3 Former All-Star Starters the Twins Could Sign

[Cooper Carlson]

This article will look at three starters who at one point were very good but have now fallen off a bit. If you know anything about the Twins, you probably know they like players like this.1. Chris Archer: Missed all of 2020 due to injury

 

This one probably won't be too popular, but maybe there is something there. It also will cost next to nothing to bring Archer on for a cheap one-year deal and see if there's anything there. He was a good pitcher for years in the Rays organization until he was traded to Pittsburgh. Why does that make a ton of sense?

 

Unfortunately, Archer missed all of 2020 to to surgery to relieve thoracic outlet syndrome. A lot of the time when a pitcher undergoes this surgery it doesn't go well for him afterward, most notably Matt Harvey. In 2018, Jay Jaffe found that "the average total of post-surgery innings for the group is just 218, compared to an average of 657 innings prior." Is it worth it to take a flyer on Archer? Probably not.

 

2. Corey Kluber: Pitched one inning in 2020

 

Kluber, like Archer, is another pitcher who missed all of the weird 2020 season and will now be looking for a bounce back one year deal it seems. I like this option better than Archer but not by much. Kluber pitched one inning in 2020 and just started seven games in 2019. Injuries have been a huge issue and he is nearly 35 years old.

 

Despite that, Kluber is a former Cy Young winner so perhaps there is still something there. If you don't desperately need someone to fill in the rotation but it would be nice, Kluber would be a good pickup. I expect the Twins to be involved.

 

3. James Paxton: Started 5 games in 2020, but yikes!

 

Paxton fell apart like almost no one else in 2020, seeing his ERA drop from 3.82 to 6.64 in one year. He also dealt with injuries that led to him making just five starts so it's a small sample for sure. The FIP for Paxton was 4.37 so a lot of his season was bad luck.

 

Paxton is a left handed 32 year old starter who has spent his career in Seattle and New York with the Yankees. He will be 32 years old when the season starts so he is the one player out of the three on this list that will have the most competition in my opinion. He is a solid starting pitcher that makes the Twins rotation better.

 

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[mikelink45]

You are right - this is not something I find any comfort in.  Pass - please pass 

[bobs]

  Seeing Wes Johnson rebuild Paxton would be a good way to stick it to the Yankees...LOL.

[IndianaTwin]

MLBTR actually pegs Kluber with the Twins at 1/$12MM. 

[Doctor Gast]

Good article, I believe there`s a lot of former all stars that are available. I guess the Twins will pursue the one they believe they can transform the most into the pitcher they desire. Before the surgery, there is no doubt in my mind that Chris Archer was the guy. The problems he had at PIT was directly related to PIT`s terrible pitching philosophy. A change of scenery at MN would develop him into the ace he was meant to be. But now after the surgery, there is some doubt if he could come back to recover any form of his talent or how fast he could attain it. A lot of teams are interested in him, so we have to convince him we can help him the most. I hope he won`t  be our main pitching priority but offer him a low salary loaded w/ incentives he`d make a great flyer w/ great up side w/ low risk. My dream is that Archer would fulfill his destiny as a Twin. 

[kenbuddha]

I believe the Twins will seriously evaluate all of these guys. That doesn't mean they like these pitchers or like what they are recovering from but it isn't unlike when they signed Pineda to a 2 year deal knowing the first year was a recovery year from TJ surgery.

[FritzDahmus]

Bullpen, bullpen, bullpen............

We need to emulate the Yankee backend of the bullpen in recent years and the KC Royals backend in recent years.

Half your innings come from the bullpen. Spend that money on veteran bullpen help. Too many innings spread to thin equals a tired bullpen when it is playoff time.

[tony&rodney]

A strong bullpen is important and wouldn't it be nice to have some combo of two of Hendriks/Hand/Rosenthal/May?

The post references potential starters, however, and Kluber on an incentive contract makes sense as does the same for Hill. Pass on Paxton (price) or Archer (questions).

Either way, it looks like three pitchers are needed. Who will it be?

[DocBauer]

Happy to bring Kluber on board as a flier for a couple $M with incentives. Otherwise, complete pass.

[Trov]

I would pass on Archer, I have yet to see a single pitcher come back from that surgery and be above average.  I mean, if you can get him for vet min to see if you can change him up and be something sure, but I would not spend anything of real money on him.

 

Kluber and Paxton if you think you can get value out of him go for it.  Worked for Big Mike.