Still waiting...

[notoriousgod71]

Per MLB Trade Rumors:

 

We’re closing in on the one-year anniversary of these memorable words from Twins GM Thad Levine: “The best moves are made not when you’re trying to open the window to contend, but when the window is wide open. We’re very eagerly waiting for this window to be opened, and when it is, we plan on striking.”

[Rigby]

Perhaps we misinterpreted. When the window is open, they go on strike...

[PseudoSABR]

You're right, nearly all the free agents have signed, and the Twins have done nothing so far.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

It doesn’t have to be free agency, there is still time to get a deal done.

 

Hopefully sign Ryu and make a trade!

[gunnarthor]

In the same article, the Twins say they had to "stabilize" the roster first. It also notes the Twins are spending much more this year on Pineda and Odorizzi than they did last year so ... apparently we are spending money?

 

These are the quotes that should kill any wishful thinking on fans part - “I do think we’ve stabilized the team and that was essential ... Now, we still have the ability to impact it significantly. But, first steps first, was to stabilize.” And, Levine says that the team is “aspirational of getting the best players we can get.”

 

The 'we can get' sorta runs counter to the idea of best we can afford or best that is available.

 

The Twins should still be favorites to win the AL Central if they don't do much more. They have a solid roster and a few impact bats close to coming up. They'll probably get by on another season of over extended bullpen use but 90+ wins, a playoff appearance and a payroll south of 120m is probably a great deal for the owners.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/twins-winter-meetings-rumors-sign-trade-starting-pitching-rotation.html

[Oldgoat_MN]

I know there's a lot of time left, but I am nervous that the Twins will do something like trade for Boyd and act like they made a huge improvement to the rotation.

It's time. I'd voice loudly that they need to do something, but I'm not sure exactly what moves might be available to them.

This will be interesting...

[SmellEm]

The team that swept the Twins in the playoffs just signed the best pitcher in baseball. The window might already be shut.

[h2oface]

 

The team that swept the Twins in the playoffs just signed the best pitcher in baseball. The window might already be shut.

 

Exactly. If Odo and Berrios and Pineda are your best, even if you get to the playoffs, you may as well not buy tickets for the ALCS, much less the World Series. Tic toc. 

 

Just think what might happen if the Yankees aren't on the IL all year in 2020. 

[SwainZag]

You're right, nearly all the free agents have signed, and the Twins have done nothing so far.

Nearly all? That's exaggerating a bit.

[Otto von Ballpark]

Nearly all? That's exaggerating a bit.

I think that post was intended to be sarcastic...

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

The important thing is that the Twins will strike while the iron is hot when the window is open.

[laloesch]

 

You're right, nearly all the free agents have signed, and the Twins have done nothing so far.

Word is money is not the issue with Bumgarner it's the location aka nobody wants to live and play in Minnesota even if it isn't all year round.  And who can blame him.  Would you want to move from California to Minnesota?  Same thing every year. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Sure, Minnesota is cold. Especially today, so good thing no games are scheduled.

 

Reminder that Lorenzo Cain signed a 5/80 contract in Milwaukee and they went to Game 7 of the NLCS.

 

We are still waiting for the front office to do something even remotely close to that.

[big dog]

Baseball's salary system is set up to make sure that the richest teams can always outspend anyone else, with the luxury tax just a facade to make sure things don't get completely out of hand.  That way the weekly Sunday night game on ESPN can feature the Red Sox and Yankees 3/4 of the time and have it be a meaningful game.  Heaven forbid there be meaningful revenue-sharing to level the field a bit- after all, the Yankees, Dodgers, etc have worked really hard to be in enormous metro areas with phenomenal cable packages.  The Mets are apparently worth $2.5 billion in spite of their track record. It does get kind of disgusting.

 

And sure, the Twins could have signed Cole.  He would have probably been surrounded by pre-arb players, and waiting for the "Cole's salary is killing this team" narrative, but we could have...no we couldn't.

[Battle ur tail off]

 

Word is money is not the issue with Bumgarner it's the location aka nobody wants to live and play in Minnesota even if it isn't all year round.  And who can blame him.  Would you want to move from California to Minnesota?  Same thing every year. 

 

Who would want to live in Houston? Hot as hell, dirty town, nothing much to do. They get guys. 

 

It is just as big of a hinderance to play in sweltering heat as it is to have to show your face some when its cold. 

 

PS Chicago is almost the same temp-wise as Minneapolis. The Cubs never have problems getting Free Agents to sign. 

 

Wonder why that is? Can anyone figure it out?

