Article: Early Signs Point to Unprecedented Aggressiveness

[chuchadoro]

I'm encouraged by the Twins being linked to the various catchers but excuse me if I'm underwhelmed by the pitchers. How about spending 15-17m/yr on a good pitcher instead of 15-20m/yr on two average/below average pitchers? I understand that they still might not land Garza or Jimenez but there's zero chance if they don't make an offer.

The Twins are loaded with #5 starters and AAAA guys. They don't need two more #4s unless the goal is to win 73 games in 2014 and 2015.

[Brandon]

So much for the Ted Lilly signing....He just retired. see www.mlbtraderumors.com for more

[70charger]

So many people aren't reading the actual words that are right in front of them.

 

There is absolutely zero inconsistency with saying both of the following things: 1) "We would give up our draft pick" and 2) "We do not plan to give up our draft pick."

 

Clearly, it's not in the plan. Giving it up is not their first choice (duh). But I think it's also clear that if that's what it took to get them where they want to go this offseason, they'd in fact do it.

 

"Would" and "will" are two very different concepts.

[Brandon]

Well, I have trouble viewing their hesitance to give up a 2nd round pick to sign a guy to a long-term deal as a "smoking gun" of them back-pedaling. But to be honest, I don't remember the context of that quote. I'd be hesitant to give up a 2nd round pick for any of these guys, too. It's interesting that most rumors - not just local, but national - are not mentioning them makes me wonder if nationally other teams are hesitant, too. Anybody know when they need to decide to accept those qualifying offers?

 

A month ago I was in the camp that thought the Twins would have another underwhelming offseason. They still might, but their efforts and expectations seem to have moved up considerably.

 

I don't remember ever hearing the Twins linked consistently to this many of the top free agent pitchers. Of the top eight, they've been linked repeatedly to two of them (Nolasco, Arroyo), and a little to one more (Garza) and maybe yet one more (Tanaka), though I think that's the longest of shots. I'm interested to see what happens.

 

And as Nick points out, the link to catchers is even more significant. Of the top five catchers on the market, they've been linked to three of them (Saltalamacchia, Pierzynski, Navarro), and they're the three remaining ones.

 

Best of all, this stuff isn't coming from the Twins. They're not trumpeting who they're looking at to local media. These are coming from national reports and agents.

 

Clearly, everyone gets to choose which way they want to play this. I can understand wanting to stay pessimistic with the hope of eventually being pleasantly surprised. But I think it's fair to say no matter how jaded you want to stay that there are a lot of positive signs early.

 

I view the Twins willingsness to forgo the draftpick to mean if they can get a discounted player due to draft compensation then they would do it. a la Lohse. Otherwise whats the Twins incentive to forgo the draft pick? There are lots of pitchers to sign even if they signed Pelfry and Campuano that would still represent a huge upgrade to the rotation. (Signing just Pelfry and Campuano will upset lots of Twins fans but it would be an upgrade and that shows how many choices we have to get the job done). THere's probably 20-30 pitchers that would represent an upgrade available at this point.

[Alex]

(Signing just Pelfry and Campuano will upset lots of Twins fans but it would be an upgrade and that shows how many choices we have to get the job done).

 

If you want to argue that essentially one signing means an upgrade that's fine, but acting like re-signing Pelfry would be a component of that upgrade is odd.

[Rosterman]

The way I look at it is that the Twins DO have to overpay someone -- who and how much is the question.

 

They HAVE TO DO SOMETHING to excite the fan base. They have to do many things to give impression that they are putting a winning and competing team on the field.

 

Putting butts in the seat is motivation #1.

 

T.C. Bear run the bases for ALL fans? Naw. $1 Senor Smoke Nacho Night. Think Not. Free looks like beer but just colored water? Think fans will see thru this. Add 4-5 players for $50 million to the payroll and keep fingers crossed that no one gets injured and that they all have career years? That's something I might pony up season ticket monies (and not attend the All_Star Game) for.

[Brandon]

See mlb traderumors.com post the Twins on verge of signing someone significant.

 

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/11/twins-nearing-major-free-agent-signing.html

[Dman]

Mark my words they are gonna get a big fish this year. TR doesn't really have much choice but to get a good pitcher and spend some money because his boss is on record as saying spend away. Also the organization cannot take the PR hit of only using half of their available payroll with the All-Star game coming to town. They would have to deal with tons of media questions about getting a publicly funded stadium and then not using those resources to build a winning team. TR is finally backed into a corner where he has to spend. He needs a big signing to help the team and the perception that the Twins owner doesn't care about the team but only the money the team generates.

 

I personally think he is being prudent waiting until the winter meetings because who knows what might be proposed. He could walk into a great deal. Best to leave the options open and see what comes their way. Just don't wait too long as everyone can be gone in the blink of an eye once the dominoes start falling.

[twinsfan34]

So many people aren't reading the actual words that are right in front of them.

 

There is absolutely zero inconsistency with saying both of the following things: 1) "We would give up our draft pick" and 2) "We do not plan to give up our draft pick."

 

Clearly, it's not in the plan. Giving it up is not their first choice (duh). But I think it's also clear that if that's what it took to get them where they want to go this offseason, they'd in fact do it.

 

"Would" and "will" are two very different concepts.

 

Solid reading skills.

[DaveW]

Same old Ryan