Rosterman

A possible back-of-the-rotation arm and a couple of promising outfielders. What makes the additional outfield talent a plus is that you aren't tied into extending Kepler or Buxton yet if you don't wish, and you can dangle Rosario out there next season, if you wish (and the comments we all make about his bat and glove seems like someone we don't trust). I can almost say for certain that the Twins had no intention on making a qualifying offer to Escobar. I doubt that they wanted to spend $25 million over three seasons to extend him. Now they will have the opportunity to enter the bidding war for him in the off-season if Eduardo doesn't resign with Arizona right away. Our question now is: can Sano come abck sooner rather than later and play third.

I'mthinking NONE of the guys need to be put on the 40-man roster. And the chances of any of them being grabbed in a Rule 5 draft are pretty slim at this point, if any of them do need to be grabbed. Pressly has shown a flair in his work for the Twins. Like Jesse Crain years earlier, he had closer written all over him, although, like Crain, it may never pan out in the long run. One thing we know. 51 appearances. Molitor will now have to find someone else to overwork.

Unfortunately, many of the pieces that would be nice to jettison (because they will be walking at season's end) are not only NOT VALUABLE to other teams, but NOT contributing much better than a replacement value. Dozier, Morrison CAN be replaced. Lynn CAN be replaced. Rodney and Duke and Reed can basically be replaced in roles by pitchers already here and we HAVE to get competent quality outings of possible arms at AAA. If the guys are going to walk AND not contribute much, if anything, to the current season, then they are taking away roster time, space and money.

Who's on third?

From the current 40-man roster, 17 guys should still be around come 2020. Berrios, Gonsalves, Littell, Romero, Thorpe for the rotation. The bullpen holdovers are Hildenberger, Pressly, Moya, May, Curtiss. On the field we have Garver, Polanco, Sano, Buxton, Cave, Kepler, Rosario, So go from there. Out of all the names above, Thorpe would probably be etting his first major look. So you have to ask who is coming up in 2019? Rooker, Gordon? Who would make their debut sometime in 2020? On a bigger scale, besides the free agents you would jettison this season (Belisle, Duke, Lynn, Rodney, Wilson, Astudillo, Dozier, Morrison, Escobar, Mauer) you have some names that could play in 2019, but are they needed for 2019 - Gibson, Odorizzi for example. You also have Pineda who will be free after next season. You have Castro who will be free if he comes back from injury after next season. And you have these names who will PROBABLY not be a part of the team come 2020 and you can ask how valuable they would be for 2019 - Busenitz, Duffey, Magill, Mejia, Reed, Grossman, Slegers, Rogers, Adrianza, Granite, Grossman and he possible pick-up of Ervin Santana because a $14 million solid start might be hard-to-find. If you COULD get more for any of these names this season compared to next, would you do it? Not that people are standing in a line to get Twins folks for their team.

I don't picture the schedule changing by shortening, but possibly eliminating off days and having more players on a team. 28 perhaps (what with pitch counts and such) or maybe a flexible number that can be activated/unactivted on game day. The union would like it because more players get major league service time (and pays dues et al). I might also see split seasons, similar to the minors, with winners declared in each half...so teams are kept in contention that way. I would hope ticket prices would stabilize and the thought of sold out stadiums is a better bet than outpricing the common fan. I mean, concessions and gear ARE sold if people are kept interested in a team, right? Electronic strike/ball counting will probably take place, with umpires becoming monitor guys who watch calls on replay.

Escobar is NOT an elite player. I doubt that he will command a super contract in the off-season. Call me wrong when it happens, but I doubt it. Worth $19? Not really. Teams stockpile relief pitchers for the playoffs, possibly guys to replace their 5th starter or real backend of the bullpen guys. The Twins have a few possibilities here. Are ANY of the Twins relief pitches irreplacable (Hildenberger, Pressly, Rogers, etc.). Maybe someone would want Morrison as a bench bat. But more of a salary dump in August and glad someone grabs the guy. Does the Santana option travel with him if traded? If he pans out in his last dozen starts, might not be bad to have him return for Lance Lynn money. The big question, are the Twins going into rebuild mode. Then you look at WHO on the roster should open in 2019. Who will they keep, at this point of time, in 2020. Who is still around in 2021.

Who closes for the Twins in the future> Can Trevor May be made into a closer? Is Pressly worth the trouble? Is Hildenberger for real? Still, we ar talking about heading towards 2020 and 2021, reality. Who on the team will still be on the team in 2019. Better yet, in 2020. Or better yet, 2021. That should also factor into trading current pieces. Remember, you can pretty much sign at this stage of the game comparable players for perhaps 75% of the Twins roster, probably at a cheaper rate that they would receive in pay come 2019 or 2020, if not even the bygone pieces.

