Rosterman

54% of gross revenue. Does that mean that the Pohlads will be investing $12.5 million from the recent MLB deal into the front office etc. instead of the full amount into player salaries. Is it absed on this year's revenue or next year's prediction? I still argue that when the Twins had a $125 million organization and spent $60 million on payroll. Now then have $200 million and can spend $100 million, yet what is that additional $40 million spent on that they didn't spend it on before (increased ushers, more groundscrew, more office products, minor league updates.......etc.) I always cringe when I hear that percentage thrown out. That means that if the Twins make $10 million in profit, $5 million goes back into the organization for what and $5 million is available for player upgrades. Someone explain, please. But not Sid!

Hernandez and DeVries, if they stay in the organization, would step into the Swarzak and Duensing roles if either are traded or prove to be too arbitration expensive,

To paraphrase: "We will now have money to retain our free agents." "We want to be competitive in the division." "We want to reach the postseason." A beautiful ballpark, different (far from great) foods. Wait until the numbers come in on the new KTWIN radio broadcasts (where are the pre-game shows and baseball talk I so miss mostly from WCCO days and aprtly from KSTP). What happens when advertisers balk at...advertising. I already have a Mauer jersey. Who else do I want to put on my back? Oh, wait...the All-Star Game is coming to town -- guess I'll watch it on television if I can get home because of the traffic tieups in downtown Minneapolis those days. Did anyone make any mistake? Wait, didn't someone say "I didn't spend -- or was it "he" - all the money I was given to spend on product last year: which may be fine because so much of the priduct did s-u-c-k. But....accountability. Must be a long range plan I'm not seeing.

There is no need to go to arbitration with a player like Roeincke. You either sign him again later or not. With a pitcher like, say Jesse Crain out there, commanding maybe $3 million...why be forced to pay a pitcher a salary you don't need to play. The Twins still have to make a decision on the worth of Swarzak and Duensing in arbitration. The other three, will sign as minor league free agents if they don't grab something somewhere else. Martis was given a shot with the Twins and can see it happening again, as well hometown kid DeVries, if the Twins DO want either back. Thomas could remain in the centerfield mix with the Twins if he chooses, and it has to look inticing considering the state of the Twins outfield, to sign a minor league deal with Minnesota. Considering his overall play, I doubt that demand for his services from another team will be substantial.

We talk about the vultures of rebuilding teams grabbing Rule 5 guys (the Twins could be in that situation, too). The Twins, alone, could have up to 16 spots to fill with their own and prospects from other organizations. That is a lot. But come next year, the Twins may be hard-pressed to find more than 10 spots for the next round of prospects, and the year after that business as normal. Houston and Florida would both have to let some guys slide if they wanted to take a gamble on a lower prospect like Kepler. Is he worth a 25-man spot. Is he worth a year of service. Again, the Arizona League performance will play well for Kepler. It is a gamble the Twins must take, and also shows the new way draftees will be viewed now and in the futre. Can a team afford to not protect anyone that they have invested millions in signing bonus money to, or do they keep them in the fringe on the back of their mind and flip them in a trade. The future of baseball will revolve around teams not able to keep ALL their highly signed picks. Like Meyer...the Twins grabbed him for Span. They didn't have to sign him. They got to watch him develop a bit in anotehr team's organization. They traded a bluechip for a future chip and got to get their own draft pick signed, also, in the process.

