Rosterman

Just think if Arron Hicks played to his perceived status the past two seasons in the bigs.

I would agree. If Billy Beane was in Florida, he would trade Stanton for prospects and let the contract be someone else's problem. You talk a gamble like we did on Willingham. Like we have with Nolasco. The hard part is evaluating what a player will do versus what he has done. And we can argue that Mauer was vastly underpaid during his batting title seasons and it doesn't matter what he is paid then later, it will all balance out. I always like the example of hired gun Jack Morris, leaving the Tigers because he couldn't get extended to what he wanted (which they should maybe have done because he gave them so much for so long) and instead playing the market each and every year fighting his age and stats. All he needed to get closer to what he wanted was to have more than a team interested in his services and a good agent bluff. There is no telling what a market will bear. And we all don't know the ins-and-outs of ALL players in a system and why a team chooses to block possible prospects, or trade them away. It is as much of a game behind the scenes as it is on the field. I go back to what I put in an earlier post. At some point, when this is all done and over, we have to ask ourselves was Joe worth $200 million...and if he extends out...$250 million (half the current worth of the franchise -- of thereabouts) over 20 years. Did he put butts in the seats, the brand on the map, solid play in the field taking ALL matters of health, team et al into play. We can question that he stopped catching too soon. That he pushed Morneau out of the picture as Morneau pushed Mientkiewicz and Joe himself did A.J. That if we knew he wasn't going to catch in 2014, would we have kept Ramos and stayed with Rauch. Joe's contract was a smart move by the Twins and Mauer, to establish and keep a franchise player in the mix, who has excellent local family ties, created his own brand of Minnesota Twins, does play hard, but is only...human.

This would be like us trading Polanco and one of our recently drafted outfielders for a starter that has two years to reshine before free agency. If you deal from a minor league position of strength (and if the outfielder, as in this case, was a high enough draft pick but still far enough away, and Polanco has some value if we see Santana being the shortstop of our future, for now, with Gordon in the wings) it would be a no brainer. It would be fascinating to hear what goes on in various front offices when a trade like this happens. Are there people scratching their heads going "we should've/could've done that, who knew what they wanted" or "how did we miss that one."

As a roving minor league guy, Molitor has a pretty good idea of the strengths of a lot of coaches in the system and how he and they might relate. You won't find many coaches willing to leave a job to come to the Twins. There are some minor league guys you could grab, probably most with Twins ties in some ways rather than total outsiders. The Twins chose Molitor instead of an outside guy, who would've brought in more outsiders than insiders, to say the least.

He all of a sudden has to produce or he prices himself out of a job, and we all saw where the likes of Jason Pridie, Dustin Mohr, Jason Tyner, and even Lew Ford, edned up.

Forgive me, but part of what made Joe Mauer worth the money the Twins paid was that he was a Minnesota boy, and that he was, at the time, a catcher. Suddenly, with the position change, and especially an off year, he has become a $10-15 million a year player at best and would be hard pressed to get a 4-5 year deal. If he was with the Twins, he would've gotten a QO for sure. But past batting titles aside, his worth to most teams are a catcher. If he was playing third, or if we truly knew how strong his legs and arms would be in the outfield, he might garner a bit more. So, yes, we can now look back and say the Twins either got a long-term bargain, or Joe set himself for a lifetime contract that paid more than if he had entered free agency and signed a five year deal, say, and now was looking at Big Contract #2. The bigger question that eats my soul is what we need to pay Joe for years 36-40 and is he worth it. Will he give us a hometown discount of a measly $50 million to stay on and chase 3000 hits and be an enduring Twin, or will the front office happily cut him loose and then we can argue (albeit a few more years of his stats to hum about) if his contract was a blessing or truly a curse for this team. Is he truly a $250 million dollar man for this team?

Yes, the upper levels had some senior citizens, actually guys older than on the major league roster once Willingham was moved, and Morales, too. From a position of strength, we basically have Rosario, Buxton and maybe Walker, who might be more of a Vargas DH. Kepler is the great unknown. So we better hope Arcia is the real deal. That Hicks can produce some support, if nothing else, as the spare outfielder. And that Plouffe, who might become over-priced at third (and thusly the outfield) isn't the choice for an outfield spot (or vice versa Sano). I'm not really excited about our outfield future right now if Arcia, Buxton and Rosario don't happen. We will have all these top-flight starters and hard-throwing relivers, but no one giving us offense if the outfield.

