Article: Five Remaining Free Agent Fits

[TheLeviathan]

The pitching staff sure looks like a rebuild to me.  I see Berrios (hopefully) and a bunch of guys.

[Brandon Warne]

Pressly, Chargois, Berrios, May are all part of the future for sure. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

Pressly, Chargois, Berrios, May are all part of the future for sure. 

 

I guess I'd like to see May stay on the mound before I say that.  Ditto Chargois.  

 

And even if I granted 4 guys, that's a third of a pitching staff.  Looks like plenty of building room to me.

[Brandon Warne]

 

I guess I'd like to see May stay on the mound before I say that.  Ditto Chargois.  

 

And even if I granted 4 guys, that's a third of a pitching staff.  Looks like plenty of building room to me.

 

They have plenty of guys who are close, too. Gonsalves, Stewart -- I'm interested to see how he develops w/ Falvey, Romero, Hildenberger, etc. There are the pieces for a fairly competent pitching staff that are close.

 

I do think, however, that they'll have to add one truly great SP from the outside. 

[KirbyDome89]

 

They are not rebuilding. The rebuild is basically over. You can't rebuild what isn't built. They are on the upswing, which unfortunately is starting very low. 

They went from winning 83 games to only 59...if they're moving in a direction right now its a backswing. 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Pressly, Chargois, Berrios, May are all part of the future for sure.

im less convinced, there's the most potential with this list than the others. The pitching staff looks like org filler just waiting to be replaced by prospects. The problem is there aren't any prospects in the pipeline. If trading vets isn't happening, are you really ok with so much filler taking up half the roster?

 

I agree that it's not a rebuild without prospects on the horizon. it's just bad. And patience with bad becomes apathy and complacency.

 

Gotta sign at least one or two relievers who are a step up from Kintzler and Boshers.

[TheLeviathan]

 

They have plenty of guys who are close, too. Gonsalves, Stewart -- I'm interested to see how he develops w/ Falvey, Romero, Hildenberger, etc. There are the pieces for a fairly competent pitching staff that are close.

 

I do think, however, that they'll have to add one truly great SP from the outside. 

 

Wouldn't a team full of close players who aren't there yet be the definition of a rebuild?  That's if I even accept that they are "close"

[Bark's Lounge]

Not to be a Negative Nelly, but I don't see how those remaining FA's really help this club.

 

As it stands, it will take something extraordinary for the pitching staff to be any good. There will be some bright spots, but mediocrity will be the majority.

 

I am cool with rolling out what we have as position players. There is definitely talent in that group of players. Rosario, Buxton, Kepler, Sano, Polanco (defense in question), Dozier.

 

I hope the org gives a fair opportunity to Vargas, Park, etc. to take AB's away from Mauer.

 

I expected the off season we have had. I am hoping that the new FO can have a quick and effective result on the development of our current players and the guys down below.

 

I did not expect the Twins to spend their asses off out of this, because the money the Pohlads and Ryan gave out the last handful of years have been ineffective.

 

Effective development is the key for me as a fan.

[Brandon Warne]

 

They went from winning 83 games to only 59...if they're moving in a direction right now its a backswing. 

 

....with virtually the same team. 

[Brandon Warne]

 

Wouldn't a team full of close players who aren't there yet be the definition of a rebuild?  That's if I even accept that they are "close"

 

No. The rebuild was when they were signing garbage pitchers like Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey to round out the rotation. They then compounded that by bringing Pelfrey back (for two years!). 

[Brandon Warne]

 

im less convinced, there's the most potential with this list than the others. The pitching staff looks like org filler just waiting to be replaced by prospects. The problem is there aren't any prospects in the pipeline. If trading vets isn't happening, are you really ok with so much filler taking up half the roster?

I agree that it's not a rebuild without prospects on the horizon. it's just bad. And patience with bad becomes apathy and complacency.

Gotta sign at least one or two relievers who are a step up from Kintzler and Boshers.

 

Why? Kintzler and Boshers were both useful and dirt cheap last season. 

[TheLeviathan]

 

No. The rebuild was when they were signing garbage pitchers like Kevin Correia and Mike Pelfrey to round out the rotation. They then compounded that by bringing Pelfrey back (for two years!). 

 

I guess I'd call that "stupidity" and not "rebuilding".  

[Brandon Warne]

 

I guess I'd call that "stupidity" and not "rebuilding".  

 

If you don't have MLB quality starters and need to patch things up, you have to sign *someone*. 

 

I hated it at the time, but I at least kind of got it? Still preferred guys like Brandon McCarthy and even Joe Blanton, though. 

[KirbyDome89]

 

....with virtually the same team. 

That has barely changed this offseason, yet they're on an upswing?

[Brandon Warne]

 

That has barely changed this offseason, yet they're on an upswing?

 

Yes. They weren't as bad as they played last year, and simple regression plus a drastic improvement behind the plate should help a lot. Young players being a year older doesn't hurt, either. 

[KirbyDome89]

 

Yes. They weren't as bad as they played last year, and simple regression plus a drastic improvement behind the plate should help a lot. Young players being a year older doesn't hurt, either. 

