Rosterman

I hope his recovery is good. He is one of those guys that should put up solid numbers. But you need to find a place where he can comfortably play on the field (or become a designated hitter).

Here's one. Arbitration swap. Rosario to the Tigers for Matthew Boyd. Would we be willing to pay Boyd $7-8 million and hope for a bounce back to go thru arbitration again the following season. Would Detroit like Rosario enough to offer him $10 million (or long-term). Does each team pass along a low-level prospect? Twins get a pretty solid lefty arm for the far backend of the rotation. And does adding Boyd make arms like Thorpe or Smeltzer expendable and part of this trade? Does the Tigers have any blocked prospects the Twins would crave?

There will be a lot of players available short-term for 2021 as teams cut salary as much as then can. Those willing to go into debt can overpay. The big need is to get playing time for prospects and to figure out how to get the most out of a tighter minor league system. Prospects have basically lost a year of play, and an organization a year of time. The Twins are sitting pretty goo with whom they can add this year and next, and it looks like a decent longterm crop...so they could make available some lower prospects in trades if they need to trade for someone else's salary. Kinda sad that they won't be able to get anything for Rosario unless they resign him and carry him into spring training.

Utility guys are utility guys. You gotta look at who you have in the system that could get a full-time shot if the main guy goes down. That person is Lewis, and might also be Miranda. So you could suffice with Gordon and Blankenhorn as the late-inning replacement and occasional rest guys. If you have Rooker and Kirilloff and Cave/Wade, you also got a backup at first (not to mention Garver), and Sano can play third...still. The joy of having people competent at multiple positions.

The Twins need to sign a starter. Someone not on the disabled list most of the time (Hill, Odorizzi, Bailey ended up flopping). The more I think: we say bye-bye to May and Clippard and see what arms are available. Brad Hand, anyone? Bring back Kintzler for ground-ball action? We really need only one grizzled veteran arm for the current pen, unless that arm is left-handed and we part ways with Thielbar. Or give up totally on Thorpe who needs to find a palce on the opening day roster or bye-bye anyways.

The Twins need to make a decision on Rosario. And also Cruz. If they jettison both, you basically have Kirilloff, Garver, Sano, Rooker working between the OF/1B/DH Not a horrible thought, and you cut $20 million in salary. The Twins have a bullpen of Rogers, Thielbar, Thorpe (out of options), Alcala, Duffey, Stashak, Wissler. You still have Littell in the mix if you add him back on the 40-man. When you can troll for guys like Waddell and Gibaut, I guess you don't need to bring back Clippard, Romo or May. The Twins could spend BIG on a starter, and leave the fifth spot to Dobnak, Smeltzer (and Thorpe) until a prospect emerges. Backup infield could be Blankenhorn and Gordon. If not those two, you don't need them on the 40-man.

They need to go forward. Rather give it to May.

Littell is a gamble. No one claimed him because he wasn't useful in 2020 and he would be a roster decision for 2021. The chances are that he will sign on as a minor league free agent with a spring training invite. If the Twins know more, that he can be a regular after one more option year, than "yes" put him on the 40-man. His biggest plus his his age, minor league record, and dynamite 2019 out of the bullpen. And no to any of the others for a 40-man add. Sam Clay would be a slim possibility. A younger Caleb Thielbar, perhaps. If you can keep him and Moises Gomez for another season as minor free agents, do it. But other teams will be cutting similar players. Be interesting to see the number of players available as minor league free agents, or the number of plays not offered arbitration. Do the Twins have 8-10 potential 40-man spots?

Is Drew Butera available?

I so would love May to be a solid closer and be a part of the Twins for the next 2-5 years. But I'm afraid to risk the money he might NEED on a beginning 2-3 year contract, compared to what he might get elsewhere. Do you bring back Cruz for a hefty sum, or go with the combination of Kirilloff/Sano/Rooker at DH/1B - plus remember you can play Garver there, if need be. Suddenly it looks like you don't need Cruz, or do you really need Sano if he ahs any value. I remember old talk about Polanco being better at second that short. But then I also hear talk that Lewis is NOT the best shortstop. If Lewis comes up, he starts. He will be added to the 40-man. Do we just stay where we are for 2021 and use Blankenhorn and Gordon as backups? Do we move on from Cave and keep Wade? Does Celestino bring more worth the the outfield mess? Of course, a decision ahs to be made on Rosario. Is Larnach ready? Between Bailey, Hill and Odorizzi the Twins clear alot of salary from the rotation. As far as the bullpen, remember we still have Littell who could slide back into the mess.

Who else is there in prospect land and when can they come to the majors. I pictured Ben Rortvedt being a possible swing catcher. Needs another year in the minors. Is Caleb Hamilton in the mix as an emergency callup? I'm sure the Twins could always sign Drew Butera for AAAA depth.

