Article: Twins Should Strike While Stove is Hot

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1256-Twins-Should-Strike-While-Stove-is-Hot

[J-Dog Dungan]

Great summary. I have the same feelings; you would think that the Twins would be aggressively pushing towards deals now with other pitchers to have a good shot at them now that teams that were interested in Greinke and Dempster have run out of luck.

[Kwak]

Unless there is something big brewing (a trade or there was a sizeable offer to Marcum) I will conclude that Ryan was just a guy going to the auto show to look at cars he could not buy. A bit more time is needed before that conclusion is valid, but two weeks should be long enough.

[Mike Sixel]

Even from when? Certainly not even from last year's number.....nor the year before.

[glunn]

Excellent article. I hope that Ryan gets in gear before all the decent free agents are taken.

[Nick Nelson]

Even from when? Certainly not even from last year's number.....nor the year before.

 

Even with where they were at the start of the offseason.

[ssp833]

I hope so much that they do turn aggressive to the remaining free agent pitchers. The two trades were so positive because they not only showed recognition that they were at a crisis level with pitching, but also showed a continuation toward power pitchers like we saw in the draft. Then the crushingly disappointing Correia signing. it seems to take us back to a feeling that they don't care. i desparately hope that the next move shows that they do - especially because they have the funding that they didn't have last year.

[Shane Wahl]

I would offer Marcum the exact same deal as what the Red Sox gave Dempster. That should guarantee him, one would think. Add in an option year.

[SCBackroads]

Nice visual. And, yes, it is quite obviously time for the Twins management to adopt some quality arms before all that's left are the dogs with too many fleas. Woof.

[chagen]

That's how i look at it if you want to improve pitching don't you go get quality starting pitching instead the Twins get pitchers that know one else has interest in. Does anybody think the Twins are better off with Kevin Corriea in there rotation?

[ThePuck]

That's how i look at it if you want to improve pitching don't you go get quality starting pitching instead the Twins get pitchers that know one else has interest in. Does anybody think the Twins are better off with Kevin Corriea in there rotation?

 

As I read around, it seems we are in a FA pitching loop. If we have a really good season, that means our pitching was decent, so we don't go get top quality free agent pitching to make our pitching even better, even if the pitching is available. Why would we? It was okay just last season. So we don't spend, even though we are an attractive spot for FA pitching, seeing as how we were winners.

 

Now, conversely, if we have seasons like the last two, then we finished last for a couple years after winning for a long time, so no FA pitching wants to come here now matter how much we offer.

 

Now, prior to 2010, if we finished 2nd, or 3rd, well, then we just didn't have the income of TF to compete with the big boys.

 

There is always a legitimate reason we don't get quality FA pitching.

[Guest USAFChief]

Isn't it "while the iron is hot?"

 

in any case, it seems to me JR is most likely done adding FA pitching. Correia IS the big FA splash. He'll wait around till after the new year and pick through the leftovers to add more "numbers" but actually spending what it takes to add a legitimate starter? No. Not gonna happen.

[DAM DC Twins Fans]

I dont think Ryan planned to add much free agent pitching...Grienke and Sanchez were never coming here...the rest of the market is thin...Dempster is mediocre and age 35 (36 next season) why give him a multi-year contract. Haren to me was the choice but he would rather go to Nats and have a shot at a trophy. Marcum, Blanton and Jackson are all in their 30s, all up and down but overall mediocre. Giving them 3 year $30 million is a waste of money. None are that much better than DeVries, Deduno, etc. Best bet is to trade for a veteran pitcher like Royals did with Shields. Then hope that Meyer, Gibson or Hendricks can be a good Twins pitcher second half of 2013.

[CDog]

Isn't it "while the iron is hot?"

 

in any case, it seems to me JR is most likely done adding FA pitching. Correia IS the big FA splash. He'll wait around till after the new year and pick through the leftovers to add more "numbers" but actually spending what it takes to add a legitimate starter? No. Not gonna happen.

 

I took "stove is hot" to be a play on words with the "iron" phrase combining with the Hot Stove League.

 

I'm still unwilling to believe they're done. And still realize it's more because of hope than anything else. And because it's going to really, really, really suck if it is the case...so I figure it's better to not be sad about it until it's actually true. Ugh.

[Guest USAFChief]

I took "stove is hot" to be a play on words with the "iron" phrase combining with the Hot Stove

 

ah...that makes sense. My apologies, Nick. Sometimes I'm not too quick on the uptake.

