I really think the Twins should go outside the organization for a big-time catcher.  If they could pry Lucroy away from the Brewers for a package that doesn't contain a Top 5 prospect, I'd do it. 

Catcher is the only spot where there isn't a clear solution this year or next. Extending Suzuki through 2016 guaranteed the Twins will have a deficit at that position. They needed to trade him last year for the best the market would return. 

Lucroy is a solution. The cost of acquisition is going to hurt. You don't get a catcher who was 4th in the MVP voting with 6.7 WAR the previous year without significant cost. They shouldn't expect to get him for a Walker or a Kepler. Don't waste time dreaming up deals where the Twins send several mid level prospects. It is going to take one player with very high upside and more. Lucroy is that good. 

What doesn't get mentioned by posters is that not only was Zuke an All Star last year, but he has the respect of the pitching staff and his teammates generally. He gets timely hits, and is a tough out. Catching is still a defensive position and good receivers are rare. I mean, look, Bob Boone was an allstar catcher for many years, and his batting average hovered around the Mendoza line a lot. There are only so many Mike Piazzas and Johnny Benches.

I'd like to see the Twins draft the best catcher available (BCA?) and that means they need to rely on Zuke through 2016 , and maybe Pinto for a year after that to prove he belongs in the show as a number 1.

Pinto needs to work on things defensively. That is why they put him in AAA where he will play a lot more than if he had a part time backup gig in Minnesota. Hermann is a fill in, like Butera, only without the defense. For now, I think the Twins are handling the position about as well as they can.

And I would be 100 percent against giving up our developing prospects to upgrade a position that is considered a defensive spot on most rosters.

I struggle to get behind the last comment as there's a lot of misconceptions there. Of course as a veteran Suzuki has the respect of his staff, but his numbers suggest that's the only reason why.

He's horrible at pitch framing, not a defensive asset, and his "timely" hitting has translated to an average not far off the the Mendoza line. This isn't to throw Suzuki under the bus, but point through the smoke to reality.

It was a good idea to resign Suzuki, it's not a good idea to keep Pinto in AAA with Herrmann in MLB. The two major league options right now provide next to no offense with very limited defensive abilities. While Pinto will never be a solid defensive catcher, he doesn't have to be and still should have plenty of value at the big league level

Maybe the best solution is one that will never happen, in the offseason move Joe Mauer back to catcher. I'm just sayin', we have one of the best catchers in baseball history and we have turned him into a mediocre first basement. Move Joe back home to catcher, give Sano a first baseman's glove, keep Plouffe at third and go win a world series. I know that health concerns moved Joe from behind the plate, but he's been healthy the last couple years and maybe we should consider a solution that solves a lot of issues. 

I'm not as down on the catching situation as others, and I get the sense the Twins are perfectly happy with it. Thus I've given up on the idea of seeing Pinto at all, barring significant injury to Herrmann or Suzuki, even though Pinto is the best hitter of that group.

I would like to see the Twins add a catcher, but I'd rather spend prospects to get Susac from the Giants.

Despite the points you bring up negatively, such as pitch framing, the crux if your article is Suzuki shouldn't hit 5th. He's no Harper. And I agree.

But as the starting catcher, calling a game, taking charge, making his pitchers feel comfortable, blocking the plate, I like Zuke and appreciate him and respect him. I think it's disingenuous to say the Twins pitchers respect him simply because he is a veteran. He had a well respected reputation long before he joined the Twins. Offensively, not being an easy out, stroking a few XB hits at the BOTTOM if the order is not so bad.

If Herrmann could ever hit as he has in the minors, I think he could be an asset, and people would climb off his back. I have to say, over the years, when I've watched games with him behind the plate, I've been impressed with the job he's done. I have a hard time calling for him to be replaced.

And yet, I still think Pinto belongs in the majors. In fact, he was hitting in the spring when he was farmed out, and never should have been sent out in my opinion. He should be up. He can be a real asset with the bat as a catcher and DH, possibly as a dangerous PH. But until someone gives him the chance...as they did to close out the 2013 season rather impressively...he's never going to do anything.