Rosterman

We can argue all we want about the Ramos trade. It was a surprise, and even the throw-in of Joe Testa was more than enough for an okay possible closer (who still had contract left). But, yes, Ramos was blocked. And the Twins would've done the up-down with him for at least another season and then made him a backup and there was probably hope that the Twins would actually have another catcher in the wings by the time Mauer left fulltime behind-the-plate in 2016 or 2017 or 2018 (we had Pinto in the mix at one point - who is doing a-ok in the Brewers system right now). I don't really have a handle on how the Twins do teach.train.view their prospects. They seem to spend a lot of time in the lowly minors and then get a shot at AA, but the AAA roster always seems full of...dare I say...fodder. I see the Twins carefully bring guys thru the system (again, to AA) and then they end up not going anywhere in the organization, or even baseball. At what point DO YOU make the call on a prospect. That they are just playing ball for you in the minors or truly will be given a good hard shot at the majors...and more than a quick call-up and then demotion. Especially when you see how anxious the Twins are to play those guys they grab from the cuts of other systems and give them a chance and playing time: Grossman, Kintzler, Boyer, Abad, Fryer, Bernier, Centeno, Mastro, Boshers, Pressly, Graham, Ramirez, Pino, Martis, Perdomo, Vasquez, Marquis, Carson, Burroughs, Komatsu, Roenicke, Deduno, Walters, Thomas, Burton, Schafer, Neil Ramirez, Schafer, Robinson, Cotts, Thompson, Fuld, COlabello, Thielbar,,,and Mr. Nunez. That's a lot of names in five years that the Twins turned to rather than young guys in their system that they drafted and were developing for major league play. More so that people that they brought north in the past five (mostly) dismal years to fill the lineup from the guys who scout high school and colleges. Maybe the Twins JUST need to skip the draft and turn all their scouting to discards from other teams. Or maybe your sole reason for having "prospects" is to trade for good pieces, but not necessarily the best or what you really need to go forth into playoff land if and when that time rolls around. And then we can have the whole argument about hanging onto players too long and getting nothing in return: Kubel, Cuddyer, Nathan, Willingham, Delmon Young, Fien and Burton. It is a two-way street. You make your players available for pieces that you are missing in your own system (right now, catcher fer sure) and deal accordingly. You should be dangling Abad out there for a promising catcher who is blocked at the major league level for another team -- if that team is foolish enough to see that their own catcher won't be playing behind-the-plate for five more years and they may suddenly need this top prospect sooner rather than never. I'm still just feeling the "total system failure" happening. The attitude that we will try to put a competitive team on the field for the least amount of money, market the heck out of an outdoor stadium that gives the "fan experience" to watching a game played, and the hopes that people will buy into the sport of baseball as fun, and not as a need to win-it-all, or at least show a need to try to win-it-all above and beyond telling people we are doing so. Looking forward to the second half. But someone/s do have take a fall for what happened in the first half.

The Twins prospects are unproven. A team has to be getting rid of a high cost player to go after anyone the Twins currently see as playing in the future, or be in a total rebuild mode themselves. The Twins would be foolish to trade ANY prospect that MIGHT make an impact on their own team, especially for anyone approaching the end of arbitration or free agency themselves. At least this year and next year. They could trade blocked prospects with over-priced current players to get better lower class players (looking towards 2019 and beyond). But we have to strongly remember that the Twins aren't the only team selling. And many other teams have cheap players they can move compared to our overpriced guys treading water. plus, you can always bluff with the Twins and just hope they end up releasing guys (like Jepsen) that the Twins still have to pay. We need two teams to show an interest in a player to get anything of value beyond immediate salary relief (and who is to say the Twins won't carry over salary to future seasons instead of writing everything off this year - not that major league baseball allows you to do that). Which is why the Twins do need to strike in the favorable window Santana and Suzuki (and possibly Dozier) are giving them right now. Listen strongly and closely. You may just be releasing the Plouffe's and Nolasco's come August or the off-season.

