Rosterman

Does Mauer become a bench bat, say like Jim Thome, but can play the field more often than not? Questions. Is Escobar worth going after to fill a void at third base. If so, where do you move Sano. Fulltime DH/ Tyler Austin shows chops, but he also strikes out a lot and we must remember Chris Parmelee. So the Twins need to look at the combination of who plays 1B/3B/DH and be a bench bat. If Mauer DOES become a bench bat who can't play the outfield, you basically need to short your bullpen. Buxton...you need to produce. Have you> Will you? Yje Twins are buying that extra window to see if Byron CAN produce well in the next season or two which, if he does, MIGHT open up a trade opportunity, or if he does for two seasons, a BIG contract signing. A smart move by the front office? Maybe. Remember, Nuxton could also NOT break camp wth the team if he has a disaster in the spring. And the front office will show if the Twins go into true rebuild mode, looking ahead to 2020 and beyond. That takes some faith in the prospects. And there are outfielders who would replace Buxton (and perhaps Kepler) by then. But we also have to question the longterm growth of Rosario and Polanco, and WHO IS ON SECOND. Sadly we aren't seeing Nick Gordon get a taste in September...then some winter league ball somewhere, and a strong possible entry into spring training. Will the Twins sign an interm (like Escobar). Yjere is a lot of fluff on the roster, especially when your highest paid players are now Addison Reed and Jason Castro. Zach Granite also has to be crying...as he was behind Buxton in the mix...and Buxton fell out of the mix behind Grossman and JOHNNY FIELD!

Regarding service time: you have to reach arbitration OR free agency before you start cashing the big buck checks. Yes, this creates bad feelings on both sides, but the player needs to produce in the end, otherwise, looks like the Twins MAY have other options for the 2020 season and beyond at this point, It all works out in the end. A good season could mean a BIGGER longterm contract offer OR interest from another team. I worry more about how many millions the Twins have to dangle in front of Rosario who MAY BE unpredictable still at bat or in the field and what to do with Max Kepler, who produces just enough if the players around are stronger, but still..... THE OPENER concept is great if you want to get a lot of work from your pitchers the last month, especially when starters aren't reaching five innings anyways. But still, more careful consideration of potential matchups and such...AND CAN your starters function as relief pitchers. Of course, you then drag out a catcher because your well stocked bullpen is still overworked (where is Curtiss, by the way, if you NEED more arms to call upon). GOMENEZ, if he was available early, would've been a fine choice to have on the roster much earlier. But all those AAA catchers (Sawyer, Pocjardo, Graterol and the departed Rupp) have to wonder about what gives in the World of the Twins. 2019: Highest paid Twins right now are Addison Reed, Jason Castro, the Jake Odorizzi and Kyle Gibson, followed by Robby Grossman. What a group to build around!

See what the off-season has to offer. And let's give NICK GORDON at least a good looksee for the final month of the season. See if he MIGHT be ready in 2019 mid-season. Or if major league life sparks him up a notch. And if he will take coaching. This is probably the most important season eending assessment the Twins need to make (besides maybe doubling up on rotation arms for the final games...nine arms in a six-man rotation). Yes, we want to hit .500. But we also want to get a jumpstart on 2019 and see who SHOULD be considered a mainstay for future seasons (not just placesetters).

There really are now NO starters that need to be added to the 40-man and the names we see on the 40-man will comfortably make the Twins and staff Rochester in 2019, without additions. Am I comfortable with that group? Yes. But they need major league experience, a chance to shine in spring training, and the Twins need to figure out their offense in 2019...who is at first, what we have at third, I don't know who is playing second, and what is the DH rotation...not Grossman, I hope.

What is the fate of Kennys Vargas? Why not challenge Brent Rooker with a Rochester advancement. Only a couple mror weeks of minor league play.

Remember that Mejia also needs to be worked into the mix. The Twins have a lot of potential starters on their 40-man. And, yes, it might be nice to give Lewis Thorpe a taste of the major leagues. Baxendale and Bard need to be given a look...if the Twins feel the need to keep either around in 2019. Otherwise they will surely walk. The number of guys THAT HAVE TO BE PROTECTED on the 40-man this off-season is around 5-6 at the max. Those places will easily be had by saying goodbye to aging vets or free agents. But, yes, piggyback games. The guys who really need to start as starters (Berrios and Gibson and Odorizzi) should continue to start games. Guess that means that there is no place in the mound crew for Ervin in the remaining days of 2018.

