Twins are mystery team in Machado Sweepstakes!

[darin617]

The Twins are set to offer Machado a 1 year deal. Of course this is fake news all across the board that there are 2 mystery teams with the highest bids.

 

The one true fact is the Twins probably did offer him a 1 year deal because we would not want anyone signed to a long term deal under this ownership.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Actually Machado's father did Tweet that the team someone would least expect, among the final 4 teams, is the team most likely to land him.

[darin617]

 

Actually Machado's father did Tweet that the team someone would least expect, among the final 4 teams, is the team most likely to land him.

But we would not budge on are hard stance of only offering 1 year deals so that would leave us out of the running.

[twinsfansd]

The Oakland A's strike again.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

But we would not budge on are hard stance of only offering 1 year deals so that would leave us out of the running.

Speak for yourself, $15 a year is a lot of money!

[twinsfansd]

Doesn't it strike anybody as a bit odd that Manny's Dad would be out there spouting about mystery teams. Sounds an awful lot like a desperate agent and his player trying to get the front runner to bid against themselves. I really do hope there is a mystery team, because the Sox landing Manny would bea bitter pill to swallow.

[Old Twins Cap]

Twins are the mystery team.

 

What do they want?

 

What are they doing?

 

What is their strategy.

 

Mystery to everyone.

[AlwaysinModeration]

But we would not budge on are hard stance of only offering 1 year deals so that would leave us out of the running.

1 year, 40mm. Highest contract ever.

[AlwaysinModeration]

One additional thought on the Twins being the “mystery team.”

 

Jonathan Schoop helped talk Nelson Cruz into signing with the Twins.

 

Who played with Schoop and Cruz in Baltimore?

 

Of course, if the Twins land Machado, I don’t think there are enough spots in the lineup for Machado, Cruz, Sano, Schoop, Cron, Austin, Rosario, Kepler, Buxton, Polanco, and Castro/Garver. That’s 11 players for 9 spots.

[darin617]

Guess we will all be shocked if there is a press conference on Monday.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

 

Of course, if the Twins land Machado, I don’t think there are enough spots in the lineup for Machado, Cruz, Sano, Schoop, Cron, Austin, Rosario, Kepler, Buxton, Polanco, and Castro/Garver. That’s 11 players for 9 spots.

Nice "problem " to have.

[shimrod]

Historically, is there any data on how signing a top free agent affects attendance? Obviously there's no such data for the Twins, but across the league? 

 

The Twins reputation for..thrift...has to complicate their free agent acquisition. Players want to win, and they understand it's a team game. I can't imagine a Machado signing with the Twins knowing his salary will be offset by playing cheap pieces at the remaining positions. 

[MABB1959]

Did we get any new players in the prime of their careers?  Seems like we got veterans and hopefuls.

[Platoon]

One additional thought on the Twins being the “mystery team.”

Jonathan Schoop helped talk Nelson Cruz into signing with the Twins.

Who played with Schoop and Cruz in Baltimore?

Of course, if the Twins land Machado, I don’t think there are enough spots in the lineup for Machado, Cruz, Sano, Schoop, Cron, Austin, Rosario, Kepler, Buxton, Polanco, and Castro/Garver. That’s 11 players for 9 spots.

Plus we are sooner or later going to run out of Ryans hard throwing right handed relievers to replace.

[Han Joelo]

Sign Machado and trade Polanco for a young stud reliever?  Best strategy ever.

 

Meanwhile, in the real world, it is raining outside.

[nicksaviking]

Strange that there’s so much more chatter on Machado than Harper at the moment. Conventional wisdom would suggest he won’t sign until Harper does since Harper is expected to get paid more.

[rv78]

 

Did we get any new players in the prime of their careers?  Seems like we got veterans and hopefuls.

 New players in the prime of their careers! Did you count Jason Castro in his prime? You need to be more specific about "new players" and add "Top Free Agents" or "All-Star" or "Superstar"......... something that shows the player will make a difference and make the team a WINNER. Not just another ordinary addition.

[rv78]

 

One additional thought on the Twins being the “mystery team.”

