Rosterman

So the Saints lose Balazovic and Chi Chi. Maybe they will want to keep Winder and Ryan?

I'm feeling good if the Twins end up even 5-4 against the Yanks, Rays and Jays. 6-3 would be Best! But.........

The Twins starting eight of Sanchez, Arraez, Polanco, Correa, Urshela, Kepler, Buxton, larnach. A solid bench of Jeffers, Miranda, Gordon, Celestino and soon another when pitching staffs go down to 13 arms. Who will that be? Kirilloff? ANytime you rest a lineup guy with a bench bat, that "rest" guy should DH, for the msot part. Of course, not adverse to getting Miranda more at bats as he is hot. So we have a guy to sub for each outfielder. Someone to sub for each infielder and an outfielder. And someone to give the catcher a rest. The offense is looking pretty good right now. Stay healthy and play. Hey, looking over the bullpen usage chart, looks like Duffey is good to go in relief of Sands on Sunday. Do we consider the game a loss yet? Let's put our best boys on the field and win it with power. Saturday's game against the Rays showed what happens when you run the bases badly, or leave base stealing up to the runners. What do the base coaches do? Chi Chi, we knew you ell. Wished you had gotten the full five and could've got a "W" in your Twins account. But, alas......

I thought Palacios was a COVID replacement for Ryan, so is he officially on the roster or not? Yes, the Twins have some obvious dead weight on the 40-man. They have one open spot right now. Ryan and Gray will eplace Gonzalez and send down Sands. They could basically jettison Contreras, Godoy and Strotman. There are other candidates who can contribute equally as well and might even be around in 2023.

Chi Chi needs to shine, to see if he might get a week of pay and another start with the Twins, or a job from another team when the Twins do eventually waive him off (with the return of Winder AND Ryan). Of course, he could choose to stay with the Twins still. Chi Chi, pitch like your career depend on every throw!

If Correa goes down again, I would use Nick at shortstop to evaluate his potential as a short-term replacement thru the return of Lewis next season. Can he do the job. If not, he is just a run-of-the-mill utility guy with some speed. And until someone else offers him an opportunity to play mostly at one position, he will be a journeyman and his cost will dictate his life on the diamond. Again, if given the chance. A non-contending team could take a gamble, and he could shine as a regular.

