Joe Saunders

[Thrylos]

The way it is, with the likes of the Correia signing, Twins' prospects are not only blocked this season (I doubt that more than one of Hendriks or Gibson will see the majors this year with no injuries) but 2014 as well (Diamond, Correia, Worley, Gibson, Hendriks) . So Meyer and Mays and Wimmers and the rest will see action in 2015 unless people are traded/ineffective.

 

Saunders' skills are no better or worse than Diamond's. And they are fine for a #3 or #4 pitcher in a contender.

 

No thanks.

[TheLeviathan]

Still can't comment without using vitriol? If I were trolling I would have said that Saunders should come here because he could have Butera as his personal catcher. I could have included Butera would instantly make him a lot better pitcher with his superior game calling ability. I really can't go any further with an example of a trolling type of comment for fear of someone actually not reading very well and thinking I am serious about Butera.

 

I fail to see how your comment about Pavano is any different. Or, for that matter, how your relentless inability to understand what "evidence" is any different.

 

I simply can't believe anyone could argue the points you have the last few weeks with a straight face. It's not possible. I've tried to point out the massive, gaping flaws in your "arguments" and you just keep going. It's not an insult, that's the definition of trolling.

[jorgenswest]

It looks as if the last few pitchers in the deep market are running out of suitors. The Twins still have money in their pockets. Maybe they can get a bargain out of what is left and flip them at the deadline.

[Guest USAFChief]

Minor point, but Pavano didn't get $18m, he got 2 yrs plus a team option and $16.5.

 

and I'm still waiting for proof of the 3/39 offer to Buehrle.

[old nurse]

I fail to see how your comment about Pavano is any different. Or, for that matter, how your relentless inability to understand what "evidence" is any different.

 

I simply can't believe anyone could argue the points you have the last few weeks with a straight face. It's not possible. I've tried to point out the massive, gaping flaws in your "arguments" and you just keep going. It's not an insult, that's the definition of trolling.

posting just to piss you off? There is a concept. Can you find the gaping hole in your argument?

[kab21]

The way it is' date=' with the likes of the Correia signing, Twins' prospects are not only blocked this season (I doubt that more than one of Hendriks or Gibson will see the majors this year with no injuries) but 2014 as well (Diamond, Correia, Worley, Gibson, Hendriks) . So Meyer and Mays and Wimmers and the rest will see action in 2015 unless people are traded/ineffective.[/quote']

 

Honestly? You are now going to complain about having too many arms in the rotation? I would be absolutely shocked if Saunders (if signed), Correia, Worley, diamond, and Pelfrey were all effective and healthy this season. Ryan should win GM of the year if he managed to put together an effective rotation on the cheap in one offseason.

[East Coast Twin]

LaVelle reports there are "indications that the [Twins and Saunders] have made recent progress on a deal."

 

Twins remain interested in Saunders as offseason closes | StarTribune.com

[Nick Nelson]

Now wins count towards a player's value? Lost count of the people blasted for saying wins matter on this board.

 

Whether a pitcher’s win total should have an impact and whether it does have an impact are two different matters. I do think it’s something that a front office will look at in assessing the year a guy had. But if you prefer, you can take a look at various other areas where Pavano was strong in 2010. Point is that his contract following that campaign was – if anything – below what you’d expect and not “huge” by any stretch of the imagination.

 

The way it is, with the likes of the Correia signing, Twins' prospects are not only blocked this season (I doubt that more than one of Hendriks or Gibson will see the majors this year with no injuries) but 2014 as well (Diamond, Correia, Worley, Gibson, Hendriks)

 

Well, we all know how common it is for a rotation to go through a year without any injuries.

 

If you’re planning out this rotation based on the expectation that five guys are going to hold down spots all year you’re doing it wrong. I don’t know how this would not be painfully obvious to anyone who’s followed the team over the past few seasons (or any season, really).

[ThePuck]

If you’re planning out this rotation based on the expectation that five guys are going to hold down spots all year you’re doing it wrong. I don’t know how this would not be painfully obvious to anyone who’s followed the team over the past few seasons (or any season, really).

 

Or even the health history of the guys newly plugged into the rotation themselves...