Gorssman for Field. Stewart will be replaced by some starter ready (Goncalves, I hope). Yes, will anyone claim Addison Reed and his $8 million or Ervin Santana? Time to cut bait. Sadly, Lamonte Wade will have to wait until next season, unless the Twins cut bait with Granite. But abck to Stewart...he will remain on the 40-man. But 2019 will be his decision year for sure. See if Thorpe passes him quickly in the pecking order. Anyone else notice that the Twins have 12 starters on their 40-man+ at the moment?

The only reason to dangle him in waivers is salary releif. If they are going to eat all but the major league pro-rated minimum anyways, I guess you keep him. Let him be a free agent and revisit in the off-season. You would choose him, say, over a return of Dozier or add back Escobar? But I still think it is imperative that the Twins do promote Nick Gordon for September and let him playa s many games as they can swallow at the major league level just to see what he MIGHT give them either at the beginning of the season, or after x-months of service at Triple-A in 2019. If he is truly overmatched and the Twins wish to move on, they can. But right now, he is the future. The Twins, as they stand, aren't looking for a couple of pieces to be a contender in 2019. They can sign a few guys for limited contracts to supplement the delayed arival of some prospects, but rest assured that if the Twins opened the season with starting rotation made up of 5 of the 10 guys currently on the 40-man, and maybe add a vet arm to the bullpen and think abouta a possible vet bat not named Mauer to the regular roster, could they at least play ball comparable t their team this year and out-compete KC, Chicago and Detroit. Probably. If the pitching prospects (Goncalves, Romero, teamed with Berrios and Gibson and one of Odorizzi, Pineda, Littell, Mejia...you might have a decent chance at becoming another Cleveland, in 2020.

The flip side, and I'll play devil's advocate here, is that TARGET FIELD and the revenue stream it created was supposed to mean the Twin's COULD keep their own free agents, rather than letting them continuously walk to greener pastures (remembering the off-season exodus of Hunter and Cuddyer and Nathan as well as needing to trade off Morneau and Liriano because we couldn't sign them, or didn't want to resign them. Even the memories of the early trade of Santana (shades of a nicer Knoblauch) because they Twins couldn't offer him $120 or so million (only $110...and wasn't Hunter maxed out by the Twins at $75 instead of the $90 he got from California?). Yes, a new stadium was meant to KEEP your own free agents. Hey, MAYBE Mauer will be back! (At a discount).

At some point you just eat the remaining salary of people that will not be abck next season. Give those innings and at bats to someone else. Go with a six-man rotation, if you must, to see Goncalves, Romero, Littell and Stewart as part of the mix. You already have to pencil in Pineda, too. You have to have a look at Gordon at second base. You need to see Tyler Austin at the plate,m and maybe even advance Bent Rooker...if nothing else have Rooker play the remainder of the season at Rochester now that Austin is up here and Vargas is probably a lost cause. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY OUT CONTRACTS, YOU JUST HAVE TO PAY OUT CONTRACTS if you can't move the pieces. And, when you look at the bigegr picture, we will probably see that once Molitor can figure out a lineup (he ahsn't yet, so I guess we shouldn't be too surprised)...any new pieces might perform as well as jettisoned pieces. Santana and Lynn haven't been lighting up the game for the Twins. Rodney made saves a nail biter. Dozier may be hitting now, but he certainly didn't in the past. Press;y (like Hildenberger) was overworked. Morrison is having a career year...the other way. Escobar is truly missed. But even Mauer makes you question just how much you wish to pay him for 2019. So that is why we HAVE to see what the system can give us. On the radio earlier today was talking about going out and getting quality free agents for ALL these positions. NO - ADMIT IT - REBUILDING THE TWINS and it got derailed when a glimmer of hope materialized last year (it wasn't THAT GREAT of a season, folks). We have to do it all again in 2019. And young guys will egt more of a chance and other young guys may be pushed a bit. Maybe. Still haven't figured out a front office that still favors waiver wire claims, will give work to Forsythe and Wilson, and...try their darndest to put an upbeat spin on everything. Okay, who IS the leader in the clubhouse. Not Ervin, from what I can read.

