I agree you have two paths. Play the kids or sign a top 4 FA.   I think they are likely to take a third path, by adding a low ceiling veteran.

Well, we certainly agree that the third option is a bad one. I'm okay with the first two, though I lean toward letting the kids play.

Well, we certainly agree that the third option is a bad one. I'm okay with the first two, though I lean toward letting the kids play.

 

My choice is signing a guy although I don't see it happening. 

 

One of the guys we have penciled in will be hurt or not pitch well.  I remember when we have had Blackburn in 2010/2011 pencilled in.  Baker was a lock.  Liriano was a lock.  Slowey was a lock.  Pavano. Duensing was penciled in a starter the year after he had a good year.  At one point, Diamond was our most reliable guy based on the year he had the prior season. Nobody saw Nolasco's year coming.

 

I also think we were 28th in ERA, 3-4 years in a row of being top 3 in the league.  An upgrade of talent is fine with me.  If we were to bring in Shields, who would be our best pitcher and then would bump our 6th best guy that is OK (assuming everyone is healthy)

Edited September 19, 201412 yr by tobi0040

I was going to post in here about May, but the mention of Stephen Drew vs. the 2nd round pick (Burdi) got me all distracted.  Now we can sign Drew without giving up a pick.  Would I want to do it?  Not one bit.  Dodged a bullet there.

 

Anyway, my original point was I am buying my first Twins tickets of the year (I live in Chicago) because my daughter wanted to go.  I was dragging my feet, but May is pitching and I want to see him so I just shelled out.    I hope Pinto is catching, too.

 

LTKP!    (let the kids play)

Back to the original point of the article, May has the talent. That's why he was a top prospect, why we traded for him, and why we've been so excited and intrigued by him this season. I've been very encouraged by his past 3 starts and am excited to see what he does the rest of the way. But his 2014 time with the Twins is NOT about wins and losses. It's about exposure, experience and development on the ML level getting ready for 2015 and beyond. At this point, it's not about him eventually maturing all the way in to a 1 or 2, or settling in as a really nice 3. It's about being a part of the rebuild, and having a real shot to be next year's Gibson, as it were. In my mind, I pencil him in for one of our 5.

 

Even if Meyer isn't ready out of the gate, there are at least a couple place holders for the 5 spot initially. And I'm not saying he WON'T be ready, but if. I'm not saying I wouldn't be thrilled if the Twins signed one of the big names out there. But as I've said, and Brock and others have echoed, finally in a real rebuild mode, are we being disingenuous to said rebuild by tying up a spot, (forgetting financial terms for a moment), instead of giving Meyer and then Berrios and possible a couple others the SP opportunities available? I mean, just using Shields as an example, are two good seasons from worth it long term while developing all these other kids and then having him slide in year 3 when they are all hopefully ready to take big steps forward to a winning club? Would we short change the rotation by one developing arm? I know you can never have enough pitching, but in think there are pros and cons to be considered with that one big signing to be considered.

 

I agree the signing of ANYONE who resembles Correia or Pelfrey in any way, shape or form is a huge mistake that should be avoided at all costs! But I'm not sure you can't still look for a "Hughes" signing that doesn't tie up money and years. Two years ago, I so wanted the Twins to sign Scott Kazmir. He had shown what he could do previously before falling on hard times. He was a great low cost high reward option. Even last offseason, I wanted him just as much as Hughes. Even after Nolasco, we had the funds and wherewithal to sign Pelfrey and STILL made a run at Garza. How much better does 2014 and 2015 look like if we had put that money and effort toward signing Kazmir to flush out the rotation?

 

The point is I think it's a smart move, if the Twins are in the market to add a SP, to NOT go big, but to look for that Hughes or Kazmir signing. I've heard suggestions of Brett Anderson, Chad Billingsly, Masterson and Brandon Masterson. Could they be a Hughes or Kazmir signing? I can't be opposed to this option in the slightest.