Nolasco & Hughes!

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Jester, thanks for responding. I have a couple of things:

1. I'm hoping the Twins don't see Doumit as catching mentor. Hitting mentor, sure. Off-field behavior, ok. 1980's Hardcore, even better. But I don't like watching him catch. I really like the Molina who is a FA.

2. I wish there was, but I don't think there is a market for Rosario. I think half the teams view him as a cheater and the other half view him as an idiot who gets caught cheating. Too bad, because Dozier is a top ten 2B.

I'd also like to say I am against trading Arcia. Arcia combined with a batting coach that stresses contact (like say Paul Molitor) is going to be deadly. In terms of Minor League pitchers the Twins should try to move because they've progressed as far as they are going to, my opinion is that Pat Dean is the top of that list. He's not going to get RH hitting out. I believe his career arc is going to be very similar to Duensing's, and the Twins already have a Duensing.

1. Agreed on Doumit. That's why I wanted AJP. Apparently Terry Ryan asked Nolasco how he felt about John Buck, though. So, that's definitely a name to watch. Platoon guy, but could give us 15-20 HRs possibly. I think Molina re-signed with the Rays, by the way.

2. You're crazy if you think there isn't a market for Rosario. 22-year old 2B/OF prospect that batted .302, .810 OPS, 10 HRs/32 2Bs/8 3Bs through A+ and AA last year. Numbers have been good/great since he was 18. PEDs or not, there's a market for guys that produce, especially 22-year olds who are team controlled.

3. Agreed on Arcia. Once the strikeouts go down and his contact goes up, Arcia has the potential of being a beast. He had extreme hot stretches last year in his time with the Twins. Absolutely crushes AAA pitching so he's done there. He just needs to be fine-tuned.

Not familiar with Pat Dean as much as you are, but if he's another Duensing, he can get the boot.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

jester, I would be open to trading Meyer if it meant getting back a top of the rotation arm. I'm not trading Berrios. I'm higher on him than some others, but his youth and "stuff" has me too intrigued to trade him away.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

1. I think Buck catching 81 to 108 games, with Pinto catching 54 to 81 games, and then taking over as primary catcher in '15, would work great.

2. So you're saying that the guy who took performance enhancing drugs got....enhanced performance? Isn't that how it works? But in all seriousness, is there really a GM who is going to give up anything of merit for a guy with an .800 OPS at double A while cheating? (Keep in mind that Dozier was .732 in the bigs while not cheating, or at least not being caught) I think they are going to want to see what he can do clean, or at least what he can do while passing the tests.

3. What you say about Arcia being in AAA is what I was trying to get across regarding Pinto. He can't go back unless he is absolutely struggling or a rehab assignment. He has to be (at least) the 2nd catcher or he has to be moved while his value is strong.

Dean is going to have a good career...out of the pen. Then when a guy like Plouffe comes up, the skipper can pull him so a child on Hennepin Avenue doesn't get critically injured.

[Jester1534]

2. I disagree I think cardinals just discredited that theory but giving Johnny Peralta that fat contract. I don't think PED usage is that big of a deal to some Gms still

3. I know what your saying about pinto, but I wanted AJ here to groom Pinto, just like you said about Molina. I agree though if they signed Salty they need to move either guy in the future but my opinon we were never big players on salty. My point with Arcia was in one more year we are gonna have a crowded outfield, he has high stock now I hope he becomes a better Kubel at DHing and spot outfield work.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

What crowded outfield, jester? Buxton (CF), Hicks (RF) and Arcia (LF). Rotate Willingham and Arcia at LF and DH, or just trade Willingham for whatever. Doumit shouldn't be here long either.

Prospect I really like that doesn't get talked about enough: Adam Brett Walker. If he continues the tear he's on, Arcia could become a nice trade chip. Walker's one of my favorites that we have and I'm hoping he keeps it up. Real power right there.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

When I said "give up", I didn't mean money towards that player, because if a player is suspended it is unpaid. I meant compensation towards the team that currently holds his rights. When the Cardinals signed Perralta, all they lost was the 30th pick at a time when their farm talent is strong. According to MLB.com, Rosario is currenty the 63rd best prospect. Does the team holding, say, #26 thru #100 trade that guy straight up for him until he proves he can produce without using, or use without getting caught? I don't think they do.

