Per Jon Heyman, Antonio Bastardo has an agreement with...

[Seth Stohs]

Jon Heyman just tweeted two things:

 

 

Antonio bastardo has an agreement with mets

 

It was followed shortly by:

 

 

Bastardo deal with mets expected to come in at a bit less than Tony sipp's $18M/3-yr deal

 

 

I'm personally perfectly comfortable with the Twins not going that number of years... 

[Seth Stohs]

Per Robert Murray: 

 

 

Bastardo's deal is for two-years, $12 million. No options.

 

[Thrylos]

I'd rather see what Melotakis and/or Rogers can do, and/or have the Twins go after a closer type (or move Hughes there) and move Perkins to set up.

[Seth Stohs]

 

I'd rather see what Melotakis and/or Rogers can do, and/or have the Twins go after a closer type (or move Hughes there) and move Perkins to set up.

 

I agree on Melotakis and Rogers. They need to get Melotakis at least a month, maybe 2-3 to see how he comes back from TJ surgery. But Rogers is ready for that role. 

 

I think that Bastardo got a fair deal in the sense that if the Twins would have given it to him, I woudln't have been completely against it. I preferred one year, and thought three years was way too much. 

[Winston Smith]

We don't need him and he doesn't fit into the budget or something like that.

[mikelink45]

Good grief - I have been hearing for the last month that we should sign him.  Now all of a sudden we did not want him.  Most Twins fans thought this was the last chance to do something.  I love playing the young guys, but where are all the proponents?

[drjim]

I would have done that deal, but if I was Bastardo I would have chosen the Mets over the Twins if the deals were the same.

[John Bonnes]

Well, I'm disappointed. I can't understand why they weren't more involved in this.

 

Bastardo has some consistency issues, but he's also been very good on average and has the potential to be an elite setup man. He was seemingly a perfect fit - good enough to valuable facing either handed batter, the potential to be elite (11.10 K/9 in his career) and left-handed to boot. The fact that it was a two-year deal is even more annoying.

 

$6M is a lot for a reliever, but it doesn't do any good to deny that is what the market says he is worth. And the Twins could absolutely have afforded it, and will likely pay that in 2016 to Nunez, Fien and whoever they eventually sign to be the left-handed presence. (Cotts?), all of whom are likely to make less of an impact than Bastardo will.

 

I'm very disappointed.

[nicksaviking]

The Mets are in the NL, the only league he's ever played in, on the East Coast and just went to the WS.

 

I'm not saying he wouldn't have come to the Twins, but if he was at all willing, it wouldn't have been for 2/$12M. We don't know what it would have cost the Twins, but it almost certainly would have been more.

 

I'm not saying the Twins couldn't afford what ever the price was, but we shouldn't pretend it was the same as the Mets.

[jimmer]

 

Good grief - I have been hearing for the last month that we should sign him.  Now all of a sudden we did not want him.  Most Twins fans thought this was the last chance to do something.  

yes, but were there any Twins fans who actually thought we would sign him?

[Dman]

 

Well, I'm disappointed. I can't understand why they weren't more involved in this.

 

Bastardo has some consistency issues, but he's also been very good on average and has the potential to be an elite setup man. He was seemingly a perfect fit - good enough to valuable facing either handed batter, the potential to be elite (11.10 K/9 in his career) and left-handed to boot. The fact that it was a two-year deal is even more annoying.

 

$6M is a lot for a reliever, but it doesn't do any good to deny that is what the market says he is worth. And the Twins could absolutely have afforded it, and will likely pay that in 2016 to Nunez, Fien and whoever they eventually sign to be the left-handed presence. (Cotts?), all of whom are likely to make less of an impact than Bastardo will.

 

I'm very disappointed.

 

While I agree with you to some degree I think the Twins have to figure out what they have in some of the young bullpen arms sooner rather than later.  Next year it is gonna be even harder to find room on the 40 man.  

 

I like Bastardo on a two year deal even if it was slightly more than 6M per year and they could have let Fien or someone else go but the Twins must have other plans.  There is a bit of glut of starting pitching as well and they will need to make room for Berrios and Duffey at some point.  They must think they have the guys they need on the farm or they cold have easily made this move.

[Otto von Ballpark]

The Mets are in the NL, the only league he's ever played in, on the East Coast and just went to the WS.

