Rosterman

The Trade Deadline reality is that a team is going to TRADE for SOMEONE who will help them get to the post-season, period. Otherwise, it just becomes a salary dump, and baseball eliminated the ability to pull players back during the August waiver-wire blues. Now, when a player is put on waivers, they are gone, gone, gone. Can SImmons improve any team with his defense. Same with Donaldson. The bats may not seem worth the investment, unless a team figures (for Donaldson) that he will rebound in a spectacvular fashion and become a tradechip. Or injury means you have a need. But can you find better than what the Twins have to offer. Pineda, if he can pitch well his next two outings, may be a gem for the Twins. Robles also needs to shine. The evils of trading for Berrios is that the team DOES need to be in a position to offer a contract to resign the guy, or they are renting the player, albeit for this AND next season. A pitcher of the caliber of the current Berrios will always entice a contender down to the wire. The only advantage the Twins have trading in the off-season is that a team can get a better idea of what it may take to sign Jose. But the Twins may be desperate and it may be Johan Santana 2.0. Rogers is valuable. Might be able to get a return like the Twins did from the Astros. Duran and Celestino were a good vibe. Maybe both will work out and make us forget that we traded a Rule 5 pickup. I'm not sure Happ would fit in anywhere. Especially on a contending club. So, again, the hard reality is that teams don't want players someone wants to throwout there. They want players that will actually help them. And the Twins, sadly, have a few players that they can just outright say "goodbye" to and other teams MAY be happy to pick them up for a pro-rated part of their salary, after they become free agents, rather than pick up ALL the remaining salary. But I sadly see Happ, Simmons, Colombe going the way of Shoemaker, without pitching for the Saints (which works for Shoemaker at the moment...he ahs housing in town, needs a team to showcase himself...so why not.)

You need a bonifide closer. Often, a starter who wasn't effective (see Guardado, LaTroy Hawkins, Glen Perkins). The Twins missed it on Liam Hendricks. I also wished they had kept Trevor May. But you still need a closer. I wouldn't count on Duffey or Rogers for anymore than they have already given. Neither have taken the step forwards to be a closer, but both can probably add years of service time as set-up guys. Thielbar is that guy you want to face few batters. But he is aging himself out of the game. Right now (or before yesterday) he may have had some value. Face it. The Twins bullpen is an overall wreck. Alcala COULD be the closer of the future. Just needs command to place his fastball somewhere other than where it get hits for homers. One had hopes for Stashak, again another short reliever. You need a hard-throwing commanding closer. You need a ground ball guy. You need a flyball pitcher. You also need additional strikeout arms with this extra-inning rule that totally changed the work-up of a bullpen. The Twins failed early in this regard, not used to having a runner start on second. Happily it didn 't count as an earned run, otherwise Colombe would be a lot worse than his ERA shows. And because starters can't get into the sixth inning anymore, you need to play musical chairs with the minors. Good for pitchers in need of service time. But also bad for batters as there is no longer a need to work a count to see pitches. You just seldom see the same pitcher. Robles was a good addition. Overall (hit me with a brick), the Twins have had some fine innings from Duffey, Farrell, Rogers, Alcala, Robles, Thielbar, Coluombe. The problem is you gave 79 innings o relief work to (not even counting Shoemaker) who gave us 79 innings with 76 runs scored. Offset that with a few bad outing by the above, and you are where the Twins are today. I don't know who the arms are of the future, as they seem all stuck at AA or below with the Saints roster filled with minor league free agents who couldn't hold a job elsewhere. Barraclough, Hamilton, Burrows, Gilmartin, Harvey, Vincent, Garcia, Whalen, Boyd and more are not the future, but chances are we will still see EVERYONE of these names pass thru Target Field before the season ends.

