Rosterman

By trading Santana we free up salary that could be spent on a similar, probably younger, possibly better free agent, especially if combined with other available budget funds. If you keep Santana, you have an aging starter that needs to pitch 200 inning to vest, yet again, for another season. It's a gamble if he will be better or worse. Is he the star of your rotation, or do you get something back for him, free up monies (yes, what do they do with any of the savings this year on anyone they possibly trade) and go big in 2018 or 2019. Santana is a fine pitcher. He has a very decent contract. He should be able to play for his contract. But the chances are better than 50% that he will not get better at this point, but probably worse.

The Big Question always is: Does Minnesota have players that other teams want and at what price. Yes, shedding salary is always a plus (especially when you are eating salaries) but I look at it this way. You rid yourself of any pending free agents first, if not in contention. It will make it easier if you wish to revisit them in the post season. Next, final year arbitration candidates. If the Twins had since Plouffe packing, for example, they could've negotiated with him in the off-season, assuming his new team decided not to offer him arbitration. Next you look at any over-paid arbitration candidates. Cut loose Gibson or Escobar, same thing. Will anotehr team go to arbitration, or will they be cheaper on the free market. Next you start looking at the guys that are the 40th-45th man on your rosters, pending minor league free agents, players you may not protect, or even those out of options (like Polancho). You start looking at packaging playrs. But remember, just because YOU want to rid yourself of a player doesn't mean anyone will give you anything of importance for such a player. And the other team, in turn, is looking to shed players the same way you are looking at shedding players...the major exception being if a prospect package that you can't refuse is dangled in front of you, and it has to be pretty darn good. Even multiple players for one can go down badly (remember the Santana trade, even the Ben Revere trade...May pending still). I would, say, release a guy like Hughes if my accountants would let me write off his salary this season, when my payroll is supposedly under budget. The purpose being to have even more money to spend on free agency, which is a crapstorm anyways. Of, and Joe Mauer, do you want to play for a contender this season or next?

There's actually only one open spot. Don't know where you are finding the second open spot. As of Friday's gametime.

May will need to build up arm strength. So he's not a regular until 2019. He might flip between spot starts and long relief if the timetable works for 2018. Gonsalves and Romero (and Jorge) will still be on innings limits and will be in AAA and on the call-up list. So, yes...we have Berrios and Mejia and whomever we can cull from free agency. Of course, given some of the names, we might be better set to go with Slegers and Hurlbut and Eades for the near future. I'm not looking forward to the off-season. I'm looking forward to August to see if there is a smidgen of interest in any of our players as waiver claims, just to free up salary and roster space - Santiago, Gibson, Grossman, Andrienza, Belisle, Gimenez for starters.

The Twins are facing a new bullpen again next season. Breslow is gone. Belisle will be gone, too. Kintzer is a free agent. Pressly needs to reimpress again. Tyler Duffey is a two-pitch wonder. Taylor Rogers needs stamina. We have seen glimpses of brightness from Busenitz and Hildenberger. But remember, people start to chart and watch video. Rucinski also has promise. Perkins might come back. But do the Twins really need to contract him out again? There's at least four openings in the wings. Combine that with a rotation that is basically Berrios and maybe Mejia going into 2018. Wow!

And soon we will be harping about the manager and the coaching as the Twins fade into oblivion as the summer wanes.

Yes, the Twins DON'T have to trade Ervin or Dozier. They could, if blown away with an offer, but they will still have more opportunities to address their placement in the organization come off-season and even into 2018. Kintzler is interesting. Again, you have to get something in return, yet he is in the midst of a walk season and MOST team would see him as a fine setup man. But if you do trade him, you will have a better chance to resign him, if you wish, in the off-season. The Twins will put players on waivers come August, see if they can spin a deal, or make the decision to just save salary and open up a roster spot for some deserving name not on the roster. The dilemma is that we'd like to see Romero or Gonsalves, but both are hitting inning limits. But if you suddenly see 3-4-5 roster spots opening for players you will be protecting (or maybe just want a looksee) and September is around the corner, well, minor leagues playoffs be damned. It will be interesting to see what happens when other teams pull further ahead. The Twins have been doing very well this year with basically no marketing plan, no stars that they encourage people to come and see (I remember filming a Byung-Ho Park commercial last summer that was never aired) and the possible end of the season for fan interest which can happen come the State Fair and Back-To School and last-month-at-the-lake and the Vikings Machine rolls into town and Super Bowl becomes the talk of the town. Hummmm...maybe see the Twins making more trades for that guy CASH and his brothers, dollars and cents.