[Battle ur tail off]

 

Baseball's salary system is set up to make sure that the richest teams can always outspend anyone else, with the luxury tax just a facade to make sure things don't get completely out of hand.  That way the weekly Sunday night game on ESPN can feature the Red Sox and Yankees 3/4 of the time and have it be a meaningful game.  Heaven forbid there be meaningful revenue-sharing to level the field a bit- after all, the Yankees, Dodgers, etc have worked really hard to be in enormous metro areas with phenomenal cable packages.  The Mets are apparently worth $2.5 billion in spite of their track record. It does get kind of disgusting.

 

And sure, the Twins could have signed Cole.  He would have probably been surrounded by pre-arb players, and waiting for the "Cole's salary is killing this team" narrative, but we could have...no we couldn't.

 

I don't think anyone thought we would get Cole. My hope was that he would go National league.  

 

90% of Twins fans want or wanted Wheeler or Bumgarner with a possible #4 type guy added in as well. No one is asking for the moon. We are all asking for a little faith and for the FO to take a chance. At this point, they either blow someone out of the water cashwise with an offer, or they get completely out and start working trades. 

[big dog]

Note that I'm not saying we should do nothing, but what we can do is ridiculously limited compared to some other teams.  We just have to get some mid-level free agents, make a couple of good/lucky trades, and hope for a Royals-type miracle.  Forget about Cole, forget about all the people that won't come to Minnesnowta for whatever reasons, get on with it.

 

I do a lot of hiring in my job, looking at candidates from all over the world and competing with organizations from all over the world.  It's almost never just about the money, except that you often have to hit a particular threshold.  We lose people who take substantially less money in order to be near family, have a better job fit, whatever.  We've also been able to hire people who turned down offers for as much as 25% more, in areas with similar costs of living, because they liked this position better.  We just have to play the hand we're dealt.

 

Maybe the Winter Caravan isn't the best way for players to get to know the state...quaint, but possibly self-defeating?

[BrianTrottier]

 

Who would want to live in Houston? Hot as hell, dirty town, nothing much to do. They get guys. 

 

It is just as big of a hinderance to play in sweltering heat as it is to have to show your face some when its cold. 

 

PS Chicago is almost the same temp-wise as Minneapolis. The Cubs never have problems getting Free Agents to sign. 

 

Wonder why that is? Can anyone figure it out?

Well, for one thing, comparing Minneapolis to Chicago is probably a lot like comparing Fargo to Minneapolis.

[big dog]

 

I don't think anyone thought we would get Cole. My hope was that he would go National league.  

 

90% of Twins fans want or wanted Wheeler or Bumgarner with a possible #4 type guy added in as well. No one is asking for the moon. We are all asking for a little faith and for the FO to take a chance. At this point, they either blow someone out of the water cashwise with an offer, or they get completely out and start working trades. 

 

No one is asking for the moon??? Have you been reading the threads?

[Battle ur tail off]

 

Well, for one thing, comparing Minneapolis to Chicago is probably a lot like comparing Fargo to Minneapolis.

False. The weather sucks there too. That is what people are talking about all the time right?

 

More crime? Highest murder rate in the nation? What exactly is so much better about Chicago?

[big dog]

 

Who would want to live in Houston? Hot as hell, dirty town, nothing much to do. They get guys. 

 

It is just as big of a hinderance to play in sweltering heat as it is to have to show your face some when its cold. 

 

PS Chicago is almost the same temp-wise as Minneapolis. The Cubs never have problems getting Free Agents to sign. 

 

Wonder why that is? Can anyone figure it out?

Houston is a great area for people who like to fish or hunt, like Minnesota but with longer seasons, fewer days of wind chill below zero (like basically none) and access to the ocean.  I gotta think that no state income tax doesn't hurt, either.

 

I grew up in Minnesota and now live near Chicago.  The weather here is somewhat better than Minnesota (my mother and I compare it nearly every day...).  Urban amenities are in totally different leagues.  If you want to fly to meet your family or something, check the schedules for O'Hare vs. MSP.

 

I would rather live in Minnesota, personally, but it's pretty easy to imagine no one who grew up south of here would ever think that, at least not at first.

[bustedstuff88]

 

Well, for one thing, comparing Minneapolis to Chicago is probably a lot like comparing Fargo to Minneapolis.

 

Eff Chicago. They are bumpkins just like the rest of us between the coasts. 

[BrianTrottier]

 

False. The weather sucks there too. That is what people are talking about all the time right?

 

More crime? Highest murder rate in the nation? What exactly is so much better about Chicago?

