This signals that it is now almost a lock that Storen or Papelbon will be traded, the Twins would be wise to go after both.

Sorry, but this would be terrible.  What Hunter did for the Twins Papelbon would undo.  Storen is falling from his peak and we do not need him cluttering the pen or the roster.  No more wiley vets.

 

Personally, I think the Nolasco to SD option makes a ton of sense, as long as Upton or someone else can be moved contractually off their payroll. By all accounts, the Padres are looking at a new plan for 2016 and also happen to find themselves short of viable SP. Nolasco, to me, is a very nice bounce back candidate for someone. (But I don't see that bounce back staying in Minnesota) He is a west coast guy, has been in the NL his entire career previously, I believe, and has a very solid if unspectacular career resume when healthy, which is to say, before joining the Twins.

 

Upton also probably needs a change. The Twins need another OF. Upton could be an interesting bounce back option and is on the books for 2 more years. In a bad-bad situation for both clubs, this is a form of potential win-win for both.

If Jason Motte and Chad Qualls can get two year deals, it basically signals the end of any kind of reasonable deal for the remaining arms. 

 

I'm not against unreasonable pay although I am against unreasonable years. I'll take Sipp or Bastardo, but I don't think there are any RH relief free agents left that I really care to offer more than a 1 year rebound deal to like Axford, Rodney or Broxton.

To me, Sipp or Bastardo are borderline musts for the Twins in 2016. We just don't have anyone ready even close to them to be that proven late inning LH option. Either one goes a long way to creating a potential lock down 7-8-9 bullpen. 3 for $18M? The Twins can afford that. And even if the reliever market is going a bit nuts, in the great scheme of team payroll, it's not enough to skew your roster.

 

I still really like a veteran on a 1 year to supplement Jepsen, and probably May. I'm not sure exactly which guy is the best option, but I'd make a decision quickly and get it done.

 

 Storen is falling from his peak and we do not need him cluttering the pen or the roster.  No more wiley vets.

Storen is 27 years old and is coming off a season where he had a 11 k/9 rate....he wouldn't be cluttering the pen or roster at all, in fact there is a very good chance he would be our best bullpen arm...

RPs are always a risk.  They have up and down years.  I wouldn't break the bank on anyone in early December.  There will be cast-offs during Spring Training and, of course, if the Twins are "in it" in July, we can add some stud relievers then.

 

If we are going with youth, let's see what our organization's got.

 

RPs are always a risk.  They have up and down years.  I wouldn't break the bank on anyone in early December.  There will be cast-offs during Spring Training and, of course, if the Twins are "in it" in July, we can add some stud relievers then.

 

If we are going with youth, let's see what our organization's got.

I don't think anyone is suggesting "breaking the bank".  3/18 for Tony Sipp, for example, would not break any bank, arguably none of the larger reliever deals signed so far this winter would have either, and while not without risk, such deals certainly would provide better odds for a good bullpen (and thus better odds of being "in it" come July in the first place) than relying on "spring training cast-offs" or youth than mostly has yet to relieve at AAA, much less MLB.  (Or relying on the July trade market.)

 

RPs are always a risk.  They have up and down years.  I wouldn't break the bank on anyone in early December.  There will be cast-offs during Spring Training and, of course, if the Twins are "in it" in July, we can add some stud relievers then.

 

If we are going with youth, let's see what our organization's got.

 

Isn't waiting to see if you are in contention to add good players kind of a self fulfilling prophecy?

 

This is a play not to lose strategy. I prefer a play to win strategy. I understand others disagree, I'm ok with that, as long as they don't GM my favorite teams.

With the Padres trading Gyorko and taking on another OF in Jay, does it make any sense at all that we would try and package Nolasco and Plouffe in a deal with San Diego? They trotted out Gyorko/Middlebrooks/Solarte last year at third, so now there seems to be some need for them.

 

Swap bad contracts with Nolasco and either Kemp or Upton, and then get a Quackenbush or Maurer and maybe someone lower on the totem like a Garces (who had terrible splits last year but was young and left-handed)?

Holy wow!! Quiet on the transaction front so far today... Uggh! Obviously teams and agents and such are meeting, but it's just so quiet.

This was mentioned in the Jose Fernandez thread that 4 teams are in discussions to acquire him. I don't want to derail the thread talking about if he'd fit on the Twins, but one name got me thinking.. The Arizona Diamondbacks supposedly are in these discussions. When did the Diamondbacks get this kind of cash/prospects to make a Grienke signing, and also be in the running to acquire Fernandez?

 

When did the Diamondbacks get this kind of cash/prospects to make a Grienke signing, and also be in the running to acquire Fernandez?

 

 

 

 

They have one of those fancy new TV deals netting them $1.5B, which is a lot of money to pay to have to watch the Diamondbacks. Link

I'm saying this with hopes that the Twins make some moves that prove me wrong, I'm afraid we are in for another offseason of building a pen through dumpster diving and that will result in another year with a lousey bullpen.

