Twins stuff from around the Web (Fangraphs, Twitter, Athletic, non-local news sites, etc)

[jorgenswest]

Stunned and shocked that there has not been more talk about the marlins trading their superstar catcher, who we have all coveted.  Hows was their hall compared to what we could have done?

Kirilloff may have been an upgrade over Lezcano but if they wanted pitching the Twins can’t win that deal.

 

The Twins don’t have a comp for a promising 25 year old catcher in Alfaro. Garver isn’t close given his age and projection track.

 

The only way to win the deal is the third piece. Add Graterol to Garver and Kirilloff, throw in some international money and maybe Realmuto is a Twin. I think the Marlins still take the Phillies offer though. The return stopped me from talking. That is too much for two years at catcher.

[Mike Sixel]

Stunned and shocked that there has not been more talk about the marlins trading their superstar catcher, who we have all coveted. Hows was their hall compared to what we could have done?

There's a whole thread on it....or two if you look at other transactions in the MOB forum

[bird]

 

This is who we're putting the weight of the franchise on. Someone comparable to Mark Reynolds and Austin Jackson.

 

 

You'd have to assign value to that nonsense to be saddened by it.

[gunnarthor]

 

 

 

I'm not looking for a Harper here, I'm just looking for a decent ****ing reliever.

I'm looking for a Machado. No reason whatsoever for us to accept that ownership can't be on him. 

[Vanimal46]

Fivethirtyeight and OOTP Baseball teamed up to simulate how teams would do with Harper and/or Machado signs with their teams.

 

They had to force Machado on the Twins, because LOL, and they make the World Series in 2021! But he opted out ASAP to sign a massive deal with the SF Giants...

 

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/we-put-bryce-harper-and-manny-machado-on-a-bunch-of-different-teams/

[PseudoSABR]

 

Fivethirtyeight and OOTP Baseball teamed up to simulate how teams would do with Harper and/or Machado signs with their teams.

They had to force Machado on the Twins, because LOL, and they make the World Series in 2021! But he opted out ASAP to sign a massive deal with the SF Giants...

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/we-put-bryce-harper-and-manny-machado-on-a-bunch-of-different-teams/

Cool exercise.  Love both organizations/companies. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

I'm looking for a Machado. No reason whatsoever for us to accept that ownership can't be on him.

Accept? Sure. But personally, I’m not in love with the idea of risking that amount of money on a single player.

 

But it’s not as if I’d complain if they signed Manny.

[Mike Sixel]

Accept? Sure. But personally, I’m not in love with the idea of risking that amount of money on a single player.

 

But it’s not as if I’d complain if they signed Manny.

As opposed to signing four bad players? Because that's what they'd do instead.....

[gunnarthor]

 

Accept? Sure. But personally, I’m not in love with the idea of risking that amount of money on a single player.

But it’s not as if I’d complain if they signed Manny.

Realistically, he'd be paid about the same percentage that the team gave Mauer. He's younger and a safer bet than Mauer (who I always thought was a safe bet). It's insane that no one is pressuring ownership or the FO to sign these guys. They finally have the money and roster flexibility to do so and they'll just sit on it and ask the fans to eat it. Gad, I hate the Pohlads.

[bird]

 

Realistically, he'd be paid about the same percentage that the team gave Mauer. He's younger and a safer bet than Mauer (who I always thought was a safe bet). It's insane that no one is pressuring ownership or the FO to sign these guys. They finally have the money and roster flexibility to do so and they'll just sit on it and ask the fans to eat it. Gad, I hate the Pohlads.

 

 

I completely understand your stance regarding the logic of going after Machado. Once again, I think you're probably right.

 

Respectfully, I'd ask you to consider two things. First, let's agree that someone with access should ask some piercing questions of Falvey. Force him to explain why your logic sucks big wankers.

 

Second, I very much respect you, gunnarthor, and almost always like (agree) with your excellent takes on things. Go ahead and hate Jim Pohlad, his brothers, his children, and his ex-wife if you want, but could you please be a little more careful about it? Disagree, sure. I'm just going to say that if you truly knew all those people, you'd see some good in them. It's just friggin' baseball.

