Kwak

The biggest obstacle is not Mauer's salary or payroll in general--it's that the Twins are a bad team that are going to lose early and often this year and from the perspective of players and their agents even longer. The evidence of Sanchez shopping his CUBS offer to the team that "insulted him" is another example of the preference for players to be on a winner rather than a loser. Ryan was quoted as saying "...can't even give my money away..." is another example of said issue. Until the Twins develop a new core that can win consistently they will continue to fight the issue of being shunned by free agents (unless they make a substatially higher offer than the others). Unless we know what is being offered for a trade of Morneau (or anyone else for that matter) it is simply "beer-talk" to say trade him/don't trade him. I firmly believe that if the Twins keep Morneau for all of 2013 and make the qualifying offer for hi services for 2014 that Morneau will reject said offer and be signed for even more money by another team yielding an extra draft pick. Unless the Twins get more value than said "draft-pick" they should keep him--but I also firmly believe that there will be at least one offer that will be better than said "draft-pick" and his BB services for 2013. I encourage others to view that 2012 season's of other 1B (AL) and compare to Morneau's and I believe that you will see that there is no need to compensate a trading partner for his 2013 services. Risk? It's a 1 year contract--and all 1B have the same risk of injury over the season. Let the other teams used it for leverage--then reject their position. I hope the Twins rebuild quickly and when they do they show that they have learned their lesson of failing to add to a strong team (in the 2000's) to win a WS. A MLB team should not be operated like an office building.

There was a SA on #13 @2.99 today!

Unless there is something big brewing (a trade or there was a sizeable offer to Marcum) I will conclude that Ryan was just a guy going to the auto show to look at cars he could not buy. A bit more time is needed before that conclusion is valid, but two weeks should be long enough.

Losing teams have to pay the premium. Sanchez's loyalty indicates that players really do prefer to play on a winner. As for offering him the 5/80--as long as it doesn't cost a draft pick, yes. If a draft choice is forfeited, then no.

Me thinks TEX will be desparate for hitting--especially LH with "some pop". Could be a trade?

Not in my lifetime. And if the going rate for one is what Kansas City just paid, I hope that continues to be the case. Kansas City was a 90 loss team in 2012. I have the feeling they're going to seriously regret pulling the trigger on competing prematurely. There was just no reason for it. Detroit is stronger this season but should begin to fade quickly as Fielder/Miggy get older, Verlander & Co. log more innings, Hunter falls into obscurity, V-Mart leaves, etc. There was simply no reason to go all-in right now. 2014 looks like a much better window to compete. I think Moore just made a huge mistake. It was 1992. The Twins signed this LH pitcher from PITT to replace Morris (who bolted to TOR). I can't remember his name though.

Yeah. Terry Ryan should get to hire his own manager. He shouldn't be saddled with the guy hired by the GM in 2002. That guy was a moron. Good one! But the 2012 Gardy isn't the same guy as the 2002 Gardy!

Apologies to "William". "We've come to bury 'Gardenhire', not praise him."

Ryan is the disciple of PtoC. He definately wants to succeed using "unconventional" philosophy and typically has viewed pitchers as "necessary evils". The Twins do believe in premier closers but are very wary of premier starters because of the cost and risk factors. The Twins do believe that fans are far more likely to view a premier hitter as their favorite than a pitcher. Hitters are viewed as "heroes" (they do "positive" things) and pitchers are "anti-heroes" (the adversary). Hitters tend to play nearly every game, pitchers do not. So they prefer to pay for hitters as opposed to pitchers.

It seems to me that professional sports team managers (or head coaches if you will) are better suited for certain types of teams: a) seasoned veterans up-and-comers c) new-kids-on-the-block etc. Gardy took over a team of up-and-comers and did quite well but when the team change to a different mix, well let's say not so well. The "new Twins" are going to be "new-kids-on-the-block" and I don't think these are the types of players that benefit from a "Gardenhire". The Twins are going to a "new blood" team--so get a new manager, not someone who is a relic from the past who will constantly remark "...we did things ...and won before...". They want someone who will say something like "...forget about the past, and its' losing way, we have new ideas that will put us onto 'winning ways'...", or something like that.

The handwriting has been on the wall for some time. In most MLB organizations the GM gets to choose his Field Manager and the Twins need to do the same (similar philosophies and better communications). It was basically announced that Gardenhire is gone when he didn't receive a contract extention--not even a for 1 year! But, I don't think Molitor will be the next manager.

AZ received Tony Sipp LH RP and Lars Ansderson from CLEV as well as SS Gregorious from CIN. The trade wasn't quite that one-sided folks when the other two are included!

Apparently most have reached the acceptance/resignation step today. Maybe its getting time to research the top amateurs in the next Rule 4 (amateur) draft so we can discuss who the Twins should select next summer, rather than beating this dead horse some more?

Exactly! Several teams will have pencilled-in the same top FA in their line-up--all but one of them will go into scramble mode to get the "best Plan B". In another forum it was posted the Twins aren't planning to trade Morneau until July. Baloney! If they are talking about trading him in July, they are thinking seriously about trading him now. The Twins are just waiting for the shoe(s) to drop and then wait for the phone to ring concerning Morneau. I do think he will get traded before the season starts, maybe as late as March, but nonetheless traded. The earlier the better return. A solid middle-of-the-rotation guy in MLB is a #1 here--and there will be more than just one guy coming!

