Article: ESPN Report: Twins Could Be Mystery Team for Harper, Machado

[jtkoupal]

I would poop my pants if the Twins sign one of these guys. The money is absolutely there, but a long-term investment, and a very expensive one at that, seems highly unlikely for this organization. I sincerely doubt that this will happen, but we can always dream, right?

 

For the record, if we do, by some miracle, sign one of these guys, the Twins are winning the AL Central in 2019. Book it. Screenshot this and show me in September. If the Twins sign Harper or Machado, the Twins will win the AL Central in 2019.

[Thrylos]

 

If the Twins had good owners, we'd be on Machado. No doubt. He's such a perfect fit here it hurts. 

 

Speaking of hurting, do you think that having their highest paid player not give 100% every time and publicly admitting it and justifying it will help or hurt the attitude and development of the Twins' young core?

 

Is that who you want to be their role model?

Edited January 23, 2019 by Thrylos

[lukeduke1980]

'Buster - nothing is happening in the free agent market.  Can you write something speculative and borderline provocative to drum up some clicks?'  

[gunnarthor]

 

Speaking of hurting, do you think that having their highest paid player not give 100% every time and publicly admitting it and justifying it will help or hurt the attitude and development of the Twins' young core?

 

Is that who you want to be their role model?

The character questions/concerns about Machado are BS. I'd love to have this guy on the team. I think he'd take pressure off of our younger guys. I think he and Cruz would help Sano and Buxton reach their ceilings. I think signing him tells the team that the FO and owners are backing this group of players.

 

The last few years our highest paid player was Mauer. Enough said.

[Thebigalguy]

I don't believe this propaganda. As mentioned above, it's probably an agent or agents stirring the pot. Falvine's entire long-term strategy depends on avoiding a Mauer-type contract and maintaining short-and-midrange flexibility. We all saw what happened to Joe, who was well worth the contract when he signed it. Of course, Harpado aren't catchers, where the danger is higher of career-changing injury, but too many variables in a single player's ability to contribute at pre-contract stats after the money's been exchanged. Besides, I see the Twins competing without such a coup.

[bobs]

 Derek Wetmore would say there's a "non-zero chance" this happens.  But the percentage is somewhere between 0 and 1!

[jimbo92107]

If only one of them were Korean...

 

The Twins don't make moves like this. The Twins throw crazy money at dubious retread pitchers coming off TJ surgery, not perennial all-stars at the peak of their careers. 

[RatherBeGolfing]

Submitting to Common Man's PST Tournament

[ScooterDance]

 

I would poop my pants if the Twins sign one of these guys. The money is absolutely there, but a long-term investment, and a very expensive one at that, seems highly unlikely for this organization. I sincerely doubt that this will happen, but we can always dream, right?

 

For the record, if we do, by some miracle, sign one of these guys, the Twins are winning the AL Central in 2019. Book it. Screenshot this and show me in September. If the Twins sign Harper or Machado, the Twins will win the AL Central in 2019.

 

I'm going to screenshot this and show you after we sign one of them. You better have evidence that you pooped your pants, or I'll call you out as a charlatan and a liar.

[USAFChief]

I'm going to screenshot this and show you after we sign one of them. You better have evidence that you pooped your pants, or I'll call you out as a charlatan and a liar.

mod note: we'll accept verbal confirmation. Link/pic not necessary.

[amjgt]

I'm pretty sure $261M was the 2017 number. 

[howieramone2]

 

I agree with Thrylos, this is Olney speculating that the Twins COULD do this, rather than an indication they ARE a team negotiating.

So what I take from this is more ammo for my belief the Twins have the financial means to do deals like this.

Actually almost every team has the ammo. Also, the team that comes in second, can we all agree they didn't even try.

[Mr. Brooks]

Jim Pohlad is an absentee owner. If Sano and Buxton came up to him in full uniform, he would probably not know who they were.. If you think the Pohlads want to win or will spend the money to win, you have another think coming. If it's that important to you there are 29 other teams.

You mean like when he demanded that Molitor stay on as manager? That kind of "absentee owner"?

[howieramone2]

 

You mean like when he demanded that Molitor stay on as manager? That kind of "absentee owner"?

Close enough.

[Vanimal46]

The term "report" is used pretty loosely these days.

[Marcusesm]

Zero chance the Pohlad's approve a 9 figure contract immediately after finally getting out from under Mauer's deal. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

I still don't think either would commit ten years of their lives to Minnesota without taking the area for a test drive, so I'd think if the Twins were to get one, it would be on a big money short term deal or something with an easy opt out after a year or two.

Honestly. I don't think it would necessarily have anything to do with Minnesota -- opt-out clauses seem pretty standard these days. Heyward and Darvish got them in Chicago, Price and Martinez in Boston, etc.

