Einheri

An interesting question but not one that concerns much me until Twins sign Buxton and sign/trade for three quality starting pitchers with the floor for a #3 being Big Mike (hopefully better). If they solve Buxton and pitching, even Andrelton Simmons on a cheap SS contract would win you games.

Sign Buxton and I'll be pretty happy. Pick up at least one reasonably high-tier starting pitcher in free agency (and also Big Mike as your #3), then trade for the best higher-tier young pitcher you can, a #2 guy. Solve everything else in-house unless a sweet trade deal or free agent appears in your lap.

I'd trade Donaldson if the Twins didn't need to eat too much of his salary and/or give up too much with him as part of a package. But I don't think that would be the case, so I would have him play 3B about half of the time and DH the rest of the time. If you can, and if the Twins fail to get quality starting pitching (almost a certainty given the history of their ownership), and if Josh is having a good year, try trading him before the All-Star Game. And, of course, I would trade Donaldson for nothing if another team ate the entirety of his salary.

I'd use him as a DH, pinch hitter, and as a spot infielder at 2B and 3B, and I would bat him quite early in the batting order, often as the lead off hitter to help chew up pitch count and to get on base for Polanco and others. I doubt any pitcher gotten back for him from a trade would be worth as much. Plus, sometimes you just need to keep fan favorites.

Do these batters love Target Field… or Twins' Pitching? Twins need to get another quality starting pitcher, and not a #4 or 5 guy. Running out of available free agents out there, so probably best to trade for one.

They're betting on Arraez being healthy soon, but probably not for today's game. We need Schoop at 2B.

Twins got hurt at the wrong time of the year, and the Yankees have gotten healthy at the right time of the year. Twins' bullpen, though, is looking good. Strange as it may sound with these two homer-hitting teams, the series will come down to who has the the best pitching and defense.

ALL of them. Rest Gibson for at least a couple of weeks. Set up at least two sets of rotating Opener/Bulk pitching teams, probably a lefty with a righty pairing, so Thorpe and Stewart Smeltzer and Dobnak And then, swap which of the two players does the opening for their next start. Let the opener of each pitching tandem pitch until they get through the opposing team's lineup once (2-3 innings). By seasons end, we might know if any of these guys can post-season.

"Rip the governor off?" Is that a voice-to-text dictation error for "Rip the cover off"?

Trade for some relievers… NOW! Don't wait. Set the market price; don't wait for "bargains."

That was some Fugly Defense. Pity. The comeback was otherwise amazing.

Ugly ball today.

Twins should deal for relief SOONER than later. Instead of waiting for a late bargain, pounce now and set the price.

They should have just let the Turtle pitch.

Speedy recovery to Carrasco, hopefully. As for the Twins, trade for some quality arms.

Thanks. That was an… um, interesting read.

Sorry to hear that Kennys Vargas hasn't been able to make it work well in Japan either.

Good luck in San Fran, Tyler, and welcome to Malique.

It's a tough decision. I think Willians probably needs to see some time at 3rd.

Congrats to Ryne Harper. Do everything you can to hold that roster spot.

Yeah, I don't have much hope for Reed; but, at $8.5MM, you have to give him more chances than you might like.

And Gordon was doing fairly well this spring. Good luck to Nick in triple-A this year. We'll see you soon, I'm thinking.

It would have been fun to see the one-two combo punch of Liriano and Santana deep into the post season. Instead, it was painful watching Liriano leave the field that day (all the time knowing that he was feeling so much worse mentally and physically than I).

I think many feel the Twins have a glut of outfielders, so Kepler playing some at 1B helps out with this. I don't think anyone expects he would play much at first.

As part of their TV deal, weren't the Twins were given partial ownership of Fox Sports North? That has to make their TV deal more valuable than it seems. In a related note, I see now that Jim Pohlad has joined an effort to buy the entire Fox Sports Network.