Non-Twins Off-season news, tidbits and transactions

[ashbury]

The Indians signed RP Alex Wilson to a minor league deal... despite him throwing 3.20 ERA and 1.16 WHIP the past four years combined. He'll make $1.25M if he makes the team... but I really feel like he should be making more money than that. I guess his lack of strikeouts combined with him being 32, and nobody wants to throw money at that despite being worth about 5.3 WAR in those 4 seasons.

In addition to the strikeouts, I see that he builds his stats on a very low BABIP - .240 last season. Maybe that's a repeatable skill (a few pitchers like Kershaw do seem to be able to stay around .275 year after year), and Wilson's done something under .300 for all but one of his seasons, but I expect some teams are leery of that ability going away without warning. In 2017 when his BABIP was slightly above .300, his OPS-against was .764, which correlates well with his actual ERA of 4.50. Probably all this correlates with the eye-test that scouts file with their teams, too. I dunno, you'd think some team would have room for him, way down on their bullpen depth chart, but there's probably more group-think in the majors these days than ever before.

[biggentleben]

Minor league deals seem to be the floodgates around the league right now...

[SomeGuy]

DeGrom's agent Jeff Berry — has suggested that players have on-field recourse to utilize against their employers to gain leverage in an increasingly unfriendly market setting. Specifically, he proposed that pitchers self-impose workload limits if they aren’t protected by long-term agreements.

 

What "leverage" does this impose?  Not sure if adding an attitude/work ethic issue will make anyone more desirable. 

 

What would his teammates or fan base think if he abandoned a playoff run for his self imposed workload limit?  Seems like a good way to kill your public image.

[TheLeviathan]

 

DeGrom's agent Jeff Berry — has suggested that players have on-field recourse to utilize against their employers to gain leverage in an increasingly unfriendly market setting. Specifically, he proposed that pitchers self-impose workload limits if they aren’t protected by long-term agreements.

 

What "leverage" does this impose?  Not sure if adding an attitude/work ethic issue will make anyone more desirable. 

 

What would his teammates or fan base think if he abandoned a playoff run for his self imposed workload limit?  Seems like a good way to kill your public image.

 

At this point, the desperation and frustration is at a fever pitch.  There will be a long, brutal strike in the near future.

[Danchat]

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reports that the Bryce Harper talks have "intensified" and the Phillies are the favorites to land him.

Heyman cautions that "nothing’s done yet," but it does appear we could finally have some momentum. There's been some speculation that Harper might be willing to take a short-term, high-AAV contract, but Heyman says the star outfielder will be signing a long-term deal.

 

 

Will we finally have a big signing happen soon?!

[beckmt]

 

At this point, the desperation and frustration is at a fever pitch.  There will be a long, brutal strike in the near future.

I saw an article earlier this week where Adam Wainwright thought the players might go on strike at the all star game this year in an effort to change what many players are feeling unfair labor practices and collusion by the owners.

[Monkeypaws]

Came across this by happenstance, Mickey Mantle's 500th home run.

 

What I found interesting: the Orioles had a shift on him, 3 guys on the right side of the infield. Had no idea the shift dated back to the 60s.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioALzM98jaQ

[USAFChief]

 

Came across this by happenstance, Mickey Mantle's 500th home run.

 

What I found interesting: the Orioles had a shift on him, 3 guys on the right side of the infield. Had no idea the shift dated back to the 60s.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioALzM98jaQ

https://www.mlb.com/news/ted-williams-faced-defensive-shifts-in-1940s/c-191605204

 

Ted Williams used to face a shift in the 40s.

 

There is nothing new about the shift, only the frequency it's used today.

 

They used to shift on me, too, way back in the day I was playing (junior) college ball.  I was right handed, and they'd place everyone along the right field line, spaced out every 25 feet or so, out to about 175 from the plate...just in case one of my oppo flares managed to stay fair.

[ashbury]

https://www.mlb.com/news/ted-williams-faced-defensive-shifts-in-1940s/c-191605204

 

Ted Williams used to face a shift in the 40s.

 

There is nothing new about the shift, only the frequency it's used today.

 

They used to shift on me, too, way back in the day I was playing (junior) college ball.  I was right handed, and they'd place everyone along the right field line, spaced out every 25 feet or so, out to about 175 from the plate...just in case one of my oppo flares managed to stay fair.

Yeah, I was about to say that the opposition used to play a shift when I was at bat, too - all the outfielders moved in about thirty steps.

[Mike Sixel]

Ten years, 300 million. Just as predicted....

 

For the cost of Mauer and Kepler, you use one roster spot on a guy that delivers 5 to 7 WAR....

[bird]

 

Ten years, 300 million. Just as predicted....