Don't ask me. I much prefer Minneapolis to Chicago. But it would take a hell of lot to convince me to move to Fargo, mainly because I think it's a cultural wasteland (I'm originally from NW MN, so I get to say that). But I know that a lot of people already living there love it and would never want to leave.

[Number3]

 

The team that swept the Twins in the playoffs just signed the best pitcher in baseball. The window might already be shut.

And where did that "best pitcher in baseball" get the Astros? A loss in the World Series and probably a downhill slide for the next few years after going all in and losing. Twins need to find the next Cole, not sign the existng one. Goal is the same for 2020 as it is for every season. Stay in playoff contention and hopefully win the Central again. Twins lost to the Yankees by wasting scoring opportunities, not pitching overall. The idea of starting the season with the World Series in the bag is a joke.

[jud6312]

 

The important thing is that the Twins will strike while the iron is hot when the window is open.

 

How hot does the iron need to be while the window is open? And if the weather is like it is today, does that cool said iron too much to strike?

[jud6312]

 

And where did that "best pitcher in baseball" get the Astros? A loss in the World Series and probably a downhill slide for the next few years after going all in and losing. Twins need to find the next Cole, not sign the existng one. Goal is the same for 2020 as it is for every season. Stay in playoff contention and hopefully win the Central again. Twins lost to the Yankees by wasting scoring opportunities, not pitching overall. The idea of starting the season with the World Series in the bag is a joke.

 

The goal should not be to contend for the playoffs and win a weak division. The goal should be to hold the trophy in October - anything less is a moral victory and nothing more.

[SmellEm]

 

Word is money is not the issue with Bumgarner it's the location aka nobody wants to live and play in Minnesota even if it isn't all year round.  And who can blame him.  Would you want to move from California to Minnesota?  Same thing every year. 

 

It's becoming pretty clear that the front office is leaking stuff like this to local reporters about Bumgarner and Ryu so they have an excuse when they don't sign them.  And in response both player's camps have leaked to national reporters that they would come to Minnesota if the money is right. I'm guessing neither guy has us at the top of their list, but either would come here if the money is right.

 

In a few days we'll hear about how they loved the organization but they just wanted to stay on the West Coast, or go to a bigger city, or be closer to home, etc. And then they'll try to pretend that is the reason we didn't sign them and not the fact that our offer was for 20% less than the winning one.

[dex8425]

 

The team that swept the Twins in the playoffs just signed the best pitcher in baseball. The window might already be shut.

 

 

I'll take my chances with Madbum vs Cole in game one. As I recall, Kepler, Cruz, Gonzalez and Adrianza have hit Cole before. 

[SmellEm]

 

And where did that "best pitcher in baseball" get the Astros? A loss in the World Series and probably a downhill slide for the next few years after going all in and losing. Twins need to find the next Cole, not sign the existng one. Goal is the same for 2020 as it is for every season. Stay in playoff contention and hopefully win the Central again. Twins lost to the Yankees by wasting scoring opportunities, not pitching overall. The idea of starting the season with the World Series in the bag is a joke.

 

The Astros literally came within a game of winning the World Series and the team they lost to has given huge contracts to Scherzer, Strasburg and Corbin in recent years.  I'm not sure you could have picked a worse example to show that signing elite starting pitchers is a bad idea.

[Rosterman]

 

In the same article, the Twins say they had to "stabilize" the roster first. It also notes the Twins are spending much more this year on Pineda and Odorizzi than they did last year so ... apparently we are spending money?

 

These are the quotes that should kill any wishful thinking on fans part - “I do think we’ve stabilized the team and that was essential ... Now, we still have the ability to impact it significantly. But, first steps first, was to stabilize.” And, Levine says that the team is “aspirational of getting the best players we can get.”

 

The 'we can get' sorta runs counter to the idea of best we can afford or best that is available.

 

The Twins should still be favorites to win the AL Central if they don't do much more. They have a solid roster and a few impact bats close to coming up. They'll probably get by on another season of over extended bullpen use but 90+ wins, a playoff appearance and a payroll south of 120m is probably a great deal for the owners.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/twins-winter-meetings-rumors-sign-trade-starting-pitching-rotation.html

Of course, the Twins have Gibson and Perez and Cron off the books, so right now the team is still below last year's payroll. And with a winning season and solid attendance behind them, they can easily eclipse the highest payroll they have ever had as a team, and probably even push towards $150 million due to some savings in years past. So the argument that they are paying mroe for Odorizzi, which was a choice, and Pineda (they will probably pay close to the same if they get a suspension rebate on the 2020 salary). 

 

Again, overpaying for one guy shouldn't keep you out of the market for someone even better.