Rosterman

I see Gore has been moved to Wichita!

They Twins still had their closer Colome available! Tag-teamed with Thielbar, they might've pulled it off even with two runners on base and no outs!

I was almost hoping they would send Jeffers so he can catch every day.

Rortvedt is no worse a carry than Twins past from Jerry Zimmerman to Drew Butera. He ahs a rifle for an arm. He is working on controlling his upper body strength. Plus, he ahs minor league options if you choose to keep Jeffers and Garver. Garver, if Cruz is gone, could also be a DH or fill in at first base. When Garver comes back and IF he can play daily, I would almost send Jeffers down to the Saints to play everyday.

Donaldson is seeing his name in the news more than he probably would've expected, signing the possible five-year Twins contact to end his career. You hear the good about how you can help others as well as the bad about how not doing well at all. The trading part of the calendar is something I'm sure most players would just like to avoid, but don't...because it IS there! The Twins are currently being either over-coached or under-coached, depending on the glasses you are wearing. Us fans in the stands ask "why aren't they doing certain things" and others just wonder "why everyone seems to be too careful out there."

Something good to sort thru. Of course, the Twins could say goodbye to Stashak or Cave or Smeltzer or even Colina, but a team can have the player by just claiming and putting on their own 40-man. You might try it still this tear, but then most of those would just become free agents come the fall. You always have to judge 40-man adds as guys who will either break camp with the Twins in 2022, or come up sometime during the season. Right now, the Twins have been stuck with folks like Duran and Balazovic who basically are wasting a year on the 40-man and aren't guaranteed to be a contributor for much of 2022. The Twins will need to add Royce Lewis, but someone like Wander Javier may be kept at A+ ball, or just a few AA at bats, to lessen the chance of him being taken (a second) time, with next year being his push for the Twins to commit. The Twins do, now, have to make hard decisions on names like Barnes and Jax and Ober as real keepers. They are, now. Although Jax may be on the bubble. Of course, 40-man adds during the off-season can only be traded, not released, into spring training. So you always need some names on the roster than you might jettison if you sign a free agent and don't have a spot. But many will just walk (Law, Farrell, Rooker, Minaya) when the time comes, and maybe answer the Twins phone call if no one else shows interest. Winder, Moran, Miranda all look to join Lewis as protective players. Enlow they may try and pass, due to his lost injury season. Names like Sands and Vallimont may be interesting, depending on where the end up the final month of the minor league season. Not sure who the six year minor league names are that the Twins could just have walk away. But they sure aren't on the Saints minor league free agent heavy-laden roster. Not sure what the Twins plans are for Ian Hamilton.

I'm sure offers will be entertained before the trading deadline, but BUXTON remains injured right now. It is all in Buxton's favor. Twins can trade him in the off-season, but no team will pay big unless they know they can sign him, and what does another team at this point, no full season under Buxton's belt, wish to gamble. A gamble for one year of play in which he may become a potential superstar or just a five year $70m guy. The Twins will get shafted, like they kinda did on Santana. Because if Buxton refuses today, there is supposedly no tomorrow with the Twins and everyone will know it and proceed accordingly. Let him play out his fianl year and teams will talk when he becomes a free agent. Same could happen with Berrios, which is why NOW is the most important time for the Twins. Is he a pitcher that will dominate and help a team advance, or is he someone that one can wait, to find out his real value come free agency. I'm picturing B&B will be totally looking at $$$-signs and will willingly play out their contracts with the Twins and see what happens after age 28.

Rene Rivera gets a major league contract to catch with the Washington Nationals after being released by the Indians.

At best I see it as 5/70+ incentives, putting Buxton at age 33 for his next big contract. Of course, he could wait and have a stud year and get a 5/100+. I don't really see a middle ground. He could also fall flat on his face. Same with Berrios. I'm sure the Twins would love 5/85+, but Berrios, if he has a decent year like this one is proving to be (wait, doesn't he usually tank in the second half), could easily command 4/100 by waiting a year. Again, he would be eligible for one more big contract if healthy. The gauntlet has been thrown down. Take it, or move on. The way the Twins have played with so many like Cuddyer, Hunter, Escobar, Santana and more........ Of course, building the organization a beautiful stafium, in which the team's share is pretty much paid for, meant the team could keep their own home grown free agents, rewarding them, perhaps, a but more because of what they have contributed to the team in the past. But why pay YOUR GUYS more when you can always grab folks like Donaldson on the free agent market in the PRIME of their careers!