[ashbury]

A reminder (and I may be as guilty as any of forgetting), but this thread is not for extended discussion of this tangent or that. It's an aggregator for "Twins stuff from around the web".

[JustinCB]

You'd have to assign value to that nonsense to be saddened by it.

Why is it "nonsense," exactly?

[Brock Beauchamp]

As opposed to signing four bad players? Because that's what they'd do instead.....

Strawman, paging strawman. Your table is ready.

[jorgenswest]

Strawman, paging strawman. Your table is ready.

Supporting the strawman...

 

The Twins committed to 14 years and 168 million to Santana, Hughes and Nolasco to get three good seasons in return.

 

Maybe it would be better to go big on one player instead.

[Mike Sixel]

Wireless Joe Jackson
3:26 The AL Central is really bugging me.  The Indians have made no effort to improve obvious weaknesses, and the Twins have made no effort to try and capitalize.  the Twins have ZERO salary commitments beyond this year.  Get Keuchel and Kimbrel and make this thing interesting!

 

Meg Rowley
3:26 It is useful to remember that free agents have to want to go there, but yeah, it wouldn't suck for them to be more engaged.

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/meg-rowley-fangraphs-chat-2-12-19/

[howieramone2]

 

Supporting the strawman...

The Twins committed to 14 years and 168 million to Santana, Hughes and Nolasco to get three good seasons in return.

Maybe it would be better to go big on one player instead.

Ask King Theo.

[nicksaviking]

 

Wireless Joe Jackson
3:26 The AL Central is really bugging me.  The Indians have made no effort to improve obvious weaknesses, and the Twins have made no effort to try and capitalize.  the Twins have ZERO salary commitments beyond this year.  Get Keuchel and Kimbrel and make this thing interesting!

 

Meg Rowley
3:26 It is useful to remember that free agents have to want to go there, but yeah, it wouldn't suck for them to be more engaged.

 

https://blogs.fangraphs.com/meg-rowley-fangraphs-chat-2-12-19/

 

I've said before that I don't believe most players want to play here. But if that's the case the team is wrong to not let that be known. It would call out the agents for trying to use Minnesota with no hope of actually landing the players but more importantly it would give everyone a huge chip on their shoulder and create an us vs. them mentality. I'm not necessarily a fan of that in the real world, but I am on the baseball field.

[Jham]

Minnesota is absolutely one of the best places up play in the summer. Cool evenings. Great park. Somewhat loyal fanbase. Fogo. LM bass and hours of additional daylight. I think it's the ownership's reputation. Same as we assume Boras will play hardball. I'm sure other agents assume the Twins will low ball.

[FlauerPauer]

I've never been to Minnesota, let alone Minneapolis, but friends that have been there have said it's an awesome city and state. I would assume it would be more about taxes and what not that would make it an unappealing destination, but I can't imagine the city having worse restaurants, clubs, bars, and other entertainment than other mid-market cities.

 

At this point, Kimbrel and Keuchel would be willing to take a high value one year or two year deal.  Why not offer three year deals with an opt out after this year.  3 yr/60 mil for both with opt outs after year one.  I guess if I'm thinking about that then management has already offered something like that and they declined or are keeping it on the table until something better comes along. 

[jkcarew]

I don't think it's too presumptuous to say that most of today's players still value winning...and the possibility of playing for a championship...and not a central division championship...players could not care less about division championships. It's more to do with that than any of that other stuff. If there were real tangible signs that the organization is capable of being a consistent winning organization, and/or that winning at a meaningful level was imminent...players would 'want' to come here.

 

As fans, that's hard to accept. We can see a path for competing every year...almost no matter what. But from the outside looking in what does a big-time free agent see: zero playoff series wins in 27 years, that's what they see....and in an era where you need to win two or three playoff series just to have a shot at one championship.

