Article: Twins Acquire LHP Neal Cotts from Brewers

[Otto von Ballpark]

Other than no bullpen guys (of consequence)* moved until the week before the deadline. There was no benefit to delaying the acquisitions, but no opportunity either.

 

I think they were a bullpen arm acquisition short at the deadline but to say they should have acquired a bullpen guy in May or June doesn't take into account how the trade market works.

 

*The best guy traded was David Carpenter - really no better than Blaine Boyer.

I was talking about the delay since July, mainly.

[Danchat]

 

I don't understand the "it's too late" crowd. The Twins are 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot with 40 games to go. It's not "too late" to make the playoffs! Of course, the move could have happened sooner, but it was still a good move!

You're right, but the Twins should have made this move when they had a 2.5 game lead, not when they had a 2.5 game deficit.

[DocBauer]

I don't know if this helps or not. I don't know if it came too late or not. I don't dislike it. I'm just not sure at the timing.

 

Some quick opinions/points:

 

*This addition is not as a 4th LH. Perkins is your closer, and that's a different animal. I know it's a small point...but still.

 

*If the conservative Ryan could learn one thing from the past couple of seasons, IMHO, it would be to NOT count on youngsters so much. WHAT??!! I am NOT talking about NOT promoting prospects and giving them ample opportunity. I'm talking about examples such as CF, and counting on Hicks and Buxton too much too soon. What happened? Hicks wasn't ready after his best season, but at AA, and Buxton got hurt. He did little to nothing for the pen this season expecting, probably, 1 or 2 Rochester RP to contribute, and 1-2 of the various top young RP arms such as James, Burdi, Jones, etc, to be ready at some point. People want to blast Ryan for not wanting to promote young players the past couple of yeRs, but I think he's almost depended on, banked on, the youngsters too much to step forward too soon, without the fallback option of veterans who could be cut or traded at a later date.

 

*Perkins is an All Star, well paid closer. The idea of him being a high paid LH setup man is interesting, but not going to happen. Not until or unless he begins to slip in dominance.

 

*I know this will be met with much knashing of teeth, but at this point, unless I could target someone else in FA that I really felt good about, I'd consider brining Duensing back, but only for a smaller contract, and with no promises. The past few weeks, he's been solid. Now you add Cotts. And you still have O'Rourke, Thompson, Rogers, Dean and Darnell to audition. Gods of baseball forgive you for having too much talent and you have to trade someone (or cut them) or trade them during the season for value, to make way for a more deserving youngster.

 

*Ditto from the right side. Sign one top RHRP to work with Jepsen, keep Fien, (but in a lesser role now), and see what you find in your RH auditions. Soria was mentioned. OK...Soria, Jepsen, Fien and fill in the blank from about 6 or 7 options. Then look at those LH options...put this all together...now how do you feel about your 2016 bullpen?

 

*All the debates the last couple of years here on TD about the past bullpens the Twins have employed, and how overrated some of them may have been...and now think how much you wish we had some of those bullpens. (And how badly Detroit wishes the past few years they had similar bullpens)

[tobi0040]

I was initially excited, but then learned he is a free agent next year

 

We needed to do this in July. But we probably didn't give anything up. So I am not going to get upset about it.

[Brock Beauchamp]

You're right, but the Twins should have made this move when they had a 2.5 game lead, not when they had a 2.5 game deficit.

Yeah, exactly. Maybe it's not too late but the Twins are fighting to catch the remaining playoff spot (the second WC spot). A month ago, they owned the first WC spot.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I was initially excited, but then learned he is a free agent next year

If it is any consolation, he should be fairly easy to resign, if we so desire.

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

any speculation on the player to be named later? Organizational Depth?

[Thrylos]

 

If it is any consolation, he should be fairly easy to resign, if we so desire.

 

I so desire for a lot of Twins (esp the FO) to resign...

[brvama]

It seems to me that there were rumors of the Twins after Cotts before the deadline.  If true, makes one wonder what happened?

[Kirby_waved_at_me]

 

It seems to me that there were rumors of the Twins after Cotts before the deadline.  If true, makes one wonder what happened?

they must not have been able to agree on a hypothetical player to be named later.

 

My guess is that the Brewers wanted someone good for Cotts and the Twins weren't convinced they needed Cotts badly enough.

 

In fact, Jepsen might have been plan B when they couldn't swing a deal for Cotts. 

[brvama]

Sounds very plausible, Kirby.

[SwainZag]

I'm in the group that thinks it should have been done sooner, but we are nearing September and they are still in the race.  Nothing wrong with adding another piece, especially with Perkins future this year being up in the air right now.

[USAFChief]

they must not have been able to agree on a hypothetical player to be named later.

 

My guess is that the Brewers wanted someone good for Cotts and the Twins weren't convinced they needed Cotts badly enough.

 

In fact, Jepsen might have been plan B when they couldn't swing a deal for Cotts.

 

I'd agree with the first part, but not the second. Jepsen and Cotts are not interchangeable parts. Cotts will serve in more of a LOOGY role. Jepsen helped fill the glaring need for harder throwing one inning guys.

[brandon5374]

i think the twins need to go out and add one more arm in the bullpen someone like Fernando Rodney who just got release from seattle