[MorseMoose]

With the ¥ank€€$ prepared to take out the Twins in game three, what's next for the Twins?

How's the new stadium going to play out for this current team? Punto, Span, Gomez (the speed guys) lose that extra little edge. Though, bunting may come easier for all three...then again, their struggles came as they popped it up.

Neshek is back. Thank goodness. Our bullpen has not been anything to write home about outside of Guerrier. Mijares has struggled mightly at the end of this season. Hopefully Neshek will be able to come on strong in the pen.

No major players out with major injuries (Neshek/Bonser - even Mauer). I'm not high on Bonser, but anything can help. With a full season from those two, our bullpen will be in much better shape in 2010. Mauer will get spring training and a whole year...we gotta be stoked about that.

Full season of Span in CF. The Gomez trial might be coming to a close. Though, I'd prefer trading Cuddyer this off-season. Young/Span/Cuddyer in the outfield for the entire year should be good. Young/Span/Kubel would be even better, imo.

Likely not much of a RP by committee. Dickey, Ayala, Breslow, Henn, Humber, Morillo, Mulvey. Unless I'm missing something, none of these guys will make an appearance in the bullpen in 2010.

Things to do this off-season:
(in particular order)
1 • Extend Mauer
(now, in no particular order)
• Sign/Trade for a 3B or 2B - prefer 2B (Cuddyer or Young)
• Trade Perkins
• Liriano to full-time relief - if not closer of the future.
• Sign a REAL RP
• Offer Pavano arbitration - hope he declines, but if he doesn't...no big deal!
• Cabrera? Not high on him either.
• Plouffe should get a good shot in ST.
• Valencia should get a good shot in ST at 3B, as well.

[MorseMoose]

Here was my 2009 Off-season To-Do list

• Sign Nick Punto to be backup.
• Sign Breslow
• Trade Cuddyer.
• Trade Perkins.
• Trade for 3B
• Move Casilla to SS.
• Get Hughes to compete for 2B job with Punto/Harris.

C: Mauer/Redmond
1B: Morneau
2B: Hughes/Punto/Harris
3B: ???????/Buscher
SS: Casilla
LF: Young
CF: Gomez
RF: Span
DH: Kubel/Ruiz/Buscher

Last man off: Harris/Buscher

SP: Liriano/Baker/Slowey/Blackburn/Humber
RP: Breslow/Neshek/Nathan/Crain/Mijares/??????

Sign Gardy to a longterm deal this winter too. Fire Vavra and sign a new hitting coach (will never happen...probably should).

Punto was signed, but much too long.
Breslow was signed, but gone.
Still want to trade Cuddyer/Perkins.
We got Crede for 3B. Not a terrible pick-up, imo. Low-risk. Got some good ABs from him.
Casilla had a terrible year. Worse than Punto!

[MorseMoose]

2010 Lineup:

C: Mauer
1B: Morneau
2B: *
3B: Valencia
SS: **
LF: Young
CF: Span
RF: Cuddyer
DH: Kubel

C: Morales
IF: Punto
IF: Harris
OF: Gomez

SP: Baker
SP: Slowey
SP: ***
SP: Blackburn
SP: Duensing
RP: Neshek
RP: Guerrier
RP: Crain
RP: Mijares
RP: Keppel
RP: Liriano
CL: Nathan

* Freddy Sanchez :/?
** I'd like to plug Plouffe in at SS.
*** Pavano will go here if he accepts arbitration.

2B FAs look like:
Ronnie Belliard (35) - Type B
Jamey Carroll (36)
Alex Cora (34)
Craig Counsell (39)
Mark DeRosa (35) - Type B
Jerry Hairston Jr. (34) - Type B
Orlando Hudson (32) - Type A
Akinori Iwamura (31) - $4.25MM club option with a $250K buyout
Adam Kennedy (34)
Felipe Lopez (30) - Type B
Mark Loretta (38)
Pablo Ozuna (35)
Placido Polanco (34) - Type A
Freddy Sanchez (32) - $8MM club option with a $600K buyout - Type B
Juan Uribe (31)

Not a great class.

The FA pitching class looks to be solid, but the solid guys will be had at too high of a contract. We'll see if the Twins can match-up with the new stadium.

[jbergey22]

Moving Cuddyer to 3rd could be an option. They will need some more power next year. I dont think dome ball will work on grass.

We need Slowey or Baker to take the next step and become an ace.

[MorseMoose]

Originally Posted by jbergey22

Moving Cuddyer to 3rd could be an option. They will need some more power next year. I dont think dome ball will work on grass.

We need Slowey or Baker to take the next step and become an ace.

I'll take Cuddy at 2B...Valencia is 3B next year, or should be.

[stevebydac]

Trade Mauer and Morneau to the Red Sox for two 43 year old minor leaguers. Think of the money you'd save!

Seriously, I root for you guys - my #2 AL team. Hopefully you can build around your core and keep winning! That new park should help attract players.

[Walkoff]

You guys can have Buchholz, Reddick, Kelly, Westmoreland, and Papelbon for Mauer.

[bababui]

Originally Posted by Walkoff

You guys can have Buchholz, Reddick, Kelly, Westmoreland, and Papelbon for Mauer.

A players career is not decided by a single game or series.

