The Latest on the Minnesota Twins and Carlos Rodon

[Ted Schwerzler]

While the chief focus of the Minnesota Twins offseason has been that of Carlos Correa, a home run of a winter would include another Carlos as well. With the Twins having leapt into the pool with some sharks last offseason, they remain well positioned for Carlos Rodon as well.

Of course there are more than a couple of teams interested in the former Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants starter, but the Twins appear among those squarely in the mix. How likely are they to reel in Carlos Rodon?

Image courtesy of Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

As Nick Nelson noted yesterday, the Twins pursuit of Carlos Correa remains their top focus. They are a finalist in that race, and bringing back their superstar shortstop on a long term deal would be a great get.

What Buster Olney did note a few days ago is that the New York Yankees appear up to something big. That came on the heels of the San Diego Padres being a surprise landing spot for Xander Bogaerts. New York would seem an odd fit for Correa given their top prospects in Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza are both shortstops. Maybe they seem some flexibility in trying to deal for the currently suspended Fernando Tatis Jr., or maybe it’s Rodon they’re focused on.

When it comes to Carlos Rodon, Heyman notes that the competition appears to start with the Giants and Yankees. New York is looking to add another pitcher and has yet to truly spend money. The Giants missed on Aaron Judge despite a massive offer, and have plenty of money to spend as well. He does go on to say that the Twins have been linked and notes their desire for a strong starting addition.

With regards to Rodon, he would represent a clear upgrade in the starting rotation. All offseason the hope for Minnesota has been that they acquire a starting pitcher with Sonny Gray being the threshold for a floor. Tyler Mahle may have the chops to be an eventual frontline starter, and Joe Ryan has emerged into a nice piece. We have yet to see what Kenta Maeda looks like following Tommy John surgery, and the arms behind him including Bailey Ober and Simeon Woods Richardson should be viewed as depth.

Right now it appears that the Twins front office is largely in a wait and see mode with their next move. They certainly would ink Christian Vasquez to a deal right now if he was ready to move, but the bigger move of Correa has their dollars somewhat hamstrung. Correa and Rodon are still both weighing their options, but it would be beneficial for Minnesota to have an idea of what’s next.

The free agent landscape gets pretty thin after Rodon when it comes to starting pitchers. Chris Bassitt had a solid year, and there’s also Nathan Eovaldi virtually on par with him. Behind that you’re looking at the likes of Noah Syndergaard, Ross Stripling, and Sean Manaea while trying to convince yourself that any of them are true upgrades.

Ultimately the Twins can’t afford to be left out in the cold. Even a trade for someone like Pablo Lopez would leave a significant amount of dollars unspent, and aside from simply throwing money at players to round out the roster, there may not be the level of talent to reach the monetary thresholds they should realistically be at for 2023.

The Twins remain in on both of the Carlos’ and signing either would represent a new high water level for a franchise record free agent deal. Both would be otherworldly, and while neither of those outcomes are likely, they at least seem plausible.

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[Linus]

This is why you add free agent talent when it is available because some years like this year there simple is very little. We sat out last year when there were many good pitchers available and now we need a starter and they are not there. 

[mikelink45]

I take Rodon before Correa if it is one or the other.  The catcher may have to be a trade and that would hurt.  

[RJA]

My fear is that the FO is focusing on one player, Correa, while other players are coming off the market in droves. I suspect they are not wanting to spend any money until they know if they are going to get Correa, but if that pursuit continues to drag on, once again we will be dumpster diving in January when the top talent is gone.  Or, we will be trying to make trades for pitchers with 2 years of control, which won't help much with Gray, Mahle, and Maeda all free agents after next year.   What good is all that salary space going to do us if Correa goes elsewhere and nothing is left in the cupboard?  This FO seems to always be late to the party.  That is how we ended up with Donaldson, and why we end up trading for so much pitching with very mixed results.  I just hope the young pitchers shine this year so we can have a decent pitching staff in 24 and 25.  It is time for the "develop our own" philosophy to pay dividends. 

[Squirrel]

The price will be way too high for Rodon. I say skip Rodon, get Correa, then work on a trade for a starter and get a couple of BP arms. Paying for pitching is way more risky than a position player and 6 yrs for Rodon won't be worth it. We are far better off with Correa for 10-11 yrs.

[roger]

Much stated above is valid.  Yet, I believe their starting staff is fine and adding someone like Rodon for big money and a long contract is a mistake, BIG mistake.

