Rosterman

Kepler did minimal play at first in the minors. Now the Twins talk like Kirilloff would be a first baseman in the future. Go figure. Of course, theTwins could still tie-up Buxton AND Rosario in longterm contracts, throwing the outfield prospect to the wind. And Rosario. It seems the Twins would ratehr NOT pay Rosario $8 million plus this year and whatever more it would take to sign the guy longterm. Of course, I think they are seeing that other teams feel the same way, especially when they have to offer something aback to the Twins. Why do some players command BIG money, and other ... just ... don't.

Besides getting on base, you want your leadoff guy to take pitches. 6-7-8-10 out of the chute. Show the batters who follow you what they might expect. See how the ump is going to call the game. Hopefully the second batter is not a free swinger, too. Secondary is speed. But you want the guy to be able to advance on a slow roller and stay out of the double play, make it to third on a clean single, possibly advance on a fly ball. If he can also put pressure on the pitcher as a potential base stealer, that is a bonus. I never liked the idea of a leadoff home run being a plus.

He was the guy to have, especialy with Sano starting the season injured (although Marwin had a horrible April). He seems best playing around the diamond as needed. See him splitting time at first and third mostly, and he could be the 4th outfielder if the Twins do sign someone else for first or third.

Top 20!

The only plus is that the Twins can open the season looking at the future. They don't need five starters every fifth day. And they will be able to get a good hard look at a possible advancement by Dobnak, Graterol, Thorpe or Smeltzer to be a part of the rotation for most of the season and going into 2021 as being viable starters. If you have real pitching arms in the minors, you need to give them a chance. Otherwise, why draft rotation arms. Just buy them each and every season.

I just wonder how assured we are that Sano will be a decent first baseman. Granted we can have Garver play some there, too...to get him in the lineup. But then where do we put Sano. I do see Sano as the DH of the future. Any move on Donaldson means you feel John can play the third corner for four seasons.

As we saw with Addison Reed, the Twins with these signings won't be afriad to jettison the players if they aren't producing. All depends what Thorpe, Smeltzer and Drobnak can do.

Looking at Seth's list of Top Prospects of the decade got me wondering who the many many promising names were in the system over the last ten seasons. I tend to follow John Sickels' look at prospects. So here is my view of his listed propects of the Past Decade. Mitch Garver and Stu Turner showed up multiple times. Always wondered which of the pair would breakout with the Twins. One ended up with the Reds. Should also note that Wilson Ramos was in the mix in the beginning of the decade. And Josmil Pinto was there, too. Both Ryan Jeffers and Ben Rortvedt are the future. Standout infield prospects were, of course, Miguel Sano and Jorge Polanco. But others appearing multiple times were Chris Parmelee, Lewin Diaz, Travis Harrison, Travis Blankenhorn, Wander Javier, Royce Lewis, Brent Rooker and the most – Nick Gordon. Other promising names were Danny Valencia, Levi Michael, Brian Dozier, Nico Goodrum, Danny Santana, Kennys Vargas, Amaurys Minier, Jeremaine Palacios, Andrew Bechtold, jose Miranda, Keoni Cavaco, Yunior Severino and Luis Arraez. The decade started with the name of Ben Revere in the outfield. Eddie Rosario and Max Kepler were dominate listed top prospects, and with numerous listings the likes of Aaron Kicks, Joe Benson, Oswaldo Arcia, Nate Roberts, Angel Morales, LaMonte Wade, Adam Walker, Byron Buxton, Alex Kirilloff. Then we have guys like Trevor Larnach, Zack Granite, Gilberto Celestino, Gabriel Maciel, Misael Urbina, Matt Wallner and Luke Raley also making notice. Pitchers getting recognized multiple times are Kyle Gibson, Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves, Billy Bullock, Adrian Salcedo, Carlo Gutierrez, Tom Stuifbergen, Alex Meyer, Tyler Robertson, Alex Wimmers, Manuel Soliman, Zach Littell, Bruster Graterol, Fernando Romero. Nick Burdi, Tyler Jay, Ryan Eades, Jose Berrios, Trevor May, J.T. Chargois, Zack Jones, Michael Tonkin, Lewis Thorpe and Blayne Enlow. But also seeing listings were Ben Tootle, David Bromberg, Matt Bashore, B.J. Hermsen, Anthony Slama, Matt Hauser, Hudson Boyd, Pat Dean, Bruce Pugh, Kane Holbrooks, Liam Hendriks, Jeff Manship, Matthew Summers, Deolis Guerra, Lester Oliveros, Chase de Jong, Gabriel Moya, Felix Jorge, Huascar Yona, Adalberto Mejia, Chih-Wei Hu, Jake Reed, Michael Cederoth, Bailey Ober, Jhoan Duran, Chris Vallimont, Griffin Jax, Jorge Alcala, Jordan Balazovic, Luke Bard, Mason Melotakis, D.J. Baxendale, Corey Williams, John Curtsis, Tyler Kinney and Matt Canterino. Lots of intresting names there. What I also found interesting was the number of people NOT CONSIDERED top prospects that did make the Twins in the last decade: Taylor Rogers, Willians Astulido, Dietrich Enns, Andrew Vasquez, Sean Poppen, Cody Stashak, Trevor Hildenberger, Pat Light, Tyler Duffey, Devin Smeltzer, Chris Hermann, Alex Burnett, Luke Hughes, Aaron Slegers, Randy Rosario, Caleb Thielbar, Kyle Waldrop, Rene Tosoni, Jeremy Beresford, Logan Darnell and Rob Delaney. So many names over the decade. Interesting to see the number of people that do make the cut, considered possible future major league talent, and there is a story behind every name that doesn't make it.

