Article: Twins Sign RHP Anibal Sanchez... No, Really

[Nine of twelve]

I'll bite my tongue for now. If he's lights out in ST I'll praise Falvine for their genius. If he's not they better cut him loose.

[Blake]

Show of hands!

 

How many people thought the Colon signing was a great idea last year?

 

Now, how many people think the Sanchez signing is a great idea this year?

 

Anyway, this signing moves the needle. Of course, when the gauge starts at queasy and ends at vomit, well...

 

 

[wsnydes]

Yaaaawn

[Blake]

 

You can't aim any lower than what they did. Awful.

Could be worse. Look at some of the arms the Twins used last year.

[Blake]

On the up side, this signing should be great fodder for the TD faithful.

[youngpadawan]

I love this move. This isn't a pitcher that had 1 good year 3 years ago. He was dominate for a while. This will be his last chance to put himself in a position to make money for a few more years. He finds it again, you have a front line starter for 5 million. Assume we still sign or trade and we end up with this for a rotation:

 

FA/trade piece

Santana

Berrios

Sanchez

Gibson/Mejia/prospect

 

That would be great. It's worth the no risk.

[Vanimal46]

Could be worse. Look at some of the arms the Twins used last year.

Sigh... Yeah, it looks like they're going to ride the waiver wire carousel this year again.

 

I don't have a strong opinion anymore about who to sign. Let's go after someone who had an ERA better than 5 last year.

Edited February 17, 2018 by Vanimal46

[Otto von Ballpark]

This will be his last chance to put himself in a position to make money for a few more years.

Might just be his last chance, period.

 

How did his previous "chance to put himself in position to make money" go? That is, 2017? A half decent year could have netted him $16 mil for 2018 (team option), although he did get a $5 mil buyout just for trying.

Edited February 17, 2018 by spycake

[Walter's Whites]

Before you know it, the Vanimal will be back. That's how uninteresting and sad this off-season has been.

[Blake]

 

Sigh... Yeah, it looks like they're going to ride the waiver wire carousel this year again.

I don't have a strong opinion anymore about who to sign. Let's go after someone who had an ERA better than 5 last year.

I sort of think last year was "check out the position players" and this year is "let's look at the arms."

 

I'm pretty sure the Twins have an idea of where their weaknesses are at the position player level, but, they've got some intriguing arms that need a look at the MLB level. 

 

I'm hoping for a fun year, which means a year in which the Twins are competitive.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Before you know it, the Vanimal will be back. That's how uninteresting and sad this off-season has been.

I was going to say "too late" but Worley does have an opt out in his minor league deal with the Reds -- so he could theoretically be our opening day starter again!

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2018/01/reds-sign-vance-worley.html

[nmcowboy]

Twins receptionist on the intercom: "Mr. Falvine? I have a Mr. Ryan on line 2.  He says he has a brilliant idea to share".......and we know the outcome of that call!

[spanman2]

I see what Falvey and Levine are doing here. Actually pretty genius. Sign Sanchez for $2.5M, then use the $147.5M you saved on Darvish to buy a time machine and swap out 2018 Anibal Sanchez for 2013 Anibal Sanchez.

[kab21]

Honestly I can live with this move. I almost consider it a 'let's see if Hughes or Sanchez have anything for the 5th spot' type of move and am okay with one of them being in the rotation until Ervin comes back. If they are awful then this was a low dollar band aid.

 

Getting Sanchez doesn't change the necessity of adding one very good pitcher and that is and always has been the priority this offseason. That can (and must) still happen. If that move doesn't happen that is when I will get upset.

 

One little bright side is that Sanchez has been enormously unlucky (HR/FB rate and BAPIP). IFFFFFFFF those returned to normal then he could be sort of solid this year. I don't have high expectations for Sanchez but the Twins also didn't pay a lot.

[bcs4]

Wow. 

[Respy]

I see this as insurance for Santana getting surgery.  Not much to see here.  I think their main move is still pending.

[ahart10]

I understand making low risk deals to cover for Ervin being hurt. This is a no upside move. If he breaks camp with the team you can throw away your hopes and dreams because that means they’re not willing to pay the price, $ or prospects, for an impact player.

[Mr. Brooks]

I understand making low risk deals to cover for Ervin being hurt. This is a no upside move. If he breaks camp with the team you can throw away your hopes and dreams because that means they’re not willing to pay the price, $ or prospects, for an impact player.

I see 3 opening day rotation spots that could use an upgrade.

So, I don't see how this prevents them from adding an impact player.

[Vanimal46]

Honestly I can live with this move. I almost consider it a 'let's see if Hughes or Sanchez have anything for the 5th spot' type of move and am okay with one of them being in the rotation until Ervin comes back. If they are awful then this was a low dollar band aid.

 

Getting Sanchez doesn't change the necessity of adding one very good pitcher and that is and always has been the priority this offseason. That can (and must) still happen. If that move doesn't happen that is when I will get upset.

 

One little bright side is that Sanchez has been enormously unlucky (HR/FB rate and BAPIP). IFFFFFFFF those returned to normal then he could be sort of solid this year. I don't have high expectations for Sanchez but the Twins also didn't pay a lot.

He allowed a 37.4% hard hit rate last year. It's going to be ugly.

 

What are we hoping for here? Something better than Colon last year for 10 starts?

[olivia11]

It just seems weird to me that they couldn't sign Sanchez to a minor league deal for the same money if he makes the team (plus incentives).  Why use the 40 man spot now?

[Mr. Brooks]

Looking at the numbers the last 3 years. It appears he may have been quite unlucky.

His k and bb rates have held steady, while his hr rate and babip have skyrocketed.

 

I wanted to be upset when I first saw the signing, but this actually looks like it could be a pretty smart buy low candidate.

[jimmer]

oh boy.

[rv78]

Guess Falvine is just really Terry Ryan in disguise. More dumpster diving. Really, what is the point of this signing? I was planning to go see them play this year but with acquisitions like this, it won't happen.

[tvagle]

 

You can't aim any lower than what they did. Awful.

 

There's still a chance for picking this guy up

[Mike Sixel]

People are seeing this as good? Speechless.

[Thrylos]

 

People are seeing this as good? Speechless.

 

There is a difference between good and not bad...

[Mike Sixel]

There is a difference between good and not bad...

Read the comments. And, he's been one of the worst pitchers in baseball for three years. This isn't a fluke.

[kab21]

 

People are seeing this as good? Speechless.

Who said good?

 

This just isn't a move to be upset about. Kind of like picking up utility IF or OF that might not even make the team. But yet people get upset about those kind of moves.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Actually, perhaps we could send him to the minors to open the season. Since it is a "split" contract, it sounds like they have already agreed upon a $500k salary if he is sent to the minors, and a $2.5 mil salary if he makes MLB. Sanchez did consent to go to AAA last year for Detroit. So while he will be sucking up a 40-man spot (and perhaps just sucking in general), we may be able to avoid the "opt out" drama that usually comes with veterans on minor league deals at the end of spring training.

[USAFChief]

There is a difference between good and not bad...

How is this not bad?

 

This is, right now, the only starting pitching move they’ve made.