Riverbrian

1 Year 12 Million is what i'm hearing. Lynn should be upgrade over Mejia, Hughes and Sanchez. Turn on the applause sign.

Mr. Clark is getting me a little concerned. From a distance I'm starting to think that the players need new labor lawyers. The Competitive Balance Tax and the sheer numbers of low budget teams are both important factors in my opinion. Trying to determine what is the bigger issue is like trying to decide if it's the Cold Air from Canada or the Warm Air from the Gulf that is more important in the formation of the tornado that ripped through your Barn. From a distance... IMO... Tony Clark should probably try deflect any talk about the Competitive Balance Tax penalty increases because Tony Clark traded that for lesser draft pick compensation for the handful of players who rejected the QO. That's a bad trade... Tony Clark got beat. Jason Castro signed a 3 year 24M dollar deal and a year later Jonathan Lucroy just got a 1 year deal at 6.5m from a tanking team and that kind of says a lot. The Yankees could use a Jake Arrieta or Mike Moustakas. The Dodgers could use a Jake Arrieta. The Giants could use a Jake Arrieta or Eric Hosmer. The Nats could use a Jake Arrieta or Johnathan Lucroy or Greg Holland The Cubs could use a Greg Holland or a Wade Davis for that matter. The Angels could use a Jake Arrieta, Lance Lynn or Alex Cobb The Mariners have needs... so do the Blue Jays. Where are they? Clark can blame the tanking teams all he wants but the tanking teams just signed Moustakas and Lucroy.

I'll tell you this much. Whenever Ketchup and Free Agency can be tied together. I'm happy.

Yeah... They are meddling in everything. They started doing that after they saw the movie "Charlie Wilson's War".

I'm always curious on how and why information is leaked/released. Curious... maybe more suspicious. I always assume the parties involved are professionals and know how to keep a lid on something if needed. so if it leaks... I assume it is intentional. Who would want 2/20 out to the public?

Assuming these numbers are correct and I have no reason to doubt them. The Twins have under spent by over 100 million. I imagine they will not make up the difference in future years by going over 52%.

I think he has the feet for third... and if he has the feet for third... he'll have the arm for third.

Catchers typically don't hit that well to begin with. If we need a fill in... somebody will fill in without that much of a drop off.

Having an ace is very helpful but you don't need an "Ace" to win the world series. What you need is a guy or two who step up to be "Ace" like for a 20 game stretch.

Based on his numbers.. In my opinion... Vargas hasn't lost a job and he hasn't earned a job. I'm not sure that he has ever been seriously been considered for the job though. Don't get me wrong... I believe he got some chances last year and I do believe that Vargas didn't grab it with both hands so that is on Kennys... but let's not come to the conclusion that his numbers were brutal and let's not come to the conclusion that 241 AB's is serious due diligence either. I keep going back to July 2016 and I'm still pissed about it. Kennys was called up July 4th as Trevor Plouffe was placed on the DL. During July with an every day job (65 AB's). Kennys was on fire with an OPS of 1.056. August 2nd he lost his starting job and was eventually sent down in favor of Trevor Plouffe. The Twins benched him when he was as hot during a lost season. That will cool a guy off. That was a big mis-treatment of a guy trying to make it. I like Vargas and I like the Morrison signing because we picked up a guy who hit 38 dingers last year and it didn't cost a lot. But... Let's be clear... Morrison broke out last year at age 29. Take last year out of his career stats and look at what Morrison was... it can be successfully argued that Vargas has better stats. Hey... A break out can be a continued break out and I'm excited about that possibility... it doesn't have to be a one year blip. I'm happy we signed Morrison but I'm uncomfortable that it could cost us Vargas. Who I still think is 40 Home Run Plus Capable. I'd like Molitor to also use Morrison in the OF from time to time so Vargas can sensibly stay on the Roster. Although... I really doubt that would happen so it is what it is. We got a guy who can hit it out and a guy who the Twins will without a doubt play. Playing time is the for sure upgrade of Morrison from Vargas. The rest is kind of a wash.

I think Lynn or Cobb would have to fall into our lap with a significant price drop. Nothing to base that thinking on other than... we did add to our payroll with the additions of Odorizzi and LoMo. All in All.. It wasn't Darvish but I could see the clear effort the front office put toward the product on the field and I'm going to be OK because the sun will rise tomorrow.

I agree with you. I'm just for adding the assets period. Lefty or Righty... is the lesser consideration. I'd prefer a Righty but they just added a 38 home run guy (career year or not) for a very reasonable contract. Morrison may have been the equivalent of an impulse buy. Look at this 65 inch TV for 90% off. May have just been browsing. It doesn't matter... it's great value and they should gather assets where they may. I would have liked Gomez... Can play CF or any OF spot very well... Speed and Power. But... I didn't think it was going to happen. I assume there was a reason that Gomez was traded in the first place.

