Rosterman

You are so right! There's four guys in the bullpen that don't need to be there. The catching call and defense has improved, but it is a black hole in a lineup that sees okay production from a highly paid first baseman, what we expect from the guy at second, a promising but not-to-productive shortstop who is no better or worse than his backups, an outfield that isn't tearing up the league in anyway. The designated hitter has been a modest surprise and may keep Park out of the picture for awhile longer. The rotation has been the surprise, even with a couple coming back to earth (Santiago and Hughes). And we still do need sa fifth starter. Combine the fact that the lineup is all over the place, the team doesn't play well at home, there is no bench, and there is little or no releif on the hitting front in the minors...we can only think that the rest of the American League has evened out.

Yeah, considering the Twins also got Dustin Martin, who labored for five seasons in the upper minors. Might've made it as a back-up outfielder, but even after leaving the Twins at age 28, he could only spend a few seasons in the Mets and Diamondbacks system before ending his career in indy ball. Who did the Twins trade for Castillo? Bullpen closer possibility Travis Bowyer who quickly injured himself and sat out a half-decade before trying a modest comeback. And Scott Tyler, who never got above AA ball before retiring at age 25.

I agree with all of these. Especially Poppen!

Hopefully they can skip Gibson this round. We'll see. The Twins should be pushing their AA-starters. Sadly, Stewart has pitched himself out of the mix (these guys, they have every opportunity right now to make the big leagues). Santana and Hughes aren't long term. One can bring us something of worth, the other has to be considered gone. Santiago will be a free agent. Gibson is the new Mike Pelfrey. We don't need to give innings to Tepesch or Turley or others of that ilk if a possible prospect can pitch equally as good. If we win games and make it, good for the Twins. But NO selling the system at this point.

You move Dozier, as well as any bulpen arms you can and keep looking at YOUR prospects. The team is full of prospects who are just showing some promise, but maybe not quite there. If another team comes calling for Santana, you maybe bite. Depends on how Gonsalves starts to show in the minors. You can also be shopping Santiago as he will be a free agent. I don't see paying him to be a rotation mainstay for the future. Would rather see that money spent elsewhere. You still got two months to see what you have, and see what you can get. But I would be looking more at younger arms in the rotation and bullpen than any of the minor league free agents you signed. There's still a few places that you can re-fill on the 40-man, not to mention the current 25-man.

Though Kyle failed to show it, you would like to see him put together a string of 3-4 fine starts, just to increase his possible value, and go ahead and move him (same can be said for Santiago, Hughes and even Santana). But the chances of the Twins getting a return on Santiago (will be a free agent) or Hughes (injured and expensive) or Gibson (failing) is slim to none, sadly. So the Twins have to look at their system. Who deserves to come up here and get an early look and try, and can still be sent back down if need be. Better to see what you have, give them a taste of the bigs, that retreads...at least at this point. If anyone thinks the Twins are going all-the-way, more power to them./ If the Twins win, it will be a happy fluke. But the only way it translates into 2018 or 2019 is if you jettison many of the names on the roster, make sure your kids have some games, and open the bank for a real free agent or two...and NOT before mid next-season at best.

They went after shortstop depth because they weren't certain about Polanco going out there everyday. I think we can rest assured that Polanco can be the shortstop for the immediate future and, at worse, the backup infielder for a few years to come. Of course, moving Dozier might change things. But both of the vets could be tradebait (a la last year's all-star) as there is ample replacement for bench infielders in the minors come mid season.

Well, at some point between productivity, salary and position, the Twins are evaluating players for 2018 and beyond. Is Vargas the better choice to keep around if someone will eat the salary of Park? Is Palka a potential or another Adam Walker. When will Escobar become to expensive. Who's playing second and short in 2018, let alone 2019. What will eventually happen with Joe Mauer (will he retired, need to stay on the Twins roster for a few more years, or end his career elsewhere). And EVERYONE on the roster has to be playing not only for a job with the Twins, but to open the eyes of someone, anyone, elsewhere. We have to give our new front office a bit of evaluation time. We have to hope that the Twins can still compete by winning games against the teams they have yet to play, at least taking a series or splitting...maybe that will keep Molitor around. Still wonder if they have done a full evaluation of the coaching in the system, as well as figured out the major league level. Remember, the new coaches are dealing with guys that came up under the old system. But, yes, one can start questioning Molitor at every turn. Saldy, but true.

Who is the rotation for 2019. Better yet, 2020? The top four, built from within. We know it won't be Hughes, Santana, Gibson.

I, too, wonder on Cederoth. Thought he was a top possibility if healthy.

Duffey is one of those guys that is okay, until he approaches his second year of arbitration. Then you ask, how much is he worth paying.

They still haven't played every team. They have three solid starters that SHOULD be good. The bullpen is a mess. Who knows what the lineup will be. No rhyme or reason why certain people are batting certain places at certain times and not sure how you can arrange it so the Twins do get their hits and walks more strung together. See how they fare against ALL the teams. They MIGHT have a chance with their own divisional play, if they can get a 4th solid starter and the bullpen under control. But lots of holes, or lots of pieces not filling those holes...correctly.

I ttoally agree that we have to find a couple of spots to at least rotate up and down some of our promising future arms. Right now, answer this question: Who do you bring in for a ground ball (I guess, our closer). Who do you bring in for a fly ball. Who can possibly strikeout a batter. Who can give us 2+ innings of ball (or once thru the order). Do we have left/right options at any or all of those positions right now. Command may still be an issue with some of the youngsters being groomed, but putting the ball into play seems to be the commodity of the current bullpen. Of course, our starters have to consistently get towards the 7th inning to make any of this work. We have four that we are holding onto right now, one that isn't consistently getting into the sixth (so far). And we are a total sham with the fifth starter, and his name shouldn't be Haley or Duffey, sorry. I would rather see a Wheeler get a promotion than going after the Wilks and Tepesch's, at least at this point. Happily the Twins have been lucky with some first-rate rotation stuff. But of even greater concern is the batting lineup...is there a lineup or is it darts on who bats where and what. Sure, they have hit dingers in x-amount of straight games, but overall...it is an average lineup that is full of a bunch of 1 for 4 hitters, or so it seems more often than not.

