Rosterman

Here's my Take. The Twins have two deadlines: Starting today and going thru the end of July, trding someone. The entire month of August, but hopefully soon out of the gate, putting players on waivers and letting them to whomever places a claim. Sadly, there is not alot to offer in trade, just a dangle and the possibility of getting something in return besides salary relief. Of course, players that you have little but salary invested in, you should be happy to get anything. Allowing a team to walk with a player in August is true salary relief from a body that you have no interest in retaining. If you can still get a prospect back, more power. Happily, you don't have to negotiate with a waiver claim in August. The team takes the player and their contract as is. That said, some thoughts. The Twins NEED to see any and all players that will be contributing to the team in 2019 and beyond. If they have no chance of being on the 2019 roster, let them go sooner rather than later. If there is a smidgen of a chance that they won't be here in 2020 (Odorizzi and Gibson are the notables), try and trade. That said: Catcher. You have to see if Mitch Garver can improve. Bobby Wilson, bless his sole, should've been working with the arms of the future at Rochester more than up here. Now it is too late to consider him a Crash Davis as, according to my plan, the young arms he would work with will be mostly up here. Thus, you can look at Graterol or Rupp as the temporary backup for this year, is Willians isn't competent. Are any of the alternatives prospects for 2019? Probably not. And, remember, we will still have Castro and his framing glove abck for another year in 2019. So we should be content that we have a decent bench bat who can catch in Garver for 2019, as well as Castro, who isn't going anywhere unless he is so injured that he never plays ball again. You lose Wilson and get a 40-man. You might add Graterol/Rupp for the season to take that 40-man spot. INFIELD: The Brian Dozier era is done, sad to say. Two factors. He clearly expressed an interest to look at free agency. The team has no desire to sign him longterm or for extended years. Trade him for a prospect (or two) and if you want to revisit him in the offseason, you will be able to do that at a possible lower cost. 40-man spot cleared. Bring up Nick Gordon, who may not be ready, but play him and see what he has to work on. At best, he does adequate and leans. At worse, you send him down in 3/4 weeks to work a bit more at AAA. He takes your open 40-man spot. KEEPERS: Polanco, Adrianza. Escobar. Ehire is your swing man. Polanco is the shortstop (or the second baseman if you ditch Dozier and play Gordon at short). Escobar is at third. You explore with Eduarco an extension. AT worse, you have him for three years and either trade him in one or have an expensive utility infielder. At worse, he tanks next year totally. So what is an Escobar gamble? Three years? $20 million? $25 million? As you start thinking more, you start wondering if something abck in trade is more worthwhile and, like Dozier, you take a chance in offseason offers being low. Remember, you don't get a guy cheaper unless he enters the free agency marketplace with another team's cap. We have Motter currently on the disabled list. He goes and you have a free 40-man spot. JOE MAUER:.Right now, I look at Joe in two ways. Either this is his swan song with the Twins, you announce it now that he is more than likely leaving the game, and give him a farewell tour. Or you trade Joe to Boston or Chicago Cubs if they want him with a chance to be in the post season and end his career that way. Hasw the front office made it clear not to bring Joe back? Public relations nightmare? Maybe not as bad as one would think. You need to entertain offers and discuss with Joe and force him to make a career decision. Combined with Logan Morrison, who is a slim possibility of getting you a return of a body at the trade deadline and more likely to get a waiver claim and a salary writeoff, you might be oipen to two roster spots. My choices, then, bring back Kennys Cargas as a last chance looksee. And if you have two, Chris Carter can't contribute any worse with the bat than Logan Morrison and would also be resignable, perhaps, for 2019. At the outside, you push up Brent Rooker. OUTFIELD: Rosario, Kepler, Cave. That's are set grouping for now. Convince me the need to bring Grossman back for 2019? If not, replace him with Granite and let's see Zack get sometime in centerfield, like 15-20 games, and if he can be a 4th outfielder or some speed on the path. If 40-man space exists, go ahead and advance LaMonte Wade. Or at least aim for that direction come September. MIGUEL SANO and BYRON BUXTON - keep them in the minors until necessarily needed (they become too hot in the minors or your current players are worse than the stats the two put up already for 2018). But you now have the luxury of looking at some other pieces, decided if Miguel or Escobar will be at third, if Miguel can play 1st, or be dommed to DH land. THE ROTATION. Trade Lynn if there are any takers. Showcase santana and, at the last, allow him to be a waiver claim. You can deal with him in the off-season then. Think of what his value MAY be. Same, again, for Lynn. I'm sure msot folks would agree there is no need to offer Lance Lynn an extended contract. Kyle Gibson and Jake Odorizzi. Both trade guys. You should be able to generate some offers. Yes, both COULD make the team in 2019. But do you really see them as Twins in 2020. Do you have faith in better arms ahead? Go with a 6-man rotation for the rest of the season: Berrios, Slegers, Mejia, Littell, Goncalves. You are killing Rochester. At some point you bring up May and Stewart (whom you need to decide if you wish to add to the 40-man anyways). What have you got to lose. All except Steward are on the 40-man. You will be removing 2-3 pitchers from the 40-man.Remember, Pinedas might also be returning for some September innings. THE BULLPEN: Trade Fernando Rodney and Zach Duke. Both should be pieces that could go as early as tomorrow. Think about jettisoning Addison Reed is someone wants, you free up his expense for 2019. You have so many arms in the minors: Duffey, Reed, Curtis,. Moya, Busenitz already on the 40-man. Vets like Omar Bencomo and Paco Rodriguez. 40-man considerations like Nick Anderson, Luke Bard, Tyler Jay. Maybe even Baxendale should be considered. You lose 3-4 40-man spots in the bullpen (remember, Belisle is taking a spot). You aren't getting much back in return, sadly, except some non-payouts in salary to offset the empty seats during August/September. You have a lot of cheap jerseys to sell at the State Fai. You have a couple of looksees who may not fit into 2019 in the black hole of 1B/DH in Vargas and Carter. You have to make a big decision on Sano. You have to think about spending money on Escobar, or find some guy named Petit to come back until you can enter the off-season. Joe Mauer is becoming more of an issue than a franchise player and the pluf has to be pulled. And, you pull the plug early on manager. Let the front office bring up their guy, Joel Skinner, to finish the season. But you GET RID OF ANYONE/EVERYONE WHO WON'T BE AROUND IN 2019 TODAY...not tomorrow. You question keeping some of the 2019s who don't stand a chance of being here in 2020. Go forth with the plan, teh rebuilding plan!

