Rosterman

I like what the front is doing. They signed Donaldson to a big contract to hold down third base. I see possibilities in the system when Donaldson moves away from the bag in (hopefully) two years. They signed starting pitchers as a stopgap before prospects move up this season (and subsequent ones). The question remains the need to keep Berrios and for how much. They should've gotten something for Rosario, sadly. Losing him because of arbitration is a somewhat loss, but you do have replacements that need to play in Rooker and Kirilloff. The Twins have also signed temporary emergency stopgaps if need be. Next is Larnach. So this is the year Buxton and Kepler need to shine to stay with the Twins. Celestino is also someone I want to see. The Twins signed a Royce Lewis stopgap, but there is no doubt that it is time for Royce to shine in the minors to break into the lineup this season. The Twins have two young catchers. Plus a couple of prospects in the system. The system is loaded with arms. Sadly they still play like all they need to do is win the division. AT some point they have to pull the big mid-season trade to go all-the-way. But I think the system is quite rich with tradebait names that may or may not pan out. It sure hurt NOT to have a 2020 minor league season. Injuries are always the key to success. The Twins do seem to have depth pretty much everywhere with replaceable parts.

Minor league free agents do make a decent salary to play ball as they age, and there is just the chance. You never ever know.

Odorizzi is a five inning pitcher. But could the Twins live without Dobnak, Smeltzer or Thorpe longterm? Could Thorpe develop into a solid bullpen arm if nothing else? That is the bigger question with him. Looking at the Twins alternatives and that there are still arms of equal strength to "buy" - the Twins basically need someone who can pitch half-the-0season and possibly be tradebait, with hopes that Bala or Duran can come up during the season, or that two of the three I mentioned above are still in the wings in case of an emergency need.

I would be happy with even a half season and being a dugout presence. We all know he would love to reach 500 home runs. So he will be working hard to produce. He may delay the role of Brent Rooker for another year, but can live with that. The "robe" needs to continue.

Barring injuries, which always seem to happen. Thorpe and Dobnak get to fight it out. Kirilloff has the job if he wins it in spring training., Rooker is coming back from a pretty powerful injury. Question is who do you want to have play everyday here or in the minors. The turtle is a luxury. Of course, do you want Jeffers to catch alot, or Garver. I could see Jeffers starting in the minors if Garver is hot, just to get solid regular play. It will be Jeffers job to win and Garver's to lose. Hamilton will have to pitch to prove he stays in the majors. I think the Twins are sitting pretty darn good. Likes like Gordon gets screwed out of a job again. Talk about a guy in the wrong place at all the wrong times.

So the Twins are around $120+ million in payroll. They could still use a starter AND/OR relief arm. The bigger question, if the Twins by some chance sign two more players, who do they jettison from the 40-man? Willians, or Wade or Cave. Thielbar? One of the newer signees that we know little about in the pen? Smeltzer? I guess cross that when we come to it.

I would love to see Tanaka instead of Odorizzi. Jake seems to be at a 5-inning limit. If you put him with an opener, you might be able to get an extra inning. I think the Twins seriously need to get an infielder who can play third when you put Donaldson at DH and not lose the punch. Simmons would be a GREAT choice. I would long-term him. Semian would also be a great choice. I see the Dodgers would like tu use him at third. Hand being passed for one-year at $10 is my question. Yes, Rosenthal would be a wonderful choice. The Twins could do save by committee. And I would be game for Clippard. The only way Cruz comes back is on a one-year deal with an option for a second with performance requirements, sadly.

Nick Gordon is the forgotten guy. Maybe, just maybe, he will get a utility role shot this year. Royce Lewis to the outfield? Already crowded, even after deep-sixing Rosario (no one had grabbed Eddie yet). Javier, still highly rated, but has already gone thru two Rule 5 drafts. That ahs to be amazing for such a still highly rated prospect. At some point the Twins have to work him onto the 40-man. High school players vs. college players? Discussion on some positions? Yes, MOST prospects don't pan out at all. Others seemed to be packaged more after their first season in a club's system, which can be a smart move...you basically only have money invested.

What was amazing was that ALL teams passed on getting Hand for one-year and $10m. Now will probably be forced to still pay that amount, and have to offer a multi-year deal. The Twins could still use a bonafide closer. Both Duff and Rogers are better suited as set-up guys who can also close on occasion. I was a bit aghast that Wisler wasn't brought back, as his salary wouldn't have killed the payroll, and the guy did work as an opener, closer and multi-inning reliever to decent success. If he could hold or build on that success, he might've been a tradechip in the least. Hendricks did good. Back when he was toiling as a starter prospect and not knowing where his career would take him, he ahs to be quite happy with this payday. Bring Back Pat Neshek!

There are still alot of players out there. All the former Twins position players, for a start. It is a lot of economics right now, players still jockeying for the best contracts available in an environment where few teams wish to overpay. The Twins have four spots. They need a starter, a bullpen arm (preferably a closer), a possible DH who can also play in the field, and it would be nice to have someone who could punch at 3rd base and play elsewhere in case you wish to DH Donaldson.