A million dollar bonus baby. A year away from returning to the minors. Still not a bad return ffor the future. But who closes? Hildenberger has been overused. We still have Curtiss and his stuff in the minors. But I'm voting that we make TREVOR MAY the closer for the remainder of the season and see if he can handle it, assuming we do have games to close. Still to move: Morrison and Santana, and maybe Addison Reed.

This is a player that DID HE GET A CHANCE WITAH THE TWINS. Is he a better backup than, say, FIeld or Grossman, or even Wilson? You can have him as the third catcher. Actually, I would like to see him right now in place of Morrison. But chances are he will NOT get a September callup for some unheard of reason and drfit away to another organization.

Is there a logjam happening? Would the Twins be better off jettisoning people ike Santana, Morrison, Bobby Wilson, Forsythe, maybe seeing if someone grabs Addison Reed, not to mention a couple of bullpen arms just so you can move 3-5 people up NOW from Rochester, then same number from Chattanooga to Rochester etc. etc. Is it worth it for players to play at a higher level for a copuple of weeks?

+Three Factors in 40-man Roster Decisions on who to call to the show. One: Status. On the 40-man roster or not. Worthwhile to add (if it looks like they will break the roster in 2019, why not). Two: Do ypu want to pay the guys (could be an extra $20,000 payday for anyone added in September) plus you have to house them on the road et al. Three: Who is REALLY deserving and will contribute, compared to just sitting on the bench and getting a taste of major league life. With a team in a sorta rebuild move, there is ABSOLUTELY NO REASON you can have 40 players on the team in September...especially if you STOP giving innngs to anyone that will not be here in 2019 (i.e. closer, first base, designated hitter, outfielder rotation, a couple of bullpen arms, an aging catcher). That's 7 bodies for sure, not counting cutting back on the actual duty of those people who have overpitched (Hildenberger) or don't need to play to cement their roster spot (some of the regulars, plus Grossman and Adrianza). Gonna get #1 out of the way right away. NICK GORDON. Not deserving as he has taken a nose dive. But you need to see just how bad he can play (or good). It goes a long way into making a decision on second base or shortstop in the coming season. If he looks overmatched and MAY NOT be the second coming at second, then you know. Stashing him in the minors and hoping he shines is not the game to play. Playing him is the game. Santana either has it in his next three starts or doesn't. Then, and people will complain, go with a six man rotation and let us see Goncalves and Romero up here. If Romero has limited innings, then also look at Littell. You also have Pineda coming back. If the purpose is to SEE arms, you go with the minor league rotation of late, letting a bullpen guy start a game, then short runs by starters. Thorpe doesn't have to be seen, although you are eating away at his 40-man time. The Twins have Duffey and Busenitz and Curtiss in the minors. You can see what the front office thinks of the duo...they would rather throw Drake, Belisle and are happy with Magill. So, you either let them come up and show their stuff (all three have been deserving in their minors work). You also need to make decisions on Baxendale, Reed, Bard and Anderson. A couple of them can walk at season's end. All look like they are capable of being on a major league staff. Why not see if they can be on a Twins staff. But still, that's 7 bullpen arms who could contribute and 3 rotation arms, plus you still want to give May work. Maybe entertain those offers for Rodney and Addison Reed with seriousness. Willians Astilludo? Extra catcher to keep on the 40-man (do we have to add Navarretto in the off-season). Possible bench bat. Can he DH? Who's on first. Joe Mauer is a free agent. You DON'T have to resign him. But who do you play. You got two guys, Tyler Austin and Brent Rooker. One out of options next year, the other an aging prospect that might be slightly overmatched jumping from AA to the majors. But...whynot. See what you have. Do you need to find a 1B guy in a rebuilding team? Are they capable of outperforming this year's DH? Will Miguel Sano stay at third? Ansd we still have three more guys on the 40-man to make decisions on their fate. Aaron Slegers. Long relief, a starter we want to give a 40-man spot to for another year? Chase De Jong...who is cut from the same cloth as Slegers. That extra starter, a possible multi-inning right-handed pitcher. Do you keep him on the 40-man. And then we have Zack Granite, a miserable season, but still probably playing as well as Byron Buxton who MAY NOT see the light come September himself. Is Granite just roster fluff. Taking up a space and never to be seen in Twins-town again like Adam Walker and Dan Palka? And Lamonte Wade...who is an off-season add as Cave and Grossman are not going anywheres. So six starters, adding in Goncalves, Romero and Littell with Santana disappearing. Bringing up Duffey, Busenitz, Curtiss and adding in Bard. ALso promoting DeJong and Slegers. Taking away innings from Reed, Rodney, Hildenberger, Rogers...in other words, give them a game a week and a September vacation. See if Willians can catch. Play Nick Gordon for 25-30 games and just SEE what he can do. Have Rooker and Austin rotate with Mauer at 1B and DH. Sadly say goodbye to Logan Morrison. Gorssman, Forsythe, Reed, Field, Wilson, Belisle, Drake, Magill...what ether names SHOULD NOT be in the plans for 2019? Think 2019 and beyond! Think WHO CAN break with the team out of spring training (I don't see Thorpe doing that, or needing to do that).