Donaldson WAS a Grade-A player, but the Twins got played, more by the fan base than anything. To prove that they weren't on the cheap, the opened the pocketbooks after being rejected by almost every free agent in the marketplace. As a Twins fan, we always want the pocket book to open BIG and expect that throwing money at players willo egt them to come here. But as the past has shown, we either get mid-range free agents, guys looking to make a bigger comeback, or we are just overlooked. No amount of money will entice the top of the free agent tiers to come to town. Sadly, the truth. So the Twins need to do what Target Field was supposedly built to do. Jeep our own free agents. In the past we allowed Cuddyer, Hunter, Nathan to walk. Are we going to do the same with Buxton and Berrios? Always a gamble, but signing any free agent is a gamble, and even the low-end successes of the Twins have had been short-term and not that gracious when looking at the big picture of year-after-year performance (see Odorizzi, Pineda, Gonzalez, Cron, Schoop...plus the one-year wonders of Homer Bailey, Shoemaker, We keep thinking we are better situated than teams like, say, the Royals, or even the on-the-cheap A's who pull off miracles with low-end signings and trades. Donaldson was a good solid signing for a team in contention who was looking for stability at a position of weakness (at the time), leadership skills on the field, and everyday play. I'll let you decide what the free agent signing has brought us. Maybe as fans we have to stop dreaming that the BIG CONTRACT will happen with the Twins getting the outside superstar to anchor the home-grown talent stage. Or maybe we do have to realize that we need to line-up behind front office choices on drafting, trading, making a team, and supplementing the team with short-term needs (i.e. trade deadline acquisitions/rentals when needed). It has been so long since we had a World Series. We dream that management will make choices that will take us beyond a division win, or entry into the championship tier. Tired of not being on the World Stage after a long season of brilliant ballplay that is fliushed down the toilet in a five or seven game series. If there is a taker for Donaldson, the two questions remain: how much salary do the Twins have to eat, and what is the best prospect/s they can get in return.

Looks like more than 20 of the 32 players currently on the Saints roster in some capacity are not homegrown Twins or prospects.

Yep, do the Twins offer Buxton, Berrios or are they just dumping Happ, Robles, Simmons, Cruz, Donaldson to move 2021 payroll. Let's throw Pineda into the mix. I really don't see teams offering the Twins much for soon=to-be-free agents. But sicne the players really aren't doing it for the Twins, might as well bank money and sign your own to keep sights on...a future.

So, looks like Buxton did not make Round Two and will miss being named a starter for the 2021 All-Star team. Of course, we know he wouldn't start, because he was injured. Mike Trout, however, has been named to the team. By some fluke, he MIGHT make an appearance as he is scheduled to be doing minor league rehab appearances during that week. Will see. So now the BIG QUESTION? Who represents the Minnesota Twins? How could Nelson Cruz not be named! Will Jose Berrios be one of the pitching staff?

Strange because during the 2020 COVID season the Twins played well and it was partial summertime sports entertainment. But, yes, Bally is killing the Twins product for those still COVID scared. But the team is also now drawing close to 20,000 fans a game, which in the scheme of things would be tremendous, especially when playing badly...so the people who want to go the game are there. But, you may notice, there are also tickets available for Saints games. I must say, I went to the Twins store a couple of weeks ago, and they hadn't printed a yearbook for 2021...yet. Maybe they still have too many leftovers from 2020. Of course, part of the advertising sell is that x-amount of these things will end up in the hands and be seen by the eyes of x-amount of people.

Allison only played more than 115 games in left 3 seasons. MAYBE SPENT 8 TOTAL, BUT MOST OF HIS TIME WAS IN RIGHT FIELD SINCE HIS CALLUP BY THE SENATORS.

So, another 40-man roster switch. Hamilton has to be wondering "What th-" in St. Paul. So now the Twins have Law, Jax as potential musical chairs. Smeltzer is throwing. How long is Colome for the Twins, although he has been okay in mop-up settings. And Burrows. Will it be musical chairs as we see Gilmartin, Barraclough and others (who knows, Albers might even get a game to comeback).

I consider the Twins having strong depth at shortstop, assuming Royce Lewis can play the position. You have Wander Javier, a decision that needs to be made this fall, and far enough back is Keoni Cavaco. If a shortstop is had from another organization, you have to find somewhere to play Lewis, and those other two names are basically tradebait.

