Rosterman

Lots of potential tradebait there. Question 1 - Who will be with the team next year? (I would trade Fien mid-season to anyone looking for a closer, if Fien doesn't pull a Jared Burton on us). Question 2 - Who comes up from the minors. Too many choices NOT on the 40-man at the moment. Question 3 - When does Aaron Hicks try a comeback as a pitcher?

Alex Pressly is available! Only a pro-rated portion of his arbitration salary needed to cover! Of course, doing a waiver claim means you have to make a 40-man spot, which is why it is easier to get players through waivers this time of year, unless they are truly that 26th player in an organization and worthy of a 25-man spot, or unless you are the Toronto Blue Jays who keep a 40-man spot open for claims, then re-waiver the guy to assign him to the minor leagues so they can claim another. But, again, the Twins have 3-4 guys on the 25-man roster that probably don't have to be there and another 4-5 that won't be on the 40-man next year. So, go fiure. In with some new, out with some old?

And the Toronto GM "I have to grab any waiver guys before anyone else, because, well...you know Terry!": And the Colorado GM "You can even grab guys who are good, because who wants to play for a buck when you can get two!"

The Twins have an abundance of talent at both teams. And some pitchers are in the wings at Ft. Myers. The thing is, most of the talent at Rochester HAS to make an impression this year (as well as in a major league call-up) or most ALL of those Lookout guys will be with the Twins in 2016!

It is seldom that a team has such a GREAT starting five that you don't have room for either a work in progress (i.e. the Future) or someone needing a break that ahs the potential to outshine at least a couple of the other guys on the starting staff. Sadly, Milone AND Pelfrey aren't those guys, but they do have nearly $8 million in ront office investment and need to have a roster spot. Can either outshine any of the other four? Naw. Not even Gibson, I would say. So that isn't saying much. So, we cut bait and give the job to the most promising rookie in what will be a long line of prospects battling to break into the rotation. The first is Trevor May. Of course, if he doesn't cut the multi-inning slack, you can probably develop him into a bullpen pitcher. He knows this, because right behind him wanting that starters job is Mr. Meyer. But Meyer can't be cocky and will need to produce, because in the wings are Kohl Stewart and J.D. Berrios. Wow. Can the Twins TRULY have FOUR GUYS who could pitch in a major league rotation. FOUR GUYS, and that is not counting anotehr half-dozen that can blossom this year and also go for the prize in 2017-18. I can live with Milon and Pelfrey for now. Both can be showcased. But I doubt that anyone before July will take Pelfrey's $5 million off our hands, unless he is actually starting games (or unless something happens to Perkins and Pelfrey develops into a closer). Milone is a token lefty. He can get the job done...if he wants. But only if the team is scoring some runs behind him. He will hang on somewhere, anywhere, as a lefty, as long as he doesn't get too expensive, which he almost was this year and definitely will be next, even if he manages to put up Cy Young numbers. But Trevor May being almost ready? He ahd ups and downs when called up. He worked over the winter. He had the flu in spring. He knows he has to produce, but you can also take a step backwards pretty fast going to the minors, although being the last man standing from the Revere trade means the Twins WILL put him somewhere for a moment, or wrap him into a package for someone if he shows shining life. Hell, even having him in the bullpen to become the first in line for emergency starts. But wait, we still have Pelfrey and the other million-dollars arm Stauffer.

Yeah, I love the oldest bullpen in baseball. Too often Ryan rides the horse of finding the diamond-in-the-rough. Guerrier. Burton, amongst others. Yes, time should be given to Acheter and Tonking and the rest of the young crop. But the Twins are notorious for bypassing the prospects that never materialize. Slama, Morlan. Korecky.Of course we have Manship, Hendriks, Waldrop. The names go on and on and they really didn't produce here or elsewhere. So let's hope beyond hope that when the Twins spent almost an entire draft on relief arms, that they actually do pitch, and pitch well, for the Twins in seasons to come. Yeah, who buy Big and Expensive (Neshek, Soriano, others) when used and neglected will also do. Again, I'm hoping beyond hope the starters average 7 innings for the entire season and WE DO see the future before the season is into September!. Even though there may not be many attending bodies in the stands watching it materialize.

