Darius

If I were making the deisions, I wouldn't be overly worried about losing Michael. If he gets passed over, great. If he gets selected, oh well. The only logical replacement on that list would probably be Goodrum, and I can't see him getting selected. So, maybe he sneaks on there purely because of a lack of alternatives, not because he has any significant projected value to the team in the future.

I agree. I think that would be a bad personnel decision (neither of these guys should be OFers, especially Sano). But, this FO (the Terry Ryan Country Club) has been making bad personnel decisions since 1994, eventally getting bailed by a stacked farm system in the early 2000s (despite his better efforts to prevent that by taking Travis Lee - who he never even signed, BJ Garbe, Ryan Mills, and Adam Johnson with top 5 picks from '96-'00), which probably saved his career in the knick of time. Even in those good years, he would never make the requisite moves to get them over the hump (the "hump" was typically the first round of the playoffs/the yankees). So, yeah, it'll probably happen that way. Think of the worst possibly starting 9 you could possibly assemble from the current 40 man roster, and that will probably be fielded on opening day, though the first month of the season. Then, they'll miss the playoffs by 2-3 games.

I don't care how rich you already are....nobody is walking away from $50M. I think its more likely that he plays out his contract and signs another, cheaper, deal with the Twins, than anything. My guess: he's not going anywhere until he catches Puckett as the Twins all-time hits leader (Senators notwithstanding) at 2300. He needs about 600 hits, which will probably take 4-5 more years, assuming he functions like he did last year.

This is how it should be. Sentimentality, shampoo commercials, and contracts be damned. It couldn't be any more obvious that this guy can't handle a full season workload, and hasn't been able to for some time now. Will it actually be the case? Not a chance. There are still too many 20-something women in love with him, and too many 20-something million dollars per year left on his contract. When he strikes out that many times, and he barely breaks the league avg. BA, alarm bells should go off. But, they'll likely ride that $23M/yr horse into the ground before the All-Star break. Since he wont see the bench for any significant amount of time, I'm hoping these moves at least mean he DHs much more. I keep hearing this, and it doesn't make sense. The trade was made to free up the Center Field spot for Buxton, but he's not ready to play Center Field for the Twins. Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I'd much rather have Hicks while the Twins iron out Buxton's approach at the plate and service time issues (or, lets try the Danny Santana experiment for the fourth time since he's been a relevant player in '14....brilliant!). You're forgetting the paramount reason why Kepler will see limited time with the Twins this year: Service time. He's better than Danny Santana today. Heck, he was better than Santana last June. But, they'll keep him down there too long, even if costs the team wins (Sano/Berrios circa '15). People try to tell me this isn't the case. OK, maybe not with every player. But, when they have someone that they can project to be a real high-impact player, they milk that clock for everything its worth (not saying its the right or wrong approach, but its still happening, as much as some want to talk themselves out of it with a few college arms or mid-tier prospects). Buxton (aside from college arms/marginal guys) was an exception (sort of...the recurring theme of June applies) for one reason only: ticket sales. His hype had reached a level that people would line up to see his first game in the majors. Are you starting to see a common thread, here? Rarely in this organization are decisions made to make the team better now. They are made to play contracts, defer service time, and milk dollars and cents. The Pohlads, Ryan, and their media mouthpieces can give that all of the lip service they want. I'll believe it when I see it. Its kind of like Sasquatch, for me. There are an army of believers who swear by it, because they've heard about it from someone else, or caught a glimpse out of the corner of their eye when they were really sleepy. For me to be certain, I need to see a body. At this point, the Twins putting winning first, and being serious about making a run, is still just a rumor floating around the countryside.

Interesting, I wouldn't have guessed Chargois is that far along (but I haven't been paying close attention, either). I expect Meyer to have a good year (just gut feeling), and make a meaningful impact out of the pen at some point. He has to realize his career has gone from "future ace," to "AAAA code red" in a matter of months. If that doesn't make you go after your offseason like a Beserker, I don't know what possibly could. It makes me want to go to the gym just thinking about it (on second thought, a couple fingers of Glenlivet and a Rocky Patel sound much, much better. I think I get how its tough, now). Should be fun to watch unfold. Already looking forward to those minor league reports!