[Alex]

Whether a pitcher’s win total should have an impact and whether it does have an impact are two different matters. I do think it’s something that a front office will look at in assessing the year a guy had. But if you prefer, you can take a look at various other areas where Pavano was strong in 2010. Point is that his contract following that campaign was – if anything – below what you’d expect and not “huge” by any stretch of the imagination.

 

 

Great point that while some of us may not care as much about the pitcher win stat, some teams still pay for them, including the Twins.

[old nurse]

Whether a pitcher’s win total should have an impact and whether it does have an impact are two different matters. I do think it’s something that a front office will look at in assessing the year a guy had. But if you prefer, you can take a look at various other areas where Pavano was strong in 2010. Point is that his contract following that campaign was – if anything – below what you’d expect and not “huge” by any stretch of the imagination.

.

For 2011 he was the 40th best paid starting pitcher. By WAR in 2010 he was the 43. In better searching, I would say that he was paid about where he should have. The point I really got side tracked from was that the Twins could have been cheap and let him go. They had faith in Liriano to develop, Baker, Blackburn, and Slowey (13-6). They put forth the money. The Twins haven't been cheap with signing players within their organization to a contract even though they are eligible to be a free agent

[Alex]

For 2011 he was the 40th best paid starting pitcher. By WAR in 2010 he was the 43. In better searching, I would say that he was paid about where he should have. The point I really got side tracked from was that the Twins could have been cheap and let him go. They had faith in Liriano to develop, Baker, Blackburn, and Slowey (13-6). They put forth the money. The Twins haven't been cheap with signing players within their organization to a contract even though they are eligible to be a free agent

 

I really appreciate the research and you're right that it sounds like he was paid appropriately, but doesn't it point out exactly that the Twins were cheap in signing pitchers, which is really what the discussion is about?

 

The Twins paid Pavano (at at time they were actually spending a lot more on payroll) $8M dollars a year, less than 39 other pitchers in baseball and he was their #1 and opening day starter. While this may be more than they will likely spend this year on pitching, I think where he ranked says a lot about the Twins desire, or lack thereof, to spend on pitching. Of course, that year from what I gather, there really wasn't anything on the market, so that might not be a fair comparison either and he did get one of the top 3 contracts that year.

 

I'd agree that the Twins recently haven't seemed as afraid to sign their own players, especially under Smith, Capps was the only one I could think of recently...Nathan, Kubel, Cuddyer, and now Baker and Liriano have all waked. We don't have a lot of players who will test that anytime soon Morneau? though I'd guess he he'll be gone.

[LimestoneBaggy]

It says a lot about the free agent acquisitions this offseason that I'd rejoice if the Twins landed Saunders.

 

Jesus, I need a drink.

 

Brock, Let's be honest with ourselves....at this point, we'd take a Jugs machine on a "Terry Mulholland" setting.

[nicksaviking]

The Twins haven't been cheap with signing players within their organization to a contract even though they are eligible to be a free agent

 

Yet they are cheap with other team's pitchers. Why is it that they are fine re-signing Pavano and extending Radke, Santana, Baker, Blackburn, Milton and Mays yet when there is no one to extend they won't put the same effort into the pitching staff? The "We look after our own" atmosphere is cute and cuddley but is prohibitive when solutions are needed from outside the organization. Butera's pay is only a drop in the bucket, but did they really need to pay him more than most people thought he'd get in arbitration? Did they even need to extend him a MLB contract at all? If the team lost him to another team, there will probably be about 30 other number 3 catchers available before the season starts.

 

The Twins take the bird in the hand is better than two in the bush idiom way too seriously.

[stringer bell]

Saunders would definitely help the club next year and probably the two years following. It makes way too much sense to sign him for two years with an option for year #3. In looking at the long view, the Twins have gotten filler for 2013, at least, and maybe 2014 with Worley, Correia and Pelfrey. Adding Saunders would be more of the same, but one or more of these guys can/should emerge as a useful starter on a decent team. The future holds harder throwers, Gibson, May and Meyer and probably Berrios, who will be developed in the Twins upper minors. Acquiring such talent when it is ready to pitch in the majors is just too expensive.