Marketing the Twins in 2015 was going to be a problem. After four losing seasons, the one thing they couldn't announce was "Watch us Rebuild to a Brighter Future." The naysayers would pounce on the dollars (decreased as it would be go) in the pockets of the powers-that-be. And, of course, you have no idea how ALL these prospects will pan out. So, the Twins spent more money, extending the Ace, paying BIG money for an above-average starter, bringing back hometown favorite Torii Hunter. And hoping they can shuffle the cards and make the names that people are somewhat familiar with into a pot of gold. Of course Santana, Arcia, vargas and, in a lesser vein, Pinto will shine. Mauer will come beck strong. There is no way the rotation can s-u-c-k. The stat records of Milone and Santana and Nolasco says nay! The bullpen is strong, just needed tweaking from the backend. We may still see those prospects, but the Twins will be competitive in 2015, or so the line comes from the front (marketing) office. Trist us that the Twins found some diamonds-in-the-rough and everyone will pull together to win in this even division where anyone can take home the title. And the Twins still have the best of futures going forwards. We just might s-u-c-k again this year, which means rebuild will happen and we will really s-u-c-k again. But hey, remember the Twins from 1992-2000?

The 5-tool kid....out of options. Been with three teams in the last two years, or is it four? Not counting bouncing around in the minors.

Pelfrey could become a closer, too.

There suddenly are a lot of pitchers at AAA Rochester...as well as outfielders...and infielders.....

Well, I'm not totally sold that Arcia will put up a solid year. He may still be a project in process. Kennys Vargas is no a total shoo-in as designated hitter either. We all know that Hunter doesn't want to JUST DH, but signing him allowed the Twins to give him a place to play if his outfield defense isn't top notch. But what the Twins needed to do was sign another big bat, who could play the corner outfield AND back-up first base, so Joltin' Joe could also DH at times. That did not happen. We have a couple guys in Schafer and Robinson who are the continued second-coming of such stalwarts as Lew Ford, Dustin Mohr, Darrin Mastroanni, Jason Repko, Jason Pridie, Justin Tyner and the ilk who can hold down the position on a semi-regular basis for short-term and, if lucky, put up some good numbers in their respective strong categories, or fade quickly into the mists. I'm GLAD to see Hicks demoted to AAA Rochester and he'll have every opportunity to work out whatever his issues are and if he does, come back strong. The Twins also save some service time issues (would Hicks be out-of-options next year, or the year after?). I almost wish Rosario did a half-way decent job to get a looksee out of spring training (similar to Hicks). But now he will go back to AA ball and have to show HE IS better than Hicks, the so-called five-tool guy who could also pitch but didn't want to. Shades of Joe Benson (where is he?). Of course, at this point, I would rather see Danny Santana return (temporarily) to centerfield and Escobar play short everyday, rather than trying to find an out-of-position spot for him to play every other day. It also means we have a bench spot for the lump called Nunez, but we have no other options, do we? Herrmann or Pinto or both (keep Fryer off the 40-man). Going into the season, the Twins needed a centerfielder (although they had one in Santana), a solid bench bat who could play the outfield or first base (they didn't get one), maybe a solid bat who could play a corner outfield spot (they got Unter), a backup catcher than would allow Pinto to spend time in the minors to increase his stock and who could throw out runners (failed) and to reimagine the bullpen...which is being put together like an old Ray Harryhausen stop-motion epic rather than with slick, fast, sure to dazzle CGI effects who are waiting in the minor league wings (I hope). I hope Arcia, Santana and Vargas produce. I hope Pinto comes back. I hope Rosario and Hicks push the AAAA-duo to reserve and Hunter to the bench. I can't wait to see Reed or Burdi or any of the other names who won't be the next Slama.

We have no problems if the starters give us 7 strong innings and we have a bullen of 7 arms. Keep whoever you choose on a short lease and the phone line open to Rochester!