If the Twins truly are in a rebuilding mode, they have to look at WHEN they want to be competitive...is it 2020 or 2021 or 2022. You take into consideration the logical advancement of all your current priospects. You take into considertion that they may have one-two seasons of average baseball before they start to take off. Do you do it in 2019 fer sure, when losing won't matter and the quest for a high draft choice is the main target, with players getting on-field experience. But on the flip side, they use up service time and have the potential to become a free agent that much earlier, especially when you are dealing with guys 20-21-22 and you make them multi-millionaires with lots of prime years. Assuming that they do play well and don't just disappear into the mist of springtime. I would like to see Royce get a September callup next season, starting his 40-man roster time perhaps a bit early. I would like to see him in spring training challenging for a job, but maybe NOT taking it untli mid-season 2020. But then, if that was my plan, I would also be pushing Nick Gordon to get experience the remainder of this yer and to use next season as an opportunity to see if he is a longterm guy somewhere on the field. Kriloff, Lewis, Rooker are all guys I think we can fast trak. Also Graterol would be a pitcher I would do the same.

Two things. You want the player to be their best in a season from now, at the least, to benefit the Twins most, as well as a couple of seasons after that. Second, the player will have to want to play in Minnesota. You can argue that the Twins have overspent on many of the free agents they have signed, including Santana, Nolasco, and the ilk. SHould he Twins go all out and get the BEST free agent possible? Rather than overpay what someone else might underpay?

So Lance Lynn shuts out the White Sox for 7+ innings with only one walk and 9Ks. Go figure.

2017 showed there might be a contention possibility, all depended on how Cleveland played the off-seson. To reach the Wild Card...wild thought. But the Twins did try to expand on the momentum of being in a weak divisiion without handcapping themselves by trading away prospects and, especially, locking into longterm contracts. The division IS weak and Cleveland is running away in the division with a poor record. You can look back and say that is the Twins had Mejia instead of Lynn, would they be five wins to the better than now? If Ervin Santana wasn't out for nearly four months and just out for one, would they have done it? Of course, no one predicted that EVERYONE would falter. Polanco gets suspended. Buxton and Sano get demoted. Dozier has holes in his bat. Kepler improves in one area and falls apart in tow others. They lose a veteran catcher. And Joe Mauer just contributes. They made decent signings/trades/ Got a first-rate closer who also keeps games exxciting. Two setup guys. They added a started on a one-year deal and another in trade. They got a 1B/DH with some power. All brilliant and economical signings. So economical that we now question WHY did they bother to sign the guys themselves for a bargian because didn't they think there was a reason every other team was hemming and hawing about these guys. We will now enter 2019 same as 2018. Same prospects hoping to make it big. Joe Mauer still there. The difference is that the aging vets will be gone and the choice needs to be mae to bring in another run of one-year lowballers, or just go with youth and what you can stuff in the cracks. They can pretty much fill the 40-man with guys on the team and in the organization. Can they improve? Sure, you can spend money and improve every position. But this is also the time to start closely evaluating the farm system. You will be trading pieces this coming season, and more than likely the next year, in hopes of getting more than decent team controlled pieces to strength true weaknesses.

