Rosterman

How do you get passion back in the game? The free agent flops out of the starting gate (Colome for one). All the injuries. Few fans in the stands. Everything going wrong. That extra inning rule that Baldelli didn't know how to manage. The Twins needed to sign a first rate closer. If they wanted a project, they could've kept Trevor May. They need a starter to slot ahead of Berrios (besides signing Berrrios longterm in the off-season). A lot of stock is being placed in future pieces in the system, but the dumpster diving since last season ended has been amazing, with even the acquisition of one more project, Vinny Nittoli, today. Over half of the rosters at your two highest levels are filled with minor league free agents, and the Twins are doing a good job running those faces thru the team in 2021 - 21 to be exact who weren't from the Twins system, as well as a return of Minaya and Coulombe. That's a helluva a lot of players supplementing the few (7) that you developed in your own minors, most of them starting arms because that part of the equation really blew up. At least you had depth behind the planned depth of Dobnak, Thorpe, Smeltzer.

Nice game. Albers will get another start. Shows what happens when not afraid to throw strikes and hope you got the fielders behind you. Gonna have to find room for this guy on the 40-man, I guess.

There does seem to be a plan, five years in the making. Year One was just play, because they came on the scene too late and still had Molitor. Year two was to evaluate who they anted for the immediate future from the old regime. Year three was slowly watch their own draft picks, and remake the minor league system and organization as a whole. Year four saw system coaching more collegiate and analytics seeming to be more than a thought or discussion, and watching their own home grown picks in the system and making hard decisions on those given to them by past administrations. We had COVID decimate the minor leagues. Talk about everyone getting a year older but not moving anywheres in the system. We now need to really see if they will spend money to keep own players, or spend enough to get players here that make a difference, not just guys that are okay, competitive, but not division changers. We need to see prospects play out, replacing the prime ones from the old group who have flattened, sadly. The Twins will always be hampered by NOT getting the big name (unless they trade their beloved prospects for them). The Big Money just don't want to play here, like we are seeing the future Twin Big Money wanting to try their spin of the wheel elsewhere if push comes to shove. So you have to be willing to sign guys before they become greedy and dream of leaving home, where mistakes will happen or you might overpay and not get results because with big money doesn't always come commitment to playing one's best in the game. This will be the year...lots of money to spend, lots of promise to juggle if think they will come to the majors in 2022 and be solid in 2023. Rememebr, you throw away the current, you are leaving the idea's of another in the hands of someone else who might not like at all what they have and not see the grand plan, thus replaying what we are complaining about right now. Player morale has been strange these past two years. Covid, polarized beliefs in the open or hidden, only getting partial pay in 2020 had to be a blow to many used to more. Throw in the contract... Yes, how do you get the players excited to have fun playing ball by playing ball?

Balazovic to St. Paul for a couple of starts...now. Ryan and Strotman to the Twins, now...maybe at the expense of Barnes, with one of the relief guys going off the 40-man. St. Paul has played without Ryan and Strotman most of the year, remember. Heck, we can send Ober back if we have to lessen his innings. Not a demotion, just a rest. Switch out Colome for Moran. Maybe add in Hamiloton for another out-of-favor veteran minor league free agent who will still be a minor league free agent. And bring up Miranda and Jettison...Simmons. Move Polanco to short, have Arraez everyday and batting at the top of the order (which he should be doing - getting five at bats from Arraez is better than five from Kepler or Rooker, right). Move Cabbage (potential minor league free agent) up to St. Paul. You don't leave St. Paul floundering at all, and the two weeks of additional play rather than playoff games was for all teams to generate more in-stadium revenue. The Saints will do okay in the standings. There are no playoffs. And you need to get the future Twins at bats and pitches against major league players so they know what to work on in winter ball to come prepared to run at spring training and be a part of the 2022 Minnesota Twins!

