Now that Sano is in New Britain I thought we start speculating on how the Twins should handle him. I would love to see the Twins be proactive with him like the Rays were with Longoria. I think you go this agent next Spring and offer something like this.

8 years 40 Million

3 Million signing bonus up front

Year 1 500K

Year 2 500K

Year 3 1 Mil

Year 4 3 Mil

Year 5 5 Mil

Year 6 7 Mil

Year 7 9 Mil

Year 8 11 Mil

4 option s totaling 55 Mil, with the annual breakdown being 12, 13, 15 and 15 Mil.

This works for both sides. The Twins get a very team friendly contract that keep Sano here for at least 8 years and buys out 2 FA seasons. Sano gets 3 mil up front and 40 mil guaranteed. This way Sano can start next season at 3rd and not wait until June. The option years might be tough for the agent to swallow but I would push for them. What does everyone think?

Easy tiger, this is atleast a year early (more like 2-3). Big guy just got to AA a few days ago

Isn't the point with these type of offers, to be early? The rays signed longoria in April of his rookie year. Sano is actually ahead of Arcia's pace and Arcia is going to spend a big chunk of this season in the majors. If you wait 2 years Sano could be well on his way to Super 2 status ans has no reason to sign a team friendly contract. As I said this is a conversation for next spring, then Super 2 becomes a moot point and Sano can break camp for Minneapolis instead of Rochester.

um, let's wait until he actually makes the majors and produces before we drop anymore money on him. I think he's going to be special, but dropping a long term contract isn't going to get to produce any more than he already has.

Ozzie and orange I don't think you really get the concept. If you wait until a Potential stud player is already producing in the majors it is too late. Plus you have to play games with them like keeping them in AAA until mid June. The longoria contract was the most team friendly deal in baseball for about 6 years. There is risk but also huge potential reward. The opposite is like the angels who will be paying Mike Trout 15 mil a season by his 4th year.

They should ink Buxton to a 112 year deal while they're at it.

Next year? We don't even know if he can AA pitching yet mane.

This is a joke right? I'm with USAFChief. Lock up Buxton, 20 years, $500 million should do it, don't want to risk him being better than expected. Same with everyone we just drafted. Can never act soon enough to give away money based on potential.

(I get the point of the post, but it's still too early for this sort of thing. I also have no problem with paying a guy what he is worth, when he is actually worth it. The owners just have to open their checkbooks when these guys develop.)

Way too early to discuss a contract like this. Has he even played a game at AA yet? You need to at least wait until he steps foot on the major league field. Kubel was injured in the fall league and lost roughly 2 seasons of playing time. And while he eventually produced on the major league level, he was never at the levels he was originally projected at. If you want to discuss these contract terms you should wait until he reaches arbitration. At that point you will have a good sense of his long term potential.

I like the aggressiveness of this thread, but I believe that it is too soon.

He has star potential, no question.

There is still too much that can go wrong. Attitude is part of it.

If I was really inclined to ink someone to a deal like this it would be the more humble Buxton.

I don't want this to occur as racist (nationalist?), but here are my thoughts:

Buxton seems like the All-American kid. His humility along with his work ethic and overall attitude make a more attractive package to me.

Sano cannot be as good as he is by accident. I'm sure he works hard. Still, I really think Buxton is the safer bet.

I agree with you in principle for both Sano and Buxton. I would not open the check book for major free agent signings until this is done.

I guess I will clarify for geniuses like USAF, in my original point I said next SPRING. I am not saying to sign him right now. But if he dominates AA like he just did High A he will be knocking on the door for a spot on the Twins next Spring. What would you rather do in April, play games and keep Sano in Rochester till June, and then just go year to year and end up paying him 15 in yr 4? Or be proactive in April and sign him to an 8 yr deal that allows you to play him on opening day? Mark my words guys, if Sano is as good as we think, the Twins and fans like you will be wishing we had signed him to this deal in April of 14. Instead you will be complaining in 2017 that the 25 million he is making is ridiculous. Just like you complain about Mauers deal. Mauer being an excellent point, if the Twins had been more proactive with him he'd be making about 15 mil a year right now instead of 23.

I guess I will clarify for geniuses like USAF, in my original point I said next SPRING. I am not saying to sign him right now. But if he dominates AA like he just did High A he will be knocking on the door for a spot on the Twins next Spring. What would you rather do in April, play games and keep Sano in Rochester till June, and then just go year to year and end up paying him 15 in yr 4? Or be proactive in April and sign him to an 8 yr deal that allows you to play him on opening day? Mark my words guys, if Sano is as good as we think, the Twins and fans like you will be wishing we had signed him to this deal in April of 14. Instead you will be complaining in 2017 that the 25 million he is making is ridiculous. Just like you complain about Mauers deal. Mauer being an excellent point, if the Twins had been more proactive with him he'd be making about 15 mil a year right now instead of 23.

One thing I really like about this idea, Supfin99, is that you are not talking about pitchers. Seems such a low percentage of those long term pitcher signings turn out well.

Long term contracts for position players can be risky, no doubt. However...

Morneau at $80 million for 2008-2013 was an excellent signing until the concussion. Likely many GMs were jealous when they read that.

Mauer's 4 year, $33 million contract was an excellent sign by the Twins.

If I am following your post correctly, you would have encouraged that early Mauer signing to be a 10 year contract (through 2016) rather than a 4 year offer.

That could certainly have saved some real money.