Yes, somewhere in the offices of Target Field is a GIANT CHART that shows the status of all minor league players, and where they fall on the depth chart. First, let's look at the Twins 40-man roster. Come November, you could pretty much assume that ALL of these players could be gone, with a couple coming back if there IS roster room or on minor league contracts: Sanchez, Bundy, Cotton, Coulombe, Duffey, Megill, Romero, Smith, Strotman, Thielbar, Sano, Garlick, Contreras, Godoy, Palacios. You can also remove Dobnak, but he would still remain your "property" if no other team claims him (and pays his longterm contract). Stashak could become a free agent, or remain a Twin and continue to collect some salary until he is deemed playable. Protecting Rule 5 is always an issue. The Twins protected Sands and Enlow...one coming off arm issues, the other in transition and you feared someone would grab the guy and stash him on their own injured list just because you can. Sands is being given every opportunity to contribute in 2022. Enlow might get an advance to AAA, but doubtful. We also have Balazovic and Henriquez. Balazovic was a top-notch prospect who lost a chunk last year and at the beginning of this year and has been disappointing. No doubt a low level team would grab him if exposed to waivers, either keeping him or trying to send him down for another season. Same with Henriquez, who was given to the Twins to be their 40-man roster issue. Maybe the Twins could've cut him and kept him before the season. Who knows. The sad thing is that both of these guys are currently dead weight. Are they valuiable as a trade throw-in (a team would have to keep them on their 40-man). Or do you take a chance that no one will claim them and you can keep them for another season in the minors by sending them thru waivers. The Twins will also have options on keeping Archer and Urshela for 2023. Correa is an expensive option, and HE holds the key. And people seem to be down on Gordon for some reason. Gordon depends on who is our shrortstop or where does Arraez play, and what we ultimately do do with Gio. There are at least 30 minor league players as of today that the Twins signed outside of their organization playing in AA/AAA and can literally walk at season's end. I doubt any will be 40-man roster spots...some might juggle into the mix still this season...but longterm...no. And I may not be totally right, but the following names should be given consideration as they will be minor league free agents. Jair Camargo started young, Needs to be at AA with at least as many at bats as possible. But being a catcher, he can walk and find oppotunities almost anywhere. Do we keep him? Can he be that third catcher in 2023? The AAA Twins catchers of Hamilton and Banuelos will also be minor free agents. Palacios will be a MFA, as well Strotman and Jordon Gore. Except for the "promise" of Camargo, there are NO catchers worthy of 40-manning in the fall beyond Jeffers. The Twins will be looking somewhere for a major league backup and depth at AAA. When you look at protecting for Rule 5, you MUST ask the magic question - "Would I Put This Guy On My 40-man Roster for the Year," followed by "Who Else Might Do This" and "Is My Depth Such That He Wouldn't Play Into Things If I Did and Just Take A Roster Space." In 2021, there wasn't room for Baddoo on the Twins 40-man. He was significantly behind a half-dozen folks in the depth chart. Honestly, you can all agree that coming off injuries and low-level play, would've been crazy for someone to grab him. The Rule 5 candidates at St. Paul, right now, are Schulfer and Steer and a name no one mentions, Hellman. Steer and Hellman could replace Gordon? Or both be trade bait (like Gordon). So the Twins have depth here. Would you protect Hellman and Steer? Schulfer is one of a few pitchers that may advance from Wichita in the coming months that would have to be given hard Rule 5 consideration. Keep in mind, keeping a pitcher at Wichita may limit the chances of the guy being grabbed. Once they hit at AAA roster and show some signs of competence, they are fair game. Although the Twins could very well have Sands, Enlow, Balazovic, Cano, Henriquez all on the AAA roster come the off-season and available for grabbing if non are claimed when waived off the 40-man. Outfielder Contrears would also be Rule 5 eligible if he doesn't get claimed and stays with the Twins. If the Twins have a logjam in the outfield with Buxton, Larnach, Kirilloff, Kepler, Celestino and whomever else can play there right now, is there ANY reason to advance Wallner to St. Paul? Leave him at Wichita and hope others see that he is NOT quite ready, and buy another season of minor league play? Or do you add him? Other position players under considertion, but not leaping off the charts, are Chris Williams, Isola, Julien, Prato, Kennie Taylor, Ozoria and Kyle Schmidt. Well, we might be pushing, but could have our AAA catching staff here. But I don't see any of these guys making much of an AAA impact as 2022 winds down. Again, remind you that Camargo will be a minor league free agent, as well as Andrew Bechtold. Plus, Wander Javier will be able to leave the Twins on his own come seaon's end. We talk about pitchers - Melvi Acosta and Bryan Sammons will be eligible minor league free agents. Sammons is a lefty, but hasn't shined. AA pitchers of note are Legumina, Fundeburk, Gross, Canterino, Varland, Sisk, Woods-Richardson, Scherff. All but Legumina could be in St. Paul by mid-season if space permits. Thus they would seal their own fate on protection from the Rule 5. I would actually predict that six of the 8 would get major league time with the Twins in 2023. Not that all of the six would be on the 40-man this off-season. A team is NOT going to grab a player if they can't keep them on the 40-man. Having the 26th helps. You can get that extra bullpen arm, or that rookie rotation arm that shows promise, but used out of the bullpen today (shades of Santana). A spare outfielder or infielder has to show more promise and skills than the vet journeyman, of which there are many (Twins used Riddle, Maggi, Win, Blankenhorn, Garlick, Refsnyder, Cave - just last season). My issue, always, with 40-man construction is carrying players that contribute nothing this season, or just don't plain pan out (Vallimont, Garza, Thorpe, Rooker, Cave were all on the 40-man at some point since last season ended. Henriquez, Strotman. Enlow and Balazovic are being carried this year and contributing zlich.) As management sits and looks at the wall, it is sad that players can be held back for protection with no roster spot perceived next year (possibly Wallner) or added because of fear of losing (Balazovic). But you also have to look at ALL the names mentioned above from our farm system and ask "who is going to make it and do they have trade value because of depth." Can I convince someone else of value, even though my own long-term plans may not have a place for them before they become Rule 5 or a minor league free agent? And there are always a few players out there, Austin Martin for example, who won't get a 40-man spot, buy could conceivably show up in spring training and win a spot for the season's opener. Player development. A whole 'nother game in the wacky world of baseball!