And we still have Joe Harvey, Andrew Vasquez (who actually is still young and pitching okay), Sean Gilmartin, Chandler Shepherd, Robinson Leyer, Chris Nunn...and they could be claiming a new one each and every day for the rest of the season! Gibaut was on the 40-man in the off-season, then off before spring training. He has pitched a bit better of late, but one could wonder how he lasted this long down on the farm overall, except this is the year the Twins filled their AAA and AA rosters with out-of-the-organization guys. Remember, anyone added to the September call-up positions have to be on the 40-man. So expect to see some moves soon if we want to add Miranda and Ryan. I fully expect Strotman to also get called up in place of someone (he's on the 40-man). I also would like to see Balazovic get a couple of short starts just to face major league hitters. The Saints season was extended two weeks, so it ends when the Twins end, so either way players come to get Twins tryouts or they give the Saints a first place finish (no playoff here). I think they can easily elevate Cabbage to replace Miranda, and probably find some pitchers to cover for Strotman and Ryan, considering neither have been here (or send Barnes and maybe Jax back down for the St. Paul finales). Or, leave Dobnak in St. Paul and let him be the hero of the new minor league team in 2021. I want to see Albers, but would rather see him 3-4 innings in relief to see if that is a strength the Twins could use in 2022 and offer an alternative to Thielbar if need be. Same with Gant...a multi inning relief pitcher (one from both sides) is a plus. Let's give starts to future starters, please. Not placesetters.

At age 44, Joe Beimel is pitching at AAA for the San Diego Padres. He had one of those miserable stat lines for his Twins appearances 15 or so years ago! https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/pirates/2021/08/05/Joe-Beimel-comeback-age-pittsburgh-pirates-san-diego-padres-san-antonio-el-paso-mlb/stories/202108040108

Marwin Gonzalez assigned to the Astros minor league complex for a possible add once rosters expand. https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2021/08/astros-sign-marwin-gonzalez.html

I would rather see the potential of Gant as a multi-inning relief arm than a starter. Can he do that? I would rather get 2-3 innings out of him that way for any of the starters who can go 5. Time to shuffle thru some new arms (Vasquez, Hamilton finally) before you bring in Hamilton and Moran? Astudillo was the best pitcher and offensive hero! He ran all four bases. They should give this guy a multi-million dollar 10-year contract! Oh, and loved the pitching chart! Ha!

I think his work speaks for itself. That he got the win the other nite (instead of Ober) is something that should not happen if the closer is a closer. The Twins couldn't trade him (but they could trade Robles). Even if they put him on the waiver wire, no one would probably claim him, so they could just pay him a pro-rated part of the major league minimum.