.500 may not cut it for contention anymore or even a shot at the wildcard. Of course, it makes the Twins a more viable thing to visit (i.e. ticket sales). That is the MAIN concern about the front office overall. Keeping the attendance momentum going past the State Fair. If I was the Twins, I would be thinking hard about making a HUGE splash at the Minnesota State Fair...dragging out former Twins, having appearances by current ones (especially if they are here on the disabled list for sure) doing a nice big screen with "great play" loops, promotional handouts showcasing the current crop of future Twins as well as guys of the future. Anything but the garage remainder sale of jerseys for folks who no longer play for the Twins. Be nice if they could jsut set up a nice dollar dog stand, but that raises other issues, I guess.

The season is far from a failure. We could be mired in last place (well, we still could if we trade everyone away).I t has allowed the front office to evaluate some talent, look at the minors, figure out why they win in the minors and then fail in the majors (hopefully) and put a stamp on the future with what appears to be a good draft. The plus side is that the team played well and is running a modest 500 in attendance down from last year, so -- assuming they did underbudget -- they should do well this season and maybe have some money to do something next season. I'm waiting to see if Cleveland makes a move or two. Kansas City wants to win this year. The White sox are adding lots of pieces for the future. The Twins have to look at 2018 and 2019 and give some action to pieces that may be a part of those years, especially if their on-field performance will be no worse than some pieces they are replacing. Ervin Santana is a luxury. He is an anchor. He is an investment, but the Twins already have some bad investments that they must carry (Hughes for one). If they do slip out of the hunt, August waivers might bring them the salary relief by moving Gibson or Santiago. And they have to look long and hard at who is Rule 5 eligible (no one that could make the majors, otherwise the Twins should be looking at that themselves, who might be a free agent and still has promise in the system, and who they have to protect that can also contribute during the 2018 campaign. To me, Dozier is the big question. Can you replace him right now? Will he take x-amount for a contract? Remember, he could become a DH who can also play the field towards the end of his contract, a position the Twins have no one currently in the loop to fill that role not named Sano, who is holding his own at third base. And the Twins really do need to address the longterm issue of Mauer. As well as evaluate Molitor and the coaching staff.

I doubt if Moya would be taken as a Rule 5 yet, so the Twins may be lucky there. Still, they have to think about adding him to the 40-man...and he'll need time at AAA.

Yeah, the Twins need (and will) continue to put butts in the seats for what they play in August. But once the State Fair hits and kids go back to school, a non-winning team will flounder and there could be lots of cheap seats, especially as the Vikings ramp up their season and Super Bowl becomes the talk of the town. The only way the Twins get get any ink between September and March 1 is to go deep in the playoffs or the World Series. And that is not probably at this point. The biggest free agency signing will be buried. It will be tough and interesting to see how the Twins market themselves for the rest of the season, especially if they become a rebuilding team.

