Rosterman

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.

Overuse of bullpen. Cycle in some new guys from the minors, soon.

Dozier is the question. At the rate of his play, he might be ucky to match Trevor Plouffe for a one-year contract after leaving the Twins. I don't see anyone even knocking at the door to trade for him in his walk season. Coaches HELP players, but players must also HELP themselves. I have always noted that Max Kepler seems to be an extremely hard worker. But he still only can do so much with his talents. But he seems a gamer each and every day he plays. You have also seen changes in the bullpen. But still, with so much film and people tracking pitches and stuff, you really need a game/batter plan to get people out. Coaches are there to work and remind, but they can't hit and pitch for you. There is a lot of head games going on, and the level of play in the majors is so high these days. Line-up construction, roster construction, building a system of replacements/reserves in the minors, looking 3-5 seasons out...that is the job of the front office in tandem with the field manager. Something isn't meshing with the Twins. Disconnect between the front office and the field? Too many players not working on their skillset? When you play ball, you are playing a game that most of us die to play for fun. You also like to produce,m and you want your fellow players to produce as well so you challenge. If anything, the Twins HAVE played challenging games, have stayed in the hunt thru the final out as much as possible. But losing such events can take a toll. Is there a true team leader?

Motter is because they are not sure Petit will be able to return to Rochester. But, yes, at some point the Twins need to start removing fluff and moving on from potential free agents and AAAA guys and letting the young 'uns play ball. Gordon, Wade both would need to be add ons to the 40-man. Same with Anderson. Man, the Twins seem rich in pitching, with the young guys just needing some innings (and a chance to fail). Gordon COULD spark the offense. Especially if whomever puts together the lineup can figure out a lineup that works.

Rosario, if he has a career year, you test his market for a trade. Don't wait, like they did on Delmon Young. Extend players, you can still wait until arbitration Year One to start that negotiation...when both sides do have a better idea of what Year Three MIGHT bring. Gibson is a trade piece. If he holds. As are ALL free agents. Yes, I would, though, extend Escobar. If Mauer doesn't return and Sano sees more time at first, Eduardo can bridge the gap until you find a new third baseman, plus he can play other positions. The question is cost. And if the Twins are tanking, you trade Eduardo and then negotiate to bring him back. I think he does love it here. And, again, if Sano goes to 1B/DH, you can pretty much promise him a season as a starter at third base. I don't see many other teams doing the same. The Twins do have a strength in the outfield. But, besides Granite and maybe Wade, are all two seasons out at best. So, you can part with one of the three...and, again, would vote for Eddie!

The batting order and the batting averages makes me shudder. What can be done to jumpstart the offense.

There shouldn't be a BIG rush on May. If you can afford that 8th bullpen arm, which may ne a necessity because of overwork, go ahead. But if you can option him to Rochester and let him get abck up to speed, no hurry until you start sorting out sellable assets as July rolls around. I picture Santana will be more than fine once he gets the work in. Finger is a lot different than arm or shoulder. He just has to shake off the rust, and hopefully the desire to be brilliant as he enters the free agent market again for one big contract will make him a light in a pennant run. Yes, the adding of Santana back in will be a mess...who goes and who stays. But things have a way of working themselves out (poor performance, disabled list, etc.). Sadly, if May stays at Rochester, means someone has to go, Yes, there are minor league free agents on the bubble, as well as vets like Baxendale and, perhaps, Slegers. Santana will involved a 40-man roster decision.

The Twins need to decide on Mauer and Dozier....do they give Dozier a qualifying offer (which is doubtful unless he has a stellar second half). They need to make a decision to tie up young players. Yes, they have a rebuild of the rotation, but right now have Berrios, Romero, Odorizzi, Pineada and whatever. They would have monies to invest in a first-rate starter on a big up-front contract. They also could throw money at a couple of free agents, or absorb contracts from other tems for position players they need. There is Payroll Space to burn, so to say...unless this season tanks and they take a hit in attendance. Yes, they are still paying a player millions to play for someone next season, but saving a bit in the process overall. Do they need a catcher? Castro is still under contract for a season. This year Garver gets to show what he has. Yes, you worry about 2020, but that is...2020. With the way baseball operates, you can still pick up high-ranked draft picks from other teams one year or more after the fact. The Twins did good changing their international funs into a couple of picks with some showcasing. You go back and look at the number of guys that you draft each year and how many actually make the major leagues....what is it...3 or five or 10?