To be fair, he's done it more than most over a longer period of time. In a typical year, those are the only kinds of signings he makes (low cost). There probably aren't many other teams in the MLB that have signed 4 ILers within the last couple of years, let alone any that had rosters bad enough for them all to see the active 25-man. With that kind of volume over two decades of awful teams (give or take a couple first round playoff exits in the aughts), you're bound to blindly stumble into a serviceable player every once in a while. Honestly, on this topic about this player, I'm not saying that it says positive or negative things about about TR. It could end up being an excellent signing (I like it a lot, actually. Sounds like he's got a new lease on baseball life). But, the fact remains: 30 year old players from the independent league just aren't going to get a shot on an average-to-good team (guys like Albers, etc.). When you're resorting to multiple ILers on an annual basis, you probably haven't done the rest of your job very well (drafting, MLB free agents, international free agents, etc.), as those guys are in the ILs, and cheap, for a reason. I'm glad he exhausting all resources to fill out the best roster possible (with the tight budgets he is given), but I'd rather see him start hitting on some more pitchers in the draft and free agency so its not necessary every year.

Agree. Its nice to have that guy who can come in with a runner on 3rd with less than two outs, in a tie game in the 7th, for example, and give you a real shot at sitting down a quality big league hitter.

Not disagreeing with the sentiment at all, in fact, I agree with you completely that its a crap shoot. But, Sipp is curious case because he always had a better than average repertoire (including a heavy fastball, a splitter, slider, and sinker) from the left side. Sometimes, just having the ability to get the ball over the plate with your left arm gets you paid (Duensing). He's always had high K/9, and has strung together two very impressive seasons of FIP and WHIP. I don't think its overly strange for him to get a nice contract. But, in sticking with the theme of the thread, and your sentiment, I wouldn't be surprised to see him struggle again, as you mentioned. I'm curious as to your opinion on the current, possible high-end, relievers in the Twins system (Burdi, Reed, Jones, Cederoth, Melotakis, Peterson - is Chagrois still around? - possibly Meyer, etc), and how that relates to the upcoming season. Any chance any of these guys crack the bullpen in 2016, so the Twins don't have to participate in the RP free-agency roulette for a few years? Any guys in particular that you like? It seems like Burdi, considering where he was drafted as a pure reliever, should be progressing a little faster. Any opinions on how he's coming along, now that his first full year as a pro is over?

Are you sure you aren't wrong in regards to the timeline?

I don't understand this "log jam" in the outfield, business. Its just not the case, IMO. The way i see it as it currently stands: Miguel Sano isn't an outfielder, and probably shouldn't be (he'll just get moved again in a year or two, why not just develop him at his permanent spot?). I know its not terribly difficult, but he hasn't stepped foot on outfield grass in his life (warning: hyperbole), and RF in TF is one of the trickier to play with that overhang. I've seen first hand that he has a great arm, but is it accurate from 300 ft? A lot of questions there. It doesn't sound like Buxton is going to start the year with the big club. Of course, he may never figure out major league pitching and be a mendoza line guy with no power (which I don't think will be the case, but its a contingency). I'd prefer not to anoint him the 15 year starter at CF quite yet, at least until he shows me something more at the MLB level. Even if Kepler were ready now, I don't see the Twins bringing him up before rosters expand, let alone before they can clear a service time hurdle. Arcia shouldn't be counted on for anything at this point, and his defense approaches Willingham status. He can't hit breaking balls. I doubt he'll even be with the organization in '17. You're left with Rosario, who has less than 500 ABs in the majors, and Danny Santana, who is always one mistake away from mentally unraveling (it seems) into an 0-50 slump and error spree. Those are your only competent defensive outfielders to start the season. Thats just asking for trouble, especially in Target Field. Even if they bring in a free agent to start the year in center (who will more than likely be a bargain bin, below replacement level player, if history tells us anything), they're still short on depth, in my estimation. Of course, this is all operates under the assumption that Park can hit major league pitching, which is a total unknown at this point, and probably a coin flip. If it comes up tails, Sano is still the full time DH and we're signing another Eric Komatsu.

I'm not as worried about this trade 2-3 years from now, as I am looking at the first month of the 2016 season. They have to be bringing in another outfielder. I really can't see them opening up with any of Arcia, Kepler, Ortiz, or Sano starting in the OF. There really aren't another other options at the corners.

