Rosterman

I agree, too. It seems some guys had a few bad outings and many ahd very good outings. And then you had Duensing pitching like a short-lefty relief guy this year. You also were using Perkins in non-save situations, in which he stunk whenever he did that, but he needed to get an inning in or so some times. The joy is, you have 6 or so strong guys in the bullpen and the other (or two) spots you can rotate guys out of. You don't do that in the rotation where how many pitchers were the #4 and #5 spot in the rotation?

All 40-man roster guys and spring training invitees arrive by Feb. 22 (many before). The minor league guys usually come on the day due, a good week later, as they need a palce to stay and early lodging and monies are not necessarily available.

He came over here young, can't speak the language. Started at the "academy" so to speak. Has overall athletic talent. A bigger guy with a certain skill set and some power. The Twins now have four years to put him thru the system, fast or probably slow. A next year. AA with a callup in 2015. A full year of AAA with a callup as needed in 2016. On the bench in 2017. See where he sits against other 1B and OF prospects in 2018. We are looking at him making an impact at age 24 or 25. Even if he ends up being a bench guy, filling in for injured players and doing some DH/LF/1B, he would be valuable, and a trading chip if he compares to Kubel at the same age. Th Twins are not going to throw him away. They have invested in him. He will follow slightly behind Buxton in the minors, for sure, but let us see. Start at Cedar Rapids and then back to Ft. Myers where they can keep a good eye on him. New Britain at age 22. That will be his showcase.

Check out the C.J. Nitkowski interview over at MLBtraderumors. If people get the time, interview guys about how it is to move in-season to a new level and town. Or just interview a player at each level so we know what their experience is like in small-town minor league baseball.

I would love to see a piece on the week in the life of a gulf coast rookie league player.

The bigger issue was that Hicks tore the cover off the ball in Spring Training. And the alternatives failed just as miserably. It was anyone's job to win or take away. Joe Benson went down to the minors and totally stunk, getting a waiver claim from the Rangers who have since removed him from heir 40-man. Mastro had the chance to steal the job from Hicks, but turned up lame not just once, but twice. Ramirez was limited to less than 100 at bats. Hicks was in center because there was no one else to play, and the Twins didn't really want to add any of the OTHER vets to the 40-man. Yes, they waited too long to move him down in the order. They probably should've found a replacement and sent him down earlier to Rochester, then promoting him at season's end. He didn't get the September call-up. He didn't play winter ball. He may still have more to learn at AAA Rochester. It was a rude awakening that backfired for the Twins, and especially for Hicks, who didn't get enough service time in the end. Is he still the centerfield guy of the future, think not. Rosario and Buxton both could play there. But teamed in the corners with Arcia, the Twins may have a pretty solid outfield in 2015 and beyond.

I think we are going to be surprised and someone is going to blow everyone out of the marketplace and offer $150-200 million over 5-7-10 years. Or teams are going to play it fairly safe, yet still offer $60-75 million in a shorter term contract. They only need to look at past performance (Dice-K) for example. It is an entirely different group of hitters over here, and any pitcher throwing multiple innings and NEEDING to go thru a batting order not just twice but three times to make their worth...well, he did it in Japan, but USA players are a whole 'nother ballgame. Quite frankly, he is an agents dream. All teams have until Janaury 24th to put their BEST offer on the table...none of this :"here's my offer, get back to me before you actually accept someone elses's. And whatever offer is made, it could fall fast and flat. It could be the best thing a team has ever done and the guy could pitch for 15 years!

You sign guys, bring them to spring training, give them a chance to help out in the minors. Maybe a few get that bonus shot at the majors (Ramirez, Bernier, Colabello). But it never hurts to sign guys. You are under no obligation to keep them if they perform poorly in the spring, and never know when someone might get injured coming out of the gate.

I keep thinking back to Kubel being a multi-tool player, and then blowing out his knee in the fall league, and we lost the Kubel who was going to bring some speed to the lineup to go with his bat. My favorite Kubel story is standing outside the player's entrance at the Metrodome and watching the multitude of fans being blown off for autographs by a few players, and Kubel coming thru and we timed it...he signed for 26 people in less than two minutes!

