Rosterman

This is the first REAL off-season for management to show their stuff. They did a GREAT job patching holes last season with a host of free agent signings. Sadly, few of them worked out as all but Rodney underperformed. Kudos that they managed to stock the system with some quality pieces. The system. They are all prospects until they get to the majors and show they have the spunk to play major league ball. The biggest and bestest numbers mean nothing when a new season begins, and it all changes when you keep facing higher level talent. Somehow looking at the upside, the Twins pretty much have talent in the minors that is equal or better than anyone on the current roster which, sadly, speaks ill of th current roster. When your three highest paid players are Pineda, Reed and Castro...you have problems. Scratch all three from the 40-man and what have you lost. Nothing, but you gained $24 million pay one quality player (and, again, just paying someone money doesn't mean they will produce bigtime, look at Lynn who had everything to gain and lost a lot...or Santana...be interesting to see the contracts they get this off-season). Yes, out of all the players in the system, why Jake Reed? Isn't he better than Busenitz (shipped to Asia), or Duffey, or Magill....he has to be. I'm still uncertain on Curtiss. Hope he is more than the second-coming of Chargois. We will see. But the twins spent last season on three free agent arms and Duke and Rodney did contribute...sadly we are stuck with Reed but he CAN come back, strong. The Twins have strength in the rotation. Job one: Do you longterm sign Gibson AND/OR Odorizzi. Is Gibson signed out of team loyalty? Unfortunately, the team will probably lowball him and Gibson might see 2019 as the chance for a big payout. But if he bombs, the Twins lose on two fronts: untradable, and dogged a longterm bullet. Odorizzi is a $9 million contract. Can they find better for that amount, or a longterm with someone else for a similar amount? Pineda is a gamble (wish got to see a few innings out of him last September). Berrios has matured. We can hope Romero follows in the footsteps. Stewart did well. Goncalves learned. The Twins also have DeJong and Slegers, who should be hungry, and Mejia. A lot of names there. How many do we want to see pitch for the Twins in 2020 or 2021 is MY Question. If you don't see them with the team that long, start dangling them to fill holes in your batting order. The Twins need to make a hard and fast decision on Sano. Is he a third baseman or do the Twins need a third baseman. Do they trust him at first (or swinging in 2019 with Austin between first and DH). I would put my money almost more on a Donaldson fr the next few futures. The Twins also need someone at 2B/SS. Hell, if he really strikesout in the free agent market, I would bring back Dozier for a season. Maybe flip him again, if he improves. Or, go with Gordon and see what he ahs. Push the envelope. But in every other way I would fasttrak Lewis, and also push Wander Javier. Cave deserves backup, and maybe even a start in center if Buxton's act isn't together...yet. Astudillo? Do you want him on the bench of Grossman, although Grossman still has an uncanny ability to sometimes get on base. Sano is the screwup here. You have a bench of four guys if you short the bullpen (and I don't consider just having 7 bullpen arms short...don't know why you need 8). Willians, Robbie, Garver, Adrianza. But then Cave pushes one out if he is the 4th outfielder. Almost wish we could live without Castro. Gad, I hope Sano is the second-coming of David Ortiz rather than the once-and-future Oswaldo Arcia or Delmon Young. Then again, could Falvey and Levine be Billy Beane and totally tear apart the roster as it stands. Make up to 10 changes on the 25-man. Ship off prospects on the cusp or really will be bypassed by others after another season, move any perceived depth the Twins have in rotation arms or outfielders or shortstops for arbitration-eligible players who improve the team, and maybe one or two expensive free-agent signings. Like I said...this is their off-season. They have their manager. They have their coaches. The minor league staff is pretty much re-worked. They have added lots of prospects thru trades, drafting, grabbing from others. They have a lot of money to work with. The Twins have placed SECOND, yes second-place IS better than fourth or fifth or LAST (even if it is just the Central Division). Other teams would like to call themselves so lucky. The good news, don;t see it as a great expense to attend a Twins game in 2019. Baseball is baseball. You can't predict who will win or lose. I find it a fun game to watch, especially in the sun.

I would ask them to throw in Grienke for a couple more bodies. The question, though, is what 25-man player would you include. What one or two starting prospects should you include. Do you ship one of your minor league first base prospects (who is higher now, Raley or Rooker). And what other prospects in the depth rich lower minors would be tantalizing. I would go after both. I would dangle Kepler. I would dangle Goncalves. I qould consider Stewart if you could ge Grienke, too. I wish Javier had played in 2018 as he could be a trade chip. i would also be ready to make a decision on Gordon if someone wants him.

