Sid: Pohlads Ready To Spend

[Parker Hageman]

In keeping with the line that has been conveyed to the media and season ticket holders, Minnesota Twins owner Jim Pohlad reaffirmed that he will be allowing for more spending in 2013 – suggesting that he will go beyond the 54% of gross revenue that has been typical of teams.

 

In conversation with the Star Tribune’s Sid Hartman, Pohlad said:

 

“I don’t think so,” Pohlad said. “I think we know that that is always going to be a range every year, and we’re well below that this year. That will not be a limiting factor, I don’t think, this year.

 

“[spending] is going to be up to Terry” he added, referring to General Manager Terry Ryan. “He has not asked for a number [of how much he can spend]. He doesn’t historically ask for a hard and fast number. He brings to us the opportunities that are available and he’s reasonable and we’re beyond reasonable [for next season], I think. We want this to be better.”

 

Pohlad then reiterated that the team would not be handing out long-term contracts to aging players:

 

“I’m sure fans are frustrated; people are frustrated as a result of losing, and we’re frustrated, too,” he said. “But I don’t think that’s a result of us not spending money. We’re willing to do that. We’ll do whatever we can in 2014. We’re not going to be ridiculous. You’re not going to see us doing seven- to 10-year contracts for players later in their career. You’re not going to see that happening, but long-term contracts we’re open to, within reason.”

 

This issue, of course, is that the majority of free agents tend to be later in their careers and anyone after 30 years is in decline or approaching decline anyways. Still, could they sign a guy like Tim Lincecum, Phil Hughes, Josh Johnson or Ricky Nolasco to a multi-year deal? For that type of talent, the Twins may need to invest $15M a year for four years, similar to the contract that Anibal Sanchez signed with Detroit. With less than $50M in payroll heading into 2013, it should be easily feasible.

 

In all, Pohlad is saying the right things in his talking points – the team is frustrated and the willingness to spend (within reason) is there. We’ll see how it works out in practice.

[nicksaviking]

In all, Pohlad is saying the right things in his talking points – the team is frustrated and the willingness to spend (within reason) is there. We’ll see how it works out in practice.

 

Pohlad is saying the right things and Ryan needs to continue the rhetoric. Ryan complained about free agents not wanting to come here last year weeks after saying that he didn't think there were many good free agents available. Way to butter them up Terry.

 

Having an owner throw around quotes like this is a pretty big step in the right direction. Let everyone know the Twins are open for business and are willing to spend to help the cause. Of course free agents don't want to come here if it looks like they will be a lone acquisition on a losing team. I'll bet they will come here if it looks like you are trying to assemble an ensamble cast to mesh with a load of young talent. Look at Cleveland last year. Ryan better not drop the ball on this, I'd like to hear him re-itterate this sentiment soon which will help free agent rumors mention Minnesota as a reasonable landing spot.

[Parker Hageman]

Of course free agents don't want to come here if it looks like they will be a lone acquisition on a losing team. I'll bet they will come here if it looks like you are trying to assemble an ensamble cast to mesh with a load of young talent. Look at Cleveland last year.

 

I do like what Cleveland did this past offseason but I think they were successful by waiting for the market to develop rather than attack it. Swisher was signed in November but Bourne was signed mid-February (credit the Indians for letting the CF market run dry and getting him at a reduced rate, I guess). However, the Indians had a strong core and high-upside arms in the rotation (a huge difference between the Twins and Indians).

 

If you are the Twins, you just are going to sell free agents on the two-year plan -- building towards 2014/2015.

[Nick Nelson]

We’re not going to be ridiculous. You’re not going to see us doing seven- to 10-year contracts for players later in their career. You’re not going to see that happening, but long-term contracts we’re open to, within reason.

This is the second interview where I've seen Pohlad make this same comment. Is he just exaggerating or does he actually think anyone expects the Minnesota Twins to pursue a player who would require a 7+ year contract, of which there are maybe 2-3 every offseason?

