Front Page: Twins High Impact Pitching Options Dwindling as Wheeler and Hamels Reach Agreements

[John Bonnes]

The Twins watched today as baseball's hot stove heated up like a microwave. Two of the top remaining seven starting pitchers reached agreements with other teams, and at least one of them was reportedly a Minnesota Twins target. Zack Wheeler, who the Twins reportedly made an offer, has reached a 5-year agreement with the Philadelphia Phillies. Cole Hamels was signed by the Atlanta Braves earlier in the day.The moves mean that among top-tier starting pitchers, only five remain: Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Madison Bumgarner, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dallas Kuechel. Here are their profiles from Twins Daily's Offseason Handbook, which you can still download for whatever price you think is fair.

 

 Gerrit Cole, RHP

Age: 29

Previous Team: Astros

2019 Stats: 2.50 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 13.8 K/9, 2.0 BB/9 in 212.1 IP

The big fish. The crown jewel. The white whale. Upon being traded from Pittsburgh to Houston two years ago, Cole went from being a great pitcher to one of the best in the game, and he's coming off a career year with 326 strikeouts and 20 wins. Still only 29 years old, the right-hander will command a king's ransom. Are you prepared to wade into these waters?

Estimated Contract: 7 years, $224 million

 

 Stephen Strasburg, RHP

Age: 31

Previous Team: Nationals

2019 Stats: 3.32 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 10.8 K/9, 2.4 BB/9 in 209.0 IP

Presumably, Strasburg will opt out of his remaining four years and $100 million with the Nationals. At the very least he should be able to beef up his current deal in Washington, and if he tests the open market, there's a decent chance someone else could lure him away. Obviously, that'd be a pricy proposition. Strasburg's stuff is as good as it gets, and he's coming off a fantastic season. But, he has averaged only 145 innings over the past four seasons, so there's some durability risk attached to the sky-high price tag.

Estimated Contract: 6 years, $150 million

 

 Madison Bumgarner, LHP

Age: 30

Previous Team: Giants

2019 Stats: 3.90 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 8.8 K/9, 1.9 BB/9 in 207.2 IP

The legendary World Series performer hasn't quite been the same over the past three years as he was through age 26; his downturn coincides with a 2017 dirtbike accident that injured his pitching shoulder. Since his return, he's still been effective – albeit looking more like a No. 2 than No. 1. He did pitch very well in the second half of 2019. The record of postseason mastery remains a primary selling point, even if it's been five years since we've seen it.

Estimated Contract: 4 years, $80 million

 

 Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHP

Age: 31

Previous Team: Astros

2019 Stats: 2.32 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 8.0 K/9, 1.2 BB/9 in 182.2 IP

The Korean southpaw is coming off some kinda season. He was the best pitcher in an elite Dodgers rotation that included Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler, and Rich Hill. Ryu has in fact always been quite effective when on the mound, boasting a 54-33 career record and 2.98 ERA. The trouble has been staying healthy. Prior to 2019 he'd totaled 213.2 IP over the past four seasons. LA will surely seek to bring him back and it may be tough to pry him away, but money talks if you're willing to take the risk with the upside.

Estimated Contract: 3 years, $54 million

 

 Dallas Keuchel, LHP (ATL, 32): Signed midway through the season after shedding his draft-pick compensation and pitched to form in Atlanta: a solid No. 2 type but hardly an ace. 3 years, $45 million

 

 

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MORE FROM TWINS DAILY

- Non-Tendered Players That Could Interest the Minnesota Twins

- What the Early Twins Offseason Rumblings Tell Us

- Every Team Wants Zack Wheeler

 

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[In My La Z boy]

I am thankful Odorizzi took the QO from us. Based on this deal he probably could have got a 3/60 ish type of deal in this market. Please go get Michael Pineda now already before our options disappear.

[Twins Fan 7]

Keep kicking your feet and watch these free agents slip off the board

[Dantes929]

If we resign Pineda I have complete faith that Dobnak and Graterol and Smeltzer can outperform Gibson and Perez.   Not that I would mind having Ryu.

[KurtSuzuki'sRedHat]

Offer Eddie Rosario and Brent Rooker to the Mets for noah syndergaard

[SF Twins Fan]

 

Does Bumgarner get more or less than Wheeler?

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

If we resign Pineda I have complete faith that Dobnak and Graterol and Smeltzer can outperform Gibson and Perez.   Not that I would mind having Ryu.

But this is what they do to us every off season it seems. Have us be happy to not have improvements. Without Cole or Wheeler, etc this is not a better rotation. Berrios, Odo, Pineda is not a WS rotation.

[Seth Stohs]

 

[John Bonnes]

 

 

Does Bumgarner get more or less than Wheeler?

