Rosterman

Top Prospect is a Top Prospect. I'm always more curious about who might make the majors, and when, and at what position. Austin Martin is/was in that mix, too.....and could till be after AFL.

Yeah, the days of 20/20 split may be long and gone. Yet with teams carrying 13 on the field, that's not a lot od bench depth to call upon. The Twins have, what, 8 outfielders? They HAD to sign Garlick? Five of the pitchers have little chance of pitching for the team in 2023, is the way I see some names on the roster. Sure, two pitchers will go on the 60-day IL (and Canterino will get service time for a year). And the roster is full, so we won't be getting any signings like Cotton or Megill, unless one of the signings do replace...Megill. Sisk should've been added in September (insteda of the umpteenth recall of Sanchez) just for a peek. He is, after all, a lefty. Moran has shown he can go multi-innings. Twins cut bait with junkballer Smeltzer. Thielbar may not be ageless. Fundeburk is still a ways away. One catcher?!?

You do the opt outs because you feel the price of superstar money will increase sunbstantially as each year passes. Who knows, the Twins could come back now with three years and $130 million with an opt out again. Would you pass on that if you aen't getting the longterm...and maybe asking for $50 million in year one and $40 each of the other two. Remember, the danger of an "opt out" is that if injured, the player still gets paid. So you better have a darn good insurance policy.

Kansas City just dropped BRENT ROOKER from their roster. Chance to grab a solid right-handed bat who can play the outfield and first base, and make our trade with San Diego look like a real steal.When we need righties in the line-up, putting him and Garlick on opposite sides of Buxton will give the Twins everything they need to........

Twins did the same for Cave last year, paying him $800,000 to play in St. Paul after removing him from the 40-man...like he was going to walk away from that contract. They could do the same with Garlick, if they choose. A removable player if youy make the right free-agent signing. Plus a veteran who will offer depth, if you can keep him at AAA.

Lee needs to be the starting shortstop at Wiochita. Lewis gets a little time in St. Paul. Austin Martin also moves to St. Paul and plays, where? Probably in the outfield, but at shortstop when Lewis is advanced. Yes, who will b the Twins starting shortstop for the first month of 2023. If, and when, Lewis comes up, do we let him stay and work anything and everything out if he doesn't dominate in the majors? The Twins can sign a good fill-in ultility guy for shortstop (like Adrianza of old). You would hope Julien would be ready sometime during the season to push that signing out of the backup-reserve position, giving the Twins a decent bench duo of Gordon and Julien. The Twins will shortly sink or swim on home grown prospects.

I think the Twins gamble on Severino, Helman and Urbina making it thru. But they have to advance Severino and Urbina for strong consideration of a 40-man add next season. Helman was behind Steer, and seems to have fallen behind Julien, for now. Julien and Gordon as our reserves next season looks like a possibility. Canterino is just taking up a space into spring training. Better to keep him than fill the spot with some lame minor league free agent signing who wants to be on the 40-man, but is just designated anyway for space. So, the Twins really only have to add Julien and Canterino. Sisk would be my third choice, just because he is a lefty, and you have the spot. I wouldn't expect anyone else to come to the majors in 2022 from the list above. I'm just hoping most of them get time in St. Paul. Chris Williams didn't quite earn a spot with his play at St. Paul. You might be able to keep him off the 40-man and have him in reserve, like Hamilton was last season. The Twins need to sign another catcher for the 40-man. And also have some catching depth in the minors, notably at AA. I was disappointed they let Camargo walk. But he was still a good year away froim being a reliable backup. They could still offer him a higher minor league contract, I suppose. Pagan and Urshela will be tough decisions. You start looking at those two, as well as names like Megill, Garlick and Contreras and replacing them if anyone is released by other tems to make 40-man spots. Whoever you choose, or sign, has to be better than any of these guys in their respective positions. The Twins can go active in the minor-league free agent marketplace. Depending on Enlow, they would have at least Paddack (and Canterino) on the 60-day IL come spring training, so they would have two open sports for sure going into the season to draw from minor league hopefuls.

