Report: Twins to Re-sign Reliever Sergio Romo

So far this offseason has been the definition of insanity.  The Twins have just been re-signing the same people who went 3 and out (again) in the postseason and apparently are expecting different results...

 

They need to start making some trades

Just wanted to make sure people read this again

I could probably give you thousands of examples of anecdotal evidence of a team losing a game or series and then putting out the same team the next time and having different results.     Twins scored 7 runs in 3 games  in the playoffs so better get a whole different lineup because if you don't they will only score 7 runs next year?   They had bases loaded and no outs and didn't score so next year they won't get a big hit either?   The Nationals were a two out 3 run single from being eliminated in the wild card game.   If they had I am sure the fans would have said " We haven't advanced  past the first round of the playoffs in 49 years.   This team just wasn't capable of doing any better".   But because they did have that big play we know better.     Its baseball.   With the same team guys will improve or get worse.  The only guy I really wanted in free agency is Ryu.   My biggest fear, and it was a distinct possibility is that we would also lose Pineda and Odorizzi.   91 Twins didn't go  from worst to first by signing an aging pitcher coming off two mediocre years and an untested rookie at 2nd base.   They went from worst to first because those guys had a great year and everyone that played on the last place team simply played better.    I'll hang my hat on a team that won over a 100 games last year.   They might be better, they might be worse but they are unlikely to be the same.   

Well....the 87 team  had this ACE called Frank Viola and then they TRADED their ACE for a #2/3 in Kevin Tapani as well as a shut down closer in Rick Aguilera (sp?) and then SIGNED a replacement  ACE called Jack Morris.                                           

So in summary  they used creative ways to improve their pitching through TRADES and FREE AGENCY (I don't recall Minnesota having a bigger payroll OR being more of a destination location then)

So thanks for reminding us all that big things CAN be accomplished with creativity and a little intestinal fortitude even in a small market team!

And again, for everyone keeping track at home, we had a shut down starting pitcher and reliever (or two if you count Senior Smoke in '87) when we won BOTH world series.

We have neither (and no Rodgers is not there yet due to his lack of durability in back to backs)

Yes these things  matter if we have hope of a WS...

Oh and Dantes929, the '91 Twins literally DID "go from worst to first by signing an aging pitcher coming off two mediocre years"

They signed a 36 y/o Jack Morris in fact who had actually come off exactly two mediocre (or just bad) years with ERA+ OF 79 and 89.

Kevin M took a chance because, you know, he wanted to actually win the WS and not get pantsed in the playoffs

Very happy to have Romo back, he pitched well for us, is a great vet presence, and is maybe my favorite interview the Twins have ever had. 

I am not super excited if they count on him as the main setup guy again, I still want a big RH to pair with Rodgers, but he is certainly a major step above the Blane Boyer/  Blake Parker kinda guy that is the usual off season bullpen addition.

I could probably give you thousands of examples of anecdotal evidence of a team losing a game or series and then putting out the same team the next time and having different results.     Twins scored 7 runs in 3 games  in the playoffs so better get a whole different lineup because if you don't they will only score 7 runs next year?   They had bases loaded and no outs and didn't score so next year they won't get a big hit either?   The Nationals were a two out 3 run single from being eliminated in the wild card game.   If they had I am sure the fans would have said " We haven't advanced  past the first round of the playoffs in 49 years.   This team just wasn't capable of doing any better".   But because they did have that big play we know better.     Its baseball.   With the same team guys will improve or get worse.  The only guy I really wanted in free agency is Ryu.   My biggest fear, and it was a distinct possibility is that we would also lose Pineda and Odorizzi.   91 Twins didn't go  from worst to first by signing an aging pitcher coming off two mediocre years and an untested rookie at 2nd base.   They went from worst to first because those guys had a great year and everyone that played on the last place team simply played better.    I'll hang my hat on a team that won over a 100 games last year.   They might be better, they might be worse but they are unlikely to be the same.   

I don't want to get too off track with this post, but just to show how much the game has changed, the Twins pitching staff in 1991 averaged 5.4 K per 9 innings.. the 5 main starters that year were 5.9,5,4.8,3.4 and 6.6 K/9.

Very happy with the Twins moves so far this off season. I hoped we could get Odorizzi, Pineda, and Romo back. I hoped we would non tender Cron and go a different direction at catcher. I’m still having a hard time waiting for the other Starting Pitcher but that would finish my off season plan.

And again, for everyone keeping track at home, we had a shut down starting pitcher and reliever (or two if you count Senior Smoke in '87) when we won BOTH world series.

 

We have neither (and no Rodgers is not there yet due to his lack of durability in back to backs)

 

Yes these things  matter if we have hope of a WS...

