MIN 2, BOS 1: Gibby the Great

If Gibson was a normally aged pitcher at the end of his team control I'd probably agree with you.  But an extension to a 32 year old is a major gamble right from the outset, regardless of who they are.

 

So, sure, there is value in keeping him, but I wouldn't let that stop me from aggressively shopping him.  

Amazing they ever even signed Santana, then, and especially for 4 years.

So if he's signed to a 4 year extension, that makes him the same age that Santana is now (or there abouts).  I'm a believer in what he's been doing, and having 2 out of 5 spots essentially locked down for the next 3-4 years (Berrios timeline) with consistent, above average-to-better pitchers, is better than we've experienced in a long, loooong, time.  I guess it comes down to whether or not people believe that a couple of the pitching prospects can make it in the next 3-4 years to fill in or, in some cases, more than just be mlb filler (romero, graterol, thorpe, gonsalves)

Agreed, I don't see them as contender's next year, so I would at least listen to a trade.  Contending next year is going to take a 180 from this season.  I don't see it, especially if the payroll goes back down.  

That's too bad. Already signing your team off for next year before the previous season is even over. Some teams even still go from last to first, and this team doesn't even have that far to go, especially if healthy and progressing instead of regressing. Tell Oakland they have no right to be doing so well.

Nobody has said they wouldn't listen to offers. Listening is a fine and noble skill.

Because the trade could make the team better?  He's the best trade chip they have?

Best case return: They get a player who might one day be as good as he is right now. Pass. 

Don't know why my response was separated from the op I was responding to, still new to posting (though I've been a "lurker" since this sites inception).

You are not supposed to compliment Wilson, Rodney or Belisle on this forum. Shhhh.  

And to return the compliment, you are doing pretty good yourself. 

Over the last calendar year Gibson has been the 20th best starting pitcher in the majors in terms of fWAR (Berrios is 17th). To even consider trading him should require a huge package coming back and I doubt that an appealing offer is out there. I'd be more than happy to sign him to a 3-year deal this off-season.

[scrolls up to make sure he is on the right thread]

Wow!  What a game!  That team tonight didn't look scared, or intimidated, or lackadaisical, or any other word associated with being a loser.  I often feel like they are like the Millennium Falcon.  While often mistaken for a hunk of junk, and frequently broke down, when she's right, she's still the fastest ship in the galaxy.

Somebody said Berrios and Gibson could be 2/3.  They pitched like aces the last two games.  This is something you build on.

Why risk the extension if they have all that $$$ and "flexibility?" 

If he continues to pitch like this through next season then address the idea of an extension or just sign him as a FA. I guess I'm surprised that so many are comfortable extending a guy, who up until last September looked like he didn't belong on the active roster. I get that he threw a nice game tonight but...yeah...

IMO Gibson is still much closer to Nick Blackburn than Brad Radke, i.e. not a guy I'm dying to commit to long term, especially into his 30s. If another team is certain Gibson has truly turned a corner, and makes an offer that reflects that belief the Twins would be fools not to take it. 

I’d rather have 1.4 years of Gibson. Easily.

Which Gibson, 13'-17' or 2018? 

I agree that whatever the Twins get back in a trade won't have near the impact in 19' that Gibson would if he builds off of this season, but you're also taking a pretty serious leap of faith that this is the pitcher Gibson is going to be for the next 1.4 years. 

Which Gibson, 13'-17' or 2018? 

 

I agree that whatever the Twins get back in a trade won't have near the impact in 19' that Gibson would if he builds off of this season, but you're also taking a pretty serious leap of faith that this is the pitcher Gibson is going to be for the next 1.4 years. 

Definitely a Gibson doubter. Diversity is a great thing.

I wouldn't be opposed to him being traded.  But as I said before, I believe in what he's doing now.  Some players have long prime years; others only have a couple.  When Gibson was drafted, he was a consensus top 15 pick (many had him in the top 10) based on talent.  He fell due to his injury and the Twins took a chance.  If he's living up to promise, then we can expect a few more years of his current production, which would be awesome for a team that hasn't had a decent rotation in over a decade.  Again, not opposed to trading him for a good return, but taking a leap-of-faith on him continuing what he's doing now has a higher probability of success than taking a leap-of-faith on another teams prospect.

13-5 over their last 18 games. Come on, boys, let’s keep it rolling.

13-5 over their last 18 games. Come on, boys, let’s keep it rolling.

We just need to ignore a sweep by the next to the worst team in baseball.....

If Gibson was a normally aged pitcher at the end of his team control I'd probably agree with you.  But an extension to a 32 year old is a major gamble right from the outset, regardless of who they are.

 

So, sure, there is value in keeping him, but I wouldn't let that stop me from aggressively shopping him.  

Few upcoming free agent starters are significantly younger, and the Twins would get some kind of discount by assuming the risk of the extension (i.e., that Gibson doesn't pitch well in 2019). Also, the Twins have tons of near-term payroll capacity and there's zero chance they'd use it all up with free agent signings and/or extensions for guys like Berrios and Rosario.

The main reason I'm against trading Gibson though is 2019 . . . the Twins play in a bad division and absolutely should be able to compete. 

Seems like Kyle Gibson has adopted a motion that looks almost like short-arming the ball, with an abbreviated windup of his pitching arm. Hitters have a terrible time gaging the speed as well as the type of pitch he's throwing. 

I don't recall seeing better stuff from Gibson. Not only were his breaking balls falling off the table, his heater was consistently on the edges of the zone the whole time. 

Heh-heh, it's almost like Gibson just showcased himself for the two teams he'd most like to pitch for, the Yankees and the Red Sox. 

Heh-heh... 

If Gibson was a normally aged pitcher at the end of his team control I'd probably agree with you.  But an extension to a 32 year old is a major gamble right from the outset, regardless of who they are.

 

So, sure, there is value in keeping him, but I wouldn't let that stop me from aggressively shopping him.  

Why not a three year deal; even with a team option for that third year.  

 

Heh-heh, it's almost like Gibson just showcased himself for the two teams he'd most like to pitch for, the Yankees and the Red Sox. 

 

Heh-heh...

 

Precisely my thoughts after he finished off the 8th with that K of "Just Dingers". If we could package he and Dozier to BOS...I wonder if we could get a nice return? I know nothing of their farm system so, I have zero clue if it's even remotely something to look into. But, dreamers are gonna dream.

Precisely my thoughts after he finished off the 8th with that K of "Just Dingers". If we could package he and Dozier to BOS...I wonder if we could get a nice return? I know nothing of their farm system so, I have zero clue if it's even remotely something to look into. But, dreamers are gonna dream.

Boston is the only team without any top 100 prospects in the just updated list. They are pretty depleted. Perhaps the would trade Sale? He is getting so old though.....

Best case return: They get a player who might one day be as good as he is right now. Pass. 

Obviously that's not the best case return.  I don't think you really believe that.