Kwak

Nolasco/Milhone is the 5th starter and the other is the long-relief/spot starter. These two two might flip-flop through the season. Late inning relief specialists: Jepsen, Perkins, May. Three guys for extra-innings, mop-ups, and all else: from the RP pool and already on the team. These guys have options--so use those options. Those RPs that succeed stay, others get replaced--pretty much what everybody else in baseball does with the marginal players. Spend a ton of money on a RP? Huh? They pitch 60-80 innings a year. Use that money (plus the rest of the FA budget) to acquire someone who will contribute much more.

I"m not sure if this one belongs in 2014 instead--replacing Gardenhire/Anderson.

There are too many specific names on the list. Example: Josmil Pinto. It wasn't the "loss" of Pinto (the handwriting of that was on the wall in before this year), it's the complete lack of immediate, viable replacements for Suzuki. The "loss" of one is sort of expected, the fact that the cupboard is completely bare (internally) for several years is the problem. The failure of Meyer--was overcome by the success of Duffey. The real problem was that there was a bullpen problem that ensued because Stauffer was a failure, Graham wasn't trustworthy, May was treated like a shuttlecock, and the AAA promotions didn't work-out. The Arcia failure is tolerable--there are many other (better) options. An unspoken problem is third base. Plouffe is OK, but what about two years from now when he is far more expensive. Sano may or may not be the solution--the problem is there isn't anybody else coming up to displace them. There are plenty of others in the pipeline for SS, 2B, and 1B--but not 3B.

Let's compare May's starting pitcher statistics in 2015 with the other Twins starters in 2015--Santana, Gibson, Duffey, Milhone, and for good measure Pelfrey and Nolasco--and May isn't top 5. Then add Berrios and you are just beating the same dead horse. Fact is, May is a younger, cheaper, Pelfrey clone--who you have worn-out you keyboard proclaiming that he (Pelfrey) belongs in relief. Which is where May actually should be (and I am convinced where Ryan will assign him).

The Twins swim in the shallow waters of free agents. Anybody they sign (like Stauffer last year) is expected to be the "low-risk, leauge-average" RP. The premise of the article concerned the "higher-cost, higher-expectancy" RP. The price for a top RP was just defined by Boston in the Kimbrel trade--and the Twins won't even consider paying that price. The trade-off is cycling through the 6-10 possibilities in the Twins minor-league system (~$0.5MM/year) or spending the $1-3MM/year to buy a security blanket from the dumpster. Management loves to boast about their system--until they have to put it on the field. I say it's time to find out who belongs--and who doesn't belong--and mediocre free agents don't belong anymore! The 90-loss demon has been slain, it's time to build for 90+ wins rather than 80+ wins.

...and by extension, use those relief pitchers. The Twins have many "ready for tryout".

Agree. I posted as much a few minutes ago in a different thread.

Which was implied in my post. There are (at least) two problems with this philosophy: signing a mediocre veteran delays the required learning curve of the "prospect"--he will have to overcome the transition to the majors anyway; and if the "veteran" is half-decent--he gets extended, often for multi-years. But the veteran is still only mediocre and the prospects are stacking-up in the minors. If the "prospects" are always "not quite ready", maybe part of the fault is in the management in charge of the system--and that's where the change is required. Buying the safety blanket is a CYA device, ownership has to remove the training wheels and demand results.

Why on earth acquire players who aren't/won't project better than the top OF prospects in the Twins system? It makes far more sense to play the prospects, take lumps for this season (maybe?), and get serious in 2017. Mediocre players aren't what this team needs so it doesn't lose 90--it needs top quality players so it can consistently win 90+ games.

The Twins should definitely be cycling their top RPs from the minors into the Active Roster. People are stacking-up and those who were "selected" as "top prospects" must demonstrate that projection now. If a guy can't cut it, then he gets passed on the "prospect list" and someone else gets their chance.

NO. The Twins are lacking talent, they need to clear-out the marginal guys (especially those that are fan-favorites!) and replace them with quality. Short-cutting the process to be a "playoff team in 2016" (which is a long shot) diminishes the potential of being a dynasty-team in the ALCD and having true potential to beat the NY's and LA's of the future in the playoffs--instead of being the one-and-dones of the previous decade. Would Sanchez be a good acquisition? (Yes!)--Was he even offered? And for whom? I promise it would be for a lot more than an Aaron Hicks. Quite likely multiple players that the Twins will be/are counting on to be the future. I don't think the Yankees believe Hicks will be anymore than a solid hole-plugger--but they have (and especially after some gigantic contracts are cleared-out) the resources to buy some stars--the Twins can buy but one. To act as you just suggested (playoff-now) involves "Settling for Mediocrity". Or, are you choosing to be on both sides of that issue?

