I could see Westbrook coming here, on a Correia type deal. Might be a few years too late, though -- Westbrook somehow managed to issue more walks than strikeouts last year.

 

Interesting note on Westbrook -- Cleveland extended him 3 years into free agency at $10 million per, and he was injured for the first two of those seasons. Looked like the kind of contract the Twins fear and avoid. But in the third season, he was healthy but below average, and was flipped at the deadline for a high K minor league starter in Corey Kluber who looked pretty decent in 2013.

I think it's within the Twins wherewith-all to sign Haren, Hughes and Tanaka. If all 3 were signed at the numbers you propose, you're looking at $8.5/yr for Haren, $6.5/yr for Hughes and let's say $10M/yr for Tanaka. That's only $25M per year and seems entirely do-able.

 

 

I've got to think that Hughes and Haren will cost more than that... Maybe not Haren given the injury risk. I'd be all over Hughes for a little more than KC money. Something tells me though that he's going to get a 3-4 year deal north of 10M/year. I hope you are right, because if that's what the numbers are, we should see one or two of them in a Twins uni next season.

Darren Wolfson tweeted:

 

Terry Ryan confirmed to me the he would sacrifice his 2nd rd pick to sign a FA. Still seems like a long shot. Maybe Ervin Santana.

Either go all in on Masahiro Tanaka 70+ million posting fee and 12 million per over 6 years.

or

J.Johnson 1+1 (9 million and a 1million buy out and the option year at 15 million)

Kazmir 2 year+1 (8.5 per .1 million buy out or 12 million for his option year)

Phil Hughes 3 years 8 million per

Erick Chavez 4.5 million 1 year To platoon with Trevor

R.Fucal 2.5 million middle infield mentor

 

Now most important , no catcher playing in the outfield....and

Only Willingham or Arcia in the outfield at 1 time , we need speed and more speed in the outfield, so Ham and waldo can never be in the outfield at the same time...

 

There you go improved rotation and infield help all for around 2012 payroll prices

I had this great dream that the Twins posted $70 mil and got Tanaka. TR came out in the press conference and explained how much he appreciated all of us fans for dealing with the disgusting slop of players the last few years, and that the ownership felt it was important to spend the money they had been saving.... Wouldn't that be something??? :-)