Tomj14

At this point we have two starters I would trust Santana and Berrios, so we are short one. I am good with Duffey, Rogers, Kintzler and maybe Chargois/Hildenberger or any of the stud pitchers we have in AA could be those arms in the bullpen? Baseball offers no guarantees so I think you have to take advantage when things are going your way, next year of the year after we could be hit by injuries then what? are we shutting down trading away people for the next opportunity?

I here what you are saying, but if the Twins were 32 -22 instead of 29-25, would you trade Romero or Gonsalves for Santana? In all reality would you trade Turley or Jorge?

Why can't they make a deep run? I understand they are short a starting pitcher and probably 3 relief pitchers. Besides Rosario there isn't a hitter doing worse than expected and you could say most are right on or above expected. To make a deep run it only takes getting to the playoffs and having 3 good starters and a few shut down arms in the bullpen and a few breaks. Why give up this year when we have been very healthy and take a chance on a year in the future that never guarantees health?

Isn't that the Twins right now? We are exactly 1/3 of the way though the season 4 games above .500 in first place and short at least 1 starting pitcher (maybe 3). The Astros are 13 games up in their Division I don't think they will be giving up a top prospect at this point. (but I would really think about trading Santana for David Paulino plus.

Would another team really trade a pitcher that is basically ready to start in the majors this year for Santana unless that pitcher has no real upside? Would you trade Santana for Mejia while we are still in playoff contention? Obviously you listen to everybody that has interest, but I can't see getting the prospects people are taking about. IMO

Using those stats are very good at predicting what may be to come or even that a pitcher was a bit lucky or unlucky, but after the game has been played, what matters is the outcome. Those numbers suggest his ERA is going to go up (which I agree with). But as of today he has started 8 games, pitched 54 innings, given up 23 hits, and walked 21 with an ERA of 1.5 (and hasn't given up an unearned run).

Not saying he is an "ACE" but hasn't he been the best pitcher in baseball since last July?

I think if he recovers and is someplace between 2014 and 2105, Santana pitches to career norm, Gibson is 2015, Santiago pitches to career norm, and Berrios or Mejia figure it out that is a decent enough staff to give the young hitters confidence that they have a chance to win most games. And since only Berrios or Mejia are ready or close to being ready to compete at the major league level that isn't a horrible plan. Plus you have May as a back up plan. Do I think all of these things will happen? Nope

Honest question is only having 1 regular with an OWAR above 1.8 an issue? (and that being the one we are talking about trading?)

He is my fear, 2019, Mauer gone, no replacement, 2B Dozier gone, polanco isn't what we hope he was. SS - Gordon (Buxton of 2016), 3B - ? OF, Rosario doesn't improve plate discipline, Buxton 20/20 guy, Kepler can't hit lefties, Sano solid DH, and a bat hole at C. And we have our current pitching prospects still trying to find their way. EDIT - I should have said and that is why I don't trade Dozier for less than they think he is worth, or why I give up any year too soon to stock pile prospects.

I said after the season there wasn't a real good match for Dozier, either the teams that needed a 2B didn't have the pitching or the teams with pitching prospects didn't need a 2B. With that said I don't believe you make a trade just to make a trade. It seems as most here have given up 2017 which I don't completely understand. You have a young core that should be ready this year or we are in trouble. Buxton, Rosario, Kepler, Sano, and Polanco. We need to complement them not force them to give up hope for two more years. If our pitching prospects are two years out (which it seems) and it takes two years (which most do), we will have missed our mark on the hitters and we will be starting another rebuild. With two wild cards I think it is tough to give up completely prior to a season.

"Daniel Palka adds to this team something they do not have:Left hand power" Or he adds something we already have too much off - K's

They Twins options at DH are Vargas, Park, Grossman, Palka and occasionally Mauer or the outfielders. That is GROSS even for a rebuilding team.

