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  • ESPN Report: Twins Could Be Mystery Team for Harper, Machado

    Cody Christie

    By Cody Christie

    Dreams can happen right?

    Last week, I mused about the possibility of Minnesota making a bid for free agent Manny Machado. He’s young, a five-tool player, and has the potential to impact the game in multiple ways. It also helps that the White Sox have been going after him. If the Twins could steal him from their division rival, it would make the signing that much sweeter.

    Could the Twins make a splash and sign Machado or Harper?

    Image courtesy of Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

    Twins Video

    ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting the Twins could be one of a handful of mystery teams interested in signing either Machado or Harper. Olney’s biggest reasons for identifying the Twins is their lack of free agent spending, which gives the club an opportunity to pull off this kind of contract.

    Over the last week, Minnesota’s payroll has been a hot button topic in Twins Territory. (I wrote a little about it in this week’s Twins Daily mailbag and you can listen to Gleeman and the Geek discuss it in their latest episode). Joe Mauer’s contract came off the books and the organization has few contractual commitments moving forward.

    According to Forbes, Minnesota ranks 22nd in MLB team valuations. The club made $261 million in revenue last year and spent $133 million on player expenses. Currently, the Twins are projected to start next season with a payroll around $100 million.

    If it takes longer for these two players to sign, their asking price could continue to drop. It could also drop the length of the contract. Both players are relatively young for reaching free agency since they made their debuts as teenagers. This could allow teams to sign them to a longer contract because the prime of their careers would be throughout most of the new deal.

    Since these two players debuted in 2012, Harper has the 12th highest WAR total, while Machado comes in at 15th. These are two of the best players of this generation and they are reaching free agency in their prime. All of baseball should be interested… why not the Twins?

    Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

    Cody Christie is a Twins writer and content contributor. His writing can be found exclusively at Twins Daily and his voice can be heard on radio stations throughout the Upper Midwest. Outside of the Twins, he is a father, high school teacher, and avid runner.
    Follow Cody Christie on Twitter: nodaktwinsfan

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    Featured Comments

    Thrylos

    Thrylos 8,325

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    If the Twins had good owners, we'd be on Machado. No doubt. He's such a perfect fit here it hurts. 

     

    Speaking of hurting, do you think that having their highest paid player not give 100% every time and publicly admitting it and justifying it will help or hurt the attitude and development of the Twins' young core?

     

    Is that who you want to be their role model?

    Edited by Thrylos
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    gunnarthor

    gunnarthor 11,234

  • Old-Timey Member

    • Posted

     

    Speaking of hurting, do you think that having their highest paid player not give 100% every time and publicly admitting it and justifying it will help or hurt the attitude and development of the Twins' young core?

     

    Is that who you want to be their role model?

    The character questions/concerns about Machado are BS. I'd love to have this guy on the team. I think he'd take pressure off of our younger guys. I think he and Cruz would help Sano and Buxton reach their ceilings. I think signing him tells the team that the FO and owners are backing this group of players.

     

    The last few years our highest paid player was Mauer. Enough said.

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    Thebigalguy

    Thebigalguy 212

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    I don't believe this propaganda. As mentioned above, it's probably an agent or agents stirring the pot. Falvine's entire long-term strategy depends on avoiding a Mauer-type contract and maintaining short-and-midrange flexibility. We all saw what happened to Joe, who was well worth the contract when he signed it. Of course, Harpado aren't catchers, where the danger is higher of career-changing injury, but too many variables in a single player's ability to contribute at pre-contract stats after the money's been exchanged. Besides, I see the Twins competing without such a coup.

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    ScooterDance

    ScooterDance 743

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

     

    I would poop my pants if the Twins sign one of these guys. The money is absolutely there, but a long-term investment, and a very expensive one at that, seems highly unlikely for this organization. I sincerely doubt that this will happen, but we can always dream, right?

     

    For the record, if we do, by some miracle, sign one of these guys, the Twins are winning the AL Central in 2019. Book it. Screenshot this and show me in September. If the Twins sign Harper or Machado, the Twins will win the AL Central in 2019.

     

    I'm going to screenshot this and show you after we sign one of them. You better have evidence that you pooped your pants, or I'll call you out as a charlatan and a liar.

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    howieramone2

    howieramone2 1,198

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    I agree with Thrylos, this is Olney speculating that the Twins COULD do this, rather than an indication they ARE a team negotiating.

    So what I take from this is more ammo for my belief the Twins have the financial means to do deals like this.

    Actually almost every team has the ammo. Also, the team that comes in second, can we all agree they didn't even try.

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    Mr. Brooks

    Mr. Brooks 7,174

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Jim Pohlad is an absentee owner. If Sano and Buxton came up to him in full uniform, he would probably not know who they were.. If you think the Pohlads want to win or will spend the money to win, you have another think coming. If it's that important to you there are 29 other teams.

    You mean like when he demanded that Molitor stay on as manager? That kind of "absentee owner"?

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    Otto von Ballpark

    Otto von Ballpark 20,320

  • Community Leader

    • Posted

     

    I still don't think either would commit ten years of their lives to Minnesota without taking the area for a test drive, so I'd think if the Twins were to get one, it would be on a big money short term deal or something with an easy opt out after a year or two.

