Rosterman

Let Escobar run with it. polanco can be kept around anotehr season, if need, be, as backup at second if Dozier goes down. Santana is a place setter until Gordon or Javier arrives.But let him work things out in the minors. Don't get a $20 million a year shortstop contact. The prospects are potentially there.

I was going thru my head: Hunter, Pelfrey, Fien, Duensing, Darnell, Wheeler, Tonkin, Fryer, Hermann, Nunez, Robinson, Thompson. Decide about Thielbar and Achter. Only REAL additions would be Duffy, Rogers, Harrison and Walker. You can think about Hicks, Zack Jones and Cole Johnson. You might add Berrios in September, or just say "no" and still wait another season before giving him a spot next summer. Most others you jsut have to shuffle to AA or AAA to keep out of the minor league draft and keep them there, which shouldn't be a problem as pretty much the entire Rochester roster are minor elague free agents.

Kepler is interesting. As a first baseman, would he be Dougie light? As an outfielder, would he punch enouh for the corners. We imagien he is blocked in center. He is not necessarily an idea designated hitter candidate. Will he put the ball in play, move runners around, advance bases, work the count. Will he become a bigger force and take charge at first base come 2018 when Mauer is...somewhere.

Vogt is not the guy I would expect to put behind the plate for 100+ games a season for the next few years, so I would keep my catching prospect and see if someone overpays for Vogt, who will essentially become a utilityguy who can catch in the future. Not that abd of a job, but not someone to overpay for. The Twins can afford rentals, but besides getting rid of prospects, can they get anything for anyone the rentals would repalce on the 40-man or 25-man roster? It's a shame, but you do see the Twins letting walk Tonkin and Darnell and saying goodbye to Fien and Nunez and Robinson for sure once the season ends. They also lose Pelfrey and have to make a hard-decision on Milone. Pretty much everyone on the Rochester roster is a minor league free agent, from Oliveros to Pryor to Rodriguez and Ramirez, not to mention Bernier and Paulino (and de san Miguel). Herrmann and Fryer can also take a walk. They say goodbye to Beresford and Hanson. Is there any reason you keep around Hamburger and Peavey, except for depth., I just threw out quite a few names that have little or no value. You could even argue that anyone would readily pick up any of the names above. Yes, some will find work as the off-season progresses. Insteadthe Twins will be dealing from minor league potential strength and that is a hard call for Ryan and Co. as they will drive a hard bargain for anyone that has an ounce (in their eyes0 of potential. Another poster has identified 50 strong prospects in the system that would be up in the next 3-4 years, but there won't be 50 roster spots for sure. Then, again, the general manager and company have to look ahead at what it will cost to keep the following under contract: Gibson, Berrios, May, Meyer, Buxton, Rosario, Hicks, Arcia, Dozier, Polanco. Most you don't have worries for anotehr couple of years, but five years out the team can start to get expensive and will the Twins go long-term with how many and at how much?

The Twins get two players that won't be around in 2016. They trade Tonkin, who will be bypassed anyway come the fall 40-man decisions more than likely. They move Santana, who can already be replaced by Esobar and probably by Polanco. They give the A's Jake Reed, who is at least one year away from being a lights out bullpen guy. Win-Win for the A's. But Ben basically repalces Nunez (so what do we do with him) and Tyler would bump someone else out of the bullpen to...where......

Catchers are valuable? Hey, maybe we can get abck Matt Capps and trade him straight up. Reality, aisde from the A.J. fleecing of San francisco, that is about the extent of prospects you would trade for a catcher. They can become a liability down the line...it is no longer a lifetime position and just because you do great numbers as a catcher, they don't necessarily translate well to another position. The Twins might do better going after a prospect similar to what Ramos was, on the cusp with more promise than not, and pray that he will hold up. We can sign Wieters as a free agent, but is he a train wreck waiting to happen? I ahd hopes that Mauer would be catching thru the 2016 season and parttime after that...that is where this problem truly developed. I don't believe Pinto was ever considered the young stud to replace Mauer, but more of a abckup to service the team this and next year and hope that we trade or develop another person (Danny Rams, perhaps). What would be the curren equivalent of Nathan, Liriano, Bonser in our system for a catcher? May, Stewart and Baxendale? Doubt I would do that. Meyer, Wimmers and Hu? Still wouldn't. Kepler or Walker in a deal?Possibly. But would we do better including Santana or Rosario instead. Would Arcia make someone salivate in parting with a proven gem?

