Rosterman

Yes, you do bring up some non-prospects as fill-ins, if the need arises. I'm looking at the 40-man. I see the following basically leaving because they should be free agents: Belisle, Gee, Perkins, Santiago, Gimenez, Adrianiza and Colon. I would not offer arbitration to Boshers, Gibson, Escobar, Grossman or Vargas at this point. You can also cut O'Rourke, Turley, Recker and possibly Vielma and Palka. I am on the bubble on what to do with Polanco, as well as the longterm situations of Chargois and Hughes. If you can move Hughes off the 40-man, which you should be able to do by adding him back on at the end of his 60-day DL in September - and send him to the minors (and thru waivers) like you did Blackburn, do so at this point. You still are on the hook for his salary. But he's not eating a roster spot. That's a heck of a lot of players that I don't see playing with the Twins come spring of 2018. Added back in, somehow, before the season ends for a looksee would be names like: Park, Slegers, Hurlbut, Rucisnki, maybe Baxendale and Melville. Do you care about Matt Hague? Also, make sure you do look at Palka and Vielma before jettisoning them, if you wish. Looks like names like Wimmers, Tonkin and Heston would be ignored. Many of the above, by giving them a shot with the Twins, then possibly removing them from the 40-man, would still give them enough of a big league taste to maybe resign if the Twins want them for minor league depth. But I don't see any of them as givens for roster spots. The only other pitcher I would possibly add before seasons end would be Jake Reed. Get him some innings going into next season in the majors. Many of the names to drop from the roster should happen during the waiver wire time in August. you shed the spot to add a prospect. YTou still have a better job at revisiting the player in the of-season without having to face arbitration or staying with the max 20% salary cut that you would if they stayed with the organization. Sadly, I don't see many of the names (or free agents) having fights over their signability with another team and most would probably not end up on a 40-man themselves. (Exceptions: Escobar, possibly Grossman, Polanco will be given a flyer...but being out of options hurts him so bad). Which kinda says a sad case for the current state of the Minnesota Twins.

Yes, Slegers and Hurlbut would be equal options to Dillon of Gee, both who more than likely won't be here in 2018. Add in Santiago (who will be a free agent) and Gibson (should've never gone to arbitraion in 2017, let alone think about 2018) - you can argue that Slegers and Hurlbut (and Eades) as well as AAAA castoffs Turley and Melville won't be superstars, but they might be as hungry, if not more hungry, to show off what they can do. And the Twins have to make off-season decisions on all those guys, so let's get a little exposure, especially with roster spots open and more to come. Can they be worse? Can they be better? You'll never know unless you give them the opportunity and, they are the future of the team more than Colon, Gee, Santiago. Same with the bullpen. If you must, Pressly or Rogers at closer. But why not Hildenberger. Or let's just see what Curtiss can do. Just don't feel the need to increase the post season value of Belisle at this point in time. The Twins need to play for 2018. And it would be good to give Romero a cup of coffee in the least now since he will probably hit his inning limit come September and the Twins will probably not see fit to have him just travel with the team and do a bullpen inning or two. Give him one or two starts now! End the season with Slegers and Hurlbut in the least. Can see that you won't add Gonsalves, or even Stewart, to the 40-man before season's end. Just not the Twins Way. Hey, the old Twins Way is being replaced by a new Twins Way!

Mauer batting cleanup. Let's put together a lineup and stay with it. Is Buxton or Granite leadoff material? Where to bat Sano. The Twins seriously lack a designated hitter (let's try Escobar or Rosario in that spot - only kidding) Two hitting coaches and Vavra. Pickler doing what he does. Molitor one of baseball's best. You can call on Oliva and Carew. What is not working here.