How about trading Hicks? I really like Arcia. And I agree that Doumit and Willingham will be moved roundabout 7/31/14. And I predict a strong argument will be able to be made that what they get for Willingham will be less than what BAL offered this past July, and I think we can all agree it won't be anywhere near what they could have gotten in December 2012 for him.

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

When I said "give up", I didn't mean money towards that player, because if a player is suspended it is unpaid. I meant compensation towards the team that currently holds his rights. When the Cardinals signed Perralta, all they lost was the 30th pick at a time when their farm talent is strong. According to MLB.com, Rosario is currenty the 63rd best prospect. Does the team holding, say, #26 thru #100 trade that guy straight up for him until he proves he can produce without using, or use without getting caught? I don't think they do.

How about trading Hicks? I really like Arcia. And I agree that Doumit and Willingham will be moved roundabout 7/31/14. And I predict a strong argument will be able to be made that what they get for Willingham will be less than what BAL offered this past July.

I'm not a fan of moving Hicks. He's got top of the line defense/arm and I still have a ton of faith that he'll figure it out at the plate. An Arcia/Buxton/Hicks outfield looks pretty damn good to me on paper for both defense and offense. Not ready to give up on a 5-tool guy like Hicks just yet, personally, but I could see the argument on why to do so I guess.

I wanted to trade Willingham last off-season. Knew his value would come crashing back to normal heights. Reasonable contract plus a Silver Slugger season? Oh yeah. I wanted him dealt. The only problem is had we dealt him then, it doesn't put off a good image for potential free agents in the future. Sign with Minnesota, have a great first year and then get dealt the following off-season? We'd look worse to FAs than we already do. Having said that, I still wanted the package he would have commanded back at the time.

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I like Hicks, but if the choices are him going or Arcia, then I would want it to be Hicks going. At least as of this moment.

I disagree that moving Willingham would have made the Twins name mud around the majors. Everybody knew they lost 96 games, and if they got a haul for him, everyone would have had to agree with the move, if not begrudgingly.

Do the Twins really have a horrible reputation, I mean beyond routinely getting outbid?

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

I like Hicks, but if the choices are him going or Arcia, then I would want it to be Hicks going. At least as of this moment.

I disagree that moving Willingham would have made the Twins name mud around the majors. Everybody knew they lost 96 games, and if they got a haul for him, everyone would have had to agree with the move, if not begrudgingly.

Do the Twins really have a horrible reputation, I mean beyond routinely getting outbid?

Right now, Arcia does have the advantage over Hicks. His bat's better. I don't want either of them traded, though. That was what I initially said. I followed it with an Adam Brett Walker comment because his bat is a damn boom stick.

And everyone around the league on the management/media side would have loved the move most likely. But if I was a player, I wouldn't like that move. It certainly would give me a reason to not sign with the Twins. Why sign with a team knowing that they could very well deal you a season after? No faith. Buy a house in Minnesota only to have to sell it and buy one in another state. That's not a positive thought in any free agent's mind.

And I'd think around the league we're considered cheap. We don't pursue free agents, especially ones with big names. I enjoy the "home-grown" tag we own, however. I love the idea of "built not bought".

[JasonIsDaMan [enjin:7981157]]

I don't know. You can't get free agents if you stink, but if you trade guys who can bring you a good return in an effort to stop stinking, then you can't get free agents either? I think you are reading too much into it. I think if The Twins trade Willingham to a team that is a contender in December of 2012, he's fine with it. I remember TEX needing LF/DH production at the end of 2012, but I could be wrong.

I think destination and/or circumstances also plays a role. If they would have unloaded him for a middling prospect and cash to the Cubs because they didn't feel like paying him anymore, then yeah, that sends a poor message. Miami is going to have that problem when they are set to contend again. But it's warm and you don't pay 10% of your salary in state taxes.

This year is a perfect example of "Built not bought". How many FA's under the age of 30 were worth a damn? Everyone like Nolasco, but he's in his 30's and has a 4.37 career ERA.

I do think one was Hughes. You can't be a fly ball pitcher at the new Yankee Stadium