josecordoba

An injured pitcher like Pryor with terrible control probably doesn't have people clamoring for his services. I just kind of shrug at this move. I'm glad they paid a couple million to see what happens and I'm fine they don't have to pay off the rest of his contract.

Kubel and Bartlett sell zero tickets. I guess one could play Danny Santana in Bartlett's role (Yet this probably isn't good for Santana in the long-run.) The youth movement is not being held back by Jason Kubel over Chris Parmelee. These guys are the equivalent of Correria or Pelfrey types placeholders till better players come around. This is why I don't get to worked up about their presence.

The development of guys like Arcia, Hicks, Pinto, Gibson, and Meyer will have way more to do with the Twins won/loss record than Jason Bartlett or Kubel. While I'm not a fan of really having either around, they should ulitmately determine very little regarding Ron Gardenhire's job status.

I have to say that I have no problems with these moves. 1. I'm a bit confused by the Presley thing. Yet a guy like Presley should be fairly easily attainable in the future. If the Twins had Mastro rather then Presley would people really care. The Bartlett obsession is odd, but perhaps Gardy sees some value in the clubhouse that I wouldn't be able to measure. Bartlett on a 70 Win Team for a year is nothing to lose sleep over. 2. Parmelee's projections for a player with his skillset are brutal. He's a below average hitter with limited defensive value. 3. Diamond probably projects as a long-reliever type. They choose Deduno instead who has a better arm. This says nothing about Duensing being a better bullpen option. I support these moves

Mauer is the better player. I loved Kirby! I was at Cooperstown for his HOF INduction and at the Metrodome for his funeral. The arguments for Mauer are objective where as the arguments for Puckett are subjective. 1. Puckett was tougher- Puckett also wasn't a Catcher. 2. Puckett was a better leader- This might be true (I've never been in the Twins Clubhouse), yet you do have to wonder how much this narrative shifts if not for Kent Hrbek's Grand-Slam in 87 or the Lonnie Smith baserunning gaffe in 1991. 3. Puckett has more power- This is also true, but it ignores that Mauer has a 45 point edge in OBP. The ratio of value is something like 1.8 points of slugging percentage are equal to 1 point of OBP. 4. Mauer's Contract- Complaining about this is the height of foolishness. People are complaining about the Twins resigning a A. Hometown Kid B. Three Time Batting Champ C. Player with a Hall of Fame Trajectory. If people honestly believe Joe Mauer shouldn't be resigned considering these factors, they probably should just as well of supported the contraction of the Franchise. Mackey's writing is such that he seems to view the Pro-Puckett arguments as ulitmately weak, but doesn't want to have to defend Mauer too hard.

You're right. It's not that Correia has zero value. He perhaps gets you a moderate upside Low A. It's just I don't really see the fascination with trading a albeit limited starting pitcher with one year on a cheap contract to sign a similar type pitcher.

Let's assume good health for Sano (with the shoulder). I then took a look at Jonah Keri's Trade Value chart. This chart would be specific for the Twins. I probably wouldn't trade Sano for David Price just because of where the Twins would be on the Win Curve. Players whose value would seem to be similar -Matt Moore-TB -Jurickson Profar-Tex -Xander Boegarts- Bos -Kyle Seager- Sea -Shelby Miller-Sea Sano's the best power-hitting prospect in the Minors and power tends to seems to be a valued skill as evidenced by the Trumbo trade. Just for the record- Buxton's value would seem to be similar to Will Myers or Yasiel Puig. This is how high Buxton's value would seem to be.

Perhaps I'm being a blind opitmism on the Twins. But if you sign Drew to a three year deal (2014,2015,2016). When you consider that by Opening Day 2015 the following players will be on the roster (Buxton, Sano, Meyer, and Rosario). This says nothing about potential development from Gibson, Arcia, and Hicks. I'm not even mentioning that the Tigers are probably more likely to decline rather then ascend by 2015. Why should we dismiss that Drew on a three year deal could possibly see us in contention with breaks during two of those years.

If Arroyo is worth $36 Million Dollars, this assumes 6 WAR over the next three years, and I don't like that bet.

What convinces people that Bronson Arroyo will be at 37 years old in the American League? Steamer and Oliver project him to have a WAR of less then 1. I'll freely admit that there is something that I must be missing. Perhaps the Twins have scouted Arroyo to be better then the numbers look like in the case of Correia, I'm just not confident.

A move like this is fine in theory. This is one thing that Oakland does well is fill out the fringes of their roster. Perhaps it's part of a bigger problem that such players should be attainable for league minimum on a forty-man roster.

He's heading to Detroit according to Doogie, so time to move on.

I wouldn't give Arroyo- Three Years. Such a contract seems like a disaster waiting to happen. Arroyo has averaged less then 1 WAR a year for the last three years. He'll also be entering into his age 37. I agree with Keith Law's take that I wouldn't go more then a year. Pelfrey for 2 is more interesting (I actually believe Pelfrey has slightly more upside. Pelfrey has better Steamer and Oliver projections heading into 2014. For the record- I'm not in love with Pelfrey resigning (Part of this is his games tend to be unwatchable). I would rather pursue a Brett Anderson who at least has Top of the Rotation upside.

Thanks for your thoughts Goulik. I need to order a Handbook.

Apologies if this came off in such a fashion.