Offseason Outlook: Minnesota Twins

Yeah, Tim, as tony points out, there's a lot more "room" in payroll than you give credit for if you only compare to current year's level. The Twins claim they target 52% of revenue as their payroll level and that's what they had in 2007 when payroll was close to $70 million.

2008's attendance was 3rd highest in Twins' history and they're one year closer to the new stadium. If there is talent to be had that can improve this team and keep payroll in that $75-80 million range, there's no reason Bill Smith shouldn't be allowed to go for it unless it would also involve long term commitments. (With so many Twins scheduled to hit arbitration/free agency at the same time, they can't afford to tie up money on guys like Beltre or Furcal for more than a couple years, at most.)

I also disagree a bit on the comment that no pitching help is needed. The bullpen was a disaster after Neshek went down and they can't count on him coming back 100% in April. Maybe Mijares is the missing piece and maybe someone else will step up, but I'd like to find a solid set up guy somewhere, just in case.

If they make some smarts moves then yeah it isn't out of the questoin. They had a good year. All isn't lost. But thats the cubs too not the Twins. At least the Twins have won it in the last 20 years not 100.

Tomohiro Nioka would be a low budget option for ss/3b. I could see the Twins signing him.

You don't get the great D out of Hardy that the Twins need out of their shortstops though.

I also think the Twins could afford to trade someone from their current rotation. I would say either Perkins or Blackburn could be moved, since Philip Humber (acquired in the Santana trade) is out of options and they have another capable arm in the minors in Anthony Swarzak.

I would agree they could afford to trade either Perkins or Blackburn, because they have so many starting pitching options in AAA. It would have to help to trade either one them for a 3B or SS because they have expierence at the major league level. So, either on of them and a prospect should be able to land a 3B(Beltre) and then sign Ellis and move Casilla over to SS. That would be a huge upgrade from this year defensively and offensively.

The Twins web site lists Michael Cuddyer as an infielder now.

Moving him back to 3rd would likely fix all of our woes there, considering he can stay healthy.

Moving him to 3rd would also keep our stellar "3 armigos" in the OF going, Span, gomez, and Young.

Philip Humber is OOO next year, he's pretty much earned that long relief role, Mijares will be a middle man and assuming we let Reyes go, Boof would be the odd man out.

Whatever Sid Hartman says, don't listen. Delmon Young is not on the market nor is Alexi Casilla, practically none of our young guys are.

Who is on the market? Blackburn? Perkins? Cuddyer is a hot topic as well.

Casilla will likely be moved to SS, his natural position and my guess is we'll use an inhouse option like Harris or Tolbert or even a minor leaguer Luke Hughes at 2nd.

If Cuddy isn't moved back, I'd like to see us pursue Casey Blake or Joe Crede, or Dallas McPherson. Even though I wouldn't mind trading Blacky or Perk, I would only want to do it if its worthwhile, if we got a power hitting infield.

I'm convinced next year is the year!!!!

d-lee for justin morneau.

a. ramirez for liriano.

soriano for nick punto.

a complete lack of expectations going into every season yet still getting good results in exchange for fruitless hopes and shattered dreams.

what do you think twins fans?i'll even throw in marshall and pie.

(i needed a chuckle, hopefully others did as well.)

I'll be surprised (and bordering on shocked) if the Twins tell Cuddyer to find his 3B glove and work it out this offseason. It was such a miserable failure the last time they tried that.

If Smith can't come up with a FA or trade that adds a RH hitter with some power to one of the infield positions, then maybe... BIG maybe... they'd give Cuddyer another look at 3B. But the Twins are not good enough to be able to afford cement shoes and iron gloves at any infield position. Cuddyer would need an offseason of Winter Ball somewhere to learn to play 3B well enough to pass and coming off his injuries, I really don't think the Twins want him playing that much ball in the off season. Should find out soon enough if they decide to investigate going that route.

"and trade a low level prospect or Boof if they want him for Beltre and we take on his entire salary. More of a salary relief for Seattle."

You know that this isn't the Jarrod Washburn rumor thread, right?

*Thinks of going on rant, then thinks better of it*

That would be just an awful trade if the Mariners got "Bonser or a prospect for Beltre and salary relief", though.

