Berardino: Twins won bidding for Korean LHP Yang

[Otto von Ballpark]

I was a Korean linguist in the AF for fifteen years. Sure I'd listen if the Twins called.

Do you know a Korean language equivalent for "battle your tail off"?

[jokin]

I was a Korean linguist in the AF for fifteen years. Sure I'd listen if the Twins called.

 

Most of the Koreans I attended school with in high school and college barely spoke a word in class.  Did your job involve some translational mind-reading too?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Throws 89-92....

Devastating.

 

 

 

Yet to be seen, is who exactly will be devastated.

[Monkeypaws]

Bernar

 

Mike Berardino is running circles around all of the other guys reporting on the Twins, combined. 

 

Please tell me that this guy is their lotto ticket, not their big offseason signing.

He is the Michael Russo of baseball. Adds some relevance to the cross-town paper.

[ashbury]

Moderator's note: There has been overly much sniping and bickering in this thread.  Please make sure your posts are about the topic and not more about the other person.

[Seth Stohs]

My opinion... 

 

I would see him more as a starting pitching option. In my mind, I see this signing making Milone much more likely to be DFAd than Duensing. It doesn't make sense, to me, to bid on someone and then pay him 2-3 million per year for multiple years and throw him in the bullpen. Maybe, but if you're going to give that much for a reliever, why not got with the guys who will cost that much, for one year at a time. Duensing's done a good job (like all relievers, most of the time) for a while now. He's going to cost less than $3 million. I still think he's going to be tendered a deal. 

 

I think the most likely DFAd, if they were to sign him before the non-tenders, would still be Aaron Thompson.

[Platoon]

I was a Korean linguist in the AF for fifteen years. Sure I'd listen if the Twins called.

How do u say "pitch to contact" in Korean

[Riverbrian]

I'm gonna wait to see how he does... Before getting worked up.

 

I'm hoping he does well... We could sure use arms that do well!!!

[jokin]

My opinion... 

 

I. It doesn't make sense, to me, to bid on someone and then pay him 2-3 million per year for multiple years and throw him in the bullpen. Maybe, but if you're going to give that much for a reliever, why not go with the guys who will cost that much, for one year at a time.

 

 

Absolutely right.  I think Jeremy was talking more about a fall-back position, but that sure seems like setting this whole thing up for failure before it even begins, and seems like a waste of time when there should be a few available arms to try out for the minimum if they think Duensing is now too cost-prohibitive. 

 

Wouldn't they prefer to take the option of having Yang start out as a starter in AAA if he proves he isn't ready to start for the Twins?

[DocBauer]

I absolutely love the signing.

 

I have no idea how good he is, or is going to potentially be. But this is another testament to a different way of doing things for the Twins. To some out there, and in here, they are cheap...or at least overly frugal...and lack scope. And yet, they went out and spent record FA money last season, and tried to spend more. I know I'm a broken record on this, but it bears repeating. And despite their being some risk here, and the vast disappointment of the Nishioka experiment, the team is undaunted to take a shot like this that definitely comes from the port side of things, pun completely intended.

 

This is a team that used to have some imagination, in both the McPhail era and the Ryan era. I don't know if they started to out smart themselves or what, but a lot of moves haven't worked in recent seasons as hoped. (To be fair, even in bad seasons, some have). So again, I really like this move.

[strumdatjaguar]

I like having at least one lefty in the rotation.  The team has no sure options for that lefty.   It's Milone, Darnell, Kris Johnson and a few like Steve Gonsalves not yet on the horizon.  The Twins were wise to add another candidate to the mix.  I like this move and hope they sign him.

[jokin]

I like having at least one lefty in the rotation.  The team has no sure options for that lefty.   It's Milone, Darnell, Kris Johnson and a few like Steve Gonsalves not yet on the horizon.  The Twins were wise to add another candidate to the mix.  I like this move and hope they sign him.

 

Kris Johnson was sold to Hiroshima.

[Kwak]

Given that the total payroll is limited to ~$95 MM this is the type of move that is permissible.  The Twins need to bilge some (though they are stuck with Pelfrey's salary), before anything more can be done.  As posted earlier, I wouldn't be surprised that all shopping will be done by Christmas.

[DocBauer]

My opinion... 