If he was on the 40-man, yes. But he is not. And if they added him, he would be like Enlow, Strotman, Balazovic, Henriquez...taking up space but not ready for extensive major league action (think Vallimont). Also, isn't there some new rule where a player has to be on the AAA roster before jumping to the majors? Transactions the last couple of days Outfielder Carlos Aguiar added to Fort Myers from FCL Catcher LaRon Smith added to Ft. Myers from FCL Pitcher Matt Canterino put on Wichita 7-day IL Centerfielder Zach Huffins signed our of Rays system and assigned to Ft. Myers Pitcher Ariel Jurado activiated from IL for St. Paul Pitcher Juan Minaya outrighted to St. Paul Outfielder Derek Fisher activated from Saints Pitcher Luis Rijos sent from Kernels to FCL for rehab Pitcher Jon Olson sent from Kernels to FCL for rehab

Arraez is it. I really don't need to see Ryan go and be busy and have the festivities. Yes, it would be nice. But we need him in shape and itching fully for the Twins. More All-Star chances will happen if he excels. Buxton could make a nice push. But doubt that the Twins will have anyone voted in.

Moran and Duran have to trust their stuff, and at the major league level, have coaches (and a catcher) who can call their pitches...if they can throw them as called. Challenging the hitters will be important to these two, rather than playing the edges of the zone.

Maybe another batter or two. He has already thrown 59 pitches. We don't need him facing anyone a third time. Duffey is warmed up!

Delmon Young was NOT horrible. The Twins ahd three decent seasons from him, alkthough he seemed to have an ego, or was a headcase. He wanted to be recognized as being the superstar. After the 2010 season, the Twins needed to trade him, when he ahd significant worth. And partly, to escape paying him more than perceioved worth in 2011 and beyond, they flipped him to the Tgers for Cole Nelson and Lester Oliveros (a 100mph thrower who is still pitching). I always got the impression that he wouldn't listen at all to coaches, and was jealous that he wasn't the face of the Twins..... Carlos Gomez got so much press right away. Then he fell into a funk. And, he was only 25 when the Twins traded him. Matt Garza had an ego and he spent time with four other organizations in the next 7 years. Odorizzi was okay for the Twins, catching a break in the shortened COVID season so they didn't have to pay him the full $18 million. How the Twins got Ryan and Strotman...both needed to stay on the Rays roster, but others were on the verge of pushing them off and a hard decision needed to be made about keeping them of taking them off, thus tradebait. The Rays had too many riches in the pitching department.

Twins have signed minor league centerfielder, late of the Rays system, Zach Huffins, and assigned him to Ft. Myers. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=huffin000zac

He has lost his speed mix. Batters lay off the curve. Ands he has to throw it over the plate.