Man, don't see the need for all the outfielders. Like the starters also on the 40-man (although I consider the ceiling higher on those guys than the second rung of outfielders...Cave, Reed, Granite, Grossman, Wade. Not sure the need for more than two at this moment, since you also have Tyler Austin in the mix. I also don't see a big need for any Rile 5 guy who might still be a year away. The Twins have enough of those types of players in their system. Better to go after the minor league fee agent market for temporary fixes. The Twins need to do more of a 40-man housecleaning of guys they are already putting on contract, and make realistic decisions on what they do have in the system. You have to ask: why gamble on a castoff from another organization rather than someone of equal quality in your own system?

I always wondered what coaches were paid, and amazed that they do make less than your beginning major league player. A professional where the average salary of the playing employees is bigger than that 90% of the people running the ship. Go figure.

I always wondered what coaches make at the major league level. Wes Johnson is getting paid a bit more than at the college job, but you would think a college job might have more stability. But a wonderful opportunity.

Tyler Austin IS out of options. He has to break camp with the team. He ahs shown punch, but getting Santana means you leave Sano at third and have Santana and Austin split between first and DH, which might not be bad. But if you move Sano off first, then Austin becomes a bench bat and the fifth outfielder. The minus side is that Austin has no track record (remember Chris Parmelee) or might be a bust (remember Kevin Maas). But we don';t know that, fer sure. The Twins have the money. Santana could be had for 2-3 prospects with the highest being in the 10-20 range, or depends on the worth you put in Stewart, Goncalves or Littell to be a Twin. Hey, maybe we can also get Neshek back in the trade!

Addison Reed was an interesting signing last year. The Twins got a deal on Fernando Rodney, and Reed seemed to be a set-up man addition who could step into the closer role if needed. Zach Duke was a fine single-season signing. The Twins managed to flip two of the guys, and no doubt would've flipped Reed if he wasn't coming off injury. Reed is an option as closer out-of-the-gate for 2019. I wish the Twins ahd given more closing innings to Trevor May, but sometime next season the Twins have to make that decision on Trevor and sign him for longterm. The rotation question: Do you sign Kyle Gibson for 3 years and an option. As with Jake Odorizzi (due $9 million) is either an alternative for long lasting starts, or do you cut one loose (Odorizzi) and let the other play out with hopes of a mid-season trade. I imagine it all comes down to money. Pineda is interesting. It would've been wonderful to see him egt in a few major league games last September. At best, he produces well enough to flip. At worse, the Twins discover they have a real gem and strike a longterm deal. This will be an interesting off-season, to see the stock the front office is putting in players already on the roster. If they don't do anything with the vets, then we see them rebooting the team in their own image. Of course, Buxton and Sano threw a wrench into the system, still longerm unknowns. And the number of arms in the wings is pure staggering. Especially hen you consider that you can readily go out and but arms for $10 million dollars a season. Mejia, Slegers, Goncalves Littell, Stewart, Romero...in the wings Thorpe, Graterol and others. Whew. Right there are eight arms that could see play in 2019 and none of them are guaranteed a multiple start roster spot ion the majors. Go figure.

What veterans?

The Twins have two issues. (1) Miguel Sano. Where does he play. (2) Are you going for the moment or longterm. The Twins do or don't have 40-man roster problems. They have too many people like Robbie Grossman, who is adequate in the shortterm, but if you add a Matt Adams, he does. If you add so-and-so, who they replace in the scheme of the 40-man roster? The Twins have an abundance of starter arms on the 40-man, equal to the amount of bullpen arms. These will have to be jettisoned and IF they is any trade value there, they need to make it, as well as make hardcore decisions on people like Odorizzi and Gibson (can you get someone you feel is more reliable for the same price or even less). If you add anyone, they take the place of a lesser player, or someone who will be passed by someone else in the system next season. Names? On the bubble have to be Busenitz, Duffey, Slegers, Granite. Secondary are Adrianza and Grossman. The Twins have to make a decision on Dodrizzi and Gibson. They would love to get rid of the contracts of Reed and Castro. AMongst starters you could part with Littell, Mejia, Gonsalves and perhaps Stewart in the right trade. 2-3 still have to be moved for 40-man adds. No one wants Reed or Castro. Are Gibson and Odorizzi worth $9-10 or should they be extended 2-3-4 years.

