zenser

I guess Terry Ryan could give some money away.

Oh boy! Our big FA signing! I can't wait to pack up the family and go to Target Field and spend a lot of money to see Kevin Correia pitch!

I was just hoping that we would be competitive in the free agent market like we were told when Target Field was built and not in the market for Jason Marquis or Kevin Corriea.

I don't understand the lament over the Greinke signing. It's a six year deal at $25m per and Greinke has an opt-out after the third season. Greinke is a good pitcher. He's not a great one and that kind of money and years is ridiculous. I'd rather have Sanchez at five years, $75m or Jackson at four years, $60m over that Greinke contract any day of the freakin' week (plus/minus $5m to the Jackson or Sanchez contracts). The Twins should be playing in the middle of the free agent pool, not the deep end. Those contracts almost never work out for the team that "wins" the free agent whereas there's a damned good chance the Twins would be completely screwed if they had $50m a year invested in Mauer and Greinke through 2018. I am not saying the Greinke deal was a good one. I don't think Sanchez at 15 million a season is a great deal either for a guy with a mid 3 era that pitched half his games in a pitchers park in the NL, but given how free agency is going it will take all of 15 million a season for Sanchez. I am just tired of having the retread free agents be the only one's that we can afford. I don't have the link but ESPN had a story a few days ago where the average salary was something like 3 to 5 million. I don't remember the exact figure. If we aren't willing to spend over what the average salary is, we definitely aren't going to improve via free agency.

I guess I was under the illusion a lot of other Twins fans were under a few years ago. I thought, because the Twins told us so, that having a revenue source from a new stadium like Target Field would allow the Twins to be competitive in the FA market. I am not saying to spend money to just spend money. Do you really think they even kicked the tires on Greinke? Me either. I have season tickets too but it is getting harder and harder to write that check.

I am thankful for beer. Drinking plenty of beer before the game (can't afford to get drunk on the $8 beers at the game) allows me to watch the team that Gardy has run out on the field the last few years.

3 years $25 million.

I heard three years but no terms yet. I wonder if the Twins considered him.

I can see Hicks and Gibson being added for sure. I also think Hermson and Thielbar have a legitimate shot of getting added. Maybe Pugh or Lehmann ?

The Twins should look outside the organization for the next manager. My vote, Ryne Sandburg.

If Capps is a good pitcher, Butera is a good catcher and Valencia was a good 3B and Nishioka is a good middle infielder. The Twins could have saved some money and signed one of the other half a dozen guys that got one year deals and would have had about the same pitcher. Some other team can sign him for the 2-3 million range and he can be there problem. I just hope he stays in the AL so he can pitch BP to us at the end of the game.

Maybe bring him back for 2 years. Someone needs to throw in the HR derby in 2014.

For all the Matt Capps fans out there, take a good look. We won't be seeing Matt Capps in a Twins uniform next year.

I know the Twins don't fit the mold of a lot of baseball teams and the "what have you done for me lately" philosophy. The fact of the matter is that they aren't producing on the field. Guys are making mistakes and they are getting away from the fundamentally sound team we are used to. Maybe we need the same old message preached but in a different voice.

July is brutal! maybe 5 wins there.

Legends Club if you want to watch the game.

I hope they keep him around next year. I wouldn't mind giving him a 1-2 year deal. He is currently making about 1.5 million less than what Carroll is making this year. I would prefer him starting at 2B next year over anyone we currently have in the system or that is available as a FA (not including Cano who has a club option). Who do you want to run out there next year? Florimon? Escobar? Look at the possible middle infielders that are going to be FA, unfortunately, I will take Casilla next year.

Boston was probably saying the same thing in the 2003 season after we released Ortiz so we could pick up Jose Morban in the rule 5 draft.

When will the Nishioka expirament end? Please let it be soon!

I think we will still be in mediocrity in 2014 and 2015. The young core that is coming up will take lumps along the way and there needs to be something added to the minor league system in terms of pitching. I like the upside of both Gibson and Wimmers. As a previous poster said, 2014 is more realistic for these two. Beyond these two and Diamond, who are the starting pitchers? Hendriks? I think they need to get another young arm or two that will be ready in 2014 or 2015. They will also need to be active in free agency to complement these young arms. Look at the Royals, plenty or young talent on the field and plenty of young arms that are hurt and having Tommy John surgery. Without building starting pitching in the minors, I am afraid the 2014 and 2015 Twins will look similar to the Royals this year with lots of young talent on the field and a bunch of young pitchers or mediocare veterans.

