The 40-Man: Who to Drop, Who to Add

[ScottyB]

There are quite a few easy choices as in who's not part of the future: De Vries, Hermson, Martis, Bernier, Fryer, Ramirez (this doesn't open a spot since as he's on the 60-day), Thomas, Pelfrey (off as a free agent). That opens 7 spots. Then it's decision time - Roenicke (he should be fairly easy to replace), Hendricks (he could be a Roenicke replacement in the pen), Duensing (could be a non-tender because he'll be more expensive), Colabello (probable AAAA guy, but has pop), Parmellee (see Colabello), Mastoianni (maybe it was injuries, maybe age, but he wasn't the terror we saw in 2012 running the bases and stealing runs). That could open another six if there are 13 better options to add from the minors. I don't believe that Willingham or Doumit will be traded before the November 20 deadline for changes to the roster. I do expect them to be traded to make room for Sano, Rosario, etc.

 

The question is who don't we want to lose in the Rule V draft. I'd add Wimmers, if only because we could put him on the 60-day when a free-agent is signed. I'd probably add Vargas to replace Colabello or Parmellee. Two additional possibles are Kepler and Polanco. What is the likelyhood of a Low A level player being drafted and kept on a major league roster? I can see a pitcher being hidden in a bullpen, but it's harder to see a position player making the jump from Low A ball to the majors.

 

Who else should be added?

[gunnarthor]

Sano doesn't have to be protected yet. I don't remember who else had to be protected but they'll easily have the spots to protect everyone they need.

[Mike Sixel]

I think Kepler is eligible for the minor league portion, so he'd be taken for sure. Maybe even Wimmers is, but I'm not as sure on that one.

[Shane Wahl]

They can add more people than they really need to protect. Vargas, Kepler, and Polanco are, I imagine, in need of protection, esp. Vargas at this point.

[howieramone1406390264]

I think Ryan mentioned 15-18 new faces on the roster. I agree with gunnarthor, I can't imagine it will be difficult to do. I believe this year it will be addition by subtraction.

[Shane Wahl]

But I went through that thing and saw 10 gone easily, more to be traded (hopefully).

[nicksaviking]

Two additional possibles are Kepler and Polanco. What is the likelyhood of a Low A level player being drafted and kept on a major league roster?

 

There are plenty of GM's in win now mode who wouldn't consider it, but considering all of the other rebuilding teams, I wouldn't take the chance. As fans who follow the prospects, think about our reaction if two prospects of this caliber were left available for the Twins to pick up. We'd be begging for Ryan to snag them, roster spots be damned, considering 2014 looks to be another lost season.

[nicksaviking]

"We (played) some teams here that had a lot to play for in September. That's the one thing I do enjoy. We're playing games here that mean something for the opposition..."

 

So they did play in meaningful games in September!!!

 

"If you want to look at Tampa Bay and you want to look at Cleveland and you want to look at Oakland, and then you look at what our payroll is, and then you look at a team like the Yankees, maybe, add it up. You don't necessarily have to have a Top 10 payroll to get to the postseason."

 

What the **** does that mean?

 

I can't stand when this guy talks anymore.

 

I too don't like what those quotes imply. I'm not sure what it has to do with the 40 man thread though.

[Kwak]

There will be many additions--but we should not expect quality additions. Baseball is chock-full of AAA/AAAA players who will sign for the minimum to get another crack "at the Show". It's not about winning [baseball games]. I can't give the full link to an article by Brian Costa in The Wall Street Journal Online, I wrote-down 31 characters--and there were more!--on my browser line. There were 5 bullet points, included are these:

 

"Winning doesn't necessarily drive attendance--Winning isn't necessarily enough to overcome market and stadium issues."

 

"Losing isn't always enough-- to drive away a loyal fan base."

 

Roster changes? Maybe 15 new faces, maybe 10, whatever--these are only cosmetic changes with the purpose of: 1) slashing payroll; 2) give the appearance of change; 3) hope to "get lucky" and find someone who actually is useful. People buy lottery tickets, so do sports franchises. "Dollar and a dream" goes the slogan.

[70charger]

First off, I'm going to ignore the posters who are treating this as another excuse to talk about how the Twins don't care about winning. I disagree with that entire premise.

 

Second, and more on topic, I generally agree with many of the names you proposed:

 

There are quite a few easy choices as in who's not part of the future: De Vries, Hermson, Martis, Bernier, Fryer, Ramirez (this doesn't open a spot since as he's on the 60-day), Thomas, Pelfrey (off as a free agent).

 

Very good start. I'd add in that I don't think anybody would be picking up Colabello. I'd hesitate to drop Parmelee at this point, and I think I'd rather have him than Colabello. We wouldn't really miss Mastroianni much I don't think.

 

I'd like to see Hendriks moved into a bullpen spot if he can't cut it in the rotation or if he is displaced by better free agent starting pitchers. I think he and Swarzak could do the same thing, and they both seemed to follow the same pattern when starting - a few scoreless innings and then a complete blow-up. And Hendriks probably has more upside at this point. Then again, you could feasibly replace other bullpen arms with Hendriks too.

 

As for whom to add, I'm just not familiar enough with which players have to be added to be protected. I know there are some talented guys on that list though, and they should have priority over guys like Colabello who may be role-players in the majors but won't be a part of the future.

[Seth Stohs]

For who is eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December, check out Jeremy's Rosters and Payrolls link on the front page.

[Oxtung]

In the last 10 years only 1 position player has been drafted from A-ball and not been returned or traded for. That was the Padres SS.

 

Can someone explain the minor league portion of the draft because my interpretation and what others have said here aren't the same.

[Mike Sixel]

I was going off what someone said in a thread in the minor league forums.....I have no idea.....

[diehardtwinsfan]

There's quite a bit of dead wood to cut and not a ton to add. I was thinking they had maybe 6 guys who should be added at this stage, and they have far more than that to cut.

[ashbury]

I can't give the full link to an article by Brian Costa in The Wall Street Journal Online, I wrote-down 31 characters--and there were more!--on my browser line.

 

It's here:

 

MLB: Five Lessons From 2013 - WSJ.com