The deal Bonser was in was the Washburn deal, no way we got Beltre for him, but I imagine Blackburn was on the table.

Mariners didn't go for it though

Kevin Kouzmanoff & Cla Meredith
for
Delmon Young*

*my wish as a padre fan.

"and trade a low level prospect or Boof if they want him for Beltre and we take on his entire salary. More of a salary relief for Seattle"

You do realize that Beltre would cost far more than just salary relief. He's a league average hitter with good pop as well as one of the best defensive third baseman in baseball.

"What about Atkins for Blackburn? Would something like that work?"

I think that it would still make more sense for the Twins to go after Beltre instead. If the Twins were willing to include Blackburn in a deal for Beltre, I'm sure the two teams could put the rest together fairly quickly. Maybe something like Beltre for Blackburn and either Brendan Harris or a prospect.

"Kevin Kouzmanoff & Cla Meredith
for
Delmon Young"

Honestly I think this deal just wouldn't benefit the Twins enough. Kouzmanoff is 27 and posted a .299 OBP last season, and isn't a very good defensive 3B. Meredith hasn't been nearly as effective since 2006, and posted unimpressive numbers in 2008: 4.10 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 49/24 K/BB in 70.1 innings. (And by the way, he's 0/13 in saves for his career. How the hell do you get 13 save chances, and manage to fail in every single one of them? like really? how the hell..?)

If the Padres were willing to make a deal like Delmon Young for Chase Headley and either Meredith or Matt Antonelli, then I think that the Twins would seriously consider making that deal. Thats just me though.

Rays vs. Twins 2009 ALCS.

Uggla can't play 2B what makes you think he could play 3B it is a harder position.

They should sign Adam Dunn...He'll bring em power and they can use him as a DH.

- Personally, I think SS has to be a priority ahead of 3B. Buscher is above-average defensively and can maintain a league average offensive output. I would rather insert Furcal at SS than Beltre at 3B. What about Michael Young? He isn't as good defensively as Furcal, and not as dynamic, but he would fit in the Twins ethos (whatever that means), and is said to be available via trade. I wonder if the Twins would rather trade from their farm system than give up a first-round pick. It seems counterintuitive, but known commodities seem to have less value than the "unknown" lately ... which is ridiculous considering the percentage of first-rounders that actually make significant contributions to the big league teams.

- Cuddyer's value is not high enough to trade him. The potential for injury makes it necessary for the Twins to consider keeping all 4 OFs. Add Kubel to the equation, and I think a 5 person rotation between the 4 positions would allow for all of them to get enough AB's.

- Reyes is as good as gone. Breslow and Mijares are both penciled in as significant contributors next year. The bullpen could use some tweaking, but I think Twins management is going to be happy with the internal additions of Neshek and Humber. Another waiver acquisition (ala Craig Breslow) is a possibility. I think they can count on an improvement here without spending significant money.

- I agree that the Twins are not going to make any significant trades this offseason. Furcal is nice piece to think about, but that trade is highly unlikely. There's a possibility that Boof Bonser could be moved for a minor prospect or an extra bullpen piece, but nothing major obviously. Delmon Young is not going anywhere ... Blackburn and Perkins are fixtures, too.

- There will be few new faces next year ... and I don't think that to be a bad thing. They can count on incremental improvements from many of their younger players and the hope that Cuddyer can return to some semblance of what he was in years past. If they can get a SS that can bat near the top of the order and play good defense, they could be very good next year (again.)

Twins are NOT going to move Casilla to SS! Gardenhire made it pretty clear that he wants Casilla to stay at 2B.

Gardenhire is a disciple of the Tom Kelly theory that a manager has to put players into situations where then succeed and if they producce, don't mess around with them!

It's not just Sid Hartman talking about Delmon Young being available in the right kind of deal! The Twins won't just give him away but if they need to move him to get a top shelf 3B they will!

And, if the Padres are really willing to move Peavey, the Twins are really interested! They could move one their young starters, Young or Cuddyer, an infielder, and a couple of front line prospects. Peavey is affordable and would be the top of the rotation guy that Gardenhire and Smith would like to have. The Twins would have a lot better shot at getting Peavey than the Yankees or some other teams who don't have young MLB experienced players to move.