Article: Twins Make Statement With Nolasco Signing

[Nick Nelson]

You can view the page at http://www.twinsdaily.com/content.php/2506-Twins-Make-Statement-With-Nolasco-Signing

[Squirrel]

I'm still very much in the 'wait and see' camp as there certainly needs to be another good piece or two, but this makes me hopeful. As I'm currently in Ft. Myers, and will be again off and on over the next few months, I'm already chomping at the bit for ST.

[Briley]

Well put Nick, it's more than just the player we got. It shows that the front office is at least conscious of what it requires to get above average free agents and not just taking whatever is left after the dust settles. It's not a complete culture change, but at least we're actually trying.

[Thrylos]

the total amount shatter the previous franchise benchmark for an external free agent (Josh Willingham's $21 million contract)

 

I've seen this repeated continuously these days

Isn't the record contract for an internal free agent around $30 million, too? (Puckett & Radke)

Or am I missing anything? Mauer, Morneau, Santana, Baker (some of those less too) were all extensions. They were never free agents.

 

I know I am getting old so it is possible that I have forgotten someone, but I think that the Nolasco contract is a record for a Twins' free agent signing, internal or external

[nicksaviking]

I've seen this repeated continuously these days

Isn't the record contract for an internal free agent around $30 million, too? (Puckett & Radke)

Or am I missing anything? Mauer, Morneau, Santana, Baker (some of those less too) were all extensions. They were never free agents.

 

I know I am getting old so it is possible that I have forgotten someone, but I think that the Nolasco contract is a record for a Twins' free agent signing, internal or external

 

McPhail re-signed Puckett, but I think you're right that his total contract was larger. That may be overlooked as most people wouldn't suspect the team's largest free agent deal actually happend 20 years ago. Radke was also an extension, it happened mid season of 2000.

 

I too will admit that Nolasco wasn't a favorite target of mine but I also said I just wanted this front office to prove they were committed to putting a better team on the field. So I am excited about this, the effort was more important to me, and I'm now a Nolasco believer. I think more decent players are coming too.

 

I didn't like the Swisher and Bourn signings for Cleveland last year but I said I liked the message it sent. The pageantry that goes into making big splash deals should do wonders for the morale of the fanbase and more importantly the clubhouse.

[Paul Pleiss]

"We've got to risk a full power start!" - Captain Kirk then slaps Spock silly. I imagine that this is essentially what Jim Pohlad said and then did to Terry Ryan, or something like that.

 

Nolasco is a good start towards bringing this team around to contention.

[Thrylos]

McPhail re-signed Puckett, but I think you're right that his total contract was larger. That may be overlooked as most people wouldn't suspect the team's largest free agent deal actually happend 20 years ago. Radke was also an extension, it happened mid season of 2000.

.

 

Puckett's contract was 5/$30.3M. Radke was indeed extended in 2000 but became a free agent in 2004 when he was signed to a 3/$28.75M contract. Puckett retired before his last season so I am not sure which of those 2 can be regarded as the highest FA, because Puckett actually received less $ than Radke. In my book, it is still Puckett.

 

Nolasco's is much higher than both.

[Kwak]

"There isn't any shortcut to get where we want to go."

 

Thank Goodness, we are not following Jeffy anymore to get there. WTG Ryan!--But this is just a start, the Twins must continue on this path.

[johnnydakota]

As Bob would say , baby steps.....Now that you have Ricky, maybe others will be more willing to listen when there agents approach them with an offer from Terry, Now that you are on a run , sign a couple more quality pitchers (Garza,Kazmir) Navarro and Chavez,And head into the winter meeting only looking to Tweak what you need to ,Like trading away Doumit and a couple others for prospects

[Monkeypaws]

Wouldn't it be crazy if the Vanimal rediscovered his mojo, and the Twins could trot out a MLB average rotation? Good start with Nolasco. The Twins need to become relevant again.

[orangevening]

Ok, now lets sign Hughes or Kashmir, Salty -I can go either way. Then a third basemen that hits lefty.....

 

In the words of Kfans Paul Allen - "LETS PLAY!!!"

