Rosterman

Every team still has around 150 players on the payroll and you can be sure they tap any number of others looking for some sort of contract. It would hurt drastically the "independent" leagues. Two questions. Would the "scabs" as people might call them get credit for major league service (pension, etc.). And, when settled, are contracts pro-rated for mixxed games of players in the assoication.

Well, if he had gone to college, then ALL of his past efforts would've been in that arena. Basically the same age as Austin Martin, and they both would probably be at the same level of play if Royce hadn't lost the last two years. That being said, if Lewis IS the shortstop of the future still, he will probably start at AA just to work on batting adjustments, while Palacios and Martin are the shortstop options at St. Paul. with Martin MAYBE getting refs in a crowded outfield situation there. Of course, if Miranda is in St. Paul, that complicates things even more on how plays what positions. Because Royce cannot spend all season at AA Wichita. He can't spend part of all of 2023 at St. Paul. That's when you start talking about fallen stock. But if he is to play at AAA, he needs a position to play. The Twins HAVE to be in a rebuild mode, I'm sorry. They will have to find time in the majors for Martin, Miranda, Lewis (not to mention Larnach, Kirilloff and Celestino).

FORMER TWINS IN THE BROADCAST BOOTH DARRIN JACKSON (White Sox). Former Twins player 1997. C.J. Nitkowski (Rangers). Free agent signing 2005 released in sprint training. David Murphy (Rangers). Minor league free agent 2016. John Rooney (Cardinals). Former Twins announcer 1987, before long career with White Sox and Cardinals. Al Hrabosky (Cardinals). Unsigned 1967 draftee. MATT CAPPS (Pirates). Former Twins player 2010-12. JIM DESHAIES (Cubs). Former Twins player 1993-94. PAT HUGHES (Cubs). Former Twins announcer 1983. RON COOMER (Cubs) Former Twins player 1995-2000. Ryan Lefebvre (Royals). Former Twins announcer 1995-98. Anthony Recker (Mets). Analyst for Baseball Network. Minor league catcher 2017, part of Jaime Garcia trade. JACK MORRIS (Tigers). World Series Hero 1991. Former Twins announcer 2005-11, 2014-20. CRAIG MONROE (Tigers). Former Twins player 2008. JIM KAAT (MLB Network). Former Twins pitcher 1961-73. Former Twins broadcaster 1988-93. DAVID ORTIZ (Fox Sports). Former Twins player 1997-2002. A.J. PIERZYNSKI (Fox Sports). Former Twins player 1998-2003.

They are all additional international signees. https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/twins-2022-international-prospects So, no minor league experience elsewhere. Some will play in Florida, some in the DR to start the season, I'm sure. Twins also signed Collin Hopkins our of college this month.

If you could predict the 750 inning thing, you wouldn't need a lot of prospects. That's five fulltime seasons in baseball, or 7-8 with some starter seasons. Balazovic, Varland, Winders, Ober, Ryan, Centerino, Petty are all keeps that I expect to be the foundation of the rotation going forth and playing for the Twins thru their arbitration years. I would NOT trade any of them. Strotman, Jax, Woods-Richardson, Enlow, Leguminia, Gipson-Long, Mooney all have a chance of holding a spot in the rotation. Sands, Duran, Cano, Moran, Mason, Valimont, Funderburk, Sharpe should all be notable bullpen arms contributing the Twins for 3-5 years. Hamilton, Lujan, Rozek,. Gore, Sisk, Rijo, Milacki, German, Acosta will ALL see action with the team in the future.

Be lucky to catch half the games in 2022. Can he play first? Of course, Sano is there right now and Kirilloff is a better longtertm choice. Sano is always the guy messing things up. Do you keep (and extend) Sano as your DH of the future? Donaldson is also a roster problem. How many games does he play at third base. Is he your part-time DH. Suddenly, where does Garver play if he is a part-time aging catcher. If anyone is looking for a catcher, especially coming out of spring training, he could be a prize trade chip. I would not fear to make a trade.

