rdehring

The outfield depth we have been talking about is somewhat misleading. Yes, the Twins have lots of good young outfielders in the system. But in 2019 none were pushing for jobs with the Twins. When a couple starters went down, Buxton and Rosario/Kepler for short stints on the IL, none were available to help the Twins. So they ended up with Cave, Wade and various infielders playing in the outfield. Will any of this group be available, if needed, in 2020? I would hope so but not certain if injuries hit during spring training.

Not all 8 of these spots will be available for new additions to the 40-man. Unless the Twins decide to fill all 8 spots from the minor leagues, new players will be signed or traded for to fill at least half of these spots. But the key point I get from reading Seth's post is the large number of very good prospects running into the Rule 5 threat this coming November. Now will all or any be gone if left unprotected, no one knows. But it sure seems to me to be a bigger problem than I recall in recent years....which is good!

I don't think it is a given that Jeffers gets the promotion to the Twins before Rortvedt. But then I have been in his camp since he was drafted out of Verona H.S. He did get the promotion to AA before Jeffers last summer. The good news is that they have two catchers who both appear to be excellent prospects, one more so with the bat, the other the better defensive player. Having two young catchers almost ready to contribute is a blessing.

Did this exercise about a month ago, Seth. Only difference I had was Rortvedt on the Lock list and Colina on the Possible. None of us knows how any of these guys will play this summer. Some will do so well they scream lock and others will disappoint and move into the bubble category. But with so many prospects in the discussion, it appears mandatory that the FO does some serious wheeling and dealing between now and the trading deadline. Gotta move a handful of these guys who are on the 'maybe' list.

Can they wait? Yes. Should they wait? Yes. I am confident that one of the four young guns will pitch as well or better than the worst of Berrios, Pineda and Odorizzi. Don't know which it will be, just that one will grasp the opportunity and run with it. Let's remember that all four had some success last summer/fall, odds are one should be very good this spring. The biggest problem the Twins may have when Hill returns is finding a spot to put him in.

Agree with Seth and others that the Twins don't need another starter at this time. Am confident that two of the four young guns mentioned will be fine until Pineda gets back in mid-May. Then they will only need one of the four until Hill is back, if he does return as the pitcher everyone expects. After Hill's return, all four will return to Rochester and be available for the shuttle when/if another starter/long reliever is needed. As for which two of the four break camp with the Twins, not a clue. Could be any of the four, however, am confident at least one will make it very difficult for the Twins to send him down when/if Hill returns. With that said, I wouldn't be surprised if the Twins complete another trade similar to the Odorizzi trade. Send one or two prospects who aren't in the top 10 or 15 for a youngish starter with some upside. Probably one who no one has been talking about going out and getting. But will he be better than the best of Thorpe, Dobnak, Smeltzer or Graterol?

Does that mean that Arraez' play in left field was 0? That's tough to believe after seeing the mistakes he made the first half dozen games or so out there.

Is Arraez' -6 his overall defensive rating? Or just at second base? Considering he was a rookie who played all over the place, including the outfield where he had almost zero experience, I would expect he would be better if he can focus on second base only.

I want to see him as a part of the Minnesota Twins I follow for a long time. That starts by getting him inked to a nice extension. Doesn't have to be this winter, but sure would be nice.

Is stealing signs the old fashioned way, ie, a runner on second signals the hitter, legal? I would think it should be. But doing it with video/technology must be eliminated from the game. This type of severe penalty should be a big step towards doing that. Not only will the loss of two top draft picks hurt the Astros, but will help every other team as two players who would have been gone when they pick in every round after the second will now be available.

In that I no longer follow all this like I used to, Nick, I don't understand all the concern with the Twins as you say, just accepting Berrios' $4.4mm number and calling it a day. That isn't how it works, is it? I may be wrong, but I suspect there were discussions between both sides for either an extension or a one year deal. That wasn't finalized, so they both put their numbers in to the league sometime Friday afternoon...that's when they would have submitted, right? So the Twins wouldn't have learned what Berrios number was until after their submission, correct? Assuming they have an interest in a long term extension, it doesn't make sense to call his agent later Friday evening to accept the $4.4mm. They have the better part of the month to do that and are able to do so at any time. I guess I don't see the fire everyone seems to be concerned with. I view it more like the pilot light that is always burning.

Thanks for the upbeat beginning to my morning, Matt. The most encouraging points to me are speculating what a full year of Buxton could mean to the Twins. Now lets get his (and Berrios') extensions signed before opening day. I expect that Arraez will be better defensively at second base knowing that is where he will be every day, rather than playing all over the field last year. And speaking about football. Russell Wilson sure gave my Pack a scare in the second half last night. Damn, he is impossible to contain. Now we get our chance to play the 49ers. Expect the results won't be that different from what you Viking fans saw Saturday...but we can hope for a pleasant surprise, can't we?

