OleJC

The absolute love for Plouffe and hatred for Mauer continues to baffle me. Joe is having an AWFUL year, no doubt, but does 10-15 million in somebody else's money matter that much? Next year, when Plouffe makes 8-10 mil after arbitration, here is what you're getting for that much less than what Joe makes: 25 points less in batting average, 35 points less in OBP, same amount of 2Bs, less walks, similar RBIs if their positions were switched in the order (Plouffe wouldn't have Joe or Sano to drive in) but 1 more HR every 2 weeks! (all that matters to some people) And that comparison is an average Plouffe year to Mauer's career worst year. Bottom line, trading Plouffe can net something that really improves our team. Do we really think we can't replace .245/.307/.419 with 15-18 homers using Vargas/Arcia at DH??

I have a very hard time believing we would need a king's ransom for Plouffe and (especially) Escobar. Plouffe is a solidly above average 3B in both hitting (closer to average) and fielding. (top 20% in most ratings) But we have a 3B prospect that has the potential to be a top 3 bat and who is every bit as athletic (albeit raw) as Plouffe was coming up at 3rd. If Plouffe could learn it, so can Sano. If we can upgrade our Catching or Shortstop positions or bring in top tier prospects, I think you jump at it. As for Escobar...come on. He's a .240 hitter who can't even get on base anywhere near 30% of the time. When he walks, it's almost by accident. His best plays defensively are when he knocks the ball down, which for most guys at SS would involve them throwing someone out to complete it. Demand a big return for him?...if the Willmar Stingers offered us Eddie Estrada we'd be getting a good deal!

Callis and Mayo may not, but anyone who saw the Big Ten tourney or UCLA Regional does. I love the Wade pick. Leadoff hitter, very good arm, good defender. Seems to me like another toolsy CF like we've gotten the past few years (Granite, Murphy, English, Kanzler, etc.)

Thanks for your views on this Seth. I totally understand the non-rushing of Buxton, Berrios, Sano, et. al., and those don't bother me as they aren't ready. I guess the Pinto, CF, and bullpen decisions were what bothered me the most. I'd rather see the "could be up any time" guys up now as a bridge to the future rather than spending more time at AAA. But that's why these guys make the big buck and I teach High School Social Studies I guess!

This is the strangest rebuilding plan I've ever seen. Reminds me of the mid-late 90's with plug and play mediocre "veterans"...do we really have to wait a whole year more before they go all 99 and call up a bunch of kids??

Love this idea, and would love a AAA club nearby too. But rather than Fargo/Moorhead, I was thinking Sioux Falls. Decent sized city, closer to Omaha for a nice little rivarly. Plus a nice little bonus for those of us in SW Minnesota!