*Sign 1B/DH Byung-Ho Pak to a 3 year, $30 million contract*

- Fangraph's contract projection of 5/40 terrifies me. I would bump up the salary figure in order to keep the number of years lower. 

 

* Trade 3B Trevor Plouffe to the Los Angeles Angels for RP Mike Morin

- Not sure if Morin is available for trade or not. He's coming off a rough season with 35 IP, and a 6.37 ERA. However, he did have a good K/BB ratio of 41/9, and he's one of us! (From Andover, MN)

 

*Sign C Dioner Navarro to a 2 year, $10 million contract*

- He is a switch-hitting catcher who's mostly been a platoon against LH pitching most of his career. However, his career slash line as a LH against RHP is actually pretty decent - .270/.336/.439 in 419 games.

 

*Trade RP J.T. Chargois and the supplemental 2nd round pick in 2016 to the Washington Nationals for RP Drew Storen*

- If Jonathan Papelbon remains in Washington, Storen is going to want out. He may be a rental player, but he would solidify the bullpen and give the Twins 3 great options with closing experience in case if Perkins falters again. 

 

*Sign RP Tony Sipp to a 1 year, $6 million contract*

- Since Duensing is out of the picture, there's an opening for a LHP in the bullpen. Fangraphs has Sipp projected to get 2/10. I will pay up on salary to keep it at 1 year.

 

*Sign OF Alejandro De Aza to a 1 year, $5 million contract*

- De Aza makes his return to the AL Central to be the stop-gap OF until Kepler or other minor league options are ready. Once the kids are ready, he would be a valuable 4th OF for the 2016 season.

 

 

2016 Lineup:

 

C: Suzuki/Navarro platoon

1B: Mauer

2B: Dozier

SS: Escobar

3B: Sano

LF: Rosario

CF: Hicks

RF: De Aza (Kepler takes over FT in June)

DH: Pak

 

2016 Bench:

-Santana

- Pinto

- Arcia

 

2016 Rotation:

- E. Santana

- Gibson *potential mid-season trade 

- Hughes

- Duffey 

- May 

- Berrios (after he gets the Kris Bryant treatment)

 

2016 Bullpen:

- Nolasco in the famous Tim Stauffer role

- Morin

- Sipp

- Storen

- Jepsen

- Burdi

- Perkins

 

 

 

 

(cough cough) The Twins will also trade CF Aaron Hicks to the New York Yankees for C JR Murphy.... 

Nailed it!

Is Plouffe's value really just a relief pitcher with a little bit of upside?

Yeah I questioned that Plouffe deal too...and I'm cheering louder than anyone to make that happen.

 

Is Plouffe's value really just a relief pitcher with a little bit of upside?

 

I really do think his value is only a bullpen arm. The Angels seemed like a good fit to unload Plouffe and TBH I just chose the young man from MN for my plan.. On the surface it sounds like a Twins trade to get a 24 year old with 4 years of control left. 

I have higher aspirations for Plouffe, but low expectations for when the real trade happens. 

In a Plouffe trade, why not Cam Bedrosian like the Angels writers seem to think the Twins are interested? He is Steve's kid, so there is that angle, and he is young and throws hard too, along with a good fastball/slider combo. And really, if Neil Allen can teach him a changeup, could be a good thing. Maybe Bedrosian and another low minors high upside arm?

 

As far as De Aza, I'd rather pursue a corner outfielder who can hit lefties, maybe someone like Jonny Gomes to platoon with Arcia in right. Arcia would face righties and hopefully do well enough to bring in something in trade if/when Kepler takes over right for good.

 

I love the Sipp signing. I don't know that Storen will definitely be better than JT Chargois, especially just one year of Storen. I'd rather have the bullpen look like May/Bedrosian/Sipp/Jepsen/Perkins/Meyer or something to that effect, and then let Burdi/Reed/Chargois take over at some point too.

 

 

I'd be fine with either Bedrosian or Morin. Both are 24, have years of control left, and strike people out. Those are all good things in my book.