MLB Trade Rumors top 50 Free Agents

[twinsfanstreif]

I just went back and looked at their top FAs before the off season began. Interestingly many of their top 12 have yet to be signed. They had Morrison at #15 (with a much heftier estimated salary) Reed at #16. They had Rodney in the "Honorable Mentions" category, presumably because of his age. If we signed Lynn or Cobb that would add #9 or #11. Just for reference last off season we only signed one on the list, Jason Castro at #29 and the year before we didn't sign anyone on that list. That along with the Odorizzi trade is a pretty active off season and a pretty good haul overall. I'm aware these lists are not fool proof and rather subjective but it's nice to see us making some moves, even if they weren't the exact ones everyone was clamoring for.

[Dantes929]

Because of the history you just listed, I said at the beginning of the off season that if they got a good reliever and Cobb I would give them an A- because our history is that we get a Rodney and be done.   Not a fan of Rodney but Reed, Odorizzi and Morrison are solid gets.     Sadly, Santana and Sano sends our off season grade down a little though no fault of anyone of the Twins    Cobb or Lynn on a 2 or 3 year deal gets them an A from me.  Probably an A- even if they do nothing more.    The goal of the off season should be improvement and I think they have done that.    

[Otto von Ballpark]

Another way to look at it: what were expectations for the offseason? Personally, given where we finished last season, I thought adding 2-3 relievers and 1-2 SP was about the minimum expectation. That's basically what they did, meeting that minimum expectation before the Morrison signing.

 

In other words: if they had done less than signing Reed, or trading or Odorizzi, they'd get a failing grade, in my book.

[Monkeypaws]

My expectation for this off-season was to see what the new front office was made of, after a cautious entry into the role, evaluating assets, etc.

 

What I've seen? A combination of good baseball and good money moves. Not wild like Chuck Fletcher, but sound, sensible moves that have made the team better: not by leaps and bounds, but with some improvement by the young core, solid playoff team.

[Old Twins Cap]

Don't forget Pineda.  He will be worth something next year.

[kab21]

 

Another way to look at it: what were expectations for the offseason? Personally, given where we finished last season, I thought adding 2-3 relievers and 1-2 SP was about the minimum expectation. That's basically what they did, meeting that minimum expectation before the Morrison signing.

In other words: if they had done less than signing Reed, or trading or Odorizzi, they'd get a failing grade, in my book.

Adding what you suggest (3-5 players) would be considered a home run of an offseason if they could pull it off. Setting expectations that high would doom most teams to failure.

 

This is a B+ offseason for me. They added 3 good arms to the bullpen. They added an excellent bat. They added an average starter. They got GREAT value in every signing and will not face any significant damage in future seasons (aside from Palacios). 

 

They have not totally taken care of the rotation though. Right now it is full of hopes and dreams. Berrios is the only pitcher that I would depend on.

 

Does Gibson not pitch like a trainwreck? Does Mejia take one step forward and establish himself as a solid #3/4 (<4.25 ERA and 5-6 IP/start)? Does Santana implode due to an injury and age? Do Anibal or Hughes have anything left? Do any of the prospects step and take a rotation spot when the inevitable spot opens up? Does Berrios become a #2? Each of these could be <50% but at least the Twins have many options available.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Adding what you suggest (3-5 players) would be considered a home run of an offseason if they could pull it off. Setting expectations that high would doom most teams to failure.

Didn't mean 3-5 stars. Most of that was just to replace players who left without ready internal replacements. I wouldn't apply that standard to every team, but with a playoff team returning a young improving core, I think it is fair to expect them to fill those spots.

 

Remember we traded our closer at the deadline last year, and then let his replacement leave too. And the pen already needed reinforcement before that. So they needed at least 2 relievers just to offset losses, and when those two are as old as Rodney and Duke, a 3rd was probably warranted. Admittedly Reed was a pretty nice 3rd guy to pick up!

 

Likewise, the rotation was already suspect, and lost the Santiago/Colon starts without a ready internal replacement. They absolutely needed to add at least 1 healthy / dependable MLB guy, and probably a flyer too. That's Odorizzi and Sanchez.