For the cost of Mauer and Kepler, you use one roster spot on a guy that delivers 5 to 7 WAR....

 

 

Well, until he doesn't of course. . I don't know Mike. That's 5 to 7 WAR in one basket, so there's at least some logic to diversifying your risk in case one of your players decides to do something stupid in his outside life or get injured or give you another couple of sub 5 WAR years or so for your money. There's at least some precedent for that with this guy.

 

Mauer gave you 1.4 WAR last year. Who in their right mind would suggest spending $23 on THAT kind of production? Kepler gave you what? 2.4 for half a mil last year? Not a useful comparison at all.

 

Alternatively, for the same or lower cost, you can plug Kepler, Polanco, and Rosario into the lineup to get you 9 WAR, and have a not-terrible chance that just two of them matches what you get from Machado at half the price and for about half the years. Then go spend the other half, like maybe another $10M, and pick up another 5 WAR from some crappy rejects like Schoop and Cron. In other words, there's some good thinking behind trying to pretty much double your WAR for about the same annual price with no catastrophic performance risk, full liquidity and full trade value intact to start, and no albatross potential.

 

It might be a lot more important to simply eliminate those -0.4 guys who have plagued this team and have a full lineup of guys with enough upside to blast through 2.0 for you. Outside of 1B and catcher, we have that without a Machado risk. And neither of those positions holds all that much risk of giving you negative production. If they do, both positions have some fairly disaster-free Plan B in the form of Garver, Astudillo, maybe Kirilloff or Rooker, maybe Kepler to 1B and Cave or someone in RF to avoid a huge negative there.

 

I get that Steamer thinks they'll all pretty much hold the line at 2 WAR. Maybe the computer is right.

 

This might be a super good move for the Padres, and not so much for the Twins. Sorry gunarthor. 

[Mike Sixel]

It's hard to diversify, when you have a 25 man roster. Not many championship teams have no superstars.....and only have a bunch of 2 WAR players.

 

1 player giving you 6 is a lot better than needing 2-4 players to do that.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

It's hard to diversify, when you have a 25 man roster. Not many championship teams have no superstars.....and only have a bunch of 2 WAR players.

 

1 player giving you 6 is a lot better than needing 2-4 players to do that.

I'm not sure exactly what our payroll is now after the Polanco/Kepler extensions. But I'm thinking somewhere around 107-09M. So, little or none of the Mauer money has been used from last seasons opening payroll. Add Machado and we are a few M below 140. We cut ties with Cron before the season and we are only a couple M higher then in 2018. In the coming seasons you shuffle in a prospect here and there and trade a vet as needed and realistically they can stay at around or below 140M. A 26 y/o 6 WAR player does not come along every year. When they do often times the big boys are willing to spend to outbid the smaller markets. This was the chance. Cash and a draft pick for a superstar and no need to deprive the team in any other area at this point or in the near future. Its as obvious as ever that a WS is not the top priority of this org.

[sweetmusicviola16]

In non-Twins off season news Don Newcombe dies at 92 y/o. Newcombe was a former Negro League and Dodger Great.

[bird]

 

It's hard to diversify, when you have a 25 man roster. Not many championship teams have no superstars.....and only have a bunch of 2 WAR players.

 

1 player giving you 6 is a lot better than needing 2-4 players to do that.

 

 

Sure, I agree. If you don't have to count both dollars and WAR. 

 

And you're right if they need four players to get you 6. Or three even.

 

You don't think you'll see two players on that team combine for 6 WAR this year? That's pretty pessimistic, isn't it? Haven't quite a few already done 3 WAR at one time or another?

 

It's about having the right combination of cheap, controlled players who are producing adequate WAR to go along with the one or two guys having big years. And then having a pipeline to keep that mix in place.

 

Houston is a really solid example of where I think the Twins want to be, and again, the bet is mostly on Sano and Buxton, like it or not.  That's the bet, plain and simple.

 

Pitching? I can't defend them with any fervor there, especially on the decision to bypass FA opportunitis that looked very reasonable to this untrained eye.

[nicksaviking]

Cleveland gets Tyler Clippard on a MiLB deal. I would have liked that signing.

[howieramone2]

 

I'm not sure exactly what our payroll is now after the Polanco/Kepler extensions. But I'm thinking somewhere around 107-09M. So, little or none of the Mauer money has been used from last seasons opening payroll. Add Machado and we are a few M below 140. We cut ties with Cron before the season and we are only a couple M higher then in 2018. In the coming seasons you shuffle in a prospect here and there and trade a vet as needed and realistically they can stay at around or below 140M. A 26 y/o 6 WAR player does not come along every year. When they do often times the big boys are willing to spend to outbid the smaller markets. This was the chance. Cash and a draft pick for a superstar and no need to deprive the team in any other area at this point or in the near future. Its as obvious as ever that a WS is not the top priority of this org.