[drivlikejehu]

This is completely consistent with everything we've seen before. Pohlad says the money is there, Ryan doesn't spend it, for whatever reason(s).

 

The length of contract issue is one obvious canard. It doesn't matter in the least and Pohlad knows that. Only present value matters, up until the point where cash flow becomes a problem. The Pohlad family's resources far, far exceed any conceivable cash flow problem that could arise from a normal MLB payroll.

 

Teams do not sign players to a 7-year deal thinking that year 7 is going to be great. The back end is, to varying degrees, deferred compensation for services performed in the early years of the contract. GMs have a strong incentive to make deals like this, because they want to do better in the short-term to keep their job and worry about the back-end later.

 

Now, if Ryan objects to this strategy, and has job security that renders it irrelevant, that's fine. Just pay more up front. Players and agents have no incentive to delay compensation and so they certainly would be receptive to the idea.

 

Having said that, Ryan isn't going to become aggressive in free agency. He has said so over and over again. Pohlad is just deflecting criticism and paying Ryan to eat it instead.

[JB_Iowa]

Season ticket renewals, anyone?

 

Seriously, I think Pohlad pretty much stays out of it on the money front; however, I also think that part of the thought process in re-hiring Terry Ryan as GM was a love for his frugal ways. The Pohlads don't need to put the brakes on player payroll because they know that TR is more conservative than they are.

 

I'll be interested to see how all of this plays out. Until I see genuine movement into the free agent market, I will remain a skeptic.

 

And yes, they may have to "overpay" in dollars especially when they aren't willing to pay in years. I'm not sure what "short term" means exactly but I'm betting that 3 years stretches it. (BTW, the Twinkie Town article on "overpaying" in dollars and years to get free agent movement was an intriguing one: Bringing Free Agents to a Losing Team: The Loss Leader Strategy - Twinkie Town).

[twinscowboysbulls]

The thing with the Twins is that they act like one bad contract is going to potentially bankrupt the team. If you never take any risks, you will never reap any rewards. TR needs to understand to get better, you have to take risks sometimes! It gets ridiculous year after year when hearing the same hoopla from the owner and management. Either open up your wallet or prepare to go back to the mid 90's.

[Spicoli]

We all know what this means. They are gonna spend more than last year but only because we got rid of Morneau and a couple other players contracts. So yes they will spend more but the opening payroll will probably be the same as this years. So it may appear hes spending more but hes not lol. They will probably just get a couple more Worleys or Correias.

[ThePuck]

The Twins payroll will be lower than the payroll we started the season with...and 2015 will be too.

[TheLeviathan]

Less talk, more do. Then I'll buy into this.

[snepp]

At least they're saying the right things, that's something isn't it?

 

 

 

Hopefully six months from now we're not dredging up these comments to complain about how empty they are yet again.

[darin617]

In keeping with the line that has been conveyed to the media and season ticket holders, Minnesota Twins owner Jim Pohlad reaffirmed that he will be allowing for more spending in 2013 – suggesting that he will go beyond the 54% of gross revenue that has been typical of teams.

 

That is hilarious! So you mean the Twins have been losing money ever since Target Field? 54% more like 35-40% of gross profits if they are lucky. Too bad nobody talented will want to sign here. My prediction is there big signing will be Josh Johnson to a 1YR deal and he will get straightened out here and leave for more money the following year.

[North Dakota Twins Fan]

Gardenhire had a conversation before he signed the extension and the understanding is that the payroll will increase. Now Terry Ryan just has to spend it which has been the problem.

I like the "Less talk more do" comment on this thread. Fan patience is wearing thin and we need pitchers. Buxton and Sano are blue chip prospects but thats not enough to win a WS. We still need starting pitchers that can get through 5 innings.

I think the payroll will increase for next year. I just can't see it going even lower then it already is. I'm also a huge Twins homer and at times quite gullible. )

 

Also my parents wouldn't let me stay up and watch game 7 of the '91 series because it was a school night. Can we please win another one so I can watch it live?

[clutterheart]

What was the payroll to revenue this year?

