Although I'm generally an optimist, games like tonights leave my mind with lots of time to drift off into 2016.  Assuming the Twins are not likely to sign any of the big name free agent pitchers (Price, Cueto, Grienke, Zimmerman) and they probably aren't going to be in the market for an outfielder (Upton, Heyward, Gordon, Cespedes), how would you rank the following players if you were making Terry Ryans offseason wish list?

 

Matt Weiters

Ian Desmond

Scott Kazmir

Jeff Samardzija

Mike Leake

I'd be interested in Desmond, depending on contract length (maybe 3-4 years at 15-18 million per). Weiters is interesting although I don't know how durable he will be moving forward. I really don't want the twins pursuing more (non-ace) starting pitching this offseason...we have plenty of mid-rotation arms

I'd be interested in Desmond, depending on contract length (maybe 3-4 years at 15-18 million per). Weiters is interesting although I don't know how durable he will be moving forward. I really don't want the twins pursuing more (non-ace) starting pitching this offseason...we have plenty of mid-rotation arms

Polanoco would be first choice, but I think Escobar will be better with the bat and glove next year. He is better this year. He has a 94-93 OPS + edge over the last two years. He is younger. Desmond will be 30 next year. He is very unlikely to stay at SS the next 3 years. Signing Desmond for 3-4 years would be like giving a below league average pitcher a 4 year contract at age 32 and expect they will make a significant contribution.

No thanks.  Leake, maybe.  The rest- nah.  Unless, of course, TR has developed a fetish for giving super-size contracts to 30 something pitchers on the verge of career-ending suck.  

Edited August 15, 201511 yr by David HK

No thanks.  Leake, maybe.  The rest- nah.  Unless, of course, TR has developed a fetish for giving super-size contracts to 30 something pitchers on the verge of career-ending suck.

 

This team is already swimming in over priced unmovable veteran pitchers, so that should be out of the question this upcoming offseason. Still, Mike Leake would be the last guy I'd want from that list. He's just another noodle armed righty who can't strike anyone out. The Twins already have that in spades.

Weiters is the only guy on this list I'd touch. That would have to be for pretty reasonable $. The other guys aren't much upgrade over what we have and or would block what we have coming. If your not getting one of the ace starters we don't need more middle of the road pitching.

Any money spent this offseason needs to be on RP, C, SS, and versatile OF. In that order.

I don't get the 'sign a starting pitcher' cry. We have too many as it is and all another signing will do is keep guys like Berrios out of the rotation.  We don't need more Nolascos and Santanas.  No one will take the ones we have as it is. 

Terry Ryan receives strong criticism from many sides for not making moves. But if there's no free agent who truly addresses the team's needs then the best signing is no signing. That leaves trades and promoting from within. Based on what I have read about our farm system I would say the priorities are C and RP in that order. I'd wait another year to see if Santana can bounce back or if Polanco can improve before sinking money into or giving up prospects for a SS from outside. Similarly, I'd wait another year to see about Arcia before going after outfield help.

No thanks.  Leake, maybe.  The rest- nah.  Unless, of course, TR has developed a fetish for giving super-size contracts to 30 something pitchers on the verge of career-ending suck.

 

How exactly is mike leake the one you pick out of that group

You either go big or stay home with free agent starting pitching.  The single biggest thing that will hold the Twins back in the next 3 years will be an ace but there is no chance that the Twins will even call Price or cueto's agent so FA is pretty much going to be a non-event this offseason.  The Twins don't actually have a lot of holes to fill and they have a lot of fairly good prospects that need to get the opportunity.

 

Desmond - the Twins do have a hole at SS but I have a hard time stomaching the eventual 3-4 yr contract at 12-15M/yr that he will get.

 

Wieters - I am interested.  It might take 4/64 but the Twins have literally nothing at C anywhere.  If he returns from injury and can catch 75% of the games then he is a borderline all star.  His hitting has already bounced back.

 

No average pitchers - the Twins have average already with Hughes, gibson, santana, May and Milone (and Berrios coming).  Yes, those FA's are better but not that much.

Would take any of the Power Four arms of course, but from the rest of the list only Wieters & Kazmir hold any interest for me.  Even then, it would need to be for no more than 2-3 years maximum.  Not sure that either will settle for that.

I intentionally didn't answer my own question on here because I wanted to see if my thinking was off, but I actually agree with pretty much what everyone said on here.  Weiters is the only guy on the list that I'd have much interest in, unless we're going after an ace.  Next question, would signing Weiters and one of the "aces" make the Twins a legitimate contender/favorite in the AL Central in 2016?

We will resign Mike Pelfrey.  And extend Kevin Jepsen.  That's it.  

 

I intentionally didn't answer my own question on here because I wanted to see if my thinking was off, but I actually agree with pretty much what everyone said on here.  Weiters is the only guy on the list that I'd have much interest in, unless we're going after an ace.  Next question, would signing Weiters and one of the "aces" make the Twins a legitimate contender/favorite in the AL Central in 2016?

Signing Wieters and an ace make the Twins a 90+ win team if they get any of the expected improvement or breakout from the young players.  I am not talking about multiple ROY contenders but just a few becoming average players.  Payroll would go to about 130M.  That's okay with me (Mr Pohlad however thinks differently).

 

We will resign Mike Pelfrey.  And extend Kevin Jepsen.  That's it.  

