Rosterman

We were excited after 2017. And don't forget that also added Lance Lynn in 2018. The free agents helped. But the Twins, because then didn't compete, did manage to move some for some talent (as well as prospective free agents). Hey, if 2019 didn't happen as it did, the Twins would've been flipping Odorizzi, Pineda, Schoop, Cron and Castro, too for more and mroe prospects, rather than losing them to free agency. Always remember, everyone wants the BEST of the free agents. But everyone does have payroll restrictions, or roster space availability. (Remember now, Pineda needs to hold a 40-man spot thru spring training. He then can go on the suspended list opening the season. The Twins could add someone from the minorleague side. But also remember that when Pineda comes back, unless they are disabled and go to the 60-man, the Twins will have to lose a player, perhaps from the organization as well as as the 40-man. And one more comment on payroll. Some teams (i.e. Yankees) have the ability to release/not play $30-40 million of payroll and not have it hurt them on the field. The majority of teams cannot afford to have that talent collecting paychecks and not producing, let alone outright releasing a body and eating their payroll cost (i.e. the Twins eating Addison Reed's salary, paying for Mike Lamb to play ball for anotehr couple of seasons........).

The Front Office is still remaking the Twins in their own desired image. Last year they finally got to put their own field staff on the diamond. The management of the minor leagues has been shuffled and should be fully revised this coming season. There is still a shakeout on what to do with the star prospects of the old regime (Berrios, Rosario, Sano, Buxton) for how long and how much. I'm seeing that a bigger emphasis is being placed on grooming players for future roles, and I don't doubt that something big might happen. But the timetable I saw for the Twins FLavine regime was 2021. The made some good moves last season. They will do the same this season. Again, the big decision is Sano longterm, at third or first of just as a Twin. How much is Berrios worth...is he a $100 million pitcher. Will Buxton be a Twin forever or pushed by Larnach to anotehr team. I think what they do with Rosario between now and spring training will also speak...take the chance and move him when he MIGHT be worth his most...and for what? They still are getting a feel for the farm system. But I can see them following the Astros format and grabbing a big-money name like Grienke for some prospects rather than signing a guy for 5-7 years and $200 million. They will always be out there at trade deadline, but you carefully think about what they bring now and in the future at what cost. It ain't easy being a general maager. There's three or four stellar free agents. The chances of them coming to Minnesota is nill, unless you have been placing yourself in the World Series year-after-year. And then, like starting pitchers, there ae a dozen teams looking at guys like Odorizzi, Gibson, Pineda who would happily pay less than what they guys got this year. The competition comes in paying more than what the guys got. A player wants money. They want a contract of length. The want to play for a competitive team. They look at location and what other possible revenue opportunities exist for them (ads, spokesperson). They have agents pushing for them to take the biggest contract today.

So do the Twins own the complez and ownership the team?

I would think the Twins could easily match this, and probably given the Orioles someone even closer to pitching in the majors. Lots of uncertainity in all those young arms.

People say two years and $15. So why didn't the A's sign him. Use him as a flippable themselves. The other interesting fact: the A's were offering him to any team willing to take the aribtration salary, and also give the A's something in return. That, in itself, is a warning sign.

The only drawback, I seem to remember, is that Mauer was out for most of the 2004 season and we were stuck with Henry Blanco (who played the best he has ever played) plus Pat Borders and Rib Bowen. Nathan was lights out. Boof and Francisco didn't show up until 2005.

There seemed to be a lot more marketing of players and their teams, as well as players in the major league baseball orbit. That ash changed with litle or no loyalty on both ends, sadly. But back to records. Have changed with the times, numebrs of games, way the game is played. Especially team records. But soemthin to alk about who bring recognition to a certain stat. My gripe is talking about being "such and such" against the Tigers last year, or the record of the Twins against the Yankees. The teams change so much, even in a year now, that you can't judge how that guy pitched or played against last year's version of any team, so why do it?