Every season you have to add two position players (one parttime) and three pitchers to the mix, which means they are repalcing players leaving. You can supplement that with either a prospect or a free agent. Basically for 2020 the Twins are addint a parttime catcher from outside, a second baeman from inside. They still need to add a rotation arm. They have added at least one bullpen arm and another from within the system is a possibility. Yes, they still need a first baseman but the tandem of Garver/Sano/Gonzales seems workable. Injuries happen, which may allow you to see an outfielder of the future in 2020 like Kirilloff or Larnach (or Rooker/Raley). Hopefully a prospect arm will stick for 2020 (Dobnak or Thorpe). You still have Graterol in the mix. The Twins could conceivably have three arms pitching aprts of 2020 that will carry them towards 2025. Depending on what happens with Sano and Buxton and Berrios, the Twins are pretty set for the next three years at least. If they extend those guys, well beyond. I trust some fine dafting and an overloaded system of prospects to keep the bullpen full of fresh new arms, make a dominant rotation that the Twins will have under control for the next 6-8 seasons, and cover all their on-field position needs. And I don't see them spending the bank on anyone player in the next decade. I doubt that will give Sano $20+ million a year. Berrios might be the closest, but hopes are theyc an tie him up for the next 4-6 years on a reasonable deal, then let him walk if he becaomes really expensive. I believe in the front office. Running a tight economical ship. Making wise signings. The conflict comes that we all feel they should spend the money they have available, no matter the player, just because they can. Is that the right move?

If you got the money to burn and it doesn't cost you top prospects, just players that are still good but in the pecking order for depth, might be a wise move. Hey, if he rebounds, you can still flip him, too, at some point. You need soeone better than Gibson for 2020. You will need someone better than Odorizzi for 2021. One more addition, especially a guy with skills, will still allow you to see a rotation of arms thru a fifth starter spot, working the beginning of the eason in place of Pineda, and still do the same thing in 2021 if one of the arms previewed this season can hold a solid roster spot in 2020. You are just asking to spend a million per start (hopefully) for a guy for the next three years. Better than a million+ for the next 7 years? Bigger question, can you extend Berrios sooner rather than later? Or, maybe, just bring back Francisco Liriano.

I would still like to see a bonifide closer signed.

Will Berrios replicate or be better in 2020? Can Odorizzi do the same. Also, Pineda...missing games on the front end compared to the abck end. Considering the Twins were extremely lucky and pretty much had a five-man rotation. You'd like to think that Dobnak could replicate Gibson's eprformance, if not be better. You would like to think that Thorpe is working his buns off and could replicate Perez, hopefully better. So can we expect 95-100 wins, in a lineup without Cron and Schoop but with more Arraez? The line-up still ahs to score runs. And can an 8-man bullpen give us for the entire season better production without having names like Magill, Parker, Mejia, Moran, Dyson anchoring the backend of games?

