Jake McGee

[stringer bell]

According to mlbtraderumors.com, the Rays are dangling Jake McGee for trade. He would cost prospects, but probably not as much as Will Smith of the Brewers. McGee had two injuries last year, but was effective when he was on the mound. Should the Twins be in line for him with a decent offer? How much would it take to acquire him? He doesn't have significant L/R splits and he has consistently struck out well over 10 per 9 IP.

 

On a related note, if the Twins had an end of the bullpen which included McGee or another power lefty, Jepsen, May and Perkins, what kind of usage would each expect to get? I think overuse has hurt Perkins especially and I would think that each should be given a day off every third day or so, and perhaps Perkins wouldn't have to be the exclusive closer. Thinking outside the box? I think it would be prudent use of assets.

[Linus]

I like that thinking. I might prefer Bastardo and keep the prospects but that is the way I would construct the pen.

[Winston Smith]

I think he would take better prospects than Terry would trade. Not going to get him for Jepson type guys.

[nytwinsfan]

Yes, please, but it would depend on how much they want for him. Polanco plus . . . Stewart? Who says no first?

[TwinsTerritory]

Would love to see him or Bastardo added to the mix.  I would also prefer to spend a little more money than lose prospects and spend money, so I like the Bastardo option. 

 

They idea of using a closer committee is still very taboo for most managers, but it does seem to be gaining a little steam around baseball.  It really seems to make the most sense, especially if you have capable right handed and left handed options.  With those 4 and the prospects that are getting close, the Twins could see the bullpen be a strength in the near future.

[TwinsTerritory]

 

 

Yes, please, but it would depend on how much they want for him. Polanco plus . . . Stewart? Who says no first?

I wouldn't trade two top 10 prospects for him.  I'm not sure I'd trade either of them straight up.  Much rather just spend the money it takes to get Bastardo.

[nicksaviking]

Yes, please, but it would depend on how much they want for him. Polanco plus . . . Stewart? Who says no first?

Id guess the Rays considering what Giles and and Kimbrel got. Surely with the current going rate for closers another team will top Polanco and Stewart by quite a bit.

[TwinsTerritory]

 

Id guess the Rays considering what Giles and and Kimbrel got. Surely with the current going rate for closers another team will top Polanco and Stewart by quite a bit.

I just don't think that will happen.  I don't see McGee as having anywhere near the value of Kimbrel or Giles.  Kimbrel has been healthy and the best closer in baseball for 5 years.  Giles has been better than McGee the past 1.5 years and has 5 more years of team control with the next two being at a minimum salary.

[JA]

Here is my Question? Do we need Two Lefties? I think we may. O' Rourke could serve as a left on left specialist. However he could also serve as AAA depth along with the other 40-man LHP's. I wouldn't be comfortable with trading away a top 10-15 prospect for a bullpen lefty with, in the case of Mcgee, questionable health with two expensive years of control, and Smith with three years, but lefties hit him at a better rate than righties.

I would have to think the top target should Bastardo. The expense is the biggest factor. Does 3/18m get him done? Pricey but he has put up a quality stat line. The other would need to be on the cheap. Blevins, Breslow, Parra, or someone on that line.

[JA]

The only questionable thing with Bastardo is the walks. For the Years and $$$ it may take to get him, can you trust him as a late inning guy.

[TwinsTerritory]

I do think McGee is a slightly better pitcher than Bastardo (mostly due to better control), but I still don't like the idea of giving up a top 10 prospect which it may take to acquire him.  There's a bunch guessing involved, but which would you rather do?

 

Give Bastardo 3 yrs/$16.5 million

Trade Kohl Stewart and pay McGee for 2 years at about $10.5 million total

 

or option 3

 

Sign a guy like Jerry Blevins (who's been pretty good when healthy) for 1 yr/$3 million

[Homer Hanky]

Would we solve all our problems with we just switched and made Perkins the power lefty

 

and

 

made/kept Jepsen as the closer...

 

then we add a power right hander arm like Meyer [the 3-4] other good ones we have  from our own system... 

