Article: Let's Just Roll With What We Have

[RealTwinsFan357]

It may mean a bunch of losses in 2015, but the Twins need to use their next season to evaluate what they have. Next off-season, they can look at the trade and free agent market and search for a way to supplement their 25-man roster, but for now, they need to commit to the youth movement. I'll take a look at the players who deserve an extended look in each area of the Twins roster.Starting Rotation: Obviously, Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco are not going anywhere. I think Kyle Gibson is a breakout candidate and could prove to be something special. On top of those three, I would choose Trevor May and Alex Meyer to fill out my rotation. If the Twins are ever going to compete, they need to know if either of those pitchers will ever become a front-of-the-rotation arm.

 

This doesn't leave room for a free-agent acquisition. I agree the Twins would probably win an additional handful of games if they signed Justin Masterson to a 1-year deal, but then either May or Meyer ends up in AAA. That's not how a youth movement is supposed to go. The Twins will still have Tommy Milone and Logan Darnell who could fill in if injury arises. If Meyer doesn't have what it takes to succeed, I'd rather know that after a poor 2015 than part way into 2016.

 

Bullpen: The bullpen needs to have some turn-over this year. I would have no problem with the Twins trading/non-tendering Anthony Swarzak and Brian Duensing and I believe Jared Burton will be gone once the Twins buy out his contract. I would formulate a bullpen with Glen Perkins, Casey Fien, Logan Darnell, Ryan Pressly, Stephen Pryor, Mike Pelfrey, Michael Tonkin and Casey Theilbar. I would also make sure A.J. Achter and Lester Oliveros get an extended look at some point.

 

This will not be the best bullpen in baseball, but Jake Reed, Nick Burdi, and Zack Jones will be here by season's end. Even if they don't all pan out, I expect at least two of them to show immediate success. The Twins would then need to know who stays and who goes amongst the others. 2015 is the year to figure that out.

 

Infield: Danny Santana needs to be the shortstop. If that's actually going to be his position, the Twins need to see how he handles it full time. Brian Dozier and Trevor Plouffe could end up becoming two of Minnesota's best trade candidates, especially if MIguel Sano and Jorge Polanco both show major league success toward the end of 2015.

 

Of course, Joe Mauer isn't going anywhere and Kennys Vargas will get the majority of DH at bats. This year is also Josmil Pinto's change to show whether he can be the catcher of the future; I think we'll know by season's end. There are not as many questions about the infield as other aspects of the team.

 

Outfield: I don't understand the idea that the Twins should trade Oswaldo Arcia. I agree he isn't the best outfielder in the world, but I would argue he's the only outfielder that isn't a total question mark going into 2015. Center field and left field are sort of a mess, so why trade Arcia and make right field a mess, too?

 

For center and left, I think the Twins can patch together enough success to survive 2015. Jordan Schafer should be retained for another season, as he plays pretty good defense and runs well. Other than that, I would give Aaron Hicks, Eddie Rosario, Danny Ortiz, and eventually Byron Buxton opportunities this year. I could even see Rosario being the Twins opening day center fielder this season. If Hicks, Rosario, and Ortiz fail and Buxton isn't ready, the Twins can ride with Chris Parmelee in left field until someone hits the waver wire without it being the end of the world.

 

Overall, 2015 might be a struggle, like Terry Ryan suggested, but it could help the team in the long run to just play the group they already have. Once the Twins know what they have in their top prospects, they will be in a better position to pursue talent on the free agent and trade markets to supplement what they already have.

 

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[REPETE]

Agree!  This is yet another reason I was happy to see Gardy go, as this should've been happening 2014 (and probably 2013).  Instead, we end up with another 90+ losses, and still don't know exactly what we have.  Everyone agrees Buxton is the CF for the future, but Gardy insists on playing Santana out there, instead of finding out if we have our SS of the future, too.  I'm interested to see what the young guys can do, especially under a new manager, but once again, it's a year longer to wait.   

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

Totally agree.  Yes, should have been done last year too.  Buying free agents blocks Meyer and May and potentially others.  Play Parmalee and Hicks a bunch in first half in OF and see if they are part of the future.  I wonder if Santana is better off in OF too instead of SS--lots of players have done that before SS in minors OF in majors starting with Mantle.  Bring Sano and Buxton up when ready--not sooner.  Same with Berrios--ditch Nolasco and Pelfrey then.

