Rosterman

Any of the candidates would be wonderful. The Twins are going in a...new direction. That's fer sure! Do see a couple holdovers from the current coaching staff and maybe Tommy Watkins elevated from the minors.

Some tough decisions. The Twins will explore the trade market to trade depth in lower level pitching if they find someone who they can control for 3-4 years at a decent rate. I see some free agent grabs, but more along the line of guys who are better than minors but can't find a place in the majors (say Trevor Plouffe-like). The big decision is, really, do they go after Escobar and where do they plan to put Sano...not just in 2019, but beyond. Or do they look to write off Sano and Buxton and wait for the next...wave. They really don't have demands beyond Gordon and Reed and maybe Anderson for the 40-man. They can dangle Wade, if they wish. Take a chance on losing Jay. I see them coming in around $75 million. They have $35 million on the books (all of which would be gone after next season). And assuming the other 35 players on the roster average a meek $1 million a head...well, you are there. But, yes, they do have $50-60 million they could spend on free agents. Will they? I suppose we can be surprised.

Curious to see who is added to the 40-man. Twins page made reference to Brian Navaretto, Zander Wiel, Luis Arraez, Nick Gordon, LaMonte Wade, Nick Anderson, Jake Reed and Tyler Jay. Navaretto may be a minors free agent. Amderson and Reed performed well. Nick Gordon is a top prospect. I really don;t see any of the others being grabbed and staying on a major league roster for three months.

I say it will be Joel Skinner and three new coaches.

The roster coming out of spring training was wonderful if you really felt Santana was coming back in a month and you didn't have the suspension of Polanco. That Lynn and Morrison were both very slow out of the chute can't be explained. The Twins managed to turn international money into prospects and also draft well. They had a core group of guys who didn't sign long term because the guys felt they were going to be better than ever. Someone like Dozier should've had a career year entering free agency. The division was horribly weak. Everything went wrong, but the Front Office managed to turn lemons into some non-ripened fruit. Now they get to choose field staff 100%, make some hard choices on how to sell the team in 2019, and start a new dynasty of Twins baseball after the hiccup of 2018. Have faith! \

The Twins are building towards the Future. They have to be looking at who will be playing for them in 2020 and 2021. The Big Three right now: Buxton, Kepler, Sano. Sano. Where does he play. 1st Base or DH or both, of keep him at third (but until when). Buxton was injured. Yes. But he also wasn't hitting. The Twins had hitting coach James Rowson. Plus Buxton could call upon the services of Oliva, Carew and Torii Hunter. Not to mention the hitting skills of Paul Molitor. What is going wrong. Kepler is just fine IF you are getting bigger production elsewhere. He shows some punch, hasn't settled into who he hits best against totally. You do want a better all around guy, sure. The bigger question on all three of the above is what to do if they put together a premiere season in 2019. Do they become tradebait and someone else's problem for a long-term contract (Sell Soon, Future Payback) or do the Twins extend. Do the Twins push rookies like Gordon? Will they add Wiel and Arraez to the 40-man. Can they fit into the mix in 2019? Cave and Grossman will both be here in some capacity in 2019 because of cost and they pretty much earned a chance to stay and why throw money at more one-year contracts of free agents. But right now 2019 is looking at a rebuilding year. 2020 is also a time we might see some of the guys at A+ ball from the last season. 2021 the Twins might be making a BIG free agent plunge. 2022 is when they should be winning fer sure. Ugh? Well, that's baseball.

Well,we all thought Dougie Baseball should've been the pick before, or in the mix later. He's gone, as is Jake Mauer, who left baseball for greener pastures. Tommy Watkins still endures. But I think the choice is obviously there: Joel Skinner, who was hired to manage at AAA Rochester for 2018 and has ties to the front office giants. Who ends up coaching? That will be interesting, to see who were picks of the front office, or picks of the front office in consultation with the former manager. Paul still has two lucrative seasons and hopefully the Twins will continue to use his abilities to further the organization, except not on the field. Or he may just sit, like Gardy. I'm sure he wouldn't have been renewed except for winning the MOY in 2017.