First of, they came in at the end of a season, but got to do the draft, but still inherited a largely homegrown department of players personnel. Plus, Pohlad wanted Molitor kept. The main job didn't become a shared presidency of the organization, so he sill has to report to someone who wants to sell advertising, fill the seats with season ticket holders, and do anything possible to make sure the team looks and sounds better than it may be. Some decent drafting. And then a winning season in 2017 and a Manager of the Year. We saw them clean house in development of the imnor leagues, sign lots of good draft picks, play the international bonus money and such. Unfortunately, some longtime guys just moved around in the front office, you can't fire a manager of the year even though 2017 wasn't THAT good, and because it looked like they were a possible contender, you scrap the 4-5 year plan and get the go ahead to spend more than you have ever seen the Twins spend before to sell more tickets and maybe conquer a weak division. Happily they didn't spend on longterm contracts, their low-ball offers to promising guys who had yet to prove themselves were rejected, and somehow a lack of leadership from the dugout and possibly the field staff, combined with injuries and slowed progress by TOP prospects is selling a disaster that is far from what anyone expected with the free agent signings of a starter, a trade for another capable arm, three vet additions to the pen, a strength signing at DH I feel the front office was given five years to turn things around, hopefully sooner, but still...in their own way. So, any pieces that aren't contributing to 2020 and 2021 are moot, in the grand scheme of things, and many of the current players at the major league level still under control and in ALL levels of the minors are the true future of this team. Once they know what they can kinda expect, they can move from there and spend money. But they had to derail a bit for 2018. Keep Molitor. Temporary patch holes with some decent free agent (temporary) signings as well as fill the upper minors with lotsa (failed) minor league free agents. The smoke-and-mirrors needed to sell tickets worked for this season, which should be moderately successful after the money bin of 2017 (the Twins budgeted for a much worse attendance than they got last season, and remember...they controlled the selling of full price tickets when the Twins were hot at season's end and few tickets were bargained on StubHub). Unfortunately (or fortunately) with the way things are going, those fans that want to go to a Twins game will be able to go for $5 in August and September. If there is one big fear, and maybe they are justified in playing with veterans like Belisle and Motter and Wilson, is that until the team dropped out-of-sight, they didn't want to fill the roster with farmhands NOT yet on the roster who might not be able to play out a COMPETITIVE season. If your team isn't competitive, then you throw rookies out there for more than a day callup and have them take lumps, within reason. On the plus side, glad to see them extend their control over slumping Buxton and Sano and hopefully they will both take time to reflect on their talents IN THE MINORS. Again, the new front office was looking at 2020 and 2021 for really making steam. Even the guys who have another season (Odorizzi and Gibson, for example) could be viable trade candidates for future pieces, as the chances of either signing on for longterm after THIS season are probably slim to none. So, because of the disaster of 2018, don't get ANY high hopes for a turnaround in 2019. It will be a rebuilding team with prospects given the chance to do or die. Maybe a longer leash. But they will be there in droves and the payroll will probably be the lowest ever in 2019 dollars for the Twins franchise since.......

