We all enjoy the idea of overseeing our favorite baseball team and believing that we individually as general manager(s) could and would make the best and smartest moves to build our beloved team into a champion for years on end. Part of the fun of the offseason is dreaming up scenarios in how to improve our favorite team(s) for the year ahead. The following article with is my first stab at a blueprint(s) to enhancing the Minnesota Twins for the 2018 season and beyond.
I’m going to attempt a few different types of scenarios. Some are meant to be closer to being realistic than others. This article will cover 3 different blueprints for the Twins. The first one is going to be conservative in nature, as far as moves that are made. The 2nd one will be more aggressive than the first, and is more in line with how I would address the offseason if I were making the decisions on player acquisitions. The 3rd blueprint will be extremely aggressive in terms of trades from their “core” that I don’t personally see as realistic, but at least hopefully will be fun and unique. I hope beyond anything else these blueprints are interesting for you, the reader.
1st Blueprint; What I think the Twins will do, conservatively.
Tender contracts to all arbitration eligible players.
1) Sign Brian Dozier to a contract extension
2) Sign Bryan Shaw, Cleveland relief pitcher, 3-year deal
3) Sign Rajai Davis to be the 4th outfielder and platoon with Max Kepler in right
4) Sign Trevor Cahill to a 1 year deal to be your 5th starter.
Regular lineup Bench
Catcher Jason Castro C Mitch Garver
1B Joe Mauer IF Eduardo Escobar
2B Brian Dozier IF Ehire Adrianza
SS Jorge Polanco OF Rajai Davis
3B Miguel Sano
LF Eddie Rosario
CF Byron Buxton
RF Max Kepler
DH Robbie Grossman
Rotation
Ervin Santana, Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson, Adalberto Mejia, Trevor Cahill
Bullpen
Bryan Shaw, Trevor Hildenberger, Taylor Rogers, Ryan Pressly, Gabriel Moya, Trevor May, Alan Busenitz
This one is not what I would call exciting, but I do think the bullpen is improved with the addition of Shaw and Trevor May. May can take the Chad Green (Yankees) type role of long man and run with it. If Cahill or one of the rookies doesn’t run with the 5th starter role in the rotation, May could also be in the discussion for the starting rotation.
2nd Blueprint, what I would do if I were in charge of the Twins
Tender all arbitration eligible players to
1) Sign Brian Dozier to a contract extension
2) Sign Bryan Shaw to a 3-year deal (former Cleveland pitcher)
3) Sign Jake McGee to a 3-year deal (former Tampa Bay and Colorado pitcher)
4) Trade prospect(s) to the Giants for Matt Moore. Maybe Felix Jorge and Dietrich Enns?
5) Sign DH/1B Carlos Santana to a 4-year deal (former Cleveland hitter)
6) Sign Michael Pineda to a 3-year deal (former New York Yankee.) He will be out probably the majority of the 2018 season, but should be healthy coming back from surgery for 2019 and 2020.
Regular Lineup Bench
Catcher Jason Castro C Mitch Garver
1B Joe Mauer IF Eduardo Escobar
2B Brian Dozier IF Ehire Adrianza
SS Jorge Polanco OF Robbie Grossman
3B Miguel Sano
LF Eddie Rosario
CF Byron Buxton
RF Max Kepler
DH Carlos Santana
Rotation
Ervin Santana, Jose Berrios, Kyle Gibson, Matt Moore, Adalberto Mejia
Bullpen
Bryan Shaw, Jake McGee, Trevor Hildenberger, Taylor Rogers, Ryan Pressly, Trevor May, Gabriel Moya
This team has a new DH (a HUGE upgrade on starting Grossman/Vargas) 1 new starting pitcher, 2 new top-end relief arms, and a real shot at winning the division in my opinion. Plus it allows for the opportunity for minor league arms (Gonsalves/Romero/Little/Stewart/Burdi/Reed) as well as Nick Gordon to find a way up to the majors if/when they earn their shot.
3rd Blueprint, the more-aggressive-than-I-can-realistically-but-still-fun version
Tender contracts to all arbitration eligible players
1) Sign Brian Dozier to a contract extension
2) Sign Wade Davis to a 3-year deal
3) Sign Jake McGee to a 3-year deal
4) Sign JD Martinez to be OF/DH to a 4-year deal
5) Trade Miguel Sano to Toronto for pitcher Marcus Stroman
6) Trade Nick Gordon and Adalberto Mejia to Atlanta for pitcher Mike Foltynewicz
7) Sign 4th OF Rajai Davis to a 1-year deal
Regular Lineup Bench
Catcher Jason Castro C Mitch Garver
1B Joe Mauer OF/DH Robbie Grossman
2B Brian Dozier IF Ehire Adrianza
SS Jorge Polanco OF Rajai Davis
3B Eduardo Escobar
LF Eddie Rosario
CF Byron Buxton
RF Max Kepler
DH JD Martinez
Rotation
Marcus Stroman, Ervin Santana, Jose Berrios, Mike Foltynewicz, Kyle Gibson
Bullpen
Wade Davis, Jake McGee, Trevor Hildenberger, Trevor May, Taylor Rogers, Gabriel Moya, Ryan Pressly
I don’t (personally) see the Wade Davis or JD Martinez signings as realistic. I LOVE me some Marcus Stroman, but I don’t see the Sano trade happening due to both his health concerns at the moment among many reasons. That said, this would be an interesting offseason in its own regard.
Watch, the Twins now go out and do something CRAZY, like trade for Giancarlo Stanton. Then all of us have something crazy to talk about for 5 months until the season starts again in March/April. I would put better odds of that happening than me winning the lottery without first purchasing a ticket.
What do you think the Twins will do this offseason? What are your thoughts?
A couple of questions... where would the projected payrolls be for each of those options?
ReplyDeleteAnd... Nick Gordon and Adalberto Mejia for Mike Folty$@#^!^?
Conservative would be 105 or so. My version is probably pushing 125 or so. And the 3rd option is higher than what would realistically happen :)
DeleteYes, Mike Foltynewicz. Kind of a favorite of mine that I believe has ace level stuff.
i look for the payroll to be anywhere from 110-120. I donn't see any young extensions in there are you thinking of any?
ReplyDeleteI can see it being in that range too. I do think they can push 125 or even 130 and still more than turn a profit, but we'll see what happens.
ReplyDeleteAnd I approach every single player who is currently on the roster who is 26 and younger about an extension this offseason. Specifically Buxton, Kepler, Sano, Polanco and Berrios, but there are others in that realm too.