Article: Rosenthal: Twins Agree to Deal With Addison Reed

[Doctor Wu]

 

Twins should have no problem pushing to $135mil if a Darvish deal is on acceptable terms (especially years).

I'm not much of a fan of multiyear deals for free agent relievers, but it does seem like they got a good deal compared to earlier signings.

Totally agree on the multi-year thing, and also the good deal aspect of this signing. In fact, I like getting Reed much more than adding Rodney. Seems like a better fit for the club's needs.

[nytwinsfan]

 

Time to trade Rodney. He surely will be whining if he was promised to be the closer, and if he closes instead of Reed.......... argh. Reed as an Andrew Miller? I guess I still can't bring myself to accept that Rodney will be the Twins' closer. 

They already said Rodney is still the closer. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Can't they DFA him? Nobody would take his contract if he went on waivers and he'd need to report to Roch to collect his money wouldn't he? At least he'd get innings and could prove he's worth something or not.

not if he’s injured

[mikecgrimes]

I don't get why we care about term, of course we would all rather sign Darvish to a 3 year 72 million dollar deal then 6 year 144 but we wouldn't be able to get 3 and 72 it would be more like 3 and 100 getting 3 extra years for 44 while not ideal might pay off and might not but it's only 44 additional dollars no matter what the actual structure of the contract is.  The dollar amounts thrown around are not so crazy that we should be afraid, Darvish isn't Kershaw or Santana in his prime but based on the contracts thrown around in the past you would think it would take 200-250 to get this done and it sounds like it will be nowhere near that.  I'm already pumped and ready for the season to start with the Reed signing, lets finish off free agency with a bang.

[Linus]

I'd rather see the Twins use Reed in the highest leverage situations (Like Andrew Miller) and let Rodney have the ninth.

Agreed. He will be their best reliever by far. Let's go to highest and best use.

[jorgenswest]

Time to trade Rodney. He surely will be whining if he was promised to be the closer, and if he closes instead of Reed.......... argh. Reed as an Andrew Miller? I guess I still can't bring myself to accept that Rodney will be the Twins' closer.

Sigh. We are already slamming the character of a player before he has put on a Twins uniform.

 

Any man who has pitched successfully into their 40s has done so by being extremely dedicated to their craft continually learning and working hard. There are accounts from the DBacks and others that he has helped the younger pitchers on the team because that is how he was treated when he arrived. That points to a good teammate.

 

It is the Twins management that negotiated this deal and made commitments to Rodney. If they told him he would be used as a closer that is on them. Let’s question the wisdom of the front office. Rodney did not force them into the commitment.

[ashbury]

Sigh. We are already slamming the character of a player before he has put on a Twins uniform.

Mod note: While Fernando Rodney is undoubtedly affected by the signing of Reed, ditto the chances of signing Darvish, and it's fair to delve here into those baseball ramifications, I'd like to ask everyone that we not go from one tangent into a further tangent about Rodney's character or reactions to it. It's a fair topic if someone wants to launch a new thread, either as a baseball topic in this Twins forum area, or as a sociological one in the Sports Bar forum if you're of that bent. The subject here is the signing of Addison Reed, broadly construed.

[tvagle]

 

I keep getting a different total than you for those six.

 

Forgot to include Reed Thanks for the cross check

 

Reed $8.5M (Guesstimate on how contract is broken down)

Castro $8M

Santana $14M option (with vesting?)

Rodney $.25M

Pineda $8M

Hughes $13.2M

Park $3M (unless someone can show where it has been voided)

 

$54.95M

[jimmer]

 

Forgot to include Reed Thanks for the cross check

 

Reed $8.5M (Guesstimate on how contract is broken down)

Castro $8M

Santana $14M option (with vesting?)

Rodney $.25M

Pineda $8M

Hughes $13.2M

Park $3M (unless someone can show where it has been voided)

 

$54.95M

Chances are that three of them may not be doing anything with the Twins in 2019.  Rodney (with his meager buyout), along with Hughes and Park.

 

If Rodney works out in a reliever role, he could be a bargain for 2018 and 2019. The Hughes extension and Park signings were mistakes the new FO is going to have to deal with, though I thought I read Park left money on the table in order to leave.  

 

Anyway, I think the Reed signing is a very smart signing.

