What one Free Agent should the Twins sign for the 2014 Season

[stringer bell]

The Twins have spent money this off-season bolstering their starting rotation. They still apparently have money to spend. The consensus on this board is that they should sign at least one more free agent. Which one (if you can only pick one)?

[Thrylos]

Concensus? Free Agents? Not sure about that...

 

Frankly, I'd rather see them do some addition by subtraction (like in the Doumit situation) and package Willingham and a couple of pitchers (and heck, throw Kepler in if you have to) with or without options for someone like Domonic Brown.

 

That would make sense, it would be long term, and I'd like it (and the Twins' pitchers would too, I bet).

[Beezer]

I just don't think there is a FA out there right now that would be worth the money. I think the Twins would be better off holding onto that cash for next year to fill some holes rather than trying to get it all done in one year and settling for someone who they may not be happy with a year from now.

[DocBauer]

I'm voting Garza for two reasons. The first being rather obvious, you can never have enough quality pitching, especially in the rotation. His addition, talent and past production and youth, offers the Twins the best overall rotation in years with Nolasco, Hughes, Pelfrey, and however the rest plays out.

 

The second reason is you can never have enough quality pitching, especially in the rotation. And barring an influx of injuries, his signing would probably allow the Twns to trade or package Correia for a value. And even when Gibson, a healthy Deduno and a ready Meyer are ready to fill a spot, there should be no reason they couldn't move a Pelfrey or possibly Hughes to another club in need.

[halfchest]

I had to say Garza, I think he's a good fit and he doesn't cause a draft pick or prospects to pick up.

 

However, Drew is a close 2nd for me. He'll be cheaper and shorter term deal. We don't have anyone ready to step up to play SS. At some point, we have too much veteran pitching. Had we not signed Pelfrey, I'd be all about us going after Garza. I still wouldn't complain if we signed him but I feel like you have to leave at least one spot for a guy like Worley, Deduno, Diamond, or Gibson to win.

[johnnydakota]

Concensus? Free Agents? Not sure about that...

 

Frankly, I'd rather see them do some addition by subtraction (like in the Doumit situation) and package Willingham and a couple of pitchers (and heck, throw Kepler in if you have to) with or without options for someone like Domonic Brown.

 

That would make sense, it would be long term, and I'd like it (and the Twins' pitchers would too, I bet).

Isint Brown just a younger version of Willingham (bad defense)?

But I like the Idea of adding through trades, Baltimore has a 27 year old lefty catcher they got fron S.F. named Monell,who I would like to have, or maybe make a run at JJ Hardy again,

since he is set to be a free agent, of course my 1st choice is A.Diaz(5 years of team controll)

[Guest USAFChief]

I need an "all of the above" option to vote.

[oldguy10]

How about Delmon, put him in right with Willingham in left and Arcia in center, that would be worth a few laughs, to hell with good baseball until 2015.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Frankly, I'd rather see them do some addition by subtraction (like in the Doumit situation) and package Willingham and a couple of pitchers (and heck, throw Kepler in if you have to) with or without options for someone like Domonic Brown.

 

Yeesh, that is selling not one but two players when they're at the low water mark. No thanks.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I think the choice is pretty easy.... Stephen Drew, maybe Michael Young.

 

The Twins need short-term infielders. Drew is more of a middle-of-the-road piece but Young can probably be had on a one year deal.

 

The Twins don't need a DH. They already have five of that guy, though it'd be nice if one of them was actually good. Still, they need to clear out some warm bodies and make room for Arcia, Buxton, and Hicks relatively soon and DH is the logical spot to slide Willingham when that happens (not to mention that Plouffe is going to added to the shuffle sometime by mid-season). If none of it pans out, find a DH next offseason.

 

The Twins shouldn't be looking at more starting pitchers, IMO. They already signed three and have one spot open for four guys with a fifth coming at some point in the season. They need to see how that shakes out before they commit more money to the position.

 

And the more I look into Tanaka, the more my brain yells "DO NOT WANT". The dude didn't miss bats in Japan last year. Sure, he might be a fine pitcher but not at the money he's going to get from an overeager team. If the Twins absolutely must give money to another pitcher, I'd take Garza at 50-60% of Tanaka's overall contract value in a heartbeat. I think the guy is going to be an awful value. He could easily be a league average guy sucking up $20m+ a year. No thanks.

[Craig Arko]

Suk-Min Yoon, mostly because I want to hear Bert try to pronounce that.

[Gene Larkin Fan Club]

None of the names on that list has me jumping out of my seat. However, a lack of organizational depth at SS makes me think the Twins could/should add a player like Drew, as long as he can be had at a reasonable price. Drew isn't much more than an average player, but that's considerably better than what we've marched out there recently. I'd be OK if the organization held off a bit and after a strong start (hopefully) from Willingham, look to acquire a reasonable prospect at short.

[Gene Larkin Fan Club]

Does anyone know if there's any chance at all that the Twins would consider moving Dozier back to short? Seems like a solid 2nd sacker might be easier to find than a solid shortstop. Not saying I think they should, just wondering if it's a possibility.

[Guest USAFChief]

Does anyone know if there's any chance at all that the Twins would consider moving Dozier back to short? Seems like a solid 2nd sacker might be easier to find than a solid shortstop. Not saying I think they should, just wondering if it's a possibility.

IMO there is almost zero chance of that happening. He's a second baseman because they decided he's not a big league SS, and I strongly doubt they go back on that decision.