I am surprised that there isn't "radio" between the dugout and catcher/pitcher. Instead of the catcher looking to the dugout sometimes for a pitch call. Errors. Happens if a bad throw from the catcher to a base which allows for an advancement of the runner. The passed ball is essentially an error, but still not an error unless a runner scores. It's when the catcher looks to have control but misses the ball. Yes, don't understand why NOT just call it for what it is. Boy, not only does a catcher have to know all about a batter (as should the pitcher), but ahs to work in conjunction with the pitcher for a throwing plan. And what happens when a new pitcher comes in? Which is why you see more and more catchers lined-up with specific rotation arms. Imagine doing the squats of a catcher, having to watch the game thru a mask, keeping the arm in shape to throw back 140 times to the mound. The catcher throws more pitches, per say, than the pitcher in a game. Just doesn't need the speed or pinpoint control. I can live with the electronic umpire. So the catcher doesn't have to play the games with their glove so much. Maybe eliminate some wild pitches and passed balls, too.

There is little reason the Twins shouldn't be the same or better overall (current player-wise) in 2020. Everyone is still is sorta prime playing years. The ball may not bomb as far, so the Twins need to work on advancing that extra base. The bullpen looks pretty strong. Hopefully money spent will replicate the rotation which started the majority of the season games with just five arms in 2019. Arraz will have a bit less pop than Schoop, but a full season from any numebr of players or positions might help offset that. Do the Twins need speed on the bases? Is fielding still an issue? Can they WIN in Target Field? Those are the questions I see in 2020.

People don't get excited about the signing of minor league free agents, and in the past it was reported as Big News, but now seems to gets hedlines at MLBtraderumors. You would think that with around 150 players in your organization, one wouldn't need to sign players to mostly play at AAA ball (with a few starting their next turn at AA ball). Can you explain to all of us the reasoning behind minor league free agents, the reason an organization will spend extra money to bring in players looking for a comeback or stalled then jettisoned by a team, or reflect on some gem moments you might remember of such signings in, prhaps, the past decade?

Okay. 2020 will be a year that Pineda ahs to prove that he is worth a long-term contract. I picture him going into spring training still looking for a job, unless someone blows him away with dollars. He has to prove that he can throw well in spring training, be added to a 40-man roster so he can be suspended on Day One. Those roster spots are priceless. He is suddenly faced with being in a position of having to bump someone from the 40-man, or find a team that, after next week, has an open roster spot. Let's assume the Twins do have a full roster. You sign Pineda and jettison Hildenberger or Harper or who? He then sits for acouple of months, doing some workouts (permitted) at the Ft. Myers complex, or does he have to do that outside of the Twins organization, at a neighboring college or facility, on his own dime. Pro-rated contract signing, too. If he pitches well in 2020, he should easily match Kyle Gibson's three-year contract. But right now, what spot do you put him on a roster. When suspended, you add another player back into the mix. But then you also have to remove a body when he comes back (and, yes, you will probably have a DL move or one of those AAAA guys rotating in-and-out). I'm not really sure that any team will be eager to sign Micahel. I may be wrong. His agent may be working the phones (for his commission). But Pineda has a lot to prove. The best bet is that he will pitch his heart out in 2020 looking towards the future. So that could be the one plus!a

Orioes cutting loose Jonathan Villar. Is he a possibility to switch things up between 2B SS 3B? Fives the Twins some needed stolen bases, plys a solid bat (few too many K's). - ?

A stupid stupid rule. If you are using a pitcher for one batter, youa re hurting your opportunities anyway. If a guy just doesn't have it, why let him load the bases. What is the penalty if you don't follow this rule?

Depends on the future of Rosario. Depends on the longterm contract of Buxton. What the Twins do with Cron. No Cron, then Rooker could be in the mix for a callup. Not on the 40-man, they won't add him until they have to add him. 2019 was a lost season for him and Raley. If both were healthy, they could've come up in September and taken the at bats we gave to LaMarre et al. Larnach, too, is the future. Unless we have a major major injurt to two guys, him and Kirilloff will play AAA ball all season. Remember, you won't have unlimited callups this year in September. Waiting to see what minor league free agents the Twins sign. They always sign more than a dozen, losing a few in spring training. In any other season, I would see giving "youngsters" a starting chance. If the Twins truly put together a competitive team (depends on the rotation), we can argue about how much prospect depth they truly need in the minors.