Oliveros was having a tough spring physically. He will probably end up on the DL to start the season at Rochester. For that reason alone, you got him thru waivers, and he would be a minor league free agent next year unless the Twins add him back on the 40-man, and he can use another solid year in AAA ball to see if his speed can overcome his wildness. The Twins got him for Delmon Young, removed him from the 40-man, and managed to resign him. He will still make good money as a Twins minor league guy, but may be passed-up by others. Interesting the fodder on the 40-man. Stephen Pryor is probably first in line for a call up, jsut to see what he has. Achter and Tonkin could both be bypassed by everyone else in the relief area of the organization. If you cut them now, no one will probably still claim them. But at some point they might just be released. Darnell Logan is still a lefty starter candidate, although his strength would probably be in long relief. He has a longer leash, I would think, than someone like Thielbar or Thompson, both could be removed from the 40-man. Thielbar might draw some interest. People have had a chance to sign Thompson and he has ended up staying with the Twins. There's still NINE pitchers clogging up space on the 40-man. From Wheeler, who is a prospect that will get a shot at the end of the year if he pitches well, to Pressley, a rule 5 holdover who has shown backend of the bullpen stuff. But, really, except for Wheeler in the future, and May and Milone in the near future, everyone else could easily be replaced by someone on the Rochester roster or in the system. And, quite frankly, if they didn't make the Twins, I see little interest in anyone else giving up a 40-man spot for any of them. Hey, we might even get Gilmartin back. Suddenly the Twins AAA and AA rosters look pretty pitcher heavy! I'm glad Oliveros is still in the organization. But he may have missed his chance, as did a few others (Acheter, Tonkin, Pressly, Darnell). The jobs are there for the taking. The Twins have put out a red flag that they need bullpen arms beyond the "replacement" quality player. That they have a hard time seeing a patchwork bullpen which could include Pelfrey or Milone (and could've contained May and Meyer) says something for the pitching in camp this year. Let's hope the starters can consistently go 7 innings (and they should).

Twins dropped Lester Oliveros from the 40-man. So it looks like someone is making the team, be it Boyer or Shane Robinson for sure. How long would it take Soriano to get ready, I wonder?

Shows you just how things change. Gutierrez was thought highly. Joe Benson was raved as a 5-tool guy behind Hicks, but still capable of playing the corners. Wimmers has been is DL hell. Pat Dean is still around. The ones that made it: Hicks, Gibson, Arcia have been nothing to write home about. Liam Hendriks is still a prospect. If he can only pitch in the majors. What has he been with the last two years...20 teams or something?

The elephants in the room are definitely Pelfrey and Stauffer. I would not lose Graham tokeep anyone of the names suggested. Hamburger is a solid reserve to stash at Rochester. He is not going anywhere. Boyer is a placeholder if nothing else until Burdi, Reed, Jones or someone graduates early. Thielbar has options. I'm not sure how much time Thompson ahs with the Twins, and if that time is needed. Both are lefties and teams are looking for lefties. Trade one or the other and send the other down. We only need tow lefties (Milone) in the bullpen. But, can Duensing face more than a batter or two anymore? Just went out that the Twins have two spots to fill with someone. Jared Burton is available. Sigh. So is Joe Beimel. Double-sigh. Didn't I read that Jose Mijares is looking for a job? Maybe we can talk Cole DeVries into returning. Anyone hear from Pedro Hernandez, by the way. Where is Jesse Crain when you need him, and why did Pat Neshek blow off the cheap Twins? Ultimately, it really shouldnt be that hard. Get rid of all the also rans and let's keep Pryor, Oliveros and Darnell in the bullpen for now.

Adam Thompson, Logan Darnell, Lester Oliveros, Mr. Nunez. Anyone that doesn't for sure figure into plans for 2016 or beyond. I would say that Stephen Pryor is still in the mix. But to have the Twins add THREE non-roster guys, especially the ones mentioned, don't see it happening unless Stauffer is marked as one to go, along with Nunez.

Well, could see Milone going to the bullpen which means Thompson and Thielbar are out. May could make a decision ahrder for the 5th spot, but he can always get his licks in at Rochester. Reading about Escobar and with Nunez being halfway hot, I almost want to see Danny Santana playing centerfield for the last week of games and going with him out there (again) with Escobar at short and Nunez as backup. Then the real battle is between Robinson and Schafer for backup, with Hicks playing everyday at Rochester and, I guess, Rosario slinking back to Chattonooga. Catching is going to be the tough call. Pinto should probably go to AAA and start everyday. Fryer might be best back there, too. Which leaves Herrmann as the abckup and bench bat.

There is nothing wrong with being a solid AAAA guy. You eventually make a decent living. Yes, you can move around a lot and just one bad year can pretty much sink it for you. He put in two seasons in Indy ball, which had to be a personal stretch, but paid off with a major league opportunity. With Colabello and Parmelee gone, Peterson is pretty much it if something happens to Mauer. i'm sure the Twins would try and cobble together Plouffe and Herrmann and Vargas as real game first basemen, but Brock could gat the call and play an important part on the bench, if not at first if he hits, until Mauer comes abck.

