Rosterman

Problems if the wild card hunt lasts until the last games of the seasons. You can prep your rotation. The Twins have an advantage. Everyone of the roster August 31 is eligible for post-season play, as well as anyone on the disabled list.

Unless Santiago has a set-back, he won't go on the 60-man. There is Turley love here. But no Boshers? Is Rochester still in the playoff hunt? Goodrum replaces Vielma, perhaps? Expect to see Palka AND Slegers up, too. But that might be it.

See what Gibson can do if he enters the free-agent marketplace, that is the question. Is he worth even the cheap cost you can pay to keep him? Colon, he of 1 1/2 pitches, will test the free agent marketplace. Remember, the Twins are paying a pittance for him the remainder of this season and he managed to grab millions from Atlanta. Is he worth that roll of the dice in 2018? Be interesting to see how the new administration values the work of all the field staff. They want someone they can work with. Not to say they can't work with Molitor. But the off-season will be interesting. Especially organizational wise in the realm of coaches and such.

I think the front office is hoping that the return of Santiago and Mejia will bolster the pitching staff, allowing them to move Gee into relief. Somehow the thoughts of Turley and Boshers also coming up remain stron, as well as Slegers, although it would be nice to see him start. On the bat side, the BIG plus would be Sano. If Castro returns sooner than later the Twins have the luxury of three catchers. Grossman gives them additional outfield depth. I think they will also look at Palka as a DH/OF possibility. Not sure if there is anyone they can trade for (besides Verlander) at this point, and rosters will be set Friday for the playoffs (although the number of guys on the DL gives the Twins a lot of flexibility here).

I believe it was more of a salary dump and the Twins were willing to take it on. Not sure where he will end up in the off-season. 33-year-old catcher, good for depth, but.....

Well, they should be getting five guys back: Castro, Grossman, Sano, Santiago and Mejia. One will be a starting pitcher, otherwise, they have to figure out if they want Slegers to start, go with a 6-man, keep Gibson or Gee in the rotation (I would almost make Gee a longman if he stands a chance of resigning with the Twins for 2018). The kilelr is: how much do you give to Santiago (a free agent) or Grossman or even Gibson in the scheme of things. Which brings to mind callups. Are Boshers and Turley in the plans for 2018? Will they add more to the bullpen than giving, say, Ruchinski another chance, or adding Reed? The only Recker is added back in is if Castro is gone for the season and they can 60-day him (which eliminates him for post-season if he is able to come back). The Twins HAVE to make a decision on Vielma and Palka. Both need a chance to get some major league at bats, show their willingnes to step up...because they can be passed or forgotten in 2019. Even Byung-Ho Park, who the Twins will probably NOT call-up because they don't want to run him thru waivers again but would like him to be a possible alternative at 1B/DH in the spring. Jorge, Rosario...probably not. Romero has been shut down. Chargois...we need to know how serious the issue is. WIll the Twins cut ties with this promising arm? Couple more days, then another week-and-a-half. Some players are salivating about that major league meal money!

You can sign a guy for pretty much the same amount of money, probably much younger, and have the ability to maybe trade him off for prospects before the 5-7 year contract expires. Of course, you can also get an arm injury and hope you paid for insurance. If there is depth in prospects (possibly outfield, most definite shortstop, plus a lot of treading water supposedly fine bullpen arms that could be passed by still more bullpen arms) you trade prospects from your depth...one being as good as, say, another. You have 140 guys down on the farm and in the next 3-4 years no more than 20-25 will make any kind of major league impact, if even that...because you usually end up getting guys from elsewhere to add to your own depth that surpass your drafted prospects. The idea is sound that getting a proven Verlander for 2-3 years is a good deal, and is he enough to send you thru the playoffs this season, and then you worry about next season? Would Detroit want anyone from your current 40-man roster (Romero, Jorge, Rosario, Granite, Polanco, for example). I would jsut free agent shop after the dust settles after the postseason and you start to address your depth and current roster more.

Waiting to see workload with playoff potential. Most guys who go to the AFL are 40-man ads, if not this year, next year for sure. Rooker, if he stays in the minors all next season, will go to the Fall league in 2018.

