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My 2015 Twins Off-Season Blueprint

Cody Christie

Entry posted by Cody Christie ·

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blog-0033917001416231474.jpgThere are plenty of ways to go about trying to fix the Twins team but some patience might be required as the club waits for some younger pieces to work their way through the minor leagues. The Twins Daily crew put out some solid information in the 2015 Offseason Handbook. One of the best parts to read about this document is the blueprint plans put together by the writers.

 

There are plenty of options for the Twins but here is how I would go about trying to fix the team. Some of these ideas will happen and some won't but that's what makes this fun.

 

Starting Line-Up

C- Kurt Suzuki- $6 million

1B- Joe Mauer- $23 million

2B- Brian Dozier- $1 million

3B- Trevor Plouffe- $5 million

SS- Danny Santana- $0.5 million

LF- Colby Rasmus- $12 million

CF- Aaron Hicks- $0.5 million

RF- Oswaldo Arcia- $0.5 million

DH- Kennys Vargas- $0.5 million

 

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$49.0 million committed to nine hitters

 

Breakdown: Colby Rasmus is the only free agent acquisition that I have the Twins adding this off-season. He's young at only 28-years old and he could regain some value by signing a one-year, $12 million deal. This would set him up to hit the free agent market again before his age 29 season. The Twins could use him in a corner outfield spot and have him be a center field fill-in. Aaron Hicks earns the Opening Day starting job for the third straight season. Hopefully Paul Molitor can get Hicks back on the right track to being an everyday player in Minnesota. If things go right, Miguel Sano could be up by the middle of the season but this could be a line-up that scores a decent amount of runs after finishing fifth in the AL in runs scored a year ago.

 

Bench

C- Josmil Pinto- $0.5 million

IF- Eduardo Escobar- $2.0 million

1B/OF- Chris Colabello- $0.5 million

OF-Jordan Schafer- $1.5 million

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$4.5 million committed to four bench positions

 

Breakdown: Eduardo Escobar proved to be a very valuable asset but I believe his long-term role with the club will be as more of a utility infielder. Jordan Schafer will complement the other outfielders nicely. Josmil Pinto will get some opportunities to catch especially with how much Kurt Suzuki got beat-up last season. Chris Colabello will get one more opportunity to stick on the big league roster but he will be one of the last men to make the 25-man squad.

 

Starting Pitching

1. Phil Hughes- $8 million

2. Ricky Nolasco- $12 million

3. Kyle Gibson- $0.5 million

4. Alex Meyer- $0.5 million

5. Justin Masterson- $10 million

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$31.0 million committed to starting rotation

 

Breakdown: The top three spots in the rotation are likely locked into place. These leaves the fourth and fifth spots in the rotation up for grabs. I think the Twins will actually go with Trevor May in the number four spot but I would much rather throw Alex Meyer out there every fifth day. This would also give May the opportunity to pitch out of the bullpen which I think will be his eventual resting spot. Minnesota is going to spend some money on a free agent starter and I think Justin Masterson is the right guy. He's coming off a tough year but he could bounce back nicely in the friendly confines of Target Field. Fingers are crossed that he could be this year's version of Phil Hughes and a one-year, $10 million contract is easy enough to swallow for a team with some wiggle room.

 

Bullpen

Righties: Casey Fien, Michael Tonkin, Trevor May, Mike Pelfrey- $8 million

Lefties: Caleb Thielbar, Tommy Milone- $4 million

Closer: Glen Perkins- $4 million

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$16 million committed to seven relievers

 

Breakdown: This is quite a conglomeration of players. I hate having Mike Pelfrey on this team coming out of spring training but the Twins are going to eat his salary at the beginning of the year even if that's what I would do. As I said in the starting pitcher section, May gets moved to the bullpen where he can continue to develop and the Twins can use him in a variety of roles. I don't think the Twins are ready to let Tommy Milone loose after acquiring him at the end of last season. He will get arbitration as a Super 2 player and his salary will be around $3.5 million. Two names you will likely see gone from this list are Brian Duensing and Anthony Swarzak. Duensing is getting too expensive for what his role is with the team and Swarzak gets pushed out by the likes of Milone and Pelfrey.