Hernandez is a good solid choice. The Twins are looking at guys that can relate to not only many of the guys on the roster, but the 3-year future, too. I am actually surprised that Hernandez wasn't in the running for the organizational minor league hitting coach position. But part of this year's coaching staff is to also reward longtime or solid contributors to the Twins organization, who will also work with Molitor. When we were talking about the need for a Latin coach, my mind had started to drift towards Jose Marzan, who is the Latin America coordinator for the Twins and has managed in their system in the past, and even was considered a catcher, at one time, and would probably make a great bullpen coach.And, yes, there will be some musical chairs in the Twins minor league system. Remember, Jason Bartlett expressed interest in working with the Twins. I'm not sure if the Rochester Red Wings coaches will be back as they seemed tied to Glynn when hired. I would like to see the Twins offer a spot for Doug Bernier, if he decides to retire....he runs an off-season hitting school. Joe Vavra is one guy I would retain and I bet he'd love to work out of Cedar Rapids, somewhat close to his Wisconsin home, and his sons would be passing thru that team at some point on the way up or down. The big question is pitching coach. The Twins need to replace Lucas in the minors, and someone in the majors. Who will they seek, find and will we all be overjoyed and happy!

Dougie to Rochester? Will Jeff Smith stay at AA. Remember, managers have to have a desire to live in Chattanooga or Rochester, too. Dougie chose Ft. Myers for family reasons and the Twins put him there. Be interesting to see how the Twins minor league assignments do fill out.

Yeah, good list. I seem to recall Terry Ryan praising Joe Benson as the second-coming, a real deal. Angel Morales sorta disappeared. Hicks is questionable and shouldn't be. Parmelee was a surprise, and is still a surprise. The number of players from this 50-man list (some still coming) that will make the majors is...mind-boggling. 3-5 maybe, and not all with the Twins?

Yeah, actually a tad better. Who would have thought. Makes the Willingham deal (but not the results) look like a great magic trick by Ryan in hindsight. Who can predict what salaries will ever be in baseball these days.

Let's see. $15 million guaranteed in 2015. $22 million guaranteed 2015-2016. If he isn't healthy, what could he sign for in 2016. If he is healthy, you'd have to see what Torii Hunter gets this round and compared to last to decide if you get $5-7 or $8-10. It's a pretty safe bet to do the two years in New York, although his expenses will be higher. Don't know if the selling of yourself is also higher being a Met than a Twin or a Rockie, in the longrun. But Colorado was good to him as a hitter. Let's see what happens in the Big Apple! But the one sure bet to take a QO is the one that didn't.

When you start looking at unhealthy pitchers, you start looking at Pelfrey-ish starters to bring into camp. Why not add Johan Santana to the list. Instead you look at decent starters that just had a bad year with a contending team, or a starter that had bad support in their own ballpark. And you must scout them to see beyond their 5-16 record and 5.00 ERA. That's finding a diamond-in-the-rough to take a chance on, and the Twins did take a chance on Hughes, for $8 million. Milone was another guy they took a chance on, and may take an additional chance that he WAS injured last year, and at a cost of some $3 million (and Sam Fuld). I really don't see any names leaping out at me that other teams will pass on, or not take as big of a gamble on as the Twins did with Hughes (three years, most would give him one).

The problem with the big money pitchers, they should be able to match whatever the Twins offer unless the Twins pull an A-Rod deal or something and over-over spend. And why would they want to come here for similar money, or a reduced contract by years to play for a team that isn't winning...yet. The Twins were lucky on Hughes. He was on a downswing and the Twins offered him a nice deal with good years. Like Correia, the Twins struck early on Nolasco and made him an offer he couldn't overlook, especially that 4th year, and why wait to see if the market plays up or down, and as he saw he struck gold because it played more down to the mid-level starters, Yes, it would be nice to have that proven ace for the next 5-7 years. I am all for it if the funds are there, but also feel that if the free agent fr the team doesn't materialize, we could live with the overly expensive Buehrle for a season if we think he can give us the innings, keep the runs down at Target Field, and act as an inspiration for the rest of the starting staff, including prospects. The Twins have a lot of fodder on their roster currently that could/could not be signed. None are that expensive (Plouffe is the most expensive and probably the mot tradeable out of spring training once he shows he has healed and if Sano produces). Otherwise, there isn't much others teams really want except for Hughes, Perkins and Maybe Dozier. For the sake of spending money that you have to spend, I am not against resigning the Duensings, Milones, Swarzaks, Nunez and others who offer some major league quality and still have some worth, if nothing else flipping for a prospect to rid yourself of their salary if the time comes. If they are blocking the Beresfords, Tonkins, Achters, then I have no problem. If they are blocking the Burdi or Reeds, then I wouldn't bother to sign them, but I wish some of these decisions would be though thru during the season rather than allowing some pieces of worth to just walk out the door with no return. I also would look hard at any offers for Gibson. If someone sees delight in Arcia and will give you quality, I'd do it. I hope Nolasco becomes an innings eater, that Hughes makes us want to extend his contract, and that we can get some dollars back for Pelfrey. And that Meyer and May make it all worthwhile that we gave up two centerfielders that would have made a dismal outfield the past two seasons shine.

