AHSaves

Pelfrey with a poison PED dart. You saw how angry he was.

Didi's line in AAA (only sent down because of Owings) .278/.355/.443 - Almost half of his hits are XBH. 2 HR's 1 SB. K/BB isn't great. MLB Career .252/.329/.365 - Not perfect defense but even Florimon has some E's. At 24 years old I think he would be a great addition.

Deduno IS like a knuckleballer except he doesn't even know where the pitch is going to go minimally! I don't get the Deduno love either. The guy is 30 years old and still can't control the cut or run of a fastball. He's a circus out there (definitely entertaining sometimes).

Honestly, I'm more excited to pay attention to the AAA team and rest of the farm system. Can't wait for the Minor League updates from Seth so we can potentially have something to cheer for. Also, whenever I hate on the Twins, they do well, whenever I take time off work and spend the money to go to a game, they drop the ball (in most interpretations). Here we go Twins farm, here we go!

Another way you have to look at it: We've been SPOILED ROTTEN with who our catcher has been the past decade basically. Most of that time we've had a great 1-2 with Morneau mashing HR's. Now our offensive star catcher is moving to 1B without as much firepower. We are in an offensive deficit compared to even last year. If Pinto shows up and holds his own in the majors, we're still not back to even. Keep our Catchers.

Probably the funniest mental image I've had since the new year. Mauer would have to keep the song too!

BLAST! I wanted to hear Blyleven try to pronounce that one!

I would totally sign Capuano over Arroyo. I understand the durability pro and con for both players. But sign Capuano, keep Meyer and May in AAA for most of the year and/or trade Correia for prospects.

One front loaded contract is an exception, but three could be the start of a trend, especially considering veteran's projected loss of production. I believe each person (A-Rod, Peralta, Scott Feldman) was in their 30's once they signed. More interesting insight on Drew and Peralta. Career .268/.330/.425, dWar of 4.6 ---- Peralta .264/.329/.435, dWar of 4.8 ---- Drew Now, I don't think the Peralta contract is a good one, but if it's the price to play poker then I believe the Twins would be getting a relative good deal for 3 years, ~$10MM. Not to mention Drew is a year younger, left handed, strikes out less and can steal a few bases.

on the contrary... JAN. 10: Feldman's deal is front-loaded, tweets Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. The right-hander will earn $12MM in 2014, $10MM in 2015 and $8MM in 2016. The Cardinals' four-year, $53MM deal with Jhonny Peralta has an interesting twist: it's frontloaded. The shortstop will earn $15.5MM in 2014, $15MM in '15, $12.5MM in '16, and $10MM in '17, tweets Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com. Here's tonight's look around the majors.. I mean, that's just this year... Even for a SS who will projectedly make more money. Hmph.

We have to have a shortstop for 2+ years. Money isn't an issue. If Florimon and Drew were both free agents, who would you take? There's also no one saying you can't trade Drew after the 2nd year anyway! Or just front-load the contract. The prices for contracts will only increase. $10MM to Drew now will be more expensive in two or three years for a comparable player. In my opinion, the biggest hurt we will get from Stephen Drew is our lost 2nd round pick.

With the payroll we have available, I think I'd be a little let down if we didn't get Garza or Drew. Drew would be a little cheaper and (finally) an upgrade to the offense, but I see Garza living up to his contract a little better. It seems the Twins are looking at around 3 years for both. Who would you rather have? Also, imagine we got both. Is that an upgrade for the organization's future?

Scout all you want, there's a reason why fringe MLB players go to Japan and have success. The level of competition isnt close. To post $20MM then drop double digits for a 6-8 year contract doesn't make sense to me. I'd rather sign Garza, a proven commodity for less years. Or even trade Perk for a couple of those great Padres prospects. I understand the risk/reward argument but I'd rather walk the tightrope to Garza's house than Japan.

I don't understand the love for Deduno. He only looked good in relation to the rest of our starters. I know the some stats are acceptable, but I would find it hard to believe he'd start for anyone else. He's 30 and STILL doesn't know whether his fastball will cut or break away. I wouldn't want to catch either if I were Doumit and Deduno was throwing balls in the opposite batters box then shrugging his "I have no idea" shoulders. Our rotations have been full of embarrassment, but it doesn't have to be that way anymore. Worley for #5 with Diamond in the pen.

Sano would slay the Green Monster. SO MANY DENTS/HOLES.

Signing Diaz would be pretty risky. We don't know if he'd be able to walk on to any MLB team even though Cuban baseball is very respected. I've liked probably every posting you've made about him but I also think that now he has the official proven eligibility to sign for whatever price he can get. He might wind up being just a hair less expensive than Drew anyhow, who's already a proven MLB shortstop. I think I'd err on the side of signing Drew. Trading Sano? That's just silly. Like Brock said, why don't we keep him, see what he can contribute and if we're on the edge, go sign that big FA then. I understand he can blow up in our faces, but does anyone believe that? --------> I should mention that I think we should sign him either way. haha. I only meant risky with the idea of signing one or the other.

Which would you rather bet on? Signing Drew to play SS for about 3 years (within budget and projected relevancy return) with lower, but not poor grades on defense but significant offensive upgrades. Or bet on any catcher we sign to upgrade our defense and potentially offensive compared to Pinto? Both positions are needs for the Twins next year and beyond. SS will cost more but they should. Florimon has surprised us but he is not the future. We finally showed we have brought up no top flight pitching, why can't we also admit SS isn't our gig as well? Twins will have to pay.