The Twins MAY have promising strength in the outfield, shortstop and bullpen. They WON'T be able to protect ALL these guys going forth, and better to move them IF they don't look like being immediate additions to the 40-man this year (or next) to get a better prospect (albeit at an even lower level) from another team is a given. Otherwise, you lose. Or look closely at guys like, say, WImmers, who is increasing his stock and needs to be protected or allowed to walk. The Twins are still hiding a lot of prospects from the Rule 5 by not advancing too many guys to Rochester...yet. They have to consider how many Kernels and Miracle players need to jump towards AA or be lost in the minor league portion of a draft...and be prepared to play them. But it all boils down to salary. And also the possibility that the Twins might just cut loose a player (like Plouffe). A team would have to be hurting to pay anything for Suzuki, with his free agency on the horizon. There are better pitchers available at a lot less cost than, say, Nolasco or Santana. Teams might find Kyle Gibson to be a better goto for a trade because of his promise and cost. Of course, so much will happen to the Twins in August, where they can just let guys walk if they want to lose the salary, or, in the case of Plouffe, let him become another team's worry and if you really want him, go back after him. But if the twins do want, say, Plouffe...they would be talking a $30+ million 3-year contract with him right now.

I keep thinking he might be what we thought Jason Kubel was going to be before Kubel injured his knee.

The killer i look at Rochester with the failed Twins prospects and minor league free agents vs. actual prospects waiting to get a chance, and it is even worse, at least before the All-Star break. Besides the players already on the 40-man (Polanco, Walker, Murphy, Park, Dean, Berrios, Chargolis, Meyer, Boshers) ,there are only a couple that you would add at the moment (Beresford for the heck of it, Palka, Wheeler, Baxendale) and probably (except for Palka) not permanently.You might wish to give another chance to O'Rourke or Albers, and maybe a look at Burnett...but Greenwood, Waldon, Darnell...and not sure where Wimmers fits into Twins plans. But the offense side is full of MiLFA: Mastro, Schafer, Field, Tovar, Rodriguez, Paulino, Wickens, Britton, Meneses. Half the roster, fer sure, made up of fodder.

It's nice when a team has the roster space and ability to give players an opportunity to build some value. But we are still in last place when all is said and done.

And now we can also look at Alex Wimmers MAYBE finally fitting in somewhere. Or will he be the next Anthony Slama?

So I am now a confused owner. For a pro-rated major league minimum, I can either grab Jepsen or go after Joba Chamberlain. Someone will find a place for Jepsen now...with the Twins eating his salary. Oliveros, a guy with a super arm. But got broke last season and was picked up by the Royals.

If last year the Twins were giddy and thought they were contenders to the last day, and convinced themselves that they had a competitive division winner on their hands, they should equally realize that this year they put a group of the biggest non-performers on the field, not so much as a fault of the performers, but because there was no plan. No solid roles for members of the bullpen. A different lineup every game. A rotation that needed at least 5 runs to be in a game, if they lasted long enough to see any runs put up. A coaching staff that had all spring training to teach players NOT to strikeout. A manager who would get almost to mid-season before recognizing that his best player isn't just a utility guy. The bigger question is the makeup of the front office...more Twins loyalists splitting up the different works. Or do we get a baseball guy in charge of ALL operations who also brings in his own general manager, and thus a new on-field staff, while working with the promise and talent that we are now seeing on the field. An even bigger question has to be addressed about how prospects are coached and processed thru the system Changes in staff should happen going into August, when you start accepting waiver claims on players and seriously move anyone that doesn't fit into a future, which will need a modicum of rebuilding time by anyone put in charge. Same old same old will not work. If the Twins start to win, they might put some butts in the seats unless people keep following the standings. If they win with youth, that may create some excitement about the future. Glad to see the Twins as winners in MLBTRADERUMORS slush pile grabs...not that the players did anything to make the team competitive in a division that should have been tighter overall (how is Cleveland running away and what happened to the White Sox?). That's a plus...giving guys an opportunity to shine. But for what? An opportunity to shine that other teams can't take a chance because they have a totally winning lineup on the field with no room for these guys? The Twins don't need to be the Kansas City Athletics of old, considered a farm team for major league clubs. We already have that locally with the Saints, who seem to be finding home for guys who can't even make it in the Twins organization!