[TheLeviathan]

The point I really got side tracked from was that the Twins could have been cheap and let him go. t

 

No, that was not the point. I said the Twins are hesitant to dole out big FA contracts. They are extremely hesitant to sign any pitchers to huge contracts - FA or not. You then countered with Pavano as a counter example of a "huge" contract. Not to mention Morneau and Mauer as counterexamples. (To what, I don't know) Either way, that Pavano remark is easily one of the most embarrassingly bad examples in internet history.

 

I'm fairly certain that is only light hyperbole.

[LaBombo]

...In looking at the long view, the Twins have gotten filler for 2013, at least, and maybe 2014 with Worley, Correia and Pelfrey. Adding Saunders would be more of the same...

 

If for no other reason than that I need something to be optimistic about in 2013, I'm going to say that Worley doesn't deserve to be lumped in with those guys. Yet.

 

His ceiling may not be waaaay above a Saundersy sort of guy, but his 2011 and pre-injury 2012 performances are a cut above the filler guys. Whether he stays healthy and how his numbers translate to the AL, well, we'll see.

[Thrylos]

Well, we all know how common it is for a rotation to go through a year without any injuries.

 

If you’re planning out this rotation based on the expectation that five guys are going to hold down spots all year you’re doing it wrong. I don’t know how this would not be painfully obvious to anyone who’s followed the team over the past few seasons (or any season, really).

 

That's why you have a crapload of AAAA pitchers along with some prospects. In case of injury. Look at the starters with MLB experience they already have this year (in no order) :

 

Harden

Pelfrey

Worley

Diamond

Correia

Hendriks

Blackburn

De Vries

Deduno

Walters

Vasquez

Elarton

Martis

Hernandez

 

add some of the ones who signed as MiLB FAs this year (Jason Lane, Michael O'Connor, Bryan Augenstein, Virgil Vasquez)

add the prospects Gibson, May and Meyer

 

and you really need Sanders (who is about as good as Diamond - a #3-4 pitcher) in case of injury? For 3 years?

 

That is enough to fill the rotations down to New Britain and beyond.

[johnnydakota]

Last year they tried to get Buehrle, this year they were linked to Dempster. It is not as simple as you make it out to be.

 

Yes it is very hard to acquire quality players when your not the highest bidder and in the midst of being the worst team 2 years running

[snepp]

and you really need Sanders (who is about as good as Diamond - a #3-4 pitcher) in case of injury? For 3 years?

 

That is enough to fill the rotations down to New Britain and beyond.

 

No, you don't sign him in case of injury, you sign him because with a couple of exceptions he's better than that entire list.

[old nurse]

No, that was not the point. I said the Twins are hesitant to dole out big FA contracts. They are extremely hesitant to sign any pitchers to huge contracts - FA or not. You then countered with Pavano as a counter example of a "huge" contract. Not to mention Morneau and Mauer as counterexamples. (To what, I don't know) Either way, that Pavano remark is easily one of the most embarrassingly bad examples in internet history.

 

I'm fairly certain that is only light hyperbole.

 

I know what point I was going to make. Your conjecture belongs in a bedpan. In terms of dollars per year by what starters were paid, in 2011 Pavano was well paid. The point you didn't bother to refute was they could have been even cheaper and let him go. In terms of length, I would hazzard a guess that may would say the contract was one year too long. It was fortunate that Marquis contract was only for one year. This is the first year that Ryan has had the need to chase after a free agent pitcher of higher quality. Do you really think that Grienke, Sanchez or Jackson were going to come here? Guthrie resigned with the club he was with. Who else signed a long term contract? No one.

[Thrylos]

No, you don't sign him in case of injury, you sign him because with a couple of exceptions he's better than that entire list.

 

I don't think that he is any better than Worley or Diamond right now.

And I don't think that he is any better than a healthy Pelfrey. He is not better than a healthy Harden.

And I don't think that he is any better than Meyer, Gibson, May or Hendriks once they got their act together. (and probably Gibson is better than him at this point)

 

My point is that the Twins are not going anywhere this year. A #3 or #4 starter in a contender will not "save" them this season and very likely that 3 year contract will make him be like Blackburn was last season.

