DocBauer has started a thread similar to what I intend to write. In my case, I'm going to provide my opinion as well as naming issues, so I decided to make a blog entry. There are a lot of issues, but many of those issues are not about weakness, but strength. That is an interesting situation to be in for the Twins, since they have lost more than 90 games in each of the last four seasons.

I'll start with the pitching staff. The Twins possess seven starters, none of whom is a #1, but all who are capable, or so it appears. Hughes, Santana, and Nolasco have contracts that run through at least 2018. Gibson and May are not yet eligible for arbitration and won't be after this season. Milone is eligible for arbitration, but would be under team control for this year and three more years, and Pelfrey will be a free agent after this year. Things can change, but currently that is two too many starters. There are prospects getting close, as well. It is possible the Twins may trade one of their pitchers. The TD community prefers the (so far) overpaid Nolasco, but with that contract, it is unlikely that they'll find a taker unless they get a bad contract in return. If I'm the GM, I keep my cards close to the vest, but Milone and Pelfrey have to be available. I'm thinking of a deadline trade that is most difficult to make, one that can help both teams this year and beyond.

The bullpen is weak. Their ERA is 12th in the 15-team American League, and their peripherals are even worse. Much of the blame has fallen on veterans Brian Duensing and Tim Stauffer (Stauffer was just DFAed), but even their effective bullpen arms allow too many hits and strike out too few. The problem with left handed relievers, outside of closer Glen Perkins, is especially grim. Left handers Caleb Thielbar, Duensing, and Aaron Thompson have allowed far too many base runners, 48 hits and 20 walks in 44.2 innings, with most of the good work coming in April from Thompson. I think one of the lefties will be switched out for Thielbar soon, but another left handed reliever is needed and probably gets acquired from outside the organization. Right handed relief has been better, and there are more options. Blaine Boyer has been a surprise, Casey Fien has been fine, when healthy, and Pressly, Tonkin, and Graham have all had their moments. I think a true power arm for the late innings combined with a solid lefty would transform the bullpen. Many relievers become available for less than monumental returns at the trading deadline. I would hope the Twins could acquire a couple of arms for prospects lower than the top 30 prospects.