We should hold off and see what mid-season brings. If the Twins aren't advancing prospects throughout the system, and playing guys that will never be on the 40-man...I'll start crying. Of course, the Twins don't want to push or add anyone to the 40-man before they have to, it seems, at times. I guess have to see what the draft brings and where everyone is pushed when the short-season teams Now if the Twins can figure out how to keep top prospect pitching off the disabled list.start to play.

You have to judge the "being in contention" with the reality of going not only to the playoffs but the World Series. The Twins could win the division, yes, but how would they matchup - now - in the others games to be played. Is it worth it to trade many, many pieces for someone who will be another Ervin Santana, perhaps. That is WHY is is as important as ever for the Twins to use ANY open roster spots, be it temporary, to showcase a Stewart or Gonsalves or Hurlbuit or Granite. Give the guys a taste of the big leagues. They have a chance of striking out a batter or getting a hit as much as any of the minor league depth free agents you signed WHO WON'T BE WITH THE TEAM = IN 2018 or Beyond. But you have to work VERY VERY HARD with anyone you think is a prospect and fits into the plans. ONCE you have that figured out, you can look at your minor league depth and if it is there, make changes. You especially have to start looking at relief pitchers, considering the current bullpen is barely getting it done. You have the talented arms. They may not be quite ready, but give them that taste. 40-man roster decisions will be huge this off-season. But I don't think we are ready to start printing World Series tickets. If it happens, once we face every team in the league, that we are showing strong competition, maybe, maybe you can think...but how does that guy fit into the plans of 2019 and beyond, compared to the talent that may be the asking price for such a piece. You also have to look closely at your own pieces and what you could get for them...like Hughes, Santiago (who will be a free agent, I believe) and Ervin. You have to make a decision on Dozier. Looks like Vargas is playing like he knows this is his last chance for a job with the Twins (or elsewhere). Right now, those are the expendables on the Twins roster with a few others (Escobar, any of the relief pitchers) possibly available for some small change. It's becoming a fun ride, but we are doing it because of some strong starting pitching, and a different lineup everyday (Polanco batting cleanup?).

That doesn't really speak too well for Twins development.

Why we really wouldn't have suffered if someone, anyone had offered worth for Dozier. But he wasn't THAT sought after, in reality. Ervin Santana...if he continues to show...you fliphim...DON'T make him part of the future. Same with Santiago. At this point, you probably have zilch of a chance to sign him if he does excel. If he is traded and excels, you MIGHT be able to sign him then, if you want. The trouble with the team is that you have a lot of prospects you do wish to keep, some who might draw some interest (Rosario) and lots and lots of guys who shouldn't be here or on any team, but you have the slimest of hope that they might generate something, anything, in return (i.e. Santana) ratehr than just cutting and walk. The new kings need to draft well this round, hope the talent stays of the disabled list in the minors, and TAKE THE CHANCE by forcing them to play above-their-levels and getting them to the majors sooner rather than later. We don't need 36-year-old rookies. Once we get a handle on prospects, once Mauer is figured out in the future equation, you can spend money (still a gamble) in the free agent market. Happily the division is proving to be quite week. You still HAVE TO BEAT the teams in your division -- all of them, not just KC -- to be competitive.

Yes...better than nothing. No need to keep a roster space for him, yet. Him and Boshers can be the setup guys at Rochester (sic).

Not to mention we still have Boshers holding down a 40-man spot. At least we don't have Park holding one while on the ml DL.

Haley also will need to be added back into the mix at some point. Would say they will get a legit fifth starter up. Not sure what they are doing for the fourth. Press has to be on the bubble. But I would go ahead and use an option and see what Melotakis can do, give Teasch one more shot, as well as Rucinski, before claiming their roster spots open, for now. But quite frankly, the Santana and Tonkin decisions needed to be made last fall, if not during spring training, sadly.

Hildenberger...unless the Twins think he is the next Anthony Slama!

Looking forward to Tepesch pitching on 10-days Rest!

The general thought was a tad more seasoning, wear out the arms that are currently up here, and the Twins are set...especially if they are hovering around .500 and the bullpen IS the weakest link (at the moment). Where is Nick Tepesch? Did he miss his plane?

Did Tepesch miss his plane or something? Is he available to pitch?

You are saying it right. Would another team want this guy on their staff, or in the front of their bullpen. That is pretty much how the Twins have to address ALL their players and prospects going forwards. Right now, WHO on the team would someone actively trade for at this point, and would you gat something better in return than you have in the pipeline (assuming you'd get prospects today rather than proven major league guys). They also have to have a short leash on some guys who are sitll under the radar (Danny Santana, for one, Rossario for another). And we have to see just what we do have going forth. You get let a prospect flail in the big leagues (look at Buxton, look at Berrios) and you know THAT THE MAJORITY of guys take a season or two to get to where they will be. Not everyone is a Trout, or a Joe Mauer. And speaking of Mauer...almost thought the team lineup alst night was a good choice (with a lameduck DH). I mean, if you aren't playing Joe at first,play him at DH. Isn't that the plan? With two off days in the works, no need to start giving people a rest two-dozen games into the season. Unless you are not producing.