If tradebait, Pelfrey has more value as a potential starter than a guy doomed to bring about his comeback from the bullpen. Are the Twins creating a roster of tradebait. Are the Twins really hoping to contend in the division at least. Are the Twins thinking they can win by having more seasoned players than rookies. Right now, if you were general manager, would you jettison fodder (Pelfrey, Milone, Nunez, totally forget about Stauffer, Boyer, Beimer, and don't bother with at least one of Thompson/Thielbar and make from for May and Achter and Tonkin and Polance and keep Hicks and give chances to Darnell and Oliveros and maybe even Beresford? And just see what happens? I still say that the team ultimately has to judge each player by where they expect them to be, for the team, in 2016 and even 2017.

He may be the next David Ortiz. But the Twins will play it safe. WHo knows, he could be on the bus to Rochester for most/part of this season. If that happens, the Twins get that extra time. If he does produce, he came become trade bait. He could be the next David Ortiz.

What is the value for Escobar. That is the question. Like others in the past, NOW would be the time to move the guy, especially if you are essentially making him a backup. I would rather see Dozier and Plouffe play everyday in their positions than rotate out to have Escobar get some at bats. Like others have mention, would the return be greater if you went the route of trading Santana, who could also be a fluke, of Dozier, who has speed and power but when talking baseball with a friend, we actually compared him to Roy Smalley, with a bit of Greg Gagne in him. And we have Polanco and Gordon in the hear wings. But do we need more minor league depth? No one is going to trade an infield prospect for Escobar. Do we need an outfield prospect? Do we need an uncertain catching prospect? Do we need a high-round starter from last year's draft who is still unproven and 2-3-4 years away? Again, Escobar has value. But if he is simply a backup, the next Ron Washington, Al Newman or Denny Hocking or even Nick Punto for the Twins, you sell him now as a starter and elt someone else worry about arbitration madness.

The Twins actually have no backup for first base. Brock Peterson in the minors? Vargas doesn't need to learn the position, really. Plouffe there would allow Mauer to DH at times and Escobar to get some playing time at third. If Santana does stay at short, is there a need for Nunez to be on the bench? Is Herrmann a decent enough backup for Kurt S. Would he still be usable as a pinch-hitter? He would also be the fifth outfielder if the Twins go with duo of Schafer and Robinson in center. Who goes off the 40-man if the Twins keep Robinson. Or if they keep someone other than Nunez (would assume Nunez goes). Do we need to keep the loser of Pelfrey and Milone in the majors? It's not like there are adequate backups to get a shot in the minors for the rotation. If Pelfrey languishes in the bullpen, does it increase his value? Of do you cut him, hope someone picks him up, and eat the salary. Of course, what to do about Staufer. At this point, I would rather have Boyer, but that isn't saying much. Then we might as well keep Thompson over THielbar, but then things really don't start making sense as we fill the team with also rans and AAA fodder. Can't wait until the prospects do fully emerge. The additions of May and Meyer, the bullpen rides of Zach Jones, Burdi, Cederoth, Reed. The arrival of someone other than Pinto to become the next catching prospect. Sano at third. Polanco in the infield. Buxton and Kepler in the outfield. I'm more excited to see these guys flay at the ball than to see Brock Peterson, Shane Robinson, Doug Bernier Edwin Nunez, Mike Pelfrey, Tom Milone, Tim Staufer get service time. If the Twins think they can do more than compete and actually win games in their division and be in the hunt, more power to them. They got one month to sort things out and become a team of expendables, or switch gears and hope they can resell us all on a team of future stars.

Forget Stauffer's contract. If anything, you eat part of it and hope he picks up with someone else. This is the team that gave ZUmaya $750,000 to blow his arm out in a spring training appearance. Sometimes contracts only have to pay so much if you release a player before the end of spring training. The hopes are that so many of these arms are simply place setters before we get to Burdi, Reed, Zack Jones, Cederoth, Curtiss, Clay. We still have arms in the minors that aren't here on the major league side of spring training. I'm torn between putting potential starters in the bullpen (May) or even Pelfrey bocking someone more worthy, or keeping Milone because he is a lefty and a starter. I say the 12 best no matter what.......

I seem to remember that Aaron Hicks was considered a 5 tool prospect, and even Terry Ryan telling us that Joe Benson was close to being a 5 tooler (4 1/2 perhaps). Five tool guys. Dave Winfield comes immediately to mind. Ken Griffey Jr. is another. I think the Twins do see Buxton adding power as he ages. But when you look at Hicks, and think of Benson, being better than average in a multitude of areas doesn't always pay off as mucha s maybe being above average in one or two, or exceptional in maybe just one.