I also really like the thought of Rosario/Buxton/Kepler. I want that to be the outfield of 2017. But, what does the outfield look like if Buxton and Kepler start in AAA? How about when Buxton gets hurt again (you know its coming)? The first two months of the season count in the standings as much as the last two. The Darren Mastrionis and Clete Thomases of the world, which they always end up plugging in to avoid service time and whatever else, will have this team buried in the division before those guys get the chance to see the field. What good is bringing in Murphy over Hermann, then? Is it wrong to trade Hicks? No, absolutely not. It probably has to be done eventually. Is it wrong to trade Hicks right now, for this guy? Yes, absolutely in my opinion. I can't figure out how meh-hitting back-up catcher with marginal defense = above average defensive CF with a little pop and speed on the bases. I think they overpaid.

What do you mean by out-hit? Average? He has a career K/BB ratio of nearly 4 to 1 (Hicks = 2 to 1). He as 4 home runs in 115 career games (Hicks had 11 in less than 100 last year). Hicks had over double the number of plate appearances last year, four times as many in his career, and played in a park that is much less hitter friendly, and the numbers are pretty darn close. I'm scared to revisit their numbers at the end of this coming season. If Hicks is the starting CF in Yankee Stadium all year, he'll put up some good numbers (power and speed included - neither of which Murphy has), plus give them some very good defense (which Murphy can't do, judging by his metrics). Very good possibility he's a 20/20, with good OB% at .260 or so. I thought he'd get there next year in TF. The more I dig into it, the more this move confuses me. Is the premium on catchers really that huge right now? Especially for one that is certainly not, or barely, above average defensively? The only thing this guy really has going for him is he throws out runners at an OK clip, and the Twins need that. But, you can find mutiple guys to fill that roll in free agency for 2-4 million dollars (Chris Iannetta, for example, makes $5M, and he hits for power. Mathis makes $1.5 and might control the running game better than anyone but Yadier). I hope TR knows something that we don't, here. Because it looks like he just hosed by Cashman. Yankees fans sure seem to be thrilled.

I was relatively high on Hicks going into this year. Hopefully I'm wrong, but I fully expect to take a step offensively (was saying this before the trade) and this move look absolutely awful. Digging into this guy a little more, I hate this move.

People aren't comparing the two physically, obvioulsy. People aren't comparing the two statistically, clearly (at least not that I've seen). You make that out to be the case. I think you're missing the sentiment altogether: They will forever be linked by fans and media because of the fact that they are media-hyped international signing from Asia by the Twins. E.g.: "The last time the Twins bid to negotiate with a major free agent from a professional league in Asia, it went horribly. Will this signing follow suit?" It's a valid concern, especially considering the money allotted to this guy will generate an opportunity cost (another option will be foregone if they lost out on the 12 mil) because....well, Pohlads. If Nishioka fizzled out in Fort Myers, as opposed to Minneapolis, we wouldn't be having this conversation. The fact that both players were/will likely be basically handed spots in the lineup very early, on teams that had playoff aspirations, their successes/failures can be rightfully compared. It's more a scrutinization of the front-offices' ability to pull talent from a collective region (similarly how Carribean and European players are/will be compared), as opposed to comparing two individual players physically and statistically. If you can't compare the NPB to the NBO, how can you compare him to a player from the MLB's steroid era (Choi)? What does both being a "big" first baseman have to do with anything? If Choi were a small first baseman, would that change anything? What does weight, in general, really have to anything in baseball? There are ways to make speedy A.J Pollock, at 195, and tortoise-like Prince Fielder, at 300, look like similar players (respectively: .315/.367/.498/.865 v. .305/.378/.463/.841.....speed notwithstanding). Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera are compared as MVP caliber talents every day. Totally different players. Why couldn't Park be compared to Nishioka as a potential failure? I get that you want to list as many supporting points as possible to coyly rip a certain group of people that have annoyed you, but most of them mean absolutely nothing, or are manipulated in a way that feigns logic/patterns.

We need to get Park signd before anything can happen. Then, he needs to prove he can hit MLB pitching. If those two boxes are checked...then i'd start to consider trading Plouffe. You're spot on about most of this. If you want a competitive squad, the depth will be needed, there is no doubt in my mind. All this trade talk is knee-jerk.

Are there actually people out there who thought it would be a good idea to trade Plouffe for Lind, before the Park news? I would be physically sickened by that move. That is absolutely terrible. A solid fielding 3B, with RH power in Target Field (built for RH power), for a guy with marginally better numbers from the left side, in Target field (where LH power goes to die), who won't play defense (hopefully, he's never posted a positive dWAR), and seems to get injured frequently? I can't get over how awful that would be. Plouffe is so much more valuable than Lind.

But, its still 100% on the World Series victory, right?