Donaldson contract discussion - 4/100? 4/110?

[Brandon]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/twins-have-made-4-year-offer-to-josh-donaldson.html

 

Hopefully this offer gets accepted as it would be a good way to wrap up the off-season. Big improvement on offense, improvement in the pen, and status quo with upside in the rotation.

[denarded]

Just read this. Hope it gets done. I had a thought that adding defense and offense upgrade that is out there 6 days a week is more important than a an above average pitcher out once a week. I understand we need stud pitching for post season series' but that boat sailed and I believe this is a good move even with the overspend on the last 2 years

[nicksaviking]

It seems like this offer has been on the table awhile. Hayes kind of tacked the Donaldson bit at the end of the Hill/Bailey Tweet. They’ll probably have to add a 5th year option to have a shot at snagging him from Washington.

[twinssporto]

This would make me feel much better after our mediocre pitching acquisitions today...Hope it happens.

 

Also, Brandon thanks for posting this! You should have changed the title though.  It should read:

 

Twins offer Donaldson a 4 year contract along with 5 or 6 other teams.

[Otto von Ballpark]

It seems like this offer has been on the table awhile. Hayes kind of tacked the Donaldson bit at the end of the Hill/Bailey Tweet. They’ll probably have to add a 5th year option to have a shot at snagging him from Washington.

But hasn't Washington's offer been on the table awhile too?

[DocBauer]

I believe the Twins are serious about this. $90M? What about $100M to sweeten the deal? At this point, really, we're only talking another couple $M per season to get it done. Not a biggie in the crazy finances of MLB.

 

I just don't know how you go a 5th year. I think I'd be out at that point, keep Sano at 3B and find the best 1B option you can.

 

Unfortunately, despite the Twins being serious, I think it comes down to Atlanta saying yes to 4yrs and same/similar numbers and he says yes to them.

[Thrylos]

Can he pitch?

 

Last time I checked the Twins had a third baseman with .378 wOBA and 137 wRC+, which is slightly better than Donaldson's .377 and .132.

 

Third base is not the problem...

[Mike Sixel]

Does this mean they are "in on him" or "heavy on him"? 

[h2oface]

http://twinsdaily.com/topic/35981-dont-sign-josh-donaldson/

 

[jorgenswest]

Can he pitch?

 

Last time I checked the Twins had a third baseman with .378 wOBA and 137 wRC+, which is slightly better than Donaldson's .377 and .132.

 

Third base is not the problem...

Doesn’t it depend more on who he replaces in the line up and not simoly third base? At this point it seems like he would be replacing Gonzalez or maybe Cave or Rooker or Adrianza. Seems like he would be more than slightly better than any of those options.

[USAFChief]

Can he pitch?

 

Last time I checked the Twins had a third baseman with .378 wOBA and 137 wRC+, which is slightly better than Donaldson's .377 and .132.

 

Third base is not the problem...

in addition to jorgen's point above, there's no place left to spend on pitching, unless you take on David Price.

 

Donaldson is a completely different conversation than pitching.

[Mike Sixel]

I would endorse this, but it seems odd they'd go 4 on him, but not on a pitcher (which they much more desperately need, this year and beyond). I'm not sure that last year will be pretty, but I'd rather they add players than pocket the money.

[drivlikejehu]

 

I would endorse this, but it seems odd they'd go 4 on him, but not on a pitcher (which they much more desperately need, this year and beyond). I'm not sure that last year will be pretty, but I'd rather they add players than pocket the money.

 

Well they offered Wheeler five years, and we don't know what they offered Ryu or Bumgarner, if anything, so I don't think there is a factual basis for the question. 

 

Maybe a better way of putting it would be, if they are willing to pay Donaldson $90 million, why didn't they offer that to Ryu? I imagine the answer would be that they project Donaldson to be much more valuable over the next 4 years than Ryu, and that the greater need at SP is offset by the fact that Ryu can't really be relied on to be healthy when needed.

 

Of course, in theory the Twins could have gone after both.

[Thrylos]

 

Doesn’t it depend more on who he replaces in the line up and not simoly third base? At this point it seems like he would be replacing Gonzalez or maybe Cave or Rooker or Adrianza. Seems like he would be more than slightly better than any of those options.

So are we all sure that Rooker plus the opportunity cost of $20ishM a year will not be better?  He will not be replacing Cave or Adrianza for sure...  Gonzalez is a utility player.

