Article: Why I Believe The Twins Are Going To Sign Yu Darvish

[laloesch]

 

Okay. That would definitely be nice since P&C report in about a month. Things need to get going already.

 

LOL, now mlb rumors is claiming it's not a true rumor.

[Twins33]

LOL, now mlb rumors is claiming it's not a true rumor.

Yeah, virtually all the reports on twitter went from "imminent" to "whoops never mind" in quick fashion Edited January 10, 2018 by Twins33

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Latest on Gerrit Cole, per MLBTR:

 

All told, it seems there’s no reason at this time to believe a deal between these organizations is particularly likely to occur. Passan suggests as much, as does Jon Heyman of Fan Rag (via Twitter). Indeed, Heyman also hears of another suitor being involved — beyond the Yankees, who were the team formerly suggested as a likely landing spot. With the necessary proviso that situations can always change, it appears we’re mostly back to the status quo ante on Cole’s trade status.

I want to believe!

[darin617]

 

4/120 - yes
5/140 - yes
5/150 - reasonable, but I’m getting uneasy.
6/155 - yes
6/165 - I could talk myself into it.
6/175 - pass, but I’ll be sad
6/200 - run!

 

I run from any deal for 6 years for a pitcher. The Twins need more than 1 starting pitcher to go to the World Series.

 

To be honest, just wait 1 more year & Cleveland will be completely shelled by free agency so be happy settling for the wild card in 2018. Joe Mauer's contract will be off the books as well so 2019 will be great.

[darin617]

 

If they can sign him with Johnny Cueto/Jordan Zimmerman $, I would have no problem with it.  If he is looking for David Price/Zack Greinke $, forget about it, because that contract will end up being what Mauer's (and Hughes's) is now...

 

No way I would ever go over $22M a year for Darvish unless it was for 4 years or less. Like I said before, they need more than 1 starting pitcher to push them over the top.

[Squirrel]

That deserved a full out LOL. And Millhouse is the perfect depiction of Chief in the picture.

[Mike Sixel]

No way I would ever go over $22M a year for Darvish unless it was for 4 years or less. Like I said before, they need more than 1 starting pitcher to push them over the top.

How do you plan to get more than one, if you won't pay for one? It is certainly possible enough minor league played work, but unlikely. If people won't sign Yu, due to age, I assume they won't resign Esan either. And, I don't see anyone arguing they are only one player away. People are arguing that they should add talent while Dozier and ESan and Mauer are here and before the current core leaves.

[darin617]

 

How do you plan to get more than one, if you won't pay for one? It is certainly possible enough minor league played work, but unlikely. If people won't sign Yu, due to age, I assume they won't resign Esan either. And, I don't see anyone arguing they are only one player away. People are arguing that they should add talent while Dozier and ESan and Mauer are here and before the current core leaves.

 

I meant to say the Twins need more than a starting pitcher to push them over the top. The bullpen still needs some of the younger arms to continue to make strides up. I would like to see an improved bench as well.

 

Then you still have the DH issue to deal with. Do they actually give Kennys Vargas the job since I believe he is out of options? Or does he split with Robbie Grossman?

 

 

[Dantes929]

 

How do you plan to get more than one, if you won't pay for one? It is certainly possible enough minor league played work, but unlikely. If people won't sign Yu, due to age, I assume they won't resign Esan either. And, I don't see anyone arguing they are only one player away. People are arguing that they should add talent while Dozier and ESan and Mauer are here and before the current core leaves.

Well, I'' make the case of sorts.   As H20 pointed out getting Darvish might have cost the Dodgers the WC.  Of course it is possible the Dodgers wouldn't have even gotten there without Darvish so who knows.   I think the twins have the talent to make another WC appearance and I am a big believer in getting that chance.    I like Berrios and Santana and have faith there are several others that can do well filling out the rotation.   Maybe we sign Darvish to a big 6 year deal and he breaks his arm the 2nd game out but Romero fills in and becomes Mark Fidrych 2.0 or Gonsalves becomes Frank Viola 2.0.    We might be 0 players away, we might be 6 players away.    If we get Darvish or Cobb I will hope they are the answer.    If we don't get them I will hope that is the best thing that could have happened because other guys stepped up.

