Penthang

I think this one is a no brainer, sign him to a 7-9 year deal then move on to Sano for not quite as long. It would be nice if they could lock up Berrios through 2 free agent years this off season too and if there is money left in the bank see if Dozier will go for a 2-3 year extension. These are the central pieces to the next contending level team and locking them in now should gain value over the life of those deals allowing a mid market team to hold on to its Stars a bit longer than if we wait on when we have to resign them. The question is how many of these deals can they do and still add something on the pitching side? Buxton however ought to be priority #1

For my part I have for three years or so considered Twins Daily and MLB's site as my primary sources for Twins news. While I do still consult the strib site and pioneer press I have become much more selective about the amount of time I have for them.

For the folks who want to move Sano off of third I would remind you that he lost about two years of development time to TJ and the misguided outfield experiment. I'm not saying that he is the long term answer at third but I still think he could be. I'm certainly happy to let him develop there until someone forces the issue through their play. In the meantime let him spell Mauer at first to get some reps there as well. Remember, having options across the field isn't a bad thing…now let's hope the front office/manager make the choices that create the best on field product!

In the off season the front office talked a lot about veteran leadership for the young guys to look at. I think that Santana is providing that. When Berrios is in the dugout between innings he is almos always sitting with Santana. I haven't noted if that's the pattern with Mejia but will be paying attention tonight. That plus a relatively team friendly contract with 2 years of control and the fact that they absolutely know what Santana brings to the clubhouse is going to make the asking price for him quite high since they probably aren't looking to move him, just listening to offers. Unless they get a team changing package in the off season I'd expect that he starts next season as the #1 starter.

After the sweep last week by Cleveland I thought this team was finally going to spiral. After the Twins went there and swept them this weekend I'm in the cautiously optimistic camp thinking we need to look for one more starter. The bullpen is scarring me less with the additions they last week has brought and with Hughes and Perkins as not far off potential additions. With Santiago back the rotation is a little less scary. Gibson and Mejia days are still a crapshoot, but, if the twins are still in first this time next week and win the series with Boston I think they should go for it and find another starter without giving up an A prospect, someone who you'd feel comfortable with starting in game 3 of a playoff series. That also could be someone in a Lookouts uniform at the moment? Who knows?

I'm all for bringing up Granite as a fourth outfielder and playing him 4 days a week. It would save us all from having to watch Grossman miss plays and Rosario too when he gets put in center as well as using playing time to push Rosario. Rosario probably wouldn't get any real value in return in a trade. Guys who a team is debating weather or not to send down tend to get that kind of player in return and we have plenty of that on the pitching staff already. If the front office gets offers though and find someone they like is hope they would be open to it.

The Twins are currently in too weak of a position to be buyers, too many holes to plug. With that said, if they have an opportunity to add quality pitching to either the pen or rotation and that person can be in the plans for next year, then they should go for it. The trouble with that is a pitcher like that would come with a higher price than they should probably pay. They should listen to offers for their tradable peices but not pull the trigger unless they get back real value. In the end I like the way I believe the Dozier dealings were handled in the off season. They held out for something that was more than his value to the Twins, they didn't get it, we still have him.

Not a bad move, filled a short term hole without haveing to give up any type of prospect with someone who could be serviceable. If he isn't there is no cost to pulling the plug as someone might pick him up when he's on waivers.

I am in the camp with the folks who don't think we can seriously compete this year. With that in mind, I think we should be using these innings to evaluate the assets within the organization who are ready, or near ready so desicions can be made on them. To me having Wheeler gone is fine, it opens up a spot for someone to move up. At the moment I am hoping that beyond evaluating the current talent in the system that the front office is evaluating the evaluators and developing a new system wide approach to player development, especially on the pitching side. They need to find a way to bring in better talent, develop them faster, and keep them healthier. By giving young arms the opportunity this year, and seeing what we have, they can better move into a strong competitive position for next year. They should take every phone call inquiring about trades but stick to there guns and only make trades that will help out sooner unless it's for a player who doesn't fit into the near term plan. I'm hoping that by the trade deadline the whole roster has a little different feel and that they have some near term if not immediate pitching help.

Gimenez and Kepler both play first base.

As truly depressing as this bullpen is I am curious about the possibility that Falvey might be shielding some of the younger arms from Molitors bullpen ineptness? I know he didn't have much to work with last year but so often I was left scratching my head at they way he used the bullpen. Could Falvey be holding back the best young arms until he has the chance to fire Molitor? I'm trying to be hopeful here because this sure looks like a bullpen that Ryan would put together.

I know what we have seen so far feels very underwhelming. I think we need to keep in mind that most of the underlying front office staff is the same…feeding the same info to the top. It will take time to retrain the people in place, replace them with people who have a different mindset, and build out the front office with a more forward thinking staff. We have seen steps and will see more. Not time to break the glass yet.

