sploorp

What they can get back from Vargas depends on who's interested and if they think he would still be around to claim when it's their turn.

Grossman is a right handed bat. I would say Granite is the guy who has to worry.

I'm guessing this is why they waived Chargois. I can't say I'm complaining about it now.

Agreed on the lineup. Partially agreed on Lynn. My number one wish (among others) going into this off season has been a starter that slots unquestionably in front of Santana. No mamby pamby if healthy or if last year wasn't a fluke kind of stuff, a guy everybody agrees is the new number 1 guy. Yu was my first choice. After that, it's been a trade for Archer. In all honesty, I don't care who it is, I just want somebody who clearly slots in front of Santana.

I think that's the case too. It makes me a little bit sad. I don't think Vargas ever really got a decent shot at being an everyday player. It's kind of hard to put up decent stats when every third day is a travel day between Rochester and Minneapolis. I hope the Twins can trade him someplace where he can play everyday.

From what I've read by Dodger fans after Chargois was claimed, the Dodgers have a reputation of doing just that - claiming waivers, then putting them back on waivers within a few weeks of picking them up. One of the posters even posted a list of about a dozen names where the team had done just that. If the Dodgers do decide to waiver Chargois, is it possible the Twins can get him back and just send him to the minors, or would they have to waiver him again?

It may be an old offer, but the Rays still need to dump salary, so nothing is really off the table. I'm sure they will listen and at least consider almost anything. It also seems to me, every year we speculate on trades and various deals and there always seems to be these players that everybody is convinced will take a king's ransom to get. Then, they finally go and everybody is shocked at all it took to land them. I saw the same reaction from other team's fans when we got Odorizzi. If the Rays are trying to dump salary, the Twins, as a team with payroll flexibility, actually have a lot they can work with. How much of their roster can we afford to take on? Do we have a cheaper alternative they might be interested in? Example (just tossing out names here): Archer, Span and a right handed bat from their 25 man roster for say Enns, Grossman and a right handed bat prospect, plus maybe a bonus mid level prospect as a sweetener.

The last I heard (just before the Odorizzi trade), the Twins had made an offer to the Rays for Archer. I still haven't heard anybody say that possibility was dead. As far as I can tell, irons are still in the fire. That would be the one I would want to see happen.

I've got my fingers crossed that I can get it on MLB.com! I'll watch it at work.

They always seem to have no trouble slapping the Twins around. They're also in the same division as the Yankees, so there's that too.

One of the biggest surprises on this list (plus the mentions by Tom Froemming) is how so many of the greatest performances are by pitchers and not batters. In my mind, it makes it even more urgent that they close the deal on Darvish.

Mudcat should be in the Twins hall of fame based on his cool baseball name alone. Then, you start adding in his stats and world series appearances and I start getting all kinds of worked up. How much longer will this travesty continue? Elect Mudcat for the THOF now!!

Exactly! I've been saying bullpen help (which they got) and a starter good enough to slot in front of Santana. I don't care who they are or how they get them.

That's just it, Darvish ISN'T getting the years and/or the dollars he wants and that's the real reason he isn't signed.

Why doesn't Darvish take a one year deal, then try again next year when the Yankees and the Dodgers are back in the mix?

Oh and yes on a Dozier extension. It doesn't matter how many middle infielders the team has in the upper minors, exactly zero of them have shown they can cut it in the majors. Dozier is a power hitting, gold glove winning all-star 2nd basemen. Keep Dozier and the cannoli, trade the rookies and the gun.

I'm open to trying a few things to speed up the game, though I'm not 100% sure game clocks are the answer. I think a big reason for the longer games is managers are going to their bullpens earlier and more often then they ever have. There isn't much you can do to change that. I would definitely prefer to see the games start a little earlier.

We've probably got as good, if not better than Cobb and Lynn coming up through the system and due to hit the majors soon. Buy or trade, I don't care who it is, I just want a pitcher that slots in front of Santana. Anything else just isn't worth the money and the lost picks.

Congrats Santana, you deserve it. Maybe next year, Mudcat.

I moved to Los Angeles in 1984, but the Twins always remained my favorite team and Kirby has always been my favorite player. I would see him play whenever I could. Either against the Angels or at the dome when I would go back for visits. Maybe it's just the fan in me or the fact that living in Los Angeles sheltered me from most of his down slide, but I can't help but wonder how much of his problems were out of bitterness of a career cut so short. Would being able to leave baseball on his own terms when he was ready to call it quits have changed things? Some might criticize me for saying it, but I happen to think so.

That is my take with Park as well. Both sides agreed to end the agreement, so there is no money owed. Ditto that on Reed. Now, if the team can just land a starter that slots in front of Santana (even if it isn't Darvish), I would rank this as quite possibly the best off season they ever had - at least the best that I can remember off the top of my head.

Any team that claimed Hughes would only be on the hook for the MLB minimum. The Twins would be on the hook for the rest. I can't imagine a single team out there who wouldn't be willing to take a flyer on Hughes at the minimum. Unless the team is willing to eat about 25 million dollars, Hughes is a long reliever at the very least. It's still possible he might start the season on the DL. Who knows? He still might make a serviceable bullpen arm. I'm not ready to completely write him off yet.

Possibly, but the Yankees really want to finish under the cap to lower the taxes next year when Harper and several others hit free agency. I think they bite the bullet this year, then go nuts next year. The Dodgers are pretty much in the same boat, so I don't think they're seriously in the Darvish stakes either. The Rangers are cutting back as well and probably not in it either. In my mind it's between the Twins and the Cubs.

I don't know if Reed closing is the case. It depends on who else is in the mix. If I'm a pitcher, I have to like the Twins defense up the middle covering my back. I would also have to like the team's chances of making the playoffs again. The Twins are definitely up and comers with so much untapped potential to be even better than expected. Even if Reed knows he won't be the closer, a late inning reliever for an up and comer has got to be attractive. And if Rodney chokes ... I'm kind of hoping Reed isn't the closer. Between him and Rodney, I think he's the better pitcher and I like the idea of using the better pitcher for the high pressure situations and letting Rodney come in to pitch a unencumbered ninth. Closing can be a bit overrated. Lastly, I agree, this in no way stops the Twins from making a deal with Darvish. If anything, it makes the case for Darvish coming here even stronger. 135 million? Is that even 52% of projected ticket sales? They did 250 million last year coming off a 102 loss season. I would have to guess they do a lot more than that this year. Also, it would only be 135 million for one year. This is a doable deal and I think it's looking more and more like the Twins will be taking home the prize. Can you imagine if they do get Darvish? That would make for one hell of an off season. Even if they settle for a second tier starter, wow, just a fantastic off season. I might even be willing to use the "G" word when describing Levine and Falvey.

Why? Burdi is probably coming back free of charge at some point down the line.