[Walkoff]

Has nothing to do with it. Papelbon has been on the decline for a bit, still has the stats but simply does not have the same stuff. Bard or Wagner can fill the role, Wagner if Bard is not quite there yet. Epstein won't pay a closer huge money because if their depreciation. Buchholz is the only young pitcher we have that can contribute now. The rest of our prospects are a bit away.

[CommishJoe]

Originally Posted by ACESFAN 1

How to spell sweep YANKEES !!!

Ok, keep that to the Yankees vs Twins thread and don't get too crazy (BTW -- I moved that post to the Twins vs Yankees thread). The Yanks still have to get past the Angels.

Back on topic, why trade Cuddyer? He was one of their clutch hitters down the stretch and he seems to be versitile.

The one thing I'd really like to see if Mauer get an extension. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind seeing him in Yankee pinstripes, but if anyone deserves to be a career long Twin, it's Mauer. I do think they can build a winner around him.

What's your take on Blackburn? He looked like an ace to me in game 2.

[jbergey22]

Originally Posted by CommishJoe

What's your take on Blackburn? He looked like an ace to me in game 2.

Hes basically Baker or Slowey without quite the stuff and not as consistent. Hes a solid 4th starter but doesnt have the ability to ever be an ace IMO.

[molarmite]

I heard Cabrera really wants to come back next year, he said he really enjoyed playing for us. I wouldn't mind him returning, he's better than anything we got and we can keep him until Plouffe is ready. If Plouffe has a year like Casilla, we need someone there like Cabrera or else we're back to Punto/Harris/Casilla rotating at SS.

I think I'm fine with Punto at 2B, it's hard to find a better defensive 2B than him and he seemed to be finding a stroke at the end of the year, maybe he'll repeat his 2008 average.

As for our rotation, I would like to see us keep Pavano for his veteran leadership and go like this:

1) Slowey
2) Baker
3) Pavano
4) Blackburn
5) Duensing

What SP do we have that are almost ready for the bigs? Obviously there's Gabino and Manship, but how is Guerra, Mulvey, and Hunt doing?

[MorseMoose]

Originally Posted by CommishJoe

Back on topic, why trade Cuddyer? He was one of their clutch hitters down the stretch and he seems to be versitile.

It all comes down to $$ and who we have. Cuddy just seems like the piece that is expendable. Sure, he is versatile, but he is also 30 years old now. I think the Twins could pull some good players including him. Unless you can sign the guy for a reasonable contract for the next 4-5 years, I just seem him making the decline with the Twins. Cuddyer played well as a Twin...I just think it's time for the Twins to part with him. They won't because of his clubhouse presence, but I wouldn't be heartbroken to see him traded.

What's your take on Blackburn? He looked like an ace to me in game 2.

Blackburn is solid. I've always liked Blackburn. I still consider Baker to be our Ace though. Blackburn is just a solid, big-game pitcher. But not someone that can lead the staff, imo.

[MorseMoose]

Originally Posted by MorseMoose

SP: Baker
SP: Slowey
SP: ***
SP: Blackburn
SP: Duensing
RP: Neshek
RP: Guerrier
RP: Crain
RP: Mijares
RP: Keppel
RP: Liriano
CL: Nathan

Forgot about Rauch. Rauch will take Keppel's spot.

Originally Posted by molarmite

What SP do we have that are almost ready for the bigs? Obviously there's Gabino and Manship, but how is Guerra, Mulvey, and Hunt doing?

Gabino? Not a starter. He'll be up and down in 09 when Crain/Mijares/Liriano struggle/get hurt. He'll be up in 2010.
Mulvey? I don't see him ever cracking into the regular rotation unless an injury happens.
Guerra? He's still a few years off, maybe (MAYBE) a 2010 September call-up, but I bet he doesn't see action until 2011 at the earliest.
Hunt? He's far off as well. He major struggled this year (10+ ERA in 30+ innings)
Manship? He'll be a spot starter, long relief.
Swarzak? He'll make a few starts here and there, but nothing consistent.
Humber? Will only ever be a Keppel type player for the Twins.

[jaxmagicman]

If you are looking for a 2B, you guys can easily trade for 2-time All-star under 30 Dan Uggla. He is most likely going to be traded from Florida because of his arbitration number. I think he hit 30 homeruns again this year.

[molarmite]

I heard that we were interested in Uggla and might trade for him.

[MorseMoose]

Originally Posted by jaxmagicman

If you are looking for a 2B, you guys can easily trade for 2-time All-star under 30 Dan Uggla. He is most likely going to be traded from Florida because of his arbitration number. I think he hit 30 homeruns again this year.

Meh...Uggla would be an upgrade...but I'm not sure I'd be all that high on him. What's it gonna take?

[Jonzard]

Uggla seems to be such a feast or famine kind of player depending on the year. Florida is poor enough that it does makes sense, but guys like that worry me when they are being offered away like there is something we don't know. Then again, if the Twins staff likes a deal, I would trust their judgement on him.

[jaxmagicman]

Florida is cheap is the only reason they make the trade.

[MorseMoose]

Great article by Reusse today in the Strib. I'm not a Reusse fan, at all and tend to despise the guy...but I agree with like 9 out of the 10 things that he said.