Front Page: Report: Twins Nearing Multi-Year Deal with Michael Pineda

[strumdatjaguar]

The Twins sign one more hopefully.   At Spring Training Dobnak, Smeltzer, Graterol et.al. compete for the #4 and #5.   In Mid-May, when Big Mike returns, the Twins sort out who goes to bullpen, Rochester, the injured list or whatever. 

[SmellEm]

 

 I don't understand how whatever Cole does means the Twins get an F for their offseason moves...whatever they are.

 

If the Twins lose ground on the starting pitching front to other top AL contenders, then this offseason is a failure.  The Yankees may add Cole or Stasburg to a healthy Severino and Paxton.  Boston will be hoping from bounceback seasons from Sale and Price.  Cleveland and Tampa seems to be able to create starting pitching at will. The Astros will lose Cole, but have Whitley as potential future ace to go along with Verlander and Greinke. The Angels are talking to Strasburg and could add him and a healthy Ohtani to their rotation.

 

If the biggest move they make is replacing Gibson with Bumgarner then they will likely lose ground to several of their top competitors who are making bigger additions. When you're a 101 win team that got swept out of the playoffs, that is not a successful off-season.   Baseball is a competitive sport, of course the Twins success or failure needs to be measured against what other teams are doing.

[Thegrin]

I am happy.  Very very happy. 

[bunsen82]

I disagree.  You have to look at was achievable. In my mind Bumgarner is likely the best pitcher left that the twins can get to sign a contract with in my mind.  My original hope was Wheeler, but in my mind he was overpaid for his performance.  I have a feeling Bumgarner will actually sign a reasonable contract.  I don't think his value is near what wheeler received, more teams will think they can fix wheeler with less mileage to be a #1 than Bumgarner.  I think Madison still has some left in the tank and I also think Wes could potentially add a couple miles per an hour to his fastball making him more lethal than he was last year even with the park benefits.  My current guess is 4 for 80 million or 5 for 94 million. 

 

Madison true value will show up in the postseason assuming we can get back there.  He has more experience and composure than any other pitcher out there right now and could be a true stabilizing force in the pitching department for the twins.  He will either be pegged as our #1 or #2 essentially dropping everyone in the order. 

 

I hope we can get this deal done, and add in a relief pitcher or two and either a 1st baseman or 3rd baseman.  Those are the only holes we currently have. 

[howeda7]

 

Pineda did have a nice run last season -- although he faced a pretty weak schedule in July and August. And he doesn't have a great track record beyond that either, in terms of upside or durability.

 

But he can still be a useful piece at this price. It does seem to make it more of an imperative to get another top SP, though, especially with Pineda missing the first 39 games.

If Dobnak is the 4th/5th starter, I'm comfortable with Smeltzer making the 6 starts that would be needed for the 5th spot in the first 39 games. Or vice versa depending on who wins the 5th job in ST.

[rdehring]

 

If Dobnak is the 4th/5th starter, I'm comfortable with Smeltzer making the 6 starts that would be needed for the 5th spot in the first 39 games. Or vice versa depending on who wins the 5th job in ST.

Everyone is forgetting Thorpe.  Yes, he was more inconsistent than Dobnak or Smeltzer last year.  But I saw a pitcher who could dominate an opposing batting order.  The Twins have pushed Thorpe hard since his return from missing almost all of two years with injuries/illness.  Maybe, just maybe he got the experience he needed last summer and will be the big surprise of the spring.

 

And there is also Graterol.  I expect they will want to control his innings.  That could be done by pitching 4-5 innings a game following an opener.  Can you imagine how overpowering he could be once he settles into this role?  I sure can!

[diehardtwinsfan]

It's probably worth noting that Pineda was a tale of two pitchers last season, as he was not very good to start out the season. I'm guessing a lot of that was due to TJS recovery... But it's worth noting that he was pitching like a 1/2 after the all star break.

 

This might be a fantastic signing. 