Duran and Graterol have a higehr ceiling than Jax. Smeltzer, Poppen and Thiroe are ahead of him. A good story, the military guy drafted and able to play during his service time. Some team will grab him. The Twins have add to an abundance of outfielders. Decisions have to be made on Cron and also the status of Rosario. So Raley protect them as someone ready to step up, if you feel Cave and Wade aren't the future. Celestino could be the future and one would like to think that he could come north as a fourth outfielder if injuries happen...playing the corners OR centerfield. You want a free $4 million player...grab Javier and make him your 26th. Cheap investment for Rule 5 monies. Who knows, out of the gate he might surprise a non-contending team that can take the chance putting him on the field.

Considering Brian Dozier got a bigger contract with Washington, the Twins did pretty good. The thought of Schoop being more than a stopgap...naw. At best, he could've been a tradable asset in July, but because of the team's standing it didn't happen. He is still young and rebuilt his career a bit. Should be able to land a decent multi-year contract, but not with the Twins. A good signing. Didn't cost you anything but money.

Right now he is a team friendly guy. Considertion can be given depending on Buxton results and what happens to Rosario. But see his status as improving.

Polanco and Kepler are both like Span, decent contracts that could easily be moved, no matter their production, if the future pushes forward. Buxton isn't a superstar. He could be another Carlos Gomez or Aaron Hicks. Or maybe Ben Revere. Contracts are always give-and-take. The player has age on their side in this case, as well as in the case of Sano. Rosario reminds me of Delmon Young. You should trade when he shows value rather than roll the dice that producton will continue. If he produces at the same rate, you can at least say you aren't overpaying for that rate. Berrios reminds me of Liriano. Maybe thinking too much about the future. (Remember Frank Rodriguez, similar thought - or Matt Garza). You aren't a sueprstar until you are a superstar. Berrios will be good. He may even be great. But I don't see the Twins hitting $200 million for a pitcher in the next decade, even if home grown, sadly. In the game of baseball, you use and discard. Hopfully you have a good pipeline, trading savy, or can attract suitable free agents. The Twins have long been hit-and-miss in trades, free agents aren't lining up to come here, and I think of all those pitchers the Twins drafted high, as well as getting in the trades of Revere and Span, and shudder. I do wish the Twins would advance players sooner rather than late, as 20-21 year-olds (shades of Brusdal Graterol). Are Kirilloff and Lewis the real deals? Or Larnach. Yet unless youa re willing to get a good 10-year deal with the guys right out of the box, truth be told they will leave once they reach free agency, and slowly moving them up, playing for a couple of half years, might get you 7-8 years of play with only a modest highend expense at the end. What would you do on a Sano contract today? Or a Buxton? Netter yet, Berrios? Would you sign Rosario for $75 million today? Could you get him for $45, or even $60 mil and would you want to?

The tough call is one-year left. And doesn't he want to only sign one-year contracts? Yes, the Twins could replace Rosario (with someone cheaper no doubt). And Gordon is a spare piece today. They could afford the dollars. Is his an attitude you want on the team? Perhaps. And, dependng on his play, he could get a qualifying offer. If his season is like last year's, chances are he would take it.

There is soemthing to the fact that Minnesota is not always the highest on any free agent's list to come and play (for some odd reason). When they have signed free agents, we often complain that they overpay for some guys, because we can't get the big names (or refuse to oevrpay bigtime). And all the talk we like to do about trades like we are running a fantasy ballteam, you have to have players that fulfill a need in another organization, be it on the major league roster or in the minor league prospect spectrum to pull off a trade. If we can find fault with our players, otehr teams must see that same fault. Teams will trade to (1) get rid of salary (2) not have to worry about further arbitration or potential free agency (3) someone appears on the cusp (4) someone is a pretty prized - and paid in bonus money - prospect (5) an injury happens and you need an immediate replacement - be it longerm or maybe just shortterm and/or (6) change of scenery.

