Riverbrian

I respect your opinion... but you are basically saying that you are out on Free Agency. Not only turning off the spigot but removing it from the house followed by welding the pipe shut. In my opinion... you are right and also wrong at the same time. Right: The basic outline of your opinion really can't be argued. Teams are indeed signing long term contracts to players who often don't perform at a level that the terms of the contract suggest they should. Wrong: Your fear of a less than optimal result isn't reasonable despite being correct on your basic point. The cost of these contracts is baked into the ledgers so teams are mitigating the end result... whatever that may be. All teams should be able to afford a big contract or two regardless if they work out because the CBA keeps those young players that make up the majority of a roster at the league minimum or at least somewhat affordable while they are controlloble. If a team can't afford a big contract or two... the churn will be hard to stomach. I don't want my Twins to take the approach that the Rays and A's take. We are a small market but I don't think we have to act quite as small as Oakland and Tampa. You have used Pujols as an example of a bad contract numerous times. Open it up and take a look at the payments by year. 2012: Age 32 - 12M 2013: Age 33 - 16M 2014: Age 34 - 23M 2015: Age 35 - 24M 2016: Age 36 - 25M 2017: Age 37 - 26M 2018: Age 38 - 27M 2019: Age 39 - 28M 2020: Age 40 - 29M 2021: Age 41 - 30M I'm sure you don't believe that Jerry Dipoto was thinking that Albert Pujols was going to have his best year at age 41 and therefore paid the most in that final year. I'm also sure that you probably believe that Jerry Dipoto was probably fully aware that Pujols may actually be a liability at age 41. Yet... the Angels paying him more that final year. Dipoto and Arte Moreno went ahead, offered and signed the contract anyway. That should tell you that the clubs are baking the cost, the risk, the decline... all of it into the process or they wouldn't pay him the highest dollar amount at age 41. It would make them ridiculous. I feel it is a mistake to assume that the Pujols contract is "damaging" or horrible. The Angels had their eyes wide open and were not duped or tricked. They did it because he was available and he entered free agency with a .328 career average and 445 home runs over 11 seasons. He was a once in a generation type of player. They did it because the other teams also wanted him. I've read comments from time to time suggesting that the Cards were smart to let Pujols go. However... The Cards reportedly offered Pujols a 10 year deal as well for 210 million. Same length and close to 4 million less AAV so the Cards were also willing to pay Pujols a lot of money into the age of 41 to keep him in St. Louis. They both wanted the player and who wouldn't want him. With the CBA... If you want the player it's nearly impossible to control the terms unless nobody else wants the player. You simply determine... Do you want him? If you do... You have to put the algorithms down. You have to put the actuary tables down. If the answer is NO... it simple... let somebody else pay... If the answer is kinda but you like some other options... then you can mess around a little. But if the Answer is Yes... or in the Twins case... The Answer is Yes and he is really the only player you seem to want... You can't mess around. Regression, injury risk... none of that matters anymore. I know you understand all of this but... in the end... it really weakens your point when you say that you would do 3 years for Darvish because it is similar to saying I'll give you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for that Cadillac Escalade. Your Answer to the question "Do you Want Him?" is clearly NO. I'm answering the question "Yes". I'm just hoping to convince you that you are letting the dollar amount get in your way.

Great... More responsibility.

It would be wonderful for us if the Twins could simply name their terms and the player had no leverage. It would be real exciting next year when we bring in Bryce Harper and Manny Machado on risk free deals.

I'm gonna be petty and say no to Napoli since he turned down more money from us last year to sign with a team that didn't make the playoffs. That's kind of insulting. He clearly has bad judgement and we don't need that in the clubhouse.

Twins choices are: 1. Waiting for the clock to run out and hope that Dodgers or Yankees fail in their attempt to move salary while also hoping the Rangers don't jump in or hoping that the Cubs don't add extra years or dollars. 2. Overpay to the point that Darvish can't refuse even if the Dodgers clear money off the books. 3. Execute a Plan B, GIve Darvish a hard quick deadline and leave Darvish holding the bag... instead of us holding the bag. 4. Hold the Bag and enter 2018 as is. I'm making phone calls to every GM in the league to keep an ear to the ground for #1 and getting ready to go with #3 soon. (If they have a plan B... I hope they have a plan .

Rumors are Rumors... but... this makes sense to me. Darvish is clearly waiting for someone if not something. I assumed it was the Rangers he was waiting on. But... Yeah... I can see the Dodgers. Darvish's agent is probably being strung along by Friedman and Zaidi. "We want Yu... We will make an offer but we got to move some contracts first." The next day "Hang in there... Still working on it". The next day "Got a couple of teams kicking the tires... I think we can get something done". The next day "Nothing yet" The Next Day "Those deals fell through but we will pick them back up at the end of the month. Do me a favor and hang in there". End of the Month "We are getting lots of phone calls... should be able to give you some good news before the week is up".

Just the one little piggy bank in the back of the shelf that says Minnesota Twins on it.

I think the hard part is making the playoffs. Once you make the playoffs... anything can happen. If anyone is trying to figure out how to beat the Astros... keep in mind that the Astros can beat themselves. We have the minor league depth necessary to compete. Calling up the Minor League Depth removes that big advantage. IMO... What we need is an arm to slot at the top. 1. Yu Darvish (he only costs money... he doesn't cost us prospects) 2. ------------ (Yu Darvish is so #1 and that I am leaving option #2 Blank. 3. ------------ (see option #2) 4. Zach Greinke (Only if they will take Phil Hughes in return) 5. Chris Archer (only if Option #1 and #4 don't work... I dread the prospect cost). 6. Lance Lynn (I've always kind of liked the guy but he is a step below what I'm looking for).

I have been perfectly OK with the club not plunking down big dollars while the team core was very suspect. And the team core was very suspect. However... I justified being OK with the club not plunking down big dollars while the team core was very suspect with the strong feeling that if the team core started to show something... they would then plunk down some big dollars to support the rising youth. Ladies and Gentlemen... If the Twins can't spend right now... They may never spend. I've given them the benefit the doubt and I still do... but... there will be circumstances where I eventually withdraw that doubt benefit.

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.