Notebook: Big Moves in the Bronx

[Nash Walker]

Over $100 million worth of contracts were handed out Friday. The Yankees re-signed arguably their best hitter and a two time Cy Young winner.DJ LEMAHIEU RE-SIGNS WITH YANKS FOR SIX YEARS, $90 MILLION

 

The Twins were engaged on LeMahieu two winters ago but never made him an offer, according to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson. The Twins instead signed Jonathan Schoop while the Yankees inked LeMahieu for two years and $24 million.

 

Since joining the Bombers, LeMahieu ranks sixth in the A.L. in fWAR (7.8), wRC+ (146) and wOBA (.388). He finished fourth and third for MVP while helping the injury-plagued Yankees to the playoffs in back-to-back seasons. As one of the best pure hitters in baseball, LeMahieu leads the league in batting average (.336) since 2019.

 

This deal guarantees the 32-year-old $15 million per year through 2026, his age-37 season.

 

COREY KLUBER JOINS GERRIT COLE IN NEW YORK FOR $11 MILLION

 

Kluber entered free agency with more than one question mark. He’s coming off two injury-plagued seasons at 35 years old. The upside, however, is dreamable. Kluber is one of this generation’s very best. He is deserving of a lucrative one year, “prove it” deal and he got it with the Yankees. According to Mark Feinsand, the deal is worth $11 million guaranteed. The Twins did offer Kluber a contract, per Wolfson.

 

 

Even with Kluber gone, there are plenty of options remaining on the starting pitching market. Top dog Trevor Bauer continues to survey while Jake Odorizzi, Masahiro Tanaka and James Paxton also wait patiently to sign fresh contracts.

 

Outside of New York...

 

KURT SUZUKI SIGNS WITH ANGELS FOR ONE YEAR, $1.5 MILLION

 

Suzuki has been really solid at the plate since leaving the Twins after 2016. He hit .272/.337/.475 (111 wRC+) with 50 home runs in 304 games for Atlanta and Washington. The Angels seem to have a knack for former Twins catchers, also signing Jason Castro last year for one year and $6.85 million. Castro was then traded to the Padres midway through the shortened season.

 

TWINS ADD INTERNATIONAL SHORTSTOPS

 

Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com reported that the Twins signed Danny De Andrade of Venezuela for $2.2 million and Fredy LaFlor, of the Dominican Republic for $1.1 million. Both are shortstops and were among MLB Pipeline's Top 30 International Prospects.

 

 

Sanchez also reported that the Twins signed catcher Giovanny Rivero.

 

 

13 PLAYERS FAIL TO AGREE ON ARBITRATION DAY

 

Carlos Correa, Walker Buehler, Jack Flaherty, Shohei Ohtani, and Ian Happ, among others, failed to agree on contract figures with their respective clubs. The Twins signed José Berríos ($6.1M), Taylor Rogers ($6M), Byron Buxton ($5.125M), Tyler Duffey ($2.2M), Mitch Garver ($1.875M) and Caleb Thielbar ($700,000) over a month ago, allowing them to avoid arbitration altogether.

 

 

SEE ALSO

Why You Shouldn't Be Mad About "Losing Out" On [insert Top Reliever Here]

Free Agent Faceoff: Kiké Hernández vs. Tommy La Stella

Running Down the Hall (of Fame Ballot): 2021 Edition

Comparing the Twins and White Sox Projections

 

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[mikelink45]

I am not impressed with the remaining starters - maybe the FO can arrange another trade.

[tony&rodney]

A trade for Sonny Gray and / or Luis Castillo, extremely unlikely, or a stab at Joe Musgrove might be all that is left that works. 

I thought Kluber at $12 million was a no-brainer gamble. I was wrong.

Paxton at $6, Walker at $3, or Odorizzi at $8 million are all possible gambles as well.

The timing to push the rookies forward may have come. Dobnak, Balazovic, Duran, and Thorpe are all good enough to fill in the last two slots in the rotation. I'm ok with that.

A Bauer signing? Are the Falvines quarantined?

[TopGunn#22]

If I could get Paxton for $6 million I'd do it.  We need a LH Starter. 

