Rosterman

Odorizzi can't pitch more than five innings. New rules MAY happen in which a player can only be sent back/forth five times in the season. GRIFFIN JAX is the workhorse and may make the roster jsut because of this factor. If you are going to tag-team starters (or use an opener), best to only do this with two pitchers at most. Which means the Twins NEED three pitchers to pitch 150+ innings, 35 starts. And ytou still need to burn thru bullpen arms. You can sign a bunch of minor league free agents, use them and lose them. But you still have to juggle the 40-man roster spot. Right now, the Twins have two openings, and will have at least two more once the season opens when Enlow and Maeda go on the DL.

Getting a few more of these happening. Once the minor league season starts, will be able to review ALL the former Twins that are playing in other systems after spring training cuts. Then later in April, Indy Leagues (which recently saw the return of Oswaldo Arcia, remember him?).

Korea baseball has set rosters. BYUNG-HO PARK is still slugging the ball for another season after breaking his 3-year contract he signed with the Twins back in 2016. Glenn Sparkman, a former minor league free agent, is there. CHARLIE BARNES, a lefty who pitched some in 2021, is looking to thrive over there. Being a lefty, and the Twins short on pitching, was surprised when they removed him from the 40-man in the off-season. DREW RUCINSKI who pitched for the Twins in 2017, returns for his 4th season in Korea.

When you can grab a prospect another team invested $7 million to possibly become a part of your own future, it is hard to take something less. Especially when there is only college numbers to go from. Yet, still, he started out the chute at AA and should be at AAA. Don't expect him with the Twins in 2022 unless he plays shortstop...the Twins will go thru many other folks in what will be a rebuilding year. Sadly, he SHOULD play in 2022 if you look at the big picture, at least at the end of the year. But, hey, 40-man roster decisions are hell.

The Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association announced yesterday that Jim Thome has been hired as their next president. He takes over for fellow Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson, who had worked in that role since 1989. The MLBPAA, a nonprofit organization of over 8,600 current and former big leaguers, has a stated goal of “(promoting) the game of baseball, (raising) money for charity, (inspiring) and (educating) youth through positive sport images and (protecting) the dignity of the game.” “With what Brooks has done with his honesty, integrity, and leadership skills for the MLBPAA, I am very fortunate that I will be able to lean on him as well and ask him questions,” Thome said as part of the press release announcing the news. “To be the president is a great honor and it’s very humbling.“ From MLB Trade Rumors

After time in Japan and Mexico, Oswaldo Arcia returns to try his hand in indy ball and return to a major league organization. In some ways, he was the outfielding version of Miguel Sano that the Twins cut loose...hoping he would never become David Ortiz. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/02/oswaldo-arcia-twins-top-prospect-independent-league-cleburne-railroaders.html

Last year the Twins signed more than 30 minor league free agents, and it seemed the AAA roster was full of such names for most of the season. A few are always necessary as that stopgap, if necessary, between innjury or prospect play. The Twins will have to find room for 10 plays currently on their 40-man roster in the two higher levels of the min or leagues. St. Paul currently has 4-6 sports. AA is full, but some of those will backtrack or be released. But there are a few on the AA roster (Jordon Gore, for example) that you would like to see start at AAA.

Two questions in spring training offensively. Donaldson and Kirilloff. Can Kirilloff play first base, or does he start in left field, or does he go back to the minors. Then you carry three catchers, as Garver and Sano can both DH. The health of Josh Donaldson. Is he your regular third baseman? Yes, Rooker is on the bubble, but the Twins need a left-fielder. Spring training is his to get a chance at the job or lose it. All the "prospects" could basically go back to St. Paul: Lewis, Miranda, Larnach, Celestino, Rortvedt. The Twins currently have two roster spots, and two more on the 40-man once the season styarts. I hate to say, but I think Beckham will be given every chance to be the starting shortstop. No need to go big on a shortstop until they figure out Martin & Lewis. And what is available for money (or trade) in the starting pitching market. Once the lockout ends, it will be hell...I'm sure. Every free-agent needs to sign as fast as possible to get proper training and play time. Players are going to love reporting to the A's training camp, only to be told they are going elsewhere 2-3 days later. Will "prospects" really get much play or will they immediately be shuffled to the minor league camps for getting in shape and opening the minor league season on time, with current minor league playes coming across the field as necessary fill-ins? My fear, players on the major league rosters are going to end up hurt coming out of a shorter spring training.

