuquerque.

4 games in. Time to shuffle the deck. Reasoning behind getting Robbie Grossman into every game? When do you realize Lynn was a $14 million mistake. Heck, trade him for Jaime Garcia. When do you realize Hughes is taking up space? Can we figure out a batting order, any batting order, that MIGHT work better than what one is doing? See if Buxton sparks batting leadoff. Put Morrison in the cleanup hole. Maybe bat Dozier 5th. Is there any rhyme or reasoning behind bullpen usage? Stop using the same three guys. You can stop bringing starters out to get that extra inning (which usually is only an extra out) and no need to have a bullpen guy who finishes an inning come back out again. You got the arms. Can't believe the central division is so weak. Anyone Everyone has a chance, it seems.

Yes, he can mature and possibly be a David Ortiz. The natural power IS there. But he also needs to get his head on straight. Depends on how much money he wants to make and how hard he wants to work for the payday...which could be long (like Ortiz) or short (see Delmon Young). He's not sticking at third. Who do teh Twins have to play first? Is Rooker the DH of the future. If so, then Sano could be expendable...but his worth is all over the place. Other teams see what we feel. If he has a breakout season this year or next, I would consider dangling him for multiples. But then, he might become too expensive and the Twins will end up losing him in free agency anyways. So trde him.

For someone who was seeking a $50 million contract in the off-season, he can't use the excuse that he wasn't in shape to start the season. No explanation for all the walks. There is still a chance that ALL he guys who will be hungry free-agents come season's end will produce BIG: Mauer, Dozier, Santana, Lynn, Gibson, Escobar, Rodney and a few more bullpen arms. Otherwise, finding a decent payday in 2019 will be slim...or none. Especially if the team you play for is a .500 team (or worse).

Maybe Kansas City wants to part with Drew Butera. Even up?

I say go with Garver and hope he doesn't get hurt. See if he can be the player. Of course, if he is injured, the position becomes a black hole. We would wish we had Chris Gimenez, John Hicks, or maybe even Drew Butera. Good news. Castro to the 60-day, so Twins won't have to drop someone when one of Santana or May returns. Bad news. If Garver shines, we have a $6 million backup catcher next season proving he can still play ball. Go Mitch Garver! Shine, Shine Shine. Question: Who out of all the prospects in the top two levels would you rather see catching abckup, or is Wilson just fine for 20-25 games for the rest of the season.

Thank goodness Lynn IS a one-year contract. Something will have to give when May and Santana return. It better not be Romero or Berrios. Lynn starts vs. equal starts by, say, Slegers or Mejia. Wonder if the Twins would be better off. Of course, wo won't ever know. $14 million disappointment, combined with the $26 million taking up space in the bullpen. Sure, fine to have that 8th pitcher and a short bench, I guess. We can't complain that the Twins don't spend money on free agents. It can be hit and miss. But they sure seem unlucky, in some ways...and shades of Joe Mays and Nick Blackburn on long-term contracts after one generous season.