Rosterman

Looks like more than 20 of the 32 players currently on the Saints roster in some capacity are not homegrown Twins or prospects.

Yep, do the Twins offer Buxton, Berrios or are they just dumping Happ, Robles, Simmons, Cruz, Donaldson to move 2021 payroll. Let's throw Pineda into the mix. I really don't see teams offering the Twins much for soon=to-be-free agents. But sicne the players really aren't doing it for the Twins, might as well bank money and sign your own to keep sights on...a future.

Allison only played more than 115 games in left 3 seasons. MAYBE SPENT 8 TOTAL, BUT MOST OF HIS TIME WAS IN RIGHT FIELD SINCE HIS CALLUP BY THE SENATORS.

I consider the Twins having strong depth at shortstop, assuming Royce Lewis can play the position. You have Wander Javier, a decision that needs to be made this fall, and far enough back is Keoni Cavaco. If a shortstop is had from another organization, you have to find somewhere to play Lewis, and those other two names are basically tradebait.

Twins keep adding an alphabet of new names to the Saints roster...and none of them from within the organization: Stankiewicz the latest. Barraclough, Burrows, Vincent, Whalen, Johnson and Tomscho supplementing the other minor league free agents still here (or gone).

Well, I would rather give the ball to Ober, Jax or any number of guys who MIGHT pitch for the Twins in 2022 than...Shoemaker. We all know the Twins are doing a standings push between now and the All-Star break! https://www.mlb.com/twins/video/twins-gearing-for-standings-push

Berrios COULD GET $100 million if traded to the right team. What team, that is the crapshoot. I think the Twins would jump at five years and $85 million. But part of Target Field was that the Twins would be able to pay to keep their free agents. And I always thought that part of a good hometeam free agent contact was that you were rewarding the player also for past play and making a name for themselves with the home team. Never could totally figure out overpaying a guy who will probably not produce similar numbers going forth. But both Buxton and Berrios are young. A five year contract may not be their last. Might be another 3-4 year deal when those run out. Do the Twins offer a 3 year deal and an option. Do they let them declare free agency halfway thru a contract? If push came to shove , would you offer the qualifying offer of the day to either and hope they accept? Buxton needs to play. Getting hit on the hand cost him, probably, $10 million in pay. A team gambling $100 million on him would be gambling, yet someone might, just might. Remember, he can always become a corner outfielder, and if his plate discipline increases, he will get a payday. But I doubt it will be with the Twins. Somehow, not getting the $100 million feeling. The question is: how long does the front office hold out. This trading deadline, the off-season, or spring training/next year. The message is also bad that it sends to any other potential stars. Play out your Minnesota contract and go elsewhere. And if the team starts getting noticed for playing with service time, goodbye signing some picks. Was Joe Mauer worth $175 million? Well, was he worth $22 million for his first six years of production?

I want the job o the person sewing uniform names for the Saints. You gotta be working overtime!

I'm trying to figure out this lovefest for team castoffs and guys playing indy ball. The Twins PAID ALL their minor league guys last season. One team was cut from all teams. They have a tremendous amount of prospects. Sure, some have lost a year of play, but...most all players did. We all were aghast when they sprung bigtime for Josh Donaldson, showing that he purse strings were open for spending. In 202 they went out and purchased Rich Hill, Homer Bailey, . Kept Odorizzi and :Pineda. Added Tyler Clippard, Juan Minaya, Matt Wisler (whew), and returned Sergio Romo. Alex Avila was added behind-the-plate. This year actually is ending up worse. Happ and Shoemaker aren't cutting it. Are we excited about Simmons, not to mention Riddle and Lin and Garlick and Refsnyder. Ooooooh, the bullpen adds of Waddell, Colome, Law, Anderson, But theya re far from done. Just this week they gave afterlife to Vincent and Barraclough, Burrows to go with such notable signings since the season began of Santiago, Garcia, Milacki, Anderson, Whalen, Koch, Johnson, Lau, anoeehr Pineda, Mullenbach, Manoah, Milbrath, Horstman, Boyd and Washington. Still hoping to egt a chance are such big names as Broxton, Shepherd, Pena, Tomscha, Leyer, LaFlor, Maggi, Albers, Mooney. Some have left already. But the chance to play for the Saints seems to be a big draw these days. All Dollar Store cart fillers. But, hey, wish I was a fly on the wall in the room when all these guys are discussed! And where to put them, place them, and 40-man them at the expense of whom?