Since he was on the major league roster, he will egt major league pay for all his time off. The Twins will also be able to 60-day IL him, and add another person to the 40-man. He will have to be added to the 40-man in the off season and hold a pisition thru spring training, when he could, then again, be placed on the 60-day IL. If head been in the minors, he would jsut be on the minor league il and the Twins couldn't add a player, unless they transferred him to the majors list. Again, he collects major league salary for this season. Next season, he will get a standard major/minor (40-man pay) contract, paying him major league pay thru his injury and rehab. Once he is optioned, he would get reduced pay and lose service time. So because of his time in the minors this season, and his time in the minors next season, the Twins will still have him, I believe, for six more seasons. I don't think he will make the cut-off, but let's do one year at a time. But it also means the Twins will need a shortstop next season can only hope that Royce gets in shape in May and June to play July-September with decent stats and a late-September callup and, hopefully, ability to play in 2024. Of course, now is the time for Austin Martin to shine at shortstop, Jermaine Palacios to play his heart out in St. Paul, Spencer Steer to play more shortstop than 2B or 3B, or Gordon to be ready with his glove if the opportunity rpesents itself. I imagine Correa MIGHT stay if his pot is sweetened. But I also expect he will explore long-term contract options.

The Twins are in a strange world regarding pitching. Their 40-man currently has Strotman, Balazovic, Henriquez, Enlow - all of whom look doubtful of pitching for the Twins in any capacity in 2022. Will the Twins still roster them in 2023? A fifth, Sands, had been anything but brilliant. All five of these guys, because of their current work, are probably unanted by any other team, unless a waiver pickup happens. The Twins also have three players who won't be back in 2023 and are vastly underpforming: Thielbar, Duffey, Bundy. None, again, would be a tradable item unless they really really really improve. Dead weight right now. Garlick and Coulombe are also on the 40-man in IL-limbo. Both are happy collecting major league salaries not to play. I don't really see a pa lace for either of them in the Twins future. Throw in Dobnak, who is at least on the 60-day IL, but when he is ready to come back, designate him off the roster. No team will claim his longer-term contract. Plus the Twins have Godoy and Contreras, neither really should ever be called up before anyone else (I would even accept a Cave callup over Contreras at this point). Wow, that's 10 players who we wouldn't miss if the plane lands before the next homestand. The Twins missed an opportunity to wheel and deal Balazovic, Enlow and Sands. Basically a couple were added for fear of a Rule 5 loss. In hindsight, would Sands have lasted the required days on an MLB roster? So Baldelli deals the deck dealt him. Is a game close at what point? Because, like Twins own scoring, runs CAN happen in bunches and with multiple arms throwing, you jsut never know. What frustrates me most about the Twins is that there are few role players...everyone is expected to come and play somewhere sometime. And the bullpen is on a rotation, rather than a "need."

And we still have Evan Sisk, who is pushing for a mid-season promotion to St. Paul.

Can Bundy make himself a trade chip (and can Ober and the rest come back). Bundy and his $5 million are safe. His tenure will last with the Twins as long as there is a place for him. If the rotation fills and he is the odd man out, would he pitch in the bullpen? Do the Twins just let him walk? Got until the end of July to make a hard decision.

Attendance was huge because there was a Prince nite, and the Yankees always draw. Twins pitchers have to attract the strike zone. If the batters are going to hit, make them hit. Veteran hitters aren't fooled if you want to play with the strike zone. Best you can do is mix speeds. And trust your fielders. Twins batters work best, too, if they can see if the other side is throwing strikes. GREAT pitchers challenge the hitter. Expect strikes in the early innings. Do your hitting homework. The Twins also have to consistently start their best eight players every game. They can use the DH to rotate folks. Right now, they have a pretty solid bench in Jeffers, Miranda, Gordon, Celestino. Soon it will be joined by another, be it Garlick or Lewis or Kirilloff. When a bench bat plays the field, their corresponding player is the designated hitter. Rocco has to trust his starters to go that third time. You may give up another run or two (or three). But, hey, the bullpen can do the same. You have to trust your veteran players. Yes, even they can get shelled (Smith, Cotton) like the newbies (Moran, Duran). The newbies havve an excuse, they haven't faced this sort of competition before.