Now remember, we expected the Twins to be sellers and that some arms from the minors would gat some time in the majors. So a few arms were grabbed from the scrap heap with the chance of flipping them mid-season.That didn't work. The arms in the minors, except fr Jake Reed, aren't on track to come to Minnesota. Even #20 prospect Melotakis has downsized for some reason or another. I doubt the Twins expected a closer on the team to have 20+ saves at mid season, so Kintzler was a stopgap. He has value. Do you get value back (look what Neshek just got from the Rockies). It's too bad all this happened RIGHT BEFORE the trading deadline. Yes, the Twins want to be buyers, but can they out buy the Royals or Indians, also in the hunt, or continue to do...well, we are seeing what they continue to do, shades of Terry Ryan. T hat they didn't manage to flip Escobar to the Red Sox is truly amazing. Wait, Nunez is an All-Star. Of course he is a better choice. You never know about bullpen arms. (Look at Swarzak...wish we had him back now...but he became too expensive according to the process of major league ball for the Twins). What you do have to look at is construction. Long men, fly ball guy, strikeout ace, a solid closer and maybe a closer in waiting. Proper setup men. People who have control, even though you can have just a thrower until the reports get distributed widely. It's all about construction and how they match up with the rotation that only goes five innings and how you mix-it-up and try to avoid having 13 pitchers on the roster, let along 14. A strong rotation (getting you into the 7th) will make you entire bullpen that much more valuable.

Boy looking at Rochester right now the bullpen has the following ERAs: Baxendale 3.04, Curtiss 2.92 (and excellent in 2 other levels), Melotakis 1.80, Reed 1.84, Rucinski 1.45, Tonkin, 1.67, Wimmers 3.25. We are seeing some life from Slegers 11-4, 3.35 and Hurlbut 8-5 3.39. Gee is 3-1 2.00. Turley is hanging in there. Some of these names aren't much, but considering the Twins do have Busenitz and Hildenberger performing well and names like Chargois on the DL (not to mention Burdi, Jones, Jay). Perkins is the Mauer of the pitching staff. Do you keep him or not. Kintzler can have value as a closer, and is smart enough to be a solid setup man if his stuff diminishes a tad and you egt someone else in the mix. Not so sure about Duffey. Rogers is holding his own. Sadly, thought Pressly could be an in-between closer. Sometimes it is the odd guys that can fill out a bullpen well for a season or two in the least. Remember, you just need solid arms to get to the really good guys. Like people said, we were relying too much on the Belisle and Breslow arms, and they should be replaceable. Sadly they didn't bring a prospect back in return this year.

They still have Dillon Gee and Melville to drag out. And maybe Slegers or Eades or Hurlbut. Of course, you want your top starters to be at AAA (unlike your top prospects who are at AA) because that means they can throw 150+ innings in a season. That's the predicament the Twins find themselves in. At worst, if they are out of the hunt, they should be looking at Romero and Gonsalves and more of Jorge in August before giving the fifth spot to whomever (40-man spots remaining). You can still move a lot of players around in August. The Twins just have to face that they may end up with a losing record, especially if Cleveland and Kansas City improve themselves to make the division more uneven. I still say, play for 2018 and 2019. If the shoe isn't fitting for those seasons, get new shoes.

Come 2018 - ALL the names above won't have roster spots. Okay, maybe one or two. But that is WHAT the Twins should be looking at. Getting something for someone that has no business being given playing time come spring training 2019 because there are others in the run, you will be BUYING someone, whatever. Again, the August waiver wire will be interesting. At most, the Twins will get still more of that treasured player commodity they love -- CASH!

I'm not sure if the phone is ringing off the hook for any of these guys with offers that make you say...yes. Kintzler will be a free agent. You could probably get a prospect or two, low-level. Look for weakness in your system and do it. UNLESS YOU ARE WILLING TO blow him away with a $12-15 two-year offer. Same with Santana. At best, it frees up payroll to go after a possible better free agent in the off-season. Sadly, don't see anyone clamoring for Dozier at this point. The Twins would be wise to invest in Dozier for 2-3 years IF they think he is a viable alternative to anything in the system (probably is, and he could always switch to DH at some point) and if they can get him for 2-3 years at less than $10 million a year. Ask yourself...if Dozier was a free agent, what would other teams be offering him in salary? Hopefully better than, say, Plouffe. But...you never know. Where the Twins have to watch out is that they will be dealing for the 40-45th man on most team rosters, or someone promising. You have to avoid people who will be out of options going into 2018. You might even have to avoid any number of names that need to be protected on the 40-man, period, unless you egt someone much better than your Top 30 prospects in return (a possibly for Ervin). But we are seeing our worst nightmare. The Twins are competitive, but who and what are they getting. Kansas City is actually looking like they want the division and making some quality moves. Cleveland is two pieces away and have to do something if they want to be at the post-season dining table.If they do, and the Twins continue to stand pat with just the Garcia (and Colon) move, they might as well play for 2018 and let's see what we can cobble together from the system, although the innings limits on guys like Romero, Gonsalves and maybe Jorge will hurt. Instead we get to showcase Slegers and Eades and give Dillon Gee another shot, as well as any of the AAAA free agents that still haven't pitched up here (Yohan Pino? Melville? Heston?) And, in turn, you want to see if you can get anything, then, for Garcia and Santiago, as long as you ae along for the ride. Waiver wire August, where you shed salary and maybe get a very minor prospect in return. On a side note: Melotakis dropped off the Top Prospects list.

