jokin

Duensing getting non-tendered versus taking on his possible $3M is likely a good move. Obviously, it would cost a lot more if Yang is only a pitcher good enough to fill that 3rd-4th option middle relief role. And as in the case of Nishi, there is a cultural and language difference, that may or may not play out well in realizing his ceiling. The articles I've read suggest that where Yang's not likely to improve from where he's at right now, and that the stuff he throws works on the AA-level in Korea, but is more problematic against major leaguers. Here's an interesting chart of Yang and his 2014 victory-leader peers in Korea. http://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/leader.cgi?type=pitch&id=867da834 There's Yang, Kim and 4 AAA refugees from the US. Comparing all of the stats. I'm wondering why they didn't go after 29 year old Rick van den Hurk (3.18 ERA/10.6 K*9/2.7 BB*9), or, 28-year-old Travis Banwart., who went 9-1 in 11 starts, with better control and WHIP and an ERA of 3.10 versus 4.25 ERA for Yang.

And that might very well be the sad truth, and what I've been saying all along as we started this conversation. The awful rotation and hole in the OF might very well not be significantly addressed.

I think since Korea has played a feeder-role for its better players to head to AAA-level Japan, thus, the KBL is likely closer to a AA league. So essentially, this is a lotto ticket on a guy in AA+ who turns 27 in March. It could click, I hope it does, but I'm wondering why no one can find an article from an evaluator who is providing more praise?

Throws in the mid-90s? Are you willing to stake money on that claim after admitting that the scouting reports are all over the board, or is it just wishful thinking? He sure seems to profile like a lotto pick, and now Jeremy thinks he might be bound for a Duensing role. Ryan's specialty is finding a bushel-full of effective recycled RPs for the league minimum. They had to go through a lengthy process to determine how much a fair bidding amount was, and now they have to begin what likely will be lengthy negotiations and determine if what they think he's worth in cost and years is what he and his agent think he's worth, so yeah, there's a bother factor.

Good summation.And good point, they haven't done anything stupid with their prospects, yet. I'm all for taking a stab at a longshot coming in, I just hope this isn't the Nishi/Correia/Nolasco opening "big splash" move.

That still doesn't explain why you'd go to all this bother in using him for replacing Duensing this year.

Mid-rotation starter with potential to be better? You aren't reading the scouting reports that I'm reading. This "splash" has the chance to barely make a ripple. Ryan's pattern since his return was to beat the market to the punch on his few selected mid-tier FAs who are "willing to come here" by the beginning of December, and then closing up shop and taking the rest of the winter off.

And I keep reading about this "one scout" touting his apparently-wildly-inflated-numbers concerning his stuff.

That's a fair guess of where he might end up. But then why go to all this bother when Ryan's specialty is finding relief pitchers on the domestic scrap heap at a fraction of the price?

Not particularly promising is much too kind. The Beisbol article is devastating.

They seem to be working off of the exact same script as last offseason. Recruiting a guy to play out of position and cripple your OF defense, yet again? They even have Molitor playing the role of Gardy and talking up the possibility of the next "team chemist" in place of Bartlett.

The downside is if this is money that could have been spent on a better pitcher. And isn't it possible that the posting fee is a pittance for a reason? I sure don't like the sounds of these wildly varied descriptions of his stuff, or of his physical stature, or of his career-long lack of control. And the Wayne Krivsky link. I hope I'm completely wrong on this and they know something about this guy that no one else does, but it does seem like they might feel the barriers to entry are too high to them to getting an impact arm in the domestic FA market.

I don't get your point here. Check this--> Ricky Nolasco was the "big signing" splash last yeer, and he was inked on November 26th. Hughes, the "speculative signing" was inked on December 1st.

Mike Berardino is running circles around all of the other guys reporting on the Twins, combined. Please tell me that this guy is their lotto ticket, not their big offseason signing.

This is some good stuff. Find some more minor league FAs you say? You mean retaining Eric Farris for that depth role wasn't sufficient upside for you? There would be a lot of upside in drafting 22-year old Delino Desields as a Rule 5 for the whopping cost of $50,000.

You left out Eaton in CF, he changed the dynamic of this team at the top of the order. If he doesn't get injured and miss 40 games, the Sox might have done even better. And Semien, Garcia and Sanchez are very, very young and aren't anywhere close to their potential ceiling yet. You keep talking about father time, but this is a very young team overall, with the exception of Ramirez and LaRoche, and Ramirez isn't showing any sign of slowing down at this point. In the pen, the 2 Minnesota boys did very well, and supposedly Hahn is going after another big name FA arm. And if they end up with Hughes-like performances from their 3 top SPs, the overall pen won't matter as much. Bark has it about right, I like the Twins better in the long-run, but for the next couple years at least, this team looks better, and looks like they're much more in a hurry to return to relevancy.

