Front Page: FEINSAND: Twins to Sign Josh Donaldson

[chpettit19]

 

Make a respectable offer, and they will at least consider it. This signing doesn't prove they were willing to pay Bumgarner, Wheeler, Keuchel, or Ryu the same rates they accepted. It doesn't disprove it, either. We'll never know.

For sure. This signing does prove they're willing to spend as long as they feel like it's the right deal. They aren't willing to overspend, but they are willing to sign the right big money deals. Does that mean this deal turns out better than any of the deals those arms signed? Nope. But I'd guess the FO has a whole lot of info and reasons why they were willing to do this one, but not go any higher than they did on the arms. Now we just cross our fingers that we get production worthy of the price tag.

[Brock Beauchamp]

 

I agree the Central is easily the worst division in baseball, and he'll see some subpar pitching, but it won't account for anywhere close to the percentage of poor pitching used to generate the stat lines in that tweet. 

I'm not so sure the ALC will be the worst division in baseball this season given what Chicago has done to speed up the rebuild. They should post a winning record on the season, which likely gives the ALC three winning teams and two terrible teams.

[dex8425]

 

Now trade Arraez and Kiriloff for 2 years of Lindor to play SS, shifting Polanco to 2B. 

 

Just kidding, but seriously though. 

Seriously though, if the Twins asked about Lindor, the Indians would say "Sure, he's yours for Royce Lewis and Luis Arraez." And nope. They're not going to trade to a division rival unless we dramatically overpay. No thanks on that. Story would be (theoretically) more available and cheaper than Lindor. 

[dex8425]

 

I'm not so sure the ALC will be the worst division in baseball this season given what Chicago has done to speed up the rebuild. They should post a winning record on the season, which likely gives the ALC three winning teams and two terrible teams.

 What division will be worse though? Maybe the NL west, with the Dodgers good, the Padres upcoming and three bad but not terrible teams? 

[Brock Beauchamp]

What division will be worse though? Maybe the NL west, with the Dodgers good, the Padres upcoming and three bad but not terrible teams?

That’s the most likely division but if Boston blows itself up, the ALE could actually be pretty weak for once.

 

Though now that we’re at the midpoint of January, Boston pulling the pin is becoming pretty unlikely.

[KirbyDome89]

 

I'm not so sure the ALC will be the worst division in baseball this season given what Chicago has done to speed up the rebuild. They should post a winning record on the season, which likely gives the ALC three winning teams and two terrible teams.

That might simply be a product of an "ok," Sox teaming beating up on two awful division opponents. The AL East has two bad teams, but I'd take Boston over the ChiSox. The AL West is easily stronger top to bottom, same goes for the NL Central. The NL East is likely the best division in baseball. Maybe the NL west? Maybe.

 

SD is in a similar spot as the Sox, and if SF and Colorado both implode, intentionally or not, I can see an argument for the Sox slotting in above them. That said it'll be hard for the bottom of that division to match how terrible both Detroit and KC will be this season. The Central will boast two of the 3-4 worst teams in baseball again. 

[cmoss84]

 

Seriously though, if the Twins asked about Lindor, the Indians would say "Sure, he's yours for Royce Lewis and Luis Arraez." And nope. They're not going to trade to a division rival unless we dramatically overpay. No thanks on that. Story would be (theoretically) more available and cheaper than Lindor. 

I just can't see the Rockies not extending Story-but I get your point.

 

I remember Tito loving Arraez and saying he is going to win batting titles. I wouldn't do Lewis and Arraez either...but Kiriloff and Arraez...sure. 

[gman]

Rocco proved to be a cautious manager last year in regards to resting players to keep them fresh and free as possible from nagging injuries. With Gonzalez as our super sub, as well as Adrianza et al we have a pretty strong bench.

This strong a lineup also gives any rookie who could be knocking on the door an opportunity to get his feet wet without pressing to be "the star".

[Twins33]

[arno0091]

Time for a parade down first ave as the 4th richest owner in the MLB now has a payroll right in the middle of the pack at 140 million. And is there some imaginary salary cap that posters on here keep talking about that I'm unaware of?

