Twins confirm interest in signing pitchers Dallas Keuchel, Craig Kimbrel

[USAFChief]

 

Corbin.  Turner.  Strasburg.  

 

There are talents on this team and a ton of financial flexibility.  (27M coming off the books and what looks to be close to another 50M in club options they'll pass on)  They aren't likely to sell on core players at this point and if they do, it'll likely be during the offseason.

Maybe so.

 

But that's still the starter to go get. Make an offer they can't refuse.

[DiscGolfer]

I have seen Scherzer's name mentioned in some trade rumors.  If the Nat's are willing to sell him, I don't think they would, it'd be great to see the Twins try to get him.  His remaining salary isn't unreasonable to pick up.  Including this year he's got $75 mil left in salary through the 2021 season.  At this point it's not a long term financial risk and would really set the rotation up for the next few years.  I don't know what it would take to get him but I'd make almost any player in the system available to land him.  I put the chances of this actually happening at about 2%

[Nine of twelve]

 

Maybe so.

 

But that's still the starter to go get. Make an offer they can't refuse.

If it's an offer they can't refuse it's probably a bad deal for us.

[USAFChief]

 

If it's an offer they can't refuse it's probably a bad deal for us.

A guy who slots at the top of the Twins playoff rotation? Who matches up with any starter they'll face in the postseason?

 

There's no deal out there that would be bad. Who wouldn't you give up for that?

 

What are we trying to accomplish here? Win a WS, or stock up the minor leagues?

[rdehring]

 

Why do people think adding a veteran, who had been great, think it will disrupt chemistry?

I'd rather have Keuchel,I think.

I have mentioned that several times, Mike.  I haven't said that he would, rather my concern is that he might.  That's one aspect of bringing anyone in, free agent or trade, that I believe the Twins have to be very careful of.

[Tomj14]

 

A guy who slots at the top of the Twins playoff rotation? Who matches up with any starter they'll face in the postseason?

 

There's no deal out there that would be bad. Who wouldn't you give up for that?

 

What are we trying to accomplish here? Win a WS, or stock up the minor leagues?

There is nobody in the minor leagues that is off limit for him in my mind.

I wonder if Lewis, Graterol, Rooker and Thorpe is even close to swaying the Nats?

 

My guess is people on here would start with Gonzo and Gordon, and if I am the Nats, I hang up on the Twins if 2 of the top 3 aren't in the starting offer.

If I was the Nats I would ask for Kirilloff or Lewis (not sure of their need), Graterol, Balazovic, Duran and Rortvedt or Jeffers

[TheLeviathan]

 

Maybe so.

 

But that's still the starter to go get. Make an offer they can't refuse.

 

As I said, I'd certainly give them a call.  Dolittle is also a probable arm they'd sell on and I'd have interest in him too.  Won't hurt to ask and if they field an offer - I'd give them a good one.

 

But I don't think we need to include Lewis/Kiriloff and Graterol/Balazovic/Duran.  Trade deadline returns have simply not been that great lately to feel like it would take an offer of that magnitude.  Everyone is on the table, but relative to past cost to acquire a starter I think putting Kiriloff on the table alone is better than they'll see as a centerpiece from much of anyone else.  It may not take as much after that as people think.

[dex8425]

I don't get it. Does everyone think that Kuechel is an upgrade over Pineda/Smeltzer/Stewart? If so, is he a (roughly) 9 million dollars for half a year upgrade? 

 

I'm thinking probably no, and definitely no. The depth would be nice, but we need bullpen depth more. Sign Kimbrel asap. If going after a starter, I'd rather trade for a proven #1-2, like Madbum or Scherzer or a younger guy with a couple years of control, like Stroman. 

[dex8425]

 

In addition, Adam Eaton, of the .373 SLG, is the starting RFer and leads the team in PAs. Brian Dozier is putting up a .697 OPS. The bullpen sucks. 

 

This is a bad team. 

 ....Proving that three very good starters alone cannot alone carry a team. 

[bird]

Several pages of talking about a crappy team here. Old habits die slowly. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

I don't get it. Does everyone think that Kuechel is an upgrade over Pineda/Smeltzer/Stewart? If so, is he a (roughly) 9 million dollars for half a year upgrade? 

