Rosterman

Schoop will be a free agent. No need to cut him loose if he is contributing to team chemistry. September 1 is just around the corner. I had thought that the Twins might dangle him at the trade deadline. Ehire is another...how much do you spend to keep him around. He ahs contributed well this year, but is basically a carbon copy of Gonzalez.

Wow. Buxton will be tabled in contract negotiations. Cave shined last year. Partly because Zach Granite put himself on the disabled list. Wondered what would've happened if Granite had been available last year. Far from eprfect, he could play center and offered speed. Shows how an injury can slow your progress and also allow someone to leap frog you in the organization. Also, could've been an opportunity for LaMonte Wade to play. Better yet, Kepler in center and bring up Brent Rooker. Maybe get that 12th guy to hit 10 homers this year. Cave IS NOT cutting it in center. I like Cave and his state of play, but you have an open roster spot, let's see Rooker or Raley if/and when either becomes healthy. Heck, I would almost like to see Kirilloff get an early opportunity.

I would keep Kepler in center and put Cave in right. Hummmm...who best to tryout as a starting pitcher, especially since the Twins MAY NEED three new arms next season. Do we do a tandem in that spot come December when the rosters can expand, moving Perez to the bullpen? Six-man rotation (one being a tandem). Of course, the Twins need to play to win, too.

I go back to the days on penny cards with a stcok of gum. It took awhile to figure out that the cards were released in series (by checklist) and then learned to spot when it was an old box of cards out for sale compared to a new one. My dad, who still had his 30s Goudey cards when I was growing up, talked of the corner store where the guy opened all the packs and you could buy the cards you wanted (or needed). Bags and bags of that gum, which would get hard, like beef jerky, if left to sit. Then came the ability to buy sets (still got lots and lots of years in storage). Like comic books, it became more about the speciality item, then the grading. Amidst all the jersey cards, stickered signature cards and such, Topps is still the ultimate king, although the days when they controlled issuing a complete set of players is far far away. My grandboys (4 and six) came over and saw piles of cards on my table and happily recognized them as baseball cards, which made me think there is hope for the future, as long as the game is taught, played and kept appealing to view. But not sure how kids get cards these days. See a small wall at the mass market store, but the days of a box of cards for your dime or quarter at some neighborhood visit place, or even vending machines (Rowe postcards were famous at these) is long gone. Even major metro areas are lucky to have any semblence of a card store. It is paper, cardboard...with a photo and stats that one would memorize, and bend, and markup. The majority aren't worth a damn, except to someone going backwards, or someone upgrading the worn cards of their youth. But as memories, baseball cards allow you to relive a sport that you follow and love, although like everything else you can just make a page of photo memories on the net to view at on your phone rather than watch commercials between innings. Even autographs have become passe to selfie photos. Autographs, where a player will sign thousands of stickers to be palced on cards rather than ever have to interact with a fan, be them an oldtimer like me, or young kids. Beginners, just get a card of each play from your tem, or your favorite player. Stay away from the investment game. If something you do manage to obtain is worth $$$, okay be joyful. But keep it fun.

Interesting with the August waiver/trade month disappearing. Now you have to WANT to trade an asset. The msot popular assets to trade, when teams MIGHT seem desperate, are pending free agents, and prospects that are needing to be added to the 40-man roster. Even if your team is not in contention, there is NO NEED to trade players you still control, unless you see arbittration year two (or especially year three) being enormously expensive. If teams are truly dumping potential free agent assets, anything goes. Be interesting to see who does move in the last minutes for something, anything. Otherwise, will be curious to see what happens in August with high priced players/free-agents to be. Would, say, the Diamondbacks put Grienke out there just to rid themselves of the contract and would someone grab that contract (does that supercede any "no trade" clauses)? Some teams are being crafty (Mets for one). Some are just picking up sub-pieces to patch some holes. The Bauer trade was unique, but it would be like the Mets trading Sven for Byron, each team would be getting something they need for now AND the future, not just taking a gamble on prospects THAT MAY NEVER PAN OUT. July 31 might just be TO EARLY for teams to pull the plug. Are you forcing teams, instead, to keep their players (or release them outright) in order to tank going into late August and all of September? Will this "new" trade guideline actually create a better free agent market for the future (trying to still run that around the brain). Instead, you seem to just be trading $$$$, transferring payload from one team to another short term. Some teams signing low-end free agents seem to be getting soemthing abck in the deal. Some who did it (like our Twins), just saw the guys linger and then grabbed for modest cash return (Twins basically got money or money relief from the losses of Morin, Magill, Parker, Mejia...all of whom seemed to have some merit for signing with another team, but not enough to bring back a low-level player even). The only frustration with the Twins is that they MIGHT NOT be able to turn prospects on the cusp of need-to-be-added-to-40-man with no room, or potentially a free agent, or maybe being passed over in the pecking order (Gonsalves, Romero, Gordon, Wade come as an example). But these are far from the marquee prospects someone would wish to trade anything of substance, with the thought that they might just be available for little or nothing by the time next season rolls around.

