ugh.

Why don't we just keep Cuddy at 3rd and get a DH quality bat for DH? Cuddy's above avg at the plate as a 3B, but as a DH? Definately puts the damper on my post Castillo acquisition happy mood.

I think losing any free agent signing to the Pirates is grounds for a front office ass kicking.

The Giants? Really? Have they even decided what the hell they're going to do with Alfonzo? Besides, that offense isn't going to be solved by Mueller...and by the way, they had their chance at his studliness and tossed it away. How can he forgive them for making him play for the cubs? And no, the eventual Boston successes don't cover it ;)

The Dodgers are hysterical. How many times in a decade can you change the entire direction of a team? What ever the over/under, they'll go one better. Ink a manager you idiots. Mueller would be a fool, at this juncture in his career, to sign what will most likely be a short term deal with the Trolley Dodgers. The Twins should offer some longevity to offset $$ differences.

Tbird,

Because the free agents that are out there aren't all that much better, at least in expected production, than Cuddyer would be - Piazza, Thomas, and White are all serious injury risks, while Millar is simply mediocre.

And while the blogosphere loves talking about trading Lohse or Romero (or both) for a hitter, notice how those names never seem to come up when the other side's request gets leaked. That's probably because no sane GM would ask to take the Twins' two biggest problem-children from 2005 (regardless of whether that label was justly or unjustly earned) in exchange for a legitimate player.

That said, the Castillo pick-up reassures me a bit that TR has a plan, even if the details aren't yet set in stone (or even wet concrete) - Castillo, as a veteran with a track record, is exactly the kind of player Gardy will play and even stick with despite an occasional hiccup. Much as I'd love to have seen Kevin Youkilis in a Twins uni, I have to admit that we've already got enough young guys who don't get much support from the management, and as a result that the experiment would likely not have ended well.

At this point, the big question is this: if the Twins have to deal Crain for a big bat, does this change the club's plan for Liriano in that the kid will have to go through a Santana-like testing period in the bullpen before he becomes a full-time starter?

I took the following statement and translated it to Spanish using one of those translation web sites. Then I took that translation and translated it back to English. It sure is something pretty cool to do when the only other thing to think about is freezing your ass off.

Here it is:

If you think Frank Thomas is coming here, you're absolutely nuts. Mark my words, you will see the same lineup you saw last year, except that Juan Castro will take Cuddy's place at the hot corner. Castillo will bat .260 because he won't want to upstage all the Twins' veteran hitters.

Si usted piensa Thomas franco está viniendo aquí, usted es absolutamente tuercas. Marque mis palabras, usted verá la misma formación que usted vio el año pasado, a menos que ese Juan Castro tome el lugar de Cuddy en la esquina caliente. Castillo golpeará el 260 porque él no deseará situarse los hitters del veterano al fondo de la escena de todos los gemelos.

If you think frank Thomas is coming here, you are absolutely nuts. Mark to my words, you you will see the same formation that you saw the last year, unless that Juan I castrate takes the place from Cuddy in the hot corner. Castle will strike the 260 because it will not wish to locate hitters of the veteran to the bottom of the scene of all the binoculars.

ask kleiner-
Now that's a funny translation. Good stuff.
Please don't castrate Juan!!!!!!

Some of the Vikings, however....

I didn't even really want Mueller, and that's not the sour grapes talkin'. Gimme Hank Blalock!

DMW - I have seen desperate (and even non-desperate) teams take on much bigger problem-children than Lohse and Romero. Take, for example, Milton Bradley. I'd argue that talent-wise he's got no more upside than our duo of semi-volatile pitchers, and yet the Dodgers were more than happy to take a chance on him. And don't forget LaTroy. He has been at the top of the list for potential fan-player altercations for years now (I saw a near-miss by the bullpen at Fenway a couple years back), not to mention his tendency to self-destruct now and then on the mound. But the baby bears still wanted him badly.

I think the reason nobody's talking about Lohse and Romero is because they are overshadowed by Liriano and Baker. Because teams would prefer the prospects but can't have them, it makes Lohse and Romero seem less appealing by comparison. In time, as the market narrows, teams may start asking more about our volatile veterans.

So cold...... " as someone said in the comments yesterday, when you have too many utility infielders, its best to move one to DH.

And, when you have too many utility outfielders, it's best to move one to the east.

So look for Hunter, and JC to be heading to the east coast this week. Nope, not Lewwwwwww.

"I have seen desperate (and even non-desperate) teams take on much bigger problem-children than Lohse and Romero. Take, for example, Milton Bradley. I'd argue that talent-wise he's got no more upside than our duo of semi-volatile pitchers, and yet the Dodgers were more than happy to take a chance on him. And don't forget LaTroy."