Good list. I don't really see anyone holding down a major league job in a lot of the players you mentioned (like Thorpe or Kohl Stewart). Mason already went thru waivers and could've been claimed by any team with a 40-man spot. But somehow he made in thru. Go figure? If anything, I would use the current open spots to look at players on the fringe, like Baxendale, Hurlbut, Slegers and what they do in their brief looksees would determine if they stay or go. Are they also six year minor league free agents that might jsts walk anyways? The Twins have to be really careful adding folks like Diaz, too far away...yet can they be lost in the minor league portion of the draft? Looking at this season, we already have Vielma, Romero, Jorge taking up space and not really ready for the majors, and we can argue if they will be major league ready before any of the added candidates from this off-season. The Twins could have up to 14 roster spots available between now and the beginning of spring training, if they really wanted to be hard-lined. And the newcomers will get some consideration, although what is the potential for any of them staying on a major league roster (unless a Wild Card like the Padres come into play and grab three rokkies to keep on the roster and in their system). That is where you have to think long and hard about Littell and Moya, for example. But you realize how few candidates the Twins have for 40-man spots in the offensive part of the roster. Very few. And looks like we may be saying goodbye to high draft picks Levi Michael and Travis Harrison. And, hey, weren't we talking that our bullpen, by now, would be people like Reed, Burdi, Cederoth, Bard, Zach Jones, Chargois, Melotakis. As early as this season? How the world of prospects can change........

Yes, and you look at the value of resigning the players yourself. Kintzler is a solid journeyman relief pitcher who has been thrown into the role of closer and did well. He will be able to parley that into a decent multi-year contract in the off-season. Maybe not closer money, but somewhere in-between because he has enough skills to be a set-up man, if nothing else. Although I would discuss a return contract with him, the Twins now have the chance to look at closer possibilities (not Belisle) from within to see where they stand going into next season. Dozier was hot last year. Unfortunately no one needed a second baseman in the off-season, or one who was as predictable as Dozier, coming back to earth. You know what you a e going to egt with him...now. The Twins have to either explore a longer-term cost-effective extension with the guy, or decide to take what they can get. Two questions have to be answered: who plays second if he is gone, not just next year but beyond. Is Dozier a viable DH candidate who can also play the field? Biggest question of all: Why is he still batting leadoff? Santana. Another player that you know what he brings to the table. His past year of greatness besides, he is a middle-of-the-rotation workhorse that would thrive on an offense heavy team. He has a decent contract, is re-flippable if another team had taken the gamble. I look at moving him as freeing up salary for the next two seasons, but losing your most experienced pitcher. What would I want in return? More than anyone would be willing to give, sadly. The time to trade a Santana IS during the trade deadline. You might be able to move him in the off-season, but to whom and for what? My main reason for trading him would be the same as any other team for NOT trading for him. I can spend that money just as well elsewhere. Unless I really needed that 4th/5th starter for the playoff push, and no one better was available, I might bite and bite big. But right now...I'm going to get what the Twins got for the other Santana...a spare outfield piece with potential that needs roster space, a 28th-man starter out of options that is a placesetter and only pitching because I have no other candidates, a relief pitcher to fill out my bullpen but equal to anyone I can find on the waiver wire, and a guy with lots and lots of potential (can say the same for all prospects) but is taking waaaaay to long to get there, if he ever does - plus salary relief, only in this case save $13 million for 2018 and maybe more from 2019 instead of having to pay $120 million to a guy for the next seven years. Joe Mauer. Has a no trade clause. But even with all he can bring to a team, does anyone want him as a first baseman? If he was still catching, he would be worth millions. You would think Joe would welcome the chance to go to a contender, since it looks like the Twins may not get there in his contract lifetime. Unless the Twins extend him, and there is the big elephant in the future...how long, how much, and where does he play? The only other player (besides our prospects for the future) that may have worth is old Eduardo Escobar. But other teams look at him the same way the Twins have done - now for the third straight season. He is NOT the regular shortstop although he ends up playing the position more regularly than others, shows some power, an ability to hit...everything you want...from a dynamite utility guy, which means a low-level prospect (or two) in return. August will be a tell for the Twins. Let's see who they let walk for CASH BACK. Even trying to put together package deals with prospects...if the guys aren't wanted by a team like the Twins where almost EVERY job is up for grabs, why would other teams want these guys? You have to push these prospects a little bit...see how hungry they are...do or die-type stuff, rather than let them smolder in the minors while you throw out waiver-wire AAAA fodder to get you thru a game, with hopes that one of these pieces of coal will turn into a diamond and can be shipped off for another prospect that will wallow in the minors.