Paul Molitor. Is he Good for the Twins? Is he Bad for the Twins? Manager of the Year in 2017. Second place finish in 2018 with...this team. Two more years on his contract.

Interesting. The Twins have to make a decision of Kyle Gibson. Does he work into the plans. That will be an interesting negotiation to watch. They also need to think about extending Berrios and Rosario. They have to make a decision on where Kepler and Polanco fit into longterm plans. Sano is the wild card. Is he a first baseman. Is he a Designated hitter. Is he a third baseman. If he is the DH, you don't need Grossman AND Cave, especially with Lamonte in the wings. But then again, what about Buxton? Man, Sano and Buxton blew it, but will be given every chance to succeed still again as youth and service time is still on the side of the Twins. The Twins have 10 names to write into the rotation, so they basically have a full major league staff and full Red Wings staff, plus a couple of names that should be at AA (Wells for one). I think you stick with rebuilding from within and that the September looks gave you enough to know if Gonsalves, Littell, Stewart can pitch in the majors. Remember, we still have Romero. And people, don't write-off lefty Mejia. Same with the bullpen. The most expensive arm is Addison Reed. I doubt that he will step into the closer role, although he could be the backup if Trevor May doesn't happen. And, sign a bunch of fringe guys and look for some glory. It worked this season with Magill and Drake, both of whom will stay on the 40-man and have a chance to break camp. The Twins will add Jake Reed and Nick Anderson. They might see future still in Luke Bard. A lot of fine hard-throwing arms that just need the experience. Be curious to see if the Twins keep Baxendale and Eades at the minor league level. You never know. So the Twins could have $50-70 million to spend in this off-season to reach payroll levels of 2018. I doubt they will sign 4-5 free agents to fill all big holes and be a challenger in that way with the Indians. Instead, they may just gamble on sneaking a rebuild. But not sure how they are going to sell these guys to us fans!

The Twins could easily bring back Logan Morrison. They already have to pay him a buyout. Looking at Matt Adams, you MIGHT have more certainty of him because of two seasons of play, but his numbers would correspond with Tyler Austin. They both play the same position. The rub here is how many 1B/DH do you need (let's throw Sano in that mix) and you also have Willians Alstudillo in competition. If you could possibly go with a 7-man bullpen, Joe Mauer would be a nice addition to stay with the team in a Jim Thome role, someone who could come off the becnh and also play in the field (an advantage over Thome, you don't need to pinch rn for him). I'm thinking Sano is the elephant in the room for 2019 right now, like Mauer was for 2018. If you have to play him, where do you play him and how does that affect adding others and the bench. If Sano is not a third baseman, than Escobar is a candidate. But, truly...will Escobar get a $45 million contract offer? I see $25-30 million if teams want to go three years. He may get a larger one-year contract, but how do other teams view him compared to corresponding third base opportunities (or other infielders).

If I had the energy I would be a one-man band, with the base drum on my back, a trumpet, an accordion, and cymbals on my knees. Would go to different sections and do my thing. But you also have to stay within baseball rules, at time, for audience involvement. Too much wear and tear on my old body. Always wanted to be an ushertainer for the Saints, but didn't like the idea of wearing tights and a tutu in 100-degree weather on the field!

Buxton will be given every opportunity available. He has the ability to seek advice and work with people like Torii Hunter, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva. And that's just with the Twins.

We might be forced to keep Cave AND Grossman as outfielders next season. I expect Vasquez will do alright. Think Moya. Lots of potential starters...and just never know. But looks like the Twins could stay homegrown for awhile. Garver and Willians are good to have around...they might stick for 4-5 more years!

You see the non-potential of early round picks over time, and wonder why teams do shell out big bonus $$ for such players. Especially when you can basically trade for them once a season has passed, or possibly go after them if they pan out as Jay (and Burdi) have for the Twins. That Kay didn't get a call to AAA will hurt him for Rule 5 consideration. Interesting that the Twins not only advanced Stewart to AAA ball, but they gave him more than a single start shot in the big leagues. Will be interesting to see how his career develops. We have to remember that not all HIGH draftees are superstars. Some take time (humm....Hicks and Buxton, maybe).

