Minnesota Twins Talk

If anyone is at home and has MLB Network, be sure to watch Gardy at 2:30 (5 minutes from now), and then let us know what was said/discussed.

Press release here: http://www.milb.com/documents/2012/12/03/40498190/1/Rock_Cats_Announce_2013_Coaching_Staff.pdf

I have been enjoying the various predictions of what free agent starter(s) gets added to the Twins rotation and now that the Winter Meetings are about to commence, speculation is now “swinging for the fence”. Does the team sign a top tier starter and maybe a third tier? Maybe two from the second tier leaving some money from the crap bin? The predictions have been plentiful and I have enjoyed all of them. The Los Angeles Times Bleacher Report predicted the Twins sign Brandon McCarthy in one of their “25 Bold Predictions” today. “With several holes to fill, Ryan will have to be fruitful with his money. Brandon McCarthy could provide a great return without spending the vas…

I think he's available...we should sign him.

It's been mentioned that the Twins would like a LH bat that can play third to compete/platoon with Trevor Plouffe. I'm not too excited to hear Jack Hannahan's name bandied about, but what about Eric Chavez? He had a solid comeback year in NY, playing about 60-games at the hot corner. He only made $900K last year, so I bet he could be had for $2-2.5mil, tops. Would he be worth it?

With David Ross going to the Red Sox on a two-year deal, it means Saltalamacchia might become expendable. The Red Sox have also continued to be actively shopping Jon Lester (now rumored to KC for Will Myers, still think the Twins couldn't have gotten more for Span?). Bottom line, Is "it" still on the table? Is the way being paved for the Twins to be led down the primrose path to pull the trigger on a mega-deal during the Winter Meetings?

Tom Gorzelanny would be a decent SP to add. He could be used to keep Kyle Gibson's innings down if the Twins decide to copy what Atlanta did with Kris Medlen.

My questions for you is how you divy 15 to 25 million with absolutely no more than 25 million going to Starting Pitching? http://twinsdaily.com/entry.php?2212-25-Million-left-for-3-starting-Pitchers

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe at this point, the Twins haven't signed a single new Major League contract. I suspect it's all hinging on Grienke. Wether or not we are actually seriously pursuing him, he's holding up everything. If by some miracle we sign him, it will clearly set out how much money we'll have left to spend. If it's with someone else, it well set the mark for other top FA pitchers, and will help their agents determine what to ask for. Terry Ryan's inaction up to this point on the major league level I think indicates how seriously he views revamping the pitching. Once the top pitchers start setting their price, we'll see him go after a few, a…

Trading Denard Span to get pitching was necessary. Taking the high upside/higher risk prospect was wise. It is very difficult to get a top starting pitching prospect. However, I am concerned about the Twins plan for the outfield. Is Parmelee in RF the plan? Denard Span was credited with saving 20 runs above average (1073 innings) as a CF last year. Ben Revere has a -4 for his career in CF (1123 innings). That is a -24 run change. Ben Revere fares much better in RF saving 11 runs above average. It helps that the average RF is nowhere near the average CF. If Parmelee replaces him, how will he fare. It is difficult to know. I would think the Twins would be fortunate if…

Thinking back on http://twinsdaily.com/showthread.php?3819-Terry-Ryan-2nd-Offseason-Priority-Is-The-Bullpen... What are the odds the Twins toss their line in the water? The team took a flier on Zumaya last year, and I loved the idea of this deal at the time, and I was bummed it didn't work out. I understand this is a different situation with two different players, I'm just curious, throwing this out there. What is the market/expected contract value for Wilson? Sorry if this issue has already been addressed.

UPDATE: Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun reports that Casilla got a one-year, $1.7 million deal with a $3 million club option for 2014. The O’s could buy out the option for $200,000....With Robert Andino now in Seattle, Casilla figures to be in the mix at second base next season along with Brian Roberts and Ryan Flaherty. 5 ex-Twins or 20% of Orioles 25 man roster are potential members of the 2013 club. There's even the outside possibility for the Orioles sporting an all ex-Twins infield with an off-day or injury in a particular game or two. 2012 Results--Orioles 93-69/Twins 66-96. Go figure.