Who is better, who is worse. Who has an unside? Who has a downside?

Almost mounted a comeback!

So much for May in the 8th. Forgettable game.To abd Kansas City is starting the break hotter than the Twins.

Michael Bowden is available. Didn't we want him from the Red Sox in the Santana negotiations? I'm sure there are arms available on the fringes of AAAA ball, but we also have those in Oliveros and Pryor (both ijured) and Darnell, not to mention Rogers. Heck, sign Pedro Hernandez away from the St. Paul Saints!

Why waste May when you can give everyone else some work. I'm sure we'll see him yet!

The return of WIlkin Ramirez! Or another pitcher! Why? We can have Nunez or Escobar DH! With an offday Monday, doubt the will make a decision until arriving in Los Angeles. Hunter would probably DH today after taking a ball off his arm.

And, hey, if you want to post an illustrated list of such things, do so...at www.twinscards.com!

I'm not sure why the closer at Rochester isn't given another opportunity - AJ Achter. If nothing else, I would love to see Oliveros and his hard-throwing also get anotehr chance. Fien is done. Jared Burton 2015. Too abd you waited to long to flip him for something. Boyer is a luxury you have to question...now.He worked his butt of, but has he lost steam. Use May, anytime you need more than an inning. Why the sudden love for Duensing, who ahs been peforming, but still......

Not really sure who is doing what, but is was disheartening to see Duensing warming up again tonight. Have to get ALL the guys some work, especially with a day off Monday. But I would've used May (or Graham) thinking it might go an inning or three befroe the Twins scored a run.

If Pinto can't catch, then we have troubles. We need a body. We need someone. I would only trust the prospects of Turner and Graver so far as to take the place of an injured starting backstop. I'm not sure if I would put Fryer in that category, or Herrmann, right now, if something happened to Suzuki. But it is sad if Pinto can't catch. Then he has little or no value to another team at this moment, elt alone the Twins.

Any movement on Hicks would be purposeful for Hicks. He still ahs anotehr year before arbitration, and the best he can hope for in Minnesota is that Buxton or Rosario tanks, or Arcia becomes a DH, potherwise he is the backup. He will get the time. It is a tough question. And if a team is building for the future, they still have some control (as well as options) on Hicks, and the Twins do have a surplus of possible dynamtie relief pitchers, although if I was Beane or another general manager I would be asking about Gonsalves, Hu and a few others (while if I was the Twins I would dangle Baxendale or Wimmers).