All we really have is prospects to trade for established players, which won't be a game changer this season, sadly. So keep the prospects and trade the guys who won't be here in 2019, and possibly those who won't be here in 2929 (Gibson, Odorizzi).

Wasn't it before the 2017 season that members here were crying loudly that the Twins should not offer arbitration to Kyle Gibson, basically non-tender the guy? He's 30 going on 31. Next season he could cost %8 million easily. The Twins, this season, have a bargain. Next year, well, we wouldn't know until he would pitch. Here's the rub. He could help out a team contending this season. That team could also have a chance of him replicating his recent success. The Twins don't necessarily need to pay $8-9 million for that gamble, considering the overall track record, the abundance of starters IF THEY ARE in a rebuilding mode, or even if they aren't, they would have more than enough money to spend on a 3-5 year BIG contract and or a couple of medium-sized offers. Better yet, the question you need to ask...would you resign KYLE GIBSON today for a 2-3 year extension and for how much. $35 million? An option year? Or would you rather say, sorry, no. Is he another Kevin Tapani? Is he another Brad Radke? No, he's Kyle Gibson, and he does have material worth in the playing field. As does Eddie Rosario, another player that we all often speak ill of in regards to hitting discipline or outfield play. In the case of Gibson, you hang on and hope he starts 2019 well. But he would be a free agent at series end and get us the same as...well, name it. If he does bad, you might get a waiver claim in August and can choose to rid yourself of the remaining salary if you can't get a prospect, very minor, in return. We have another of those possibilities this season. Next year we have Odorizzi and Pineda both in the rotation. Both will be potential free agents at the end of the season. Okay, we want to add a third, more expensive name to that list? We have Romero and Berrios anchoring the staff. We have the usual band of suspects currently on the 40-man and names like Stewart and Gonsalves not. Plus maybe a dark horse candidate who will end the season with the Lookouts giving a run as a replacement for any parting players. Trevor May is also out there in the mix. And the ability to spend money on free agent rotation arms (NOT bullpen arms, hopefully). Sometimes, you strike when a player is running a bit high (be it Hicks, Revere, Span, Carlos Gomez...all those centerfielders...but, STILL, what did they really bring us in return,. Or we do the DDelmon Young thing, don't sell. And look at what happens. Of course so many factors go into a trade. If we get something of value, depth from another team that can afford to give us a corner infielder prospect, a down-the-line rotation arm, maybe a catcher blocked (shades of Wilson Ramos). You do it. We were all applauding the chance of just cutting him loose awhile back. Basically NOT disappointed when he was sent to the minors and perfectly content if he was another Joe Mays or nick Blackburn WITHOUT the big contract, so to speak. The Twins of 2017 had a decent year with a good palce in the central divsiion as well as making the Wild Card. It was more of a fluke, so to speak. And the front office strayed from rebuiling to build on some possible momentum for that finish by spending to a record payroll, hoping to fill the seats at least for the beginning of the season, as well as building the season ticket base, which is what the other half of the front office desires. You can't sell a bottom rung rebuilding team. We saw some changes in the front office, a good revamp of the minor league training gang, and working to put together a field staff with Manager of the Year Paul Molitor...who would've cried FOUL if the MOY was fired? But back to Gibson, TRADE. You should be able to dangle, starting right now, and possibly pull a good return sooner rather than waiting until the last day of the deadline. Most of the other Twin tradeable assets will be put on waivers in August and if someone will take them, you pretty much SHOULD let them go to save money (which the front office likes) and also allow you to fully play the future.