But somehow no-hit catchers can survive. Look at the career of Corky Miller. Of course, getting $50 grand and being an AAA player for decades is better than selling cars. Watch, Drew may have a longer career than Dad Sal.

I would rather see the World Baseball Classic happen during the AFL Winter Leagues, at the end of the season. Possibly even during the playoffs.

I keep telling myself the same, that the Twins have to package these out-of-option guys. BUT, and it is a BIG BUT, the trading team needs to have space for these guys and enough faith that they will make the roster that they will trade for them. Give up two of our out-of-option players for another player, probably a minor league prospect (or two). But can another team spare the space. Right now, the Twins have to hope for some sort of recovery, or the possibility that they can clear waivers AND still stay in the Twins organization. At some point, the player, if they clear waivers, can go out and look for another job on their own. It's a tough situation to be in and the Twins will probably end up designating more plays (similar to Hendriks) and actually lose them BECAUSE if you you designated, probably no place for you in this organization, so anywheres else is probably a must. Ultimately don't care if the player stinks elsewhere, and we probably shouldn't care anyways. You take the best 25, options be damned. And hope that you have enough in reserve so this 26th or 41st guy really isn't a missing concern. Of, they are replaceable. There are similar guys on every team that you patch in as reserves at AAA in case someone goes down and you need more roster fodder, with hopefully the "reserves" on your current roster stepping into fulltime play with the fodder being just bench guy. And, remember, if a Bartlett or a Kubel make the roster, someone will have to go. Spring Training is the time for these guys to shine to stay with the Twins OR find any other MAJOR LEAGUE job.

Yes, the Twins could use a utility guy like Turner who can play all four infield positions if push comes to shove thus making Parmalee useless. And you would probably still keep two of the Bartlett/Escobar/Florimon team.

Agree with stringer. The Twins third (emergency) catcher will be Joe Mauer, assuming they have someone, anyone else who can play first on the roster (probably parmelee at this point). There is no need for the weak bench bat of Herrmann at this point. Maybe next season Herrmann becomes the backup, if Pinto proves himself, with Mauer still as the emergency catcher. Bartlett will shine or stink. But chances are he won't make the team. That said, the Twins only need one backup infielder who can play ALL three positions at the moment. Yes, if they sign someone like Baker who can play 1st and 3rd, maybe many of us would be a tad happier. The outfield is crowded. Mastro will hold down the 4th spot until Hicks proves himself at Rochester. Who stays depends on how well Presley plays. We can't really write Kubel in totally at DH, but look for him to get the chance. The Twins will carry 12 pitchers. Worley, Diamond, Swarzak, Duensing will battle it out for three spots. Deduno will start if he starts. Picture the Twins to dangle bullpen in spring training and probably take a prospect in return to eliminate the logjam. Someone will be injured, no doubt...so it is nice to deal from strength. It's all those players (Diamond, Deduno, Worley, Parmelee, Plouffe) that are out of options that is...scary/ You want to say TAKE THE BEST 25 NORTH. I hope the Twins doo -doo that.

Deduno starts on the DL. The Twins entertain offers for Duensing and Swarzak once arbitration salaries are decided. Diamond and Worley start in the pen. Diamond is a lefty so might be considered more for the rotation. Spring training is always interesting. Some pitchers don't work out. Some shine. The Twins do have enough potential bullpen depth to be active players if other teams are seeking relief from both sides. Gibson starts in the minors. Is there a logjam at Rochester, though. Darnell Logan, Gibson, Meyer, May, Albers, Dean, Velasquez amongst others. Who starts at New Britain just for the heck of it. Sadly, there isn't a market for players like Diamond, Worley, and even Parmelee (and Hendriks, as shown). They get released and picked up if a club has an open spot for a chance to be roster fodder. The otehr joy is if any of the guys have horrid spring trainings so no one sees a need to touch them and keep them on the 40-man.