 

I'm not saying he wouldn't have come to the Twins, but if he was at all willing, it wouldn't have been for 2/$12M. We don't know what it would have cost the Twins, but it almost certainly would have been more.

 

I'm not saying the Twins couldn't afford what ever the price was, but we shouldn't pretend it was the same as the Mets.

Sure, you can make that case about Bastardo. But how about Mark Lowe? How about Wilson, K Rod, Benoit who had no choice in what team acquired them?

 

The Twins weren't participating in the relief market this winter, so there's no point manufacturing excuses for individual cases.

[jimmer]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Twins and New York offer the same amount, doesn't the player, after taxes, actually get more if he is with the Twins? 

[Otto von Ballpark]

Well, I'm disappointed. I can't understand why they weren't more involved in this.

 

Bastardo has some consistency issues, but he's also been very good on average and has the potential to be an elite setup man. He was seemingly a perfect fit - good enough to valuable facing either handed batter, the potential to be elite (11.10 K/9 in his career) and left-handed to boot. The fact that it was a two-year deal is even more annoying.

 

$6M is a lot for a reliever, but it doesn't do any good to deny that is what the market says he is worth. And the Twins could absolutely have afforded it, and will likely pay that in 2016 to Nunez, Fien and whoever they eventually sign to be the left-handed presence. (Cotts?), all of whom are likely to make less of an impact than Bastardo will.

 

I'm very disappointed.

Pretty sure Abad is that lefty, unfortunately. Perhaps the only setup lefty in the pen to open the season...

[Otto von Ballpark]

To those supporting the Twins bullpen inaction: don't you worry they are counting the chickens before they hatch?

[drjim]

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if the Twins and New York offer the same amount, doesn't the player, after taxes, actually get more if he is with the Twins? 

 

Nope. Higher top rate in Minnesota. Probably a difference in cost of living though.

[nicksaviking]

Sure, you can make that case about Bastardo. But how about Mark Lowe? How about Wilson, K Rod, Benoit who had no choice in what team acquired them?

The Twins weren't participating in the relief market this winter, so there's no point manufacturing excuses for individual cases.

I like Mark Lowe and think he was the best free agent relief steal this offseason.

 

But I'm ready for the Twins to finally put their money where their mouth is, and their mouth has rarely been at the free agent make-out party. They've been slobbering all over hard throwing relief pitchers in the draft for a half decade and it's time to put up or shut up. They've already likely committed spots to low upside guys by tendering Fien a contract and having to make room for a vet like Nolasco.

 

If the young guys fail, than go nuts, do the free agent bit, and the team then needs to admit they haven't done well enough scouting and/or developing and internal changes should be made. However it's well past time, no more screwing around, you can't continue to value, hoard and protect young pitchers and be too scared to let them prove themselves at the MLB level. We need to see what these guys can do, but they'll do jack squat if they're getting bumped by some 30-year old

[jimmer]

So his money will go farther spending half his season in Minnesota as opposed to New York.  Cost of living, property (if one decided to buy), etc.

[beckmt]

 

So his money will go farther spending half his season in Minnesota as opposed to New York.  Cost of living, property (if one decided to buy), etc.

Unless your an elite closer, relief pitchers do not buy anywhere.  Here today, gone tomorrow

[bluechipper]

 

To those supporting the Twins bullpen inaction: don't you worry they are counting the chickens before they hatch?

I'd like to think that with the quantity of promising options nearly ready to go that at least a couple have a good chance to be really good.

[David HK]

Just....  I mean....  THE single most glaring weakness of this team last year, and what.....    Oh, hell, never mind.

[Platoon]

I like Mark Lowe and think he was the best free agent relief steal this offseason.

But I'm ready for the Twins to finally put their money where their mouth is, and their mouth has rarely been at the free agent make-out party. They've been slobbering all over hard throwing relief pitchers in the draft for a half decade and it's time to put up or shut up. They've already likely committed spots to low upside guys by tendering Fien a contract and having to make room for a vet like Nolasco.

If the young guys fail, than go nuts, do the free agent bit, and the team then needs to admit they haven't done well enough scouting and/or developing and internal changes should be made. However it's well past time, no more screwing around, you can't continue to value, hoard and protect young pitchers and be too scared to let them prove themselves at the MLB level. We need to see what these guys can do, but they'll do jack squat if they're getting bumped by some 30-year old

I might not have stated it not quite as bluntly, but you are correct, sir! You can draft all the velocity you want, and can talk about how important it is, but until you actually start putting them on the ML field, it's meaningless. This will be interesting. Guys who throw that hard tend to have higher walk rates, and it's no secret that the Twins abhor the BB. It is not a fluke, or bad drafting luck that has caused the paucity of SO arms in this orginisation, it's been their philosophy. Changing that will be done eventually, but it's gonna be slow and painful to watch!