He's got tremendous upside.

$6 million is not too big a risk.

But unless Dobnak is involved in a trade for someone like Ketel Marte he's the #5 until Dhuran or Balazovic show they're ready.  

[jmlease1]

I was interested in Kluber...but $11M is pretty high for a guy who might be completely washed. This is the advantage to being a team like the Yankees or the Dodgers: you can toss an extra $3-5M on a contract and not care about it. On a 1 year deal they can basically out-bid anyone and it doesn't really matter.

 

I wonder what it will take to bring back Odorizzi on his version of the 1 year "prove it" deal? I don't think he's getting the kind of multi-year deal he wants and a 1 year deal to show he's healthy and rebuild his value with an organization he likes and has had respect with makes sense, but what's the number to get it done? $5? $8M $12M? Kluber has a better track record and higher ceiling, but a much more serious injury to return from. I'm thinking it's $8-10M, but who knows. I would sign him as the 4th starter.

 

LeMahieu never seemed like he was on the Twins radar this offseason. Frankly, he never seemed likely to leave the Yankees at all and barely seemed to be on the market.

 

The international signings look interesting, but both SS are lottery tickets at this point. That said I'm glad to see the Twins continue to make investments in the international market: they've had success in developing guys this way before. I'll admit, I do worry a bit about grabbing guys who are 16 and have so much physical development to do: I do think that gets harder to project, and you can end up having to make some hard decisions about Rule 5 when they're still deep in development mode. And with the minor leagues contracting...where and how do they play?

[tony&rodney]

Pineda for $10 or Kluber for $11/12? Those decisions are made elsewhere.

I guess the Twins may be looking at opening the year with a budget closer to $110.

.... or, as I keep adding, ... Bauer? 

[Trov]

Kluber signing for Yankees is no big deal, if he is washed up, unless that leaves a hole in rotation.  I was willing to take a flier on Kluber, but being the shoulder issue was not connected to issue he had year prior it is bit of a risk moving forward.  

 

I think Yankees will be regretting Lemahieu at the end of the deal.  Maybe not because he will be playing 2nd base or moved to 1st by then or DH and their stadium is still a little league sized park down the lines.  I just have a feeling as he ages his numbers will drop and like many he will be overpaid.

 

The international guys I know nothing about, but take little stock that they are SS now, as Sano was signed as a SS to.  Lets hope 5 years from now we are talking about them being top young guys ready to help. 

[mikelink45]

Here is the grade that the Athletic gives the Twins for the off-season so far:  Minnesota Twins

Grade: F
Trades: None.
Free Agents: Hansel Robles, 1 year/$2 million.
Waiver Claims: None.
Rule 5: None.

The Twins have had an ugly offseason so far, saying goodbye to reliever Trevor May who left for the Mets in free agency, non-tendering outfielder Eddie Rosario and not yet being able to persuade designated hitter Nelson Cruz to return. They did make one move, landing reliever Hansel Robles who’s coming off a 10.26 ERA season in 18 appearances with the Angels. The best part of the offseason for the Twins is opening up a spot for one of the game’s hitting prospects in outfielder Alex Kirilloff.

[jmlease1]

 

Here is the grade that the Athletic gives the Twins for the off-season so far:  Minnesota Twins

Grade: F
Trades: None.
Free Agents: Hansel Robles, 1 year/$2 million.
Waiver Claims: None.
Rule 5: None.

The Twins have had an ugly offseason so far, saying goodbye to reliever Trevor May who left for the Mets in free agency, non-tendering outfielder Eddie Rosario and not yet being able to persuade designated hitter Nelson Cruz to return. They did make one move, landing reliever Hansel Robles who’s coming off a 10.26 ERA season in 18 appearances with the Angels. The best part of the offseason for the Twins is opening up a spot for one of the game’s hitting prospects in outfielder Alex Kirilloff.

 

The writer's whose opinion I care the least about at the Athletic is Jim Bowden's.

[saviking]

I love watching my Twins but I wish Baseball had some form of salary cap like the NFL. I get so tired of the Yankees being able to outspend us 2/1 and then we wonder why the Twins can't beat them ..