Twins released LACHLAN WELLS, signed out of Australia waaaay back in 2015. The lefty starter had mixed success in the system, but basically hasn't pitched the last two season fighting injuries and only had a brief stint at High A in 2019. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=wells-000lac Catcher JUAN CENTENO signed with the Diamondbacks for debth in their system. The 32-year-old played in 55 games for the 2016 Twins. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/centeju01.shtml J.T. PEREZ was picked up by the Detroit Tigers. The 26-year-old lefty was a Twins prospect from 2018-2020. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=perez-000jt-

The question is would he be a fixable gamble for the price. The Twins, in some ways, are pitching prospect rich. Again, you take the best affordable and signable prospect available to you and go from there.

He's going to have to deal with a lot of video and getting thru an order a second or a third time. The game plan, sticking to it, or making healthy adjustments is his key to success. Otherwise, mind willing, he could bvecome the top flight closer the Twins need. But let's give him all the rope he needs to be a top-line rotation arm.

Mor games,ore playing time. You can have a guy pitch fewer innings (thus the need of an opener or two), or just say don't care. Part of the love of baseball is the length of the season. So much can happen. Right now, Twins players need all the playing time they can get. If spring training camp opens a week late, picture the Twins sending out Rortvedt, Lewis, Miranda and Larnach sooner rather than later to get as much develoopment time before the minor league season begins. Last year, the Twins minors held tight to pitches thrown and innings pitched. I imagine we will see a lot of short starts at all levels with pitchers reaching four or five innings come July. The hope would be that ALL minor league starters pitch at least 100 innings and few push 150. Then would be pretty set for 2023. Of course, we want Ober and Ryan to push, in the majors closer to 150. I picture Griffin Jax being the workhorse in Minnesota, barring any free agent signings of note.

There is seldom a best or worst team in AAA or most any minor league ball, as players move about with too much frequency. Although the sponsoring hometown franchise hopes for the playoff best, they service player development and advancement. A team may be better, or ouright worse, by fielding only their own developed and signed prospects. Others may find a surge because they are top heavy with established minor league veterans. Which is why minor league play tends to be more of a "fan experience" day at the game. Always surprising how many a mid-season All-Star is no where in the league that would choose them, or the actual playoff roster is 40% changed from the opening day roster.

Twins grab another shortstop candidate, ELLIOT SOTO, who can immediately start to play in minor league camp. Interestingly, the Twins drafted Soto back in 2007, but he chose not to sign with them. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=soto--001ell My only question is who is going to play and where. Austin Martin could be bumped to AAA. Looks more and more like Royce Lewis would start at AA after a delayed spring training. Beckham and Robertson were recently signees and both could be considered for the major league roster, getting a job on any 40-man guys. Of course, they would have to be added to the 40-man. Where does Palacios fit into the Twins minor league and overall picture. Twins, when the lockout end,s will still have two vacant spots on the 40-man, and also two spots of guys who will be on the long-term disabled list. So people in minor league camp will be watched closely, for shortstop, rotation or bullpen arms.

I wish there was a better way to handle arbitration. Players want salary increases each of the first two seasons. It currently is thre, and teams can give a modest increase if they wish. But the stickler is arbitration, where a player in years 4-6, if they underperformed, are seldom taking a pay cut in salary, and many are cut loose (and unsignable then by the home team) because the arbitration salary "seems" too much. Having a 6 or 7 year salary structure based on service time doesn't work, because, again, as we see with so many minor league free agents, you m Money. The Twins often claim that they can't go above 55% of revenue to pay players. Most all teams took a hit that they have to makeup, somehow, from the past two seasons, although the franchise investment has gone bonkers...up. Yet teams are never penalized if they go below (or far below) the 55%. The stickler are those teams that have (some) twice as much to spend as others. How to even it out and what is the penalty level on both ends. But back to 55%. If the Twins have a $105 payroll on a $200 million revenue stream, do they have a $160 million payroll on a $300 million revenue stream. I always questioned where they suddenly spend that additional $50 million. Do front office employees ghet raises of substance or do they still hire the cheapest possible (ever see what the sales people make in Twinsland). Where does that monety go when basic operation costs are pretty much fixed. As a fan, I want to see a better experience of going to a game, keeping it affordable. I also want to have players that stay with my team, and perform as a team rather than individuals. I also want to see them as part of the community (as ell as ownership), if nothing else promoting the sport of baseball from Little League to high chools across the state.