The evils of baseball. When you have the opportunity to garner a spot as a pitcher, Slegers and Mejia both come up lame, and Felix Jorge has disappeared from the Twins system. I always wondered if Zack Granite might've roved exciting in centerfield and his chance to shine would've been 2018. But he hit the disabled list and has now been passed over. He could remain a Twin, but he might be best to seek job opportunities elsewhere.

The more I think about it, the Twins would be best served by not offering arbitration to Doorizzi and Grossman. That money could be better spent elsewhere. Of course, I would not rule out the trade value of either, but I don't see Odorizzi getting $9 million in the free agent market place. In that case, Astudillo then gets a spot on the Twins. I like the guy because he can catch and also play a lot of positions adequately and also be a solid bench bat...maybe. There are still questions, but like what I saw. I think the Twins are pretty much stuck with Jason Castros. He is a plus if he can catch more often than not and work with the younger pitchers on the staff. Let Garver catch Gibson and Pineda, if need be. I would like to hope that the Twins could pull some trades for middle infield, maybe a DH bat. We will see. Otherwise, they could spend big on a one or two year deal. Actually, when you look at where the monies are tied up with the Twins (Gibson, Pineda, Odorizzi, Reed, Castro), the Twins really don't need any of those salaries if they could find takers. But, again, why would anyone WANT these players for their going rate when they can find sufficient replacement value players at a better discount.

The question is: Who's on Third. Is Sano the third baseman for at least three more seasons, until the Twins see if any on-the-fringe names of prospects, can play the position? Third base is NOT a strength in the organization right now.. Really. It isn't. At least in a player of the quality of Donaldson or with the expectations of Sano. Is Sano better suited to first base and designated hitter? At this point hate to make Sano JUST a designated hitter. We can't really answer the question if Sano stays in the game better if in position on the field rather than as a watcher from the bench. And, today, right now, the Twins have at least Tyler Austin who should fill the power needs at first until the Twins see if Rooker or someone else steps up to the plate. Three years at $75 million? WIll he bring stability to the order and the team? Is the salary too high that he isn't flippable at some point if the Twins would like to move on, even if absorbing part of the salary? Will he be willing to even look at the Twins and field an offer? The Twins do have the funds. It wouldn't break the bank, assuming Mauer isn't coming back. No doubt the Twins will try and low ball if possible, depending on interest, but they should make a competitive offer for his services.

I was a bit taken aback that the Twins had fallen to 20th in attendance. Where they will end up after 2019 is...scary. That they are in the middle of the pack for payroll. Does the front office not realize that you spend money and put a team on the field and attendance likely will improve? Happily (but sadly) with Mauer gone and a house-cleaning continuing, the front office will be able to remake the team in their own image. Yes, the Twins CAN spend upwards of $150 million. They have to if they wish to remain competitive. Yes, the Twins WILL NOT spend that much money this season as the look once again at the longterm possibilities of Sano, Buxton, Kepler, although signing any of them longer term if you have faith in them producing average or above would be prime right now, a you might be able to get the bargain you wanted last season. The pain of Alex and Royce being Boras clients is that we will start hearing thoughts on "holding the players back" if either have a breakout minor league season again. An agent wants players to hit the majors as soon as possible and get that service time in and arbitration out of the way before they hit their 28th/29th year so the big money will happen. Actually, most are happy jut for the percentage of major league monies over minor league wealth.

I’m looking at this list and think 25 will make the majors in some capacity either with the Twins or someone else which gives the Twins hope as well as trade depth and half if the next 10 should too. Whew! And

See that the Twins lost minor league hitting coordinator Rick Eckstein to the Pirates coaching staff. Do we expect a sjakeup in the minor leagues, still. Lots of new names (many from outside pro baseball) added last season. Not to mention any front office moves. Been a couple of season advancing people to "senior" or "consulting" positions. Is the Twins-extended family in for even more changes?

Twins just lost two year Minor League Hitting Instructor Rick Eckstein to the Pirates. Eckstein was well respected in the coaching industry. Be interesting to see who the Twins get to replace him. Always thought it was a coup when they got him originally to work with the prospects out of Ft. Myers.

Doug Bernier. Hey give a job to Mike Redmond.