[Rosterman]

Some of this should've happened this past season. Yes, we had Rosario disciplined. Buxton and Sano were hurt. Meyer was blocked by Deduno, Pino, Darnell and others.

 

But you can still do the above (minus Pinto, who the Twins don't seem to want to be the catcher of the future) by adding a top flight starter who MAY be around for more than a season, extending Hughes, adding a bat to play leftfield, and adding some bench versatility.

 

If you choose to advance Meyer, which the Twins should, you can always put May in the bullpen, and still keep him in mind for future rotation spots. You can jettison Milone to Darnell to the minors as backup. You write-off Pelfrey. You do give innings to Tonkin and Achter and every other able-bodied prospect, splitting their seasons between AAA and the majors as they adapt and show if they can compete.

 

You give one last push to Hicks. You let Arcia improve his worth. Remember, Arcia is young, and we could have an arbitration albatross here where he actually hits his stride when he hits free agency.

 

But, sadly, right now, today, the Twins do have to do everything and anything they can do to make the team exciting and put some wins, or competitiveness, on the board to fill the seats. They won't reduce ticket prices. Will fans pay to see a questionable rebuilding team? I say no, unless they do win games, too.

 

If they have another season of 85-90 losses, and even if the prospects outshine any veterans, people still don't pay the big bucks to see TC Bear. They pay the little bucks, which will stifle the team even more, and then they have to figure out ways to spend less to still put more butts in the seats.

 

You can have a surge, like the Royals finally did, and go deep into the playoffs and play in the World Series which will dramatically increase their ticket sales for another year or two. Or, again, like the Royals, you can be at the bottom of the pack and flatline out for a decade or so. The Twins are about to come very close to being in the bottom five in attendance (which also affects revenue from advertising, corporate sponsorships, concessions and the like). 

 

Like the current decisions being made on field management, do you go with what you have in the organization or go outside...the Twins also have to look at each and every player they have and ask "why do we want this guy to be a part of the team today and tomorrow." They have to see if the player has any market, any chance to be playing for the team not only in 2015 but in 2016 or 2017, and if the player is replacable by a prospect today or the near tomorrow, and if not, can they find someone better in the marketplace that will add to the team, allow some flexibility if a prospect does emerge.

 

Pelfrey. You don't keep him because he costs $5 million. You keep him if he can pitch deep into a game and give you innings. Pinto. Can he catch? He had a great September a season ago. But if he can't catch, and doesn't figure into the plans, you push on another prospect, or bring in a solid defender behind the plate that is a true bench bat. If Santana plays short, is Escobar the utility guy? Where does that put Nunez? Or, better yet, if Santana becomes the centerfielder until Buxton, where does that put Hicks.

 

Too often the Twins try to wring every last cent out of their investments and suffer the pain of play, rather than make hardline decisions. And, unlike Billy Beane, who is in a world all his own, they put too much worth into a good season and lose track of the flipping of a player (Willingham, Young, etc.).

 

We can dream and praise prospects all we want, but look at a similar article about Baseball America looks at the 2009 draft. The Twins have three plays that made it to the majors and one (redrafted later) that is still in the system out of 50 players. The players: Gibson, Dozier and Herrmann. Another half dozen are still around, but didn't sign with the Twins and were redrafted by other tams. Only one (Mario Hollands) has made it to the majors. 

 

And with prospects, unless you do trade for otehr highend prospects, that is a good example of a prospects chances of making the majors. Maybe you get a pitcher of sorts. Maybe you egt a bat. Maybe you get a utility guy.

 

We can hope that the Twins have May and Meyer in 2015. That Sano, Rosario, Buxton all make the grade. That last year's gems of Vargas and Santana hold. That the previous season of Arcia, Hicks, Pinto emerge victorious. That some guys like Achter, Tonkin, Beresford, Darnell fill in the holes. That Burdi, Stewart, Walker, Kepler make us forget names like Michael, Wimmers, hermsen existed at one time or another.

 

Step One is choosing field management. If that choice fails this season, front office management will be in shambles and needs to be replaced.

 

Step Two is to figure out what will get fans excited. Youc an't hype prospects because they might be the next Joe Benson (or Aaron Hicks).

 

Step Three is to totally evaluate the worth of every player on the 40-man roster and the high minors and figure out if they are keepers, if you can get anything, anything for them, or do you cut your losses. Is Gibson a keeper, for example, or do you trade him when he may have worth. Is he a better pitcher than he has shown, or not.