Sure, but what quality hitter did another team ever get for those guys? Teams either gamble on them as a free agent (and LaTroy wasn't even much of a gamble coming off his stellar 2002 season) or take them off another team's hands in a dump. What did the Indians get for Bradley? What did the Cubs get for LaTroy? Nobody who set the world on fire, or even anybody whose name I can remember. Lohse and Romero don't reach the problematic level of Bradley or LaTroy at the end of his Cubs days, of course. I'm sure lots of teams would be glad to take a chance on either of them, but doing it as a free-agent signing or in exchange for penuts is different from actually having to give up good players for them.

peanuts. Yes, I do know how to spell peanuts.

I wish Joe Mays well, but don't want him with the Royals. Would prefer he was in another division or league. I'm just saying, is all.

I'm still in denial about Jacque leaving. Wish the Twins would make some effort to keep him, but then it was really amazing they did last year.

Would be cool if Nomar would play third . . .

I dunno. The offseason sucks.

We should get Nomar and put him at third. There should be more American League teams that have their best shortstop playing third base.

from Rotoworld: "The Twins are considering going into next year with Michael Cuddyer as their primary designated hitter. We probably have as much faith in Cuddyer as anyone does, and it still sounds like a silly idea. There are just way too many interesting bats out there to actually enter a season with Cuddyer at DH. Better to let Cuddyer battle Jason Kubel and Lew Ford for playing time in right field and serve as a reserve infielder. "

I'll keep saying it - a decent DH is almost trivial to sign, and a decent third baseman is almost impossible to trade for.

Either the Twins will back off on their "move Cuddy" stance, or are going to make some brain numb move that results in a rant of nearly bibilical proportions.

I hope I'm wrong and these Marte rumors play out.

I'd like Nomar at third, too, but I'd prefer a DH with some whompum if that's the rub.

Joe Randa: No. If the Twins sign Joe Randa, I'm no longer a fan. I mean it. I can't stand that guy. I buy a lot of merchandise and talk a lot of smack, HQ... be warned.

I love Michael Cuddyer. He's my favorite Twin. But he's not a DH. And I disagree that he's "above average" at 3B. He had about 15 too many errors last year. I saw him play RF in Oakland last year, and I liked what I saw. Let him scrape for ABs as a utility outfielder and sometimes DH. But let's get a solid OPS/defensive 3-bagger, and a formiddable DH.

I hate the off-season, too.

I hope Cuddyer starts somewhere but I would still be happy if its one day at DH, another at 2B and/or RF. I'd rather see them sign a solid 3B than a risky player to DH, but what makes me worried is the rumors that the Giants are trying to ship Edgardo Alfonso somewhere.

I hope the Twins don't think this guy can play 3B. He has been nothing but dead weight for the Giants and I see no reason that would change with the Twins. I'm hoping for Nomah, and if it has to be Randa so be it.

And because I'm just as bored as ask kleiner, I decided to translate that same statement into French. I have a friend from Belgium who speaks Frech, so I think it's cool. I loved the Spanish translation, as I speak quite a bit of it (or read...speaking is hard). Anyway, here's the French translation:

Si vous pensez Frank Thomas vient ici, vous sont absolument des écrous. Marquez mes mots, vous verrez le même lineup que vous avez vu l'année dernière, sauf que Juan Castro prendra l'endroit de Cuddy au coin chaud. Castillo maniera la batte .260 parce qu'il ne voudra pas reléguer les cogneurs au second plan du vétéran de tous jumeaux.

Wow, that was exhilarating, was it not? Think of the warm baseball weather and we won't all freeze our asses off. Happy Holidays to everyone!!

Dear Twins Geek:

Unless the Twins can acquire Lowell, something will have to give. Either Gardy will have to back off his demands for three "professional hitters" (by which he means more than three years of MLB experience), or third base is not where one of those hitters will come from. In which case, Marte would be great, but the question then is, where else besides DH can we squeeze a "professional hitter?"

Who else is available for third?
Troy Glaus? Too expensive and injury prone.

Adrian Beltre? Too expensive and Cuddy hit better in 2005.

Edgardo Alfonso? Coming down from a streroid-induced power binge in New York and is a shell of his former self.

Blalock: the Rangers have taken him off the market.

Shae Hilenbrand? Love to get him, but he's one of three regulars not available in Toronto.

Sean Burroughs? Puhleaze

Melvin Mora? Yeah. Right. And monkeys might fly out of my...oh yeah this is a family site.

Eric Chavez? See entry for Melvin Mora.