There is still something in the water that isn't keeping up the pep. The minor league teams seem to be doing better than ever, although the pitching pipeline is being derailed bigtime with injuries and Rochester, once again, was a haven for minor league castoffs until late (look at the current pitching staff and its stats...some good stuff happening from a lot of non-name prospects). If the Twins go forth with a youth punch, and there is little reason to NOT do so, they have three fabulous names that should be handling on-field duties in any number of ways at the major league level - Dougie Mientkiewicz, Tommy Watkins and Jake Mauer. They must be doing something right and if those three could be the manager, bench coach and one of the base coaches, you got the beginnings of another dynasty of on-field staff. Not sure what the Twins need for a pitching coach. But something isn't playing right in Kansas, eh...in Minneapolis right now. And, yes, September should be a time for callups and those guys to play, if not a tad sooner, as there is more than enough depth in the Twins system right now to restock the 10-or-so bodies that should be up here come September 1st getting major league playing time. Can start earlier in August by eliminating those players that don't need to be on the 40-man in the off-season or even at spring training. It will give you a bit better idea of what to go after with all that extra cash you got in player sales during the season and in salary dumps come August, not to mention solid ticket revenue. Hoping the Twins bandwagon continues thru August and even though September might be slow, maybe some braintrust in the Twins marketing department will figure out something to put fans in the stands. Hey, I have August promotions already: the first in a series of "going away parties" for certain players or on-field staff." Don't worry about putting a competitive team on the field of play in pennant races. Right now, you are a team that needs to look at as many pieces of the future as possible and give those pieces a taste of the big leagues and see how hungry they are for major league salary and meal money!

You must be too young to remember that famous movie line!

It looks like we don't need to 40-man roster him yet, which can be a plus. And got some cash in the deal to spend on international signings. CASH is the favorite player of the executive branch of the front office. Plus, we now have the opportunity to explore resigning Kintzler, if they need arises.

Sadly, it looks like some of the Twins players - Grossman, Escobar/Adrienza, Gimenez, Belisle will only be spare part acquisitions (really, these are bench guys or back of the bullpen guys) - will only draw interest when they hit the waiver wire, and be interesting to see if any of the teams in contention will make a play for them. Otherwise, it is on to the off season. I'm already looking forward to seeing what the Twins roster looks like come September call-up time!

I don't know what all this action is for relievers on teams right now. I mean, Craig Breslow is now a free agent!

The Twins did try earlier, what with Meyer, May, Worley and such. Plus drafting ALL those pitchers for a few years. The results, uneven if not a disaster. When you are looking at the names for the future, especially the near future, many weren't considered in the top prospects world (Eades, Slegers, Hurlbut and Hildenberger, Rucinski, Busenitz). But, yes, it is nice to get three solid arms that have the potential of making the major leagues at some point. But you never, ever know. Then, again, you look at the majors and the guys drawing a salary and wonder if a Kohl Stewart would be as good as a Gibson or a Hughes and even that Haley guy you took a shot in the Rule 5. We still have some fluff on the roster. I mean: Boshers, Duffey, Belisle. You have to ask what roles they are looking at for Rogers. Is Pressly worth the long leash. What place in the bullpen do you give Hildenberger. And Busenitz...why not use him...what is he sitting around in the bullpen doing...guarding the treat backpack? I'm still not seeing a "place in the lineup" role for anyone but Dozier so far this year. I'm not sure who the longmen or setup guys truly are in the pen. I don't know why we are pressed to get five innings. let along six, out of our rotation and how can that get fixed. And what is the bench...or better yet, we don't have a true DH. Cheap seats come September?

I like Dozier, but should he be the leadoff hitter most all of the season. He is still a bargain and contributes well. But I don't see anyone knocking down the door to get him and, as they showed in the off-season, no one really thought he would repeat his 2016 campaign. The question is can he and the Twins reach an agreeable contract? At worst, I picture Dozier being a viable DH in a couple of years who can still play the field.Assuming that we don't have the "where to play" Mauer issue, and Sano can still play third base.