All this time, the Twins should've been auditioning Trevor May fulltime to be the new...closer, And get Willians a tighter helmet! Of course, it is good that he is running the bases. Means he gets on base and sometimes scores! Hilde is being overused. With ALL the pitchers on the staff all season, no need to be dragging some guys out every other game, especially for a losing team. Regulate the innings pitched and situations faced better.

7 more games in six days. Every starter gets an opportunity. Maybe two guys with 10+ wins. Picture one game will be a hodge-podge of pitchers, to say the least. We have, after all, more than a dozen that can pitch in a game. Not really looking at anyone for 2019 beyond Tyler Austin, at this point. At least of the batting end. So much fluff that won't be here fer sure in 2020, let alone sometime gone in 2019. Be interesting to see if it becomes the Joe Mauer Farewell Tour!

I'm not sure the reasoning behind Reed, and why didn't they treat Vasquez the same way. Neither needs to be a part of the 40-man until the offseason. Vasquez not being used, so why? Sure, the Twins need to make some decisions on Duffey, Busenitz and more. They really don't need to drop many players to add guys to protect from the Rule 5, so spring training battles will happen, as well as decisions on folks like Magill and Drake as we enter next season. But back to the original point...every game, with an opener, a starter and a closer will use three pitchers. It seems the concept of having multiple relief pitchers appearing in nearly every-other-game is a concept being explored. Starters eeking thru five innings is the norm. Man, the days with four man rotations and starters pitching 250+ innings and also throwing in relief, at times. A relief pitcher capable of going thru an order once, not getting pulled when they have to face a batter from the "other" side. Plus teams having 12 or 13 pitchers in their team, and another being on standby for immediate call and a send-back. Whew. And yet, hitters still hit.

Navaretto needs to be added to the 40-man, or he can walk to another team. Is he good enough to be the second catcher on the Twins, perhaps in 2020? Is he good enough to get a callup if someone goes down in 2019? Rortvedt and Jeffers won't be here in 2019. But both could be here in 2020. How many games can Garver catch.? Castro, if he comes back strong, is the guy to work with young pitchers. He should catch 50% of the games. More, probably not if Garver is willing and able. Astudillo is a nice luxury, a good bench bat, perhaps, plus he can play multiple positions including catcher. Could he fill in as the main abckup catcher if Garver or Castro goes down...probably. Everyone mentioned in a post above of possibly being "salary relocation" is still cheap enough and filling holes, but all could bring abck prospects if the Twins need to trade guys next mid-season (assuming that they don't extend Gibson or Odorizzi). Yes, if the Twins sign a free agent or trade or a player, the thought is that THAT player needs to be a part of the roster in 2021 and beyond, with at least an option opportunity. Unless the Twins just decide to spend $130-140 million on free agents to win in 2019, which they could do considering the number of roster spots that can be filled by better talents...and push back any prospects for other seasons. a

I'm still with the Front Office and looking at the team as how it might vision out in 2020 and 2021 and what needs to be done to get there and who, from the big list of prospects, may be the impact pieces that can the team to go all-the-way, in 2021. So that means one more hard look at Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Sano, Berrios. Also Hildenberger, May and Rogers. Do you extend them all? It is making decisions on Odorizzi and Gibson. Are they pieces to be traded between now and mid-season or worth tendering for 3+ years. It is giving time to a variety of pitchers who COULD be here in 2020 or beyond. John Curtiss, Fernando Romero, Gabriel Moya, Kohl Stewart, Stephen Gonsalves, Zack Littell. Andrew Vasquez, Adalberto Mejia. There are so many prospects that SHOULD make the majors in the next 2-3 years. ortvedt, Lewis, Krilloff, Larnach, Gordon, Graterol, Rooker, Javier, Severino. Alcala, Maciel, Haley, Miranda, Baladozic, Arraez, Baddoo, Celestino, Enlow, Bechtold, Paul and more. The minors look very very good for potential guys who will make a trip to the majors. Oh, Lewis Thorpe and Griffin Jax, too. Maybe Felix Jorge is still in the mix. Let the front office go with the plan. Maybe supplement the weakness in the infield today with some placeholder signings. But see what the kids can do. It is a weak division. The Twins could actually win and not die (the starting prospects are gems).

