Fernando Rodney

[ThePaloAlto]

I wouldn't mind Rodney if the price was right, but I doubt the price will be right. Plenty of teams looking for bullpen arms this off-season. Rodney's value will be boosted due to that. Better off just paying a worthy player, than talking a flier at a higher cost than necessary.

[DocBauer]

I'm no expert on Rodney. Just never really paid much attention to him previously. But when I take a look at his career, there are a few things that jump out to me.

 

1* Too many blown saves to be considered elite. But then again, the Twins would be talking about the 7th and/or 8th innings, not closing.

 

2* His career ERA is higher than I like, or would expect for a closer. But then again, we know ERA isn't always the best way to rate a pitcher, and a relief pitcher's ERA is always prone disproportionate swings.

 

BUT....fewer hits than IP for his career, a 2-1 SO/BB ratio, a career BA against in the .230's, an excellent SO per 9 IP number. If this was Hawkins still wanting to play another year, where there be as much angst? Just asking.

 

He had a nice 2014, and after a poor first part of 2015, he rebounded well. I can't believe he'd cost much, and would obviously be on a 1 year deal. As there are no bad 1 year deals, and we don't want to go down the path of "hope and pray the prospects are ready by mid-season" again, it might not be a bad move.

[zenser]

If he comes at a reasonable price and for 1 year, he is worth a flier.  I would expect him to not be pitching in the 9th inning and hoping he wouldn't be pitching in the 8th so, yeah why not take a flier on him.  If he turns out to be better than last year, you could possibly use him in some high leverage situations.  If not and some of the younger guys are knocking on the door, trade/release him.

 

Rodney > Stauffer

[ThePaloAlto]

Rather take a run at Shawn Kelley than Rodney tbh.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

If this was Hawkins still wanting to play another year, where there be as much angst? Just asking.

Speaking personally, yeah.  Nothing wrong with 42 year old Hawkins or a 39 year old Rodney to fill out a staff, but that's already the Fien role, probably the Tonkin role, etc.  I hope we are aiming higher than that with our Plan A this winter.

 

Remember when we added Jepsen at the deadline, and most people thought we needed another guy like him or better?  We're still in that spot, I think.

[DocBauer]

 

Speaking personally, yeah.  Nothing wrong with 42 year old Hawkins or a 39 year old Rodney to fill out a staff, but that's already the Fien role, probably the Tonkin role, etc.  I hope we are aiming higher than that with our Plan A this winter.

 

Remember when we added Jepsen at the deadline, and most people thought we needed another guy like him or better?  We're still in that spot, I think.

When we got Jepsen last year, I was one of those screaming out we needed another quality arm.

 

But you mention a Plan A for this year. I believe plan A is to sign a solid, quality veteran, but on a short term deal, to bridge the gap until Burdi, Reed, etc, are ready.

 

Now, should a trade, say a Plouffe trade, bring in a longer term, quality bullpen arm, I think that would plan 2A. But without a trade, I believe he signed veteran is the "A" plan for now.

[Otto von Ballpark]

But you mention a Plan A for this year. I believe plan A is to sign a solid, quality veteran, but on a short term deal, to bridge the gap until Burdi, Reed, etc, are ready.

 

 

Sounds like last year's plan too...

 

Jepsen and Fien are already veterans on short term deals. Perkins is our only long term bullpen commitment and his deal is pretty modest. No real reason to avoid a FA reliever on a multi year deal this winter.

[DaveW]

 

Speaking personally, yeah.  Nothing wrong with 42 year old Hawkins or a 39 year old Rodney to fill out a staff, but that's already the Fien role, probably the Tonkin role, etc.  I hope we are aiming higher than that with our Plan A this winter.

 

Remember when we added Jepsen at the deadline, and most people thought we needed another guy like him or better?  We're still in that spot, I think.

Sign Rodney, trade Fien. Problem solved.

 

I like the upside with Rodney, he was very good and effective in 2012, 2013, 2014 and once he got traded to the Cubs in 2015. I have to think that his first half of 2015 is the outlier.

I know he "wants" to close, but I don't see any teams giving him the closer spot off the bat, however with the Twins and Perkins injury issues, he would have as good of a shot to close here as any if he is effective off the bat.

 

I bet they could get him on a one year deal, maybe a one+ option with some sort of kicker for games finished or what not. Either way, 5-6 million is nothing and worth the shot of his upside.8.8 career k/9, we don't exactly have a lot of those types currently...

 

I'd still go after Clippard or Storen.

 

How about this as a bullpen:

 

CL- Perkins

SU (8th inning guy) - Storen or Clippard

SU (7th inning guy) Jepsen

SU- Rodney

MRP- Reserved for whichever rookie/young guy looks best

LOOGY- O Rourke (or sign someone else)

MRP- TBD (or Fien if you keep him around)

May to the rotation. Milone traded

[Otto von Ballpark]

But you mention a Plan A for this year. I believe plan A is to sign a solid, quality veteran, but on a short term deal, to bridge the gap until Burdi, Reed, etc, are ready.

 

 

Further thinking, this sounds more like what our rotation situation is and plan should be. We have lots of multi-year commitments in the rotation already, and several young guys who have already arrived (or virtually so, in the case of Berrios). So no big new commitments there is advisable.

 

But our bullpen situation is completely different. I get that you shouldn't dedicate comparable resources to the pen as the rotation, but the Twins are nowhere near that point.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I know he "wants" to close, but I don't see any teams giving him the closer spot off the bat,

San Diego was connected to Rodney, and they have a closer vacancy...

[DocBauer]

I really don't want to combine threads, but Fien has been brought up here again. I would say, should we sign Rodney...and it doesn't have to be him, it could be a trade, and there are still other FA available...we would be looking at him, Jepsen, Fien, May OR Duffey, Tonkin and/or Pressly as candidates. That is 6 for 4-5 spots. Not exactly overload. Just because arbitration was offered, and Fien will probably be brought in, doesn't mean for certain he makes it. Pressly has an option, Tonkin does not. And, we are uncertain exactly how many RHRP will actually be kept. And what if the rotation is short enough to keep both Duffey and May in it?

 

I don't think Fien is the solution. But I don't know that hes necessarily a negative tipping point either.

 

Sipp, for example and rumor, and Rodney would cost roughly $11-12M. I think the Twins could easily afford that.

 

Pelfrey

Jepsen

Rodney

Fien

Tonkin or Pressly

Sipp

Runzler or audition winner of Rogers, Darnell, Dean, O'Rourke and Thompson

 

This doesn't even include May or Duffey and is a better bullpen than last season.

[DaveW]

The idea of Duffey in the bullpen makes me a sad Panda