Article: Can Terry Ryan Truly Change His Stripes?

[cmathewson]

I might sign one of them, but not both. Drew is a decent upgrade at a position of weakness for the Twins. He makes more sense than Morales, especially since Kubel and Willingham are really just DHs and Arcia is no great fielder himself. One prerequisite for an FA signing is fielding a position. Morales doesn't meet that criterion.

[Brandon]

Instead of Morales we could sign Cruz. or if we continue the path that Terry Ryan was on earlier....finding a speedy OF like Davis then Juan Pierre is the answer. I am neither Pro or against a Drew signing though I would like to see a signing or trade that would have that kind of improvement for our lineup to go along with Aria developing and maybe Plouffe or Sano and a return to form for Willingham and full season from Mauer. With that on the table our lineup is only a few pieces away from being solid.

[Dman]

I am not thrilled with anyone who is left. It is a deep draft this year I say keep the pick or picks see what we have and try again next year. I know it is the same old, same old but once more of our prospects move up things will change. It seems like there are too many players we need to find out about this year and build value in to trade them. I don't see things shaking until the trade deadline and then again at the end of the season.

[orangevening]

If we are much lower, we lose a first round instead of second round pick...What is that cut off?

 

Top 10 is cut off.

[Guest USAFChief]

In regard to acquiring Morales, could there be a mechanism where the Mariners re-sign Morales to terms that the Twins negotiate and then send him to the Twins for either a C prospect or money? This would be something like the sign-and-trade deals that the NBA teams make.

I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm almost positive a FA cannot be traded until June of the year he is signed.

[johnnydakota]

I might sign one of them, but not both. Drew is a decent upgrade at a position of weakness for the Twins. He makes more sense than Morales, especially since Kubel and Willingham are really just DHs and Arcia is no great fielder himself. One prerequisite for an FA signing is fielding a position. Morales doesn't meet that criterion.

 

So how many million and 1 compensation draft pick to gain almost 1 WAR? dont make sense, we are better off trading or signing A.Diaz in febuary

[johnnydakota]

I'm too lazy to look it up, but I'm almost positive a FA cannot be traded until June of the year he is signed.

 

The player can waive that date June? somthing, and accept a trade earlier

[johnnydakota]

So with payroll space of 127.5 million ,not counting the All Star bump, will Terry change his stripes and go get a front of the rotation pitcher? With Masahiro Tanaka being posted this morning we will see if Ryan and the twins are contenders or pretenders ...bottom line Curly go sign this guy and Garza spend the money the team has it ...then next year add some fielders to fill in the gaps

[cmathewson]

Instead of Morales we could sign Cruz. or if we continue the path that Terry Ryan was on earlier....finding a speedy OF like Davis then Juan Pierre is the answer. I am neither Pro or against a Drew signing though I would like to see a signing or trade that would have that kind of improvement for our lineup to go along with Aria developing and maybe Plouffe or Sano and a return to form for Willingham and full season from Mauer. With that on the table our lineup is only a few pieces away from being solid.

 

Wasn't Cruz named in the A-Rod probe? If so, did he serve his suspension yet?

[stringer bell]

I think Drew is a big risk of being a bust. He is a good player at a position where there aren't many good players, but he will be 31 and has a long injury history.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Wasn't Cruz named in the A-Rod probe? If so, did he serve his suspension yet?

yes and yes.

[Major League Ready]

Fans often do a very different cost / benefit analysis as compared to any FO. Some fans simply ask will it make the team better next year and not much else seems to matter.

 

The benefit here is a 2-3 win improvement on a sub 500 team. This would be an entirely different situation IF those wins had the potential to win the division or the players had the potential to make a difference in contention. However, there is no way this team contends and the two players in question are not difference makers.

 

The cost in terms of future development is 2 prospects along the lines of Berrios, Eades, Turner, Gonsalves. Obviously, Berrios was taken a few spots ahead of the pick we would lose and Gonsalves was taken later. We also sell low on Florimon and give up two other roster spots, essentially selling low on them as well. So, we give up to high picks and give up on three players to pick up a couple wins in a sub 500 season.

 

Add to this a price tag north of $20M/year and I really can’t imagine there is a GM anywhere that concludes the cost is worthy of the benefit. It seems more prudent to take a shot at Tanaka or one of the front of the rotation starters that should be available next year. They can also pursue Florimon with the benefit of the added clarity provided by another year of experience for Florimon. Things also change a bit if they take Turner or Sanatana/Polanco make big strides.

 

Beside all of the above, the biggest unknown for the future is corner outfielders. Another year should clarify that part of our future as well. Perhaps the best use of FA dollars will be a corner outfielder, perhaps one of an international flavor that does not cost us prospects and is young enough to be part of the long-term future of this team.

[cmathewson]

yes and yes.

 

That's what I thought. I'll pass.

[PseudoSABR]

Wasn't Cruz named in the A-Rod probe? If so, did he serve his suspension yet?

He served it last season.

[PseudoSABR]

These are the kinda of players that may not hamstring the budget as of now, but they would likely prevent us from signing similar or better players at their respective positions in the future. If they preform below their career averages from here on, I'm not sure they give us the competitive advantage now or in the future.

 

I'd only sign them if they demand less than four years. It's hard for me to imagine Drew playing SS well at 35. I didn't think Morales was necessarily worth the qualifying offer, much less additional years.

 

Also something to consider: if Sano can't stick at third, he'll have to share first base with Mauer and that means both DH.

[Trevor0333]

These are the kinda of players that may not hamstring the budget as of now, but they would likely prevent us from signing similar or better players at their respective positions in the future. If they preform below their career averages from here on, I'm not sure they give us the competitive advantage now or in the future.

 

I'd only sign them if they demand less than four years. It's hard for me to imagine Drew playing SS well at 35. I didn't think Morales was necessarily worth the qualifying offer, much less additional years.

 

Also something to consider: if Sano can't stick at third, he'll have to share first base with Mauer and that means both DH.

 

I have no doubt Sano will stick at 3B, he is already better defensively than Plouffe even though that is not saying much.

 

I wouldnt go near any kind of 4/40 type deals for Morales or Drew. Both are solid players but the draft pick is really hurting their market value. I know Ryan disdains giving up prospects but if they could swoop in & land the pair on 3/25 deals giving up a 2nd & a 3rd I could see Ryan reluctantly pulling the trigger.

[TheLeviathan]

I have no doubt Sano will stick at 3B, he is already better defensively than Plouffe even though that is not saying much.

 

I think that's hard to say with certainty right now. We have seen some awesome athleticism on video but also some high error totals. I think until we see him for an extended time we can't say for sure. That answer may be years in the making.