[nicksaviking]

 

I might not have stated it not quite as bluntly, but you are correct, sir! You can draft all the velocity you want, and can talk about how important it is, but until you actually start putting them on the ML field, it's meaningless. This will be interesting. Guys who throw that hard tend to have higher walk rates, and it's no secret that the Twins abhor the BB. It is not a fluke, or bad drafting luck that has caused the paucity of SO arms in this orginisation, it's been their philosophy. Changing that will be done eventually, but it's gonna be slow and painful to watch!

 

The Twins had been quite walk-a-phobic, and most teams are/were. But Ryan recently was quoted saying he didn't think walks for a reliever were overly worrisome and Jack Goin extrapolated on that thought in the other Bastardo thread supporting the idea that guys who miss bats can much easier afford a higher walk rate. Whether other folks agree or disagree about the actual damage a walk does, based on Ryan's quote and Jack's explanation, I really hope walks aren't the major sticking point for calling these guys up.

 

I want to see Sano, Buxton and Kepler this year, but seeing multiple guys under 25-years-old in the bullpen throwing in the high 90's really gets me excited, and it's starting to look like it might actually happen. I know I'm in the minority, but I'm going to enjoy watching these guys way more than some free agent.

[Vanimal46]

Disappointed that yet another player that could fit a need on the Twins lands somewhere else... But I can't say I'm surprised anymore. TR's version of making the bullpen a "priority" this off-season is quite different than my version. 

[Brock Beauchamp]

Ugh. Two years? I'd do that deal in a heartbeat.

[Kwak]

The "sticking point" to promotion isn't "BB rate"  it's the old-fashioned "fear of the unknown".  Using a veteran player (even one who isn't very good) provides the comfort of "knowing what to expect".  Since it's the owner's money the temptation is great to "play it safe" with a more expensive veteran than promote a minor league guy.  If the veteran fails--it's his fault.  If the rookie fails--it's management's fault.

[tobi0040]

 

I like Mark Lowe and think he was the best free agent relief steal this offseason.

But I'm ready for the Twins to finally put their money where their mouth is, and their mouth has rarely been at the free agent make-out party. They've been slobbering all over hard throwing relief pitchers in the draft for a half decade and it's time to put up or shut up. They've already likely committed spots to low upside guys by tendering Fien a contract and having to make room for a vet like Nolasco.

If the young guys fail, than go nuts, do the free agent bit, and the team then needs to admit they haven't done well enough scouting and/or developing and internal changes should be made. However it's well past time, no more screwing around, you can't continue to value, hoard and protect young pitchers and be too scared to let them prove themselves at the MLB level. We need to see what these guys can do, but they'll do jack squat if they're getting bumped by some 30-year old

 

You are ready and so am I.  But are the Twins?  I think young guys will start to break through in June.  They seem to favor veterans between April and June.  Unfortunately those games count the same as the one's in August.

 

Not signing one good reliever this off-season will come back to bite us

[ThejacKmp]

 

Nope. Higher top rate in Minnesota. Probably a difference in cost of living though.

 

You're not factoring in New York City taxes, which bump NYC above Minnesota. I know this because I lived there for two years and had to get very creative with my tax filings in order to evade them. But as my Grandpa always says, if you're not getting audited every few years, you're not doing it right.

[nicksaviking]

You are ready and so am I. But are the Twins? I think young guys will start to break through in June. They seem to favor veterans between April and June. Unfortunately those games count the same as the one's in August.

 

Not signing one good reliever this off-season will come back to bite us

Maybe a few games in 2016, but not in the long run. I also don't think there's a huge difference between a guy like Bastardo and a guy like Abad. Not enough to make much of a difference in the standings anyway.

[tobi0040]

 

Maybe a few games in 2016, but not in the long run. I also don't think there's a huge difference between a guy like Bastardo and a guy like Abad. Not enough to make much of a difference in the standings anyway.

 

Maybe, just dont like the roll of the dice strategy with the pen. The Royals and Yankees have a much different strategy