[old nurse]

Four little pesky problems

1. The Twins need impact players.

2. So do other teams

3. There really aren't that many of them available.

4. Parameters to sign players puts a little bit of a limit on what they can do.

 

I think the decline years they reference in the statement are the late years of the A-rod contract. There is decline and still great and older like Carlos Beltran, or Derek Jeter. Injury history and commitment to training and not the age number is what you need to look at

[diehardtwinsfan]

The words are encouraging. The question is how they are going to do it. Personally, I'm not a fan of huge deals for what I see on the FA market (minus Cano, but I don't see the Twins going in that direction). A 3, maybe 4, year deal for a Hughes type guy would be smart. Spending big money on Lincecum, Johnson, and some of these other names tossed about wouldn't be that smart of a move at all.

 

I do hope the Twins do some spending, but the guys I think warrant the longer term deals are Tanaka and the two Cuban defectors, one of whom will spend time in the minors. I think that's the right course of action, though I'm not sure that this will make 2014 significantly better.

[howieramone1406390264]

The words are encouraging. The question is how they are going to do it. Personally, I'm not a fan of huge deals for what I see on the FA market (minus Cano, but I don't see the Twins going in that direction). A 3, maybe 4, year deal for a Hughes type guy would be smart. Spending big money on Lincecum, Johnson, and some of these other names tossed about wouldn't be that smart of a move at all.

 

I do hope the Twins do some spending, but the guys I think warrant the longer term deals are Tanaka and the two Cuban defectors, one of whom will spend time in the minors. I think that's the right course of action, though I'm not sure that this will make 2014 significantly better.

If I'm not mistaken we are down to 1 Cuban defector and of course Tanaka is a crapshoot. If we sign a Hughes type plus one, I believe we can get reasonably close to .500. Last season was open auditions, I'm hoping this season ends as a dress rehearsal. I understand I'm one of the few, but I think the rebuild has made good progress and the 2014 draft will help answer a lot of questions also. I never really appreciated the benefits of drafting high year after year, that is no longer the case.

[drivlikejehu]

The total cost for Tanaka will be somewhat high due to the posting fee, but the Twins could easily sign him and stay well under their alleged budget. There are no pitchers on the FA market that will get mega contracts, so given the Twins' budget room (again, based off their likely fictional budget) they could basically sign whoever they want.

 

Instead the Twins are talking about Swarzak, Duensing, etc. as starting options. I just don't understand how anyone can actually expect them to improve the rotation via free agency when Ryan says over and over he won't do that. The line from the Twins is 100% clear - we have budget room and won't use it, period, end of story.

[Alex]

If I'm not mistaken we are down to 1 Cuban defector and of course Tanaka is a crapshoot. If we sign a Hughes type plus one, I believe we can get reasonable close to .500. Last season was open auditions, I'm hoping this season ends as a dress rehearsal. I understand I'm one of the few, but I think the rebuild has made good progress and the 2014 draft will help answer a lot of questions also. I never really appreciated the benefits of drafting high year after year, that is no longer the case.

 

I don't think anyone disagrees that the minor league development and farm system have been great (but only a small part of that is due to current management) Overall, the question will be wether three or more 90 loss seasons were inevitable and unavoidable for the major league club (edit: the ones we've just been through).

[ThePuck]

I just don't understand how anyone can actually expect them to improve the rotation via free agency when Ryan says over and over he won't do that.

 

Simple answer to that...simply because he said they would. He said that last offseason too, and it was believed then too.

[howieramone1406390264]

I don't think anyone disagrees that the minor league development and farm system have been great (but only a small part of that is due to management) but overall, the question will be wether three or more 90 loss seasons inevitable and unavoidable for the major league club.

Way too early to write off the future. I think Ryan said 15-18 will be off the 40 man roster. I counted 7 possible core types who made it to Target Field this season and I have 5 more who will make it sometime next season. I fully understand they will not all be stars, nor do they have to be. An OP once said you can compete and/or contend will a flawed roster and this has been proven time and time again. I wouldn't think many would agree with you, that 3 or more 90 loss seasons are inevitable or unavoidable.

