kab21

I like how thrylos somehow thinks that the Phillies knew less than he did and that he was available.

they have Jennings but they still need OF'ers and DH's. They really need offense but they have also always had great defenses to go with their pitching staffs. They could definitely match up with Span or Willingham. I'm not sure why there's so much interest in Niemann. He's the kind of guy you pick up not using your best trade chips. He's a 4.00 ERA guy that is 2 yrs from FA. He also has a long injury history and not many think he can stay healthy. The scouting report on McGee for at least 5 years was that he was going to end up a RP. And he currently looks like an elite RP'er so he would cost an arm and a leg to get. I wouldn't target a project starter with 1-2 of your prime trade chips.

Is this a joke? half full or half empty? How about damn near completely empty for the next season or two? I don't think the Twins need to do a slash and burn rebuild. That is for really poor teams that don't have any talent anywhere. They should be trying to find some good deals on Morneau, Willingham and Span in the next year though. They can go out and sign a decent mid tier starter for around 3/30. The important thing is that they avoid a 5/75 contract for a MOR starter that could hamstring the team right when the team should be on the upswing. Luckily they've said that they aren't looking there.

Well you can still cheer for that exciting 4th worst record finish. they have the commanding (1 game) lead currently.

Usually those relatively cheap thome types hit an .800 OPS which is close to what Doumit did this year. I don't really like carrying 3 catchers but if 2 of them are playing everyday then it's not a big issue. there are still 3 bench spots available. Why the hell do the Twins need a 13 man pitching staff?

I'll also disagree with GGrules. Doumit's offense is awesome from a catcher but it's still really good at DH. And he didn't have a career year other than he was healthy for the whole year. He's a .777 career OPS hitter and he had a .781 OPS this year. The Twins were smart to extend him and I hope they can quit finding ways to start guys like Butera with Mauer and Doumit on the roster.

I chose Price because he faced the AL East instead of the AL Central but it's kind of a toss up. both had excellent seasons.

Hendriks hasn't shown me anything. I have a feeling that he'll make the team out of spring training but that's because I don't see the Twins bringing in multiple starters and somebody has to pitch.

I would have loved to have seen these posters that think the twins were shortsighted after a guy like Dickey was given 150 innings the following season and posted 5+ ERA. These same guys came out of the woodwork after Humber's perfect game this season. He finished up with a 6.50 ERA.

They are not professional scouts. they work for BA and BA spends the season talking to scouts and FO types. They also like to do their own scouting when possible but they are limited in how much they can see.

I think it's pretty pointless to start making comps based on rookie league stats. especially when you're talking about an elite player like Cano. I'm as much on the Polanco bandwagon as anyone is on the board but I disagree with your analysis. Everything that I've heard is that he's very good to great with the glove (unlike Cano) and that he could be a solid hitter. If I was going to project him it would be as more of a Yunel Escobar type (.285/.353/.390 career). it will be interesting to read the scouting reports about the ETown guys this offseason. I'm pretty excited about polanco, kepler and Berrios and less excited about goodrum and Harrison than most. Buxton is in a different prospect league.

I knew this thread would be about the Twins cutting Dickey. How could they not see that a 35 yr old knuckleballer with no positive signs of improving on his 5+ career ERA was going to cut his BB rate in half and become one of the better pitchers in the league? This should have been perfectly obvious to anyone that saw him pitch.

I would love to say that I did it but after the fact. 2 a day HS football practices were enough for me. I think this is nothing more than one of those team building ropes courses that many do in college or at work on steroids (figuratively).

Looks like I'll need to cut 8 from my roster to make room for the 5 player cut, clearing the DL and picking 2 in the MiLB draft. Of course I'll try to trade but the bottom end of my roster looks like: Chipper - retired Arredondo - never getting a closer gig in Cincy Dejesus - I always keeps him and he always does enough to deserve it 3 pitchers with mixed success this year. I'm 6 deep w/o these guys next year. Ervin Santana - pretty much have to keep him (prime trade candidate) Bass Wood a pile of MiLBers that I need to look at further - a lot of upside/risk that I like Wojciechowski Harrison Aderlin Rodriguez Schoop Elier Hernandez Heathcott Carlos Sanchez Gould Felix Jorge - I'm a sucker for Twins Bettis

