Article: Minnesota Twins Roster Projection 4.0

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php/2774-Minnesota-Twins-Roster-Projection-4-0

[blindeke]

Why don't they trade a reliever or two?

[jokin]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php/2774-Minnesota-Twins-Roster-Projection-4-0

 

Nick, it looks like you have a pretty good grasp on how this roster situation is going to play out. Just a week or so ago, there was lots of speculation that a potential trade was in the works for near the close of ST. Did you hear enough in your time in Ft. Myers to rate the current chances of such a deal going down by March 31?

[slash129]

Will be watching Parmelee's production if he is picked up by another team who's patient with him and gives him a legitimate opportunity ... If he puts up Garrett Jones type numbers, I will then compare those numbers to the half season of sub-.700 OPS (sub-.500 vs lefties) that will likely come from Kubel and continue scratching my head.

[Dr. Evil]

Colabello, Thielbar, Tonkin yes please. All three are better than other options. Not a big fan of playing the who has options game. I prefer putting the best 25 out there.

[Kwak]

Colabello, Thielbar, Tonkin yes please. All three are better than other options. Not a big fan of playing the who has options game. I prefer putting the best 25 out there.

 

Absolutely! Retaining underperformers on the active roster because they are out-of-options runs counter to common sense as well as to spending mega-millions on free-agent pitchers whose sole purpose is to reduce the heavy-losing. Tonkin and to a lesser extent Thielbar strengthen a bullpen and will contribute to a few more wins over the season. Diamond's value is as a starter/long-relief/mop-up duty. He hasn't got "it" as a starter, and the long-relief roles have proven players already on-board.

[Shane Wahl]

I would hope that Colabello beats out Kubel.

 

And the bullpen could be bad. We have no idea how Deduno and Diamond would actually do there. Thielbar and Tonkin are obviously better options, but they have options.

[KirbyHawk75]

I do not get Gardy's fascination with Kubel or Bartlett, especially Bartlett. Twins are going to stink this year, so might as well play kids. When Bartlett got his first hit, a buddy and I were kidding that was the clinch for Bartlett to make the team.

[Since71]

Earlier this week the Twins brass were complaining that players weren't earning spots. Colabello has certainly earned his and if they decide to keep Kubel instead then they are sending a mixed message. I have always liked Kubel, but he is not the future of the Twins and has done nothing to indicate he should be part of the present. I will be very disappointed if Colabello does not go north with the team...my only consolation is that I will get to watch him here in Rochester.

[Seth Stohs]

I'll be disappointed if Colabello isn't on the opening day roster, but Kubel is a proven veteran. I definitely understand him being on the roster regardless of his numbers.

 

If Pinto makes it, he needs to play 5 days a week... Will be interesting to see how that plays out.

[KirbyHawk75]

Seth, would you rather have Pinto start out at AAA? Just curious what your thoughts are on that. I agree if he does not play 5 days a week(which I hope he does) then he should be playing catcher every day in Rochester.

[Brandon]

They should see if Colabello can catch an inning or two in an emergency so we can send Hermann down. I don't think the third string catcher will be as big a deal if they have a hitter on the bench that can pinch hit which would be Colabello if he makes the team.

 

Sending down the players with options and keeping the players out of options does make the team better as a hole in the long run. In the short run no but if there are injuries throughout the season we will have better depth to handle them this way. while right now a player is hot that doesn't mean they are the superior player. If Colabello could sudo platoon with Kubel that would be a boost to our offense. But I guess Pinto is going to do that. I hope they work out a trade for some of our cast off pitchers. I think Guerrier is also I viable option after a few more weeks of pitching.

[TheLeviathan]

I'll be sad if we have to cut ties with Parmelee.

[jokin]

They should see if Colabello can catch an inning or two in an emergency so we can send Hermann down. I don't think the third string catcher will be as big a deal if they have a hitter on the bench that can pinch hit which would be Colabello if he makes the team.

 

Sending down the players with options and keeping the players out of options does make the team better as a hole in the long run. In the short run no but if there are injuries throughout the season we will have better depth to handle them this way. while right now a player is hot that doesn't mean they are the superior player. If Colabello could sudo platoon with Kubel that would be a boost to our offense. But I guess Pinto is going to do that. I hope they work out a trade for some of our cast off pitchers. I think Guerrier is also I viable option after a few more weeks of pitching.

 

The Twins already have an emergency catcher in Escobar. The Twins do need another RH bat, with or without Pinto, especially one that can PH, and spell Mauer or a corner OF for occasional days off. Not necessarily expecting great things from Colabello, but Hermann adds even less dimension to the already-anemic offense

[Thrylos]

That's about right. Herrmann will likely make it because of his versatility and because he leads the existing camp in OPS. I see a 3 way battle between Kubel, Parmelee and Colabello, for one spot, with Colabello the likely winner (unless they buy the "proven veteran" thing with Kubel. Remember, Yesterday Eddie was a 'proven veteran' when the Twins traded a Hamburger for him, so Capps was a "proven closer".)

 

I have a hard time seeing Diamond on the pen. He just cannot get lefties out. I think that at this point, Diamond, Tonkin, Fien, Thielbar and Matt Guerrier (another 'proven veteran') will be fighting for 2 spots.

