Article: The Minnesota Twins, Zach Duke and Best Practices

[h2oface]

What pitcher is the same pitcher as he was last year? Very few. Maybe we get lucky. I really think it is foolish for these guys to push the clock and the healing for a couple of months of pitching that has more of a chance to do harm than good.

 

The positive thing about all the pitching considerations...... is that Perkins hasn't come up, eh? 

[twinfan]

You have got to be kidding! I liked Duke when he first came up but he has never been successful yet has lasted a long time- probably because he is a lefty. The only thing this signing does is cost the team a roster spot for a young prospect. Why can't Rogers do what Duke is proposed to do? And now I read they may be going after Napoli. Yuck! Bring back Park instead. It's the same difference. Maybe these signings would make sense if someone gets hurt but I can't see it helping at all.

[BJames]

Not much cost, not much upside.  I just hope if he sucks, he doesn't clog the system to save face to the F.O. signing him.  Will he block Jay from moving up by July? 

[h2oface]

 

Not much cost, not much upside.  I just hope if he sucks, he doesn't clog the system to save face to the F.O. signing him.  Will he block Jay from moving up by July? 

 

I just hope that Jay gets to the show, period. He was horrible in the AFL.

 

And hey..... Nolasco is still on the market......

Edited December 29, 2017 by h2oface

[Twins33]

And hey..... Nolasco is still on the market......

ssshhhh

[Wizard11]

I don’t think the ideas that this was a shrewd signing as well as mildly disappointing are mutually exclusive. My response was that it was a solid move but not the impact move so many of us have been waiting for and thus a little underwhelming. The small moves of this offseason will be viewed vastly differently depending on the rest of the offseason. For my part I am nervous that so much of our offseason speculation has revolved around signing YD. Realistically this is a low probability scenario given the multiple suitors with cash and a WS opportunity. It is probably good to remember that not long ago we thought we had a real shot at Ohtani.

[USAFChief]

Another signing that, if it was the icing on the cake—the 5th or 6th best upgrade to the staff—it would be a nice gamble.

 

As a featured move? Something they appear to be depending on? Consider me underwhelmed.

 

Either all those other GMs paying for actual bullpen help are wrong...or Falvine are wrong. I guess we’ll see.

[old nurse]

 

Another signing that, if it was the icing on the cake—the 5th or 6th best upgrade to the staff—it would be a nice gamble.

As a featured move? Something they appear to be depending on? Consider me underwhelmed.

Either all those other GMs paying for actual bullpen help are wrong...or Falvine are wrong. I guess we’ll see.

This move would appear to be so minor in the eyes of the management that it was not leaked to any of the usual people.  A producer of a morning talk show that occasionally does baseball gets the "scoop".  Duke at worst is competition for Boshers, at best insurance that Taylor Rogers does not get run into the ground. Any Twins fan who would think of this as a "signature move" has already forgotten about Rodney. 

[USAFChief]

This move would appear to be so minor in the eyes of the management that it was not leaked to any of the usual people. A producer of a morning talk show that occasionally does baseball gets the "scoop". Duke at worst is competition for Boshers, at best insurance that Taylor Rogers does not get run into the ground. Any Twins fan who would think of this as a "signature move" has already forgotten about Rodney.

The only chance Duke doesn't start the season in the Twins bullpen is injury.

 

This isn't "minor," this and Rodney are the 2 biggest moves of the off-season.

[old nurse]

 

The only chance Duke doesn't start the season in the Twins bullpen is injury.

This isn't "minor," this and Rodney are the 2 biggest moves of the off-season.

This is a one year deal for very little money. It is not a major deal. That it is one of the few moves so far this off season is no big deal unless you hobby is making mountains out of molehills.  Nobody has signed front line starters yet other than Ohtani. Other than the Miami sell offs, Longoria and Kinsler have been the only major trades.  Santana, Cozart and relief pitchers are what have been signed. The very few Miami fans that exist should be the only ones upset at this point.  Colorado fans can be happy they have a bullpen.  Yankee fans can be happy with their gift. Everybody else is still waiting. 

[ashbury]

The only chance Duke doesn't start the season in the Twins bullpen is injury.

 

This isn't "minor," this and Rodney are the 2 biggest moves of the off-season.

Concur. Minor league contracts with an invite to Spring Training are minor. Filling a 40-man roster spot means, at minimum, some kind of decision would have to be made in order to change course later. Especially the last 40-man spot. The evident intention with this signing is to include the pitcher on the active roster on Opening Day. It's not a signature signing, but it's not a thoughtless/offhand one either.

[mikecgrimes]

Love these kinds of signings, bullpen is such a funny thing I hate to throw money at guys.  I just want options and if you hit on 2 more then you did last year the bullpen will be in good shape.  If you have to release a guy making 2.5 million in the middle of June I don't care.

[Vanimal46]

Love these kinds of signings, bullpen is such a funny thing I hate to throw money at guys. I just want options and if you hit on 2 more then you did last year the bullpen will be in good shape. If you have to release a guy making 2.5 million in the middle of June I don't care.

Like Chief said, these kind of signings are fine, even great if you're filling out the 6th/7th option in a bullpen.

 

Is it too much to ask to have one proven, great reliever or starter? Because as it stands right now the back end of the bullpen looks like Duke/Hildenberger in the 8th, and Rodney closing it out. There's not a lot of room for error...

[drjim]

Like Chief said, these kind of signings are fine, even great if you're filling out the 6th/7th option in a bullpen.

 

Is it too much to ask to have one proven, great reliever or starter? Because as it stands right now the back end of the bullpen looks like Duke/Hildenberger in the 8th, and Rodney closing it out. There's not a lot of room for error...

It's not clear there was a great option out there.

 

Certainly there were *better* options, but not clear they are good investments considering the years. I'm glad they passed on Davis at that price and years (assuming it is instead spent on a starter).

[drjim]

I will say, these two signings are steps up on last years signings. Which, admittedly, is a low bar.

[Vanimal46]

It's not clear there was a great option out there.

 

Certainly there were *better* options, but not clear they are good investments considering the years. I'm glad they passed on Davis at that price and years (assuming it is instead spent on a starter).

I felt Bryan Shaw was a good bet considering his track record, durability, and live arm.

 

Unless bullpenning in the playoffs fades away, the years and salary rate is only going to increase.

[drjim]

I felt Bryan Shaw was a good bet considering his track record, durability, and live arm.

 

Unless bullpenning in the playoffs fades away, the years and salary rate is only going to increase.

Considering the champion wasn't bullpenning and basically ended up with no relivers they trusted at the end, I'm not sure the strategy is completely set. I think it's a little overstated.

 

I do agree costs will rise, but that it's also a fool's game to chase them in free agency.

 

(I actually was on board with signing a more established reliever for multiple years, but after more research I changed my mind). I support this method of bargain, short term buys and throwing numbers at it more than dollars.

 

That said, the money "saved" needs to be invested in at least one starter, if not two, and perhaps a bat too.

[mikecgrimes]

 

Like Chief said, these kind of signings are fine, even great if you're filling out the 6th/7th option in a bullpen.

Is it too much to ask to have one proven, great reliever or starter? Because as it stands right now the back end of the bullpen looks like Duke/Hildenberger in the 8th, and Rodney closing it out. There's not a lot of room for error...

 

I like several prospects to become as big or bigger successes then Hildenberger.  Yeah I would like a proven free agent but there were only 2 or 3 of those guys and even they had a chance to fall flat.  I think we're very close to a good bullpen and you make the moves to make it great at the deadline not now.