Buxton and Sanoa s trade bait? Depends on the return. Both are becoming a tad more valuable, yet still not expensive enough that the Twins need to throw a lot of money at them. Have to think about what they MIGHT still become and at what cost. You got Buxton for three more seasons, Sano for two more after this season. They took a hit in value after 2018. Still not CHOICE pieces in the cheme of things. Wish replacements were a tad closer. Big decision for both side this winter.

Hey, just read the Cubs are looking for a second baseman. Would hate to part with Schoop, but we do have Arraez (and Gordon). Would the lineup survive with one less homer hitter in it? Would the Cubs want more power and infield play than the speed of, say, Villar? What could the Twins get in return (probably just more mid-level prospects). But flippable prospects? Would you trade Twins free agents if replaceable by internal assets or via trade (like move Odorizzi or Gibson if you have a starter coming abck in another trade). Teams are looking for pitching. Why not get something for your potential free agents, too! Heck, move Castro when he is hot with some value!

Carlos Torres is the casuality. Made more money holding a roster spot this week and not pitching than Devin Smeltzer who gave us five good ones. Torres is now one of those few guys to play for the Twins but didn't play for the Twins! Can you name the msot famous guy to hold that title? Chuck Schilling, acquired from the Red Sox and the extra body out of spring training who didn't see a game before being asked to go to the minors when rosters went to 25, refused assignment and retired.

We also have Carlos Torres! With Cody Allen in the wings. Combined with Sergio Romo, the Twins have added years of experience to the pitching staff! The bigger question: what to do with Fernando Romero and...Stephen Gonsalves. The Twins have already removed (and demoted further in the system) Vasquez and Moya. Tyler Jay is long gone. Jake Reed remains. Ryan Eades is disabled, as is Hildenberger. Anyone want to give D.J. Baxendale a chance? Is this the year September rosters are set at 28? Who do the Twins call up in September and what role do they play. Back when the Twins drafted all these relief pitcher power arms, one wondered why. You draft starting pitchers who throw multiple pitches and you turn them into bullpen arms if push comes to shove. Who from the recent grouping of Smetlzer, Poppen, Stashak, Stewart, Thorpe remains a rotation arm or becomes a bullpen arm?

Well, the Twins would need to protect Diaz sooner rather than later. Is he the first abseman of the future? Who knows. Seems the Twins are getting not one NUT TWO otehr prospects besides. Be interesting to sww how he pitches for the Twins.

We could use a fer sure closer. Defining PROSPECT. The window for a prospect is 3-5 years. Will they make the major leagues in that amount of time, and once in the majors how long to become a aprt of the team and contribute in some way. How many players make their major league debut each season from a draft staying thru the farm system each season. 4 or 5 guys, perhaps. (Yes, if totally in rebuilding mode, more). But out of those 40 names thrown into the organization following each draft day, how many spend 2-3 years in a minor league stsem, and how many get even a sliver of major league play with the drafted organization or another. Those are the magic ways you look at Prospects. And you look at depth and who is bumping whom (see Nick Gordon and Luis Arraez, for example). Actually, look at the Twin starting pitcher prospects going into 2018 compared to today. Wow. Is a team looking for players to put in time this season, contribute in a major way next season, and how many people will they gamble on for the future (think Santana to the Mets...we got a pitcher we needed to protect, an outfielder that we felt didn't need another year in the minors - and was flipped for a shortstop, and two pitchers...one who we flipped for Jon Rauch, one who never got to pitch for the Twins in his time in the minors or on the 40-man). Except that we added Hardy and Rauch as names in this deal, shows you that players received in a trade can also be used in a trade. But in the scheme of things, made no difference in the standings for the Twins. The Twins don't need Alex and Lewis of theya re keeping Rsoario and Buxton for a few more seasons of play. By then they have Larnach or others in the wings. So both of those HIGH draft choices could be in play -- except the Twins haven't signed Buxton or Rosario beyond the next couple of seasons. Or maybe they have higher feelings for the two high draft picks to repalce these guys, who will also be trade bait if theya re signed or not. It is a fascinating business, this baseball. I just wish they would eliminate one aspect. Somehow, in this day and age, I don't like the idea that you sell someone to someone else...i.e. "cash considerations" - although that is probably the whole purpose of independent league abseball.

