Gaming the relief pitcher market

[jorgenswest]

Without question there will be several relievers on th market that would help the Twins in the 7th and 8th innings. Clippard, Benoit and Papelbon seem certain to move.

 

The question for the Twins is when should they jump in.

 

Do they motivate a team to stop bargaining with other clubs and blow them away with an offer now? The advantage to the Twins is they get that player they have targeted and get an extra 10 games. The advantage for the other club is they get a deal that exceeds their expectations. The Twins made a similar move the last two years in the free agent market jumping in early on Nolasco and Santana by giving them an offer that exceeded their expectations.

 

Do they wait until the 31st and get a bargain on one of the remaining relievers on the market? The advantage to the Twins would be a significantly reduced prospect cost. The risk would be that they don't get enough help.

 

I am hoping the Twins have patience and see what the market brings them on the 31st.

[DaveW]

They need to get one ASAP, then get another one at the deadline

[Mike Sixel]

Every game they go with a 5 man BP (since they won't use two of them), with 3-4 of them being pretty bad......is a game that makes it unnecessary to make the trade later.....

[nicksaviking]

First cross off any reliever who can't realistically manage an 8.0 K/9.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

No mention of Duensing in this MLB Trade Rumor article? They must not read TD... he's in 90% of the tongue-in-cheek proposals here...

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/07/trade-market-for-relievers-2.html

 

 

[Mike Sixel]

I can't wait for his retirement/trade. It's gone beyond boring for me at this point.....

[Badsmerf]

Why is it such a guarantee that one of these has-been relievers is going to be better than some of the guys doing exceptionally well in AAA? Its not like the Twins have given these guys a legitimate shot to succeed. Shoot, the list of young relief pitchers that were jerked around by this organization is maddening. By now they should have at least given them an opportunity to see if they need to go outside the organization either at the trade deadline or in the offseason.

 

I feel very strongly about not giving away assets for a fluke shot at 2015. This starting staff, this lineup and this bullpen are not ready to be serious contenders in October. I'm pretty confident JR feels the same way.  

[Brock Beauchamp]

My opinion is that you either go early or go late.

 

Go early (as in July 10th early) and get more valuable games out of that player at a higher price. Go late and try to get a deal at the eleventh hour.

 

Either is fine with me, really.

 

I would have banked on going late after trying multiple AAA guys in June and July but whatever. There isn't even a horse left for me to beat on that topic. It was reduced to a puddle of goo weeks ago.

[DiscGolfer]

I'm not big on Benoit, his numbers look better right now playing in the NL.  Didn't look as good when he was pitching in the AL and his numbers this year don't look as good as last so he may be on his downturn.  At 37 I don't see him getting better over the next year or two.  That being said though he's still better than the options we have right now, just wouldn't expect him to look as good as he does in SD.