It does all boil down to the WANT of the Twins to resign Berrios and Buxton. Moving Donaldson is a pure salary dump. The Twins either eat some of his contract in this season's budget or get little, very little, in return. Quite frankly, they could eat some Donaldson salary if they move such names as Happ, Simmons, Colombe, Cruz...all who might bring back better prospects. But it all revolves around Buxton and Berrios. If you aren't getting back those two, than the Twins are in total rebuild. Might as well clear the house and send Rogers, Robles packing, too. And, you can always package Donaldson with a prospect or two that looks promising but is blocked by depth in the system. Wander Javier, for example, who is Rule 5 eligible but has a fat chance of being protected yet again by the Twins. Would Oakland look at that, with the hopes of moving Donaldson themselves during the offf-season. You have to look at Donaldson NOT just being a third baseman, but also a DH for teams in need of that bat. He is expensive for this year and the next two, but he has the possibility of increasing his value. A gamble a team in the hunt might also take. Either way, the Twins can't expect much.

Twins keep adding an alphabet of new names to the Saints roster...and none of them from within the organization: Stankiewicz the latest. Barraclough, Burrows, Vincent, Whalen, Johnson and Tomscho supplementing the other minor league free agents still here (or gone).

Well, I would rather give the ball to Ober, Jax or any number of guys who MIGHT pitch for the Twins in 2022 than...Shoemaker. We all know the Twins are doing a standings push between now and the All-Star break! https://www.mlb.com/twins/video/twins-gearing-for-standings-push

John Hicks returns to the majors with the majors. He was selected off waivers by the Twins in 2015. And the team tried to sneak him thru in the early spring and he was grabbed by the Tigers in 2016 where he managed a few good years as a C/DH/1B/3B guy. Ironically he replaces Shaun Anderson, recently claimed on the waiver wire by Texas and spending two whole weeks in their minors. Maybe the Twins can claim him back again!

Sean Gilmartin is back, signing with the Twins out of the Indy Leagues. Remember that we got him from the Braves for Ryan Doumit in 2014. Then he was a Rule 5 select by the Mets in 2015. He was a 24-year-old starter prospect back then.

Blankenhorn is back up with The Mets! MLB TRADE RUMORS: Blankenhorn, 24, could also be an option. The well-traveled Blankenhorn has often seen his name scrawled across the MLBTR pages this season. Since being recalled to the Twins active roster on April 20th, Blankenhorn was optioned, designated for assignment, claimed by the Dodgers, designated for assignment, claimed by the Mariners, optioned, DFA’d again, claimed by the Mets, and optioned again. The Pennsylvania native made a pretty good argument for keeping him permanently on the Mets roster, however, by slashing .389/.538/.944 in 26 plate appearances spanning seven games for the Syracuse Mets.

Man, out of all the pitchers the Twins have been signing from Indy Ball, how did this one escape them?

Pat Neshek. He won the game at which I proposed to my wife!

Berrios COULD GET $100 million if traded to the right team. What team, that is the crapshoot. I think the Twins would jump at five years and $85 million. But part of Target Field was that the Twins would be able to pay to keep their free agents. And I always thought that part of a good hometeam free agent contact was that you were rewarding the player also for past play and making a name for themselves with the home team. Never could totally figure out overpaying a guy who will probably not produce similar numbers going forth. But both Buxton and Berrios are young. A five year contract may not be their last. Might be another 3-4 year deal when those run out. Do the Twins offer a 3 year deal and an option. Do they let them declare free agency halfway thru a contract? If push came to shove , would you offer the qualifying offer of the day to either and hope they accept? Buxton needs to play. Getting hit on the hand cost him, probably, $10 million in pay. A team gambling $100 million on him would be gambling, yet someone might, just might. Remember, he can always become a corner outfielder, and if his plate discipline increases, he will get a payday. But I doubt it will be with the Twins. Somehow, not getting the $100 million feeling. The question is: how long does the front office hold out. This trading deadline, the off-season, or spring training/next year. The message is also bad that it sends to any other potential stars. Play out your Minnesota contract and go elsewhere. And if the team starts getting noticed for playing with service time, goodbye signing some picks. Was Joe Mauer worth $175 million? Well, was he worth $22 million for his first six years of production?