Once Molly can figure out a line-up which hopefully won't have Mauer batting second or third, the Twins can stabilize the DH role, and the rotation has someone other than Milone and Nolasco throwing pitches...they will till win 35 games, playing roughly .500 ball for the second half, but still getting the 2nd or 3rd pick in next year's draft!. Of course, management will see that as light on the horizon and keep everyone in the front office and the field staff intact.

Some of it is that players in question have to start doing something if they want to keep their jobs, find jobs, or be wanted by another team (or even the Twins). But when you look at the bigger picture, the Twins are still dead last. They have some overpriced players (Plouffe, Suzuki, Nolasco, Santana) and the appeal these guys MIGHT have to other teams can be underwritten by possibly equal candidates for less dollars elsewhere. Plus teams CAN play a wait-and-see what the Twins do, or just see what the Twins will do in the off-season. The Twins major issues are: What to do about catching. They have to see Murphy up here. They will need to protect Garver AND Turner come the off-season. They don't need to protect Centeno. They don't need to pay Suzuki $6 million. Crowded outfield. Suddenly the Twins may have another centerfielder as a trade chip (Buxton). Wait, don't go there. Rosario, Grossman, Kepler are more than enough right now. Santana can also play out there. Walker and Palka are in the wings. Who is this Granite guy. Hummm...maybe they can trade a highly regarded prospect centerfielder?! 1B/DH. Took care of the Arcia issue. Vargas is showing life...he likes those major league paychecks and meal money. Park will be back and we can see what we have here. Happily, once we pass the posting fee (which was in this year's budget, I hope, and not prorated) we CAN take a bath on him if need be. Mauer is making up for all the singles Vargas won't hit, while Vargas is doing the extra bases we expect from a first base guy. Palka could play first base. Kepler did play some first base. Plouffe could transition into first base at $10 million a year (or be a supersub. We have a mess in the inner infield. What do do with Polanco is the magic question, although he can just be a bench guy for at least a season while we delay the Dozier decision. But what of Nunez? Regular at shortstop? Where do we play Escobar (supersub). Is Santana in that mix, too. I think we see right now, on the field and on the bench, the 25-man roster for next year with a change in catcher, a decision on Plouffe, being the only significant off-season offensive changes. We will still have Joe doing what he does in 2017. Pitching is another fine mess. At least Nolasco and Milone are increasing their value, possibly, to another team. But we will be stuck with Hughes and Perkins coming off injuries. Hey, what about this WImmers huy as closer at AAA. What gives? Now if we can get Alex Meyer up and running. I can start to dream.

If you see Vielma as a bonafide prospect, then you look at Dozier vs. Polanco and make a trade decision there.But if keeping BOTH Polanco and Dizoer, Vielma will egt lost in the shuffle and stands to be passed by any number of other players in the system. It's what makes a general manager's job tough. Who to keep and who to pass. Vielma is one of those guys that if you aren't going to keep him, does he get you a better return when packaged, say, with a veteran and salary you wish to rid yourself of.

I do think the Twins were surprised when they won the bidding on Park, a 29-year-old rookie who can hit home runs. There is still the hope that for a few years he will hit 100-150 for the Twins. If Joe Mauer were Doug Mientkiewica and we had a hot-hitting rookies on the horizon, we would package him in a three team trade and probably get a player that would never ever play for the Twins. Before the Park victory, the Twins were looking at Vrgas/Arcia possibly battling for DH duties with Sano in the mix. Now the Twins have Vargas and Park battling for DH duties with Sano in the mix and Trevor Plouffe a man without a home. August will be telling, if the Twins find someone to take Plouffe...if they just let him get claimed with no compensation, or keep him back and try to do something in the off-season, in which he will demand a $10+ million contract that any other team would have to take on, compared to releasing him (even letting him go on waivers) and making it another team's problem. Vargas is a case. One of those guys with lots of talent. Can he stay focused and controlled? Remember, there were rumors of the Twins trying to see him to the Far East for 2016. Would Mauer accept a trade to a contender. Is Park a real deal? Can Vargas produce consistently? Do we want Trevor Plouffe in the organization long term? What do we do with Sano? Is Palka a potential first baseman of the near future?