Who replaces these guys? Catcher. Jeffers and Garver. Set. Willians a third backup. You can sign some minor league free agents. You have nearly $5 mil to spend. Middle Infield. You have Gordon and Blankenhorn. You have Royce Lewis in the wings. You also have Zander Weil. No need to go big. You can always find a player like Vargas if push comes to shove to also hold you over. The Twins had a variety of names in the minors, Tovar and Maggi. You have some$13 million to spend. Cruz. Will he keep doing one year deals? Can you get him for $12-15? Does he add leadership? Will he help Sano, his heir apparent? If not, do you buy someone else? Rooker or Kirilloff at first, Sano at DH. That can work. Rosario movement also in the picture. Odorizzi is a helluva a contract. He will try and get a multi-year (good luck). He is going to be cheap as he strives for a comeback. Already jettisoned Bailey. Hill didn't really increase his value. Is Hill a good stopgap with his experience as you work a rookie arm or two into the rotation. Depends on the overall worth of Thorpe, Smeltzer, Dobnak as possible package tradebait (with Rosario). Do you see any of these three back in 2022 is the bigger question. Yes, with the money spent on Hill/Bailey/Odorizzi you could make a nice one-year offer to Bauer. Be nice to have four experienced arms in the rotation to start the year. 2020 Bullpen: Rogers, Duffey, Alcala, Stashak, Wisler, Thielbar, Coulombe. You also have names like Clay, Colina in the wings. Like a solid rotation arm, I would spend on a closer (if available). I would rather invest in a return of Hendricks than a multi-year with May. I thought May could be the closer of the future, but I don't trust him today, I would like to think that he will sign for 3 years and somewhere in the $15-22 range. I could see the Twins moving on. Clippard was a nice cheap signing, I'm sure he will draw a decent contract for 2021. Nothing like the $2.5, but maybe would go $4. I would not bring back Romo for $5. What is the fate of Griffin Jax for the Twins?

Anderson was a sleeper. The Twins needed to give him a shot. And Curtiss, always felt, had the stuff. But needed some guidance in the majors. Took his lumps. Got cut loose by Angels and Phillies.

Doesn't he only want a one-year deal? Go for it.

I think can go year-to-year. AT some point the Twins do need to make room for Larnach and Rooker, amongst others. Sano the DH? Can Cruz help Sano for one more season? The Twins also need to get Garver at bats to increase value, either at first or DH. I'm sure Cruz would love to reach 500 homes. Would it take two or three seasons to do so is the question, and can he.

The Twins are sitting pretty good money-wise. They can trade Rosario and a prospect or two and maybe get another Maeda-type starting pitcher. Or they can still trade Rosario for prospects and pay out some lump sum for a HIGH-QUALITY arm. Like Delmon Young of old, looks like Rosario is the first to go as replacements are in the wings. Even if Kirilloff isn't ready, we can hope Rooker is healed. And the Twins still have Cave. No minor leagues meant we didn't get to hear much about players like Sam Clay, Dakota Chalmers. We still have Caleb Thielbar and Zach Littell and Danny Coulombe. But ROMO is not the closer of our future and Rogers may be best as a set-up guy who can also close. I would spend money on a REAL closer. Otherwise catching depth (mainly AAA-type) and backup for the infield. We shouldn't write-off Nick Gordon. What happened to him in 2020 hasn't been explained. That is TWO seasons he has missed an opportunity for major league play. And speaking of missed: Fernando Romero?

The Twins have A LOT of salary coming off the books. Approx $42 million from Odorizzi, Gonzalez, Avila, Hill, Bailey, Adrianza. Another $22 million from Cruz, May, Clippard and Romo. Believe they are pretty arbitration light, especially if Rosario no longer plays into the plans. They could use a DH (Cruz), a couple of relief arms (two are entering free agency). A solid starter (they have the money). And some backup help in the infield. Of course, in 2019 dollars, 2020 was a pretty high-level mark for Twins payroll.

The bullpen isn't broke. But you have to think of using it as if you truly only have you regular amount of pitchers. You have Odorizzi and Dobnak for a reason. We have to rethink baseball and who pitches the 7th and 8th innings and who setsup and closes. With the three batter rule, you just can't do a quickie switch anymore. You also have to look at use. Why wasn't Duffy pitching on Sunday, for example, getting a little time before THE BIGGEST GAMES OF THEA YEAR. You have more left/right usage than ever this season. Yes, us armchair managers always complain that you leave someone in one batter too long. Or start the inning with the wrong pitcher. But.....

Romo is NOT the closer. You have the lefty pitch the seventh (Thielbar) and maybe comeback with a lefty again in the 9th. I guess the hitters didn't watch the tapes. Where were they this afternoon?

I wish I knew if any of these guys would work better with an opener, so to speak. I would like to tagteam these starters. Two innings from one, maybe three from another.,..than the bullpen. But can they pitch if they don't start the actual game?

I wonder what his perfect location in a lineup would be. How many pitches does he average in an at-bat is a concern. Also, overall, the Twins seem to be fielding better than average. Do we like him and Polanco up the middle. Is there a future for him as a Twin? What do we do with Lewis and the haord of other shortstops in the wings?

How can the Twins better construct their lineup. Why are Kepler and Donaldson batting first and second?

The ball is not lodged until he grabs it and cannot easily removes it!

You always run into issues with a lefty closer. We see the Rogers can be lights out if he doesn't work consecutive days, has proper warmup and full use of his pitches. Although as fans it boggles our mind that a player isn't at their best each and every day at work, we only have to look in the mirror and know we all have off days. Some guys dominate for a season or three. The rare ones make a career as a closer. The Twins have a couple of prime candidates for future closer. Alcala seems lights out. Stashak is interesting. I always felt May would be the guy, but at this point I probably wouldn't gamble on a hefty multi-year deal to keep him, thus he will probably walk. The bullpen ahs been a strength, and if there had been a solid minor league year, the Twins would be looking at adding number of arms next season, beginning with Samuel Clay.

The Twins need to get a solid lineup in place. The right bats in the right order. Bullpen is amazingly astonishing. Too many arms. They have three BIG starters and a solid fourth and up to three others (who won't be back in 2021).