Rosterman

Spend the money. You got it. Rodon.

Yes. Probably close to the msot valuable trade chip for a team looking for an economic second baeman. None of us want Gordon or Arraez as the fulltime second baseman, but there could be hopes that names like Lewis, Lee, Martin and Julien could fill the bill at second and short by mid-season. Would we have to add a prospect name (who?) to tantalize for a frontline starter? Probably, yes.

Any ONE of those would be a decent addition, but not the frontline guy I would like to see become the innings eater the Twins need, and the guy to come out and pitch and give folks a rest every fifth day. It's ncie to know there are a lot of guys better than any of the free-agent signings of the past two years. The Twins have the money to get the best of the batch listed above.

If you are not competing, and want to gamble on a possible trade-chip, go dumpster diving. But dumpster diving doesn't mean that player rules. Always felt the Twins seemed hampered with the need to start Archer (because of contract), when he might be better used in a relief situation. Also, splurge and get that one big player. It kinda worked for Correa. Except the raining room filled up quickly. Spend money wisely. Okay, the Twins aren't #1 as the palce "really good" folks wish to land. But trade. And sign better at other weaknesses....get that defensive catcher, that right-handed slugger who can possibly play some in the field, a guy with some speed that can still put -the-ball-in-play. Or, just reward AND KEEP those players you developed that are probably better than anything you can find at the dollar store.

He is still as good or better than what we trotted out in 2022. If I was a team outside, and was moving an "expensive piece" (shortstop, catcher, rotation arm) I would probably take a gamble of Kirilloff, Larnach, Celestino or Wallner if I could pry them from the Twins...even before one year an an option on Kepler. Yes, Kepler has clearly shown what he could do. If he wasn't injured, I kept thinking the Twins might've dealt him at the last trade deadline...except everyone else was on the list. And since he didn't finish the season, we were stuck with Garlick.

It was a pretty positive group of players. So many "on the cusp."

Two things: he may be cheap, and he can play other positions, thus keeping Nick Gordon out of the infield as a utility guy, although that would totally change the pecking order of the oufield. We don't know about how soon Lewis could hit the majors again. And the status of Martin a short is up-in-the-air. And Brooks Lee may screw ebverything up and push Lewis elsewhere, too. Suddenly we have too many outfielders!?! It would also be ncie to have a veteran presence in the clubhouse, and he would be a decent guy to come off the bench if, and when, other decisions are made. But, best of all, he could fit into the budget. Now, need a catcher!

Ironic if IKF would be non-tendered and the Twins could sign him as a stop-gap. Plus, he could be a decent utility guy for another season or two. Donaldson's salary ws nice to jettison. Urshela was a competent caretaker for third, so much so I would bring him back in 2023 for his decent price and rotate him with Miranda/Arraez between 1B/3B/DH, for now. The trade also ties into the one with the Rangers, as Garver was replaced by Sanchez. Happily Sanchez stayed healthy. I can live with a weak hitting catcher (or a player at one position) as someone has to make the outs. Sanchez would swing and miss waaaay too much. What I dreaded most was him and Sano coming to the plate in the same inning with predictable results. Sano not being around helped. The other pieces in these trades were a bonus to the Twins. Rortvedt never cracked the Yankees roster (although he did get some major league pay for no play). Unless the Yankees are desparate and don't "buy" a catcher, he will continue on at AAA ball and either get designated for assignment or eventually become a minor league free agent. I love Rortvedt, as he has the makings of being a first-rate defender (shades of names like Sal Butera and Phil Roof). With those weight-lifting arms, one would expect power...of course that only happens if the bat meets the ball. I would keep on top of his status for possible catching depth and a gamble to see if he does improve...still. Rnny Henriquez is the bonus in the deal. A very young pitcher who broke onto the Twins roster at season end. He shows he can be a good long man. The question is: do you give him another partial season at AAA as a rotation arm. Spring training will show. But I like his chances of staying as a bullpen option in the Twins pen come 2023.

Is Rogers gpoiong to cost $13? I would keep Moran. Shown he can pitch multiple innings as a bullpen arm.

Have to see him on the field at AAA. But like Martin, he might be better suited for the outfield. But then, have to make lots of decision. Lewis is still questionable as the shortstop of the future, especially if Brooks Lee looks like he can play the spot. Miranda should slot into third base. Kirilloff and Arraez should be at DH/1B. One has wrist worries, one ahs knee worries. Build from within.

Yep, the Twins need top be stronger at catcher. They have to be able to call the game and throw out runners, especially with new rules coming into play. Then you have the need for a rotation, a strong stopper of a starter who can keep you deep into the game. You need a lefthander in the mix. You need a second-base/shortstop combo. Is Royce Lewis the answer? Do you hold out and hope Brooks Lee advances faster than one in the Twins system has? And you need an everyday centerfielder that you can build both sides of the outfield off. If he can't cover ground, you have to rethink those positions. Hopefully he gives you bat or speed, or maybe both is super. Buxton is super...when he plays.

Only if he is rally cheap. And no incentives, as chances are you will cut bait with him during the season. Does he help with the defense? Is he a team leader, or a dugout pain, that is my Big question.

They go ahead and sign him. But if he starts having a bad spring can they cut him and just have to pay x-amount? Sadly, Rooker would've been a 40-man casuality with the Twins. That he got time with both the Padres and the Royals was good-for-him! But does he still warrant a 40-man for the struggling Kansas City team? The killer was the Twins still paying Rogers salary. How would've Rogers fit in the Twins 2022 bullpen? Be interesting to see what Taylor commands as a free agent. Pagan is still cheap. He could be a trade chip. As someone said, better to spend money on a known than buy an outsider like, say, Joe Smith, Hansel Robles or Alex Colombe! The Twins still have some questions. Will they keep Stashak, Coulombe, Megill? Is Sisk a posibility? Will Sands and Henriquez be bullpen arms, or given a chance to start in the minors (as well as Winder). What is the future status of Enlow. My pain is watching the Twins deal out $3-4 million for a player and then feeling they have to give them a long leash.