[LVTwinsfan]

Awesome signing!!

 

MLB.tv had Boston Red Sox reporter comment that the Alex Cora/ sign stealing

debacle really hurts the Red Sox with the expected loss of future 1st Round Draft picks and that the Red Sox farm system is very weak. Seems that this should give Falvine considerable trade leverage for Chris Sale that they didn't have a just a week ago?

Sure, as long as he leaves his scissors at home

[jorgenswest]

The Twins are a lot better off with Donaldson in the their clubhouse than the visitor’s clubhouse. One excerpt from Rosenthal and the Athletic with a quote from Freeman. In an early Donaldson thread I posted links to other articles about Donaldson and the clubhouse. They are similar.

 

I would want this guy in my clubhouse.

 

As the Braves discovered, Donaldson can be a bit of an acquired taste — as one club source put it, “he’s loud, in your face, an alpha who will test the room.” He went through an adjustment period in Atlanta, and Freddie Freeman talked with him at one point about better fitting into the clubhouse, the source said. But Donaldson eventually found his niche, and the Braves came to relish his daily intensity and competitiveness.

 

The team wants him back.

[bird]

 

Time for a parade down first ave as the 4th richest owner in the MLB now has a payroll right in the middle of the pack at 140 million. And is there some imaginary salary cap that posters on here keep talking about that I'm unaware of?

 

 

Can we assume you will not be in attendance?

[IndianaTwin]

 

 

 

...But how does Berrios align against Cole in game one of a postseason series? How does Odorizzi align against Grienke in game two of a postseason series? How does Pineda... well, you get the point....

 

(Using this post as representative of those thinking we still need a higher-end pitcher.)

 

On one hand, I get it, although I personally think Berrios is closer to an “ace” than others seem to think he is, particularly given that he’s still on the upside.

 

At the same time, my hunch is that some on AstrosDaily are saying, “Holy cow — sure we can run out Verlander and Greinke against Berrios and Odorizzi, but then the Twins have Pineda and Hill and we’ve only got McCullers and Jose Urquidy. McCullers is coming back from TJS, and he’s never had more than 22 starts in a season and Urquidy only has 41 big league innings. And if somebody’s hurt, they can use Bailey and we’ve got Brad Peacock. Plus they have that Dobnak guy and Graterol. If Verlander or Greinke get hurt, we’re cooked.” 

 

Point being, while there may be a few teams tougher at the very top of the rotation, I’m not sure there’s many that are as deep as the Twins. And there’s still that lineup...

[Mr. Brooks]

(Using this post as representative of those thinking we still need a higher-end pitcher.)

 

On one hand, I get it, although I personally think Berrios is closer to an “ace” than others seem to think he is, particularly given that he’s still on the upside.

 

At the same time, my hunch is that some on AstrosDaily are saying, “Holy cow — sure we can run out Verlander and Greinke against Berrios and Odorizzi, but then the Twins have Pineda and Hill and we’ve only got McCullers and Jose Urquidy. McCullers is coming back from TJS, and he’s never had more than 22 starts in a season and Urquidy only has 41 big league innings. And if somebody’s hurt, they can use Bailey and we’ve got Brad Peacock. Plus they have that Dobnak guy and Graterol. If Verlander or Greinke get hurt, we’re cooked.”

 

Point being, while there may be a few teams tougher at the very top of the rotation, I’m not sure there’s many that are as deep as the Twins. And there’s still that lineup...

IMO counting on Hill as anything more than a lottery ticket come October would be foolish.

[Mr. Brooks]

(Using this post as representative of those thinking we still need a higher-end pitcher.)

 

On one hand, I get it, although I personally think Berrios is closer to an “ace” than others seem to think he is, particularly given that he’s still on the upside.

