LEN3 Throws Cold Water on Hot Stove

[Vanimal46]

http://m.startribune.com/twins-aren-t-expected-to-roll-the-dice-at-major-league-baseball-s-winter-meetings/502283381/

 

Don't get your hopes up. The Twins, according to LEN3, aren't going to do much at the winter meetings. It's possible Cron and Schoop are the big signings this offseason.

[bird]

I don't find this in the least bit discouraging.

 

The priorities should be one or more premium talents from the FA RP pool and a middle-of-the-order bat, right? 

 

I can understand if you think Cron and Schoop are inadequate stopgaps for 2019. That's a matter of viewpoint and perspective.

 

Personally, I want them to go after Cutch aggressively and pay the price they need to pay for him. I'd also like them to sign Bour and move Austin, and then give Kepler a 1B glove and tell him to be prepared for stints there against tough RHP. But I'm pessimistic about this, not because of the notion of punting on 2019 or pinching millions, but because they simply disagree that these are pressing needs.

 

What would you consider to be a satisfactory end result from here on out in terms of FA signings?

[Vanimal46]

I would like them to also sign Cutch or Brantley, sign 2-3 bullpen arms (2 that can be used in a fireman role and 1 bargain bin) and make a trade for a top of the rotation pitcher.

 

I don't believe in too much pitching. No team has too much pitching, even Houston.

[TheLeviathan]

On the plus side....LEN3 frequently has no idea what he's talking about.  So there's that.

[Shaitan]

 

http://m.startribune.com/twins-aren-t-expected-to-roll-the-dice-at-major-league-baseball-s-winter-meetings/502283381/

Don't get your hopes up. The Twins, according to LEN3, aren't going to do much at the winter meetings. It's possible Cron and Schoop are the big signings this offseason.

I'm just responding to your description without fighting the Strib paywall, but there's a big difference between not doing much at the winter meetings vs. not doing much for the whole offseason.

[Danchat]

I still expect two relievers to be signed for medium to large deals here, but maybe it won’t happen until January/February. I wonder if they’ll work on some extensions in the meanwhile.

 

But yeah, if Schoop is the biggest signing, that’ll be one disappointing offseason. I don’t think it will be, though.

[nytwinsfan]

I don't know, looking for (1) one starter, (2) a couple of relievers and (3) "if the right opportunity presents itself, . . .  mak[ing] another move to boost the offense" is about exactly what I and almost everyone would expect them to do after signing Cron and Schoop, so not sure how this is really throwing any cold water on expectations.

 

I mean, if the point of this is they are not going to go after Harper or Machado . . . well then, no **** sherlock.

[ewen21]

 

I don't find this in the least bit discouraging.

 

The priorities should be one or more premium talents from the FA RP pool and a middle-of-the-order bat, right? 

 

I can understand if you think Cron and Schoop are inadequate stopgaps for 2019. That's a matter of viewpoint and perspective.

 

Personally, I want them to go after Cutch aggressively and pay the price they need to pay for him. I'd also like them to sign Bour and move Austin, and then give Kepler a 1B glove and tell him to be prepared for stints there against tough RHP. But I'm pessimistic about this, not because of the notion of punting on 2019 or pinching millions, but because they simply disagree that these are pressing needs.

 

What would you consider to be a satisfactory end result from here on out in terms of FA signings?

Agree with everything, but I am not interested in McCutcheon.  He is only a name at this point.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Based on LEN's reporting of Falvey's comments (and my interpretation of course), the Twins are not looking for a starter. Berrios, Gibson, Odorizzi, Pineda, with some combination of young guy/spring tryout/opener-primary we saw last season, to take the fifth spot.

[Doomtints]

If this is true, running the Twins is the worst job in any sport. This is more of the same.

 

Don't fund stadiums for people who try to fold the team.

[nytwinsfan]

On the plus side, it sounds like Pineda is pretty healthy per Falvey.  That's quite a bit of significant good news.

[mikelink45]

 

On the plus side, it sounds like Pineda is pretty healthy per Falvey.  That's quite a bit of significant good news.

We heard this last year.  Some people have bodies that break down frequently.  I will only be satisfied at the end of ST if he is ready and in the rotation. 

[nytwinsfan]

 

We heard this last year.  Some people have bodies that break down frequently.  I will only be satisfied at the end of ST if he is ready and in the rotation. 