[edavis0308]

I think the most depressing thing is that all of the guys that are starting to sign that are worth a damn, we arent even reported to have made an offer for, or even had interest in.

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

I think the most depressing thing is that all of the guys that are starting to sign that are worth a damn, we arent even reported to have made an offer for, or even had interest in.

 

Hey remember when it was said Ryan had offers out all over the place.....

[Rosterman]

If they can kick tires a tad high on someone like Corriea, why not Saunders and Marcum...of even the other non-tenders: Lannan, JJ et al. Sadly, when you make an offer, you are stuck making the offer if someone immediately accepts.

[Einstein]

I wouldn't get my hopes up, TR talks a good game (he has to though doesn't he?), but it seems pretty obvious to me that they've already punted on the 2013 season. They may still sign a Joe Saunders or Brett Myers but don't look for a top of the rotation starter. On this bright side, they will be drafting very highly in 2013 and 2014.

[bphat1]

Nick, I'm wondering what you think the market would be for Marcum? Could we get him for, say 3/35M or is it looking more like a longer/more lucrative deal will be out there for him? And why are we not reading about the Twins making him an offer?

[Einstein]

Terry Ryan on Nick Blackburn:

 

"I'm counting on him to compete for a job. There's no reason why he can't be in a situation where he's breaking camp with us. He's coming on a minor league invite, but that's a little deceiving. We've got a lot invested in him."

[Mike Sixel]

Because the twins largest FA signing ever is Willingham....and they have no intention of signing free agents that are expensive. That should he obvious by now.

[greengoblinrulz]

but remember, there was no avenue for pitching that Terry Ryan didnt check....exept for those that wanted to get paid!!!

[Nick Nelson]

I think the most depressing thing is that all of the guys that are starting to sign that are worth a damn, we arent even reported to have made an offer for, or even had interest in.

 

My thoughts exactly. I'll be satisfied to hear that Ryan at least made a serious run at some of these respectable names. I can't blame him if he gets outbid or the guy simply prefers to go elsewhere, but there's no excuse for this "kicked the tires but no formal offer" business. Just make a serious effort to land someone who can make your team better.

[Mike Sixel]

I don't care if Ryan makes offers. I care if the team is better. Butera tries to hit....

[Nick Nelson]

Nick, I'm wondering what you think the market would be for Marcum? Could we get him for, say 3/35M or is it looking more like a longer/more lucrative deal will be out there for him? And why are we not reading about the Twins making him an offer?

I haven't heard much about him. I'm wondering if teams are worried about his elbow.

 

I'd have to think 3/35 would be plenty to get it done but in this market, who knows.

[matthew0211]

From LEN3's Twitter account:

 

LaVelle E. Neal III ‏@LaVelleNealHealth concerns. “@Anderson9186: @LaVelleNeal Any insight on if the Twins have interest in Marcum? What is he looking for in years and $'s?”

[Guest USAFChief]

My thoughts exactly. I'll be satisfied to hear that Ryan at least made a serious run at some of these respectable names. I can't blame him if he gets outbid or the guy simply prefers to go elsewhere, but there's no excuse for this "kicked the tires but no formal offer" business. Just make a serious effort to land someone who can make your team better.

 

What exactly is the difference between "serious run" and "kicked the tires," if in the end, the result is the same: "too expensive for our tastes."?

 

A serious effort to land someone who can make your team better means LANDING someone who can make your team better.

 

Anything less is all the same.

[Mike Sixel]

"not a good value".... "too many years"..."health concerns"...."too much money"....."not better than what we have"....did I miss anything?

[chagen]

As I read around, it seems we are in a FA pitching loop. If we have a really good season, that means our pitching was decent, so we don't go get top quality free agent pitching to make our pitching even better, even if the pitching is available. Why would we? It was okay just last season. So we don't spend, even though we are an attractive spot for FA pitching, seeing as how we were winners.

 

Now, conversely, if we have seasons like the last two, then we finished last for a couple years after winning for a long time, so no FA pitching wants to come here now matter how much we offer.

 

Now, prior to 2010, if we finished 2nd, or 3rd, well, then we just didn't have the income of TF to compete with the big boys.

 

There is always a legitimate reason we don't get quality FA pitching.

 

Very well thought out can't disagree we are so bad that free agents don't want to sign hear!