Gregory Polonco's contract is a reason not to sign someone long term. Longoria's contract was signed after the 2012 season when he became arbitration eligible.  Sano Rosario and Buxton  will not hit that until next year.  If you believe that Sano will be Edwin Encarnation you should get him locked up now before he proves it. If you are afraid he is going to turn into Adam Lind, then you avoid making the decision.  Buxton would be the same ceiling issue.

Polanco' contract is an example of why you DO sign early long term contracts. Even if he completely tanks--which hasn't happened yet--the dollar figures don't hamstring a team. And if he blows up, he's dirt cheap...like Longoria (who as noted above was signed right after his MLB debut).

 

It might be too late for Buxton and Sano, but they probably should already be under long term contract. The only thing that might change that opinion is if Twins management believes financial security would remove Sano's incentive to control his weight.

I think payroll will end around 110mish and that gives us roughly 20m to add in FA but I don't think we'll do all of that. I think they'll make some trades to take on some slightly higher salaries (arbitration years) or such. But the Pohlads didn't hire Falvey do go big in payroll. They hired him because they think he can operate in a low payroll environment. Levine's somments in that BP piece were also pretty damning for anyone hoping for ownership to step up.

 

Love the Twins, hate the owners.

 

Longoria signed a 6 year, 17.5 million (plus 3 team options) contract in April 2008, 6 days after making his mlb debut.

Spare change sort of contract when he signs a 100 million plus contract in 2012, which is a far riskier contract than the first one.

 

 

Polanco' contract is an example of why you DO sign early long term contracts. Even if he completely tanks--which hasn't happened yet--the dollar figures don't hamstring a team. And if he blows up, he's dirt cheap...like Longoria (who as noted above was signed right after his MLB debut).

It might be too late for Buxton and Sano, but they probably should already be under long term contract. The only thing that might change that opinion is if Twins management believes financial security would remove Sano's incentive to control his weight.

If he blows up is a might big if given that he has had over 3 seasons of play. Not really the power for RF, not the defense for CF. A 2-3 WAR player you are stuck with.

 

Spare change sort of contract when he signs a 100 million plus contract in 2012, which is a far riskier contract than the first one.

And that extension didn't even start until 2017.

So they got Longoria's first 9 years for 47.5 million.

That first contract, which was a bargain for TB, has nothing to do with the extension, so I'm not sure why you are bringing it up.

You stole my response to the OP... I think 120 million is a number the pohlads are comfortable with so the big question is "is there anyone worth acquiring to spend that 20+ million on?" Year after year I see the lists of free agent starting pitchers and say to myself, they are not worth it. Ditto with this years list. I hope there is some type of big trade to bring in a front line starter and then spend up to that 120 mark on relievers and filling any potential holes created by said trade.

So it's better to start the pitchers they have, are those players"worth it"?

So it's better to start the pitchers they have, are those players"worth it"?

Vs overpaying more #3 type pitchers that will prevent us from keeping all our young Good players down the road as the FA pitchers decline into Ricky Nolascos and Phil Hughes types? Yeah, I prefer what we got over paying for those free agents. Trade or stand pat... Preferably trade

Payroll...

 

I remember a discussion last year concerning relief pitchers. Something this guy and another guy  (one name might have been Bastardo) available for 2 years at $5-6 MM per year.  The follow-up was a month or two later when it was posted that most FA RP's were having "bust seasons". This happens of course and the risk of failure of FA signings (happened to the Twins for SPs!) is very real. The solution is the ability "to grow your own...". Ryan tried to short-cut the process--and failed miserably and now he's gone. I am sceptical that the new leadership will try that tactic unless requested to do so.