Daniel Hudson!! Pure upside since he's only 26. Pretty decent K/BB . Put him in our pitcher's park and I think we'll see something great. His injury history will keep his price down. Eric Chavez to platoon with Plouffe and DH (We need to trade Willingham and/or Doumit and this will make great sense). Aledmys Diaz. The Cuban SS we were interested in last year. The Cardinals were our other competitors for his services but now they've signed Peralta.

Has anyone considered Daniel Murphy of the NYM as a potential trade target? It seems as though the Mets aren't intent on paying for him this season. I see some real benefits to this trade. 1. He's on the right side of 30, (29 starting next season). 2. He has great versatility - 3B, 2B, 1B and OF. 3. He hits for a decent average - around .290 as a regular starter. 4. He is still relatively cheap. 5. Could platoon with Plouffe at 3B (or be traded for one another). 6. Insurance against a Dozier collapse. 7. Left handed bat with a little pop. 8. Fill a hole in the OF once/if the kids arrive (Sano, Rosario). 9. Good durability, averages 145+ games a year since 2009. 10. Stole 23 bases (caught 3 times) last year. I could go on. I actually think this is a better idea after I started typing it up. There are negatives for sure but I think this would be a great upgrade to an increasingly younger team. I compared his stats to Eddie Rosario's, both over 4 minor league seasons and while Rosario edges Murphy a few ticks in most offensive categories, Murphy is already a proven commodity in the Major Leagues. Could also free up Rosario for a great trade for pitching. Stats here: http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/murphda08.shtml

Sign Garza for Ricky+ money and sign Navarro accordingly. Let the market develop for Hughes and/or Kazmir. Garza Kazmir Nolasco Correia Gibson I could really get behind that.

We should be happy about this signing. I was really feeling that dull Arroyo ache in my stomach. If we could snag Garza, I don't care who else the Twins sign. Garza and Navarro would be a winning offseason for me. I still like Kazmir as well! I'd be cool with Pelfrey if we signed Garza and/or Kazmir. Plus Aledmys Diaz, the Cuban SS is still out there and now we know his age! That'd be some thick icing on the cake.

I'm not sure if waiting until the deadline is a great idea for Doumit, Willingham, or Correia. Yes, their value now is very minimal but at least we can clear playing spots and hopefully throw some kids out to the wolves and see what comes back. We should take this (hopefully) last year of irrelevancy and build something that can grow together. I will be totally surprised if anyone on the roster in 2015 is born before '83. We aren't that far away provided our prospects show up. We don't have any albatross contracts. Potentially one of the fastest rebuilds ever if we can establish any decent pitching (most likely trade-based). I'd rather watch a bunch of young kids figure it out over handfuls of ineffective has-beens if ever-wases ©. A young team with a chip on their shoulder could revitalize this organization.

To me, this seems like a year to see what we've got to build from. Our depth in SP has increased a lot after the past two drafts (not that I'm saying any of them are ready) and another year under some belts will give us a better idea. So my GM theory is sign two multiyear guys 30 or just under and take several flyers in major and minor league deals. Kazmir - I would go two years plus a mutual option. $16-19MM Nolasco or Hughes - I personally would prefer Nolasco but Hughes has the better age and upside. Three years at least approaching double digits per year. Maybe even some incentives for Hughes. HAVE TO take a flyer on Josh Johnson. A walk-on Ace for most staffs. Yeah, the injury bug bites him more often than not but the potential return is insane. Could flip him at the deadline, could make a qualifying offer after the year, or resign him to lead the next wave. Would the Twins spend $10MM (and some extra $$ of incentives) and at worst call it a wash on a non-competitive year for that? They should.. other flyers: Hammel, Hernandez, Haren, or Capuano. Also, sign SS Aledmys Diaz and/or trade for Espinosa while his value is low. I also read some great proposals for Chad Billingsley of the LAD and I think we could work out something great for Ricky Romero from Toronto. Sorry for the novel.

I am the definition of a lurker. I read this site every day and have my own account. I feel like I'm in break-up mode since I don't have minor league updates in my life. My guess at my lack of posts is that I grew up in a strange time in Twins history (born in 86). My remembered golden days are the almost perennial pink slip from the Yankee in the playoffs. I cant imagine how it felt to go to bed knowing game 7 was tomorrow! Now I've watched a slow slip into mediocrity (and worse) and all the negativity already exist without my comments. After reading a few other threads I believe we should model ourselves after the A's. Not necessarily flipping talent so fast and worrying about a budget, but building in a way to catch lightning in a bottle and ride that electricity into the playoffs. I might guess our championship teams weren't so different. Yes, a dynasty would be wonderful but the Twins don't seem to have that mindset. Sign Josh Johnson to a one year 9MM with crazy incentives. That ace potential with our pitchers park seems worth it then hopefully resign him if there's mutual interest. Get Phil Hughes for 3 years since he's relatively young. Not sure how much cause I feel his salary is going to be inflated. Next, get Kazmir as well! Solid history (though TR doesn't pay for it and Lincecum is trending negatively for me to name him) and shouldn't be too expensive. I'd go 6-8MM for a number of years offset of Hughes. Last, sign Aledmys Diaz, Cuban SS. Those moves probably exhaust our extra payroll but, at face value, seem to address short and long term goals as the minor league cavalry are on their way. Thanks if you read this. Haha.