SotaFan14

I can't say enough how much I enjoy this site on a daily basis. I remember back when I visited many of your sites prior to the launch of this site. There was good content back then but it has evolved into something special. Take pride in what you guys have created here. If it wasn't for this site, I'm not sure my Twins fandom and knowledge would have grown to were it is today. Hats off to the Twins Daily Crew!! Here's to the next 5

I think it would be great for them to move Dozier around a bit. See how he does in a few different positions. It will boost his trade value while allowing the other IF guys a chance to play.

You put him at DH not the bench!!

Polanco needs to show he can handle the SS position to get the starting gig. I like what Adrianza brings to the left side. It's nice to see the Simmons comparison. The Braves got a haul for Simmons and his bat is average for a SS. Here are his 2015 numbers with the Braves .265/.321/.338--There is no power there. His numbers with the Angels this year .281/.324/.366--Again, no power. He did hit 17 HR in 2013 but his avg and OBP (.248/.296) were not good. If Adrianza offers a similar glove to Simmons, we have a glove first SS until Gordon or Javier make the show. Yes, I know that Adrianza's bat is about 25% worse than Simmons but his numbers from the minors look much better, so is it a case of not enough consistent BA's? Maybe, maybe not. I would much rather have Adrianza in the Util role that DanSan as he offers a much better glove anywhere you put him!! Oh, and Sano will be fine at 3B. Give the guy a chance. He had no reps at 3B last year. when you only do something once a week or not for 3 months, you are going to make a mistake here and there. That's life. The pop ups, eh, the outfield screwed with that I think. Give him the season, if he can't handle it or doesn't show improvement, then maybe move him to 1B, He shouldn't be a full time DH until he is at least 30!! (i.e Big Papi)

I like this move. It makes sense if we see more of this type of "clearing the house" for the 40 man. As mentioned by another, I didn't realize Light was on the 40 man. There is not room in the pen for Light so he can be AAA fodder. Now we need to see a veteran signed so Danny can be the next one to be jettisoned off the 40 man. If this happens, I will call the off-season a success. He was over-hyped in 2013 and played out of his shoes. Not going to happen again because he can't be trusted with a bat or a glove anywhere.

That they are the same(Gibson a bit worse) but there is still hope Gibson can still rebound and offer the upside we have thought about for the last few years. They both could go and I wouldn't care much.

I see your point but when you can't get lefties out, you walk a ton of guys and you're homer prone and just the same as Nolasco, there is the door. I read a piece over at twinkie town(link below) and scared the hell out of me. Then thought, "the twins are paying this clown 8+mil for something May/Duffey can do. I would rather have Vogel in there. I want him gone as soon as possible. enough of these, just ok guys. Are we fixing this or just paying anyone 8 mil to pitch to 5+ERA for 180 innings? http://www.twinkietown.com/2017/2/2/14445886/hector-santiago-is-not-to-be-trusted-minnesota-twins-pitching

Depending on how Haley pitches in spring, he is likely in the pen. Hughes will not be in the pen. On the same note, Santiago is not a lock in the rotation. If he doesn't do well in spring(something I hope happens) he can be released with us only on the hook for 30 days of his salary if he gets cut before 16 days into ST or 45 days salary if he is release before the season. If he somehow makes the 25 man roster going into the season, we are stuck with his bad contract. Jason Hammel is making 8mil with the Royals so this is a no brainer, dump the dead weight. Here is the way I see it playing out. Pen: Kintzler Pressley Belisle Rogers Chargois Haley Duffy or O'Rourke DL: Perkins Rotation: Santana Berrios Gibson May Hughes DFA/Released: Tonkin Santiago

I don't have a issue with this signing as it adds a veteran piece to the pen. Now, they need to get a veteran bat. There is one guy that I have been waiting for them to sign. Daniel Descalso can play all of the IF positions and is an ok bat. This would add another option at SS and can spell Sano and Dozier if needed. He has also played a few games in the OF the last couple years so could slot in there if needed. In looking at the possible available OF's to replace Grossman as the 4th OF, there are a few options that sound ok but not great. Angel Pagan is one option that makes sense but not sure he could play in CF though he did log 122 games there in 2015. He was a 2.1 WAR guy last year and was a key piece to all of those SF Giants WS titles. I seem to remember him as a good RISP guy as well. Coco Crisp and Micheal Bourn are not great but can still handle CF if needed too and can still swipe a bag or too. All 3 are long in the tooth but have been around the block and could bring a Hunter like voice for the younger guys. I would rather have any of those 3 to replace Grossman as the 4th OF. His D is the main issue and aside from a few hot month, was below replacement player last year all around. Danny needs to go as he is not good anywhere on the diamond.