The Twins have Arcia. They now have Kubel. They have Parmelee. In the wings they have Mastro and Ramirez as fodder. Presley will start in centerfield. They have Hicks in line for a promotion. They have Rosario in the mix. Of course, Buxton looms big. Kepler is at least one year out. Willingham needs to play the field if the Twins want to show any value in the guy. Depending on the team's overall season, he is trade bait, be it coming out of spring training, at the deadline, or before September rosters are set. He does not figure into the Twins plans in 2015 and beyond. Surely not. He will also be looking for a bigger payday on his next round of free agency and WANTS to make himself as valuable as possible, by being a fielder (National League contract) and a slugger. If Ryan gets results and plays it smart, he has some nice trading chips in Willingham, Correia, not to mention any of a number of bullpen arms like Burton, Swarzak, especially Duensing, maybe Diamond and Worley that could ALL go and not really hurt the team, no matter if they are good or bad in 2014. Hicks can replace Willingham. Gibson or May can repalce Correia. We have too many guys in the bullpen and Tonkin will be in the wings, as will Achter and Oliveros and Guerra and maybe Johnson and Albers. I'm getting excited about the Twins in 2014. Really am! Maybe buy that season ticket package so I can also spend a grand on a couple of All-Star game packages.

It would be great for Colabello, cashing in on his Twins season and maybe making $300,000+. Yes, he could do similar here if called up for an extended amount of time. I think if the Twins "sell" him, they still retain some control over him if he comes back here. Not sure how all of that really does work (if he needs to go thru waivers now or then). After toiling in the indy leagues forever at modest pay, and spending two seasons with the Twins on a minor league contract (he got a bump when added to the 40-man). Youklis is a different story. Japan pays more. Lot less than he made here. He might be a king over there for the next few years. He wanted to be closer to home, but they will treat him like a king and he can bring his family along and spend a season in Japan, which is a great experience for the family. He wasn't getting any deals from the teams he favored, it seemed. Back to Colabello. He was a GREAT story, but will be pushed by Vargas and Hicks in the minors, and Parmelee is still around in the majors (does Parmlee have another option, or is he out this year). You can find an AAA replacement part. So it is money in the Twins bank.

Well, he is a guy they may have grabbed in the draft and now they have him, got rid of essentially a deadweight player and his contract, and didn't have to pay the bonus money. I say that is a win-win. I liked Doumit as a player, but really don't see him fitting into the 2014 Twins. He is far from the perfect DH. As a catcher, he has suffered.He needs to be more than a backup. He can't really play the field. I'm pleased with the trade and the potential Sean might bring to the rotation in 2015 or 2016 at a very reasonable price.

If the money is there, spend it...wisely. You will make a mistake or two and maybe have to be prepared to eat $10-15 million in salary a season. The Twins have done that. You try not to. That's the biggest hurdle. But, yes...you can sell season tickets, but if the fans don;'t come, you ell less concessions. You sell less jerseys. People stop listening on the radio, stop watching TVC, Ad revenue can take a hit. If the funds are there, spend it wisely. No one says it is easy to run a major league team. You have to think now, and think the future. Someone does have to watch the bottom line. But the GM's job is to put a sellable team on the field. The manager's job is to play the team and organize the batting order and rotation so they can go forth and win. Someone else can count the beans, set the budgets, draw the charts, pull in the reins or open the checkbook according to the day-to-day operations. And one person gets to bask in the glory of a championship team, or shake his head when things don't work out. And wonder how to fill this giant beautiful ballpark in downtown Minneapolis!

No one can say Correia or Pelfrey or anyone is unflipable. Time will tell. It's just thinking of moving IF the time is right. Seemthing the Oakland A's seem to do very well, although their return is not always stellar.