Let's go backwards here. The 40-man. The Twins need to add Jake Reed, Nick Gordon and Lamonte Wade, according to MLB Trade Rumors. They also need to think about adding Tyler Jay and Luis Arraez, although both performed okay at AA ball, I wouldn't expect anyone to take a flyer on keeping them on a 40-man all season. They should probably think about Nick Anderson. They could also consider if they want to kep names like Brian Navaretto, Luke Bard, D.J. Baxendale and Ryan Eades in the organization. All have the ability to walk. None are probably necessary to add to the 40-man. Except Navaretto if you want future catching depth, but.... Free Agents: Belisle, Santana, Gimenez, Mauer,Morrison, Forsythe. On the Bubble: Granite, Slegers, Field, Petit, Duffey, Busenitz, Magill, Drake. I think Curtiss does have a bit longer lease for the moment. Adrianza is still inexpensive. Grossman is still inexpensive and now adds a veteran feel to the young team. Reed is owed $8 million. Mejia is still a young lefty and did well in his limited time. But that is like 19 names (holy moley) and picture the need to keep NONE of them in 2020. Remember, you do need names to drop IF you add a free agent. Or a Rule 5 grab (at this point is such a player better than anyone in your high minors). So the Twins only need to lose 4-5 right away and maybe a couple by the first of the year. Corner infield depth. Infield, period. Polanco is still at shortstop. Wasn't he supposed to be better at second? Adrianza and Petit are in the mix as backups, although that doesn't thrill you. Austin can play first. Sano can play third, but wouldn't it be nice to have him rotate, instead, with Austin at 1B/DH instead of keeping Grossman in the DH mix? But then we need someone on third. Escobar is doing okay at Arizona. Could you get him for 3 years at $20-25 million? Would you do it? So if the Twins truly have to add Nick Gordon to the 40-man, then why didn't they bring him up for September and play him. I guess if push comes to shove, they might be able to grab Forsythe for a one year, or better yet look at Dozier again for a one-year rebuild his worth contract, if those bridges haven't been burned. The Twins are a mess in the infield period. And, of course, Joe Mauer could come back. Contracts. The Twins need to see what it would take to keep Jose Berrios for at least five seasons with an option or two. The Twins need to see what it would take to keep Eddie Rosario for the same, although that is a gamble, but you might be lucky to get him to sign a Span-like contract (in today's dollars) and have him continue production and trade him at some point. The Twins also have to look at bullpen arms and decide if May or Hildenberger can be closer material and is it worthwhile to dangle an extension to either. The rotation. Odorizzi has actually pitched well to end the season (think Gibson in 2017). Did you see enough to think of an extension? How much are you going to pay Kyle Gibson? Or do you just play them, trade them in mid-season, and elevate more of the promising arms towards a 2021 success story. No need to buy an arm unless you feel comfortable offering multi-years to some 28-year-old free agent not named Yu. Buxton? If he plays well, he will be richly rewarded. You don't overpay in arbitration because you feel it might be a nice thing to do. All it does is drive up the price you have to pay for the following seasons. You overpay if you wish to extend (or get a good deal if the player themselves wants security over dreams of riches). You can dangle something longterm out there, too. But the question might be...why? If Buxton has a breakout year, you still control him. You have a better look at what is coming up in the system (Krilloff, Larnach). If he has a breakout 2019, you also have a viable player to flip to another team, under control for three more seasons, if he doesn't fit into your long term plans for...well, heaven knows why. Sadly, the team is what we see right now. There is a lot of roster fluff that can be replaced by rookies NOT quite ready for the team, or other roster fluff from other teams. We have Castro coming back. A vet behind-the-plate. Not much with the bat, but a nice mix with Garver. Astudillo is interesting and can be that bench guy who can play 1B/3B/OF and also catch. Deserves another season. Cave will start in center if Buxton doesn't, or work with Kepler in right and be a bench bat, which puts Grossman in limbo. The infield is a total mess. Are future fulltime replacements one or two seasons away is the question there?