It's a strange situation in Twinsville. It is crying out for change, but it has to happen within the whole organization. I think ownership is afraid of that, and working with the long-range plan that Mr. Ryan and his staff does have in place. Think about it, bring in a new GM, who would pepper the front office with numerous other staff changes, bring in a new manager and coaches that MAY be 360 degrees different than whatever approach the whole system from major leagues to A-ball has established. Prospects MAY be moved for proven yet soon to be expensive players, choices would be made to draft this type of bat or that type of thrower that totally goes against what is in the system right now. One wants to think the Twins do have a plan. We know what that is...not to spend money (i.e. "we have a new stadium and revenue streams so we can keep our players when they reach free agency), move players thru the system slowly or in spurts so they don't all demand huge paydays at the same time (how many players play for the same team a full three seasons, my friends, or five seasons), stay away from free agency (or signing your own players) not thinking that they MAY be flippable. But, the Twins do have a plan. Will all the pieces come together. I look at a lineup (one of Gardy's faults) of Presley, Dozier, Mauer, Willingham, Doumit, Plouffe, Arcia, Pinto, Florimon and it doesn't look too bad. That is assuming Mauer MAY play more at first. Switch out right now Pinto for Colabello or Parmelee and it doesn't look as good. The Twins still need a bat (think Morneau in his prime) as well as great seasons from Willingham and Doumit. We know what to expect from the other guys. We will see BIG changes afoot in the infield as we work in 1-2-3 prospects. There are two outfielders in the system that may get a chance to shine in 2014. The bullpen is strong. There are tradable pieces (Swarzak, Burton, Duensing, even Fein -- a couple, but not all). It is the rotation in which the Twins need to spend. Three starters at least. One can be a placeholder, as they already have a stream of placeholders in the wings (Worley, Diamond, Hendriks). Gibson is a longterm given for now. Meyer, May, Dean, Darnell...if we get two, we can jump up and down. Deduno is questioable and should be traded as soon as he gets well and pus together a few starts. Correia is around for just one more year and is replaceable. So, the Twins need a bat and three starters. They have four potential free agents that are tradable in the nest year (Burton, Willingham, Doumit, Correia). All could be easily replaced by people in the system in 2015. Maybe some seasoning, but replaced. Brings us back to keeping Gardy. And the staff. They had a raw deal this year. You had challenged rookies who are free swingers (Arcia, Hicks). And you had a load of guys that fit nowhere in longterm plans (Berneir, Thomas, Mastro, Ramirez, even Carroll and Escobar). You had wonderkid Colabello who was clearly overmatched, but I can applaud and cheer for the guy. You saw that Parmelee and Hendriks may be lost causes. Gardy had to work with these guys, encourage them, give them a chance. He suffered for it. I'm happy for Gardy and his staff. I believe there is a long-range Twins plan in place to put butts in the seat. I would love to see a bit more excitement overall (the Twins seem to be the most unexciting team in baseball hands down -- boring front office, a nice pretty stadium with a cool breeze and friendly vendors...it is at least the most relaxed club in baseball at times).

We will see. Somehow, Gardy's job is to see that the team meshes on the field. This has been a trying year, lots of patience, as starters continue to fall behind and allow the team to fall behind. Players strikeout in droves. They misplay balls. Fundamentally, the team waa trainwreck the final games of the season. The other side is the players Gardy had to deal on the field. How many will not be here next year or the second year of his contract (Fryer, Bernier, Thomas, Mastro, Ramirez, Roeincke, Plefry, Mathis, DeVries, Hernandez, Hendriks, Albers, Colabello, even Deduno all have a chance not to be retained just this season on the 40-man). Add is Plorimon, Escobar, Doumit, Willingham, Corriea, Burton -- and possibly due to salary Duensing, Swarzak, Plouffe -- disappearing in 2015. The fact that the coaching staff has a shorter tether. Means the Twins might see some movement as the managers/coaches who help develop the minor league guys could come north and replace the likes of Ullger, Vavra, Steinbach and maybe Cuellar will cause Anderson to go into retirement finally. The given is that the Twins want continuity and Gardy wants to manage as long as he can in Minnesota. If he didn't, this was the year to walk, with the Cubs and maybe Rangers job opening up (both would be appealing) and who knows where else. It will all depend on money spent, patience with youngsters, and the plight of fans who will not come to the stadium just because it is "All-Star Season -- seen the prices being asked for the full strips for the series?

Well, remember, the Twins supposedly wanted Pelfry back in the Santana deal. The big needs is a big line-up/bench bat...someone to DH other than Doumit. Also, at least three free agent starters. One could be Plefry, but the otehr two better shine (and would be expensive). Offensively, the Twins did suck this year, strikeouts and advancing runners and all. But I look and think, this is not a bad battery for next season: C - Pinto 1B - Mauer 2B - Dozier SS - Florimon 3B - Plouffe RF - Arcia CF - Presley LF - Willingham DH - Doumit Again, a significant bat in the lineup would be nice. Would hope that Presley is a palcesetter only. Florimon, I would want more offense. If Willingham is back, that is a big plus. Without Mauer at 1B you are still stuck with Colabello or Parmelee, neitehr longterm, but possible bench guys (Parmelee, Colabello, Escobar, Mastro or someone else). You have your three catchers. If Mauer starts at catcher, I guess you add Herrmann back into the mix, but you have a dead spot at 1B. The bullpen will patch together. But with Correia being the only bonafide returneee, maybe Diamond, you can keep Gibson on the farm until you trade one of your free agent "signees" or Correia. Deduno is a question. Worley may never make it back. Meyer and May and Dean and Darnell are the up-and-comers. The Twins can spend $20-25 million (maybe more with the MLB money) easily on just the rotation for each of the next three seasons. Humm...four...Pelfry, Santana and two bonafides at $10-12 million a year for 2-3 years.

