Rosterman

I always consider the DH a bench bat, as he primarily comes off the bench to hit anyways. So, you always need a back-up catcher. Garver should fill the bill. He can possibly play elsewhere, too. You need a backup infielder. The Twins have two right now, unless Sano becomes the DH. If you don't carry that extra bullpen arm, that is fine. You need a backup outfielder who can play centerfield. The Twins have Granite and supposedly Grossman. They don't need both. You also have to have someone on the team that can backup your first baseman. That was the value of Vargas, if written in as DH, above Grossman. The idea situation is to have a bat who can possibly get that long fly out (or home run -- Jim Thome comes to mind) but then you often make a triple move, as you need a pinch-runner (did I say it is nice to have someone good on the bases on the bench) and then play the field for whomever you did the pinch-hitting thing for.

Right now...he is a lefty. He needs to throw innings. At the least, he needs to show that he can be a long relief guy. Otherwise, his career MAY be short lived. He is lucky to be a part of the Twins system when he was. The sole left-hander, a guy who is a tad better than the "others" at the moment. But he can be easily pushed aside by prospects or a free agent signing.

Well, you always invite too many catchers. You'd think the Twins may want to look at some folks like Kohl Stewart, perhaps. They left off a few of the free-agent minor league signing guys. Seems they feel the roster is pretty...set!

I would happily sign any of the free agent starters, but all of them are overpriced and don't demand the contracts they are reportedly seeing. Five years at most for two of them. 2-3 years for the other two. Price can be debated. But I don't want to see ANY of them taking up roster space, really, past 2021.

You try to build teams around a stable of players AND a winning format. Sometimes those prospects may take 3-4 years to develop, and then they are on the cusp of walking away. You gamble and extend them early. It's more cost effective than tying them up later in free agency, but still a gamble. You sign a free agent. A gun for hire who is only as good as the player behind them. Short-term, you get the Jack Morris sensation who may create the msot memorable moment in history. Or you may get one of many, who languish on the roster eating up dollars. Happens to your own (Ryan Howard, Joe Mauer) as well as giving contracts to guys outside. At least when you give a longterm contract to a homebody, you are, in a sense, rewarding them for play they have done at a discount, so to speak. $20-25-30 million a year. At what point is it senseless that one player takes up a huge percentage of ALL your payroll. Are players worth 10% of a team's payroll? If they are and you payroll is south of $125 million, then you are relying on the hit-and-miss of prospects and pre-free-agency folks. If you can afford to eat a big contract for a season or two, then you are paying a luxury tax on top of that big contract. Capping payrolls is somewhat wonderful, but you still have teams spending twice as much as some other teams a season...consistently. The teams are finding creative ways to pass off big contracts with a cash payment to select teams to take aging vets off their hands. The Dodgers may not want to pay a luxury tax, but they did get rid of Kemp and his salary along with a contribution from their books. Yes, they are eating a contract, and the money is not beneficial to the team receiving Kemp (as they have to pay him). In a round-about way, the owners are figuring out how to play the system. And they are also balking at the loss in international bonus money or draft positions (another area where players are vastly overpaid on paper talent). I shake my hed at the initial demands of this free agent marketplace. I look at the big four in the world of starting pitchers and don't see it. Hosmer and Martinez? I don't see huge time commitments. At some point, the contract of a David Ortiz that keeps rolling over from year-to-year seems a wonderful luxury, especially to a franchise player compared to that gun-for-hire. Yet the equation is thrown out of whack. Middle relief, guys who setup and pitch in 40-50 games, are getting more money than imagined...closer money, in some ways.People that were jettisoned by teams in the past because those teams didn't want to pay the piper (Twins alone: Swarzak, Neshek, Duensing, Kintzler). And it is also about roster space. Is there space on EVERY roster to handle 2-3 veterans in spite of prospects that YOU want to keep and develop? Are the free agents better/worse than the backup fodder you could remove from your 40-man, and at what price, and at what need for playing time. Will it get better before it gets worse? Will more and more prospects come up and be eaten and disappear before they have free agency, rather than players hanging onto careers and multi-million paychecks forever?

It will be interesting to see how the BIG FOUR pan out in free agency. Looking at the age and numbers...none of them is worth what they think. I would not go 5-7 years on Davish. I would not go more than 3 years and $36 million on Lynn or Cobb.Davish may be a power pitcher, but still...NO! Is this the year we see one-year $25-30 million days across the board? Yes, the Twins do have the revenue. They have at least $50 million to spend and not hurt themselves. More if they actually do win games. But I don't see any of the pitchers in question panning out longterm. At least in 2018 we have Kyle Gibson pitching for a free agent contract, Ervin Santana pitching for a free agent contract or a one-year extension. You need someone else that is decent and hungry. Is Garcia the guy? Or can the Twins still flip a trade?

The right pitcher can demand a big contract. But what is to stop you from overpaying for one or two years instead of carrying a contract for 5-7 years. What is more important...money or having a job and showing up to work seven years from now?