Waaaay back in the off-season, the Twins signed Chi Chi Gonzalez. No doubt he probably would've gotten a 40-man spot at the time. But instead, he grabbed a job with the potential to work out in spring training if the lockout continued. He has been the msot durable and the better of the minor league free agents working out in St. Paul. The Twins managed to get him to the majors and a short start without putting him on the 40-man. But now he wants to walk. Become a free agent. The Saints roster is full of a wealth of minor league signings: Sanchez M, Sanchez A, Bashlor, Faria, Gossett, Jurado, Petricka, Pinto, Ramirez, Rodriguez, Thornburg, Viza. I'm sure quite a few of those names are on the bubble as the Twins considering advancing "the future" from Wichita, which happens slowly after the draft and plaers move from training camp to A ball, and other players move up a notch. The Twins could still add Chi Chi the roster for a good game, as the Twins do need a rotation arm before WInder and Ryan can come back to the roster (assuming you don't feel they can pitch a few innings in St. Paul and start 3-4 days later). But then the Twins would "officially" remove Chi Chi when they designate him, thus allowing him to be a free agent. Or that case would also allow him to stay with the Saints, after announcing his intentions to move on. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/06/chi-chi-gonzalez-triggers-opt-out-in-twins-deal.html

Two ways it works. If the opener can get you thru the first 6-7 batters easily. Then it allows the "starter" to come in, and easily face the lower part of the order three times. Of course, any STARTER SHOULD BE ABLE TO GO THRU THE ORDER THREE TIMES AT THE LEAST, IN OLD-TIME BASEBALL REALITY. A starter should dominate and control the early innings, and start fooling the batter with a better mix of their stuff in the later innings. Also, it allows the "real" starter to maybe get the win for their record, maybe by pitching as little as 4 innings. Are wins important come salary time? The other thinking is that a starting pitcher has a favorite routine that they have done for years and years, compared to a bullpen routine. Does the "starter" start the game, tossing in the bullpen while someone does the work of starting the game? Does it break routine to do your warmup and throwing, then go sit on the bench ready to start the game? Yes, basically ALL the Twins starting arms have been starters. Is Cole Sands better pitching innings 1-3, or can he be more effective pitching innings 3-5. Can he get into the 6th? Do you push to the 7th? Also, the OPENER was a crazy was for a team to start a lefty against a line-up set for a left-handed pitcher and change to a righty the next inning. Seriously, you have to trust your starter to throw their 100 measley pitches these days and they should be able to pitch more than four innings 90% of the time.

Just recently Larnach ahs seen a 60-point drop in his average. All these streaks. Now Miranda is hitting and will continue to get chances at the MLB level, rather than refine his skills at, say, St. Paul. We cringe when a bullpen arm implodes for an inning. It takes 3-4 outings to lower that destruction to their WHIP and ERA, sadly. Inconsistent. That ahs been my cry. The batting order changes every single day. We have yet to have a five-man rotation with any sense of who is pitching next week for sure.

It just shows that the Twins don't need to depend of Duffey to give away a lead.

Do you think getting one veteran arm is going to win the division for Minnesota? Take us thru the playoffs? Whatever? We still have a month-and-a-half, and then have to see what other teams want, and what we could offer accordingly. Austin is a man without a position. He shows no power for either corner spot in the outfield. He is questionable as a fulltime shortstop or cenetrfielder. If the Twins would be placing Steer and others ahead of Martin for the infield, why wouldn't a team go after those guys (still in the minors) instead...in a trade package. What hurts is that folks like Sands and Balazovic, that had prospect worth last season, have absically eroded to nothing. Makes you think hard about Canterino, Enlow, Varland or any other names of possible up-and-coming arms and should they be swapped for a vet, or do we keep fingers crossed. The Twins have at least anothre season, with martin able to play that season at AAA ball, that could actually make him more valuable...an aging first rounder that a team could control until his 30th year. That alone is worth a gamble...next year before the trade deadline. And by then we will have a better idea of long-range possibilities for Larnach and Kirilloff, the status of Polanco and Kepler, if Wallner is a prospect, and more....... I don't think the Twins for this trade deadline are in a position to overpay, mostly because of assets, for a front-line rotation arm.

I'm thinmikng bring Duffey into the 8th tonight. Let's make this a closer game so Pagan can try for the save. WHy wait for tomorrow?