Every year you draft players. You add them to a minor league system that already has close to 150 players playing. By the time the draft rolls around, you start jettisoning fringe guys who are struggling, not taking to the system, or fall behind other younger guys as they approach Rule 5 or minor league free agency. Reed did good, got a spring training invite, but wasn't on the 40-man. Then he did horrible. Was exposed to the Rule 5. Nothing happened. He got to pitch again, but age caught up to him as well as other names to protect on the Rule 5. He was still possible organization trade bait to become the problem of another team (look at recent trade of Happ - Twins got Sisk, who the Cardinals didn't want to protect for the Rule 5, and Gant, someone that you have to make a "going to arbitration" decision on - let him walk, work out a contract or arbitrate, or trade and, hey, you always go after him again, if you want, if he is a free agent). And you always have to make decisions. So many young players come up and pitch. Remember that Guardado and Hawkins were starters that got hammered before becoming bullpen arms. The Twins managed to turn them and keep them. Perkins was in the same boat, and the Twins actually removed him from the 40-man, no one called, and he came back to be one of our better relief pitchers. The numbers game saw us lose Hendriks who went from bad young starter to great relief pitcher. Also Zach Littell, who was a dynamite minor league starter, did great in the bullpen, got some arm issues. The Twins thought they could remove him (shades of what might happen to folks like Stashak or Smeltzer), and he choose to move on. And then you throw in the mix the grab bag of players you can randomly sign. The Twins did more than 33 of those this year, enough to populate more than half the players in their two upper levels. That 15 of these folks from "outside" the organization made it to the 25-man roster during the year, either shows the Twins were a really bad team, or...well, a really bad team. The 15, who you can probably name if you think about it, will be hard-pressed to be anywhere near the 25-man roster in 2022. And the year isn't thru yet. You want to talk about Twins that get away? In 2013 the Twins drafted Gonsalves, Eades, Stewart and Slegers - all of whom are still pitching for other teams today after little success with the Twins but actually some fine minor league numbers. That draft class also gave us late-bloomer Garver, who was a catching prospect with Stu Turner and Brian Navaretto, both of whom saw work with other teams than the Twins. And our favorite centerfielder this side of Lew Ford, Zack Granite. Reed was one of the college experienced arms grabbed in 2014, along with others who have reached the majors like John Curtiss (out now with Tommy John), Sam Clay, Nick Burdi (another the Twins lost in the Rule 5), and Trevor Hildenberger, Taylor Hearn and Sam Hilliard. We still have Nick Gordon, who we managed to give playing time finally in 2021. 2015 saw the Twins draft Tyler Jay, who was also going to take the team by storm but basically was passed by others. We failed to sign Kyle Cody. Andrew Vasquez reached the Twins team, left the Twins roster, came back and is still a 28ish prospect that might still get a call in 2021. Logan Lombana is still flirting with the dream. Jaylin Davis, Blake Cederlind played in the majors. Trey Cabbage is a potential minor league free agent tearing up AA. Jovani Moran is a force to be reckoned, but could've been taken last year by another team and wasn't. Happily he won't be getting stories like this piece on Reed written about him. Zander Wiel, who was promising going into the lost 2020 season, got injured this year and after a half-dozen rehab games, was released as he is about to be...a minor league free agent. 26 new players made their debut as a Twin in 2021. We had 17 new Twins in 2020, 22 in 2018. So there is always room for a player like Reed to get a shot, you'd think. This year the Twins have had 55 different players play in the majors for them, and 8 have been on the 40-man and didn't play for them...yet (Colina, Duran, Strotman, Balazovic, Hamilton, Gibault and gone guys Wade and Chalmers.) `For some players it is a short leash (how long is the Barraclough leash). Ober, Barnes and Jax could've been 1 or 2 and gone, gone, gone if our rotation had stayed intact. Names like Smetlzer, Dobnak, Gant, Thorpe have already been replaced by Ober, Jax, Barnes, who are being pressed by Strothman, Ryan, Balazovic, Sammons, Sands, Enlow. Winder and Albers (that was added for humor). A helluva a lot of those 26 news Twins, combined with old Twins and lots of minor league names will be cut loose like Ryan Mason (perhaps), There's always names that pop up like Gil (but we got Rijo from the Yankees, remember that at some point), Ynoa. Also Mazza, Chargois, Wells, Hollands (unsigned), Chase and Tyler Andersons, Evan Meek, LaVale Speigner, Saul Rivera, Brian Wolfe, Juan Padilla. We let them get away, but really......crying? Sometimes, like for Reed, it was being brilliant when there wasn't room on the 40-man or a dire need not to add him to the 40-man (something that Yennier Cano might experience and if he doesn't dazzle in spring training and blow people away at St. Paul in 2022, he will be another that gets a chance to maybe shine elsewhere, for a moment). What makes us glad to see players like Reed get another chance is that they, like Jay and Burdi and the ilk, were highly praised when drafted as guys who would be here to help us, sooner rather than later, but are textbook examples of how a farm system works for a team and against most players. So many don't make it thru year one. Many are gone by year three. 15% maybe make it to free agency in the minors and then stick around for up to a decade in minor league ball getting an occasional cup of coffee because they do have skills, but always fighting to get beyond that 25th/26th man status of a roster. Happily opportunities to exist for players to move on, and teams willing to give non-developed veterans of the minors an opportunity, little as they may sometime seem.

Zander was rehabing at the FCL League, and not doing all that well. Was wondering what his fate would be, since he is a minor league free agent. But he was also a legit first baseman with experience,. Good luck on wherever his path takes him.

Why does anyone in the Twins organization care about Colome. Cut him loose. Use that spot to bring more aging minor league vets thru, or - how about this great idea - promote someone who MIGHT contribute to the future of the Twins. The leash needs to be short on anyone not guaranteed a 40-man spot. We know what they have done and can do at the moment. Or so one would think.

If you wish to let your young starters take a pounding, then let's make it a total group effort and bring ALL the young guys up. Get it done and over.

