Matt Kummer

What happens with Mauer over the final 3 years of his contract is going to be one of the most compelling storylines with the Twins. He is now blocking younger players who have more upside. I think the potential Park signing is a sign the Twins understand that they can't just pencil Joe into the 3 spot and all will be OK. They need more. Will we see a situation where someone gets traded and goes on to star for someone else, because the Twins are stuck/stubbornly committed to running Mauer out there as an everyday starter? Or will they get creative with roster construction by making him a complimentary piece?

I'm generally comfortable with the in-house options. A rotation of Santana/Hughes/Gibson/Duffey/Milone to start the season is fine. Quite frankly, I think May is needed more in the bullpen where he can ramp up his FB to the upper 90's and miss bats. You have Berrios available at AAA if someone falters or gets hurt-- which will happen. I didn't even mention Nolasco, assuming he's with the team. (If he is, he probably gets a rotation spot out of spring training.) If the Twins are contending at the deadline, that's the time to look at bringing in the "ace". a la Toronto and Price, or KC and Cueto. I'd be uneasy about spending more guaranteed money on a long term deal to one of the FA's out there. A postseason rotation of: Trade-deadline "ace", Santana, Berrios and one of Hughes/Gibson and most importantly an absolute shutdown beast of a bullpen looks damn close to what KC did this year.

I think the Twins have to go 5-2, minimum, to have even a shot at a Game 163. Doesn't guarantee anything. Should be a fun ride. I'm ecstatic that we are able to see the Twins play meaningful games and contending for a playoff spot in the last week of the season. It's been 5 LONG years.

Hicks' OBP is .335. Better than Dozier's, and just a few points better than Mauer. He's not a perfect lead off man, but I think he can handle it now. Rosario has .750 OPS, which is behind only Sano, Dozier and Plouffe. I think hitting them 1-2 is worth a shot and backed up by the numbers.

Right now, the lineup as constructed is hurting the Twins. Dozier should not be hitting in the leadoff spot. I believe Mike Berardino pointed out that 15 of his 23 HR's have been solo. Dozier has 30 HR potential. He should be hitting middle of the order where there is more chance of having runners on. Right now, Sano is the only threat in the middle of the order, and pitchers are happy to walk him to take their chances elsewhere. Mauer is not a middle of the order hitter. He is rapidly turning into the biggest issue the team has, because they will not address his decline and take steps to mitigate it. I'd run this lineup out: 1. Hicks (he's seriously turned it around) 2. Rosario (hitting reasonably well and fast enough to stay out of enough DP's) 3, Dozier 4. Sano (Having a power threat in front and behind him might actually get him pitches to hit) 5. Plouffe 6. Hunter 7. Mauer (He's a .265-.270 hitter with no power. He belongs down here) 8. Suzuki 9. Escobar

Send Santana down. Give Escobar the SS job. Nunez becomes the super-utility. Arcia gets called up as a left handed DH/PH option. This improves the Twins as follows: 1. They're likely to get league average production from Escobar at SS. His numbers are terrible for a LF. For a SS, a .685 OPS with average defense is a vast improvement over Santana. 2. Nunez can spot start in the IF, and in LF. His bat is clearly more valuable than his fielding. 3. Arcia gives you LH hitting power to slot in at DH or off the bench as a PH. He should only see the field in an emergency. He's there to hit for power. Let him have a role where he can do just that.