What struck me most when Falvine talked at the State Fair, both are still getting their feet wet with knowledge about the players in the system. They are pleased with the progress of the guys already in the majors, and they talked of players in the minors stepping up when called upon them, using the example of Hildenberger, Curtiss and Busenitz -- all three pitchers were on the Twins radar but behind such names as Chargois, Melotakis, Reed, Burdi, Jay, Bard -- for being a part of the Twins this season or next season. It is a funny game, baseball. With a team like the Twins, especially on the pitching side, you CAN get the opportunity to come to the majors. Some only get a sip of coffee and then are gone (Wheeler, Melville) as you almost MUST produce, especially if from outside the organization. And then you get Slegers, who could easily get lost in the shuffle, too, even after a most fine start for the team. Of course, just pitching well for a moment in the majors doesn't always translate into a job the next season, or even another chance in the majors, yet we still have the Andrew Albers of the world that show strange things can happen. Fun looking at the lineups above and remembering the names that were supposed to make it, and wondering what happened to the many that didn't.

We might see some movement of players as the playoff situations come into finality. Depends if the Twins bring anyone up immediately. Anyone notice that Tyler Jay is back with Ft. Myers? He also is going to the Arizona Fall League with Wade, Hackimer and Paul. When asked about September auditions at the State Fair, Falvine both mentioned that Molly is in the mix...and although they want guys who will impact the playoff run, they aren't adverse to having guys just come up to get the aroma of being in the majors.

And second-half Dozier. Mauer is hot. Rosario has upped his game. Even the catchers have improved their bats. Sadly, it's the bench guys that have backwarded themselves from their season starts- Andrianza, Grossman, and, a bit, Escobar.

Right now, you do keep him around. But I would give Slegers a start or two or three and see how he does. You can never have too much pitching, but try to put the best out there. Also have to find room for Mejia when he comes back. And who knows what Santiago could still do. Seven-man rotation>

At the state fair on the 28th the powers-that-be were talking with fans and basically names have already been added (Garver, Granite, Curtiss, Hildenberger) and they expect FIVE more to be added soon: Santiago, Mejia, Castro, Sano and Grossman. The consensus was that players may be allowed to develop in their team playoff situations. There will be a call-up or two right away, and a few more when the minor league season ends. No specifics, although (not counting AA) there aren't many names to consider.

Unless Slegers would be needed to start, there is no rason to bring him up right away to the Twins. Let him start a playoff game or two. Sand Diego, which is in their own AAA playoff hunt, was smart to sign Melville, with an open spot on their 40-man, helping the minor league team and giving them another option of a guy to possibly keep.

The costs of paying a minor league player more should be paid by the major league club. Playing in the minors starts as a sort of internship (where some do have bonus money to come and play) and if you can survive and hold-out, six year minor league free agents do pretty well in the scheme of things, if you look at what many a 24-26 year-old can make in this world. The lowpay also makes it more of a challenge than a keeper job. Your ability will see you paid more, find work in winter leagues et al on your way to the golden ticket of a major league job, and then a great pension etc. Many try, but few go the whole nine yards down the basepath. But if you doubled the salaries paid to the 140 or so people uniforming up in the minors, it would be a pittance compared to the bonus money you pay out every season (much of it to guys who don't make it into their third year in the system). So, yes, I would like to see a bit more money spent on players. It can be a challenge to eat right, have freedom to have something more than a sleeping room. The joy is that minor league facilities are slowly improving so they aren't a bad place to hang out all day, many with food service, great workout rooms, laundry and stuff. You are playing everyday or working out, so don't really have time to spend a lot of money, which is often good, because you don't have a lot of money. And in regards to shifting minor league sites? You have to wait for a contract to open up, and then teams will bid if it is a classy joint to play. So affiliates don't change all that much, unless a team has a really strong run of bad play somewhere and a place can do better (they do rely on butts in the seats and food and everything else that comes with a winning team). The pain is when you are then forced to take-on a less that fine facility. At some point the Saints will become someone's minor league affifialte. The stadium is too good to be indy ball. And then the players will make more playing in a major league system (when you argue minor league salaries, think about how much the indy ball guys make). And I would rather see it as a Twins A or AA park than one for another team. Ownership would not have to change. Ft. Myers Miracle are owned NOT by the Twins, but another entity, although the Twins own the majority of the facilities with the city, I believe.