The majority of the Twins current player base will still be under team control through 2016-27 at the least, that means all making $1 million or less in salary. So, in terms of looking at players that you drafted this year, and as the winter progresses and you get a modest handle on needs and availability of players in the draft for 2014, you can spot the 2-3-4 free agents that you might like to sign for 2-3-4 year deals with a possible option year worked in. When you sign long-term free agents, you also have the luxury of flipping them for more prospects, especially if you have a 3-4 year contract to work with. It's a no brainer if the money is there in the budget. You will be free of any future salary for currently signed free agents about the time your young crop of players start to hit arbitration. The Twins can actually add free agents each of the next three years to supplement weaknesses in the prospect lineup, and probably still be at the same (pro-rated) budget come 2018. And who knows what Mauer will be worth then or sign for, you might actually save some bucks on that front. The only Twins that will be around in 2015 and 2016 are Mauer and Perkins for sure. I would imagine Dozier and Hicks and Arcia and Tonkin will be in the mix. Pretty much everyone else will have turned over. Dozier will probably be tradebait by then. Hicks will be signed longterm or on his way out.

Like Koskie, I think Cuddyer was the guy we allowed to get away, Koskie, if he stayed in Minnesota, could've been the DH we missed as well as someone to play third. Cuddyer could easily transition into a first baseman, go to third, stay in the outfield or DH. Part of the allure of having a new Target Field was that the Twins would be more competitive to keep their own free agents, is what I heard the speak from the front office. That the Twins are cheap and somehow want hometown discounts, well...losing Cuddyer, Nathan and Kubel all at the same time with no return, losing Liriano because they didn't want to take a chance (and, yes, I wouldn't have overpaid, either) and having Morneau walk (do they know something we don't know). Anyways, kudos to Cuddyer. He probably never thought he would get a batting title. And I still marvel that Colorado paid him so much more than Willingham....what gives with ownership these days that they get a good deal or vastly overpay. Right now, Cuddyer is prime trade bait. Rockies, trade him to the Twins for Parmelee, Plouffe, and Willingham! Maybe we can get a prospect or two back in the deal. Sign Nathan and make Perk a setup guy again. Give Kubel a minor league contract. Bring back Johann Santana. See if Morneau wants to play here again. Now all else we need is Lohse and Slowey and Baker and it can be old-home week. Until Matt Capps and Jon Rauch return, I remain..........

The manager is either as good as the coaches he surrounds himself with, and you now have up to six or more coaches on your staff, or he is totally take-charge and runs everything on the field and the coaches do things totally his way. The Twins, going forth, need people who work well with youngsters, especially some of the out-of-country youth. It is a big step that the minor league process has to battle -- new towns, more money, a nomad lifestyle, responsibility off and on the field, working well with others. It's also have a player or two who step forward as captains and speak to or for the group. It also needs a front office in sync with what is happening to the baseball world in general. It is also nice to have someone who can and will interact with the media, with fans (season ticket holders) and who offers a shoulder and good advice when necessary. It will be an interesting off-season. I could see Terry Steinbach getting the job, and adding Jake Mauer and Gene Glynn to the coaching staff (amongst others) at this time. I do see Jake being groomed, so maybe he does need another year at Rochester or New Brit (or even Cedar Rapids)...but who knows. But, better yet, who can general manage the Twins into the next decade!

Current SPs: Deduno, Correia, Diamond, Gibson. Future: Meyer, May, Dean, Logan. Possibles: Hendriks, Swarzak, DeVries, Hernandez, Duensing. We need five from that motly crew to end next season. It would ne nice to have one 2-4 year contract guy. Maybe another rehab (Baker back) for a year with an option attached. Maybe a slum dweller that can float to the bullpen if need be and be trade bait. Starting pitching is the #1 Priority. Someone with punch will be #2. Figuring out Mauer is #3.

Boy, we could've spent $80 million and got that whole crew.

