Twodogs

Give Cobb and offer.

I was always fairly high on Lynn, even last year towards the end of the season when free agency was first brought up. But now with Odorizzi and Morrison, I think Cobb might be a better fit chemistry wise. He would have some familiarity with some of his teammates.

Yeah, until he left.

Could be just, hey you have a 20 million dollar offer or you sit out and get nothing. But yeah a two year deal doesn't make any sense from the players point of view unless there is a player opt out after year one if he lights the league on fire?

Billy Ripken on MLB channel said he thinks Lynn should take that offer to re prove himself and maybe get a better deal later. I thought it was interesting that someone like Ripken is saying that maybe these guys should just sign. He said well he made 7.5 mil last season, probably shouldn't leave 20 mil sitting out there.

I was always a little higher on Lynn than Cobb, however it occurred to me that in a situation like this the guy that gets low balled in free agency could be somewhat bitter about it. So if Lynn takes a deal lower than the qualifying offer he could become a bad seed in the clubhouse. Cobb could fit this scenario also, however, with the Twins aquisition of Odorizzi and Morrison Cobb could make a little better transition with the Twins especially with the familiarity of some teammates already with the Twins?? Just a thought. Cobb is probably the guy they should go after? In my opinion

Well they have nothing to lose by offering these guys something, other than relegating Phil Hughes to the bull pen

I know it's a giant pipe dream, but could you imagine if Hughes was able to put it together for a few months this year like back in 2014?? That would be a great story and it would be really cool for the team

Yeah, if he tells everyone then the pitchers know also. Might as well let them try and figure it out

Well if they got Cobb they would have no problems with clubhouse chemistry, they'd have 3 new guys all off the same team.

I saw it on the MLB channel that the Yankees were in play to sign Lynn

Looks like the Yankees are going to sign Lynn

Big thing you have to look at is, is Santana going to be the same pitcher as last year?

They do when you take negative war guys out of the rotation. You are assuming everyone they ran out there last year was at a 0 war then no, not a lot of improvement. But when you are replacing negative war guys then it is a little better than it looks on paper.

Ozzie Smith wouldn't have made the hall of fame as a DH or at 1B/3B either. I think Mauer's stats play very well with all of the years he spent at catcher, if he were a life timer at 1B I don't think anyone even thinks twice about Mauer in the HOF. But when the majority of his career was at catcher then the discussion is at least there.

So am I wrong in assuming that at some point in the season the staff will look like this? 1 Santana 2 Berrios 3 Odorizzi 4 Gibson 5 Mejia, Sanchez, Hughes, May I don't think I'm really going to include Gonsalves or Romero in the mix as I think they both need to build arm strength so they can at least pitch 150 - 170 innings which won't be this year but hopefully next year. It at least shows that the Twins might have a little bit of depth and some competition going forward in the rotation. I'd still like to see a Cobb or Lynn signing, 4 years 60mill with an opt out or something then this could be the rotation 1 Santana 2 Berrios 3 Lynn/Cobb 4 Odorizzi 5 Gibson All those guys in the 5th spot becomes the 6th spot in case of injury, for instance to start the season with Santana on the shelf for a couple of months. I think a staff like that puts the Twins into 90+ win territory. They will still struggle to win the big game so not likely a WS rotation but if they are on Pace to win 90+ then maybe they can find that guy at the deadline like Houston did with Verlander?? Again I know I am just dreaming, but that's what being a Twins fan is all about.

Whoops? I made the post and for whatever reason I set my phone down and then that happened?? Sorry

I feel it's a steal!

What's a contract offer to Cobb look like?? How many years? How much money? How many opt outs, any incentives? etc...

