Morosi: Twins are scouting Blue Jays prospects

[Badsmerf]

Like Diamond last season?

 

Again: this is schizophrenic behavior. You got to have a plan for when you are going to compete (where "compete" = "winning a couple of postseason series here and there, reaching the world series occasionally and winning maybe".) The Twins have not done that since Andy MacPhail was the GM. And he was 38 years old when the Twins won the World Series for the last time (and their Manager was 41). Not sure that the Twins have such a plan. And that is a big problem. And this is a reason why they have been fluttering around mediocrity for 20 seasons. Some better than others, but still the same old crap. Something's gotta change with this team that does not involve the color of the uniforms or that of the "Twins' way" Kool-aid

You have to add talent into the system. This is kab's point. The Twins need to inject talent into the minors pitching staffs because there currently is none. The only 2 pitchers in the top 10 in the entire system just had TJ surgery... not good. It doesn't matter when this team is going to "compete", making good trades is a part of baseball. If Liriano stays with the Twins it will be because they offered him a long-term deal (10+ per year) or he is getting 13 mil. The Twins can invest that money in another FA, it doesn't just disappear.

[Thrylos]

You have to add talent into the system. This is kab's point. The Twins need to inject talent into the minors pitching staffs because there currently is none. The only 2 pitchers in the top 10 in the entire system just had TJ surgery... not good. It doesn't matter when this team is going to "compete", making good trades is a part of baseball. If Liriano stays with the Twins it will be because they offered him a long-term deal (10+ per year) or he is getting 13 mil. The Twins can invest that money in another FA, it doesn't just disappear.

OK. The last Liriano quality free agent pitcher the Twins' invested money on was Jack Morris. The rest were the likes of Livan, Ponson, Marquis and the such. Not a good history there. Feel free to add the re-singing of overpaid Pavano to the list. So I don't really think that this Front Office can do it.

 

I might be a minority here, but I think that the system has a whole lot of good pitchers who are like 2-3 years away at the A-Rk level. The system's problem is MLB-ready starters who are 0-2 years away. This is why it does not make sense to add more 2-3 year away players....

 

And I don't really care about prospect lists in this context... they are all about potential

[Erock]

The Twins will pay for starters next year. Pavano, Liriano, and Baker are all off the books. Blackburn is the only actual cost they have left. They will get one REAL starter at least like a Colby Lewis or Edwin Jackson.

[Thrylos]

The Twins will pay for starters next year. Pavano, Liriano, and Baker are all off the books. Blackburn is the only actual cost they have left. They will get one REAL starter at least like a Colby Lewis or Edwin Jackson.

a. I bet you they don't

b. do you think that it will take more than 1 yr $12.5 M to sign either of them?

c. do you think that they are better than Liriano?

 

Another food for thought: When the pitching sucks so badly for a few years in a row, you gotta think about getting rid of the coach instead of the pitchers maybe... just a thought.

[gunnarthor]

Like Diamond last season?

 

Again: this is schizophrenic behavior. You got to have a plan for when you are going to compete (where "compete" = "winning a couple of postseason series here and there, reaching the world series occasionally and winning maybe".) The Twins have not done that since Andy MacPhail was the GM. And he was 38 years old when the Twins won the World Series for the last time (and their Manager was 41). Not sure that the Twins have such a plan. And that is a big problem. And this is a reason why they have been fluttering around mediocrity for 20 seasons. Some better than others, but still the same old crap. Something's gotta change with this team that does not involve the color of the uniforms or that of the "Twins' way" Kool-aid

Yep, TR et al don't have a plan at all. Just been shooting from the hip all these years.

[Jim H]

Some people treat 1987 and 1991 as special magical years, where the the GM went all in and everything went according to some great plan. Neither year was like that. The 87 team was flawed with 2 starting pitchers and a decent closer and set up man. The line up was strong in the middle (3-6) and weak at the top and the bottom. They spent all year trying to fill out the rotation and ended up with Les Steckel as the #3 guy. Even their signature late season move, trading for Don Baylor didn't really help much. They were a mediocre team who lucked into the postseason and got hot once they got there. They are the poster team for getting to the post season anyway you can and then getting hot and lucky.

 

As far as current planning goes, getting superior talent is the key. I believe if you make trades at the deadline, you go for the best talent you can get. Chances are the best talent available for what the Twins will be willing to trade, will be a ways from the majors. It will be difficult to build a rotation for next year, but the Twins will have some money available and may even go after some of the top free agent pitchers. So, if the Twins decide to trade Liriano, get the best guy or guys you can. If they are a ways away from the majors, thats ok.

