Article: Supplementing The Twins: A Rotation Trio

[Mr. Brooks]

Trading Buxton would be a colossal mistake, IMO.

[Thrylos]

 

you’re definitely not going to win anything if Gomez is your centerfielder.

 

The 2015 Texas Rangers would beg to differ.

[prouster]

Trading Buxton would be a colossal mistake, IMO.

Exactly. I can't believe people are still harping on this.

[old nurse]

 

The 2015 Texas Rangers would beg to differ.

Interesting how there are times when winning your division is not winning anything and making  the wild card game over another team is actually winning something.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

My concerns with FA pitchers are much more around decline in performance rather than injury risk. You hate to pay a guy to sit on the DL, but having a high-paid starter who you're all but forced to keep rolling out there despite struggles is maybe even worse.

Oddly enough, I agree. In recent years, a Twins starter going down meant some truly awful AAAA pitcher was slotted to pick up in his place. But the Twins are getting close to graduating some interesting arms. Nothing overpowering, but interesting. You have Gonsalves and Romero on the cusp. Behind them, you have Thorpe, Stewart, and the 2017 deadline acquisitions.

 

I'm more worried about a Phil Hughes situation soaking up innings than I am a guy going down because I wouldn't mind seeing some of those guys get a chance early in 2018.

[wabene]

I also agree that running out a poor performer because of salary is the worst possible scenario. Counting on TrevorMay next year is not wise. I see him as a starter anyway because his body seemed to break down as a reliever. He can be a valuable starter but it will take a while. As for aquisitions I am all for spending money on free agents but trades not so much. Either is a crap shoot but the downside of FA is just money (the team is owned by bankers so I assume they are not with me here) and now that we have a good young nucleus we might actually be able to attract the attractive. Another thing in our favor is unlike the Wolves, Wild and Vikings the Twins play in the summer when Minnesota and Minneapolis might actually be a draw especially to the informed.

[laloesch]

Some here are talking bullpen help as well.  So, here's a question for everyone.  Is Trevor May a solid enough addition to the 'pen next year to warrant allocating FA dollars to a starter or is that too much of a risk coming off TJ.  Can they trust him to be a setup man coming off surgery?  Or even the closer?

 

The front office has repeatedly stated that May will be utilized as a starter going forward. Not saying that won't change but i wouldn't count on him in the pen.

[Physics Guy]

I would be happy if the Twins signed Alex Cobb for anything at 4/60M or less.  I don't think they will win the bidding war for Darvish, but they should at least make an offer.  Arrieta's regression the past two years scares me.  Contrary to some things I've read here, I prefer Cobb to Lynn, especially if he is the cheaper option.  Their numbers appear quite similar and I prefer the pitcher who has thrown in the AL East vs the NL Central.  Santana, Cobb, Berrios plus two of Gibson, Meijia, Gonsalves, Slegers is good by me.  Then add 1-2 RP's.

[caninatl04]

Do not like any of these options, though if forced to pick one it would be Cobb.  A few higher ace types out there and many of the teams who would usually buy one need to get under the luxury tax limit for next year.  Go buy and ace.

 

Who did you have in mind?

[Physics Guy]

As far as having a rotation better than Boston, NYY and Cleveland, I'm not sure that is possible without major turnover throughout the roster.   I think it's possible our offense can make up some of the difference.   We were behind the Yankees, basically even with Cleveland and ahead of the Red Sox in scoring.   With continued improvement in our younger players (nearly every starter), it reasonable that we can be one of the top two or three in the AL.   If we get our pitching to allow between 700 and 750, we probably win 90+ games.   Cleveland gave up nearly 100 less runs than the #2 team in the AL.   What did that get them?   In my estimation we just need to get in the top half of the AL to have a good chance.   If this year's playoffs have shown anything, even really good pitchers can get ripped. 

Edited October 30, 2017 by Physics Guy

[ashbury]

If this year's playoffs have shown anything, even really good pitchers can get ripped. 

Good pitchers can have bad games (Darvish going out there with zero command), but I've drawn almost the opposite conclusion to yours. We're seeing state of the art offenses, and only the best pitchers stand a chance. When those pitchers falter and have to come out, their replacements do even worse and you end up with double-digit scores.

 

Our Twins' offense is good but not yet on a par with the best. Our pitching, OTOH, would be getting absolutely slaughtered in these series. Our front office has a lot of work to do, on multiple fronts, unless the hope is to win a championship on a fluke some year. Top-half in pitching isn't going to be enough.