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When to sign a star

mikelink45

Entry posted by mikelink45 ·

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blog-0035157001548799498.jpgI was caught up in Dave Schoenfield's article about which teams have the best chance to return to the playoffs from those who were there last year. When I got to the section on the Indians, it read more like an article on the Twins.http://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/25870218/which-2018-playoff-team-most-likely-miss-year

 

Schoenfield said, "Maybe the most frustrating comment from a front-office executive this offseason came over the weekend from Minnesota Twins general manager Thad Levine at the team's TwinsFest. Asked about Manny Machado and Bryce Harper, Levine answered: "My view ... for doing it is the best time to acquire players of that magnitude is when your window to win is wide-open. Not when you've got your fingers underneath the window and you're trying to jam the window open. I want to do it when we're projected to win the Central and we're ready to put our foot on someone's throat."

 

 

So, don't sign a star ... unless you're already expected to win the division?

 

 

Not that Machado and Harper want to sign with the Twins, but no team could benefit from adding a player of that magnitude more than the Twins, who are trying to chase down Cleveland.

 

 

 

The Twins have some strong rebound candidates, and the other three teams in the division are bad. Minnesota did add Nelson Cruz and Jonathan Schoop, but imagine Machado or Harper anchoring its lineup."

 

 

So when do you add a great player?

 

 

My thought is that you add them when they are available. Do you see any 26 year old stars lining up for next years free agency?

 

 

As the article states, they might not want to sign with the Twins, but among agents and Free Agents, I think our position is pretty obvious and not very inviting. I still see last years Darvish sweep stakes as more of a show than a real effort (and we are lucky that is all it was).

 

 

Puckett's Pond rates Brian Harper the best we have ever done. https://puckettspond.com/2011/11/03/best-twins-free-agents-ever/

 

 

Twinkie Town gives a depressing recap of Free Agents and

Trades https://www.twinkietown.com/2016/7/6/12101434/where-the-twins-have-gone-wrong-a-history

 

 

Rett Bollinger says Molitor was the best Free Agent signing we have ever made; https://www.mlb.com/twins/news/paul-molitor-is-twins-best-free-agent-signing/c-214194398

 

 

I remember when Shannon Sharpe was traded for and made a big difference, when we brought in Chili Davis, and Torrii Hunter to push the other players. Maybe that is what we are doing with Cruz. But the real question is - would you sign Harper or Machado if they were willing to come here? Or would you tell them to hang out for a year or two until we are a better team?

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rv78

"I remember when Shannon Stewart was traded for and made a big difference, when we brought in Chili Davis, and Torrii Hunter to push the other players. Maybe that is what we are doing with Cruz. But the real question is - would you sign Harper or Machado if they were willing to come here? Or would you tell them to hang out for a year or two until we are a better team?"

 

 

Last time I checked Shannon Sharpe played football.

 

Morris was the best and it was only because of the timing. The Twins needed an Ace and got him. Molitor was good but never took them to the promised land. 

 

As for signing a Star, if the approach is to only go after the star when you are already good and we aren't doing it now, that speaks loudly on how they feel about this team in 2019. And it also says, nothing about this organization has changed since 1991 when they went out and got Jack Morris. So much for Target Field and the increased revenue allowing the Twins to be competitive in the Free Agent market. 

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dbminn

Morris, Stewart and Harper are all good calls. 

 

Another good trade happened before the 1969 season, when the Twins traded Jim Merritt for Leo Cardenas. I was 8 years old but I remember the trade because Cardenas became a favorite player. Twins made the playoffs all three seasons he was with the team. Fangraphs shows him at 11.0 WAR total. One of the few good SS the Twins have ever had. 

 

 

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mikelink45

 

Morris, Stewart and Harper are all good calls. 

 

Another good trade happened before the 1969 season, when the Twins traded Jim Merritt for Leo Cardenas. I was 8 years old but I remember the trade because Cardenas became a favorite player. Twins made the playoffs all three seasons he was with the team. Fangraphs shows him at 11.0 WAR total. One of the few good SS the Twins have ever had. 

Of course, he followed Versalles!  Two in a row!  I think that in the 1960s we made some excellent trades that got us Mudcat Grant, Vic Power, Al Worthington, Mike Marshall!  Different times, great teams.

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