Edited January 14, 2018 by jimmer

[laloesch]

Chances are that three of them may not be doing anything with the Twins in 2019.  Rodney (with his meager buyout), along with Hughes and Park.

 

If Rodney works out in a reliever role, he could be a bargain for 2018 and 2019. The Hughes extension and Park signings were mistakes the new FO is going to have to deal with, though I thought I read Park left money on the table in order to leave.  

 

Anyway, I think the Reed signing is a very smart signing.

I like the Reed signing a lot. If Rodney bombs out they have another option for closer. In the meantime he can be a solid setup man. The one silver lining is that Hughes is only under contract through 2019. If he pitches well this season (a big if) they could always trade him to a team looking for a filler starter.

[Doomtints]

Rodney is not too happy about this. 

 

Levine said he thinks he was "ahead of the market" on Rodney, which is an epic way of saying "oops." But at least he fixed the problem (albeit by spending more money).

[mikecgrimes]

I'd rather have Rodney and reed then Reed and rodneys money back. Having an extra above average bullpen option (rodney) is valuable even if he's more comparable to beslile then we would like.

[Otwins]

We needed three bullpen arms. I am glad we have all three. I think we are positioned well for a starter also. Say the Yankees sign Darvish and the Cubs sign Arrieta. There is still Cobb and Lynn and fewer bidders. Why not sign two starters and use Mejia's minor league option until he is needed.  He is not a great starter but would be great minor league depth.  I am still rooting for Darvish but Twins will be OK either way.  

[mikecgrimes]

I had been so focused on the top 3 starting options that I didn't even realize Lynn was a solid option too.  As much as I think the Twins are probably fine with just one you tend to be forced to use even your 8th option for a handful of starts.  Much like what we've done with the bullpen if you can make that top prospect fall deeper on the depth chart it's never a bad thing.  If you end up being able to count on Tyler Jay or Stephen Gonsalves they will show you that without having to force them into the spot.  As much as the price may be right in my mind for Darvish it might be even more right for Cobb and Lynn.

[bird]

 

That's not the point.  Whether or not Hughes is a viable option, he is out of options, so the Twins need to deal with him and they owe him more than $26M over the next 2 seasons.

 

 

I'm guessing that the decision on what to do with Hughes will be based on the singular assessment of whether he is the best option for a rotation spot, and nothing else.

Edited January 14, 2018 by birdwatcher

[darin617]

The best part of signing Reed is that if the Twins fall out of playoff contention they have a valuable asset that they can flip for some nice prospects.

[bird]

 

Free agency 2017-18: “It’s all I can do, to keep waiting for you. . .”

 

 

Yu Darvish: "Tired of Waitng For You"---The Kinks, 1965

[mikecgrimes]

 

The best part of signing Reed is that if the Twins fall out of playoff contention they have a valuable asset that they can flip for some nice prospects.

 

I guess, but I'm already in print the playoff tickets mode.

[USAFChief]

The best part of signing Reed is that if the Twins fall out of playoff contention they have a valuable asset that they can flip for some nice prospects.

I don't think that's the BEST part, but I suppose it's A part.

[kab21]

Some people are putting too much emphasis on who the closer is and who the setup guy is. Bullpens need 3-4 really strong options and it really doesn't matter much what the order is.

the Twins were able to sign 3 fairly decent bullpen arms for around 15-16M and turn a weakness into a possible strength. This has been one of the biggest complaints regarding the FO from last season and they were able to do it at very reasonable prices instead of taking on some potentially ugly RP contracts that wouldn't give them other spending flexibility (for SP).

[DocBauer]

Some people are putting too much emphasis on who the closer is and who the setup guy is. Bullpens need 3-4 really strong options and it really doesn't matter much what the order is.

the Twins were able to sign 3 fairly decent bullpen arms for around 15-16M and turn a weakness into a possible strength. This has been one of the biggest complaints regarding the FO from last season and they were able to do it at very reasonable prices instead of taking on some potentially ugly RP contracts that wouldn't give them other spending flexibility (for SP).

 

And the best part is the cupboard isn't exactly barren with talented arms ready, and nearly ready to augment, fill in and replace.

[sploorp]

 

Nice signing, I think.  Can we give Rodney back now or maybe trade him for Burdi?

Why?  Burdi is probably coming back free of charge at some point down the line.

[sploorp]

 

I’m guessing that Reed signs for less years to be a closer. Rodney will have a new role and his agent is probably calling to air grievances.