[Doctor Gast]

Here again I'll state that NYY rumor is just wishful thinking on Correa part because he more than likely wants to be on a contending team (and big bucks). And the 3 teams that are bidding on him didn't make the play-offs last season & haven't done anything this off season. Everything being equal, MN has a slight edge because their history. If SF loses the Rodon bid & Cubs loses out on Swanson, which there is good chance they will. Then MN doesn't have much of a chance.

[HerbieFan]

Sick and tired of hearing who the Twins are "in on".  I love reading stuff on this site, but the current FO and their insistence on "waiting out the market"....in other words, bargain shopping....makes reading stuff  like this all the more frustrating.

[Whitey333]

Like always the Twins wait until the last minute to do little or nothing.  I'm guessing Twins do not sign Rodon.  They do not sign Correa.  They do not sign Vazquez.  They will start searching the dumpsters again for upgrades.  We should not sign Correa especially for all that money and years and if it has ANY opt out clauses tell him NO.  We need a commitment.  If FO goes to all of that and somehow signs Correa with multiple  opt outs the FO should be fired.

[Beast]

We need to give the guys in the FO some credit.  They are not dumb enough to focus on one player that they have little chance of signing (Correa), and don’t notice as everyone else flies off the board.  It wouldn’t take a genius to see this play out, and pivot to salvage something.

There’s two possibilities, here:  They’re extremely confident they’ll get Correa back.  Or, they’re employing a PR strategy by which they can CYA.  They stay in the conversation,  but never cross a threshold that would get something done.  Then, in the press conference, we get the usual “we pushed hard but came up short,” “it’s a two-way street, they players need to want to play here,” etc. etc.  In other words, lying right to their fanbase’s face.

[Squirrel]

1 hour ago, HerbieFan said:

Sick and tired of hearing who the Twins are "in on".  I love reading stuff on this site, but the current FO and their insistence on "waiting out the market"....in other words, bargain shopping....makes reading stuff  like this all the more frustrating.

 

1 hour ago, Whitey333 said:

Like always the Twins wait until the last minute to do little or nothing.  I'm guessing Twins do not sign Rodon.  They do not sign Correa.  They do not sign Vazquez.  They will start searching the dumpsters again for upgrades.  We should not sign Correa especially for all that money and years and if it has ANY opt out clauses tell him NO.  We need a commitment.  If FO goes to all of that and somehow signs Correa with multiple  opt outs the FO should be fired.

Last minute is waiting until the day before the season starts. We are a long ways yet from it being last minute. And sometimes it's not the Twins waiting out the market, but the market waiting itself out

[Reptevia]

Last minute is right before upgrade acquisitions run out. That is different every year. 

[darin617]

Pass if the deal is over 4 years. I would rather overpay on a shorter deal. No way the Twins can give a pitcher with arm troubles a 6+ year deal.

[Trov]

No way do Twins give him the 7 years he is seeking.  I doubt they ever will, but he would be a huge risk to do so. 

[Minny505]

I am genuinely surprised by the lack of interest in Rodon by this board and it makes me think the Twins Daily crowd will never pine for that elusive ACE on the type of contract that is required to sign that level of talent. 

I'd personally prefer the higher upside signing 9 out of 10 times and the Rodon vs Correa debate represents this perfectly.

Despite the likelihood that Correa will require 3+ more years and 3mil+ more in AAV*, the loudest voices here seem prefer, what I can only guess is viewed as, the higher "floor" contract vs the higher "ceiling".

Am I grasping the debate correctly?

*Based on 11/330 for Correa and 7/189 for Rodon

[MGM4706]

Why get a very good SS at $300 million when the other team is hitting the ball over the fence?? FO is sitting at a D- for this off season grade! But - They will be profitable so that is always the key for the Pohlads!

[rwilfong86]

The Twins are gonna end up with nothing. This offseason isn't going well at all.

[Steve71]

I personally have not gotten my hopes up on Rodon as I have zero expectation or indication that the Twins will sign him.

I think he is the best pitcher on the market, save perhaps DeGrom.  I would love to see him on the Twins.  I just think it is a massive long-shot.

I think we should get a 2 for 1 special from Boros and sign both of the Carlos'.

[darin617]

The Twins most likely are out since Boras is trying to secure a 7 year deal for a pitcher with a ton of arm issues.