John Bonnes

I may have exaggerated a little. I know – shocking for a blogger. For months I’ve been saying that this free agent class of pitchers is almost historically deep. That might be a little strong, unless you think history only goes back as far as 2007. Because based on the dollars that were thrown around, 2006-2007 was an unbelievably lucrative free agent starting pitching market – for the players. It didn’t work out nearly as well for the owners. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] The top two contracts given out that year were unmitigated disasters. San Francisco is still trying to get out from under the $126M contract they gave Barry Zito while the Red Sox are finally finished with the $100+M they paid to get Daisuke Matsuzaka. Those two contracts are legendarily bad, and that’s NOT an exaggeration. But the next two were almost equally dismal. The Royals invested $55M in Gil Meche, though he saved them some of that when he voluntarily retired only four years into the deal. The next biggest deal went to Jason Schmidt, who made $47M and pitched only 43.1 innings. (Read that last sentence again.) And it didn’t stop there. The majority of the pitchers who signed for big money struggled and there were a lot of them: nine pitchers signed guaranteed deals for at least $20M. The teams may have figured out something since then. In the five years since, only eleven pitchers have reached that $20M level. No class since has had more than three pitchers reach that plateau. In fact, no class has had more than seven pitchers even get $10 million contracts. Or it could be that the pitchers since just haven’t been that good. For instance, last year was the year those seven pitchers got at least $10M. The market had three big names – CJ Wilson, Yu Darvish and Mark Buehrle. But beyond them, there wasn’t much. Hiroki Kuroda got a one-year, $11M deal from Yankees. Three others got $10+ million contracts, but they were all for multiple years, so the fifth, sixth and seventh biggest deals went to Aaron Harang ($6M/year), Chris Capuano ($5M/year) and Wei-Yin Chen ($3.8M/year). Did you just say “Who?” Exactly. If you’re looking for a thin market for starting pitching, the last five years qualify. This year is different. There are as many as 11 pitchers who could garner a $20M offer from a team. In the first draft of TwinsCentric’s Offseason GM Handbook (which you’ll be able to order soon, I promise), I count six that are virtually locks to make that money There are five more that might, and each will almost certainly get at least $10 million guaranteed. That’s deeper than any class since 2006. But it’s deeper still than that. Because after those guys there are another dozen pitchers who qualify as “innings eaters” or “intriguing gambles” which are the domains in which the Twins are most likely to dabble. Scott Baker belongs in the latter category and ranks 22nd overall on our list. By comparison, there were only 18 starting pitchers last year that signed major league contracts – and that was the most since 2006-2007. So, yes, I might have exaggerated a little in the past, so I’ll try and be a little more precise. (John Dyer-Bennett would have wanted it that way.) Right now, this year’s free agent starting pitching class looks to be the best group we have seen in at least five years. It is also flush with mid-level talent, going at least 20 to 25 players deep. And I’ll go a step further. If the Twins were trying to time find an offseason where average starting pitching would be available at a discount, they couldn’t have done a much better job. (Provided they actually spend some money.) ~~~

We interrupt your fun for a gentle reminder…. Twins Daily prides itself on the community of fans it serves, and understands that the forums, comment sections and blogs are central to their participation and the health of the site. We strive for civil, insightful and passionate discourse that welcomes and challenges all our members and readers. As such, comments of this nature are not allowed: 1. Personal attacks or insults towards other commenters, the post author, journalists, teams, players, members of baseball organizations or agents. (You can be critical, but not personal.) 2. Inappropriate language, including swearing and related censor bypass attempts, lewdness, and crude terms for body parts, bodily functions, and physical acts. Overall, we don’t want any language that a parent would not want their kid to see. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] 3. Juvenile comments or extensive use of text message-type spelling. 4. Copying entire stories from elsewhere on the internet. 5. Comments about how you're sick of this topic or it's not newsworthy. 6. No inappropriate avatars or images are allowed. 7. Anything else we deem bad for business. 8. Spam. (This will result in an immediate and permanent ban.) 9. Alternate (alt) accounts. If you attempt to bypass a moderator ban by creating a second account or if you create a second account whose sole purpose is to incite an argument, all accounts (and your IP address) will be permanently banned from Twins Daily. We invite members to notify us if any comments violate these guidelines so we can take appropriate action, rather than police it (or worse, angrily react) in the comments section. Each comment has a small icon shaped like a triangle with an exclamation point in it. By clicking on this icon, community members can easily notify us of possible violations. Breaking the rules will result in deleted posts and bans. Attempts to circumvent bans will results in all accounts being permanently banned (along with their IP address). Both Twins Daily’s founders and the community consider this policy to be a fundamental responsibility for keeping this community healthy and active. This post will remain visible on the "About Twins Daily" page so it is always accessible. In addition, we’ll feature this story on a semi-regular basis as a reminder. Thank you for your understanding and commitment. Now, back to play time….