So, Palka can also play first base, right?

You have an awful amount of money available (and required) to be paid to your top draft picks. The players chosen will pretty much know what they are getting. No more choosing, say, a Ben Revere because he may cost less and is eager to sign. Drafted players are pretty much working against each other now...If a team decides to pass you by for someone else, there is a reason (or a more significant need). It is also an investment. Out of the millions spent each year by a team, truly how many players make it to the show for any significant time with the drafting team or another. And with the ability to trade picks sooner rather than later, you should basically go after the best available. This has changed and I'm not it works well with the longterm Ryan system of scouting. You can't just choose a good or comfortable player and negotiate a bonus. You are locked into a specific amount, or close to it. 250-300 guys know they will be getting decent money to start their minor league careers. You pretty much put yourself out there willing to accept whatever you get for the level you are drafted, or make known your needs to continue growth by going to college. And then you have to get these guys thru the system in x-amount of time and know you only have so many years of control. It's a tough and expensive job. But, ultiamtely, you go after the best talent available now. You supposedly have the money to spend. Maybe the problem is that Terry, like his free agent spending, is happy to spend the money...sometimes now overpaying for the talent.

I would bring up anyone and everyone in September that I can. I would start early filling up my 40-man with guys I EXPECT to be a part of the Twins sometime in 2017. Which means I see Garver/Turner...even at the expense of Centeno. I advance Vielma. I bring up Walker. I look at Reed/Jones/Bard. I give Wheeler a shot at the rotation. I remove Dean and Vargas. Come the offseason, I make hard decisions on guys like Grossman, Boshers, Kintzler. If I don't trade them, do I cut them and hope? I look at my guys with possibilities for trade who might be overtaken sooner rather than later: Rosario/Santana, decide on Polanco, is Meyer the real deal, what should I do with Wimmers. Since no one will be knocking on my dorr to come to Minnesota as a free agent (yes, I want Chapman), I will vastly have to overpay or miss out. Yes, I would pay for Ramos. I would study all that is necessary and see if I should blow the guy out of the market right away! Otherwise, I am pretty sunk with what I have. I have to go after every catcher possible who can play at Rochester and might get a call then (return of Fryer, Butera...ugh!). I'm hoping Hughes has some gas and that Perkins can return at least as a setup guy. But I'm not counting on them to start the season, sadly, which means I carry two dead arms on my 40-man into spring training. I jettison Nolasco for whatever I can get, or for nothing. I hopefully trade Santana. I look closely at what else is available on a short-term deal. Yes, coaching and manager change. I would bring up Dougie. In consult, I would bring Mike Redmond into the staff (bench coach). I'm not sure about pitching...do I go after Frank Viola, keep it in the family. I would like to see Ron Coomer as batting coach if he would leave broadcasting. I would bring up Tommy Watkins as one of the base coaches. If nothing else, I would overpay to steal fine coaches from other organizations. But it would be a cleared house at the major league level. I would seek out an additional consultant to help in major league operations, similar to LaRussa down in Arizona. I would totally reevaluate the coaching system in the minors and make it the best in the business. I would increase nutrition, get strength/conditioning coaches at all levels, add monies for better housing, have a fleet of vehicles for player use at all levels...let's make these guys comfortable by making the journey to work comfortable. I would expand the honorary coaches as much as I can and have them work their tails off visiting the system and offering advice up the wazoo. I would sit in different sections during the game and actually meet and listen to fans, attend fan events, get players out in the community doing special events. I would grab a couple of guys from this arena to handle social media. I would hire Torii Hunter as my assistant in training!

Good point. Best point is...hey, Nunez is in the All-Star Game...now I do have to watch. But I'm not sure who would be the best representative that would make anyone from Minnesota watch the All-Star game...unless you are have Sano, Park or Arcia (wait) in the Home Run Derby.