It's a tough call. You don't want to advance, then send them down all next season (or beyond) as 40-man spots are precious. You will probably go with folks like Ian Hamilton and Andrew Vasquez, who if they bomb you can just let them walk before making the ahrd decisions in the fall. It would be nice of Smeltzer, Dobnak and Thorpe came back and actually pitched as starters. Then I would feel better about Pineda and Happ leaving and Ober being shutdown because of innings. Of course we all wanted to see Duran and Balazovic this season, but now seems unlikely. I had precious hopes for Griffin Jax. Hopefully he will get another start or two and a decision can be made. But I see them ONLY bringing up prospects at this time who would be protected come the 40-man revision in the Fall. Anyone NOT on that list would be a longshot.

Polanco ahs played shortstop for years, folks! What's one more year at shortstop if it means Arraez fulltime at second. And, remember, Royce Lewis? I counted 18 names that MIGHT not be on the Twins roster come season's end as we move into the fall. Burrows, Colina, Colome, Coulombe, Farrell, Happ, Jax, Law, Pineda, Robles, Stashak, Thielbar, Astudillo, Simmons, Cave, Garlick, Refsnyder, Rooker. Okay, not ALL of these would leave immediately. Some might still stay as non-roster minor league depth. But I could easily see NONE of these names on the Twins roster come next opening day. I'm sure any could be happily had for a return prospect or three. Pineda, Robles, Thielbar may be the only ones another team might clamor to add. Of course, the Twins will get looks on Cruz, Duffy, Rogers, Berrios, Buxton, Sano, Kepler, Donaldson. With a surge the next couple of weeks Kepler could raise his value. Same with Sano. Donaldson would be a hard sell, but could package him with someone else (like Colina, for example). I would NOT be sad if all the names in this paragraph were still Twins come 2022 opening day. We gotta remember that there are 8-9 teams dangling players, and a few more dangling depth that can maybe be replaced by prospects, so no one has to blow the Twins away on a deal. Sadly, NO ONE on the Twins team is a necessary needed player for any team, compared to what is probably available. I would like to see the Twins get anything, something, for the majority of guys WHO WILL NOT be here in 2022. But, sadly, I see many of them becoming free agents and the Twins getting zilch.

40-man roster move needed! And also need to make one for Cave!

Are the Twins better off if they just let some potential free agents walk, via release, after August 1? Simmons, Colome, Happ? for example. Can they actually get anything for Cruz, Pineda? You have to judge the need to get innings and at bats for what you are and will be paying, and he need to see players for seasons to come. Will you end up being worse or better?

Gordon is the logjam player. The Twins have four outfielders, unless Kirilloff plays first base. The Gordon can maybe play. But with Cave coming back, that will also change. The Twins have Arraez, Polanco and Simmons fighting for infield playing time. Arraez also becomes next in line to play the outfield if Kirilloff goes to first base. If Donaldson is down, or until Simmons is moved, there are no at bats. Astudillo ran into the similar situation when the Twins didn't need him catching, and Kirilloff became the second first baseman. A valuable bench guy is always needed who can play multiple positions to give you a choice on who else to move around. But for some reason, Rocco sits Gordon. Its tough to come in for one bat a game. He can be that pinch-runner the Twins so need for stealing a base. Right now, he is the emergency guy, offering more than any number of other folks could've for the season. At worst, he increases his value to be part of a trade if the Twins wish to push him out in that direction. If Simmons and Donaldson would leave, who plays third. Gordon is still the spare infielder as one would hope the Twins might advance a certain prospect faster. Gonna be an interesting rest of the month to see how the Twins roster comes together entering August 1.

With waiver claims, you most often NEED a 40-man spot to put the player, and you put a player on waivers because you want to advance to your 25-man roster someone from your system. Often a roster as placeholders for just that reason. Or you hope you can claim them, and them option them down to the minors, off the 40-man. But you always run the risk of losing the guy in the off-season (shades of Zack Littell). Go back and look at transactions and see how many guys the Twins have been signing of late in the minors, often to be potential replacements for waiver wire guys that they may need to replace if booted from the roster (Derek law and Danny Coulombe are two recents, not to mention what might transpire if the Twins decide to send out Garlick or Refsnyder). During the season you take a gamble claiming a guy on waivers. Often better to just let it past and the guy plays out the year somewhere else and eventually becomes a minor league free agent that you can choose to sign in the off-season.