[AceWrigley]

Strasburg would be an excellent add. I think he might provide the best value of all the free agent pitchers. He's a horse, he's tough, elite curveball and changeup, high quality 4-seamer, and post season success. It could make for a formidable rotation. Strasburg, Barrios, Odorizzi, Pineda and X. The 3 most similar pitchers to Strasburg on B-R are Corey Kluber, Gary Nolan and Gerrit Cole.

[lecroy24fan]

 

Pineda is like a poor man’s Rich Hill. Effective when he is on the field, which isn’t that often. Fortunately, Pineda’s spotty schedule will suit the Twins needs of getting innings for their up and coming young starters, but unfortunately this signing does nothing for getting past the first round of the postseason. He’s 31 and out of shape, and I have a hard time believing there is any “upside” in this move. He is what he is.

All of this is just my opinion, of course.

CC Sabathia was out of shape for 20 years and was just fine until the last year or 2.

[Bomba2026]

And just let me add one last thought....no matter where we finish somehow we will play the Yankees in the first round....they have us penciled in already, I bet....

[big dog]

 

Pineda was a very good pitcher from July  until his suspension.  Value wise, if he can pitch near that level, you cannot find anyone better than that on the market, especially at 10 million year.  He could easily slot anywhere as  #2 to #4 pitcher.      Good value overall. 

Agreed.  I didn't think we'd get both Odo and Big Mike back.  Sure, I want more, but imagine where we'd be without one or both of them.  Signing 3 of...?

[mikelink45]

 

They'll make 2 more; Dobnak and Thorpe will compete for the temporary 5th starter job while Pineda finishes his suspension, and from there either cover for injuries or move into a long relief role.

I would love it if Dobnak and Thorpe make him expendable when he finishes his suspension

 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

 

CC Sabathia was out of shape for 20 years and was just fine until the last year or 2.

True. And David Wells pitched into his 40s. Those two had longer records of sustained success than Pineda. I will praise the Pineda signing once we see that it's not the last of the signings.

 

[howeda7]

 

Everyone is forgetting Thorpe.  Yes, he was more inconsistent than Dobnak or Smeltzer last year.  But I saw a pitcher who could dominate an opposing batting order.  The Twins have pushed Thorpe hard since his return from missing almost all of two years with injuries/illness.  Maybe, just maybe he got the experience he needed last summer and will be the big surprise of the spring.

 

And there is also Graterol.  I expect they will want to control his innings.  That could be done by pitching 4-5 innings a game following an opener.  Can you imagine how overpowering he could be once he settles into this role?  I sure can!

I'm not forgetting so much as I would have him penciled into the bullpen. But I suppose he is an option for the rotation as well.

 

As for Graterol, I assume they will not even consider putting him on the Opening Day roster so as not to burn a year of service time. He will be an option around the All-Star break.

[Lasorda_This_Out]

Question: Does the suspension preclude Pineda from attending 2020 Spring Training Camp and participating in pre-season games?

Thanks!

[tony&rodney]

True, without a Cole or Strasburg the Twins do not match up in a Game 1 and I am still hopeful of a C/S signing, but Bumgarner plus a few other additions would really strengthen the team in a 5 or 7 game series. Win the division first while going all out to sign whomever is interested in pitching in Target Field from the home dugout in 2020.

A Bumgarner, Berrios, Odorizzi, Pineda, and Wood/Teheran plus young guns would play. Go hard at the big three: Cole, Strasburg, Bumgarner - they can only say No. The budget should around $140+ for 2020.

[DocBauer]

Question: Does the suspension preclude Pineda from attending 2020 Spring Training Camp and participating in pre-season games?

Thanks!

He can fully participate in ST. I remain unsure if he can hang around Ft Myers during the suspension or has to workout on his own. He then gets, I believe, 15 days of milb before he has to be activated. All things go, he should be ready early to mid May.

[DocBauer]

Agreed. I didn't think we'd get both Odo and Big Mike back. Sure, I want more, but imagine where we'd be without one or both of them. Signing 3 of...?

Actually, I have always believed strongly both would be back. It made too much sense not to happen. The fit is good. The $ were there. They like being here and the FO, staff and team wanted them here. In fact, Oddo has even stated he is open to an extension vs the 1yr.