The realities of baseball: SUPERSTARS GET BIG BIG MONEY AND CONTRACTS. Also rans are a dime a dozen. Eddie Rosario. Why trade for a guy you might have for one or two years when you can sign someone for one or two years of equal talent. (see Marlins). DUMP SALARY. You can get a bargain, so to speak, in a trade when a team needs to move salary. You suddenly look in the longterm crystal ball and see that you can probably add two or three players to your roster, with comparable strengths, to replace that outrageous salary. For that, you might take a few (no number one) prospects, or a trinket another team wishes to move. Trading Depth. Right now, the Twins probably have a glut of outfielders and shortstops as prospects. (No, considering the current state of the rotation, they have no depth in starting piutcher arms). Of course, that could change dramatically if you longterm Buxton AND Rosario. If you do that, you don't need Kirilloff or Larnach or any number of other guys. You have Polanco at shortstop, so what is the fate of Lewis (position move?) but you still have great depth in Gordon, Javier and Keoni. Keoni is the guy who might make the majors. The other two are organizaiontal depth at the moment. I still feel sad that the Twins opportunity to trade for an impact arm would've ben back in July. They missed out at throwing cash at a roster spot replacement. ure, longterm contracts come with risks. The abckend is that you MIGHT be able to move that contract to another team if the player produces and you don't need them for a competitive run. I still like the idea that you can possibly buy the abckend of a BIG contract these days (like go after Price or perhaps Lester at this point, both contracts that a team would rather shred so the return in prospects may not be hurtful...you can deal from your depth rather than your overall future). Always interesting to see a name like Cave thrown out. Are teams eyeing him as a longterm replacement in the field? Future riches with the bat? He is a reserve outfielder. Might have a glimmer of greatness (see Grossman with the A's), but I really don't see anyone pursuing him bigtime with a great return. You are trding a 22-25th roster spot player for a similar player...or before you can't option him back a low level prospect. With the Twins coming off a winning season, I dislike the fact that they will probably end up signing a couple of rebuild guys to the rotation. WHile this may prove successful, it is also jarring when you desire having a guy coming out there on the mound from Day One of the season that is slightly better than average if the stars align correctly or replacement value, when you want to win games.

I want to believe that Trevor May will surprise everyone and grab the closer role, work on his pitches and selection, and perhaps become the next Joe Nathan in Twins history. Saw flashes of it each of the past couple of seasons.

Impact line = "The Future Is Ours!" Falvey and Levine were hired before the season began, stuck with management and roster pretty much in place, and the need to go forward with a plan. They put together a five year plan. I do feel they wanted their own manager, but stuck with Molitor, who then won and the Twins shined and they had to playthe winning season card for season ticket success. It took them to the 2018 off-season to begin to put their final pieces in place, overhauling the minor league system, which is almost complete, in terms of staffing. Making decisions of the 100 inherited prospects. 2019 was a surprise success, too. Weak division, perhaps? But Cleveland was in the hunt in the end and almost pushed thru. The swinging bats and run production, as well as a solid bullpen, put the Twins out front. Now they HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS on the core - Berrios, Buxton, Sano, Rosario. If not in the plans, all four could probably be at their best trade value right now. Once those decisions are in place, they can look at the depth of the organization and decided where names like Gordon, Mirilloff, Larnach, Javier and more fit into longer term plans. Is there a frustration? Yes. They came into this season with upwards of $30 million in cash on top of a winning record that should excite ballpark hounds for the 2020 season. You could say that previous avings and the marketplace could push that amount to nearly $50 million. Combine that amount with the fact that $40 million will also be coming off the books after the 2020 season, well the financials are there to make a splash. Why did they not make a splash. Somehow Texas and Toronto both remade their starting rotations. Are they betetr than the Twins. Can I be mad that the Twins were bridesmaids (as were pothers) in the top five pitching market. I can't be mad when long-term contracts are on the line. I would rather see them tie up their own, young talent for such things than aging arms or bats. Do they know what they are doing? They have to. That is their job. They NEED to put a team on the field to stimulate not only season ticket sales, but also fill the seats longter for the season, get good ratings on radio and television, create ad revenue. I'm waiting to see what the front office does do. Yes, the have to define what is needed. We, as fan, see the need for one top-fight starter...better than Kyle Gibson (and I say Gibson circa 2018). One more bulklpen arm would be nice, preferably a closer unless one thinks Rogers or May is the future - but then we need another lefty in the pen not named Thielbar. But it all boils down to where Rosario plays in the scheme of things. Is Sano an investment towards first base or the designated hitter longterm. Is Buxton worthwhile for more than a season, quietly repalced by any number of prospects (Lewis, Kirilloff) come 2021. Do you give Berrios $100 million now instead of $200 million in a couple of seasons, and do you see him playing towards potential when he ahs cash in hand? Cleveland is still in the hunt. Chicago isp uting together a pretty solid team and staying in budget. Detroit is filling holes but still has weaknesses. It is ahrd to believe that someone paid a billion for the Royals. It all starts with starters. Berrios is a stud, but... Odorizzi gives you five innings. Pineda doesn't show up for work for a couple of months. Dobnak is new kid on the block and hungry. Thorpe has all the talent in the world but can he go a full season and give you innings, keep you in the game. Still down a aprtial arm. And there has to be someone out there better than everyone on the staff NOT named Berrios for the adding, especially when you have upwards of $30 million in payroll to play with for a year or three.

