Article: Twins To Sign RHP Kevin Correia

[Ultima Ratio]

At best Correia can be Pavano 2010 - 2011 and at worst Blackburn 2012 - current. So, with a lot of luck, good defense (did I say luck), and catchers that can frame pitches, he could pitch to a #3 level, but likely we only hope for a solid #5 with an ERA no higher than 4.75 this season and sub 5 next.

 

I really think a "solid #5" is too much to hope for. Over the last three years, the only starting pitcher with a WAR lower than Correia's 0.8 is Nick Blackburn (0.5). His home run rate was almost average last year, but in 2011 it was 1.40, which is high even compared to the Twins cadre of gopherballers. Correia gives up way too many hits, and his strikeout rates are about as pathetic as Pavano's.

 

I cannot believe how utterly stupid this move was; signing Correia to a one year, MLB minimum deal would've been a questionable move. Giving him an extra year and $5 million per season is sheer insanity.

 

Agree. Seen him pitch here in the burgh, and he's no darling.

[Seth Stohs]

I'm the positive blogger, by many accounts. I got nothing. $5 million is apparently what a #4/5 starter is getting (although Feldman got $6 million +, and I would take Correia over him... if I absolutely had to). I just don't get the second year.

[Rosterman]

Not worth a 40-man spot. Blackburn throws ground balls, too. A waste of $10 million. Should've just waited him out and signed as an invitee to camp with a modest minor league contract. Only way to redeem himself is if Ryan still signs two more pitchers (Saunders and Myers) and we remove Drew Butera. Then can live with this..but barely. Ask yourself, when you sign a guy...would someone, anyone give you something of value for this player in the future and, what is out there that can comparably replace him...and we already have that in Blackburn and probably could've signed in Pavano for less. Bad signing, Terry.

[Shane Wahl]

I'm the positive blogger, by many accounts. I got nothing. $5 million is apparently what a #4/5 starter is getting (although Feldman got $6 million +, and I would take Correia over him... if I absolutely had to). I just don't get the second year.

 

Haha. Agree on everything.

[MN_Twins_Live]

He's better than our 3-4-5 guys from last years rotation! His 4.21 ERA would have lowered our team average from last year! Gotta have a little faith

[Brandon]

YAY WE ARE PUNTING NEXT SEASON. OR 2. We now have 2 Nick Blackburns for our rotation. You'd think the Twins would have learned after Blackburn.

[twinstalker]

Awesome. This rivals the Marquis signing. I can't think of any move that would be quite as stupid as this one. Congrats, Terry Ryan. For a moment there, I thought you had finally clued in. I now know you traded Ben Revere because you actually do think Aaron Hicks is ready, not because it was the right thing to do.

[twinstalker]

Who would you rather have pitching for the Twins, Kevin Correia or Sam Deduno? My money's on the dizzy-eyed one.

[Shane Wahl]

He's better than our 3-4-5 guys from last years rotation! His 4.21 ERA would have lowered our team average from last year! Gotta have a little faith

 

DeVries' ERA was lower than that. Deduno's was close enough. And Hendriks will improve to be around that mark. Each one costs 1/10 of Correia.

[Craig in MN]

Nothing good to say, especially for that price. Give me Feldman, Baker, McCarthy, Lannan, Jurrjens, a trade for a surplus Dodger pitcher, or almost any cheap other option that is or has been out there. Terry Ryan couldn't sign anyone and said sometimes you just can't give money away .....he just succeeded.

[Ultima Ratio]

He's better than our 3-4-5 guys from last years rotation! His 4.21 ERA would have lowered our team average from last year! Gotta have a little faith

 

No, he's not better. Just as bad I think. The guy has been a below replacement player his last 3 years and over his entire career. That 4.21 ERA in the NL will on a team with average to above average D will bloat to >4.5 ERA in AL and with the Twins D in all likelihood. I hope you are right and I am wrong.

[Shane Wahl]

1. Scott Diamond

2. Vance Worley

3. Kevin Correia

4. and 5. Liam Hendriks, Sam Deduno, Cole DeVries, etc.

 

Two 3 pitchers, three 5 pitchers, and Hendriks as wildcard. Let's just hope that there is a better signing coming.

[goliath]

Not shocked, Ryan has said has put offers out to multiple pitchers, a team has a 1/30 chance of signing a free agent. A team with 2 years of 90+ losses, and punting 2013 has to overpay to even get someone mediocre.