The logistical problems of minor league baseball. Give players a housing and food stipend. To some, it won't be enough. Others will crowd four or five or even six into a two bedroom apartment. You have a kitchen. House them all on a floor of a hotel, or a motel. But then, you can't purchase and prepare your own food. The mini-firdge and a microwave isn't what is necessary to have a good diet, and watch the players raise havoc if the place has free breakfast downstairs. But having some sort of controlled housing is also a gem, as a good portion of players do move about the system during the season. Of course, you also forget that the rooms aren't used all season. Players are on the road. Their vehciles, the hometeam stadium locker rooms, where they reside, sits empty. How much can a team invest in a full service kitchen, meeting all the codes necessary (don't locker rooms have codes). If you count staff, you would need to prepare 50 meals three times a day. Players can come and work out, if the facility is there, or play pick-up on the field. When visiting teams come, do they indulge in your team services, or stick to the per diem given for their own road use. Remember, players on the road basically have a room, some meal money, and can work out at the hotel or the guest locker room. Is that so hard to do for every player in the minors for every day of play? In some ways, teams are better served giving (absorbing) these costs overall. They can write it off as expense, not paying payroll on income taxes. Not sure how minor leagues work for workmans comp and what the insurance bill is like, especially when players do suffer injuries...that should be 100% covered by a team policy. How much should players get paid? There is a rising pecking order as you go up in the system. Minor league free agents after six years can make upwards of $50,000 a season. The pain with being a minor elague player is having that extra money, especially if married or with kids and supporting a home away from your in-season home. But what is the lifespan of most minor league players? Two years? Three? Before being passed by a new draftee? Many jobs have internships. One season, I was offered an East Coast internship in theatre. I would have to pay to get there, a shared room and food was supplied. But anything else came out of my pocket. We worked more than 40 hours a week mounting shows the first few weeks. Once up and running we worked 4-5 hours at most a night. I passed on that job and took another that paid me $125 a week, plus shared room and food (this was 1975). The next year I took the non-paying job similar to the above but closer to home to get the added experience, since I wasn't doing anything that summer anyway and had some ways to make money while not living "at home." But thankfully I didn't have a lease somewhere. But never again. Next year, followed the money. Since those days of the 70s, I do hope that most internships, like minor league play, do pay something while they work your ass off.

Cristian Guzman, who was talked about elsewhere...I keep remembering when he signed four years with the Nats for $14 m illion and our infamous Dark Star said "Nats signed him for $14 million, NATS SIGNED HIM FOR $14 million." Emphasis meaning that it was either a great deal, or they overpaid for someone who wouldn't have to really work hard to produce. Sometimes, I feel the same with Sano. He got that bonus. Put him in a good situation. And the Twins keep throwing money at him that he never ever thought possible. The player then has to decide that THIS IS GREAT or "I can make a ton more money if I really work hard, produce, and wow the sky is the limit." He strikesout. He kills a rally. He can surprise with a loud dinger. Sometimes he seems to be working hard and listening, then abck to chasing low and waaaay outside. If the contract continues into 2023 for the Twins, it is NOT a good contract. Can they trade him now, maybe if a DH happens in the NL. But any sign he shows of pop and average and fielding ability might make him tradeable during the season. Or teams will jsut wait the Twins out and see if they cut him loose, with a $3 million check for doing nothing.

The Twins need innings. Can they BUY or TRADE for two guys who can give them close to 200 over 35 starts? Then we have to be happy. They can sign Pineda or trade for Odorizzi. Only rasoning would be that if the Twins tanked, they would be tradable. Remember, no one called when Pineda as available in 2021. But they we need roster spots, and who do they temporarily push back to St. Paul...Ryan, Ober? Ryan and Ober will make me happy if they reach 150 innings. Jax could pitch more if we put him in the rotation. But pretty much anyne else (Thorpe, Strotman, Sands, Winder) would be hard=-pressed to do 100+ innings. That's the key, how the Twins balance the lightrail between Saints-land and Target Field. And we still have a team that if they wish to wn needs a real closer. Could use an upgrade at shortstop. Tell us who is playing left field. Also, who is on first or playing designated hitter. Can they find space for Arraez and Miranda. If so, where? They have two roster spots. Who comes off in a trade. How much fluff do they still actually have (okay, Enlow and Madea go on the long-term DL once the season starts). Two big starters added to the top would be a plus. Considering the next three would be tag-teaming in 2022 with another 2-3 guys.

At worst,. it jsut means major league players play sooner rather than later and 40-man guys destined for the minors go there on Day One.

