Slow Going At The Winter Meetings

Worst headline of the past week:  "(Terry) Ryan staying put".!

I also saw the Angels were asking about Escobar and talking about a reliever Pestano.

More disappointingly Neshek signed with the Astros.  And Volquez is looking for reasonable money so he may come back up. 

Relievers are getting re$pect.

Perkins contract is looking better and better for the Twins.

Also, the bounty of high velocity relievers in the Twins minor looks even better value.

The middle reliever dollars are hefty this year. Good money for throwing 60 innings or so.

In the past, it always seemed, the Twins made just enough moves to stay competitive in their division and within reach of a post-season run, as many things can happen to a team, no matter how strong they look on paper.But right now, the Twins look so far out of the hunt that I feel sorry for Molitor who is put in a wait and see what the prospects can do and learn in their first half-year on the job and why did we spend money on Hunter if we truly aren't going anywheres.

Of course, we spent money on Hunter because us Twins fans do want the front office to spend money rather than keep it. And no matter how much we talk amongst ourselves, the greater smokescreen of major league baseball is how the fans who put their butts in the seat on a whim and a prayer react to things like a Hunter signing coupled with how our starting staff is stronger than it looked last year and we expect to have breakout seasons from numerous players, and Joe Mauer will be the Joe Mauer of old. That will fill the stands for the first 30-35 games or so at home.

But at some point, the Twins will have to open their wallets bigtime, or become another Oakland. I'm still amazed at how Billy Beane plays the game.

Yes, why are the Twins kicking tires on a #4 or #5 starter when they have a batch of them in waiting...May, Meyer could move up and go beyond that with a little major league experience, Pelfrey and Milone fill those spots adequately, Yohan Pino and Logan Darnell could play those roles. We can salivate on the prospect of Stewart and Berrios in the wings, and maybe the return of Alex Wimmers. But, man, $27 million a year for starting pitching? Kudos to Neshek for his monster salary, too.

It will be interesting to see how the off-season continues to settle, although - pinch me - why did the Twins tender arbitration to Nunez, Duensing and the ilk again? As I shuffle 25-man rosters in my mind, I can see them breaking campy with NONE of those bodies in tow.

Staying put is better than many of the names being floated. If a player doesn't bridge a short term gap or can improve the team longer term than stand pat.

Sometimes the best moves are the ones you don't make.

I would roll the dice on Brett Anderson and Kris Medlan.

I don't know the guarantee and incentives needed but I would require at least a team option for a second year.

I hope the Twins hold off signing anyone now, no need to make another Nolasco signing.  Let the market play out for awhile and see if you can add bargins later.  Garza and Santana signed late last year.  If not go with the young players and make the a move in free agency next year.

As much I would have liked the Twins to sign Neshek, paying a reliever 6M+ really isn't something the Twins should be doing.  The only really upside would him being a trade chip come the trade deadline.

I would agree to but for 2 years it not a lot.  He is a fan favorite from Minnesota so again why not.  If the salary is prohibitive from making other moves then yeah don't sign him but I can't shake this feeling the Twins are going to sign a Vogelsong or Kendrick.

Slow Going At The Winter Meetings ...

GLACIAL!