Should the Twins lock up a young standout?

[Danchat]

Brandon Warne has posted an intriguing article on 1500 ESPN.com. (Warne: Would Twins lock up a young standout? It has happened before | 1500 ESPN Twin Cities ? Minnesota Sports News & Opinion (Twins, Vikings, Wolves, Wild, Gophers) | Sportswire: Minnesota Twins) I can't really see the Twins doing it. Scott Diamond has plenty to prove and hopefully won't become the next Blackburn. Arcia is still really young. Plouffe isn't good enough yet. There isn't anyone else to warrant my consideration...

[drjim]

No rush on anyone. Arcia is not good enough to get the Longoria treatment.

[Mike Sixel]

Not one player on this roster needs to even be thought of for this.

[diehardtwinsfan]

I'd probably wait a year or two on Arcia. Part of locking anyone up is ensuring they have the work ethic as well as assuring both sides that this is a mutually beneficial deal. If the Twins are smart, they will start doing this, but only after guys hit the bigs. Pretty much any of their big prospects could qualify: Arcia, Hicks, Sano, Gibson, Meyer, etc. If Plouffe or Parmalee break out, that can certainly be an option too, but there's something to be said about waiting a year or two and ensuring that they've figured everything out before committing.

 

As the Twins well know, these contracts are guaranteed. Handing out Joe Mays 2.0 or Nick Blackburn 2.0 would not be money well spent.

[nicksaviking]

I expect the Twins to do a lot of this, but not anytime soon.

 

They need to be smarter about it though. Span and Hunter were the only players they used this technique even close to wisely on. As noted in the article, Mays and Blackburn were busts and Eric Milton was barely better.

 

The busts were a little troubling, but all that cost was lost money. The Twins also did this with Mauer and Santana, two young elite players. Yet the Twins only bought out one free agent year. They needed to buy out more than one, or get multiple option years. What were they thinking? The Twins should have had Santana under contract or had options on him until 2010 and Mauer should not have had the leverage to negotiate a new contract only two years later.

 

Span's deal worked out for the Twins but they also only bought out one free agent year which is actually an option. I believe the Twins bought two free agent years on Hunter, though it was still only a four-year deal which led to more consternation and trade rumors only two years later. This four-year extension crap needs to be scrapped. If it means waiting an extra year to help mitigate the Twins extreme risk aversion, fine, but buy out more than one free agent year please, they have the money now.

[Guest USAFChief]

Yes, they should! I can't wait till they have one to see if they do.

[Shane Wahl]

Rizzo should fire his damn agent.

[ThePuck]

Rizzo should fire his damn agent.

 

Why is that? He hasn't played even 90 games in a season yet, he barely has a season's worth of games played overall, and he still got a 7 year deal. They bought out, what, two years of free agency and he's guaranteed 41M?

[kab21]

Why is that? He hasn't played even 90 games in a season yet, he barely has a season's worth of games played overall, and he still got a 7 year deal. They bought out, what, two years of free agency and he's guaranteed 41M?

 

The reason that it will be a bad deal is that they bought out 2 yrs of FA and gave the cubs options for 2 additional years. So he gave up 4 FA yrs (if he's good). Yet it is hard to be critical of someone that would have been earning the MLB min for a couple of years and now is guaranteed 41M.

 

I would consider doing this with Arcia. I'm convinced that he is going to be a borderline all star. I'm less convinced of Hicks and there is no reason to consider this with Diamond/Worley/Plouffe/Parmelee/dozier or any other young player that is up with the Twins.

[ThePuck]

The reason that it will be a bad deal is that they bought out 2 yrs of FA and gave the cubs options for 2 additional years. So he gave up 4 FA yrs (if he's good). Yet it is hard to be critical of someone that would have been earning the MLB min for a couple of years and now is guaranteed 41M.

 

I would consider doing this with Arcia. I'm convinced that he is going to be a borderline all star. I'm less convinced of Hicks and there is no reason to consider this with Diamond/Worley/Plouffe/Parmelee/dozier or any other young player that is up with the Twins.

 

still have no idea whether it will be a bad deal for him...what if he blows? He hasn't done anything yet. Again, never even played 90 games in one season.

[kab21]

It's possible that he plays worse than his rookie year but unlikely unless there is an injury. He was a top prospect and his MLB stats aren't supported by luck.

 

Giving up 4 FA years is a lot of financial leverage. With inflation it's possible that each of those years is worth close to 20M if he is simply above average and hitting the FA market around age 27.

[nicksaviking]

Rizzo's deal only bought out three free agent years, the last two of which are team options. The last option year can also be voided if he is traded. Additionally, escalators can drive the contract up to $73 million. Hard to see any reason Rizzo wouldn't be interested in this deal.

[johnnydakota]

It's possible that he plays worse than his rookie year but unlikely unless there is an injury. He was a top prospect and his MLB stats aren't supported by luck.

 

Giving up 4 FA years is a lot of financial leverage. With inflation it's possible that each of those years is worth close to 20M if he is simply above average and hitting the FA market around age 27.

 

A bird in your hand is better then Jeb Bush

[ThePuck]

Rizzo's deal only bought out three free agent years, the last two of which are team options. The last option year can also be voided if he is traded. Additionally, escalators can drive the contract up to $73 million. Hard to see any reason Rizzo wouldn't be interested in this deal.

 

Exactly...especially since he hasn't even played 90 games in a season yet.

[kab21]

yes, there is a reason that Rizzo should be interested but he gave up a lot for that financial security.

 

It is only 1 yr of FA plus 2 options since he was 4 days short of the additional year of FA. My mistake.

[70charger]

yes, there is a reason that Rizzo should be interested but he gave up a lot for that financial security.

 

It is only 1 yr of FA plus 2 options since he was 4 days short of the additional year of FA. My mistake.

 

He MAYBE gave up a lot for that financial security. If I were he, I'd do it too.

 

Confidence in yourself is no substitute for reality, and reality is fraught with injuries, ineffectiveness, slumps, and not living up to your potential.

[Seth Stohs]

Let's see... Rizzo pre-deal was "guaranteed" to make the $480,000 league minimum for this year, assuming that he stays in the big leagues.

 

Rizzo now is guaranteed $41 million or whatever it is even if he gets hurt now and never plays again.

 

Easy decision.