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  • Across the Meadow: Blueprint Reveal


    Jeremy Nygaard

    John and Jeremy revealed their Offseason Blueprint during a 90-minute often-exhilarating Across the Meadow podcast on Tuesday night. The 40-man roster decisions, arbitration-eligible player decisions, free agent predictions and potential trade targets were all examined. There are other topics covered as well, such as the coaching staff carousel that made a few stops on Tuesday afternoon.

    Twins Video

    For much greater detail, listen to our podcast. You can listen directly here or download directly from iTunes here.

    As it stands currently (with the six free agents), the Twins have 37 players on their 40-man roster. Both Jeremy and John are going to pare down that number by outrighting Johnny Field, Zach Granite, Chase DeJong, Tyler Duffey, John Curtiss and Aaron Slegers. John will outright Alan Busenitz additionally. Neither are tendering a contract to Robbie Grossman (who could be brought back for less than $4 million).

    This puts Jeremy's roster at 30. John has 29.

    By November 20, teams must add Rule 5-eligible players to their 40-man. Both Jeremy and John will add Nick Gordon, LaMonte Wade and Luis Arraez. John will also add Jake Reed and Tyler Jay. Jeremy will add Johan Quezada.

    This puts both rosters at 34.

    Our intention was to leave an open spot to draft an Rule 5 players and keep our payroll under $125 million.

    If you've listened to the podcast before, you'll know that Jeremy has been a big fan of Nathan Eovaldi (even before his great playoff run). Both Jeremy and John would sign him to a 4 year, $58 million deal (contract projection from Twins Daily's offseason handbook).

    John will spend more handsomely on the bullpen adding both Andrew Miller (2 yr/$24m) and Joe Kelly (2 yr/$14.5m).

    Jeremy, never a believer is spending big on bullpen arms, is only adding Sergio Romo (1 yr/$3m).

    On the offensive side of things, it's Jeremy who is opening up the wallet. He's adding Jose Iglesias (2 yr/$18m) to play shortstop, allowing Jorge Polanco to slide over to second base and providing a bridge to Royce Lewis. He's also hoping for Josh Donaldson (1 yr/$15m) to regain health and dominate Target Field once again, limiting his time at third base (60 games) and letting him DH 50-70 times. His last add provides positional flexibility, adding Marwin Gonzalez (3 yr/$33m) who can play all around the infield and the outfield corners.

    John plugs D.J. LeMahieu (3 yr/$38 m) in at second base, electing to keep Polanco at shortstop and swings for the fences, adding Adrian Beltre (2 yr/$30m) to provide leadership and guidance to the young core, especially Miguel Sano.

    All told, Jeremy's projected payroll comes in right around $125m while John's is a little higher, around $130m.

    All of these signings may be unlikely, but during the podcast we talk about alternatives as the Plan A guys come off the board.

    Listen and let us know what you think.

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    I’m with John when it comes to relievers and I’m with Jeremy when it comes to offense. Other than that I don’t agree with picking up Eovaldi and i’d probably keep Busenitz around as a good fall back in the pen.

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    I fail to see the logic of adding a rule 5 player and then adding pieces in an attempt to contend. IMO, those moves are contradictory in an era of 12-13 man pitching staffs. Unless the guy can play an actual role, it’s a waste of a valuable roster spot. Guys that good aren’t usually available. The Twins tried it each of the last two years and it was an abject failure.

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    I fail to see the logic of adding a rule 5 player and then adding pieces in an attempt to contend. IMO, those moves are contradictory in an era of 12-13 man pitching staffs. Unless the guy can play an actual role, it’s a waste of a valuable roster spot. Guys that good aren’t usually available. The Twins tried it each of the last two years and it was an abject failure.

    DifferentComplicatedKakapo-max-1mb.gif

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    Teams usually leave a spot open in advance of the Rule 5 draft whether they draft a player or not. You typically have some play on your 40-man over the course of the offseason. For this particular exercise, we wanted to keep a roster space, cause that's what most teams will do in advance of setting their 40-man roster.

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    I fail to see the logic of adding a rule 5 player and then adding pieces in an attempt to contend. IMO, those moves are contradictory in an era of 12-13 man pitching staffs. Unless the guy can play an actual role, it’s a waste of a valuable roster spot. Guys that good aren’t usually available. The Twins tried it each of the last two years and it was an abject failure.

     

    I agree with you... Ryan Pressly worked out... Johan obviously. 

     

    But... we can't afford to hide the guy anymore.

     

    If you want to dive into the rule 5... Dive into it... Grab the guy and play the guy.

     

    If the attitude is let's absorb him for a year for a pay day in 2021. Pass. 

     

    If the attitude is... I think he could contribute to the team this year. Go Ahead but the odds are against it so Jeremy and John can have that roster spot back and utilize it as they see fit.  :)

     

     

     

     

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    Are they unrealistic? They might be. However, you can't tell me someone like Sergio Romo is unrealistic, or even Jose Iglesias for that matter. Jeremy's additions were quite realistic. For me I was looking at how to fill $55-60 million in cap space the best way that I saw fit. After last years crazy free agency and the abundance of players available this year, anything could happen. 

    I never quite know what to think of these blueprints with their unrealistic free agency signings.  

     

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    I agree with you... Ryan Pressly worked out... Johan obviously.

     

    But... we can't afford to hide the guy anymore.

     

    If you want to dive into the rule 5... Dive into it... Grab the guy and play the guy.

     

    If the attitude is let's absorb him for a year for a pay day in 2021. Pass.

     

    If the attitude is... I think he could contribute to the team this year. Go Ahead but the odds are against it so Jeremy and John can have that roster spot back and utilize it as they see fit. :)

    Pressly was drafted in 2013, to a team that lost 96 games.

     

    Johan in 2000, to a team that lost 93.

     

    No problem trying to find a diamond in the rough under those circumstances.

     

    But teams trying to contend can’t do that. And these authors are throwing around big name free agents like Adrian Beltre, etc is clearly an attempt to contend.

     

    Being wishy washy is a proven failed strategy.

     

    A wise philosopher once said: “Walk left, safe. Walk right, safe. Walk in the middle, you get squashed like grape.”

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    Teams usually leave a spot open in advance of the Rule 5 draft whether they draft a player or not. You typically have some play on your 40-man over the course of the offseason. For this particular exercise, we wanted to keep a roster space, cause that's what most teams will do in advance of setting their 40-man roster.

    You said in the post that your intention was to DRAFT a rule 5 player. Not look at who’s there and make a decision. You clearly stated DRAFT. Try to contend or don’t. Don’t try to do both. It doesn’t work.

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    I am more on addressing the bullpen and adding a free agent SP or 2.  Do not think the position players need a lot more, and many of them will be overvalued.  Maybe at the end of FA if someone (like Morrison) has fallen in the middle infield, by all means go for it.

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