rdehring

I don't understand your comment SmellEm. If the Yankees sign Cole the Twins off-season will be a complete failure. How is something the Twins have zero way of controlling affect what they are doing over the next three months? Cole is a free agent. As a free agent he is free to sign with whomever he chooses. All indications are that he prefers to go home to southern California. Yes, the Yankees may throw so much money at him that he foregoes his preference. What can the Twins do about this? As I see there is nothing they can do as he wouldn't come here even should the Twins exceed whatever the Yankees may, or may not, throw his way. I don't understand how whatever Cole does means the Twins get an F for their offseason moves...whatever they are.

Agree that Littell isn't going back to starting. But he might be one heck of an opener. And along the lines of what birdwatcher was talking about above, wouldn't be surprised if that one last deal is something similar to the Odorizzi trade from two years ago. Some fairly good pitcher in a trade for a mid-teens to 20 something prospect. Somebody we won't get excited about, yet, will go out and pitch very well every 5th day. I believe the only way the Twins are going to get that true ACE will be from their minor league system. Do they have him down on the farm right now? Don't know. Maybe Graterol or Balazovic or Oder or whomever is that three or four years from now. In the meantime, we have to pray that Berrios finally takes that last step and becomes as close to ACE as we can expect the next few years.

Do I remember correctly that Tampa Bay took Houston to 5 games last fall? And didn't they do lots of interesting stuff with their pitching staff? Could the Twins be thinking along those lines? Could the Twins best starter next season be a combination of say Zach Littell and one of Dobnak, Smelzer, Thorpe or Graterol? Littell could be a great opener. Pitch 2 innings every fifth day and still be available for one short appearance over a couple days between starts. Then bring on Dobnak, Graterol, Thorpe or Smeltzer for say 4+ innings. Is it possible that combination could be better than anyone out there on the free agent market...other than Cole and Strasburg?

Thanks TTKiller for the mention of his defense. He fits well with Garver as a left handed hitter. Although I seem to recall that he was very good defensively back whenever playing with the Tigers, I wasn't certain that was true. If it is it fits perfectly with Garver starting 90+ games a year, Avila at 50+ and Astudillo getting 10-20 starts at some point during the year.

When I read your comments TTKiller, I get a bit down and begin hoping that the Twins do not sign Baumgarner. Then when I think of the fact he would be moving from the NL to the AL, I get a real pain in the gut. But if we don't get either of the big 2, or Wheeler or Baumgarner, who fills out those remaining three spots? Hopefully, they are working now to get Pineda under contract. I could see him picking up where he left off before the suspension. That was good, very good. So who else is there? Are the Twins having discussions with Teams A, B and C about trading for a very good young starter? Discussions that won't get into high gear until the big 4 are gone. Someone with several years control remaining. Someone who could slide into a top 3 spot in the rotation with Berrios and Odorizzi. Then do they roll the dice and sign one of the reclamation projects, someone who once was very good but is now a long shot, someone none of us will be happy with? If he would return to anything close to what he was, great. If not, I have no problem with the 5th starter being the winner of a Thorpe, Smelzer, Dobnak or Graterol battle in spring training. No matter how much money they offer any of these top 5, the fact is there is a good chance we don't get them. After all there are more than 5 teams after these same 5 guys and all are being encouraged to throw tons of money at 'em. And as we learned yesterday, there are many reasons why the Twins are the longest of shots to get some of these guys...maybe all of them. So signing one of these guys may have been Plan B all along. Its just that they have to play it out before moving on to what just may have been Plan A.

Like your thinking Thrylos. I would be shocked if the FO wasn't already looking at who they will have to protect come November, 2020. Makes a ton of sense to pick a couple of those players and move them this winter. Whether that is part of a bigger deal or for prospects further away from being Rule 5 eligible isn't relevant. What is important is not losing them a year from now.

I see another long-term strategy that the front office needs to get working on. It is time they persuade several single Minnesota gals to get out there and latch on to some of the top young pitching prospects. Then when we get to free agency say five years from now, there will be several Cole's and Wheeler's begging to come to Minnesota to keep their mate happy!