Yesterday, teams looking for free agent starting pitching this offseason were dealt a minor blow by the Texas Rangers. Colby Lewis, the solid starting pitcher of the Rangers, re-signed with them at the bargain price of $2 million plus incentives. If that sounds shrewd, it’s continuing a trend. Lewis has been outpacing the relatively meager sums the Rangers have been paying him since they signed him when he returned from Japan. In the three years since, he has thrown 500 innings for them with a 3.93 ERA. He was scheduled to be a free agent in a couple of months, his chance to make really big money. That changed back in July. Lewis came out of game with pain in his forearm. A few days later he was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon which was going to cause him to miss the rest of the season. While he should be OK to begin next season, it was unlikely any team was going to offer him the big multi-year deal his recent performance deserved. They would want a shorter, incentive-laden deal to make sure they weren’t burned. But Texas beat them to that punch, signing Lewis to a $2M deal with the chance to make $4M in incentives. The Twins could face a similar opportunity with one of their own pitchers. Scott Baker is coming back from Tommy John surgery he had in April. He might be ready for the beginning of the year, or soon thereafter, though he’ll likely face an inning limit at some point next year. This offseason, he’ll also be looking for a deal like Lewis was – short, incentive-based, and looking to rebuild interest in his considerable talent. The Twins could offer him that right now, a month before any other team can consider it. A deal similar to that signed by Lewis would keep Baker in the organization during his rehab, give the Twins some cost certainty about the price of their rotation and cross off one more spot they need to fill on the free agent market. However, a Twins-Baker contract would need one additional aspect: a team option on 2014. It could be a fairly expensive option – perhaps $8M – so both Baker and the team feel like they would reap the rewards of a successful recovery. I don’t know if either side is exploring this kind of a deal, but it makes a lot of sense to a pitcher that needs a team and a team that needs pitching.

Aaron and John talk about Aaron's "healthy" new look, discuss next year's middle infield, tell listeners how they can get a free audiobook, and review the expected free agent starting pitchers and give Aaron's choices, John's choices, and the Twins probable choices. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes.

Aaron and John start out with talk about Ben Revere's defense in center field, meander through the Minnesota Twins middle infield, rotation and bullpen, argue about Twins revenue projections and finish with mailbag questions and parenting advice. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes. Or, just click on this link below to listen! http://traffic.libsyn.com/gleemangeek/Ep_58_Rating_Revere_and_Late_Night_Life_Decisions. mp3[/media] [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] .

