Article: Minnesota Twins Roster Projection 2015 Version 2.0

[scottz]

Catchers (2): Kurt Suzuki, Josmil Pinto (AGREE)
Infielders (7): Kennys Vargas, Joe Mauer, Brian Dozier, Trevor Plouffe, Danny Santana, Eduardo Escobar, Eduardo Nunez (AGREE, and I have no problem with Nunez. There are no better options, and what you want on the bench is a late game improvement in skill over at least one starter position in as many of these areas as you can - Defense, Speed, Power. Nunez will bring a speed improvement. The fact that he can play a few positions makes him useful. If only he also offered power and defense, too.)

 

 

Outfielders (4): Oswaldo Arcia, Torii Hunter, Jordan Schafer, Aaron Hicks (MOSTLY AGREE). I think if Rosario plays out of his mind this spring and Hicks struggles, Rosario pulls a Hicks (circa 2013) and goes north as the starter. Longshot, but a possibility. If Hicks plays nearly equal to Rosario or Hicks has a good spring, Hicks goes north as the starter. If both Hicks and Rosario flop in the spring, Schafer goes north as the starter and somebody like Robinson plays 4th OF.)

 

Starting Pitchers (5): Phil Hughes, Ervin Santana, Ricky Nolasco, Kyle Gibson, Tommy Milone (AGREE 1-4, DISAGREE 5. I think Milone would have to be perfect in spring training to go north. In my (meaningless) opinion, it is May's job to lose. He could lose it, certainly, but I think it's his. I think they are willing to cut Pelfrey loose unless he shows them perfection in spring, too. Meyers goes to AAA and is the first one called up when needed, assuming he shows his stuff.)

 

Bullpen (7): Glen Perkins, Casey Fien, Brian Duensing, Tim Stauffer, Caleb Thielbar, Mike Pelfrey, JR Graham. (1-4 AGREE, 5-7 DISAGREE. I don't think Thielbar is a lock, no Pelfrey in the pen, and Graham will be offered back or a trade will be worked out. If Thielbar is a lock, 2 of Pressley, Tonkin, and Oliveros)

[jay]

I like Polanco over Nunez for utility IF, and potential replacement for Dozier at 2B.

Is Polanco a good option to be the 25th man, second utility infielder starting less than once a week? Is it realistic to think he's ready to (or should) step in as a replacement for a productive MLBer?

 

As a 21 year old who has had 37 games at AA, I'm going to emphatically say no on both. Polanco (and the Twins) would be much better served by having him develop in the minor leagues playing every day.

[Mill1634]

Why not Polonco instead of Nunez/Escobar?

[Dantes929]

There's no way they are going to keep a fairly well regarded prospect on the MLB team to be part of a platoon and not get the development of facing both sides. That's not unique to the Twins.

 

Especially when the side he hits well from would be against lefties.  Maybe we would call him up for that role during a pennant run

Ignore development just for a second.   Look at their splits last year and tell me that for the current team a platoon isn't their best option by far.   Hicks splits make him an ideal candidate for leadoff hitter against lefties.   Schaefer is adequate against right handers.   If not Hicks/Schaefer then who?

Now lets talk development.   Against AAA pitchers what numbers would Hicks have to hit and for how long from the left side before you would be convinced he can hit major league pitchers?      I would actually like your opinion.   Two months above .300?    Three months above .290?    If he never does you have lost the value he could have given this year when we need it.   What do you do if Buxton and or Rosario out play him in that period?    I am by no means positive he will never hit as a lefty.    I am just skeptical and see value in him as a platoon player even if it is only against lefties and as late inning defense.     Send him down now and I predict his future will be as a platoon/4th outfielder anyway.   I have been wrong before.    Its just that he has shown so little from the left side. 

[jay]

Hicks splits make him an ideal candidate for leadoff hitter against lefties.

I was referring to the idea of platooning Rosario in your earlier post. Hicks is certainly much closer to the point of being platoonable than Rosario.

 

On Hicks though, I do prefer him in AAA to start the year. If he comes north, his days off should obviously come against righties but it's still hard to see him in a full out platoon this year.

 

I'll add that I don't agree we need that value this year. If we're in the pennant race after the ASB, then there's a much stronger argument to do whatever it takes -- including platoons with developing players.