Tony Oliva! But it does help, especially from those that make the jump without going thru any of the academy settings. But, how do they handle themselves in Elizabethton and Cedar Rapids and Chattanooga and Rochester, New York. On the major league level, you should at least have a player personnel person who hangs around before and after the game when players do press, and also available for continued learning as each seasons rolls.

I'm gald Bruno is back. If nothing else, wanted him to be the head minor league hitting instructor. But he is bettre served on the major league level. Hope that Vavra remains. Picture him maybe being a coach or manager at Cedar Rapids, since it isn;t far from his home. Or maybe he becomes the minor league hitting liason. Bobby Cuelllar needs to stay. Sounds like Gene Glynn is also on board. The Twins need: Bench Coach/Asst. Manager (Gene Glynn) Pitching Coach Bullpen coach/catcher coach (Bobby Cuellar) 1st base/infield coach 3rd base/outfield coach Base Running coach Would Steinbach take a 1st or 3rd base coaching job, or be Bullpen Coach). Who are the Twins looking at for their Latin players? We anxiously await the news!

wait...Kenny Chesney? Can I get tickets, be first in line...oh, I have to buy a season ticket package to even be offered some. Dang!

That's the surprise with the Rockies offer, which I would grab if I was Mike, because he could still find a decent job in the $4-6 million range for a couple of years (if not more money) in the American League as a designated hitter, bench guy, who also ahs some fielding abilities at 1B, 3B and OF. In Colorado, he is blocked at 1st by...Justin Morneau. Of course, Morneau could be a nice trade chip for the Rockies considering his salary and coming off a batting title. But if Cuddy doesn't grab the qualifying offer, he should fire his agent!

Spring Training will shake things out. Do the Twins find a left fielder. Is Aaron Hicks sound. Does Escobar AND Santana light up the grapefruit league and you find a place for both. Is Nunez still on the 40-man. Escobar is a bargain as a backup, and no need to extend him, just go year-to-year.He is better than nothing, so far, but is truly replaceable as more prospects come forth...Polanco for example. Again, depends on what the Twins do about a bat for left field, but I would be happy if Hicks shines, Santana is at short, and Escobar is around to play middle infield or 3B if someone goes down and we have to bring up a Beresford or someone as a replacement utility guy, although if Santana would go down, I see Polanco getting more at bats. And, who knows, Sano may slug out Plouffe and take over third, pushing Plouffe into a battle with Arcia and Vargas for at bats.

Twins news! New uniform style. Get rid if the old ones. And we can sell them without any player names, because we don't have any players we know will wear the uniforms.

Sam Perlozzo is a wondeful idea...Kelly is aro8nd in the front office and can advise as seen fit.

I'm going to watch with delight as they try to sell the current product and what kind of perks they attempt to package to get season tickets sold. Everything except a price drop.

I don't see any name above coming to the Twins unless they make an outrageous offer. It just isn't in my crystal ball.

Interesting. Not a bad deal to get another year of a prize player (and you always have the option of still trading the player during the season. If the player accepts, they delay their own free agency...one year, with a decent payday going forth and riches beyond depending on performance. A gamble. If the player refuses, will they be harder to get a job. I see a few more accepting out the gate than last year.

Yeah, kept the lefty Diamond. Hey, we made a spot the year before for Blackburn (who at least got injured). And, amidst it all, it kinda is like David Ortiz...the guy was put out there on a waiver claim and no one took him then. Eventually you had a logjam of pitchers at AAA and someone offered you the dollars you might've gotten earlier because they needed an AAA starter, who did his work, jumped to the majors, and made it back.