DaveW

I think that is reading to much into it, I mean one of the largest free agent pitching signings this year went to the Royals. I think he just meant "we put some legit offers on the table, and those players haven't signed yet" which for the most part is pretty damn true. It was a rather quiet winter meetings when it was all said and down, **** the Twins were probably the biggest "mover and shaker" of the bunch this year! IMO none of the top 7 or so free agent pitchers are even off the board yet (or even close), let's give it a little more time before we declare no decent pitchers want to come to Minnesota (unless you think we truly missed out on the Feldman's etc of the world) On another note not related to your comment: As far as Blackburn goes, jesus people, stop reading to much into his comments. He basically expressed the fact that he would like to see Blackburn succeed again. Multiple other times he said that he needs to go out and sign some more pitchers for 2013, in fact he said basically all the rotation he now has, currently is Diamond and Worley. He isn't counting on Blackburn even closely at this point. With that said, Blackburn has struggled, a ton, but unlike a guy like Chone Figgins who is a clubhouse cancer, the Twins like Blackburn's attitude, which is exactly why instead of cutting him (and eating the contract anyways) they are going to let him pitch in AAA to try to "reprove" himself for the club. I don't see how anyone can really be against this, especially with the supreme lack of SP we have. For as "crappy" as we all think Blackburn is, it should be pointed out that in 3 of the 4 years prior to 2012, Blackburn posted an ERA that was perfectly acceptable for a #4 or #5 in the AL. Criticizing Ryan for "rooting" for Blackburn to succeed this year is pretty petty to be honest. Either way, Ryan doesn't count on him being a solution to the 2013 rotation anyways.

No. No. No. No. No. No.

If you say so, man, but you got me interested if I'd looked at the numbers wrong: Phillies 2011: runs scored = 713 runs allowed = 529 Phillies 2012: runs scored = 684 runs allowed = 680 Looks like a breakdown on defense to me. And if the problem on defense was injuries to starting pitchers, well *we just traded for the guy who replaced those injured starters*. That doesn't fill me with confidence. I don't see how this trade makes the Twins any better in 2013, if you assume Hicks isn't going to play because he's not ready. If Hicks is ready, then it's addition by subtraction, but that there's an argument rather than widespread consensus that this is his year (as there was when the Twins dealt Pierzynski) suggests to me that the 'Twins are better next year with this trade' is arguable. Add in the Span trade, and the Twins are clearly not better on offense than they were last year, and offense was about the only thing they did well -- in spots. I won't argue with you about 2014+, because I agree that long-term, restocking the farm system with pitching is a good thing and should, with luck, pay off. I do know the trades have had one concrete impact already -- one season ticket holder I know is not renewing her tickets for next year. So you'll probably have an easier time scoring good seats to watch the 2013 Twins, better or worse. Have you seen what the Phillies current offense is/was? They traded away one of their above average hitters in Pence last season. Other then that they had exactly two guys that had a OPS+ higher then 100. Their best hitter Ruiz is sure to regress back to earth this year as well. The Phillies needed offense. They still have Hamels+Halladay+Lee. Their SP is fine. Lastly, any fan that gets rid of their season tickets because the Twins traded Ben Revere is probably a fan that would get rid of their season tickets for a million different stupid reasons.

Good take. No way Mays makes top 100's, my guess is he's in the 150-200 range. Sickels gut reactions was to give him a B- grade, that'd put him in the 9th-12th range for the Twins. MAY is already #58 in scouting book and that is updated throughout the year.

The big failure in Philly last year was their bad offense and injuries. Heading into this year Philly has plenty of pitching, but a ton of holes on offense. The Twins have/had a ton of holes pitching wise and quite a bit of CF/O depth. This trade makes both teams better for 2013. And the Twins much better for 2014+

He also seemed to indicate he's more interested in adding to the ML roster than subtracting. When asked about FA pitching: "We've tried! Sometimes you can't give your money away." Glad to see I'm not the only one "half working" today!