I would go ahead and sign Urshela. He can rotate with any number of guys on the field and into the DH slot, if you don't get a solid DH. And I would rather see the Twins sign a right-handed hitting powergouse outfielder who can also DH than, say, someone like Cruz again. Urshela will be trade bait thru spring training, considering his fine 2022 season. As long as he isn't a total washout and stays healthy, he is also a trade chip into July. The bigger question is: who's on first, where does Arraez play, and what is the status of Kirilloff!?

Well, if they keep playing him at shortstop, he will be in the hunt come spring training. Martin's downfall will be that there is no reason for the Twins to add him to the 40-man, yet. Martin gives the Twins some speed. Are they using the new "bigger" bases in the AFL? Kulien could also be in the mix coming out of spring training, assuming the Twins add him to the 40-man.

It ws a tough 2022. Somehow, the Twins were winning into September with the crap that was sticking to the wall. They made some moves at the trade deadline. Who thought Hale would turn up lame. Plus, you can't move players that are on the injured list at the time (Kepler). You hope that you have depth. Better to cut and move on, Pagan and Archer and Bundy for example. But, sadly, at some point the Twins were pushing to find five rotation arms with Ober and Co. on the injured lsit. Thought we were deep, but at one point the Twins weren't, the bullpen was overworked, the outfielder was down to 5-6-7 on the depth chart, and our catchers couldn't stop a running game. Although Sandy Leon showed that anyone should be able to lay down a great bunt. Besides the guys that make the majors, the Twins sign a wealth of min or league talent. Gonzalez, Sanchez, Rodriguez, Coulombe, Cotton, Minaya, Hamilton, Thornburg, Romero...I wuld give creed to Davis...pitched for the Twins. Godoy, Beckham, Soto (not one at bat), Palacios, Garlick, Cave, Hamilton were basically useless. The Twins spent good money on Jake Jewell, Argenis Angelo, Curtis Terry, Jake Faria, Derek Fisher, Mario Sanchez, Wladimir Pinto, Kevin Merrill, Chance Sisco, J.C. Ramirez, Tyler Bashlor, Ariel Jurado, Tyler Viza, Daniel Robertson, Brandon Lawson, Steven Klimek, Cole Sturgeon, Jake Patricka, Hunter Wood, Michael Boyle, Nash Knight, Zach Huffins, Brandon Bishop, Ben Heller, Michael Feliz, Brad Peacock. That's a hellvuva a lot of guys who had major league experience and couldn't crack the Twins, let alone most of them didn't last the season. And then you egt prospects, that you have to get to a certain level in 4-5-6 years, or they depart. Yes, injuries were horrible in 2022. They hurt every position except for a brief time at shortstop and the Twins ahd third base covered. But everywhere else, especially in the outfield and rotation, the Twins ended up going with players like Contreras (good for him, getting to the majors, but...) and our beloved Jake (now an Oriole) Cave.

I worry about Arraez staying healthy. He needs to bat leadoff. Wish he was a "taller" guy at first, but...we need to play him somewhere. All the players mentioned above are trade chips if they stay healthy. I wished that Kepler was on the tading bloc this summer, but he went and got himself injured. Sigh. I now know why I am not a baseball general manager. You can't win in the job!

Let's Help! How much do you think a GoFundMe could raise!?!

It will be a loooooooooong off-season!

Cave in, former Twins prospect Jake Reed out, but got a pick-up by.....Red Sox. Remember Jake Reed?

I would consider Ryan, Duran and Miranda once spring training breaks, and maybe talk during the early months of next season.

Give me a good, solid right-handed bat who can play the outfield well and also be a designated hitter, and ahs the ability to come off the bench. Also, let's get a catcher who can also be a bat option, although I would settle for a dynamite throwout arm. We also need a stopgap shortstop and could sign a more "utility" like guy just to be on the bench.

Wander Javier will be the stopgap!

I would have to think the Twins would be looking at #10-20 in the 2023 shortstop available class.

Cave was getting better-than-a-major-league-contract to play for the St. Paul Saints. Twins signed him for $800,000 back in November and removed him from the 40-man sometime thereafter. His choice, to play for the Twins somewhere or not get paid, unless another team also saw him as the bargain. We could question the Twins wisdom for this as the baseball season started to wind down come September and Cave was still playing, on his major league contract, in St. Paul. Jharel Cotton signed a similar deal with the Twins, thus why his up-and-odwn continued to happen. The Twins were paying him far more than a minor league salary to be a part of the organization, high enough that NO other team (until the end) wanted to take him off of the Twins hands. Granted, many minor league free agents get a tad better salary than the minor league base, and that also accounts for them staying with a team rather than walking, if possible, and returning to the minor league home, if the team will still have them. I give Cave points for hustle. He wants to play ball, especially major league ball. But considering that he ended up #8 in the depth chart, and would now be behind Wallner at #9 - but still ahead of Billy Hamilton - tells you how bad the Twins outfield situation was in 2022. Hey, he would even be once notch lower if Royce Lewis wasn't injured and played more than his game in the outfield. And, wait, the Twins even advanced Tim Beckham before Cave and felt the need to play him in the outfield. Cave is an arbitration eligible player, so you have to approach him in that fashion if you wish to keep him, otherwise, be interesting to see where he ends up...and continues his career shades of Robbie Grossman and Rob Refsnyder.