 

If you were Harper or Machado, at the top of the pecking order...no matter the scale in play any given year...just how much better would a Twins offer have to be than an offer from a big market team with a better track record...or a team like St. Louis or an emerging franchise like Houston? It doesn't mean that the FO shouldn't try to catch lightening in a bottle...especially given the current payroll situation. But in general, there has to be some signs of a 'there' before you can convince blue-bloods to go there.

[Mike Sixel]

I think Cruz proves it is about money. If the money is close, I'm sure other things matter. And for older, married players, location might matter more.....but if the money isn't close, it is all about the money. 

 

I don't for one minute believe that if the Twins offered a FA they really wanted more than other teams that that player is going to say no. (most players, not every player)

[Thrylos]

 

But it’s not as if I’d complain if they signed Manny.

 

Watch what you wish for.  Ramirez is a free agent

[Thrylos]

 

 

At this point, Kimbrel and Keuchel would be willing to take a high value one year or two year deal.

 

Based on reports Keuchel is looking for a minimum of a 5 year deal (was 6 in the beginning of the offseason) and Kimbrel 4.   Harper and Machado are looking for 10 year deals.  They both had 7 year deal offers for more that $210M, but they want more.

 

Some things are on greedy players and agents as well...

 

[Thrylos]

 

 

Minnesota is absolutely one of the best places up play in the summer.

 

Every place is great to play in the summer (other than FL, TX, and AZ.)  The problem is that summer swatting season in Minnesota is June, July, and August, and baseball is also played in April, May, September, and (hopefully) October.

 

And did I mention the 10% state income tax?

 

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Supporting the strawman...

 

The Twins committed to 14 years and 168 million to Santana, Hughes and Nolasco to get three good seasons in return.

 

Maybe it would be better to go big on one player instead.

just because it’s a straw man argument doesn’t make it “bad”

[ewen21]

 

As opposed to signing four bad players? Because that's what they'd do instead.....

THat isn't the only other choice, Mike.

    

 Signing Machado would be a horrible mistake. People were screaming about Darvish last winter and how did that turn out? I don't like Machado's style of play or the things he has said and that counts for something. Maybe he isn't signed for that reason.

    

You'd be best served to move on from Machado. There was never a chance we'd sign him. What kind of terms do you think gets it done? Play GM and you tell me.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

THat isn't the only other choice, Mike.

 

Signing Machado would be a horrible mistake.  People were screaming about Darvish last winter and how did that turn out? I don't like Machado's style of play or the things he has said and that counts for something.  Maybe he isn't signed for that reason.

 

You'd be best served to move on from Machado.  There was never a chance we'd sign him.  What kind of terms do you think gets it done?  Play GM and you tell me.

I hope and think Machado gets less than he expects, so I guess that means we agree, but whatever. I think the A-Rod /Stanton types of deals are a thing of the past. I don't think it would be a horrible mistake if Machado does somehow sign here, though.

 

And for the record, Thad Levine and Derek Falvey were the first ones "screaming" about Darvish last offseason, then the fans got on board afterward. 

 

 

[S.]

 

People were screaming about Darvish last winter and how did that turn out?

It is a bit early to judge how it turned out. Plenty of pitchers lose a year of a contract due to injury. As do plenty of non-pitchers. If he puts together 4 or 5 solid years for the rest of the contract, do you think the Cubs are going to be that upset about the one year they lost?

[Mike Sixel]

THat isn't the only other choice, Mike.

 

Signing Machado would be a horrible mistake. People were screaming about Darvish last winter and how did that turn out? I don't like Machado's style of play or the things he has said and that counts for something. Maybe he isn't signed for that reason.

 

You'd be best served to move on from Machado. There was never a chance we'd sign him. What kind of terms do you think gets it done? Play GM and you tell me.

It's what they did last year, and all but Cruz this year. So, what is the other alternative?

[ewen21]

 

 

And for the record, Thad Levine and Derek Falvey were the first ones "screaming" about Darvish last offseason, then the fans got on board afterward. 

For the record I was dead set against it, so when you say "fans" I am not one of those.  Same with a lot of others because I was not the only one