I feel that the past offseason was a step in the right direction. Would I liked to see Cuddyer and or Kubel resigned, of course I would have. Having them sign elsewhere hurt in both production and in team leadership. Cuddyer's leadship and willingness to play anywhere was huge for us in the past and Kubel just recently was leading the NL in RBI. At the time Willingham signed, Cuddyer and Kubel were still unsigned and the writing on the wall was that one of them if not both weren't coming back. The Zumaya and Marquis deals both didn't pan out but at the time they were low risk, high reward deals. Those aren't any different than other posters on here wanting to go after Jonathan Sanchez after he was DFA. Jamey Carroll hasn't been great by any means but it was a signing to help with the infield defense. He has done that and he has had a few clutch ABs. Jarod Burton was a very nice under the radar signing that was a low risk high reward signing. Unlike Zumaya and Marquis, Burton has given us the high reward. Doumit was another good signing. He isn't Jason Kubel but he is a realiable bat and is a decent option behind the plate or at DH. Looking at FA catchers for this coming offseason, other than the guys we wouldn't sign like McCann or Martin, he is the best option for a backup catcher. If the Twins are inclided to make a trade at the deadline, I really hope they get value. Willingham doesn't hurt them if he isn't traded. His value is high right now and with Carlos Quentin resigning with San Diego, his stock wont get any higher than it is right now. But to trade him, you better be blown away with an offer. Same goes for Span. As for Liriano, I think the Twins need to work hard on an extension. If he doesn't sign an extension, pursue a trade. The market should be good considering what Detroit gave up for Sanchez and what is rumored in the Dempster deal. I admit I think Liriano is shaky and you don't know what you are going to get. I admit April was terrible for him. But since the return to the rotation, that Liriano is just as good as any sencond tier FA that is likely to sign with the Twins in the offseason. For all the dreamers, give me two reasons why a top tier FA pitcher would want to sign here? I know there are other second tier guys out there (see my comments below). Would you take Liriano over say an Anibel Sanchez or Edwin Jackson? Both guys I mentioned are just like Liriano. Both have shown flashes and both have had bad stretches. Going into this next offseason, starting pitching is obviously going to be the focus. The twins are set in the OF, corner inf, and catcher. I don't know what is available for FA middle inf, but signing a starting 2B and allowing Carroll to come off the bench should be a priority behind signing 2-3 free agent pitchers. I can see the Twins targeting SPs like Brandon McCarthy and Shaun Marcum. I would love them to go after Greinke or Hamels but honestly, I don't think that is feasible. Hamels is going to end up in a big market and Greinke is generating a lot of attention now at the deadline and teams like Atlanta and Washington are being rumored as possible fits for him. I don't see them coming to Minnesota. These are just my opinions...agree or not, they are just opinions.

The only way Blackburn makes it to KC is if he is asked to pitch in the home run derby.

I think resigning Doumit would be a good idea. Looking at the list previously posted and assuming McCann stays in Atlanta. The only one I would want is Miguel Montero. I would also want Napoli but he will be too overpriced for us. The rest are way past their prime or never had a prime. Koyie Hill, Jeff Mathis, Yorvit Torrealba, Ronny Paulino, Humberto Quintero??? Wouldn't Drew Butera fall into that catergory too? Can't hit a lick, can't run, and calls a good game. Having Doumit either in the lineup as a DH, or behind the plate, or in the OF sounds like better options than the rest of these guys.

I agree that the Twins will not be in the running for a top tier starter. I do also agree that Anibel Sanchez, Shaun Marcum and possibly Brandon McCarthy could be had and would help the rotation. If everyone is looking at 2014 as they year when all the youngsters will be ready, we better start developing some pitching in the minors that will also be ready. By then Diamond, Hendriks and Gibson should be around but keep in mind, 2014 and 2015 could potentially be struggling years too as the younger position players adjust to life as a major leaguer. Look at KC and how they are struggling with Hosmer, Moustakas, Escobar, and the rest of their young core.

I was hoping for Mitch Brown or Chris Beck earlier today but those two will probably get to beat up on our Twins for awhile. I am surprised since they went for bullpen arms that they didn't go after Barrett (I think) from Arizona State. They had a couple chances at him today.