Any other time would LOVE to see the Twins go out on a limb with project pitchers. But they have a division title to defend and need someone still that MIGHT be a surefire arm giving them solid innings of production and a less than 4.00 ERA. Otherwise, let us just rebuild for a Bigger Run in 2021.

Starter or Releif Ace. Make the choice and keep on it...we don't ant another Fernando Romero situation. The Twins do NEED another to-flight starter. Better than Kyle Gobson 2018, period. They can patchwork a 5th starter, or hopefully Dobnak or Thorpe will step up and grab the spot. I can also live with people getting innings during the beginning of the year, especially when you don't need a fith starter arm...and taking looks at people like Smeltzer, or perhaps Graterol. But using Graterol as a long man means you are basically adding a 3-4 inning bullpen arm being used minimal. Better to have ONE guy share his SPOT WITH ANOTHER, or an arm that could pitch three out of five days if needed. Of course, the need to now face three batters within an inning will change bullpen makeup and management...shaken out during the season, I imagine. Still don't see it being as big of a deal. You can still bring in a guy to close an inning and not use him the next inning. But you will have to carefully judge warmups and batters faced, esecpailly with an extra offense bat on each roster, too.

I hate to think that Kepler, Polanco and Rosario played the best they ever will. Might have a spike up for a season. But consistentcy is the key and can expect it from them at this point. Buxton needs to stay healthy. But he may be bypassed soon by others in the organization. Sano, so to speak, is the elephant in the room. Do you commit? You know he won't play third forever. Is he your best bet for first abse for a season or two? Do you think he can become a David Ortiz designated hitter with same sort of salary demands? At some point the Twins need to make decision on moving forward with these guys or trding them off and letting other teams worry. Berrios is the real deal. BUT he may not be the #1 pitcher we need of think he is longterm. Right now, he would be MY priority to sign for 3-5 seasons. After that, he will be a $200+ million pitcher or not.

I always don't understand that extra year. Would you rather have three years at, say $25 million or 4 years at $20 million each. Okay, extra five million. Have a buyout option, or a performance option. Who says you really want to pitch four more years at age 32?

At this point just pick up a salary dump like David Price and still keep all of the above players.

Bill Evers is still a coach, too?

It is a competition. Every player has a team/s they long to play for. Agents have a pecking order of teams they contact, and they look for the money. We are a cold Kansas City. Right?

Again, there was the Minny issue on the table. Minnesota or Florida. The problem often is that you MUST lay your best offer on the table right away. There is seldom a comeback, unless you are close enough that the agent thinks he can bluff you higher, or the agent thinks he can bluff the other team because of interest (but that doesn't work as the "second" offer is usually revealed). I'm sure that Twins like Berrios, Sano, Buxton and even Rosario, although they "love" Minnesota, are salivating at the prospect of playing elsewhere, in a bigger market (perhaps player revenue for advertising and such) and nickel and diming your "future" can sometimes work against getting a long-term commitment from in-house players, too.

The Twins need to get better than Gibson, circa 2018. Then they need to be better than Perez in anyway possible. And I will feel much better, then, about the Odorizzi and Pineda signings. Don't get me wrong. It is probably WRONG to assume that players will consistently get better from season-to-season. The best you can usually hope for is that player declines will offset those that do excel. And that it the gamble you sometimes (ofttimes) take on someone like Marco, that he can only get better in the next 1-3 years, rather than sink into oblivion. But you don't know that.

Eliser is not someone you go after if you are a competing team. Of course, you are substituing out Cave for him. And is he better than Smeltzer of Dobnak at this point in time, and how does he compare to other arms in the system? The bigger question, the NOT need for Cave,