 

I'd rather see them play the kids who do have a future. He will make the Twins a 75 from a 70 win team? Is that worth a 3 year contract and $24 M and blocking the kids? Not in my book. I'd rather see them save that money and spend it on someone who can take them over the top once they are competitive again.

[johnnydakota]

It says a lot about the free agent acquisitions this offseason that I'd rejoice if the Twins landed Saunders.

 

Jesus, I need a drink.

 

Jesus isnt a bartender , but in fact a fisher of men

[snepp]

I don't think that he is any better than Worley or Diamond right now.

And I don't think that he is any better than a healthy Pelfrey. He is not better than a healthy Harden.

And I don't think that he is any better than Meyer, Gibson, May or Hendriks once they got their act together. (and probably Gibson is better than him at this point)

 

My point is that the Twins are not going anywhere this year. A #3 or #4 starter in a contender will not "save" them this season and very likely that 3 year contract will make him be like Blackburn was last season.

 

I'd rather see them play the kids who do have a future. He will make the Twins a 75 from a 70 win team? Is that worth a 3 year contract and $24 M and blocking the kids? Not in my book. I'd rather see them save that money and spend it on someone who can take them over the top once they are competitive again.

 

Pelfrey isn't healthy yet and is on a one year contract.

Meyer and May? No here yet.

Gibson hasn't thrown a major league inning.

Hendriks hasn't thrown a quality major league inning.

 

Take your "not "save" them this season" strawman elsewhere. He wouldn't be blocking anybody, he would be, at worst, pushing a still-injured pitcher coming off serious elbow surgery out of the rotation.

[Brock Beauchamp]

That's why you have a crapload of AAAA pitchers along with some prospects. In case of injury. Look at the starters with MLB experience they already have this year (in no order) :

 

Harden

Pelfrey

Worley

Diamond

Correia

Hendriks

Blackburn

De Vries

Deduno

Walters

Vasquez

Elarton

Martis

Hernandez

 

add some of the ones who signed as MiLB FAs this year (Jason Lane, Michael O'Connor, Bryan Augenstein, Virgil Vasquez)

add the prospects Gibson, May and Meyer

 

and you really need Sanders (who is about as good as Diamond - a #3-4 pitcher) in case of injury? For 3 years?

 

That is enough to fill the rotations down to New Britain and beyond.

 

Signing Saunders gives the Twins three guys who have shown the ability to be league average or better. Chances are that he won't be pushing Gibson or Hendriks out of the rotation, he'll be pushing out Correia, Pelfrey, or Harden.

 

And that's a good thing. Besides, Gibson can't pitch anything close to a full season anyway.

[TheLeviathan]

In terms of dollars per year by what starters were paid, in 2011 Pavano was well paid.

 

So your problem is that you are illiterate? Seeing as how you can't understand my point, I fail to see the need to respond to any others you have. By your logic - Correia was a "huge" contract. Doubling down on this embarrassing nonsense seems like a bad decision.

 

But I'm done feeding the trolls. Either post an actual "huge" contract given to a pitcher by this team or give us that citation for you 3/39 offer to Buerhle or by all that is holy stop trolling!

[Knotholemike]

Your conjecture belongs in a bedpan

 

I'm keeping this as one of my favorites from this site.

[Knotholemike]

But I'm done feeding the trolls...by all that is holy stop trolling!

 

This is another good one.

[whatever54]

Signing Saunders gives the Twins three guys who have shown the ability to be league average or better. Chances are that he won't be pushing Gibson or Hendriks out of the rotation, he'll be pushing out Correia, Pelfrey, or Harden.

 

And that's a good thing. Besides, Gibson can't pitch anything close to a full season anyway.

 

I can see Correia being pushed out of the rotation, if fact I expect that, but if Pelfrey or Harden fail to acquire, or hold on to rotation spots, it most assuredly will be due to health issues. Which is probably the major reason Saunders is being considered in the first place, just too many ifs to not consider a solid, if unspectacular innings eater.

[edavis0308]

Hopefully their reported pursuit of Saunders shows they aren't naive enough this time around to stand pat when having so much injury concern and ineptitude to rely on..