strange I disagree with everything that thyrlos typed. Again... If I were voting I would still vote for Braun since he's having a Cabrera level season. He almost for sure won't get it but I don't let the past change my voting. I also merely expect a player to be on a competitive team for him to get an MVP vote. Picking a pitcher in either league shouldn't be argued since there are so many deserving. I'll ride the National's story line giving Gio a little bump in the NL. same with Harper at ROY. He's been quite good in a season with several good but not great NL rookies. MVP AL: Michael Trout NL: Ryan Braun Cy Young AL: David Price NL: Gio Gonzalez Rookie of the Year AL: Mike Trout NL: Bryce Harper Rolaids Relief Man of the Year AL: Fernando Rodney NL: Craig Kimbrel Manager of the Year AL: Who cares NL: Who cares

I'm not sure if this was posted in the other Nishi thread but fangraphs has an awesome look back at nishi's career. His best game was 8/2/11 against the Indians. He had 2 RBI singles and committed 4 errors in the 6th inning (GIFs posted at fangraphs). http://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/index.php/tsuyoshi-nishiokas-big-day/

I remember watching the Nishi video before he came over and not being very impressed with his lefty swing but I still thought he could have hit .285 with a .330-.350 OBP and solid defense. I thought his lefty swing could still make contact but it was going to produce a lot of grounders and singles. it's disappointing that he wasn't even close to that player. Let's not forget that this isn't that bad of a situation for Nishi. he'll return to Japan professionally and hopefully rebound to get a multi year deal there. He loses some money but I have to imagine that he's miserable playing awful in foreign country with very few friends. I'm surprised that he wasn't able to get a little money from the Twins to leave though.

I guess I'll just disagree with everyone about what Ryan means when he says the Twins won't spend big on pitching. I consider big to be the 50-100M range (Buehrle, CJ wilson, Cliff Lee for example). I consider 3/30 to be mid sized spending similar to the Willingham contract last year and puts the twins in the market for a decent pitcher without exposing them to too much long risk.

a smaller deal like Willingham is still a multi year deal. I really^100 hope they don't spend big in FA this year but 3/30 for a pitcher is reasonable and breaks the so called historical trend.

you still ignore that he was lucky in those two good seasons. Some of us haven't been surprised that the wheels fell off at the beginning of this season. If the Twins can get Ervin cheap AND STILL add one better pitcher then I have no problem going after him but he's setting up for all kinds of disappointment in the future.

Great job ignoring '09 and '12. During some seasons he was lucky and some he wasn't. he's a 4.00 ERA pitcher that is in decline. Not exactly what I'm looking for.

What's interesting about a 31 yr old that has consistently had a 4-4.50 xFIP with declining velocity? I believe that his problems are due to avoiding TJ and successfully (kind of) going the rehab route. I'll take him instead of the yearly Ramon Ortiz, Livan, Marquis signing but I fail to see what is interesting.

I think this is a problem that you worry about when it happens. If Revere does become Juan Pierre in his prime then you find a place for him because that is a really good player. I'm hoping that by 2014 both Willingham and Span have been traded to add pitching to the system (MLB or MiLB) so that problem is solved. It's also likely that one of Hicks or Arcia become a bust based on prospects historically.

He's never been the same since he rehabbed an avoided TJ surgery 3-4 yrs ago. I'm really not interested unless we're talking 2/10 or something small as a 2nd (or even 3rd) pitching acquisition. He might be a good upside play but I would rather try to keep a guy like Baker on a similar deal. About the only thing Santana has going for him is that he's better than Blackburn.

Tampa has a replacement for BJ Upton named Desmond Jennings so they could go for either span or Willingham. I would trade either of them for Shields and then try to grab a guy for 3/30 in FA. I think it also makes sense for Tampa. I like Jake Arrieta also but I don't see the O's parting with him. They have offense but need pitching so I think they'll give him another chance unless they trade him for an established starter. I'm not a big fan of Wade Davis as a starter. His stuff really played up this year in the pen so i think he'll stay there. He doubled his K's and swstr% this year.