 

Step Four is to identify a free agent or two who adds a bit of marquee value, more promise than prospects, will play the game hard (Cuddyer, for example) and not totally block someone come 2016. 

 

Step Five is to market the team, and the way you market the team is to forget the bring the family to sunny Target Field (we can all go the new Saints Stadium in 2015) but by spending your money for on-field product. The money is there to spend, wisely or not (you do make mistake...accept that fact and move on.

[Brandon]

I can see us standing pat in the OF as Parmelee, Hicks, Schaeffer all battle it out in LF and 4th OF till Buxton arrives.  Signing someone does make us better though.

 

As far as pitching goes we can do 1 of 2 things.  Sign or trade for a starter that makes our rotation 4 deep with 1 spot to compete for.  or sign a player like Corriea who is coming back from injury to compete for a rotation spot with the others.  While we have 5 names to compete for 2 spots Pelfry, Millone, May, Meyer, and Pino,  I guess you can add Swarzak to the list.  I am not sure if Pelfry can start or if Millone or Swarzak will be back next season.

 

I also don't think the bullpen needs much turnover.  unless there is a trade.  I see Deunsing back with the Twins.  I think Burton is gone and maybe Swarzak, but that is about it.  I do see the Twins brining in other relievers as the season goes on but there won't be too much of a bullpen turnover unless there is a trade. And there really doesn't need to be.

[IndyTwinsFan]

I have to agree with the general sentiment of this article, especially as it concerns the pitching staff.  Trying to get free agents to sign here in the hopes of (maybe) winning a couple more games or so doesn't really serve any tangible long-term benefit, especially without a clear picture of what we already have.  I also don't see it as being enough to rouse a significant level of interest from the fan base, to the point of seeing a real increase in attendance this coming season.  The potential long-term benefits far outweigh the potential short-term gains, in my eyes.

 

I have no real disagreement with the proposed pitching staff, at least to start the season (barring any injuries).  Same for the outfield and the viewpoint on the catching.  However, I'm kind of torn on the infield.  I'm just not sure we have enough positive pieces in place yet to get a good long-term view here.  For example, we have no real idea if Danny Santana can stick at short, we don't know if Miguel Sano can stick at third, and we have no idea if Eddie Rosario can play an adequate second base.  Therefore, I think we really need to hang on to both Plouffe and Dozier until we have some clearer answers because I don't think any other team is likely to knock our socks off for either one of them.

[Steven Buhr]

I'm sorry, but the very idea that fans of a team that has lost more than 90 games per season for four straight seasons would advocate a, "just roll with what we have," strategy is mind-boggling to me.

 

You don't worry about "blocking" prospects with the possible exception of the most elite of elite prospects. That would be Sano and Buxton. Every other prospect (and that includes Meyer) has to prove they are better options than any other options.

[RealTwinsFan357]

 

 

Therefore, I think we really need to hang on to both Plouffe and Dozier until we have some clearer answers because I don't think any other team is likely to knock our socks off for either one of them.

I agree with this 100%. My thought process was that if Plouffe and/or Dozier have great seasons and Sano/Polanco/Rosario demonstrate they will be capable major league players going forward, we may be able to trade at least one of Dozier/Plouffe next off-season. Thanks for the feedback!

[h2oface]

Roll with what we have?  Isn't that what has been done for the last 4 years?  I sure hope not.  But until Ryan is replaced, it is what I fear.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Starting Rotation: Obviously, Phil Hughes and Ricky Nolasco are not going anywhere. I think Kyle Gibson is a breakout candidate and could prove to be something special. On top of those three, I would choose Trevor May and Alex Meyer to fill out my rotation. If the Twins are ever going to compete, they need to know if either of those pitchers will ever become a front-of-the-rotation arm.

 

This doesn't leave room for a free-agent acquisition. I agree the Twins would probably win an additional handful of games if they signed Justin Masterson to a 1-year deal, but then either May or Meyer ends up in AAA.

The odds of Hughes repeating, Nolasco rebounding, Gibson improving, AND May and Meyer sticking in MLB from day 1 is quite low (peformance-wise if not health-wise too).  There is plenty of room for another starter.  If May or Meyer has to open the season in the pen or AAA until someone is injured or falters, that represents real depth and will be a good problem to have.  Logan Darnell is not real depth.  (Milone might be, but given what we saw of him, I wouldn't want to count on him either.)