 

To me, that was maybe a C+ offseason. Adding Morrison was a nice surprise on top of that, to show they aren't taking the offense for granted, and after that I would probably give them a B.

[Old Twins Cap]

Tough graders.

 

You will be hearing from the Twins' parents, let me tell you.

 

For me, when you add everything up, the way they flipped Jaime Garcia last year, got a couple decent Yankee prospects, traded Kinzler and got value and didn't miss him, the way they worked the draft and made some unconventional but high upside selections, who they let go off the roster and who they kept, the off-season free-agents they signed, Rodney, Morrison, Duke and Reed, and including Pineda, all of it -- and no bone-headed moves, I give them an A.

 

Admittedly, I am grading on the Ryan curve.  But I still have nightmares about losing Wilson Ramos and taking a perfectly decent playoff team and running it into a ditch and then waiting, forever, while snowplow after snowplow piled snow on top of us.

 

It is Spring.  Finally.

[Otto von Ballpark]

.

For me, when you add everything up, the way they flipped Jaime Garcia last year, got a couple decent Yankee prospects, traded Kinzler and got value and didn't miss him,

It wasn't their plan to win the playoff spot by 5 games. They got lucky in that regard, the universe bailed them out for selling Garcia and Kintzler when they did.

 

I won't quibble with the rest of your post. I think my B grade for the offseason is hardly a tough grade, though. Nothing wrong with a B. And there was a reasonable criteria to deliver an A -- for example, they didn't add a single player this winter who projects for 2 WAR (although admittedly Odorizzi and Morrison are right up against that number by ZiPS).

 

Of course, the offseason is just one assignment/project and their grade for the whole season can go up or down depending on how some of these moves turn out.

[kab21]

 

Didn't mean 3-5 stars. Most of that was just to replace players who left without ready internal replacements. I wouldn't apply that standard to every team, but with a playoff team returning a young improving core, I think it is fair to expect them to fill those spots.

Remember we traded our closer at the deadline last year, and then let his replacement leave too. And the pen already needed reinforcement before that. So they needed at least 2 relievers just to offset losses, and when those two are as old as Rodney and Duke, a 3rd was probably warranted. Admittedly Reed was a pretty nice 3rd guy to pick up!

Likewise, the rotation was already suspect, and lost the Santiago/Colon starts without a ready internal replacement. They absolutely needed to add at least 1 healthy / dependable MLB guy, and probably a flyer too. That's Odorizzi and Sanchez.

To me, that was maybe a C+ offseason. Adding Morrison was a nice surprise on top of that, to show they aren't taking the offense for granted, and after that I would probably give them a B.

Getting 3 contributing players in an offseason is doing pretty well for any team. Getting 5 contributing players is a huge offseason for any team. They don't need to be stars but that is adding a lot. 

I expected one starter and one reliever with other Anibal types mixed in. I was hoping for a better starter but they added way more than expected in the bullpen. Reed is legit great and Rodney/Duke could be solid to good (not great). Morrison is a surprise.

but most importantly they didn't hurt any future years with long contracts although I wouldn't have minded a Darvish one.

[Vanimal46]

I think B is a fair grade. It would have been an A in my book if they acquired a top of the rotation SP like Darvish or Cole. Odorizzi is a fine consolation prize but he still doesn't fit the dire need of a #1/#2 SP.

[Steve Lein]

First off, I love the moves they have made.

 

Having said that, they're at a B+ for an offseason grade from me. They don't get an A because they haven't added to the top of the rotation (though I don't think they needed to the way this offseason shook out, but still would love Lynn or Cobb on board).

 

Odorizzi pushes all the 4/5 types into where they should be, but doesn't move Santana/Berrios to where they should slot.

 

Contender teams have a 1 - 1- 2/3 - 2/3/4 - 4/5 or 1 - 2 - 2/3 - 3/4 -4/5 type rotation.

 

I think the Twins are at about a 2/3 - 2/3 - 3  - 4/5 - 5 type rotation. Improvement from Berrios and similar Santana could get them to a 2 - 2 - 3 - 4/5 - 5, but still not quite there on starting pitching. It will be better though.

