Article: Calling on Capps?

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?r=1332-Calling-on-Capps

[Jeremy Nygaard]

You had me at "lurking".

[Ultima Ratio]

Is there a straighter, flatter fastball in the majors? Whatever, one million/one year. Do it... I guess... maybe.

[glunn]

I would think that someone may pay him more than $1 million. I think he got $4.5 million last year and over $7 million in 2011. I have no idea what he will get, but if he can be had for $1 million, that seems reasonable to me.

[jimbo92107]

If Capps ever learned to throw a straight change with that same fastball motion, batters would screw themselves into the ground trying to hit it.

 

But he didn't.

[Highabove]

I will take Matt Capps over Alex Burnett, any time of the week.

[Joe A. Preusser]

I am Mr. Second Chance, I will give almost any player the benefit of doubt and put a positive spin on their chances to regain form. But this...wow. I find myself extremely reluctant. 1.2 - 1.5 million tops. Anything more just seems like throwing money into the same old used car when you should be going out and getting someting newer and more reliable. Something that drives nicer, too.

[benhertz]

If he is willing to sign for under $2.5 million, I think he'd be a good reliever.

 

I'll always root for him, as long as he's a Twin.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Non-guaranteed deal with fat clause?

[Mark_RM]

Signing him to a 1-year deal is a reasonable thing to do...though I don't think I'll ever get over the Pavlovian nausea when I see him on the mound...

[Brock Beauchamp]

I will take Matt Capps over Alex Burnett, any time of the week.

 

I typed out a sentence with multiple fat jokes but gave up and deleted it. Instead, I'll just agree with this post.

[Knotholemike]

What are you guys smokin'? $1M - $2.5M for Capps, no way. He'll get a minor league deal with a spring training invite. What he made in the past does not matter. He has not shown the ability to put hitters away in more than a year. He is replacement level at best, and there are lots of guys like him who could be had on a minor league deal.

[LimestoneBaggy]

Initially, I was going to agree that a 1/1M deal sounds reasonable. But Capps > Slama? I'm not so sure (even if the scouts are). I'd probably still give him 1M and then move Burnett's desk to the basement of Hammond Stadium and "forget" to pay him....I said, NO SALT.

[nicksaviking]

At this point he'd probably be a bargain, but the Twins have so many young options for the bullpen I'd be reluctant. The Twins are already giving spots to Perkins, Burton, Duensing, Swarzak and Burnett.

 

Though in my book Burnett and Swarzak are expendable, the Twins surely will be giving them a spot if healthy. If Capps was in the mix, that would leave one spot for Fein, Pressly, Wood, Robertson, Harden and Roenicke taking dark horses completely out of the equation, guys like Theilbar, Guerra and Slama. This also greatly hinders the option of putting the sixth or seventh starter in the bullpen to start the season.

 

This team is rebuilding, they need to see what they have in some of these younger options.

 

Last year the Twins had three open spots, they gave them to Gray, Maloney and Burton. Had they only had one open spot, would they still have found gold in Burton?

[PopRiveter]

Nick's argument is very reasonable. Sound. Logical.

...and...

Matt Capps really seems like a heckuva guy that I'd love to have a beer and plate of wings with.

 

However, I am a fan.

I don't enjoy watching Capps pitch. From the first time I saw him pitch, I have not enjoyed watching him pitch. After that, it got much worse. I can't imagine I'll begin finding enjoyment in watching him pitch just because he makes less money.

 

I'd like to see his next Twin's contract be as a minor league coach.

[Top Gun]

Sounds like something Ryan would do.

[Boom Boom]

Can we be sure that Gardy wouldn't hand Capps the closer role back?

[mnfanforlife]

Is there a straighter, flatter fastball in the majors? Whatever, one million/one year. Do it... I guess... maybe.

 

NO way! A million for Capps?! How about a minor league contract?

[LewFordLives]

I concur with the logic of "nicksaviking". I'll even go further and say that Fein is close to a lock and the Twins have to keep Pressley on the major league roster or work out a trade. While I wouldn't have any strong objections to Capps as a 7th-8th inning guy, he's just not a good fit given the Twins current situation.

[Huey270]

We have the money and you can never have enough pitching so if it's reasonable I'd sign him.

[mnfanforlife]

We have the money and you can never have enough pitching so if it's reasonable I'd sign him.

 

You can never have enough GOOD pitching. You CAN have enough bad pitching. 2012 and 2011 are good examples of that. Capps was a major part of both those bullpens.

[Joe A. Preusser]

What are you guys smokin'? $1M - $2.5M for Capps, no way. He'll get a minor league deal with a spring training invite. What he made in the past does not matter. He has not shown the ability to put hitters away in more than a year. He is replacement level at best, and there are lots of guys like him who could be had on a minor league deal.

 

I agree with most of what you said, but he HAS proven to be fairly effective in the past. I wouldn't be upset if they gave him just over a mil to see if he can round back into form. A million bucks is a lot to you and me, but not so much in MLB terms.

[mnfanforlife]

I guess Capps for one million is reasonable, IF he can maintain a certain weight (a la Delmon). But it has to be one year or no deal.

[Brandon]

I.d do it. also wonder if Hawkins is available. I would rather have him.

 

I think the Twins bullpen guraenteed spots at this point is Perkins, Burton, and Deunsing at this point. Swarzak and Burnett and Fien are likely at this point but could be swapped out.

[Knotholemike]

I guess Capps for one million is reasonable, IF he can maintain a certain weight (a la Delmon). But it has to be one year or no deal.

 

$1M is NOT reasonable. If anyone had offered him a $1M major league contract he would have signed it in a heartbeat. He has not been effective in more than 1 year and there are plenty of younger options with potential upside available for the major league minimum. There are plenty of Capps-like players in AAA that can be had for a minor league deal and an invite.

[Mike Sixel]

The bullpen on a team with this roster should be mostly young guys at this point. There is no good reason to have anyone from outside the organization added to the bullpen.

[jmlease1]

I'm perfectly fine with a 1-year deal for Capps. I can even live with a deal that nets him over $1M. He's not a tremendous pitcher, but he is solid and if healthy you should know what you're gonna get. Frankly, his presence on the roster might get Gardy to use Perkins in more high-leverage situations.

 

At $4-7M, he's overpaid badly. But he's not a bad bullpen arm and at a good price he could be a nice asset to a team that will need a strong bullpen.

[mnfanforlife]

$1M is NOT reasonable. If anyone had offered him a $1M major league contract he would have signed it in a heartbeat. He has not been effective in more than 1 year and there are plenty of younger options with potential upside available for the major league minimum. There are plenty of Capps-like players in AAA that can be had for a minor league deal and an invite.

 

Yep, I'm going back to my original stance. I agree with this totally. He is not worth signing at any price in my opinion. I'm sticking to this stance.

[mnfanforlife]

The bullpen on a team with this roster should be mostly young guys at this point. There is no good reason to have anyone from outside the organization added to the bullpen.

 

If Capps is outside the organization, lets keep it that way. Nothing personal. Just business

[raindog]

He is definitely worth 1 year, 1.5 mil or so.

 

Do I want to think about how the Twins gave up Ramos every time he pitches for us? No I do not.