[snepp]

[video=youtube;sfR_HWMzgyc]

 

Make it happen!

[Winston Smith]

"Nolasco's is much higher than both. "

 

I'm not sure if you compared 1994 $ to 2014 $ it would be much higher at all.

 

Average player salaries in 94 were about 1/3 what they are now.

[TheLeviathan]

Reusse was absolutely right in his column. That's part of what makes this signing so refreshing.

[Trevor0333]

It also makes the team more appealing for he likes of the Garza, Arroyo, Feldman, Hughes etc.. type pitchers. Knowing it isnt 4 junk ballers behind them destined for a 90 loss season definitely enhances the chances of landing a guy like Garza.

[orangevening]

Still surprised that Garza would even consider coming here

[darin617]

The Twins have not made a statement by signing just 1 pitcher. When they sign at least 1 or 2 more quality arms to go along with Nolasco and Correia then they have have made a statement. Get rid of all the scrubs that tried and were an embarrassment on the mound last season.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

I was listening to Power Alley this morning and they repeatedly called Nolasco a #4 starter on a good team. They questioned the length. They questioned the money. But then came full circle at the end when they said, "Who else are they gonna start (chuckles)?" And agreed he's the best pitcher on the staff and they paid the going-rate for a starting pitcher with the ability to go a lot of innings.

 

You know what they cite? ERA. It could be worst though, they could cite wins.

[johnnydakota]

I was listening to Power Alley this morning and they repeatedly called Nolasco a #4 starter on a good team. They questioned the length. They questioned the money. But then came full circle at the end when they said, "Who else are they gonna start (chuckles)?" And agreed he's the best pitcher on the staff and they paid the going-rate for a starting pitcher with the ability to go a lot of innings.

 

You know what they cite? ERA. It could be worst though, they could cite wins.

 

Um Jeremy, he is a 3/4 starter on most quality teams, but to us...he looks like Cy Young, Not saying signing Ricky wasnt a very good signing, but is only the 1st step.If we have Mr. Nolasco as our Ace coming out of spring training , Me thinks it will once again be a very long season , unless we catch a lot of breaks

[Trevor0333]

Um Jeremy, he is a 3/4 starter on most quality teams, but to us...he looks like Cy Young, Not saying signing Ricky wasnt a very good signing, but is only the 1st step.If we have Mr. Nolasco as our Ace coming out of spring training , Me thinks it will once again be a very long season , unless we catch a lot of breaks

 

I think he was more mocking the (Powertrip?) for the stats they were using to judge the deal. I listen to the show fairly regularly & they aren't bad overall but are terrible when it comes to Baseball. Hawkey is one of the most uninformed sports analyzers I have ever listend too.

 

It was a solid B to B+ signing. They got a guy they liked for a very fair deal market wise & did so early in the process.

[ND-Fan]

I believe the Twins are going to sign another pitcher besides Nolasco my bet its Hughes or Garza and I also think they will resign Pelfry also. This would give them staff of like Nolasco, Hughes -?, Pelfry, Correia, and Gibson starting the season and possibly Diamond. With Dudeno, Worley, to fill in if anyone of these would falter. It would also give them a pitcher to trade later in the season for prospect and quality of the prospect would be how well one of the bottom pitchers are pitching. Also we could see Myer enter picture in middle to late summer depending on the season he is having. A funny thing when pitching talent gets better some of these bottom pitchers will get better to from the competition to make the squad. I think by end of season we could see how this team is going to turn the corner because I believe a lot prospects will be called by end of next season. A lot of the names we have had on this team last two years will no longer be with the Twins.

[DomeDog]

Good article. I don't think Terry Ryan isn't evil. He's not a cheapskate, well mostly. He is the new scapegoat now that Carl died. Terry Ryan does deals that he feels are worth it. He's not going to make a deal to make the fans feel better. He's going to do a deal because it makes sense with what he has and what he's given and what's out there. I like that we don't overpay for free agents just because. He refuses to accept market value and that's fine with me. I think last year he took what we could afford and what was decent practical value. No it wasn't amazing but for the money, Correia turned out to be one of the better free agent pitchers in '13 numbers wise. And mostly everyone else stole a paycheck.