I would offer arbitration to Urshela and Pagan. If cut in spring training, do you save money on Pagan? I would go all-in on Rodon. Adding him to the rotation suddenly means you have some good prospect depthg for dealing: Winder, Varland, Ober, Sands could all be part of a package. You could also dangle Enlow as an add-on. I would also go after Bogarts or Correa. I would front load the contract at like $40 the first couple of season's with a free-agent opt-out if they player wishes to go higher for the next x-amount of years. The Twins have the money to send bigger up front and if you get stuck with the contract down-the-line, it shouldn't help so much. Getting a long-term shortstop suddenly means you have to find other palces for Lewis or Martin to play, probably joining the outfield depth of Celestino, Kepler, Larnach, Wallner, Kirilloff. You suddenly have a lot of depth there to offer up in a trade. I would seriously, then, consider trading some pitchers or outfielders to the A's for Murphy as the catcher the Twins need for three more seasons. Julien and Lee are both prospects that might be here fulltime in 2023. So we have to hang onto Polanco. Again, signing Pagan and Urshela also makes them available, if the Twins deicde to make a trade. Once they conquer the #1 rotation arm, shortstop, and catcher problem...then I would look forward to grabbing a short-term right-handed hitting bat whoi might play the field (making an outfielder even more expendable), or able to grab Abreu for two seasons to rotate with Arraex at 1B/DH. I don't picture the Twins adding more than 3 guys to protect from the Rule 5, one being Canterino, who would start the season on the 60-day IL. You keep names like Garlick (if you wish to go to arbitration), Cntreras, Enlow, Megill to replace if you sign bonafide free agents. DON'T sign any more Cottons and Megills and add them to the 40-man roster, when a minor league contract should suffice. 3-4 years for Rodon. Up to 8-10 years for a shortstop (ugh!). 2 years for a right-handed Abreu. You need to keep three of Larnach, Kirilloff, Kepler, Celestino, Gordon, Wallner, Lewis and, eventually, Martin. Again, Winder, Sands, Varland, Enlow, Ober. You could probably lose up to three of these as you have Woods Richardson in reserve, Balazovic making (I hope) a comeback, and dark horse Randy Dobnak. What would it take to get three years of Murphy?

CODY STASHAK, sent to St. Paul, has decided to become a free agent. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/cody-stashak-elects-free-agency.html

NICK ANDERSON, who thrived in the Twins system but was "allowed" to depart, finding some success before being in jured all last season, has signed a split contract (and got a 40-man roster spot) with the Braves. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/braves-to-sign-nick-anderson.html

Probably looking at Sands and maybe WInder becoming relievers who could start in a double-header pinch, if they can make the major league roster. The joy is both could also be long men. Canterino might be better suited as a bullpen arm. Be inbteresting to see where he ends up in 2023. (Enlow has to be in the mix somewhere). Cody Laweryson also looks to be a dominant bullpe arm, sooner than most everyone mentioned above if he gets to start at AAA in 2023. Kody Funderburk is also an interesting minor league arm. AAA is far different from AA, as is the majors. But the stats of Jovani Moran are so different from AAA and the majors. And then you look at someone as the late aging Twin prospect Yennier Cano (who is over in Baltimore now) who dominated the minors for two seasons but totally bombed in the majors. All of the player we have mentioned so far will probably egt a chance in the majors, albeit some limited (Schulfer could be the next Ryan Mason, perhaps...or Jordan Gore).

Well, Nick is now a free agent. So is Sam Clay, another guy we lost. Considering the Twins spend money onb 40 or so folks every winter to stack the minor league rosters, who knows? Tyler Duffey is out there. Not to mention names like Ryan LaMarre and Tomas Telis.

Yesterday was the day for minor league players to declare their free agency. Of course, the Twins lost the majority of minor league free agents they signed last spring that were still on minor league rosters at season end. Leaving St. Paul Saints are: Bradenn Bishop, John Andreoli, Chance Sisco, Danny Coulombe, Roy Morales, Matt Mullenbach, Ariel Jurado, Brad Peacock, Cole Sturgeon, Mario Sanchez, Michael Feliz, Nash Knight, John Romero, and Hunter Wood. Earlier Jake Jewell, Elliot Soto, and Derek Rodriguez announced their free agency. Developed players included: Melvi Acosta (who was suspended at season's end) and Wander Javier (the Twins signed this shortstop for a $4m international contract back in 2015). Leaving the Wichita WInd Surge are: Steve Klimek, Daniel Gossett, and Leobaldo Cabrera (claimed from Yankees a couple of seasons ago). Also prospect Zach Featherstone. And young highly-toted catching prospect Jair Camargo who was obtained in a trade from the Dodgers. Cedar Rapids saw the departure of Orlando Rodriguez, Bobby Milacki, Samuel Perez and Luis Rijo (also acquired from the Yankees in trade). Zach Huffins, who was signed late in the season and assigned to Ft. Myers, also declared his free agency. Any names you hope the Twins might resign for depth to return in 2022? Last year the Twins signed 45 minor league free agents, of which 14 saw some playing time in the majors in 2022.