Good names, but most will either need to be a 40-man decision, and most all should spend a good part of next season in the minors unless the Twins go totally into rebuild mold. The question is who to push to AAA, how does that affect their Rule 5 claim standing in baseball, and who do the Twins look at contributing in 2022, or is it mostly for these guys 2023 and beyond. At some point the current front office will make decisions longer term on Sano Kepler and Polanco. They need to set up a system to get a hard look at 2-3 starting prospects a season and hope that at least one a year sticks STRONGLY. There seems to be little of a push towards advancing players. Look at how the Twins are raiding the indy leagues and AAAA guys for the saints and even Wichita. We will see!

It seems like it will always be about money. If the Twins can't Pay Buxton and Berrios, then I hold little hope that they would splurge (and they could afford to do so) by paying Donaldson numbers for a VERY TOP of the line rotation arm, as well as getting a real bonifide closer. Otherwise, the roster looks pretty darn serviceable. Of course, Sano will still strikeout. Rooker may have passed his need by the Twins. Royce Lewis has to be considered the shortstop of the future (or is he). The Twins could open 2022 with around a $100 million payroll, 1/5th of it going to Donaldson. They may be okay, depending on how the young arms perform, which is why one hopes they can get a half dozen starts to Duran and Balazovic or maybe even barnes or someone else this season. But it all returns to how they handle Berrios and Buxton. Both can stay and play oin 2022, but if theya ren't signed longterm, I don't expect them to be back. The Twins can raid the dollar store and get an arm or two, or maybe spend a little more and bring back Pineda and Robles if not outbid in the fair market. Hey, maybe Jake Odorizzi, Hector Santiago, Ervin Santana will also be available. I know Bartolo Colon is! You have to spend money to win, usually on the best players available. You can fill in holes like the Twins did this season, but did they really get the best of the free agents who actually outshine the best they have on their own roster in 2021?

Dobnak is more on an in-play pitcher. If he strikes out as many as he walks, I'm happy. Robles could be a decent trade-chip. And like Pineda, let them enter free agency and see what you he'll sign for then. I'm sure he is happily looking at his work so far getting him a modest multi-year deal. Jackson is still in the bullpen mix. If the Twins can just jettison Shoemaker right now and get someone better in his place. And then you have to start getting at least five or more innings from Maeda, Happ, Dobnak. I wish we could push Over, but I can understand that risk. But at least I hope that means that if we move on from a couple of aging starters, we WILL SEE Duran And Balazovic for a half dozen starts each this season. Which would make me very happy going towards 2022. Gonna be interesting to see how the Twins play Kirilloff, Larnach, Buxton, Kepler, Sano, Cruz going forth! And as long as Simmons is around, Gordon is going to be sitting on the bench. At least work the guy into a late inning appearance. I want to see him steal bases...and continue to get hits! I am comfortable with a return to shortstop for Polancho, for now. Just think of the opportunity Royce Lewis is missing this season!

Well, pretty good lineup with Sano, Simmons and Donaldson. Berrios would need to pitch a no-run game to win. Granted players are aching, but you NEED to field best players possible, or construct the best lineup possible, when you best pitcher is on the mound. Happily they won, and finally figured out how to get a guy on second with no outs home.

We supposedly thought we had a lot of outfield depth, and Larnach wasn't even on the 40-man yet. And, guess what, we do., Which is why Baddoo wasn't protected (who knew someone would take a gamble on an oft-injured guy who has only limited AA at bats). It was Wade or Cave. I would've gone with Wade in the end as a potential fourth outfielder, although I wonder how spring training would've panned out for him where a bunch of minor league free agents were high in the pecking order. I felt Anderson was a good pickup. My question here is WHY? Why was he removed from the 40-man? Who are the Twins replacing him with? If they need a 40-man spot, you can get rid of Colombe or Shoemaker. Right now, I would rather see Jax and Anderson on the team pitching equally as bad as either of those two guys. And, at some point, you will have a 40-man spot open up when Buxton returns and the Twins have to make a decision on Garlick and Refsnyder.. Plus, I totally expect Happ and Simmons to be gone sooner rather than later. And the Twins best trading chips that some other team MIGHT want are Pineda, Robles and Cruz. Robles ahs been fine, but I don't trust the need to bring him back in 2022 (or you just might like to resign him, or Pineda, when the players search out a free agent contract). I hate the thought of trading Cruz. I think he is a fine bench and clubhouse presence, but at some point the Twins will have a crowded outfield and have to figure out where to play Larnach, Kirilloff, Buxton and Kepler, along with Sano. So Sano to DH might be in the offering for the remainder of this season. Yep, Wade was a loss, but doubt he would be an outfield starter in the future and the Twins are still looking at a prospect logjam depending on what becomes of signing Buxton. But nice the Twins are giving away players other teams want. At least the front office is spending mon ey at the Dollar Store signing such minor league guys as: Juan Minaya, J.T. Riddle, Tsu-Wei Lin, Jordan Milbrath, Justin Washington, Ryan Horstman, B.J.Boyd, Matt Mullenbach, Erik Manoah, Adam Lau, Sherman Johnson, Rob Whalen, Andrew Albers, Brandon Koch, Daniel Descalso, Nick Anderson (no, not the pitcher), Jason Garcia, Wilbis Santiago, Bobby Milacki. Robinson Leyer, Kevin Broxton, Chandler Shepherd, Drew Maggi. Wow, talk about prospect blocking!