If i am terry ryan , i need to decide today if justin will progress or simply stay where he is at in his recovery If i think he will continue to improve ,why not extend him now at a team friendly contract,say 3 years at 8 million per and an option year worth 12 million and a buy out of 1 million .That makes the contract 25 million over 3 years or 37 million over 4 years. if not do you trade him or just let him play out the year and go from there?

Done with your Christmas shopping? Maybe the Twins can help... First-Ever Clubhouse Sale What: The Minnesota Twins and their concession and retail partner Delaware North Sportservice will host their first-ever Clubhouse Sale featuring never before seen team-issued and game-used gear. Among the many unique items to go on sale will be: · More than 350 game-used or team-issued jerseys · Nearly 100 team-issued caps · More than 30 locker tags · More than one dozen game-used batting helmets In addition, the sale will feature 50 percent off select Twins merchandise available only in the Visiting Clubhouse at Target Field. When: · …

I can't believe the Twins are going to wait until the last minute to non tender Drew Butera. Come on you can't have 1/8 of your 40 man roster filled with catchers. On another note, I ran across a pitcher that was drafted by the Twins in the 22nd round in 2007 that never signed and could be a decent bullpen addition. Mickey Storey. Storey was just claimed off waivers from the Astros last week, but the Yankees needed to clear some space on their 40-man roster. The 26-year-old right-hander had a 3.86 ERA and 1.22 WHIP in 30 1/3 innings this past season and could draw interest on waivers.

30 different (hopefully active) members of Twins Daily can each grab a team to make off season decisions for. Plus 1 Grand Poo-Bah from the site can act as Commissioner (important role). The Role of Commissioner would be to decide which bid gets each Free Agent and make occasional trade judgements(rule/overrule) over trades in consideration of historical budget constraints for each club. In short... What is reasonable... Within Reason with the consideration that sometime unreasonable things do occur in baseball. On the Thread... Each Member/Team GM can make offers to free agents they want with consideration of historical or reasonable budget and market size. Trad…

No official word as to whether Butera, Burton and Duensing were offered contracts, but they are all still on the 40-man roster. I guess we have to assume they were made offers. However, Lester Oliveros is now listed as having chosen free agency and is off the 40 man, so it is now down to 36 officially.

Will Drew Butera get non-tendered today? Or will he be getting a raise. Will the Twins put the grabs on a non-tendered pitcher? Could be some activity today.

I feel better about this trade the more I read about Alex Meyer. I just finished reading an article written by Parker Hageman and just found out he played in the 2012 MLB futures game. Not too bad for a guy drafted in 2011 to be chosen for the US roster. I wonder what level he will start at and where do you expect him to finish the season? One last note, at twinsbaseball.com the Twins list Meyer as the #3 prospect in the organization. So the future could be bright if they can just find a way to add a few starters to be competitive this upcoming season.

If you're TR are you on the phone to take a chance?

In addition to previous reports that the Twins had expressed interest in his return, Carl Pavano told Palm Beach Post's Joe Capozzi that he would love to pitch in Miami in 2013. It's possible that he has not been alerted to the recent roster-gutting or that his agent, Dave Pepe, is simply is trying to create a market for him. Pavano, coming off bruised humerus bone in 2012 which decreased his velocity and his overall effectiveness, will be 37 years old in 2013. While he's thrown almost 200 in three consecutive seasons prior to 2012, it is uncertain if he will be able to recover and avoid the reality of time at his accelerated age. After all, his strikeout rate had drop…

According to the Star Tribune's LaVelle Neal, the Twins are expected to speak with free agent Francisco Liriano's agents next week during the winter meetings in Nashville but have had some initial talks with his representatives already this offseason. The enigmatic 29-year-old left-hander has struggled mightily with control since a bounce-back 2010 campaign. His 12.6% walk rate has been the second-highest in baseball in that time and his 5.23 ERA has been very unimpressive. That said, he is still under 30, likely in line for a one-year deal and has missed more bats than any other starting pitching in the past two years (12.4% swinging strike rate). If the Twins are …

