Article: Years Don't Matter... Much

[Jim Crikket]

You can view the page at http://twinsdaily.com/content.php?1190-Years-Don-t-Matter-Much

[old nurse]

If the Twins are to "overpay" for a pitcher it would be better that it is Jackson or Sanchez. They will be in their prime. To sign the more experienced pitchers is a risky proposition for depending on their health.

[TiberTwins]

This is a well thought out and excellently stated article. I hope the Twins are looking at the numbers the same way that you have presented them. The problem I fear is that they are looking at the numbers in a different way philosophically.

[CC7]

you take a risk with almost every player you sign

[Top Gun]

It's all bull crap. The most expensive pitchers are no more injury prone than the cheap ones, Expensive pitchers value goes up and in 6 years inflation goes up to so you save money there. The cheap pitcher might not even be around in 2 years, there goes your investment and future.

[TopGunn#22]

JC: Great blog. Well thought out and well written. If the Twins were to be aggressive and sign both A. Sanchez and E. Jackson to free agent contracts, as you stated, they CAN afford to, and as poor as their S-Pitching is they NEED to. The most important point is that both are 29-years old. Throw in a Span trade with Tampa or Atlanta and we'd have a "decent" pitching staff. As TiberTwins stated, I too HOPE the Twins F.O. has at least discussed and planned with these future payroll possibilities in mind.

[Rosterman]

You make some excellent points, really, you do. Assuming the Twins do have a glut of talent that is just some AA and AAA ball away from making their starts in the major (remember, rookies always don't make an immediate impact -- point being I could very well see Gibson do something like 6-11 5.01 in 2013). But looking at our brothers in the Central, the Royals, they are in a position to at least offer an extension to Santana or flip him during the season, depending on their own play. Guthrie, if he has a halfway decent year, is still tradebait, even into the offseason, with an okay 2014 and a lesser 2015 contract. Extended contracts do not always work out as tradebait, but sometimes they do. It was a gamble I wish the Twins had taken, with, say Nathan last season. (My biggest grip about 2012 was that Pavano and Capps both brokedown and the Twins weren't able to flip them for even a B-level prospect, someone who MIGHT be a becnh player, backup catcher, or bullpen guy). What I do find msot interesting with you eval above is that the Twins do actually NOT have top-flight starters coming up. Besides Gibson and Hermsen, they might have Wimmers and Barrios. No one else really blows me away. (And did you all see that Bromberg signed with Pittsburgh, and will probably be given a chance to shine either as a starter or a bullpen guy).

[Riverbrian]

This is exactly my thinking. I will view the off season a success if they go out and roll the dice on the guy they want and get him. Over pay or over year. Just one guy to a long term contract. Spmeone who can help this year and possibly be around when Sano and Buxton arrive(and by arrive... I mean arrive as the superstars we want them to be). Trade for a prospect pitcher as well... If god willing a team will trade us one... Grab a rule 5 since we have some rotation space to keep hold and audition.

 

Next year... Do it again... If needed... and it will probably be needed... A Free agent and a prospect.

 

We can compete this year and improve the farm at the same time. I'm hoping Terry Ryan is thinking the same.

[kab21]

The problem with the article is that it hinges on a guy like Sanchez getting something like 4/44M. I'm absolutely in favor of that but I think the TD gurus have him projected considerably lower than what he'll get. I think he'll get something like 5/75 and I become less interested.

 

Edwin Jackson is a fine pitcher to pick up for around 4/40 but I think people need to realize that he's a 4.00 ERA pitcher. He'll improve the team but he's a nice #3 at best on a good team.