Thanks for mentioning Hicks. A guy with all the talent in the world. He may still develop and have a really Big breakout year, or a moment. You never know. Just looking at Twins centerfielders of yore. Who we have played since Torii Hunter. Carlos Gomez was rushed, it seems (and shows what happens when you use up a lot of their service time in development) but did have a couple of monster years. Ben Revere actually showed consistency, but not the powerhouse play to be the top draft pick he was, and was recently released from play. Hicks? Buxton? But look, overall...you hope TOP draft picks make it big. So many don't that you question why millions are thrown their way in the first place. Also, the reality, how many of the 150 guys in a minor league system make it past year two in a system (remember, 30-40 totally new names are added every season and another dozen play musical chairs to fill out rosters). How many guys MAKE a major league roster each season - 3 or 5 (many get tryouts) that stick around for a second season. Then how many stay longer than that? Look at overall roster construction. How many players were developed by the team. How many signed out of other organizations. How many acquired in free agency or via trade. Yes, we may argue about players being pushed too fast (Carlos Gomez was one, perhaps Buxton is another) and those not fast enough (do we want to see Royce Lewis NOW...if a team IS rebuilding, shouldn't they be looking at internal pieces sooner rather than later, spending money on placeholders). I want to see Nick Gordon, Luke Raley, Brent Rooker all getting a shot NOW or sooner rather than later. i would rather see them striking out and missing balls that players who aren't in longterm plans. I am glad the Twins are finding innings for Kohl Stewart, Gonsalves, Littell, De Jong. And considering so many of us were down on Stewart and still question his durability as a starter, he has shown more than the other "prospects." But NOT everyone enters a major league team ready t play extremely well and shine. Sometimes it takes a few months, maybe a season, maybe 1000 at bats, which is why rookies are threaded into rosters rather than starting a whole field of 20-23 year olds. And then you have the players themselves. Look at Delmon Young. Lots and lots of natural talent. He can play decent ball by just showing up, and just think what he would've done if he had kept working and developing. Hopefully with changes that happened this season in the Twins minors they have development totally under control. The success of the A+ and below teams shows that the regime is going in the right direction. Or so we hope.

Spring training will be a tell. Pineda, because he didn't end the season pitching innings, can likely start in rehab in the minors...with the Twins fuming about the $$$ investment. Mejia will get the biggest opportunity, especially since he is a lefty. But the Red Wings rotation looks pretty solid right now...someone will not make it there!

I trust we will have some gems next season between Gonsalves, Romero, Stewart, Thorpe and Littell. So, we are set. De Jong and maybe Slegers in the wings. Someone will be long relief, fer sure. Talent is there.

The pain of the current system also means you have to make decisions on players...take Trevor Plouffe, for example. Not worth his arbitration salary, yet the Twins might've kept him if they could've signed him for what Oakland signed him for. So in that way, the system works against both the team AND the player. You can argue how much time a team should have control of a player before overpaying, so to speak. Is six years outrageous (or more if you have parts of seasons). If the player does produce, they make big bucks. If they don't, they go into a limbo...sometimes having an okay years (see Escobar this year) which results in some riches. Sometimes you do forget the up front money some of these guys do make now in the draft.

2019 will be interesting. Do you need both CAVE and GROSSMAN as 4th outfielders? It will be Buxton's call. The Twins will play Kepler, hoping he improves his stock value. The Twins will keep AUSTIN for 2019...who can play 1B, too. He's out of options. And Astudillo might be a better overall bench bat, too....than two extra outfielders. If Rosario signs an extension, he will probably be here in 2021. But that would be the only certainity.