You funnel guys in and out. Hopefully the prospect pipeline is stable and you have a better idea of who is coming forth. The Twins have the money. 2017 was a great year. They were cutting their own budget and tightening their belts and made revenue because of increased interest in their product. Less season tickets but more fullprice seat control. The whole "how much can they spend" is bull. 55% of $200 million doesn't mean they spend 55% of $250 million. The other areas don't increase of the same level as payroll. If they have $100+ million on $200 million of revenue, they should have $150+ million on $250 million. Some of the new guys will demand monies. But some are also replaceable. You can maybe sign some to contracts like they did Span, which makes them worthwhile trade commodities. What was surprising was the lack of interest in Dozier during 2016 as well as that offseason. Now he's in a wait-and-see position and even if he does GREAT again, his return will be limited unless the inquiring team could sign him longterm. Mauer is the question. He always brought you value as a catcher, and has some clubhouse value, but his on-field and batting order value to the Twins is not worth what he should probably be paid. Sad to see him move to another team, although he might just retire. He is not a parttime player...yet. Still curious to see how the search for a starter does bear out. Not in favor of $100+ million multi-year deal. But is there an alternative. And would the guy be a solid anchor for 3-4 years in reality, that is the question. If not, pass. Wish all these pitching prospects (rotation and bullpen) panned out or weren't delayed. We seem to forget that Meyer and May were supposed to be foundation blocks and a bullpen of Reed, Melotakis, Chargois, Burdi, Jones, Bard closer to arbitration rather than rookie seasons.

I always wondered "what if" he ahd remained a Twin. Back then, it was a $120 million 7-year deal for the guy. Should the Twins have grabbed at it? Did Johan really feel being on a bigger stage was more important then being the biggest fish in a small pond? Kudos that the Twins will add this guy to their Hall of Fame. Now, Al Worthington, another worthy candidate.........

Very interesting comments about Fast Eddie. You almost wonder if THIS is the season you might've packaged him and a prospect for a mainline starter, shades of the day the Twins passed on trading Delmon Young after he had a dynamite season. Stat wise, and playing time, Eddie looks better than Sano, another guy who might still become awesome overtime. I always wonder what other teams do think or see in the players in the organization I admire. Seems we had a cold awakening about Dozier last year, who is now even more valuable except that he will be a free agent. We will never know how our hometown heroes are evaluated on the bigger stage.

Boshers is a good backup, if you can afford to stash him at AAA. Not sure if there is room at that inn these days. The Twins still need to find 10 places for pitchers on their 40-man at AAA/AA ball. He will find a job somewhere, and not in the indy leagues.

May would have to come back as a pen guy. Duffey and Enns could both be long-relief, if needed. Yes, the Twins need a long-relief right-hander. In the Wings are Reed and Jay (and don't count out Melotakis). Just need to sort out the rotation. And the true Bench. aAnd, we could get Burdi or Bard abck, and I would take them.

The Twins suddenly have TOO MANY bullpen arms. Closer: Rodney. Setup: Reed and Duke. Others: Hildenberger, Busenitz, Rogers, Pressly, Duffey. There's Chargois, Curtiss and Moya to start in the minors, perhaps. Kohn, Melotakis and Reed at Rochester. Baxendale, Jones, Nick Anderson with the Lookouts but should be at Rochester. Add in the return of Bard. Do you need Boshers AND Kinley?

Yes, the Twins need to make some 40-man moves. They have NO 40-man reserves in the hitting department. But, they have a good chance of opening the season with May and Pineda on the 60-day DL. Plus, possibly, Hughes and maybe Chargois. They would still have 10 or so pitchers to find homes at AAA and AA ball. They currently have 16 on the rosters there, with another 3-4 that COULD move up from Ft. Myers more likely than any of the 16 moving down. Of course, disabled list will claim a few. The Twins have 2 names replaceable. Boshers if you add a bullpen arm and Slegers if you add a starter. Enns has value being a lefty (as does Moya). Mejia might be odd-man out if you add to the rotation. Pressley and even Rodnoy (now) could be expendable. And, is Kinley worthy of a season-long roster spot, now. What you also unfortunately have is 7 arms that WON'T start the season with the Twins and it could be debatable if they would graduate to fulltime service during the season. Gonsalves could be the closest, but you have Jorge, Romero, Littell, Thorpe, Curtiss and Moya. Right now, these guys ARE above the 15 currently on the AAA/AA rosters with only Reed and possibly Tyler Jay ahead of them, but still not guys who would start the season with the Twins. So it will be interesting to see the musical chairs. Especially when a roster spot or two NEEDS to be kept open to bring up temporary guys if someone just goes on the normal DL during the early part of the season.