I want the job o the person sewing uniform names for the Saints. You gotta be working overtime!

I'm trying to figure out this lovefest for team castoffs and guys playing indy ball. The Twins PAID ALL their minor league guys last season. One team was cut from all teams. They have a tremendous amount of prospects. Sure, some have lost a year of play, but...most all players did. We all were aghast when they sprung bigtime for Josh Donaldson, showing that he purse strings were open for spending. In 202 they went out and purchased Rich Hill, Homer Bailey, . Kept Odorizzi and :Pineda. Added Tyler Clippard, Juan Minaya, Matt Wisler (whew), and returned Sergio Romo. Alex Avila was added behind-the-plate. This year actually is ending up worse. Happ and Shoemaker aren't cutting it. Are we excited about Simmons, not to mention Riddle and Lin and Garlick and Refsnyder. Ooooooh, the bullpen adds of Waddell, Colome, Law, Anderson, But theya re far from done. Just this week they gave afterlife to Vincent and Barraclough, Burrows to go with such notable signings since the season began of Santiago, Garcia, Milacki, Anderson, Whalen, Koch, Johnson, Lau, anoeehr Pineda, Mullenbach, Manoah, Milbrath, Horstman, Boyd and Washington. Still hoping to egt a chance are such big names as Broxton, Shepherd, Pena, Tomscha, Leyer, LaFlor, Maggi, Albers, Mooney. Some have left already. But the chance to play for the Saints seems to be a big draw these days. All Dollar Store cart fillers. But, hey, wish I was a fly on the wall in the room when all these guys are discussed! And where to put them, place them, and 40-man them at the expense of whom?

The Twins themselves revisited the team top draft picks since the process began back with Eddie Leon in 1965. Always fun to look back and think where they went in the majors, and why they didn't go anywhere in the minors. https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/all-time-twins-top-draft-picks

Yes, he could bring a prospect haul. Have to see where teams are in the wild card hunt. But the Twins promised, when we gave them Target Field, that they could NOW AFFORD to keep their own free agents. Part of long-term salary is also a reward for what you have done in your underpaid past with the organization. If a team doesn't show monetary loyalty to a player they have developed, then the player needn't look to working a hometown discount, or favoring the team that brought them into the bigs when the world of baseball is out there looking in.

I'm glad the Twins are keeping Gordon for now. Just wish he would get some at bats, which could happen if the Twins movie SImmons. If Gordon can basically hit like Arraez, and also be a threat on the base paths, he brings something lacking to the Twins team. I do picture Arraez being that jack-of-all-trades. Like Tovar was for the sixties Twins. If there is a place for him on the roster. He does thrive when he plays regularly, I wish he was a better choice for short than Polanco, another guy who may be fighting for a utility role. Royce Lewis needs to work in someplace. Donaldson ahs a big contract and gives you punch. The joy right now of Arraez (and Gordon) is that they can play in the outfield in a pinch, well. But with all of Luis' goodness, taking pitches, drawing walks, putting the ball in play, big enthusiasm to be playing on the field...he always faces the fact that there is someone on the team equal or even better in most of the offense categories. He is great to have when someone goes down with an injury, but you can always find someone else to play everyday.

Good names, but most will either need to be a 40-man decision, and most all should spend a good part of next season in the minors unless the Twins go totally into rebuild mold. The question is who to push to AAA, how does that affect their Rule 5 claim standing in baseball, and who do the Twins look at contributing in 2022, or is it mostly for these guys 2023 and beyond. At some point the current front office will make decisions longer term on Sano Kepler and Polanco. They need to set up a system to get a hard look at 2-3 starting prospects a season and hope that at least one a year sticks STRONGLY. There seems to be little of a push towards advancing players. Look at how the Twins are raiding the indy leagues and AAAA guys for the saints and even Wichita. We will see!