 

To me the question has always been FA or trade, where does that other really good arm come from to join them and Berrios?

 

I am 100% on board for a flier FA/rebound option and have always expected one, depending on the market and how it unfolds. But I've also always felt the FO might just keep the 5th spot open for all the young guys. Of course, the caveat to that is also needing them to help cover the first 30-40 days without Pineda.

 

I don't know who it will be, but I'm expecting a $5-6M 1yr deal for someone after we acquire that one top arm.

[DocBauer]

I would love it if Dobnak and Thorpe make him expendable when he finishes his suspension

We will need at least one of them to cover the first 30-40 days, as I just mentioned. I have a pretty strong feeling we will sign a flier after we acquire that last important arm, FA or trade. How good that bounceback, flier arm does will shape the opportunity for the kids. And don't get me wrong, those young guys need opportunity! How else will they be able to become potential fixtures? But wouldn't it be something if they were depth for the rotation and pen and FORCED their way in to a spot?

[DocBauer]

I'm not forgetting so much as I would have him penciled into the bullpen. But I suppose he is an option for the rotation as well.

 

As for Graterol, I assume they will not even consider putting him on the Opening Day roster so as not to burn a year of service time. He will be an option around the All-Star break.

I absolutely believe Thorpe could thrive in the bullpen. And I get going north with your best arms. (You can always move a young arm back to the rotation later, we've seen it done). But I would guess the Twins really want him to concentrate on starting right now, even if that means Rochester to begin the year.

 

Graterol is a quandary because he really should be starting, and I think we, the FO, and the mailman all know and believe that. And I don't think it's about service time. It's about a decent 3rd pitch and stretching him further out and just gaining experience.

 

I have no clue how they will do it. But between the ML and milb level, I see some slips, and following some designated starters to get the best of him in 2020 without over using him.

[Richie the Rally Goat]

So the floor for the ‘20 rotation is (providing health) the ‘19 rotation which was top 10. I’m very ok with that and will be very pleased if the FO can acquire a front of the rotation starter to move back Berrios, Odorizzi and Pineda a slot.

[VivaBomboRivera!]

SSDD

[mikelink45]

 

I absolutely believe Thorpe could thrive in the bullpen. And I get going north with your best arms. (You can always move a young arm back to the rotation later, we've seen it done). But I would guess the Twins really want him to concentrate on starting right now, even if that means Rochester to begin the year.

Graterol is a quandary because he really should be starting, and I think we, the FO, and the mailman all know and believe that. And I don't think it's about service time. It's about a decent 3rd pitch and stretching him further out and just gaining experience.

I have no clue how they will do it. But between the ML and milb level, I see some slips, and following some designated starters to get the best of him in 2020 without over using him.

I believe it is time to go with Graterol, Thorpe, Dobnak, etc.  Let's push them and see what we get. 

[h2oface]

I just don't get the optimism concerning Pineda. Do you just throw his career numbers out and look at a couple of months in 2019 and think that is him and not that he is closer to his career? Or even that he will be worse as he ages? a couple of good months doesn't mean that is what to expect, I don't think. Perez had a couple of good months.......

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I just don't get the optimism concerning Pineda. Do you just throw his career numbers out and look at a couple of months in 2019 and think that is him and not that he is closer to his career? Or even that he will be worse as he ages? a couple of good months doesn't mean that is what to expect, I don't think. Perez had a couple of good months.......

his season in total wasn’t far from his career in aggregate. 24% K rate, 5% walk rate, 3.67 FIP is good mid-rotation output.

[amjgt]

If it wasn't for the suspension I wouldn't have been surprised at all if he got a QO. 

[Shaitan]

 

I just don't get the optimism concerning Pineda. Do you just throw his career numbers out and look at a couple of months in 2019 and think that is him and not that he is closer to his career? Or even that he will be worse as he ages? a couple of good months doesn't mean that is what to expect, I don't think. Perez had a couple of good months.......

Pineda's always pitched pretty well. He's just never been healthy for any kind of stretch.