Pressley was a strange commodity. He was a cheap Rule 5 pickup. He was entering his 30th year, still had one more year of arbitration, but the Twins didn't seem to need him, or feel he was worth a longterm committment. Let alone if he had pitched that way for the Twins as he did for Houston, would the Twins have made him one of their highest paid bullpen arms ever. Which makes you wonder: Why don't the Twins keep their own arms? Was Trevor May worth what the Mets paid? Would Pressley be a good longterm investment? Should the Twins sign Taylor Rogers to a multi-year expensive contract? Alcala will have a good year in 2022. Will it be a great year? Can he get into a mindset that might make him a potential closer? I felt the Twins were hoping that Alcala might be a rotation arm, rather than a bullpen arm. I'm also not totally sure about the reasoning behind Celestino, who was still quite raw and young. Future centerfield option if Buxton became too expensive, perhaps? Remember, if Buxton had full seasons, but put up the average of his part-time numbers, he would be commanding a lot more in arbitration. Would the Twins have done that? Regarding Baddoo vs. Celestino. Interesting that the Twins felt the need to add eitehr to the 40-man. Both were young. Both had not played above A+ ball. Looking at Baddoo and coming off an injury, that was a major gamble for the Tigers to take. Baddoo would've been at High-A and maybe AA for the Twins in 2021. Celestino would've spent all that Twins time he had at AA in 2022, but because of the outfield need got the quick advance to AAA, then the Twins, then seemed fruitless to send him back to AA ball...and he shined at AAA, compared to the other jumper Larnach, who could've easily gone back to AA. Is there something that doesn't allow major league guys to drop back down to AA anymore, unless on a rehab assignment? I rad soemthing about AA guys not being able to jump directly to the majors. What gives. At best, the Twins would've had the remainder of the season and the next with Pressley...because he would've tested the marketplace. Alcala has showed worth already and has at least four more seasons with the Twins. If he can dominate and become a closer, he could be that arm investment that the Twins have yet to make for their bullpen for a half-decade after that. Assuming he would want to stay with the Twins. Celestino will start at St. Paul and show if he can be a good fourth outfielder if the call comes, or a replacement at either corner in seasons ahead, showing power and speed. Solid trade for the Twins.

Kevin Merrill signed. Infielder. Was in the A's organization and recently did little with the Royals at AA/AAA. Age: 25. https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=merrel000kev

MORE FRONT OFFICE FORMER TWINS DENARD SPAN (2008-12) is a special assistant in operatiuons with the Rays. DAVID ORTIZ (1997-2002) is a special assistant to the general manager of the Red Sox. LUIS TIANT (1970) continues his association with the club as a goodwill ambassador. Matt Tracy (1979) is the pitching development coordinator for the Blue Jays. RENE TOSONI (2011) and SAL BUTERA (1980-82, 87) are scouts for the Blue Jays. MIKE PAGLIARULO (1991-92) is a special assistant to the general manager of the Nationals. CHARLIE MANUEL (1969-72) is a special assistant to the general manager of the Phillies. LEROY PURDY SMITH (1986-90) is a chief scout for the Mets. J.J. Putz (1998 unsigned draftee) is a special assistant to the president/CEO of the Diamondbacks. RICK DEMPSEY (1969-72) is a community ambassador for the Orioles after a long career in their broadcast booth. JIM THOME (2010-11) is a special assistant to the vice-president/general manager of the White Sox. Paul Gibson (1982 Rule 5 draftee) is the director of pitching performance for the Royals. Blaine Boyer (2015) is a special assistant in baseball operations. Tim McIlvaine (2004 Twins prospect) is the Angels director of scouting. QUINTON McCRACKEN (2001) is special assistant to baseball operations and player development with the Brewers. CAIG BRESLOW (2017) is assistant general manager and vice president of pitching for the Cubs. JOHNNY GORYL (1962-64; also coach 1968-69, 79-80; minor league manager 1966-68, 1970-1978; Team manager 1981-82) is still doing special duties with the Guardians (Indians), who he joined in 1982 as a coach and spent more decades in player development. Tim Belcher (unsiged 1983 first round draftpick) is a special assistant to baseball operations. MINNIE MENDOZA (1970) is an advisor for Latin American development with the Gaurdians. I haven't scoured the "Scouting" rosters of most of the tems, so let us know if there are any notable former Twins in those ranks that you come across.

