Rosterman

Curt Smith and Chad Rodgers signed for the minor leagues.......

Rams needed to catch, and he's all but stopped. Sad...he does have a decent bat. be interesting to see if he stays alive in indie ball. Tyler Herr is the son of Tommy Herr! Be interesting to see what other names disappear between now and early April.

Interesting, almost thought Hernandez might come north out of the bullpen after his strong spring, but the team definitely wants him to start. Perdomo put up good spring numbers. Looks like the Twins may be playing Gray/Maloney all over again and we'll see optionless Roiencke and Wood getting a chance out of the early season bullpen...at least one will e gone when Swarzak returns. Be interesting to see what does happen with Deduno. He's one of those guys that if you add to the 40-man, then option him out, you might lose him.

Going into 2012, I wouldn't have felt that a starting staff of Pavano, Baker, Liriano, Blackburn and Marquis would only give us 13 wins at the most. And they didn't. They gave us 11! You look at the lines of non-returning starters and it was a disaster: Baker injured, Marquis 2-4 8.47, Blackburn 4-9 7.30, Pavano 2-5, 6.00, Liriano 3-10 5.31. Throw in starts by Duensing 2-8 6.92 and Swarzak 0-5 8.10...don't even consider the latter two starters anymore, please. And then we have Vasquez at 0-2 5.58 who iss still in the system, and Liam Hendriks 1-8 5.59. Pretty darn dismal. But look at the 2013 guys. Pelfrey is coming off Tommy John and only made 3 starts in 2012. But before that he was 7-13 4.74. Not great, but okay. Kevin Correia was 12-11 4.20, Worley was 6-9 4.20. If we get a complete season from ALL three of these guys with similar numbers over 30+ starts, I would be happy for 2013. Scott Diamond was...interesting. For a tough offensive team, we went 12-9 3.54, But we also had nice showings from DeVries 4-4 4.11 and Deduno 6-5 4.44. None were the disaster of the other 7 the Twins thru on the mound last season. And Walters MAY have the stuff. Remember, he did pitch well before his injuory and ended the season 2-5 5.69. I would fell comfortbale with more sure table setters...but Baker, Pavano, Blackburn (yes), Liriano and Marquis were all proven commodities who went south, so to speak. I didn't expect that. With the current crop of place holders, can they be any better, or any worse....that is the question.

He's now in ill health, so much so he can no longer sign his name. He was always a generous autographer, having his One Year Winner card in circulation and going so far as to self print his own version of the card in a Twins uniform.

Maybe the Tigers will take a flier on him!

Remember, just because they are now in minor-league camp...they can still get called to play in major league camp for a game or three. Mostly to just give them more playing time. The Twins still have too many players that need to start playing more often than not. It also helps if you are on the 40-man.

Also, if a player on the 40-man roster is injured, he stays on the major league roster until he is removed from the disabled list. If you know a prospect is not going to make it, you cut them early. You can also bring them back in to play in split squad games and such. What makes such a move a big deal, if they are in the majors, even injured, service time happens.

Well, Mauer is the catcher. Doumit is designated hitter. We need a bench DH - Thome or someone We need a second catcher, wait, we got one if someone else can DH. Willingham and Morneau were both originally catchers.

We complain about getting little in return for Liriano. We got something., The White Sox got nothing. We could've kept him and had him walk. Who knows if Escobar will be the 3-4 year utility guy who has one great year as a fill-in when a middle infielder goes down. Hernandez may develop into a 5th starter or a good long man shades of Duensing. But we got two players for a guy who was not going to resign with the Twins for THEIR price.

I would take the qualifying offer risk, depending on how well he does during the season. We also will get a better idea of Parmelee after this year. So the Twins can afford NOT to deal Morneau and still retain him (or get a draft pick if he refuses). Or they can trade him. I think Morneau does have value as a long-term DH who can also play first, it just depends on the overall price. But a $13-15 million paycheck in 2014 is something the Twins could afford. Then we look at Morneau/Willingham/Doumit ALL coming off the books at that season's end. The thought that the Twins will be able to resign Morneau to a long-term siginificantly less contract is probably nill, seeing what happened to lowballing Nathan, Cuddyer, Baker and even Kubel. Its a crapshoot for a player, but you have to look at what a team competitiveness is in the near future (yes, Cuddyer blew his choice).

You till gotta find room on the 40-man. Do feel one of Wood or Roeincke will be sent packing and/or resigned if no one claims them to a minor league option. If Prssly continues to pitch well, see him opening with the Twins and a decision on him being made when Swarzak is ready -- look forward to the Twins playing Swarzak in the minors as long as they can (three weeks). Collabero and Thome would require 40-man spots, both are the same guy at this point...a bat off the bench. If the Twins need first base backup it is Parmelee and playing Mastro in right. Doubt that the Twins, at this point, will sign Thome. I also hope the youthful Burnett starts the year at AAA.