SHows the joys of having players start their careers at an early age. Development time. And the outfield: who from the current trio do you keep - Kepler, Buxton, Rosario. Rosario has put up some pretty fine numbers, might prove to be a better bat than Sano overall. Speaking of: Sano. Hoe much, how long. Of course, a decent contract doesn't always work out. Seems you could hardly give away Dozier going into last season. Now he's a real bargain and, unless he totally tanks (think Plouffe) could garner bigger bucks going forth. Who are the real prospects in the wings. For the sake of the team, knowing that you have control of a player for 3-4 years is wonderful news. Of course, arbitration also gives you that comfort, sometimes at a greater cost. Some players are worth more than their arbitration price in the longrun, some are worth...less. I'm hoping Buxton shows his stuff as a lead-off batter (replacing Dozier, who should be deserving of a 2-3 year extension with the Twins -- of course, depending on monies). But this might be the perfect front office. We will know for sure when the Mauer decision is made at some point. And if they vastly empty the vault for Davish.

Is he worth $100 + million or not. That is the question. What do you get, for how long, and why...........

Twins can collect insurance money if Hughes remains disabled. May should start as a relief pitcher to build up his arm for multiple innings? Could he be a future closer? Twins also have Chargois. What is his status. Four potential disabled pitchers. Only 11 more needing homes in the minors at the end of spring training.

Garver needs to catch, be it in the majors of half-a-season FULL behind-the-plate at AAA before becoming the sole backup or just a bench bat to put into other positions. Unless any of the other guys down the ladder would be a fulltime catcher come 2020, which I don't see. So, is Garver the potential once and future catcher come next season and holding down the majority of games behind-the-plate for years after that, or is he a guy "who can also catch" and be the super reserve bench bat.

Supposedly Garver can handle the job defensively, if given the chance. This will be a telling season for him. Does he go back to Rochester and catch fulltime and work with future Twins, or stay in the majors as a very part-time backstop and bench bat.

I imagine he would see what someone might pay. Would he get a multi-year contract in the $10-15 mil range? Does he want to do year-to-year otherwise with the Twins. Is he a good bench bat? He is basically a DH/1B guy...ot like you want him in the outfield. I imagine he would explore some opportunities. Does he have front office desires down-the-line?

They have a couple now at Rochester. They could use a third (in case one of the Rochester guys go down).

The thing is, the Twins seem to be waiting for one of the Big Four to sign before making a salary overture. Would they overpay? Are they waiting to see if they should compete in what could be a market of a long contract or high salary? On the flip side, we may say, they could always trade. But so can every other team, especially for those guys that are really good with contract control. Would the Twins be willing to break their prospect bank for a starter via trade?

Interesting to see what DOES happen to Mauer, where Sano ends up, and what the Twins do with Dozier, who suddenly has become an expensive commodity...would I pay him $60 million for a longterm deal at this point, or hope that Gordon/Polanco are suitable replacements. Is Rooker the answer at first base? See how fast he progresses, with Diaz on his heals. Kepler is interesting. He seems to be a very hard worker, but still lacks consistency (or maybe he is consistent). Buxton may be on the rise, and Rosario hs been a total surprise as the team hitting leader. Who is on tap to bring something different and unique to the outfield? The whole Jake Mauer thing was strange. Saw him as possibly a manager of the future. Would he have been better served to be an on-field coach with the Twins....having half the season at home in Minnesota, as well as the off-season? Is it the money you can make in car dealing compared to the time and energy you spend on baseball 24-hours-a-day? It does seem strange to think of Mauer NOT as Twin, but it may happen. I was thinking there would be more changes in the Twins front office, not just some position shuffling. But maybe next year.

The BIG need is for a top flight starting pitcher. That market has yet to set, as the primary four are still out there...watching the contract price for 50- inning relief pitchers heat up significantly. The chances are probably slim that the Twins sign any of the four unless they break the bank. Yes, Minnesota can still be considered a rebuilding team and is in...Minnesota. Somehow people find more graces in the bigger city market (endorsement monies, lifestyle, etc.). But you never do know. Of course, the Twins could package players for a top flight starter for the next 2-3 seasons and go from there. Will Cleveland be vulnerable in 2018? At this point in the sesson...maybe. But not enough to loss wins towards the Twins. Has the rest of the division improved? Possibly. Any of the other teams could be the Twins of 2017 and surprise folks. The joys of baseball. Unless the Twins do make a big splash, they remain out-of-the-news. The only way they get a smidgen of coverage is sexual harassment (which should be all over the place in the world of spots -- and music -- knowing what HAS gone on) or continued talks that they are pursuing a BIG contract signing, which has weight and holds weight as long as they can convince us that they were in the hunt but jut came up a dollar or two short. Spring Training is around the corner, so things have to start setting generally in baseball. The days leading up to Twinsfest should prove fruitful. The ocne BIG chance for the Twins to get coverage before the Super Bowl is then.

The Twins need to make a splash. But in the local sports scene, anything they do will be lost right now with the Vikings success and the Super Bowl mess taking up the sports time between now and spring training. Maybe the Twins will make a trade. A pretty big one. Or maybe they just sign a marginal rotation arm, hope everyone comes back strong, and pull off a Verlander-like acquisition mid-season (hey, they could always go after Grienke). I'm sure the front office is trying to figure out longterm (a team, perhaps, without Mauer and Dozier in the future). Will be an interesting TwinsFest, and WCCO air time!