I'm glad the Twins are ridding themselves of these pitchers. Great stories and they did use them and sent them on. But, yes, Parker was not pretty on the mound. That he was able to close in the beginnings of the season is a miracle. At some point, if a pitcher puts two men on base and not getting clean strikes, I would automatically pull him. Period. That's not what you bring them in to do. You have a deep bullpen and a regular shuttle with AAA Rochester

I'm liking Pineda more and more and wonder what the chances are of his returning to the Twins in 2020. If you do have to limit Pineda's innins come September, you have ample prospects to work with him in a game (Smeltzer, Thorpe, perhaps Stewart, Poppen or Stashak). Hey, I would offer out Jake Odorizzi right now, when he still has some value...assuming that you are trading for a top flight starter. Chances are you will not be resigning him.Let's see how he pitches right before the deadline. Perez would be a choice to go back to the pen if the rotation as is remains intact, but adds a power arm. Nothing like having another lefty in the pen. I feel good with the guys the Twins might need to add to the roster come September. Pitchers and a bat. But, the hard reality, we need a top-flight closer so Rogers can remain a setup guy!

You have to look at centerfielders as you do at catchers over the long haul. How long will they play center as hard as they do, and what do they bring to the table when they transition to a corner spot in the outfield, being replaced by the next good centerfielder. Like catchers, who control the game but basically are regulated to around 120-games max behind the plate, at some point they do cycle out-of-the-game or to a position like, say, first base...and how do their stats at bat translate to other options. Combined wth the fact that a centerfielder IS at their best in their youthful full-speed years, depending on development of play, you either bring them up to early and maybe they struggle, or too late and, again, they have to look over their shoulder at the next BIG prospect. The Twins have four BIG decisions. How much to pay Berrios to keep him in a Twins uniform. How much to pay Eddie Rosario, or do you trade him while he is so hot. Can you live with Buxton and what he brings currently to the game, and will he vastly improve, or stay at a level of, say, Aaron Hicks now playing in New York. Is the Buxton future similar to Denard Span, or closer to Torii Hunter. And what to do about Sano? All or nothing. There are always strikeouts in a game, But can you live with that one big hit every other game (you can, if you bury him in the batting order). As a third baseman Sano is bringing you something more to the plate, as long as he can field. But if you move him to first base are you better served by, say, a Cron...or even a Mauer...as the price ffor Sano expands. The evils of baseball. How much money do you gamble today (like Polanco and Kepler, both contracts look great now). Or do you continue to overpay in arbitration and suffer if they have a breakout season.

Well, you have to look at the bigger picture, too. Who in the organization, right now, MIGHT replace Rosario and/or Buxton if the Twins can't reach longterm agreements. The Twins will need a third baseman. If they feel the need to stick with Sano, moving him to first seems to be the future. Right now, the Twins COULD entertain offers on Schoop and Castro, both having some worth at the moment and neither guaranteed to be back with the Twins in 2020. I feel the Twins should actually dangle Gibson and Odorizzi out there, especially if they feel the NEED to go after a #1 starting pitcher. I picture that they MIGHT resign Pineda for 2020, which might not be a bad gamble (one year with an option). The Twins have basically given away a lot of bullpen arms, which makes you wonder WHY they were on the team (40-man roster) in the first place. They can't take all their TOP minor elague starters and make them bullpen arms, although have been impressed with Thorpe, Littell, Smeltzer in the role of bullpen arms. Kohl Stewart could be dangled. I wish Fernando Romero and Stephen Gonsavles had the value they had a year or two ago. Teams would be salivating at getting them. Now the Twins have to ask themselves if they really want to keep these guys, or will they be quickly passed by others (as is the case of Nick Gordon). Royce Lewis is an interesting case. Shortstop...or future centerfield guy. Alex and Rooker/Haley and Larnach are the future outfield, and there is still depth. Y'know, the only way the Twinsa re going to get a TOP NOTCH #1 and EXPENSIVE starter to come to Minnesota is to actually TRADE for the guy. We can talk all we want about potential free agents in the future, but the Twins are still (1) Cheap and (2) not at the top of ANY player's list, unless the Twins do grossly overpay. Of course, i predict that the Front Office will do nothing and wait to see who is offered up on the August waiver wire as a salary dump (watch the Oakland A's play that game, both ways). That will be interesting to see who will be willing to jettison salary!

They have been flat out lucky. Entering the season with no proven closer. Staying in first place thru the end of July with no proven closer, one lefty arm (who has become the closer) and little rhyme or reason on who does what in any situation. If the Twins were a .500 team, the bullpen would be brilliant.

Yep. I rememebr the early part of the season where the Twins were really good, because they played like a team. But the bullpen makes you cringe. Moreso when starters can't do six innings. They need reliable arms! The projects of Parker, Harper, Magill and Morin were good news, but they jsut can't cut it! Weren't the Twins ahead of Cleveland by 11+ games once, not too long ago?

