rdehring

Fortunately, I have been able to edit/remove my comment that was posted after reading the above.

You nailed many of my thoughts. Thanks.

Just another example of the Twins being cheap, eh? Thanks for bringing this news to us, Seth. As for a minor league season? Have a feeling the Twins are going to have a couple or even three teams playing. See them putting together groups of 30-40 players who will get together in Ft. Myers for a spring training type situation for four to six weeks. Probably break them into groups with one being AA-AAA, a second A and a third the kids who would be at rookie league. May play games against themselves, or against the Red Sox down the street if they have anyone there. And who knows, maybe the AAA squad will go a bit longer and play some or all of their games at Target Field.

Although I agree that some of the decisions Mr. Manfred has made in the past aren't what I would have liked, your reference to him as "crooked" is uncalled for. Then you double down by referring to the owner's as the "sleaziest men" in the world. I am surprised that the moderator's haven't removed your comments.

Correct me if I am wrong, Cody, but isn't Mauer the only catcher to ever win a batting title? Or was there one other back whenever in the National League? If he had one batting title as a catcher while doing well the rest of the time, I would say no. But he was a great hitter for a very long time with three titles. That puts him into the Hall, at least for me.

All, or most, of these prospects should be available when the Twins are on the clock at #27. With the strength of this draft being college pitching and pitching always desirable for the Twins, I am hopeful the Twins snag a very good college pitcher #1. Unfortunately, I see only one college pitcher in this group of ten. With that said, I don't see a single player in this group I would be excited to see the Twins draft #1. So here's hoping that a lot of your next group (21-30) are both college pitchers and available when the Twins are on the clock.

Actually, Mike, people with contracts don't always get their money. Almost all employment contracts have language in them under what conditions the employee doesn't get all or any of his/her compensation. There would be lots of reasons ranging from malfeasance to fraud to conduct unbecoming to acts of God and probably global pandemics. I expect it is that language that is enabling the teams to withhold salaries if games aren't played. Now the owner's have said to the players, we will try to get in a half season if you are agreeable to certain changes in your compensation because fans won't be allowed to attend games. If they can come to an agreement that is acceptable to both parties, we will have baseball. If they can't, we won't have baseball...at least major league baseball. I expect the owners have discussed how much they will lose with no baseball and aren't willing to go beyond, or much beyond that number to resume play. It is reasonable, in my opinion, for the owner's to take this position as it is reasonable for the players to negotiate to get the largest share of their salaries as they can.

Agree with much of what you say Raoul. But wanted to comment on your sous chef example. My son is with a major restaurant company where every employee in the company is sharing in the pain, taking cuts of roughly 20%...or higher at senior management. Everyone was furloughed for over two months, even though many continued working while not paid. They are just now starting to get some of the central office people back with restaurant re-openings approaching 50% of their locations.

I guess we know your position as far as the owner's are concerned, Ted. The reason I say this is because of your promotion of the idea that the owner's are going back on their earlier deal. Have read in too many places from reliable sources that there was language in that deal for further discussions should the games be played without fans in attendance. As for the offer? Does anyone think the owner's original offer was their best offer? Or even anything close to what they eventually hoped to get? If it was, their negotiator should be fired. The important take from it is that they didn't include revenue sharing which would have been a non starter for the players. As for this format, makes a ton of sense to me. Have been thinking for some time that there should be some type of sliding scale with all players making the pro-rated minimum with some percentage of their contract's salary above that. Looks like that may be the case after they negotiate the actual percentages. Also wouldn't surprise me that at some point the $170,000,000 players already received is no longer included in their compensation when games begin. Companies all over America are doing this exact thing with management and all employees taking substantial cuts of 15%, 20% or greater.

Is it realistic to expect that one of these ten will be available when we make our second round pick? It's around #57, isn't it? My wish would be one of the two college lefties.

Our answers will be somewhat dependent, Seth, on knowing which baseball they will be playing with. 1: I suspect Garver's numbers will be down a bit from 2019, but still amongst the best for catchers in MLB. 2: Garver will catch 45 games. 3: Expect Sano will not be as good defensively as we like, but better than we fear. 4. Luis Arraez will avoid a sophomore slump with an average over .330 and OBP very near .400. 5: Polanco's performance at the plate will be similar to 2019. Does that mean he is an all-star? As you have stated the competition is stiff, so probably not. 6: Not only can Rosario take another step, he will. Gonna force the Twins to make a real hard decision next winter...whatever that decision is. 7: Not only can Buxton remain healthy, I pray he will as the Twins are so much better when he is healthy and on the field. 8: I have long believed that Kepler will continue to get better and when it is all over will be considered for the HOF. The next step in 2020 is to improve his average while maintaining the power he found in 2019. I question, however, how the lack of a normal spring and full year will effect his and all players progress. 9: Yes, I see Cruz as continuing to be very, very good. Will that be a small step down from 2019, probably. But definitely good enough to merit a one year extension come December. 10: Yes, but it seems impossible to continue with the lofty numbers he had while in the visitor's dugout. Thanks for getting us back to thinking about playing on the field. Stay safe, Seth.

