Some of the SP FA candidates mentioned here have received qualifying offers.

 

I don't fully understand the implications to the Twins of signing one of these, as the draft pick(s) lost depend on the financial situations of both the Twins and the FA's previous team and the allocation of competitive balance picks, (see: http://m.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/qualifying-offer). But, my guess is that the Twins would lose their 2nd round pick.

 

On the one hand-- the roughly 60th best prospect is valuable. But on the other, as Seth's review of the top prospects is revealing, the Twins seem to have a lot of prospects that would rank right around where that pick would end up.

 

So, how much might that factor into the decision?

I have also seen information guessing it would be the third round draft pick lost.  Twins pick in the second round will probably be in the 50's to low 60's.  Do not let this stand in the way.

Would you trade your second round pick for a MLB starter you believe in? I would, in a second.

You think about it a little if you’re picking at the top of the round (which not only is a higher pick but means your team was awful). An 85 win team should not care much if they want the player in question.

I would not want to mortgage a pick for a middle of the order guy who won't be better then what we have.

I would not want to mortgage a pick for a middle of the order guy who won't be better then what we have.

If he's really middle-of-the-order then he's almost by definition better than someone we've got. Very few teams can post a batting lineup of nine such guys.

 

Ditto middle-of-the-rotation if that's what you really meant (although that termology is admittedly weaker than for batters). Our senses have been dulled by the parade of really bad starting pitching that's been run out there. Middle of the rotation is actually pretty good.

 

And finally, if the guy who is made expendable is so good that you are questioning bringing in the new guy, you can trade such a guy for more than the 60th pick of an amateurs draft. Because if you don't want to replace him, some other team will value him too.

 

We are not yet so rich in talent that talent-acquisition of any and all forms should be abandoned.

 

Some of the SP FA candidates mentioned here have received qualifying offers.

I don't fully understand the implications to the Twins of signing one of these, as the draft pick(s) lost depend on the financial situations of both the Twins and the FA's previous team and the allocation of competitive balance picks, (see: http://m.mlb.com/glossary/transactions/qualifying-offer). But, my guess is that the Twins would lose their 2nd round pick.

On the one hand-- the roughly 60th best prospect is valuable. But on the other, as Seth's review of the top prospects is revealing, the Twins seem to have a lot of prospects that would rank right around where that pick would end up.

So, how much might that factor into the decision?

Do the Twins receive revenue sharing?  My reading of this is that if they do, they would lose their 3rd highest pick.  If not, they would lose their second highest pick.  In 2018, that is probably a difference of about 15 picks as I believe that they have a Competitive Balance Round B pick (at the end of the second round) next year.  In the years in which they receive a Competitive Balance Round A pick (at the end of the first round) the loss of  their second highest pick would be a bigger deal (think Brent Rooker type of draft pick).

 

In the current draft structure with assigned slot values to every pick, the loss of the draft pick also affects the total pool available to the team to sign their top ten draft picks.  Having a smaller pool could make it more difficult to draft and sign guys for over-slot money.    That being said, when you are a playoff team looking to get to the World Series I think that you give up the draft pick when you believe that the free agent that you are signing is the missing piece that will get you there.  

“Middle of the order guy” would be a massive improvement for 60% of our 2017 rotation.

 

I’d give up the draft pick in a heartbeat.

After reading this from mlb.com I'm convinced Falvey won't be able to resist the Spin It to Win It ability of Tyler Chatwood 

I normally would, though weren't Perkins and Berries supplemental round picks? If it's a deep draft the decision gets harder. But, really, go for it in most cases.