 

They have one of those fancy new TV deals netting them $1.5B, which is a lot of money to pay to have to watch the Diamondbacks. Link

Ah that makes sense. Thanks for doing the research. I've always thought of them as a mid-market team like the Twins, but that TV deal puts them on a different level. 

Just think about how much more money the Diamondbacks could have to spend if they hadn't invested in those hilarious new uniforms!

 

If Jason Motte and Chad Qualls can get two year deals, it basically signals the end of any kind of reasonable deal for the remaining arms. 

 

I'm not against unreasonable pay although I am against unreasonable years. I'll take Sipp or Bastardo, but I don't think there are any RH relief free agents left that I really care to offer more than a 1 year rebound deal to like Axford, Rodney or Broxton.

Houston turns down a $3.5 option on Qualls and he gets 2-$12?  And we debated giving Fien an qualifying offer, six years younger and better pitcher the last couple years.  The market has gone crazy - time to wait it out awhile. 

yeah, might be the new moneyball (little late though)... Might mean that prospects like Burdi and Reed are suddenly worth a lot more to other teams

 

Houston turns down a $3.5 option on Qualls and he gets 2-$12?  And we debated giving Fien an qualifying offer, six years younger and better pitcher the last couple years.  The market has gone crazy - time to wait it out awhile. 

 

The debate with Fien was if we would tender him arbitration, not a qualifying offer. Big difference between the two (not to mention he wasn't eligible to receive a QO since he's not a true six-year free agent). I don't think anybody would even jokingly consider offering a $15.8M one year deal to Fien.

Houston turns down a $3.5 option on Qualls and he gets 2-$12? And we debated giving Fien an qualifying offer, six years younger and better pitcher the last couple years. The market has gone crazy - time to wait it out awhile.

Qualls got $6 mil total over 2 years. $3 mil per year. The market has not gone that crazy!

I'm likely in the minority here, but I think the Twins bullpen could be pretty decent next year if a few things happen:

 

•Perkins pitches well the whole season 

•Jespen repeats his performance of last season

•May gets the 7th inning.

•One of the power arms from the minors emerges, like Burdi, or Meyer.

•Fien stays healthy and pitches the way he closed out 2015.

 

That could be a decent enough core to get the job done most nights, especially if the starters can go dep and keep these guys from getting overused,

 

None of this is out of the realm of possibility.

 

 

On a side note:

 

KC's success the last two years has everybody thinking the power bullpen is the only route to the World Series. It's not: there are other ways to win ballgames.

 

It certainly wouldn't be a good swap.

Upton is owed 6 million more than Nolasco for starters, and I'm not so sure the Twins will make Upton a 4th OF when it is "time", more often then not they have given veterans way too much leash, wouldn't shock me to see it here.

If you want a no hit 4th OF, Revere was there for the taking.

 

I suppose there's some truth to this, though I suspect that some of this was a Gardy issue.  Not that Molitor won't do it, but I suspect that leash will be a bit shorter.  

 

As for the cash, I don't mind that. Like Chief said, Upton has a chance of being a useful piece to this team.  I cannot say the same for Nolasco.  We have 7 starters on the 25 man, and I think Ricky has overstayed his welcome. 

 

It certainly wouldn't be a good swap.

Upton is owed 6 million more than Nolasco for starters, and I'm not so sure the Twins will make Upton a 4th OF when it is "time", more often then not they have given veterans way too much leash, wouldn't shock me to see it here.

If you want a no hit 4th OF, Revere was there for the taking.

Revere would have led the Twins in batting average, obp and stolen bases if he was with the Twins this year.

Are we sure Terry Ryan is even AT the meetings?

Rumors of Mike Leake to the Diamondbacks...

 

Tyler Flowers to the Braves, two years, $5.3M with incentives:

 

Per Bob Nightendale:

 

 

Flowers will receive $2 million in 2016, $3 M in 2017 with $4 M option in 2018 with $300,00 buyout to go along with $4.5M in incentives

 

 

Are we sure Terry Ryan is even AT the meetings?

Yes, but since he is testing new technology for the military that makes you appear invisible the other GMs have yet to notice him, or in other words the winter meetings have been a success for TR and our nation.

Ben Zobrist to the Cubs... 4 years, $56 Million.

Good for the Cubs.  Where are they playing him? Is Castro for sure being traded?

 

Good for the Cubs.  Where are they playing him? Is Castro for sure being traded?

Yes, to the Yankees to play 2B.

Starlin Castro to the Yankees for Brendan Ryan and Adam Warren.

 

Shelby Miller from the Braves to the Diamondbacks.

So the Castro trade is a salary dump.

 

Yes, to the Yankees to play 2B.

I hadn't even heard that was in the works when I posted that question, but it made perfect sense that if they were getting Zobrist, Castro was likely gone.

Edited December 9, 201510 yr by jimmer