 

I tend to think opt-out clauses aren't so bad. They have a value for the player, of course, which should be taken into account in the price of the contract, but it's possible the Twins wouldn't even have to deal with the last half of a Machado or Harper deal, which seems to be a common complaint among fans (although given their ages, the latter half wouldn't necessarily be onerous either).

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Has the mystery team ever signed a player? I guess there's a first time for everything.

 

This mystery team signed Scrappy Doo:

 

 

Fan reaction was mixed.

[Canizaro's Ghost]

You can tell how old a Twins fan is by how much they buy rumors like this. The younger you are, the more you allow it to happen. I've seen this movie before, and the Twins NEVER get the girl. 

[Ryan Atkins]

Per the report, the Twins "are mentioned by rival officials and agents".

 

Of course agents are going to mention everyone, they want to make it seem like all teams are IN so you best blow us away with your offer.

 

The more interesting part here is "rival officials". I really wonder where/who that came from? Because, you would think that any team official would prefer to make it seem like NO ONE besides my team is interested so you might as well accept our offer.

 

Prefer Harper. I would love to see the crazy numbers Sano could put up if you had Harper hitting behind him.

[nicksaviking]

 

Per the report, the Twins "are mentioned by rival officials and agents".

 

Of course agents are going to mention everyone, they want to make it seem like all teams are IN so you best blow us away with your offer.

 

The more interesting part here is "rival officials". I really wonder where/who that came from? Because, you would think that any team official would prefer to make it seem like NO ONE besides my team is interested so you might as well accept our offer.

 

Prefer Harper. I would love to see the crazy numbers Sano could put up if you had Harper hitting behind him.

 

Yeah the Red Sox are telling the Yankees that the Twins are offering $400M so they better top that if they want Machado. The Mets are telling the Phillies not to bother because they have a source that says the Twins are going to sign them both.

[mattkummer]

How about 4/120 for Harper? Allows him to hit free agency again for his age 30 season.

[Rigby]

 

I would poop my pants if the Twins sign one of these guys. The money is absolutely there, but a long-term investment, and a very expensive one at that, seems highly unlikely for this organization. I sincerely doubt that this will happen, but we can always dream, right?

 

For the record, if we do, by some miracle, sign one of these guys, the Twins are winning the AL Central in 2019. Book it. Screenshot this and show me in September. If the Twins sign Harper or Machado, the Twins will win the AL Central in 2019.

Your laundress just donated her paycheck to the Yankees sign Machado fund.

[Mr. Brooks]

Honestly. I don't think it would necessarily have anything to do with Minnesota -- opt-out clauses seem pretty standard these days. Heyward and Darvish got them in Chicago, Price and Martinez in Boston, etc.

 

I tend to think opt-out clauses aren't so bad. They have a value for the player, of course, which should be taken into account in the price of the contract, but it's possible the Twins wouldn't even have to deal with the last half of a Machado or Harper deal, which seems to be a common complaint among fans (although given their ages, the latter half wouldn't necessarily be onerous either).

I too am not bothered by opt outs. However, the FO went on record after Darvish didn't sign here saying they aren't willing to offer them.

[S.]

 

I don't believe this propaganda. As mentioned above, it's probably an agent or agents stirring the pot. Falvine's entire long-term strategy depends on avoiding a Mauer-type contract and maintaining short-and-midrange flexibility. We all saw what happened to Joe, who was well worth the contract when he signed it. Of course, Harpado aren't catchers, where the danger is higher of career-changing injury, but too many variables in a single player's ability to contribute at pre-contract stats after the money's been exchanged. Besides, I see the Twins competing without such a coup.

You look at our current roster and think we could compete with New York, Boston, Houston, etc in the playoffs? Or you think we could be competitive against the White Sox, Detroit, and KC in the Central? Because there is a huge difference between the two.

[rv78]

Sign 'em both and make me believe in the Twins again. That's why we were told we needed Target Field. Otherwise shut up!

[Han Joelo]

 

Boy, you guys are (mostly) a bunch of Red's.  I'll be waiting for you on the beach.

 

Falvey is Andy Dufresne, and he's been hollowing out his bible and chipping away at the prison walls for a while now.  If it was obvious what he was doing, he would've got caught already.  When this happens I want all of you to go outside shirtless in a rainstorm and spin around in circles.

 

[mikelink45]

ESPN must have looked at its stats and found that the Minnesota audience has fallen asleep so why not try to wake them up with some outlandish speculation.  Nice try, but I am going back for my nap.

[TheLeviathan]

http://www.reactiongifs.com/lol/illK6U.gif

[Linus]

Really? No way and I don’t blame the Twins in either situation