AlwaysinModeration

It kind of looks like the Front Office agreed. Ryu might be going downhill fast in years 3-4 of the deal Toronto just signed. If the Red Sox throw in $12mm/ year on Price, the Twins can get him for 3/60, minimizing their exposure to the terrible tail end of a deal. Price also has a longer track record of success than Ryu. Plus the Red Sox are motivated to shed payroll, as has been noted elsewhere, they might throw something else (prospects) in.

Um, asking for a friend. What are the chances Taijuan Walker pitches better than Ryu in 2020?

Wait, Bartolo Colón is still available?

I looked up info on Baseball Savant. They list his pitch mix a bit differently: “Walker relies on 3 pitches. Four Seamer (66.7%), Split Finger (26.7%), Cutter (6.7%).” The curveball is listed fourth, about the same as the cutter. They also list spin rates; his four-seamer just under 2200rpm, while his curve and cutter are both just shy of 2400rpm. https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/taijuan-walker-592836?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb

You may be right, maybe it only take two years, 8-10, or a one-year deal for 4-5? I’d almost prefer a two-year deal, in case he does well this year.

I didn’t see a thread on Taijuan Walker, so I wanted to put his name out there as a possible target for the Twins this offseason. Here is a bit of background on the guy: Drafted in 2010 out of high school, Walker spent several years in the Mariners system, first as one of their top prospects, and then getting about 350IP in their rotation from 2013-16. He was then traded to Arizona, along with Ketel Marte, for Jean Segura and Mitch Haniger. He has been a Diamondback from 2017-2019, but only pitched one full season in 2017 for them, before needing TJ surgery in April 2018. He made $5mm in 2019 despite not pitching for the DBacks at all, and then was non-tendered earlier this month rather than them paying him (perhaps $7/8mm in arbitration?). There has been one report a couple of days ago that the Mariners are interested in bringing him back. Over his career, Walker’s got a 8.1K/9, 2.8BB/9, 43%GB, 1.2HR/9, 3.95ERA and 1.25WHIP. His career slash line against is 247/310/415, for an 726OPS. He fares almost exactly the same against righties (731OPS) and lefties (721OPS). His pitch mix is: —93-94mph FB (60%) —88-89mph Change (15-20%) —75mph Curve (10-15%) and —86mph Slider (10%) He used to throw a cutter with the Mariners, but the Diamondbacks had him ditch that pitch and start throwing a slider. His fastball has graded out as his best pitch (but never great) while none of his other offerings have graded out as above average. With all of that said, there are a number of reasons why I think that the Twins should consider taking a shot at signing this guy: 1. He’s only 27 (August birthday). He didn’t play at all at 25 or 26 due to the TJ surgery, meaning he hasn’t even really hit his prime years yet. 2. He is a former top prospect, drafted in 2010 in the first round (43rd overall) as a high schooler, rising in national rankings to as high as #20 overall by Baseball America in 2012. 3. He throws 93-94mph Perhaps working with Wes Johnson would allow him to add a tick to his fastball, like Odorizzi, Perez, Duffey, May and Littel did last year. 4. He has a nice mix of pitches already, so I’d similarly like to see whether the Twins’ pitching staff could determine a more effective pitching usage pattern for him. Maybe Walker should bring back that cutter, or focus more on one of his pitches than he has been, etc. 5. He’s pretty cheap—I would think the Twins could sign him for, let’s say, a 2-year, $12mm deal, with maybe an option year for $10mm more. 6. If nothing else, he could potentially move to the bullpen. All in all, he looks like a player who could have a decent amount of upside. The kind of “post-hype” player who the Twins could get in the system at a young age for cheap, and see what the Twins could do to bring out some of his untapped potential. Don’t get me wrong, going after Taijuan Walker wouldn’t or shouldn’t be in place of a Ryu signing (which I am expecting any day now). But I’d like to know what others might think. Should the Twins take a chance on bringing Walker onboard?

I loved Big Sexy. And if he resigns with the Twins, there will still be someone older than me playing in MLB, thus keeping my window of opportunity open. Wait a second, Denny Hocking is still available?

My initial reaction was pretty negative, but after reading a bit about his numbers and his ability to get lefties out, I’m more optimistic about it.

Thank you. Glad that you could get that take care of.

Just looked over Ryu’s stats again. Damn. 6 K/BB the last two years! The problem is age. Like Ervin Santana before, the question is not if, but when the end will come. And it is almost inevitably about 35 or 36. That’s why I think they should avoid four years.

To elaborate, Price has been very good for a long time, when healthy. Playing in Boston in the AL East is tough. Last year he was unlucky with batting average on balls in play. So some reasons to think he can be better this year. I’d say he’d be worth a flier. If the Sox pay some of the salary, and throw something else in (a prospect would be good), they should go for it. I don’t think he’d be good for all three years left, but he could be for 1-2 years, by which point, the Twins will have several of their prospects ready to move into the rotation.

To answer the OP question, I’d go up to $20/year for three years for Ryu. I’m not sure the Twins brass would give him a fourth year at that rate, and I’m not sure I would either. He’s only been in the league six years. He had was very good his first year, and great last year. Other than that, nothing extraordinary. He doesn’t walk guys. But also remember that he played in a big park in the NL. I’m not saying he’s bad, or a bad option. I’m just a little wary. If I’m looking to get an impact pitcher in his early/mid 30s, I might look at Price before Ryu.

Roster Resource has the current group (of 19 players) totaling $106.6mm. They will need to fill out the 26 man roster with players, though, so $110 sounds about right as of now. https://www.rosterresource.com/mlb-minnesota-twins-info/

Trading for Price sounds fine to me. Also, maybe the Yankees don’t make the playoffs.

Now I’m concerned because I know that version too.

Attire[d old joke]?

I laughed, I cried.

This line is pure gold: “whatever horrific way in which the Vikings season ended”

Hawk Harrelson. That is all.

I vote plan 1, signing the best pitcher they can, either Bumgarner or Ryu. But I’m sorry to veer off the plan, but I want the next best starter they can find, so Teheran is the second part of the plan. With 5 left, I don’t care what they do, I’m sure they can find some deals at the end of the offseason to add to the Marwin/Sano/Rooker corner infield mix.

Three names to note: Former Vikings kicker Fred Cox passed away. As did Big Bird, Carroll Spinney. And I missed this a couple of months ago; Jose Jose at age 71. I had him on my list.

MLB Trade Rumors has Strasburg at 6/180 (30/year). How about the Twins offer 5/160 (32/year), maybe with a sixth year mutual option? That would bring payroll to $129. And the rotation would be...better. Also, I’m fine with the Pineda signing. Affordable, short, decent.

I’d be willing to wager a decent amount that Johan Santana, given the perspective of history, wishes he had accepted the Twins’ 5/100 offer. Things could have turned out a lot differently for him if he had stayed with the Twins.

Well, there are six one-loss teams, and four of them are currently ahead of the Gophers in the poll. They would have to climb over three of the four to make the playoff, assuming Clemson and LSU are locks. I also assumes Minnesota would move ahead of OSU if it beats them. The easiest way to leapfrog other one-loss teams is for them to lose. These are the results we need to root for, right? Auburn beats Alabama this weekend Oregon beats Utah in the Pac10 championship LSU beats Georgia in the SEC championship Baylor beats Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship And also, Michigan beats OSU this weekend

All they need to do now is go 1-0 in their next four seasons and they win the national championship.