[stringer bell]

The more good arms the better IMHO. You just don't know about relief pitchers. They are good to great and then suddenly fall off the table. My opinion is that the Twins need to add one capable bullpen arm plus keep May in the bullpen for 2016. Maybe at the end of the season, guys like Burdi, Reed and perhaps Melotakis can contribute and be counted on going forward.

[twinsnorth49]

As if, I've pretty much lost any hope something like this could possibly happen with this team.

[TwinsTerritory]

 

Would we solve all our problems with we just switched and made Perkins the power lefty

 

and

 

made/kept Jepsen as the closer...

 

then we add a power right hander arm like Meyer [the 3-4] other good ones we have  from our own system... 

I don't mind this, but I'd still love to have another solid lefty.  A guy like Bastardo would give the Twins 4 solid options (Perkins, Jepsen, May) that they could mix and match to get through the final 3 innings of a close game.

 

Guys like Tonkin, Fien, O'Rourke, and the prospects can fill the other 3 bullpen spots until they prove their ready for late innings. 

 

Remember Jepsen (free agent) and Fien (non-tendered) are likely to be gone after 2016, so there will be spots available for the younger guys that end up making it to the bigs.

[DocBauer]

 

I like that thinking. I might prefer Bastardo and keep the prospects but that is the way I would construct the pen.

+1.

 

I'm not, never have been, a big FA, throw money at a problem to fix it, kind of guy. But FA IS one of the ways to build and supplement a roster. There are/were options to add a very important element to our bullpen without having to trade prospects for. That window is closing.

[AKTwins]

Twins have a deep farm system.  We could give up a player or two to get a known commodity.  I would not trade Stewart for him.  Maybe 2 of our young power arms, Burdi, JT, Meltokasis (sp?)? Or one of the power arms with Polanco?

[diehardtwinsfan]

I think I'd rather sign Bastardo and keep the specs personally. I like the Blevins idea too.

[nicksaviking]

Twins have a deep farm system. We could give up a player or two to get a known commodity. I would not trade Stewart for him. Maybe 2 of our young power arms, Burdi, JT, Meltokasis (sp?)? Or one of the power arms with Polanco?

Why don't we just stick the young power arms in the pen then if that's what the team needs?

 

I'd also trade Stewart before I trade Burdi.

[DaveW]

McGee is the exact type of guy the Twins should be targeting, he is a great to elite bullpen arm, he is under control for 2 seasons as well. I'd give up a nice package to get him, I saw Stewarts name mentioned earlier but I would prefer we don't trade him at all.

 

Polanco+Meyer+Rogers maybe?

 

Rays get a good up the middle prospect back and a couple of potential decent bullpen arms.

[DaveW]

 

 

I'd also trade Stewart before I trade Burdi.

I can't disagree with this more, we have always known Stewart was going to take some time to develop, he was a top 30 prospect prior to last season, and as a 20 year old in A+ he actually held his own (3.20 ERA)

 

He likely will still be top 50 top 75 across the board coming into this season and his potential is still very high, I like Burdi, but no way do I value a power relief arm over a potential top of the rotation SP.

 

People will point to Stewarts k/9 numbers etc but everything I have read from Keith Law and the likes say he is progressing nicely and the K's will come.

 

We gotta keep in mind that Stewart was a high school pitcher when we snagged him, which is rare for the Twins to do that high, so our patience level needs to be higher for him.

[TwinsTerritory]

McGee is very good, but I just wouldn't part with any of our top 7 prospects (Buxton, Berrios, Kepler, Gordon, Polanco, Jay, or Stewart).  After those 7, I'd be willing to send 2-3 guys for McGee.  Maybe Walker, a bullpen arm like Meyer, and a lower level prospect like Harrison??

[HitInAPinch]

TR has already said he has no interest in Bastardo. 

 

I'm with Stringer on May:  I think he will end up in the bullpen, a victim of the success he had there last year.

 

Perkins can not be the closer on his own.  At least not the way the Twins have been using him.