[USAFChief]

So are we all sure that Rooker plus the opportunity cost of $20ishM a year will not be better? He will not be replacing Cave or Adrianza for sure... Gonzalez is a utility player.

who's playing first base? Rooker??

[wabene]

Donaldson n Gray Donaldson n Gray!!

[bighat]

Interesting that this was "officially reported" now, but I think we all kinda knew this offer was on the table weeks ago. Not sure what the significance of this report is. A last-ditch effort by Donaldson's camp to get another team to sweeten their offer, maybe?

 

I'd like the Twins to add Donaldson. I can't get too excited, unfortunately, until I hear it's a sure thing.

[beckmt]

If you fully read the mlbtraderumors page, they are now expecting Donaldson to get over $100 million for the contract, one of pieces I read somewhere thought it might take $108 million.  

[jorgenswest]

If they have the 4/90 to spend, should they have instead offered it to Ryu? I am confident it would have won that deal. I think the top four free agent pitchers had a team they really wanted to sign with but I think Ryu was taking the best deal. The Twins could have signed Ryu with this offer.

 

Does Ryu and someone like Cron help more than Donaldson and Bailey?

 

Does spending 22.5 million for each of three years on Price help more than Donaldson? I think the Red ASOS take that call.

 

In spite of the injury risk I would have prioritized Ryu over Donaldson but I might be convinced otherwise.

[Thrylos]

 

Donaldson is a completely different conversation than pitching.

 

Nope. It is all about $$$$.  I'd rather see them take a starter and a closer contract than spend them for Donaldson.  That will make them more competitive in the post season than a third baseman who is hitting slightly less than their current
 

[Thrylos]

 

 

who's playing first base? Rooker??

TBD. Rooker might not be a bad choice.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Interesting that this was "officially reported" now, but I think we all kinda knew this offer was on the table weeks ago. Not sure what the significance of this report is. A last-ditch effort by Donaldson's camp to get another team to sweeten their offer, maybe?

 

I'd like the Twins to add Donaldson. I can't get too excited, unfortunately, until I hear it's a sure thing.

Donaldson wants to go back to Atlanta right? Seems like he’s been waiting for Atlanta to match this (and/or Nat’s offer)

[The Wise One]

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/12/twins-have-made-4-year-offer-to-josh-donaldson.html

Hopefully this offer gets accepted as it would be a good way to wrap up the off-season. Big improvement on offense, improvement in the pen, and status quo with upside in the rotation.

Brandon got a scoop on TD!

[The Wise One]

Rooker. K% 34. I think I think that good guess is there is a problem with contact. It would not take long for major league scouting and pitchers to find it, See the problems of one Palka, Daniel, or the sad tale of AB Walker. The upside if the team can fix it makes it always worth drafting these guys and trying..

[The Wise One]

Garver, Sano, Arraez, Polonco, Donaldson, Kepler Buxton, Rosario and Cruz.  The only weak bat is when Garver gets the off day, Gonzales to keep the other players fresh is not a liability, either. That would be a lineup to get a team to the playoffs. 

[LewFordLives]

Call me a cynic, but this story sounds like a plant by someone. As others mentioned, there have been rumors for a couple weeks that the Twins and Nats are at four years. This is either

A. A plant by Donaldson's agent to get the Braves to up their offer, or

B. A plant by the Twins to prepare the fanbase for the fact that he ain't coming here. They can say "Hey, we tried."

[amjgt]

The 90M number was pure speculation by the author of the article. And it was framed as "offers likely above 90M" not "its a 90M offer"

[mk]

Save the $$$ for trade flexibility and free Brent Rooker to play 1B. Seems like he’s earned a chance.

[Squirrel]

Donaldson wants to go back to Atlanta right? Seems like he’s been waiting for Atlanta to match this (and/or Nat’s offer)

Yep, that was reported in a separate thread. So, if we do get him, will it be begrudgingly? That’s a great addition to the clubhouse. /s

[Squirrel]

Can he pitch?

 

Last time I checked the Twins had a third baseman with .378 wOBA and 137 wRC+, which is slightly better than Donaldson's .377 and .132.

 

Third base is not the problem...

I’m not convinced 3rd base is the problem, either, although the defense at 3rd does improve, and having both Sano and Donaldson in the lineup makes it even better. Better yet would be to get a SS with better defense and arm, and move Polanco to 2nd base and maybe use Arraez in a trade for pitching, but that’s a completely different discussion.