Twins and Tigers Interested in Kenta Maeda

[DJL44]

2 hours ago, jorgenswest said:

They may wait it out. That didn’t work out so well with Lance Lynn though.

Maybe Ryu is their next target. 

I kind of like James Paxton at the Fangraphs predicted $8M if they're going to add a cheap 5-inning lefty. Paxton throws 95 and Ryu throws 88.

[darin617]

On 11/25/2023 at 12:48 PM, TopGunn#22 said:

I can't disagree with that Finn, but even with the price of pitching expected to be high with so many teams not only looking for one but even two SP, I would NEVER have expected $18 million annually for Maeda.  I would have topped out at $9 or $10.  

This is also "Exhibit A" to the Twins ownership and FO that CUTTING payroll is just a poor and shortsighted move.  In my years as a TV Sales Manager, even COVID-19 never resulted in LOWERING the expected sales budget revenues year to year.  It's not like they won't see ANY TV money this season, they will.  

But if DETROIT is willing to throw 2 yrs and $36 million at Maeda, that should open the eyes of Twins ownership and FO that if they want to defend their divisional title and be a player for the next 5 years, they better re-think this "CUT" in a hurry.  "The Business" is not going to go under if they stretch the budget for 2024.  Attendance will be solid and the TV contract money will get figured out.  

Detroit is not a good team or a good city. So they have to overpay players. So does MN.

[darin617]

1 hour ago, ashbury said:

He would have accepted $20+M and tried again in free agency next year.  Or if by some miracle he went ahead and signed for the $24M for 2 years, the draft pick the Twins receive would be well outside of the first round.  Terrible gamble for practically no payoff.

Compensation depends on the money in the deal. I think it had to be over like 50M to get a pick after the 1st round back. Another under 50 and it's a pick after the 2nd round.

If the Twins offer Maeda a QO he may not have got any offers that were close to what he got and he would have accepted the QO. 

[RaoulDuke]

Good for Kenta, glad he got paid. I enjoyed his contributions as a Twin.

I loved him in the covid year, watching him eat people alive with the bugs bunny stuff and 90-92. Real shame he had such injury problems, but it was not a shocker. He was never a full season workhorse, even in the good years LA shifted him to the pen later in the year/ playoffs.

Coming back from TJ he got gifted a whole off season of clean health to build back up and regain form. He certainly had flashes of his old self and some stretches where he looked good, but also had plenty of questionable outings as well.

I hope he does well, the contract is higher than I would have liked but that got him secured early in the off season for Detroit. I think he is a good bet to be a decent 4th starter, with the upside of flashing as a 3 if things go really well. However his innings will have to be severely controlled to keep him healthy and available.

 

 

 

 

[NotAboutWinning]

7 hours ago, darin617 said:

Detroit is not a good team or a good city. So they have to overpay players. So does MN.

Detroit will be the Twins competition in the ALC. They made a strong finish last year, are adding pieces and don’t have Cabrera’s anchor anymore.

[Doctor Wu]

10 hours ago, mnfireman said:

Bigger signing imminent??

 

One would hope that a bigger signing is coming, but with budgetary restraints, I'm not optimistic. 

[Doctor Wu]

11 hours ago, FlyingFinn said:

Maeda apparently signs with the Tigers, 2 years for $24 million. Curious why the Twins didn't match that, if the info is correct.

I'd be curious too. The contract given doesn't seem like any sort of crazy over-pay. Maeda was a very effective pitcher (when healthy) and he seemed to have a good team-first mindset (happy to go to a bullpen role in the playoffs). His age didn't bother me at all. I think he has more than a few years left in the tank. Good luck to him with the Tigers, but I will miss having him with the Twins.

[TopGunn#22]

$24 million over two years is much better than the $36 million over two years MLB trade rumors was estimating.  Still, I'm looking for someone with bigger upside and who will throw at least 150 innings as opposed to 70.  I see Cleveland as the primary division rival due to their tremendous starting pitching and Clase to close games out.  The Tigers are getting better as well.  

I would have to think a pitcher will be our first move.  Will it be a free agent or a trade?  Your guess is as good as mine.  The M.O. of this front office, and in fact most Twins front offices, has been to dilly-dally around while the best options are snapped up by other, more aggressive teams.  I'm afraid they're going to put us fans through the same grinder again.  

I would almost expect a trade to be made for the first SP addition involving Kepler, Polanco or both so that the FO achieves their cost cutting up front.  Then they can decide if they can afford a Montas/Giolito/Severino/Wacha type signing. 

[tony&rodney]

11 hours ago, darin617 said:

Detroit is not a good team

Don't bet your house on the Twins over the Tigers. Keep it small.

[TwinsDr2021]

19 hours ago, Fatbat said:

Thats a great reason to develop pitching in the farm system. 

agreed, hopefully someday the Twins will be able to do that. As of now it is Ober, if you are feeling generous you could say Ryan. Not the best track record for this FO.

[Irishman]

Starting pitcher Sonny Gray signed with St. Louis Cardinals.  

[Linus]

I would rather have Kenta at 12 million than Kyle Gibson at 13. 

[nicksaviking]

19 hours ago, Linus said:

I would rather have Kenta at 12 million than Kyle Gibson at **13**. 

There is not a number you could insert here that would make that sentence untrue. I'm even assuming you meant $13 and not 13M.

[Linus]

27 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

There is not a number you could insert here that would make that sentence untrue. I'm even assuming you meant $13 and not 13M.

That’s funny. I’m with you.