 

Perkins and Jepsen as co-closers

May and a pitcher to be named later

Nolasco long

and whomever amongst the young arms who shows the most in spring training

 

Who to trade for McGee?  If the Twins are serious about him, start with Buxton.  People are overrating the Twins prospects and grossly underrating the value of quality RP's this year.

 

But it won't matter.  Jon Morosi says:  "The Twins are also known to be looking for left-handed relief help, and indications late in this week’s Winter Meetings were that Minnesota isn’t likely to make a play for top-of-the-market free agent lefties."

 

[TwinsTerritory]

 

Who to trade for McGee?  If the Twins are serious about him, start with Buxton.  People are overrating the Twins prospects and grossly underrating the value of quality RP's this year.

 

Buxton is part of a package that gets you Jose Fernandez, not Jake McGee.

[HitInAPinch]

 

Buxton is part of a package that gets you Jose Fernandez, not Jake McGee.

Buxton is overrated.  I think that is pretty obvious from his performance with the Twins last year.  He is at least a year away.  Which is too bad, because they will need someone with Buxton's speed to cover for Sano's inexperience.  If Buxton's perceived value is viewed as high by the Rays, Buxton get's McGee.

 

An article from yesterday on what the Marlins turned down from the Red Sox's for Fernandez:

 

http://nesn.com/2015/12/marlins-official-reveals-huge-red-sox-package-wanted-for-jose-fernandez/

[drjim]

 

Who to trade for McGee?  If the Twins are serious about him, start with Buxton.  People are overrating the Twins prospects and grossly underrating the value of quality RP's this year.

 

Not to pile on, but the #2-3 prospect in all of baseball for two years of a relief pitcher with injury concerns?

 

To me, Polanco and an arm (Stewart/Gonsalves/Burdi) seems about right. I would do it.

[drjim]

 

Buxton is overrated.  I think that is pretty obvious from his performance with the Twins last year.  He is at least a year away.  Which is too bad, because they will need someone with Buxton's speed to cover for Sano's inexperience.  If Buxton's perceived value is viewed as high by the Rays, Buxton get's McGee.

 

An article from yesterday on what the Marlins turned down from the Red Sox's for Fernandez:

 

http://nesn.com/2015/12/marlins-official-reveals-huge-red-sox-package-wanted-for-jose-fernandez/

 

There is nothing in there about what the Marlins turned down. It (might have) said what it would take, which is the same as saying they aren't trading Fernandez.

[Physics Guy]

I can't disagree with this more, we have always known Stewart was going to take some time to develop, he was a top 30 prospect prior to last season, and as a 20 year old in A+ he actually held his own (3.20 ERA)

 

He likely will still be top 50 top 75 across the board coming into this season and his potential is still very high, I like Burdi, but no way do I value a power relief arm over a potential top of the rotation SP.

 

People will point to Stewarts k/9 numbers etc but everything I have read from Keith Law and the likes say he is progressing nicely and the K's will come.

 

We gotta keep in mind that Stewart was a high school pitcher when we snagged him, which is rare for the Twins to do that high, so our patience level needs to be higher for him.

+1+1

Thanks for writing this Dave. You saved me some time. You don't give up one of the few pitchers we have with potential Ace stuff. He throws 95 and has a potential top end slider. He's a ways from getting there, but it's way too early to give up on him.

[Physics Guy]

I would love to see the Twins get McGee, but don't want to give up prospects for him. If they do it needs to be a package involving players not including Buxton, Kepler, Polanco, Gordon or Stewart. McGee is projected to get 4.7M in arbitration. With next years arbitration numbers, the AAV is around what Sipp signed for and what I would guess Bastardo would get. I'd rather go 3/15-18 for Bastardo than pay the same to McGee and give up the prospects. All things being equal, I'd prefer McGee. But all things aren't equal.

[Physics Guy]

Buxton is part of a package that gets you Jose Fernandez, not Jake McGee.

Agree completely, and I don't think I want to give up Buxton for Fernandez. Who gives up a top 5 prospect in all of MLB for a reliever?