Offense consistency (lineup construction, too, perhaps) and the bullpen. Those bullpen arms are going to wear down fast.

By trading Santana we free up salary that could be spent on a similar, probably younger, possibly better free agent, especially if combined with other available budget funds. If you keep Santana, you have an aging starter that needs to pitch 200 inning to vest, yet again, for another season. It's a gamble if he will be better or worse. Is he the star of your rotation, or do you get something back for him, free up monies (yes, what do they do with any of the savings this year on anyone they possibly trade) and go big in 2018 or 2019. Santana is a fine pitcher. He has a very decent contract. He should be able to play for his contract. But the chances are better than 50% that he will not get better at this point, but probably worse.

The Big Question always is: Does Minnesota have players that other teams want and at what price. Yes, shedding salary is always a plus (especially when you are eating salaries) but I look at it this way. You rid yourself of any pending free agents first, if not in contention. It will make it easier if you wish to revisit them in the post season. Next, final year arbitration candidates. If the Twins had since Plouffe packing, for example, they could've negotiated with him in the off-season, assuming his new team decided not to offer him arbitration. Next you look at any over-paid arbitration candidates. Cut loose Gibson or Escobar, same thing. Will anotehr team go to arbitration, or will they be cheaper on the free market. Next you start looking at the guys that are the 40th-45th man on your rosters, pending minor league free agents, players you may not protect, or even those out of options (like Polancho). You start looking at packaging playrs. But remember, just because YOU want to rid yourself of a player doesn't mean anyone will give you anything of importance for such a player. And the other team, in turn, is looking to shed players the same way you are looking at shedding players...the major exception being if a prospect package that you can't refuse is dangled in front of you, and it has to be pretty darn good. Even multiple players for one can go down badly (remember the Santana trade, even the Ben Revere trade...May pending still). I would, say, release a guy like Hughes if my accountants would let me write off his salary this season, when my payroll is supposedly under budget. The purpose being to have even more money to spend on free agency, which is a crapstorm anyways. Of, and Joe Mauer, do you want to play for a contender this season or next?

May will need to build up arm strength. So he's not a regular until 2019. He might flip between spot starts and long relief if the timetable works for 2018. Gonsalves and Romero (and Jorge) will still be on innings limits and will be in AAA and on the call-up list. So, yes...we have Berrios and Mejia and whomever we can cull from free agency. Of course, given some of the names, we might be better set to go with Slegers and Hurlbut and Eades for the near future. I'm not looking forward to the off-season. I'm looking forward to August to see if there is a smidgen of interest in any of our players as waiver claims, just to free up salary and roster space - Santiago, Gibson, Grossman, Andrienza, Belisle, Gimenez for starters.

The Twins are facing a new bullpen again next season. Breslow is gone. Belisle will be gone, too. Kintzer is a free agent. Pressly needs to reimpress again. Tyler Duffey is a two-pitch wonder. Taylor Rogers needs stamina. We have seen glimpses of brightness from Busenitz and Hildenberger. But remember, people start to chart and watch video. Rucinski also has promise. Perkins might come back. But do the Twins really need to contract him out again? There's at least four openings in the wings. Combine that with a rotation that is basically Berrios and maybe Mejia going into 2018. Wow!

And soon we will be harping about the manager and the coaching as the Twins fade into oblivion as the summer wanes.

