Article: Twins Can Improve Rotation Through Free Agency

[jokin]

At at what point are the numbers overwhelming? How many players need to sign with bad teams before the excuses stop?

 

Based on this thread, and similar past threads, infinitum, never.

 

Ex. Four 90-loss teams from 2012 went about totally revamping their team with full intention of becoming immediately, and longer-term, relevant starting in 2013. They all took on various levels of risk in terms of payroll dollars, trades and free agent acquisitions.

 

Boston actually cut payroll by $21M, while Cleveland and KC marginally increased payroll to essentially match the Twins 2013 number. 3 of the 4 teams (Boston, Cleveland and KC) are still competing for a chance in postseason, the 4th team (Toronto) put the best-looking roster together of the 4 on paper, but a series of injuries and a high-risk/high-reward SP staff failed to deliver as hoped [ZIPS predicted they would win 94 games in 2013].

 

The Jays aggressive attempt at major improvements still paid off in rejuvenating fan interest- Their home attendance has increased by 24%, the club is averaging over 32,000 fans per game, their first year over 30K since 1998. If I were a Jays fan, I would appreciate their noble attempt at competing by acquiring quality players over the Twins ignoble, but successful, attempt at punting, even though they had virtually the same available dollars as the Jays.

 

And win or lose, I appreciate all 4 of the teams for the earnest effort in trying to bring a winner to their fanbase.

[Highabove]

Based on this thread, and similar past threads, infinitum, never.

 

Ex. Four 90 -oss teams from 2012 went about totally revamping their team with full intention of becoming immediately, and longer-term, relevant starting in 2013. They all took on various levels of risk in terms of payroll dollars, trades and free agent acquisitions.

 

Boston actually cut payroll by $21M, while Cleveland and KC marginally increased payroll to essentially match the Twins 2013 number.

3 of the 4 teams (Boston, Cleveland and KC) are still competing for a chance in postseason, the 4th team (Toronto) put the best-looking roster together of the 4 on paper, but a series of injuries and a high-risk/high-reward SP staff failed to deliver as hoped [ZIPS predicted they would win 94 games in 2013]. The Jays aggressive attempt at major improvements still paid off in rejuvenating fan interest- Their home attendance has increased by 24%, the club is averaging over 32,000 fans per game, their first year over 30K since 1998. If I were a Jays fan, I would appreciate their noble attempt at competing by acquiring quality players over the Twins ignoble, but successful, attempt at punting, even though they had virtually the same available dollars as the Jays. And win or lose, I appreciate all 4 of the teams for the earnest effort in trying to bring a winner to their fanbase.

 

Great points.

Last year the Minnesota Wild acquired the top two free agents on the Market

The Wild fell short and did not live up to expectations last Season.

Despite having revenue at the bottom of the NFL, the Vikings invested a lot of money to build a Super Bowl Team. They fell one game short. The fans are very forgiving if they see the Ownership trying to put out a quality Product. The Dome and Xcell will again be packed This year.

 

The Twins are a good example of the Opposite. The Twins had the forth highest attendance in 2011. We all know the product which followed and the feeble attempts to improve it.

[old nurse]

As Alex said, this discussion has morphed beyond elite players to encompass any good players. While not elite, many of those players are the next rung down.

 

Many of those players also signed onto multiple 90 loss teams. Hell Jason Werth, who had just finished 8th in MVP voting, signed with the Nationals who had just finished their 5th straight 90 loss season.

 

I was under the impression that we couldn't sign any of the big name international free agents because the Twins are a terrible team. That's why I added Soler since he was a pretty big name when he signed.

 

As always, if you search hard enough I'm sure you can find an excuse for every player, but at what point are the numbers overwhelming? How many players need to sign with bad teams before the excuses stop?

 

Why were you under the impression that the team could not sign international free agents because the team is bad. I recall no posts to that effect.

If the conversation morphed then you cannot be complaining about statements made about elite players holding true to good players.

How many good players, elite players and international free agents have been signed over the last 5 years? 100, 150? Depends on who is doing the ranking. Willingham was one of the players listed. Passan and ESPN had him ranked in the mid 20s when they ranked free agents. Passan had Guthrie 32, espn was higher. The 150 number when you include any international players might be low. The odds then are slim for a team with a long losing history to sign even good free agents. Your research proved it. Not saying not to try, just temper the expectations. 13 out of how many?

[Oxtung]

Why were you under the impression that the team could not sign international free agents because the team is bad. I recall no posts to that effect.

If the conversation morphed then you cannot be complaining about statements made about elite players holding true to good players.

How many good players, elite players and international free agents have been signed over the last 5 years? 100, 150? Depends on who is doing the ranking. Willingham was one of the players listed. Passan and ESPN had him ranked in the mid 20s when they ranked free agents. Passan had Guthrie 32, espn was higher. The 150 number when you include any international players might be low. The odds then are slim for a team with a long losing history to sign even good free agents. Your research proved it. Not saying not to try, just temper the expectations. 13 out of how many?

 

 

You are now changing the argument and I have no desire to follow along. Can we just agree that good, and sometimes even great, FA's sign with crappy teams?

[Spicoli]

The Twins will go out and get another Correia type player, or 2. Ever since the new stadium has been built the Twins have been dumping payroll so fast, its sad. I mean when they were building it one of their main points they made to us fans was they were gonna keep the payroll up and keep competing. Several years later the payroll is less than half of what it was the first year in the new stadium. I bet they will trade Dozier now too because hes been good, and they will probably trade him for some low potential prospect and cash. We have no Core for Sano, Buxton and the other prospects to add on to.