The Pohlads could care less if we ever make it to the World Series and I'm not sure I will see a 140M payroll in my lifetime. They saved MLB in Minnesota, don't expect anything else. I'm ecstatic they are allowing us to sign our own players. 

[Otto von Ballpark]

 

Cleveland gets Tyler Clippard on a MiLB deal. I would have liked that signing.

I suspect Clippard wouldn't have come here on a minor league deal. Looking at Cleveland's depth chart, he might already be their top right-hander out of the pen!

 

But conventional wisdom suggests we could have probably landed him on a MLB deal.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

The Pohlads could care less if we ever make it to the World Series and I'm not sure I will see a 140M payroll in my lifetime. They saved MLB in Minnesota, don't expect anything else. I'm ecstatic they are allowing us to sign our own players. 

What's the point in saving something if you aren't going to put it to its maximum use? Actually the Pohlad's wanted to contract the team so I'd hardly give them credit for saving it. They did buy it from Cal in 1984.

 

I guess I'd like to see more than a participation medal and guessing by dropping attendance I'm likely not alone.

[Vanimal46]

 

Gardy gets a new VERSATILE toy.

[howieramone2]

 

What's the point in saving something if you aren't going to put it to its maximum use? Actually the Pohlad's wanted to contract the team so I'd hardly give them credit for saving it. They did buy it from Cal in 1984.

 

I guess I'd like to see more than a participation medal and guessing by dropping attendance I'm likely not alone.

The ceiling on this franchise is dominating the Central. I think it's wonderful you want to see a World Series, but it won't happen with the Pohlads holding the pursue strings. Attendance is fine. I'm downtown on game days quite a bit, because my wife likes the restaurants on the Nicollet Mall when the weather is nice. No one is carrying any pitchforks. Still the same old enthusiasm. 

[ashbury]

Reminder, this thread is for NON Twins news and tidbits. Let's please move continued discussion of Twins ownership and WS chances elsewhere.

[nicksaviking]

 

I suspect Clippard wouldn't have come here on a minor league deal. Looking at Cleveland's depth chart, he might already be their top right-hander out of the pen!

 

But conventional wisdom suggests we could have probably landed him on a MLB deal.

 

Yeah, I probably shouldn't be, but I am surprised by how many above average relievers are being forced into MiLB deals. The players will probably have to cave since the teams have the upper hand, but I'm guessing Bud Norris and Adam Warren will suffer the same fate. Ryan Madson sounds like he might take a stand and just hang up the cleats, that would be sad but good for him.

[howieramone2]

 

Yeah, I probably shouldn't be, but I am surprised by how many above average relievers are being forced into MiLB deals. The players will probably have to cave since the teams have the upper hand, but I'm guessing Bud Norris and Adam Warren will suffer the same fate. Ryan Madson sounds like he might take a stand and just hang up the cleats, that would be sad but good for him.

So when did these guys become above average relievers? Rodney and Duke are far better and the board was not at all happy we signed them last season. I suppose I should be grateful for small favors. For the first time in the history of this board a free agent has been embraced by membership(Cruz).

[Vanimal46]

 

Seems ridiculous that a 2.2 WAR player may need to settle for a minor league deal.

[bird]

 

Seems ridiculous that a 2.2 WAR player may need to settle for a minor league deal.

 

 

Supply and demand, baby.

 

I'd also guess teams see hm closer to a 0.0 WAR guy in 2019 than a 2.2 guy.

[sweetmusicviola16]

I guess this post fits in Non-Twins news and Twins news from around the Web:

 

Ervin Santana signs the with the White Sox on an milb deal.

[Mike Sixel]

Is this where I mention Jeff Sullivan is leaving Fangraphs? To join the Rays..

 

Almost all of the writers have gone to a team now. It's still a great site, but the voice is totally different....

[nicksaviking]

 

Is this where I mention Jeff Sullivan is leaving Fangraphs? To join the Rays..

Almost all of the writers have gone to a team now. It's still a great site, but the voice is totally different....

 

Great news, that means he should be in the Twins front office in a couple of years. 

 

I'd like to say TB is a feeder system for the Twins. But I can't because then I look at their records and remember that makes no sense.

[biggentleben]

 

Is this where I mention Jeff Sullivan is leaving Fangraphs? To join the Rays..

Almost all of the writers have gone to a team now. It's still a great site, but the voice is totally different....

 

Even with different writers, the voice stayed pretty constant with Cistulli at the helm. Now Rowley is at the helm, and it makes sense that things would have a different tone, even if all the writers were the same.