[Marta Shearing]

As historically bad as this offense again will be, I still gotta go with Garza. Drew a close second. Dozier struggled at SS and took it to the plate with him. He played gold glove quality 2nd base and had a nice offensive year. No way I move him back.

[Marta Shearing]

I just don't think there is a FA out there right now that would be worth the money. I think the Twins would be better off holding onto that cash for next year.....

That would be very logical thinking if it wasn't for the fact thats not how they operate. Money not spent this year isn't saved for the following year.

[TheLeviathan]

It's Garza for me, mostly because I think he'll be the best bang for your buck. There is a good chance you could get him now for significantly less than the talent he represents.

[johnnydakota]

Yes, the Twins shouldnt be looking at more starting pitchers ? Hopefully come june that is still true.The ones we did sign are all hope , hope they can heal, hope they can turn it around ,hope they can be competitive for a losing club. As we are still looking at another losing season , to me it is better to sign kids, we should have around 1.5 million left in international money to spend before july 2nd and there is a couple of Cubans who play in positions we can use help in Bello at catcher and Diaz at shortstop

[Major League Ready]

Any of the remaining options except Tanaka are stop gaps. I think there are better opportunity in the wings. There is a long list of Cuban players expected to become FAs before spring training.

http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article/mlb/clubs-interested-in-cuban-shortstop-prospect-aledmys-diaz?ymd=20131209&content_id=64509354

 

I look at 2014 as a year to put a better product on the field at the same time settle once in for all the question marks around several players. I would take this opportunity to try Swarzak as a starter. If he succeeds, we just increased the value of one of our assets considerably. Put Worley in Swarzak’s spot and let him prove himself. If he makes a comeback, he too will go from little value to considerable value. I would also sell high on Correia right now if at all possible.

 

Hopefully, we finally have some guys step up and are able to sell high. Worley, Diamond, Gibson, Swarzak, Arcia, and Hicks are players who could appreciate substantially in value if these assets are managed wisely. They could all fail to but we have to put them in a position to become valuable as opposed to just selling low. Plouffe, Florimon, and Parmelee, are not likely but it would be a nice bonus if one of them were to break out.

 

We go into 2015 with Willingham and Correia off the books. Hopefully, they are traded for value by the trade deadline. We would be in great position for Cuban and other international players over the next 15 months and front of the rotation starters that should be available via FA next year. Plus, we will have a much clearer picture on position players. I might be dead wrong but I believe there is great opportunity to become a contender if we don’t try to do it all at once.

[Danchat]

I pick Michael Young because I don't want Plouffe at 3rd. Depends on the price though, he's older and I don't want to pay him much. I think he's better than Drew and he's a high character guy. It would bring a little leadership into the dugout.

[Rosterman]

I would vote for Garza.

 

But I would rather see Drew with the extra funds going by way of Santana. Public Relations-wise, he would be worth every penny! f he pitched, that first game -- wow! -- and it would all be worth it!

 

Okay, too much Santana love here.

[UCLA_YANKEE_COLA]

I voted for Tanaka. His K's were down last year but his career K numbers were awfully close to Darvish with fewer walks. I don't think he'll be Darvish (who might be the best pitcher in the AL) but I think there's a chance he's our ace for 5 years if we sign him. I don't think you can say that with any of the other guys. I just want a real ace pitcher here. We've had one true #1 in the last 20 years. Gross.

[Brock Beauchamp]

I voted for Tanaka. His K's were down last year but his career K numbers were awfully close to Darvish with fewer walks. I don't think he'll be Darvish (who might be the best pitcher in the AL) but I think there's a chance he's our ace for 5 years if we sign him. I don't think you can say that with any of the other guys. I just want a real ace pitcher here. We've had one true #1 in the last 20 years. Gross.

 

We all want an ace but I think it's a mistake to pin those hopes on a 24 year old that has already pitched 1300 professional innings and barely K'ed 7 per 9 in Japan last season... Not when that player is going to run over $100m to sign. Sure, he could rebound and start missing bats again... Or he might not. And at that money, the guy better be as close to a sure thing as there is in baseball. The Twins simply cannot afford to pay a guy over 1/5th of their total payroll and not get premium performance out of him.

 

Darvish K'ed over 11 per 9 innings in his last season in Japan. He was trending the opposite direction when he came to MLB.

[Thrylos]

re: Michael Young: About ready to announce his retirement.

[johnnydakota]

I voted for Tanaka. His K's were down last year but his career K numbers were awfully close to Darvish with fewer walks. I don't think he'll be Darvish (who might be the best pitcher in the AL) but I think there's a chance he's our ace for 5 years if we sign him. I don't think you can say that with any of the other guys. I just want a real ace pitcher here. We've had one true #1 in the last 20 years. Gross.

 

With Masahiros Tanakas wife wanting to be on the West coast and the Yankees wanting him , Minnesotas only chance at signing him is to a much shorter contract say a 2 or 3 year deal

[Cris E]

We've got herds of starters and Florimon at SS, so while Drew may not be the specific name I say we need another SS. There's got to be a guy out there worth a two year deal to play until it becomes clear a genuine long term SS is in the system or not.

[Brock Beauchamp]

There's got to be a guy out there worth a two year deal to play until it becomes clear a genuine long term SS is in the system or not.

 

Here's the list of available shortstops:

 

1. Stephen Drew

 

2. ...

 

3. Pedro Florimon?

 

4. Damn it!