See they promoted Ryan Jeffers to the Kernels. Good for him. Let's bump up a couple more catching prospects!

The Twins will, again, be able to offer some bargain free agent contracts, probably for a season, to people hoping to rebuild value (as well as be valuable in mid-season to a club looking to rebuild). The end of this season and msot of next they have to have a quality look at just what the system may be giving them for the next 3-5 seasons, be it extensions to Buxton, Sano, Berrios, Kepler or early looks at Rooker, Arraz, Gordon, even Krilloff and Lewis. Prospects have to be given a chance to come up and fail a bit, maybe go abck down and work some more, and then come up to stay. Then, going into 2020 and 2021 you start looking at heavy multi-million dollar elite free agent contracts. Oh, yes, Mauer manages to stay around for the right price. But I do think he could easily get $7-10 million elsewhere if he desires.

Did miss Alex Perez getting bumped up to Rochester...his third level of play this season!

The BIG question is who to drop (prospects) from the 40-man and who to add. Will Luke Bard get consideration? What is the fate of Kohl Stewart. Depends on if we do see people like Nick Gordon and Brent Rooker still this year, or the Twins just bypass a major league advancement because they can. The jettisoning of free agents alone should make some comfortable space, and the Twins should be able to buy a rotation arm, a couple of bullpen arms, perhaps a backup catcher, and a slugger who can also play first base (sound familiar). But it depends...are they rebuilding, or contending?

First, I do not see the Twins front office taking the gamble and giving a qualifying offer to either Dozier or Escobar. $19 million is a lot for either player. Yes, one one front you would say either player would be foolish NOT to take the offer. But looking at the bigger picture, you will be sitting around the same place in the standings in 2019 and have two guys who will be free agents at season's end and you'd be dangling them and WILL anyone trade for them, plus would you have to eat salary. That is ONE BIG IF! Also, I think we can say that the Twins really have no desire to longterm sign Dozier at this point, and Brian has made it known that he will welcome free agency and now has two months to increase his value and vie for a multi-year deal. If he does it somewhere else, the Twins CAN always come bsck and revisit Dozier, if they see that Gordon or whomever won't replace him in the near scheme of things. Escobar IS NOT an elite player. But at what price do you keep him, and does he see visions of glory in getting a BIG contract for multi-years in 2019? That is the question. CAN the Twins meet him halfway, give him a decent contract (south of, say, $25 million for three years). Is that too much to pay for another season as a starter, if need be, and two seasons as a versatile backup infielder, if push comes to shove. You can also justify overpaying for his clubhouse presence. BUT, and it is a BIG BUT, do you trust that he will not be deadwood at the plate or on the field for the next few seasons. If you can't reach an agreement NOW, you trade him -- and like Dozier, he is a revisit candidate in the off-season. Unfortunately, unless you are surefire that Sano IS your third baseman, you have a void. What do you get in return? Well, at this point neither player is #1 on anyone's want list, so any deadline deal will happen when other possibilities come off the plate, if at all. I don't see much in the way of a quality return (which will hurt the Twins more with the loss of Escobar). BUT if you ARE losing both at season's end, getting something is better than letting them just walk at the point you don't think you can catch Cleveland. And if you decide to ride this out a bit, do you let them walk in the August waiver claim time, hopefully getting a prospect (or pulling them back and keeping them), or just letting them go for salary relief and so you can play THE FUTURE. Escobar is one of your top TRADE CHIPS, although, like I said, he is not an elite piece. He might be a productive piece for the remainder of a season, moreso than any other offensive-category player (Grossman, Morrison, Dozier, Wilson). But right now, he is not a prize glove in the middle infielder and an adequate glove at third base. He hits doubles. He has some power. But he goes hot and cold. He's not a leadoff guy, he's not a cleanup slugger. He is a solid player (this season, and the last two). Unlike Dozier, he ahs been consistent. Dozier may get a hot streak and slug out 20 homers in the next two months and hit .350, which is good for Brian and his future, but not really doing anything for the Twins if they play, at best, .500 ball the rest of the way. You just never know, but now is the time to judge your minor league system, make decisions on guys you have to remove from the 40-man to add more in the off-season. THAT IS MORE IMPORTANT in the future scheme of things. If you egt minor league depth, that second or third prospect in line from an organization, that 41st player, you might be happy. The Twins did a good job signing (and trading) for pieces to make them a stronger team in 2018. Unfortunately, none of them really worked out (shades of Rodney who gives us suspense). The joy is you can still go out and buy a rotation arm, three bullpen arms, a backup catcher and a 1B/DH in the off-season and probably egt what you with the spring training promises this year. But IS IT MORE IMPORTANT to advance and see what you will have for 2019 (or even 2020) now than do this all over again. Dozier you didn't feel like signing in the off-season. There wasn't much of a trade market for him the past couple of seasons. Escobar is an elite bench guy, but NOT an elite regular...although he does have flashes and shines...but I don't see any team going after him to be their 2-3 year future at any position. He will get a contract (think Nunez) and be able to stay in the majors at least 4-5 years in some capacity. But these two players? Well, the Twins will have people kicking the tires and looking them over carefully as they judge other sellable items out there in the realm of baseball, or do they just go with the unproven parts they have in their own system.

