I had a bad feeling going into this off-season the Twins would just shuffle their deck of cards and not really make any legitimate moves to strengthen their biggest weakness starting pitching. I was ambivalent after Denard Span was traded and did not know what to think. Trading a solid leadoff hitter, with a team friendly contract, for a talented but unproven prospect like Alex Meyer seemed very risky to me. I knew it was the right move but would of felt more comfortable getting a major league ready player in return. When the Twins traded Ben Revere on the last day of the winter meetings for Vance Worley and Trevor May it was bittersweet. I use the term bittersweet because Revere was my favorite player on the team, but the overall trade looked like another magnificent fleecing we have seen in past years by the genius Terry Ryan.

The off-season looked very promising as the Twins made two very good trades. It was time to turn our attention to the free agent market to shore up the rest of the rotation. Now for whatever reason GM Ryan has struggled with signing quality free agent starting pitchers in the past. Washed up veterans like Tewksbury, Ortiz, Ponson, Hernandez, and Marquis have created bigger problems than helped. Not sure if it's hesitation to spend big money on a free agent or the ownership reminding him about payroll. Either way this year sure appeared to be different than others. The front office said all the right things to convince fans and of course we believed them like always. Diehard fanatics want something to believe in so badly they will ignore the warning signs even if it's staring them directly in the face. Earlier this week the Twins signed pitcher Kevin Correia to a 2-year, $10 million deal. Ryan said Correia is projected to be their #4 starter this year. Not sure what is scarier, Correia being a #4 starter or the Twins having someone worse than him to be the #5 pitcher in the rotation. This might end up being the worst free agent signing in team history.

I think realization is starting to set in for most fans we have been fooled again! The Twins did not make any contract offers to Ryan Dempster or Brandon McCarthy before signing and they have not even nibbled at Edwin Jackson or Shawn Marcum either. The only pitchers Twins have been linked to lately are Blanton, Saunders, Myers, and Brandon Webb. Yes the same Webb who has not thrown a pitch since 2009. It's quite obvious to me Ryan will sign one more cheap free agent pitcher and call it a winter. I have said it before fans are like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football and the front office is like Lucy pulling it away at the last moment.

It is just partway into the off season. Fooled again? Does there need to be a move everyday to satisy the people on this board? Sites have reported the Twins were in the running for Marcum. Has he signed somewhere else? Is there somewhere desirable courting him? None reported

Half of you complain they didn't sign so and so, the other half complain that the same pitcher is a stiff not worth the money. If the knowing fans on this board can't come to an agreemeent, how must it be for a group of people with knowledge and scouting reports. No wonder they procede cautiously.

Agreed and liking , but i for 1 have wondered about Brandon Webb , i dont think we offer him a baker type contract but instead offer him a split contract and allow him to progress at his own rate and time table.

It is just partway into the off season. Fooled again? Does there need to be a move everyday to satisy the people on this board? Sites have reported the Twins were in the running for Marcum. Has he signed somewhere else? Is there somewhere desirable courting him? None reported

 

Half of you complain they didn't sign so and so' date=' the other half complain that the same pitcher is a stiff not worth the money. If the knowing fans on this board can't come to an agreemeent, how must it be for a group of people with knowledge and scouting reports. No wonder they procede cautiously.[/quote']

 

No but the moves we make should have 1 thing in common, improve the team...

Kevin Correia is nothing more then a filler .....if by chance he has a decent season ,good for him ,but his 10 year track record says other wise..

Fooled again & again & again & again, it never stops and yet we hope.

Who was fooled and how? Did anyone think they were going to get any big name pitchers? If so they were just hoping as Ryan was pretty clear that none of those big names were going

Fooled again & again & again & again, it never stops and yet we hope.

And people wondered why more and more posters moved to the "dark side" even before the off-season? Some of us would simply rather be "pleasantly surprised" than to get kicked in the teeth again.

Yes, there is still time and a few limited opportunities for Terry Ryan to salvage this off-season but as of right now, things don't look good. And, ironically, that's true whether -- before the offseason -- you hoped for a complete rebuild OR you thought they could be competitive in 2013.

Maybe Terry Ryan was fooled. He thought by offering good contracts to players they would sign them. The nabobs of negativity on this board really have no idea what the dynamic is between the free agents and the teams. Blame the GM. What near all star player or better has ever signed with a mid to small market, almost devoid of talent, team as an free agent with no prior connection to the team? That is the hard part of rebuilding.

Old Nurse,

Are you serious it happens more than you think. This idea that nobody wants to come to Minnesota and play in Target Field is a complete lie spun up by people who defend the cheap Pohlad family. Maybe that was true in the Metrodome era but not now with the M & M boys here. Twins biggest free agent signing in club history is Josh Willingham. Until this Kmart shopping attitude changes the Twins will continue to be at the bottom of the cellar in the A.L. Central.

Fanatic Jack,

couldn't agree more your right on

Old Nurse' date='

 

Are you serious it happens more than you think. This idea that nobody wants to come to Minnesota and play in Target Field is a complete lie spun up by people who defend the cheap Pohlad family. Maybe that was true in the Metrodome era but not now with the M & M boys here. Twins biggest free agent signing in club history is Josh Willingham. Until this Kmart shopping attitude changes the Twins will continue to be at the bottom of the cellar in the A.L. Central.[/quote']

 

 

If it happens more than I think why couldn't you even come up with an example to prove me wrong. The big time high dollar free agents do not go to losing teams in mid sized markets that are losing. So if it is more than I think then come up with something better than a Royals signing of Jeff Francis or Meche. Something in the last 5 years. It has nothing to do with cheapness, it is the notion of playing on a winning team is attractive when you are paid well.

Carl Pavano was a free agent when he resigned with the Twins. Per year that would be the largest contract. Lucky for the Twins it was not a three year contract.