Actually, he is a very nice upgrade-- over a 3.0 rWAR net upgrade based on 2014- 2.2 rWAR for LaRoche vs. -0.9 rWAR for Dunn/Konerko, combined. And LaRoche is in a lot better shape than either of the latter two.

Certain posters keep dismissing the White Sox, but they keep moving forward at greater velocity and urgency than the Twins- loading up on more and more talent- through smart trades, smart drafting, bold international moves and smart FA signings. The flip of LaRoche to replace Dunn/Konerko is a big upgrade on both offense and defense- and watch his HR numbers start to tick up dramatically once the winds start blowing out to RF in May at the US Cellular launching pad- he could easily reach the 40 mark. They've already signed one of the top FA RPs in Duke. They very well could have a third pitcher with Phil Hughes-like 2014 potential numbers if Carlos Rodon moves into the rotation with Sale and Quintana. Chris Bassitt showed promise at becoming a very solid #4-level SP. And they have two guys I like who might have some impact as mid-season call-ups, Tyler Danish and Francellus Montas. The Sox leap-frogged the Twins in 2014, at 73-89, winning 10 more games in 2014 than the previous year. With these moves, and possibly more forthcoming, it's now easier to forsee them as a possible fringe contender in 2015. So to put it in perspective, the Sox sign two guys this week near the pinnacle at their position n the game in LaRoche and Duke, and on the same day that LaRoche is announced, the Twins big accomplishment this week, and this fall!, in terms of player additions was to sign Argenis Diaz and Heiker Meneses? Who?

No, he isn't. He's had a great career. And just as many people rued the day he left the Twins. But the fact remains, he's dropped off precipitously in the last two years (0.3 fWAR/ 0.4bWAR), most particulary in the OF. The fact that his UZR, DRS, RngR ratings are by far the worst of any RF in baseball, much worse than even Oswaldo Arcia, is pretty telling that his time is up in the field... and the Twins have plenty of DH options already in the fold. Wrong team, wrong timing. http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=rf&stats=fld&lg=all&qual=750&type=1&season=2014&month=0&season1=2014&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0

Yep. why not go completely the other direction and rather than address the needs of the season-ticket sales people who embrace their current marketing model of touting recycled and washed-up names from the past, sell NEW!, go younger!!!, the time is now- and in the process, logically address the actual most glaring need besides pitching- which is the OF defense. Plenty of low-cost possibilities.... 27-year-old Peter Bourjos isn't anywhere close to fossilization and is unlikely to cost much more than an RP prospect in trade- I still think that people don't appreciate that he is a dynamic game-changer defensively- cost-controlled for the next two years while holding the seat down for Buck, plus, he's due for a nice bounceback at the plate coming back to the AL (in 2011 and 2013 for the Angels he slashed .271/.327/.438/.765 and .274/.333/.377/.710). Or how about trading a young bat or two to offensively-challenged Tampa Bay (AL worst 612 Runs scored) for 24-year-old Kevin Kiermaier? Or they could even go much younger, and pick 22-year-old Delino Deshields in the Rule 5 draft, possibly a perfect RHB platoon partner in CF with LHB Schafer. And there is still a good chance that Plouffe and/or 23-year-old Rosario can end up playing significant time in LF or RF. 24-year old Santana could still go back to CF with everyone else shifting around. And Hicks could platoon some with Arcia in RF ( A trade of Arcia for Kiermaier could lead to Hicks even platooning some with Mauer). Any or all of these options would lead to much better overall OF defense than Hunter and Arcia playing full-time in the corners. And any of these options give you more payroll room to go bigger on SPs.

+100

Based on last season, the questions on the 3Ms appear to remain largely unanswered. Hence- Every reporter on the Twins beat is saying that acquiring an SP, or two, is either "the" priority, or at the very least, "a" priority. And Masterson's name came up early on in FA season connected to the Twins, much as their own version of a White Whale, Matt Garza, surfaced early-on a year ago. I am of the impression that Ahab Ryan will see how the market develops, but hold fast his harpoon to a specific $$$ number/years, and likely lose out in the end, as he did with Garza. I can see them dropping down to seeking another bounce-back on short-term status, like Gavin Floyd and/or Josh Johnson, or seeking another guy that won't cost a pick. One or two of the FA SP Big Three will set the market, probably by the Winter Meetings.

I think that's what most everyone wants, including possibly Masterson himsefl.

Grade inflation?