My hope is that Santiago has a career first half and then they flip him for a decent prospect…not sign him to a 5 year deal!

My hope is that Vogelsong and Hague are players that the front office brought in as depth/emergency options knowing that they would have players out at the WBC and will be released/reassigned once those players return. My fear is that the spirit of Terry Ryan is still around somewhere and will let Vogelsong have a shot because Molitor is more comfortable with veterans.

I, for one, am a ByungHo believer. I think he was coming around last year before he hurt his wrist and he's been swinging a good bat this spring. I would much rather see him on the 40 man than Danny San, and there will definitely be a spot with May going on the 60 day. With both Park and Vargas having options this gives the Twins the option of starting the season with the hot hand but shuffling as needed if that one cools too much. I am hoping the front office has the courage to give Park the shot.

I just have this to say: If Park gets claimed, how could they have chosen Danny Santana over Park? That makes no sense to me!

Also, with E Santana tanking and no return to form for Hughes the rotation has a chance of being epically bad again exposing the bullpen to a whole lot more innings than any wants to see them pitch. This puts Molitor in the position of using all the lefty specialists against right handed batters too much and leaving guys in two or three batters too long.

I know they were attempting to move Dozier, but since that didn't happen is this part of the way they move Molitor? By putting Molitor in a position to play Palonco in a position that he clearly shouldn't be playing at the major league level gives Falvy a reason to later let him go?

While I understand the concern that a number of people have expressed over this move I'd like to point out that these individuals have had successes in other organizations as well as here. They will bring in that diversity of experience along with a passion for the organization that they all started with. When Cleveland and Texas brought in former big league players to front office/instructor type roles it was not players from elsewhere, it was players who had meaning and impact to those organizations. With that said, this isn't a huge move but it is a start at building out the front office. The hires that might be the most impactful long term probably won't come with a press release because they won't be named the general public knows as they beef up scouting and analytic staffing. That and the minor league coaching staff is what I'm really interested in for this year.

The Twins are always going to have to build from within, but we have seen them go and add through free agency. What they can't do is have another Nolasco like signing. When they do spend those free agent dollars they need to get value back. Ryan could very often turn low wattage free agent signings into something but wigged too many times when he handed out bigger, longer contracts. I am hoping that Falvey and his team can make their free agent splashes count for more while keeping the young core together as they get more expensive, and when they get too expensive choosing the right ones to keep.

People calling to trade Santana are being short sighted I think. What I would like to see is Santana and Santiago followed by youth including Berrios and the next two who stand out in spring training. I agree with moving Duffy to the pen and giving May a real crack at the rotation, not the window dressing chance he got this year. I, for one, want Santana around as a veteran presence for the young guys. Also, I don't think we would get good value back for him in the off season. We may however, get value for him at the trade deadline. As for Gibson, I am hopeful for a new coaching voice that can unlock his potential, but at his age that seems to be a door quickly closing. Maybe he leaves as part of a package deal for prospects?

I feel like the only reason that folks are unhappy with the idea of Milone in the rotation is because it seems to be comeing at the expense of May being in the rotation. If the twins hadn't locked themselves into the contracts with Santana, Nolasco, and Hughes it wouldn't be an issue and we would be glad to see him in the rotation. Wow when they're pitching at their best I'd like to see either Santana, Hughes, or maybe even Nolasco in the rotation, having all of them in the rotation is blocking young talent. While it may not be a popular sentiment I would probably rather see him alone in the rotation than Gibson. That said, I am eager to see what some of the Twins young, high upside talent has to offer, and I'm sure we will because there is a good chance that the "projected" starting rotation will not all leave spring training in good health and ready to pitch. If they do, there are worse problems for the Twins to have.

While I would not argue that Plouff is the overall better player, he is established at that position. It happens a fair amount that when a team has a player they want up now, they find a place for them if they are blocked at there native position. It does usually happen at least a few months before they get called up (roster management), but it's certainly a common enough practice. Like a few have pointed out it seems to me it's a four player juggle. If I were the manager, I'd prefer to see Sano get the majority of the starts at 3rd and playing right when Mauer doesn't with Plouff splitting time with Park at first. Just a thought.

I think it's telling that as winter meetings are coming to an end Sano was recalled from playing winter ball. Despite the lip service given to the Sano to outfield move I think they were trying to move Plouff and Ryan just didn't get an offer that he felt was worth it. Also, I wouldn't be surprised if the -out of options- Santana were the opening day center fielder until they feel Buxtons bat is ready to play.

I believe that moving Hicks could have had as much to do with keeping Santana, who they still seem to have some belief in, as anything else. That they filled an area of need with the move is a bonus.