First Impressions of Minnesota’s Free Agent Signings

Andrelton Simmons

Best signing since Nelson Cruz, even with this Covid crap. Donaldson could match him, if he can stay healthy. If they both stay healthy (130+ games), the Twins chances for post-season go up dramatically.

Alexander Colomé

Not yet a reliable closer. I'd rather see Alcala closing at the moment, which is not a good sign.

J.A. Happ

If he gets any sharper, he'll be the equal of Pineda. Trending up.

Matt Shoemaker

I like his stuff, but can he last a full season?

Hansel Robles, RP

Teetering on the edge of demotion. Twins system is stocked with power arms. Crank up the merry-go-round.

Shoemaker and Happ: one quality start out of 5, not good.

Simmons: has given what was expected

Robles and Colome: I realize it is a minority opinion but, Robles has been good and although Colome has struggled in some outings, I think these two will be ok, as well as the bullpen overall if used properly

Simmons has performed much better than projected, I wouldn't mind signing him to another year. His importance to the team is glaring when he's not in the lineup. I'd rate his signing very high.

Others I'm not impressed yet

For a team trying to compete in the playoffs, it was an absolutely awful offseason.

It is WAYYYYYYY too early to comment on the signings.  The starters have made 2 starts each, and the pen arms have made like 5 innings each.  Simmons has played 10 games.  Yes, I know it is early impressions, and with team not playing something needs to be written, but this is still too early to say any was good or bad. 

Simmons has been the best by far.  He has out hit expectations, but more than anything when he is out and Polanco and Arraez are in the middle of the field they should never bring in Dobnak.  They are too weak for a ground ball pitcher to survive.  I do not know if they were expecting Lewis next year, but I think Simmons needs to be here next year. 

Hopefully Duran and Balazovic can replace Happ and Shoemaker.  Not sure what they do with Pineda's slot in 2022 - Thorpe?

I expect we will always see a rotation of RP - that seems to be the new Twins strategy. 

Simmons is a defensive whiz at arguably the most important defensive position on the team. There is no better defensive combo at SS and CF (the 2 critical defensive positions) than Buck and Simmons.

It is WAYYYYYYY too early to comment on the signings.  The starters have made 2 starts each, and the pen arms have made like 5 innings each.  Simmons has played 10 games.  Yes, I know it is early impressions, and with team not playing something needs to be written, but this is still too early to say any was good or bad. 

How about when George signed Catfish and Reggie? Was it too early for New Yorkers to be happy about those upgrades?

Of course it isn't too early to look at the track records of free agents added to the team.  It's what any good FO has to do in trying to find what a team lacks.

If your goal is to watch the Twins contend all summer, then be happy with Happ and Shoemaker as additions. Given the good, bad, and mediocre lineups they will face over the course of 30 some starts, they'll have good days. But I notice when they were slotted into the rotation, it wasn't toward the front, which ought to tell us something.

When the Padres added Darvish and Snell, did they tuck them in the back?

NYY didn't let Happ start one more time because they didn't want to invoke the clause in his contract obligating them to pay him. He wasn't due the kind of money front line starters get. They needed pitching depth, they had Cole as their ace, and they cut him loose.  Ask yourself why.

Nothing would make me happier than to see Happ make the Yankees regret that move. But that's where my heart lies. When I look at his pitching, I don't see a guy who makes a difference in taking us deep into the playoffs.

And yeah, I felt that way in January, too. 

Please, J.A., prove me wrong.

We grade offseasons multiple years after they happen. Not two weeks.

I gave the San Diego Padres an A right after I saw them add Darvish and Snell to their rotation.

I guess you think I was hasty in that. I don't live anywhere near San Diego, but right now I think the Padres taking on *Los Yanquis West* in LA is one of the best stories in baseball. 

As a Twins fan since a tyke, yup, it has something to do with a game Jim Kaat and Sandy Koufax pitched on October 14, 1965. Maybe I'm just cursed with too long a memory, but there seems to be a difference between the recollections I have for Puckett, Hrbek & crew in '87 and '91 as opposed to, oh, let's say some Super Bowls played back in the 70's.

If I recall correctly, Nelson Cruz was also a free agent signing this season. Easy to forget, but worth remembering and acknowledging. 

Simmons has been everything I could have hoped for. And I don't think we've seen the best of him defensively yet. The bat will regress to normal, but he's still an OK and smart hitter.

I thought Robles was a smart under the radar signing that could be important. I think he looks good.

Colome...man, it's early still and he's been so good previously...butI am VERY disappointed thus far. I thought he was a smart and good signing. There's a lot of season for him to right himself. And we're not talking about lost velocity here. But early impressions are not good.