The Twins are taking it easy with Ober. He itched 100 innings back in 2014 un college, but 75 is his tops in the minors, and not many at all in 2019/2020. So they are hoping to get 15 or so starts out of him? Maybe the Twins need to use an opener? That way he could start by pitching to the middle of end of a lineup. And also get a win!

Let's go really big and package Buxton AND Berrios as a trade package. Now that is something that could bring a major return. When dealing mid-season, will the player get the other team where they wish to go. Trade value for a Buxton or Berrios also hinges on the need/ability for the trading team to resign them to a longer contract, or taking a gamble that their current season might increase the trade value of the player going into the free agent season. Otherwise, you are just getting a rental. Sadly, if it is all about money, you better start signing the next crop of players early to get those extra years under the team's belt, or you will be known as a team that can't afford to play in the big leagues. Dollar store dumpster diving for diamonds that might look impressive for a moment or two is not the direction you want to take a team, u nless you are constantly banging out top prospects.

Jax is learning. I wish they would let him at least start a game.

I would so agree that it actually did look like a competitive and servicable roster. And spring training was NOT horrible. So, what the devil happened! Talk about imploding!

Yep, some serious 40-man issues. A reason that they sometimes keep the guys at AA or below for the whole 2021 season. Unless total rebuild mode, you could argue of Lewis would be major league ready come 2022. From the pitchers you list, would you advance any to the team this year for some experience, and have them spend most of the season at AAA. Once you add them to the 40-man, you risk losing them if you remove them. But I don't see any big demand for free agents to sign with the Twins for 2022 and doubtful that 1-2 big names would make much of a difference.

When vets are putting up bad numbers, and youa re losing, might as well let prospects take their bumps and use it as a learning tool. You can at least send the prospects down to work it out in the minors between call-ups. Which is what is needed with Dobnak. You hope to get at least a couple more years out of his newly signed contract. But he needs to start on a regular basis and work it out at AAA. Of most importance to the Twins: The Future of Buxton and Berrios. We gave them Target Field so the team could keep their own free agents. You can afford to overpay for homegrown talent if they have produced for you now and in the past. How much, that is always the question. The Twins have a problem, though. Kirilloff and Larnach are here to stay. Kepler is not going anywhere until his numbers rise, but the Twins will soon have four outfielders. Sadly stories like Rfsnyder and Garlick are out-of-luck, but either should be able to still find a job in the majors for the year. What to do with Nick Gordon. Too few at bats, but he ahs given the Twins more of a base-running threat than they have seen in years. If you had to choose, right now, between Arraez and Gordon, who would you pick. And that is still giving fulltime field work to Polanco and Simmons. ANyone give us soemthing for SImmons? Willians Astuldillo may be the odd man out again. He is lovable. He can play all positions, but when Garver comes back we got catcher covered. Kirilloff can play first base. Gordon and Arraez cover the infield and outfield. Is "The Turtle" out of options? The Twins need to make major blowouts in the pitching staff. Just cut loose some guys - Shoemaker, Colombe. Your bullpen: Taylor, Duffey, Robles, Jackson (amazing), Alcala. Your rotation: Berrios, Pineda, Happ, Ober, Maeda. I want you to give Jax a couple of starts to see if that is his forte. Happ and Pineda need to be gone for the msot value you can get if they produce a couple of quality outings. I fear that their stock may continue to tumble and all you get is a roster spot and minor salary relief. We have Thielbar and Thorpe injured in the wings, still. Although counting on Caleb for 2022 is not in my crystal ball. Smeltzer is still on the radar. The Twins could run out Ian Hamilton if a roster spot appears. That is the issue now. Anyone you remove from the roster you will probably lose (except Minaya). At what point does Duran get the call? Is there a major purge? Garlick, Rfsnyder, Astudillo, Simmons, Colombe, Pineda, Shoemaker - 7 name ptffutttt! Followed by Happ, possibly Cruz ad maybe Thielbar in 30 days! Make decisions made on Buxton and Berrios. It shouldn't be hard to exchange numbers to see a reaction. Who do you add (and keep) on the 40-man. Of course, hard decisions on that include players that need to be protected come the Fall, and that can actually learn from getting some time in the major in 2021 and possibly break camp to the majors in 2022 and stay! The Twins continue to hit the slush pile. Garca, Milacki, Anderson, Descalso, Whalen, Koch, Johnson, Lau, Milbrath, Horstman, Boyd, Mullenbach, Manoah, Washington are all castaways the Twins brought to the island to go with Broxton, Shepard, Pena, Tomscha, Leyer, LaFlor, Maggi, Albers, Mooney - all placeholding spots for future prospects developed by the organization. I am seeing too much time spent shopping at the Dollar Store than actually making hard decisions on the future of the team!

