The Quickie Response Thread to the Question: Should the Twins Trade Liriano?

[Kobs]

Why does anyone think he doesnt?

Constant financial, philosophical and medical clashes? The fact that the Twins are completely awful?

[darin617]

I'd even offer him 3/24 today... and if he says No, absolutely trade him.

Why would he accept 3/24? His agent would never let that happen right now. In other words trade him before he starts to struggle.

[beckmt]

Yes, Assuming he will not sign a team friendly extension we need to get value before he leaves for nothing. Exception would be if the Twins plan on making the 12.5 million qualifing offer and the offers are not that good.

[mike wants wins]

Yes, because I don't think they can get a hometown discount, and he's on a super hot streak that inflates his value in everyone's head, including his and his agent's.

[TheLeviathan]

His BB/9IP of 5.05 in 2012 is inflated by a slow start in April.

Good thing we don't count April! Or odd number years for Frankie - now I get why people think he's an ace!

[BrentMpls]

Yes they should try to trade him.

-He is not reliable. Showing glimmers of good wont make up for the melt downs.

-Twins can't afford to offer him a deal for fear he may accept it. Unless the Pohlads raise the payroll paying Liriano will make next years budget almost filled up before any other acquisitions might be made, as things currently stand.

[TheLeviathan]

Deal him. This guy is barely better than Blackburn and Pavano statistically - it is nothing short of delusion to think he's going to take a cupcake deal or somehow magically transform into an ace. It's not impossible, but it's a comically stupid bad bet to invest in this guy beyond an entirely incentive laden deal.

[USAFChief]

One would think if he's so terrible he would jump at 3/$24.

[diehardtwinsfan]

yes, but only if they get decent value (aka not a #5 pitcher). Otherwise, bite the bullet and offer 12.5.

[TheLeviathan]

One would think if he's so terrible he would jump at 3/$24.

You're right, it's entirely plausible that the following thought will run through Liriano's head:

"I'm a terrible pitcher most of the time....I should jump at this mediocre offer from one of baseball's worst teams who I have had repeated issues with about my pitch selection, offseason routine, delivery, pitching to contact, and medical issues. I mean....they're fools for offering an inconsistent schmuck like me this kind of money....Deal!"

That is pretty far-fetched. Just because Liriano is as mediocre to bad as he statistically is doesn't mean he realizes that. And he HAS to realize that fact in order for the "sign him for a team friendly deal" argument to make any sense. So out of one corner of your mouth you think he's a "frontline starter" and out of the other (in some truly baffling logic) you believe Frankie knows how bad he is. It's just so damn silly I'm amazed anyone seriously believes it.

[jctwins]

Yes.

Some change would be a good thing. Can we put a three sentence max on every thread? I like this.

[alarp33]

Yes, but I would offer him 12.5 for next year if they don't trade him, so the trade better bring back more than 2 draft picks would

[SpiritofVodkaDave]

You're right, it's entirely plausible that the following thought will run through Liriano's head:

"I'm a terrible pitcher most of the time....I should jump at this mediocre offer from one of baseball's worst teams who I have had repeated issues with about my pitch selection, offseason routine, delivery, pitching to contact, and medical issues. I mean....they're fools for offering an inconsistent schmuck like me this kind of money....Deal!"

That is pretty far-fetched. Just because Liriano is as mediocre to bad as he statistically is doesn't mean he realizes that. And he HAS to realize that fact in order for the "sign him for a team friendly deal" argument to make any sense. So out of one corner of your mouth you think he's a "frontline starter" and out of the other (in some truly baffling logic) you believe Frankie knows how bad he is. It's just so damn silly I'm amazed anyone seriously believes it.

Well if Lev says so we all know it must be true, thanks for the insight into the mind of a major league pitcher! Also your tl;dr gibberish was much longer then the 3 sentance maximum discussed earlier in the thread.

[USAFChief]

Well if Lev says so we all know it must be true, thanks for the insight into the mind of a major league pitcher!

This board is much nicer, and saner, since i put one poster on my ignore list.

[SpiritofVodkaDave]

This board is much nicer, and saner, since i put one poster on my ignore list.

Good idea, didn't even know we had the option!

[notoriousgod71]

No, because I don't think we'll get anybody better than him.

[J-Dog Dungan]

Yes

Trade now for something and sign him in the offseason if possible.

Yes, and this is what I hope they do with him in the offseason.

[SpiritofVodkaDave]

Yes, and this is what I hope they do with him in the offseason.

I put the odds at that at less than 1%

The last thing the Twins neeed to do is get into a bidding war with teams over free agent pitching.

Sign him now, or trade him.

[Oxtung]

If you check out Lirianos last 77 games (70 starts) which includes his entire terrible 2010 season he has put up the following numbers:

4.38 ERA
8.8 k/9
4.0 bb/9
1.368 WHIP

Let's stop pretending like these last 9 starts or whatever are the only time he has looked decent lately.

We should offer a contract based off those numbers plus a little extra for upside, thus the 2 years 16-18 million.

Yes trade him quick before the clock strikes twelve. Not sure why you left 2009 out of those numbers unless you're trying to make him look better than he really has been since coming back from TJ surgery. So here are those numbers again with the season you left out:

4.73 ERA
8.6 k/9
4.0 bb/9
1.413 WHIP

He has also failed to qualify in pitching two of the last 3 years, this year he is on the boarder, so he hasn't exactly been an innings eater either.

[70charger]

Yes, with reservations. If you don't get a good enough offer for him, it'll be hard for the fans to stomach. Granted, he'll be a 3 month rental for whoever picks him up, but we should get something in return, as this should not be a salary dump situation. That said, there's risk on both sides of this transaction. We'd be trading a huge upside, but we'd be trading a hugely inconsistent pitcher. I'd completely understand if the Twins made a 1-year qualifying offer. I'd completely understand if the Twins offered 3 or 4 years at $7 or 8 million per. I'd completely understand if the Twins traded him. Players aren't usually this confusing, but Liriano is.

As it stands today, I'm leaning towards trading him. But I don't work in the front office.