Since the beginning, an offshoot of the Bonnes efforts, Gameday and Seth. I keep coming, daily, because you find interesting ways to keep the baseball conversaion going, especially in the off-season (remember when the dailies did at least a baseball story once a week in the off-season). Plus, never better than of late, with the lockout, limited player movement, spring training on-hold, no Twinsfest, No Caravans. Plus opening it up to so many other spot bloggers! Thanks for keeping it alive and going strong!

DANIEL GOSSETT signed by the Twins and assigned to the Saints. The right-handed starter had a couple of callups with the Oakland A's. Recently he pitched in the Red Sox organization (the team that first drafted him, unsigned). https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=gosset000dan

If he shows up as a late season callup in 2025, we should all be glad. Of course, he needs to stay healthy and throw innings. Picture he will stay in instructional ball to start 2022 and probably pitch in short season, just so they can watch him make adjustments. Although having the low-A team also in Ft. Myers can be for his benefit. Petty will get a call-in there if the opportunity arises. 2023 is still all Ft. Myers so they can watch and work with him. If he shines, look for him to make a game jump to high-A or even AA JUST TO FACE SOME OLDER TALENT. 2024 he WILL SPEND THE SEASON AT HIGH-A BALL. 2025 HE WILL SPEND THE SEASON AT AA BALL. Sadly he will probably need Tommy John surgery or something like that right when the Twins need to consider adding him to the 40-man. But, if not, the Twins MIGHT see him on the major league roster in 2026, as he would probably have been added to the 40-man in the off-season. Vut he will spend most of the time at AAA ball, unless he has refocused into a bullpen arm by then. That means the Twins, under current MLB contracts, would have control of him up into the 2032 season. But I can only wonder "What If" he shines and comes to the majors at age 21 or 22.

Means Cruz will have a job and might even be able to get a two-year contract! Donaldson would be a geat pickup if a team has a rookie third baseman. Otherwise, don't think there are any shortages of possible DH candidates already on msot National League teams. It will be more of finding someone to replace the player on the field so the player can be a DH. But...yes, I would listen to any offers for Sano!

The plus is: He is a starter and just needs the work, even if limited to 3-4 inning starts to begin his season. But this is the type of guy that will be hurt more with the lockout (not to mention any other arm prospect on the 40-man), since they have to go thru a training period before even reporting to Triple-A, which means they will get screwed on development when the major league club is trying to get the north 26 play. Balazovic and Strotman will start at St. Paul, but again , pushed back. Duran, Sands and Vallimont might all start, sadly, at AA ball. What a mess. Not to mention if Jax is a rotation or bullpen arm for the Twins. Players already hurt by a non-esixtent 2020 are getting killed with any lockout. Major league baseball is a broken broken mess...money rules.

Draft them young. A BIG International Signing. Throw them together in a competitive game where everyone wants to be a winner, a star, and you gotta see who succeeds, who listens, who works, and how they adapt. And then, in this list, you have two names: one who wasn't going to continue to find a 40-man spot for another team because he was being pushed by more talented arms, and one who you just hope will settle down and become a big-leaugue contributor. Those two, Vallimont and Strotman should pretty much be guarantee a chacne to pitch in the majors in 2022 (why Strotman didn't in 2021 is beyond me, giving innings to Albers and others). But then, again, the Twins seem to have too many names like that on the roster right now...will they shine in 2022 and be long-term Twins, or are they just placesetters: Thorpe, Dobnak (despite his contract), Jax, Stashak, Thielbar, Garza Jr. And waiting in St. Paul: Smeltzer, Coulombe, Sammons, Mason, and any number of minor league free agent signees hoping to take starts away from Balazovic, Sands, Winder and maybe Duran. Moran will be an interesting watch when spring training happens, as he needed more exposure last August and September but was kept back so we could see Barraclough, Coulombe, Farrell, Law, Minaya, Gibaut (especially him), Vincent, and Albers. There's not a lot of bullpen relief if people go down on the 40-man, unless you look at Thorpe or Jax coming out of the pen, so suspect there will be rotating 40-man chairs as the Twins finally take a look at Cano or Hamilton, amongst so many others. The pain there is you havce to add carefully if you want to keep the guy and he doesn't quite produce, or is forced back to the minors when the injured come back. Right now, I'm counting 152 names on Twins minor league roster after the jettisons of the Fall. Probably 20-30 or so will be gone by the end of spring training, and the Twins can still add another dozen or so minor league free agents depending on needs in the higher leagues. Always fun to see these annual lists and look back 3-5-7 years and see who continued in the organization, departed quickly, or are playing elsewhere, still.