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

[Mike Sixel]

 

Ouch!!

 

He opted out of 4/100......

[DocBauer]

I was leaning Wheeler due to pure velocity, but have been torn between he and Bumgarner. I like having that LH in the rotation and you can't beat his postseason experience. Now that Wheeler is off the board, time to get moving and get him signed. Then grab Pineda.

 

I'm not a fan of Ryu despite his numbers. He just can't be relied on and a soft throwing LH to the AL bothers me. I honestly think if you want to sign a second LH you go for Keuchel. He's been a stalwart and knows the AL already.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I was leaning Wheeler due to pure velocity, but have been torn between he and Bumgarner. I like having that LH in the rotation and you can't beat his postseason experience. Now that Wheeler is off the board, time to get moving and get him signed. Then grab Pineda.

I'm not a fan of Ryu despite his numbers. He just can't be relied on and a soft throwing LH to the AL bothers me. I honestly think if you want to sign a second LH you go for Keuchel. He's been a stalwart and knows the AL already.

 

I like Keuchel, but not so much if the infield is Sano/Polanco/Arraez......

[goulik]

 

He opted out of 4/100......

Yeah, He's starting the conversation with 6 years and closer to 35 mil a year and then the Team that lands him may be fortunate to get him down all the way to 6/180

[Mike Sixel]

Strasburg will be in Washington, I have no doubt. Cole will not be in MN, I have no doubt.

[wabene]

Madbum's fastball velocity went back up over 92 close to his peak years now 2 years removed from his shoulder injury. Spin rate is back up too. Getting excited!!! Gotta get a no dirt bike clause in that contact.

[SmellEm]

So basically we're going to end up replacing Pineda with a pitcher who was basically the same level as him last year, but at 3x the cost. And then the local media will pretend we actually signed an ace because he's a big name people have heard off. And even better, he's a potential clubhouse disaster given his past confrontations with players of color and the makeup of the rest of this team and the great chemistry they had last season. 

[Battle ur tail off]

 

So basically we're going to end up replacing Pineda with a pitcher who was basically the same level as him last year, but at 3x the cost. And then the local media will pretend we actually signed an ace because he's a big name people have heard off. And even better, he's a potential clubhouse disaster given his past confrontations with players of color and the makeup of the rest of this team and the great chemistry they had last season. 

 

Don't worry, most likely they won't get him anyway. 

[Captain Torii]

 

 

Does Bumgarner get more or less than Wheeler?

Probably less, I would rather have Bumgarner over Wheeler anyways. He's a lefty, with PS experience and pedigree of success during WS; he's only a year older, and MadBum had better stats last year than Wheeler except WAR and giving up 8 more HRs in his 12 more Innings pitching in the NL west...

[howeda7]

 

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

Rosario, Balazovic + another younger pitcher. Get it done.

[Wax off]

Estimated contracts are way low. Strasburg 25/year, lol.

 

I wish for Strasburg and Ryu. I hear the Twins'are willing to meet Ryu's asking price.

[dex8425]

 

Rosario, Balazovic + another younger pitcher. Get it done.

Again, maybe switch Rosario with Buxton and maybe the Mets will pick up the phone. Buxton and Balazovic and Trevor Larnach would be close. But that would hurt. 

[Darius]

Just once, I’d like to see this franchise identify the guy the want and go after him aggressively. Pay the money it takes, instead of low-balling. Quit screwing around and getting cute. They need to quit waiting for things to “play out,” and pinching pennies.

 

If you’re not willing to spend any money, why should your fans? If not after a 100-win season with overall payroll numbers that Yankees and Red Sox invest into their urinal cakes....then when?

 

It’s not over yet, but I’m getting less confident with every player that comes off the board.

[mikelink45]

I am fine if we can get Bumgartner - I will consider it s success.  I know that players choose location as much as money after a certain point.  Phillie winter is not pleasant, but the trouble is not many SoCal guys like the snow the way I do and this is part of the problem with both Bumgartner and Ryu - look where they currently play.  The Angels would be their best choice.  