Be a shame if Baddoo would win rookie of the year. But as said above, there was little that would make me 40-man him considering the pecking order of outfielders ahead of him, at the time, in the minors. Kudos to Larnach and Kirilloff for running with the opportunity and working their butts off, shades of Kepler in his beginning years!

And they must think he will sign!

If the Twins keep this up they will NOT have the Number One Draft Pick in 2022! This is a day Taylor Rogers might've remembered. Instead, the Twins did get the win in their own dramatic fashion. So many walks. I love ALL the delayed strike calls by the home plate umpire. Somedays you just wish you were one of the field umps.

At some point, sooner rather than later, STOP playing players who won't be with the organization in 2022. Can't wait to see how they handle the outfield mess when Cave, Refsnyder and soon after that Garlick are activated. I would still rather see Celestino as the 5th, for now. You gotta cut bait with unproductive possible free agents. Okay, then we also have to address the pitchcount of any starter wannabees. But, hey, look how many will break 100 innings if they only pitch five inning every 5th day for the remainder of the season. Hey, tag team at some point, right? Of bring back The Opener. Arraez plays everyday!

Taylor, Byron and Jose are three guys that you listen to the offers. People will have to make their best. Then you decide. Can even put Cruz in this mix. Sadly, we will still see the stay behinds play and eat up innings and at bats.

Why did the trades happen. Well, if you remember, Escobar was entering his free agent year. No qualifying offer for the guy. There was contract discussion but nothing much was happening. Arizona called. The Twins saw an opportunity that after the season ends, depending on Escobar's final performance, they could bring him back on the cheap (always on the cheap here). Escobar had a wonderful time in Arizona, they made a very reasonable offer out-of-the-season-ending-gate and he just flatout accepted. No need to wait for a counter offer if the Twins weren't serious in the first place. Twins got two decent prospects. Shades of Zach Duke. Today we could be looking at similar trades for Law or Thielbar and, hopefully, Colome. Dozier was tanking and the Twins couldn't figure out if they wanted to keep him or not. He was going to be a free agent. Trade him and maybe resign him (on the cheap). The Twins were forced to take Logan Forsythe and his salary in return, which ate up a roster spot, but Forsythe was okay. Twins also saw some return for Rodney, who was not going to come back for Twins money. Sorta like Robles this year, and a good reason for the Twins to offer him for a prospect. The Twins cleaned house and got prospects. In 2017 Lynn was a salary dump to the Yanks who gave us Austin, behind in the pecking order and out-of-options who might fit into the Twins need for a 1B/DH, and a...prospect still in the system with promise (Rijo). Someone wanted Kintzler more than the Twins who were on he edge of the Wild Card race, and the Twins thought they could stay in the hunt with Belisle or others. Plus they didn't think he was worth paying more money (shades of Wisler, May or others). Was he coming off a string of bad appearances for a couple of weeks? Anything? Somehow Kintzler still keeps finding work for his special blend of slowness and ground ball outs. The Twins grabbed Garcia, thinking they were in contention, then decided to flip him when the Yankees came calling...so they traded Ynoa for Enns and Littell. Littell was lights out in the minors and seemed a probable starter. We know what happened here. Enns was one of those throw-ins, make him work or lose him because you don't want to 40-man him. In 2019, the Twins were going on a bullpen hunt, shades of Matt Capps. Dyson bombed and all three prospects are still in play. Romo did his job and came back (on the cheap, the magic words) for another year of Twins action. Villamont is still a prospect to watch. Davis and Davis were depth the Twins could part with and were somehow behind Weil and a horde of outfielders. A word on prospects. Organizations know where guys stand in their system. They hopefully know, like in Ynoa, that they will advance to this level or that level, who is ahead of them in the 40-man protection spread, how much have we invested, what can we get in return. Teams like to trade impending free agents for prospects: if I can get a guy another team paid a couple of million to sign two years ago, well, I didn't have to pay that. And hopefully your scouting sees potential to fit into the mix of players growing on the farm. You also see prospects change hands that another team may/may not want to protect for 40-man considerations, or guys who will be impending minor league free agents or guys out of options as throw-ins. But if you look at the 100 names right now that the Twins have at Cedar Rapids and Ft. Myers, how many will make it to the big leagues. Hell, how many will play three years in the minors before being replaced. You look at your dollar investment, the age of the guys, and any improvement. And you have scouts keeping tab of the same in ALL other organizations. Trade deadline actions happen for a reason. You can dangle all the players you want, but it is the contending teams that are sitting in the conference room looking at the board at their present needs (due to incompetence or injury) and looking at their own pecking order of players in the system, and then making a call a proposing a deal. If I am going to take-on your Donaldson, you may have to take on a similar return to deal with in your own future. I'm dealing with from system depth or players on the cusp of not having a place in my organization as part of any equation. Of course, Berrios is a key who, like Santana before him is running his own show as long as he produces. But teams also know they have to payout money on their end or lose him, or just wait another season and he will be a free agent. Robles, Rogers, Duffey, maybe even Colome could be had. Pineda and Happ are looking for takers. Cruz is an exceptional piece and only necessary for half-a-season. Can you trust that he will be there for the second half? Who would you want Simmons? Better fielding than most. Are you facing an injury dilemma? Donaldson is just too expensive. .250, not 10 home runs, missed a bunch of games? Try and put a spin on him! All the players the Twins traded away at deadline were as good-as-gone anyway, which is why they were traded (okay, maybe NOT Pressly, and a couple could've been resigned for double of their current salaries). And with no waiver wire trades in August...you put the guy out there and can't pull them back to work a trade...gotta let them go...I sadly don't se the Twins doing that and eating any of he salaries of Colome, Happ, Simmons - which raises hell with the roster (since they won't be coming back) as they will take away playing time from the future.