I'd say that if I had to put money on it, I'd say to watch a team like San Francisco, they are so old that if they aren't kicking everyone's butt's going into July they might just fall apart, they will have injuries and other things happen to them, I believe they have probably what would be projected as the oldest starting lineup in baseball. Now imagine if they start to slip in June or July, that team will have to close up shop and start the fire sale because they will realize they aren't going to bounce back next year so they will be getting rid of guys like Samardzija, and Cueto along with the geriatric position players they have all over the place. But that is just one team that i forsee might need to get rid of someone. Tampa Bay also, if they are getting pounded in the East they might start to look to get rid of guys like Archer and Odorizzi a little more seriously at that point in time; right now they are in a position where they don't need to move them, so their values are preceivably higher right now, those values might drop a little going into August if they are out of the running. Other teams that have some decent guys that could have to move guys to get younger and more competitive would be Seattle, Toronto, heck Arizona could have a bad year and need to unload some things? If the Mets can't get it put back together they may need to unload some things. Teams like the White Sox, Royals, Oakland, Pittsburgh, Detroit, Miami already seem to be in full rebuild so they won't have much, those teams seem to have gone young already. But now could you imagine if a team like the Red Sox faltered this year?? If for some reason they took a dump, they'd have some nice pieces up for bid??? Those are just some ideas, yeah I think I'd sigh Cobb or Lynn and wait to make that trade when I know if I'm actually in it or not?? Thats just my thoughts. But if the Twins do it that way they will know a little more about their prospects too, and they will know if a guy like Gonsalves will actually make it or not. Also for giving up a 3rd rounder for Cobb or Lynn, the Twins don't know who they would draft with that pick anyway, they might be able to get the guy they wanted with the 4ty pick?? Also that pick is a complete unknown right now whereas the trade chips they got right now they know who they are and what to expect?? Again just my opinion.

My point is this. I'm not against trading prospects, even great ones, but they can make that trade in August. Until then they need a Lynn, Cobb, etc... To get them through the season. There will be a lot of teams that will be out of it and they will have some really good starting pitchers that will become available. They will be trying to get rid of them, just like the Tigers did with Verlander this year. Now if they get Cobb now, get Santana back in May, have Berrios develop a little more, have Gibson not do terrible and then add that so called Ace in August. Then the Twins will end up with two better pitchers to put in the rotation. Now you have your so called world series contender. But if you trade a bunch for a guy like Archer now, they will be done and won't be able to add that extra guy in August because you can't sign free agents in August. Sign that free agent now, Cobb, Lynn, etc... And get the Ace at the trade deadline.

I say you stack the odds in your favor by keeping the chips you have until the final hand at least. When I play poker I don't go all in on my first hand or two. Trade those chips to put yourself over the top when you realize your gonna actually get there. Not before. Also if you build to win it all or maybe not even make the playoffs, you do realize that if the Twins don't make the playoffs that they will probably tear this whole thing apart and start over again. Come August, when the twins are 10 - 11 games under they start trading away all their good guys to teams that need them and get a bunch of new young guys that none of us have any idea how good they will be. Be careful for what you wish for.

You have to get to game 163 first. Who knows, Darvish might be hurt by then?? Rotation depth is always a concern, Lynn, Cobb, even Garcia makes the Twins better. Also it's possible that another good year and some progression Berrios becomes that guy who can take on Sale etc.... The Twins might already have that guy, but if they finish 72 - 90 then they will never know. But I say keep the prospects, especially the ones that are close, like Gonsalves, Romero, etc.... Because they could be the next wave of top starters, or when they are 10 games over .500 in August and need to make that trade to put them over the top, that's when you play those chips. Until then get Lynn, Cobb, etc... Someone to help out, especially now that Santana is down for awhile.

I saw the Darvish deal was 6 for 126 on the MLB channel. I think the twins missed an opportunity, they should have gone for it. Hey he held out and got what he wanted. Yeah I guess the twins didn't blink, but they are also left empty handed. I'd prefer not to trade for anyone, I'd like to see the twins hang on to their prospects so they can possibly use them at the trade deadline. Go get Lynn, Cobb, Garcia, someone to stick in the rotation that will make them aveage and hope that these young pitchers develop and can become a factor next year. Until then we need to sit around and hope they can get in to the wild card game that they can lose, but hopefully at that point we are talking about these young guys and how they will be ready for 2019??

Getting a couple of lesser pitchers means the Twins can sign them to 1 year deals, that works perfectly in case a couple of these young guys pans out, if they don't then they will need to re-visit this next year also.