I'm not totally opposed to trading away Josh Willingham, but I do think people are underestimating just how rarely the Twins have been able to find a right-handed slugger like him. If I was going to do a story on this (I still might) each of these points might make a nice paragraph, but I'll throw them out there an let you react to them. 1. When was the last time the Twins had a right-handed slugger like Willingham? I would posit that it was 1988, when they traded away Bruno for Tommy Herr. Since then, Hunter and Cuddy have been close, and both had a middle of the lineup presence and both left for much better money. 2. When the Twins have Mauer and Morneau, both left-ha…

Washington Post's Adam Kilgore tweets that Nationals' GM Mike Rizzo told listeners on 106.7 FM The Fan in DC that he is interested in finding a center fielder/lead-off hitter so that Bryce Harper can move to a corner outfield spot. Rizzo went on to say that he's looking for a "dynamic" center fielder. The Nationals are fairly depleted in terms of starting pitching from their Gio Gonzalez last offseason but Denard Span or possibly Ben Revere may motivate them to swap another to complete their outfield.

Now that Denard Span is gone (the Twins FINALLY DID SOMETHING!!), do you expect them to still be listening to offers on Ben Revere? Better worded- Since his asking price is probably higher, is it too high now that no one will give up too much? And Part Two: Does this mean anything for other notable trade pieces like Justin Morneau and Josh Willingham?

In the wake of Denard Span's trade, the Twins will likely have Ben Revere bat first. However, that creates a hole, because he batted in the #2 hole last year. Jamey Carrol and the infield carousel aren't good enough to bat there. Chris Parmalee (if he starts in RF) isn't a typical #2 batter. So, who do you think will bat #2? Will a free agent come bat there?

This post is not meant to agitate or to pour salt into anybody's wound who is disappointed by the Denard Span trade. When you are a child and a loved one has passed away, adults will usually comfort that child by telling them - "Don't be sad Lil' Timmy, Grandpa Elmer is in a better place now". At first I was a little bit sad because of the loss of Denard Span, but then I realized that Span was in a better place... a much, much better place. In my heart and spirit I have found my peace and I am glad Denard is not suffering anymore. Mr. Span, we will miss you whole heartedly, but I feel assured in your After-Twin's Life, you will find the fortune and glory that you …

All reports have Diamond as the only starter but I believe Liam has a slot to lose if he's not dealt in a package. Reasoning includes the AAA pitchers as of now: Deduno, Walters, Blackburn, DeVries & Pedro Hernandez. The list also counts Kyle Gibson, who'll start in bullpen, Shairon Martis & BJ Hermsen, who'll both start in AA. Thats 8 guys. Mn wont send Hendriks back to a level he dominated. I also think if they keep Liam, he will take the big Scot Diamond type jump. Agree or not?

ESPN.com's Gordon Edes urges the Red Sox front office to go all-in on Joe Mauer this offseason as the defining move to improve what has become an increasingly woeful team. Interestingly enough, rather than sign him as the team's catcher, Edes recommends landing the Minnesota-born Mauer and use him at first base in place of the departed Adrian Gonzalez: Edes then prattles off some statistics that we all have come to know, love and embrace while not for one minute consider booing the owner of the following metrics: Much like fantasizing what you will do with the Powerball winnings**, mulling over what sort of return you would get from Boston in this sort of deal …

The 2012 MLB Winter Meetings are just around the corner and will take place in Nashville, Tennesse December 3-6. Once you look past the trades and free agent signings you will see that one of the items on the agenda during these meetings is the annual Rule 5 draft. A lot of baseball fans get excited about this draft but a true gem is hard to find. I have put together a look at the Twins Rule 5 draft history and if you have a few minutes you can check it out at www.twinstrivia.com .