If all of the starters can improve their ERA by.75 points from last year(Santana won't), with a team ERA around 4.25, we have a chance to go .500 if the bats can score the 5 runs per game needed. Not sure what our runs per game was last year but it should be close to that mark. I don't care who is in the rotation and who is in the pen, as long as the pitchers keep us in games, I'll watch a lot more games(I already watch too many, per the wife). I would drop some coin and go to a few if there was a better chance the Twins could be in every game past the 5th inning this year

He was good but that was a long time ago. He needs to be batting no higher than 6th, and only 3 days a week. There are others that need to see time to see if we have something or nothing. He has been the biggest problem with our lineup/roster the last 2-4 years. Plus he is not a leader in the club house. Sure he works hard, doesn't everyone? The new brass need to go to him and offer a few different options. 1)Do a A-Rod like buyout and wave good bye, 2) tell him if he can't produce(.300/.380/.550), there is the pine or 3)tell him to waive is no trade cause and move him(LOL, no one will take him what am I thinking) Well looks like we are stuck with him for two more years cuz none of that will happen. Sigh......

That is very interesting. It is one thing that I didn't think of. I would be happy to see a better package with someone like Kasmir heading our way. Let's hope they give us nice x-mas package!! Dodgers to re-sign Jensen!! Turner and Dodgers working on 4-deal. Might be sooner than we think!

And that is why we haven't seen a deal done yet!

I think the Twins want Urias in the deal, period. The current "final offer" that is said to be out there might be a fine return but the new guys are not looking for fine, they are looking for an awesome return, which would be Urias in the deal. Let's blow this up, you can sent a few other pieces back if needed but this is the only way I would trade Dozier! We need to get an Ace, this is the only way for the next 3+ years to do so unless you trade Sano, Buxton, Kelper, but that ain't cool.

Look at the his numbers. They look good, he has a good K rate, BB are low, hits are low, and he keeps the ball in the park. With the fastball being up in the zone and the offspeed pitches being down in the zone, the batters have a lot of strike zone to cover. Yes, against minor leaguers but if the coaching staff can hone those skills and he can gain 1-3 mph on the fasball(out of the pen) you have a guy throwing 95 with great pitches, not just good. Let's see how it plays out. I would rather have him on the mound than a guy that throws 100 but can only get it in the zone 1 out 4. Keep it rolling Derek/Thad. It's still 3 months until Spring training!

Our outfield will be fine. Mauer at 1st is above average. Sano will be much better than he was last year. He was a mess because they moved him to right field, so he didn't get the needed reps at 3rd in the offseason, spring training or early in the season. Then..."oh this didn't work in RF, let's move him back to 3rd" midseason. Of course he is going to be rusty. The flashes that I have seen over there late last season were encouraging. Will a full offseason and spring to hone his defense over there, Sano should be able to be an average defender at the hot corner. If Dozier goes, Polanco's D at 2nd with be very similar. As for shortstop, there was word that Danny Espinosa is a non-tender guy. Not sure I would want to give him what $5.1 or so he would be getting in arb but his defense is top notch and he can play all over the diamond. I would much rather have him as the SS/Util guy than Escobar. His BA and OBP fall short similar to Castro, but he did crank 24 booms last year. DFA Santana and try to get Espinosa either via trade($5.1 arb #) or wait for him to be non-tendered and see if you can get him on a one year + option contract for 3-4 mil per. as a stop gap until our young MI guys can make that leap. SS is the next position that needs to be address, IMO. The SP is not as bad as some on here think it is. We need to see if they can improve and develop in this new system first, then address what/who is working and who is not. With Castro now behind the dish, the nibblers we have (Gibson, Hughes, etc) will get more strikes called. Which in turn will give them more confidence allowing them to excel more frequently. We need to start with great defense and good pitching. Once that is address we can move forward with anything else.