If the Twins idea is to have a 30 year old Park who has accomplished nothing in the majors taking space, I am willing to spend other peoples money on Jose. The draft pick is a high price to pay but in reality that pick is 3-5 years away from possibly making the majors, and 4-6 from making a real contribution. I am not a fan of Vargas, I think platooning him is the only option with him. I agree with most others saying pitching is our real need, not hitting.

Don't the Twins have Gordon and Javier in the minors? As for Dozier - I want a Steven Matz type of pitcher and another prospect or two, doesn't have to be in the top 50 just somebody with a good arm and if we have to throw in a prospect to do it I would do that also. I think by next year or for sure the year after that, Rosario (25), Buxton (22), Sano (23), Kepler (23), Polanco (23), Vargas(26) will either be playing enough to win or we will be looking to rebuild and start over, again. If you think they will be playing well enough we need pitchers that will be ready at the same time and not bringing up guys hoping they can contribute to a team trying to make the playoffs.

I completely agree with you about rankings but I needed something to use as reference of where other teams prospects were. I really was trying to say - it is great and all to say I want this and that from other teams, but those teams need to have that (most don't have what people are asking for) Gems are always great and scouting can find the guys floundering on other teams (Kluber and Liriano for example) but I don't want a trade for an established player to revolve around that kind of player.

I am really asking anybody, it just doesn't seem anybody is realistic on what we could get. I went to MLB prospects (I know there are probably better ones and looked at their top 100 - just pitchers) I don't see a team that fits what you are looking for. Lucas Giolite (3) - Wash Alex Reyes (7) - Stl Tyler Glasnow (8) - Pit Anderson Espinoza (13) - SD Francis Martes (29) - Hou Jason Groome (30) - Bos Jose De Leon (32) - LAD Josh Hader(33) - Mil Jeff Hoffman (34) - Col Tyler Jay (35) - MN Braxton Garrett (36) - Mia Reynaldo Lopez (37) - Wash Riley Pint (38) - Col Brent Honeywell(39) - TB Sean Newcomb (46) - Atl Luis Ortiz (51) - Mil Phil Bickford (53) - Mil Yohander Mendez (55) - Tex Robert Stephenson (56) - Cin Carson Fulmer (57) - ChiW Kolby Allard (60) - Atl Brady Aiken (63) - Cle A.J. Puk (64) - Oak Matt Manning (65) - Det Michael Kopech (67) - Bos Grant Holmes (68) - Oak Forrest Whitley (69) - Hou David Paulino (70) - Hou Mitch Keller (72) - Pit Erick Fedde (75) - Wash Sean Reid-Foley (76) - Tor Ian Anderson (77) - Atl Justus Sheffield (78) - NYY Luke Weaver (81) - Stl Stephen Gonsalves (85) - MN Mike Soroka (90) - Atl Yadier Alvarez (91) - LAD Triston McKenzie (95) - Cle Dylan Cease (97) - ChiC Tyler Beede (98) - SF German Marquez (100) - Col So our two best trading partners are Atlanta and Milwaukee. (Neither is trading for Dozier) Next three are Washington , Colorado and Houston, don't need a 2B. Next is Pittsburgh, maybe they would be willing if they didn't include Glasnow. Finally you have the Dodgers (32 and 91)

so we trade Dozier for Philip Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey? what does on the cup of AA/AAA mean? Is that Kohl Stewart, Felix Jorge, Tyler Jay, Fernando Romero, Randy Rosario,Stephen Gonsalves, Adalberto Mejia, Jose Berrios? Is that the kind of players you are talking about? Lets say those were the prospects from a team that needed a second baseman, what would it take to trade Dozier to them? (for me it would have to be Berrios, and two more of them)

Agreed, but if they trade are only 40 homer in about a half century for a bunch of minor leaguers that won't be here for a few years, it will cause people to not buy tickets, if there are any still willing to buy. We have traded a All stars before Frankie V and Johan and gotten back of bunch of crap, if they trade him they need to bring in somebody that steps up right away.

