Remaining Free Agents

How bored are we at this point in the off-season?  Everyone here is clamoring for something real to talk about.  Not only is it -15 outside but if feels the same in my little baseball heart.  I need the bright Florida sun, pitchers playing catch, catchers putting on the gear, the pop of the mitt & interviews by Lavelle, Joe C and Souhan.

Yet, there is still the possiblility that  the Twins will do something else to bolster this team in 2011 and that keeps us talking about all the hot stove activity.  If you look at the roster the way it is set up (see: http://www.twinkietown.com/2011/1/18/1942891/2011-mn-twins-25-man-roster by PhatJ1111 for example) I see a very good line-up.  A line-up that is really dynamic from a speed & power perspective.  This is, of course, assuming all players in the starting line-up have seasons that mimic the better years of their past.

The bench is a pivotal part of any team and looking at the Twins you have some players that fill some of the typical roles you see on most teams.  The soft-hitting, good glove & arm catcher (Drew Butera), the solid defensive outfield replacement that can't hit very well (Jason Repko), the big, late inning, pinch hitter (Jason Kubel or Jim Thome - depending on what camp you are in) & the do-it-all Nick Punto prototype who will play anywhere when asked, pinch run when needed & hold a clipboard the rest of the time (Matt Tolbert).

All things perfect; the entire roster stays healthy, they all get along and, most importantly, they all have near career high type years statistically,  there is no need to do anything with the Twins roster.  The Twins will win 95-100 games with this scenario.

Unfortunately, this won't happen.  Someone or a number of players will get hurt.  Some will not perform to expectations.  And some, even on the loveable - let's win one for Gardy - Twins, will not get along, cause some trouble and possibly need to get moved.

That being said, to add depth to this team with MLB ready talent I think it is wise to look at the available players just one more time.  Do we have options on any players that can wait out a month or two at AAA before they are really needed?  Is there a player on this team that isn't quite the player the Twins need at this point that is expendable?  Is there an available player that is still waiting for a phone call for the Twins to fill a role they would be comfortable with and affordable enough for the Twins to make the move on?

I apologize for the length of this list but here are all the free agents still sitting unsigned:

I highlighted a few of my favorites but a couple of interesting players jump out at me.  Those are Hank Blaylock, Ryan Church and Lastings Milledge.

Blaylock looks like he may be signing with the Rays soon but would be a very good option in my opinion.  With the depth of minor league outfielders in the Twins system it seems logical to utilize that depth by trading it for other pieces.  Jason Kubel's bat off the bench would be a nice asset to have but because of the defensive inadequacies he doesn't add much else.  If Blaylock is healthy this addition would be a great low risk buy.  He woulld still be the left handed bat off the bench but also be able to play some 3B against tough righties and spell Morneau or Valencia as needed.

Ryan Church has had a very solid, under-the-radar, career.  He is a very solid defensive outfielder & bats left-handed.  Church really has never gotten a chance to establish himself in the big leagues as he has almost always been the 4th outfielder on his respective teams.  That role wouldn't change with Minnesota but he, in essence, would replace Repko from a defensive standpoint and give them a left-handed option off the bench.

Okay, Lastings Milledge?  A bit of a stretch to say the least.  But hear me out for a minute.  Milledge's problems have been 100% mental.  He has been berated for his lack of hustle, his un-coachability and his attitude towards teammates.  So much so that this former 1st round pick (2003, 12th overall - HS Outfielder) is looking for work.  Here is an article from last year on Milledge. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100918&content_id=14817642&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb  

There has never been a question in his abilities, but now at age 25, there is a question of whether he will even get a chance to capitalize on it.  I say this is a great opportunity for the Twins to get a tremendous outfielder with excellent offensive potential. 

Among the other free agents of course I have my opinion of their value as well.  I would like Nick Punto back on the Twins team, use him as our utility guy and move Tolbert back to AAA (UPDATE: http://tinyurl.com/4f4g9p7 ). Jamie Burke would be a much better Catching option than Butera and Butera can still be utilized later in the year if needed.  Aybar and Guerrero would be great "vs. lefties" DH options.  Inglett would be another "Nick Punto" type option.  And finally, out of the pen, I still like Delcarmen, Meredith and Ray.  All would allow the young relief pitchers on the team to get more properly prepared in the minors before coming up and enduring the roles they would have on a major league roster.

Let me know what you guys think about the list of available players & if you think any of them would help the Twins win this year.  Brian Cashman said the reason that Rafael Soriano was signed was it made the Yankees better.  I know the Twins will never take on the financial model of the Yankees but I do like the concept of improving a team when possible.