[jorgenswest]

I would have preferred to spend 9.25 for one year of Baker than 10 for two of Correia.

[Shane Wahl]

Not shocked, Ryan has said has put offers out to multiple pitchers, a team has a 1/30 chance of signing a free agent. A team with 2 years of 90+ losses, and punting 2013 has to overpay to even get someone mediocre.

 

One should "overpay" for above-average to great pitching and never "overpay" for mediocre pitching. Correia is one of a dozen or more similar pitchers, some of which will be getting minor league deals. It is much better to spend 10-15 million on a good pitcher and then two minor league deals or very small contracts then to pay this kind of money on bad pitching. He is a fifth starter and can only get worse. $10.5 million spend on Correia and Blackburn next year. Think about that.

[goliath]

I agree Shane Wahl, sadly I think they may have tried to overpay for better pitchers, but not everyone (good free agents) loves the Twins as much as us.

[Mark_RM]

Ugh. Those stellar numbers of his came with being in the same division as the Cubs and Astros. The guy was bad enough that you didn't want him in a NL-only fantasy league. I'll be a lot less upset about this if a legit 2/3 starter is signed...even if it is a bit of an over pay.

[greengoblinrulz]

Has anyone checked Gardy's house in the north subburbs for a FOR SALE sign???

Think he's already getting his 2014 resume together

[Zephrin]

Tweeted by Parker: Last 3 years: Correia 4.66 xFIP, 13.9% K%, 1.23 HR/9. Guthrie 4.66 xFIP, 13.7% K%, 1.22 HR/9.

 

Yes, but have we seen anything this off-season that makes us think KC is making good deals? At least we haven't traded Sano for 2 years of a downward trending non-ace. Then again, as laughable as KC's moves have been this off-season they are still likely to finish closer to .500 that we are. Again.

[darin617]

What they should have done was overpay for a better starter one a 1YR deal and flip him for some prospects.

[asmus_ndsu]

Jason marquis #2?

[greengoblinrulz]

Wonder if TR saw the KC/TB trade & knew he had to get the attention off of them & decided to make a move to get the media attention back on him/Twins

[greengoblinrulz]

Jason marquis #2?

CMON .....its Sidney Ponson #3 or Ramon Ortiz #4 or......

[Mark_RM]

Has anyone checked Gardy's house in the north subburbs for a FOR SALE sign???

Think he's already getting his 2014 resume together

Maybe this is all part of TR's master plan. This way there's no possibility of the Twins being good enough where they have to keep him around.

[Snortwood]

He does have the advantage of having a double consonant in his name - for some reason the Twins have always had good luck with guys with double consonants. Killebrew, Allison, Rollins, Versalles, Battey, Hall early on, Puckett, Gaetti, Hrbek (hnrary double consonant in his case), and even some recent guys - Plouffe, Capp (wait, maybe not) and, uh, my theory is breaking down. Not quite sure what we have here. I'll get back to you on this one.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

Disappointing sign. He had below average numbers in the National League where he's spent his entire career. Poor SO/BB, WHIP, and he's never pitched more than 200 innings in a season. Second move I disapprove of from Terry Ryan since his return. The first of course is Jason Marquis. 4.77ERA the past three season. Overpaid and underwhelming.

[YourHouseIsMyHouse]

On the plus side, we have 20 million dollars to spend. Put 7 million/yr towards Youkilis and 13 million/yr towards Jackson/Marcum.

 

Jackson/Marcum

Diamond

Worley

Gibson

Hendriks/Correia

 

Correia could be the next Blackburn for us with his contract lingering until 2014, but hopefully he provides a serviceable 5. I hope to God, Terry Ryan isn't satisfied using the underlined five for next year's rotation. That's a disaster waiting to happen. Please, PLEASE sign another pitcher. (Preferably good this time)

[COtwin]

Five million a year wasted! I will bet money his ERA will be higher this year than those two previous years. There is zero chance he will magically cut a whole run off of his ERA. So why spend 10 million and lock up two years when Deduno, Devries Swarzak, Walters, etc can do the same for minimum? How much money have we wasted over the last 5 years on washed up pitchers or never has beens? Those numbers have to add up to something substantial. Like enough to sign 1 real pitcher to the kind of deal it would take to get them here.

[Land Of 10,000 Beasts]

His line looks similar to Carl Pavano's, just not as durable and gives up more walks. Nothing to get too excited for, but it's at least somebody so I can't complain.

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

I think i just threw up in my mouth........Why us?