The money is there to spend -- wisely, of course. Terry Ryan, use you skills to target arbitration eligible folks who may be jettisoned by their own teams, but the Twins can afford. Take a chance on some of those guys entering the overpayed years if teams cut them loose. The joys of free agent signings is that you get players just for money, you seldom, with the new rules, lose anyone. You also have to be willing to forget your past (being the good guy giving people long contracts and NOT trading them) and do that if the opportunity arises. You spend money. You lose on many, you win on some. Some you take the opportunity to jettison (like Willingham...let him walk to Baltimore and take that $7 million a reinvest in another comparable player). You hear Jim Pohlad talk about spending on free agents, and he totally misses step one of the new Target Field -- "We will be able to keep our own free agents in the future" was said, I believe. Part of the Twins problems right now is that they did let Nathan, Kuble, Cuddyer, Hunter and others walk. They weren't able to turn around Young, Pavano, Capps, Pelfry for worthwhile players. They were forced into a corner trading Santana and Liriano because they didn't want to cough up bucks to keep them...thinking hometown players would rather stay and be underpaid than leave and get paid more than you feel is responsible. The Twins set a budget for draftee, international signing, and major league payroll. They can spend within that window, and if attendance and such rises (because you win) can spend more, but more often than not it is based on last year's revenue rather than next year's predictions. But us fans get mad when the money isn't spent and start to make up places where it does flow (owner's pockets). Yes, they are getting up to a $25 million windfall this year from MLB. They have extra monies to spend, even more if they didn't have Correia, Willingahm and Doumit -- all three replaceabe by similar and possibly more productive others. Beyond those three there are no trading chips that won't mortgage the Twins future. Those chips have to show if they can play in the majors and suddenly make a Hicks or Dozier or Rosaio part of a package for an arbitration-eligible overpayed potential superstar or not. Then you start dealing your minor league depth, because soon that catches up on you when you can't keep guys on the 40-man or add them because you are just too rich in potential. I know I'm just rambling and this disappointing season comes to an end. I think the Twins need a total overall -- bring in a new general manager and manager team, revamp the whole front office, especially if ownership and team management aren't on the same page. Stop being nice. It is a business and you need to put butts, like my own, into the seats.

The Twins inability to shed not only salary but potential free agent Pelfry, as well as taking something, anything, for Correia and Willingham. Maybe they can bring back something more in 2014. The bullpen got worn out. Not just because of innings, but appearances. The Twins may have had the ability to deal from a position of strength, finding new homes for Swarzak, Duensing, Roeincke, Burton...but they didn't. All of the aforementioned pitchers are replaceable. They made a decision on Perkins. We get to see if he can hold onto his status in 2014 when he is still dealable, or re-signable beyond his option. Hicks was an enigma. The Twins actually thought they had strength and competition going into the season: Benson, Mastro and Hicks. They gave up totally on Benson. mastro has lost his speed with injury. Hicks should've gone down sooner and worked his arse off at AAA. Thomas is a bad placeholder. We all miss Revere, Span and Gomez...and almost wish Hunter had come back, although the Twins still couldn't afford him. To think Cole DeVries was in the rotation to start the season. And now he's in the rotation to end the season. So many arms. So much work. Who will step forth in 2014. Albers and Deduno have had ups and downs. Correia is steady. Hendriks, Gibson, Hernandez, Diamond are all on the bubble. Maybe a couple could do long-relief (which made the non-trading of Swarzak and Duensing unbearable in my mind). Line-up construction. Considering the only guy who produced at one point was the #7 prospect. But still...no one getting on base made Mauer pretty lonely out there in the infield when he reached base. The rroe I think about Morneau, I can live with him being gone and not coming back. But who's on first? Looks like Mauer. Pinto has been a ray of sunshine.

Happily, Gibson got innings in this year, coming off surgery, and should be better next year. He may not be great -- it might be another year of getting used to higher play. Hicks was dismal when he went back to Rochester. He needs work. Maybe a winter with Carew will help, but do expect him to start next season at AAA as the Twins work on bad habits and such.

It is a dismal line-up. No way can you construct it to work, well. nd there is no stopper amongst the 7 choices the Twins have for a starter right now who can at least hold a team to 2-3 runs and give them a chance to win (and only over 6 innings). Plus, the bullpen seems worn out. If such a thing can be.

Dozier found some power, and if he can straddle .250 he can hang in there, a la Trevor Plouffe, who is in somewhat the same boat. You can have a few .250 hitters on a team, but you need more hitting above that line and fewer below. Diamond has one or two more starts. The joy is that he can become a low-cost bullpen fit if need be for a season or two. But he will now have to work off challeners for a starting spot next season. He is out of options now?