 

A great example of this is the mike pelfrey offer. Twins offered him a contract but for what he's worth, not market value for him. Hence the 3-4 million dollar gap between what he wants and what TR is willing to pay. TR doesn't do market value. And someone with more time than me will prove how not worth it most free agents are for their market value.

 

The 2nd upgrade pitcher this offseason will come by trade.

[Jeremy Nygaard]

Power Alley on MLB Network Radio.

 

I was simply commented on what they said. These are baseball people -it's there job- and they sounded ridiculous trying to sum up the signing. If the Twins paid the going rate, which is what they said, why question the terms of the contract? I'm also not a huge fan of ERA, especially with Nolasco who advanced metrics suggest is better than his ERA shows. He also was a #4 starter last year, sure... on a staff with two Cy Young winners. The way I look at pitchers is if they'd start in a 5-game playoff series and I'd feel good about Nolasco in game 3.

[Steve Penz]

I think he was more mocking the (Powertrip?) for the stats they were using to judge the deal. I listen to the show fairly regularly & they aren't bad overall but are terrible when it comes to Baseball. Hawkey is one of the most uninformed sports analyzers I have ever listend too.

 

It was a solid B to B+ signing. They got a guy they liked for a very fair deal market wise & did so early in the process.

 

Unfortunately Kfan often takes a cynical and less informed approach to baseball. Dubay and Mackie on 1500 do a better job.

 

I like this signing a lot. It does not suddenly make the team great but its a nice move in the right direction.

[Zephrin]

Power Alley on MLB Network Radio.

 

The way I look at pitchers is if they'd start in a 5-game playoff series and I'd feel good about Nolasco in game 3.

 

I like the Nolasco signing for a number of reasons, but perhaps the fact that I can envision him pitching in a playoff game at all is the thing that heartens me the most. However, I don't know that I would love him as the #3 starter for a playoff team, I prefer him as a #4. Here are the AL playoff pitchers who I would not start Nolasco over:

 

Boston - Lester, Bucholz, Lackey

 

TB - Price, Cobb, Moore, Archer

 

Oak - Colon, Parker

 

Det - Scherzer, Verlander, Sanchez, Fister

 

Tex - Darvish, Holland, Ogando, Garza

 

So based on this very un-scientific look, I would say that Nolasco does not make the playoff rotation for 3 of the 5 AL playoff teams last year, serves as the #4 for Boston (who did win the WS), and the #3 on the overachieving A's team.

 

Asking Nolasco to be a #3 on a playoff rotation seems a bit of a stretch.

[70charger]

Good article. I don't think Terry Ryan isn't evil.

 

 

That isn't not a double-negative.

 

 

(I actually agree with your take wholeheartedly!)

[johnnydakota]

I think he was more mocking the (Powertrip?) for the stats they were using to judge the deal. I listen to the show fairly regularly & they aren't bad overall but are terrible when it comes to Baseball. Hawkey is one of the most uninformed sports analyzers I have ever listend too.

 

It was a solid B to B+ signing. They got a guy they liked for a very fair deal market wise & did so early in the process.

 

And my point was Ricky is a #3 or #4 type pitcher

[Kwak]

The Twins did make a statement with the Nolasco signing--and it is a positive statement. No, he won't turn the team into a .500 team (all by himself) but this is a start. Last season's rotation contained only one Major League pitcher (and a rather ordinary one at that). Three more are needed. No, I don't think all will be "on board" for 2014, but, this is a start.​

[johnnydakota]

Power Alley on MLB Network Radio.

 

I was simply commented on what they said. These are baseball people -it's there job- and they sounded ridiculous trying to sum up the signing. If the Twins paid the going rate, which is what they said, why question the terms of the contract? I'm also not a huge fan of ERA, especially with Nolasco who advanced metrics suggest is better than his ERA shows. He also was a #4 starter last year, sure... on a staff with two Cy Young winners. The way I look at pitchers is if they'd start in a 5-game playoff series and I'd feel good about Nolasco in game 3.

 

Sorry Me bad, We dont get that radio station down here near Mazatlan