No way this takes them out on Darvish. Two Years around 8M per year. Should have no influence on a multi year 100 plus million deal.

I don't know if Reed closing is the case.  It depends on who else is in the mix.  If I'm a pitcher, I have to like the Twins defense up the middle covering my back.  I would also have to like the team's chances of making the playoffs again.  The Twins are definitely up and comers with so much untapped potential to be even better than expected.  Even if Reed knows he won't be the closer, a late inning reliever for an up and comer has got to be attractive.  And if Rodney chokes ...

 

I'm kind of hoping Reed isn't the closer.  Between him and Rodney, I think he's the better pitcher and I like the idea of using the better pitcher for the high pressure situations and letting Rodney come in to pitch a unencumbered ninth.  Closing can be a bit overrated.

 

Lastly, I agree, this in no way stops the Twins from making a deal with Darvish.  If anything, it makes the case for Darvish coming here even stronger.  135 million?  Is that even 52% of projected ticket sales?  They did 250 million last year coming off a 102 loss season.  I would have to guess they do a lot more than that this year.  Also, it would only be 135 million for one year.  This is a doable deal and I think it's looking more and more like the Twins will be taking home the prize.

 

Can you imagine if they do get Darvish?  That would make for one hell of an off season.  Even if they settle for a second tier starter, wow, just a fantastic off season.  I might even be willing to use the "G" word when describing Levine and Falvey.

[sploorp]

 

There's one less Darvish suitor as the Astros aquired Cole. Of course the Yankees may step up their efforts to sign Darvish as a result...

Possibly, but the Yankees really want to finish under the cap to lower the taxes next year when Harper and several others hit free agency.  I think they bite the bullet this year, then go nuts next year.

 

The Dodgers are pretty much in the same boat, so I don't think they're seriously in the Darvish stakes either.

 

The Rangers are cutting back as well and probably not in it either.

 

In my mind it's between the Twins and the Cubs.

[sploorp]

 

Can't they DFA him? Nobody would take his contract if he went on waivers and he'd need to report to Roch to collect his money wouldn't he? At least he'd get innings and could prove he's worth something or not.

Any team that claimed Hughes would only be on the hook for the MLB minimum.  The Twins would be on the hook for the rest.  I can't imagine a single team out there who wouldn't be willing to take a flyer on Hughes at the minimum.

 

Unless the team is willing to eat about 25 million dollars, Hughes is a long reliever at the very least.  It's still possible he might start the season on the DL.

 

Who knows?  He still might make a serviceable bullpen arm.  I'm not ready to completely write him off yet.

[sploorp]

 

I thought I read Park left money on the table in order to leave.  

 

Anyway, I think the Reed signing is a very smart signing.

That is my take with Park as well.  Both sides agreed to end the agreement, so there is no money owed.

 

Ditto that on Reed.  Now, if the team can just land a starter that slots in front of Santana (even if it isn't Darvish), I would rank this as quite possibly the best off season they ever had - at least the best that I can remember off the top of my head.

[Shaitan]

Hopefully this depth means Molitor won't just run the same 2 pitchers out there every single game, burning them out before the break.

[Thegrin]

17 million in salary for Reed, Duke & Rodney.  I will probably hate Falvine forever if 2 of these don't turn out to be excellent in 2018.

[jtkoupal]

While I think that the idea of a closer is outdated and the fact that saving your ace reliever for the 9th inning costs you games, the defined "closer" isn't going away just yet, especially for a manager like Paul Molitor who is more set in old-school thinking such as bunts, closers, etc. With that said, one has to imagine that Reed takes over as the closer for Rodney at some point during 2018. Rodney is on the wrong side of 40 and his projections scream "counterproductive sign." Reed is 29 and has closing experience. He has upside, Rodney is 41. Logic dictates the probability is great that Reed takes over Rodney's closer role. That being said, I believe that having Reed, the better pitcher (likely) NOT be the closer might be more productive. Utilizing the better pitcher when the game is on the line is likely to save more games than the closer saves in the 9th with a clean slate and often a multi-run lead. Rodney can manage with a 2 or 3 run lead. Reed is a better bet with the game on the line for real.

[old nurse]

 

The best part of signing Reed is that if the Twins fall out of playoff contention they have a valuable asset that they can flip for some nice prospects.

When was Duke, Reed or Rodney ever traded for a high level prospect?