Can't wait to see what happens when Twins put players on the waiver wire come August and if any minor trades can be made.

I'm surprised. I thought it would be Mejia, for now, to get him back on track. Not that NOT having Gibson around is disheartening. Okay...let's see what Colon can continue to do!

Sometimes you wonder why bother with the Rule 5. Enough of this type of player becomes available during the season. At the most, Haley would've gone off the 40-man in the off-season and someone else might've claimed him. Well, the Twins have to be happy. They get some more of that CASH they like to get for a player, half of what they paid out to have him take up roster space.

It's a good move. Regarding Recker, the Twins currently have Garver and Murphy at Rochester and Paulino and Rohlfing at Charlotte. The question is, who comes off the 400-man for him. The Twins have to now decide who stays and who goes among Mejia, Gibson, Colon, Santiago, Garcia for three spots. Throw Ge in the mix, and let's see some new names in the rotation for the second half. Assuming Mejia will go back to the minors (because he can). We might have seen the last of Santiago and Colon has to pitch like he means it. Does anyone want to see Gee get a chance in the rotation? Just remember that the next big happening will be after August 1 when you throw goes out there and see if anyone wants to claim them. That's where you hope Santiago puts up a couple of good starts, Colon maybe shows some life. If nothing else, you can hope someone claims Gimenez, let's say (who will be a free agent) which makes you happy that you do have Recker for AAA if you bring up Murphy or Garver. But right now, the Twins will have FIVE catchers on their 40-man? And I would rather see them try and pass Recker thru waivers than the younger Murphy. Wow. $800,000 for a 15-year-old. Sometimes you do have to keep in mind the investment pricetag in a player when you do they trade them. At that price, he was a pretty good thought of prospect at one time.

The Twins will have 7-10 guys that the HAVE to protect in the off-season. They probably could find an even dozen that they should...so some of those names can be traded, whomever they may be.

Tepesch was rehabbing in Ft. Myers and was probably due a place on the AAA roster, which is currently full. But, yes, the Twins seem to love cash!

Imagine Haley is due back to the 25-man. Twins will have to make a move when Buxton comes back, too. Santiago back in another week. In minor news, Nick Tepesch goes from rehab in Ft. Myers to the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Be interesting to see how Barnes and Enlow do in the system and how fast they can move up. I would say all the Top 10 will be in Twins uniform sooner rather than never. We will be able to trade Rosario at some point. Be interesting to see who can replace Mauer at 1B.

At first, I am aghast when the front office talks of Ervin Santana's inconsistency. The guy who have three more wins, perhaps, if the bullpen performed correctly more often than not and if the offense would gets its act together, and that is NOT taking into account last season. And then I tell myself "that is why" he should be dangled as trade bait, but if the Twins did trade him, people would shout and heads would be asked to roll, but still...is he going to be better than he has this past year or worse...and when will the downslide happen. If it IS happening, then he still has one more start to increase his trade value, or maybe he does want to work out his contract with the Twins and see if the Twins can be magical and make the playoffs with 83-84 victories in the division. But still, every pitcher is going to have BAD games, and Ervin is still a .500 pitcher with a 4.00 ERA, especially if pitching on a bad team. Sh he should be applauded, everyone should be gttateful that he is performing better than expected, and save the inconsistent remarks for folks like Gibson and Santiago.