[big dog]

I'm pinning a lot of hope on Tanaka- not necessarily winning the rights, but making a really large offer, more than a token. If some team goes completely nuts and puts up $80 million or something just for the signing rights, fine. But we need to be in the game, and hopefully win it.

 

I just don't see the chances of us getting a big free agent, even by offering the money. I'm looking at this solely from the player's perspective. Suppose you're Ellsbury. You're in the playoffs right now. You just spent last year in a terrible situation. You were on good teams before that. You are going to get a huge amount of money. Would you be willing to take even more money and risk going back to Boston-under-Valentine losing situation?

 

I would take my really big contract offer from a team with a good chance to win, over my ridiculously big contract offer to potentially lose 90 games, every time. Especially if that losing team had a stud centerfielder in the minors. If a player is all about the money, that's fine- as long as you want a player that only cares about the money.

[Alex]

Way too early to write off the future. I think Ryan said 15-18 will be off the 40 man roster. I counted 7 possible core types who made it to Target Field this season and I have 5 more who will make it sometime next season. I fully understand they will not all be stars, nor do they have to be. An OP once said you can compete and/or contend will a flawed roster and this has been proven time and time again. I wouldn't think many would agree with you, that 3 or more 90 loss seasons are inevitable or unavoidable.

 

Huh? You must have completely misread my response. Who wrote off the future? I said "...3 90 loss seasons or more," as in the ones we've been through. I then asked a question: Were those three 90 loss seasons avoidable? As in, were they necessary for the rebuild? My answer is no, the were not necessary and poor management, talent evaluation, and sitting on hands is what caused them (well, at least the last two).

[Mr. Brooks]

Way too early to write off the future. I think Ryan said 15-18 will be off the 40 man roster. I counted 7 possible core types who made it to Target Field this season and I have 5 more who will make it sometime next season. I fully understand they will not all be stars, nor do they have to be. An OP once said you can compete and/or contend will a flawed roster and this has been proven time and time again. I wouldn't think many would agree with you, that 3 or more 90 loss seasons are inevitable or unavoidable.

 

I would really like to see that list of the 7 "core" players who made their debut this year.

[Alex]

I would really like to see that list of the 7 "core" players who made their debut this year.

 

I assume he didn't mean debut. That would allow for Mauer, Pinto, Dozier, Perkins, Hicks and Gibson, but I can't figure out the other one (unless it's a relief pitcher).

[big dog]

I assume he didn't mean debut. That would allow for Mauer, Pinto, Dozier, Perkins, Hicks and Gibson, but I can't figure out the other one (unless it's a relief pitcher).

Arcia.

[Alex]

Arcia.

 

HAHA. Completely thought I had typed him but he must have been too obvious!

 

So, the five next season must be Sano, Rosario, Buxton, and Meyer and May (or Stewart?)?

 

I don't have much hope for May anymore, sadly.

[howieramone1406390264]

I assume he didn't mean debut. That would allow for Mauer, Pinto, Dozier, Perkins, Hicks and Gibson, but I can't figure out the other one (unless it's a relief pitcher).

Alex, I apologize again to you, I did misread your post. I also included Arcia, Thielbar, Presley, and Pressly. My exact words were, possible core types.

[Shane Wahl]

Alex, I apologize again to you, I did misread your post. I also included Arcia, Thielbar, Presley, and Pressly. My exact words were, possible core types.

 

The two Presses are not core types, especially Presley. I have to wonder if people don't somehow believe that he is 24 or something???

[Shane Wahl]

HAHA. Completely thought I had typed him but he must have been too obvious!

 

So, the five next season must be Sano, Rosario, Buxton, and Meyer and May (or Stewart?)?

 

I don't have much hope for May anymore, sadly.

 

May's 2013 improvement was adequate. 2014 in AAA will be pretty telling. If he repeats these numbers while advancing, I can see backend upside and that is fine.