 

At the same time, my hunch is that some on AstrosDaily are saying, “Holy cow — sure we can run out Verlander and Greinke against Berrios and Odorizzi, but then the Twins have Pineda and Hill and we’ve only got McCullers and Jose Urquidy. McCullers is coming back from TJS, and he’s never had more than 22 starts in a season and Urquidy only has 41 big league innings. And if somebody’s hurt, they can use Bailey and we’ve got Brad Peacock. Plus they have that Dobnak guy and Graterol. If Verlander or Greinke get hurt, we’re cooked.”

 

Point being, while there may be a few teams tougher at the very top of the rotation, I’m not sure there’s many that are as deep as the Twins. And there’s still that lineup...

Speaking of depth, as of now our 3rd starter is Homer Bailey...

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Has either the Minnesota Twins or Josh Donaldson's camp officially confirmed the signing?

Will there be a Team media introduction with Josh?

 

Thanks...

[Danchat]

 

Has either the Minnesota Twins or Josh Donaldson's camp officially confirmed the signing?

Will there be a Team media introduction with Josh?

 

Thanks...

Well, no, but the team usually doesn't announce a move until several days after it is made. 

 

MLB Trade Rumors has cited these sources:

 

 

Mark Feinsand of MLB.com tweeted news of the signing. Darren Wolfson of 1500 SKOR North Radio (via Twitter), Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com (via Twitter), and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic (via Twitter) all reported contract details.

I imagine Donaldson's camp would have refuted these reports if they were not true.

[IndianaTwin]

 

Well, no, but the team usually doesn't announce a move until several days after it is made. 

 

MLB Trade Rumors has cited these sources:

 

I imagine Donaldson's camp would have refuted these reports if they were not true.

 

Which, among other things, also allows time for the physical and to explore whether they can get a lottery pick out of whoever they would otherwise be DFAing.

[IndianaTwin]

 

Speaking of depth, as of now our 3rd starter is Homer Bailey...

 

For seven or eight times through the rotation, at which time he slips to fourth (unless he continues last year’s second half). And I’m not convinced they won’t still get another arm better than Bailey, even if it’s not better than Berrios.

 

To your other post on Hill — lottery pick perhaps, but he’s had 20 or more starts in three of the last four years and has pitched in the last four playoffs, even when he’s missed part of the season. If we’re indeed the division favorite we seem to think we are, he can be brought along very slowly. 

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Great...thanks for the replies!!

[IndianaTwin]

 

Great...thanks for the replies!!

 

And to give Donaldson time to swing by Applebee’s to pick up the gift card to give to Rosario in exchange for being able to wear No. 20. 

[Kummel]

Can't wait for this upcoming season.   What an offense!   And while this signing doesn't address the need for SP, it gives fans hope because the FO is spending more competitively.  

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

At the same time, my hunch is that some on AstrosDaily are saying, “Holy cow — sure we can run out Verlander and Greinke against Berrios and Odorizzi, but then the Twins have Pineda and Hill and we’ve only got McCullers and Jose Urquidy. McCullers is coming back from TJS, and he’s never had more than 22 starts in a season and Urquidy only has 41 big league innings. And if somebody’s hurt, they can use Bailey and we’ve got Brad Peacock. Plus they have that Dobnak guy and Graterol. If Verlander or Greinke get hurt, we’re cooked.” 

I'm pretty sure no one at "Astros Daily" is actually saying that. At least not this week.

 

That said, Hill is clearly the least likely among this group to actually pitch in October 2020 (and even when he pitched in October 2019, he was a playoff non-factor for the Dodgers). And while Pineda looked good at times in 2019, he has a checkered history of performance and durability himself -- plus he's never even pitched in the postseason.

 

Yes, the Astros have some question marks in their rotation like everyone else, but McCullers beat both the Yankees and Dodgers in the ALCS and WS in 2017, Urquidy had a gem road start in the 2019 WS and also pitched a few clutch innings in the ALCS clincher, and even Peacock has done well in some clutch postseason moments (WS Game 7). They also used a bullpen game to clinch the ALCS last year. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't consider any of those guys as October underdogs vs what's projected from Hill/Pineda/Bailey/Dobnak/etc. right now. Nor would they be too concerned about the injury risk of Verlander and Greinke at 1-2 -- they're both older but pretty well established as the most durable arms in the game. Did fans of yore worry about Clemens, Morris, etc. not being healthy for the playoffs?

