Multiple Teams Are Interested in Kyle Gibson. Should the Twins Be?
Nov 12 2019 09:15 PM |
Cody Christie
in Minnesota Twins
Image courtesy of © Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sport
Over the weekend, MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman reported that as many as 10 teams were interested in Gibson. He reported that the Cleveland Clinic is treating his colitis and there are no lingering effects. This could certainly alter the Gibson market and his value could rise with increased interest.Taking out last year’s injury-ridden season, Gibson pitched to a 4.31 ERA from 2015 through 2018. During that stretch, he posted a 549 to 259 strikeout to walk ratio while closing in on 700 innings. He’s never been what a person would deem an “ace,” but he has put together some respectable numbers while pitching for some very bad teams.
During the 2018 campaign, Gibson put himself in elite territory as his ERA, games started, innings pitched, hits, runs and base on balls all ranked in the top-20. Even while dealing with health issues this season, he ranked in the top-20 in wins, hits, runs and earned runs. He will be entering his age-32 season and there might be something left to coax out of Gibson’s right-arm.
Gibson’s groundball percentage is one thing that might be attractive to other organizations. A team with the right defensive infield could feast off the groundballs produced by Gibson. Minnesota projects to have Miguel Sano, Jorge Polanco, Luis Arraez, and C.J. Cron in the infield and that’s not exactly a top-notch defensive line-up. Gibson could be better served by finding a better defensive line-up.
At this point in his career, there’s little that points to him being a front-line starter. With that being said, not every team is looking for a pitcher to lead their rotation. Gibson has served the Twins organization well and he deserves his chance at testing the free agent waters. From there, he might be able to find a team that meets his style, while paying him the salary he has earned.
Gibson is getting noticed even in a market that includes multiple top-notch pitchers. He will make some money in the weeks ahead, but the question remains if Minnesota will be offering a contract. He could find greener pastures in another organization. However, Minnesota needs starting pitching and Gibson offers a familiar face with some potential up-side in the years to come.
Do you think the Twins should resign Kyle Gibson? Leave a COMMENT and star the discussion.
- dbminn likes this
65 Comments
NOPE!
Ouch... that's a little harsh Steve
.
But on a more serious note.I would feel fine if the Twins brought him back. If he happens to find greener pastures elsewhere, then so be it and I wish Gibby nothing but the best for him and his family. It's been awesome watching him in a Twins uni.
I'm 100% on board with the Twins retaining Gibson if they're confident the disease is in check and will remain in check.
But I'm skeptical that is the case.
But even so, if you retain Odorizzi and pick up two more good pitchers, I'd absolutely give Gibson a $5-7m flyer and see what happens.
Velocity is still there, we've seen it, though the question is can he maintain it? I understand the interest. And for his sake, I hope the reports of therapy working are true. But feeling good now is very different than being able to manage and keep up his strength for an entire season. Not so sure so many teams being "interested" aren't more about kicking tires and doing due diligence.
While I have been a supporter of his, I am much more interested in adding a prime SP, re-signing Odorizzi, adding a 4th arm via trade, FA, or re-signing of Pineda, and then a smart flier to compete with the youngsters. I'd be OK if Gibson is sitting there come late January or early February and turns out to be that flier.
I would let him explore the market.
Nope. It's probably best for him as well to get a change of scenery and maybe another pitching coach can help him take his game to another level.
Good Luck/
It sounds like he's going to get a pretty good deal based on the number of teams interested, and that makes me think it won't be the Twins that sign him.
I hope he gets paid and pitches reasonably well, but as I've learned more about ulcerative colitis I've realized that it's probably something that continues to come back to affect his pitching from time to time, and could affect his overall level also if he's not able to keep to his training regimen.
I think there's going to be too much risk for the price he's going to get.
Definitely no.There is a time to move on - for both player and team. We do not want a reunion, we want a championship and sentiment is out the window.New blood! New Arms.Really good arms.Yes this is an arms race and I do not want to line up for the same results - give us October worthy arms.
The Twins have better younger and cheaper options at this point; Gibson is 32 and at the downturn of his career. Last season was a bit funky for pitching thoughout baseball and looking at absolute numbers can make for a tricky comparison, but if you look at relative numbers, 2019 was Gibson's best season with a 93 FIP- (7% better than league average.)That said, with only one pitch better than average (slider), being on the wrong side of 30, fit for a number 5 in a post-season-competitive team and having a chronic disease (there is no cure for ulcerative colitis, only partial remission), makes others a higher priority than Gibson for the Twins who can spend that money towards someone on the top of the rotation.
For the right price and contract length - sure I would bring him back.I think he will have a solid bounce-back season next year.I am guessing his agent put out that note about the interest - if there that much interest in him then the price and length may fall out of a reasonable range for us if we want to bring Odorizzi back and sign a top grade starter.
I wonder if the broad interest in Gibson is to Pineda him. Sign him cheap to a 1 year plus (team friendly) option, and hope he regains his strength/mojo.
If there are 4 better starters than Gibby including an additional front of rotation type, I'm very OK with taking a flyer on him.
Only Berrios is better at this point. I have no idea what that first sentence means. The other guys might eventually be better, but not one of them is as ready to help win baseball games as a healthy Gibson to start the season next year.
He want's to come back and if he's willing to take a significant discount and we're doing so on the premise that he's a fringe rotation guy, that'd be just fine. There's no guarantee that he comes back healthy next year, and even if he does, his entire career shows you that he's a guy that's going to pitch well enough to beat bad teams and be infuriating against good lineups. If we're signing him to be our number 3 starter and have an inside track on a rotation spot in the playoffs, I'd much rather see him leave.
If we don't retain Odorizzi then I'd consider Gibson as an option, but I'd rather not have both
Depends on the deal but we have four open spots and we need to fill them. He could fill one.
Would rather put the money toward other options.Just hope the Twins donot swing and miss.
There aren't a ton of great options, which is kind of a problem when you don't have anyone on your roster but Berrios.
Yeah. I find it hard to believe some team is going to show urgency in getting Gibson signed, given his health situation. If he's healthy, I'm sure the Twins will be one of the first teams to know and they can go from there.
This tweet smells funny. Looks like Gibson's agent is leaking this info in order to stir up a bidding war....I'm guessing every free agent pitcher has 10 teams kicking the tires on him.
I can see Gibby getting a 1-year deal in a place like San Diego. Pitch in the weak-hitting NL for a couple years to end out his career. My prediction: he'll go 10-12 in SD with a 4.90 ERA next year, then grab another 1 year deal with a bottom feeder and finish his career in 2021 with a 2-6 showing before being shown the door mid-season.
Gibby will have nothing to be ashamed of when he hangs 'em up. He never lived up to his potential but he was serviceable. The Twins should shoot for higher than "serviceable", though.