Neal: Twins interested in bringing Liriano back

[Parker Hageman]

According to the Star Tribune's LaVelle Neal, the Twins are expected to speak with free agent Francisco Liriano's agents next week during the winter meetings in Nashville but have had some initial talks with his representatives already this offseason.

 

The enigmatic 29-year-old left-hander has struggled mightily with control since a bounce-back 2010 campaign. His 12.6% walk rate has been the second-highest in baseball in that time and his 5.23 ERA has been very unimpressive. That said, he is still under 30, likely in line for a one-year deal and has missed more bats than any other starting pitching in the past two years (12.4% swinging strike rate).

 

If the Twins are set on filling out the back of their rotation with a high risk/high reward free agent, Liriano is just as good as any.

[Brad Swanson]

I'm sure everyone will have very rational feelings about this.

[John Bonnes]

I'm sure everyone will have very rational feelings about this.

 

I laughed out loud. I did.

[IdahoPilgrim]

I guess this tells us exactly where they're at looking for starting pitching. It's going to be a long season.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Liriano at $4m is a hell of a lot better than Feldman at $6m. At least with Francsico, there's a small hope for upside.

[twinsnorth49]

Must.......not..........get...............angry!!

 

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRzRVPsMmYsG3XkSBbLgB4pAXDensPgBuM2fy8vNS93D8Rfn2Vv

[AllhopeisgoneMNTWINS]

I'm sure everyone will have very rational feelings about this.

 

I laughed out loud. I did.

 

So did I John...So did I...Heres our one big signing!

[Winston Smith]

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.

Albert Einstein

[Linus]

Before the inevitable vemom is spewed, they would be looking to bring him back on the cheap with the idea that he would contend for a 4 or 5 spot. Would you rather have Frankie, Deduno or DeVries filling those spots?

[darin617]

Maybe they have interest in him as a SS? LOL

[ThePuck]

wow...

[Mike Sixel]

I'd rather they start fresh, but it would not surprise me. It probably would not make me super thrilled, though. I'd like the last guy to be someone from another team's minor league system. Diamond, Gibson, FA, FA, traded for guy....that's what I'd like (in no particular order). And, I'd want both FA signings to be, you know, good.

[RedBull34]

I'm sure everyone will have very rational feelings about this.

 

Couldn't have said it better myself...

[jorgenswest]

Higher upside and higher risk than most pitchers in his price range. Still young. Makes more sense to me than signing a Guthrie or Feldman.

[70charger]

I've been a proponent of calling the Liriano experiment dead and buried ever since he was traded. Aside from a fluky 2010, his post-TJ career has been pretty damn bad. This is also why our trade return on him was actually a good bit better than I expected and certainly nothing to complain about.

 

On the other hand, if he is as cheap as some are suggesting ($4 million!?), I'd be okay with them throwing a year at him. Maybe a make-good contract would light a fire under his butt finally.

[PseudoSABR]

If Liriano hadn't already been a Twin, he'd be exactly the kind of pitcher we'd want them to target. Go figure.

[Mike Sixel]

Heck, for $4MM, they might even be willing to move him to the pen, where he belongs, and can then flip him at the deadline again, assuming they cannot sign enough good starters....and aren't good.

[Nick Nelson]

If Liriano hadn't already been a Twin, he'd be the exactly the kind of pitcher we'd want them to target. Go figure.

 

Bingo. I'm fully on board as long as he costs less than Feldman.

[greengoblinrulz]

Could you get better than Pedro Hernandez/Eduardo Escobar for him July 31st????

Will truly show how cheap Terry Ryan truly is if this happens

[gunnarthor]

I understand why we'd bring him back but I'd just as soon move on.

[Kwak]

If Liriano hadn't already been a Twin, he'd be the exactly the kind of pitcher we'd want them to target. Go figure.

Darn right! $4MM is likely less than what is the final offer that he signs. I think he signs for at least as much as Baker.

[glunn]

With Liriano, at least we have a chance of getting an ace.

[jctwins]

At least there will be good seats available at the ballpark this year.

[beckmt]

If Liriano hadn't already been a Twin, he'd be the exactly the kind of pitcher we'd want them to target. Go figure.

 

Bingo. I'm fully on board as long as he costs less than Feldman.

 

Ageed. At least he has an upside, and if he is decent and the Twins suck this year can bring another return at the trade deadline. Hoping is will be less than 4 mil, but could be and not be bad, also with an option year if possible.

[old nurse]

Liriano should find someplace like Miami to pitch. No pressure to win and he will do fine.

[Top Gun]

La Velle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that the Twins have had conversations with Francisco Liriano's representatives and the two sides are expected to meet at the winter meetings.

 

The Twins' search for starting pitching is bringing them back to a familiar face. While general manager Terry Ryan wouldn't confirm his interest in the left-hander, he didn't deny it, either. "I haven't spoken on the record about anyone we are interested in. Everyone knows we are looking for starting pitching," Ryan said. In addition to Liriano, the Twins have also been connected to Brett Myers and Joe Saunders.

Related: Twins

 

Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune

[crapforks]

If 4m is the price, that's just fine. That isn't a prohibitive amount of money. There's still the Dan Haren, Joe Blanton, Ryan Dempster, etc. that the team should​ be in on. I understand the one-year desire with someone like Liriano.

[Highabove]

Someone asked on the Trib. page

 

"Would we have to give back the bag of Balls???"

[DaveW]

Liriano is a much better signing then Feldman and several other garbage options.

 

I am all for giving him a one year 4-5 mil deal. In a perfect world we could get a team option on him as well.

[Boom Boom]

No, no, a thousand times no.

 

It's time to give up the ghost on "he's got ace potential" and "if he could only get his head on straight". Liriano is terrible and the Twins should let him be someone else's headache from now on.

 

I'd rather have Cole De Vries, Samuel Deduno, or Nick Blackburn in the rotation. We don't have to throw more bad money at those guys.