Guess the 2014 Opening day roster

[diehardtwinsfan]

Might be a fun change of pace. Guessing what they will do, not necessarily what I want. I'm guessing they don't go heavy into free agency, with their only real splash being a mid-level contract for Phil Hughes.

 

I think Perkins, Doumit, and Correia are all traded. Pelfrey is either traded at the deadline or not resigned. Morneau does not return, nor does Carol. The team also decides to go young. In AAA, they will have Pinto, Sano, Rosario, Meyer, and May also waiting in the wings. Willingham will likely be moved near the deadline, and over the course of the season, the other AAA prospects will be rotated in as people falter.

 

 

LF- Willingham

CF - Hicks

RF - Arcia

3B - Plouffe

SS - Beresford

2B - Dozier

1B - Parmelee

C - Mauer

DH - Colobello

 

SP - Gibson, Darnell, Phil Hughes, Worley, Deduno

RP - Tonkin, Fein, Burton, Theilbar, Diamond, Rule 5 guy

 

BN - Clete Thomas, Florimon, Maestro, Hermsen, Escobar.

[TheLeviathan]

Prepare for Bruce Chen. That's my guess.

[Rosterman]

The problem with this is unrealistic signings, like Hughes. You can pretty much only deal with who will be gone from the 40-man roster and added from the organization.

 

Look for Morneau, Pelfry and Carroll gone for sure.

 

Correia and Willingham are still trade chips, depending on how they end the season. But both are players that would be better moved now, in July, than the off-season when other teams can sign real free agents or trade for other similar parts.

 

I don't see Doumit leaving. He is the man until we see if Pinto becomes the backup (with Herrmann as a bench guy).

 

Which brings to question Drew Butera (and in some ways Nick Blackburn). For some odd reason, I see the Twins looking at Blackie before the season ends. For some odd reason. Drew, there is no reason whatsoever to sign him for above the major league minimum, and that is debateable.

 

The next big question is all the outfielders. Mastro, Ramirez and Thomas are not needed on the 40-man. You can resign them if you choose, to minor league contracts.

 

The Twins have to address Escobar, Florimon and Dozier. Considering that is all they have.....

 

The Twins have to look hard and long at arbitration with Swarzak and Duensing. Can they be repalced by Hernandez/Diamond. Could DeVries be in the mix (I think not). I doubt that Roeincke will be back. Tim Wood will get a minor league contract and a look in 2014.

 

Worley will be back sometime. Hendriks might be trade bait.

 

It will be interesting to see if any from Darnell, Albers, Hermsen, Meyer, May jump into the rotation at the beginning of the season.

 

We will find out shortly if Morneau will be a longterm Twin. I see no reason for the Twins to let him walk after the season ends with no return. Do it now and risk the chance that you could resign him.

 

I see no free agent wanting to come to Minnesota unless they overpay, and we know that will not happen. Rather than Hughes, we stand a better chance seeing the return of Ramon Ortiz or Jason Marquis, or maybe signing Bartalo Colan.

[Danchat]

Here's my roster for Opening Day 2014:

C Mauer

1B Parmelee

2B Dozier

SS Florimon

3B Plouffe

LF Arcia

CF Hicks

RF Doumit

DH Willingham

 

Bench: INF Escobar, OF Mastroianni, 3B/1B Colabello, C Herrmann

Opening Day Starter: Correia, (the rest) Deduno, Gibson, Diamond, Pressly

Bullpen: CL Burton, SU Tonkin, Thielbar, Duensing, Fien, LR Swarzak, LR Worley, RP Waiver Fodder, i.e. Ramon Tronosco/Phil Coke/Zach Duke

 

Interesting points summarized: Doumit in RF you say? And Willinghammer at DH? I bet Willingham is nearing the end of his days in the outfield. Doumit will not be the main RF for the season but he'll start there and still play catcher.

 

I also bet the Twins will move Pressly to the starting rotation and he'll be a colossal failure. Then they'll send him to AAA, send him back, and realize he's a good reliever.

 

Vance Worley as a long reliever? He just isn't a good starter, and he might make it in the bullpen, a la Swarzak or Duensing.

 

Waive Wire Fodder? AKA Jeff Gray/Jared Burton/Josh Roenicke. Can't really predict who it'll be.

 

I think only Perkins gets traded. Burton will be lights out this summer and win the closer job next year. I'm probably too high on Tonkin, but hey, no risk, no glory.

