jay

While the difference between a comp pick after round 1 and the comp B pick the Pirates have after round 2 isn't quite insignificant, that's an excellent way to view it.

The Cubs front office certainly has the right track record and they definitely get points for aggressively pursuing every avenue possible for talent acquisition. I thought I'd try to compare their SP acquisitions this offseason to the Twins actions (or lack thereof). Villanueva - 2 yr / $10M (signed 1/26) = Correia - 2 yr / $10M (signed 12/13) Villanueva has a slightly better K rate, but his overall numbers look better from his performance as a reliever. In all reality, these two are basically a wash. Baker - 1 yr / $5.5M (11/13) < Pelfrey - 1 yr / $4M (12/20) Both recovering TJ guys. Baker hasn't pitched, while Pelfrey struggled and has subsequently shown improvement. Baker had more upside from the start, but Pelfrey was acknowleged to be further along in his recovery. Feldman - 1 yr / $6M (11/27) > Failed Attempts to Sign Another SP Hard to say if the Twins were in here, but the Cubs get credit for being aggressive and setting the market early. This is the move they get the most kudos for and turning him into a couple of chips (Strop and Arrieta). I wonder if the tune would be different had TR successfully gotten a guy like Saunders or any of the others he was in on, but it's certainly disappointing that the money never got spent. E Jackson - 4 yr / $52M > well, nothing to compare it to literally ever. Overall, I'll hope the Twins sign a higher second tier guy like EJ this offseason. If we focus in on the shorter term deals, the Cubs committed $21.5M to three guys while the Twins committed $14M to two guys. In contrast to each other, the Cubs have a swing man, a half a season of Feldman, and two former prospects to show for it while the Twins have a #5 and whatever (debatable) value Pelfrey generates going forward. The Cubs were more aggressive and did get guys that had more "upside". I can certainly agree with and support their overall strategy, but I'm not completely sold that the $7.5M difference is worth the difference in what they got -- especially in relation to the overwhelmingly positive praise they get for these moves.

I have no problem with a little swagger and going to the plate with an attitude each and every time. However, after you exert that dominance, it's time to put it in check. Many of us take pride in the fact the Twins are/were respected for playing the game the "right way". Run out each and every ball, make good decisions, be a professional, play solid defense, etc. Recent squads and Gardy have both taken plenty of criticism for not being able to meet that expectation. We'd certainly like that expectation to be accompanied with more success, but it's not a difficult one to meet regardless of performance or overall talent. It seems a bit hypocritical to now also criticize them for trying to instill a professional attitude.

Judd Zulgad said this also, but I'm not sure it's right... I only see two option years exercised?? 2011 and 2012, meaning this could be his third and last option year?

My first thought to the picture: "Why is Justin Morneau pitching in a Red Wings uniform?" Oh, wait.

Yes, this. We can't try to use comps that were only under contract for less than a half season when Glen's situation is much different. It might seem counter-intuitive to think that Perkins could bring back more than Greinke did, but it's completely accurate. 3+ years of a top closer at far below market rate salaries is worth just as much and more than two months of Zach Greinke. However, those 3+ years are exactly why they shouldn't trade Perk. Everyone here expects us to contend long before then. If we don't, we'll have much larger failures to worry about than whether or not we maximized Glen's trade value 2-3 years ago.

It is widely expected that Chris will get just that. It looks like he will be allowed to play in the AAA All-Star Game before the Twins announce the roster move. Twins option Arcia, Escobar and Parmelee to Triple-A Rochester | twinsbaseball.com: News Good luck on this next callup, Chris!

I'd have to agree. The guys that have been moved recently are FAs at the end of the year, so the return is meh. Perk provides a crap-ton of surplus value over multiple seasons... which is exactly why the Twins shouldn't (and, I think, won't) trade him.

Right. I do worry TR won't do it this next offseason if he doesn't think it's time to gear up yet, but who knows. The downside of waiting is then a shorter term if/when it does happen and therefore, presumably, a smaller market and skill level of pitchers that would accept that.

I'm not sure what Morales and Clete add, but I think the rest of it is a solid idea. Yanks get some help this year to replace Tex and a mid-level prospect. I'd still want an extension for Hughes in place at the time of the trade.

I'm not exactly sure who "they" are, but to expect people to hold the exact same opinion when the underlying factors are changing isn't reasonable. I get the concern that upcoming arbitration years could be used as the next "excuse", but as others have noted... I can't see any reasons why a shorter-term, higher-dollar contract wouldn't fit in the big picture payroll plan either this offseason or no later than the one after.

Right. I think once they heard what kind of offers he was getting, they went ahead with Hammer.

If we announce an extension along with the trade, I think it makes plenty of sense to give up a little something now. That exclusivity and ability to do the extension now is worth something. The odds of both sides wanting to do this are low, but I'd be okay with it.

My impression was they did with Cuddy and Nathan also, but as with Hunter, pastures were much greener elsewhere.

I'm not going to argue good year to do it or not, but I think the expectation comes from differences in our future payroll commitments. Coming into TF, the payroll was going to grow quickly without FAs just based on our commitments. Going into 2014/15, we'll have Mauer and a bunch babies, so there should theoretically be more of a possibility to do it (granted, just as there was this year).

I don't get this. Pitchers can consistently give up different batted ball profiles, just the same as batters hit for different batted ball profiles. That certainly influences the BABIP outcomes for both. I do think we make the mistake of too commonly judging everyone off league average, when in reality, there are many ways to skin the cat. A higher BABIP doesn't necessarily doom me as a pitcher because it also depends on what else I can do. For most pitchers, they just have to be good at something to be reasonably successful, BABIP be damned.

Your statement is true, but is there anywhere to tailgate in the Warehouse district? I can't think of many surface lots.

If you truly want to tailgate, I think your best bet is going to be a little ways down toward the Metrodome in any of the surface lots. Then either walk on down to TF or hop on the light rail (only 50 cents in the downtown area). A little portable grill should be fine, just don't expect to see tons of folks around doing the same.

This also makes some sense. However, even if there is no rollover in the sense of a direct dollar amount from one year to the next, not squeezing ownership for every last cent would seem to help build trust in TR. You'd hope this would give ownership more willingness to listen to him when he says it's time to 'go for it'. I hope that time comes, and soon. I realize some will view this as trying to defend TR, but it's more about trying to put a rationale understanding on the decision process.

The illustrious, phantom FA top starting pitcher would be great, but to suggest they aren't trying to build a winner seems to ignore plenty of positives.

I haven't seen that quote, but I'll take your word. If your theory is true, that may not be reasonable, but at least there's a rationale.

+1. It's a pretty short jaunt from TF actually. Plenty of room for them to tailgate there.

Here's what I don't get: a) Most of us claim the "budget" for this year was higher than the current payroll number and Terry Ryan gets blamed for not spending the rest of that "budget" on a free agent. Most of us also claim that any "budget" not spent this year is forever lost with no rollover effect. If a core portion of TR's job as the General Manager is to field a winning team, why in heavens would he ever not spend every last cent of his budget? The two statements just flat out don't jive.

I might have to get in on that bet. I'd assume we get some sort of a significant multiple on the payout to account for the 367 times larger contract that Greinke got? And smaller multiples for Jackson and Haren?

I'd think this is just as likely as FA or at least some version of it. Out of favor, slump, clearing room for a top prospect, etc. I'd be just as happy if the Twins are able to deal for a higher-end SP and extend him. The issue there is giving up prospects for the chance to pay market rates in the extension anyway. However, we've seen many clubs do it and at this point.... whatever it takes to make it happen.