Happy wasn't my first choice. I wanted Odorizzi and was interested in a few others. But career history, including 2020, I was fine on a 1yr deal. And I think the 1yr was important to the FO with Dobnak, Thorpe, Duran and Balazovic, etc, available and coming up. He's looked OK, and he's a little behind. So there is just no way to accurately judge him at this point.

Everything about Happ pretty much applies to Shoemaker. Remember, we're talking about a 5th SP who has been pretty damn good WHEN HEALTHY. I've seen good mixed in with not so good so far. I think he's still getting his legs under him and looking to get in a groove. Same as Happ. My hope is he can actually stay healthy enough to get in that groove and give us at least a half season plus. More is just gravy.

The ideal scenario is those veterans do what the FO hoped and be quality, veteran place holders for the aforementioned Dobnak, Thorpe, Duran, Balazovic, etc, to settle in the second half of the season or at least get their feet wet for 2022.

But honestly, it's just way to early 3 weeks in to make any real determination.

Bring this up when it's June 1st. The season is very young and things can change.

I will say that the Josh Donaldson deal is going to not turn out well. He misses too much time every year and he like everyone is is not getting any younger.

I think you can always comment about the present situation. Each game counts. In fact, in some respects, these early games matter more because if your team comes to the end of August down 10 games, even if you suddenly start playing great baseball, your chances of making the postseason start dwindling and you have to hope that the frontrunner starts playing poorly or you can slip in as a wildcard. Contrarily, if you come to the end of August up 10 games on everyone, you can afford mediocre play now and then as long as you play well enough to maintain a cushion. My advice: Let's start winning now :-).

For those who regret the players we did not sign

Odorizzi has a -0.4 WAR   0 - 2  10.57 ERA

Sergio Romo is -0.3 WAR 9.53 era, 1.9 Whip

Matt Wisler -0.5 WAR, 0 - 2 12.46 era and 1.8 Whip

Tyler Clippard - injured

Zack Littell 0.1 WAR, 6 - 2 4.52 era, 1.47 Whip

Sean Poppen 0.1 WAR 0.00 era, 1.0 Whip

Trevor May -0.2 WAR 1 - 1, 4.15 era, 1.84 whip

How many do you want back?

Ehire Adrianza 0.3 WAR, 320 AV, 1.041 OPS, 166 OPS+ 2 HR

Marwin Gonzales 0.1 WAR, 213 AV, 654 OPS, 88 OPS+ 1 HR

Eddie Rosario  0.2 WAR 224 AV, 678 OPS, 90 OPS+  2 HR

Alex Avila -0.1 WAR, 000 AV, 143, -55 OPS+ 

LaMonte Wade 0.0 WAR, 333, 929, 164 OPS+  (six ABs)

Aaron Whitehead - not found

Who do you want back? 

 

Who do you want back? 

DocBauer mentioned he wanted Odorizzi back, and I agree.  I even understand that he might be past his prime. (Odo, not the Doc.) I just liked how Jake pitched for us. I wanted to see it more often. Last year was disappointing, and maybe his best is behind him. No, not an ace, but possibly a very good 4th starter. I know people can rain stats on this sentimental choice, but I wanted to see what he might have left while wearing a Twins uni.

Also Rosario. Watching the sports highlights and seeing him homer for the Tribe gave me a pang. Also, I know the covid blip at present is short-term, not all season, etc. But what with our outfield decimated during this road trip, it would have been nice to see Rosario in LF. 

I might even have forgiven a bobble. A ball launched past the cut-off man. Especially if he'd driven in a run or 3 in Oakland ...

Could someone enlighten me as to Happ’s absence?  I must have missed something explaining why he did not pitch when it was his turn.

Ehire Adrianza was underrated. Defense anywhere was good and bat played as a sub. He was inexpensive and worked everywhere for a low salary. I did not understand that decision at all. I guess Astudillo takes that spot but I'm pretty sure Adrianza would be a better catcher too.

Ehire Adrianza was underrated. Defense anywhere was good and bat played as a sub. He was inexpensive and worked everywhere for a low salary. I did not understand that decision at all. I guess Astudillo takes that spot but I'm pretty sure Adrianza would be a better catcher too.

I agree Adrianza was underrated. But, according to plan (Donaldson and Simmons healthy and available) that super-utility, in the lineup somewhere nearly every day role when to Arraez. Probably an upgrade overall from Adrianza.

During the slump we’re already seeing how valuable Simmons is. Domino impact on the entire infield defense. And offensively he provides a rare skill for this lineup...he generally puts the ball in play.

I already wish this was a 2-3 year deal.