jcphitman

I look at it this way. The Twins could have traded a draft pick for Arrieta, Cobb, or Lynn. All in their 30’s and all requiring three plus year commitments a higher overall price. Instead, they dealt for two years of a pitcher in his late 20’s and can separate with him before his age 30 at a two year max commitment at a reduced price vs. signing a FA unless they want to extend it longer. The draft is growing in popularity. More picks mean more money and more opportunities for the FO to bring in their hand picked players. The prospect we gave up while good is from a spot of strength and an international signing from a past FO group. I know there are much more statistics to compare. I’m choosing the financial approach with this one. Archer would have been the ideal target, but the Rays have to agree to trade him. If they trade him, good luck selling 5,000 seats per game. They need to retain some sort of selling point to their dwindling fan base. Maybe the Twins can blow them away with another offer for Archer, but it does appear they’ve made their move for the rotation.

I'm getting tired of waiting for a deal but patience is a virtue. I don't think we need 2 MLB ready SP. The inn is full. Get De Leon, Alvarez, and whatever else you can negotiate. With this for SP next year, you have... Santana Gibson Hughes Berrios De Leon May Duffey Santiago Mejia That's 9 options. Why do we need more? I get it if you trade Santana or Santiago or both, but that doesn't seem pretty hot right now. De Leon helps now and hopefully Alvarez helps later. Both are worth it. Get them and whatever additional fodder you can get and call it a day. If the Dodgers won't offer it, then move on with Dozier and groom what you have in the system for the future.

Dave, thanks for the scoop. Hoping more Alvarez than Bellinger, but woild take either. Somewhat disappointed Lux is not the third piece. Wish the Twins could forego the fourth piece if it was DeLeon, Alvarez/Bellinger and Lux. No harm if you're incorrect on this one. Fun reading trade chatter!

If this was already covered in another post, I apologize. Just heard it while listening to the daily Baseball Prospectus podcast entitled Effectively Wild (Monday's edition). They were making a funny point on Price and a comment he made about wanting to stay in the AL, but had 11 teams on a list that he would like to play for. I think they said 5 of those teams were NL teams, but one of the teams on that list? The Twins. Yes, the Twins. Absent teams on that list included the Yankees, Astros and Angels. Three of those teams were teams he has already played for (Rays, Jays and Tigers). Royals were also on the list. I know we never would have even sniffed signing Price, but it's just interesting the Twins would even make the list. It's kind of cool a SP of his caliber would want to come play in Minnesota. Just something interesting that I figured others would want to know. Back to just hoping we sign someone like Sipp, lol.

A few thoughts from last year when Hughes signed and now this year. Last Year: 1. In 2012 offseason, I remember TR saying the Twins has offers out, but nobody wanted to take their money. Many of us were skeptical. Last year, I think it proved to be a moot point at both Hughes and Nolasco took their money. 2. I think Hughes saw something here. The Twins most likely sold him on the future and their pitcher's park. He also saw the team was willing to guarantee him a 3 year deal for pretty good money (under market value, but good) for the season he just had. He saw security and took it. 3. The Twins saw something in Hughes. One has to remember he's pitched his entire career in the American League. That's valuable to the Twins. They hedged their bet on FA last year by signing a career NL SP. They were able to get an AL SP here who was still in his 20's and under reasonable terms for more than just a year on a rebound. It clearly paid off for both sides. This Year: 1. Hughes experienced the losing, but saw a light. He saw the Twins are trying. He saw the team wanted to give him every opportunity to succeed and rewarded them. He also saw the loyalty. People knock the Twins for their loyalty, but it paid off in this one. I saw a tweet that Hughes was impressed with the way the team was going and very happy with the recent signings (ie - Santana). The tweet said he was more than happy to extend his deal in Minnesota. He's not under the spotlight as he was in NY and he's growing with a young team. 2. The Twins saw a pitcher who had success in the AL before have a career year with them last year. They felt comfortable knowing Hughes had the AL track record, was young, and they could lock up for a good chunk of time under a reasonable extension. The Twins also saw a pitcher who has been to the playoffs and won a World Series. It all fits well as they have someone established to hopefully pitch well and show the young guys the was as they come up. All in all, a very fair deal on both sides. Hughes gets long term security on a team that has the pieces in place to become successful and also a place he's clearly comfortable being in. The Twins get what appears to be a good SP in his prime who hopefully can have success long term as they keep climbing. Both sides loyal to each other. Best of all, this sends a message to players out there. It shows FA's that players DO want the Twins' money and this is as good of a market as any to sign with and play for. I'm sure many players around the league and their agents are looking at Minnesota as a good place to play. They have seen the Twins finally step up willing to pay to bring in talent and treat that talent with a lot of respect. That will help us in the future as we continue getting better and start needing final pieces here and there to make a good run.

At least the Correia cash seems to be getting used on the team for the new player signings! I'm okay with Parm being designated for assignment. We have better options right now and he just doesn't fit. Wish him the best in the future as long as it isn't against us.