 

Lets get the heart warming Dobnak and Smeltzer stories ready for 2020. 

 

 

[Wax off]

I know that players choose location as much as money after a certain point. Phillie winter is not pleasant, but the trouble is not many SoCal guys like the snow the way I do and this is part of the problem with both Bumgartner and Ryu - look where they currently play. The Angels would be their best choice.

 

Shouldn't be an issue, head south for the winter.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Here’s the thing: if Bumgarner gets less than Wheeler, then he better be signing with the Twins. And I will gladly eat Crow. Because Bumgarner at under 5/120 is a steal esp. considering the enormous need the Twins have for his services and the payroll space available.

[jud6312]

 

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?

I vomited in my mouth just thinking about these options.

[AZTwin]

I'm guessing 6/180 for Strasburg.

I agree with this. Maybe get him at $170M. I’d consider it.

[alphanumeric]

Fingers crossed for MadBum and Alex Wood I guess

[AZTwin]

I’d pull the trigger on Bumgarner at 4 years $105M or the Strasburg deal I listed, but I doubt Strasburg ever ends up in Minnesota. We got plenty of other pitching to fill out the rotation cheaply

[Heistyman]

MadBum likes to hit too much to play in the American League

[Badsmerf]

MadBum likes to hit too much to play in the American League

We could use a lefty DH.

[Wax off]

I agree with this. Maybe get him at $170M. I’d consider it.

For 5 years? I'm in. If it's 6 years, it'll be closer to 200.

[wabene]

So basically we're going to end up replacing Pineda with a pitcher who was basically the same level as him last year, but at 3x the cost. And then the local media will pretend we actually signed an ace because he's a big name people have heard off. And even better, he's a potential clubhouse disaster given his past confrontations with players of color and the makeup of the rest of this team and the great chemistry they had last season.

 

Not sure who your talking about here? If your talking Bumgarner I get that he got into it with Puig but he got after it with Muncy too. I doubt he would be a clubhouse problem. The guy does want to win.

[Wax off]

I’d pull the trigger on Bumgarner at 4 years $105M or the Strasburg deal I listed, but I doubt Strasburg ever ends up in Minnesota. We got plenty of other pitching to fill out the rotation cheaply

 

You said offer 6/170 for Strasburg, and 4/105 for Bumgarner.

 

So about $2M/year difference between Strasburg and Bumgarner?

[stringer bell]

 

We could use a lefty DH.

Unfortunately Bumgarner hits right handed.

[Thrylos]

The Twins need to focus on trades before their prospects expire.  Both Gonsalves and Stewart were top 100 prospects (Stewart peaked at #28 in 2015).  Now they are nowhere.  The previous regime was horrible with doing that.   I suspect that in 2015, they could have gotten something better for Stewart than they have received now.   Their window of contention is getting smaller; they better do something now before it is too late and the next top prospects also expire...

 

 

[AZTwin]

You said offer 6/170 for Strasburg, and 4/105 for Bumgarner. So about $2M/year difference between Strasburg and Bumgarner?

OP had $5M difference and I have 2. Basically I would overpay for Mad Bum to get less years since he may get 5-6 year offers from other teams as well. Don’t have that luxury with Strasburg. Strasburg will likely command $30M at least but it was too much money for the Twins to commit to and $170M would pretty much be the max offer I could see. I think we can afford to overpay for Bumgarner for the first few years because we have other pitching that can cheaply fill out the rotation. Those costs will raise in subsequent years. You have to consider the entire makeup of the roster and contracts when thinking about it.

[tarheeltwinsfan]

 

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.

He wasn't pitching down the stretch. He was banned.

[Otto von Ballpark]

I'm watching Hot Stove League on MLB network and they said that Wheeler turned down a higher offer from the White Sox.

I'd take that with a big grain of salt. "Higher offer" could mean 6/120, or 4/100 (higher AAV), or even 5/125 but with a bunch of deferred money. Or of course it could also just be incorrect or a PR exaggeration -- makes the White Sox look better, makes Wheeler look better, it's a win-win all around, so no one would bother setting the record straight if it was incorrect or misleading.