I would trade Sano in this situation, as well as Donaldson, if possible.

A man currently without a position and you would like better alternatives if he were to play shortstop, first base,, left field or third base. You have years, at best...but he might become to expensive for you in his arbitration climb. Does he have his most return back to you now as a trade piece, especially if combined with another player? And, if looking for a .300 hitter on a regular bases...isn't that why Buxton was signed?

On the flip side, a certain percentage of minor league free agents don't make it thru spring training. But the Twins are a far cry from the near 40 they signed to play last season.

Yes, it would be nice to have a somewhat dependable workhorse. No, can the Twins field (let alone hit) behind him. He will make his starts, but is that enouigh inspiration for the young arms. Would he be a clubhouse plus or a minus. Be better than Donaldson, except for the pitching end of the game? The Twins have the money and could, no doubt, blow him away with a decent one-year contract. The plus for Grienke now is to sign a good salary with someone, anyone, and make himself suitable for a mid-season trade to someone who is going to the playoffs, rather than try and make that gamble in the off-season. But you are only as good as your teammates, and are the Twins fielding a team that will help him, statistic-wise. Will the Twins be competitive? Are they in rebuiild? They need a shortstop stopgap, an answer in left field, and starters who can pitch 30-3 games and get past the fifth inning. Also would be nice to have a real closer, but really can draw a pass on that if you aren't going to win many games. Yes, I would gamble on a wizened old arm like Grienke, and even Lester before he retired. But, sadly, I don't see Zack being Mr. Minnesota-nice as a team spokesperson, or in the clubhouse. It would just be throwing money away. But I could think of worse arms to throw money at, too. 30 starts, 170-190 innings. You need to give him 3-4 runs to win a game. And close it out with a decent bullpen. Better than, say, taking a trade flyer (again) on Odorizzi, the 4.2-5.1 innings a game wonder?

It was a good depth call as the Twins basically have no first base prospect unless you consider Miranda a first baseman, or Andrew Bechtold, who might still start the season at Wichita. Roy Morales and Caleb Hamilton are catchers that saw a lot of first base action. Of course, Curtis could also translate into the designated hitter. But there is also an over-abundance of outfielders for the roster (when you look at 10 names from the Twins roster will be at AAA/AA ball). Celestino and Larnach will probably start at AAA. Sadly, so will Miranda, as well as Royce Lewis and/or Austin Martin (Not on the 40-man). Rortvedt will also be the AAA catcher in all likelihood. And maybe Rooker will also end up back in St. Paul. I found it interesting that this transaction ws just posted on major league trade rumors, considering the signing happened back at the end of October and was briefly mentioned in another streaming post on this site.

THE FRONT OFFICE. SAM FULD (2014) is now the General Manager of the Philadelphia Phillies. President of the Phillies is former Twins GM Andy MacPhail (1985-1994) and Terry Ryan (Twins GM twice and basically with the organization from 1994-2016 after starting as a minor league player 1973-76) continues to work as a special assistant to Andy. Jack McKeon is now a special assistant to the GM of the Nationals after an illustrious career with the Royals, Padres, Astros, Reds and Marlins on the field and in the front office. People forget he started as the AAA manager for the Twins back in 1962-63. BILLY BEANE had a movie made about him (Moneyball) and was a highly regarded Mets prospect traded to the Twins in 1986 and sent packing the next season to Detroit. He became a Scout with Oakland in 1990 and rose to their highest decision-making job. Offers pour in, but he stays with the A's. CHRIS PITTARO, who played with Beane in Minnesota, has been a longtime scout and special assistant in the A's organization since 1991. RANDY BUSH still gets mail with the Cubs, who he joined in 2005 after college coaching. He played for the Twins from 1982-1993. He was the Cubs interim general manager in 2011. Now a senior advisor to the team. BOB TWEKSBURY is some sort of Mental Issues coach with the Cubs. BOB GEBHARD is still in the game working as a special advisor in the St. Louis Cardinals front office. A Twins pitcher in 1971-72, he also played for the Expos and then worked with the farm system, joining MacPhail as assistant general manager of the Twins from 1987-91. He was then being named General Manager of the Rockies from 1992-99, and the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2005. Longtime Twins trainer Tony Leo is now a trainer with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He started with the Twins in the minors in 1998, and was the Target Field trainer in 2018-19 seasons.

