2019: The Nature, Organization, Augmentation of the Rotation

[DocBauer]

Likely worst catching, as well.

LMAO! I can laugh at myself, of course! Obviously I had a major typo. Thanks for letting me laugh at my own poor proof reading...or lack of.

[Battle ur tail off]

 

I'm tired of aiming low......so I hope they don't agree with you. How does JA Happ get you to the WS?

 

That's just it. Why sign a washed up pitcher and waste money and a roster spot on him. This team is LOADED with #4 and 5 starters. Use you minor league guys for those spots. If you aren't going high end, save up money, save up prospects and get studs in here when you think you might need them. This type of thinking is why the Twins have been where they are the last 10 years or so. Middling guys and B/C level free agents or trades don't do anything to make you a true competitor. If you are wanting to go that route, just shut it down. 

 

Only sign or trade for studs/difference makers, or spots you desperately have holes. Your depth should come from your minor league system. 

[diehardtwinsfan]

I don't think the Mets' studs would make sense. 

 

I do think that we could potentially package a guy like Odorizzi or Pineda as well as some of our AAA pitching (Stewart, Mejia, Gonsalves, or Slegers) for a guy like Grienke, especially if we eat some dollars. 

 

That might be a lower risk upgrade to the rotation. 

 

I'll echo that I don't think the rotation is a concern for 2019, but if we could get an upgrade by trading off a surplus of our young cheap pitching while keeping Graterol, Thorpe, and Romero, I'd be pretty happy. 

[scottz]

 

I don't think the Mets' studs would make sense. 

 

But why? The only downside to DeGrom is that he is 30 and coming off a career year. But his 4 previous years are all significantly better than anyone on our team. And he isn't a free agent until 2021. What's the negative in trading prospects - are you afraid that they will all turn out to be gems? Why wouldn't it make sense to have a guy with a career 2.67 ERA (2.81 FIP). For reference, Berrios has a career 4.53 ERA (4.25 FIP).

If not DeGrom, what about Thor? Are you concerned about injury? I can at least buy that. However, he's only 25, and isn't a free agent until 2022. His career numbers are 2.99 ERA (2.68 FIP).

 

How does it not make sense to even hypothetically trade for one of these guys? Not all of the prospects we give will all turn out, even if it were Lewis, Kiriloff, Thorpe, and Graterol. And by the way, it might include two of those four, plus 1-2 lesser but good prospects.

 

I don't understand why fans aren't OK with taking some bigger risks in trades if the opportunity is right, even if it means watching a former Twins prospect turn into a MLB regular for someone else.

 

Whether the FO thinks the opportunity is right is another story.

[snap4birds]

Another possible option is Carlos Martinez, of the Cardinals.  There have been rumblings that he might be available this winter, due to a 40 man roster crunch, his inconsistency, the Cardinals many starting pitchers, and his off-field antics.  

Is he an ace/#1?  Potentially.  In 2016 he was, not so much this year or 2017.  He's signed through 2021, with 2 team options after that.  So if he returns to 2016 form, he's a bargain.  

What would it take to get him?  The Cardinals really want someone that is a difference maker, they always seem to draft in the 20-30 range and it's hard to land a stud there.  They also need to clear some room on their 40-man this winter.  Sooooo.....Royce Lewis would probably be the perfect starting point.  

 

I have a 2nd Cardinal that's also going to be available that might make sense for the Twins, too.  Jose Martinez can hit, but he's a butcher in the field.  He could be a 3-4 WAR DH, and he's not a Free Agent for a while.  It likely wouldn't take much to pry him away, as the Cards have that 40 man crunch I mentioned.  So a player or 2 in the lower minors.

If you add C-Mart & J-Mart to the Twins, is that enough to propel them to the playoffs?  They'd surely want to shore up their bullpen, too.  But if the Twins FO thinks they can contend next year, and they evaluate C-Mart as a good bounceback candidate, I could see them pursuing him.