There comes a time when a team has to pull-the-plug on a favorite, there are others constantly refilling the pipeline. There is a limited amount of time for a player to "make his mark"--and Hicks is 26. Reciting the old saws about how so-and-so blossomed at 27 when there is a wealth of evidence of top players having "proved themselves" several years younger than 27. A consistent winning team must set high standards--and rigorously defend them. Being soft and squishy because a player is "well-liked", a "great-teammate", and/or a 1st round draft choice, unnecessarily lowers said standards and sends a message that performance isn't key.

Or, they could just promote from within (Meyer) and put their reputations on the line. GMs will gladly spend somebody else's money on an insurance policy (veteran from another team) than promote the prospect they drafted or acquired in a trade.

Cheapshot! Puck hasn't posted here for years--and most of his posts were reasoned. I forget his name, but another guy from Mexico (frequently sent to the penalty box)--well if you were referring to him..., that would be different. Puck didn't suffer fools, especially those who posted to claim they were a "better fan" than others. During this period the Twins were nearly wretched and many were downright angry about that. I'm curious as to why you chose to "pick a scab" that had disappeared years ago.

It has been both amusing and frustrating reading 200+ posts about this trade. They fall into the boxes "is this all [we] get?" Really? It's Aaron Hicks, get real. "Good! Now they start Buxton in CF." You mean after the DSP quote about beginning in Rochester, and 2015's lackluster? Not to worry, Buxton will be given the CF job sometime in 2016 simply because too much praise has already been said about Buxton to leave him in Rochester for all of 2016. The price of catchers has gone up. Consider what a part-timer like Herrmann fetched. Also, despite all of the self-congratulatory about the Twins ability to draft and develop (egads!), they are far from being a "catcher factory". In short, they addressed a need at catcher--and perhaps for the next 4-5 years too. The fact that Murphy won't be the next Johnny Bench--well neither was Mauer. There was a comment about an outfield of Sano, Rosario, and Arcia being brutal--yes, definitely--and in both implied definitions of brutal!

The price of catchers is stiff. The Twins drafted several catchers a few years back--but their utility has been marginal. CFers? The Twins draft them and trade them like BB cards. Hicks didn't develop the way they wished--take pitches, work the count, get walks, long ABs, and still hit above league batting average. Then they changed--put Dozier at the top, and say "let 'er rip! Brian". Get HRs, doubles, and forget taking pitches to work the count, build pitch count/get walks. Hicks might have had more success if he had such "swing freedom" but we'll never know. The Twins are loaded with OFers (and added one in a trade!). The job is waiting for Buxton (while the FO prays he doesn't become Hicks II. I think Rosario begins in CF and is flanked by two wide-bodies unless Plouffe is traded--which is probably best for the Twins because I don't see Plouffe as a foundation stone of a long-term winner.

So many posts needing a response--too many to ID: Compare Park with Nishioka--yes if using the context of brand extension. It's no secret that the business world has been "globalizing" for some time--and for the Twins to adopt a strategy along this premise is to be expected. Will Park be a huge asset? I don't know, time will tell. It is possible for this to be a very sound business decision but a poor baseball decision--so measure your responses accordingly. To the comments about DSP's fingerprints on Nishioka and now Park? Sure, why wouldn't they be? The Twins are a business not a horse-farm-hobby. The defense of reputations concerning "whose fault" concerning Nishioka, gag me. Smith was never a scout, and didn't choose them. When he replaced Ryan there wasn't a cleansing of the organization--just a simple change of titles--but Smith never had the same power that Ryan held (how could he?). To me the real issues are: does this team's FO believe that the assembled core (sans Hicks as of today!) still believe that they only needed a bit better hitting, another relief pitcher, and good luck to win the World Series--or is this team still building and that the many of 2015 team need to replaced with better players in order to win the Series? In short is average starting pitching, slightly above average position players (collectively) and a good measure of luck (the strategy of the previous decade) enough to "win it all", or is the team still transitioning to meet the a different type of team in order to "win it all"?

The Minnesota background isn't helping Gardenhire. The Twins are noted as being very "clubby", basically closed to outsiders. Gardy's experience suggests--"a 'yes' man", a good soldier who follows orders. That will work in some organizations/situations but not in others. Gardenhire's public proclamation that "...re-signing Nick Punto was the twins #1 priority..." illustrates he might "speak out of turn". There is also something to be said for hiring a "younger" guy as manager versus the "old guy". Lest anyone say "Dusty Baker", consider that hiring a Black Man as Manager (and in Washington D.C. !) would be considered "smart".