[gunnarthor]

Some people treat 1987 and 1991 as special magical years, where the the GM went all in and everything went according to some great plan. Neither year was like that. The 87 team was flawed with 2 starting pitchers and a decent closer and set up man. The line up was strong in the middle (3-6) and weak at the top and the bottom. They spent all year trying to fill out the rotation and ended up with Les Steckel as the #3 guy. Even their signature late season move, trading for Don Baylor didn't really help much. They were a mediocre team who lucked into the postseason and got hot once they got there. They are the poster team for getting to the post season anyway you can and then getting hot and lucky.

 

As far as current planning goes, getting superior talent is the key. I believe if you make trades at the deadline, you go for the best talent you can get. Chances are the best talent available for what the Twins will be willing to trade, will be a ways from the majors. It will be difficult to build a rotation for next year, but the Twins will have some money available and may even go after some of the top free agent pitchers. So, if the Twins decide to trade Liriano, get the best guy or guys you can. If they are a ways away from the majors, thats ok.

Get out of here with your facts and logic. People are ranting here.

[Dilligaf69]

Get out of here with your facts and logic. People are ranting here.

 

The '91' team was good all yr!

[ashbury]

and ended up with Les Steckel as the #3 guy.

Amusing mis-type there. That of course should be Straker, as Steckel was the gung-ho (and then some) Vikings coach of 1984.

[Clyde]

And this is a reason why they have been fluttering around mediocrity for 20 seasons.

What were you watching for the last 20 years. The Twins would have been thrilled to medocre 1993-2001, Then how many years in a row were they near the top of the division? The lousiest of the best. But winning the division

[DaveW]

signing Doumit is fine even if you are rebuilding. Rebuilding doesn't have to be a burn it to the ground style. They signed Doumit to a cheap contract for minimal years and he doesn't block anyone. If Parmelee or Herrmann are good enough to play they will find a spot.

 

I'm concerned that they are going to do a rebuilding where they trade for a bunch of mediocre low upside guys that are close to the majors.

If anything the Doumit signing could pay off well after his next contract is up, assuming it keeps Mauer at DH/1B an additional 40-50 times a year that could be huge for Joe years down the road.

 

I'm with you 100% kab, you gotta take the high upside talent where you can, especially when it comes to pitching. Gibson/Diamond/Hendriks/Free Agent A/Free Agent B/Walters/Blackburn/Liriano? etc should be able to give you some hope to compete next season in the central.

[DaveW]

What were you watching for the last 20 years. The Twins would have been thrilled to medocre 1993-2001, Then how many years in a row were they near the top of the division? The lousiest of the best. But winning the division

I'd argure (and many prob would to) that in 2006 the Twins were one of the favorites to win the world series, even the other times they made the playoffs they looked like they had a chance to compete for the most part.

 

The one exception being the year they beat Detroit in game 163, they were screwed having to play the Yankees 18 hours later.

 

6 division titles in 9 seasons (5 of which were 90+ wins, 3 of which were 94+ wins) is hardly "mediocre" in my book. Also one of those years they didn't make it in that span they were tied after 162 games and were a Jim Thome bomb away from making it 7 division wins in 9 years.

[Riverbrian]

The reference is here.

 

He suggests that Capps and Liriano are fits. Whatever. The fact is that the Twins are scouting a particular Toronto affiliate.

What severely bugs me, is that the Twins are scouting the Midwest League (A) Lansing Lugnuts. They need to have MLB-ready starting pitching ASAP as a return to any trade, and they are scouting single A. Nuts.

They have two scouts in Lansing. That excites me a little. Makes me think something is brewing.

 

Anything on Twitter that's say those same two scouts or other scouts haven't been to Manchester New Hampshaire or Las Vegas Nevada.

[Shane Wahl]

Um, Capps for one of these guys would be brilliant. Liriano is a different story.

[John Bonnes]

I wonder if Toonto might not have at least a little interest in Morneau, too.

[Thrylos]

I wonder if Toonto might not have at least a little interest in Morneau, too.

More than one of the national MLB people indicated so starting about a month ago. Between this and the next season he is due $20 M. I would not be unhappy if someone else takes that own and the Twins re-purpose it and get something in return.

[DPJ]

I wonder if Toonto might not have at least a little interest in Morneau, too.

 

Between Lind who's locked up and E5's new contract the Jays are pretty set at 1B/DH.