Notebook: Twins Attend Corey Kluber Showcase

We just cannot guess the trade market right now, although it would be sweet to add Sonny Gray and/or Luis Castillo in a blockbuster move.

Agree that the free agents are not real inspiring but Kluber may be worth a gamble, especially if he is interested in a host of incentives within a contract that can include a second year. Kluber is intoxicating because he was so much fun to watch.

As usual, I am not excited by this - I would rather have a young arm to develop than an old one that needs to be held together by wire and tape. 

It's been 6 months since Kluber was diagnosed with a grade 2 tear of the teres major muscle in his right shoulder. I'm pretty sure he has had ample time to rest and rehab the injury and believe he'll be able to ramp up for a normal spring training and full season.

Broken arm, oblique strain, shoulder muscle tear; it's been a rough time for him but at age 35 and with his ability to pitch and velocity returning, I think he could be a significant contributor to our rotation. We took a flyer on Rich Hill last year. I think Kluber could provide more value.

I would not be surprised if Kluber takes the biggest one year deal to prove himself and sign one more longer term contract next offseason. Maybe a 1yr deal with club option?

Year 1: 10 mil

Year 2 Club Option: 15 mil (maybe a 3 mil buyout?)

Kluber's showcase was well attended. If he showed anything talent evaluators would like, basically all the evaluators will like it, and the Twins will be outbid. If he didn't show enough, we don't want him. I have no expectation of seeing him in a Twins uniform at all.

Exactly the showcase was a lose/lose situation. The Twins were one of the front runners on Kluber but now they may be out

Kluber's showcase was well attended. If he showed anything talent evaluators would like, basically all the evaluators will like it, and the Twins will be outbid. If he didn't show enough, we don't want him. I have no expectation of seeing him in a Twins uniform at all.

Point taken-but it will still be a role of the dice for anyone to sign him. A "good" offer on a contender might be enough-especially if he wants to stick it to Cle for trading him (who knows).

Kluber's showcase was well attended. If he showed anything talent evaluators would like, basically all the evaluators will like it, and the Twins will be outbid. If he didn't show enough, we don't want him. I have no expectation of seeing him in a Twins uniform at all.

This is the reality all Twins fans must accept with this team. 

La Tortuga’s Dive - Check out Willians Astudillo making a nice catch in left field down in the Venezuelan Winter League.

And the turtle did NOT stuck on his back when he rolled over...

Well done Willians!

I'm not high on a Kluber move.  I'd rather go after Paxton and at 1.5-2.0 million I'd take another chance on Rich Hill.  

Is there another facet to Kluber in being able to pass some knowledge along to young SPers both how to pitch and how to handle the post season.  I would pay more for that.

Pass at 9-15 million. Too old and to beat up for that kind of money. 

Many different options out there.... to go there. 

If half that am good with... 4-7 million.... per.... 

Nice to know that Astudillo can play LF but rather see him more at 3B or C

Well, I guess the Twins were daydreaming ... a miss.

When I heard that NYY were interested in Kluber, I figured that was final nail to put     to             death MN hopes of landing him

The miss on Kluber makes me think that the Twins budget is closer to $110 million.

I was interested for $8-10M with some incentives, MAYBE a similar 2nd year option if both parties were interested. Every year there is someone who makes a surprise comeback. And Kluber is the #1 most likely to do that in 2021. He's scary but intriguing as hell! But more than $10M pushes me to the pass category.

What does this say about Tanaka? Either the Yankees know something we don't know, or they also are pinching a few $. Maybe they have a secret agreement already? Just find them seemingly moving on very interesting.

Does Maeda know Tanaka? Can he put in a good word for the Twins and living in the Midwest?

I agree, that's a very strong inference, in the context of other rumors. The Twins' strategy looks like it was always to allow the first wave of high-demand free agents go elsewhere, and to circle back to the remaining free agents who haven't had their demands met, and ask them whether they have reconsidered now, and try to get the most bang for the buck.

 

As opposed to, the most bang period.

Appreciate the sentiment Ash. But the RP is filled with a number of intriguing options. The SP options are Bauer...however you feel about him...and a TON of interesting options that don't excite, but have value.

Does not taking a $10M-ish flier mean they are going cheap? (And I've been in for $8-10M as a shot for some time on Kluber). Or does it mean they think Oddo, Walker, Richardson, etc, as good and safe an option? Or are they really looking at trade options similar to the moves they have made for Odorizzi and Maeda the last 2 yrs?

There are many very good players still available. Among free agents below Bauer, we can look at Rosenthal, Hand, Soria (a fav), Yates, Clippard, Walker, Odorizzi, Hill, Paxton, Semien, Simmons, et al. So there are players to sign. There are trades too.

Kluber just seemed possible and he is so much fun to watch. The Twins have a core and holes and while there is time to wait, there is also a time to act. That time is up in a month. March is not usually a time to add free agents. I think we all want a team that can compete through/past the first and second rounds of the playoffs.

2019 was a fun season for the Twins and their fans but we have rarely seen a trio of teams as weak as Kansas City, Detroit, and Chicago were that year. In order for the Twins to compete at the top level this coming season there will need to be 3-5 significant additions. Kluber was a personal favorite of mine but now I will wait to see what happens next. There is still time.