Article: Twins Roster Projection 2.0 (Pre-Spring Training Edition)

[Seth Stohs]

 

I highly doubt any of the three outfielders you listed would make the team even if Buxton starts in triple-a. That's just a waste of a spot when you've got Arcia as the 4th outfielder instead.

 

In that situation though, I'd sure like having an outfielder on the bench that can play some defense too. If Buxton is  down, I think we think that Santana would start with Rosario in left and Sano in right. Now, of course Rosario can go play CF and Arcia can go into LF, but if you're protecting a 1-run lead in the bottom of the ninth, I'd rather go with Rosario, Mastro/Benson, Sano than keep Arcia and Sano out there with Rosario (in a case where Santana was pinch-hit for or something). You'd still have the backup catcher and infielder on the roster. 

 

That said... I don't envision one of those three making it to start the season, though I wouldn't rule it out. 

[Seth Stohs]

 

I had not given much consideration to Duffey in AAA, but with him there and Nolasco in the rotation, it solves a mess of roster problems. (not enough time or ink to get into who caused them). Duffey would not be the first guy to have a good fall, and then end up back in the minors. Now if the question is would I do that, no. But I can easily see the Twins doing it.

 

Can you even imagine?? (I can imagine them doing it, so it's not out of the realm of possibility) What if he and Berrios both are pitching great in late April... Drop two and bring two in? The forums here would be going crazy!

[Dr. Evil]

Arcia is in a tough spot. His play last year does not warrant a roster spot. If he get's a spot, he won't get the reps to turn the corner on his career and he will likely be overmatched. The guy needs more time in AA/AAA to find his groove at this juncture. I don't see him making the team as ending up as being a positive for him or for the team.  

[bluechipper]

 

Arcia is in a tough spot. His play last year does not warrant a roster spot. If he get's a spot, he won't get the reps to turn the corner on his career and he will likely be overmatched. The guy needs more time in AA/AAA to find his groove at this juncture. I don't see him making the team as ending up as being a positive for him or for the team.  

Arcia's got a career 104 ops+, and he's going to start the season at 24 years old. He's a lock to start the season with the Twins. You don't give up on young power hitters who have great minor league track records just because of one nagging injury season. I'm expecting and hoping for a big year from Ozzie.

[Dr. Evil]

 

Arcia's got a career 104 ops+, and he's going to start the season at 24 years old. He's a lock to start the season with the Twins. You don't give up on young power hitters who have great minor league track records just because of one nagging injury season. I'm expecting and hoping for a big year from Ozzie.

I don't advocate one way or another. My point is that he is in a tough spot both for himself and for the team. The guy has to try and get on track in the majors since he is out of options. Hard for him and hard for the team. I also hope that he has success.

[nicksaviking]

Can you even imagine?? (I can imagine them doing it, so it's not out of the realm of possibility) What if he and Berrios both are pitching great in late April... Drop two and bring two in? The forums here would be going crazy!

That would be fine, but what if Duffey and Berrios are pitching great and the vets are pitching just "OK"? Will the they have the guts to pull Nolasco/Milone/Hughes if they are pitching like Pelfrey in 2015 even if the young guys are tearing up AAA?

 

Same with the pen. If Fien/Jepsen/Abad are just pitching like Boyer and Fien in 2015, would they get removed if any of the young arms are tearing it up?

[Lee-The-Twins-Fan]

Great read, Seth. I think you are right on, and I hope you're right and Duffey makes the rotation.  Someone on the starting staff will falter in the first month allowing for Berrios to be brought up.

 

I really like where the Twins have gone, even this offseason – getting Park, Murphy and Hicks, and just having confidence that their younger players will succeed.

 

GO TWINS!!

[gopherman23]

The smart thing to do would be to platoon Arcia and Park at DH to start the season. Put them both in a position to succeed and build confidence.

[Halsey Hall]

A lot of us down here watching are hoping Park is working on something, because he's shown squat so far.  Arcia is light years ahead of him.  Maybe it just takes awhile to get started, and I heard in Korea they train differently before the season than here. 