[Badsmerf]

1b- Doumit

2b- Dozier

SS- Florimon

3b- Plouffe

LF- Willingham

CF- Hicks

RF- Arcia

C- Mauer

 

SP- Gibson

SP- Correia

SP- Diamond

SP- Deduno

SP- Hendriks

 

RP- Swarzak

RP- Perkins

RP- Burton

RP- Duensing

RP- Pressley

RP- Fien

RP- Tonkin

 

BN- Pinto

BN- Escobar

BN- Mastro

BN- Colabello (might be given shot at 1b)

BN- Parmelee

 

Worely might find his way on the roster in front of Hendriks. I post this line-up with the pessimism that TR will not make any real effort to improve the team. Any moves that he does make will be dumpster diving that we couldn't predict.

[bl]

As much as he's had a solid season this year, I don't expect Beresford will start at SS next year. Looking at his minor league track record he's slowly been transitioning to 2B, playing less and less SS.

[mudcat14]

I think they blow it up yet this year. Morneau & Perkins gone by the deadline. Willingham, Doumit, Correia & Pelfry by then or in waiver deals. Look for at least one or two potential 2014 regulars to come in return for those previously mentioned.

 

 

The 2014 off-season will see the Twins make an unprecedented push in the FA market. Top targets will be Phil Hughes & Josh Johnson (if he shows reasonable health for the rest of the way and has a hankering to return home,) and at least one veteran bat, probably in the OF (Carlos Beltran, Hunter Pence or Corey Hart.)

 

Guys like Colabello, Herrman, Beresford, Richardson, Rohlfing & Thomas will be given every opportunity to prove that they can at least fill stop-gap duty until the prime prospects are ready to start filtering in, in late 2014-2016.

 

The only sure things as I see them for opening day are;

 

Hicks - CF

Dozier - 2B

Plouffe - 3B

Parmelee - 1b/OF

Arcia - OF

Mauer - C

 

Gibson - SP

 

Everything else is up for grabs, as it should be.

[Danchat]

(Carlos Beltran, Hunter Pence or Corey Hart.)

I can't see the Twins signing a veteran OF in a rebuilding season, when there is younger players needing to play there. Don't forget Buxton might be able to spring up halfway through the year, albeit that's highly unlikely.

[clutterheart]

Yuck

Lets look at 2015, thats when it gets fun again

[howieramone1406390264]

I can't see the Twins signing a veteran OF in a rebuilding season, when there is younger players needing to play there. Don't forget Buxton might be able to spring up halfway through the year, albeit that's highly unlikely.

I'm starting to lean that way also. IMO the Hicks experiment is working. Good way to put butts in the seats.

[howeda7]

Morneau and Burton should be dealt this year. Carroll and Pelfrey as well if possible.

 

Without Morneau, Carroll or Pelfrey, they're looking at a payroll of $65 million. The notion that they can't sign any significant FA's is total BS. They need to make a real play for a starter this time. I'd go with Josh Johnson. It would be nice to address SS in free agency, but the list of those available is brutal.

 

CF - Hicks

SS - Eduardo Nunez (acquired in Mourneau in trade)

C - Mauer

LF - Willingham

RF - Arcia

3B - Plouffe

DH - Michael Young

1B - Parmalee

2B - Dozier

 

Bench:

Doumit

Escobar

Mastro

Collabello

 

Starters:

Josh Johnson

Gibson

Deduno

Diamond

Corriea

 

Bullpen:

Perkins

Pressly

Fein

Thielbar

Duensing

Roeneke

Hernandez/Swarzak

[stringer bell]

I would hope that any major league players acquired in trade are pitchers. I'm leaving one spot blank in the bullpen and one in the starting rotation as trade proceeds. I expect the Twins to sign one hitter and one pitcher--right now I'm going to say Josh Johnson, since his stock and price have dropped. 2014 should be a ramp-up year with true contention coming in 2015.

 

Pitching--Gibson, Hendriks, Diamond, Worley, Johnson, Burton, Tonkin, Duensing, Thielbar, Hernandez + two from trades.

 

Catcher--Mauer, Pinto, Herrmann

 

Infield--Plouffe, Florimon, Dozier, Parmelee, Carabello, Parmelee

 

Outfield--Hart (FA), Willingham, Arcia, Hicks,