I don't understand all the teeth mashing over what the Twins offerred Berrios. Is it not true that both their offer and the player's request are done without knowing the other sides number? If true, the fact that the Twins $4.025mm and Berrios $4.4mm are so close means that both sides were looking at the situation thru similar glasses. There is a process and both are following it. Seeing they are so very close there is almost no likliehood they will actually go to arbitration. Everyone just needs to chill untill they play out the process of exploring a long-term extension and/or settle on a number for next year that is somewhere between the two numbers we see today. As for the 2020 opening day payroll, it will be higher. Someone will be added for the infield at a salary higher than Wade's $0.6mm. Also, the article I read in the Strib that talked about Sano's contract being front loaded with a signing bonus also stated it contained significant incentives (significant is my word as I don't remember the exact words used, however, that's the feeling I got from reading it).

As I read all these comments, something is becomming clear...at least to me. There are two underlying beliefs that Twins fans, and TD reader/commenters, have about success. One camp believes that the ultimate goal is to win a World Series. Although I don't want to speak for anyone else, it appears to me they would go all in to attempt to make that happen. All in sounds to me that they would trade a substantial portion of the organization's top prospects. If not breaking the bank, they would certainly push the budget well beyond recent limits to sign a couple 'impact' players. Whether or not that would affect future extensions for current young players, to heck with it if a World Series is within reach. Others, including myself, believe that long-term success is important for both fans and the health of the franchise. Personally, I get a ton of happiness out of all those days over the long season when the Twins win. Heck, I enjoy most of the games they lose, assuming the game was competitive and exciting. To me, six months of feeling good about my team outweighs the week of total disappointment from going three and out in round one of the playoffs. [Don't misunderstand what I am saying, I would love my Twins to win the World Series...just not at any cost] I think that is one of the major differences we have. I'll take a season long high, others want that high AND the ultimate prize. The good news is that pitchers and catchers report in 31 days when we will again have some real baseball to talk about.

No, No and heck no! See a lot of conversation about Sano's defense. Let's acknowledge one fact from 2019, he didn't have a spring training and was back on the field in May following a brief minor league rehab assignment following his injury. Don't know what effect that had on his defense, however, gotta believe it had some. With that said, I don't see him as being a good defensive third baseman. Just that he may be better, or not as bad, as we saw last summer.

Of all the guys looking at a possible extension, Sano was the last I expected to see. Always was the talk that he wanted to play in the bright lights, so I expected he wanted to move on when free agency arrived. Yet, when I see him in the dugout with the guys he came up with, Buxton, Rosario, Polanco, Kepler, I see a kid loving what he is doing and who he is doing it with. Which was real? This seems to indicate all the talk about the bright lights may have been just that, talk. Don't see any problem with Berrios as the two sides are merely going thru the process. Would love to see him inked to an extension, along with Trevor May. Appears the contract is front loaded with $10mm paid the first year between salary and a signing bonus (per Roster Resource & Strib). If so, great move by the Twins.

Thank you for writing what I have felt for some time.

Thanks for a very interesting series, Nick, I enjoyed it. Would agree with those who put Balazovic ahead of Graterol, based in part on Graterol's injury history and part on the unknown of whether or not he will end up in the bullpen. But who can't love the potential Graterol brings with that easy 100mph heater. Maybe the best description of Berrios would be ACE Light. One more step this year and maybe, just maybe, he can become that legit ACE the Twins are searching for. Agree that now is the time to get him locked up for the next five years. Maybe doubling that $4.5mm estimate in 2020 will get his attention and get it done. Not only did the two extensions drive your decision of the top duo, but they sure as heck earned it on the field in 2019. Although I agree that it would be nice to have a shortstop who plays D better than Polanco, I take exception with the above comment that his D sucks. Thanks again, Nick. Will be interesting to see the changes you have in 2021.

Cannot agree more with your last comment about Buxton. For that reason, I am hopeful that the Twins work out a nice extension with him before opening day. Putting the issues of September 2018 behind him together with long term security may be a factor in his changing how he plays the game to becoming a safer Byron Buxton in the field. He is a potential MVP.

I keep asking what his ceiling really is? If he can boost his average and OBP a bit, retain his power and stay healthy for the next ten years, will he get consideration for the HOF? That's what I see him becoming, one of the best players in the game.

Furthermore, before you jump all over my butt, please read what I said...."Is that true?" Maybe a more appropriate response would have been to confirm that it hasn't been finalized, rather than the tone of what you did respond. Personally, I get tired of all the experts here that jump all over everyone whenever someone doesn't agree with them.

Why, I read it right here on Twins Daily, in one of the many threads dealing with Donaldson. Just can't remember which it was and really don't care to go back and spend an hour looking for it.

I read somewhere late last night that the Twins offerred Donaldson 4/110 and he signed with Atlanta for 4/105. Is that true? If it is, there are a lot of comments over these 7 pages that should be retracted as the Twins did exactly what many were screaming for and the player still went elsewhere.

Interesting. Understand your explanation of Rogers' drop to 12 and don't disagree with it. On the other hand he sure seems like a top 10 guy to me, no matter what the formula is in determining who goes where. Of course I would also have Rosario in my top 10, regardless of his warts and length of control.

I see three others who have yet to be mentioned. First are the two catchers, either of whom could contribute in 2020 should two of the Twins top three catchers get injured. Would normally say we would see one of Jeffers or Rortvedt in September, but with the rule changes that isn't likely unless there are some injuries. The other pitcher no one mentioned is Ober. He was unbelievable, when healthy.