The SKOR North Twins Show -- a Minnesota Twins podcast

*Derek Wetmore: "This Twins offense has the potential to be great" *The impact of the Marwin Gonzalez addition *Can the pitching staff be good enough? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Highlights from the press conference to introduce Marwin Gonzalez, the Multi-Positional Everyday Player, to the Minnesota Twins. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marwin Gonzalez agreed to a 2-year deal with the Minnesota Twins. This show presents 5 thoughts on what it means for Minnesota, with Derek Wetmore and Dan Hayes. This completes the "low-key great offseason" for the Twins. 1. What does this say about the offseason commitment in regard to the payroll for the Twins? 2. What position(s) will he play for this club? 3. Can you make the case that he should be a starter in Minnesota? And where would that be? 4. Is this the last move of the winter? And how will it impact next winter? 5. Is Willians Astudillo going to make the club? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*How Machado's deal could impact the AL Central *Are the Twins relying on too many guys to "bounce back"? *Convinced Miguel Sano gets it? Or is it still wait and see? *Will the Twins name a closer? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

*Derek Wetmore predicts 25-man roster *Will Willians Astudillo make the cut? *Thad Levine has early thoughts on spring training, including Miguel Sano. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Twins signed Jorge Polanco to a contract extension. Do we like the signing? What are the other comparable deals around the league? They also agreed that Max Kepler gets his extension. Do we like THAT deal? And are there other deals in the MLB that we think mirror his? Does this mean they should go get your big-name free agents? Would you go get closer Craig Kimbrel? What changes about the winter plan now that these two guys are in the fold for the long haul. Any other Twins contract extensions on the horizon? Which players would you approach with this type of deal if you're Minnesota? Are these contracts the new Moneyball? The next market inefficiency? Derek Wetmore, Phil Mackey and Ramie Makhlouf discuss on this week's Emergency Edition of '5 thoughts' Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Twins could be looking at contract extensions for some of their young core, and Phil Mackey, Ramie Makhlouf and Derek Wetmore discuss what a new deal could look like for Byron Buxton. Also, more "reckless speculation" on Manny Machado and Bryce Harper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Twins have added Lucas Duda on a minor league deal, and Phil Mackey and Ramie Makhlouf discuss why it makes some sense for the Twins to take a flyer on the 33-year-old. Later, Dan Hayes of The Athletic joins for a more in-depth look at Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The best prospect in the Minnesota Twins farm system is ... Alex Kirilloff. There's plenty of talk about Royce Lewis -- and it's been deserved -- but the person getting overlooked too often is Kirilloff, says Derek Wetmore. Phil Mackey chimes in on the underrated prospect who could be "on the radar" for a callup as early as 2019, per Mackey. Also: Who are you stone-cold counting on for a bounce back in 2019? Who is the most likely Twins player to start the 2019 All-Star Game? Who is your closer on Opening Day? And over which movie do you get the most flack? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Phil Mackey, Derek Wetmore, Ramie Makhlouf and Manny Hill give their optimistic outlook on the Twins in 2019. Also, Derek has thoughts on who could potentially represent the Twins in the All-Star Game in Cleveland in July. Later, the guys go over some proposed rule changes in MLB. Should the DH be applied to both leagues? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The range of outcomes is bigger for Byron Buxton than most -- or all -- MLB players. Will he be an American League All-Star this year? Ramie Makhlouf says that he will, and is on the record with that bold prediction. Will J.O. Berrios repeat as a Twins ASG representative? Which other players are on that list? We have 9 candidates -- including 3 darkhorses -- that could legitimately make the all-star team in 2019. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Twins apparently don't want to swing for the fences with this year's crop of superstar free agents. They have to eventually, right? Derek Wetmore and Ramie Makhlouf dig into the Craig Kimbrel reports, plus much more on the future of the Twins and free agency. Who are the biggest names at the top of the class in 2020? 2021? Will Nolan Arenado find himself in a Twins uniform in the future? Mike Trout? Francisco Lindor? Plenty of Reckless Speculation (tm) on this SKOR North Twins show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Should the Twins be in on Craig Kimbrel? Do you want Minnesota to sign the market's premier reliever to add to the bullpen? Ramie Makhlouf, Derek Wetmore and Phil Mackey debate the idea of the Twins going after the 30-year-old flamethrower reliever. Mackey explains why the Twins should be in, Wetmore tells us why it may not be a good idea -- and why the Twins won't do it this year. How about some other options to upgrade Minnesota's bullpen without spending $60million? Also, Ramie gets his chance to express his newly found fandom of Willians Astudillo. Madlibs: IF Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano return to peak form in 2019, the Minnesota Twins will _____. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Derek Wetmore and Ramie Makhlouf talk all things Twins, as Derek has takeaways from Twins Fest over the weekend. Byron Buxton has apparently gained 21 pounds. Will this help with his durability? Also, more on the Twins payroll debate; It sounds like the Twins will not be in on Bryce Harper or Manny Machado, but should they be? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have the Twins done enough spending this winter to be competitive in 2019? Derek Wetmore pins Dan Hayes to ask the tough question. What's Byron Buxton up to these days? Some early positive signs from new Twins manager Rocco Baldelli. And are you optimistic about the immediate future of the Minnesota Twins? All that, plus Jerry Bell and Joe Nathan are headed to the Twins Hall of Fame. Our thanks to Cory Provus and the Twins for providing the press conference from which we pulled these highlights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices