Front Page: Where Are We Now? (New Years Edition)

[TwinsFan268]

Dobnak and Smeltzer will probably pitch until Pineda and Hill come back.

[Seth Stohs]

 

Seth, Chris Sale would be.  Gotta believe the Red Sox REALLY want to keep mookie.  What do YOU think it would take to get Sale if we took on all 5 years and $145 million of his remaining salary ??

 

It would probably take next to nothing because that's a ton of dollars and a long time for a guy who missed a lot of time with elbow issues...  Same situation as Price, but two extra years. 

[D.C Twins]

 

Assuming health next year we will have a playoff rotation of Berrios, Odo, Pineda, and Hill. That’s a lot better than Berrios, Odo, Dobnak, and a bullpen game. So i think at this point we are in a little better position to compete in the playoffs, and still have time to get even better.

A lot of 'ifs' on health, non-PED performance, and avoiding regression but even if we avoid all of those 'ifs',

 

The above playoff rotation simply will not prevail over a legit playoff rotation which will be fielded by NY/Houston/and possibly others.

 

An established #1 starter provides much needed confidence to the entire team in playoff games. Much like an elite hockey goalie, there is just no substitute in the playoffs.

 

Believe me, I wish there was....

[Thrylos]

They need at least one more lefty in the pen, hopefully 2.   Jake McGee is allegedly available and was very good away from Coors.  Much more of a need than a corner IF.  I'd love to see what Rooker can do. They can sign someone like Neil Walker for a utility type; much better than Astrudillo.  They also need an ace, if they are to compete in the post-season, but they don't need one right now. They can wait until the trading deadline. 

[etwink]

 

If they do open the checkbook and sign Donaldson, wouldn’t that just give some credence to the stories that pitchers signed elsewhere because they wanted to be elsewhere? Something we can never know for sure. But ... that still leaves us where we always are, as I said in my post above ... still in need of pitching that has a chance of getting it done.

I imagine that you were just trying to be provocative, but I disagree.

 

Does everyone know that Minnesota isn’t the #1 FA destination?  Yes, we all know it’s a disadvantage.

 

Do we have proof that the Twins have offered “significantly” more money OR an extra year in order to overcome this disadvantage?  No, we don’t.  All we know is that the Twins were in the ballpark of the other offers.

 

Until the Twins are willing to make “stupid” contracts, we can’t say that they’ve done everything possible.  It’s just that simple.  If the Twins don’t want to do that, fine, but then stop acting like we have a chance here.

[Squirrel]

I imagine that you were just trying to be provocative, but I disagree.

 

Does everyone know that Minnesota isn’t the #1 FA destination? Yes, we all know it’s a disadvantage.

 

Do we have proof that the Twins have offered “significantly” more money OR an extra year in order to overcome this disadvantage? No, we don’t. All we know is that the Twins were in the ballpark of the other offers.

 

Until the Twins are willing to make “stupid” contracts, we can’t say that they’ve done everything possible. It’s just that simple. If the Twins don’t want to do that, fine, but then stop acting like we have a chance here.

No, I wasn’t trying to be provocative at all. I was saying if they do open their checkbooks for Donaldson, I think it shows there is a willingness to spend. And if there is a willingness to spend, then perhaps there could be some truth to Wheeler and Bumgarner not wanting to come here for other reasons. But the point of my post was that it doesn’t matter, we are still where we always are ... without the pitching I think we need.

[Doctor Wu]

 

Not mentioned anywhere but Wisler also has some starting experience. It did not go well but would be an option depending on how he is throwing... 

You're right. And not only that, very little has been written about the Wisler signing this off-season. But I think that could rank as one of the Twins' better moves after all the dust has settled.

[USAFChief]

You're right. And not only that, very little has been written about the Wisler signing this off-season. But I think that could rank as one of the Twins' better moves after all the dust has settled.

based on ... what?

[Doctor Wu]

 

based on ... what?

Based on his youth and tools (I read that his curveball has a high spin rate, for what that's worth) and the fact that in the not too distant past he was a highly rated prospect in the Braves system. Sure, the past has passed, but I still think this was a good signing. He's still relatively young at 27, so maybe Wes Johnson can work some magic on him.