Saw an interview today thar Burnes wasn't happy with the Brewers after his arbitration hearing. Sounds like the Brewers might have created some anomosity over a measley $750k. So... does a package of Royce Lewis, Max Kepler and Bailey Ober at least get them to the table? 

As interesting as Burns is, the Twins need to stop trading for pitchers with only two years of control left. It's such a waste of trade equity; they can't do this EVERY year. 

Also, sounds like the Brewers aren't selling. They still plan on trying to make a run of it while they still have the horses.

I've always been fascinated by teams going to arbitration over such, relatively, small numbers. Those hearings are brutal, and not happy events. You sit there and tear your player apart over what is, in the pro sports world, very small amounts sometimes. Why do that with your best players? Weird to me.

As for trading for Burnes, I'm all in if they're going to extend him. I hate the idea of trading for an ace you won't keep. If I'm giving up the needed prospect capital to get that kind of arm I'm only doing it if I'm locking them in for 5-7 more years.

25 minutes ago, chpettit19 said:

I've always been fascinated by teams going to arbitration over such, relatively, small numbers.

Because it's a universal number. Teams exert pressure on one another over arb payments. If the Brewers give Burnes $11m, that raises the precedent for all future pitchers in arb.

Baseball arbitration is a bass-ackwards system that was actually put in place before free agency. It badly needs an overhaul.

52 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

As interesting as Burns is, the Twins need to stop trading for pitchers with only two years of control left. It's such a waste of trade equity; they can't do this EVERY year. 

Also, sounds like the Brewers aren't selling. They still plan on trying to make a run of it while they still have the horses.

I read that as well.  However, I read that before they ticked Burnes off in arbitration.  I'm sure he's out the door this year, I'd be happy if the Twins started working on a deal now.   Also, regardless of what you or I think about how the Twins should operate, I make an exception for Burnes.  A top 5 pitcher in baseball, maybe top 2.  

Of course, I am only throwing out a conversation starter here -- I haven't read  anything that suggests the Twins are even talking with the Brewers.  

So, let me ask you this, are you COMPLETELY out on Burnes if he were shopped today?  Or is there a price you would be comfortable with now or at the deadline?  

9 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Because it's a universal number. Teams exert pressure on one another over arb payments. If the Brewers give Burnes $11m, that raises the precedent for all future pitchers in arb.

Baseball arbitration is a bass-ackwards system that was actually put in place before free agency. It badly needs an overhaul.

Yeah, I get that. And really the Brewers don't care cuz they were never going to pay him anyways. Really the whole system fascinates me. Like he wasn't even the highest paid 2nd year arbitration eligible pitcher this year. And he's arguably the best pitcher in baseball. It's all fascinating.

12 minutes ago, Brock Beauchamp said:

Because it's a universal number. Teams exert pressure on one another over arb payments. If the Brewers give Burnes $11m, that raises the precedent for all future pitchers in arb.

Baseball arbitration is a bass-ackwards system that was actually put in place before free agency. It badly needs an overhaul.

Indeed.  I believe the real problem here is that Burnes took the arguments against him personally.  You can find the link on Twitter -- a 2 minute interview.  Essentially, he claims the team blamed him primarily for not making the post-season.  Seems to me, $750,000 is not a large enough number to create a toxic situation with your superstar pitcher.  Though, maybe they offer him a boat-load of money and extend him in season, you never know.  Sounds like he's ready for a split though.  

I hate the entire arbitration process and would love to see it re-shaped, or replaced entirely. IDK, maybe automatic raises with escalators built in based on a series of agreed on rankings of players for certain categories? For example, a 2nd year OF gets $X automatically depending on games played or PA but another bump because he finishes in the top 25% of OPS for ML OF that season. Just spit-balling.

I'm very pleased the Twins have had very few cases actually go to arbitration hearings. I recall Berrios a few years ago, and reports were he wanted to go through the process as much for the future of other players as himself. And off the top of my head, I can't recall any hard feelings after the fact. 

And who wouldn't be interested in Burnes? But at what cost and what odds to re-sign him? The Twins simply can't afford a ransom of players/prospects to only have him for 2yrs. They've have to be pretty certain they would get a re-sign done.

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

As interesting as Burns is, the Twins need to stop trading for pitchers with only two years of control left. It's such a waste of trade equity; they can't do this EVERY year. 

Also, sounds like the Brewers aren't selling. They still plan on trying to make a run of it while they still have the horses.

Hear hear, we need a pitching pipeline, not an annual haul of landing several starters per offseason. It isn’t a sustainable approach.