Neal: Twins interested in bringing Liriano back

According to the Star Tribune's LaVelle Neal, the Twins are expected to speak with free agent Francisco Liriano's agents next week during the winter meetings in Nashville but have had some initial talks with his representatives already this offseason.

The enigmatic 29-year-old left-hander has struggled mightily with control since a bounce-back 2010 campaign. His 12.6% walk rate has been the second-highest in baseball in that time and his 5.23 ERA has been very unimpressive. That said, he is still under 30, likely in line for a one-year deal and has missed more bats than any other starting pitching in the past two years (12.4% swinging strike rate).

If the Twins are set on filling out the back of their rotation with a high risk/high reward free agent, Liriano is just as good as any.

I'm sure everyone will have very rational feelings about this.

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Originally Posted by Brad Swanson

I'm sure everyone will have very rational feelings about this.

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I laughed out loud. I did.

I guess this tells us exactly where they're at looking for starting pitching. It's going to be a long season.

Liriano at $4m is a hell of a lot better than Feldman at $6m. At least with Francsico, there's a small hope for upside.

Must.......not..........get...............angry!!

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:A...8vNS93D8Rfn2Vv

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Originally Posted by John Bonnes

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Originally Posted by Brad Swanson

I'm sure everyone will have very rational feelings about this.

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I laughed out loud. I did.

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So did I John...So did I...Heres our one big signing!

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.
Albert Einstein

Before the inevitable vemom is spewed, they would be looking to bring him back on the cheap with the idea that he would contend for a 4 or 5 spot. Would you rather have Frankie, Deduno or DeVries filling those spots?

Maybe they have interest in him as a SS? LOL

wow...

I'd rather they start fresh, but it would not surprise me. It probably would not make me super thrilled, though. I'd like the last guy to be someone from another team's minor league system. Diamond, Gibson, FA, FA, traded for guy....that's what I'd like (in no particular order). And, I'd want both FA signings to be, you know, good.

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Originally Posted by Brad Swanson

I'm sure everyone will have very rational feelings about this.

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Couldn't have said it better myself...

Higher upside and higher risk than most pitchers in his price range. Still young. Makes more sense to me than signing a Guthrie or Feldman.

I've been a proponent of calling the Liriano experiment dead and buried ever since he was traded. Aside from a fluky 2010, his post-TJ career has been pretty damn bad. This is also why our trade return on him was actually a good bit better than I expected and certainly nothing to complain about.

On the other hand, if he is as cheap as some are suggesting ($4 million!?), I'd be okay with them throwing a year at him. Maybe a make-good contract would light a fire under his butt finally.

If Liriano hadn't already been a Twin, he'd be exactly the kind of pitcher we'd want them to target. Go figure.

Heck, for $4MM, they might even be willing to move him to the pen, where he belongs, and can then flip him at the deadline again, assuming they cannot sign enough good starters....and aren't good.

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Originally Posted by PseudoSABR

If Liriano hadn't already been a Twin, he'd be the exactly the kind of pitcher we'd want them to target. Go figure.

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Bingo. I'm fully on board as long as he costs less than Feldman.

Could you get better than Pedro Hernandez/Eduardo Escobar for him July 31st????
Will truly show how cheap Terry Ryan truly is if this happens

I understand why we'd bring him back but I'd just as soon move on.