Front Page: Twins Need to Make a Splash With the Rain Man: Sign Josh Donaldson

[howeda7]

Before everyone gets excited, everyone knows that Donaldson spent his childhood summers at a church camp outside Gainesville, VA and has no interest in coming to our frozen tundra. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

Donaldson, Ryu, a trade for Gray, and some bullpen help.

 

Offseason done.

Thank you. Glad that you could get that take care of.

[Dman]

I am going to take back some of my snark since the FO is willing to go 4 years for Donaldson.  I never thought they would hang in there until the end.  I still think the Nats get him but I am happy to see them truly in the hunt.

 

 

Also if they are going this hard after Donaldson they must have something up their sleeve for pitching then, right?  A trade or do they really believe they have guys that can step up in house?

[Richie the Rally Goat]

 

I am going to take back some of my snark since the FO is willing to go 4 years for Donaldson.  I never thought they would hang in there until the end.  I still think the Nats get him but I am happy to see them truly in the hunt.

 

 

Also if they are going this hard after Donaldson they must have something up their sleeve for pitching then, right?  A trade or do they really believe they have guys that can step up in house?

I do believe they have a plan. Time will tell if they can execute (or not) but there is a plan. I'm confident of it.
 

[Litdus]

Donaldson seems like the ideal player to put Royce Lewis next too in the Spring Training locker room.  Nobody better to talk to about having success despite having a swing with lots of moving parts.

[dex8425]

Count me as also surprised we're willing to go four years for Donaldson. Surely we can't outbid the Nats, and I'd guess Donaldson would rather go to the world series champs, but Rosenthal reported it yesterday, so that's definitely something. 

[mike8791]

If Rosenthal getting the straight skinny(and he usually does), count me as strongly against! Why, because it is not within the realm of possibility the Twins would splurge on both Ryu and Donaldson.  A pitcher like Ryu is almost a necessity to push the needle forward, Josh is a luxury we can do without.  Rather resign Cron then bring Donaldson aboard, unless budget was expanded to afford two high-priced free agents.

 

Give me Ryu and I'd consider the offseason a success, especially if FO spent any excess money signing any of Berrios, Odo, Sano or Buxton to long term contracts.  I think signing Donaldson would severely limit team's success in keeping their young core without significantly increasing chance for advancing further into playoffs.

[prouster]

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Twins are willing to go 4 years for Donaldson while the Braves and Dodgers are not...

There’s some ambiguity, but Rosenthal’s language makes it seem like they might actually have made Donaldson a 4 year offer. Rosenthal says there are multiple four year offers on the table, and the Nationals and Twins are “believed to be at that level.”

[Linus]

Please no. Sign a pitcher and trade for another. Then sign a good defensive SS and your whole infield is better

[bustedstuff88]

Ive heard commentary about JD being a less than ideal personality....can anyone corroborate this? If so, do we still want him? One thing the Twins undoubtedly have going for them is club house chemistry....would be a shame to have that shattered by an outside ego coming in. 

[dex8425]

 

Ive heard commentary about JD being a less than ideal personality....can anyone corroborate this? If so, do we still want him? One thing the Twins undoubtedly have going for them is club house chemistry....would be a shame to have that shattered by an outside ego coming in. 

He's a strong personality that's for sure. Extremely intense competitor. From what I've heard it doesn't sound like he would fit with Rocco's clubhouse chemistry.  Twins seem to have a very laid back hands off approach. I trust Rocco to handle it though. 

[Dman]

 

If Rosenthal getting the straight skinny(and he usually does), count me as strongly against! Why, because it is not within the realm of possibility the Twins would splurge on both Ryu and Donaldson.  A pitcher like Ryu is almost a necessity to push the needle forward, Josh is a luxury we can do without.  Rather resign Cron then bring Donaldson aboard, unless budget was expanded to afford two high-priced free agents.

 

Give me Ryu and I'd consider the offseason a success, especially if FO spent any excess money signing any of Berrios, Odo, Sano or Buxton to long term contracts.  I think signing Donaldson would severely limit team's success in keeping their young core without significantly increasing chance for advancing further into playoffs.