 

No Buxton here yet, but I think he starts in AAA.  I do think Nolasco could be in the rotation. 

[drjim]

 

The scuttlebutt seems to be that the three best starting pitchers in the Twins camp might be Santana, Berrios, and May.  But only one of those guys has a legitimate shot at breaking camp as a starter.   I understand why that is, but I don't like it.

 

I'll take Gibson this year over all three of them.

[drjim]

This would be my 25 too at the moment, though I think Pressly has a really good chance to break camp over Tonkin or someone else. Not likely those 12 pitchers all make it through spring training healthy anyways.

[beckmt]

I agree that Buxton will be given every chance to win the CF job.  But it would be easier for the Twins if he started in AAA and Arcia got enough AB's to establish himself, fail and be cut, or traded for something useful.  A few plate appearances a week is not going to establish that.  

[Rosterman]

The bullpen will be made up of a lot of 40-man decisions. Will Tonkin be optioned out. Does someone start the season on the 60-day disabled list. Who are the names in limbo of losing their 40-man spot if a minor league free agent ahs to be added. Looks like Kennys Vargas will stay in the organization, until the Twins get a read on Park and Mauer with sunglasses, at least. Sadly, there's a lot of AAAA guys on the Rochester roster whose chances are slim=to=none of ever making the Twins roster, or so one might hope. Better Kepler, Polanco and guys in your system get a chance. But won't put it past the Twins to get another looksee at Mastro or Benson if Buxton flops in spring training and someone in the outfield ends up on the dl. If Santana is the starting centerfielder guy.who WILL win the open bench job?

[MileHighTwinsFan]

 

I would expect Arcia to be better than Park. My expectations are very low for him.

 

I think Park in the starting lineup on opening day is a stretch.  I predict he spends the first month of the season, at least, in AAA and that Arcia gets all the at-bats against right-handers from the DH spot until Park proves he is the better option.    

[alskntwnsfn]

Been away from the forums for a long time, but I wanted to weigh in on a few things. 

 

1. Is Trevor Plouffe really worth all this? We're moving our man-child, uber-rookie to the OF. Normally, I don't think fielding affects hitting, but any GM should be very careful about upsetting the potential of such a special hitter at a young age. Throwing him into a position he has never played and is poorly suited for falls into that category. Also, there is a very real chance that he costs us lots of defensive runs in the OF and gets flat out embarrassed, I hope not, but it's a VERY real risk. Then we sign a Korean slugger to play DH. Fine, but that takes away the other spot you could put Sano. Think about it... we could have traded Plouffe for whatever the market would bear, signed Ryan Raburn to platoon in RF/LF with Arcia and Rosario (also providing some nice insurance in case they faltered), and kept Sano at 3B. Regardless of what we got from the trade I think that's a better team in the short term and long term. Cheaper too. And I like Trevor, he's come a long way as a hitter and is a good defensive 3B, unfortunately he should have been traded. Of course we could give guys some playing time at 1B, but that's a totally separate issue. Our bed is made there, for better or worse... but it shouldn't have been with Plouffe. 

 

2. Another year of bullpen issues? I was beside myself last year at this time, saying the bullpen construction could have been a fireable offense heading into 2015. This year isn't much better, the only thing making it better is we've taken one our better starters and made them into a RP. This is a huge need for this team, just as last year... and the only guy we added is Abad (pronounced uh-BAD, per BBREF). Lots of other teams made nice minor league signings or spent money to shore up a very important part of the equation, should their team make it to the post-season, or be in a position where 4-5 wins will make or break a season. I fear we'll be on the wrong end of those 10-15 games that come down to bullpen strength. Now, hopefully Berrios, Burdi, et al provide reinforcements, but we could have been in a much better position with minimal investment. In any case, it's sad that the message here seems to be "we'll just go with the same subpar group from last year and maybe have a few fresh arms come July." Granted, our bullpen wasn't the total disaster I thought they'd be last year, but they were still essentially in the bottom third of MLB, that won't cut it if we want to be a good team... and we have the financial flexibility and roster space to make improvements, that's the frustrating thing.