If the Lowell trade falls through, I think they have to go after Marte despite the fact that he's not yet a "professional hitter". Unless I'm missing someone.

If they do get him, hopefully Gardy doesn't bench him after his first 0 for 12 stretch with two errors.

Sincerely,

cmathewson

If other teams are willing to give Mueller what I ready they're willing to give him, then I'm glad Terry Ryan has the sense not to try to outbid them. Mueller would be helpful, but he's not exactly a Hall of Famer.

Hey looky at that. LaTroy to the Orioles for Steve Kline. Let's hope the Baltimore fans don't make racist remarks and threats at LaTroy like some Cubbie fans did.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/bbw/2005-12-06-winter-meetings-buzz_x.htm

I heard Tori doesn't want to be here anymore with all the roster turnover. What could we get for him we should be able to get someone who coudl replace him offencesivly. (because 260 with 25 homer isn't hard to get if your not the twins). as for jones when was the last time he could start on any team not named the royals or pirates. 2002 other wise it's 250 with 120 strikeouts i don't wanna sound mean but it's just that the reason we have won is because we have had very good pitching and some career years form a hitter every year when won the divsion. jones one year ford jump started us one year and hunter and kory the first year.

the paul at 4:24 and the last one before this were two different poeple just wanted you guys to know that

Ok so I finally make the plans to go to Florida or a trip to Spring Training....and all of my favorite players (and the hottest one-Joe Mauer)... decide to play in the world baseball classic...the week that I am going to be down there....Maybe I could switch my tickets to Scottsdale!!!! Oh Well!!!

Say it ain't so Joe...and Justin...
My mom and I are going to Spring Training and if Joe and Justin are at the WBC, what's a girl to do?? Sorry--off topic. I'll just have to show my love for Garrett Jones instead!

I've noticed this (apparently irrational) desire that some Twins fans have to see Jaque Jones back in Minnesota, and I was just wondering: Do said Twins fans have any actual attatchment to winning? Or just to broke-ass players who have been around for a while? Because, and it's not the first time I've said it, giving more than a couple million dollars to Jaque Jones is tantamount to using it as toilet paper.

C.-
Apparently the Cardinals don't think so. I'm not ashamed to admit an attachment for a charismatic player! Realistically, however, we all know he's not worth outbidding the Cardinals.

And Paul #2? ToriI is staying. It *would* be rather difficult to replace him, seeing as he's both our best offensive and our best defensive player. Just sayin.

Thanks, Twinsfan, but you forgot to take it to the next step. Here is your lovely French translated back to English via Babel Fish:

"If you think Frank Thomas comes here, are to you absolutely nuts. Mark my words, you will see same the lineup except that you saw last year, that Juan Castro will take the place of Cuddy to the hot corner. Castillo will handle the 260 beater because he will not want to relegate the bruisers to the second plan of the veteran of all twins."

I think it's funny that "hot corner" survived the translation ordeal completely intact.

I'm assuming the players will be coming back to spring training after the WBC, which is one of the reasons I'm planning my trip for late March. What's the sense of going to Fort Myers if Johan isn't there?

But oh, man, wouldn't you like to be in the stands for the Dominican Republic v. Venezuela? That is going to be some kind of baseball going on.

Mr. W. Smith -

Yes. Yes, I would.

Neil

Heh, Word Smith, I just used a translator and don't know enough French to understand most of it. But it's fun to put stuff into it and then try and say them to my friend (he finds it quite amusing when I butcher the pronunciation). I find it absolutely amusing to translate something and then translate it back. It's pretty funny. Thanks for making me laugh! =)

I love Cuddy... a lot, but his numbers, to me anyway, are not good enough for a dude who's only gonna hit. He can look hot playing a position

Something tells me that Luis Castillo is all what the Twins are going to get. I doubt we are getting Blalock. Twins should have found a way to somehow acquire Lyle Overbay. He would have been a better fit than Blalock. Twins should have done a better job trying to get Bill Mueller period.

You know? I am interested in getting Tejada. He wants out. Maybe the Twins can help accomodate him. I am willing to dump Torii, Joe Nathan (you can always use Crain as the closer), and even Scott Baker for a very good hitter for years to come in Tejada. Twins got something the Orioles could use to fill their needs. Of course, this is going to be a pipe dream.

Terry Ryan left Dallas with a lump of coal.

I hate to say this, but so far the Twins should consider themselves losers this offseason. They should have done a lot better. They blew it with Mueller and Overbay. They gotta do a lot better than just getting Luis Castillo. Now they gotta sign Joe Randa or somehow pray that they get a slugger.