Twins just added former Cardinal Curt Smith to start, most likely, at New Britain.

You have to look at who is on the 40-man. Guerra is moot. He'll be a minor league disability like Blackburn and Oliveros. Slama is already gone and not on the 40-man. You want to add two bench names from three guys, also on the 40-man. You want to keep Pressly. The Twins, barring a 60-day disability, have no 40-man spots. Possibly Pressly would be one if not kept. Maybe they will deep-six Roeincke and Wood, but see them keeping at least one of the duo. Not sure what wil happen with Butera. If Burnett can't make the team again, I doubt that Robertson will.

So the Twins have 15 spots set, which includes a 4th-string outfielder and two pitchers that could be disabled (one of them coming off Tommy John). Doesn't say much for the overall talent. I'm looking at the names thrown out and wonder, actually, how many of the guys will be around come 2015 or even 2016. As for Hicks, if he remains halfway hot, you do start him. If he needs retooling, send him out for a month and again for a month if need be. I see some possible rotation in/out of centerfield. Of course, Morneau is a sticking point. If he goes, we move Parmelee to first and now have need of an additional outfielder. Be interesting to see how the bullpen actually shakes out. Names like Robertson and Burnett are still good to go in the minors and be out future. Fien could also go down and join Guerra and Slama as possible 2014 relievers that the Twins need to keep or finally cut loose. Be interesting to see if any of the non-rosters get promoted. There ain't many names to remove, unless it is Roeincke/Wood and Pressly. That's about it...unless the Twins would have to waiver Butera to send him down.

Spring training. The Twins have a lot of minor league free agents. Some (Harden, Blackburn) will start on the dl. Swarzak will be stretching out, but probably start lower. DeVries will probably be switched to long-man. The Twins also have Meyer...should he start at AA or get the push. I think control at the end of spring training will be the plus. Again, there's enough non-roster guys that will probably start at Rochester that will either get called up (added to the 40-man, then have to face waivers if sent out) that a mid-season move between classes will happen for Meyer and May...and maybe even Hermsen. May would be moreso than Meyer, as if he pitches well, he would get a September looksee and possibly be in the 2014 plans.

Benson has options this year and, I believe, next season too. Wouldn't have to be exposed until 2015. But if he doesn't produce, expect him to be at least packaged in a trade before then.

The Twins need THAT bat. When you have someone on third and one out, you need someone who will hit a fairly long fly or put the ball into play in a way that works for the batting team's advantage. Mastro, Butera, Escobar can't. Carroll can make it interesting. A Thome is all or nothing. But then you have to replace him in the field.

Jason Kubel, I would take him back.

Not invites, but amongst others we see Steve Tolleson with the White Sox, Ray Chang with the Red, Rene Tosoni with the Brewers, Jeremy Reed with the Diamondbacks, Jair Fernandez should get an shot with Houston. Once the season starts, I'll do a rundown somewhere of former Twins everywhere! Minnesota Twins Baseball Cards, Autographs, Publications, Memorabilia, Players, Stats, History, Collectibles

Berrios.

Fast thru the system with a September call-up as Carroll will have been traded to a contender. Look for him to get a shot in 2014 if Florimon, Dozier or Escobar are reserve players.

I agree with Leviathan. The Twins allow guys to walk. What they did with Span is basically what you should be looking at for most any player. Another season or two out of Perkins, then move him on and replace him with another body, for example. I'm sure the Twins braintrust is trying to figure out how to get the msot out of their "prospects" now that so many are needed, sadly, but still not have them all hit arbitration or free agency at the same time, or the longterm prospects of signing the guys to team friendly contracts early like they did with Span, and Perkins, and Baker, and in some ways Blackburn.

It's a tough call. He can work into that DH position as neither Doumit, Mauer or Morneau look to be total fulltime. He iust the punch you need to come off the bench if the game (is ever) on the line. He will no doubt be injured part of the year. He could be traded in July to a real contender.

The Twins still and will control all those guys you mentioned, Robertson, Slama, Guerra, Burnett. Except for adding to the arbitration clock ... I would gamble minor leaguing them as long as you can with an idea for 201 or 2015. The Twins can still add both uerra and Slama back onto the 40-man roster AFTER the season if they expect them to contribute in 2014. I would gamble mroe on the vets and Pressly, unless you desparately need the roster spot. As I mentioned in another post, one could become another Burton, and then the Twins are tasked with keeping longterm, or maybe using as tradebait (would the Twins have been better served for the now flipping Burton last July for some future part, or keeping him to back up Perkins). Hell, if you look at the bigger picture, the Twins could've possibly signed back Capps, Rauch and Hawkins ALL for under $4 million, if they just needed bullpen arms. Secondary middle relief and extra arms in the bullpen are not hard to find, if you need it. And if Twins starters pitch like hey did last year, does it matter if the bullpen really adds to the score if you are losing the game already anyways.