Monkeypaws

It would have almost been shorter to write an article about who is healthy.....

Kiriloff gold glove potential at 1st? Tell me more....

Much has been made of the fact that Lee played for his Dad. My point is that it doesn't guarantee anything.

I remember one of the Twins 1st rounders in the late 90s, I believe it was Ryan Mills, was also the son of a manager. Didn't work out in his case.

If I lived up there and had the time, I would love to spend a day watching high-level college baseball in comfort, if for the novelty alone.

US Bank looks funky with the baseball setup.

Seems to me like Buxton and Correa will be top 3. I'd like a bopper in that 4 spot, and as near as I can tell, Miranda? A Cruz-like cleanup would be awesome. What are the Twins planning here?

And Judge was even later. Not saying it can't happen, but more often than not it doesn't.

Yeah he was a 1st round pick, but 27th overall. Busts aplenty at that point in the draft for all teams.

I see Solano and the IF equivalent to Taylor. Depth is good - so many times the Twins rely on youngsters as depth, only to have them get hurt. Then you get Garlick, Cave and Co as the last resort. Having guys with MLB experience, even awards, is good. I understand why they signed Farmer when it looked like Correa was gone, but he seems more superfluous than either Solano or Taylor. Providing real competition for prospects is better than handing them a position.

Healthy Twins mop up the floor with the AL Central. Not quite a "hot take." Lotsa pitching, and Buxton and Correa at the heart of the offense, I am optimistic. Wait, is it spring yet?

I hadn't realized that Lee is a switch hitter. That's a nice bonus. Does he hit with the same power from both sides?

How would Prielipp compare to the lefty the Twins traded for Mahle, Steve Hajjar?

I like the fact that there are lots of international signings in these lists. Whether it because you are paying more attention to them, or they are just better than in years past, it's nice to see.

Hard to say a guy coming off TJ has a "fresh" arm , but with only 80 or so innings on it, Canterino could become a bullpen beast when he recovers, if not a starter.

It's inferred that Gallo is washed up. Drafted as a high-schooler from the same draft as Correa and Buxton, why? I mean, Buxton and Correa are the face of the franchise going forward, no?

I still have some small hopes for Cavaco. Will Holland has sure looked like a ballplayer every time I've seen him play. Hitting is hard. Maybe something will click this year for these two.

Someone let the air out of Noah Miller....

Interesting fact: Joey Gallo is also from the same draft as Correa and Buxton, 39th overall in 2012. Career WAR from that draft: Correa is first at 39.5, Buxton is 4th at 20.2, and Gallo 9th at 14.7. Old friend JO Berrios is 12th at 10.8

If there are positions it's good to have a surplus at, SS ranks right up there with CF and C. Trading for other needs gets easier with top prospects at premium positions.

I'd be glad to have him back - if we saw a unicorn, i.e. a healthy Buxton, that alone would be worth the price of admission. Add another unicorn, a healthy Kiriloff, and it could get interesting, with Miranda and Arraez. Grey, Ryan, maybe Mahle, maybe Maeda, Ober, Winder, etc. Lotsa ifs would make this reunion worth while. Lotsa ifs and maybes. Perhaps too many for CC to consider coming back. The Mets are stacked.

I agree with your premise, bolded above. However, when your top prospects are constantly on the DL, it's tough: Lewis, Kiriloff, Larnach, Canterino, along with the star, Buxton. And when others under-perform, tougher still: Balazovic, Martin. I think your strategy is shared by the front office, but what to do when nobody can play because of hurts?

Imagine facing them back to back out of the pen. Righty submariner vs lefty. If I were the Giant manager, I'd make a practice of subbing Tyler for Taylor in the middle of at bats, just to mess with people.

SS is a position where the Twins have good prospect depth. One fluke year of Correa shouldn't make folks think the Twins are big time SS free agent spenders. I think Lewis will be a player. Buy pitching if you must spend. Postscript: The front office got creative with the CC deal, and almost pulled off a division win. Injuries paid cash, and it didn't work out. Did we really want to pay 41 year old Correa 20 some million? We had him for a year, and I'll remain a fan. Class act, good teammate, winner, great ballplayer. It was fun while it lasted.

It's all the more bizarre to me that they got Correa last season. Where were those big wallets when the Twins stepped in and snagged elite shortstop?