Yeah, looking at the AAA roster right now and most of those are guys that won't be back for sure next season (probably including prospect Ortiz and Beresford). AA has quite a bit of dead wood, too. The current Twins roster has these names carrying forth to 2018-2020: Pinto, Mauer, Dozier, Polanco, Santana, Arcia, Vargas, Buxton, Hicks, Rosario. Plouffe could fit into the mix. That's 11 position players. They have Hughes, May, Gibson and Santana. Milone and Nolasco COULD be around another year or two. The bullpen has Perkins. Maybe Graham. If Oliveros doesn't come up, he's outa here. Names like Boyer, Fien, Densing, Thielbar, Darnell, Thompson, Pressly, Achter, Tonkin all may not make it to next season or beyond. (Time to remove Wheeler from the 40-man at least, no one will claim him) So what is this showing us? If Pinto can catch, we got a couple of solid abckups in Turner and Garver. Swim could be in the mix. But if Pinto can't catch, we are in trouble, The prospects are decent, but unless they can throw out runners and call a great game, it is a major weakness now and in the near future. Plouffe is at third. Sano could be at third, or just DH for the rest of his life. At some point, Blankenhorn MIGHT be the third baseman come 2020. We have Dozier at second. Beresford will eitehr get a September callup or not as a reward for being a good system guy. Michael and Valera are future reserve infielders. Shortstop has a lot of bodies. Nunez won't be back. Escobar is tradable. Santana is questionable Polanco would be a decent ride for a year oprtwo. Gordon is in the wings with Javier right behind him. Palicos and Vielma are reserve infielders (as, I would say, Santana is right now). We have Mauer at first base or somewhere for many eyars to come. Maybe Joe switches to DH when we move on from Plouffe and Sano goes back to third. Is Kepler the first baseman of the future two years out? Is Diaz on his heels to take over in four years or tehreabouts? Does Sano become a first abseman at some point, depending on a longterm contract negotiation? We have too many outfielders. Buxton in center. Is Rosario out there a betetr choice than Arcia and Walker in RF and LF? Does Walker come and DH when a decision is made on Plouffe and Sano goes back to third? English, Harrison and Granite are all solid potential backups. There are 13 friggin' starters on this list. 13! Rogers and Duffy needs decisions made on them now. Berrios will be considered a given. One of these three will start next season depending on what happens with Milone. Whew. What to do with Meyer. Stewart, Gonsalves, Hu all have promise. Thoirpe is a dark horse, as is Jorge. Batts, Tapia, Curtiss, Slegers, Rosario. A lot of names here. And somewhere sits Wimmers. The bullpen. We are seeing O'Rourke. Booser, Robinson and Jay will come in after we do soemthing with Thielbar, Thompson, Duensing and Darnell. The right side looks dangerous. Burdi, Reed, Cederoth, Chargolis, Hildenberger, Peterson, Jones. Finding spots for them will be the challenge, especially if you have to cycle someone from the rotation side into the bullpen. The Twins will definitely become younger, with the only old guys being Perk, Mauer and Santana. Finishing out this year is still going to be a treat to watch. If we bring in too many new bodies next year, we may see a downslide. I can't wait to see what Terry Ryan and Company do come September, if we see guys who will be around in 2017 and beyond, or guys who won't be here by the end of 2016, let alone this offseason. That's a solid group of 50 players. three levels of starting pitchers. Two good levels of offense and relief. Considering you might add 8-10 to the 40-man this year, then it becomes more difficult after that...the Twins have players to trade for something that they need (will they really need anything) or simply lose them.

Right now, the Twins have a bench of Fryer, Escobar, Nunez and Robinson. Next year, I see them having a bench of Santana, Hicks, Vargas and Pinto. Sounds better? They could have that right now. What is the perfect bench for pinch-hitting. Do you have an aging slugger like Thome who can play somewhere (qst base or outfield), but usually needs a pinch0runner. Then you have the speedy guy who is the pinch-runner, or hits to beat out a hit, or can be the defense repalcement. You do need a backup catcher. If he can play elswhere, that's a bonus, and if Baby Jesus would be willing to go behnd the plate if called upon in a need. Then you have to make sure your backup outfielder can play a decent center (or someone else on the roster) and you need someone who can fill in at 2B/SS/3B in place of a prospect, if need be. The idea situation is that you do have prospects who can come up and play full-time for a limitd period of time if someone does go down. Plouffe would be an idea utility guy, but he won't settle for that role anymore and has outgrown it. He would need to play everyday. He is a decision that will be tough to make now or in the offseason. No palce in the outfield. COuld get pushed out of third is you don't want Sano as fulltime DH (and looks more and mroe like that would be the idea position for Sano).

They m,ay jsut let Arcia stew for awhile. He will be up here, as will Vargas. The new bench of the Twins going forth would be Vargas, Hicks, Pinto and Santana, replacing Robinson,. Nunez, Escobar and Fryer. I like that. Of course, that means no Hunter resigning next year. The decisions the Twins have to make are what to do with Poluffe, can they trust Arcia to be a regular, is Buxton rady next year, not this year. And what to do with Walker, Kepler, Polanco (who could be the starting shortstop and Escobar tradebait). It looks to be an even mroe interesting team next year! But I see Arcia getting more time in the minors, until they figure out what to do with Shane Robinson.

August will be interesting. See what players the Twins put out there on the waiver wire and see who gets claimed, and then the Twins have to make a decision to let the player go, see if they can get anything in trade, or keep. I would like to see both Pelfrey and Suzuki put out there. If Suzuki is grabbed, you bring up Pinto for the rest of the season and play him with Fryer and not have to worry about Suzuki for next season. Enough teams are looking for catchers, so you aren't going to trade for one necessarily. And many teams may think that Suzuki is an upgrade for them. The BIG QUESTION in Twins land, can Pinto catch a reasonable number of games and is Fryer for real. IF the Twins put Fryer out there on waivers, they would lose him for sure. Then we are back to Herrmann. But don't see the Twins making many deals as everyone else is looking for a strong bullpen arm or a catcher. Better to play next years free agent market, unless A.J. can be ahd for a song. The waiver wire will be mighty interesting this August!