 

Plus considering the Astros trade history, their fans are probably more confident about making necessary upgrades before the deadline. (Even if they have fewer prospects to pull it off now.)

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

To your other post on Hill — lottery pick perhaps, but he’s had 20 or more starts in three of the last four years and has pitched in the last four playoffs, even when he’s missed part of the season. If we’re indeed the division favorite we seem to think we are, he can be brought along very slowly. 

Hill wasn't coming off surgery those other years. He spent a lot of time on the IL for the Dodgers with blisters. The injury challenge he's facing now is an entirely different animal:

 

https://www.mlb.com/news/rich-hill-has-surgery

 

 

 

Hill, who turns 40 in March, pitched the last 3 1/2 seasons for the Dodgers before becoming a free agent. His 2019 season was interrupted for three months by what was diagnosed as a strained flexor tendon in his forearm.

But Hill said on Monday that it wasn’t the flexor tendon but a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament, which he originally tore in 2011, necessitating Tommy John surgery. However, instead of having a second Tommy John replacement surgery last month, Hill said Dr. Jeffrey Dugas of the Andrews Sports Medicine Center in Birmingham, Ala., performed a “primary repair” procedure.
 

Dugas uses tape to form an “internal brace” around the damaged ligament that will allow Hill to begin throwing in January, with a June target date for returning to MLB action, about half the recovery time of traditional Tommy John surgery. Hill said Dugas has been performing the procedure for six years and added that Seth Maness and Brandon Guyer are among the Major Leaguers who have had it.

 

And the most recent season (2019) showing his least availability, and least October relevance (1 appearance, 2.2 IP, 4 walks), is a worrying trend as he turns 40 this spring too.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

MLB.tv had Boston Red Sox reporter comment that the Alex Cora/ sign stealing

debacle really hurts the Red Sox with the expected loss of future 1st Round Draft picks and that the Red Sox farm system is very weak.  Seems that this should give Falvine considerable trade leverage for Chris Sale that they didn't have a just a week ago?

There's no leverage for Sale until Boston is actually selling. They haven't sold anybody yet, and have even added a few low-level free agents this winter. They also still have the 4th most projected WAR in MLB at Fangraphs, and Sale alone is 10% of that.

 

At this point, I'm guessing there is virtually zero chance of them dealing Sale before opening day, but they can reconsider that strategy midseason.

[Otto von Ballpark]

The Donaldson deal reminds me of the Brewers contract for Cain. Donaldson's a little older, but much better at the plate too, which could keep him valuable longer. Hence, Donaldson getting more money.

 

But both were at an age/profile that probably depressed their market a bit league-wide, compared to younger FAs. Which opened up an opportunity for traditionally frugal clubs like the Brewers and Twins to snag them.

 

So I wouldn't expect the Twins or Brewers to play at this level of free agency frequently, but they don't necessarily have to. Hopefully the Twins can emulate the other form of Brewers aggressiveness and swing a trade like Yelich, Greinke, or Sabathia too!

[akmanak]

Trade Buxton and be done with it. How many years are we going to continue to say that he will learn not to run into the wall going 25mph?

 

I love his intensity but I also believe he is made of glass. His stock is still high and it is time to move on and aquire a pitcher who is decent for him.

[cmoss84]

 

There's no leverage for Sale until Boston is actually selling. They haven't sold anybody yet, and have even added a few low-level free agents this winter. They also still have the 4th most projected WAR in MLB at Fangraphs, and Sale alone is 10% of that.

 

At this point, I'm guessing there is virtually zero chance of them dealing Sale before opening day, but they can reconsider that strategy midseason.

Man. Boston could go either way.

 

Is Betts the first domino that would knock them all down? Or would they still try to compete even without Betts?