Edited March 5, 2015 by jay

[USNMCPO]

I think that the Twins are positioned to make a trade (or trades) late in ST. Injuries happen to all teams and with the overstocking of pitchers on the Twins, we could see some interesting happenings. Pelf with one year on his contract, Milone with his prior success, Nunez with his supposed flexibility and others could all be moved.

[curt1965]

I'm not crazy about May and Meyer starting the season at Triple A. How many years have we heard that those 2 are the future studs for the Twins. I know that you can't hand them jobs if they pitch poorly in ST.

It appears that both might be squeezed out by the Santana signing. Seth, I'm wondering what happens if Nolasco pitches poorly, and is ineffective in March. Is he guaranteed a job (with his contract), or would the Twins have to eat some of his salary to facilitate a trade? I know these things seem to have a way of sorting everything out, but there does appear to be a log jam right now.

I'm also not a fan of Nunez, but the 25th man does have to be someone who has to realize he is not going to start very often. Do the Twins need 2 utility infielders? I'd rather have an extra OF to help with some PH punch in late innings.

[stringer bell]

I agree with the "don't platoon Hicks" argument.  I consider him a prospect, but he needs to go to the minors to develop his hit tool. 

 

I think a month to six weeks of solid performance at Rochester would be sufficient, if he is the best option to take over center field.  My projection has been for Schafer and Robinson to share center for the early days until one of the prospects (Hicks, Rosario, or the very unlikely scenario of Buxton) show they are ready by dominating in AAA or AA. 

 

Sure, there is a chance that the Twins make a deal or two before spring training is over.  They have excess starters, an extra infielder and a chasm in center field.  I have been beating the drum for the Twins to obtain Peter Bourjos from the Cards all winter.

 

Earlier comments about bringing Polanco north, maybe Buxton etc. just don't serve to develop the players.  I believe that Buxton and Sano are destined to be All-Stars, but they aren't ready.  They (and Polanco) need lots of playing time at the right level.  Right now that is AA.

[stringer bell]

I'm also not a fan of Nunez, but the 25th man does have to be someone who has to realize he is not going to start very often. Do the Twins need 2 utility infielders? I'd rather have an extra OF to help with some PH punch in late innings.

I don't think it is a coincidence that Nuñez was listed as an outfielder on the Twins' roster.  He is my pick to get a lot of starts against left handers in place of Arcia (not a platoon, but "rest" days).

[Kwak]

This is the last year for Hicks.  He succeeds or fails as a primary CF.  If he is sent to AAA it is a waste of everybody's time.  Hicks must succeed as a Twins--so he can be traded or serve as the fallback option to a promotion of Buxton next season.  There are many  options for a #4 OF, and frankly said position is a low priority for the Twins. 

 

The small market mentality of plugging-in spare parts as starters must send.  Develop long-term solutions for every position.  Players "get their chance":  succeed and the job is theirs; fail and likely watch someone else seize the opportunity.  The endless up/down, chance, 2nd chance, etc. must give way to Next!  Second chances are for instances when no one has succeeded.

[jay]

Develop long-term solutions for every position. Players "get their chance": succeed and the job is theirs;

You do that by appropriately challenging young players. Hicks hasn't even done enough to show he deserves the second [wait -- THIRD] chance that you're railing against players getting.

[Dave T]

Is Polanco a good option to be the 25th man, second utility infielder starting less than once a week? Is it realistic to think he's ready to (or should) step in as a replacement for a productive MLBer?

 

As a 21 year old who has had 37 games at AA, I'm going to emphatically say no on both. Polanco (and the Twins) would be much better served by having him develop in the minor leagues playing every day.

I have to agree with you there.  Polanco will be better served playing every day.

[Dr. Evil]

For me I look at who your top 9 players were last year and put them all in the starting lineup. Pretty simple IMHO. Let them settle in for the first 4 weeks and go from there.

 

Santana CF

Escobar SS

Dozier 2B

Mauer 1B

Plouffe 3B

Suzuki C

Arcia LF

Hunter RF

Vargas DH

 

Bench -

Schafer

Pinto

Nunez

Herman

[KirbyHawk75]

I am not sure..  If Hicks does not impress in the spring I think I would go with Santana at CF...I think Escobar deserves a chance again.  

 

Is there any chance Eddie Rosario makes the team?

 

 If Pinto can not play defense I would just rather have Hermann or Fryer on the team.  We already have enough guys (Vargas/Hunter/Arcia/Nunez) who are not very good defenders.