It gives the Twins more flexibility with Payroll, since Hughes will be coming off the books next season now. Looking at the catching depth, the Twins probably should be looking at drafting a catcher, but what would be available comparable in the 74th round. The Twins seem to be in a win-win in a couple of recent drafts, as well as some solid pickups for international monies, so, in hindsight, the farm system has to be sitting pretty good. If you start looking closely at the system, they have too many players right now in the upper ranks (Fort Myers and above) as well as some real promising prospects below. Yes, they all don't pan out...but decisions have to be made on advancement and protection. Right now, catching is a black hole. If the guy is halfway decent, it can be a win for the Twins.

No Morrison, LaMarre and Petit are hitting...shouldn't they get at least an at bat? Sano third? At least the K king didn't get a fifth at bat. Line-up construction sucks, but what WOULD be the perfect lineup?

So who is this Paco Rodriguez guy? Looks like the Twins chose to part ways with Brock Stassi and that Kenny Vargas will be turning up the heat, to draw attention from the Twins, of perhaps another suitor. Sad for Aaron Selgers. Ups and downs. Speaking of ups and downs, is Kohl Stewart still a prospect to watch?

If Garver IS the catcher of the near short-term future, he should be playing more...60% to start and maybe up to 75%. Yes, Castrop should be back next year, so you could still split services (depending on offense). So, this is the year for Garver to shine, to show that he MIGHT be able to handle behind-the-plate duties for the next few years. Catching is a weak spot for the Twins. They an switch out Wilson, but in doing so (no doubt, if they did, they would remove him from the 40-man) they would weaken Red Wings catching...unless Navaretto or Olson are ready to advance. There just isn't the depth. Or if the Twins sign some AAAA available guy better than what they have, okay......but I don't see them going bigtime with a fulltime replacement catcher especially since they are on the hook for another high-priced season of Castro Now, again, back to Garver. The guy should, for sure, catch Berrios and Romero, the guys who will be here next season. Probably add Odorizzi into the mix. Let Wilson catch the potential free agents, at the most. You need to call a game and stay durable. Check Garver. You need to throw out runners. Check Garver. You need to hit. Check Garver. I just dread the thought of Garver going down with a short-term injury...then what do the Twins have? Well, on offense, it could only be better than Castro. Bring abck Drew Butera?

Colon is enduring. Good for him. He found a team with a weak rotation and is pitching his heart out. Phil Hughes can probably do the same. He is guaranteed a pretty high salary and, unless he wants to retie, he has nothing to lose by going to the bullpen. Vis velocity is not there to be an elite closer, but stranger things do happen. He has two years that he can leapfrog around to teams, if he choose, including stints in the minors. His almighty question is, can he see himself still pitching past 2020 and what does he need to do to get a major league contract after that season.

The question is prospects leap frog. Will Wade jump ahead of Cave and Granite at some point. With the Twins sitting on a bunch of pitchers on the 40-man who may/may not see major action this year: Jorge, Curtis, Thorpe, Moya, Busenitz, Littell and others stagnating who won't probably get a chance like Mejia and Slegers, there is a new crop of guys who could possibly see a September callup...if there were 40-man roster spots. The off season will be interesting, to say the least. If Garver can make Castro expendable...then the Twins will be seeking a lot of fielding people next season. Mauer and Dozier and Escobar are free agents. Grossman doesn't have to return. Ehire is still Ehire. Who knows if Morrison will rech the option. So, at some point, the Twins need to look at who is on second, who is playing short, what to do with Sano, and is Mauer worth a reinvestmen t at first, or do you fast track Rooker with names like, say, Carter in reserve. I pity an outfield prospect for the Twins. The three are somewhat firmly established, but at some point they have to sign longterm or the Twins move on. Even then, one doesn't see anyone with regular play coming in before the end of the 2020 season. The bullpen is showing that the oldtimers were probably a wiser choice than going with the youngsters who might not get a chance in 2018 or ever, and that the Twins did have a bevy of guys who they could actually move away from (Rogers, Duffey, just to name two). Of course the rotation ahs Santana, Lynn and Gibson...none will return. Pineda is in the wings for next year. May should be a starter (or closer). We have a lot of young arms, but hate to relese them all upon the world at once. Happily the Twins have a couple double-headers for looksee, but sadly Aaron Slegers may be the odd many out, with just his one day in major league limbo being his service time for 2018. The life of a baseball player...always someone pushing you from behind. But when all was said and done, I would have rather seen Nick Gordon getting plays at shortstop than Petit and Ehire, while Sano was down. It would've been a great opportunity to get the guy some experience, and...well, would he have been worse or better than what was on the field. Polanco will be back, but Dozier and Escobar will be gone. So, start thinking about the play for 2019.