I concur with everything you said until "...putting May back into the rotation...". May has consistently short starts and comparatively ranks behind the rest of the rotation--in short the Twins have better starters than May. But, May could be a consistently very good relief pitcher (which could not be said of some of the starters). The Twins require six full innings from the rotation else their bullpen will be shredded in the Summer; May all too often is gone before the end of the sixth inning. More good news--there are even more good options for the rotation coming soon, so there is no need to "settle". KC has clearly demonstrated the value of a top-notch bullpen, so it's not like May isn't fully utilized in the bullpen. I reflect on how KC built this winner. First they made a statement that they would spend to build a competitive team. Gil Meche may not sound like much to Twins fans, but he (at $11MM/year) represented a huge change for KC at the time. The Twins finally matched that change with the acquisition of: Hughes, Nolasco, E. Santana, and Hunter--the Twins would spend to eliminate their losing. So far, so good. Both teams have drafted early for "hoped for" top prospects. KC's are there (well, they did start earlier), Minnesota is still "building and waiting" for most of their prospects. But KC, went farther--which the Twins typically never do--trade top prospects for proven veterans (James, Cueto and Zobrist) to win now. Time will tell with the Twins.

Both Steward and Gonsalves need to master an "out-pitch"--ex. Duffey--in order to become an useful starting pitcher. Burdi, because he is a relief pitcher, can succeed with a top fast-ball and a half-decent off-speed pitch provided he has character to withstand the crucible of "high-leverage situations". AB Walker has the most value of this batch (or for that matter all of the "prospects" cited to date). HR hitters are always in demand somewhere. If the Twins don't put him in the line-up this year (I think they should), then they need to bundle him in a trade to meet an urgent need. Polanco is in a tough position. Escobar is Ryan's #1 SS and Ryan hangs-on to his favorites like a dog and a bone. Similarly with Dozier (another Twins' favorite)--he's not going away either. Polanco is blocked. He has to be put in the line-up--or traded soon (this year). There is no sense letting players rot on the vine--play them or trade them.

Take a closer look at Palacios slash--he walked about once in a 100 PA's in E-town. Seems opponents never miss the K-zone when he bats...

This team isn't good enough yet to spend for a #1 pitcher--but a top hitter, definitely. Even if a combination of trades and money (say to make room for said hitter) is needed, I would go down that path. The 2015 success was based on one hot month and the effect Sano had in improving the offense. Some trades and the acquisition of a top hitter, would put the Twins on the brink of success. The two or three years to assemble everyone also "works-off" some of the "Pitcher contracts" thus permitting the acquisition of this (mythical) #1 pitcher. In short, improve the hitting (and hopefully defense) , work-off some high-priced contracts, then get the #1 pitcher and roll the dice.

It appears that to limit Buxton's service time he would need to stay in the minors next season for 10days plus the number of service days accumulated in 2015.

The discussion about "5 weeks of hitting" reminds me of Plouffe. I find it comical how people will dismiss Hicks due to a period of concentrated success yet continue to advance Arcia after long periods on concentrated failure. It was painfully demonstrated that Buxton is over-matched at the MLB level. Combine that with a huge incentive for the Twins to reduce his service time in 2016 to obtain greater control it is axiomatic that Buxton starts, and remains, in Rochester until both the service time and "proofing time" contstraints have been achieved. Kepler will also start in the minors for reasons "learned" from Hicks and Buxton major-league "success". All of this points to the Twins actively trying to retain Hunter--for 1/2 of a season!

For many years the Twins have thumped their chest about not walking opponents, and have often issued the fewest in the AL. "Throw the ball over the plate..." the common remark from announcers, coaches and managers. The careers that ended because of "not enough strikes", these factors have driven home the bias of the Minnesota Twins toward pitchers. Face it, high K rate pitchers are in greater demand (sort of like high HR hitters) and their salaries escalate. The Twins have had a philosophy of "low payrolls" since their inception. It should be expected that their strategy would be "low-priced" pitchers to reduce payroll. Combine that goal with the fans' bias toward hitters v. pitchers for popularity only further emphasizes why the Twins took the path of PtoC pitchers instead of the high K/9 starting pitchers. The expansion of team revenues have permitted the change to higher velocity pitchers for the Twins (and BB in general--though many teams typically favored the high V-type pitcher anyway).