 

I'm thinking probably no, and definitely no. The depth would be nice, but we need bullpen depth more. Sign Kimbrel asap. If going after a starter, I'd rather trade for a proven #1-2, like Madbum or Scherzer or a younger guy with a couple years of control, like Stroman. 

 

I prefer Kimbrel, but yes....I think Kuechel is a significant upgrade for the bottom of our rotation.

 

If we don't sign him, we should still be shopping for an upgrade the next month or so.

[big dog]

 

Why do people think adding a veteran, who had been great, think it will disrupt chemistry?

I'd rather have Keuchel,I think.

 

Because a lot of us are unable to forget the nightmare of Brunansky-for-Herr.

[nater79a]

 

I have seen Scherzer's name mentioned in some trade rumors.  If the Nat's are willing to sell him, I don't think they would, it'd be great to see the Twins try to get him.  His remaining salary isn't unreasonable to pick up.  Including this year he's got $75 mil left in salary through the 2021 season.  At this point it's not a long term financial risk and would really set the rotation up for the next few years.  I don't know what it would take to get him but I'd make almost any player in the system available to land him.  I put the chances of this actually happening at about 2%

 

Doesn't Scherzer have like a thousand years in deferred payments coming his way?

Thought I heard that somewhere.

 

[SwainZag]

 

Doesn't Scherzer have like a thousand years in deferred payments coming his way?

Thought I heard that somewhere.

 

Yes.

 

"Or, at least, they did on paper. Scherzer signed a seven year contract, and in exchange for pitching for them for those seven years, the Nationals have agreed to pay him $210 million in salary. Divide $210 million by seven years and you get $30 million in AAV, which is how this deal will be reported. But because of how this deal was structured, it’s not really $30 million per year.

Instead, the Nationals will pay Scherzer $15 million per season, but do so for 14 years; essentially, they’ve deferred half of each season’s salary seven years into the future. Effectively, they signed Scherzer for $105 million over the seven years that he’ll pitch for them, and then they’ll pay him the next $105 million after the contract ends, making this the most deferred money contract in baseball history."

[Cap'n Piranha]

 

Doesn't Scherzer have like a thousand years in deferred payments coming his way?

Thought I heard that somewhere.

 

Correct.  $15M a year 2022 through 2028.

[USAFChief]

 

Correct.  $15M a year 2022 through 2028.

But those payments are his 2019-2021 salaries, not in addition to his 2019-21 salaries.

 

from cot's baseball:

 

salaries: 15:$10M, 16-18:$15M annually. 19-21:$35M annually
2019-21 salaries ($105M) deferred without interest, to be paid in seven $15M installments each July 1 from 2022 to 2028

 

https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/washington-nationals/

 

He has a $15M bonus coming in both 2020 and 2021, too, but I'm reasonably sure that would remain Washington's responsibility, as the signing team.

[yarnivek1972]

But those payments are his 2019-2021 salaries, not in addition to his 2019-21 salaries.

 

from cot's baseball:

 

salaries: 15:$10M, 16-18:$15M annually. 19-21:$35M annually

2019-21 salaries ($105M) deferred without interest, to be paid in seven $15M installments each July 1 from 2022 to 2028

 

https://legacy.baseballprospectus.com/compensation/cots/national-league/washington-nationals/

 

He has a $15M bonus coming in both 2020 and 2021, too, but I'm reasonably sure that would remain Washington's responsibility, as the signing team.

Mmmmm, may have to look at the “fine print”. It could be that whoever he is with when the contract ends is on the hook for all the deferred money. There is really no way for us to know.

[Blake]

 

Mmmmm, may have to look at the “fine print”. It could be that whoever he is with when the contract ends is on the hook for all the deferred money. There is really no way for us to know.

You mean it's possible the Nats made it almost impossible to trade Scherzer because of his contract?

 

I honestly don't see a team paying Scherzer long after his services may no longer be required. Well, other than the Nationals.

[Blake]

On another note, anyone else notice that it appears a lot of teams are playing it really close to the vest when it comes to potential acquisitions?