Yes, if a player with 5+ years is unclaimed, he can become a free agent, but at sme point having a minor league job is better than no job. If the Twins option a player, and, let's say, the Mets claim him, add him to the 40-man roster. They must keep him there. If they decide to waiver him (being out of options), any team AFTER he Mets in the pecking order get to claim the player, then it goes back to the top of the list again. A player with options can be sent to the minors as long as they stay on the 40-man. Some, teams try and sneak thru during busy times and fail (it happened to the Twins with Mike Restovich, with Pat Nehsek -- another example). When you are removed from the 40-man roster you can get a waiver claim. The team in question must keep the player on the 40-man, but does have the ability to option them to the minors, as long as they stay on the 40-man. Yes, Worley would be an interesting candidate. A team could claim him, but they would have to keep him and also pay him for whatever his contract is, remember that aspect, too.

He is only one-year removed from a decent year in Arizona, where he did play the field. The Twins need a DH. Doumit should be primarily the back-up reserve catcher. If Kubel produces, he can also make Willingham and Doumit expendable as spring training winds down. Let's bring the band back together. Sign Garza. Bring back Guerrier. Maybe Baker and Santana will take minor league contracts, too.

Anderson from the A's. Essentially, almost, for something like Hendriks and, say, Berrios. I would think the Twins could have made an interesting offer better than the Rockies.

Velesquez was a minor league signing that snuck in (like C.J. Ziegler just did). He didn't stay here long. Hey, the Twins get $25 grand for him. Atherton was a converted batter to a pitcher, but is slowly rising thru the system. These guys get offered back to the Twins if they don't stick? Again, Rule 5, you have to be seeking someone better than someone you already have on your roster that can stick for the year. Sometimes you find a hidden gem that just needs a little more seasoning and you can work a deal or hope they are young enough not to be stifled by sitting in the bullpen or on the bench for a year.

The tough part was the Twins decisions on free agents. The new Target Field hailed "we will be able to keep our own players." The Twins felt the need to take something for Santana. There were ncie rumors about packages from the Yankees and the Red Sox, sprinkled with the Twins playing hardball. Would they have been better to keep Johan and deal him mid-season? They managed to let Hunter, Nathan, Cuddyer, Kubel walk. There seemed to be a gentleman's agreement that they wouldn't swap the guys out for prospects because they might come back, on a reduced contract, because they wanted to be Twins. Didn't happen. The Twins absically got nothing in exchange except big holes. The Hardy decision was unique. They traded for a solid shortstop going with another arbitration year left, yet the Twins were afraid of having to do a big payout for a guy who gave them much more than Florimon ever will, especially after trading away Gomez for Hardy (who, like Hicks, needed more time in the minors, but then the Twins were dealing with strength as Span and Revere were in the wings). Hardy ended up signing a decent multi-year contract that the Twins could've handled easily. No one will ever be able to explain Toshi and how he ended up being so bad. That the Twins were able to get out of Year 3 was a blessing. The case of Delmon Young is strange. A guy who still has all the potential in the world, who (if he works at it) can play the field, give you a decent average, hit some dingers...but still lucky to make a million a year while his contemporaries are raking in $15-20 million dollar contracts. He is a story that needs to be explored. What happened? No, the toughest decisions made by the Twins were the players to keep and the players to let walk, the prices paid, and the prices they didn't pay. Yes, we had Nathan and a $20+ million bullpen at one time. We have a better one now at half that price. Was Garza the guy to lock up long-term and why did the Twins NOT do that? What is the real story behind Francisco Liriano and his attitude with the team, from losing arbitration value to sitting out for surgery to not listening to coaches to listening too much to coaches....did he just need to go? Do we need someone that can speak a better language to some players than we have? Was Willingham at 25% cheaper a better choice than Cuddyer? Is the Mauer contract really strapping the Twins? Did Kubel deserve to play in the National league outfield when he could've been a nice DH for the Twins at the right price? Who the hell loved Matt Capps and wouldn't Ramos look good behind-the-plate right now? The failure was still in not keeping your own players (or trying to keep them too cheap) or not playing Billy Beane ball and actually getting something, anything of potential value in return. The Twins, like the A's, were an organization combining system draftees with rejects and some careful moves that placed a competitive team on the field (not a total winner) with the one item NOW that distinguishes them from the A's -- they COULD go out and spend money mid-season and get that single or maybe two players that might carry them further into the post-season.