 

Minnesota Twins 2015 Checkbook

Starting Line-Up: $49.0 million

Bench Players: $4.5 million

Starting Pitching: $31.0 million

Bullpen: $16 million

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$100.5 million committed to Opening Day 25-man roster

 

 

What are your thoughts on this roster? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

 

For more from Cody Christie make sure to follow him on Twitter @NoDakTwinsFan and to read his other work at http://www.NoDakTwinsFan.com

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beckmt

Do not need either Masterson or Rasmus.  Masterson just blocks pitchers the Twins need to have here and Rasmus to a lessor degree blocks outfielders.  Would rather see a Dozier for Matt Kemp trade and give Escobar the second base job with Santana the backup until Sano arrives after which Plouffe would be the backup or traded this year.  Would like to see Burdi in the bullpen and a lefty reliever signed in the offseason.  Do not need 2-3 long men so guess one of the losers in starting rotation jobs will be cut.

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Brandon
  On 11/17/2014 at 10:22 PM, beckmt said:

Do not need either Masterson or Rasmus.  Masterson just blocks pitchers the Twins need to have here and Rasmus to a lessor degree blocks outfielders.  Would rather see a Dozier for Matt Kemp trade and give Escobar the second base job with Santana the backup until Sano arrives after which Plouffe would be the backup or traded this year.  Would like to see Burdi in the bullpen and a lefty reliever signed in the offseason.  Do not need 2-3 long men so guess one of the losers in starting rotation jobs will be cut.

We would never trade Dozier for Kemp.  the money doesn't match up and that is important. 

 

I agree that your thinking is in line with the Twins.  that are interchangeable (Parmelee and Colabello) (Masterson and a number of other options in the pay range) (Rasmus or Hunter or Rios)

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beckmt

Money was not the big deal here,  opening a spot in a better position and solving the outfield issue in one shot.  Dozier will be expensive in 2-3 years and you will get less for him.  Meant to have Santana as the shortstop and Nunez and the backup until Sano arrives. Blocking pitchers with #3 - 5 starters just makes no sense at this time. 

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Molitor4manager

If you offer Dozier for Kemp you ask the Dodgers to foot the bill for a chunk of his salary.  It could work as you could move Kemp to a corner OF position once Buxton arrives.  Also, if you trade Dozier, you better be ready to welcome Rosario to the lineup at 2B.

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beckmt

Would be putting Escobar at 2nd, Santana at short and Nunez as the backup until Sano arrives.  Could be another player rather than Nunez, but this would improve both the offense and the Defense until Buxton arrives in 2016.  Doubt the Dodgers would eat a large amount of Kemp's salary, but some is possible.  Remember 3 years ago Kemp was the 8th ranked player in baseball and he is either about 30 or under 30 at this time.

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Rosterman

I would give Parmelee a second run rather than Colabello, just for the age factor and Parmelee CAN play the outfield. I would sign another catcher and have Pinto start at Rochester - and I mean start behind-the-plate. He's either going to be a catcher or needs to build some sort of trade value as possibly being one.

 

Yes, the Twins CAN sign a left fielder AND a pitcher. I would vote for May in the bullpen. I would vote for Pelfrey to start the season on the dl, unless he is light's out. Milone will show if he can pitch in spring training, otherwise send him down to Rochester and put anyone, even Wheeler, in there.

 

If nothing else, shows a lot of bodies just hanging around the roster taking up space, from Darnell to Thompson to Duensing and Swarzak, not to mention Colabello. The Twins have to decide what to do with Kepler, as he CAN BE a prospect trade chip and will have already used two of his option years by the end of the season with no call-up in sight. And Hicks HAS to play, somewhere, somehow. He is in his third year and we don't need to have to play the arbitration game. He needs to produce. I wish there was a good alternative to centerfield (okay, we move Santana there, have Escobar at short, and instead of Nunez let Bernier, Beresford, Hanson or someone, anyone, be the backup guy for chump change).

 

Again, your roster shows that the Twins are going into the New Year with a lot of deadwood on the current roster, and looking to add only two names not on the 40-man.

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