Why would he not approve it? On the Rangers he is going to rot on the bench (especially with Profar now knocking on the door), yeah the Twins wouldn't be the best team, but it would allow him to play every day and allow him to build back up his value for next season. Scenario 1: Play for the Rangers, be a bench player, get 200 at bats. Looking at a pretty low one year deal next year. Scenario 2: get back to career norms, play everyday, actually be able to get a decent contract next off-season.

He said "never say never" and he also said the return would have to be significant, because the fans will not be happy if he starts sending all the major leaguers out.

99% of the time Rule 5 players make no real impact, the Twins have hit the jackpot three times with Diamond, Santana and Mack. I'm not real worried about what happens with this guy, I'm more glad we didn't lose anyone from the system with an upside or whatever.

-Revere to Phillies has been a long time in the works. -"Desperate for pitching" -Meyer is your prototypical front of the rotation type guy. -May has great stuff -Worley "we can at least put him right in the rotation at least that gives us him and Diamond, we still have a lot of work to do though - We have three more CF we can plug in, offensively is the question. - Still very active in pitching FA market. Mentioned they still like Hendriks, and hopefully Blackburn can bounce back. - We aren't playing for 2015, we need to get going, we are going to try to compete in 2013. -Thinks the bullpen is good enough as long as the SP doesn't let em down. -"We need to find starters" -"if would have to be a significant return if we trade Morneau" -"We have been trying to sign pitching early this off-season!! Sometimes you can't give your money away"

Philly fans are widely regarded as the worst/dumbest/drunkest/*******ish in all of sports. So I wouldn't read to much into it.

Is anyone planning on doing a little write up about what he talks about? Due to currently being overseas...this website is about all I have to keep up with the Twins. I will summarize it.

2 minutes

Rangers apparently willing to eat 10 of the 16 mil owed to him. Shopping him to the Phillies. I'd have to imagine the Twins could get him and not have to give up anything special. Young would "challenge" Plouffe at 3rd, or maybe could even play 2B (could be a bit ugly)

Fyi

TJ Surgery chances increase the minute pitchers throw the ball overhand.

I'd put the odds at: Hicks: 50% Mastro: 40% Benson:10% It's Hicks job to lose.

Well yeah, it would be dumb not to listen to all offers. But to get Mauer I think there are very few players they could take in return and not be absolutely roasted by the media/fans. It's not going to happen.

You KNOW things are going good when Keith Law finally shows the Twins some love

1. Sano 2. Buxton 3. Hicks 4. Arcia 5. Meyer 6. Gibson 7. May 8. Rosario 9. Berrios 10. Kepler IMO you can change 6-8 out for the most part. I like Gibson because I think he is ML ready and can be a solid #2. May over Rosario because of doubts of him sticking in 2B. All top 8 guys will see there names on some top 100 prospect lists (all 8 are on scouting book.com currently, May is 58), and I think there is a decent chance Keppler and Berrios could crack some mid season lists.

If we wanted to go after a high priced OF we would be better served trading Willingham away for Pitching/MI help and buying "low" on Josh Hamilton Not that it would ever happen, but it would make infinitely more sense then going after Bourn.

I think it will be a true open competition coming to ST, with it being Hicks job to lose. If he has a nice spring, he is on the roster off the bat IMO.

Hicks style of play may be better served in the NL, but I still see no way he manages to get a .700 OPS year in and year out. Until he can even reach that modest number he is nothing more then a stop gap CF and a 4th OF.

I agree with Kab, this doesn't mean 2013 is punted at this point. They just filled one of their middle rotation spots with a guy who is making the minimum (rather then overpaying for a Dempster like guy). That frees up even more potential money for "better" pitchers then crappy ones on the free agent market. There is a very good chance that Hicks has a better season then Revere anyways, and Mastro is a perfectly fine 4th OF, so it's not like we will be missing having Revere on the bench that much. At least Mastro has some value with his bat/pop (though not a lot)

I could see him having a very similar season to Torri Hunter's rookie season. Hicks like Hunter is already there defensively, his bat has shown promise and progress in the minors but I wouldn't be shocked to see him struggle a bit. (10HR and a .675 OPS or so). As long as he isn't hitting like Butera I think they should let him take his lumps until he truely "loses" the psot.