[nicksaviking]

It's been said a million times but the Twins already have an emergency catcher playing 1B. If that is absolutely not a possibility, then be a normal team and let the pitcher hit or pinch hit for him in the one freakin' game all year where that situation MAY come into play. Shrinking your bench by one bat for 161 games simply to guard against that situation is beyond shortsighted.

 

Herrmann, Pinto and Suzuki should make it based on production, not as a 100-1 emergency insurance.

[70charger]

Chris Parmelee is the victim of a roster squeeze, and could be lost because he's out of options. It simply doesn't make sense to carry both Kubel and Parmelee, and all indications are that Kubel is in.

 

What indications? Are there quotes from the decision makers that indicate he's likely won a spot?

 

The reason I ask is that I've been watching this spring, and as far as I can tell, all indications are that he's been brutal.

[ppearson50]

With our almost non existent offense and Hermann now a possibility to take a roster spot going North, this would seem like a good time to sign Kendry Morales or Stephen Drew.

[ppearson50]

The front office has to be feeling at least a little pressure to add offense either by a trade or a signing. You would think.

[gbg]

Nick - who is your backup first baseman in this arrangement? Hopefully won't need one often, but the only one has played a single inning at the position, minors or majors, except Mauer, is Willingham, who has a total of four innings there, none since 2009.

[jokin]

With our almost non existent offense and Hermann now a possibility to take a roster spot going North, this would seem like a good time to sign Kendry Morales or Stephen Drew.

 

How about both? Since both Arcia and Florimon have options, they could both be signed without disrupting or endangering current players on the Twins roster bubble. Arcia can get called up as soon as Kubel shows it isn't working out, or even if Kubel does work out, when they inevitably trade Willingham.

[ppearson50]

Morales supposedly turned down both a one year and a multi year offer from Seattle but they are probably trying to lowball him. It seems like both Drew and Morales have just about no interest in them at all right now. What a weird situation for two guys who both turned down $14 million one year deals months ago. I'm sure having Boras as your agent makes life interesting.

[ppearson50]

I think the pitching will be better but it looks like to me the offense will be worse, possibly a lot worse.

[jokin]

Nick - who is your backup first baseman in this arrangement? Hopefully won't need one often, but the only one has played a single inning at the position, minors or majors, except Mauer, is Willingham, who has a total of four innings there, none since 2009.

 

Although Hermann has taken some reps at 1B this spring, Trevor Plouffe will be the likely backup First Baseman in this Hermann-makes-it scenario. He played there in 2011 at Roc. and has played at 1B with the Twins in games last year, 2012, and 2011.

[jorgenswest]

I am not certain Presley is a lock. Escobar and Parmelee played in CF the last two days. Presley offers below average defense in center. It would be upgrade over a Escobar, but will it be worth a spot on the bench?

 

He would be on my bench, but I would be watching the waiver wire.

 

I think Parmelee or Colabello make the roster. It could be for a catcher or possibly Kubel. They should cut ties with Kubel. It is so easy to think that signing a guy like Kubel to a minor league contract has no downside. The downside is when he takes the roster spot or playing time from developing younger players.

[ppearson50]

It just scares me when we are talking about a bench of Presley, Hermann, Escobar and Pinto, with Pinto being the only one with a decent statline the last two years. I would hate to see Colabello not make it because of three catchers.

[Dantes929]

I think Parmelee or Colabello make the roster. It could be for a catcher or possibly Kubel. They should cut ties with Kubel. It is so easy to think that signing a guy like Kubel to a minor league contract has no downside. The downside is when he takes the roster spot or playing time from developing younger players.

That is a great point. I also hate the phrase proven anything. It can be proven that Kubel was a worthwhile player at some point in the past but it can also be proven that he hit .216 last year. I was not opposed to signing Kubel and there should be no downside. Send him to the minors and let him "prove" there that he belongs. I believe it has already been established that he is willing to do that.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'll be sad if we have to cut ties with Parmelee.

 

I was thinking this too. If Parm is not on the roster and Bartlet, Kubel, or Herrman (as the 3rd C)are, there's something seriously wrong here.

[jokin]

That is a great point. I also hate the phrase proven anything. It can be proven that Kubel was a worthwhile player at some point in the past but it can also be proven that he hit .216 last year. I was not opposed to signing Kubel and there should be no downside. Send him to the minors and let him "prove" there that he belongs. I believe it has already been established that he is willing to do that.

 

I guess it depends on what your read, but everything I've read has indicated that Kubel turned down major league offers to sign with the Twins. I haven't found a Twins beat writer yet who isn't operating on the presumption that Kubel is on the opening day roster.

 

On a realated note, we have been having discussions on other threads noting that Arcia has looked bad in the OF and has a 33% K rate this spring. Might he be the one ticketed to Rochester for more seasoning and awaiting the next roster opening?

[Thrylos]

I am not certain Presley is a lock. Escobar and Parmelee played in CF the last two days. .

 

I would love to see a Willingham, Parmelee and Arcia or Kubel Outfield. I bet so would the Twins' pitchers...