 

I thought we'd have a good idea where Kimbrel and Keuchel are headed by now.

[USAFChief]

 

Mmmmm, may have to look at the “fine print”. It could be that whoever he is with when the contract ends is on the hook for all the deferred money. There is really no way for us to know.

huh?

[PseudoSABR]

 

Mmmmm, may have to look at the “fine print”. It could be that whoever he is with when the contract ends is on the hook for all the deferred money. There is really no way for us to know.

I think that's really doubtful.  The team who gets the services for the year in question will be obligated for deferred payments.  Otherwise it wouldn't be deferred (i.e. a payment owed now, but put off to a future date), it would be a post career bonus or something. 

[jkcarew]

I'm more interested in Keuchel. Just overall think another decent-to-solid lefty has more value for the staff over the course of the year. (Can't count on Mejia or Moya at this point...and they're Mejia and Moya.) Like the idea of Keuchel and/or Perez in the bullpen in the post-season.

 

Scherzer is the high-reward type that could be a needle-mover in the post season. You'd get 2 1/2 years of a pitcher whose basically 35 years old now...and with a ton of innings in the rear-view mirror. My thought is that it might be the last 'sell-high' opportunity that the Nationals would have for him.

[AlwaysinModeration]

The Nats are 7 games out on June 3, and just won 7 of their last 10. Why would they be selling, again? THEY could really use Kimbrel.

 

As for the topic at hand, I’d certainly like to see the Twins sign either of these guys.

[DocBauer]

Not saying yes or no, will or won't. But I will say of the two Kimbrel fills a much bigger need.

 

Just not sure upgrading our #5 SP does enough. Now, someone as good as or better than Berrios, Gibson, etc I see as actual improvement and by way of improves the 5th rotation spot. And yes, that is me saying I dont know that Keuchel is really any better than the top 4 we have now.

 

The bullpen has exceeded expectations and been pretty good. Yea, they have. Numbers and rankings indicate they have been

And a couple bad days doesnt mean or prove otherwise. HOWEVER, there is enough on peripherals and eye test to clearly indicate room and need for improvement. Kimbrel brings more value to the club.

[Nine of twelve]

 

 

 

There's no deal out there that would be bad. Who wouldn't you give up for that?

Royce Lewis.

[Mike Sixel]

Royce Lewis.

You wouldn't trade a guy in A ball for one of the best pitchers in baseball, who is under control for more than this year?

[Squirrel]

 

Royce Lewis.

Depending on the whole package deal, yeah, I'd give up Royce for Scherzer. But it would depend on who he was packaged with. I don't think anyone is untouchable, including Royce for a top pitcher.

[Doomtints]

 

I don’t read much LENIII, so I don’t have the BS filter many here might. If the team is serious about Keuchel, a move I don’t find very inspiring, I would rather see a 6-man rotation from the point he’s ready onward. That of course assumes everyone is healthy.
Also, I didn’t realize Kimbrel had such a rough 2nd half.

 

LEN3 is usually right when he talks about what the Twins are planning. What gets him in trouble is his opinions are usually cray-cray. This doesn't seem like an opinion.

[Doomtints]

 

they need Kimbrel more than Keuchel... that's for sure. I wouldn't complian about Kuechel, but he's going to have to displace someone, and right now, the starters are firing on all cylinders, and I'm not sure he'd upgrade anyone but Pineda (who pitched decent last month). I'd rather trade for a clear ace next month if they want a starter.

 

If he goes to the Yankees, who have a strong interest, the Yankees probably displace the Twins out of the playoffs.

 

In my opinion the Yankees are the last team in the AL the Twins probably can't beat. Making this move might be the difference.

 

Whoever loses a starting spot can still be productive from the pen -- and the Twins need help there. Plus, at some point some starter will get injured.

 

He will be looking for a "1 year" deal so he can get a payday next year. The Twins can do this.

[amjgt]

As for the chemistry question.... As an outsider who never played baseball past 13 years old, the bullpen it where I would guess, Chemisty matters the least....because it has to matter the least there. There always seem to be people coming and going. The bullpen is used to new faces much more than the lineup or rotation.