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

[GP830]

I tweeted at Darvish today that I hope to see him in a TC cap on opening day. Hopefully that will be enough push him over the edge. 

[less cowbell more neau]

 

Nick, It seems that you are either experiencing an ephinal satori or H2N3 delirium.

Google Translate tells me "ephinal satori" is Japanese for "painted chicken squid." Sounds like an interesting creature, to say the least.

[ashbury]

Google Translate tells me "ephinal satori" is Japanese for "painted chicken squid." Sounds like an interesting creature, to say the least.

No, that's ペイントチキンイカ. It's a subtle language.

[drjim]

What's the holdup?

 

[PseudoSABR]

From Heyman:

 

The Twins are hoping to sign one of the big free-agent pitchers, with Yu Darvish thought to top their list (GM Thad Levine was one of the key guys in Texas when the Rangers originally signed Darvish). And they should be commended for making a major improvement last year. But one prominent agent says he still sees a resistance to players signing in Minnesota. Great town, but it could be the weather and it’s not for everyone.

Addison Reed should be a big plus for the bullpen. But Fernando Rodney remains the close, according to Mike Berardino of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

 

 

[Twodogs]

MLB channel is talking about the Yankees and Yu Darvish looking at getting creative with a contract offer?? Hope that falls through.

[laloesch]

From Heyman:

Reading stuff like that makes me cringe.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

There's another Darvish twitter exchange that I'm not ready to file under "has a home in Texas."

 

Look, I thought the Twins had and still have a decent shot at him, but absent any other insight, it looks to me like he's falling back in love with Texas.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Reading stuff like that makes me cringe.

If you are referring to the "gets too cold there" unattributed quote, I agree absolutely.

[Squirrel]

 

There's another Darvish twitter exchange that I'm not ready to file under "has a home in Texas."

Look, I thought the Twins had and still have a decent shot at him, but absent any other insight, it looks to me like he's falling back in love with Texas.

I'm fine with him going back to Texas if the Twins don't sign him. I'd rather that than Yankees, Cubs or Dodgers.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Which happens first, Yu signs or the government reopens?

[nytwinsfan]

some interesting stuff on the Twins and Yu here: https://www.twincities.com/2018/01/20/twins-owner-jim-pohlad-is-a-yu-darvish-fan-hes-a-cool-guy/

 

"Securing Darvish, 31, could require a commitment of five or more years with an average annual value of $20 million to $25 million. One person familiar with the Twins’ thinking suggested they might stretch as far as $120 million over five years to close the deal with Darvish, but talks continue to play out with the Japanese star and his agent, Joel Wolfe."

 

$120 million over five years would of course be $24 million AAV.

Edited January 20, 2018 by nytwinsfan

[Squirrel]

 

Which happens first, Yu signs or the government reopens?

Yes.

[mikecgrimes]

 

some interesting stuff on the Twins and Yu here: https://www.twincities.com/2018/01/20/twins-owner-jim-pohlad-is-a-yu-darvish-fan-hes-a-cool-guy/

 

"Securing Darvish, 31, could require a commitment of five or more years with an average annual value of $20 million to $25 million. One person familiar with the Twins’ thinking suggested they might stretch as far as $120 million over five years to close the deal with Darvish, but talks continue to play out with the Japanese star and his agent, Joel Wolfe."

 

$120 million over five years would of course be $24 million AAV.

 

Give him 6 and 150 and be done with it

[mikecgrimes]

 

I just wonder when he's going to make a decision.  Its three weeks till pitchers start reporting to camps; will he wait until the very end to make a decision and sign? 

 

 

 

When he gets an offer his agent is willing to accept.  Just because you can beat another teams offer doesn't mean you've matched his price.  I'm shocked how low the #'s are.  He's not a top of the line ace but even so the way pitcher inflation has been going it felt like 200 million would be the number.  If he signs for more then 2 years there's a very good chance he will never see another huge contract.  The difference between 120 million and say 160 million is way to huge to care about reporting on time.  He's not the only one getting low balled.

[jkcarew]

 

I'm shocked how low the #'s are.  He's not a top of the line ace but even so the way pitcher inflation has been going it felt like 200 million would be the number.

 

Me too.  Sign of things to come?  Or just the calm before the (2019) storm?

[Don Walcott]

From MLB.com:

 

Pohlad, speaking to fans during a question-and-answer session during TwinsFest at Target Field on Saturday, was asked about Darvish and indicated he's interested in signing the ace.

 

"I'm on board with that," Pohlad said while on stage, bringing cheers from Twins fans at the event. "There are some interesting names and some interesting opportunities there, but I'm as intrigued by [Darvish] as anybody and attracted to [signing him] as anybody."

 

Twins president Dave St. Peter echoed Pohlad's comments that the club remains engaged with Darvish, who is the top starting pitcher on the free-agent market.