The Twins resigned former minor league free agent pitchers Bobby Milacki and Matt Mullenbach to minor league contracts. Both pitched at Ft. Myers last season. Pitchers Wladimir Pinto ws signed out of the Tigers organization, and Mario Sanchez out of the Nationals. Both pitched at both AA/AAA ball last season. Catcher Dennis Ortega was signed out of the Cardinals organziation. He caught at AAA ball. Outfielder Kennie Taylor played at three levels A/A+/AAA for the Mets/Mariners last season.

Kyle Barraclough signed with the Angels after getting ample appearances in late 2021 to stick with the Twins. Erik Manoah Jr. signed with the Nats. Marcus Solbach signed with the Tigers. Luke Westphal signed with the Padres.

Interesting on Kris Bryant. You would think he would go for an opt-out after the most two seasons, if he can put up the numbers. Otherwise, a bargain.

Can towns handle a MLB franchise, building a stadium and all? Okay. How many more teams. Can we get rid of inter-league play, then?

Nothing against ANY of the number retirements. Hrbek was the local boy who did really good. Baseball Hall of Fame numbers? Sadly not close, but a strong presence for the Twins as a player and a Minnesotan. He is one of the top players in our history, as was Jim Kaat, who overshadowed ALL of his fellow pitchers in that same time frame as A MAN of the organization. Others have been given legacy in the Twins Hall of Fame. Kaat is deserving of a number retiring. As is Hrbek, Carew and everyone else.

He chose not to stay with the Twins organization, who actually needed another year to look at him as a pitcher before assigning him a 40-man spot. But, if you think back, he maybe saw himself blocked and decided to go elsewhere. As a minor league free agent, you have the choice to grab a contract elsewhere, which might pay you more than you were going to make staying in an organization. A low cost investment, although I'm starting to see ALL the rotation spots already filled up at both AAA and AA ball (barring in juries) for next season, with everyone needing toi push their inning total. Of course, he may be a better gamble than, say, Andrew Albers for a looksee. But unless he can transform into a long relief arm, I don't see him getting anywhere with the Twins.

He's more valuable than being a utility player. The only way to keep him is as a stopgap, if you move Polanco to short and play Arraez at second. Or if you want him to be your leftfielder NOW. Otherwise, his next best position might be third, but you should give Miranda the chance to play that position. He is only good in left because he can get on base, but could quickly be replaced by almost anyone else for defense and power as the season progresses. If Polanco is the one-year stopgap at short, then you face the question about what to do with Arraez for 2023, if Lewis or Martin progress. The Twins have so many questions. What does Donaldson bring to the team now and do you move him. How bad is an infield with Polanco and Arraez up the middle, and does it matter if you aren't winning and basically trying out pitchers. Is he a strength in getting a good return if combined with another player (Kepler, Garver, Sano, Donaldson) and/or a prospect. I sadly don't see Arraez holding up over the long haul, but feel he can carve a nice career with a lowend team, and can slide into the utility role as he ages and you have the roster flexibility. But right now, he will keep getting more expensive the more he plays, until he becomes a free agent because you won't pay his arbitration wants in salary.

I'm hoping Ryan can be a rotation arm. But, at worse, he could have lights out closer skills.

CHRIS MAZZA, who was traded by the Red Sox to the Ray last seasons, has a minor league contract with them for 2022. His third team in three years, Mazza was a Twins signee in 2011 and was released in 2015, signing with the Marlins organization. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2022/01/rays-re-sign-chris-mazza.html

The Twins are bringing back Orlando Rodriguez for another look in 2022. He was signed as a free agent out of Indy Ball last season. https://www.milb.com/player/orlando-rodriguez-689620