Going for it all...

[Parker Hageman]

Last winter, the Tigers added Prince Fielder for the royal sum of 9-years, $214 million. While it may have been a steep price to pay, it clearly helped launch Detroit to a World Series bid.

 

Now, the Twins lack the Justin Verlanders or even Max Scherzers to give it a truly "on-the-cusp" team like the Tigers were at the end of 2011, however, if you were to sign one player this off-season -- cost/contract not an issue a la Prince Fielder -- who would you sign as the player who could tilt this team towards a title and why?

[Top Gun]

Zack Grienke, a true #1 SP for years to come who is only 28. He will only make the rest of the young sp better. If Clev or KC would sign him they would be on top too. Rally the fans and go for it now we got the money, tired of losing. Go Twins!

[Badsmerf]

Greinke and its not even close. Ace potential, in his prime, good durability history and would fill the biggest need this team has.

[ThePuck]

Last winter, the Tigers added Prince Fielder for the royal sum of 9-years, $214 million. While it may have been a steep price to pay, it clearly helped launch Detroit to a World Series bid.

 

Now, the Twins lack the Justin Verlanders or even Max Scherzers to give it a truly "on-the-cusp" team like the Tigers were at the end of 2011, however, if you were to sign one player this off-season -- cost/contract not an issue a la Prince Fielder -- who would you sign as the player who could tilt this team towards a title and why?

 

I'm not sure I can agree with the idea Fielder propelled them to the W Series. First, they had a better record last year and second, they scored quite a few more runs last year as well. I believe the difference between this year's playoffs for them and last year's had more to do with the starting pitching they've had this postseason.

 

That doesn't mean I disagree with spending money, but I'm not sure signing Fielder was the move that put them over the top.

[kab21]

Greinke and Hamilton are the only impact players in FA this year. For the Twins to even consider going for it they would need to sign both and then trade a couple of Span, Revere, Arcia, or Hicks for more starting pitching (like Shields).

 

I actually don't hate signing Greinke. Imo you either go for him or settle for whichever starters fall in the 3/30 range or under. There's a lot of mediocrity and it doesn't make sense to be the guy that spends big on #3 starters this offseason.

[Winston Smith]

There isn't one single player alive that could turn the Twins around for next year.

 

The Tigers made 3 solid trades bringing in Scherzer, Fister and Sanchez. Put those three on the Twins and it's a new ball game.

 

This team won't get rebuilt over one off season, imo.

[Willihammer]

What if Greinke doesn't like LA? Greinke has stated he enjoyed his time in Milwaukee; I know of no source where he has said the same about LA.

 

If Greinke dislikes it there, then that would eliminate two of the largest buyers -Dodgers and Angels. Although he would not stop them getting into a bidding war over him, certainly. And if the 2ndary market dries up as Greinke waits, the Angels will be driven to make him an offer he can't refuse.

 

But what if he does refuse?

 

Texas: already has an ace, and can fill out their rotation with Ogando and/orDempster. Could also trade one of Andrus, Kinsler for pitching.

 

Milwaukee: may get sick of waiting, and may be spoiled by the fact that Greinke refused their extension offer, but they do have money to spend.

 

Yankees: Cap problems, and already has an ace.

 

Red Sox: already has an (inconsistent) ace-type, but has cap space to pursue. Does Greinke like Boston?

 

If Greinke dislikes LA, and Boston and Milwaukee aren't fits, or dont pursue, then there will be space for another team to enter the sweepstakes.

[Jim Crikket]

I'm not as high on Greinke as I used to be for obvious reasons, but there are really no other major free agents that would have a chance of having the kind of impact he could, if he could find his old form.

 

As for Fielder, I can't help but wonder what Detroit's season would have been like if Victor Martinez had remained healthy and Fielder had not been acquired.

[TheLeviathan]

I think one could argue the "all-in" move for Detroit was getting Sanchez and Infante. Time will tell if it was effective - if St. Louis takes them down again, they could really regret both the Fielder signing and that trade very quickly.

[Thrylos]

Last winter, the Tigers added Prince Fielder for the royal sum of 9-years, $214 million. While it may have been a steep price to pay, it clearly helped launch Detroit to a World Series bid.

 

Now, the Twins lack the Justin Verlanders or even Max Scherzers to give it a truly "on-the-cusp" team like the Tigers were at the end of 2011, however, if you were to sign one player this off-season -- cost/contract not an issue a la Prince Fielder -- who would you sign as the player who could tilt this team towards a title and why?

 

 

Nobody this season... This team is not a single player away. And the biggest problem is the mind-set...

 

you mention Scherzer. Here is how the Tigers got him:

 

Max Scherzer & Phil Coke & Austin Jackson (their Number 2 SP, their closer and their lead off man) for Curtis Grandenson & Edwin Jackson in a 3 team trade with the Yankees and the Dbacks.

 

I am convinced that Ryan would never ever pull anything like that.