2013 Roster (not in any particular order):

Bullpen:

1. Burton
   
2. Perkins
   
3. Duensing
   
4. Swarzak
   
5. Guerra
   
6. Slama
   
7. Burnett
   

Starting Pitching:

1. Scott Diamond
   
2. Hendriks
   
3. Blackburn
   
4. P.J. Walters (?)/ FA Pitcher
   
5. FA Pitcher
   

Starting Lineup:

1. Span
   
2. Revere
   
3. Mauer
   
4. Morneau
   
5. Willingham
   
6. Doumit
   
7. Plouffe
   
8. Dozier
   
9. Carroll
   

Bench:

1. Wilkin Ramirez
   
2. Butera
   
3. Mastroianni
   
4. Parmelee
   

Valencia could be in this lineup if he figures things out on offense and defense. I am assuming that the Twins trade Liriano and Pavano if they can get their trade values up enough. However, it is unlikely that the Twins will be able to get Pavano's value up enough to get anything for him when he returns from his injury, and they might just keep him through the season and then let him go. I am assuming that the Twins finally realize that they have gold in the minors in the form of Slama and Guerra, which means they could also trade a few relievers for a couple of prospects. The Twins could also give Carroll a permanent position if they trade Span, move Revere from RF to CF, put Plouffe in RF, and put Carroll in 3B.

If that's the roster it means they don't want to sell tickets. It would be one FA pitcher upgrade over what we have now and depending on the FA that's not going to make much of a difference. If the fan base sees a poor team this year and there is not much of an upgrade common sense tells me that fans will see no reason to keep going. Every team must provide some sort of hope at the beginning of the year for the fan base to gather around, that's just basic sports business.

Recently, the Twins have been showing more of the team that most people were expecting; a below-.500 team, but one that is still competitive and one that will win when they have good starting pitching. If the Twins had had better starting pitching at the beginning of the year, they probably would be a serious contender in this seriously weak AL Central (and technically, they are still in the race considering they are only 8.5 out with about half the season to go). Now, with the emergence of Scott Diamond and the number of good SP on the FA market this coming offseason, the Twins could have a solid contender next year, one that could go toe to toe with the Tigers.

You have to expect diamond and Walters to come back down to earth, even if just a little bit. but diamond(much less anyone) can't be expected to keep up the rediculous stats that he's posted. Walters may be a good find but he's just not as good as he's showed, he will definately settle into more of a back of the rotation type. I want to believe in these guys but in reality the rotation you posted is a bunch of #4 starters and the only FA pitches that are above a #3 are gonna be way too expensive for us and we don't usually roll like that. You can put a tux on poo but it's still poo. You can't expect a fan base to buy into that rotation.

*pitchers not pitches

Here is the thing: This is too similar to 2012. And they are on pace to lose 96 games. How many more games would that roster (i.e. the 2 FA SPs win?) 30? Because that is the magic number to be competitive.

The team has 8 signed players, 2 players with options, 4 arbitration eligible players & 3 free agents. Barring any trades this season, declining the 2 options (Baker & Capps), and offering arbitration to the 4 eligibles, they have 12 players at roughly $83M. If they fill with pre-arb players from the system, they are sitting at roughly $92.5M. The point of this is that payroll needs to go up or we watch Losing v.3.0, only without Pavano, Capps, Doumit, & Liriano

In my blog I have Gibson in the rotation which he will be. I also had us signing dempster and bedard. They are players that will be cheap enough and will sign 2-3 year deals. With those three along with diamond and Hendriks with Walters next in will be a major difference to the start of the season.

When you take liriano Pavano baker and marquis contracts off the books that will be enough to extend diamond Walters and Hendriks while also paying for one of the FA starters and a chunk of the others. They will be able to afford it.

I also mentioned in mine that they won't really sign any bats because they have enough where they feel like they can compete. I believe we can with what we got for bats.

Another thing to keep in mind was how difficult the schedule was to start the year. If the twins keep winning series they will be contenders for the division and at the trade deadline they could get dempster which would make it easier to sign him next season.

Why would a 31 year old catcher want to play for a rebuilding team? I think the Twins market Doumit and they trade him at the deadline. I doubt he will be back if he is any kind of productive and stays healthy. Liriano and Pavano are both free agents--unless they sign for dirt, they aren't returning to the Twins. Liriano, with a couple more good starts, just might have some trade value. If so, pull the trigger TR!

I think Span is a goner as well. Both he and Capps should be able to bring back talent that can contribute in 2013.

Unless Slama is added to the 40-man this year (which may happen) he will leave after this season. He can become a minor league FA after this season and I think that he will leave to go to a team that will actually give him an opportunity to pitch in the majors.

Capps and Doumit are almost certainly traded at the deadline.

Hopefully Pavano and Liriano can be too (but they might both just be not signed instead).

I hope Jared Burton has a market at the deadline too. Not sure if he will, but the Twins getting something back for him would be nice.

We'll see about trading Valencia for something as well.

I think Diamond will stick at the back end. And Gibson is on pace to pitch this season yet, so there is no reason that at least by June next year, he isn't in the rotation. Maybe Walters fills in during that time. A Dempster-Hendriks-Diamond-Gibson-Bromberg rotation might be what we are looking at by this time next year. A Bedard addition would be nice in there.

Hopefully the madness around Slama will stop and he is inserted AS SOON AS HE IS OFF THE DL this year. I would prefer a bullpen of Manship-Burnett (though he could be optioned next year if he isn't this year)-Duensing-Guerra-Slama-Perkins-Oliveros (get the walks down!).

Chris Herrmann and Pedro Florimon might be up as well.