 

"There is mutual interest in seeing if something makes sense for both parties," St. Peter said. "We are not there yet today but that could accelerate here in the near future."

 

Derek Falvey, the club's chief baseball officer, indicated on Friday that the Twins have room in their budget for a frontline starter even after committing $16.75 million over two years to reliever Addison Reed last week.

 

"Any player we add, there won't be a budget limitation," Falvey said. "If we bring the right deal to Jim, he'll support it."

[Don Walcott]

I'm so tired, tired of waiting, tired of waiting for Yuuuuuuu.

[ashbury]

Is this true? Do you have a source? My understanding was that a player couldn't be placed on the 60-day DL until like one day before the start of the regular season.

Just to finish beating the dead horse, I finally was pointed to an online version of the official rules that govern the teams in matters like these:

 

https://registration.mlbpa.org/pdf/MajorLeagueRules.pdf

 

It contains the verbiage concerning the 60-day DL beginning when pitchers and catchers report. (Page 10, rule 2g3F)

[PseudoSABR]

This was referenced in the Archer thread, but is more relevant here.  John Morosi on the Darvish market.

[Riverbrian]

I still contend that the Yankees and Dodgers are out unless they are able to move a significant amount of money. Ellsbury and Kemp will be real hard to move. 

 

I believe the Astros are out after Cole. 

 

It doesn't look like the Cubs are shopping at the top of the market. 

 

It's the Rangers that I worry about and I don't care if Jon Daniels says they are out. They have been rumored to have been holding discussions about Darvish, Arrieta and Greinke this off season.  

 

They ain't out. 

 

[mikecgrimes]

Here's a thought if he signs in the middle or end of spring he ramps his innings up as if it's spring the first 3 or 4 starts and maybe doesn't run into postseason problems. I'm guessing he won't lose any money "holding out" a few weeks, and if I'm the team and think inning count was a factor in the postseason I'm on board with the plan.

[Vanimal46]

 

Your move, Minnesota.

Edited January 22, 2018 by Vanimal46

[ashbury]

 

Your move, Minnesota.

Hooray for Google Translate, which completely clarified Darvish's tweet which was in Japanese: "Brewers participating in full-scale participation in winning Darvish pitcher who is FA from Dodgers. There is also the possibility that the fighting battle where "interdigitation" has continued with six teams such as old-fashioned Dodgers, can progress at a stretch."

[nicksaviking]

Could really use some good news right about now Twins. It would be a great time to swoop in and tell Minnesota fans that we're not insignificant.

[mikecgrimes]

It seems to me Darvish uses twitter in an odd way.  If he thinks other teams are going to up there offer because the Brewers made an offer he's wrong.  If Brewers offer is 6 years 125-135 other teams aren't gonna care and neither is Darvish.  Nothings gonna happen until someone offers an extra $25 million plus or until June.

[Squirrel]

It seems to me Darvish uses twitter in an odd way.  If he thinks other teams are going to up there offer because the Brewers made an offer he's wrong.  If Brewers offer is 6 years 125-135 other teams aren't gonna care and neither is Darvish.  Nothings gonna happen until someone offers an extra $25 million plus or until June.

I don’t think he’s using Twitter to up offers. I think he uses Twitter to troll people because that’s what Twitter is a lot of the time. And I think he enjoys it because of the responses he gets and because he knows that people bring these things back to message boards like this and try to find the hidden meaning when there is none. He stated from the beginning he’s in no hurry and wants to enjoy this process because it’s the last big FA he’ll have. And when his agent gets the offer they want from the team they want he’ll sign.

 

And I still don’t think he’ll sign with the Twins even though I am still kind of hoping he will.

[Craig Arko]

 

I don’t think he’s using Twitter to up offers. I think he uses Twitter to troll people because that’s what Twitter is a lot of the time. And I think he enjoys it because of the responses he gets and because he knows that people bring these things back to message boards like this and try to find the hidden meaning when there is none. He stated from the beginning he’s in no hurry and wants to enjoy this process because it’s the last big FA he’ll have. And when his agent gets the offer they want from the team they want he’ll sign.

And I still don’t think he’ll sign with the Twins even though I am still kind of hoping he will.

So, you're saying he's planning on running for office, then?

[Twodogs]

I think if the Twins front office and GM's really want him then I think they need to step up pretty quickly and offer him something significant, if the Twins play the wait until Spring Training or the wait until June game then they will lose out.  If they show that they are a little bit more serious than the Brewers or the Rangers then that might just be enough to help him make his decision.  If they try to play rock, paper, scissors with the likes of the Yankees and such then they will lose, if they step up and show him that they want him in Minnesota more than the other teams do then I feel they have a good shot at him.

 

JMO

[AlwaysinModeration]

This is just a wild theory, but is it possible there was an unwritten agreement among owners not to sign any free agent starters or position players before the Hall of Fame vote? The goal would be to drive down prices, presumably.