Yes. But the numbers ended up working in favor of Littell. Twins also gave up on Hendricks, too. Sometimes your best minor league starters will do better out of the bullpen. And players have ups and downs. I always thought Trevor May was the closer option for the future. Deolis Guerra also ran out of options. Could he have been that backend bullpen arm earlier for the Twins? With rosters now at 26, you can carry that extra arm, or funnel them back and forth from AAA ball, as long as options do remain. Of course, we also have the case of Nick Anderson, deserving of protection by the Twins but... And Curtiss and Chargois were also top minor league guys that got away when they didn't produce right away for the Twins, as needed. But then you also have names like DeLong, Harper, Adams, Moran, Hildenberger, Magill, Parker, Eades, Poppen, Stewart, Wisler, Gearrin, Moya, Slegers, Reed, , Kinley, Busenitz, Mejia, Drake. What is frustrating is when the Twins search out the slush pile and disregard their own prospects.

Astudillo may just come down to the game of numbers. Same can be said for eventual destination of Garlick and Rfsynder. Trevor and Alex should be here to stay. Alex can play first. Kepler and Buxton aren't going anywheres. Gordon is an interesting choice. Can also play short. He ahs given the Twins a potential running game. Question is, can he get at bats as long as Simmons is on the team. Him and Arraez can also fill in the outfield. Sano is not going anywhere. The question is, can they (should they) trade if an offer comes Simmons, and even Cruz. And you have to ask WHO from the whole mix you expect to see on the roster in 2022, which is either a rebuilding year around a new crop of players, thus plugging in B-level free agents, of you do make a splash keeping Buxton and Berrios on the team, move Sano to DH and make Alex the 1B. Would you trust Polanco and Gordon at shortstop and Arraez and Gordon at second? Gotta make a big splash with pitchers. Dobnak, I guess, is worthwhile sending back to AAA to start as regular as possible. Everyone else who pitched today should not be on the roadtrip. Sorry. Colombe, Shoemaker, Pineada. You have to make a couple of 40-man spots. And I would give Jax a couple of starts in the scheme of things.

Some guys need every chance to be a starter before going to the pen. Especially if they are a starter.

Line-up construction? Dismal. Hey, it's nice to have players play multiple positions. But nicer if you actually have players that can play a position. You construct a team that also gives you different skills, especially back-up/replacement players. Speed, defense, putting a ball in play, hitting a fly ball, taking a walk. Like a bullpen. Lights out closer. Someone who can strike people out. A groundball pitcher (if your defense can handle such things). The Twins were totally unprepared for starting a 10th inning with a runner on second, both in moving the runner towards home themselves and also keeping there from a pitching standpoint. It is nice to have a starter (or two) who can potentially stop a losing streak. That works better if they can pitch at least five innings, preferably six (sometimes), throwing things against the wall and seeing what sticks, giving guys games off for no particular reason (you are hired to play ball). Right now the clubhouse has to be a mess. Same old same old game after game after game. A dozen in the hole is a deep hole to climb.

He has the drive. Now excited to see what happens. Interestingly, I think he was available in two straight Rule 5 drafts and wasn't grabbed.