Article: 2018 Minnesota Twins Roster Projections (1.0)

[Homer Hanky]

 

Why do they need post season experience? Isn't having good players more important? It is in my book.

 

Can't we have both? I agree good players are more important...  then bad players with post season  experience... I guess I am putting too much faith in Torii Hunter's guys... to bring us to where we all want the Twins to be come November! 

[Doctor Wu]

Imagine if both Hughes and Sanchez have a bunch of stellar spring training outings? Things could get wonderfully weird --- in a good way --- in trying to determine the starting rotation to start the season.

[jmlease1]

 

Everyone has an insurance policy on their car and home, a policy from company X (no, this isn't a State Farm advertisement).  It is possible company X has re-insured their losses to some extent with company Y.  I look at Aybar as being the Twins re-insurance policy.

 

Should Sano begin the year suspended or on the DL because his leg still isn't 100%, Escobar will be starting at third.  Their insurance, should that happen, is to have Adrianza as their utility player and Gordon available at AAA.  Should something also happen to Adrianza, or Gordon prove this spring that he isn't ready for the show, they signed Aybar to a minor league deal.  Kind of like re-insurance, something you have but never expect to use! 

 

I just think we should have been able to find a better insurance policy than a Erick Aybar, who hasn't hit in three years and whose defense is on the decline. And I'm completely baffled by the people who think he should be considered an option over Adrianza; there's almost no chance Aybar becomes the player he was 4 years ago again.  It's much more likely he's unable to replicate even last season's modest success being on the downward plane of his fine career. Adrianza is almost 6 years younger and was a better player last year. He's much more likely to do at least as well this season than the guy who just turned 34. 

 

I'd say 3B is an area where we don't have much system depth right now.

[bobs]

 

Sorry, do not see Aybar making this club.  He probably would have to do more than he is capable of to make it. I see Adrianza a better shot than Aybar, defends as well and is cheaper.  I also see Grossman gone as do not see a role for him here with the Morrison signing.  Would like to see Granite or Wade be the 4th outfielder, they both can field and run.  I guess Grossman could make it as a platoon partner for either Rosario or Kepler, but think it is early in their careers to call them platoon players.

Aybar makes it if Sano can't go...either due to injury or suspension.  Gotta be the only reason he was brought in.

[twinfan]

It is way too early to predict who will make the team as there still could be trades made. I like Aybar for his versatility but he is on the downside of his career. I do not like Duke though he is a veteran. I hope he doesn't take away a good kid's spot that we could lose. The issue with the Twins is not who will make the roster but are guys like Escobar and Rosario for real. They made good strides last year but can they come close to those numbers again? Let's hope so. Rodney scares me and I can see Reed becoming the real closer before it is all done. I like Vargas but he doesn't produce- especially from the right side. And Pressley may need a better pitching coach. With his stuff, there is no excuse for him not blossoming. 

[BJames]

Pressly NEVER can throw a curve for a strike and his fastball is straight and hit able when you know its coming.  

[Andrew Thares]

 

I can't find a way to sort by spin rate leaders (the statcast and savant websites are pretty terrible), but on a statcast podcast last year petriello mentioned Busenitz having the second highest spinning fastball of any reliever who threw 100 fastballs. The outliers at the top and bottom of the spin rate list (according to petriello) generally have fantastic outcomes. The names he was surrounded by are basically the who's who of best relief pitchers in the game and petriello adamantly suggested he will be the future closer for the Twins. I hope he makes this squad as he is one of the five best RH relief pitchers the organization has right now.

Sorting by spin rate on the baseball savant website is actually pretty simple. Once on the website go to Statcast Search. On that page in the Pitch Type category filter by the fastballs; under Position select RP; under Min # of Results select 100; under Sort By select Avg. Spin Rate. This should give you the list that you are looking for.

[beckmt]

Twins have other players who can play LF against lefties and everyone needs a day off.  Grossman will not start against a righty (maybe if Buxton sits).  That is the reason I am against Grossman(he has value), but against lefties Morrison could play LF or RF, Sano at first, Escobar at 3rd and either Mauer or another bench piece at DH.  That would be a better use for me than carrying Grossman for the few times he would play.  Also you would have Granite (or Wade) as your 4th outfielder and they can play all the outfield positions.

Wade is not that far away and he could be up this year.