Yes, the Twins DON'T have to trade Ervin or Dozier. They could, if blown away with an offer, but they will still have more opportunities to address their placement in the organization come off-season and even into 2018. Kintzler is interesting. Again, you have to get something in return, yet he is in the midst of a walk season and MOST team would see him as a fine setup man. But if you do trade him, you will have a better chance to resign him, if you wish, in the off-season. The Twins will put players on waivers come August, see if they can spin a deal, or make the decision to just save salary and open up a roster spot for some deserving name not on the roster. The dilemma is that we'd like to see Romero or Gonsalves, but both are hitting inning limits. But if you suddenly see 3-4-5 roster spots opening for players you will be protecting (or maybe just want a looksee) and September is around the corner, well, minor leagues playoffs be damned. It will be interesting to see what happens when other teams pull further ahead. The Twins have been doing very well this year with basically no marketing plan, no stars that they encourage people to come and see (I remember filming a Byung-Ho Park commercial last summer that was never aired) and the possible end of the season for fan interest which can happen come the State Fair and Back-To School and last-month-at-the-lake and the Vikings Machine rolls into town and Super Bowl becomes the talk of the town. Hummmm...maybe see the Twins making more trades for that guy CASH and his brothers, dollars and cents.

.500 may not cut it for contention anymore or even a shot at the wildcard. Of course, it makes the Twins a more viable thing to visit (i.e. ticket sales). That is the MAIN concern about the front office overall. Keeping the attendance momentum going past the State Fair. If I was the Twins, I would be thinking hard about making a HUGE splash at the Minnesota State Fair...dragging out former Twins, having appearances by current ones (especially if they are here on the disabled list for sure) doing a nice big screen with "great play" loops, promotional handouts showcasing the current crop of future Twins as well as guys of the future. Anything but the garage remainder sale of jerseys for folks who no longer play for the Twins. Be nice if they could jsut set up a nice dollar dog stand, but that raises other issues, I guess.

I doubt if Moya would be taken as a Rule 5 yet, so the Twins may be lucky there. Still, they have to think about adding him to the 40-man...and he'll need time at AAA.

Yeah, the Twins need (and will) continue to put butts in the seats for what they play in August. But once the State Fair hits and kids go back to school, a non-winning team will flounder and there could be lots of cheap seats, especially as the Vikings ramp up their season and Super Bowl becomes the talk of the town. The only way the Twins get get any ink between September and March 1 is to go deep in the playoffs or the World Series. And that is not probably at this point. The biggest free agency signing will be buried. It will be tough and interesting to see how the Twins market themselves for the rest of the season, especially if they become a rebuilding team.

They still have Dillon Gee and Melville to drag out. And maybe Slegers or Eades or Hurlbut. Of course, you want your top starters to be at AAA (unlike your top prospects who are at AA) because that means they can throw 150+ innings in a season. That's the predicament the Twins find themselves in. At worst, if they are out of the hunt, they should be looking at Romero and Gonsalves and more of Jorge in August before giving the fifth spot to whomever (40-man spots remaining). You can still move a lot of players around in August. The Twins just have to face that they may end up with a losing record, especially if Cleveland and Kansas City improve themselves to make the division more uneven. I still say, play for 2018 and 2019. If the shoe isn't fitting for those seasons, get new shoes.

It's a good move. Regarding Recker, the Twins currently have Garver and Murphy at Rochester and Paulino and Rohlfing at Charlotte. The question is, who comes off the 400-man for him. The Twins have to now decide who stays and who goes among Mejia, Gibson, Colon, Santiago, Garcia for three spots. Throw Ge in the mix, and let's see some new names in the rotation for the second half. Assuming Mejia will go back to the minors (because he can). We might have seen the last of Santiago and Colon has to pitch like he means it. Does anyone want to see Gee get a chance in the rotation? Just remember that the next big happening will be after August 1 when you throw goes out there and see if anyone wants to claim them. That's where you hope Santiago puts up a couple of good starts, Colon maybe shows some life. If nothing else, you can hope someone claims Gimenez, let's say (who will be a free agent) which makes you happy that you do have Recker for AAA if you bring up Murphy or Garver. But right now, the Twins will have FIVE catchers on their 40-man? And I would rather see them try and pass Recker thru waivers than the younger Murphy. Wow. $800,000 for a 15-year-old. Sometimes you do have to keep in mind the investment pricetag in a player when you do they trade them. At that price, he was a pretty good thought of prospect at one time.

The Twins will have 7-10 guys that the HAVE to protect in the off-season. They probably could find an even dozen that they should...so some of those names can be traded, whomever they may be.