You always wonder about the prospects, but the Twins seem to short leash them these days, although SLegers did get a second start and bombed after an excellent first start, shades of 2017. Still, decisions need to be made going forth. Romero may have been tired and rushed, coming uo direct from the minors and thrown into play, but still....the message is there...produce and you stay in the majors. Don't produce, you go down the next day. And even players like Jake Cave have to know that at some point, they may fall to the numbers game (and the desire to keep Robbie Grossman's bat) and no matetr how well you might be playing (remember Ryan LaMarre), you can get demoted. Yet Wilson remains. Belisle pitches. And Willians still hasn't put on a cather's mitt. The Twins do have to remove free agent assets: Dozier, Lynn, Rodney (perhaps), Duke. Morrison and Reed probably should be gone, too. All will walk at season's end. What is the value (monetary) for an Escobar contract. You probably do keep Mauer and let him play out his career in Minnesota because "who's on first?" The Twins gain service time credit on Buxton, Sano is doing whatever in the minors, both not talked about much these days, for some odd reason...the talent IS there. Boston, Toronto and Cleveland could sink the Twins, who still have 30 or so games left in the season against weaker teams.

Wow, it only took Duke 20 pitches and Belisle 26 pitches. But Willians 35. Someday the guy will catch. And, of course, the team somehow at Adrianza at first base. Go figure.

But should it prevent you from figuirng out a way to jettison bodies and salaries and guys who AREN'T coming abck in 2019...especially those NOT producing in 2018. Logan Morrison, Addison Reed, Brian Dozier are all replaceable. So is Robby Grossman. You can probably live with Zach Duke and Fernando Rodney. Lance Lynn and Ervin Santana. If not traded, allow to pass into waiver claim territory come August, which may be the only alternative. I think YOUNG talent can perform equally as well and if the Twins win, it will be because of the future, not the guys trying to restore a career in the final months.

Like all baseball players, one ahs to constantly work at keeping ahead of the film, notes and work of the other teams. It is a tough world out three. You have to have the ability to stay fit, stay sharp, and a comfort to change what you do when on the mound or at the plate for the moment. Hildenberger has worked hard and his success shows. Just hope Molly doesn't overuse him.

What would happen if you just kept Larnach at Ft. Myers, have him start at the Gulf Coast League and then jump him to A+ ball, keep tabs on him in the Florida sunshine! It's not like he's a base in the woods and needs to live in Elizabethton or Cedar Rapids for a month or so.

If willing to give J.Y. a $100 million offer for five years or more, maybe just maybe. Although you would be sacrificing the talent you yourself expect the club to to use to bring you back from the dark hole. And then we have the issue of giving an extended conract to an aging catcher who may not be a catcher in 3-4 years anymore. Or, do you just wait until J.T. becomes a free agent after 2020?

Well, nothing like a little excitement. 10 games left against the Indians. 34 games left against teams weaker, perhaps, than the Twins. Sell or standpat? Maybe Dozier is increasing his value, as is Lynn and Duke. Of course, it should be a slam-dunk on getting rid of potential free agents, if they are underperforming AND COULD possibly be replaced by hungry bodies in house (Goncalves, Moya and Gordon). Hey, on a side note...seven doubles for Boibby Wilson, half of his hits (almost).

Any idea where Felix Jorge will start his comeback?

Slegers could be a fine bullpen arm, perhaps long relief, for a time.