I'm sure they would like him to go thru a lineup more thn once, show him that he needs to develop other stuff or work more on his speed and location. Make him a pitcher rather than a thrower. Also shows you that there is a major difference between collegiate ball and the minors. Maybe college guys can skip the rookie leages and advance right to A-ball or beyond. Maybe not.

That's a lot of 40-man ads next year. Especially names like Beresford and Hicks who would not be longterm ads. The Twins have a lot of middle infielders on that list, and with Dozier holding down the fort, there six guys that should be a part of trades, not to mention current bodies holding down shortstop. There's 14 guys at 1st base and outfidler, and we have Mauer, Hicks, Rosario, Vargas and Rosario already in the mix. That's quite a few for five spots. Even if you have twwo as backup. Whew. ANother area of prospect depth to wheel and deal. But for what? Catching seems weak. I don't think bullpen needs are any worse than position prospects. Man, what can the Twins get for 10 or so of these guys who won't be needed in 2-3 years.

And you do need a closer. And he wasn't eating up lots of money. And if he does decline, he is still a left-handed arm. He could stay on and not close in the future if treated right. And, in the big picture, the Twins DO NOT need more prospects. They have to find a way to protect the prospects. They have too many right now.

If you switch organizations, then you are behind the guys in THAT organization and have to hope for a spot. Sometimes, as in years past, you look at an organization like the Twins that gave chances to minor league prospects who were free agents. But you still have to battle for that 40-man spoit. You never know. Hey, take Glen Perkins. He bombed as a starter, was mad when he was sent down to the minors. He actually passed thru waivers and left the 40-man roster. He ahd an opportunity to move on, but it just wasn't there. He rebranded himself from rotation to relief and, bam...a success WITH the Twins. Look at the current Twins. Ramirez has had a chance. He thought he might still have one, who the minor league pay with an organization that wants you is better than...say, indy ball. The Twins have given shoutouts to Bernier, Fryer, Schafer, Robinson this year alone. In apst years they have dragged out Walters, Pino, Hernandez, Velazquezs, Martis and others. Where the you are going be traded" comes from is more management than the player. Take Polanco, for example. He is either blocked by Santana and may be jumped by Gordon. If the Twins want to keep Polanco, then maybe Gordon becomes the trade chip. Yes, Walker ahs to be wondering where an outfield of Rosario, Buxton, Arcia and Hicks leaves him, especially with fellow batterymate Kepler in the mix. Ortiz has to be counting his days to minors free agency. But who says the Twins couldn't flip Vargas for Hicks on the roster right now, and maybe score a winner. Players have succededmoving on. Garret Jones for one. Grant Balfour. Not sure about Tyler Jones, though he is tearing up the minors. We all remember Anthony Slama. The names of former Twins trying to win roster spots are large just this year: Matt Tomshaw, Jairo Perez, Brock Peterson, Evan Meek, Walters and Mastrioanni, Deolis Guerra, Pedro Florimon, Debinson Romero, Yangervis Solarte, Blayne Weller, Julio DePaula, Chris Parmelee, Jeff Manship, Liam Hendriks, Bobby Korecky, Andrew Albers, Danny Valencia, Chris Colabello, Steve Tolleson, Tyler Ladendorf, Alexi Casilla, Scott Diamond, Yohan Pino, Alex Presley, Edgar Iberram Matt Koch, Tyler Jones, Tim Atherton. And those in Indy Ball: JD Williams, Jason Richardson, Dan Osterbruck, Dustin Martin, Luis Perdomo, Joe Testa, Derrick Penilla, Frederic Hanva, Randy Ruiz, Shairon Mathis, Yoslan Herrera, Rene Leverett, Mike Kvasnicka, Rene Tosoni, Dakota Watts, Brad Boyer, Jan Granado, Pedro Hernandez, Trent Oeltjen, Esmerling Vasquez, Kris Johnson, A;ex Romero. Lots of names. ANyone blowing you away as a great loss to the Twins organization?