 

(And I'm not saying they should be at that point yet, they opened the proverbial window a year early in my opinion last season. A trade deadline move could get them there and I hope there's reason for that to happen in 2018)

[gil4]

 

Admittedly, I am grading on the Ryan curve.  But I still have nightmares about losing Wilson Ramos and taking a perfectly decent playoff team and running it into a ditch...

The Ramos trade was Bill Smith, wasn't it? (The Ryan-Smith-Ryan era all does seem to run together, I guess.)

[gunnarthor]

They've done a nice job improving an already strong offense and they get added bonus for adding another LH hitter. Cleveland has five pretty good RH starters and the Twins will be throwing some pretty strong lefty lineups at them. I think the lineup is about as good as we could have hoped. They might make a few minor tweaks like adding a RH 4th OFer but that would be it. Solid A.

 

The rotation needed improvement and Ordoizzi is a nice get, especailly at that price. But he might just be another Gibson-type pitcher. It seems we're relying a lot on Berrios to step up, Santana to remain at least a 200ip, 2+ WAR pitcher and hoping that some of Gibson, Ordoizzi, Mejia, Hughes, Gonsalves, Romero works out. That's not ideal. D.

 

The bullpen looks a lot better now. Look at Seth's projected opening day group. Fernando Rodney, Addison Reed, Trevor Hildenberger, Ryan Pressly, Zach Duke, Taylor Rogers, Tyler Duffey. I'm not convinced that Pressly should be there over Busentiz but still, that looks like a pretty solid group with some decent arms (Curtiss, Busentiz, Jay, Moya) in AAA ready to help out. B-.

 

Lastly, I have to say I'm impressed with ownership actually spending some money. It looks like opening day payroll might be around 120-125m, easily an all-time high. It'll be interesting to see how that compares to other teams but we might not be a bottom third team in payroll anymore. Of course, whether ownership continues to support the team is an open question.

[terrydactyls]

It wasn't their plan to win the playoff spot by 5 games. They got lucky in that regard, the universe bailed them out for selling Garcia and Kintzler when they did.

A lot of people complain about the Garcia trade. And yet, he was a free agent this off season and no one seems interested in signing him. I thought at the time (and I still do) that the Garcia trade was a very smart move.

[kab21]

 

A lot of people complain about the Garcia trade. And yet, he was a free agent this off season and no one seems interested in signing him. I thought at the time (and I still do) that the Garcia trade was a very smart move.

I thought both of the Garcia trades were smart moves. And for once they used money to increase the value of a prospect in a trade. This is a new FO even if they stay conservative in some ways.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I think I have to reserve some judgement on the 2nd Garcia trade to see if Enns and Littell actually contribute. Right now, to me it still seemed like we were a little too aggressive about selling based on a hot streak by a very beatable KC team.

[Otto von Ballpark]

A lot of people complain about the Garcia trade. And yet, he was a free agent this off season and no one seems interested in signing him. I thought at the time (and I still do) that the Garcia trade was a very smart move.

Garcia signed this winter before either of our new SP were acquired, so I'd be careful about using his signing date as evidence of the FO's acumen.

[FunnyPenguin]

 

A lot of people complain about the Garcia trade. And yet, he was a free agent this off season and no one seems interested in signing him. I thought at the time (and I still do) that the Garcia trade was a very smart move.

I also really liked and still like the Garcia trade...but what will decide if it was a good trade or great get is what Littel does, if he carries some of his AA success into the majors, it has the potential to register on the ATM (Awesome Trade Meter)

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

Another way to look at it: what were expectations for the offseason? Personally, given where we finished last season, I thought adding 2-3 relievers and 1-2 SP was about the minimum expectation. That's basically what they did, meeting that minimum expectation before the Morrison signing.

In other words: if they had done less than signing Reed, or trading or Odorizzi, they'd get a failing grade, in my book.

In my opinion, they should get bonus points for doing all they did so ridiculously cheaply. They added what, six players, for around $20-25m? That in itself is impressive, as three of the players are quite good (Reed, Odorizzi, Morrison).