 

Less, I think? But maybe not a lot less. People forget he's only 30 years old. I wouldn't be shocked if he gets 4/90.

[Cody Pirkl]

Should be noteworthy that teams are kicking the tires on Pineda as well. He may not be the ace we need but if he pitches like he did down the stretch last year he can be very important piece on a winning team. Certainly a good consolation prize if we miss out on everyone else. I'm hoping we don't wind up regretting not giving the QO given the fact that it wasn't for the full amount.

[sweetmusicviola16]

 

Less, I think? But maybe not a lot less. People forget he's only 30 years old. I wouldn't be shocked if he gets 4/90.

That'd be my guess, your original 4/80 is likely light.

[Cody Pirkl]

 

Offer Eddie Rosario and Brent Rooker to the Mets for noah syndergaard

They will not accept that trade

[lukeduke1980]

Probably have to get creative.  Collin McHugh and turn him back to a starter?  Hope for a Rick Porcello bounceback?  Sign Brett Anderson and Rich Hill and hope to get 25 combined starts?

[Cody Pirkl]

 

 

Does Bumgarner get more or less than Wheeler?

Less I'd hope. Worth a win and a half less and is missing the upside peripherals.

[scottz]

Better make good offers to Ryu and Baumgarner. If they only plan on signing one of them, make them both great offers and tell them that only the first one to sign gets the deal.

 

Then after the first guy signs, say just kidding, the second guy to sign also gets the deal.

[MMMordabito]

That was fool money for Wheeler.  Glad the Twins didn't go down that path.  As Seth pointed out in his article,  Berrios and Gausman have pretty similar career peripheral numbers and both are younger.  I'd like to see an extension and a signing respectively.  

[wabene]

That was fool money for Wheeler but I'm still bummed. A starter with heat like that? Would've been fun. At least this is happening fast this year let's get two of Pineda, Baumgarner, Ryu and Gausman!

[terrydactyls]

I'm watching Hot Stove League on MLB network and they said that Wheeler turned down a higher offer from the White Sox.  I don't think there was any chance of Wheeler leaving the national league.  I hope they sign Ryu, Baumgardner, and Gausner, trade for another starter and hope someone pans out.

[TNTwinsFan]

That was fool money for Wheeler but I'm still bummed. A starter with heat like that? Would've been fun. At least this is happening fast this year let's get two of Pineda, Baumgarner, Ryu and Gausman!

 

Or 3 of 4!!

[MileHighTwinsFan]

Wheeler signing shows that it is not just about money.   

 

How can Twins indicate that they have a win-now mentality?  Does signing Donaldson send that message?  What about a trade for a shutdown reliever?  

 

This is so much more than trying to outbid other teams at this point. 

 

 

 

[Cap'n Piranha]

The game is starting to lose chairs, and there's not that much music left to be played.  I agree that at this point the Twins need to do something to send a message.  Similar to when the Tigers signed Pudge to a deal most people thought was way too high; it demonstrated the Tigers were serious about winning.  We need to do something right now to show this isn't going to be the same old Twins, hoping for internal growth.  Whether that's blowing away Cole's highest offer, giving Donaldson 4 and $128, or putting Rendon in the quarter-billion club, something is needed to kickstart this.

[bighat]

Bundy to the Halos. Another one off the board.

[bighat]

Check that, Bundy was acquired in a trade.

[dex8425]

 

Offer Eddie Rosario and Brent Rooker to the Mets for noah syndergaard

 

Switch Buxton and Rosario there and you maybe get the Mets to listen. 

[Mike Sixel]

 

Switch Buxton and Rosario there and you maybe get the Mets to listen. 

 

Still not close.

[Badsmerf]

Glad someone else signed him.

 

I'd rather give mad Baum that money or go big on Cole. If they can't get an impact pitcher via FA, trade for someone. Doing nothing punts 2020.

[rdehring]

I see another long-term strategy that the front office needs to get working on.

 

It is time they persuade several single Minnesota gals to get out there and latch on to some of the top young pitching prospects.  Then when we get to free agency say five years from now, there will be several Cole's and Wheeler's begging to come to Minnesota to keep their mate happy!

 

 

[labcrazy]

Nobody seems to be talking about Strasburg. What would it take to get him? I'm good with 4/90 on Madbum but why not make a run at Strasburg at the same time and see who bites. Something like 130/5 on him?

[Mike Sixel]

 

Nobody seems to be talking about Strasburg. What would it take to get him? I'm good with 4/90 on Madbum but why not make a run at Strasburg at the same time and see who bites. Something like 130/5 on him?

 

I'm guessing 6/180 for Strasburg. 

[labcrazy]

 

I'm guessing 6/180 for Strasburg. 

Ouch!!