I think we will:

1) pass on Pelfrey and Duensing as FA's

2) sign Hunter as FA

3) cut Wheeler, Robinson, Darnell and Thompson from the 40-man roster

4) add Adam Brett Walker, Taylor Rogers, Zack Jones, Mason Melotakis and Engelb Vielma to the

   40-man roster for protection against loss in the Rule V draft.

5) Give Terry Ryan a hairpiece and three months vacation because I have already made the  important decisions for him.

 

Signing Wieters and an ace make the Twins a 90+ win team if they get any of the expected improvement or breakout from the young players.  I am not talking about multiple ROY contenders but just a few becoming average players.  Payroll would go to about 130M.  That's okay with me (Mr Pohlad however thinks differently).

 

Considering how payrolls are rising, is $130M really a crazy number for a midsize market?  It would probably move the Twins from about 20th in payroll up to about 13th (just above the Royals).  Is this roster a 90+ win roster?

 

C Wieters/Suzuki

1B Mauer/Plouffe

2B Dozier

SS Polanco/Escobar/Santana

3B Sano/Plouffe

LF Rosario/Plouffe

CF Buxton

RF Hicks/Arcia

 

SP Grienke, Hughes, Santana, Gibson, Nolasco, May, Berrios, Duffy

RP Perkins, Jepsen, Fien, Achter, Tonkin, Meyer, Graham, O'Rourke, Pressly

 

 

My guess is that Terry will wait sign a couple Stauffer types late and say there wasn't a fit and he isn't going to spend just to spend.

 

 

2) sign Hunter as FA

 

 

 

Beer man?

 

Considering how payrolls are rising, is $130M really a crazy number for a midsize market?  It would probably move the Twins from about 20th in payroll up to about 13th (just above the Royals).  Is this roster a 90+ win roster?

 

 

 

A 90+ win roster could be different from an advance to the World Series roster.  Where the Twins are losing ground is in the arms race.  They are well behind many teams on top of the line starting pitching and until they develop or acquire at least 2 front line starters they probably will not go far in the playoffs unless they are very lucky.  

 

With regards to the current glut of average pitchers, the Twins have been a bad team over the last 4 years and as a consequence needed to over pay for average FA talent.  Why else would any FA want to come to a losing team.  Now that they are turning the corner they ability to attract FA will be improved.  

You are closer to having two front line starters once you have one. 

 

Considering how payrolls are rising, is $130M really a crazy number for a midsize market?  It would probably move the Twins from about 20th in payroll up to about 13th (just above the Royals).  Is this roster a 90+ win roster?

 

C Wieters/Suzuki

1B Mauer/Plouffe

2B Dozier

SS Polanco/Escobar/Santana

3B Sano/Plouffe

LF Rosario/Plouffe

CF Buxton

RF Hicks/Arcia

 

SP Grienke, Hughes, Santana, Gibson, Nolasco, May, Berrios, Duffy

RP Perkins, Jepsen, Fien, Achter, Tonkin, Meyer, Graham, O'Rourke, Pressly

If that bullpen is average, then I would definitely say that team is a 90 win team.

If you aren't signing an ace it isn't worth getting a guy in free agency (aside from a one year contract type)

 

I'd also steer clear of catchers with concussion issues.

 

AJ Would be a good pickup IMO. Trade Nolasco or Santana for Reyes.

I'd vote f)Dombrowski

If you aren't signing an ace it isn't worth getting a guy in free agency (aside from a one year contract type)

I'd also steer clear of catchers with concussion issues.

AJ Would be a good pickup IMO. Trade Nolasco or Santana for Reyes.

Wieters doesn't have concussion issues.

 

"I'd also steer clear of catchers with concussion issues.

AJ Would be a good pickup IMO"

 

AJ exhibited multiple concussion symptoms BEFORE he ever got hit in the head!

Considering how payrolls are rising, is $130M really a crazy number for a midsize market?  It would probably move the Twins from about 20th in payroll up to about 13th (just above the Royals).  Is this roster a 90+ win roster?

 

C Wieters/Suzuki

1B Mauer/Plouffe

2B Dozier

SS Polanco/Escobar/Santana

3B Sano/Plouffe

LF Rosario/Plouffe

CF Buxton

RF Hicks/Arcia

 

SP Grienke, Hughes, Santana, Gibson, Nolasco, May, Berrios, Duffy

RP Perkins, Jepsen, Fien, Achter, Tonkin, Meyer, Graham, O'Rourke, Pressly

Most people think there are already too many arms for the rotation, an eight man rotation sure is a unique solution. The 31 man roster would probably require some kind of waiver though.

Wieters doesn't have concussion issues.

I realize that, did I ever say he did? Wieters however is going to be expensive, I would love to bring him in if the price is right.

I'd vote f)Dombrowski

Ditto.

 

I would prefer a young up and comer but the Pohlads and "I'm going to green light the Cordova/Cancer Patient/new stadium commercial" St. Peter would never do something that outside the box. Browski is a solid compromise though.

Edited August 15, 201511 yr by DaveW

 

Most people think there are already too many arms for the rotation, an eight man rotation sure is a unique solution. The 31 man roster would probably require some kind of waiver though.

Almost every team needs more than 5 starters to make it through the season.  3 of those players have options.  Nolasco is probably never going to be good again and will be dangerously close to being cut/relegated to the bullpen.  Milone was left out but pitching depth is good and having too many pitchers should never prevent the Twins from signing an ace.  Other things will but not something like bumping May from the rotation.