I am a big Mike fan. It is a little worrisome all the minor injuries this year and I am like worried about how much weight he is carrying. But would be in favor of signing him to a two year contract with the second year being a team option.

I like Big Mike. The Twins seem to like him, and he seems to like it here. I would welcome him back because we need consistency and stability in the rotation. He’ll rarely give you 7-8 strong innings, but he almost always gives you 5-6 good innings each outing. I think you hit the nail on the head with the contract proposal. 2/$22 with incentives based on IP. Sign me up. 

52 minutes ago, 4twinsJA said:

I am a big Mike fan. It is a little worrisome all the minor injuries this year and I am like worried about how much weight he is carrying. But would be in favor of signing him to a two year contract with the second year being a team option.

A team option is a huge perk for a team, and is not agreed to lightly. 

If 2/$22 plus incentives is about fair, then probably the agent would ask at least for those incentives to be turned into guaranteed money, in exchange for including the option - e.g. $13M guaranteed plus an option on the second year for $13M with a $2M buyout.

That works out to $15M actually guaranteed, which is still less than the $22M guarantee in the other plan, but some chance for Mike to sign with someone else that second year that make up the $7M difference or could be greater or could be smaller.  Basically more risk borne by him than by the team, so I might be a little light on what the agent would ask for - maybe some innings incentives added back into one or both years, after all.  There may be tax implications for the player, doing it one way versus the other, too.

Doesn't it seem like everyone likes Big Mike? I like Big Mike because he is so quirky and still manages to keep the Twins in most games he pitches for 5-6 innings. Management should likely expect 15-20 starts and from 75-125 innings from Pineda. The budget will determine whether there is money to pay whatever he wants. Pineda will have some demand as a bottom of the rotation pitcher from a number of teams. What do the Twins want to spend for a #4 starter? I'm guessing that Falvine will not invest $15 million in Michael Pineda.

On 10/1/2021 at 8:06 AM, tony&rodney said:

Doesn't it seem like everyone likes Big Mike? I like Big Mike because he is so quirky and still manages to keep the Twins in most games he pitches for 5-6 innings. Management should likely expect 15-20 starts and from 75-125 innings from Pineda. The budget will determine whether there is money to pay whatever he wants. Pineda will have some demand as a bottom of the rotation pitcher from a number of teams. What do the Twins want to spend for a #4 starter? I'm guessing that Falvine will not invest $15 million in Michael Pineda.

I think the Twins would pay him 15 million if he makes 32 starts.  But that is why there should be incentives.  Make the Contract for the 125 innings he is likely to get and more for the 170 innings you want him to get.  

Looking at this past offseason, a 1/$8 plus an option and buyout would probably do it. Let's say the buyout is $2 and the option is $10, and becomes guaranteed at 160 innings pitched. 

On 10/1/2021 at 10:06 AM, tony&rodney said:

Doesn't it seem like everyone likes Big Mike? I like Big Mike because he is so quirky and still manages to keep the Twins in most games he pitches for 5-6 innings. Management should likely expect 15-20 starts and from 75-125 innings from Pineda. The budget will determine whether there is money to pay whatever he wants. Pineda will have some demand as a bottom of the rotation pitcher from a number of teams. What do the Twins want to spend for a #4 starter? I'm guessing that Falvine will not invest $15 million in Michael Pineda.

When healthy, Big Mike is more than a #3. While he isn't an ace, he can go toe to toe with almost anyone. Highly doubt we sign a top tier free agent, so I'd be fine with Big Mike being our opening day pitcher next year.

2 hours ago, HrbieFan said:

When healthy, Big Mike is more than a #3.

I'm a big fan of Big Mike and do not miss his starts. Like i said previously, I love his quirks and how effective he often is as a pitcher. However, I respectfully disagree with your assessment and feel Pineda is best seen as a #4. I would love to see him return next year in that role.

Like him, but both he and Sano need weight limitations in either their next contract (Pineda) or staying on field (Sano).  Period!  Their weight is rediculous!

I'm confused. Why would we be spending this kind of money on an aging starter who just had multiple injuries, whose fastball is down to a career-low 90.9 mph, and whose strikeout rate was 5% below league average? MLB Trade Rumors also points out that he allowed "more hard contact than ever before, both in terms of average exit velocity (91.2 mph) and hard-hit rate (46.1 percent)."

If we're really going to compete in 2022, we need FA starters who are A LOT better than Pineda. If we're not going to compete in 2022, then it's time to see what the prospects can do. I don't see a roster spot for Pineda either way. The article says that Baldelli considers him a "pillar" in the clubhouse, but after a dismal 2021, I can't see a reason not to build a new clubhouse culture.

I think he wants multiple years and the Twins probably just want one. His agent will shop him around to see if he can find that second year somewhere. 

I like Pineda as my fifth starter but I'm really worried that the Twins view him as their opening day starter. We need several pitchers better than him and we have none in-house, which means we have to trade or sign them in free agency. So I would wait on signing Pineda to try and get the better pitchers first.

4 hours ago, LastOnePicked said:

I'm confused. Why would we be spending this kind of money on an aging starter who just had multiple injuries, whose fastball is down to a career-low 90.9 mph, and whose strikeout rate was 5% below league average? MLB Trade Rumors also points out that he allowed "more hard contact than ever before, both in terms of average exit velocity (91.2 mph) and hard-hit rate (46.1 percent)."

If we're really going to compete in 2022, we need FA starters who are A LOT better than Pineda. If we're not going to compete in 2022, then it's time to see what the prospects can do. I don't see a roster spot for Pineda either way. The article says that Baldelli considers him a "pillar" in the clubhouse, but after a dismal 2021, I can't see a reason not to build a new clubhouse culture.

If you don't care about winning, you can certainly let Pineda walk. I don't believe Twins can sign or trade for multiple starters who are A LOT better than Pineda. Maybe that could happen in your dream.

Winning? The Twins need three starting pitchers better than Michael Pineda, a couple of relief pitchers, a shortstop, and a leftfielder. While I would welcome Big Mike back, there is a ton of more pressing trades/signings needed if the Twins want to be above .500. 

Pineda will look at offers, I'm sure. What makes me see him not going elsewhere for too much is that no one kicked in the Twins door to grab him at the trade deadline. 

So the questions are: incentive with a decent base, or a multi-year contract offering some assurance of him finding a home. But I wouldn't be the first one to knock on the door, accepting that he will hopefully ask the Twins to counter any offer he does receive, unless he knows that they won't.