Okay, Falvey and Levine need to be given the rope to finish their plan, hopefully a solid 5-year vision that got derailed when they had to keep Molitor and work with some front office guys. You can see that they have started to mess with the front office with some changes in analytics and elsewhere, and the staff down-on-the-farm has done an about face. I'm hoping they finally have free reign as this season becomes a disaster. Now something strange happened last season, the Twins came back and actually were a wild card team. Molitor was named Manager of the Year. Did he deserve it? Well, he wasn't fired. That he might've deserved, but got a lucrative contract that will need a payout if he moves on. AAnd he will. Falvey and Levine will have their say in who manages the team, and also get free reign on hiring coaches with a new manager. It's too bad they had to go into this off-season in a spending mode, because above all else the main concern of the Twins braintrust is putting fans in the stands and 2017 gave them a season to market to increase the season ticket base, still play ponzi games with certain seats and games, and hope spending that extra $30 mill will keep the attendance on par with last year when they had a surge and a GREAT year instead of the BAD year that they budgeted. Y'know. The players are still there. Lots of pieces can be jettisoned. I see the Twins moving guys up faster in the seasons ahead, maybe NOT spending big in 2019, but moreso in 2020 and 2021 when many of the names we salivate around in the minors WILL BE HERE and those that are here now will get their act together. They don't have a lot of players demanding any sort of return, except maybe Kyle Gibson (still an expensive arbitration season left) and Escobar (who might get them more than they gave for him back when) and then they would have the ability to possibly resign Esuardo for something more realistic than they would if they kept him. You lose a guy to free agency, you don't necessarily get him abck cheap...someone else does that. Who knows, should the Twins sell high on Eddie Rosario, too. Remember Delmon Young? Can Fast Eddie crash and burn, or is he a true superstar beyond Buxton and Sano and even Kepler in the longrun. Looking forward to lots of September games with very cheap seats and the concession stand lines short, although season tickets have been sold. Means more fees for StubHub instead of the Twins, who cleaned up selling a lot of full prie tickets in 2017. Same won't be said about 2018.

Especially in center field. What next, third base? Shortstop? Come in and pitch when the game is a blowout? I'm excited! And he swings a mean bat, too! This guy is Bix Sexy 2!

Senior Citizens day on the mound in Chattanooga!

If the Twins play poorly the next two weeks before the All-Star break, I hope the powers-that-be start manning the phones. Coming off the break, the Twins have three games on the road in KC, then face the Jays and Red Sox, which should be a treat, before the Indians. Ten games or more behind come mid-month, are the Twins considered sunk?

Hildenberger threw only 24 pitches to nine batters, eight of whom got on base? At what point, getting only one out, does a manager say enough is enough?

There just doesn't seem to be soething right with the team. You can blame the front office, the manager, the players. But the field staff is supposed to at least try and get the best they can from the players. The front office is supposed to try and repair any problems from the players. The players need to stop thinking about future contracts. I look at Molitor and think...line-up construction. I have no answer, but something isn't working here. I see the age old problem that we even had with Gardy, leaving a starter in fo begin an inning too far. Having no rhyme or reason to bullpen usage. But I also wonder about clubhouse leadership. If players aren't going to do it, who does it?

So we keep Belisle, but put Jorge on waivers. We send down Busenitz, who isn't the worst ERA on the staff and keep...Belisle. We bring up a third catcher to do what, play the infield?,Heck, bring up Zack Granite and let him play centerfield until you decide to bring back Buxton. See what Granite can do. Jorge may have fallen behind in the possible rotation arms, but he still is better than (name your player currently on the roster). Somethings aren't making sense here in Twins land. Maybe the Cubs will think Joe Mauer is invincible at Wrigley and make a play for his bat to get them to the playoffs. Would Joe go to Chicago with a chance for the post season? A way to end a career, perhaps? Let's showcase Joe more the next two games!