Quite the interesting article and possibility. Two schools of thought here: 1. The Twins want to try and compete this year as there is no ASG or attraction to bring the fans to TF. We are at four 90 plus loss seasons. They'll try and sell the fans on the new coaching staff and Torii Hunter, but how far will it go? TR recently said anything else in addition would be pitching (of course he could just be saying that, but...). Keeping Plouffe does help them be competitive and keeps third warm if/when they want to try Sano down the road. It also gives the Twins someone established to market. 2. If deep down, Ryan understands the team won't contend, dealing Plouffe at what his top value is (which is something this team rarely does) needs to be considered. The Giants have great assets to deal back as already discussed in this thread. Escobar can easily take third for the time being. I doubt Sano is going to be the long term answer at third, but he could be tried there without displacing Plouffe should the team decide to keep him. I'd say trade Plouffe even though there is no long term answer with Sano, Escobar, Mauer, etc. as possible replacements. He brings great possibilities back. Maybe even force the Giants to take Pelf? Someone mentioned Suzuki being dealt. That won't happen. You don't sign someone to an extension and then trade them in the offseason right after. Just my two limey quid...

This was a great article! Nick, thanks for writing. Very good perspective. It would be hard to blame the Twins if they didn't add a pitcher. They have enough money involved in who is on the roster. I think they will probably add someone anyway (not a top name as discussed in the article ... someone who might be coming off an injury). I could also see them trying to sell off Pelf to a team that doesn't get the arm they want or a team that needs a pitcher on the back end. We'll see what happens. If there is a lack of activity on the pitching front, this will be the reason why.

So tomorrow they must do something (day 3) if he goes on waivers 7 days before day 10? I read Rosenthal's column the Twins and Angles were interested. I'm guessing the Angels would need to make a trade and the A's don't want to deal in their division. He then most likely goes on waivers and the Twins are team number 2 since it goes AL first to get him, right? Hopefully we see something tomorrow. He could help us in the short term and maybe earn himself a roster spot for a year or two. I'd love having him aboard ... especially now!

I'd much rather have what the Twins did this year than them waiting for nothing but the bargain bin in previous years. Last year it was tough to find pitchers to take their money. This year they found some good enough pitchers who will hopefully help. I hope they don't think waiting is now the norm. Tanaka really stalled the market. Had he not been around, I think the market would have went much quicker than it did.

I can see the guy's point about chemistry myself. The more you work with someone, the more it gels. I've been with my team over two years now managing a bank branch and we gel a lot easier than we did when we all came together. It's not great by any means, but it's very functional and we've been very successful. As for Pelfrey, I think it's something more than chemistry. I think it's a sense of obligation from both parties: 1. I think the Twins feel obligated to give Pelfrey another shot. I almost wonder if Pelfrey was a rebound signing last year after Baker went to the Cubs. I wonder if the Twins FO felt hurt over Baker going and went to get another TJ recovery SP to see who did better. Pelf of course killed Baker last year even though he was pretty bad. The Twins now put up with the rough season of Pelf's recovery and now they feel obligated to bring him back and roll the dice when the better part of the recovery comes with the bionic arm (or so we hope). The Twins know Pelf, feel comfortable with him, and now want to reap the rewards. 2. I think Pelfrey feels obligated to the Twins in turn. The Twins took a chance on him last year, kept him in the rotation all year, and gave him every chance to succeed. He wasn't badgered even with a bad year. He felt relaxed here and ended up liking it here. He now wants to reward the team for taking a chance on him recovering from TJ to hopefully give them what could be two of the best years of his career post TJ (that's a big IF about the two years being two of the best). He's loyal because the Twins took a chance on him. It's a marriage of one party wanting to stay with the other party due to what could be and being comfortable and the other party wanting to remain loyal. We'll see if the marriage works if it ends in divorce.

How is clearing out 3.5 million going to help sign Arroyo for multiple years? I saw the tweet, but I don't believe it. Do you want Arroyo, who is 37 at 2-3 years or do you want a younger Corriea for cheaper at 1 year? As much as I love following and reading about player acquisitions, I think we're looking at a catcher (Suzuki or Buck). If anything, we're go after one of them (and will get one of them) and the only other major upgrade I see us making is SS. We'll continue to be in the Drew discussion and maybe sign Diaz from Cuba after he shows what he can do in Feb (when he's eligible to sign). Anything else would most likely trading Worley or Diamond for a C prospect at best.

My apologies if this was already posted. I tried to scan for a Reynolds topic, but did not see one. Anyway, from MLB Trade Rumors: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/12/new-york-notes-reynolds-baker-murphy-tejada.html Earlier today, the Yankees reached agreements with both Brian Roberts and Matt Thornton.They're likely to continue adding pieces, however. A source confirmed to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (Twitter link) that the Yanks have spoken to Mark Reynolds' agent, though nothing is close on that front. Here's the latest on Reynolds, the Yankees and the Mets... The Yankees are in on Reynolds, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, but they'll face competition from the Twins, Angels and others in their attempt to land him. Reynolds' stats: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reynoma01.shtml?utm_campaign=Linker&utm_source=direct&utm_medium=linker-www.typepad.com What interests me: Classic power hitter. Reminds me somewhat of Russell Branyon (not comparing stats ... just see his HR total with the low BA and K's seems to think hit or miss. He was released last year by Cleveland and signed by the Yankees. I'm not much of an expert on him. What do others think of him? His stats page says he plays first and third. If he plays third, there is a good chance he could get into the lineup regularly until Sano comes up. If he's more of an emergency 3B, then I think we might be best to pass up on him. We have enough of the 1B/DH players. Thoughts?

Berdino (SP) tweeted Twins still feel they can sign Arroyo. He might be coming still too. Wow.

One more point signing Pelf early when Garza and Arroyo are still out there. We were going after AJ and Salty. Both went elsewhere. Now we're left chasing Suzuki and Buck. AJ and Salty are much better options IMO to pair with Pinto. TR most likely saw the C situation and decided his last SP signing was going to be quick so he wasn't going see a dried up market.