Yes, it would be nice to add a bat as the Twins do need a middle infielder and the Sano question of play (is it 1st or 3rd still or DH). SOmeone who could play third base would be a fine addition especially, and a second-base placesetter if Gordon is far from ready (or take a chance on Nick) and decide if Polanco plays second or shot. I would, of course, tie up Gibson, Berrios, Rosario for the longerm. Not that I think Rosario is a Twin forever, but he does deserve a negotiation, a fair negotiation to take the Twins into their free agent seasons. Castro is pretty much a given due to his salary and doubt that anyone would come after him, unless he does show something more with his bay yo begin the season and a team needs a catcher. Odorizzi and Pineda could easily, at this point, be replaced by the half-dozen starting prospects that will have to find minor league rotation spots. So, the Twins could seriously considered NOT going to arbitration with Odorizzi if they really don't see him in the picture. Or, perhaps, a trade to someone else willing to pay the upwards of $10 million to keep him in the rotation. Reed is an expensive commodity in the bullpen. Imagine the Twins will do everything to let him be the closer, although I would rather see them put their eggs in the May basket. Pineda will start because he has a hefty salary, that is assuming that he is healthy again to start. By all accounts he could open the season on the disabled list to get further into shape. I was so excited when I thought he might make a few September appearances to shake off the rust. The Twins do need to heavily evaluate their farm system and decide who can be traded, who they will lose in the near future if they can't find a space for them on the roster or even the 40-man in the next season. Like all those rotation arms, there has to be some promise to another organization for any of the arms. I am actually excited about the Twins for 2019, even if there are a bunch of rookies in the mox. I hope that Buxton and Sano do come back and post better than average seasons, that Kepler grows, that Berrios dominates, that Romero breaks the rotation and that Mejia is the darkhorse and if you feel Odorizzi is a less than three times thru the order starter, I would just as soon give those starts to Stewart. And we haven't even discussed Goncalves. Besides Rogers and a better used Hildenberger, the Twins have some studs in Moya and Vasquez from the left side, Curtis should be better than even, Busenitz might have figured it out. And you can always find another Drake or Magill...but don't bring back Belisle. Again, the Twins need an infielder. They need a bat for DH, unless you are going to move Cave into that position (sadly Grossman is not the answer but will probably hang around thru spring training just in case).

Drake and Field have both been offed and claimed by other teams. Now four open spaces after the Michael Reed addition.

I'm not sure what happened in 2018. Supposedly Rowson didn't give up and worked really hard with Buxton in 2017 and the ending of the season proved that something clicked between the two. But, yes, the over all dismal flailings of the batters during the 2018 campaign makes me wonder why the hitting aspect of the coaching team is being kept, from all the coaches, and other candidates not even explored. I would hope the new manager has full say on his staff, although open to recommendations of folks to look at and consider from the front office.

23 pitchers currently on the 40-man. 14 field guys. Whew. I could easily say goodbye 8-10 players that could be replaced with competent cuts from other teams. Happily the Twins really only need to add 3-5, at the most, on their roster. Which made most of the trades look really good at the deadline...they got players that they didn't need to add to the roster but can take a good look at for a season in the minors. Be interesting to see what remains of the AAA and AA rosters from free agency, and how many bodies the Twins search out for those rosters, compared to guys already in the system needing play. Bu the reality of looking at the 40-man...how many names from the 37 shown would actually get a major league contract (i.e. 40-man spot) on the roster of another team in either league. That is what is scary of the Twins current roster!