For the Twins, this month is supposed to be about the rookies – giving them chances, evaluating them, taking the losses that inevitably result. Someone forgot to tell the veterans. [PRBREAK][/PRBREAK] The M&M boys, Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau, gave the youngsters a demo Sunday on what September baseball can be. In their heyday, Mauer nearly hitting for the cycle and Morneau’s multi-home run game would’ve given each a chit towards an(other) MVP award. This year, it meant a satisfying 8-7 win over Cleveland in a beautiful, if half-filled, ballpark. The fans at the game deserved everything they got. Not only did they abstain from the Vikings home opener across town, but they stuck around for 3 hours and 30 minutes to watch the ninth-inning, two-out blast by Morneau. And while the weather was gorgeous, there were aspects of the game that were far from it. By now, we should all recognize a sentence like that last one is going to lead to talk of the Twins starting rotation. And it is. Today’s punching bag was Esmerling Vasquez, making his second start since being recalled from Rochester. He lasted only three innings, throwing 68 pitches and giving up five walks before his manager seemingly grew tired of him. Esmerling has now walked 8 in 8.2 IP which matches his reputation before he seemingly found some control in AAA late this year. Whatever he had previously found sure seems lost now. So does he. But the top of the order looked locked in. Trailing 4-0 entering the bottom of the third, Jamey Carroll singled, and Mauer followed with a triple before Justin Morneau hit his first home run. In the fourth inning, the Twins used their speed, stealing three bases en route to taking a 5-4 lead. The Indians responded in the top of the fifth, taking a 6-5 lead, but the Twins rallied again in the bottom of the seventh. Mauer doubled driving Carroll to third base. Morneau was wisely walked, which loaded the bases. Ryan Doumit struck out for the second out, but left-handed hitting Chris Parmelee’s ground ball found it’s way through the right side of the infield, plating two and giving the Twins a 7-6 lead. However, again the Indians responded. Twins reliever Jared Burton hit Brent Lillibridge with a pitch and then watched him round the bases two pitches later on a triple by Jason McDonald. With the help of Brian Duensing, the Twins escaped the inning without giving up the lead run, which led to Morneau’s ninth inning heroics. Morneau’s health struggles, which have defined his last two seasons (and last two offseasons) seem to be behind him for now. Since the All-Star break, he is hitting .321 with a .369 on-base percentage and .512 slugging percentage. That’s an 881 OPS, which exceeds his career mark and falls squarely in the production levels he posted from 2006 through 2010. Welcome back, big guy. The Twins are using September to look ahead to 2013. Morneau’s game today should remind them – and the fans – that he can still be part of that future. He certainly showed he's part of the present.

Aaron and John talk about the September callups that don't include Brian Dozier, Denard Span's prompt inclusion on the DL, Joe Mauer waiver wire silliness, why Anthony Slama may be rethinking his career choices, Arizona Fall League participants, Parmelee's outfield play, Las Vegas, Jacqueline Bisset and date night. Here are: the podcasts the rss feed if you want to subscribe and the podcast on iTunes.

Per a tweet by Pioneer Press beat reporter John Shipley, the Twins are only calling up two players as September callups. Eduardo Escobar, a middle-infielder acquired when the Twins traded Francisco Liriano, and Luis Perdomo, a right-handed reliever who pitched for the Twins earlier this year, will join the Twins tomorrow. This means that shortstop Brian Dozier, who spent most of the year with the Twins, and reliever Anthony Slama, who gave up just four earned runs in Rochester this year, will not be joining the Twins. It also means two top prospects from New Britain (AA), Aaron Hicks and Oswaldo Arcia, will also not be on the team. It also means the Twins have three open spots on their 40-man roster.

Well, this is just precious. The last time the All-Star game to be held in Minnesota was in 1985. The night of the game, just prior to the national broadcast, Channel 11 (when they were WUSA, not KARE) had a special that covered it. It's a half-hour long, so make yourself comfortable if you want to watch it. You won't regret it. Among other gems, it includes.... A lead story about how the Metrodome is a terrible ballpark. Tom Ryther, out of breath and in short shorts, trying to catch flyballs in the outfield. Coverage of the pregame events. I did not remember that Tom Brunansky won the home run derby. Of course, I also didn't remember that Jefferson's Marching Band played in the pregame, which I should probably have known since I likely knew several people in that band. Jeff Passolt and Randy Shaver are assistant sports guys, doing on-site introductions for features. A review of "the last time" Minnesota hosted the All-Star game: 1985. Lots of 80s-tastic hair. Interviews with both Calvin Griffith and also with Carl Pohlad after owning the team for one year. It includes a great quote about how he never anticipates the team being a great financial investment. The main theme in the pregame show? "A Family Gathering" that shows how important family life has been in Minnesota throughout its history. It was put together by Tommy Walker, who "also did the opening ceremonies for the Olympics." Tom Brunansky and Kent Hrbek dressed up as the "Bruise Brothers." All-star memories from ex-Twins like Jim Perry, Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison. And a musical salute to the Twins and their 1985 All-Stars. It will be interesting to see the corresponding coverage that the 2014 game garnishes now that it includes all the hype the internet can generate it. Let me hear your favorite parts of the video or your ideas of how Twins Daily can add to the absurdity of it all.