[nicksaviking]

 

No way I would ever go over $22M a year for Darvish unless it was for 4 years or less. Like I said before, they need more than 1 starting pitcher to push them over the top.

 

I agree they should target more than one, but I'd rather have one good pitcher than two middling pitchers if it comes down to money. Two middling pitchers aren't what this club needs. If they can get the top free agent, they should do it. 

 

And if they have to go 5-6 years, so be it, I only care about years 1-4. They can get creative with him in the decline years. Stick him in the pen, trade him and eat nearly all of the salary. Heck, they can DFA him for all I care.

[Brandon Warne]

 

No way I would ever go over $22M a year for Darvish unless it was for 4 years or less. Like I said before, they need more than 1 starting pitcher to push them over the top.

 

It's going to take at least 5/$125

[GP830]

 

It's going to take at least 5/$125

I think 5/125 is the sweet spot, and agree that that's the likely number.

[Brandon Warne]

I'd be OK with 5/125 with a $30 million option for year six that vests at 350 innings over the final two years. 

[Don Walcott]

 

Do you like me?

___ yes


____ no

Please, you guys, no sexting.

[kab21]

 

I think 5/125 is the sweet spot, and agree that that's the likely number.

If this is possible then he should be signed today. I think a 6th year and possibly a few more dollar/yr are necessary.

[h2oface]

 

You wouldn't look forward to the Twins in the World Series?

 

Cody Bellinger had an OPS of .565 and struckout over 60% of his World Series ABs

Mark Lemke had an OPS of 1.170 in his first World Series

 

Neither of those stat lines tell us anything about those players other than how they did in a microscopic sample size. 

 

Well, it tells us that with the bright lights on, Bellinger tanked and Lemke shined. And let's face it, it is only a microscopic sample size that anyone gets in the Series. And I didn't say I wouldn't look forward to the Twins in the World Series. It is just reading comprehension gone wrong there.  

[AlwaysinModeration]

I think 5/125 is the sweet spot, and agree that that's the likely number.

Funny, as I was reading though this thread, exactly 5/125 popped into my head as a likely deal for Darvish. That would be fantastic.

[mikecgrimes]

It feels like the price of starting pitching compared to bullpen and offensive players is pretty reasonable. If you can get him for Johan Santana money 10 years later what a deal.

[Danchat]

https://twitter.com/MaxWildstein/status/951226898000109573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.1500espn.com%2Ftwins-2%2F2018%2F01%2Fyu-darvish-just-add-famed-mystery-team%2F

 

 

Yu Darvish has reportedly narrowed down his potential landing sports to #Rangers, #Yankees, #Cubs, #Astros and #Twins, per @JeffWilson_FWST.

 

Source:

http://www.1500espn.com/twins-2/2018/01/yu-darvish-just-add-famed-mystery-team/

 

The Twins have a legitimate chance to sign Darvish. That's great news to me, even if they're unable to sign him.

Edited January 11, 2018 by Danchat

[ahart10]

If the Ywins sign Darvish I will be very happy. If he signs with another team I will also be happy in thinking he wasn’t worth it.

[Squirrel]

https://twitter.com/MaxWildstein/status/951226898000109573?ref_src=twsrc^tfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.1500espn.com%2Ftwins-2%2F2018%2F01%2Fyu-darvish-just-add-famed-mystery-team%2F

 

 

 

Source:

http://www.1500espn.com/twins-2/2018/01/yu-darvish-just-add-famed-mystery-team/

 

The Twins have a legitimate chance to sign Darvish. That's great news to me, even if they're unable to sign him.

I find that kind of funny ... narrowed down to? Those are the only teams I’ve heard who have shown any kind of real interest. To me that list is a recap of suiters, not a narrowed down list. Narrowed down would be down to two.