The Twins have three choices: Keep players, play out the season and their contracts, allow them to walk, get nothing in return, and maybe see some September callups with minimal playing time. )We should all remember the returns the Twins got when Nathan, Cuddyer and Hunter walked instead of signing with the Twins, all could've ben dealt in-season with something coming back). Choice number two is to explore trades. The problem here is that a team needs the talent the Twins have to offer, and are they willing to pay for that talent. Except for Escobar, and maybe Gibson and Odorizzi, the majority of playrs the Twins have to offer are role or bench guys who would only see playing time if a contending team comes up with an injury. And maybe some bullpen arms would add veteran depth going into post season play. But the return would be minimal for the few bodies that might attract a suitor (unless it is Gibson or Escobar), the Twins would get some salary relief, although they might have to eat some to get rid of the player/s, and someone new could come up from the minors and get some field time. Likely scenario is number three. The Twins flood the waiver wire come August 1 and they allow a gaggle of players to be claimed, getting nothing in return but salary relief, as well as the opportunity to play the future. Now who should the Twins say so long, goodbye and who can replace. Bobby WIlson catching. You'd think anyone in the system (at Rochester) could replace him, as well as maybe WIllians. ANy reason not to work Garver harder behind the plate? Remember, Cstro will be returning in 2019 and the Twins won't let him walk away...as he does have skills working with pitchers. Joe Mauer and Logan Morrison. The 1B and DH place. Joe is in a swan song. Yes, he is a Minnesota boy. Sad if he ends his career similar to Killebrew in a one-stop in a flyover town (or a playoff bound team). But his time has come. Morrison contributed, barely. Argue with me that you may not get equal results from the bats of Sano and Vargas holding down these positions, and even an early advancement of Rooker could pay better dividens that Morrison this season (shades of Chris "remember my hot September" Parmelee) Dozier needs to go. Can Gordon replicate his average, his base running? Most likely. Maybe a bit less power, but Polanco might just shine. And if all else fails, you move Polanco to second and have Adrianza at short for the remainder of the season, with Motter as the backup infielder. But give Gordon some reps in the big league level. See if he is hungry, if he listens and learns. Now Escobar is the elephant in the room. You need to keep him. He is shining at third, putting up comparable numbers of leaue average and showing THIS is his position. Unfortunately, he is not worth a qualifying offer. You have to ask "is he worth a 2-3 year extension" and for how much. Do you trade and tread water, return Sano to the bag, bring up someone like Leonardo Reginalto or Petit to finish the season? Tough call. You want to reward the guy, but is anyone else going to do that, and can you get some unexpected riches from him leaving the team in a trade and then approaching him for a return in 2019? Cave is holidng his own. Can Buxton do as well as Kepler? Or, Grossman. I think Grossman, for sure. You keep Buxton down on the farm as long as Cave hits. If you need to replace Grossman, if someone comes knocking for his services or claims him in August, you give Zack Granite one more looksee. Granite is either in the mix for 2018 or a 40-man removal. The rotation. You let Lynn go. When Santana comes back, you let anyone claim him, too. Maybe get back some organizational depth. But better to play out two rotation positions for most of august and maybe add a third (and go with a six-man rotation) come September. Littell, Goncalves, Mejia are hungry. May is in the wings. Pineada may be sparking a comeback. Heck, you could even give Thorpe a start! If the bullpen was minus Rodney and Duke and Reed, can you be served by Curtiss, Moya, Jake Reed, Busenitz, and maybe Duffey and a couple of 40-man ads like Nick Anderson and Luke Bard. I think so. I think they will produce. But besiddes Rodney MAYBE bringing back some good returns, and maybe REED because he ahs another year on a contract, you are basically getting rid of age for salary relief. You have to make a strong decision on Rogers and Duffey for keeping on the 40-man and in the organization. Yes, I think the Twins COULD replace numerous parts of their 25-man roster with guys currently in the minors who would produce on par with the players they are replacing. Maybe even better, if they are hungry for major league work. The Twins would be well served to NOT block future looks. They would get back umpteen millions in payroll. The guys leaving really wouldn't be missed...including, sadly, Joe Mauer. Garver C Vargas 1B Polanco 2B Gordon SS Escobar 3B Kepler/Cave RF Buxton CF Rosario LF Vargas DH Berrios Romero Gibson Odorizzi Slegers Mejias Goncalves Pressly Curtiss Busenitz Rogers Moya Jake Reed Hildenberger Magill Duffey (man, you got too many already) Adrianza Motter a catcher one of he four ourfielders Rooker comes into the mix in September so does LaMonte Wade

You have to truly ask WHO the Twins have that would fit into a roster of a contending team. That is the BIG question. Then, how badly does the team need that Twins player, compared to a body from another team. Then we come to the August dumping zone. You throw the guy out there, someone claims him, you let them go and save on salary and give playing time to the future.

The Twins also grabbed JON KEMMER from the Astros for cash. A guy who ahs the potential to be a minor league free agent if not added to the 40-man in the of season. He shows some punch with his bat.