 

 

For center and left, I think the Twins can patch together enough success to survive 2015. Jordan Schafer should be retained for another season, as he plays pretty good defense and runs well. Other than that, I would give Aaron Hicks, Eddie Rosario, Danny Ortiz, and eventually Byron Buxton opportunities this year. I could even see Rosario being the Twins opening day center fielder this season. If Hicks, Rosario, and Ortiz fail and Buxton isn't ready, the Twins can ride with Chris Parmelee in left field until someone hits the waver wire without it being the end of the world.

"Survival" and "not being the end of the world" are incredibly low thresholds for success and shouldn't really enter into offseason planning.  That kind of thinking has helped create the disasters of the past 4 seasons.  The fact that BOTH LF and CF are wide open (assuming Santana back to SS) means the Twins have plenty of room to accommodate both a new acquisition as well as any internal option that cares to step forward.  But none of the internal guys, as of today, deserve to be handed a starting MLB gig when the position next to them is just as barren.

 

Otherwise, I like your plan in the bullpen and infield.  Although I wouldn't count on the bullpen being a completely internal rebuild either -- some kind of external reclamation project would probably be advisable there too.  (I would have liked to see more of the internal options auditioned in 2014, but there's probably a reason most of them weren't.  Counting on them in 2015 with a TJ guy and a couple 2014 draftees as backup is probably stretching things a little thin.)

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm sorry, but the very idea that fans of a team that has lost more than 90 games per season for four straight seasons would advocate a, "just roll with what we have," strategy is mind-boggling to me.

 

You don't worry about "blocking" prospects with the possible exception of the most elite of elite prospects. That would be Sano and Buxton. Every other prospect (and that includes Meyer) has to prove they are better options than any other options.

This is what I was trying to say, just much more clear and succinct.  "Too many viable MLB OFers" and "too many viable MLB SP" would both be fantastic problems to have, would represent real progress over 2011-2014, and put the franchise in a better position in 2016 and beyond.  (And neither problem is particularly likely for 2015, in my opinion, even with an offseason addition at both spots.)

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

I think "roll with what we have" is the plan, has always been the plan, like it or not. Twins just haven't messaged it very well. I'm not as pessimistic as some will be (yet).

 

There's a misconception that young players must necessarily lose games simply because they are young. I think the 2001-2002 teams averaged 25-26 years old. Maybe a new coaching staff can reassemble the parts to get more wins out of the players we already have, and keep some other guys performing above their heads.

[DJL44]

Turning away free agent talent this offseason might be regretted in June. There is a lot of room in AAA for young players with options. This team should look at all opportunities to improve and that includes free agent talent. The idea that the Twins should only look internally and consider Danny Ortiz and AJ Achter as real options seems ridiculous to me.

Edited October 21, 2014 by DJL44

[Otto von Ballpark]

Maybe a new coaching staff can reassemble the parts to get more wins out of the players we already have, and keep some other guys performing above their heads.

Not to mention better judge MLB readiness prior to handing out significant MLB playing time.

Edited October 21, 2014 by spycake

[bird]

The idea of "rolling with what we have" for 2015 almost nauseates me. 

 

The thought that seems to permeate this whole argument is to "survive" 2015. But survive WHAT? And why avoid making a couple of very doable moves when those moves might radically alter things in 2015 with zero negative consequences into the future?

 

I get the optimism about Reed, Jones, Burdi, Polanco, and Rosario, let alone Meyer, May, Sano, and Buxton. But we can't view their contributions, if any, to any success we have in 2015 as foregone conclusions. And the very mention of the word "adequate" in the same sentence as Milone, Pelfrey, Parmelee, Hicks, Schaefer, Darnell, and Danny Ortiz should be illegal.

 

Why would we go with the choices we currently have in the outfield if instead we can sign a better player than any of those guys has proven to be with the only cost being some cash? No blocking of Buxton, or anyone else for that matter.

 

And let's be entirely realistic about the starting rotation please. Fine, Hughes is a #2-3 starter. Great. Now, for 2015, if everything goes our way, we have Gibson, a #3-4, Nolasco, at BEST a #3-4 and at worst a repeat of his #5-6 performance, Meyer and May, probably #3-4 performance as rookies at best. Now, I DO love the depth, and history proves you need 10 pitchers, not 5, capable of making some semblance of a start for you. And we have lots of possibilities with Pelfrey, Milone, Johnson, Rogers, Duffy, Gilmartin, Wheeler, Darnell, Berrios, etc.