I believe in Falvey and >evine.Year One, they came in late. They worked with what they had as they started to evaluate the fellow front office staffers and look at the team they inherited. Year Two, the made changes in some coaching and throughout the minors. They had their second real draft. They did some things with international money and grabbing prospects. They suddenly got a push to be competitive in a weak division, and althopugh the play for Yu might've been more lip-service than actual (and thankfully didn't pan out), they did spend monies available to fill the roster with some strong veteran bullpen signings, a temporary fix in the rotation and a bat. Plus they traded excess for Odorizzi who, if he pitched well, could be resigned for a longer term. They managed to flip the under=performing free agents for some system rich prospects. Overall, these guys are looking ahead, trying to invision what the Twins of 2020 and 2021 and beyond will look like. This season they have to AGAIN evaluate the failures of 2018, from Sano and Buxton to even Kepler. They need to make decisions on promising arms like Vurtis and Moya and Gonsalves and Stewart and Littell and even more from their pitching rich system. They have to make some hard decisions because not all of these guys will be here in 2020 and beyond, as there are other arms pushing from the low minors that could break into the team as long lasting prospects. They do have a solid system of "prospects" and need to look at what is out there that will benefit the Twins in trade and be resignable for 3-4 years. They do need to see what free agents they could sign longterm that would be viable for the pay for a 4-7 year term, in truly plausible. They will be in a position to sign some guys, like they did in 2018, for a one-year deal and maybe an option who, no matter how they perform, could still bring back bodies. Of course, they and their staff have to think hard about what prospects have the best chance of being major league material, who will work into the lineups of 2019 and 202 for sure. I do believe they have a plan. That they are pushing for the freedom to make the Twins a dynasty of their own choosing and have been chipping away at the Twins Way and the promote from within and the lifetime employee structure of the organization...all of which can remain but shouldn't be the main priority of putting a winning dynasty on the field. Most of all, I do believe they have monies. 2018 wasn't a total bust and they should still have $115-120 million in payroll. I want them to win, so just saying "remain competitive in the division" isn't enough anymore. Yes, a second place finish in the Central looks good on paper, but it really isn't as glorious as at was the year before, and that wasn't the best of seasons, either. The Big Picture is that these guys have signed and traded for some good hungry players. They will have another off-season to add even more to the mix, and many many of these guys will never ever see daylight in a Twins uniform, but that doesn't mean they don't have value to get someone who can play for the Twins. You only have so many seasons to play with prospects before you lose them. I would love to see the boards in the office, with the names written in for 2020, the possibilites for 2021, the ones even highly rated for the year/s beyond that. Then the names they might be after to fill the holes in each season, and the dollars they feel are worth spending. Right now, the Twins should've been hard-pressed to long sign Buxton, Sano and Kepler. But now there has to be a wait and see. Yes, they should long sign Rosario and Berrios fer sure, maybe look at a couple of bullpen arms, make a decision on Polanco for a lowend 3-year deal (he can always be the super sub). And look at what is available, not just as free agents but also in trade. The evils of free agents is that they do bump prospects, so those prospects need to be moved while they still have supposed value in the eyes of others.

The Twins should have 5 roster spots. givens are Anderson and Reed and Gordon. I would also consider Arraez. After that you add by subtraction. Is Wade better than Grossman as an example. No one else stands out as being an exceptional add that probably won’t be passed by someone in the system that doesn’t need roster protection. The greater loss to the Twins could be in the minor league portion of the draft but again the two they might lose isn’t earth shattering. The odd guy is Quezada. Could he be a Santana-like pick that could blossom as a backend keeper for a rebuilding team looking at a guy to contribute three years out? The Twins gave to make decisions on the starting depth. And they will have names like Granite and Slegers and Dejong not to mention Duffey or Busenitz that could be removed for free agents or signing other “better” 40-man guys released by other teams. The other question is who besides Bard and Baxendale will walk as free agents. Is Navaretto a minor league free agent? If so that may be the only reason to add him if you can’t resign him to a minor league contract.

Rocco Power! Let's see how the coaching staff shakes out, now. I like it!

Yes, Rosario might be at his best for trading. Sadly, you still have to sit on your hands with Kepler and Burton and pray for prospects. Is Gordon a second baseman or shortstop. He is, by all accounts, a top prospect. But his value, at the moment, isn't all that high since he has played reasonably bad at AAA. The Twins need to try him out and just see if he is hungry enough to play in the majors. Addison Reed, at this point, can be written in as the closer for the Twins. Not that someone else (May) can't take that job away. Sadly, unless Reed IS a closer, no one would be eager to grab his $8 mil salary. Although it is Year 3 of the Falvey/Levine regime, it is, essentially, Year Two as they came in late and inherited a 2017 team. Made some changes in the offseason for 208, most notably trying to field a halfway decent team to compete in the AL Central (where they did come in second, again). I still give them until 2020/2021 to show us Big winners. So 2019 is still a rebuild and 2020 is the year I expect to see things happen. As for Sano, he creates questions not just at third, but also at firstbase and designated hitter. Is he another Oswaldo Arcia, or can he be the once and future David Ortiz the Twins need for the next decade, getting a decent salary and making us love him at the plate as a face of the franchise. And Rooker is bad at first AND the outfield? Makes you NOT want to trade Rosario.