Burn Bright, Fade Fast: Remember Addison Reed Before You Pay a Reliever

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

I agree that signing free agent relievers is risky and should generally be avoided, but is it really worth bailing on the concept entirely because it burned Falvey once? I don't think it's a bad idea to give it a try every once in a while if a reliever is identified as being worth the price.

The Twins need to keep throwing as many minor league + ST invite dart throws as possible and let the best man win. Throw that money at the rotation instead… 

[HarmonK03]

1 hour ago, Riverbrian said:

Catcher... This is what they brought Caratini in for. We owe him 10 million and we can't recoup that. I want no further investment in the position. Players rebound all the time.

He had his best hitting seasons when he was catching 60 games or less.  It seems his contract was more of another miscalculation by Falvey than he earned it.  I don't necessarily want more investment in the position, but it will be a long season with Caratini and whoever is backing him up.  Catcher's historically don't age well so to expect a rebound at age 33 while playing more behind the plate is wishful thinking in my opinion.

[MeleMouth]

38 minutes ago, Richie the Rally Goat said:

Maybe a minor league catcher

OK.

[Riverbrian]

12 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

He had his best hitting seasons when he was catching 60 games or less.  It seems his contract was more of another miscalculation by Falvey than he earned it.  I don't necessarily want more investment in the position, but it will be a long season with Caratini and whoever is backing him up.  Catcher's historically don't age well so to expect a rebound at age 33 while playing more behind the plate is wishful thinking in my opinion.

I'm not saying he will rebound... he might. Players bounce up and down season to season. Regardless. We bought him and when we signed him... he was a catcher who hit good for a catcher. That's a big distinction and we dropped 14 million on someone who hit good for a catcher and the plan was to backup Jeffers and be the short side 1B for Clemens. It was a terrible plan. 

Here he is. Sleep in the bed you made. It will be a long season if you don't invest elsewhere. I've used the term punt and I understand that takes guts but... catchers typically don't hit the ball so just ask them to field until Lackey and Tait come in the door. 

Here's why it's OK to punt the position offensively. The White sox had perhaps the worst hitting in baseball in 2026. The Phillies catchers did not hit the ball. The Yankees catchers didn't hit the ball. The Red Sox, Gaurdians... Didn't hit the ball from behind home plate. The Rays were not strong offensively from the Catching position. The Twins were ranked 6th behind the Rockies. 

Our 1B position ranked 26th. Spend the money right here. We can punt the catcher position. 

[djvang]

It's always amazed me how quickly a reliever can go from great to awful and vice-versa.  It's always a gamble.