    Honestly. I don't think it would necessarily have anything to do with Minnesota -- opt-out clauses seem pretty standard these days. Heyward and Darvish got them in Chicago, Price and Martinez in Boston, etc.

     

    I tend to think opt-out clauses aren't so bad. They have a value for the player, of course, which should be taken into account in the price of the contract, but it's possible the Twins wouldn't even have to deal with the last half of a Machado or Harper deal, which seems to be a common complaint among fans (although given their ages, the latter half wouldn't necessarily be onerous either).

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    Ryan Atkins

    Ryan Atkins 78

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Per the report, the Twins "are mentioned by rival officials and agents".

     

    Of course agents are going to mention everyone, they want to make it seem like all teams are IN so you best blow us away with your offer.

     

    The more interesting part here is "rival officials". I really wonder where/who that came from? Because, you would think that any team official would prefer to make it seem like NO ONE besides my team is interested so you might as well accept our offer.

     

    Prefer Harper. I would love to see the crazy numbers Sano could put up if you had Harper hitting behind him.

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    nicksaviking

    nicksaviking 26,755

  • Community Moderator

    • Posted

     

    Per the report, the Twins "are mentioned by rival officials and agents".

     

    Of course agents are going to mention everyone, they want to make it seem like all teams are IN so you best blow us away with your offer.

     

    The more interesting part here is "rival officials". I really wonder where/who that came from? Because, you would think that any team official would prefer to make it seem like NO ONE besides my team is interested so you might as well accept our offer.

     

    Prefer Harper. I would love to see the crazy numbers Sano could put up if you had Harper hitting behind him.

     

    Yeah the Red Sox are telling the Yankees that the Twins are offering $400M so they better top that if they want Machado. The Mets are telling the Phillies not to bother because they have a source that says the Twins are going to sign them both.

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    Rigby

    Rigby 589

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    I would poop my pants if the Twins sign one of these guys. The money is absolutely there, but a long-term investment, and a very expensive one at that, seems highly unlikely for this organization. I sincerely doubt that this will happen, but we can always dream, right?

     

    For the record, if we do, by some miracle, sign one of these guys, the Twins are winning the AL Central in 2019. Book it. Screenshot this and show me in September. If the Twins sign Harper or Machado, the Twins will win the AL Central in 2019.

    Your laundress just donated her paycheck to the Yankees sign Machado fund.

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    Mr. Brooks

    Mr. Brooks 7,174

  • Provisional Member

    • Posted

    Honestly. I don't think it would necessarily have anything to do with Minnesota -- opt-out clauses seem pretty standard these days. Heyward and Darvish got them in Chicago, Price and Martinez in Boston, etc.

     

    I tend to think opt-out clauses aren't so bad. They have a value for the player, of course, which should be taken into account in the price of the contract, but it's possible the Twins wouldn't even have to deal with the last half of a Machado or Harper deal, which seems to be a common complaint among fans (although given their ages, the latter half wouldn't necessarily be onerous either).

    I too am not bothered by opt outs. However, the FO went on record after Darvish didn't sign here saying they aren't willing to offer them.

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    S.

    S. 1,674

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

     

    I don't believe this propaganda. As mentioned above, it's probably an agent or agents stirring the pot. Falvine's entire long-term strategy depends on avoiding a Mauer-type contract and maintaining short-and-midrange flexibility. We all saw what happened to Joe, who was well worth the contract when he signed it. Of course, Harpado aren't catchers, where the danger is higher of career-changing injury, but too many variables in a single player's ability to contribute at pre-contract stats after the money's been exchanged. Besides, I see the Twins competing without such a coup.

    You look at our current roster and think we could compete with New York, Boston, Houston, etc in the playoffs? Or you think we could be competitive against the White Sox, Detroit, and KC in the Central? Because there is a huge difference between the two.

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    Han Joelo

    Han Joelo 3,058

  • Verified Member

    • Posted

    Screen Shot 2019 01 23 At 5.29.03 PM

     
    Boy, you guys are (mostly) a bunch of Red's.  I'll be waiting for you on the beach.
     
    Falvey is Andy Dufresne, and he's been hollowing out his bible and chipping away at the prison walls for a while now.  If it was obvious what he was doing, he would've got caught already.  When this happens I want all of you to go outside shirtless in a rainstorm and spin around in circles.

     

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    Oldgoat_MN

    Oldgoat_MN 2,434

  • Verified Member

    • Posted (edited)

     

    Harper, 3/115
    Machado, 3/115
    Keuchel, 3/60
    Kimbrel, 3/60
    Opt outs after the 2nd year for everyone

    Let’s go win a WS!!!

    I think there's a decent chance you could get either Harper or Machado by offering 3/105. They make $35 million per year and this era of the teams watching their budgets closely may have passed. Also, the new CBA will be coming along and salaries may have escalated for any number of other reasons.

    $35M per year and sign again while still in your prime. Might tempt a player.

    Also, it is relatively short term and the Twins would likely make out OK in the $/WAR equation.

    .

    Doesn't have to be a 10 year deal.

    Edited by Oldgoat_MN
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