[Old Twins Cap]

At MLB Trade Rumors, the author pretty much suggested that the Twins are the only suitor with financial flexibility to make a deal of this magnitude.

 

I don't know why it's so hard to say the Twins are front-runners.  It's like we are a cold Omaha and no one could imagine a star of Darvish's magnitude choosing to play here.

 

There are infra-red heaters sprinkled throughout the stadium.

[Otto von Ballpark]

https://twitter.com/MaxWildstein/status/951226898000109573?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.1500espn.com%2Ftwins-2%2F2018%2F01%2Fyu-darvish-just-add-famed-mystery-team%2F

 

 

Source:

http://www.1500espn.com/twins-2/2018/01/yu-darvish-just-add-famed-mystery-team/

 

The Twins have a legitimate chance to sign Darvish. That's great news to me, even if they're unable to sign him.

Still not sure how "legitimate" our chance is. They are apparently maintaining interest but we really have no idea if they are truly prepared to make the offer it will likely require to land him.

 

At this point, they might just be hanging around with their Levine connection in the unlikely event that Darvish doesn't get an acceptable offer from the other 5 suitors (and the known ones ranked 1, 3, 11, and 12 in MLB revenue last April per Forbes, compared to 23 for the Twins). Luxury tax might limit the Yankees, but not the others.

[Otto von Ballpark]

At MLB Trade Rumors, the author pretty much suggested that the Twins are the only suitor with financial flexibility to make a deal of this magnitude.

That is a mischaracterization. MLBTR said "Of all the teams in the mix, the Twins’ payroll outlook is by far the most open (zero dollars on the books beyond the 2019 season)":

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/01/yu-darvish-five-teams-yankees-rangers-cubs-twins-astros-mystery-team.html

 

The Cubs are not against any luxury tax, and absolutely have the financial flexibility to sign Darvish if they want to. As could the mystery team, if it wasn't the Dodgers. And while the Astros might prefer not to, hence kicking the tires on Cole, they too have the flexibility to do it if they want. (Rangers are likely in that group too -- any inflexibility would appear to be self-imposed, which frankly might apply to the Twins as well.)

Edited January 11, 2018 by spycake

[Doomtints]

We'll find out soon. It will be good to know one way or the other so we can move on to the next thing.

[nicksaviking]

 

At MLB Trade Rumors, the author pretty much suggested that the Twins are the only suitor with financial flexibility to make a deal of this magnitude.

 

I don't know why it's so hard to say the Twins are front-runners.  It's like we are a cold Omaha and no one could imagine a star of Darvish's magnitude choosing to play here.

 

There are infra-red heaters sprinkled throughout the stadium.

 

I don't know, I might take Omaha, Warren Buffet would have already closed this deal.

[GP830]

I have a hunch that the mystery team is the Angels. They've gone all in to upgrade every aspect of their team this year, and he would pair nicely with Ohtani. 

 

Just a hunch...

[Brock Beauchamp]

I don't think modern MLB front offices are going to be influenced by blatant "pumping up" attempts.

But when it works, you get the Rangers bidding against themselves multiple times for the same player!

 

(still one of my favorite baseball free agency moments)

[laloesch]

 

I have a hunch that the mystery team is the Angels. They've gone all in to upgrade every aspect of their team this year, and he would pair nicely with Ohtani. 

 

Just a hunch...

Yeeepppp.  Wouldn't surprise me one bit if he signs with them and they will be awesome this year with everything else they've done.

 

Edited January 11, 2018 by laloesch

[Otto von Ballpark]

I have a hunch that the mystery team is the Angels. They've gone all in to upgrade every aspect of their team this year, and he would pair nicely with Ohtani.

 

Just a hunch...

There are a few reasonably large markets that could be in on Darvish, especially if his market price is manageable to the Twins. LAA is one. Seattle is another with a strong history with Japanese players.

 

Here is an article from November with some estimates about "payroll room", showing there are still a few good possibilities to be the unnamed team, or even jump back into the market:

 

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/an-estimate-of-every-teams-payroll-room/