Senior Smoke had a 3.99 ERA and Reardon had a 4.5 ERA.   Hardly shut down relievers   Viola   was coming off a 4.5 ERA year in 86 and 4.09 in 85.   My point was no way before the year began were you saying Viola was an ace.    No way before the season began were you saying 36 year old Morris was going to throw one of the greatest WS games ever.    You would be saying "Boy,, another washed up veteran.   Aren't they ever going to try to  win?"    You were probably even saying "Cheap Twins trading a Cy Young winner because they don't want to pay to keep him from being a free agent".   If the Twins win the WS next year in some future year you will be talking about what great moves the Twins made to sign Cruz, resign Odorizzi and Pineda and rely on young Graterol to have a big year.

Where does this signing put us? The Google doc roster would show us at just over $110MM, but that includes a full season of all the guys on the 40-man.

Roster Resource has the current group (of 19 players) totaling $106.6mm. They will need to fill out the 26 man roster with players, though, so $110 sounds about right as of now.

https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-minnesota-twins-info/

Well....the 87 team  had this ACE called Frank Viola and then they TRADED their ACE for a #2/3 in Kevin Tapani as well as a shut down closer in Rick Aguilera (sp?) and then SIGNED a replacement  ACE called Jack Morris.                                           

  

So in summary  they used creative ways to improve their pitching through TRADES and FREE AGENCY (I don't recall Minnesota having a bigger payroll OR being more of a destination location then)

 

So thanks for reminding us all that big things CAN be accomplished with creativity and a little intestinal fortitude even in a small market team!

More info on that deal- Viola was having a non-ACE year (8-12, ERA of 3.79 after 2.90/2.64 the previous years) but he still had a few good years left. Tapani was in the minors, with only 3 appearances in the majors, but he worked out.  Aguilera was a stud reliever, but was not really a "shut-down" closer with the Mets- he had mainly been a starter for the Mets until that year.  When he was traded he had 19 appearances in relief, with 7 saves and a record of 6-6.  He told the Twins he wanted to start, which he did for the rest of the year.  Then he agreed to close in 1990 and he became Aggie.

As someone mentioned earlier, I don't think anyone thought Morris was an ace in the spring of 1991. He hadn't received any votes for the Cy Young Award since 1987, when he finished 9th, which was also the last time he'd been an All-Star.  He had a great year in '91, but I think it was far above what the Twins had hoped for.

That was a really good trade, no question.  I'm not sure how this relates to what the team might be able to do today, though.  I do like the idea of trades, but I think it would have to work the other way, with four or five young players going for an established star.

Senior Smoke had a 3.99 ERA and Reardon had a 4.5 ERA.   Hardly shut down relievers   Viola   was coming off a 4.5 ERA year in 86 and 4.09 in 85.   My point was no way before the year began were you saying Viola was an ace.    No way before the season began were you saying 36 year old Morris was going to throw one of the greatest WS games ever.    You would be saying "Boy,, another washed up veteran.   Aren't they ever going to try to  win?"    You were probably even saying "Cheap Twins trading a Cy Young winner because they don't want to pay to keep him from being a free agent".   If the Twins win the WS next year in some future year you will be talking about what great moves the Twins made to sign Cruz, resign Odorizzi and Pineda and rely on young Graterol to have a big year.

This is the frame of reference. I remember being quite underwhelmed over the winter of '90/'91. I think there is a good probability that Berrios/Odo & Pineda stack up very nicely with anyone else's top 3 - and can any of these 3 have a top tier year - No question one or two of them can, maybe all 3? 
I've heard we can expect some offensive regression - I am not so sure about that. Yes, maybe Garver/Cruz & Arraez can't possibly duplicate last year, but holy cow if we finally get a full season from Buxton & Sano, and Kep takes another step, Rosario improves I think - our offense should not be an issue with this lineup.
We could see another rookie breakout by mid-June in Kiriloff or Larnach or another surprise candidate. It is important to remember that getting to the Yankees series, and getting our face smashed in, might have been the necessary "experience" this squad needed to become clutch next time around.The groundwork has been laid, but as in the winter of '90/'91 - it doesn't quite look that way yet. 

I'm happy to have him back, but I have the feeling that this may be the last "name" free agent we end up signing before the new season starts. Time to make a trade and get that starting pitcher we need. Arizona? Colorado?

As long as Romo can spin his sliders he'll be useful.  If nothing else after Odo puts in his typical 5 and 2/3, but has 112 pitches and 2 runners on base, Romo can put out that fire.

It will be fun having back a guy with a great slider and even better post-game interviews. Yet, part of me wonders how he doubles his salary st age 37.

Great one year contract with an option should he have another good year.  Was a bit surprised at the amount, but he should be a good veteran in what is still a very young bullpen.

His signing brings the 40-man to 38.  That's only two open spots with the likelihood of four additional signings over the next couple months...a lefty reliever, two starting pitchers and a player to address the corner infield need.  Perhaps one will come via trade, but even so there is a good chance they will have to make one more cut to the current 38 players on the roster.  It's also possible they will bring in only one more starting pitcher and give the #5 spot to the winner of the young gun competition.

Find some starting pitching.

No, they should just stop with this move. Do nothing some more.

Very happy to see Sergio back on the time {insert graphic}.  Valuable piece of the puzzle.