Honest question, all of you that want to trade Dozier, what are you expecting realistically in return? a 28 year old pitcher with a lifetime era 3.84? Somebody like Dylan Bundy or Shelby Miller? or just more pitching prospects like we have? or a top pitching prospect like Alex Reyes, Tyler Glasnow, Lucas Giolito? Would you be happy in a Dozier for Tyler Jay trade? I think sometimes people just like the unknown more. (the 28 old pitcher mentioned about is Hector Santiago) I would trade him but if it was for prospects the best of them would have to be in at least AA and a few below with crazy high ceilings.

In all honesty what are you expecting in return for Dozier? Are you expecting more prospects like Gonsalves,Felix Jorge, Fernando Romero,Kohl Stewart? or are you expecting a pitcher already established in the big leagues that fits behind or ahead of Santana? I am not saying don't trade him, but if we are going to get AA or high A can't miss prospects, it seems we already have a few of them. Or are you thinking we can trade Dozier for somebody like Shelby Miller or Dylan Bundy? I don't think it is fair to say Dozier/Polanco + Pitching Scrub X, I think you need to say Dozier/Polanco + May vs. Escobar/Polanco + S. Miller or D. Bundy. Because if we only get prospects you can't say league average pitcher. Just my two cents.

I think Anthony did a great job setting up the next GM (Minus not getting rid of Suzuki and possibly Brandon Kintzler) You go into next year with Santana, Gibson, Santiago, Berrios and Duffy/May/Wheeler/Mejia. If the hitters start out terrible again next year, you have can trade Santana, Gibson and Santiago for more prospects and if the hitters are good, you have plenty of prospect depth to try and go out and fill holes. So basically trying to win in 2017, but if that fails you have plans in place to hopefully trade for more prospects and hope one or two of those AA pitchers turn out.

This doesn't really seem that hard. 60 games left. Kepler 54 games in Right. Grossman 6 games in right. Buxton 50 games in Center. Rosario 10 games in center Rosario 35 games in left. Grossman 25 games in right 1B - Mauer - 40, Vargas - 10, Sano 10. 2B - Dozier - 45 - Polanco - 15 SS - Escobar - 45, Polanco - 15 3B - Sano - 30, Polanco - 20, Plouffe - 10 DH - Sano -15, Mauer - 10, Vargas 20, Dozier - 3. Plouffe - 12 You can play with each of those numbers a bit, but there should be no way Mauer and Dozier play more than 50 games, 22 is probably high for Plouffe. (I am not a huge Vargas fan and I see him falling off, but 30 games is good), Kepler, Buxton, Rosario, Sano end up playing almost all the remaining games. And you get 50 games to see what you really have in Polanco. Escobar gets to play in 3/4 of the games. If Sano or Polanco can't play 3B and SS, at least you have that figured out for next year.

Tentative Roster for 2017 ST: C: Centeno/Murphy/Garver/FA? 1B: Mauer/Vargas/Park 2B: Polanco SS: Escobar 3B: Sano RF: Kepler/Grossman CF: Buxton LF: Rosario/Grossman DH: Park/Vargas Bench: IF: Beresford OF: Grossman/Granite? Bat: Vargas/Park Catcher #2 SP: Berrios SP: Gibson SP: May SP Duffey SP: Buy Low High Risk/Reward FA. (Wheeler in AAA, Hughes potential return in second half) Bullpen: (Very Fluid) CL/SU: Chargois CL/SU: Hildenberger CL/SU:Pressly MR: Boshers MR: Tonkin MR: Melotakis LOOGY: Rogers Going into 2017 with this team you are giving up on another year. It is loaded with guys that strikeout out and don't really get on base. It is kind setup up like this years lineup. (I can't even come up with a major league lineup with that group)You are basically gambling on all 9 positions and expecting at minimum league average from guys that have never really done that. On top of that the bench is terrible. Same with the bullpen, nobody in that Pen has really ever had any real major league success. I like all are young prospects but I don't think you can run out a full team of them at the major league level and win. Looks like 2017 will be more of the same as 2016. I am not trying to insult you, I guess I am saying sucks for us Twins fans!