Balazovic should be at AAA, and also called in when/if they have a double-header day. Gant and Albers should do what they do best, relieve in short-inning starts. Strotman should be next callup. Let Dobnak pitch a couple of games in St. Paul. We saw what pushing Thorpe too fast did. At some point you add Ryan, but you have to jettison someone (imagine Maeda will go 60-day when results come abck). Sammons was also promoted to St. Paul for a reason (a hard look - he needs to be protected or lost in Rule 5 if he does good at St. Paul). I would be happy to see Ober and Barnes end their season at St. Paul. We have seen suitable innings on both, and they both are in the mix. But only if we need the roster spots.

Will Chase Petty pitch for FCL Twins or Ft. Myers soon? Always wondered how minor players like changing teams in the final 2-3 weeks of a season. Getting new housing, learning new players and all.`````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````

Used to be that players could be rewarded for additional service time or staying with the game with a September callup, and then jettisoned during the off-season. Doesn't seem logical for the current Twins team, sadly. G.J. Boyd having a great year and shouldn't be stuck at AA ball. St. Paul ahs no ral first baseman, or really a DH. So good move. Is Zander Weil coming back to St. Paul for the final weeks, or has his tenure as a Twins prospect ended. Same for Gabe Snyder...will he get out of the FCL league? I am still amazed at some of the names that have held onto jobs in St. Paul for the season, and also surprised the

Gilmartin also held that status.

It is interesting that Akil Baddoo wsa taken in the Rulke 5 draft. I would have been interested to be in on that discussion. Considering the Twins had Buxton and Kepler pencilled in. That they were going to give Kirilloff and Rooker a chance to break camp. Larnach was in the wings. Celestino was on the 40-man, along with Cave (and for a moment LaMonte Wade). The decision NOT to keep Wade was higher yet than Baddoo, who had been injured and not really played much above High A ball That being said, the Twins could've lost both Moran and Miranda in the Rule 5, too. That neither had played in AAA ball was a factor. We forget that both started the season at Wichita. And both still haven't received a call to the majors for some odd (not on the 40-man roster) decision. I would figure out a way to get those two on the major league roster now. You can advance Cabbage to replace Miranda, and there is no shortage of bullpen arms that should be playing for the Saints rather than the assortment of minor league free agents who will again become minor league free agents. The Twins do need to add Ryan this season., Remember, they can add two players in about a week, and I would expect that Strotman will also get a call. I would like to see Balazovic at least jump to AAA ball and help the Saints in their pennant run. So we are not destroying the hopes of the Saints, especially when you consider that Ryan has made only one start. Heck, option back down Barnes and/or Ober who have both had decent tryouts for the Twins and will need to do some winter work, come back stronger in the spring, and fight to be in the rotation. The suffering of minor league teams compared to Indy balls is that the minors are basically a training and proving ground for the major league club who has the right to move players around and about as they please. Not that being an Indy ball club will prevent a player from leaving if offered a major league system contract, or if they can sell a player and recoup more money. Like people have said in other posts, if the Twins cut, say, Simmons or Colome (or Pineda), it sends a message to other free agents who might sign with the club. Not sure what that message is...a job is a job and most players join a club as a free agent because the money was right, they wish to improve their status for future play, they hope to play great for a bad club as the season progresses to get traded to another better club. It was the job of the players, given every opportunity, to improve their own stick as the miserable season of the club they signed with progressed. Now the Twins have to think more of themselves and the future, and the future is advancing guys and getting them experience to make them more viable as alternative choices for big league jobs come 2022.

Are they really going to go to arbitration with Cave? I believe you could bring him back as a minors free agent with an invite. They did enough of that last spring.

At some point you pull the plug on anyone Not IN THE PLANS FOR 2022. And quit playing guys OUT OF POSITION. These are not pick-up games. If you need a third baseman, you got one in the minors. It is NOT the Twins job, at this point, to further the career of players looking for work other than in Minnesota for 2022. That is what the season, and the opportunities the Twins have already given several players. Most all prospects fail at some point when first brought up to the major leagues. Then they go back for some re-tooling (or never come back). You have the opportunity to have several promising starters you know will be considered for the club to pitch now, with up to six opportunities to do so. A couple could even be shuffled back and forth in the next three weeks. And, remember, you get to add two players for the final few weeks. You are going to add them to the roster, why not an early spring training, then sit down and talk over winter plans on what they have to work on to pitch against major league hitters. They will have a good outlook on what isn't working quite right, yet. And, for heaven's sake, talk up the bright young prospects and feature them in interviews and segments and such. Make the fans look forward to watching players grow (not go) and that the Twins do have wonderful guys coming up.