 

Fair enough.

[caninatl04]

If this is true, running the Twins is the worst job in any sport.

Coach / GM of the Montreal Canadiens?

[USAFChief]

Agree with everything, but I am not interested in McCutcheon.  He is only a name at this point.

McCutchen put up a .792 OPS last year, over .800 against lefties.

 

He’s a GREAT fit for the Twins OF.

[Dman]

Yeah I am not too surprised.  My guess is they will wait till the end of Free Agency and try and pick up the guys who didn't get contracts with other teams.  They might get one relief arm early but I think they will wait things out and see what falls to them.  

 

This team needs its young players to step up and there is talent starting to bubble at AA and AAA so I think it is a figure out what we have year.  If things go well I could see them adding players at the deadline this year.  If things go bad might need to blow things up a bit and go with wave 2 talent.

 

It feels like this team is close to contending for the division or a wild card spot.  Don't see enough talent for a world series win but a winning season  would be nice.

[KirbyDome89]

 

Based on LEN's reporting of Falvey's comments (and my interpretation of course), the Twins are not looking for a starter. Berrios, Gibson, Odorizzi, Pineda, with some combination of young guy/spring tryout/opener-primary we saw last season, to take the fifth spot.

That rotation sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm just responding to your description without fighting the Strib paywall,

FYI, it should be as simple as opening the link in an incognito window/tab in your browser.

[ashbury]

It wasn't too many weeks ago that FalVine were talking about trades moreso than free agents. Now, not even very much of that.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That rotation sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

agree; not that I endorsed it, just relaying what I read

[jorgenswest]

I wouldn’t think the Twins management would want to telegraph trade interests or needs to the press. It would only make negotiations more challenging.

 

I would prefer a management that leaks very little information but takes the necessary action to improve the team.

[ewen21]

 

McCutchen put up a .792 OPS last year, over .800 against lefties.

He’s a GREAT fit for the Twins OF.

That's all well and good, but what are you willing to pay?  Other teams who consider him a GREAT FIT and are contenders will be very aggressive to get him.  I am not in the business of overpaying for former stars

[S.]

 

That rotation sounds like a disaster waiting to happen.

Even if they all pitch their absolute best and there are no injuries, that rotation still isn't very impressive. And the chances of that happening are pretty much 0 to begin with. If Berrios or Gibson go down for any significant amount of time (or Gibson returns to his 2016/2017 form), you're probably looking at the worst rotation in the majors.

[Vanimal46]

That's all well and good, but what are you willing to pay? Other teams who consider him a GREAT FIT and are contenders will be very aggressive to get him. I am not in the business of overpaying for former stars

Is Schoop not a former star?

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Sure, but what team telegraphs their trade interests? I suppose Houston telegraphed their interest in Verlander a couple years ago.

[wabene]

I'm just responding to your description without fighting the Strib paywall, but there's a big difference between not doing much at the winter meetings vs. not doing much for the whole offseason.

That paywall doesn't put up much of a fight my friend

FYI, it should be as simple as opening the link in an incognito window/tab in your browser.

Or just clear your browser history

[Mike Sixel]

On the plus side, it sounds like Pineda is pretty healthy per Falvey. That's quite a bit of significant good news.

For one year. They have three starters gone after this year. Not trading Gibson is really odd, if they aren't trying hard to win.

[wabene]

On the plus side....LEN3 frequently has no idea what he's talking about.  So there's that.

Ah y'all are just jealous of a man who really knows how to enjoy the perks of his job.

[LaBombo]

 

http://m.startribune.com/twins-aren-t-expected-to-roll-the-dice-at-major-league-baseball-s-winter-meetings/502283381/

 It's possible Cron and Schoop are the big signings this offseason.

 

Alternate headline: "Twins won't rule out possibility of skipping 2019 season".

 

Everything in the media so far about the Twins' plan for sweeping and comprehensive lethargy this off season sounds much less like a road map for building a competitive MLB team than it does a determined effort to rouse statewide outrage against the team's publicly subsidized ownership.

[LaBombo]

 

On the plus side, it sounds like Pineda is pretty healthy per Falvey.  That's quite a bit of significant good news.

 

Hope so, for his sake and ours. If he makes the club, maybe I'll see if I can make a Pineda jersey by dusting off an old one in the back of my closet and altering the existing letters on the back of it...H-A-R-D-E-N.