Be interesting to see any roster shuffles come the end of the week. Who goes up or down for the minor league playoffs, and who do the Twins want for their own playoff possible run roster.

The Indians just brought up Craig Breslow. Wasn't he pitching somewhere else? And the Padres just signed some guy named Melville for their divisional push. Yes, it is frustrating. Could the Twins have won EVERY game they lost this week. Yes!

It's going to be an interesting off-season. See the main lineup remaining intact, as you show, except who will DH. The only newcomer would be Nick Gordon, but he will have to shine at Rochester to start the season, and then bumo someone to the DH role (Dozier, perhaps). I don't see much happening in the trade department, unless the Twins can move some arbitration players for prospects. They will have to make decisions on Grossman, Escobar, Gibson, Ehire at some point. If another team wants to control any of these guys for what they are worth, fine. Otherwise they go into free agent limbo. Quite frankly, I picture the Twins being tough on arbitration...and letting many a body walk... Because, they only have two fur sure starters in the rotation. They might be able to buy someone, but at what cost. That person would charge more because the Twins don't look like competitors. Let's get this straight, unless the Twins really pull out the stops and blow everyone away and go thru the playoffs and make it to the world series, they will probably be a person standing jumping for the roses at the wedding, not the bridesmaid even. The rotation is still a shambles. If anyone MAJOR from the farm breaks it, it would probably be Gonsalves if he has a stunning spring. Picture Jorge and Romero there eventually, but maybe not until August. You have May in the mix, but he needs to rebuild. The bench. A reunion with Trevor Plouffe? The guy could give you some playtime at 3B, 1B, OF and DH. He'll be cheaper than he was this year. Is he cheaper (and better) than Escobar or Ehrrie? We will see how Granite does with his time up here. He could be the 4th outfielder. But it would be nice to have a bigger bat. Of course, Park will still be in the mix. Unless he goes back to the Asian marketplace to play. Which is also where Vargas should probably go if he wants a good payday. Couple of years abroad and he can still work his way back into a contract in the majors. I like the bullpen. It will be interesting to see where the Twins go with Perkins. They still don't have a bonifide closer. But if you don't have a rotation, then better get some long arms in that pen. So pitching is the Big if! Even the promising arms from the minors (Reed, Chargois, Bard, etc. are all power short inning guys. You wear out your pen if you have a rotation that can't get into the 6th inning. And it will be interesting to see what happens with the field staff. The Twins have some fine names down-on-the-farm, but switching them into the mix in 2018 is not necessarily a plus, as most of the guys they are working with are either learning bad manners in the majors, or at least a season away in the minors. The question, again, on trades. Is there anyone another team is dying to have that is on the Twins roster? The question, for free agents -- don't just sign for the sake of signing. If you msut play it safe, do it next season and make it a true rebuild with the hope of getting enough people up into major league play so they will perform stornger come 2019. And be interesting to see Twins fever. It will be a horrible baseball off-season, with the Vikings still living off the new stadium, and Super Bowl fever in the air and commanding ALL the media coverage.

Best bargain around. The Twins are getting production for that small aprt of the salary that they have to pay for his services. Now I'm not sure what he would be worth if you were going to negotiate a contract for next year. Be interesting to see what happens to him. Not great, but better than Gibson, Pelfrey or any number of other souls. And keeping us in the hunt!

You still have to look at a Jack Morris. Dominant pitcher of his decade/era. He gave up runs (like Bert did homers), but he was a stallion out there on the mound. So longevity is not always an issues, either. It's such a crazy world where the baseball writers vote for these things, especially when the terms of a baseball writer may no longer cross generations of players.