 

I would see him more as a starting pitching option. In my mind, I see this signing making Milone much more likely to be DFAd than Duensing. It doesn't make sense, to me, to bid on someone and then pay him 2-3 million per year for multiple years and throw him in the bullpen. Maybe, but if you're going to give that much for a reliever, why not got with the guys who will cost that much, for one year at a time. Duensing's done a good job (like all relievers, most of the time) for a while now. He's going to cost less than $3 million. I still think he's going to be tendered a deal. 

 

I think the most likely DFAd, if they were to sign him before the non-tenders, would still be Aaron Thompson.

100% agree.

 

Now, is he truly a #3 SP with #2 potential? Meh...from the various scouting reports Ive perused through, I'd doubt it. I sure hope the un-named scout is right about his potential. But from everything I've read thus far, I'd say quality 5, solid 4 with the potential to be a #3. At worst, he's a not too expensive, versatile bullpen option.

 

But come on, you have to be a little excited or intrigued don't you? Left handed, 26, low 90's FB with what is reported to be a quality curve and a decent change with potential for better? BB and ERA are a little high to be sure. And yet, his ERA is 25% lower than the league average? I'm at least interested.

 

I also believe Duensing is back. I know not everyone is crazy about him, and his year might have been a little off last season. But he's largely been solid, occasionally very good. And while he's not a high trade value type of role player, he plays his role quite well, and has real value. The kind of value as an experienced LHRP a lot of teams would love to have, but won't pay too much for because he's not a closer or dominate set-up man.

[howeda7]

Unless the $ is much higher than expected, I like this. Sign this guy and Anderson. Pencil in Hughes, Gibson and Nolasco and let Yang, Anderson, Meyer, May and Milone battle for the other two spots and a one in the bullpen.

[zchrz]

I think they submitted what they thought was a middle of the pack posting offer and the market ended up being lower so they won.  My memories of the Nishi era are somewhat trauma repressed, but I think that was  kinda the situation with him as well.  Now they have a somewhat unexpected avenue to pursue a new arm.

 

This video from the Beisbol article shows him throw a 8 inning 0 run 5 hit game, he looks like he has decent stuff in it.  He appears to be tough of lefties with a little bit of 3/4 funk to his delivery.  Threw somewhat erratically, missing bad on some pitches and throwing darts with others.  Fastball was good when he could locate, slider was decent but not great, a few curves looked nasty, and the change up really threw hitters but he left it way up a couple times. 

 

There is a major need for lefties at the top of the organization so I think this is a decent move that fell into their lap.  Milone/ Darnell was about it with starting potential before this so good to add Yang to the mix. 

[tobi0040]

I think they submitted what they thought was a middle of the pack posting offer and the market ended up being lower so they won.  My memories of the Nishi era are somewhat trauma repressed, but I think that was  kinda the situation with him as well.  Now they have a somewhat unexpected avenue to pursue a new arm.

 

This video from the Beisbol article shows him throw a 8 inning 0 run 5 hit game, he looks like he has decent stuff in it.  He appears to be tough of lefties with a little bit of 3/4 funk to his delivery.  Threw somewhat erratically, missing bad on some pitches and throwing darts with others.  Fastball was good when he could locate, slider was decent but not great, a few curves looked nasty, and the change up really threw hitters but he left it way up a couple times. 

 

There is a major need for lefties at the top of the organization so I think this is a decent move that fell into their lap.  Milone/ Darnell was about it with starting potential before this so good to add Yang to the mix. 

 

That was a great post.  Good info.

 

Great profile picture as well.  That look on Kahn's face is great.  When I see that look all I can picture is him saying  "You guys are going to love Johnny Flynn"

[DJL44]

"The 6-foot, 187-pound Yang dealt with a “little bit of a hiccup” with his throwing shoulder at midseason, Albers said, noting his stuff appeared firmer in the first half of the season and “a little softer” down the stretch.

Yang had a 2.65 ERA through his first 10 starts in April and May, but struggled to a 5.31 ERA the rest of the way."

 

Great. He's injured.

[Mike Sixel]

I like signing of younger players, to reasonable contracts. If he is a starter, great. If he is a reliever, good. If he is bad and they send him to the minors or back to Korea, fine, at least they tried. As long as it isn't the only signing of a player not over 31 or so, fine with me.