 

I agree.  If there budget is 130M and they sign Donaldson then there is no room for Ryu. Maybe room for a bounce-back starter or they would need to trade for some one.  Otherwise they have to rely on the farm and I don't think that would be a good idea.  They must have a plan though.  They know they need starting pitching. IN fact everyone in baseball knows they need starting pitching.

[Dantes929]

 

Donaldson, Ryu, a trade for Gray, and some bullpen help.

Offseason done.

That would be one of the best off seasons ever.    If  we get Donaldson I am guessing Kuechel rather than Ryu since the big knock on Kuechel was he doesn't fit with our poor infield defense so shoring up the defense makes it a better fit and if you are spending that much on JD then probably not spending that much on Ryu.   Yes, to bullpen arm.  Currently we are Rogers, May, Duffey, Romo, Littel and probably Stashak.   Possibly Graterol.    Any idea what it would take to get Gray?     I still like the idea of internal (Dobnak) for one starting pitching spot so if we got any one of those 3 starting pitchers along with Donaldson that would exceed my expectations.   

[jmlease1]

I'd love to see a Donaldson signing. It makes sense in a lot of ways: Sano can move to 1B and should do fine there with a full spring training to prepare. The defense gets better at 3B for sure in the near term. The offense gets an upgrade because you're replacing Cron's bat with Donaldson, who is substantially better. The high OBP is a great fit too. Donaldson has good splits, so you don't have to worry about protecting him, and he's absolutely crushed it in Target Field (yes, small sample size) so it's not like the stadium will be a problem. 

 

Here's the other thing: Cruz is probably done after this season. Maybe he retires, but the odds of the Twins rolling the dice on a 40-year old again is increasingly unlikely. I'm betting that the DH spot gets filled by committee in 2021 and putting Donaldson on that committee makes it more likely he stays healthy and can continue to play a majority of games at 3B deeper into this contract. there's a good fit there and the money is less worrisome with Cruz's contract coming off the books.

 

And even with a Donaldson signing, they still have the payroll space to sign Dallas Keuchel with no real issue. Or to take on a David Price in trade. And they certainly have the horses to go get Jon Gray (whom I'd would love)

[howeda7]

I hope he signs somewhere today so we can learn how we were thisclose to getting him.

[old nurse]

Rosenthal reports it is believed the Twins and the Nationals have 4 year offers out to Donaldson. one may be as high as 100 million

[RaoulDuke]

Starting pitching is the greatest need, Odo/ Pineda (once hes available) stabilize the rotation but do little to boost it after a frankly embarrassing showing in the playoffs.

 

There is no impact left to sign for the rotation and there is still 20-35 million to spend so I think they should go all in on Donaldson.  Massive gain in defense at 3rd with a 30 hr impact bat.  Even if he ages out of 3rd DH is open soon when Cruz is gone. 

 

Gotta improve this team with whatever means available.  Spend the money on Donaldson/ spend prospect value on a pitcher that can start game 1 or 2 of the playoffs.  Trades are hard to come by and costly, it will hurt less to lose a bat like Kirloff/ Larnach/ Lewis with Donaldson on board for 4 years.   

[DocBauer]

I am going to take back some of my snark since the FO is willing to go 4 years for Donaldson. I never thought they would hang in there until the end. I still think the Nats get him but I am happy to see them truly in the hunt.

 

 

Also if they are going this hard after Donaldson they must have something up their sleeve for pitching then, right? A trade or do they really believe they have guys that can step up in house?

I know I'm repeating myself, but I always felt a "major" FA SP signing was 50-50 vs making a trade acquisition. I felt Wheeler and Bumgarner were the only 2 that really made sense.

 

I didn't think they were serious about moving Sano at this time, but the rumors and links to various 3B and not a peep about a 1B being added in any way has me thinking they are at least fairly serious about this possibility.

 

Now whether it happens or not...