I think the Twins snuck in chilly Edmonton somewhere in there. So, they own E-Town but currently negotiating about a better playing field, for a team that draws less a few hundred a game. The team is actually run by the Parks & Rec Board of the town. I'm surprised the Twins don't own the Ft. Myers team, since they pretty much own the complex, and they have their GCL team there as well as their training facilities. What is interesting about this is that it does give a rehab player two levels to play at. And if you have to make a minor roster shuffle, sending someone away to a top level, you can shuffle in a GCL league guy as a short-term backup. Minor League ball, although still competitive, is still minor league ball. It would be great if the Twins did have a franchise in St. Paul, with players far enough from the majors so it doesn't conflict with the major league team, but still exciting enough (imagine the Cedar Rapids fans falling in love with Royce Lewis, even if for a month). The Rochester franchise is a solid franchise and they do want a competitive team on the field, or do want to sell tickets and such. Family-run forever, I believe. But man, the ups and downs between there and Chattanooga of late. Like Yohan Pino...where does he live when in one town one week and another town the next.

Wait, wait. Falvey went out and got Jamie Garcia...because the Twins looked like they were in contention. They also got Bartolo Colon and added him to the rotation while Gee, starting in Rochester, would've been a possible choice either time. Then when the Twins started to play BAD, Garcia was flipped for the future. Then, when they needed an arm for the rotation, and Melville has been THE BEST pitcher at AAA Rochester and was, in all likleihood, an added bonux arm for the day as the Twins already called up Turley as a fresh arm, Falvey gets raked for having a looksee at a potential guy to keep around in 2018. Sadly, the leash is so short on some players (see Jason Wheeler) that if you aren't hungry enough and shine in your ONE attempt at major league abseball, your life will change and you will be doomed to the waiver wire and looking for work next season. Not that producing guarantees you another look at the majors. We'll see what happens with Slegers. Yes, knowing possible double-headers when you can call someone up for one game, I would rather see the future (Romero, Jorge) who are already on the roster, than a diamond in the rough. Occasionally you score big on said pitcher (you can say the Twins are lucky on veterans Gee and the ever ageless Colon). Losing three of five to the White Sox is actually more on the hitters than on the pitchers, in some ways. You are going to have builpens that consistently lose leads. You are going to have starters that don't give you much. But I have yet to figure out the total inconsistency of the Twins battling order and how they can look so lost at the plate one game (except for an inning) and bomb the heck out of a team in another game. Yes, it can be the pitchers they face. But I still give Falvey and Levine a leash until they figure out the on-field management, the future of prospects, and how to spend Pohlad's money with no strings attached.

He WILL probably pitch for a few more years. Unless a club wants to sign Mike Pelfrey instead.

The Twins have the depth. Just who will hit when. Are they fast tracking Lewis and will he thrive and work with the coaches and the system? Will Gordon be ready? Palacios and Polanco. You suddenly have four guys for a couple (if not just one) position. Will Vielma be jumped? Do you continue to protect him, after his 2017 season, on the 40-man? You also have Sean Miller, Brandon Lopez, Ariel Montesino in the system. And the Twins just laid out BIG BUCKS for another shortstop prospect, Augestin Marte. Four BIG MONEY young prospects all trying for the same position and leaving a legacy in Minnesota. Can any switch to second? Or third? Or the outfield? The questions? Do the Twins renew Dozier for 2-3 years (option included). Would Dozier move from second base and end up at 1st base or DH. How long does Sano play third. One year? Three Years? Five Years? Is he the first baseman of the future when Mauer retires (Lewin Diaz and Zander Wiel are the only two significant prospects in the wings for 1B). Or is Sano made a permanent DH? It is ncie if he can play the field for those National League games. Who is in the second base pipeline for the Twins? Levi Michael, now playing the outfield more and more and not just very good. Alex Perez? Ryan Walker? Luis Arrarz? Shane Kennedy? Third base is pretty dead/ Maybe Blankenhorn will pull ahead of the pact and become the guy we need and want there. Otherwise, T.J. White, Nelson Molino, Joe Cronin. Chris Paul is looking promising and may be the underdog. Niko Goodrum...do you have him replace Vielam on the 40-man as a potential bench guy for the Twins. Eventually the Twins have to make a decision on Brian Dozier. They also have to address the Joe Mauer issue. The guy is good, but at what price, and where can he play. Those are the two decisions the Twins face bigtime in the off-season.

I would have Garver catch anyone that he has caught in the minors - Berrios, Gee, should've caught Melville.