I'm for improving this team in any way possible. I'm for gathering assets any way possible. I'm happy with the signing because LoMo can help us win games. Many people forget that LoMo has also played 254 career games in the outfield. I have always wanted 25 guys who can play and roster flexibility so everyone can actually play by moving some people around from time to time to accommodate. I assume he isn't Byron Buxton in the OF but I also assume that he can play some OF so Sano can DH and Escobar can play 3B on occasion or if necessary. LoMo playing some OF doesn't mean that Kepler gets splinters if the manager gets it. A creative manager can rotate players around. We need power insurance because we don't know what is going to happen to Sano this year. I'm hoping LoMo can hit 40 dingers. I also don't believe it is necessary to cut Vargas to make room although that will probably happen. Because he can play a little OF... You could in theory cut Adrianaza or Grossman to make room although that probably won't happen.

Post of the Day!!! You are ready for the game threads.

The decline of the Panda could also be explained by the fact that he swung at everything and he got exploited more efficiently. I'm not saying anything definite. I'm just saying.

I personally do not know his work out habits... routines... diet... genetics or attitude. I personally will try to be a little careful making any assumptions about his work out habits... routines... diet... genetics or attitude.

Exactly The Twins didn't have a gun to their head. The only gun to their head was in the hand of the owner dictating that payroll has to be reduced. I think it is reasonable to assume that the Twins were not the only team that called the Rays about Odorizzi. They considered all the discussions and traded for the guy that their scouting department liked the best. That's how trades are supposed to work. No one got fleeced yet.

I'm with ya on this. However... it's a strange place for me to be. Before the off-season started I never dreamed the Twins would be in the hunt for a top end starter so I was hoping for complete focus on the bullpen and creativity with the rotation such as moving someone out of a bullpen role into the rotation like Minor. Now that Darvish was supposedly in play... My mindset has changed and now I can't shake the desire for a top end guy that will push the others down a notch. However... If they don't grab that top end guy... I will remained heartened by one thing. The Twins have quality depth and that hasn't been the case for quite a few years. We shouldn't have to throw a Cole DeVries or Scott Diamond type pitcher for 20 plus starts just to get through the season. I think this could be huge.

Welcome to Twinsdaily

Is it possible to absolutely love a trade while at the same time being underwhelmed by the level of improvement it brings your team? If so... that might be where I am.

What I remember when watching Odorizzi... Very quiet delivery... doesn't even look like he's trying. He was always more effective at the top of the zone. He'd throw some high cheese around 90 at the letters and batters couldn't seem to catch up with it. He's also got a nice little change that has a little drop at the end of it. Don't remember seeing many breaking pitches but I'll get a chance to watch him more. He's a good average MLB Pitcher that we didn't pay a ton for. Hat tipped to the front office. I still wanted Darvish tho

I'll wait for Plan B but It may be the only hope.

I really try to give the front office the benefit of the doubt. I'm trying not to assume that they drew a line in the sand with Darvish and lost him over a drawn line when you consider what it takes to land the player you want in Free Agency against competing teams. If the 5 Year 100+Million is true and that was indeed the formal offer. If I knew for sure (I don't) there was any indication that going to 6 years in January would have gotten the deal done... This is what I would say to Falvey and Lavine with all due respect: Moses and Jesus were playing golf. Moses steps up to the tee and drives the ball down the center of the fairway. Jesus is next and he takes a half swing and the ball slices into a pond. A fish then surfaces with the ball in his mouth... an eagle swoops down and grabs the fish in his talons... flies over the green and the ball falls out of the fish and lands in the cup for a hole in one. Jesus smiles at Moses and Moses says... Do you want to play golf or are you just going to screw around? So... Derek and Thad... Do you want to play golf or are you just going to screw around? Again... If... the reported numbers are correct... If a 6 year contract would have gotten the deal done... if they don't have an sensible executable plan B that is better than Anibal Sanchez and at least close to what Yu Darvish would potentially bring. That's would I would say. I get stared at a lot when I speak so I assume they would both stare at me as I'm ushered out of their office.

Yeah Understood... There are shades. I really didn't want to give the impression that it was above 17.4 or bust. I guess my point in a nutshell should have been this: Agents promise players results in order to convince them they should choose them over other agents who are also making result based promises. If you don't get the results? That agent has a current and future problem when it comes to the retention and acquisition of clients. If a player is advised to turn own the QO... It better turn out to be good advice.

And if the QO is 17.4 and possible that Lynn and Cobb turned it down expecting to be around that neighborhood. Darvish signing for 21M AAV seems rather bargain like.