Riverbrian

The beauty of Twins Daily is the clear display of multiple and different opinions. You have my respect while I completely disagree with you. You are not a man in the wilderness... there are plenty here that agree with you... I'm just not one of those. 1. I'm sure the HOF discription was embellishment and I think the aging process that we all go through is true enough to support your assertion that players fade as they age. You also forgot to mention that pitchers frequently get severe injuries that can shut them down for an entire year and that could be year one of the contract. I won't tell you that Darvish can defy all of that. I will simply tell you that I believe that Darvish has stuff that very few in this league can match or surpass. He can help this team right now and how much help he can provide us at the end of the contract will have to be addressed later. 2. The Twins have clearly identified him as top of the rotation talent. If he fails to be a top of the rotation talent it will be disappointing for everyone but that's like saying... I'm not going to get married because what if my wife hates me. What if she doesn't. As for the Angels... I think the Angels understood how old Pujols would be at the end of the contract. I think the Angels wanted Pujols and paid the price to get Pujols because that was the price. They got who they wanted and I don't think the Angels are hating having him on the roster. I also think the Cardinals were wise at the same time. The clubs were in different situations at the time. It worked out for both. 3. I don't worry about projections... they are a dime a dozen... It only matters what actually happens. But... if the projectors are correct and Santana goes belly up on us... We will need Darvish more than ever. 4. I'm excited about Berrios... I wouldn't bet against him blowing the league away and even making the all-star game. It still has nothing to do with signing Darvish. Berrios is Great... Berrios and Darvish is Great plus Darvish. 5. I assume you mean the Buxton core young players here. Building with them doesn't just mean building with youth only... Building means from any avenue that is open for business. Signing a free agent is building. 6. If... I really hope they can and do. But the "If" that starts your sentence is similar to the "If" that goes in front of Darvish. If Gonsalves and Romero put things together this year... They will pitch in the bigs this year because pitchers don't stay healthy for an entire year. Then you are talking Gonsalves, Romero, Berrios plus Darvish and the declining Santana... The hopefully figuring out Gibson and the whatever Mejia becomes. Might be able to move some of that extra to get Archer. 7. I'm a big super bullpen guy and I plan on remaining a super bullpen guy. I'm a believer. But just because the value of the bullpen has increased in my eyes at least... it doesn't mean the importance of Starting Pitchers or Shortstops has decreased. 8. You have to believe in your development. It's the only way to have sustained runs for success as an organization. Signing Darvish does not impede the development of your farm system. It's only money. The trade you want to make for Archer does.(I'd be ok with that trade myself). Trading for Archer would be like a cannonball through the farm system since you would have to provide those developing players to the Rays to acquire Archer. 9. Some of the other teams players are better than our and some of the other teams players are not. We want the ones who are better. 10. It is my money... it is my time investment... every summer it is my hope and dreams. I would absolutely spend it like this. And I'd say... it's about time as it was spent.

Could Be. I won’t dismiss your reasoning. Nor Mine.

Rumors are rumors but there are rumors the D-Backs are shopping him. True? Not true? IDK My theory... they would have to eat cash because they already went over value to outbid others to sign him.

Andy Benes asked me the same question. I replied back “Mr. Big Stuff”. True Story... except it probably wasn’t Andy Benes.

If I was forced to guess. BTW... I’m not forced to guess yet here I am guessing anyway. I’m guessing the Rangers swoop and piss me off.

I agree... The Cubs are scary with that payroll and swagger and Darvish just might end up in Chicago... But I still can't shake the obvious sign that seem to be pinching pennies. These are the Cubs not the Rays. They let Davis go and decided to sign 3 relievers for 10 million less. They Signed Gimenez with Avila still on the table. They reportedly low balled Cobb trying to get him for Chatwood Money. (may not be true) And where are they with Arrieta. Offer him a contract.. he won a World Series and Cy Young with your team. You know Him... Why is there any kind of dance going on whatsoever unless you are trying to pinch those pennies. These are the Cubs... Does any of this sound like the Cubs? Maybe all of this has been done to collect a few extra dollars to sign the big prize Darvish... I don't know... But... The Cubs can walk in the room and meet the price of any player they'd like to have. No matter the rumors I'm hearing... The Cubs actions thus far in free agency sure smell like a team under a budget.

Could be Or... Maybe they are be preemptive. Putting potential roadblocks in the way for other potential suitors. In case all things are equal. It's just a minor league deal for Gimenez. The Cubs can still go out and sign Avila and leave Gimenez in Iowa. Maybe they are thinking... Darvish likes Gimenez... let's grab him before Texas, Minnesota or Milwaukee does and see if it increases our chances and decreases the chances of the competition in case all things are equal or close to equal. I imagine the contract discussions are being held with the Agent and not Darvish directly. It's hard to believe that the Agent while trying to negotiate the deal of Yu's lifetime is saying "Yeah it's 150 Million plus Gimenez has to be on the 25 man or no deal". I can't imagine the agent saying it's 120 Million in Minnesota.... 100 Million in Chicago but the Cubs have Gimenez. To which Darvish replies "It only costs me 20 million to play Gimenez again?". Where do I sign. I think it is quite possible that Chicago needs a cheap catcher for depth and if it Darvish likes it... Bonus.

Born in Stillwater High School in Stillwater. College at the U of M. Drafted by the Minnesota Twins Entire Career Spent with the Twins Organization He couldn't be more one of us... even if he spent his retirement walking around the lakes cleaning Zebra Mussels and Pondweed off of boats. I finding my biggest hat to tip to him.

