Twins are counting on Paddock to at least start the season. You might not like that, but they are doing that. At this point, they are also counting on Varland (I mean, even veterans are unknowns, one of them had a HORRIBLE second half and good first half last year, sometimes they get hurt....there is one good SP out there, and they aren't paying for him). I would go with Varland at this point over any SP they can/will afford to sign.
I think we all agree we'd rather have signed a legit SP or traded for one, but that didn't happen. That's a different discussion than what is out there. I also am fairly sure they aren't adding to the payroll at this point, so if you want to sign a guy, you gotta trade a guy....