The chances are good that he would pass thru waivers. Not sure if he becomes a minor league free agent then or not. I don't really see anby otehr team claiming him and letting him hold a 40-man spot. I can see any number of teams giving him a tryout (because of his age). I'm not sure if he would work in the long-relief role. Not even sure if he is necessary for short relief or to be groomed as a closer. With his success at AAA, he would be just as good as any number of other guys, and maybe have a resurgence like Perkins down the line (we remember that period in Perkins time, right). But for now, I see him looking for a job, rather than worrying about a job.

Swarzak has found his niche as the Twins long-man. Even the thought of giving him a spot start now is ridiculous. He has had a great 2013 on a really bad team The next hurdle is...is he worth the cost. Like his counterpart, Brian Duensing, who started (badly) and was a long lefty reliever, Duensing slipped this year, but was basically a shortman (again, I don't know why). Can Swarzak be replaced by the cheaper Cole DeVries. Or maybe Hendriks. Can Duensing be replaced by Hernandez. Does it really matter. Is there always someone around for positions like these (Pressly, after some more time adjusting in winter ball or the minors, tking Swarzak's place). Is NOW the time to move Swarzak, thnking even if he repeats in 20134, does it matter. Would some other team find him worthwhile to add to their bullpen. I don't see him ever being a closer. I don't see him ever being a starter.

He can be that third catcher that Gardy always wanted. Considering that he's only caught about half a season each of the apst two, the Twins do need to groom someone else to catch and get 300 at bats/ Doumit is the immediate guy, with Herrman and Pinto both getting time next year and Pinto moving into the more than halftime role in 2015.

I totally agree on moving the guys you mentioned. The Twins have to look at adding players that will be here in 2015 and getting rid of players who won't...necessarily. Even if they jettison guys like Willingham and Doumit with little or nothing in return, they are freeing up monies to sign someone else for 2-3 years that might have more meaning. Remember, signing free agents like Willingham usually cost you nothing. If you gain even salary reloief, it can be considered a plus. I'm not sure if Deduno will be on the 40-man. Maybe, maybe not. Pelfrey I would gamble on, just as I would Scott Baker, if available. Anyone know what the status is on Lester Oliveros and Deolis Guerra in the Twins prospect hunt. Daniel Sattler and Daniel Turpen as minor league free agent wannabees? The return of Pat Neshek or, what ever happened to Anthony Slama. Okay, skip the relief, let's get rotation help! Picture the Twins signing Moulton and him becoming our Haren of 2014.

Yes, the player still will need to want to play here.

Man, what a year. Mastro nd Benson could've put themselves into the mix early, even Ramirez was a possibility. But ended up with Hicks. He batted lead-off for that first month and was dismal. He was moved back in the order. He needed to go down at that point. I'm not sure why he didn't. Clete Thoams got the call and shined, then became...Clete Thomas. Another guy who could've run away with the position. Hicks came back. But he couldn't out Clete Clete. At this point, the service time bunny appeared. It should continue with Hicks starting anew at AAA Rochester in 2014 rather than learn in the majors. I can't believe that Presley will be our starting centerfielder. Hicks will continue to develop. He may not be the centerfielder of the future, but putting him at one of the corners with hit Buxton in center is a plus. Batting him second (if he cuts downs on the K's) behind Buxton may prove to be the best 1-2 in baseball, especially with Mauer continuing in the #3 spot. Like September, spring training you face a multitude of pitchers of different skill levels. Batters tend to be ahead of pitchers. The weather is nice. It can be more relaxed.

You can't teach everything thru the minors. Fast-tracked, young and with a language barrier, Arcia is still a work in progress. After toiling in the Indy Leagues for a decade, Colabello has less than two years in The Twins Way. Sometimes, you have to learn on the job. At this point, the better question is: do the Twins have to play it safe and hold-back prospects until they fully mature (in the Twins Way) in the minors, or just throw them into the mix, shuffling them up-and-down and seen fit. The Twins also have to throw roster time out the window. If they guys deserve to advance and play now, don't worry about an extra year of arbitration or having too many guys hit free agency at once. If the guys are that good, they also have worth to other organizations. In that way teams like the A's and Rays go above and beyond the Twins in moving talent in and out. The era of loyalty is dead. You can't plan on having players spend their entire life with a team (we even had it waaaay back when Killebrew found fit to give a go with the Royals, when Yogi Berra decided to try another season with The Mets). And it should also be looked at in the front office. You don't always have to promote from within and having a lifetime job with the Twins with great responsibility shouldn't be the norm.