Thread: The Twins need to sign Liriano to a 2-3 year contract ASAP

He is the only one in the system who even has the ability to come close to posting 25k's in his last two starts.

I'd prefer 2/18 with a 10 mil team option, but would be totally fine with up to a 3/30 which is more or less what the Twins gave Pavano.

The upside is to high to just trade him away for a C+/B- prospect at this point.

This has been debated at great length on other threads. Almost everyone agrees that Liriano is an extremely risky bet. His upside is very high, but the more likely outcome is that he repeats his history and has long periods of terrible pitching.

I think that there are strong arguments to sign him now, and strong arguments to trade him now. With 25 strikeouts in 2 games, his stock is soaring, so both his trade value and the amount that he might accept for a multi-year contract are also soaring.

This is a tough call, but I agree with you that some offer should be made now, before the price goes up even more. My sense is that Liriano may be getting more mature as he grows older, and he may finally be getting his act together. On the other hand, based on Liriano's track record, I am probably wrong.

Disagree. Another flash in the pan. Sell high and avoid making the mistake of hanging on too long and spending the cash that could be employed elsewhere.

Originally Posted by jctwins

Disagree. Another flash in the pan. Sell high and avoid making the mistake of hanging on too long and spending the cash that could be employed elsewhere.

Where exactly would that money be spent though?

Originally Posted by SpiritofVodkaDave

Where exactly would that money be spent though?

Joe Saunders baby, veteran presence.

Why would Liriano sign any extension for a losing team when he's 2 months from FA? Unless the Twins drastically overpay (think Oliver Perez and his 3/36 to resign with the Mets) there is no chance that Frankie will stay when all he has to do is have a decent last few months and cash in with whatever team he wants.

If you can trade him for a B/B+ prospect do it. If not, offer him the $12M qualifier and hope he turns it down. If he accepts, pray the good Frankie is around long enough to do this same dance next year.

Originally Posted by snepp

Joe Saunders baby, veteran presence.

You call THAT veteren presence?

We should totally toss Carl Pavano another $16.5m and I bet Ryan Dempster would listen if a 4 yr deal with an option were mentioned.

We can't be locking up lefties in their late 20's with swing-and-miss stuff.

Liriano isnt gonna take a 3/30 deal right now. this is his best negotiating ploy now....to not sign & go to FA

If you can't sign your only best pitcher, what are you trying to do?

Amazed that everyone has forgotten the Liriano of last yr & of April/May this yr.
Ive been on record that he HAS to be dealt but if they want to resign him this offseason, so be it....but he has to go now.

No. Offer the amount needed to get the two picks back if he declines the offer. He will likely decline. Draft college pitchers with those two picks. Laugh as he never goes below a 4.00 ERA for a season again.

Originally Posted by shanewahl

No. Offer the amount needed to get the two picks back if he declines the offer. He will likely decline. Draft college pitchers with those two picks. Laugh as he never goes below a 4.00 ERA for a season again.

I had this misconception as well, but MLB Trade Rumors cleared it up the other day. The Twins would only get one pick back for Liriano, and it would be the sandwich pick. So if somebody offers a prospect who's as good or better than a 30-something overall selection, that's all it should take to pull the trigger on a trade.

Having said that, it probably couldn't hurt to offer him a 2-year extension at $10M/season or less right now. If he turns it down, oh well. If he accepts, check one pitcher off the shopping list. I know we'll all go crazy if he forgets how to throw strikes again, but any of the other FA SPs could break down and turn out to be a waste of money, too. Should we prefer the devil we know?

If you are going to re-sign him based on his turnaround this year, then you need to be prepared to hand a roster spot to Butera as well. He has pitched extremely well with Butera behind the plate, but was absolute ****e with Mauer and Doumit. Coincidence? Maybe. But then again, it's always seemed that Frankie's problems are more mental than anything, and when you've got a guy who bounces between "potential HOF Ace-type production" and "would get fired from the Saints", would you be willing to risk changing ANYTHING from his routine?

Now, I'm personally ok with keeping Butera as his personal catcher, with Doumit and Mauer platooning catcher and DH the other 4 starts. I know most people are not.

Butera might have to pitch the other days.

Another classic overreaction by Dave when it comes to Liriano, hell you wanted to sign him to a new contract after 20 meaningless spring training innings.

But then he throws a couple clunkers and you're the first one making "F*CK LIRIANO" threads.

Originally Posted by Esoteric Ball Guy

Why would Liriano sign any extension for a losing team when he's 2 months from FA? Unless the Twins drastically overpay (think Oliver Perez and his 3/36 to resign with the Mets) there is no chance that Frankie will stay when all he has to do is have a decent last few months and cash in with whatever team he wants.

If you can trade him for a B/B+ prospect do it. If not, offer him the $12M qualifier and hope he turns it down. If he accepts, pray the good Frankie is around long enough to do this same dance next year.

Agree 100%. There is no way his agent lets him resign with a rebuilding team unless there is a huge overpay. Frankie would be better served taking a year deal with an NL club than coming back to a last place team.

I understand the allure of wanting to resign Liriano, being as starved for pitching as we are.

If this happens, though, just be warned of the potential of 2/3/4 years (however long his extension is) of "I told you so" if he tanks again. We will be merciless.

Clearly Liriano needs a Joe Mauer contract with his recent performances.

The Twins are in a good situation here. With Grienke struggling and Hamels close(?) to signing with Philly, he is the best arm available. Plus, he has a 12m option for next year so he's not going to go straight into FA. What team other than the Twins would give him a long-term contract? He'd be better off accepting the 12m and putting together a great season next year. Then he's still on the right side of 30 and can try to get a 3 or 4 year deal. If the Twins don't get a good offer, just keep him. Maybe work with his agent and see if they are going to accept the 12m and if not throw out a little more on a 1 year deal. They have to understand Liriano has to prove he's worth a long-term commitment.

Every year the Twins count on Liriano and every year he lets them down. He had an awful 1st half of this season but he pitches well for 2 months and we want to extend him? He gets paid for a full season each year. Tell me, when was the last time he put together 1 full season of above average numbers? This is a guy you want to invest in long-term? Hopefully Terry Ryan is smarter than you are. Trade him, or offer him the 12 million and hope he turns it down.

For those of you clamoring for the Twins to make an offer to him now......nobody signs a deal 2 months from FA. Certainly not a team-friendly deal.