The Twins need to make long-term decisions on Berrios and Rosario sooner rather than later, as well as Buxton and Sano. I'm less worried about the outfield and the chance of trading away, say, Rosario as there are prospects in the wings. If you keep the above core intact, you have prospects to tradde for sure. That is the BIG DECISION. Payroll should go up. After some lax seasons with the Twins id the middle of the apck...well, 2019 could easily have broken $135 million and if the Twins don't totally tank, they will be a revenue machine this season. They should be able to start ushing the $150 million envelope. The whole 55% of revenue is always a joke. What are the costs of front office and minors and others that changes drastcially every season. Not much, if you generate $10 or $20 or $40 million of revenue. If you take in $250 million, you can pay a payroll of $125 million. If you take in $300 million, your operating costs don't icnrease that much...like $25 million...no. You should be able to increase payroll to $150 million easily. But $175 could also happen. All the names you mntioned above could easily fill the roster in 2020. But who will be here in 2021, or better yet what will the 2022 Twins look like.

Yes, it your are a contender, reliable is the key. The ground ball pitcher. The flyball pitcher. The strikeout pitcher. Consistent. And the ability of a starter to get you to the 7th inning. When trouble arises (two guys on) you have another dependable arm that SHOULD be able to shutdown the situation. The key is to win the game, not get as much as you can out of one guy to keep everyone resh for another day.

I just cringe these days when Sano comes to the plate. Sano and Buxton (out, of course) are such key players, but seem to be outplayed (at least offensively) by everyone else on the team. The ability of the team to manufacture runs is also questionable. Stopping at second rather than pushing towards third. Of course, doesn't matter if a player after strikes out rather than put a ball in play. You can speak ill of the starters. Buit besides Taylor Rogers, you don't know what to expect from any otehr bullpen arm (although Littell has been a great spark). Was hoping Trevor May had turned the corner. The only plus about the next 7 games is that the Indians will have a similar series later.

Whew! Now have to look back to see if there was ever a season this bad...for the rotation!

It's a;; about the 40-man. Remember, they still have Romero and Eades in the mix. If you remove someone, you may lose them. If you add someone inexperienced from the minors, they are holding a spot aand because of their "future" you will be ahrd-pressed to jettison them. That the Twins have already passed on Moya, Vasquez, DeJong and Mejia, as well as goodbyes to Morin and Adams. They have three roster spots. Which is pretty darn amazing, because besides Eades and Wade and/or Cave, the Twins have few bodies to move...unless they would aprt ways, too, with Parker, Magill. They have to make a hard decision on Gonsalves and Romero. If they could bunch those two in a trade, it would probably benefit the team and the 40-man today and tommorrow gratly. And, withthe guys in AA and below, service time becomes a question, especially if you still wish to develop them as a bullpen arm. No one mentions Jake Reed.

Looking at a strong bullpen from prospects in the future. The rub, you can't protect them all. And the chances of acquiring an arm (or two) in free agency limits the number of these guys that will advance. Fernando Romero is somewhere. Should he become a starter? Is he a bullpen arm? Did the Twins miss the ball on using him as a tradable prospect? Interesting how the names have changed since the start of the season. No more Littell (now a bullpen arm). No more DeJong or Mejia. Goncalves is still in the mix...maybe. Will he be, perhaps, the next J.D. Durbin or Alex Wimmers?

Yes. A starter betetr than anyone in their rotation. Odorizzi seems to be back, but is absically still a good five inning pitcher. Anything beyond that is a bonus. Having he starter for at least one more season is also a plus. I don't see the Twins bringing back Odorizzi or Gibson. Unless they totally strike out in the free agent marketplace. Pineda may be a return candidate, at a discount from his current price. And would be a noteworthy gamble as he would be totally recovered from surgery. The Twins also need a #1 bullpen arm, a topflight closer. If they also get a rotation arm, then one of the guys in the rotation move to the pen, be it Perez (an additional lefty who can pitch thru a batting order) or perhaps even Gibson. The Twins have many potential weakness in the pen, from Magill to Morin to Duffey to Parker. Even Harper isn't a given. Be interesting to see how Littell and May end the season.Also be interesting to see what couple of arms would disappear if the Twins add arms. More than likely total removal from the 40-man!

Glad they pulled Odorizzi when they did. As qwell as Duffy. You have a two-run lead. Don't walk anyone. If they are going to score, let them hit a homer (which the next batter did). But don't fool around and go to a three-ball count either on a .194 hitter. Throw strikes earlier, not as a last resort. Y'know, it is probably easier to give advice and observations than actually do things during a game, right?