You had to look at the trade in one other way. The Twins saved $120+ million. Then the question comes, what did they do with that money instead of keeping one of the best players ever that pitched in Minnesota as part of the team for years and years. I also seemed to remember that Mike Pelfrey's name was bandied around in the Mets package. Yeah, what was the main Yankee package: Hughes, Cabrera, Kennedy, Chamberlain. I'm not sure what was the tell on that trade. The Twins didn't want Caberra? I liked the throw-ins of Lowrie and Bowden at the time. It was just what starting arm (Bucholz or Lester, Ellsbury or Crisp). Remember Ellsbury was still an unproven at that point.

Twins need a bonafide closer, one middle-of-the-road inning eater starter, and a bench bat who can play infield and/or outfield.

The Twins originally got Bruno and Mike Walters (plus that guy named $400,000 cash) from the Angels for Doug Corbett, coming off two great Twin seasons, and Rob Wilfong. Walters was a two-inning relief arm that was just okay for two seasons.

I think baseball as a whole is waiting to see how the actual free agent market will play out this year. Once a couple of guys start signing will give a good idea if the contracts will be subpar as well as the length, partly due to still some uncertainities about the upcoming full/not-full season. There are an awful lot of players out there. Especially curious to see how the minor leagues pan out, especially for those minor veterans vs. all those players cut loose with little place to go because of elimination of a team and, thusly, the non-need for major league teams to house/play up to 25 players that they can snatch from what remains of indy ball (now controlled, in most part, by mlb). The Twins need: One solid starter A closer would be nice, or a dominant arm (I vote for Hand). A DH who can also play 1B or the OF (wait, they have Rooker). If they grab a shortstop, they should be set for bench/field backup.

Robles didn't get a better offer?

As long as your pitchers give up 3-4 runs a game and you get 4-5. The catch is getting guys who can thru the 6th more often than not, as the bullpen is not going to be 8-10 arms again.

Definitely makes you look at what the Twins need to do with pieces between now and then. Is Buxton longterm. Royce NOT a shortstop. What if Donaldson can't play third. Do you continue to go with Sano? Garver is a luxury. You got outfield names like Celestino, Wallner and Urbina, not to mention the 2025 wave of Soulaire. Sabato and Cavaco could rise and at least get a looksee. Is Miranda a choice for third base longterm? At what point do you say goodbye to Wander Javier?

It was strange that no one grabbed him for $10 million for next year. In some ways, that might've been a bargain. What would he want...3 years and $25 million or $35 million? Just got to wait and see. But he would give the Twins a REAL closer when they need one and two great set-up guys in Duffey and Rogers. Alcala, Stashak and Thielbar. Mix in Thorpe who needs to be kept on the roster and COULD throw multiple innings. Look pretty decent if no injuries.

We are putting a solid 2-3 seasons stock in Donaldson and going from there. Sano will never return to third, and he will block Donaldson from playing, perhaps, first base or being a fulltime DH. But we rolled the dice on Donaldson and have to hope he does his job!

You will be able to BUY players this year!

Looking at Saints game of the past...good luck getting tickets!

I always wonder how strikeout pitchers fare overall in pitch counts. Do they need 5-7 throws to get a batter out? Do modern pitchers work the counts more rather than just dominate? Even a specialist like Wisler got the "k"s but also walked a lot of guys. The plus is leaving runners stranded. Some pitchers also work well on contact (Kintzler) and if you have the fielders, that is a plus. Do you want the double-play ball or a strikeout? And you have to get the batter to see at least three pitches for a strikeout. That's two pitches that the batter MAY have a solid attempt at connecting and causing trouble.

Shades of Nick Burdi. Two players that the choosing team may be able to disable for most of next year, just needing to find the allocated time to keep them on the major league roster before optioning them to the minors. All players lost are probably behind other players in the organization, and because of a lost 2020 we really don't know...do we?

Sometimes the overall prospects have been better at the AA level than the AAA level for the Twins in the past. But Wichita and Cedar Rapids will get many Twins fan visits during the season. The change in St. Paul won't be a difference in the overall fun and games of the minor league experience. It will be in the caliber of play. Maybe not as overall competitive, as the roster is now a pipeline to the majors and has ups and downs accordingly. Instead of people who want to play ball (a step above Town Ball) and hope to get into a minor league system, you will be looking at bonafide prospects on the cusp and other players capable of filling in on a major league team if given the opportunity. It will be as much about player development as well as putting competitive play on the field, but winning is not exactly the main reason for minor league team affiliate baseball. Because you are playing teams that have no salary caps, no age limits on prospects, no non-experience levels, and full of very talented people who are trying to improve their game as well as get comfortable in team play. A lot of hardcore Twins fans may find themselves unable to get single game tickets. That will be the key...will the Saints continue to sell well, or will they turn-away from being the bad boys of baseball. Expect to see cross promotions, a lot of Twins merchandise for sale (moreso than in Rochester). It will benefit players on both fronts. Able to get workouts at either facility and work with trainers, probably with no need to go to Florida for rehab.

The trade alone with the Yankees worked out well, considering the yelling and screaming of Chuck. But all the other pieces over time...whew!