Trevor0333

The Twins get a compensation pick if Odorizzi leaves next year in FA right? It makes sense to have Maeda replace Odorizzi next year in the rotation and prepare for one of Dobnak/Smeltzer/Thorpe/Balzovic/Dhuran to take the 5th spot. Then giving the team an extra pick to try and replace losing Graterol in the system.

I think all teams will have some regression purely from the standpoint of fewer teams intentionally tanking. It was like a record number last season.

Move Taylor Rogers into the rotation and sign Will Harris or Betances.

Can TD book some "no-impact move" grief counselors to provide support for the rubes.

You don't think there was a thought in NY of, if we trade Syndergaard we can re-sign Wheeler? I think the best chance of acquiring a starter via trade is calling up the Rockies and saying you'll take on Wade Miley's contract and ask them what else they want for Jon Gray. They aren't taking on enough salary to prevent a run at Donaldson or a high end RP.

The answer on Sano and Polanco was obvious until this year. They are good enough for now but both will need to move across the diamond sooner than later. Now with the breakout of Arraez, 2B is no longer an obvious option. Polanco's arm is not going to do him any more favors at 3B and I'm not sure I like the idea of him in the OF. Eventually you'd like to see Kepler move to LF and Kirilloff take over in RF. Honestly the decision that needs to be made is: 1) Who's future is valued more. Polanco or Arraez? Each are under contract through 2025. 2) Can Royce stay at SS in the majors. (I think Polanco sticks long enough to figure this answer out) 3) Is there a long term option at 3B in the system already, Blankenhorn, Javier? 4) Does investing in a FA position player prevent from going after the SP you want?

The other factor in higher FB usage is less use of the curve. His curve used to have a really nice 12-6 break & he could usually place it well for the amount of movement. Especially this season his curve looks more like a hanging change up.

In the Playoffs given everyone is healthy RHP Garver at 1st with Castro catching. LHP Garver catching with Cron at 1st. More Garv Sauce please....

What amazes me about Arraez is how quickly he makes a a decision on whether he is swinging or not. His body and swing are completely in sync with that decisiveness.

Where are you getting your research from on what a classic no no is?

Seriously, is there anyone better at breaking down mechanics in baseball and presenting it in a written form that's easy to understand and enjoyable to read? Twins fans are lucky to have Parker as part of the Twins Daily community. Great article Parker.

In interviews with other players it is often brought up that Rosario is one of the most popular players because they love the passion & energy he brings. I don't think its fair when people watching on TV make assumptions on attitude. Resting B Face is real thing

I would absolutely offer Kepler a long contract extension between now and next season.

I've been on the Rosario bandwagon a long time. His tools are legit, speed, arm strength, bat speed, & an elite level of hand eye coordination for putting bat to ball that has fostered terrible habits. His defense has regressed to the mean some. He is not run on nearly as much, which becomes harder to calculate with metrics. Eye test wise, a combo of seemingly fewer chances at spectacular catches combined with less aggressiveness has dropped his defensive value metrics wise. I don't give up on Rosario, he's responded well to challenge throughout his baseball career. Bring up Granite as the 4th OF to push him & play the hot hand. Let's see whacha got Eddie!

8 years 100 million with the 8th year being a mutual option seems much more logical to me. Sano will want to hit the market again in his 29-30 year age for a final massive contract. I do think Kepler would be a good candidate for a cost savings for security deal.

I'd really like to see the team commit Hughes to the bullpen early for 2017 with the thought of stretching him back to a possible starter for 2018. He barely pitched last year and was the prior year his FB velocity was down. After such a long break from pitching along with everything else. I'd love to see Perkins & Hughes come back and establish some quality BP depth and prove they can stay healthy while letting the kids fight out the rotation 2-5.

I think it means the Cardinals are very much intent on driving up the price on the Dodgers.

I'd try to get the Royals involved in helping to alleviate this logjam. They need a temp 3B & perm 2B after DFA Infante. Their not adding payroll & maybe the rumors of them being fed up with Ventura are true. Let's say Plouffe comes back soon, E.Santana strings together a couple good starts, & Dozier's resurgence to continues. I'm going to spend some Pohlad money eating some contract money, $26M worth. Offer up Dozier, Plouffe, Nunez, E.Santana, & Alex Meyer for Yordano Ventura E.Santana - paying the remainder of this seasnon & 2017 (signed through 2018). $20.25M - Royals know Santana well and hopefully his mentality to strive in winning environments gives them a more reliable and less combustable #2 pitcher to make another WS run. Plouffe - paying remainder of this years salary. $3.5M - Plouffe gives them a better 3B placeholder for Moustakas loss and non gauranteed insurance next year if he doesnt recover quickly. Sano slides into 3B for Twins. Dozier - paying remainder of this year salary. $1.5M - Dozier is finally back to himself and has good value on a modest contract under his normal production. His bat & D would really help improve the depth of KC's lineup. Twins have out of options & mlb ready Jorge Polanco to take over. Nunez - paying remainder of this year salary. $1M - Nunez adds an excellent bench bat for the team to use throughout the year and into the postseason. Hopefully taking advantage of his strong year to help them get another ring. Meyer - He gives the Royals a high velocity arm they can potentially turn into a RP based on their success doing so with others. Meyer needs a fresh start in a new organization. Next year they roll with SP Berrios / Ventura / Gibson / May / Duffey RP Rogers / Chargois / Burdi / Abad / Tonkin / Pressley DH Park / C ? / 1B Mauer / 2B Polanco / SS Escobar / 3B Sano / OF Rosario-Buxton-Kepler Bench JR Murphy / Vargas / Grossman / D.Santana

The guy who they should bump Jepsen out of the closer role until Perk proves he's back is Pressly. I like May, the teams best reliever. In the setup/get out of jams role pushing Jepsen/Abad back to the 6-7 innings. Tonkin, Meyer, Fien, Abad, Jepsen, May, Pressly.

I really like: Mauer Dozier Plouffe Sano Park Rosario Escobar Murphy/Suzuki Buxton

I can't speak for the OP but I felt like part of Rosario not being ideal in Cf is that means he is not in LF and it's a Arcia/Rosario/Sano OF and that is scary.

It's Buxton's job to lose, as long Buxton doesn't completely fall apart or get injured. Santana will be the backup CF & utility guy putting Nunez on the bubble.

Good article Nick, my issue with the approach has never really been so much about the overall amount the team spends but the approach & mentality. The team has notoriously spent on "reliable" veterans who you know what your getting from. I've always preferred an approach of spending a higher amount on a high quality FA and then placing young upside from the organization around them. Like having Stauffer, Fien, Boyer, Duensing types taking up 10 million sign a a couple higher end FA and don't be afraid to give your propsects a chance to fill out the rest of the bullpen. Also the part the bothers me with this FO is how EVERY YEAR Ryan will identify a weakness they need to fill and say we have $ to spend to fill this need. Then comes the sticker shock of OMG, these contracts are way out of line, I guess we aren't signing anyone. Why do they have such a difficult time predicting what the market will dictate? How are they so surprised EVERY YEAR! It's ridiculous they can't see what even the common fan can see coming.

I guarantee save for injury the pitching staff will be opening day. Hughes/Santana/Gibson/Milone/Nolasco Pressley/Tonkin/Abad/Fien/May/Jepsen/Perkins