You have Berrios. Hopefully there is an upside to Berrios and he will continue to improve. Who do you replace Odorizzi with? Someone who can go five innings? Someone not tied into a 3-4 year contract? Imagine there are quite a few possibilities. Who do you repalce Gibson with. ANyone. Here I would consider adding a bigger name free agent, be it Wheeler or Bumgarner. Who replaces Pineda? My concern with Pineda is - did he get better because of what he was taking? If you can get Gibson and Pineda on rasonable one year ofers, I would sign both and hope Gibson shows up strong in spring training. Gibson still ahs health concerns. Will they come abck? Pineda will miss the first month-and-a-half. Who replaces Perez? Agan, anyone. Heck, I would consider Odorizzi a fine upgrade if he takes the one year deal. But I am afraid of Odorizzi over the longterm. The Twins also need a spot or a way to look at future arms in their organization. Do they have enough worthwhile arms to devote one roster spot to giving them experience. Thorpe, Dobnak, Smeltzer are this year's cropy. Graterol is also a strong consieation. The Twins have 4-5 othre names that could be contributing at the backend of the rotation starting in 2021 and maybe being a futrue major league star. But the question always is...if you BUY rotation arms, then what do you do with the arms in the system. Do you basically let them walk over time (see Stewart, Slegers, Gonsalves) or do you package them when they still have some perceivd worth for offense, or other prospects that you can, in turn, apckage still at another date. Simply by throwing money at the fan the Twins should be able to upgrade over Odorizzi, Gibson, Pineda and Perez. Within their own system they should be able to upgrade over Perez and Gibson 2019. I am not comfortable with Odorizzi longterm. I am not sure how bad the Twins need to be the second-round rehab for Pineda. They have the money to spend. They need a swecond catcher (still cheap). They also need a closer, which should be job one. Spend big on this arm, and the otehr aprts of the bullpen will thrive. You should still have $30-40-50 million to spend on rotation arms.

I would let him explore the market.

Well, trading away four pieces that if the Red Sox can put them on the field in their lineup and stay competitive, then why can't the Twins do the same. Betts over Rosario, for one year? Yes, getting Price for only 3 years rather than signing a Price-like free agent for 5-7 years is what the Astros do so well. But Bala has such promise. I would rather roll the dice on Graterol than Balaz being redy in another season, than $90 million on Price at this point. I don't see Price being the one to ensure us a World Series day. Gordon will start at AAA but should be numebr one for a call up if anyone in the infield goes dow. Or maybe he does bump Adrianza out of a job. Or proves to be a more valuable addition to the roster than third catcher Austildo. We lose Sano and stuck with Cron at first. Gonzalez at third? Yes, the Twins can take on the salary dump of someone else. Yes, that team would want players that they can pencil in. But if the players to pencil in are in demand by a team like the Red Sox, then the Twins better reevaluate their own take on prospects. Off-season 2019 may be the time to move Rosario and Sano. You'd like to think they will increase in value (as well as payroll cost). But what if they don't. Are they worth prime players now? The flip for Gray brings to mind a reent post on mlbtraderumors about the Padres being such a rich farm system that they are in the hunt for trading future talent for major league talent. I would think the Twins are in a very similar position.

I would not part with this pitcher. Now hopefully he won't miss a season becaue of some surgical need.

Stealing a base happens because you need something to happen and you have the right mix of batter and player on base. At best, a ruenr steals a base. At worst, the guy on base is a threat and disturbs the pitcher. The Twins are fortunate to NOW have two guys potentially in the lineup who put the ball in play: Arraez and Astulido. But I like it more if the guys on abse have the ability to take that extra base than put themselves in a situation for injury (or an out) with a steal. And, yes...if the Twins do not hit home runs in 2020, then they have to do a better job of getting runners home when they have no or one out and guys in scoring position.