If they would do that, Seth, it sure would be a fun spring training. Should they sign Pineda, who I think would be a good signing, one of the four would also get those four or five starts before he is released from MLB prison.

Know little about him, Seth. But will go with your recommendation and get on board. Right now that would be as one of three starters. You put him between Berrios and Odorizzi. Of that pair, who do you consider #1? Personally, could see arguments to go with either as #1. And a question, Seth. Do you think it is possible the FO decides to go into spring training with the #5 spot open? Let the four rookies from last year and a couple reclamation projects (or AAAA) battle it out? That would mean they only need to fill two more spots.

Boooooo. I say that for two reasons. First, I both like the Miracle name and the fact it represents a lot of history for the Twins, and two, love mussels, unfortunately I can no longer eat any shellfish. So that's a double....boooooo!

I have three Twins minor leaguers I would not trade. They are Lewis, Kirilloff and Balazovic. Might add Graterol to that, especially seeing his is almost ready. The Twins are close to being a World Series contender. Their window can last for at least the next five years and probably longer. The four players above, along with Larnach will add to their ability to win it all at some point(s) between now and 2025. The reason I am saying 2025 is because that is how long they have Polanco and Kepler tied up for...or longer with options. Sure seems to me that is how the FO is thinking based on the extensions they did last spring. Will be interesting to see if they can get Buxton and Berrios extended this coming spring.

Everyone assumes that it is time to move Sano to first base. Will his defense at first be more costly than at third? Although I don't know the numbers, I know a first baseman is involved in a lot more plays than a third baseman. If Sano's defense is in question, wouldn't this shift be a negative move? Hate to think that Sano's only position is DH, but is that possible? Unfortunately, that position isn't open until 2021.

Happy Thanksgiving, Seth. And thanks to you and all the guys at TD for your work this past year. Hopefully, 2020 will be even more successful for both TD and the Twins. No questions, just sitting back and waiting for those anticipated Twins moves the next couple months. Enjoy your winter, Seth.

Will be interesting with the new 26 man roster if more players are selected in this year's draft. Maybe baseball should have also changed to a 41-man roster. Agree with Seth that there is a real risk to losing both of Javier and Rijo. Agree with those who think there is a good chance Jax is also lost. However, should the total number of picks stay around 15ish, seriously doubt we would lose three. Maybe one or two.

Like the idea of bringing big Mike back on a one or two year deal. Or maybe two years with a team option for a third. But like several above, I don't see him as the #5 starter. Would pencil him into the #4 slot which after signing one of the top free agents would give the team four solid starters. As for the #5 spot, have no problem with them having an audition between the four rookies from last year (Dobnak, Smeltzer, Thorpe and Graterol) along with a couple comeback guys (or AAAA) signed to minor league contracts. The winner gets the #5 spot and next in line takes Pineda's spot the first six weeks of the season. If the winner hits a rough spot, bring up the next guy. One will get it done.

You may have uncovered their plan, Riverbrian. Garver starts and plays around 100 games. Astudillo focuses on catcher and plays the other 62. They just signed a AAAA type vet for Rochester to go with Telis, who was there last year. That's their depth for the first half of the season. That is followed by two very good prospects who should be pushing to be in Rochester by mid-season, if not sooner. That plan works for me.

Maybe Jeffers put in the same work that Garver did to get much better behind the plate. I recall mention of Rortvedt's arm several times this year. When the robo umps are on the job, maybe shutting down a running game will become the in thing for catchers. But if they keep this juiced ball, who is running...certainly not the Twins.

Thanks, Nick. Will agree that it would be surprising for Rortvedt to make it to the Twins in 2020. What I find equally surprising is all the talk about Jeffers defense. If I recall, when he was drafted he was considered a very good bat with a lot of questions about his defense. Has his defense improved that much? Were the writers wrong when he was drafted? Or is it all because of reports about his pitch framing? There is so much more to being a good catcher than pitch framing, which seems to be all people talk about of late when discussing catchers.