You have to think ahead, if it means promoting guys before their time. Makes them better for spring training and next season. Right now the Twins have Berrios, Gibson and Odorizzi for the rotation. Mejia is showing some life. Romero got some experience and should only be better next season. There is an option of Ervin Santana being back. And Michael Pineda should egt some innings in September. Add in that you have Goncalves and Littell sitting ready in the wings for a chance, looks pretty good, doesn't it? You also have Thorpe, De Jong and Slegers. Castro should be back behind the plate with a much improved Garver. By all account Joe Mauer will return. You will still have Polanco and Sano and Adrianza. The Twins need to let Gordon come up and flounder if he must. You can always make a decision, then, for a short-term bandaid, not like him at all, or whatever. Depending on Sano and his remainder of the year you can start thinking of his place with the Twins. Is he a first baseman? A DH? Should you make a play again for Escobar? And then you also have Austin as the bench bat who can play first or the outfield. The outfield is set with Rosario, Kepler, Buxton and Cave. Twins lucky this year, they got more time or lower longterm salary for Buxton AND Sano. Lamonte Wade is in the background. The Twins could keep Grossman. The fate of Granite is up in the air. Rodney could be back as closer. He has the stuff. He keeps the game interesting. How many saves does a truly rebuilding team need? Can he suffice? Addison Reed could be acak, as he IS signed for $8 million for another season. Youc an assume that Hildenberger, Curtiss, Busenitz and Moya are in the mix. The fate of Duffey and Rogers can be determined. Magill is a possible Keeper. May is there. You have these arms for consideration from the minors: Jake Reed, Nick Anderson, D.J. Baxendale, Luke Bard, Tyler Jay...and Kohl Stewart will be added to the 40-man. Looks like the Twins have a team for 2019. WIll they be good? You don't know...it is up to the players. Your questions are 1B/3B/DH and can Gordon handle 2B (or do you move Polanco there). DO you stay young or keep the presence of Ervin Santana for another season. And the Field Staff. Do you make changes?

Overall, you can do nothing but be impressed. Dozier, may be worth more, but he has issues which is why the Twins weren't able to trade him for anything of substance in the past, and he actually went to a team that DIDN'T need to start him for the rest of the season, as either the Twins were asking too much to begin with, or there were others players more suitable for even a short term rental out there (and there were and they went to other teams). Pressly is a loss. He has been badly overworked this season and may just mellow out in the contending bullpen of the Astros. Always felt he had closer potential (like Jesse Crain) and that the Twins were fools to rid themselves of the player. But they got a nice return for someone who they grabbed in a Rule 5 draft. The Twins got a bench bat for next season who can play first, DH or work in the outfield, probably better than Grossman/ They got a pitcher who will bebattling Aaron Slegers for a spot on the 40-man come the off-season and who should get a looksee come September to see if he can handle long elief. They got waaaay too many outfielders, young outfieledrs. But we have to begin to question what the Twins will do with Kepler, what is the longterm spot on the team of Buxton, and CAN the Twins deal Rosario after maybe getting him on a team friendly extension. All deecisions that need to be made more towards the end of next season. But by 2021, expect the Twins outfield to look very different. What they didn't get...viable middle infield help, although they have that in the minors. Also, no catcher, but they MIGHT have two coming up towards 2020/2021. Now the question is what kind of movement do we see in the minors, how many free agents (including minor league free agents) do the Twins go after in 2019. But the system looks pretty darn good, especially with rotation arms.

Is Nick Gordon ready? Perhaps not. Would Brent Rooker be challenged at the Big League ;level? Probably. Should both get added to the 40-man roster this season instead of waiting until a later date? Why not? Right now, you have litle to lose having bpth of these guys in the majors taking some regaulr at bats for more than the month of September. Sure, the recent trade with the Yankees has set a temporary block on the arrival of Rooker, , but we are talking the future. Don't, front office, drag out Adrianza or Motter or Grossman to play as regulars. We NEED to give some exposure to the future. Let them take some licks. You can always send them back to the minors. The tell will be who closes for the Twins. Sure, Addison Reed is signed for another season and you have Belisle. But in rebuild mode, let Reed go on the August waiver wire and save $8 million next season. Let us see if Curtiss or Hildenberger or maybe even Trevor May can be the closer of the future? You have to make some 40-man decisions. Look at Kohl Stewart, Busenitz long and hard, maybe Luke Bard. Or move on. Is Zack Granite totally out of the picture? We know Buxton ain't. Don;t do waiver wire claims yourself. You can do all those for spring training invites ()look over the many many names that have since departed Twinsland, if you get a chance, of folks who didn't produce for Rochester or Chattanooga). Of course, still can't wait to see what happens with...Joe Mauer. And, of course, the Field Staff.

