Do you actually like any of these options?

[Mike Sixel]

They need a catcher, and a good framer would certainly help the young pitchers. Unless you really think Garver and Murphy are it, I would get a catcher.

 

And, you can't trade for everything you need....it isn't possible.

[Willihammer]

I'm intrigued by some of the older options. Colon, Dickyey. Hill is probably out of range. Greg Holland after a straight TJS could be alright.

[Vanimal46]

 

I'm intrigued by some of the older options. Colon, Dickyey. Hill is probably out of range. Greg Holland after a straight TJS could be alright.

I hope Bartolo stays in the National League. Watching him hit is a beautiful thing. 

http://cdn2.vox-cdn.com/assets/4326495/colonlol.gif

[Monkeypaws]

I know he's as old as dirt, but I've always enjoyed watching Joaquin Benoit pitch. He still averages over a K per inning, and well under a hit per inning. He is a bit wild at times, but he'd be cheap.

[Mike Sixel]

1 year flyers, that you hope you can trade? I like 1-3 of those......

[d-mac]

 

I could see him getting something even bigger than that.  Closer to 3/50 or 4/60.  

 

 Isn't Nova a QO candidate?

[d-mac]

I'd go Castro on a 2 or 3 year deal, Rajai Davis on a 1 yr contract. Sign a Brett Anderson/Matt Latos type to see if they could bounce back on a 1 yr deal. Plus I'd go after Greg Holland plus one of Cecil, Romo, or Tazawa. 

 

I'd flip any of them except Castro at the deadline. 

[HitInAPinch]

 

what do you think of that Norge Ruiz if we're looking for pitching he could be a guy to look at.

From MLB Rumors 9/9/2016:  The right-handed Ruiz, now 22, is seen as one of the top recent pitching prospects from Cuba. Badler has suggested that he’s ready for the Double-A level, with an advanced mix of pitches that he generally mixes and commands well. With mid-rotation upside, he’s a highly intriguing target.

 

I'm with Mike:  Pricey.  And I think to the point where the Twins would be outbid quickly.

[TheLeviathan]

 

 Isn't Nova a QO candidate?

 

I think, money wise, yes.  It depends if the Pirates want to make that gamble.

[Loosey]

 

The Twins do not need to look at that list.  They should look at the list of the 100 best players & prospects under 25 and go after a couple of them in trades.

 

Aging free agents will not help them rebuild...

I disagree.  Some of the 29-32 year old Free agents on 1-2 year deals will help in the rebuild if they deploy them correctly.  Volquez as I mentioned earlier could be had on a prove it 1 year deal, if he performs to near all star levels and the team is on pace for 90+ losses, they trade him to a contender.  Also, if the rotation has Santana, Berrios, Volquez, Gibson, May for example and actually is in 2nd wild card contention I think it increases Volquez trade value because the Twins can use the well were making a run for the Wild Card excuse and get teams to up there ante on him.  Either way, even rebuilding teams have veterans filling out rosters, some are even big parts of the roster.

[mazeville]

I generally would avoid the free agent market and focus more on trades and building from within next year. None of these names gets me truly excited.

 

That said, maybe the Twins could sign Jose Bautista. Playing in Target Field full time he'd probably hit like 80 homers.

 

In all seriousness, as others have mentioned this just emphasizes the point that the Twins could be in a decent position when it comes to trading assets like Dozier and, especially, Ervin Santana. 

 

My hope is that the Twins make enough improvement next year that they could invest in a free agent or two next offseason to take another step. But they have to prove able to take that step first ...

[SF Twins Fan]

 

I disagree.  Some of the 29-32 year old Free agents on 1-2 year deals will help in the rebuild if they deploy them correctly.  Volquez as I mentioned earlier could be had on a prove it 1 year deal, if he performs to near all star levels and the team is on pace for 90+ losses, they trade him to a contender.  Also, if the rotation has Santana, Berrios, Volquez, Gibson, May for example and actually is in 2nd wild card contention I think it increases Volquez trade value because the Twins can use the well were making a run for the Wild Card excuse and get teams to up there ante on him.  Either way, even rebuilding teams have veterans filling out rosters, some are even big parts of the roster.

This is a perfect example of what the Twins should be doing.  It allows Gonsalves and Mejia time to pitch at AAA as well.  There is no reason to not take a 1 year flier on a at least one pitcher.  If he does well trade him and at the deadline for additional prospects.  If he sucks, then DFA him and at that point see if Hughes or one of the minor league players are ready.

