2014 Free Agent Power Rankings

[old nurse]

I have NEVER said that, never, ever, never. Not sure why anyone would think that that has been here for a long time and read my posts. My point was that people here were typing that the Dodgers proved you can't buy wins, well, turns out if you do it well (Yankees for most of the last 20 years, and this year the Dodgers) you can do it.

 

As for the Angels, I never said it always worked. I said, clearly, that the Dodgers show that it CAN work, not that it will work.

Considering the Twins need Hicks to become an average hitter, Willingham to recover, Gibson to improve, and Arcia to improve, the holes to fill are still large. They need a number 1 and 2 starter, a 3b, 1b and another corner outfielder in order to contend. And a backup plan for when 4 of the 9 players above do not work out. To fill those positions via free agency they would have to spend like the Dodgers.

[Wookiee of the Year]

My prediction: After once again balking at the asking prices of 2014 free agent pitchers and exasperatedly declaring on MLB Network that he's making offers to everyone but no one wants to play in Minnesota, Terry Ryan signs Santana. The Johan version.

 

The low budget, injury-rehabbing vet has lately been the Twins style. That he's another former Met would be a step toward establishing a tradition. That he's a former Twin super-star is a fact and a hope he can sell to the unwitting but increasingly agitated fan base.

I'm actually pretty on board with this. The team that did it right this last off-season is the Cubs, with signings like Scott Baker and Scott Feldman: target low budget, high-upside guys looking for a one-year "prove it" deal and if they're any good, flip them at the deadline for future pieces. If they're not, well, there's no such thing as a bad one-year deal.

 

I'd have no problem with Terry Ryan going after guys like Johan Santana, Dan Haren, Josh Johnson, and Scott Baker. No need to make a splash with a big multi-year deal on the pitcher Free Agent market when we're still a couple years out of contention anyway, when a pitcher's value can change a lot in a couple years.

[Willihammer]

No need to make a splash with a big multi-year deal on the pitcher Free Agent market when we're still a couple years out of contention anyway

 

Gets me every time.

[Kwak]

Which FAs sign 1-year contracts?--the damaged goods type. Yes, buy lottery tickets! I believe this strategy was employed last off-season--maybe it will work better this year?

[Oxtung]

Which FAs sign 1-year contracts?--the damaged goods type. Yes, buy lottery tickets! I believe this strategy was employed last off-season--maybe it will work better this year?

 

Who was the lottery ticket? IMO it was more like a gift exchange at Christmas with the family. You regret the choice as soon as you pick up that shiny package.

[Mike Sixel]

Considering the Twins need Hicks to become an average hitter, Willingham to recover, Gibson to improve, and Arcia to improve, the holes to fill are still large. They need a number 1 and 2 starter, a 3b, 1b and another corner outfielder in order to contend. And a backup plan for when 4 of the 9 players above do not work out. To fill those positions via free agency they would have to spend like the Dodgers.

 

Or, they could choose to fill even 1 hole......

[jay]

To me, there is no stronger argument for why we need to be adding NOW, not waiting for some magical aligning of the stars in the future.

 

While I do mostly agree (get a stud if/whenever you can), I think the Twins approach to free agency is more likely to fill one (or two) holes this way. If the pipeline is working properly, they shouldn't need more than that.

 

I'd love to see it, but I don't think signing a big-ticket free agent each off-season is in the cards. Not so much present day, but realistic payroll constraints will come into play. Some of the shorter-term, mid-level talents might be attainable with this approach, but I'm not so sure those guys win you a World Series either.

[TheLeviathan]

While I do mostly agree (get a stud if/whenever you can), I think the Twins approach to free agency is more likely to fill one (or two) holes this way. If the pipeline is working properly, they shouldn't need more than that.

 

The necessity of the pipeline is a given. But even if our farm produces good MLBers at a better than usual rate in the future doesn't mean we won't have holes to fill that number more than one or two. I find that very unrealistic.

[AlwaysinModeration]

I must be living in the past, but the idea of getting Tim Lincecum or Josh Johnson on three year deals for affordable rates seems too good to be true. Sign me up, even if they have struggles in the recent past. Johnson, with the MN connection, seems like the more likely scenario. Both have strong previous track records. Good chance we will see both return to their former success.

 

I'd like to see a Phil Hughes signing, but would like that to not be the Twins only move, but more of a supplementary move.

 

I suppose I am with mike wants wins, though...it seems silly to hope for more than one FA starter...when zero impact arms is what our realistic expectations should be.

[old nurse]

Or, they could choose to fill even 1 hole......

 

did you like totally miss the point?

The Dodgers had to spend to get into contention. For the Twins to be in contention with what they have they would have to do likewise and have other players step up their game.

If the Twins made one addition (and thus one good subtraction) it would not make the Twins a good team. The negative threads would continue.

[drjim]

I have NEVER said that, never, ever, never. Not sure why anyone would think that that has been here for a long time and read my posts. My point was that people here were typing that the Dodgers proved you can't buy wins, well, turns out if you do it well (Yankees for most of the last 20 years, and this year the Dodgers) you can do it.

 

As for the Angels, I never said it always worked. I said, clearly, that the Dodgers show that it CAN work, not that it will work.

 

Why would you cite the two franchises that the Twins can't touch financially? These teams can buy wins but they can also afford to blow huge sums of money in that pursuit when the purchases don't work out. The Twins don't exactly have that luxury.

[drjim]

This. Sign one good FA a year (until you don't need to, or cannot afford to)....because it's hard to sign three good ones in one year.

 

I agree with this. Next year is the year to invest in one solid free agent starter - I don't think there is a great one to be had, at least not on the level of Greinke or Sanchez from this past year.

 

Based on the options available and the recent comments from Jim Pohlad I would be pretty stunned if they don't sign at least one legit starting pitcher this offseason. I would expect another pitcher on a one year deal and probably a corner bat too.

[Mike Sixel]

did you like totally miss the point?

The Dodgers had to spend to get into contention. For the Twins to be in contention with what they have they would have to do likewise and have other players step up their game.

If the Twins made one addition (and thus one good subtraction) it would not make the Twins a good team. The negative threads would continue.

 

So what? Make the team better, that should be the goal. Even adding 1 player makes it better, especially if even 1 minor leaguer is good next year at the MLB level....I don't get this theory that you should not increment unless you can be a "winner".

[Siehbiscuit]

One of the problems in the Twins front office is it seems they do not want to overspend. EVER. Shopping at Goodwill, may get you a great deal, but there is a reason it is at Goodwill. To get quality, sometimes you need to pay full-sticker price to get what you want.

 

Contending teams need front of the rotation starters. Bargain shopping for the Pelfrey's and Correia's (or even the Ortiz and Ponson variety) doesn't put this organization into contention. This has worked with Pavano and with no one else!

 

The Twins need to balance their "thriftiness" with market-level (sticker price) spending.

[Siehbiscuit]

...and by sticker price I do not mean the Twins have to go all Grienke or Annibal Sanchez every off-season. They just need to understand that to be competitive they will need to pay for that quality of a pitcher eventually. That may mean trading for an established one (or two) with prospects or paying with MLB players for minor league high upside talent. Acquiring arms is the MOST important and best strategy to build a winning team. Pitching will always keep a team competitive!

[Mike Sixel]

Or, even if the guy does not help them win more, they can trade him for prospects....worked for the Cubs this year. It's like buying prospects....