Losing and penury gets this as a result. During the stretches of winning, the Twins never got out of character to step-up and sign an upper-tier player. That reputation has come back to bite them.

Grienke was always signing with the Dodgers--they were just hammering out the last details. That $280MM/year revenue stream pretty much ensures they get anybody they want--for awhile.

Hmm, so many points to consider. Arbitration eligibility--penny wise and pound foolish--and sends a message to all draftees that if they sign with MN they will get screwed irrespective of how well they perform. Somebody will remember that when the Twins draft oh so early for the next several years--and refuse to sign! Only one CF. Yes that would be a problem. Though I'm confident that concern was addressed when both Span and Revere were shopped. Benson? Back in '07 the Twins refused to give Span a september callup because they deemed his AAA season (~.264 BAVG) wasn't worthy of a callup and further was deemed he "just wasn't plain good enough for the MLs", hence the insistence on a CF in the Santana trade. Then the sham "competition" for the CF job in ST '08. To sum up, given Span's '07 season and what happened it is incredible to me that the Twins can overlook Benson's wretched ML experience in '11 and his entire '12 season and place him on the Active Roster out of ST '13. I see two scenarios: a)Hicks becomes the starting CF out of ST and Mastroianni is the 4th OF or b)Mastroiannis is the starting CF, Hicks gets sent to Rochester, and a "Jason Repko"-type player (maybe even him!) is signed to be the 4th OF. I think a) is better unless the Twins are convinced Masroianni will succeed to the same level as Revere--so they can trade Mastroianni in W '13 and receive a return similar to the Revere trade! Then its Hicks' job.

He will sign either the long-term deal that he wants, or with a playoff team. One has to wonder why so many teams?

...and I thought you meant because of the snow storm.

I see your logic, but why spend money on free agents that won't make much difference? If no difference makers can be signed, why not use the money to try to sign some more Sanos and Keplers, and maybe save some for Appel or some other expensive draft pick? People aren't buying tickets to see the inside of the stadium, they are buying them to be entertained. There is a clear expectation (as well as the promise from the Twins) that they would provide a quality, competitive, and entertaining baseball team every season. Many fans sent a message vis `a vis the minor league team that was put on the field at the end of 2011 of "never again". The fans paid for a major league and they should see two of them--the Twins as well as their opponent. So yes, the Twins do need to spend some money and put better players on the field--even if they aren't going to qualify for post-season play!

Carl Crawford???

A) Forget about Sanchez--not coming to MN. If LA wants to trade--they will be making the calls for what they want. The TX boards were "certain" they were going to sign Grienke and Hamilton! Hamilton was "considering his options". Actually think of a $170MM payroll? I wasn't aware they generated even close to that amount even with 3.5MM tickets sold. Since we haven't read of any free agent pitching signing with the Twins--I'm guessing that every offer was "pocket-vetoed". But wait! Hamilton was rumored to be thinking both Seattle and Texas--one of these teams just might get interested in Morneau--and both have excess pitchers. IDK if Willingham could function at 1B, but I'm guessing at least as well as a LF if Morneau gets traded--then the OF gets young and fast!

The Revere trade is a clear winner. A bona fide major league starting pitcher (Worley) would have been a very good trade for Revere. But to recieve a second pitcher who rates as a decent set-up guy in 1.5 to 2 years as a floor, with potential for growth to a closer, and reasonable possibility as a decent starter make for quite a haul. I'm guessing May is a younger, LH, Perkins. Span is a proven major league CF with 3 rather affordable years on his contract--so a lot more value than Revere. Myers is an enigma, same possibilities as May but is has potential to be a front-of-the-rotation guy. What we posters are lacking is the character issue of these three new Twins. It's just too early to ascertain what's on the inside of these guys--whereas, there weren't any character flaws exposed by either Span or Revere.

Birdwatcher's "cheap-cheap" sliding scale of expectations Gunnarthor's followup quote: "Yeah, I think he gets at least 5 years and over 15m per. His agent called a 4/48 offer insulting. Still, I'd be willing to offer him 5/70 and hope that's enough. Also like to see Marcum come here." Gunnarthor said it best, I believe this was the scenario you were suggesting was what Ryan was seeking, and you would hold him to this. This is the scenario that would have me doing handstands and cartwheels and singing TR praises. This aint gonna happen. This wasn't gonna happen once Span was moved. This is why you are now apparently in agreement with Ryan, ie calling a .500 record, "contending". Sanchez isn't signing here--any offer MN makes, gets shopped. At a certain the ability to play on a winning team supercedes a slight increment in salary. Discussion of the top tier of FA is pointless. .500 ball isn't contending, but it represents a huge improvement. Contending? For another 1st round elimination? Been there done that. There has to be several marqee players to make a playoff run feasible--and the Twins don't have them yet! But sound drafts and there can be a team that can contend for a World Series, not another ALC Division blah. .500 ball after two seasons of ~.400 ball and signing free agents starts to look feasible.

There is plenty of revenue to build for the future and still improve for 2013. Signing veteran pitchers to 1-yr contracts does not deter the Twins from building for the future--if anything it prevents the team from being hamstrung with washed-up players when money and roster spots are needed.