[jkcarew]

 

but against lefties Morrison could play LF or RF...

I've read this a few times here.  And, no.  He can't.

 

There is no evidence to suggest the Twins would even consider it in an abolute emergency.  He has exactly zero appearances in the OF over the last two seasons, and a total of 2 starts the year before that.  2012 was the last time a MLB team saw fit to give him even as many OF starts as Grossman had last year.  Escobar would play OF (and has) before they would move Morrison out there.

[Mr. Brooks]

Twins have other players who can play LF against lefties and everyone needs a day off. Grossman will not start against a righty (maybe if Buxton sits). That is the reason I am against Grossman(he has value), but against lefties Morrison could play LF or RF, Sano at first, Escobar at 3rd and either Mauer or another bench piece at DH. That would be a better use for me than carrying Grossman for the few times he would play. Also you would have Granite (or Wade) as your 4th outfielder and they can play all the outfield positions.

Wade is not that far away and he could be up this year.

Morrison has played a combined 13 games in the outfield the last 5 seasons.

I'm guessing Morrison isn't an option out there as anything more than an emergency basis.

[gocgo]

When I look at what Grossman brings to the club, he certainly takes quality at bats and offers a bit of pop.  He's probably not ideal for a pinch runner, can only play the corner OF spots and is a bit of a liability when he is in one of those spots.

 

When I look at what Granite brings to the club, he also takes quality at bats but doesn' offer much pop.  He is a good option for a pinch runner and can play all 3 OF positions without much of a drop off if any.  He is also a cheaper option than Grossman.

 

If the Twins are intent on keeping both, the job is Grossman's, but I don't know why we would be intent on keeping both given that Wade is close.  Grossman has over achieved in my mind and hats off to him, but I just don't see a spot for him if your intent is to break with the strongest and most flexible team.

 

If they are going to cut Grossman lose, the right thing is to cut him early and give him a chance to catch on with another team.

[ThejacKmp]

 

Twins have other players who can play LF against lefties and everyone needs a day off.  Grossman will not start against a righty (maybe if Buxton sits).  That is the reason I am against Grossman(he has value), but against lefties Morrison could play LF or RF, Sano at first, Escobar at 3rd and either Mauer or another bench piece at DH.  That would be a better use for me than carrying Grossman for the few times he would play.  Also you would have Granite (or Wade) as your 4th outfielder and they can play all the outfield positions.

Wade is not that far away and he could be up this year.

 

Other people addressed the defense but even offensively that makes no sense. Grossman has 50 points on Morrison in career OBP vs. LHP. He would be a way better bat.

 

Wade hits lefty. He's pretty redundant unless he really really hits. Granite/Wade should likely be part of a midseason trade if they play well -- they're maybe good players but they don't fit a team that has Buxton in CF and a pair of lefties in the corners.

[howieramone2]

 

Maybe they can trade Vargas to Miami and keep Kinley?  I'm not really sure what they see in Kinley, but they clearly like something and, barring an injury, there's no room for him in the bullpen.  They can't expect to get much back for Vargas when teams are just waiting for them to DFA him, but this way they'd at least get to keep working with Kinley. 

I had the same thought. They can clear off 2 spots on the 40 man with one move.

[howieramone2]

 

Pressly is the other guy who I think might be out in the final end.  Busenitz is the player I expect to make it.  Pressly has never put it all together and with this club, potential is going to mean less than results. (At least I hope so). Would almost like them to deal him early, because late teams become more aware of who might be picked up at no cost (except for salary) and will not offer anything.  

Maybe he can be fixed, just do not think Twins can afford and try to figure that out.

When you have the stuff that Pressly has, you have to go that extra yard. Twinkietown did quite an article on Pressly in 2016.

[howieramone2]

 

Players need rest. Grossman is not a good fielder. He's an ok hitter. I guess it depends on if you want defense or not on the days you rest a starter.

Grossman is more than serviceable in LF and RF. Don't pretend he's Arcia out there.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I had the same thought. They can clear off 2 spots on the 40 man with one move.

Not quite that simple. Kinley would have to clear waivers too, before we could make this deal. If the Twins see enough from him this spring to want to keep him in the org, it seems possible another team would put in a claim. Hence these kinds of Rule 5 trades are quite rare.

Edited February 28, 2018 by spycake