 

I'm OK rolling with what we have for options on the infield and in the pen, but we should be pulling for Ryan to find another Hughes-like gem and a 2-way corner OF. At the very least.

[mbents]

Every other prospect (and that includes Meyer) has to prove they are better options than any other options.

 

Isn't that what Meyer did? He seemed like a much better option than Pino or Darnell.

[nicksaviking]

I'm sorry, but the very idea that fans of a team that has lost more than 90 games per season for four straight seasons would advocate a, "just roll with what we have," strategy is mind-boggling to me.

 

You don't worry about "blocking" prospects with the possible exception of the most elite of elite prospects. That would be Sano and Buxton. Every other prospect (and that includes Meyer) has to prove they are better options than any other options.

 

It seemed to me that Meyer proved he was better than at minimum 3/5ths of the MLB rotation all year long.  This team doesn't always let the younger, more talented player get his chance.  They seem much more concerned about doing what is "fair" for the existig vet.

 

I think the title of the thread is a bit off actually.  The Twins haven't  largely "rolled" with the young players they had in house in 15 years.  They have seemed determined to "roll" with signing low ceiling, cheap stop-gap vets.  They need to stop that ASAP.  Go big, or stay home, but let's not pretend this team will ever go big.  The Brandon McCarthys of the world need not apply.

 

Besides, has anyone really looked at the free agent market this year?  Aside from a couple of top end pitchers, it is sad and pathetic.  There are not many upgrades, and next to nobody I'd want on anything more than a 1 year deal.   Because it is so baren, those guys who may be any bit enticing are going to get overpaid in money, but more importantly years.  Yuk.  I've always been a free agency advocate, but not this year.  This year is full of remorse and regrets.

Edited October 21, 2014 by nicksaviking

[Mike Sixel]

I agree with birdwatcher 100%. And the others that say you only worry about blocking elite players. And that they really only have 1 SP they should really like for sure right now, and a bunch of question marks. There is plenty of money to sign a good SP, and to take a chance on an OF. 

 

I 100% want more youngsters with options in the bullpen, they need flexibility, not a bunch of guys you can't option  that are probably mediocre anyway.

[mbents]

Because I think the Twins have quite a few players who are on the cusp of the majors, I pretty much agree with this. Meyer is getting to the point where he's close to being a non-prospect because of his age, so I think you need to see what he can actually do.  I'm not very high on Gibson - I think best case scenario at this point is a #3 starter. He's probably earned a rotation spot for 2015 and I would expect him to settle into a decent #4 starter role.

I'd also like to see the Twins sign a good defensive outfielder who can play LF and maybe cover CF for a little bit, hoping that Buxton gets right and comes up sometime prior to September 2015. Schafer is fine to keep around, but as a 4th OF.

It would be great if Pinto sticks as a catcher, but re-signing Suzuki means he's been handed the starting catcher job for 2015, so I'm not sure where Pinto's playing time comes from.

[bird]

Isn't that what Meyer did? He seemed like a much better option than Pino or Darnell.

We're all rooting for Meyer and were frustrated that we didn't see him, but let's remember that Pino, May, and Johnson all performed better than he did if you don't allow yourself to be mesmerized by his K's while ignoring his BB's. In addition, Darnell and Gilmartin for that matter turned in comparable performances to Meyer's. Still, his injury concerns probably overshadowed all of this in the decision that Meyer was indeed NOT a better option than Pino or Darnell at the particular point in time that those decisions were made.

[h2oface]

Pino was such a better option that he was released at the end of the season.  Having seen them all pitch, I can't put Pino, Logan, Gilmartin,or Johnson even close to Meyer's class as a future MLB pitcher.  Meyer's stuff is just way better.  Meyer misses bats, and buckles knees.  It is very debatable that Meyer wasn't just as ready at the times the Twins chose Pino and Logan.  Meyer was lasting just as long into games as most of the Twins' starters were, and that Pino and Logan did after they got there.  We will never know how he would have done because he was never given the opportunity, so all the talk is just that.

