Obsvr

My take... Unless they have a handful of players have career years next year, they aren't going to compete. Total system failure doesn't necessarily mean catastrophic failure. There are definitely potential pieces in place, but I don't see them competing for another few years. Right Field: Kepler seems to pass the eye test and has performed reasonably well enough to be given a shot the rest of this year and the start of next year. Seems to have a high upside. I would think a career year for him would be .330 avg, 30 hr's, 100 RBI. I think he settles in to a .290 career hitter that averages 15-20 hr's a year. Center: Buxton is the guy. He started slowly at every level but eventually figured it out. The learning curve for him at this level is obviously going to be longer than lower levels. I tend to think he's going to develop into a solid player. Left: Definitely need an upgrade here with a veteran with some pop. Grossman, Walker, and/or Palka are not the answer. At least not for 2017. Palka does seem interesting but needs more evaluation. First Base: Mauer isnt going anywhere for two years 2nd Base: Dozier also isn't going anywhere. Short: Polanco? If his defense is good enough, his bat makes him an intriguing possibility. So long as Buxton and Kepler grow, i'm fine with a SS that plays great defense and cant hit. Vielma maybe? 3rd Base: Sano Catcher: No idea what you replace Suzuki with. JRM might be the guy, but I tend to think there is a reason the yankees gave him up for Aaron Hicks. Pitching staff is a disaster...too hard to speculate halfway through this season about what to do with it next season. Depends on who finishes strong in the minors and who's available in FA. Berrios will be up full time next year. Gibson, Santana (if they dont trade him) are locks. Beyond that...it's anybody's guess. The pen...probably a mix of homegrown talent and FA's. 2016 was supposed to be "the year". Well, here we are. They probably shouldn't have put a timeframe on it, but aside from last year, all they had to sell was hope for the future. This is your team for the next few years. TR has handicapped himself pretty well and to blow it all up now is essentially admitting failure (which maybe the Pohlads will do). Spending an absurd amount of money to fill the holes is possible but not likely. When Mauer's contract expires, that will free up a fair amount of money...so one would hope that the youngsters continue to develop and in two years they can take the money locked up with Mauer and spread it around to fill some holes.

I don't know about that. I'm not a dozier bobo but I don't think you trade a borderline elite 2nd basement (albeit streaky) and pin your hope on prospects. We know that most prospects don't turn out, so the odds of hitting on Polanco and all the pieces you get in return is unlikely. He's on a favorable contract for awhile, he has to be in your plans. The reality is that "total system failure" is spot on and that means free agent and minor league have failed. Everybody wants to unload Dozier, Santana, Nunez, and Suzuki. The trade market is isn't there for 2b this year, so nobody is going to sell out to get Dozier. Nunez won't command much, decent year but you know next year will be down from this year and so does every GM. Santana is at best a good number 3 on a contender, but good number 3's wont likely command a high level impact prospect. Unless he's in rookie or A ball. Suzuki might have the most value, but defensively isn't good and as a half season rental won't command as much as you might think, since pitching and defense wins championships and his defense essentially negates what offense he adds, especially in a small sample size like mlb playoffs. They are in a pretty deep hole, one that unfortunately probably needs a new FO and a fresh perspective to get out of.

If I remember right, Buxton started slow at every level so I think his struggles at the ML level is to be expected. He mashed at AAA, so I tend to think he's going to figure it out eventually.

True, but you still have to build around a few pieces and with catching being at a premium I think it's hard to get rid of him until you know who his replacement is going to be. Not too mention, with good catching being a premium, I tend to think there is a good reason why the Yankee's let him go for Hicks.

Suzuki would probably fetch something decent, but who do you replace him with? The same reason he would have a decent return (lack of catching depth in the mlb) is really the same argument for keeping/re-signing him. Dozier vs Polanco...I'm not a huge Dozier guy, but again, they really don't have a better option and he has a friendly contract. I don't think Polanco is going to equal Dozier's production and Dozier is actually has great value as a 6-7 hitter rather than relying on him in the 1-2-3 spots.