You could always move Romero to the bullpen. Except you probably do ant him to start. If he keeps pitching, there is no reason to move him elsewhere. Of course, we don't know how well Santana will pitch coming back. Lance Lynn can keep things complicated if he pitches like he did last night. Suddenly we have too many pitchers. What is the status on, say, Magill and Petit. Do the Twins have the ability to options them back to the minors, or do they have to go thru waivers and can be lost. That's the problem with minor league free agents. But, also, Rochester has a pretty loaded roster right now and the Twins will have to make some changes throughout the minors once the draft happens and short-season ball begins. I thought for sure Granite would get the short callup. I like LaMarre, he seems to be eager and hungry to play in the majors. Which is a plus. Cave is additional depth. So you start to wonder why on Grossman, especially when you still have Granite in reserve as well as the possibility of LaMonte Wade, who will need to be 40-manned next season anyways. I'm hoping Garver can hold down the catching spot, and that he does catch ALL the pitchers that will be with the Twins next season (let Wilson catch Santana, Gibson or Lynn if push comes to shove). If Mauer is out, I would like to see Sano work in at DH, keeping Petit and Ehrie as shortstops and let Escobar continue to shine at third base. Sano needs to cut back on his free swinging. Will this be the end for Joe Mauer? If so, he can go out gracefully this season because of concussion issues. No contract wrangling. No fear of him going elsewhere. He would end a fine career. The Twins can go forwards without having to find a place for him and his bat in the lineup...both would be missed..... Logan Morrison, it is time for you to shine!

If nothing else, Dozier has to have a career year, but with a changeover happening in the Twins infield for 2019, you have to ask...do we care? Of course we do...a powerful hitting Dozier means the Twins win. But come 2019, who is on first, what is playing second, who is the shortstop, and where is Sano. Mauer could be gone as well as Dozier from free agency. Escobar, too. Whew?! Contemplate that for a moment. Glad Gordon has been called up to Rochester. Maybe he will see sometime in the major in September grooming his way to start somewhere in the infield in 2019.

Someone mentioned trading, when a guy is coming off a career year. In hindsight, more often than not, that should be a positive move (think if the Twins had moved Delmon Young after his one super season with the Twins). Utimately, it shows the chancs you take with big contracts or extensions. Sometimes they make a player more valuable and you see it in the Denard Span trade. But you also see who the Twins got for Span, lots of promise but basically no success. Will that be the future of major league baseball, overpaying (rewarding) for a solid season or two and then eating a contract, or constantly flipping players when possible and signing low-to-mid-range guys with the hopes of being somewhat (appearance) competitive on the field. The other elephant in the room is pitching tonight for the Twins. All they have invested in a one-year free agent contract, so will be interesting to see the length of the leash when time comes to add May (who will probably start in releif) and Santana to the rotation. In Lynn's case, it is only money already spent for the season. It would be a hit, but no more than having to pay a guy to be, say, on a disbabled lsit all season. Do we need hughe's 40-man spot? Not really, as some point Castro changes out for one of the current returnees. When the Twins shuffle Sano back in, someone else will also be leaving the roster (and possibly organization). Hope that someone dos take a flyer on Mr. Hughes and lets him work yo see if he can comeback. It won't cost them anymore than the major league minimum for this sesson and next...so expect there to be some lucky team out there with a spare roster slot.