Jonathan Schoop helped talk Nelson Cruz into signing with the Twins.

Who played with Schoop and Cruz in Baltimore?

Of course, if the Twins land Machado, I don’t think there are enough spots in the lineup for Machado, Cruz, Sano, Schoop, Cron, Austin, Rosario, Kepler, Buxton, Polanco, and Castro/Garver. That’s 11 players for 9 spots.

 

A trio of these guys (Sano, Austin, and Buxton) haven't proven themselves to be worthy of that spot in the lineup yet. 

[BK432]

 

Strange that there’s so much more chatter on Machado than Harper at the moment. Conventional wisdom would suggest he won’t sign until Harper does since Harper is expected to get paid more.

 

I think it's been assumed all offseason that Machado would sign first, since Boras usually likes to let another stud set the market for his client.

[Doomtints]

 

Guess we will all be shocked if there is a press conference on Monday.

 

The Twins front office working on a banker's holiday? Never.

[darin617]

 

Historically, is there any data on how signing a top free agent affects attendance? Obviously there's no such data for the Twins, but across the league? 

 

 

It's called winning. Winning brings the fans back. Be a bunch of penny pinchers like we have makes it hard to win when we end up with 3rd or 4th rate talent.

 

I'm sure if you go back and look at the Indians attendance over the last few years you would have seen how much winning helped their attendance.

[BK432]

 

It's called winning. Winning brings the fans back. Be a bunch of penny pinchers like we have makes it hard to win when we end up with 3rd or 4th rate talent.

 

I'm sure if you go back and look at the Indians attendance over the last few years you would have seen how much winning helped their attendance.

 

This hasn't necessarily been the case for Cleveland. Doesn't mean I disagree with your overall sentiment, however.

 

https://www.crainscleveland.com/kevin-kleps-blog/indians-2018-attendance-total-drops-59-ranks-17th-franchise-history

[darin617]

 

The Twins front office working on a banker's holiday? Never.

Sorry, forgot it was MLK day already. This year is flying by so fast already.

[amjgt]

Assuming for a second that there actually is a mystery team, the Twins would make some sense in a couple regards.

 

1) The Twins are about $30M below last year’s payroll, which is in the range Machado would be seeking

 

2) The Twins would fall under the category of “team you wouldn’t suspect”

[amjgt]

Taking this forward... it would certainly be the end of the Tyler Austin era, and I could see a scenario where the Twins cut bait with Cron. They could literally cut him and only owe him like $1.5M, right?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Taking this forward... it would certainly be the end of the Tyler Austin era, and I could see a scenario where the Twins cut bait with Cron. They could literally cut him and only owe him like $1.5M, right?

or move Polanco to 2 and move on from Adrianza

[amjgt]

I was thinking Polanco to 3rd and Sano to 1st

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I was thinking Polanco to 3rd and Sano to 1st

Polanco doesn’t have the arm for SS, why move him further from first?

[Squirrel]

One additional thought on the Twins being the “mystery team.”

Jonathan Schoop helped talk Nelson Cruz into signing with the Twins.

Who played with Schoop and Cruz in Baltimore?

Of course, if the Twins land Machado, I don’t think there are enough spots in the lineup for Machado, Cruz, Sano, Schoop, Cron, Austin, Rosario, Kepler, Buxton, Polanco, and Castro/Garver. That’s 11 players for 9 spots.

Austin’s time was already iffy when they signed Cruz. So someone gets traded. Not sure what the problem would be with that, especially when you are bettering your lineup.

[AlwaysinModeration]

Austin’s time was already iffy when they signed Cruz. So someone gets traded. Not sure what the problem would be with that, especially when you are bettering your lineup.

Agreed, they would make room for Machado. I just don’t think they would have signed two IFers and a DH if they were going to sign another one.

 

All of this is silly. Aside from the obvious fact that they haven’t signed anyone to commit any 2020 dollars, if the Twins are the mystery team and sign Machado, it would be utterly, completely, fall-out-of-your-chair, I’d-eat-my-hat, shocking.