I always wonder what the difference is between a major league pitching coach, and pitching coaches that start with players at the complex and work with pitchers thru the minors. Once a pitcher reaches the majors, they should have a decent head for the game, and should know where they can succeed in throwing stuff. And then it becomes more of a game of numbers, prep for a game, and following a game plan...to win. If there needs to be fixes, then you go back down to the minors. And, also, how does a guy like Maki (and even Wes) deal with grizzled veterans (or just 2-3 year highly paid pitchers) who think they know everything.

They need to trust him. But if he becomes another Colome or Pagan in 2023, don't delay in pulling-the-plug!

Not sure if a long-term contract is good for the team, or that he will get one in the current marketplace. The question: who would he bump from the current bullpen. And, is there anyone better (and in the eyes of the Twins, cheaper).

DREW STROTMAN has been claimed by the Giants and put on the 40-man roster. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/giants-claim-meibrys-viloria-drew-strotman-waivers-rangers.html

JAKE ODORIZZI has been traded to the Texas Rangers. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/rangers-acquire-jake-odorizzi-from-braves-for-kolby-allard.html MICHAEL TONKIN was added to the Braves 40-man roster. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/braves-select-michael-tonkin-seth-elledge.html ANDREW VASQUEZ was claimed by the Phillies from the Giants. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/phillies-claim-luis-ortiz-and-andrew-vasquez-from-giants.html Prelander Berroa is added to mariners 40-man roster. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/mariners-to-select-prelander-berroa.html

Martin and Julien would give the Twins some speed, combined with Buxton. Not sure when would be ready for 2023 play, but the future looks bright. Throw in Wallner as a future outfielder, and suddenly the Twins have trade chips in Larnach, possibly Kirilloff, Polanco, Kepler, Urshela. I say go with the future and youth in 2023. It would allow Pohlad to save (make) money, and who knows what potential will bring. The only question is - where do we end up playing Brooks Lee if he, too, is the real deal?

Bring back Matt Wisler!

Gordon putting up good numbers cements him as the fourth outfield. Can see Kirilloff/Buxton/Kepler still out there in 2023 with Larnach and Celestino joining Wallner as the fulltime Saints outfield and on-call. Arraez the permanent first abseman? Well, we do have to play him somewhere. Julien is opening eyes for the scond base job.

Jake Cave decides to avoid arbitration. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/11/orioles-jake-cave-avoid-arbitration.html

We sadly should be remembering that Jeffers made the jump on 2020 from AA ball. He should've spent the good part of 2021 at AAA, learning to catch a higher caliber pitcher, working on framing and defense. I had hopes that Jeffers and Rortvedt would be our catching duo going forwards. Instead, he was pushed into fulltime play in 2021. It is a big change to catch pitchers who are really good and know their stuff, rather than those still working on stuff in the minors, and in the minors you can work on stuff yourself. It is a pressure situation, especially for a catcher, to learn on-the-job in the majors. Jeffers could have the bat, but does he have the defense to be a long-term guy behind-the-plate. Sadly the Twins don't have many up-and-coming alternatives, and they will also have to learn on the job if they jump from AA ball with little AAA experience behind them. Murphy is one of the few trade chips. The Twins have some players and blocked prospects (an abundance of shortstop candidates). They can also dangle guys like Enlow, Balazovic, Sands to a team like Oakland as part of a package, I would think. The Twins have a good core, just need to get that right-handed power bat, figure out shortstop, decide if Miranda or Urshela plays third, and can Kirilloff work into longer term plans. But they need a catcher, or a catcher that will allow Jeffers to be backup as he continues to improve. Oh, and they need health. Maeda, Mahle, Paddack, Winder are all still questionable.

I want to see at least one more season in The Closer role. He seems to have developed enough of a "I Can Get Them Out" attitude to be dominant, as long as his throwing hard will hold up. As a starter, the question is can he throw that hard for 5-6-7 inings, and what is his mix to keep him in that role. Yes, 15+ wins as a rotation arm can be as valuable as 30+ saves. Saves usually happen if you are already winning the game.

It's the era where you are glad if a catcher can play 80-90 games behind thje plate. The rare one might play upwards of 120 games. So you need a strong bench support. And with new rules, have to worry about the ability to do quick pitch communication, as well as a possible new emphasis on base stealing. There's not much out there to purchase, little to trade, and the prospect pool is two years away (and that is for someone getting feet wet as a backup). Someone has to make outs in a lineup. But you need someone who can actually catch and throw.