Col weather start? DIsappointed in what he ended up taking in a contract? Not playing enough at first? Perhaps the Twins have no line-up construction and you can pitch hard and fast to him and he will swing and probably miss more often than not. How many pitches does he take? How many ball heavy counts has he had? Yes, the Twins have Vargas in reserve. He can't be as bad. Even though players stumble at AAA, sometimes they just need to try their hand at major league ball again, get excited to be receiving the meal money. ALso, can give Carter a chance, but doubt you'll see him on tap in 2019. But would almost like to see Vargas given one more shot, if someone grabs Logan Morrison as a bench bat. We already went thru Stassi and Buss in the minors. Again, line-up construction, lack of threats batting before or after you, can work into the equation. Look, even today...the Twins only got a half-dozen or so hits to go with their six runs. Offense is just terrible and is breeding a lack of offense.

in defense of the front office, they probably do have a plan. The plan became derailed a bit last year when the Twins had a flicker of competitiveness. Then, suddenly, the Dave St. Peter end pushes to keep the train going up hill, because rebuilding teams are tough to sell and the name of the game is fans in the stands. So, if you can build on a momentum that might not actually be there, you try your best to do so. The front office did. They put out feelers with $$$ for the top free agents. But unless they vastly overpay, why would someone come to Minnesota when they can play for a champion for the same amount of monies. But it derailed the longterm plan with a short one to keep momentum going and Twins Territory viable after a football season that saw The Super Bowl as well as a Vikings team that ALMOST made it. ALMOST is a word commonly heard in Minnesota. The front office is evaluating the talent from the former administration. They are giving long looks to the upper talents, like Sano and Buxton. That is what the new coaches and advisors and such were brought in to fix and motivate. But you can't motivate if the person isn't there. Or maybe the manager (and his staff) can in other ways. The reaity is that the front office is remaking the minor leagues, the "Twins Way" according to their own book. They [probably didn't want Molitor to begin with, but had to take him, and then how can you fire a "Manager of the Year." With Skinner at AAA, we see the potential replacement coming from outside, especially since all promising internal candidates were jettisoned this past offseason. Admit it, folks. The front office did good getting some decently priced free agents to keep the momentum going. The disappointment has been in the injuries, the fallback of major league guys who might still comeback in another season (or two), and the lack of leadership in the clubhouse. Who leads when your stars are potential free agents, your veterans are one-year rentals, and you got a bunch of guys who still haven't learned that all the natural talent in the world doesn't help if you don't work it on the field each and everyday. it's a new game, and if you don't cut it, someone is there to take your place.You need to play the game and be a baseball player to make the big bucks, get the big contract. You have to last the seasons. But, don't blame the front office entirely either. They wanted to build a team in their image and got sidetracked and the powers higher want to sell tickets, concessions and parking places.

At some point, can prospects perform as well as any number of players currently on the roster: Dozier, Morrison, Grossman, Wilson, Motte and some not on the roster like Sano and Buxton, not to mention arms like Lynn, Odorizzi, Belisle, Rogers, Duke even Pressly. If the Twins are down 10 games with no chance at even a wild card challenge you have to say "If the guys aren't guaranteed a spot in 2019, then they should be available" and an emphasis should be placed on seeing the players that MIGHT contribute to 2019 and beyond so you can then go into the offseason with a shopping list. You will buy salary relief, you will stock the system, and you will probably be playing to NO walkup sales and lots of empty season ticket seats.

Well, quite a few of those offensive minor league free agents didn't work out too well this season, Ramsay joining Buss, Heisey, Stassi, Featherstone, Myles Jay, Jermaine Curtis and the gone in spring training Aybar and Sanchez. Nice to see they are moving others into place.