A team in need of a starter carrying over into next season could do worse. Santana ended the year fine. He's on a roll right now. He should give you expected consistency. And considering the free agent market in the winter, he could be a bargain. Basically you are getting a pitcher of his caliber on a two-year contract (after this season). Plus, you could still have an option of trading him yourself. The other team should absorb his salary. He should be available for a couple of positive prospects. Let's just say I would answer the phone and carefully listen. Someone will make a play sooner rather than later for Santana...if the need for their team is a starter with experience. The Twins, right now, can live without Santana. They can live without Nolasco, but are afraid to let go of his salary. Of course, when everyone goes on waivers in August, let's see what happens. And, do you think the Rays will give us back Arcia to take on Jepsen?

This is the situation the Twins now find themselves. If they add the guy, is he a keeper. Do you remove, say, Centeno for Garver or Turner. Will Garver or Turner play next year. How many players like Landa, Melotakis and Romero can you carry that may not contribute until 2018 or beyond. Do you let the Boshers, Grossmans and Kintzlers walk and maybe resign to a minor league contract? Out of all the players mentioned above, the Twins HAVE TO look at names like Palka and Granite and see if they wish to trade Rosario, Santana or even Walker, for example. What role would Walker (Ryan) or Vielma play on the Twins next season or in the future? Who out of ALL those names would a major league club grab to keep on the 35 man for a year. Who DO YOU RISK losing in the minor league portion. Do you pass on Wimmers and Meyer and hope you can still keep them around. Do we have a list of the guys who are eligible (Seth?) and who will be minor league free agents? Again, this is a list the Twins need to carefully go over as the July trading deadline swings into force and the Twins MAY have to package a prospect or two to rid themselves of, say, a Nolasco or Plouffe, and get someone still promising but not needing protection in return.

If the Twins trade Santana and send along a [prospect, it can be alright. Remember, they may have some 40-man concerns going forth this year and next. They can only protect so many guys. They have to make hard decisions. And some of these guys will have value. They also can't add 40-man or optionless players from otehr organizations that are looking for a change of place or showing prospect life. It is a tough call. One, you get salary relief on a team going nowhere. ALTHOUGH NEXT YEAR YOU WILL STILL BE EATING Perkins and Hughes salary for a time. But, sadly, if the Twins send - say Nolasco - packing...I don't see them absorbing the salary this season and taking a loss. I see them carrying it over to next season (as I imagine MLB does, too).

Projections are always fun meaningless excursions into what-might be. Like the guys on other teams that might win 30 games this year. Ha! How about this: last year it took the Twins 161 games before being eliminated from the playoffs. This season, it took only one game!

And would love to hear, say, Joe Mauer's take on the bat and how the ax swing works versus the way he was taught with the Mauer Hitting Machine!

How does it work for bunting?

To the Twins, right now, it doesn't matter who is behind the plate. You could have Drew Butera back there. But you need better framing, better calls, better arm than what you have. Sadly, no one would really grab him for late season unless your main catcher goes down, your backup catcher is suitable, and you need Suzuki for what he can bring as a fill-in or off the bench. Which really isn't all that much. To put him behind the plate for a competitive team down the stretch is not any team's dream, sadly. Yes, he will be a free agent next season. Will be interesting to see what offers he can get. If he can get multiple years. But the Twins need to see Murphy in August/September. They have to make a decision on Centeno. They need to bring whomever they HAVE TO PROTECT this offseason at catcher to the major leagues to get them some work so they can see what they have to work on in the off-season. Or they then have to make an off-season decision. Play cheap and re-grab Suzuki, go after someone longer term (2-3 years), or fill the spot with AAAA names like Fryer and Co.

Well, you can fault the players. When they exceed expectations, you praise them. When they falter, you look to a coaching staff to bring them back to square one and what is expected of them...in reality. You can't push rookies. They need to get exposure, play, learn, and play again. Only a few come out of the gate and excel beyond. You can't count on veterans not getting hurt. Just like you can't count on rookies moving up and dominating. But you can have rookies skip a class and get their feet wet. In the future, when drafting pitchers, realize that the majority, if hard throwers, will egt hurt. Sooner AND Later. John Ryan Murphy will still have four years of Twins usage under his belt come 2017. Is it this weekend the Twins will be eliminated from a Wild Card spot?