Rather than send him to Florida, he can work out with the team for x-amount of time, like a rehab almost. They have done this with other recent additions.

Will he play full seasons? Is he worth Donaldson money right now for five years? How much do you lose if he can play out a contract, but not fulltime? Or should it just be the problem of another team. So much is at stake in his final 25 game run for this season as other teams scout him...carefully. His next season, as a Twin or not, is essential to Byron. If he plays the whole season to the satisfaction of his past couple (or 162 games), he is set. But I don't see another team necessarily trading for him and then signing him for the $100-125 million he reportedly deserves. Which means he becomes a rental and the Twins get a high recent draft pick and another decent player in the mix, more or less...probably less. The pain is if Buxton literally sucks, the Twins option is a QO at season's end to get a draft pick, or nothing...unless he is healthy enough to bring something, anything back at the trade deadline. Like Berrios, I think Buxton is looking towards a glorious future, or so his agent is telling him.

Eventually gonna have a staff of pitchers on pitch counts or showing inexperience, a perfect September callup team but all the players are callups.

Well, great to watch Saints games on television. Always more expensive to go to a Twins game. And the food is NOT better at the major league level. I don't like going to downtown Minneapolis and parking and walking unless surrounded by a large group of like-0minded folks for the whole journey. Yes, it hurts to watch a losing team (but, hey, the whole central division is playing non-playoff ball except for the White Sox.). The Saints have been a mess of musical players, many of whom are just place-setters. Saints games are truly fun with the between inning antics. The ushertainers are great. Announcing could be a bit more professional, except they don't need to be so because I like Target Field. I also like true professional major league baseball, where the players are the best on the field from the organization. Everything may be too mechanized, but the majority of the guys would raise havoc on the basepaths if hitting in the minors, or throwing no-hitters if on the mound. The best player in St. Paul today may never play more than a season or two in the majors. Think about that! While the worst player in the majors should be able to get a minor league contract for another season or two or three if they want to go thru the ordeal.

C'mon, this is so easy. Miranda is a third baseman. You add an infielder, you subtract an infielder. Donaldson is playing DH now, it seems. You want Arraez to play everyday. Put him at second, Play Polanco at short. Have Miranda play third. See how the last 30+ games go. You cut loose Simmons. Maybe a team sees defensive strength, and he gets on a playoff roster. They claim him, the Twins save some money. Right now, the Twins also will have to jettison someone to the minors when Buxton returns. Rooker, Cave or Refsnyder? Let's see who gets the most playing time to see if they remain on the roster in the week ahead. So many extra names in the bullpen. Someone will have to be removed to add Dobnak back to the 40-man. Who could that be. Of course, the Twins could give up on Pineda and Thorpe and make them 60-day disabled and end their seasons (as well as their career in the off-season with the Twins). Looks like the Twins will also have to add back Farrell. Of course, with the reworked rotation, would love to see the Twins promote Strotman, add in Ryan, maybe advance Balazovic for a start or two. Looks like Sammons, because of Rule 5 status, is also in the mix as a potential lefty. Of course the Twins could demote Barnes or Over if they wish, end their seasons early and keep their innings solid. But still need to get rid of a body if you add Ryan. But, yes. I vote for Miranda over Simmons. Stop playing guys out of position. Arrez has no need to be in the outfield. Miranda doesn't need to play any position open that day...make him your third baseman of the future and then decide after seeing him play if he opens in St. Paul next spring or the majors, and you have to do something with Donaldson, or be glad you have a DH who can also play the field. Then you only have to decide about Kirilloff over Sano at first base in spring training, and what to do with that odd man out. Simmons is not in the mix for 2022. Rooker still is. Look at anyone else NOT in the mix for 2022 and make roster moves now accordingly, please.