 

And I'd still like to see them take a swing at Cobb/Lynn, though I think that is increasingly unlikely, as it has been reported the front office doesn't care for the profile of either player (perhaps the *only* legitimate reason to pass on them).

[Brandon]

Reed was a nice unexpected get. So is Morrison. Odorizzi is a nice get more for his price vs his talent level. Rodney and Duke are typical signings while Pineda is intriguing. The one glaring area not addressed when this was their best chance to make this move was to go get a top end pitcher. They do have numbers and appear to be going the Terry Ryan route with 5 average starting pitchers. Though we do have more options now then we had in years.

 

Offseason needs 2-3 relievers, 1-2 starting pitchers with 1 being a high ranking starter, and if available a RH bench bat, depth

 

Current grade B-

 

Goes up to a solid A with a Lynn or Arrieta and B+/A- with Cobb signing.

 

Darvish signing = A+

 

Wild card for later lookback and rechecking their math is Hughes and Sanchez.

[GP830]

 

Reed was a nice unexpected get. So is Morrison. Odorizzi is a nice get more for his price vs his talent level. Rodney and Duke are typical signings while Pineda is intriguing. The one glaring area not addressed when this was their best chance to make this move was to go get a top end pitcher. They do have numbers and appear to be going the Terry Ryan route with 5 average starting pitchers. Though we do have more options now then we had in years.

Offseason needs 2-3 relievers, 1-2 starting pitchers with 1 being a high ranking starter, and if available a RH bench bat, depth

Current grade B-

Goes up to a solid A with a Lynn or Arrieta and B+/A- with Cobb signing.

Darvish signing = A+

Wild card for later lookback and rechecking their math is Hughes and Sanchez.

 

Do you really think Berrios is an average pitcher? Not arguing-- just wondering.

[Dantes929]

Its ok to dream during the offseason but the history of the Twins in addition to what looked like about a dozen players on the market that were worth getting makes doing nothing or just picking up Rodney about par for the course.     Lets say there were 20 players worth getting and we rarely trade for good stuff that is still 20 players to go around for 30 teams and we got 3 good guys with Pineda a wild card.    I guess what I didn't like was Rodney basically for Burdi.    How many teams had a better off season than we did?

[terrydactyls]

Garcia signed this winter before either of our new SP were acquired, so I'd be careful about using his signing date as evidence of the FO's acumen.

I was careful. I didn't see any postings this offseason at Twins Daily begging the front office to sign Garcia. And yet there are many complaints that he was traded for two minor leaguers (one of which was 14-1 at the time). I never said anything about his "signing date". Where did you pull that from?

[Otto von Ballpark]

I was careful. I didn't see any postings this offseason at Twins Daily begging the front office to sign Garcia. And yet there are many complaints that he was traded for two minor leaguers (one of which was 14-1 at the time). I never said anything about his "signing date". Where did you pull that from?

Sorry, I read "he was a free agent this off season and no one seems interested in signing him" as referring to other teams, but I understand now you were referring to other posters.

 

But just because people preferred other SP on the market this winter doesn't mean the Twins were right to deal him in a pennant race without an immediate replacement. Nobody really prioritized a Kintzler reunion either, but that doesn't mean the Twins were right to sell him in a pennant race too.

[terrydactyls]

Sorry, I read "he was a free agent this off season and no one seems interested in signing him" as referring to other teams, but I understand now you were referring to other posters.

But just because people preferred other SP on the market this winter doesn't mean the Twins were right to deal him in a pennant race without an immediate replacement. Nobody really prioritized a Kintzler reunion either, but that doesn't mean the Twins were right to sell him in a pennant race too.

Doesn't mean they were wrong either. We won't know for a year or two but it didn't seem to hurt the Twins last year.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Doesn't mean they were wrong either. We won't know for a year or two but it didn't seem to hurt the Twins last year.

Unless you think the Twins were out of the race, or that they were going to win playoff spot handily, it was a pretty suspect move, pending results from the acquired prospects.