[James Richter]

I love the premise of this post, particularly because it keeps the focus of talent acquisition and player development firmly on 2016, where it has likely been since the rebuild got underway in mid 2012. The sustained window of contention that will be opening this time next year is the prize we're working for, and clarifying who can be a contributor to that is the most valuable thing the Twins can do in 2015. Dozier and Plouffe have developed into above-average big-leaguers because they've been allowed to figure it out at the ML level. Let's give that opportunity to Hicks, Pinto, May, Meyer.

 

Because it's so critical to the success of the SPs, I think the Twins should be proactive about acquiring the best available defensive CF. Looks like that's Bourjos. I doubt he would cost more than a decent bullpen arm. That guy + Hicks/Schafer in LF + a revamped middle relief group has the potential to drop every SP's ERA by half a run.

 

Over the last 5 seasons, 76 teams had non-negative run differentials. All but 3 of those had winning records, and the 3 who didn't each finished 79-83. The Twins need to give up 62 fewer runs next year in order to get their differential out of the red and raise their win total to 79 (if they're unlikely). The group they finished the season with, augmented by a couple of sensible acquisitions, is absolutely capable of achieving that.

 

And can we stop referring to Hughes as a #2-#3 starter? By every meaningful metric he was a top 30 pitcher this year. I'll give you #1-#2, but he's more of an ace right now (and likely to be next year) than, say, James Shields.

[mbents]

We're all rooting for Meyer and were frustrated that we didn't see him, but let's remember that Pino, May, and Johnson all performed better than he did if you don't allow yourself to be mesmerized by his K's while ignoring his BB's. In addition, Darnell and Gilmartin for that matter turned in comparable performances to Meyer's. Still, his injury concerns probably overshadowed all of this in the decision that Meyer was indeed NOT a better option than Pino or Darnell at the particular point in time that those decisions were made.

 

May definitely deserved a chance and he got it. I'm not disputing that. Pino probably deserved his chance too, given his video game-like numbers last season. He had a crazy WHIP and a nice 3.00 SO/BB ratio. Comparing Johnson, Darnell, and Gilmartin to Meyer is laughable, though. It doesn't really bother me that Meyer had a slightly higher walk rate than all of them because he also had a much higher strikeout rate than all of them. 

Injury concerns may have been the tipping point in not calling him up, but they shouldn't have been. Pretty much every pitcher gets injured sooner or later and he isn't going to put more wear and tear on his shoulder in the majors than he is in the minors. And if they called him up and still had to shut him down in September, that's fine. Just call up some warm body like Darnell or Johnson at that time. You still have a better idea about what Meyer can do against major league hitting and what he might need to work on.

[nicksaviking]

We're all rooting for Meyer and were frustrated that we didn't see him, but let's remember that Pino, May, and Johnson all performed better than he did if you don't allow yourself to be mesmerized by his K's while ignorng his BB

 

I do let myself get mesmerized by them though.  Elite strikeout numbers at the minor league level seem to be the biggest indicator that a guy will be able to hold up at the front of the rotation at the MLB level.  The odds still might not be in their favor, but it's exponetially more likely than the kind of pitchers we've been used to seeing around here most of the last decade.  You almost always know exactly what you're getting with the low BB soft tossers, that is, stop gap AAAA pitchers, most of whom will flame out within a season or two. 

 

It's nice to reward Pino, Darnell, Walters, DeVries, Diamond, blah, blah, blah for their AAA accomplishments, but it comes with a price.  These guys should not be getting promoted over guys with promise like Meyer or May when we already know how their story will end.

Edited October 21, 2014 by nicksaviking

[MileHighTwinsFan]

With Rosario raking in AZ Fall League - I hope he is given every opportunity to compete for a starting outfield job in the spring.

 

I don't think they are ready to give up on Hicks yet, Arcia is set in right and they have Schaefer as a great choice for a 4th outfielder.

 

The question is whether they will consider a significant signing for an outfielder given where they are at.

 

My sense is that they need to go big, or not at all.  Makes no sense to go with a borderline starter/reclamation project at this point - as the Twins like to do.

[Dman]

I'm with the let's just roll plan.   Let's find out what we have and leave room for Meyer, Sano, Buxton, Rosario, maybe Berrios or Polanco to play this year.  While I agree that getting one of the prized pitchers would be an awesome surprise I don't see the Twins doing it.  A reclamation project is just as likely to produce Nolasco as much as Hughes and we still have Pelfrey.