TWINS PAY HALF OF LYNN'S SALARY FOR REST OF SEASON. Is Austin as good, right now, as Logan Morrison? Is he a better choice to have as minor league depth, a bench bat than, say, Kennys Vargas? We will find out in 2019. Remember, who plays first if Mauer goes parttime and Sano fails. (Yes, Rooker is in the wings). Prtty much means we won't see Rooker this year, though.

Any issue with De Jong is he 40-man roster space he commands. He does have options, but if you remove him, you could lose him. He's 24, still has options, and at some point you have to ask is he a better keeper than Tyler Duffey or, say, Aaron Slegers, who could be used in long relief, too. You also got a corner infield prospect with some power for postotns that are weak (unproven) in the minors, third and first base. If nothing else, if power develops, he could be a nice bench-bat in the far future who can also play the field. Yes, he is pushing Robby Rinn for a spot in the organization come 2019. The $75,000 seems a laugh, especially when the inherited salary for Duke is next to nothing, and I'm pretty sure any team would've taken Duke for just giving the Twins salary relief come August. Worthwhile pickup. The Twins will have a lot of bullpen openings if the purge continues with Rodney, perhaps Addison Reed, the loss of Belisle (please) and a decision to be made on names like Taylor Rogers (and even possible replacement Tyler Duffey).

LOADS OF INTERESTING COMMENTS. Some Back -- You don't wait until the last minute to sell. Your players aren't the only ones out there. You do it when the opportunity arises. It would be wonderful to trade assets like Lynn, Dozier, Morrison, Duke, Rodney. But there are other equal, if not better, players floating out there. A team has to WANT this player for their contending roster. Your next step in the August waiver wire where a team HAS to take the player if they claim them, which can offer you salary relief and the potential to play someone in future plans, if you choose to let the player walk. You might be able to get a very minor prospect back in a deal. Again, the end of July dedline allows you to play teams against each other, or MAYBE you have to pay some of the outstanding salary to lose the player. Paul Molitor is a Hall of Fame person. That he can't take a couple of days to do festivities in Cooperstown, promoting the great game of baseball, should never be questioned. I'm sure arrangements are made, and the fact that the Twins are on a roadtrip close to the area also comes into play. This is an extended family thing. That he is still on the field for a team is a plus for the team, as well as baseball (although many of us MIGHT wish that he was not the field manager anymore). Should the Hall of fame have a better schedule for their induction ceremonies? Probably NOT on the final days of trading in July. Yes, maybe it should happen on the last day of the All-Star break, or the weekend before the All-Star game. whatever. But Hall of Famers is a unique club of a small amount of players and allowing them ALL to gather, if able, is a plus for baseball! People seem to forget that the Twins could have a decent rotation in 2019. They have Berrios, Gibson and Odorizzi. You forget that Pineda may be coming back for some innings in September. That three of these guys will be in walk years is the bigger question for the front office in the off-season. We also have Romero, Goncalves, Slegers, Mejia, Littell in the wings. And he potential exists that Ervin Santana could have his option picked uo for a modest $14 million. And, finally, how much stock should you always put in minor league numbers? Would nick Gordon flounder if he came up? Would Bent Rooker be in a chase game of "who strikes out the most" with Sano if he would jump from AA ball, a jump that has happened repeatedly in the past in the Twins organization? Would a player be hungry enough to shine shine shine if given a chance in the majors for more than a game or a week? And, then, will the coaches work and the players be willing to work to become a better player at the major league level? You don't know until you give it a shot.

What kind of moves will be forced in the minors, especially three potential starting outfielders who neded to be plugged into the low minors. Will the Twins start cutting some folks alredy on rosters? And with the potential of more to come? Sano NOW needs to produce, and by playing third base. Motter stays at Rochester. Okay, fine. but, again, here was a strange move by the Twins. You were, in all matters, moving infielders. So, when you bring back Santana...you keep Belisle? Of course, Belisle will be the closer if the Twins move Rodney, right? Instead of auditioning people in the organization for the long haul. ANy news on where Felix Jorge is hanging out?