Interesting question, High heat. This isn't the first time Nick has included Jeffers in his short term projections for the position without mentioning Rortvedt. Won't speak for him as I don't know why he has that opinion. Although I am warming in my opinion of Jeffers, I maintain that Rortvedt is an equal, if not slightly better prospect. I base that on the progress he has made since signing out of high school and the fact that he got the AA promotion before Jeffers when it was time to move one of them up last summer. I also see Rortvedt as taking a big step forward with his bat last summer before his injury derailed his season. On a related question. If/when MLB goes to the robo umpire for balls and strikes, pitch framing will become a non issue for catchers. What will that change do to the position insofar as valuing what a good catcher is?

Wasn't aware that he only played third a few times last year. Would agree that raises a question about what they see as his future. Could be a starter at another position, or as a super utility guy like Gonzalez. I doubt that this FO would do to him what they did to Polanco the year before he came up to play short. If not Blankenhorn, who is next in line at third from within the organization? I know Bechtold hit better last year and has been reported to be an excellent defender. Is he next? Or could it be Miranda, although he hasn't improved as much as I had hoped for? Although he battled some injuries last year, didn't he? Expect in 2020, if a third baseman is needed it will come from one of the utility guys on the team, ie, Gonzalez or Adrianza. But there sure isn't anyone else screaming for a promotion, unless Lewis ends up at the hot corner when he comes up next year.

Add me to the list of those that believe he should be brought back, assuming the reports on the condition of his thumb are positive. My opinion doesn't matter, however, and we will see what the Twins opinion is next Monday. Wouldn't surprise me if they are having contract discussions this week in an attempt to sign him to a reasonable one year contract...whatever reasonable means in his case. I do recall seeing a player who appeared to me to be very good defensively during the first half last year. I also recall being surprised when that defense went south later in the year when he was battling that injury. I am a bit surprised that an injury to his right thumb affected his glovework at first, but expect anything can happen when his right thumb was barking.

Another excellent read, Nick, thanks! Have several questions. First, do you believe that this FO was a tad bit prejudiced towards the players they brought into the organization when making 40-man decisions last week? Second are a couple questions about defensive ability. Saw that the Twins played Raley in center a few times in spring training last year. Although primarily a corner outfielder, is he serviceable in center? You also mention first base which was a bit of a surprise to me. How good is his defense at first? Serviceable? Average? Better than average? On a related note, who is the better first baseman, Raley or Kirilloff? If I recall, Blankenhorn is often referred to as very athletic. I see he has had some success stealing bases. Does he have good speed? I believe he was drafted as a third baseman. Is his defense adequate at the hot corner? Better than Sano? Or only serviceable as a utility player. He seems to have turned the corner last year, hopefully, he will be the answer for the Twins when Sano moves to first, DH or on in either a trade or as a free agent. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't Blankenhorn now the top third base prospect in the organization...other than Lewis whom we don't know where he will end up?

I think you missed one prospect, Nash. As we saw in the AFL, Royce Lewis not only can play center field, but is pretty good out there. As the MVP of the AFL, it is likely he will debut in 2020. Although it could be in the infield, thus not relevant to this post, I will be surprised if he doesn't start in center when/if Buxton is injured.

When I read Seth's article Wednesday evening, the first thing that hit me was that 4 of the 5 added were acquired by trade during the 2018 season. As I thought about that, I remembered that Smeltzer and Alcala were two more players acquired in 2018 who were already on the 40-man. So that meant that 6 of the 37 currently on the 40-man were acquired in that flurry of trades. Also stated that I wasn't certain if they were prejudiced in keeping their guys, but found this to be both interesting and exciting. I don't recall Gunnarthor as being overly negative about management and the owner. Perhaps I am mistaken. But rather than commenting about several points I disagree with, I think it best to leave it at being surprised at the tone of his comment.

Thanks Seth, that's what I thought. What is more exciting is that none of Lewis, Rooker, Kirilloff, Larnach, and Balazovic have been around long enough so that they needed to be added this year. Heck, wouldn't surprise me if all of them get added during the season next year because they have played their way onto the team.