 

 Why not find out what you have in Meyer, Tonkin, Berrios, Pryor, Pressly, Oliveros, Rosario, Sano. etc. everyone was going crazy about that earlier this year.  Are we going to stick with aging vets or find out who has the talent to make it and who doesn't?  There is a ton of talent in the pipeline and lots of 40 man decisions to be made.  Let's find out what we have so we don't lose the wrong players from the 40 man.  Let's go young and keep the young talent moving forward.  Not everyone is gonna make it but throw enough talented bodies out there and a core will stick.  Or keep them in AAA and block everything up.  the talent is in the pipeline lets see what we have.

[SwainZag]

I agree with this for the most part.  I would like to a SP and and OF brought in and of course the bullpen revamped through some young internal arms, but really don't think the team needs to go throw big money around this winter.

 

Before you say no improvement, same team, blah, blah, blah......here is the Opening Day Roster from last year, the guys in bold will not or will not likely be on the team.  Big difference.....no?

 

Kurt Suzuki

Joe Mauer

Brian Dozier

Trevor Plouffe

Pedro Florimon

Josh Willingham

Aaron Hicks

Oswaldo Arcia

Jason Kubel

 

Josmil Pinto

Chris Colabello

Eduardo Escobar

Jason Bartlett

 

Phil Hughes

Ricky Nolasco

Kevin Correia

Kyle Gibson

Mike Pelfrey   ??

 

Glen Perkins

Jared Burton

Casey Fien

Brian Duensing  ??

Sanuel Deduno

Caleb Theilbar

Anthony Swarzak

 

That's 7 players on the wrong side of 30 all gone and 1 Florimon....and could include Pelfrey and Duensing.  10 of 25!  40% of the roster!  A possibility of replacing 9 guys 30+ is pretty amazing.  Certainly a gigantic shift in the make up of the team, especially because of the influx we are already seeing with the younger players.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I love the premise of this post, particularly because it keeps the focus of talent acquisition and player development firmly on 2016, where it has likely been since the rebuild got underway in mid 2012.

To me, that's less of a rebuild, and more just waiting.

 

Furthermore, improving the team in 2015 does not necessarily hinder anything for 2016.  Our reliable outfielder list right now is basically Arcia; our rotation, Hughes.  Adding a piece in both places doesn't block anyone unless the Twins front office or field manager is dumb about it.

 

 

And can we stop referring to Hughes as a #2-#3 starter? By every meaningful metric he was a top 30 pitcher this year. I'll give you #1-#2, but he's more of an ace right now (and likely to be next year) than, say, James Shields.

I won't quibble here too much, except to say that given his track record, calling Hughes at #2-#3 starter at this point is perfectly acceptable.  Shields' career low in IP is basically equal to Hughes' career best, and his career ERA+ (over 1900 IP) is basically the same as Hughes' single season best (in 209 IP).  And Shields isn't exactly old or on any kind of noticeable downslope yet.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm with the let's just roll plan.   Let's find out what we have and leave room for Meyer, Sano, Buxton, Rosario, maybe Berrios or Polanco to play this year.

Even with a couple acquisitions, this roster would still has enough holes and question marks that room can quickly be found/made if any of these guys deserve it.  (When has it ever been a good idea to "leave room" for a bunch of guys who have yet to play in AAA (Meyer excepted), especially guys coming off seasons lost to injury/suspension/ineffectiveness?)

[Dman]

Even with a couple acquisitions, this roster would still has enough holes and question marks that room can quickly be found/made if any of these guys deserve it.  (When has it ever been a good idea to "leave room" for a bunch of guys who have yet to play in AAA (Meyer excepted), especially guys coming off seasons lost to injury/suspension/ineffectiveness?)

 

I guess it depends on what your vision of the future is. Are you interested in player development or a few more wins? Do you see Sano, Buxton, Meyer, Rosario starting 2016 together? If you do then why not get them as much MLB experience as possible. It really comes down to how you view 2016 to me.

 

Maybe they aren't ready or won't be ready there is a decent possibility that will be the case but I also don't see a FA left fielder or pitcher taking us to the playoffs next year. That being said I want to see the team invest MLB time in the future players that might make the playoffs.

 

Odds are the Twins agree with you as they are very patient but I just want to see the young guys move as fast as possible now and if they do I think 2016 will be a lot of fun.