Yeah, thank goodness Twins didn't have to pay Jake the total $19 million last season. They just couldn't reach a deal for this season, for some odd reason. Twins felt better off with Happ and Shoemaker. Lance Lynn was a headcase. Kinda straightened out with the Yankees. Twins passed on him (and him on the Twins) when a free agent. Twins could've traded like the Sox did, but didn't/ I would've gone harder after Rich Hill. Tampa got a full season of Rich for less than the Twins for weeks in 2020. Go figure. But, hey, we got Happ who is younger. Twins didn't feel Kyle was worth whatever in arbitration, so they passed. They also didn't see the worth in a long-term contract, Texas struck gold, only paying partial for 2020 and getting a deal for this season (and maybe the next). Who would have figured. If you can't reward a player for what they have done growing up in the organization, then you might have trouble keeping players beyond arbitration. Just saying..... Astros needed a pitcher and the Twins had little invested in this Rule 5 pickup of yore. Didn't see him as a closer, and someone getting expensive for "just" being in the pen. Got a decent return...and Ryan got to pitch in Texas where you wear lots of suntan lotion. Littell dominated as a starter in the minors. Went ker-plink. Then showed greatness as a bullpen arm. Then ker-plunk again. Thought he might appear bad enough that no one would care that they had to 40-man him. I felt the Twins gave up on this future (possible) Liam Hendriks. I was a Trevor May booster. He is over 30 and the Twins didn't want to pay him $8 or so million or wrangle a multi-year deal with the guy. That they couldn't trade him was a loss for the front office. He would be our closer now instead of Colombe or whatever.

I could see Pineda being a good pickup for Cleveland. They only need a rental. Thielbar and Robles may be tradable. Cruz would be a dynamite pickup for anyone needed a DH. I would take a deal for Kepler. Now, about Donaldson..... Could you package him with someone like Kepler, and also a prospect? Sadly, the trading deadline ahs also become a time that some teams can just wait to see if a player is released, this a minimal committment and no players lost.

No, the Twins are currently full at 40 with Stashak, Colina and Cave on the 60-day. They waiver claimed Beau Burrows and had to add him to the 40-man, for some odd reason. I see Trade-Bait: Robles, Rogers, Berrios, Cruz, Thielbar, Simmons, Pineda, Donaldson. I see letting go: Happ, Colombe. I see Refsnyder and Garlik not sticking around, as well as Cave and possibly Rooker. They can also open up 40-man spots by not keeping Jax, Law or Astuliddo. Be interesting to see if Colina and Stashak remain on the 40-man come the fall. Plus, why Burrows?

Well, he probably has a temporary residence that he is paying for in town. No one grabbed him. He can probably pitch for the Saints to see if he can raise his stock. He is still getting paid his two million.