In order to sell, you have to have something someone wants to buy. At some point, the Twins need to move pieces for anything pissible so they can advance pieces that may reflect the future. Dozier, for one. If he moves on to another team, if they don't offer him an extended contract, the Twins could explore bringing him back. But right now, the Twins need to elt Dozier go elsewhere so they can play someone else in the position and evaluate the need for next season. Eduardo Escobar. Could be a keep at the right price. 2-3 years? A valuable guy to have as a bench replacement. He does better playing everyday, notably at one position, than occasional play. At what point does he become too expensive to keep around? That is the question. Not sure if anyone would blow-you-out-of-the-market with a pristine trade deal. Joe Mauer. Either he is going to retire at season's end. Or the Twins will have to make a decision. I doubt he would accept a trade. but you never ever know Do you entertain offers on any of the Big Three in the outfield? Eddie Rosario is probably the most valuable guy you have on the team. According to numerous posts, we all marvel at the way the guy's bat makes contact with the ball and wonder how it is sustainable in the longrun. And his fielding prowess is griped about constantly. Do you trade him and hope there are dark horse candidates for replacement coming soon (Wade, Granite, Cave). When Buxton comes back, is Grossman of any value, as we can easily replace him with any of Granite, Cave, LaMarre. Speaking of Buxton, him or Kepler have short-term value in trade to a team, or long-term value in an easrly contract extension? I see Sano spending the remainder of the season in the minors and if he dominates, will get a September call and the Twins will evaluate him as a first baseman or dream of him as a lifetime designated hitter. Or, he may be the next Oswaldo Arcia. In the pitching department, Lance Lynn is marketable, for a prospect. Since he is a one-year rental and seems to be a one-year rental, better to let him go and then come abck with a contract offer (if the trading team doesn't extend). Kyle Gibson COULD be your msot valuable trading chip from the rotation with one year of (high) arbitration value remaining. Ervin Santana, if an when he returns, will have to showcase value, but probably would get a waiver claim and low-level minor league prospect in trade as August rolls by and a contending team MIGHT need a veteran ar, Fernando Rodney can be snatched if a closer goes on the brink for ahyone. You take a deal and hope you get a Wilson Ramos value back. You might say you deserve it. The Twins could dangle many arms: Rogers, Duffey, Reed, Duke, even Pressly. Basically their overworked bullpen will probably just get more overworked and damaged as July rolls to an end. You look that there has to be replacements in the minors for the whole group. SOme will have rocky moments. But even the "starters" like Slegers and Mejia could slip into long-relief roles. ANy of the above guys could be easily replaced next season. Which brings to mind the BIG question! If you are not in competition to take the division (the wild card is out of the question)...you look to move anyone you WILL NOT PROTECT on the 40-man roster next off-season, and ANYONE who is destined NOT to be a part of the 35-man roster fer sure come spring training 2019 end. You use the guys who are more than likely going to walk for possible depth pieces in the organization. You stay away from other 41st players on teams for the moment, you got enough of those yourself. You say one helluva a lot of money so you can BUY big in the offseason, actually spend on solid players, rather than bargain deals. Speaking of bargain deals, Logan Morrison could also be moved. Hey, return Kennys Vargas to the 25-man for season's end? Or Chris Carter. Not that either would be a part of long-term plans with the way they are hitting in the minors. But can they produce equal numbers that Mirrison has pounded for half-the-season? But just be aware that the Twins will get little and possibly nothing in return, except 2018 salary relief, and the chance to advance the careers of some of their prospects. o

Have ahd busts from a decade of draft picks. Numerous trades have gone south, where we thought we were getting the futue (especially in pitching), but didn't. Free agency was played safe, or overpaying for basically replacement level guys, instead of taking the big plunge (not to say that is the end-all, as it is a risk, too). And Sano. Can he improve? Will he become the next Oswaldo Arcia? Did the Twins miss out on possibly trading him this past off-season for some value? Of course, players can still turn around. We hope Buxton and Kepler find the light. We hope Polanco is something.

The Capps trade was bad as Ramos would've been the perfect catcher to take Mauer's place and still be catching today (albeit out a year with an injury). He was heir apparant and would've taken over duties sooner rather than later. Goodrum showed potential and if you stayed in-house would've been the good backup infielder. That cpre of centerfielders that departed: Gomez, Revere, Span and Hicks. Sadly, we basically got NOTHING in return for them that could be contributing to the team, which is a shame, unless Trevor May really comes back. Shows how much stock you should put in prospects. Rosario will come back to earth, but why the Twins allowed him to pass into waivers is beyond me. Also, was sad the Twins didn't break camp with John Hicks and allowed him to go thru waivers, too.