I am more than anxious to know how any player development is going to happen this year. It appears there is a strong chance MLB will resume at some point. But it also appears there will not be any minor league seasons. A select few may make progress with the taxi squads. But what about all the rest? And what happens to so many of these prospects if they have an entire year off with training limited to their back yards? Hopefully, there is a future ACE somewhere in the Twins system. Heck, hopefully there are two. And by that I mean real ACE, not just a team's #1 starter many of whom aren't ACES. Will it be any of the three you mentioned? Maybe? But probably not. If I had to pick one pitcher, like many I would pick Balazovic.

Will we have an announcement tonight or in the morning, answering these questions and telling us they are putting the finishing touches on a deal and an announcement is imminent? Or do we have to wait another day?

Will be interesting to see how many players will be on the 'taxi' squad and what they will be doing, presumably in Fort Myers. Could they scrimmage the Red Sox? I don't see Lewis Thorpe not being on an expanded roster. As to who he replaces, I see either Chacin or Wisler. Agree with Seth that the top prospects, Kirilloff, Larnach, Lewis and Balazovic will/should be on the Taxi squad. Also see Kirilloff as the player activated should Sano get banged up, which is likely to happen sometime during an 82-game season. And speaking of baseball, isn't it interesting that other than the 67-page document of do's and don'ts, we have heard nothing about the negotiations. I assume they are ongoing and the fact there have been no leaks can only be good. Hopefully, we will soon hear that they have reached an agreement and it is going to a vote. If they are going to open spring training by June 10, they have to get it settled by the end of May which is ten days from today.

Was a bit disappointed that we have only four picks this year, although those two moves sure were big for the Twins in 2020 and beyond. Yet, see from this report that we have picks in the same rounds as 2018, only a few spots lower. Early indications are that three of the four picked in 2018 might become very good big league players. I will be elated if we draft as well in 2020 as we did two years earlier.

Boy do I hear you Twodogs. Remember watching Restovich when he was playing Legion ball while still in high school. He was a man playing with boys. But yes, so many prospects turn into suspects. On the other hand, I view both Larnach and Kirilloff as better prospects than either Buck or Restovich. Would think that their floor is what those two did with a strong likelihood of being better. Hopefully, there will be baseball later this summer and Kirilloff is part of that expanded roster and gets a chance to prove he is for real. That will give the Twins more options come winter. As for Arraez, he is much different than Danny Santana. With his batting eye and patience, I really don't ever see him hitting much under .300 with a lot of walks driving that OBP very high.

Is the biggest loser in all this going to be those farmers and companies who grow and distribute seeds? When looking at all of baseball, amateur, high school, college, minor league and the majors, what percentage of seeds eventually end up in a dugout?

Great way to look at Eddie, diehard. He is the only player who when he steps to the plate in a big situation, I am chanting Eddie, Eddie, Eddie to my tv. No other player excites me as he does. With that said, I believe Kepler is the Twins best player and Buxton could be. Yes, injuries are part of the game. But he plays so often when injured and would be better suited sitting on the bench or on the DL. So his injuries must be factored when discussing his results...and so few do that. Will agree that his future in Minnesota is unknown. Personally, wouldn't be surprised if Kirilloff or Larnach ends up being a better all around player. Matter of fact, will be disappointed if one of the two doesn't. But as much as I am thrilled about what they can become, I know they will not excite me like Eddie does!

Interesting statement: "and players again stand to make less than they deserve." Doesn't the market determine what they are worth and what they deserve? Personally, I see it as well past time that older players with questionable expectations are getting less dollars and less years. Sure makes sense to me that teams are more hesitant to sign some of these big names to shorter contracts for less money. I know lots of people here have talked a lot the past few winters about how poorly some big named players did after signing big, but not as big as hoped, contracts. Hopefully, the trade-off will be more dollars to the really good younger players early in their careers and maybe a few more dollars for the top prospects after they are added to the 40-man and still in the minors.

Over, under, over, under, over. Now lets hope we have a chance to find out!

I don't know if the intent was Eddie bashing, diehard. But I do know that he played through significant injuries the last two years, yet, when Matt failed to mention this while stressing his second half results how else can we read it? Interesting question, Matt. Fact is as pointed out above he is who he is. Personally, he has been a favorite of mine since I closely followed his battle with Sano for the Appy League home run title however many years ago. With that said, he likely would become even better if he could accomplish what you suggest. I pray that we will have the opportunity to see Eddie play in the not distant future. As for 2021 and beyond, with all the young talent so close I don't have a clue how management will maximize the return to the Twins, but it is a nice problem to have.

Lots of reasons to play in the home parks with several mentioned above. I expect travel, both time and cost, is a factor that both management and the players should like. Some of the other reasons why all the teams going to Florida/Arizona don't work is weather. Teams aren't going to want to be playing outdoors in Arizona in the summer. And look at the problems the Miracle (I refuse to use that new name) have in July/August with rainouts. If you are dealing with a tight schedule, can't have a couple rainouts every week in late summer. Plus, doesn't the plan include having the 20-man taxi squad playing/working out at their spring training sites? Add the fact that a lot of the vets already have homes in the home market and it does make sense.

Interesting article, thanks.

Absolutely love how you equate Seth's team of the decade to the HOF.

For much of the decade, Seth, that bullpen was about as good as it gets. Put Santana and Radke at the start of the rotation for a good part of the decade and you have the formula for a team to win a World Series. Kind of a shame they never got it. Lots of rocks have been tossed at the previous FO, but sure looks to me that they put the talent on the field to win it all.