The pitching staff had the worst ERA in baseball by almost an entire run. Regression to even bottom third of the league isn't simple for this team. I wouldn't say that coming off a 103 loss season and remaining quiet during the offseason is an upswing. Also with a pitching staff this bad I think calling the rebuild complete is premature. 

[Brandon Warne]

 

The pitching staff had the worst ERA in baseball by almost an entire run. 

 

What? That is not even remotely accurate. 

[jimmer]

 

The pitching staff had the worst ERA in baseball by almost an entire run. Regression to even bottom third of the league isn't simple for this team. I wouldn't say that coming off a 103 loss season and remaining quiet during the offseason is an upswing. Also with a pitching staff this bad I think calling the rebuild complete is premature. 

The ROTATION had the worst ERA by .20.  5.39 is pathetic.  Of course, having the 2nd worst defense in baseball didn't help.  By FIP, the worst rotation was the Reds. The Twins and Royals ONLY tied for being the next worse by FIP.

 

But other than that, I too am having issues wrapping my head around the idea this team is about to turn things around because young guys are getting older and the rotation was somehow not as bad as they were. I also wonder about how drastic the difference behind the plate will be,  

 

Mostly, the talent just isn't there, IMO.  I was saying this towards the end of 2015 and during the offseason before 2016 too.  

Edited January 25, 2017 by jimmer

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Why? Kintzler and Boshers were both useful and dirt cheap last season.

is utility good enough? Why do you care how much the GM spends?

[KirbyDome89]

 

What? That is not even remotely accurate. 

Compared to the league average, as a staff they were nearly a full run higher. I could have phrased that better. It doesn't change anything else in the post. 

Edited January 25, 2017 by KirbyDome89

[Richie the Rally Goat]

The pitching staff had the worst ERA in baseball by almost an entire run. Regression to even bottom third of the league isn't simple for this team. I wouldn't say that coming off a 103 loss season and remaining quiet during the offseason is an upswing. Also with a pitching staff this bad I think calling the rebuild complete is premature.

the team had the second worst ERA in baseball. Still awful. Agreed with the intent

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Compared to the league average, as a staff they were nearly a full run higher. I could have phrased that better. It doesn't change anything else in the post.

8/10 of a run below median?

[KirbyDome89]

 

The ROTATION had the worst ERA by .20.  5.39 is pathetic.  Of course, having the 2nd worst defense in baseball didn't help.  By FIP, the worst rotation was the Reds. The Twins and Royals ONLY tied for being the next worse by FIP.

Agreed, the D was horrendous and certainly didn't help. If only there was some way to fix these problems.....hmmmm

[KirbyDome89]

 

8/10 of a run below median?

9/10 of a run above correct? I'm using the mean. League average was 4.18 and the Twins finished with a 5.08 team ERA.

Edited January 25, 2017 by KirbyDome89

[Brandon Warne]

 

is utility good enough? Why do you care how much the GM spends?

 

I don't. It just doesn't make sense to spend more money on pieces not guaranteed to be better than what they offer. Kintzler bounced back with a nice season and Boshers has good secondary numbers

[Seth Stohs]

Per Doogie's scoop podcast... The Twins have no interest in Austin Jackson.

 

But he did mention at least 3 guys that the Twins very much have on their radar...

 

Check it out here: 

 

http://www.1500espn.com/the-scoop-2/2017/01/richard-pitino-mark-coyle-plus-twins-free-agency-ep-56/

 

[Mike Sixel]

 

They have plenty of guys who are close, too. Gonsalves, Stewart -- I'm interested to see how he develops w/ Falvey, Romero, Hildenberger, etc. There are the pieces for a fairly competent pitching staff that are close.

 

I do think, however, that they'll have to add one truly great SP from the outside. 

 

by this argument, why fire Ryan, if they are done rebuilding?

 

I couldn't disagree more strongly. They have no 3B long term, no 1B, no C, 1 SP, and maybe 2-3 RP. Their LFer walks less than your average 90 year old. And that's assuming Buxton learns to hit, and Gordon and Polanco are legit every day players.

 

I think we'll just disagree on this....which I'm cool with.

[David HK]

This stuff being considered, and the way they're talking, it does seem like they still don't want to give the young'uns a shot again this year. That's why the single most disappointing thing this offseason is that they didn't clear the dugout first. Molly was horrible handling the kids the past couple years, (in addition to the rest of the team), and we're still thinking he's they guy for a young roster?

Phooey.

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Per Doogie's scoop podcast... The Twins have no interest in Austin Jackson.

 

But he did mention at least 3 guys that the Twins very much have on their radar...

I heard the Twins Daily plug over there, so I am sure you want to make everyone listen.

 

But the 3 guys Doogie mentions are Mike Napoli, Greg Holland, and Joe Smith.

 

Hopefully they're looking at Holland a lot more than Napoli...

[nicksaviking]

Holland's reported demands are ridiculous for a guy coming back from TJ surgery; a two year deal with a player opt out. So basically if he can't pitch this year, or doesn't pitch well, you're stuck with him for two years. If he pitches well he's gone.

 

In other words, I like the Twins chances of signing him!