You use him as much as you can, while he is hot, and still a solid commodity. He might develop into a trade piece, he might need to be around again next year (shades of guys like Matt Guerrier). Or, he may be another Matt Belisle. Wait, he is far from that. Either way, he is a piece of coal that is a temporary diamond. Count yourself blessed that you have him even pitching long relief, while guys like Segers, Mejia, Curtiss, Moya, Busenitz waver around in the minors waiting for their chance, or Tyler Duffey waiting for his return.

Was somewhat sad to see the Twins cut ties with Featherston. He had a great spring. But when you slump in AAA ball and there are better prospects in the wind....yet the Twins advanced Motter who was hitting the same at AAA. And who can explain the call of Bobby Wilson. Of course, both have major league experience, which always means that the professional AAAA guys have a much harder road to follow to get to the majors.

Zack Jones was one of those arms, like Chargois and Melotakis and a couple more guys, who were going to be the new foundation of the bullpen. Just reminds you that the road to the majors is very very difficult. Even when you egt drafted as a Rule 5 with a shot at the majors. He's 27, would be a minor league free agent, strikes out a ton of batters but walks too much poundage on the bases. It becomes a look at "how valuable is that roster spot" and "who can better fill it" -- even if it might be filled by someone still older and from outside the organization. Quite frankly, the Twins start looking at their own prospects right now and if thy are about to become minor league free agents, do you bother to roster them if you aren't going to 40-man them, are they worthwhile enough to gamble that they will resign with your organization, or do you just let them go and search out similar prospects in the same boat from other organizations in the off-season. We all somewhat scream about the number of AAAA-type guys an organization signs, but the system is working to not lock players into an organization forever. If the 40-man is full, and you have shown ability, they is the Rule 5 which allows another team to pluck you away. Otherwise, after x-amount of seasons, you are free to move to another system where blockage to AAA or even the majors is slimer than the organization that has youngsters pushing you. Good luck to Zack. He has the stuff, just needs the control.

Gonna have some pressure to move some of these guys up to Cedar Rapids, perhaps in a month, when some action happens on the Kernels roster (and thus other rosters).

Rodney, Duke, Belisle all are trade chips. Addison Reed could be the vet holdover. At what point do you take the plunge with Busnitz, Curtiss, Moya and anyone else on the 40-man (Slegers) to see if they can stick, or be jettisoned in the offseason when the 40-man will have to protect the next crop of arms. And that's not counting the possible deserving looks THIS season of Anderson, Reed and Bard, to name a few more. If the Twins are treading water with what they have, they can tread water with what they MIGHT have, too.

Okay, what are the Twins doing about the offense. Mauer, Polanco and Buxton will be back. I guess that solves the need to keep Cave/LaMarre. A pitcher will probably have to go. And maybe it will be BOTH LaMarre/Cave with Grossman as the backup. That sends chills of anticipation. But then we have "where to play Escobar." Of course, Mauer at DH, Sano at 1st, Escobar at 33rd. So Grossman is the bench bat with Adrianza and Wilson (until Rupp gets the call). Maybe we need a veteran clubhouse guy to rally the clubhouse, the dugout, the bench. The bullpen seems to have their mentors up the wazoo at this point. Anyway, the Twins are still one-up in the pitching department and the Belisle leash may be short (or a month, at the most). Yes, though, it sends a message to the Duffy's at Rochester..."why not me, again" as well as the future building blocks in an overstuffed 40-man pitching roster (couldn't Slegers fill this role, will Mejia ever see the majors again...who will depart when the Twins do have to add names like Reed and Bard and Anderson to the 40-man roster? Further complications when you have to shuffle the deck for Ervin Santana. Oh, yes, Trevor May is out there, still working on returning. And he will return!

Can agree, but unless Bencomo is a sure thing for a call up, Enns may still have some lefty vibes in his arm. Neither are on the 40-man, so it is somewhat moot. But, yes...Bencomo might be a better short-term investment.