Darvish Break the Bank

I don't believe that "Long Man" is even the slightest bit necessary anymore. I know it is different in the playoffs. I know that 162 games is a grind and therefore different than the playoffs... but... look what Girardi did to us in WC Game. We jumped on their Ace Severino and he lasted one third of an inning. Chad Green comes in early and pitches two innings and then Robertson for 3.1 followed by Kahnle for for 2.1 and then Chapman for the 9th. No long man and a frustrated Twins lineup. The Twins countered that with: Santana 2.0 Berrios 3.0 Hildenberger 1.1 Rogers .1 Busenitz .1 Belisle 1 Molitor treated Berrios like a long man and if the Twins advanced. The starting rotation was compromised. There is only one answer in my opinion. 7 Guys in the Bullpen... 7 Guys who are all trusted and can all knock you out. Load it up!!! Your top gun in the bullpen gets used like Andrew Miller. Pitch when backs are against the wall and you need someone. You can also name a dedicated closer for value purposes. Pitchers will want that role because it tends to pay more in the current climate. After that... No Dedicated 8th or 7th inning guy... No Dedicated Long Man. Use the guy who is rested and ready. pitching well and matches up well with batting order you are facing. Don't name a set up guy and try to ride him out when he is struggling. Give the ball to those who are performing at the time. Have enough talent to be flexible and let it rock. That's how I'd do it and the Twins are pretty close to being able to execute this way. The Pen has potential and there is significant replacement depth in the minors.

I'm not advocating a weak 9th inning closer. I'm greedy... I want a bullpen full of guys who get people out with authority. However... while we are just entering the age of bullpen enlightenment. The 9th inning will devalue down the road. Bullpens have to be looked at differently.

IMO... Any team that isn't signing, trading for... or creating their own version of Andrew Miller is making a mistake. If this is the plan for Addison Reed... I'm excited about it.

I still contend that the Yankees and Dodgers are out unless they are able to move a significant amount of money. Ellsbury and Kemp will be real hard to move. I believe the Astros are out after Cole. It doesn't look like the Cubs are shopping at the top of the market. It's the Rangers that I worry about and I don't care if Jon Daniels says they are out. They have been rumored to have been holding discussions about Darvish, Arrieta and Greinke this off season. They ain't out.

I'm hoping for Berrios, Gibson and Gonsalves.

https://www.wthr.com/article/while-rangers-want-to-add-rotation-depth-yu-still-unlikely I read this article and thought to myself. "Damn it... Yu is going to sign with the Rangers. The Rangers have been attached to rumors for Darvish and Arrieta. They have been mentioned as kicking the tires on a Grienke trade. Jon Daniels has had two public meetings with Darvish. The Rangers have been listed on the list of 6 teams still in on Darvish. Jon Daniels should think about public office... the big liar!!!

Personally, Anything Tom writes... he has my full attention. He could write an article on the importance of radishes and I'll read it because Tom has earned my full respect. It may not change my mind on radishes since I don't care for them and I am locked in. There is a reason why I'm not sold on radishes and it's probably more complicated than "I simply don't like the way they taste". To break down the complicated answer would take some time and energy so it is much easier to say "I don't like the way they taste". Radishes and UZR are pretty much the same thing for me.

Or maybe... the selection of Burdi and Bard made them think. "****... We lost two... better grab somebody... who ya got."

1. His sprint speed is still plenty fast. Aggressiveness is a possible explanation. 2. I'm not a UZR Guy. I don't believe the story it tells is accurate. The Inclusion of UZR makes me not a WAR guy either. 3. He used to be a Kamikaze base runner in his younger days. He might be getting smarter.

I love it. A staff full of decent arms with decent replacement options stashed in Rochester. It’s what every team wants.

The rumors will typically get crazy in the void of actual news.

Kinley would be #1 on my list. Unless Falvey and Lavine are sure he is the next Johan Santana. His selection made very little sense and when it happened it scared the hell out of me. I thought to myself... OMG... the Twins just committed a 25 man spot to a project. It was the exact opposite of the direction I wouldn't them to go. I kept thinking if the Twins were going to improve that bullpen.. .they wouldn't have given a spot to this Kinley experiment. Thank Goodness the Twins have signed Addison Reed who can effectively force the experiment off the roster. It should be Kinley first Boshers 2nd.

I agree... To assume that Ryan wouldn't notice the financial flexibility. You would have to first assume that he was blind and completely inept and that would be a terrible assumption to make. My opinion of Terry Ryan is mostly favorable. Even if I felt it was time for a change. However... There really isn't any history of Ryan shopping at the top of the FA pile or trading for an established veteran with a significant price tag. Ryan never got a chance to prove that he could or would spend when necessary. The timing may not have been right or... well... I don't know.

Only Darvish can decide if he comes here. If he comes or doesn't... I'm already buying into the indicator that the Twins have demonstrated it isn't business as usual by simply being in the mix for him. They wouldn't be in the mix without a significant dollar amount thrown in that direction. I'm pretty happy today.

This news made my Saturday. I was worried they were done in the bullpen. I’m smiling. I’m guessing that Reed signs for less years to be a closer. Rodney will have a new role and his agent is probably calling to air grievances. No way this takes them out on Darvish. Two Years around 8M per year. Should have no influence on a multi year 100 plus million deal.

Quite Possible. They are being rumored on Darvish and Cole for a reason. I still can't see them going with both Darvish and Cole. They would certainly have to deal some of that surplus. I also believe that the Astros are not desperate and don't have to over pay for anyone. If they don't sign any more pitching. They are in pretty good shape right now. It'll be hard for the Pirates to squeeze them... It'll be hard for Darvish's Agent to wring extra dollars out of them.