[jorgenswest]

Pelfrey and Correia were 29-32 year old signings on a 1-2 year deal. In 2013-14 they were waiting on Hendriks, May, Meyer and Hernandez to be ready. I am not sure that plan worked out that well. Are the Twins any better off today as a result of those signings? Were they that much better off in 2013-14 as a result of those signings?

[Shane Wahl]

 

The Twins could have had Fowler twice in recent years.  It was no secret that the Rockies were shopping him around.  To me, Fowler was clearly underrated, young, cheap, and the Twins were starving for outfielders.  For a team like the Twins to pass up on Fowler twice made no sense.  If they didn't want to trade for him, fine, but he was a free agent later on.  

Likely the Cubs will pick up his option and he'll stay in Chicago, unless he decides to go for the big payday that he deserves.  We'll see.

 

I am fairly certain the Cubs will pay him. And he obviously wants to stay.

[Shane Wahl]

I will lose my mind if the Twins go out and sign a freaking veteran 4th OF. Waste of time, energy, and money to be anything other than pitching . . . and trading for some young catcher.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I still like Castro as an option, if you don't believe in Murphy......or if you refuse to call up Garver.

nothing wrong with signing Castro and letting Garver and Murphy compete for the backup.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I will lose my mind if the Twins go out and sign a freaking veteran 4th OF. Waste of time, energy, and money to be anything other than pitching . . . and trading for some young catcher.

no value in a slick fielding shortstop?

[Vanimal46]

Add 34 year old Jason Hammel to the list. The Cubs declined his option, letting him explore free agency after a productive regular season. He went 15-10 in 30 starts with a 3.83 ERA, 4.48 FIP, 7.78 K/9. According to Fangraphs his velocity has stayed essentially the same over his career with a 92 MPH FB. 

He'll most likely go on the top of a lot of team's list of FA to target. 

[Mike Sixel]

KLAW calls this the worst FA class he's ever ranked (started in 2006).....

 

He likes Fowler as the #2 FA, so good luck getting him here...

 

You won't like the numbers he's throwing out....like you have to drop to number 10 before you get under $15MM per year.....and he's usually low...

[TheLeviathan]

 

KLAW calls this the worst FA class he's ever ranked (started in 2006).....

 

He likes Fowler as the #2 FA, so good luck getting him here...

 

You won't like the numbers he's throwing out....like you have to drop to number 10 before you get under $15MM per year.....and he's usually low...

 

I can predict only one thing with absolute certainty: Over the next two months there are going to be a LOT of posters saying "good lord, how did X player get that much money?"

 

I hope the Twins recognize that and play this offseason smart.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I can predict only one thing with absolute certainty: Over the next two months there are going to be a LOT of posters saying "good lord, how did X player get that much money?"

 

I hope the Twins recognize that and play this offseason smart.

 

But those are the market prices....so if you want FAs, you'll have to pay that price. It's ok to decide it isn't worth it, but then you aren't going into FA....

[TheLeviathan]

 

But those are the market prices....so if you want FAs, you'll have to pay that price. It's ok to decide it isn't worth it, but then you aren't going into FA....

 

I agree, that's why the "let's just sign Brett Anderson cheap" strategies to the offseason make no sense to me.  There will be nothing cheap on the market.  Expect to pay a substantial amount of money, moreso relative to performance than usual even.  

 

It's why in FA I'm only looking at maybe adding a catcher and two bullpen arms.  (One solid guy and one bounce back guy we can make our closer and hope he nets us a return in July)  Otherwise, I'm not interested in overpaying an inflated market with little talent to get back low upside.

[Vanimal46]

 

I agree, that's why the "let's just sign Brett Anderson cheap" strategies to the offseason make no sense to me.  There will be nothing cheap on the market.  Expect to pay a substantial amount of money, moreso relative to performance than usual even.  

 

It's why in FA I'm only looking at maybe adding a catcher and two bullpen arms.  (One solid guy and one bounce back guy we can make our closer and hope he nets us a return in July)  Otherwise, I'm not interested in overpaying an inflated market with little talent to get back low upside.

Anderson's initial salary should be fairly cheap since he's coming off injury... But with performance incentives I could see him getting back to the $15-17 MM range.